E'darin, she thought of every day, he came to her home a child a year older. An adorable shy elf with a broken spirit that she understood. Her mother died and left a hole in her soul no one could replace. She loved watching E'darin how he tried hard to please her father and his trainer. He watched him grow into a muscled, agile, and talented warrior.<br/>She was looking forward to the upcoming Winterfest. She could, at last, see her handsome knight. She was so disappointed to miss the year's knighting ceremony. She was having to study for her mage final. It covered all the spells she learned since she entered the mage guild school.<br/>Being her father was Lord of the town, she was not allowed to get within ten feet of any of her father's soldiers. They were a hand-selected band of elite knights Lord Lyons that were trained to a particular style of fighting. The wore light leather armor adorned with his coat of arms.<br/>Kate watched the clumsy elf transform into a lean muscled man that was nimble and an accurate bowman. Over the years would change into her pure fox form and sneak into his barracks late at night. She would lay beside him after grueling training. She would never let him out of her site on summer maneuvers. In the final days of hell week of knights training, he endured what she thought was pure torture or initiates of knighthood.<br/>The was a call to battle right in middle of young men memorizing their oaths and reciting the honor codes. A tradition that extended centuries of honor and tradition. Only Lyons broke tradition and allowed his elites to marry.<br/>The entire force of his knights in training and seasoned elites left  the kingdom to join forces with the five kings in a boarder war. It was epic and Kate snuck away joining her fellow mage healers. She took a huge risk getting caught but she felt her presence necessary.<br/>E'darin was among the wounded he suffered by a blow to his left leg above the calf muscle. She removed a poisoned arrow from his right shoulder. Kate thought he was too sick to realize she was there. He called out to her once and she stayed with him through the night. She was gone by the time he woke. The mage left him a favor of a lace embroidered with her initials KL in his sling.<br/>The soldiers returned to a grand ceremony was held at the King's summer home in Tir. It always was the start of Winterfest and with deep regret she missed it. He final mage test was over and was top mage. She was usurped by the princess Amanda. Kate tutored the princess extra hours. Because of her title she gave the speech Kate wrote for herself.<br/><br/>Kate as she closed the door to her suite for the last time, took a breath as her father's guard removed the last trunk. Her thoughts turned returning home. The house of Lyons would host the first ball. She started making a list days ago.<br/>She made her last decent upon the stone steps polished in granite and covered with a blue capet symbolizing this was the senior hall. She looked back at her room at the end of the hall. Twelve years spent to finally be leaving. In the fall would be a new life at the Mage guild university. She was a full-fledged mage on her way to become a Master Mage.<br/>She exited the main foryer and through the thich mahogany doors that opened as she was a foot away. The frigid  air  his her face with a blast and he waved her hand and the air warmed around her. She looked out into the drive and the foot man standing before her was not driving her father's carriage. It was not Peel that stood before her and opened the carriage door. She hesitated as she looked up and saw Marcus and her brother at the head of her escort. "This is highly irregular. Where is Peel? He always comes and takes me home."<br/><br/>Lord Marcus replied from his white stallion, a foal from her father's horse they raise for knights and kings for ceremonial purposes. "My Lady Kate, Peel has been called away on an errand for your father. I am to escort you home."<br/><br/>"If this is one of your tricks Marcus. I will turn you into a rat for a week." She warily stepped up the carriage. "I hope you will not underestimate my father should you be careless." She stepped into the carriage not grasping the hand of the footman. Feeling highly perturbed she would not have the security of knowing Peel was driving. The carriage jolted once the door was shut. She wrapped her dark blue velvet mage robes around her. She reached overhead and draped a fleece blanked around her. She settled in her seat and looked outside. The village was blanketed with five layers of snow and ice.<br/>She strained to see the soldiers ahead of her. The mage turned her thoughts to E'darin. Was he among the throng that glopped around her. Would she get a glimpse of him before night fall. She missed him and fell asleep thinking to be in his presence one again.<br/><br/>Kate and her excorts arrived at the tavern named the Boars Tusk Inn without trouble. Her brother took her arm and led her inside. At once she was greeted by Heidi and she showed Kate to her seat beside the fireplace in the middle of the room. Kate removed a dark blue cloak revealing a bright blue, floor length, mage robe with white trim on the collar, sleeves, and hem. All signifying she was a healer mage.<br/><br/>She did not notice the guards around Marcus were at the bar. Kate ordered dinner and after dinner was asked to join the bards and play her lute. She did not see her brother joining Marcus and all spend the evening getting drunk and celebrating their knighthood.<br/><br/>Later that evening a rival of her fathers, Lord Eddington entered the pub with his knights. An argument started and before Kate knew it a brawl started. In a flash, Kate hands were held behind her back by one of the bards tied a cloth over her lips and she tasted a cotton cloth in her mouth and heard it being tied as she squirmed and tried to scream. A burlap sack was placed over her head. Her hands were bound by hemp rope.<br/><br/>She was led outside and hurriedly placed on a horse. A burly man that smelled of spiced rum held her with a meaty arm. She heard him speak in a gruff growl, "We got the Lord's daughter."<br/><br/>Kate tried to remain calm.  She knew thrashing would only cause her to fall. She was useless without her hands. She reached out with her mind and the only one she thought would hear her...<br/><br/>"E'darin, Help! Captured outside Heidi's. Marcus, guards fight, Lord Eddington. Marcus's father drunk. Lord Edd…ing wears a scarlet cloak silver Lion head clasp. Danger No touch it. Silver arrow only. Help!"  You can cut him off at the crossroads. Hurry!