Chapter Four done. A nice quick chapter that ends this arc it will be interesting with one main character death (snickers) I hope you enjoy.

The best hiding place was in plain sight Sabatt thought as she moved around the city. A quick change of clothes had let her walk around the city free of any restrictions. She wore a simple green dress with her hair tied in a bun, over her shoulder she carried a bag of oranges. Most of the usual city guards were gone, they had been sent to guard the king and this meant the city was lightly guarded. So far her disguise was working on a small few had ever really seen her face, and most of them were dead. Reaching the gate to the castle she spotted a young guard.

"Good morning Sir." She greeted in the sweetest voice she could muster, and then threw him an orange. "I was walking by when I noticed you were standing in the sun and thought you might be hungry."

It wasn't hard to get him to talk, after awhile she even regretted spiking the fruit. But she couldn't risk the fact he might realise something is amiss, soon he would be dead and now there was nothing that would change that.

The knights were busy with the normal day-to-day activities, albeit with a few bodyguards following them where ever they go. This irritated Kestral to the point ditched them in the garden. Few people had ever taken the time to learn the hiding places, tunnels, and secret doors that were scattered around the castle. Right now she was hiding in a small room behind a bookshelf in the library, though if she had hidden in the library itself she would be almost as certain of not being found. Most people mistook her for a person that didn't like books. In truth she did, but only good books but those were few for her. A loud scratching noise interrupted her from her latest find an old book called "Sun Tzu's Art Of War", turning around she saw Hakim come into the hidden room.

"There you are, you had the whole castle looking for you." He said in his usual elegant tone.

"I couldn't stand being constantly followed by those loud idiots you call men!" Kestral said, over the last few days' strain had been building among the knights only Hakim and Thordal seemed to be unaffected.

"I know how you feel." He said with concern evident in his voice. This surprised Kestral who was used to his normal melancholy. "But the guards are there to protect you"

"I know why they're here! And I don't need protection, if Sabatt shows up she's in for a fight!" Kestral said unsheathing her sword and waving it in the air for dramatic effect. Hakim let out a short chuckle, this surprised Kestral who found she enjoyed the sound of his voice.

"I know this is hard for you to sit around and wait for something to happen. But we don't have a choice." He said returning to his impassive way of speaking. Even though he didn't sound it he was concerned, Kestral never realised he cared so much but instead of feeling better she got angry.

"Of course it's hard! But you wouldn't understand! You're emotionless why don't you try and be human for a change? I don't need your pity, I need to be alone!" With that she charged out of the room and into the castle halls. She needed to be alone and think. Hakim was trying to help her why had she gotten so angry she didn't understand. She began running trying to find away out of the castle, eventually she burst into the garden and ran out to the hidden gate that led out of the city.

Chapter 4: Death Of A Prince.

"Sometimes there is no way to atone for your sins."

Crimson Sabatt

Sabatt had left the knight just before the poison had run its course, she had gotten all she needed out of him. Leaving the city she donned her red armor again and moved to the secret entrance to the castle the guard had told her about. From there she could sneak into the castle and complete her revenge. Sneaking around the walls careful not to get spotted by the sentries she made her way there. After some quick searching she found the hidden door the unlucky guard had told her about, but before she could open it the door swung open and Kestral burst out. This surprise slowed Sabatt's reaction time and kestral saw her.

"Perfect timing!" Kestral said with an edge to her voice she withdrew her sword. "I needed something to take my mind off today."

"Kestral. Don't try it." Sabatt said. she could feel something wasn't right about her. But before she could do anything kestral attacked. The fight was brutal, Kestral taking out her anger on the cause of most of her troubles, Sabatt managed to hold her own but slowly she was losing strength.

Kestral smiled as she fought, if she could beat Sabatt she would show everyone she could take care of herself. She used her superior strength to give her an edge but she was smart enough not to fall for any of Sabatt's feints.

Sabatt saw the battle wasn't going her way, she tried all the traps she knew, but Kestral saw through everyone. Her arms grew weaker and she could slowly see all her plans fade before her eyes, the voices came again, constantly screaming for her to give up. But her will was to strong she kept trying to gain the upper hand but was thwarted at every turn.

Kestral could feel the battle was over, with one swift movement she twisted the sword right out of Sabatt's hand.

"I win." Kestral said smiling. Sabatt lowered her head seeing she had lost, when she noticed something out of the corner of her eye.

"Kestral!" A shout came from behind, Kestral turned and saw Hakim whose face was stunned when he saw Sabatt, he tried to shout a warning, but it was to late. With Kestral distracted Sabatt pulled out Kestral's own dagger and stabbed it into her stomach.

"NO!" Hakim shouted rushing at Sabatt scimitar drawn, but Sabatt easily dodged his wild attack and disarmed him. Instead of finishing them of she ran into the castle.

Hakim rushed towards Kestral and pulled out the dagger, tearing some cloth from his hood and wrapping it around the open wound. Tears forming at his eyes.

"I'm sorry." He muttered, As Kestral's eyes closed.

Alandra had been spending the day thinking about the recent events, trying to figure out where Sabatt would strike next. But her thoughts were interrupted when Kestral burst out of the library and nearly knocked her over followed closely by Hakim. Alandra considered following but if the looks on their faces were anything to go by they needed to sort out whatever was bothering them alone. Alandra had only one possible choice if she wanted to find out what Sabatt was up to, but she struggled with herself over what to do. Eventually she decided on her course of action.

She went to the large oak door that led to the lower levels of the dungeon. Here she managed to convince the guards that no assassin would reach her, and told them to wait at the door. She carefully made her way through the empty dungeon passages until she reached the one-lit cell. Inside was the man who had caused such pain to so many.

"Finally a visitor. I thought I would never see another human face other than the guard who delivers the…" He stopped, as if thinking then said with some disgust. "…Food."

"If it was up to me Prince, you would be as far away from any human being as possible." Alandra said, surprised at how the Prince remained so smug. "The only reason I am here is to tell you that Sabatt is alive."

"Sabatt is meaningless to me, even down here I hear the gossip, she is after revenge and will soon be caught I have no need for such a incompetent general anymore." The Prince replied devoid of any emotion. This surprised Alandra but not nearly as much as the next voice she heard.

"Hello."

Once inside the castle Sabatt found it easy moving round the luscious garden. No one was looking for Kestral or Hakim, and most of the usual guards had left to join the King in Challia. The castle was even more deserted with only a few patrolling guards and servants; the only knight she saw was Thordal in the castle pantry. When she turned the corner leading to the entrance of the basement she saw five guards watching the hall, before the could blink she pulled out her sword and slashed the firsts throat. Then with a quick spin she stuck her sword through the next guard behind her. Instead of removing the sword she took out a small dagger stabbed the next in the shoulder than kicked him into the ground. The last one raised his hands in surrender and she knocked him out with a strong kick to the jaw.

"You'll live. Might have to drink through a straw though." She said to the now unconscious man. Then turned and entered the dungeon. The dungeon seemed o be devoid of any life but she knew the Red Prince was down here. She snuck through the corridors until finally noticing his cell. And surprisingly enough Alandra was talking to him; she snuck closer to hear the conversation.

"Sabatt is meaningless to me, even down here I hear the gossip, she is after revenge and will soon be caught I have no need for such a incompetent general anymore." Sabatt heard the Prince say, she realised a while ago how little the Prince cared about his underlings. She stepped out of the darkness and spoke.

"Hello."

Marcus had spent most of his day relaxing in his chambers, daydreaming. But once he realised he was thinking about Alandra he quickly decided to read a book instead. But his relaxation was cut short as a guard burst through the door.

"Sir!" The guard gasped for air. "Lady Kestral and Lord Hakim were discovered outside the city moments ago, Hakim has been badly injured and was taken to the physicians. They were attacked by Crimson Sabatt."

Without replying Marcus jumped up and ran out of room with all haste. As he ran he kept thinking about Alandra, Please let her be all right he repeated over and over to himself. Thordal saw him and followed.

"Where are you going?" Thordal asked though he had already heard the news and knew what Marcus's answer would be.

"I have to find Alandra!" Marcus said turning a corner; he almost tripped at the sight of Alandra's bodyguards lying dead and the door to the dungeon open. "We have to hurry!"

The two knights rushed through the dungeon until they finally saw Alandra standing face to face their hands on their hilts

"Sabatt!" Alandra gasped surprised, her hand immediately moved to the hilt of her sword.

"Ahhh Sabatt. Are you here to finally save me from this dreadful place." The Prince said unphased at her sudden appearance.

"You could say that." Sabatt said smiling maliciously but never taking her eyes off Alandra. "So Alandra isn't this situation oddly familiar."

"As I recall I won our last encounter." Alandra said, this time she would remain calm. She drew out her sword and took a defensive position.

"Beginners luck." Sabatt retorted, as she unsheathed her sword. "You should respect your superiors"

"Older doesn't mean wiser." Alandra taunted back determined not to make the first move.

Marcus almost charged forward but Thordal stopped him.

"Distracting her now would be fatal my love-struck friend." Thordal said. Marcus heard the last comment but ignored it, watching the fight as if his sheer willpower alone would cause her to win. As Thordal watched he was surprised at how they taunted one another, to him it looked more like to sisters fighting over boy rather than sworn enemies.

"Older!" Sabatt fumed, pulling out her sword and striking high but was easily blocked by Alandra. "I'm barely older than you!"

They continued to fight and taunt each one gaining and losing the upper hand. To a passer-by it would look more like a dance than a battle the blades creating a chorus of music as they sliced through the air each one quickly intercepted by the other, the sound of the steel smashing against steel was more precise than the most skilled orchestra. Marcus, Thordal, and even the Prince were enthralled at this dance of death. Soon the taunts stopped and each combatant concentrated on defeating the other. But Sabatt broke of the battle; she jumped back looking as if she was going to retreat but instead took out another of hr daggers spun round and threw it, suddenly time stopped.

Marcus rushed forward.

Sabatt collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.

Thordal shouted out warning.

And Alandra collapsed.

Marcus rushed to Alandra tears in his eyes, he rolled her over searching for where the dagger had struck but found none.

"It didn't hit me." Alandra said, as she and Marcus stared in each other's eyes. Thordal walked towards the prince's cell and saw he had collapsed with a dagger through his heart. Thordal turned to Sabatt.

"Why did you kill him?" Thordal asked the exhausted woman.

"He had to die."

Ok thats that, hope I get more reviews. Also I would like to thank ParchmentRose and Rockerduck for reviews and corrections. As usual please R&R and PM me any correction. For my next character corner here is...

Hakim:

Title: Knight/Prince

Hair Color: Black

Eye Color: Brown (Not sure on this)

Weapons: Carries a large scimitar

Armor: Wears an arabian garb

Family Connections: Parents deceased, brother presumed drowned at sea

Bio: Born a prince Hakim lost his parents and brother when a large storm struck their boat while sailing, he grew up in Janub and became a negotiator, joined the knights after they saved him from Sabatt.