Keelah and Corfy also had their heads together, however, their topic of discussion was more about reconnecting with each other after a decade of separation.

With everyone suitably 'distracted' and without the need to really concentrate on her astral projection since she was only playing babysitter to Fido, Annika decided now was the time to have a private word with the Queen. She poked her head around the door. "Your Majesty, may I come in?"

The Queen was sitting by the window gazing outside. She hastily wiped a tear from her cheek before masking her expression. "Annika, how can I help you?"

"Actually, I'd like to help you." The redhead closed the door behind her, figuring that this was definitely going to be a private discussion, and approached. After the monarch waved for her to sit, Annika chose the footstool for its proximity rather than the ornate chair a few feet away. Diplomacy had never been one of her strong suits, so she wasn't exactly sure how to begin. "One of the reasons I'm on SG-1 is that I have the ability to see people's auras."

Xa'bella tilted her head in curiosity. "Auras?"

She nodded. "I see reflections of people's souls as rainbows of light. Different colors mean different emotions."

"I have never heard of such a thing. Your view of life must be quite extraordinary."

Annika had to admire the woman's diplomacy. There wasn't even a hint of disbelief in her tone or expression. Wondered if it was part of her 'Royal training' and if she could get some lessons herself. "It can be, depending on the people around me." She took a deep breath and plunged right in. "I can see that guilt is ravaging your aura."

The Queen stiffened. "I'm sure I don't know what you mean."

"Begging your pardon, Your Majesty, but I'm sure you do."

The woman opened her mouth to deny it then shut it. Heaved a sigh. "It is mine to bear. To speak of it would have unbearable consequences."

"And to not speak of it will eventually consume you."

"Then it will consume me."

"I can't allow that to happen," Annika said. "Besides the fact that you're Keelah's family, so by default you're an honorary member of my family and I naturally don't want to see family hurting, my first priority is the safety of SG-1. This guilt is connected to our presence. I will find out what is causing it, if only to ensure my team is not in danger." She grimaced as she considered where the men were right now and that the Seekers were crawling around the castle. "Any more danger."

"And my priority is to this land and my family. This will tear both apart." She broke off as though fearing she had already said too much, then added. "It has nothing to do with the Goa'uld situation, of that, you have my word."

Annika had hoped it wouldn't come to this. This incident was linked to such strong emotions in the woman’s memory that the psychic had no doubt a single touch would allow her to see what had happened. And she was willing to do that if she needed to. "I don't need you to speak to find out. The other reason I'm on SG-1 is that I am a psychic. Normally I receive visions by touch, but if the 'issue' is strong enough I don't even need to do that. The right question asked, the correct item touched, will show me in intimate detail whatever this secret is. I'd rather not have to do that. Please don't force me to." The last was a bluff. One word from the Queen and the guards would have been carting her out. That the woman didn't make a move to call the guards, told her that she wanted to share the burden of what she was feeling. Her next quiet comment confirmed it.

"Revealing it will only cause unnecessary heartache and pain."

"Your Majesty, keeping secrets goes with the territory for me because of my abilities. If it's not pertinent to work, I don't share my visions with anyone except the person I receive them from. Sometimes not even them. I promise that whatever you tell me will remain between us." She paused then pushed a little harder. "We have a saying, 'confession is good for the soul'. From experience I know this to be true."

Xa'bella studied her for a long moment the indecision clear on her face, then she turned to once again look at the window, blankly staring out. "Do you have monarchies on your planet?"

"We’ve had just about every kind of leadership position in our history. Kings, emperors, pharaohs, presidents, dictators." Now that the woman was starting to talk, Annika was willing to back off and let her explain in her own way.

"Is it the same that royal marriages have little to do with love and everything to do with what’s best for the land?"

"It used to be."

"My marriage to Corfen'esci'que was arranged for the sole purpose of ending the feud that had lasted for half a millennia, but I very quickly grew to love him."

"Any fool can see he loves you too." Her comment caused the woman's aura to flare with love and fear. She could see that she was having trouble putting her thoughts into words.

"Corfy is King out of duty, not because of some burning desire to rule. If Kara'neenya decides to take up her rightful position as ruling monarch, I know that he will not fight her."

Annika didn’t show her confusion at the apparent change of topic. "You’re not worried about losing your station as Queen." She said it as a statement.

"No, but there would be no reason for Corfy to remain with me." Her voice trembled and she drew in a steadying breath. "Our people have begun to mend the bridges of centuries of war, have done it so well that the visual reminder of our union is not needed anymore."

"Look, I’m going to be blunt and ask straight out, what did you do that you think it will kill Corfy’s love for you if he finds out?" There was a distinct shift in her aura and Annika realized that her question hadn’t been quite right. "You didn’t do whatever it is."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "No, I didn’t, and I didn’t know about it until the day of my father’s death two years ago." The last was said as a desperate plea.

"I believe you," Annika assured.

The tension eased from her shoulders fractionally, like the first hurdle had been crossed. "It seems that my father also shared your mentality about confession. On his deathbed, he decided to unburden his soul for an...act he committed." Her tone was bitter.

"Okay."

"My father’s reign was dedicated to ending the war between our two lands. When the royal twins were born, he saw it as an opportunity. My brother, Suk'art, was approximately six years old at the time...Father came up with the idea of an alliance through marriage between Suk'art and Kara'neenya."

Annika nodded. She’d heard of betrothals happening before the children in question could even walk. "A sound political move." She frowned. A betrothal would have meant a cease in hostility, yet Keelah remembered the feud had still been going on when she was taken. "The betrothal never happened?"

"No. Before Father could put forth his proposal, Suk'art died in a riding accident."

"I’m sorry." The condolence was automatic as Annika tried to figure out the puzzle.

Xa'bella gave a graceful shrug. "I never knew him. This happened two years before I was born. My father’s plan of ending the feud died with Suk'art." She took a deep breath. "Only to be resurrected when my mother gave birth to a healthy baby girl."

Annika’s frown deepened. She wracked her brain of what she knew of the politics of ‘Noble Reign’. She’d never heard of an alliance of such magnitude going forth with anyone except an heir. To offer anyone of less standing would have demeaned the alliance... Annika went cold all over. "Holy shit. Your father was behind Keelah’s abduction."

Zipping back across the lake, Casper was surprised to see Daniel, Jack and Teal'c once again at the bottom of the stairs. Ignoring the queen's soft coo of delight at their returned company she drifted over. "Miss me?" she teased.

"Always," Daniel grinned then explained. "It's like Grand Central Station up there."

"Something's going down," Jack sighed. "Abner's keeping watch until things calm down so we can slip out."

"Well, I've got an update," she reported. "Xa'bella's guilt has nothing to do with the snakehead."

"That's a good thing." Daniel was confused by the emotions traveling through their bond. To say that she was completely stunned was an understatement.

"For the current situation...not for the Royal Family, possibly the kingdom if it gets out."

"I take it you're not going to share?" Jack asked.

She shook her head, being careful not to look at Teal'c. "It's a family issue. Rationality will be tenuous at best without our interference." She paused. "Uh oh."

"Not something I want to hear from you, Casper."

"How about 'fuck'?"

"How about an explanation?"

"Um...the shit is about to hit the fan," she replied a little absently as she concentrated on what was happening back at the castle. Muttered under her breath. "Has the man never heard of knocking?" Her gaze took on a vacant stare, then grimaced, focusing once again on the men.

"Um...you may have to come bail me out of jail."

"For what?" Daniel was the first to get in the obvious question.

"If I'm lucky, defying a Crown order...if not, possibly assaulting a king."

"Why would you wanna go and do a thing like that?" Jack demanded.

"Let's call it anger management. His." She took a deep breath. "I'll be back."

She blinked out, leaving the men of SG-1 exchanging perplexed, worried looks.

The Queen dipped her head. "I didn’t know...nobody did, except for the Leader of the Guards who organized it. I was told that he died a few months after in a skirmish...in hindsight I believe he may have been looking for death. I wish to the gods that my father had died before I reached him that day. The guilt I would be feeling over not getting to him soon enough to say my farewells would be nothing to what I’m feeling now...I would not hate him...I would remember him as my loving father...not the cold, calculating man who abducts children and sells them into slavery."

Annika was temporarily lost for words. Of all the possible secrets the Queen could have been hiding, that had never even crossed her mind. She asked the first question that popped into her head though it wasn't exactly critical given the revelation. "Why did he wait so many years before doing it?"

"I have no idea. Lack of the right opportunity perhaps. Maybe it took that long to defeat his moral conscience. I don't know and there's no one left alive to ask." She drew in another shaky breath, her eyes welling with tears. "You’ve seen how the people of the castle have reacted to Kara'neenya’s return. That is but a small example. The entire country loved the Princess and vengeance is still spoken of if the perpetrators are ever found. If it were revealed that my father orchestrated her abduction for the purpose of making me the queen...it would have devastating effects on the entire kingdom. And Corfy..." Her voice shook. "I doubt he will ever forgive me."

"Leave us."

Neither woman had heard the door open, so they couldn't say just how long the King had been standing there. His expression told them he'd been there long enough.

Annika was never more grateful to have her ability to see auras. Outwardly Corfy was shocked and angry, understandably so. Not even all his years of schooling his expression could stop that from showing. But his aura showed just how furious he truly was. As ecstatic as he was over his twin's return, it had reopened the wounds of grief, anger, worry and frustration from when she was taken and the ensuing years thereafter. The revelation would have been a shock at anytime, however now especially with the added threat of Uneg, she could see that it was too much at one time. He was too emotionally raw to have this come out now. He wasn't seeing his very pregnant wife whom he loved. All he saw was the betrayal, the lies, the 'person' responsible for tearing his family apart. "Um...No."

Those furious eyes widened in surprise. "I beg your pardon?"

Annika steeled herself. The Queen was too upset and ravaged by guilt that she wouldn't defend herself. And that wasn't counting the added stress of the last two weeks. The tiny aura around her belly flickered in distress. If she didn't do something to deflect the King's rage, he'd say or do something he'd regret. "I said no."

"This is a private matter."

"Yes, it is. Between your wife and me." Annika took a step towards him. "Where do you get off just barging in here? You think because you're the King you can just waltz in to your wife's private chambers?"

"Get out!"

"I am not one of your servants you can boss about."

"She is a traitor to the Crown!"

"She is your wife who is carrying your child," she countered. "A traitor wouldn't be harboring the guilt that a blind man can see...unwarranted guilt for she knew nothing of her father's actions."

"What's going on here?" Keelah asked. She and Sam had come rushing at the raised voices. The former slave looked from her brother to Annika for an explanation; her gaze wound up on the Queen who was trying unsuccessfully to stop sobs from shaking her body. "Xa'bella, what's wrong?" When she tried to get by her brother he grabbed her by the arm stopping her.

"Kara, no, stay away from her!"

Keelah's reaction was instinctual. After years of manhandling she wasn't about to put up with it from her brother of all people. She wrenched her arm free, her hand flying up. There was a resounding crack as her palm slapped his cheek. "Don't you ever touch me like that again. Not any woman." She hurried to Xa'bella's side, casting a desperate glance to Annika, who was still standing protectively between the King and Queen. "What's going on?"

Before Annika could answer, Xa'bella clutched at her hand. "I'm so sorry."

"For what?"

"My father..."

"Dorduei," Corfy spat out the name, "was behind your abduction."

Totally bewildered, Keelah frowned. "What has that to do with why you're yelling?"

Corfy gaped at his sister in disbelief at her reaction, shocked that she wasn't feeling the same emotions he was. "She is the daughter of the man who had you sold into slavery. She is the enemy!"

"For crying out loud!" Jack's trademark exclamation slipped from Keelah's mouth. "She can't help who her father was. If you're going to use that argument, then as the heir of the opposing land, she was your 'enemy' when you married her, and you were hers. And yet somehow you two enemies were able to bring peace to the kingdom and by some miracle fall in love."

"A love built on deception and lies and your stolen life!" he roared.

"What does it matter by who or why I was abducted?" Keelah had long ago stopped tormenting herself with that question. Whether she had a name or a reason wouldn't have changed her situation in her Master's household and after her rescue it had become even more irrelevant. "There are enough problems in the present that should be the focus of your attention, Your Majesty, without harping on ancient history that cannot be changed."

There was a sudden yelling louder than what was going on in the Royal chambers from the corridor, followed by the distinct sound of zats' being fired. Guards who had entered the residence at the raised voices and had discreetly started to leave, were immediately on alert. The Lord Captain motioned for the guards to take up defensive positions around the King and boudoir door. They'd barely had a chance to move when the main door was flung open and a dozen armed Seekers barged in; they could see more taking up position out in the corridor.

"What's the meaning of this?" Corfy's rage was transferred to the intruders. "It was agreed you are not to enter the private residence."

"The privilege of privacy is henceforth revoked." Uneg strode into the room, eyes glowing.

"For what reason?" he demanded, taking a few steps away from the boudoir.

"You forget your position, King," he mocked the title. "It was from my good grace I granted that privilege and how do you repay my kindness? You defy my orders and conspire against me."

Shooting daggers with his glare at the Goa'uld, he scooped her into his arms, holding her tight. His scowl hid the fear that gripped his heart of how Uneg would react to that little show of defiance from his daughter.

Uneg was amused, his lips curling into a cold smile. "Children are such wonderful creatures. They reflect the attitude of those around them." The smile dropped. "Thus proving what my men reported about your actions."

"Your spies are delusional," Corfy replied denying the accusation.

"And I suppose the Tau'ri team who arrived this morning is also a delusion?"

"Tau'ri? I'm sure I've never heard of them before." Corfy placed a gentle hand to his trembling daughter's head encouraging her to keep her face nestled to the side of his neck. It was both a comforting gesture and to keep her vision shielded from the goings on in the room.

"Come now, do you really want to play such games? Bring to me the six strangers who came to your court and I shall possibly not exact punishment from you."

The King remained stubbornly silent.

Uneg waved his hand at the Seekers. "Search the entire wing for the foreigners known as SG-1."

The women trapped in the boudoir exchanged looks. There wasn't anywhere for the members of SG-1 to hide. Annika and Keelah could duck behind the couch, but if the Seekers conducted a search they would be easily found. Being on the far side of the room Sam didn't even have that option. Uneg obviously knew of them and so it became a question of controlling what they could. Their number one priority was to make sure that Keelah was not found for her family resemblance to the King was unmistakable.

Taking a deep breath for courage, the colonel stepped out. "No need to search. I'm the only one here."

Immediately one of the Seekers grabbed her by the arm while a second started to disarm her.

"Colonel Carter, that was far too easy for a member of SG-1." Uneg scanned her body, used the memories of his host to make sure his Jaffa didn't miss any of the weapons that were non-native to the planet. When his gaze landed on the nine mil the Seeker removed with a touch of curiosity, he motioned for it to be handed over to him.

Sam remained placid under the groping hands. "No point in hiding when your toddler Jaffa would have found me in short order."

"My men may be inexperienced in the ways of the gods, but they learn very quickly." The Goa'uld's tone was slightly vague as he tested the weight of the gun in his hand. "I must say that I was surprised when I was informed of your team's presence here. How ever did you track me?"

"We're just that good." Sam gazed at him impassively. Mentally she cursed Kinsey. For the Goa'uld to know her by sight, the senator must have given descriptions and if he had gone into that much detail, she wondered just how much more Kinsey had blabbed about under torture. "Ask Kinsey, I'm sure he'll be able to confirm that."

"Ah, the good senator isn't in any fit state to answer any questions right now. I'm afraid my last interrogation left him temporarily dead." He pulled back the slide of the gun then returned it to its proper place. "Where are your teammates?"

"Out taking a stroll. It's such a lovely day out today."

Uneg barely acknowledged the sarcasm, abruptly changing the subject. "My host has always wanted to fire one of these." He was still studying the gun. "I don't know why. It's a primitive piece of weaponry." He gave a shrug. "But never let it be said that I don't fulfill my loyal subjects' desires." Almost nonchalantly he raised the gun, pointed it at random at one of the Kings Guards and pulled the trigger. The gunshot made everyone jump and the unfortunate guard in the firing line dropped to the floor dead with a bullet in his forehead.

Kara'neenya, who had only just stopped crying, started up again, weeping into her dad's shoulder.

"You son-of-a-bitch, there was no need to do that!" Sam tried to jerk herself free but the Seeker's grip was iron clad.

"On the contrary," Uneg contradicted in a condescending tone. "The false rulers of this world conspired against me. The little slaves need to learn that there are consequences to their disobedience."

"There was no disobedience," Sam snapped, automatically launching into a lie to protect the others in the room. "We came here to convince them that you're just a parasite and not a god. The King and Queen defended your position most adamantly."

"If that is true," he shrugged, "then we shall consider that little action as a warning should they even think of rebellion. I ask for the last time, where are the rest of your team?"

"I told you already," she ground out. "They are not in the castle."

"You expect me to believe that your teammates left you here alone to convince the monarchs to rebel, and not Jackson, the well known diplomat of your team?"

"Nine years of working with Daniel tends to rub off."

"Do I need to give another lesson?" He raised the gun and pointed it at Gerino.

The Lord Captain didn't give a chance for Sam to even weigh up her decision. He pulled his shoulders back, staring defiantly at the Goa'uld. "They are not here."

"He speaks the truth," Xa'bella staggered from the boudoir, leaning heavily against the door, effectively blocking the two Seekers who were starting to walk in to carry out the search Uneg had ordered. "There is no one here but us..." Her last word became a hiss and she clutched a hand to her belly. The hiss turned into a groan and her knees buckled.

The Seekers automatically caught the woman they had called Queen before she hit the floor.

"Bella!" The sight of his wife collapsing made him forget whatever rage he had been feeling towards her. He raced to her side. Kara'neenya, still in his arms, began to cry again.

"We have her, Your Maj-" the Seeker cut off the title of address that had been ingrained in him until Uneg had made his appearance. Darted a fearful glance at Uneg at the slip before addressing the King once more. "Where shall we put her?"

"Bring her here." Uneg's voice was steely, his eyes glowing brightly, making the point that he was the one in control. He gestured to the couch.

The Seekers gave a head nod. Before moving away, the Seeker closest to the room looked inside, scanning the area for any possible hiding places. His gaze rested on the couch for a second then dismissed it. Helping to carry the Queen to the couch he reconsidered. There was no way five people could be hidden behind the boudoir couch, however one could, perhaps two.

"Continue to search the rest of the wing," Uneg ordered. As the two Seekers again moved to the room they had tried twice now to search, the Goa'uld spoke to Sam and the monarchs. "If you are lying and they are found, I assure you that your penance will be much larger than one mere dead guard."

As soon as Uneg had made his entrance Annika had astral projected back to the cave to inform the guys and had been giving them a running commentary of what was going on.

"Keelah cannot be found, O'Neill," Teal'c said quietly. "We must confirm Colonel Carter's words to Uneg."

Jack agreed. "Casper, turn your and Keelah's radios off."

Back in the room, the redhead quickly did as bid. She and Keelah had ducked behind the couch the moment Sam had played decoy and had been listening anxiously to what had been going on in the next room.

Jack pressed the speaker button of his radio. "Hey, I'm talking to Ugly, the idiot snakehead with delusions of grandeur. Don't you know it's bad form to call someone a liar?"

Uneg picked up the device, motioning for the Seekers to once again halt their search. Again using his host's memories on how to work the foreign communication device, he pressed the speaker button. "You must be the irreverent General O'Neill. Kinsey has told me so much about you. We really must meet face to face."

"No thanks," Jack quipped. "Seen one false god you've seen them all."

"I insist."

"Well, I and the rest of my team are not in the castle right now, so leave a forwarding address and we'll get back to you when hell freezes over."

The Goa'uld's eyes narrowed. "If you're not within hearing distance of the residence then how did you know when to speak so conveniently through this device?"

Jack opened his mouth to reply but Casper beat him to it. "Because of me, you moron. My abilities give us an impeccable sense of timing."

"You must be the seer Jackson married," Uneg drawled. "I'm afraid Kinsey was not very complimentary when he spoke of you."

"The feeling's mutual."

Uneg returned the conversation to the matter at hand. "Show yourself to my men or I'll have to exact my displeasure on your teammate."

"You lay a finger on her," Jack warned, "and I'll show my displeasure by killing your queen."

The Goa'uld's eyes narrowed. "My queen is in a secure location."

"Does beneath the monastery in an underground lake ring any bells?" he asked innocently. "And if you think we just gave away our current location then you're as much a fool as all the other snakeheads we've killed."

"Then you are bluffing about being able to kill her so readily."

"Well, if you can call having an Asgard laser weapon aimed at the monastery a bluff." Jack ignored the raised eyebrows from Daniel and Teal'c. He was well aware that he was playing a life and death game of poker with the chips being the lives of pretty much everyone on the planet. The question was who would fold first.

"If you fire upon the monastery then I shall retaliate by destroying this kingdom."

"Now who's bluffing? Destroy the town and you will also destroy all that remains of the mineral you wanna' get your slimy paws on."

The Goa'uld's eyes flashed gold in anger at the mention of the quorite and everyone waited tensely for his reply.

"You have fifteen minutes to present yourselves to my Jaffa or I will kill a person every minute until you do."

"We're in the hills, it'll take us at least an hour to get to the monastery."

"Then forty-five deaths will be on your head," Uneg replied coldly. "Your time starts now." He paused a moment, then pressed the speaker button again. "And, General, should you have the idea to try to fire upon my ship, know that you will also be firing upon your Colonel Carter." The Goa'uld considered what he knew of the mindset of SG-1 and realized that the threat might not be enough of a deterrent. His gaze landed on the Royal trio on the couch beside him. "And on the sweet, little, innocent princess."

That quiet statement caused a uproar as the Goa'uld suspected it would and he purposefully kept the speaker on the radio depressed so that Jack and the others would hear. He tapped at the bracelet on his wrist with the butt of the nine mil, activating the personal shield just as a half a dozen zat' blasts were shot towards him. The Seekers left outside the protective barrier retaliated, stunning the King's Guards. The one Seeker who was within the protective shield with Uneg and the Royal Family started to pry the clinging girl from her father's arms. Both monarchs held on to their daughter, refusing to let her go.

Uneg placed the barrel of the gun against the back of Kara'neenya's head. "Release her, or I will put a bullet in her skull right now."

The threat had the desired result. The King and Queen froze, and with hearts thudding in anger and fear for their daughter, allowed the Seeker to take her.

Kara'neenya continued to struggle. "No, Pa'pap, Ma'mam! I don't want to go with the scary man!"

Corfy felt like his heart was being ripped in two, but he forced himself to speak calmly, putting into his tone as much authority as a father and a king as he could. "Kara'neenya, you need to go with this person for a little while. We need you to be brave and put on your best Princess face."

The little girl's lower lip trembled but she gave a tiny nod.

Uneg raised the radio to his mouth. "I hope you caught that touching display, O'Neill."

Jack muttered a curse. "We're on our way."

"King, you will escort us to the courtyard," Uneg demanded. "Should anyone try to stop us from leaving, I will kill her. She has no place in my plans to retake this planet, so keeping your daughter alive is no use to me."

Corfy stiffly rose to his feet and the Goa'uld gave a shake of his head in mock disappointment. "Tsk, tsk, you shall have to do better than that. You are supposed to be happy and accepting of my presence." He draped an arm over the King's shoulders as though they were the best of friends. "Now plaster a smile on your face and casually walk with me. The lives of your daughter and the people of this kingdom depend on it."

The King didn't know how he did it but he managed the semblance of a smile. With a parting glance at his wife he began walking. The Seeker with Kara'neenya moved to the King's side, with Sam and her escorts bringing up the rear.

Keeping his pace at a stroll, Corfy glanced at the Seeker who was holding his daughter's hand. "Is this the kind of god you want to devote your life to? One who threatens children and the lives of your family and every person you've ever known?"

"Careful, King." Uneg's fingers dug painfully into Corfy's shoulder. "You don't want anyone to hear your blasphemous tone."

The King refrained from speaking any further, for he knew that he wouldn't be able to raise even a scrap of civility. Five minutes later, trembling with rage he watched helplessly as the Goa'uld and his hostages disappeared in a ring of light.

Back in the cavern, Abner cast a worried glance at the others. Casper had zipped up to him when Uneg had made his appearance at the castle and he had abandoned his post as lookout to be privy to what was going on. "Are you really going to do as Uneg asked?"

"We may have to." Daniel pinched the bridge of his nose, a habit of his whenever he was trying to think a problem through. "We can't risk him going through with his threat."

"But with you captured it will only give Uneg another hold over the King," Abner frowned. He hated the thought of anyone being killed but he was thinking ahead to the bigger picture.

The ghostly image of Annika gave a wry grin. "Most Goa'uld find they have a problem actually keeping us in custody."

"We could learn much of Uneg's set up and battle readiness if we are taken onboard the ship," Teal'c mused.

"Providing he doesn't kill us on sight," Daniel retorted dryly. "And that he doesn't throw us into a cell up there." He waved a hand indicating the monastery above.

Jack had been listening to the conversation, his mind running over possible scenarios and made a decision. "Kids, we are going to present ourselves to the Seekers."

Daniel caught the gleam in his best friend's eye. "Okay."

The general gave a smirk. "It's just not going to be where his snakiness expects."