Pretty When You Cry (1)

[Markus Everglade]

finally getting a good night’s sleep. Then again, it could have been triggered by Kylara. Raythor was glad to reach the stable, if only for the reason he no longer had to walk.
"Anella?" Sounds that could have been anything from sobs to mumbles greeted him.
"...I don’t know what to do, I feel so stupid..." It sounded like Anella, anyway.
"Anella." Raythor called a second time. The noise stopped. She stood in the doorframe, a hand above her eyes to block the sun. When she saw who it was, she almost retreated again.
"Oh. Hi, Raythor. I really can’t tell you how sorry I am."
"That’s just what I was about to tell you."
"What?"
"Look, I don’t know what I did but I’m sorry." That made her smile, if only a little.
"You didn’t do anything. I left of my own accord."
"Oh." He seemed ready to leave after that.
"Raythor?"
"Hm?"
"Thanks for helping out Rose and I."
"Don’t worry about it."

Chapter Six

Light and Shadow

"So, wait, Gabriel. What happened to you yesterday?" Markus questioned. The other boy’s voice was so soft Markus had trouble hearing it at all. The prince had not been paying the most rapt attention either; he was watching Anella and Raythor talk about something. They were too far away for him to hear a word. Ketra, Dione and Rea stood around him as well.
"Well," Gabriel said carefully, "To make it simple, this is Saria. She and her friend want to help."
"Pleased to meet you!" Saria exclaimed in a sing-song voice, twirling around and grinning like an idiot. Markus stared at her with bewilderment, and then finally said:
"It’s a pleasure to meet you. Who is your friend?" Dasher landed next to him dramatically at his last word.
"I’m an ele-"
"He’s perfectly aware of what you are, light princess." Blade snarled, swishing his tail back and forth. "What are you doing here, in the human’s kingdom?"
"I could ask you the same thing, shadow." Dasher returned, with equal venom.
"What could you possibly do that would be of any help?"
"Everything you can, and I don’t have to slash any throats to do it."
"I should slit-"
"What’s going on here? Do you two know each other?" Markus interrupted, looking from one to the other.
"It wouldn’t matter." Gabriel’s quiet voice explained. "Their kingdoms have always hated each other. They are opposites, light and shadow."

[Markus Everglade]

"Good and evil." Dasher jabbed.
"You have never heard the tales?" The blacksmith queried. Ketra and Markus started.
"You can’t mean the-" Markus began.
"Yes. They are one and the same as the desert wolves of legend."
"They aren’t covered in fire."
"Fire is not the only element." Blade spoke as though he were talking to a child. "There are six: fire, spirit or wind, light, earth, water and shadow. Humans have only ever seen the ones who touch your borders. The rest of us live beyond the sea of sand."
"You’re all from Laina?" It was too much for Markus to absorb all at once. He’d never even slightly believed in desert wolves.
"As you call it, yes."
"Are you going to bore him to tears or are we going to save what’s her name?" Dasher said.
"After you," Blade returned. The two rushed off into the forest, presumably tracking Kylara.
"We’re going to lose them if we don’t hurry." Ketra said.
"Right. Where are-"Markus said.
"Raythor? Right here." The dark haired boy nodded. "Been here for awhile now."
"And Anella?"
"Here." The shy girl said softly.
"Right. I’m sure that makes sense somehow. Raythor?" Markus asked.
"What?" The dark haired boy said.
"How are you going to keep up with the horses?"
"I’m a fast walker, trust me."
"You should ride with somebody." Ketra agreed.
"I should." He agreed.
"And?" Ketra persisted.
"Oh, I thought that was a hypothetical question." Raythor said. Markus sighed heavily.
"I don’t mind sharing a horse." Anella whispered. Ranier was looking at Raythor with some sort of deranged affection.
They rode off in silence. Raythor had an expression on his face that suggested he’d just eaten an entire lemon, eyes avoiding the ground at all costs. The murmur of conversation made him retreat farther into his own mind. His thoughts were still jumbled, and his head throbbed every once in awhile, but he didn’t show it. He’d learned not to show anything. It was easier that way, easier here where no one knew or feared his name. In Caltha, things were different. He didn’t want to think about that. Nothing from his past was a good memory. This trip certainly wasn’t going to be any different.
"I’ve tracked her to here." Dasher announced, standing by the side of a squat little building.
"If there humans are trying to harm Kylara, it’s very likely they’re going to try and kill us too." Blade growled. Dasher scowled at him.
"Someone has to go closer and make sure." Saria said insistently.
"I volunteer Raythor." Ketra suggested.
"What? I’m the injured party," The boy argued.

[Markus Everglade]

"You saved me. You can walk without making a sound."
"Do you really think that is a good idea?" Anella said, worried. "He is hurt."
"I’m fine. I’m just sick of playing the hero all the time." Raythor replied.
"You have the right to be." Saria ignored them all and strode purposefully toward the front door. Then she knocked loudly.
"What is she doing?" Dione asked. Before anyone could answer, the door crashed open. An older woman with a permanent scowl stared out at all of them.
"What do you want?" She boomed.
"We’re looking for our friend. Her name is Kylara. Is she here?" Saria said innocently. "She’s got black hair, green eyes and tan skin."
"Loud and obnoxious?" Raythor offered. Ketra glared.
"Kylara?" The women said, voice still loud. "What kind of name is that? Never heard of her!"
"That’s too bad." Anella said, not actually sounding all that sorry.
"Thank you anyway, milady." Markus said resignedly. A boy darted up behind the old lady.
"What do you want me to do with the- who are these people?"
"I don’t know." The old lady said, unconcerned. "Put the pigeon in the oven."
"Pigeon?" Markus said skeptically.
"Err, yes. A pigeon." The boy agreed nervously.
"Bally, get back inside." The old women snapped.
"Let us in, by order of the heir of Everglade and the crown of Carina.” Markus said, trying his best to sound as imperious as his father. The old lady extended her arm across the doorway.
"Why should I? This is my property."
"This is Rea’s forest." Dione nearly snarled.
"I’m the queen." Rea added enthusiastically.
"Just a moment." The old women slammed the door.
"Rea, where did you come from anyway?" Marks asked, looking at her with confusion.
"The castle, obviously."
"Of course."
"What if she’s moving dead or alive Kylara in there?" Raythor asked with a grim sort of fascination. Ketra grimaced. The door creaked open again, and the old lady’s face peered out.
"You can come in now. Quickly!" She grabbed Anella’s arm, who was closest to her, and pulled her inside, slamming the door shut. Everyone started talking at once.
"Wait." Ketra commanded. "Let me go in there first. I wasn’t much use to you in the last battle."
"Ketra, I’m not letting you go in there alone." The prince protested.
"It’s just an old lady in there. She can handle it." Raythor assured him. Ketra went inside, and faded into the darkness with the two elementists padding after her. The light and shadow never stopped glaring at one and other. Markus followed his sister, completely losing his vision as he went.
"Anella? Anella, are you all right?" He called softly. Footsteps echoed behind him and someone complained about their foot being stepped on.

[Markus Everglade]

Anella watched helplessly as a group of what looked like bandits came up behind her friends and held swords against their throats. She couldn’t warn them, for her own captor was just as relentless.
"Such a big rescue party for a measly assassin." The old lady crooned, walking among her prisoners.
"Don’t move." Markus said, but there was no need. Everyone was just as petrified as he was.
"You’d do best to leave her to her fate."
"We can’t let her die." Ketra said bravely. Markus felt relieved hearing her voice once more. She hadn’t gotten herself killed. A thought struck him suddenly.
"Blade! Dasher!" Two lights flashed. One was bright, and revealed Dasher at the mercy of a bandit herself. She shook her head sadly, mouthing "I’m sorry." The light faded. The second glimmer was more of a hole in the darkness than anything else. Blade was flashing his tail menacingly at Bally, who was unarmed. The old lady was unimpressed.
"You understand if you refuse to leave, I’m going to have to let them kill you." She said. Seven knives pressed tighter against just as many throats. Blade’s absence of shadow faded too.
"There are royalty among us. If you kill them, their countries will find you and burn you alive." Raythor threatened. His voice held so little emotion that the old lady shivered.
"Not all of you are royalty. I could spill plenty of blood here. I might even get a reward for killing you, if you’re who I think you are."
"Then you know what I’m capable of."
"Raythor..." Markus said, unable to say more.
"Enough of this." The old lady said. She took out a sword of her own, pointing it at Anella. "Watch her bleed, and then we’ll see just what you’re capable-" Her eyes drained of life and she hit the floor. Kylara, a pleased look on her face, stepped over the body.
"How could anyone be so stupid as to leave me unattended? I guess she learned the hard way."
"Great, but what exactly are we going to do now?" Raythor asked. Anella, now free, sunk to her knees, unable to move. Kylara had saved her life. She was so terrified the world stopped making sense. It was worse than on the battlefield, so much worse. Dasher broke free, flashing light, and a fight broke out. Saria walked over, hand outstretched.
"It’s terrible, isn’t it, the first time you almost die?" She asked sympathetically. Anella nodded and took Saria’s hand. Saria pulled her up with surprising ease. "Just don’t think about it. Think about something happy."
"Are you both ok back there?" Markus called.
"Don’t get distracted. Cover them!" Raythor responded instantly. Anella’s thought drifted to horses in a field. They began to change as the battle ended. She blushed.
“Did you think about something bad?" Saria asked, as the sound of falling enemy weapons accompanied her voice.
"Yes." Anella said quickly.

[Markus Everglade]

"Get out of here before we gut the lot of you." Raythor said. They all started running, pushing each other to get out first.
"Cowards." Kylara said, spitting after them. Markus and Raythor sheathed their swords. Markus sighed with relief, but Raythor still looked agitated.
"Kylara, who were those people? Why are they after you? If they’re going to come back we have a problem and..." He trailed off, shutting his eyes.
"I knew it, you are still injured." Ketra frowned. "We had better get you back to Rea’s."
"No hurry."
"What did you think of?" Saria asked Anella.
"Nothing." The shy girl assured her. "Raythor, you should s-sit down."
"How sad, to think of nothing."
"I’m fine, Anella. Are you all right?" Raythor said. He shifted his weight from foot to foot, glancing back as Kylara as though she were a demon.
"Those were henchmen of my old boss." Kylara said, unconcerned.
"Are they going to come back?" Markus parroted.
"No, I don’t think so." Kylara said.
"I’m the one that’s fine. You need to sit down." Anella said, grabbing Raythor’s shoulder and trying to force him down.
"Anella, I think you’re suffering from shock." Raythor said slowly, putting his hand over hers and resisting being pushed down.
"Maybe she thought about someone dying, and it scared her!" Saria exclaimed. "Was that it, Anella?"
"You know, you might as well sit down. It can’t hurt." Markus said, clearly reassured by Kylara’s remark. "Anella is just worried about you."
"Fine, fine." Raythor grumbled. He let go of her hand and sat on the ground. "Happy?"
"Yes." She said, unable to think of any other response. She was trying desperately to shake it off, and it was just making it worse.
"This isn’t working." Raythor said pessimistically.
"Try to think of nice ponies again." Saria coaxed. "Markus, do something you would never do."
"Such as? And how would it help, anyway?" Markus asked. "More shock won’t help."
"That’s an interesting point, I guess."
"Dasher, you’re a Light. Do something." Blade challenged. Dasher sighed and rolled her eyes.
"There’s nothing physically wrong with her, stupid."
"We just have to get her out of here." Raythor said, looking much less imposing on the ground. "Hopefully, someone at the castle will know what to do."

Chapter Seven

Archer

[Markus Everglade]

Kylara was the only one not in some sort of altered state on the return trip to the castle. She led the party. Saria, close behind, was singing a soft, haunting melody. She kept her horse close to Anella’s; guarding her like a dog would a sheep. Raythor sat behind Anella once more, avoiding everyone’s eyes and trying to ignore the ground as well. It wasn’t working very well. Anella herself just seemed out of focus. Ranier drew to a sudden halt, and Raythor jerked forward.
"Sorry about that. I’m not used to horses." He muttered almost inaudibly. Ketra gave him a look that suggested just how obvious she thought that was.
"Why did we stop, Rea?" Markus called. The queen turned.
"It’s Dione. Something must be wrong."
Blade watched the violent redhead talk quickly to Carina’s queen. How much of what had happened was his fault? He was the one who led the army to the castle. He hadn’t meant to, of course, but he’d learned a long time ago it didn’t matter if you meant to or not. People died, people got hurt. You couldn’t make mistakes like that, once you were king. All that power could get so many more people into trouble, could make so many hate you. The way his brother hated him, for being chosen to be future king... Blade shook all his thoughts away. Hopefully, this wasn’t about him at all. He had to help the humans anyway. It was the very least that he could do.
"Markus?" Blade asked. The prince, with one eye still on Rea, turned back.
"Yes?"
"The girl you told me about before, in the graveyard... What was her name?"
"The one who tried to kill me?" Markus said. He could almost feel the bracelet burning in his pocket. "Kenetari Whitestar. She has to be mixed up in everything that has happened so far." He had ceased watching Rea, who was still talking to Dione and showed no signs of moving.
"She must be with whoever is following me as well, then." Blade agreed.
"ARE YOU KIDDING ME?" Dione yelled. "THAT STUPID, LOW DOWN, NO GOOD, DECEITFUL, BA..."
"Dione, Dione please calm down. You know Frederick really encouraged him to-" Rea pleaded, trying feverishly to comfort her maid.
"When is it? When’s the wedding? He’s going to be so dead by then there won’t be a body left for them to find."
"You have to try to understand-"
"James is NOT going to talk his way out of this one."
"Maybe we should ride on ahead." Anella suggested softly. Slowly, the rest of the group filed past, toward the castle. Dione’s shouts followed them all the way.

****

A few seconds away from Laura seemed like heaven. Rose found herself actually grateful she didn’t have servants around to check the mail for her. It wasn’t that Rose didn’t like Laura, it was just the maid enjoyed talking a little too much. Laura didn’t want to discuss trivial things, either. She wanted to get to know Rose. No matter what story the princess told, Laura had questions about it. Since these were made up memories, Rose didn’t have the answers. She didn’t feel anything for them either. They were just lies piled on top of increasingly more lies. The whole ridiculous escapade made her sick. If

[Markus Everglade]

she wasn’t in such a foul mood, and telling real stories, instead of Ketra and Raythor’s increasingly creative prevarications, it might have been fun.
As if all that wasn’t hard enough, Laura had suggested Rose might be worried about Raythor. Rose had gone to fetch the letters then. She was sick of that boy’s worthless name already. Stubborn, pig-headed Raythor. He wasn’t anything like her future husband. Markus knew how to treat a lady.
"Three letters today." A servant said, placing them in Rose’s hand. "That’s a lot, you know. They’re all for the quest members."
"Thank you." Rose smiled, shaking herself mentally into the real world. She started down the hall, reading the envelopes.
"Prince Markus Audrion Everglade." Rose read aloud. "MAE. That’s funny... Dione. Just Dione. She’s got a reputation, I see. Last one... Lady Oraia Megaera Songsteel. I’ll give this to her now, once I’m done talking to myself." Impulsively, she turned over Oraia’s letter. Rose gasped. Somehow, she had known it would be there. The footless eagle. She flipped the other two letters. Everglade’s stallion on Markus’s, Carina’s lion on Dione’s. Why did only Oraia’s have the eagle? Ray- No. She couldn’t keep relying on the brain of a boy she’d met four days ago, who was a pretentious brat besides. Rose would do this herself.
Moments later, she was knocking on Oraia’s door. There was an annoyed sigh from within.
"Hello?" Oraia said. When she saw who was in the doorway, her expression slid into a sneer. "Oh. Ketra’s maid. I imagine Rea has her own servants to do the cleaning. No need to bother, maid." Rose resisted the temptation to sock Oraia hard enough to break that cute little button nose.
"Letter for you, milady." Rose said, averting her eyes like a good little servant. Oraia took it gingerly, staring at Rose intently. Rose grabbed the doorknob and shut it quickly. It had been there, if only briefly. That look of hiding something, in Oraia’s eyes. Rose could laugh in Raythor’s face now.

****

Oraia had dismissed David and Kaslon. This Lydrion person had wanted to see her alone. His offer was certainly interesting. She had always wanted to be a queen. She reached up and imperiously knocked on Lydrion Archer’s front door.
"Lady Oraia?" Half a face peered through the small crack of the door, the strange violet eyes watching her closely.
"Yes." Oraia answered. The door swung all the way open. The owner of the violet eye stood before her. He wasn’t very tall, and he was younger than she was, maybe ten or eleven. Chestnut brown hair covered most of his eyes, hiding the pale face.
"Don’t tell me you’re Lydrion Archer." Oraia scoffed. He shook his head.
"No. I’m Benvolio Whitestar, son of Sabbath."
"The lord?"
"Yes."
"Charmed, little lord. Is there a Lydrion Archer here?"
"I’ll get him. Follow me." Benvolio turned and started walking. Oraia followed in her controlled, careful, ladylike walk. She gazed at the various tapestries along the wall

[Markus Everglade]

as she went. Very few and far between. None looked very expensive. Sabbath was a lord of Laina. Oraia had no idea why he would have a home here in Carina at all.
A black shape glided out, stopping Benvolio. Kenetari passed him by, ruffling his hair, and narrowing her eyes at Oraia.
"Ly, your lady is here." Kenetari said coldly. Any expense that had been saved on the surrounding decor must have been used on her wardrobe. Her dress was of the finest material Oraia had ever seen, it could have been the night sky spun into cloth, and it complimented her shape very well. Lydrion strode out, and placed a hand on Kenetari’s shoulder. Almost a restraining hand. Oraia shivered slightly.
"My lady Oraia, welcome to this castle." Lydrion said formally. "I trust your journey was not far?"
"It was very pleasant, thank you." Oraia said. "In your letter, you promised me something. What is it that I can do for you?"
"Ah. A very straightforward young lady, and very beautiful besides." Lydrion said smoothly. Oraia grinned with satisfaction. Kenetari squeezed the hilt of her sword. "Please, Oraia, take a seat and let me tell you what it is I wish of you..."


Chapter Eight

Jason

Rea had announced they would be staying on another night in her castle. Dusk had already set in by the time the party returned to the castle. Rea’s regal halls were blanketed in a rainbow of purples and oranges, making Dione’s hair look bronze as she paced up and down. She never settled in one spot for long, and refused to speak to anyone, although none of them were brave enough to try.
Ketra and Gabriel, by contrast, had retired to their rooms early. The queen busied herself with pre-departure preparation. Everyone else, Thunder included, had gathered outside around a fire.
"Then the color just drained out of her eyes. You really had to be there to believe how fast she hit the ground." Markus explained in an animated way. Rose and Laura were the only ones actually listening. Laura was amused; she’d seen him get like this before. Rose was interested for a different reason.
"Why, might I ask, was this ‘fang-dripping crone’ after you, Kylara?" Rose asked, using the prince’s overzealous and slightly nonsensical description of the old woman.
"I used to work for her, as a hired killer. When I broke away, they must have decided I was taking their secrets with them," She paused, smiling, "I doubt they’ll be troubling us again."
"We did give them a good trouncing." Saria agreed. Laura ginned, hand protecting her bad leg.
"Well, what’s your story?" Rose asked, looking pointedly at Raythor.
"I was just bluffing her. Don’t worry about it." Raythor answered quickly.
"Sounds like a pretty convincing lie to me."
"Your voice sounded like pure ice." Markus offered, enjoying the embellishment. Laura glanced over at him, and her memory flashed.

[Markus Everglade]

"Oh my goodness! I almost forgot. You got another letter, Markus. I don’t know who it’s from, because Rose refused to read it to me." Laura exclaimed. Rose shrugged. The brunette girl reached into her sewing bag, and handed her friend his letter. "What does it say? Who’s it from?"
"Believe me; she’s been waiting all day to find that out." Rose said dryly. She was obviously tired of playing nursemaid.
"Hold on a second, Laura..." Markus said, reading over the letter. His expression didn’t change the entire time, and he set it down without a word. Finally, he said: "It’s from my father."
"And?" Laura persisted. Rose pretended not to care.
"He’s going to postpone my wedding until the Princess Rose returns from her trip." A smile spread across his face.
"Oh, Markus, really? I can’t believe that Audrion... you really can’t do things like that to me. I’m liable to get too excited."
"Too late." Anella said, very softly. Kylara seemed to notice she was there for the first time.
"You know, Anella, despite the way you froze up today I think you have a real potential as a fighter."
"Oh, I don’t really think so..." Anella said, blushing slightly.
"I’m quite sure you do. Training you would be as easy as breaking glass." She strained the last two words heavily. Raythor’s eyes flickered, but he remained emotionless. Anella looked at the boy curiously.
"What does that-" Anella began.
"Nothing. It’s just an expression." He assured her. "Nothing at all."

****

It was taking Oraia much longer than she had expected to return to the castle. David and Kaslon were probably asleep and snoring right now, and she, a lady, was all alone out here in the night. Oraia thought over everything Lydrion had said. His voice had been so over powering, so consuming... he spoke of the corruption of the kingdoms, of greed and lust and violence. Lydrion’s goal was to do away with all of that, and make sure the good and just were on the throne again. All she had to do was break up Markus’s engagement. Her reward was, of course, to be the prince’s bride. Lydrion had told her she was the only thing that could turn Markus into the kind of king Lydrion’s new world needed. She was good and just. Her extreme vanity let her believe every word he said after that. As queen, Oraia would have all the wealth and the power she so richly deserved. Through her, Lydrion would get Everglade. Of course, Ketra and the current king and queen would have to die in the process. A defeated prince was far easier to control. Oraia didn’t care one way or the other about Markus’s feelings. He was handsome and powerful enough for her needs.
Of course, Lydrion also had other motives he had barely mentioned, but Oraia could guess at. The union of Everglade and Bloodroot could destroy everything he had worked for. Bloodroot had the military skill, and Everglade had the numbers. Together they could be a serious problem. Alone, he could destroy them all too easily.

[Markus Everglade]

Oraia picked up her skirts and jumped a little less than nimbly over a small stream. She scowled as she heard the sound of hoof beats. Before she could do anything else, Oraia was unceremoniously scooped up and thrown over the back of a horse. She sunk her nails into the rider’s leg, but he didn’t seem to notice. The ground moved in a swift blur below her, all the colors of the earth fading into shades of gray. There was no way she could jump off, not without hurting herself anyway. When Lydrion found out about this, he would have this ruffian hanged for sure. Maybe she could get rid of Markus later, and marry Lydrion...
The abrupt halt almost threw her off. A girl with short, white blonde hair and chocolate brown eyes smiled up at Oraia, offering the lady a hand. Grudgingly, Oraia took it. When she was safely on the ground, she smoothed out her hair and clothing before readying the required righteous indignation. Her captor had been expecting that.
"My apologies. You have to understand this was the only way to stop you." The man had dismounted, and Oraia truly looked at him for the first time. Brown hair cascaded down one side of his face, shielding his unwavering, violet eyes. There was something strangely familiar about that face, as though she had seen it somewhere before.
"I don’t suppose there is another way to kidnap someone." Oraia said haughtily.
"I will not hold you against your will. However," The man paused, "You have just entered the employ of Lydrion Archer, did you not?"
"You are the most proper criminal I have ever met." Oraia said. The brown eyed girl smiled, nodding.
"I am of noble birth. My name is Jason." He explained.
"Jason what?"
"Never mind that, Lady Songsteel. I previously worked for Archer myself, but it became obvious to me what he really wanted."
"Everything he said to me sounded essentially noble."
"I’m familiar with Archer’s pretty words." Jason snapped.
"So you came to stop a lady from being tainted?"
"More to protect a friend." He did not elaborate. Oraia’s wounded ego would not allow her to ask what he meant.
"You don’t look like a Jason. I think I’ll call you Jayce."
"How much time do you intend to spend with me?"
"You, Jayce, are a hopeless rebel. If there is anything I love more than a hopeless rebel, it’s a good looking, titled hopeless rebel." She smiled seductively. "If your friend is one of Rea’s quest, staying close to, but apart from them could work to my advantage."
"I’ll try to see that it doesn’t." Jason said. He hadn’t fully expected this, but it would be to his advantage to watch over her. The brown-eyed girl tugged at his shirt, pointing at Oraia.
"I’m sorry, Kira." Jason apologized. "Oraia, this is my cousin Kira Softpetal. She’s mute, I’m afraid."
"By nature or choice?" Oraia inquired.
"Some say her throat was cursed, three years ago, by a rejected suitor. Anyway, Kira hasn’t been able to speak ever since."
"A romantic story, that."
"Mostly true, I assure you."
"So, Jayce... where do we go from here?"

[Markus Everglade]

****

"I’m just saying she wasn’t all that pretty. Some have described her as a ‘blonde pig’."
"But she had the most beautiful hair! Shimmering yellow locks like no other. Ah, Sofia!"
"Kaslon, you seriously need to base your decisions in this life on more than the hair color of the nearest girl."
"Don’t be ridiculous. Then I just wouldn’t be me, would I?"
"No. You would be someone far smarter than you." David sighed. At this, Dione noticed them. Oraia’s guards were back. Normally, she would wonder why, but at the moment she truly didn’t care.
"Do you think anyone will let us in?" Kaslon asked skeptically. The castle looked horribly deserted from the outside.
"If not, we can sleep in the stables or something. We have to get used to it, anyway, if we’re going on this so called quest." David replied. Dione decided she’d heard just about enough of their meaningless drivel. She wasn’t happy, and they had no right to be either.
"What are you doing, prowling around like that? The castle guards might shoot you down as thieves, and they’d have every right." David and Kaslon looked startled.
"I didn’t see you there, lady. Who are you anyway?" Kaslon squinted in the dark.
"It’s the queen’s maid. The redhead." David told him.
"Oh." Kaslon said, severely disappointed.
"Why are you out here, anyway?"
"It’s none of your business." Dione shot back.
"Sorry. We won’t bother you anymore."
"Fine, see if I care."
"Believe me, you won’t." He and Kaslon disappeared into the castle. There was a fever of whispering as the door closed. Dione made no attempt to listen. David walked back out.
"Uh..." David said awkwardly, "What wrong? Kaslon made me ask..."
"Do you actually care?" Dione said tiredly.
"Curious, I suppose." David shrugged.
"I guess it really shouldn’t matter to me, but... My boyfriend just got engaged. Rea says it’s because his lord told him to, but I can’t believe that." She watched him warily. David briefly held up his left hand, revealing a ring around his finger.
"Don’t give up on him. I’ll bet if he sees you again, he won’t go through with it."
"Where’s your wife?" Dione asked suspiciously.
"I don’t know. She disappeared a year ago."
"How did she disappear?"
"Look, it doesn’t-"
"I told you everything."
"I woke up one morning and she was gone. I haven’t seen or heard from her since." It seemed as though he was struggling with the words, like he didn’t want to

[Markus Everglade]

believe them. "All I know is that the night before she disappeared, she was crying. She hasn’t cried in a long time."
"Aren’t you the little bleeding heart."
"It’s hard not to be, I suppose."
"What’s her name?"
"Caldria. Cally."
"You know what? Good luck. Despite the sob story, I feel better."
"I should go. Kaslon’s probably listening at the door, and I have to knock his teeth out." Dione nodded, without comment, watching him leave. She wondered if James would ever search for her, or fall apart just talking about her. She didn’t think so. She certainly wouldn’t do that for him.

Chapter Nine

Caldria

"Why do you have that notch in your tail?" Dasher asked. Dawn was coming fast on the horizon, and the fading gray purple of night clung to the sky. Blade lay in the dew covered grass. He regarded her warily.
"What are you doing out here, Light?"
"I think we’ve been through my inconclusive answer to such questions." She sighed. "Blade, I know our counties don’t get along, but can’t we at least call each other by name?"
"Fine. Is that all you wanted from me?"
"Don’t the Shadow answer questions?"
"My brother gave me this notch. We were sparing. I reacted quickly and cut him across the eye."
"Did you blind him?" Dasher inquired. Blade had expected her to be disgusted or scolding. She was just curious.
"No." He traced the notch in his tail. It was circular, and about the size of a...
"It fit over his eye."
"Exactly. Left a small, vertical line of each side. Needless to say, we don’t get along that well."
"Naturally. I’m just out to see the world before I get married. That should answer the first question you ever asked me."
"Who are you marrying?" Blade asked, with casual indifference. "My country sent me to find Lord Tobias. It’s more for show than anything else. I don’t expect to locate him."
"Prince Baine. He’s not quite as pretentious as all my other suitors." Dasher smiled. "That sounds much more interesting than my reason for being here." The sun rose behind them, melting the few remaining shadows.
"Then maybe you can help," Blade suggested, "Dasher."

****

[Markus Everglade]

Caldria knew this room like the back of her hand. She knew the fading rug against the wall, the stone flooring, the uncomfortable cot in the corner. She had slept, eaten, and lived in her for seven months. At first, Cally had complained, shrieked, and fought until her throat burned. To him, it hadn’t mattered. It truly never had.
This was far from the first time Lydrion had ignored her. He was her brother, and her twin. They looked so much alike, with the same dark hair, the same hard eyes. Now that was all that was the same about them. Once she had written a letter to David, which Lydrion had burned before her eyes. Cally found that particularly unnecessary. David couldn’t read. In her arms, she held her baby, David’s child, close to her. Emma had her father’s hair, her mother’s eyes. Cally had never let Lydrion touch Emma, not that he’d tried. He didn’t seem to have much interest in his niece.
Lydrion slid silently into the room. Cally didn’t notice at first. She was too busy wondering, for the hundredth time, what David would think of his daughter.
"Caldria, how are you?" Her brother asked, at her side.
"As if you care." Cally spat back.
"Ah, but I know someone you do care about."
"What have you done to David?"
"Patience, my sister. Nothing, yet. If you should try to escape, however..."
"Why are you doing this to me?" Cally demanded. "What happened to the Lydrion I grew up with? I used to love you. You’re my brother."
"Things are different now." Lydrion smirked, his last, painful memory of Kira coming back to him. "I will not let us die peasants. When I am King, you shall also have claim to my throne. I can’t have anyone standing in my way. Maybe, if you behave yourself, you can be a Queen."
"I’d rather be queen of the dead. Let me go." Caldria said defiantly. Lydrion pulled out a knife, holding it carefully at her back.
"If you were anyone but my sister, but the one who raised me..." He drew the knife away, sliding it in his sheath. "I don’t want war, I want power. Someday you’ll understand that. We’re both just out for our own survival. Everyone is."
"Someday, you’ll kill me. You’re just too scared to do it now."
"Nothing," He turned away, so she couldn’t see his face, "Scares me."

****

Markus was alone at Rea’s giant table, whittling away at a piece of wood. Precious little light came in through the large stone windows, but the prince didn’t care. He was too excited to do anything. His wedding, the one he had been dreading his entire life, had been postponed. Not only that, he was going off gallivanting in the forests of Carina, completely un-chaperoned. He planned to make the most of the time the Princess Rose herself had given him.
A sudden thump jarred him out of his serenity. Kenetari’s leering face flashed across his mind, and he ran into the room the noise had come from. It was empty, except for a table, a single chair, and a portrait of what Markus assumed was Rea’s mother. He yawned. Maybe he wasn’t getting enough sleep, and was starting to hear things. As he was leaving, his fingers brushed against the table. There was something there he hadn’t seen before.

[Markus Everglade]

"Paper." He said aloud. Two scraps of it. The top one was of a flaming elementist staring into a swirling black mass. Markus turned it over. A single word was scrawled on the back: vessel. The second scrap nearly made his heart freeze. It was a drawing of a black cat’s head necklace. Laura’s necklace.
"Hey." Markus jumped at the sound of Raythor’s voice. Dasher and Blade, who were at Raythor’s heels like hunting dogs, laughed.
"Are you going to make it, Markus?" Dasher chuckled.
"You merely startled me, my lady." Markus said, desperately reverting to formality.
"Did you find something up there?"
"Paper." Markus said, somewhat stupidly, holding it out. Raythor took it from him, studying each in turn.
"Laura’s necklace." He knelt so Dasher and Blade could see the picture. "Where did she get it?"
"I got it for her. From someone in Treekal, I think."
"This first one is an elementist myth. The vessel was said to open the portal to the ‘reverse world’." Blade said. "Silly nonsense."
"Someone must have been trying to scare us, by assuming we would connect Laura to this old fairy tale. That would probably place her as the vessel itself." Dasher said. "Or the intended victim."
"Or you’re reading too much into this, Dasher."
"Maybe not. What brought you here, Markus?" Raythor asked, standing again.
"A sound. I thought it was Kenetari, actually. Don’t ask me why." Markus answered.
"Not entirely ridiculous. She is definitely connected to everything that’s happened thus far." Dasher noted. "Perhaps not these scraps. These could be out of an old book. Or anything really."
"And why would a human have a picture of an elementist fairy tale?" Raythor inquired. Dasher’s eyes gleamed.
"My thoughts exactly. This is no coincidence."
"It’s just paper." Blade said irritably. "Maybe someone has a cat that bumped a chair in here."
"Why Laura?" Markus said weakly. Silence answered him.

****

"We’re staying here?" Rose said in a disgusted tone. She and the rest of the party stood in a clearing with a lake at the center, their backs to the trees.
"Oh, heavens no. We’ll have to go a little farther in, so the ground’s not wet." Rea said cheerfully. Rose didn’t answer. She’d resigned herself to no longer having servants, pretending to be a servant, and sharing her room. She felt she was even handling people repeatedly trying to kill her fairly well. Sleeping on the ground, however, would take some serious getting used to.
"Isn’t it beautiful out here?" Laura gushed, trying to take everything in all at once. Rose watched the other girl contemptuously as she rushed forward, kneeling to run her hand against the waters surface.

[Markus Everglade]

"In three months, if you still think that, remind me to reward you handsomely." Raythor commented.
"I warn you, she has an excellent memory." Markus told him.
"So do I."
"It is nice." Ketra said in a neutral fashion. Saria trotted up to the waters edge, and started to look for fish, singing as she did. Kaslon smiled at her, and David glared at him.
"What are we doing out here, anyway? Hunting for something?" Dasher asked.
"Just having some fun." Rea said. "You all go on ahead and find a place to camp. I must collect some herbs."
"It’s only the afternoon. We can wait." Markus suggested.
"How kind of you." The queen answered absently, wandering off. Dione sighed heavily, and went after her.
"I’ll be back." Raythor informed them. "Don’t wait up." Kylara watched him go sadly, but made no move to join him. The rest of the party started scattering in all different directions, gathering in little groups. Gabriel wandered to the waters edge, to sit by himself and think about how dreadful he was. He certainly hoped no one would bother him, but it was obvious Saria was going to.
Anella wasn’t exactly sure where to go, so she stood timidly a foot away from Markus, Laura, Rose and Ketra. Laura beckoned to her to come and join them.
"Just where exactly do you think he goes? To feed that stupid dog that only shows up when it’s convenient for him?" Rose asked indignantly, of no one in particular.
"I simply wonder why you vent all of your numerous and various aggressions on Raythor." Blade stated bluntly. He flashed his teeth at Dasher, who had joined Saria in the pursuit of annoying Gabriel.
"He saved my life." Rose said simply.
"So you want to make him sorry for it?"
"Yeah, that’s exactly what I’m trying to do."
"Sarcasm ill suits you, you know."
"Well, sorry."
"Why are you so angry anyway?"
"My sister." Rose blurted. She rarely admitted it, even to herself, but it was true. Her sister was older, and prettier, and in love with the man she married. Her sister, who was everything she wasn’t. Blade nodded mutely, implying that he understood. Markus got the feeling he had just missed something. For him, this was a common occurrence, so he wasn’t that concerned.
"Rose, did you want to-" Markus started.
"Don’t push your luck." Rose returned, nodding to Blade. The elementist chuckled softly, resting his head on his paws. Rose got up, and disappeared into the trees. After Laura frowned at him, Markus got up and followed her.
"Rose, I have absolutely no idea what just happened, but if there’s anything I can do, just tell me." Markus said, keeping his voice calm. For all the training he had on how to treat a lady, he hadn’t spent all that much time in their company. Sure, there was Laura, but he’d never really thought of her as a lady.
"I’m fine." Rose said curtly, shifting on the log she was sitting on. Markus grinned sheepishly. He’d gone a few paces before he spoke again. "Don’t tell me you don’t have any problems, blue boy."