Shades of Gray(2)

[Markus Everglade]

“That’s it, Markus. Just concentrate.” Firelight Ghosttail said excitedly. She was Blade’s little sister, and part fire elementist on her mother’s side of the family. Even though all four of the Ghosttail children shared the same parents, Firelight was the only one to inherit the recessive pastel orange fur even her mother did not have. Her legs were an even lighter shade of orange. Her face was marked like that of a fox’s, and a shadow symbol that were the same as her brother’s graced her forehead. Her dark blue eyes were encircled with yellow, and her tail and wings matched her brother’s. A heavy, black collar hung around her neck, with a fire symbol at its center.
Markus followed her direction and slowly raised his hand. The blue energy curled around his arm, without quite reaching the hand itself. His other hand hovered over a flask of water at his waist, the tips of his fingers dipping into it. The energy disintegrated as quickly as it had come, disappearing before it hit the ground. He sighed, dropping his arm again.
“I just can’t seem to hold it.” The prince said unhappily.
“That was the best you’ve ever done with stagnant water.” Firelight encouraged.
“Yes, but with stagnant water the energy never even leaves my skin.”
“With moving water, your powers are incredible. Think of all we’ve learned since you started: you can control the energy, you can move it away from your body when you use moving water, and you no longer have to channel it through the weapon.”
“I’ve never been able to repeat the spell I used against Peregrine two years ago.”
“I think you were able to use that because it was a real battle, not just a practice run.”
“Yes, but if I can’t use stagnant water my powers are pretty much useless in battle.”
“You’re human; you aren’t even supposed to have powers. Think of it that way.” Firelight insisted.
“I’m not sure I’m fully human,” Markus said, with the same note of gloom in his voice that always accompanied that particular sentence.
“Would it be so bad to be a little different?”
“Not if I wasn’t a prince.”
“It not easy for me either, but you do get used to it. You’ve grown up like this as well.” Firelight said.
“I grew up with strange hair… not with control over water.”
“Because of it, you’ve never been sick.”
“Well, there is that.” He smiled too. “I’m going to go help Anella now, that magic always wears me out.”
“Can I come?”
“Sure.”

****

Laura leaned out the window, watching Markus in the courtyard. The unfamiliar weight of the crown on her head made her keep shifting positions, and eventually she turned away, the tips of her fingers resting on the tiara. She was a princess now… Laura wondered how long it would take her to get used to that idea.

[Markus Everglade]

“Laura, the king wants to see you.” Lynn said. “Oh, right.” She curtsied, keeping her eyes on the ground.
“You only have to do that around me when Audrion’s watching.” Laura said, laughing.
“I really should call you Princess Elaura now, you know.”
“You should, but you really don’t have to. I’ve known you forever. Anyway, I’d better hurry. Audrion gets furious when anyone is late to anything.” She nodded at Lynn, who rolled her eyes and they both went off in different directions.
Laura, unlike Markus, waited at the doors for the servants to open them. She knew Audrion didn’t like it when either of his children just barged in, and she couldn’t afford to do anything that upset him. She walked into the room slowly, focused on the floor.
“Sire, you wished to speak with me?” Laura said, curtsying formally.
“Yes.” Audrion said, rising to his feet and crossing his arms. “Elaura, you are now a princess and I’m sure you are well aware what your duties as princess entail.”
“Yes, sire.”
“Fine. We needn’t go over them. I asked you here to make sure you also consider what it means to be a princess.”
“Excuse me, sire?”
“Do not look at the floor; look up and into the eyes of the people you are conversing with. Do not act as though you are equal with the servants, you are not, bid them do what you wish them to do. Speak if you have something important to say, don’t keep it to yourself. Spend all the money you wish to spend on whatever you wish to buy, for we are to maintain that there are no financial difficulties even if there are. And, most importantly,” He paused, “stay away from my brother Richard. You are attractive enough to draw him to you like a snake.” Laura was so surprised by all this that she did look up. For the first time she saw the sharp blue of the king’s eyes, the weathered lines on his face, even his smile, for he was smiling at her. Markus’s smile.
“Markus warned me about him too.” She said, slightly nervously.
“Laura, you are my daughter-and-law and I must treat you as such. Remind me of that if I forget.”
“I’ll try, sire.”
“Audrion, Laura.”
“King Aud… Audrion.”
“One more thing, and then you may go.” Audrion said.
“Yes?” Laura said.
“Do not break my son’s heart. He loves you more than you could know.”

****

“You got a new sword?” Markus said, impressed. He drew his own, the same old battered up thing his father hated. The metal of Anella’s sword flashed much brighter and was a bit lighter weight than his was. The handle was pure black.
“Raythor gave it to me. I guess it’s one of his old ones.” Anella said, adjusting to the new grip and taking a deep breath. “All right, Markus.”

[Markus Everglade]

“What do you want to learn today? I don’t think I have all that much left to teach you.”
“But I’m still no where near as good as you.”
“I’ve been training since I was a kid, thanks to my father. It’s just experience, you’ll get there.”
“I don’t want to be useless if I ever have to fight again.”
“You were never useless.”
“Show me what Kenetari does.”
“Again?”
“I know she’s alive, and now that he’s back…”
“She always went for the head, so she forces the blade back toward your face. The pressure is the important part, that’s how you can get out of it if you can stay calm.”
“So drop the pressure and slash?”
“Exactly, though she might remember that.”
“Don’t hold back.” Anella said, her eyes focused on his. Markus nodded. He took a step back before he slashed the sword, so even if she didn’t react fast enough she wouldn’t get hurt. She blocked, feeling the pressure in her arms almost immediately. She dropped her sword and ducked, his weapon went over her head. He managed to react quickly enough to protect his stomach from her next attack. The corners of his mouth turned up and he leaned on his sword.
“See, if I didn’t know what was coming I’d be dead right now.”
“But Kenetari will.”
“I’m still working on that part.” Markus said. She pulled back her sword, sighing.
“What if Lydrion really is still alive?”
“He can’t be. It wouldn’t make a difference if he was, though, his army is gone.”
“I suppose that’s enough… it has to be.”
“None of us are going to let Kenetari hurt you.” Markus said. Anella looked at him and tried to smile.
“I know, but I don’t want to have to be protected. I want to be able to look her in the eyes with a sword in my hands and not be afraid.” She bit her lip, glancing away again. “All of you are so brave…” Markus’s grip tightened on his hilt involuntarily.
“I’m not…” He stopped. There was no point in telling her how scared he was, how much he didn’t want to face the fact that Kenetari was alive. If he stayed strong, everyone else would feel safer. “You are brave, Anella.”

****

Rose knelt by Gabriel’s grave, not really thinking about much of anything. Last night had jolted her but, instead of showing it, instead of counting on the support of those around her; she’d just taken it out on them. It still hurt to hear his name; still cut her through to hear Lydrion’s. Numbly she walked to her feet and walked slowly away. She was going to Caltha at the brink of a revolution and she wouldn’t let the people she cared about get hurt again. Rose bumped into someone as she walked, and she yelled irritably, without even bothering to look up:
“Raythor!”
“You’re off by a few letters.” Ross said coyly. She grimaced.

[Markus Everglade]

“Oh, it’s just you. Well get out of my way I’ve got a lot to do before we leave.”
“Like what, princess?”
“Not talking to Anella’s dumb cousin is first on that list.”
“I’m not dumb; I’m very clearly talking to you.”
“Don’t men ever shut up?”
“We all have our reputations, I suppose.”
“I don’t care, move.”
“Gosh, I bet Markus was disappointed that he didn’t get to marry you.”
“You don’t know anything about me or Markus.” Rose shouted, stepping to the side. “And you have no idea what we’ve all been through!”
“No, I’m an outsider, aren’t I?” Ross said bitterly. Rose stopped walking and turned to face him again.
“That’s right, and you’re going to stay that way if I have anything to say about it!”

****

Kylara grabbed Raythor’s shoulders and pinned them against the wall. He regarded her without any sort of emotion.
“Raythor, we both know that your sister is alive and last night’s little fiasco proved that her dearly beloved probably is too.” Kylara said.
“I never thought Vera… Kenetari was dead.”
“What about Lydrion?”
“I wasn’t there; I didn’t see what they saw.”
“You don’t care that the person who murdered your parents and has repeatedly tried to kill you and everyone you love is still out there?”
“Why can’t you just say ‘I missed you’ like everyone else?”
“Because I know you’re going to have to deal with this eventually. Deal with her.”
“If I never see her again, I’ll be happy. I don’t want revenge, Kylara. Killing her isn’t going to give me my life back.”
“She’s the only one who knows who you were. Don’t you finally want to know what you were like before they died?” Kylara asked, fingers tightening on his shoulders. He could only think of Kenetari, and he started to see her features instead of Kylara’s. The illusion faded just as quickly as it had come.
“I don’t want to know anything about who I used to be. I’m having enough trouble with who I’ve become.” Raythor told her evenly. She turned her head slightly.
“I’m sorry.”
“For what? You’ve been verbally harassing me since the day we met.”
“I don’t mean to, I still love you. You’re everything to me.”
“Kylara, come on. You’re stronger than that.”
“You can see right through me, can’t you?” Her eyes hardened slightly. “No matter, you’re just as transparent.”
“What is it you want to see? Darkness, murder and mystery? I know that’s all you want from me.”

[Markus Everglade]

“And you don’t want strength. You want a soft, sweet little nothing. But she doesn’t want you, does she? Not now that she’s found her blonde, rich little ‘cousin’ from no where.”
“Yes, well, if I find her lying dead in a ditch I’ll know who to blame.” He said cuttingly, freeing himself and starting to walk away.
“You.” Kylara said cruelly. He hesitated but didn’t stop moving. He could never hurt Anella. She had promised him that. She had promised…

****

“Come on, Blade, we’re leaving.” Dasher said briskly. Blade padded after her and the two of them walked wordlessly for most of the way.
“Why did you get so angry last night? You never lose your composure.” Dasher said at last, keeping her ears back and her nose pointing straight ahead.
“As if that’s any of your business,” Blade snapped back.
“So you don’t want to be friend’s anymore, just because I broke up with you? That’s fine with me.”
“Dasher, don’t be like that. After I came home, my father laid into me about you, but my brother… Sythe kept telling me that Archer was right, that weak monarchs should be destroyed. That humans should.”
“He wants to kill all the humans?”
“Just the nobles, he planned to enslave everyone else.”
“Why didn’t you tell your father?”
“I might hate his guts, but he is my brother. I’m just afraid of what he’ll do if he finds out that Archer is alive. What he could make Cannon do…”
“You’re the crown prince, Blade, not Sythe. Your father is the king. Sythe’s paws are bound.”
“I miss your logic.” Blade said softly, voice changing. “I miss you.”
“As long as I’m a light and you’re a shadow you’ll have to keep missing me.”
“Does that mean that you still care about me?”
“It means that I should stop.”

Chapter Eight
Caltha

Caltha was worse than any of them could have imagined. It already looked war torn, the buildings were falling apart and hardly anyone was in the street. The peasants who did dare to fight back were instantly killed, and innocent passerby just kept their eyes on the ground and their mouths shut.
“How does anyone even find time to rebel? They’re all too busy dying.” Dione Thayet said angrily. She was the Queen Rea of Carina’s maid and her best friend, as well as recently married to the Knight James. She had bright red hair and brown eyes that were most often glaring. She always had what, at best, could be called a terrible temper. Rea, one the other hand, was a brunette with brown eyes and a tendency to zone out. She also had a tendency to vomit at the sight of blood. James had been called away to serve in the army, and was not with them.

[Markus Everglade]

“This is not at all a happy place.” Saria Straightarrow agreed sullenly. Usually bright and perky, but more than a little strange, Saria was blonde haired, blue-eyed and beautiful. Of the original nineteen members of the Royalty of Everglade, seventeen were here. Gabriel had died by Lydrion’s hands, and Nightshade was off fighting a war with her parents in the water kingdom. It almost seemed as though Caldria and Ross had stepped up to take their places.
“How did you all stand traveling in such a big group for so long?” Ross complained. “It’s like being at a party that you can’t leave.”
“Are all the Rainbirds just like you?” Rose demanded.
“Just the men, all the women tend to speak in whispers.”
“You mean like Anella, whom stupid moron is in love with?”
“Wow, I really missed that nickname.” Raythor said sarcastically. “And it’s just so intelligent. Two words that mean the same thing put together. It’s brilliant.”
“Shut the hell up, Raythor.”
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry; maybe I’m forgetting who started this conversation.”
“Well, we all know how many memory lapses you have,”
“Hey, you two, come on.” Markus intervened. “You’re fighting already?”
“Yes, Markus. Yes we are.” Raythor said, grinning slightly. Markus rolled his eyes.
“Am I going to have to separate you and Rose?”
“I personally don’t have a problem with that, but I don’t think it would be easy to do.” Raythor said lightly. Rose opened her mouth, but Markus cut her off with:
“Rethink what ever it was you were going to say. Or, better yet, just don’t say anything at all.”
“How was-” Rose started.
“Nope, I don’t want to hear about the sex life I may or may not have either.”
“You’re no fun.”
“I’m a prince; I’m not supposed to be fun. If I was from Caltha, I should apparently spend my time torturing peasants anyway.”
“It’s been worse than this. The lighting the peasants on fire period was really bad.” Kylara commented. “They had evilly-influenced treacherous minds. Something like that.”
“They were bothering the king, that’s what.” Raythor said, and they exchanged knowing looks. Markus frowned, nodding. It was going to be very nearly morally impossible to march into the castle and tell Caltha’s royal family that he supported what they were doing. It was going to be even more difficult to promise them his future child, though he did not yet realize the gravity of what that meant.
It was no wonder there was rebellion everywhere. They’d probably done something to the murderer that had made him want to kill. His thoughts turned to Kenetari and the familiar sense of fear settled over him. She had been born here, and she had been raised here. Something about that did not surprise him.

****

“We should probably head back, you know.” Markus said. Night had set in and the group had chosen to spend it far away from any of the villages, in what could only

[Markus Everglade]

very loosely be referred as a forest. Caltha was physically different from Everglade as well. There were fewer trees, much less water, and the temperature had already risen considerably. He could only imagine how hot it was going to be. Caltha, the Blood country, was also a desert save for the very edges of its borders.
“I don’t want to go back,” Laura said, leaning against him. Markus put his arm around her.
“Right, because you’re not afraid of the dark as long as I’m here.” He said.
“Exactly, my prince.”
“I’m telling you, they’re going to wonder where we are.”
“Rose will have a few ideas.” Laura said. She sighed heavily. “How can I know if I’m pregnant or not?”
“I’m probably not the best person to ask. Maybe Caldria…?”
“I wish I could just know.”
“Don’t be worried about it, Laura. My mother, Ketra and I will all be there for you every step of the way. My father will be telepathically sending you images of healthy sons.” He said. She laughed.
“He is trying, Markus. What he said to me the other day was almost nice.”
“I just wish he’d try a little harder.”
“His precious son did marry a maid in his employ. You can’t expect him to take that without batting an eye.”
“But it wasn’t like that! Well, it didn’t used to be.” Markus conceded. “I guess I understand his objection but I can’t look at you that way. I never could, I never saw you as a maid, just as Laura. Just as my best friend.”
“I think that’s why I can understand Audrion a little better than you can.” Laura said. “I have always seen you as a prince as well as Markus. I have always known what is expected of you.”
“All that I am loves you, Laura.”
“Audrion will have to be nice to me if I’m…”
“If you’re pregnant.” He finished. She nodded. Markus saw the worried look on her face, so he tilted up her chin and kissed her. All of her uncertainty washed away. They were alone together, out of the castle, far away from Audrion and all the pressures of one day ruling a kingdom. In three days, they would be in Everglade. There was no point in wasting the time they had.

****

“Over thirty victims?” Raythor said. Ketra nodded. “Good god… they blew my record out of the water. Heck, I’m not even really a serial killer; you have to have three victims for that.”
“You’re innocent.” Anella said, brushing her gray stallion’s fur a little harder. Ranier snorted disapprovingly. “You shouldn’t even think of yourself that way.”
“It’s a hard habit to break.”
“You said ‘they’.” Dasher observed. “You think this is more than one person?”
“It has to be. The area is so wide there’s no way a single person could cover it all with such frequency. Travel is difficult in Caltha, especially now.” Raythor replied.
“How many do you think there are?”

[Markus Everglade]

“Two, maybe three. A few of the deaths are probably people cashing in on old feuds and blaming the killer for it. That happened my time around too.”
“Vera’s.” Anella corrected automatically. “I mean… Kenetari’s.”
“You call her Vera too?” Dasher said, surprised.
“This is the first time…”
“Do we know anything about the victims at all?” Raythor said. Anella looked at him gratefully, and he smiled at her. She blushed and looked away. Blade raised his head from his paws. Of the five of them in this little splinter group, he was the only one who had yet to say a word.
“That’s very strange.” Blade said.
“It is a full moon tonight.” Dasher reminded him. “Though Anella has been keeping to the shadows, I’m sure it still has some effect.”
“But Vera…?”
“They’ve all been peasants.” Ketra supplied. “Other than that, there is no connection and no bias among victims.”
“Three days isn’t long enough.” Raythor said overdramatically. Dasher laughed.
“Come on, the two of us? Three days is too much time.” She said coyly.
“If we had the name of a single victim, it might be a little easier.”
“I’m sorry.” Ketra said apologetically. “I don’t even have one, despite my best efforts.”
“I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” Anella said. She had finished brushing Ranier a long time ago, but she just kept running the brush over his fur anyway. She felt like if she didn’t occupy herself with something she would give herself and Raythor away.
“It’s kind of you to say that.” Raythor responded. “Completely unrealistic, but kind none the less.” Anella felt her face flame, and Raythor reminded himself to check his words more closely.
“Are the two of you fighting?” Dasher asked. She didn’t want to read their emotions unless she had to, it felt so much like prying. “Because you’re being extra nice to her lately, Raythor.”
“No, I just missed her… all of you.” Raythor said. Dasher flicked her ears back. It was so dreadfully tempting…
“Perhaps we should take up this macabre subject again in the morning.” Blade suggested. “Surely the Nightspeakers will have more information.” He got up and started off and Ketra blankly followed him. Dasher padded hesitantly forward, impulsively ducking out of the way and into the shadows, where she could no longer be seen.
“I’m sorry.” Raythor said sheepishly, meeting Anella’s eyes. She took Ranier’s reins and matched Raythor’s pace.
“I did a lot worse than you did.” Anella insisted. He laughed.
“I guess we’re not too good at this, are we? As soon as we get out of Caltha, we’ll tell them, if that’s all right with you. This is all I was worried about.”
“It’s true, not everyone gets to be the Karian Killer’s girlfriend.”
“Yes, Anella, try not to get caught up in the immense fame that will now follow you everywhere.”
“I don’t know, Raythor, I might have to leave you for a much more famous murderer.” She said. He grinned at her, shaking his head. They moved from beneath the trees as they walked. Anella barely seemed to notice as the moon’s light wrapped her in

[Markus Everglade]

silver light, clinging to her body like a cloak and moving as she moved. Silver skin, silver hair, silver eyes… Raythor saw where the other horses were tied and stopped for a moment. She did too.
“You’d better turn here, I’ll go back alone. Three more days of our little façade.” He said. She nodded.
“Good night.” Anella said. He checked to make sure Blade and the others were gone, then he kissed her very lightly.
“Good night.” Raythor smiled at her, and then he walked away with his hands shoved in his pockets, trying to look bored. She felt the corners of her own mouth turn upward as she went to tie up Rainer. When she turned around, Dasher was walking nonchalantly by.
“Oh, hi Anella.” Dasher said blankly.
“Hello Dasher.” Anella said, her voice unusually high.
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, I’m fine.”
“He’s a good guy, isn’t he?”
“Who?” The shy girl said innocently.
“Raythor. I forgot how smart he was.”
“Oh… oh, I guess, yes…” Anella hesitated. “Dasher, Markus says that you read my… and I really do… oh, it’s no use hiding that I…”
“It’s all right.” Dasher said, feeling guilty all of a sudden. “I didn’t tell anyone but Markus how you feel. Have you ever wanted to know what he thinks of you?”
“Of course, but…” She trailed off again. Dasher tilted her head.
“I understand.”

****

“The prince of Everglade is coming to help the Nightspeakers?” One of the peasants in the crowd demanded disgustedly. Gregory regarded the group of disgruntled revolutionaries carefully.
“Yes, Everglade is coming, but it’s just a formality.” He assured them. “Once they’re gone, we can move in on the castle and attack.”
“Why don’t we kill the prince of Everglade?” Someone else shouted.
“That’ll start a war, and we sure as hell don’t want their army coming in here.”
“Remember the aid they sent to Carina in the last war.” Amaria jumped in haphazardly, leaning against the wall and protecting her stomach unconsciously with one hand. Gregory nodded in agreement.
“Exactly, Carina had lost its king and queen but Everglade came in and Carina won the war. We can’t have history repeating itself here; we’re weak enough as it is.” He said.
“There has to be a way to make it look like the Nightspeakers killed him.” The first peasant suggested.
“Caltha’s royal family has no reason to kill off its only ally’s heir.” Amaria scoffed.
“What about their new princess, then? Is it true the king had to make her father a lord?”

[Markus Everglade]

“Idle chitchat! We do not want Carina or Everglade crashing down on our heads. This party passes through before we make a move.”

****

Markus, Laura, Rose, Rea, Ketra and Ross stood before the throne of Caltha. Laura tried hard not to notice how composed everyone else was. She already knew she was but a novice in their careful dance of a political game.
“Prince Markus of the castle of Imperia, representing Everglade.” One of the Calthan servants announced. Markus and Ross bowed, Laura, Ketra and Rose curtsied. Rea, as a queen, didn’t have to do anything.
“Are we to expect troops from Everglade?” The king of Caltha, Etienne, said, cutting straight to the point.
“We cannot officially give you military aid until an attack has been made.” Markus recited, voice perfectly even.
“Then can we expect aid if we do need it?”
“As soon as we can outfit them, they will be here at your service.”
“Then we can also expect a gesture of good will?”
“We are here to offer an engagement between my first born child and any noble of your choosing, as well as a Gladian lady of your choosing for your heir, if he so desires.”
“Is this child yet born?”
“No, sire, it is not.”
“We thank you for your assistance.”

****

“I can’t believe they’re all in there groveling before that monster.” Kylara said angrily. “I’d like to see him explain the hell he’s putting his people through.”
“Markus had no choice.” Dasher said. She had switched to her blue-eyed human form. Light elementists had the ability to shape shift, and each had a ‘natural’ human form that took less energy to maintain. Dasher’s was an eye catching, silver-gilt blonde with a varying dress that was always the color of her fur. Her skin was strangely pale and her body structure was thin and delicate. It was through this form that the humans got some impression of the beauty she must be in her world, however much she resented it. Blade, Theo and Firelight all had to wait outside, hiding among the few trees that were to be found. “He doesn’t believe in this king any more than you do.”
“Yes, but I’ve had to live through this king. It’s like living in a jail cell and waiting to be executed. Right, Raythor?”
“The parallels are a little disturbing.” Raythor said, for once trying not to start anything. “But Markus did have no choice.”
“‘No, sire, it is not’? ‘It’, Markus? What kind of father are you going to be?” Laura said as she and the other nobles came back into the room.
“We don’t even have a kid! How could it possibly have a gender?” Markus protested.
“How’d it go?” Dasher asked.

[Markus Everglade]

“Boring as all get out.” Rose answered. “Just as I knew it would be. Ah, politics. Kill me now.”
“All right, do you want to be stabbed, suffocated, or poisoned? I don’t do drowning; it’s a lot of work.” Raythor said brightly. Rose, to his surprise, just laughed.
“What’s with you today? You just haven’t stopped smiling.” Laura said, as though she were agreeing with Rose’s laugh.
“I have no idea. Maybe I just secretly adore my country.” Raythor said with a shrug. His eyes flicked over Anella and she turned a little red for no apparent reason. Ross frowned darkly.
“Let’s sneak the others in here.” Ketra said briskly. “We can leave tomorrow.”

Chapter Nine
My Prince

“So, you two… you’re pretty much the couple everyone wants to be, right?” Ross said lazily. Markus and Laura both looked at him oddly.
“Why would you say that?” Markus asked.
“You know, you’re the prince, she’s the princess you rescued, and you both get to live happily ever after, blah blah blah… Isn’t that what every five year old girl dreams of?”
“Definitely,” Laura said, with a nod. Markus moved his hand behind his neck, thinking.
“I’m pretty sure she rescued me…” He said blankly. Laura laughed.
“Only a little. I mean, maybe you didn’t save me from any physical danger…”
“Was it really that terrible?”
“Pining away for you? It was torture.”
“Exactly what I’m talking about,” Ross said. “Even the way you two talk to each other. It makes the rest of us feel a little desperate.”
“I’m sure you’ll find your happily ever after.” Laura said, clasping her hands. “I think the secret is just to marry your best friend, it doesn’t matter whether or not he’s a prince. Or she’s a princess, in your case.”
“I am the youngest of three sons; I’m supposed to be out there saving damsels in distress anyway.”
“How’s that been working out for you so far?” Markus asked, grinning.
“Not so well. One of the damsels won’t admit to being in distress but,” His tone changed slightly, “I know she is.”
“Who are you…?”
“It’s just a figure of speech.” Ross said, with a rather forced laugh. He threw his hand up in the air as a vague sort of wave, and walked away. Markus and Laura exchanged looks, but neither of them seemed to have the answer the other wanted.

****

Markus stepped into the street of the small village surrounding the castle. He knew he shouldn’t be out here. Even with the hood of his cloak covering his head and his crown abandoned inside the castle, he was still far from normal. Without his crown he

[Markus Everglade]

was not only in danger, he was also a freak in a country full of superstition. It was all right for Markus the prince to have blue hair, it was another thing entirely for just an ordinary wanderer.
Taking all this into account, Markus couldn’t help himself. He had to know if all Kylara had said about Caltha was true. If it was… if it was, he couldn’t even contemplate sending his future child here, imaginary though it might be. He couldn’t understand how any king could sit back and watch this happen to his people.
“Excuse me,” A girl stood in front of him, hand on her hip. She appeared to be no older than fifteen, though her deep brown eyes looked much older than that. Her skin was the same bronze color as Kylara’s, and her hair was just as black. Self consciously, Markus pulled up his hood a little more.
“Yes?” Markus said. He felt sure that wouldn’t give him away.
“I was wondering if you could help me. My mother is sick, you see, and I can’t find a doctor. Are you at all skilled at healing?”
“I know some very basic-”
“Perfect, come on.” She grabbed his hand and pulled him down the street. They went on for what felt like miles before she turned to him and said: “I’m sorry I had to ambush you like that, but there’s no other way to get help in this town. The guards refuse to let me find a healer.” She turned sharply and yanked him inside a small, ramshackle house.
“Where’s your mother?” Markus asked, squinting in the darkness. The house didn’t appear to have any windows.
“On the bed. You get used to the darkness after awhile, trust me.” She yanked his arm again and he felt his knees hit the edge of something. Markus’s eyes slowly adjusted, and he looked down to see a woman with a bandage on her upper arm, her eyes closed in sleep. “That’s my mother.”
“What’s wrong?” He knelt down, hands hovering over the bandage.
“She got attacked by a guard for talking back. I think it’s infected, and I don’t know what to do.” She said. “Oh, by the way, my name is Lila. What’s yours?”
“Markus,” He answered shortly. He carefully undid the bandage and grimaced at the wound beneath. It was a perfect line, obviously from a sword, and it was definitely infected. Markus hesitated. He didn’t have any herbs with him, and going back to the castle would be a dangerous endeavor with this girl around. There was no way he could find his way back without her. But, without healing, this woman would die, he knew that for certain. Markus knew that he could heal her, but…
“Well?” Lila said, her voice so filled with hope that the last of his resolve crumbled.
“I can heal her, but you have to promise not to tell anyone what I did. All right?” He said, meeting her eyes.
“All right.” She agreed readily. “She’s all I’ve got left.” Markus nodded, setting his water flask on the bed. He lowered his hood, figuring at this point it didn’t matter, and he heard the slight gasp escape Lila’s throat. Carefully, he poured the water on the wound and set his fingers in it lightly. The blue energy covered both his hands and Lila’s mother, and in a moment the wound had reduced in size considerably. In another minute, it was gone. The spell was so simple that he had learned it on his own, and practiced it by

[Markus Everglade]

himself. He pulled his hand back, securing the flask at his waist once again, and looked up at Lila.
“You’ll keep your promise, won’t you?” Markus said. His eyes stayed locked on hers.
“Y-yes. Thank you so much for…” Lila said, gesturing with her hands as though unable to get the words out. “What… what are you?”
“I’m not exactly sure myself.” He said with a lopsided smile. “I’d better go.” He pulled the hood back over his head and started for the door.
“Wait!” Lila said. “I can pay you.”
“I don’t need the money.”
“Then could you…”
“What?”
“Well, there are a lot of us who need help. If there’s anyway you could come back tomorrow…”
“I don’t…” Markus said, but then he thought about it. Didn’t being a prince mean helping people who needed it? Maybe he could even bring Laura. “I’ll come back for as long as I can, as long as you promise not to follow me.”
“I promise. How long do you think you’ll be able to come?”
“Three days.”
“Three days.” Lila repeated, as though locking it into her memory. “See you tomorrow?”
“Trust me.”

****

“Why can’t you stop smiling?” Kylara asked, grabbing Raythor’s arm as he tried to hurry past her.
“I finally realized I fail at life. Isn’t that great? Bye, Kylara.” He said quickly.
“Wait,” She grabbed his other arm and he rolled his eyes, “This is about her, isn’t it?”
“I don’t think that concerns you.”
“Everything about you concerns me.”
“So what if it is?”
“I don’t think you understand that she’s not good enough for you.”
“I see my sister every time I look at you.” Raythor said, voice filled with ice. Kylara dropped his arms, one hand going to her hair. “Not because you look like her. I don’t even know why. She’s always there.” He walked away. Kylara was rooted to the ground, completely immobilized. She reminded him of his worst nightmare. Everything inside of her felt broken.

****

“Markus!” Laura said, flying forward to hug him. He had just barely had time to change back into his normal clothes before she had found him, and he managed to slip his crown back on his head before she noticed a thing. “Where have you been all day?”

[Markus Everglade]

“You’ll never guess.” Markus said, gray eyes flashing with mischievous excitement. Laura smoothed back his hair, mouth twisted to the side.
“What, my prince?”
“I went into the village.”
“You did? Markus, you could have been hurt.”
“I took off my crown so I wouldn’t be recognized.”
“Uh huh.” She said, glancing at his hair. “So no one noticed that, I suppose?”
“Well, I had a cloak on, to cover my hair.” Markus explained. “There was this girl, Lila, who had a sick mother. I went to see if I could help, and she had this infected wound. I had to use my powers to heal it.”
“You did?” Laura’s hands flew over her mouth.
“I know it was a bad idea, but Laura… being able to actually use that energy to help someone…” He got a faraway look on his face, and Laura couldn’t help but smile.
“I’m happy for you, honey.”
“Lila says there are others who need help and she wants me to come back tomorrow. I’m pretty sure I trust her.” Markus said. His expression turned beseeching. “I was thinking of going again. I was hoping you would come with me. If you think it’s too dangerous, I’ll tell Lila that I can’t.”
“It’s just for three days.” Laura said, frowning thoughtfully. She caressed the side of his face, her hand traveling down to rest on his shoulder. “I can’t see the harm in it.”
“I’m sure you’ll feel the way I do about it.” He said, resting his forehead against hers very lightly. “I just wish I could do more for them.”

****

The next few days were some of the best in his life. Markus had never before been allowed to spend time in a village, or actually talk to the peasants. He and Laura made a good team, any injury or illness that was too advanced for him to handle she could. As the vessel, she could amplify his powers to at least ten times their regular strength, which made him wonder whether or not there really was elementist blood, instead of some ancient creature’s, in his after all.
They spent three full days doing what ever they could to help Lila and her friends. So many of them did their best to help each other, even though they had so little and the conditions were so terrible. Markus supposed that it was natural to them, growing up with nothing forced you to work with nothing. It made him realize, maybe for the first time in his life, how much he took for granted.
“Maybe we can do this in Everglade someday.” Markus said, as he and Laura watched the sun set. She was leaning against him and their fingers intertwined.
“I doubt that Audrion would allow it.” Laura said, a little sadly. “This has been wonderful, hasn’t it? You really got to feel what it’s like to not be a prince; I know that’s what you always wanted.”
“If only we could find a way to do the same for you.”
“I’ve already got what I always wanted.” Laura said, with a slight grin. He rolled his eyes and she laughed. “Hey, mister, I think Lila had a little crush on you.”
“What, really? I’m sure that isn’t true.”
“I know the look she was giving you; I used to give you that look.”

[Markus Everglade]

“Maybe I should find a cloak that covers the better part of my face as well.”
“It wasn’t just your face.” Laura said. “What would you do if you were a fifteen year old girl and a handsome, mysterious stranger came and saved your mother’s life? She didn’t stand a chance.”
“She still doesn’t.” He said and he kissed her. Laura shifted position and her eyes opened wide.
“Markus! Markus, look!”
“What?” The prince asked. He turned to see Lila running away from someone who had a sword. He jumped to his feet and started after her, with Laura right on his heels. The man with a sword switched targets, and stood facing the Everglades. Lila kept going and disappeared from sight fairly quickly.
“So the little prince comes out of his castle, huh?” After a second glance, Markus realized that it wasn’t a man, it was a boy. He looked as though he had to be twelve or thirteen, though he was impossibly tall for his age. His slightly curled blonde hair wisped around his face like a child’s, and his grin was impish and juvenile as well. “I’m Graves and I suppose I guessed right. Markus Everglade and Elaura Glasswater. She’ll be so pleased with me.”
“Kenetari…” Laura said, the word unwillingly escaping her lips. The cold hand of terror gripped her heart immediately. She knew she didn’t have her bow with her, but she drew her sword anyway. Markus’s was already clutched in his hand.
“That’s her all right.” Graves said cheerfully. They both realized with horror that his eyes were not brown, but red. “I’m supposed to take you to her.”
“I don’t want to hurt you.” Markus said, raising his sword a little higher, as though that would be enough.
“Oh, you wanted a sword fight. Well, I’m not very good with swords, truthfully.” Graves said. He dropped his sword to the ground and laughed like it was hysterical. “I was hoping we could play with fire.” His eyes began to glow and red energy curled around his arms. He snapped his fingers and it began to burn.
“I didn’t see that coming.” Markus said. Laura stepped in front of him, to his surprise, and let Graves’s fire blast hit her head on. The energy just channeled though her body, strengthened, and went back at Graves, who just barely managed to jump out of the way in time.
“Wow, can you teach me how to do that?” Graves said, laughing again. They both looked at him warily. “What, did you think Markus was the only one? Nope, there are three of us! Isn’t that exciting?”
“Three?” The prince said with disbelief. He felt a hand on his shoulder, and then a slight pressure. Everything went black.

Chapter Ten
Skeleton Hands

Laura opened her eyes and wondered why she couldn’t see. She realized at once that she was in a very dark room. When a hand touched her arm she tensed up immediately.
“Laura, are you all right?” Lila’s voice came to her through the blackness and she relaxed very slightly.