She lives with little joy or fear

Over the water running near,

The sheep bell tinkles in her ear,

Before her hangs a mirror clear,

Reflecting towered Camelot.

(Lord Alfred Tennyson)

Chapter Four: Tainted Fire

I climbed out of bed as the first rays of sunshine slipped through my windows, it seems as though the events of the last few days had turned me into an early riser or maybe it was the fact that I was free of interfering magical influence. My room had a balcony, as most did in buildings like this and so to finish my plan from the evening before I snuck out to see if there was something useful.

The golden door knob leading outside into the fresh morning air creaked uncomfortably from the moisture still lingering before the sun was completely up and I couldn't help but cringe hoping nobody had heard. The balcony was small, with a plant and a chair overlooking the garden inside the estate but it had all I'd need for the last piece of insurance my fire required to remain untainted.

Removing the ruby amulet from the night before I took the plant and dug a hole in the soil near it's roots. Quickly I dropped it inside and started extending tendrils of power into the amulet. The plant began to bloom as I covered the hole to hide my insurance policy, but with each bloom another safeguard would appear. Gently gliding my finger over the velvety petals of the flower I could feel the almost imperceptible hum of power. With smile I plucked a pretty white flower and carried it inside, though I had never been one to overindulge in feminine things it made the perfect cover, nobody would ever know.

It was time to enjoy a warm bath.

After tucking the flower behind my ear, straightening my dress and pinching my cheeks, I stepped out of the washroom to find a strange man leaning against my balcony door looking off into the garden. He looked to be around my age, with a slim profile and broad shoulders. He hadn't seemed to notice my presence in the ingress of the room so I took the moment to observe him, dark hair and sun-kissed skin. He looked to be the type who spent enough time outside, and I determined that he was fairly handsome.

Clearing my throat, I broke his trance and he turned towards me. Vibrant purple eyes assaulted mine and I felt a shiver run down spine. His eyes looked as though they wanted to devour me, and for all I knew he might.

"Who are you and why are you in my room?" I almost hesitated to ask, a dark foreboding settling in my stomach. I knew this man from stories, but I was supposed to have no recollection of my past and I had to play my part in that or really lose control.

He smiled at me kindly murmuring, "I'm your betrothed, Erik Tokoto. You don't remember me do you? You were promised to me by your father when you were a little girl Salvaya."

So that was his game then? I was young when he attacked my home, but I wasn't young enough to forget something so serious as an engagement to someone so vile. Maybe it had been offered as an option and my father had turned him down? I remember from my studies that Tokoto was from the land across the sea, supposedly he had been one of many princes and so he'd left to try to find himself a kingdom of his own. Unfortunately for my family, he'd left with an army of wizards and for such a young boy he'd been adept in the art of war.

Instead of voicing my thoughts I merely shook my head, "I'm sorry I don't remember you at all." I stated kind of lamely, not sure what to say.

Taking a deep breath I tried to study him a little more openly, hopefully giving him the impression I was trying to remember. His inner flame is red with streaks of purple, something that Nel had taught me to avoid because purple meant tainted power. Otherwise, his flame was strikingly similar to mine, which I found strange. I shrugged my shoulders, and made a face, "Nope, nothing." I laughed nervously.

Tokoto, I mean Erik, took a step towards me and grasped my hand, "Why don't we go for a walk?" Despite the purple flames, his hand was still warm.

I shook my head, "I'm sorry, but this is a little overwhelming for me, I can't remember anything and then you've suddenly sprung on me that we're to be wed? Would you mind if I had some time to, well.. digest this information on my own? I'm not really sure how to feel right now, you say we're betrothed but to me you're essentially a stranger." I forced my most convincing sigh, the one I used on Nel to try and get out of doing something from time to time.

The vile man released my hand and nodded his consent, "Okay, but at least promise to join me for dinner this evening? I have a surprise for you and I'm not sure I can wait to give it to you a minute longer.. I've been looking for you for so long."

I nodded and forced what I hoped looked to be a natural smile, "Absolutely. What is it?"

He laughed, and when his features were bright like that you could almost believe he was a better man than he really was, "You'll just have to come tonight to find out, won't you?"

At this point he took his leave, gently shutting the door behind him and my knees gave out. Leaning against the wall I slid to the floor. Gentle fingers pressed against my forehead and I froze, the woman was there. Her figure wavering in the light as though she wasn't actually there but her touch was warm. I shivered.

"Who are you?" I asked her and she just sadly smiled, plucking her hand away from my face.

"You already know that." She whispered.

I was confounded by her answer, I didn't know her at all. I looked down at my hands and made to push myself off the floor, trying to get myself to the balcony to see if having the extra light would clear up the mystery but she was gone when I looked up.

My will to leave the floor failed me and instead of leaving the room to explore the compound, I rang for Miroke to bring me some breakfast while I mulled over how I was going to handle this situation.

The table Mik led me towards was already set and as I adjusted the corset of the gown I found myself cringing at how low cut it actually was. I didn't need to dress that way anymore, I wasn't Elaine of Astolat any longer but sometimes I guess habits were hard to kick. I guess I wasn't really sure how to dress myself any other way any longer, it had been years since I was seen as a lady of repute.

A few moments after we'd sat down, Selece came tumbling into the room and I almost laughed at how disheveled she was. She airily mumbled a compliment about the dress I was wearing and then plunked down in a rather un-lady like manner into an empty chair. Gently, I corrected her mistake in calling me Salvaya and then I wasn't surprised when she started to barrel me with questions. Since I had expected this, I was prepared to answer them.

Despite the fact that I was prepared, I still felt a heavy feeling in my stomach.

"Did you not announce to the guards downstairs that your name was Salvaya? My balcony is right above the entrance and I have impeccable hearing." She asked me quickly, hoping I'd trip up I suppose.

So I just smiled calmly and denied everything, "I don't recall doing so, no."

"So how did you come to find yourself in the Obsidian city?" She questioned me further.

"I flew." I answered quickly, taking the first bite of my appetizer. Trying to sound distracted by my food.

"How?" She responded.

"Using magic, I'm a sorceress, we can do those kinds of things." I shot back at her stupid question, it isn't like there was any other way to fly that could be achieved on this end of the globe.

"Well then let me rephrase the question, why? Why did you find yourself in such need of haste, are you running from something?" She pointed at me with my fork when she said the last half of the sentence and I almost felt threatened. Almost, except I'd lived through much worse than she could ever offer me.

"No, I just heard that my cousin was here and I was anxious to see him after such a long time." I answered sweetly without looking up from my plate, the food here really was good.

"That doesn't explain why you were so, shall we say, disoriented to introduce yourself as your twin instead of yourself." She countered quickly and because she asked me so quickly, I paused.

"Serious magic is very strenuous on the sorceress, and I flew a long way to get here. I think I could've introduced myself as a horse at that point I was so tired." I realised my mistake as soon as the words left my mouth because without thinking I had changed my story.

"So then you admit you introduced yourself as Salvaya and lied earlier when I asked you about it." She clearly challenged.

"You ask a lot of questions Princess, do I really intrigue you that much?" I dodged her question and forced myself to look up at her with a quirked eyebrow.

She flushed slightly, "Trying to change the subject? Why did you pretend to be your sister? Are you wanted by the guards?"

I forced out a little bell-like laugh and hoped it was convincing, "Oh of course not, you've got quite the imagination you know?"

"Have I met you before?" She began instead.

"It's possible, Mik is also your cousin is he not? We were close as children." I answered, thinking that was the best way to be vague enough to sound uninteresting.

"Where are you from Elaine?" She followed up suddenly, almost not giving me time to finish my answer and I didn't know what to say.

It was a good thing Mik cleared his throat and answered for me, "Cee I think that's enough, this isn't an inquisition, she's my cousin and I've known her my whole life. I don't need you to question her like she's a fugitive. I'd appreciate it if you were a little nicer, since indirectly she's your family as well."

Seemingly disgusted with the interruption to her inquisition she pushed away her plate, "Message clearly received cousin, you'll have to pardon me if I find myself without an appetite."

When she stormed out of the room, I finally released the breath I'd forgotten I was holding. For someone who was a few seasons younger than me, she was unnerving and extremely perceptive. From what I could remember of her father, it was a shared trait and I was hoping I'd never fall under such scrutiny by a member of that family ever again.

Mik turned towards me and shrugged, "I had a feeling things would play out that way, she's starting to mellow a bit but the girl is a little fireball when you first meet her. I spent 6 months being questionned like that on my trip back to the tower."

I didn't envy him, but at least she was determined and inquisitive, she would likely make a good ruler one day. Hopefully I could avoid her until then, or at least until I figured out what she was all about.