Prelude

My jaw ached from the slap, but it was worth it.

Quickly he set about cutting his palm like I'd once seen him do, and I made sure to struggle as much as I could. It earned me another two slaps, and I was worried that Felix might burst out of the hidden door at any second. If he came out too soon, or if he realized... Well it would all be over, I'd have failed my one and only chance to finally see fruition to my carefully laid plans. They were a gamble but I'd always been lucky.

Finally the moment came for him to take my blood to complete the ritual and I braced myself for the edge of his knife. The fear of the knife was something I didn't expect; it's edge, the way the light reflected across its sharpened point. I couldn't help the trembling that shook my body; my illusions of survival become less grand with each of his light steps. What if he slit my throat? He could kill me. Then again, he wasn't the type to give someone an instant death. He wasn't a man to offer anyone mercy.

My lungs burned from screaming as the knife dug into my skin and he took his time applying firm pressure. His face glowing with every droplet inching its way down my pale skin; if I survived I had a feeling that his face would haunt my nightmares. My entire left arm fell prey to his anger, his jealousy and his fear of defeat.

My blood poured quickly from the gash, leaving little fingerprints all over the floor. Making haste, he poured himself a cup and turned around to make the symbols completing the ritual to take my life. Ever the secretive man, he didn't even turn to face me when his lips met the rim. Knowledge was power, and that greed would be his end.

The moment the droplets hit his tongue the grip on me vanished with his illusions and I wasn't ready for gravity. Without the pressure holding me up, my face met marble but my eyes remained transfixed. By that time, it was too late for him and he hunched over realizing his folly. I relished the sight of his suffering, bathed in it and felt lighter by the second.

I'm not really sure when Felix got to me, but I was having a hard time hearing what he was saying. I motioned for him to bind my arm and put pressure on the wound. My eyes were growing dark around the edges from blood loss, naturally I was a good healer but with a gash of this size...

I think he complied.

He whispered hoarsely, his tears all over my face and neck; words that seemed to become jumbled before my ears could catch their meaning. My eyelids were too heavy to keep open and as I began to drift off, he jostled my arm by pulling me up against his warm chest. I curled towards him with the last once of strength I had, it was soothing to be so near him and I felt so cold.

I could feel the wind against my face, and then I smiled at the darkness.

Blues, oranges, and reds mist the sky in their nebulous glow; but their hazy brilliance is lost on the emptiness of the street. Even after a week of being here I still find it disconcerting to see it so empty as soon as the sun sets. The emptiness, a remnant of the city's curfew from the plague; is deafening so early in the morning. Despite the plague being long passed, the emptiness stands testament to the citizens' even longer memories of its horrors. That suffocating emptiness presses on me even from my perch on the balcony overlooking the splendor of the sun's orange glow.

"For such a small thing to have so much importance."

I can't help but think, fingers tracing the contours of the family crest on my necklace. It's cool metal, inlaid with one delicate golden flower and its leaves made up of small emerald petals; could have made my mother's life much easier. Had she either parted with it, or embraced it; maybe she could still be alive. To her, did it feel like being branded too? I can't help but feel that way now that I know what it signifies.

Mik keeps repeating its importance to my lineage and its importance to the secrets of the castle, but I still just feel trapped. I feel as though my life is being forced in a direction that I'm not altogether eager to pursue, one my mother fled and my mother never did anything without good reason. How easy would it be to just drop it from the balcony and run?

It's a wonder I didn't realize what it was before and an even bigger wonder that none of the scholars on Alabast ever did; for a culture that so prides itself on knowledge their ledger has suddenly come up short. As a girl I'd always just thought it was my mother's favorite necklace, something precious to be hidden away from prying eyes and greedy fingers. That theory had been overturned, but the prying eyes truly were everywhere watching and waiting. As I re-clasped it, the cool metal felt heavy against my collarbone, like I could almost feel the grandeur of the burden I'd taken on by wearing it.

Over the long ship ride I'd had time to really think about what she'd hidden from me, and it left me feeling worried. A month at sea with no one to provide me the answers I craved had bordered on infuriating and Mik could only tell me so much. At least I'd have another few weeks here in the city before facing things at the castle; the castle that would become my permanent home. The thought of that place becoming my permanent home with a man I didn't know claiming to be my father was terrifying.

Mik's duties had been the reasons for our unscheduled stop, as the head of the royal guard and apparently my cousin, he was assigned to oversee the creation as well as dissolution of councils. Obsidian port was another such area governed by a seat of seven under Mik's jurisdiction and it was unfortunately uncovered to have been partaking in one too many extra curricular activities.

Mik's position overseeing the selection of new candidates would take time to complete and their selection process was very thorough, I could only hope that it wouldn't take much time to run its course. I never expected myself to talk about bloodlines with such importance, and even less so to be discussing how to arrange for new fair rule in a council. Well not for free anyway, I'd been asked a great deal of things while I was in Alabast. My mother was asked a great deal more.

Due to the urgency of the dissolution I've had to spend an entire week of solitude since I've arrived, Mik being the only person I've been allowed to interact with among the people. My safety was top priority, like I'd never been able to care for myself before now. All this time alone while behaving like a lady was leaving me increasingly bored. Eventually, my patience for this was going to run out and likely sooner than later. I could already picture myself out in the market, weaving through the canopy's and bartering for silks or baubles.

I couldn't help thinking back to my childhood, silence always brought forth all kinds of thoughts. Ironically, my mother took me away from my heritage and yet still prepared me best she could. The painful, expensive lessons that we couldn't afford made sense now. I had always just thought it was because she'd wanted me to make the best of Alabast's offered resources. After all that, I managed to even unintentionally elude even the Royal Guard for years.

"Your father sent word back that they're going to start preparing a ball for your birthday in four months."

Mik's voice startled me out of my thoughts. He moves silently like a predator heading in for the kill; something I've found to be a little unsettling during our time together these last few months.

"Well tickle me pink, that sounds just lovely." I murmured back, not taking my eyes off the rising sun, my fingers tugging at my curly blonde locks. It really was beautiful.

Mik put his hand on my thin shoulder and gave it a gentle squeeze, "I know you've heard things about him Cee, but he's your father. The only reason he isn't here is because he has a kingdom to run. He loves you, so why don't you at least give the poor man a chance?"

I wasn't really sure how to answer, so I gave a non-committal nod and continued to stare off into the distance. Growing up in Alabast, I was detached from the reach of most kingdoms but word of my father's unsophisticated and uncouth behavior had even reached me there. There were whispers among the people that he was the worst ruler in the history of Asthene. A man not fit for his crown, but with no competitor to take his place and no end in sight. There would always be such rumors by unhappy nobles though, I wouldn't be able to gauge their accuracy until I was closer in to the capital and until I'd mingled with my people. Even thinking that sounded peculiar. Could people really be mine?

Mik gave my shoulder another squeeze, before he froze and rushed out of my room. I looked down from the sun and noticed a girl with vibrant red hair brushing past the guards. An intruder? A friend? A lover? I did enjoy a good lover's quarrel. I'd seen far too few since my time with the pirates. How I missed those little bastards, I even missed their cooking. Not that it was any good, but rather the idea of eating in a mess hall with everyone and nobody caring who you were or what you were. Titles didn't matter much to pirates, unless they were keeping hostages. Titles meant larger returns -any business savvy pirate knew that.

Picking myself up off the chair I'd been lounging on, I made my way into my room. I was immaculately organized, another thing that had rubbed off on me from my time with them. You'd never think it, but pirates are creatures of uncharacteristic organizational skills.

The door to my room was open, and I pulled it firmly shut behind me when I slipped into the hall. This had to be good, Mik was in such a hurry that he couldn't even be bothered to make sure my room was secure. I hurried down the hall, excited to see what I'd find. My mind keeping a quicker pace than my feet could ever hope to follow.

Chapter One

The stranger's distinctly female voice rang out in the darkness, echoing its way up the hall full of muffled promises that wouldn't quite reach my ears. My imagination was going wild with possibilities. Despite being my only confidante, and his assurance that I had been his shadow as a child, I still knew very little about him. Mik was a big puzzle, and I was anxious to discover the next piece.

He is too perfect, this whole situation is too perfect and it leaves a bitter taste on my tongue. Alabast educated me, but it was my gut that kept me alive since then and something about this felt off. There had to be something Mik was omitting, something I needed to piece together why my mother abandoned her place at the head of the country for the life she'd led. Every time I thought about it, I just thought myself in circles and wound up exactly back where I started. I needed more information.

It isn't something I'm proud of but I decided to eavesdrop from the next room instead of rushing in. I could hear them sitting, and then I could hear her sobbing. The sound of someone who was totally and utterly broken, something private. Eventually she stopped and he offered her a room I decided it was time to introduce myself; I could only hope they wouldn't see the reflection of my guilt in my clear green eyes.

When they stepped into the hall I stopped her to make my move and I stood there blocking their path for an extended moment waiting for an introduction.

"Who is she?" I asked after a long pause when Mik made no move to begin introductions.

"This is my cousin Sal." Mik answered stiffly, motioning for her to come forward with a nod.

Motioning towards me he continued, "Sal, this is Princess Selece, I'm to escort her back to the capital to her father in a few months."

Her name rung a bell with its distinct strangeness, it brought back a memory I had of a discussion with a tutor about the different royal houses of Terra. I remember discussing a former Princess named Salvaya from Torrin -I mean Takor; in my studies on Alabast.

I extended a hand towards her in greeting as was the custom where I grew up. She just stared at me, it was kind of strange, like she didn't understand that I was trying my best to be polite. Finally she smiled, but didn't take my hand, before greeting me with a "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance princess Selece."

I looked down at my hand and withdrew it before responding, "The pleasure is all mine Sal, such a unique name.. Were you named after the late princess Salvaya by chance?"

She paused looking a little off for a moment, and before I could press further Mik stepped in between us.

He cleared his throat and smiled, "How about we let her rest Cee, she's had a long journey and she's exhausted. I'm going to see that she finds an appropriate room and then why don't we meet you for dinner in the terrace in a few hours?"

I nodded, and turned on my heel quickly departing down the hallway. I was more than a little disappointed by the lack luster performance I'd just taken part in, why couldn't she have been his long lost lover? This whole trip could use a little more spice. The way he didn't allow me to continue did seem off though, he'd never interrupted me like that before. I wish I knew what they'd discussed with a little more certainty, maybe she really was the disgraced princess of the royal family of Torrin. That would make for a little intrigue, but the way my day's have been going I'd highly doubt anything so juicy to fall into my lap.

I needed adventure like the king needed gold, my body was almost humming with restlessness and the tease of that meeting had only been enough push me over the edge. The obsidian tower had many private terraces overlooking the market. A bustling market full of trade, something I was used to from Alabast; a place I was beginning to sorely miss.

Taking some gold and changing from a gown into my far less cumbersome traveling pants, I made my way over to the lowest terrace. Once there I glanced around and climbed around the outside of the railing. Taking a breath I hopped down from the ledge, sliding gracefully down one of the tents into the moving mass of merchants.

My time with that scallywag had taught me a few tricks that even Eli hadn't thought of, although escape was more of a pirate's art than an assassin's. Assassin's generally killed their targets and found escape to be far less cumbersome than entrance. So you really couldn't blame Eli for never letting me know that the merchant tents were excellent escape routes.

I was never the kind of girl to sit around and watch life pass me by, besides my talents might be needed in the city. Who was I to be an ignorant member of their royalty when I could be out there helping, or shopping, or both. The obsidian port was known for its wonderful silk trade and it's penchant for the spread of illnesses, like the dark plague that'd swept through the country for several years. The curfew keeping the town safe was lifted a few years ago and people still rarely venture out at night.

My time in Alabast had left me with quite a stash of gold. People all over the globe sought out Alabastrians for their knowledge, so I was kind of blessed to have grown up there despite the fact that it was so secluded from the rest of the world. It was the first good thing my mother had decided on after we left those people, and it had taken us a long time to get there. I just wish she could have experienced more of it, but magic can't act against fate. If it was your time, no amount of power could save you.

Shaking away my thoughts, I turned and I focussed in on the present. The market was incredibly busy for a small port city and it's thrum was like music to my soul. Children laughing and playing, people shouting; I lived for that kind of energy.

One particular corner of the city caught my eye; people coughing and wheezing against a wall. I couldn't resist the urge and soon I found myself next to them. A mother holding a feverish young child, a man bleeding from his arm, and three young children begging for food; this wasn't how I wanted my empire to be. My empire? That thought came more easily this time.

Cautiously I approached the children and handed them each 5 gold coins. That was enough to feed their families for a month, or even a few months if they were careful about their spending. They ran off with the money like their heels were on fire, worried I would take it back or that I was somehow tricking them. Next I approached the woman and asked to see her child, she hesitated for a moment and I smiled encouragingly at her.

"I'm here to help, I promise." I murmured encouragingly to her holding out my arms.

I needed contact to use my gifts and without touching the child I couldn't help. She hesitated, her dark brown eyes frantically searching my face and then eventually she nodded; holding her daughter out to me.

"Please." She said, her voice thick with tears.

Delicately I picked up the child and pulled her close to my heart, the moment I touched her I could see it; her steadily decreasing fire. Reaching deep inside I pulled at the tendrils of power there, releasing some slowly into the baby and focussing on tending her flame until it shone brightly again. The little girl's fever broke and her breathing evened out immediately, her life was safe. The mother gasped and began to cry when I handed her back a healthy baby.

A person's life force was like a flame, it was distinct based on their heritage and their particular gifts or lack thereof. That child would live a very normal life, but then there were people like me who could manipulate our flame to do things. In my case, I can use my inner flame to heal, a gift only possible within the royal family of Asthene. It was said that our gifts were envied by many of the other royal houses of Terra, especially that of Yuto where my father is said to be native. For all my healing prowess, I had no offensive abilities to my knowledge and that could have come in handy several times over.

"She should be okay now, just make sure she gets enough fluids and keep this a secret between us okay?" I whispered to her with a smile before placing another 5 gold coins into the baby's wrappings. She was so emotional that all she could do was nod before scurrying away. I couldn't help but smile, helping her made me feel better about my situation as though lessening her burden made mine seem more bearable. Considering where I was going, I'm sure I wouldn't really be needing much of the gold I brought along with me either way.

Next I crouched down to the man sitting there bleeding and reached into my pouch for a needle to stitch him up. I hadn't been sleeping well lately and attempting too many magical remedies would leave me sick, so the traditional method would have to do.

"I'm a healer from Alabast, I'm going to stitch up your wound for you okay? I won't charge you for it, so don't worry about repaying me." I murmured holding up the needle, he nodded his consent and I set about stitching closed his wound. The repetitiveness of the motions as I pressed the needle into his skin was soothing and familiar, it set my mind at ease.

He cringed a bit from the pain but overall he was a good patient, when I was done stitching him up I grabbed some paste from my satchel and lathered it over the wound to disinfect it as well as speed along the healing. Gingerly I then set 5 gold pieces down into his palm and smiled.

"Take care of yourself and stay loyal to your king...-dom." I stated brightly, correcting myself at the end and using the wall to push myself into a standing position.

I'm not really sure why I said that.. I had to catch myself there, I wasn't even sure if I was loyal to the king yet. Sharing blood doesn't make someone worthy of ruling a kingdom and I had yet to find out if there was any real validity to the stories I'd read about in my studies.

The sun was casting long shadows when I looked back towards the tower and I couldn't help but sigh. I turned back towards the man and wished him well before heading back into the steadily decreasing mass of people.

"I saw that." Accosted a deep baritone voice behind me, the power behind it made me shiver and pick up my pace.

"Well I'm glad you aren't blind." I retorted without turning around and continued walking.

He sped up to match my pace and I refused to spare him a sidelong glance, for now.

"Well aren't you clever, such pretty green eyes too.. What will it take to have them actually look at me?" He cooed.

I snorted, "Much more than you could possibly offer."

"How could you possibly know that without even looking at me?" He shot back in a familiar, almost sing-song voice.

The streets were relatively empty now and that seemed to make him more bold. I was told once that my gift made me naturally more appealing to men, apparently it was something the whole royal lineage had to deal with because of our mixed blood. I was counting my blessings that I was trained in defending myself right now, best get the confrontation out of the way before things got much further and I wouldn't have any witnesses to get the guards if it got really bad. So I paused my next step and turned to look at him; my next breath caught in my throat.

"Entu you bastard, there isn't a festival going on is there?" I nearly shouted, a tempest of emotions swirling beneath the surface but mostly I was just relieved.

I threw my arms around him and the two years apart working for Kenny had made me miss him; more so when Kenny had proposed instead of paying for my services. I guess I couldn't hold that grudge anymore now that I would never need to earn money ever again.

Entu started to laugh, "Well you always were kind of a distant wench until we finally got you out on the open water, so personally I think my greeting was well deserved."

He paused for a second and then continued a little more softly, "You did ditch us randomly at a port two seasons ago, you know it isn't the same without you, the crew ...misses you."

I sighed, "My dearest scoundrel, you know I couldn't stay on board forever... Heck you didn't even give me a choice about joining your crew in the first place."

Entu smiled cheekily and continued lightly, "I just had a gut feeling you were meant for the seafaring life, bossy little thing like you with a taste for gold."

I frowned, "I won't ever lack for anything anymore though."

Entu chuckled, "I see, finally taking the plunge and getting hitched?"

I shook my head, "No, something more foul."

"You've finally taken my advice and started working rounds in a brothel?" He lifted his eyebrows suggestively and I elbowed him in the stomach.

"Why, do you want to be first in line?" I couldn't help but laugh.

"Yes. So what is it then?" Entu finally asked.

"It turns out I'm actually from a rather prestigious family..." I muttered, glancing away shamefully and hesitating to elaborate on the details. My time on the dagger had taught me one thing; they didn't mix with royalty.

Entu grabbed my hand, twirling me to some silent tune, "I've always wondered what a pirate princess would look like, turns out it's pretty good. My offer to come back still stands."

I let go of a breath I'd be subconsciously holding, if he only knew how spot on he was with that statement.

"I'll keep that in mind, if I need to shock old daddy dear will I be able to count on you? Who knows when I might need to be disowned, right?"

Entu nudged me in the rib with a suggestive smile, "You know that when we're not plundering we make like an upstanding member of society, but if you want to be disowned I can be less upstanding towards you.. if you ask me nicely."

I laughed out loud, "I'll take that under advisement."

"But." Entu began and I shoved him jokingly, the look on his face made me nervous.

"The sun's almost set, I wish I could stay but I need to get back to my cousin before they notice I'm missing." I changed the subject and picked up my pace.

Glancing at him one last time I again asked him the questions that had been playing on my mind, "Why are you here and for how long?"

Entu smiled, "To find you of course, the sailing season is over so we're going to lay low here for the winter.. or however long it takes to get you back."

I smiled back at him in a way that I knew he was sure I didn't believe him, "I'll bet that's the reason, I'll see you here again tomorrow?"

Entu's smile widened and as I tried to make my exit he tugged me into an embrace. Before he could hold me longer than a second I shrugged him off and quickly dashed off back towards the tower's front entrance. My heart was hammering in my chest and I struggled to maintain an even breath when I arrived.

A guard I didn't recognize nodded at me as I slipped past and up the obsidian stairs. There wouldn't be time to change into a gown at this point without uncomfortable questions so I'll have to just head straight to dinner; I realized with a sigh glancing out at the sky one last time.

They were all already seated and waiting for me when I stumbled into the room ungracefully. My cheeks flushed as I became the focal point of the discussions at the long table; the room full of faces I didn't know. Quickly I bridged the distance between the entrance of the room and where Mik was sitting with Sal.

"Sorry I'm late, I was ...exploring the tower and lost track of the time. Sal you look rather elegant, is that a new dress?" I rushed trying to divert the attention.

"Actually my name is Elaine, I was so out of it earlier I didn't think to correct the introductions, Sal is my twin sister." She smiled at me, all poised and indicated for me to sit at the empty seat across from her at the table.

Somehow, somewhere, I felt like I'd suddenly lost the upper hand in this and I didn't like that at all. The motorri princess was an only child as well, so if I was to believe her story my inkling of adventure from earlier would be gone. There was something guilty about the way she'd said her sister's name, and I grasped on to that thought like a life raft on a raging ocean.

She looked like a cat staring down a mouse, with her motorri eyes and self-serving smile. Something about her just irks me. She looks like the kind of girl who's a little too comfortable in her own skin. The way she lets her dress droop down so low and revels in the attention is kind of sickening.

"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." I asked her quickly, trying to needle her into exposing something. I could just feel that they were hiding something from me.

Elaine smiled calmly, "I don't recall doing so, no."

Denial huh? Well then lets see how long you can keep that up.

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

"I flew." She answered quickly, taking the first bite of her appetizer; a warm soup made from sweetened potatoes.

"How?" I responded.

"Using magic, I'm a sorceress, we can do those kinds of things." She answered condescendingly.

"Well then let me rephrase the question, why? Why did you find yourself in such need of haste, are you running from something?" I subtly pointed are her with my fork when I said the last half of the sentence to emphasize my point before taking a leafy bite of my salad.

"No, I just heard that my cousin was here and I was anxious to see him after such a long time." She answered sweetly without looking up from her plate, like I wasn't worth her glance.

"That doesn't explain why you were so, shall we say, disoriented to introduce yourself as your twin instead of yourself." I countered quickly hoping to catch her in a lie.

"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." She stated after a brief pause.

Time in between answers usually involves thinking up a lie. Not making eye contact also usually involves hiding a lie, they say that the eyes are hardest to hide the truth.

"So then you admit you introduced yourself as Salvaya and lied earlier when I asked you about it." I challenged, still trying to trip her up with a fact that even I wasn't sure was true.

"You ask a lot of questions Princess, do I really intrigue you that much?" She countered finally looking up at me with a quirked eyebrow.

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

She let out a little bell-like laugh, "Oh of course not, you've got quite the imagination you know?"

I had to stop myself from making a face at her, there was something familiar about her I just couldn't place.

"Have I met you before?" I tried a different angle.

"It's possible, Mik is also your cousin is he not? We spent some time together as children." She answered.

"Where are you from Elaine?" I changed my tactic.

Mik cleared his throat, "Cee I think that's enough, this isn't an inquisition. 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."

Well, he's clearly covering for her and I'm going to remain in the dark. If there was something I wouldn't stand for, it was people lying to my face and the omission of the information is tantamount to a lie.

I pushed away my plate, "Message clearly received cousin, you'll have to pardon me if I find myself without an appetite."

Standing up, I walked out of the room quickly and I was only slight put off when nobody stopped me. I didn't trust either of them, they were hiding something and I would find out what that was. If I could just touch her, I would know if she was special. Someone from the royal family of Torrin would have special gifts and I'd be able to read that in her flames.

The streets were dark when I slipped out the front of the tower to find something to distract myself. Pulling my hood up over my head I meandered down the street looking for the docks and Entu, if anyone could brighten my mood it was him.

The ship was rocking back and forth in the waves, securely fastened to the dock when I found her. Most of the lights were off so the crew was probably out at one of the local taverns indulging in a pint or seven. Entu didn't usually join them, or at least he didn't use to, so I decided to try my luck and hop aboard.

As luck would have it, my steps onto the deck were outlined clearly as the moon was just cresting above the clouds. The pearly illuminating glow showing me there was no one on deck and prompting me to examine further. The door below was slightly ajar, so I quickly hopped over the second last squeaky step to the bottom and nudged the door. The hall below was well-lit and I could see Entu's door next to the Captain's at the end. I took quick light steps to get there and then tapped my knuckles quietly in case anyone else was still here. To my surprise, the Captain's door opened instead.

"Cee?" A voice mumbled, the smell of a few pints wafting from his breath. So he had been out earlier, where was Gonzaku?

"Entu?" I answered turning to face him in confusion at his change in chambers. He smiled at me and my breath caught in my throat, before pulling me into his arms and then his room. It was well-lit inside, but from my vantage point against the door all I could see was his face. His breath was hot against my cheeks and his forehead was resting on mine.

"So do you believe me yet?" He murmured.

I didn't know what to say, I guess when I accepted the lord's offer I might've been leaving for more reasons than one, and it didn't help my pride that the bastard had refused to pay me when I declined to marry him at the end of my contract.

"Do you believe what I told you before you up and left me?" He repeated cautiously clarifying.

"Maybe Entu," I said kind of airily, I didn't like how breathless it sounded.

"Artuzo," He replied, "I want you to know my real name is Artuzo."

I placed my hands on his firm chest, a year apart had changed him from a muscled teen to a defined man and he tilted my head back to kiss my lips. I didn't stop him, it was intoxicating. The feel of his warm hands on my cool skin. I shuddered as his kisses traveled lower and I pulled his head upwards to press my lips against his.

It felt like all sense of time was slipping away from me, what would my mother think of me now?

The gentle lulling motion of the boat was familiar, and as the first rays of the sun peeked through the window in the cabin I realized my mistake. Artuzo was pressed firmly against me on top of his cot and as I tried to escape he pulled me closer, murmuring don't go into my hair. I sighed but unlatched his grip and stood up. Quickly, I tried to arrange myself into something presentable.

Artuzo rolled on to his side and propped his head up on one hand, "You'll come back won't you?"

His tone was gentler than I'd ever heard.

My cheeks were pink, but I nodded and headed towards the door, "I'll be back tonight."

I quickly opened the door and then I was gone.

Taking a few gold pieces out of my satchel I stopped at a few stands and purchased some brightly colored fabrics, before sauntering back up to the tower. The guards smiled at me as I passed, and I knew trouble was waiting for me upstairs when they did. Bypassing any stops I would have made to the sitting area I went straight to my chambers to find my door ajar and Mik waiting inside.

"Where have you been?" He began calmly.

"Out." I answered, dropping my spoils on the carpet and heading into the washroom.

"You didn't come back last night."

"And?" I answered back in the clipped tone I used for unruly patients.

"And I'm in charge of your well-being now, so I would ask you to stop acting so immature, you're almost an adult." He said condescendingly.

"And if you don't get out of my room, just imagine how hard it will be to find me when I'm purposely evading you."

I made a face in the bathroom mirror, he was being an ass.

"You're a girl in a foreign city, I'd ask you to behave a little more suitable for your station and take a chaperone from now on." He shot back in a way I knew I'd struck a nerve.

"Why, after 18 years of being essentially on my own, would I suddenly agree to have someone follow me day and night, no thank you. What I do on my own time is up to me, if you hadn't noticed I'm very well educated and I can defend myself. So you need to back off, family or not.. I am my own keeper." I snarled, my words dripping anger like your body does sweat in the sand palace.

"You're a princess now, that means that your life is worth more than anyone else in the city and it also means you're a walking talking target. A pawn that could be used against the king."

"I won't be anyone's pawn, or anyone's glass doll. To the people of Asthene, I'm still merely just another face in the crowd until my coronation either way. When you're ready to tell me everything that's going on honestly maybe I'll stick around but until then I can and will come and go as I please." I hissed, slamming the bathroom door, locking it and stripping out of my clothing to take a shower. I heard his heavy foot falls echo across my floor and my outer door slam shut moments later.

An effective end to a terrible conversation.

When I finally finished dressing I grasped the handle of my door to leave the room only to find it wouldn't budge. The little rat had locked me in, taking pins out of my hair I stuck them into the lock and twisted until I heard the familiar click of the latch coming loose. Thank you, Eli.

The door slid open and I slid the pins back into my hair. Grabbing a velvet cloak and my satchel, I slipped out of the room quietly. Only to run headfirst into Elaine.

Just the girl I wanted to talk to today.

"You shouldn't be so cruel to him you know, he's the kindest person I know." She stated looking down the bridge of her nose at me.

"Well you've obviously led a very sheltered life, or been exposed to a continuous stream of cruel men." I retorted back, her face paled and I recognized the look in her eyes. That broken look and felt bad.

"I'm sorry for what happened to you." I murmured going out on a limb, my mother's face replacing my enemy. Elaine froze and shivered, giving me the coldest look I've ever seen in my life.

"What could you know about anything that happened to me." She hissed back at me.

"I've seen that look before, I didn't notice it over dinner but I recognized it just now." I looked her in the eyes and she took a step back, I think I misread the situation before.

"You were in a brothel." I finished my thought and all the blood drained from her face.

The way she carried herself, her hesitancy to disclose her name, her not wanting to take my hand when we met, her reaction to my conclusion; I knew I was right.

As quickly as the color left it returned tenfold, "How dare you insinuate that I was a whore."

I shook my head, "I never used the word whore, and I stood by while someone very close to me was forced into that situation to support her family once. I watched her go through that pain until she was so scarred from the experience that she had to leave in the middle of the night and leave everything she couldn't carry behind."

Elaine seemed to calm down a bit but her clenched hands were still shaking, "Who was it?"

I pulled on my cloak and fastened it, pulling my hood over my head, "Just because I recognize your look and I get where you're coming from, doesn't mean I'm going to tell you every detail about my past. I still don't trust you."

Not giving her the opportunity to reply, I pushed past her to continue further down the hall but she grabbed my arm. A flare of color flashed up behind my eyelids, a beautiful brilliant emerald and gold flame dancing agitatedly.

"Trust is a two way street, it's earned over time and what you're doing by running off like that isn't making your life any easier. You're just running away because you're scared of what you're about to take on." She countered evenly.

I ripped my arm out of her grasp, trying to process what I'd just seen.

"Sometimes, things are a bit bigger than you or I or Mik's trust. I had a life before he showed up to tell me I was a princess, and I don't intend to let this new life ruin the best part of my old one. Also, if it comes down to it, and I'm sure someday it might, I'm more than willing to walk away from all of this." I gestured around me.

"You say that now, but you really don't know what you're talking about. You've never been a princess before, the crown is heavier than it looks and much harder to take off than you'd think." She said gently, like she had some great wealth of experience in the area. Which I'm sure she didn't, she didn't look to be much older than 20 or 21 and the royal family of Torrin had been overthrown years ago; any remaining royalty scattered into the wind.

"Well I'm sure you're the great infallible source of knowledge in that area, your highness." I retorted with a mock bow, sure her flame was powerful in a way that trumped my own and sure she was more than just your run of the mill motorri woman.

She quirked an eyebrow at me, but she maintained composure and offered me a sad smile, "You would be surprised what I know, but I no longer have a kingdom to know it for and so you have a responsibility to fulfill to your people that won't be done by sneaking off with some pirate in the middle of the night, you aren't the only one with a balcony."

I flushed and felt like a naughty child caught sneaking pastries, "It isn't sneaking, I love him."

"Wait, so you are really Salvaya then? The disgraced princess of Torrin?" I pressed, trying to direct the conversation away from Artuzo before I had to admit anything else.

She looked at me sadly, "Cee, I mean Selece, no I mean can I call you Cee? My name really is Elaine, but it's a long story meant for another time. What I mean is that as a princess your life is no longer your own, you belong to your people and sometimes that means you might have to marry someone you don't love or do a dozen other things you won't enjoy for the prosperity of your kingdom. As their princess you have to do it willingly and without complaint because it's your duty."

I paused, and adjusted my hood, her answer confused me but my patience with her was wearing thin.

"Well then let me enjoy my happiness now before I have nothing left."

After that she let me go, and I hurried out of the tower praying that this was just one of Darn's tricks.

The sun was high in the sky above the market when I got out of the tower, her words ringing in my ears. As much as I didn't like her, I'd read stories about girls being sold to foreign dignitaries as part of a power play within royalty many times. My life was really just a bargaining chip for my father's grip on power, which according to current literature, was failing and had been since Tokoto had come into power several years ago.

With a sigh, I aimlessly roamed the booths looking to draw attention away from my innermost thoughts. It was too early to go back to the ship, Entu.. I mean Artuzo would take that as my wanting to rejoin his crew and that wasn't something I could promise him. I love him, I realize that now, but Elaine was right and maybe I'd missed my years of happiness. Maybe I was to become some pretty painted puppet for my father against my will? There were a lot of loose ends in my family story, like why my mother decided to abandon my father and her role as queen to become destitute. My mother sold herself for me, for a scummy wretched existence; until eventually the sparkle in her eyes was gone. How could that have been better than being queen? When I was eight she'd finally tucked away enough money for us to leave..

A little hand reached out to grab my satchel. Stopping the little thief quickly, I grabbed the little girl's hand at the wrist. Lowering myself down to her eye level I searched her frightened features.

"Calm yourself child, I'm not going to turn you in." I whispered after noticing the strange looks we were getting from the crowd.

"Please, please, please let me go, please, I meant no harm miss, I'm just hungry miss, please." She begged, not hearing my whisper and thrashing against my firm grip.

I shook my head at her and repeated myself a little more forcefully, "Calm yourself, I'm not going to turn you in, where are your parents?"

Her little frame shook with the effort she was putting into escaping my hold, and with a sigh I reached out with my flame to soothe her. I wouldn't get any answers if she wouldn't even listen to what I was saying. Her flame was dazzling with its strangeness, two distinct colors and hints at gifts that I'd never encountered before in one place. Given the chance, she would be a force to be reckoned with. My flame began to have the effect I desired as hers started to calm, it's little spark regaining a steady rhythm.

I repeated my question when she stopped struggling, "Where are your parents?"

She shook her dirty little head, "They've both passed from the night plague, it's just me miss."

I felt sad for her situation, a little girl, all alone on the streets, that could've been me had things not played out the way they had and with such a unique flame she shouldn't be left to her own devices.

"I'm going to help you child, what's your name?" I decided out loud calmly, she would be talented and I had to admit all this time on my own was lonely.

She finally turned her eyes towards me; they were different than anything I'd ever seen, one was like violet glass while the other a beautiful almond and momentarily they took my breath away.

"Y-you will?" She asked me cautiously, her voice edged in both hope and fear. The voice of a child who had seen more than her share of cruelty.

I smiled as gently as I could muster, "Yes, you can call me Cee.. What's your name?"

She shook her head, and paused for a minute, before smiling up at me, "Isobel, my name is Isobel."

"Isobel, that's a very exotic name, you're not from here are you?" I asked her gently, buying her an apple from the stand nearby.

She turned her big beautiful eyes on me again when I handed it to her, motioning for her to follow me.

Eventually, after a few bites into her apple she spoke again, "My mommy and daddy used to tell me stories about Yumikai but my daddy was a sailor and my mommy wanted to get away from the pirates so they moved here and had me and then they got sick."

I'm assuming by Yumikai she actually meant Matalai, the nation across the ocean. It's funny how everything ties together; she ended up here because of pirates like Artuzo.

"Oh wow, that's a really long way to go. You won't have to worry about being alone anymore though, you see Isobel I'm actually a princess and I'll keep you safe. Would you like to stay with me?" I asked her gently.

She nodded fervently, almost dropping her apple in awe. "You're a princess? No wonder you're so pretty."

I outright laughed at how adorable she was, "I'll bet you're really pretty too once you're all cleaned up, how old are you Isobel?"

Isobel held up both of her hands and dropping her thumbs she counted, "I'm one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, I'm eight summers old."

I clapped, "Oh wow, you're so smart Isobel! Did your mommy teach you that?"

Isobel beamed, "Yes, she taught me every day until I was seven and she got sick, but I still practice when I'm alone because she always told me that it was important!"

So she'd been on her own for around a year then, her parents must've been merchants and one of the last to pass before the ban had been lifted; the terrors passed. I wish I knew more about the plague, I hated not knowing if it was something I could help with and how to prevent it from returning.

"Do you want to play dress up?" I asked her cautiously, worried her good mood might've been ruined with talk of her parents. She must've endured so much since then.

She nodded, "I used to love to play dress up with my mommy. Will you be my new mommy then?"

I shook my head, "I don't want to replace your mommy because she was a very special lady, but I'd really like it if you thought of me as maybe your new big sister?"

She looked sad for a second before she thought it through, and then she extended one of her little hands towards me.

"We have to shake on it, my daddy used to tell me that it isn't true unless you shake on it." She stated proudly, puffing out her chest and I noticed how thin she really was.

"He's absolutely right!" I agreed with a giggle, kneeling down in front of her so that I could be at eye level when I shook her hands.

She threw her arms around me, and I felt a peace I hadn't known in a long time. In that moment I knew I'd made the right choice, special gifts aside, she would become my family until I found her a better home and even then I'd keep an eye on her.

Scooping her little frame up into my arms and spinning her around briefly before putting her down, I pulled her towards a dress shop. She deserved pretty things and I would certainly be the one to introduce her.

The little bell on the door tinkled when we walked inside, and shop keeper turned up her nose at Isobel. Taking quick steps towards the counter, I smiled up at the lady.

"I'll take anything she wants, along with three sets of traveling gear in different shades of brown and violet to match her eyes." I ordered, "Oh and any sleep wear she'll need." I continued after a quick thought.

Isobel hid in my cloak and it took me a few moments to untangle her so that the woman could take the proper measurements.

"Isobel, do you see anything you like?" I asked her gently, pointing at the fabrics on the walls.

She shook her head, not wanting to leave my side to look around the shop. With a sigh I amended my order.

"Why don't we make her 5 dresses, one in violet, pearl, forest green, crimson and peach."

The seamstress nodded, "How will you be paying for them?"

Pulling out my satchel, I dropped 12 pieces of gold on her counter and she quickly brushed them into her pocket.

Putting down an extra two, I answered, "You'll receive another two pieces if you can deliver this order by tonight."

The seamstress scurried into the back of her shop, and yelled for them to fetch her assistants.

Popping back out front, she smiled breathlessly, "Yes, I will be able to do that. Where will I be delivering them to?"

I smiled, "The obsidian tower, say princess Selece requested the delivery and they shouldn't give you any problems."

Her eyes almost bulged out of her skull and she began to write everything down; her actions seemed nervous.

I took Isobel's hand in mine and headed to leave when she stopped me, "Could I interest you in this?"

I turned and in her fingers she held something far too grand for such a small shop and I couldn't stop the gasp from leaving my lips, "Idleberry silk? You have enough for a gown?"

The shop keeper nodded, "I don't usually, but my husband came across some on his recent trip to Matalai, I have just enough for two gowns for you and one the girl. It will cost you another 40 gold pieces each though."

"I'll acquiesce to that under one condition, you make me two outfits in the style of Alabast instead of gowns. I have very fond memories of the place, and their apparel is far easier to maneuver in than a gown. I feel as though Idleberry silk is wasted any other way. I'd like one more to be made in the male style, for someone of these measurements as well." I stated, quickly writing out measurements I mentally estimated.

The shop keeper laughed, "I can do that for you, in fact we'll do that first so that you will have it tonight. I'm assuming you don't carry that much gold on you, so when we deliver the outfits we'll accept payment."

I nodded my consent, "That sounds ideal, we'll see you tonight then."

Taking Isobel's hand in my own, I ushered her out of the shop and towards the obsidian tower.

Isobel was in fact very pretty once she was cleaned up. Her dirty brown hair was actually a dark blonde and her skin was unmarred and sun-kissed.

Sitting around in one of my fluffy robes, I asked a servant to go down to the kitchen to bring my meal up to my quarters.

She was sitting in the lounge chair by the fireplace when it arrived, and I quickly opened the door.

Instead, Mik walked inside with a cross look on his features.

Expecting the worst, I smiled gently at Isobel and asked her to go take a look out on the balcony to let me know if she could see the seamstress coming yet.

Isobel hopped out of the chair and stepped out onto the balcony without an argument, closing the doors behind her. Mik's presence making her jittery, as though she could tell his anger before hearing his venomous voice.

"Who is she?" Mik demanded, obviously still angry from our spat earlier.

"Well, hello to you too." I answered him, looking down the hall for the food I'd ordered.

"Who is she Cee? What is she doing here?" He repeated.

"Her name is Isobel, and she's my ward. I had a friend caring for her, but they sent her back to me because they had some extenuating circumstances. I can't forsake my prior responsibilities now that I'm a princess, so she's back where she belongs." I lied quickly and hoped he wouldn't see through my story.

My response seemed to make him hesitate and rethink his next words, "Alright, she can stay so long as you look after her."

I snorted and chose to ignore the fact that he thought he had some say in the matter, "No I was going to ignore the poor child, I'm obviously going to look after her."

Mik's next words were interrupted by the kitchen staff laying out our meal and he took that as a opening for him to leave.

Taking quick steps towards the balcony, I ushered Isobel back inside for dinner.

Little Isobel looked so peaceful sleeping that I had to smile. This little girl would have a future now, she would live a long life and be free to love whoever she liked.

A little pang of jealousy cut me quietly, and I thought of Artuzo.

I had more questions for myself than answers right now, and months of waiting to meet my father was looking more and more daunting. I wanted to meet him and I didn't all at once but I needed answers. Before any of that could come to pass I needed to secure a life for Isobel if things went sour with my father and maybe Artuzo could help with that. This little girl would not pay the price of my future, she would not be caught in any of my family conflicts.

I jolted upright in bed when I heard a tapping on my balcony window. Looking up at the cloaked figure I smiled, how he'd managed to sneak by the guards was beyond me, or maybe Elaine wasn't the only one who knew about my little secret.

Slipping out of bed, I ran to the balcony and unlatched the door before slipping into his embrace.

"You never came back," he whispered.

"So you came to get me?" I responded with a light giggle.

He smiled, "If that is what you wish, who am I to deny such a fine woman?"

Artuzo made to step inside my room, when I stopped him. Motioning to my bed, I pointed to the sleeping figure there and pulled him back outside.

"Who's the girl?" He whispered, confused.

"A little girl I took in at the market today, her name is Isobel. I was actually wondering if any of your connections in the high houses were looking to adopt a little girl? I'm going to take her to the capital with me so that I can keep an eye on her, but I'd like it if I could find her a real home." I whispered.

Artuzo leaned his forehead against mine and smiled, "Always trying to save the world aren't you?"

"Well I have to at least try." I murmured back, pressing my lips against his.