“Kaj?” Aleana peered through the doorway into the prince’s bedchamber, finding him lying on his bed, arms folded behind his head, looking up at the ceiling.

“Hello, Alley,” Kaja said without looking at her.

“Are you all right?” she asked him quietly, standing at the foot of the bed.

“Me?” Kaja seemed surprised at the question. “Of course.”

“What are you doing?”

“Looking at the carvings,” the leonin pointed upwards to the engravings where the wall joined the ceiling. “Do you know, if you follow them around, they tell the story of my great-great-great… uh… well, I think its eight greats… grandfather, Ethan Irontooth? See, it begins there,” he indicated a corner. “There was a war at that time, too. We seem to have been in a lot…” he paused for a moment, then continued. “Anyway, it starts with him leading his troops to victory over the Northland Icedwellers… a costly victory, and one that took four years to ensure. Or at least they thought it was ensured at the time, we’ve never really put an end to it as you know, but he settled them for fifty years or so, so I guess it was something of a victory after all.

“Perhaps the most important thing is that during that time, there was little communication between the armies in the north, and the palace. Rumours abounded. More than once, Ethan was reported dead, only for the next month to bring tidings that he and his best knights had evaded death or capture, and instead come upon the enemy from behind their own ranks, ensuring victory for our soldiers in the chaos that followed.

“Meanwhile at home,” Kaja moved his finger to point at the corner of the room. “He was being betrayed. Senator Grellori Driftstone accused Ethan’s wife, Elenia, of treason, and had her imprisoned. In Ethan’s absence, as senior member of the council, and especially as many felt Ethan may not return, he was able to assume power. By all accounts, not an enjoyable time for the people,” Kaja indicated the next wall, where a crowd of engraved people seemed to be rioting outside an engraved palace.

“When Ethan returned to find Grellori in the seat of power, and his wife imprisoned, he had Grellori executed. It was strange though – even as the senator was lead to the guillotine, he continued to swear that he had not betrayed the king, that he had assumed control only because of a greater threat to Ethan’s rule.

“Later that same night, Ethan’s wife revealed to him the truth. She confessed that she had betrayed him, that during his absence she had kept the company of one of the knights who had been left to guard the city. Against another man, adultery would still have been a crime punishable by jail sentence, but against the king… indeed it is treason, punishable by death, as she admitted, and as Grellori had claimed. Although saddened, Ethan forgave Elenia, for he loved her dearly, and could not face bringing her to trial. It was a secret that has never left our family, and perhaps to our shame, it is Grellori that our history books show as being in the wrong.

“Of course, he was, in many ways. His rule was harsh, his methods of law enforcement swift, and frequently unfair, but… the fault is perhaps not entirely his. I do not know what my eight-greats grandmother would have wished for. Whether she felt that had she remained faithful to Ethan, Grellori would never have shall we say, fallen from grace, or whether she believed he deserved his punishment… Perhaps it doesn’t matter. It was long ago, after all.”

“Why are you telling me this?” Aleana asked softly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

Kaja shrugged. “Interesting story, I guess,” he half chuckled. “At least I think so. You know, they say the patterns of history tend to repeat themselves. Perhaps disloyalty and treason simply run in my family… I wonder if history will look as kindly upon me as it did upon Elenia.”

Aleana frowned. “You have committed to wrong, no act of treason.”

“Are you sure?” Kaja looked at her. “That signature was compared and judged valid by almost the entire senate. Can I be so sure that I am not in the wrong?”

“Do you believe you are?”

The leonin sighed. “I don’t know,” he said simply. “Those orders have a degree of sense to them. They do ensure security in father’s absence…”

“Not to mention loss of freedom, and a police state,” Aleana added. “Would father have considered that a fair trade for security?”

Kaja thought for a few seconds. “I don’t think so,” he said at last. “But who am I to judge?” He turned over onto his side, facing away from her.

“You are his heir!” Aleana exclaimed, staring at the back of his head. “You are in line to the throne, and it is to you the people should look in father’s absence!”

“I am also the one who is not chosen as father’s advisor at matters of state,” the leonin sighed. “To my shame. Too long have I ignored the politics of our kingdom. I greatly fear I may not be the only one to suffer the consequences of such.”

Aleana closed her eyes, unwilling to admit that she had been thinking much the same.

“What is past, is past,” she told him quietly. “You cannot change what you have done, only what you will do.”

“Which won’t be much, if those guards stay where they are,” Kaja nodded at the doorway to his chambers, on the other side of which were two armed soldiers.

“They let me in…” Aleana said hesitantly.

“They won’t let me out,” Kaja stated. “I tried. They declared that they are under orders to answer only to Tiernach,” he growled.

Aleana’s eyes narrowed. “I shall see about that,” she said, standing and turning towards the door.

“Where are you going?” Kaja intercepted her, rising with feline speed.

“To see Tiernach. This is ridiculous. I’ve seen you two fight before, but putting you under guard is intolerable! I don’t know what he was thinking with those orders, but he is probably just trying to keep our people safe. I shall talk to him, and perhaps we can reach a compromise.”

“You will do nothing of the sort!” Kaja exclaimed. “Alley, maybe you haven’t noticed, but he accused me of treason! This is not sibling rivalry here, this is serious, this is…” he broke off.

“This is what?” Aleana prompted.

“This is…” the leonin sat on the edge of the bed, frowning. “This is… this is a bid for power,” he said quietly.

“Nonsense.”

“How so?” Kaja challenged. “In one day he has gathered support from the majority of the nobles, brought the people under a tighter control, and removed me as an obstruction. Is it coincidence that this happens at the first opportunity after father leaves?”

“I…” Aleana paused, thinking. She didn’t want to admit it, but Kaja had a point. “Why?” she asked. “Why would he?”

Kaja shook his head.

“Highness!” Calinan looked somewhat taken aback to find Aleana on his doorstep, especially at this late hour, and even worse, alone. “If you needed me, you had only to…”

Aleana shook her head, interrupting him. “I don’t want to talk in the palace. Can I come in?”

“Of course,” the lupari stepped back to allow her entrance, closing the door behind her as she lowered the hood of her cloak.

Aleana looked around. The house appeared to be much like its owner – neat, functional, and with few frills or decorations. Against one wall, a set of shelves with several books, one plate, one bowl, and one cup. Behind the window, a table, the red tablecloth bright against the unpainted brick wall. The floorboards under her feet were bare, but polished and well maintained. A doorway in the far wall revealed a tidy sitting room, the bright glow of a fire visible from one side, casting flickering shadows against the leather sofa.

“You have a nice home,” Aleana smiled.

“Thank you, your Highness,” Calinan nodded solemnly. “May I ask why you are here?”

“I need to talk to you. About the senate meeting.”

“Ah,” the lupari nodded. “Please,” he gestured to the other room. “If you would care to sit down?”

Aleana nodded and went into the living room.

“May I offer you some tea, your Highness?”

“Please,” Aleana nodded, finding her gaze drawn to an embossed shield above the fireplace. Edged and inlaid in gold, the patterning was intricate and beautiful, seeming quite abstract yet somehow giving an impression of intertwined leaves and flowers.

Calinan noticed her gaze as he donned a thick leather glove and lifted the kettle off its place above the fire.

“It belonged to my father,” he said quietly. “And my grandfather before him.”

“This is the royal seal,” Aleana said, reaching up and brushing her fingers over the very centre of the design.

“Yes, your Highness. The shield was given to my great grandfather for his services to the king, Arnhelm Irontooth.” The lupari set the kettle down upon a small table beside the fire, pouring it into a green teapot.

“The assassination attempt?” Aleana looked towards Calinan as he reached onto a high shelf, retrieving two cups that looked like they hadn’t been disturbed for a while. It seemed odd, Aleana thought, to see him without the armour he usually wore, now dressed simply in trousers and white shirt.

Calinan nodded.

“Then this was hardly sufficient repayment…” Aleana breathed, looking back to the glittering shield. “The family history says that Arnhelm’s rescuer barely survived.”

“My great grandfather’s duty was to protect the king. He would have done so, even were the cost his life, as would I,” Calinan said simply. “Repayment is not required.”

Aleana smiled. “I am glad that at least some of those around the palace are so loyal.” She sat down in the armchair near the fire.

“You are concerned about the loyalty of someone with access to the palace?”

“Aren’t you?” Aleana asked.

Calinan looked thoughtful. “There have always been, and will always be I fear, those among the nobles who would turn against your family, for the right price.”

Aleana frowned. “You know what I mean,” she said. “You were present today.”

The lupari looked uncomfortable, and didn’t meet her gaze.

“You do not believe those orders came from my father, do you?” she asked.

The lupari continued to avoid looking at her. “It is not my place to question Prince Tiernach, your Highness,” he said quietly.

“Assume it is,” Aleana told him firmly.

Calinan paused, looking clearly not comfortable with the idea.

“Answer me,” Aleana ordered, her lips tightening.

The lupari sighed, drumming his knuckles against the table for a moment before replying. “It would not have been typical of his Majesty to issue such orders.”

“Do you believe he would ever have done so?”

Calinan hesitated. “No,” he said quietly, shaking his head.

“Then we have something in common,” Aleana said softly. “The question is, what are we going to do about it?”

Instead of answering immediately, Calinan poured the tea. “What do you want to do?” he asked, handing Aleana one of the cups.

“I have your full support?” Aleana asked.

Calinan nodded. “My duty is to protect the king, and his family. I cannot believe those orders originated with him, and I believe that yourself and prince Kaja agree. Under the circumstances, my following them would be unacceptable, and my duty is to protect Prince Kaja and yourself.”

Aleana couldn’t help but smile. “Well, if you put it like that, it all becomes so simple.”

“Tiernach, how long is this going to go on?”

The prince looked up, feline eyes widening for just a moment, surprised to find anyone else in the garden this late at night. Usually he would have the place to himself at this time, the few moments of peace he could find each day.

“How long is what going to go on?” he asked, leaning upon the railing of the gazebo, looking at the fountain, the moonlight glittering on the water as it ran down the stone.

“Between you and Kaja.”

Tiernach sighed. “What would you have me do?” he asked quietly. “He has stated that he will go against father’s orders at every opportunity. You know that I cannot allow that.”

“Compromise!” Aleana exclaimed, standing beside him and looking up at his face. “This is getting ridiculous, Tiernach,” she told him. “You’ve kept him locked up for three days!”

“I cannot compromise, Alley,” Tiernach explained as if speaking to a child. “The orders stand, and are necessary for the security of our kingdom.”

“So what, when someone argues you have to keep them out of the way?” Aleana frowned.

“I have no intention of harming Kaja.” the leonin sighed, looking up at the moon overhead, his expression sad. “And nor will I let him come to any harm, but neither can I allow him to go free if he is intent on disrupting due process. I can only hope that in time he comes to his senses and we can once again work together for the good of the kingdom.”

Aleana looked uncertain. “You are that sure that what you are doing is right?”

“Yes!” Tiernach spoke with surprising passion as he turned to face her, his hands gripping her shoulders. “Yes, I am, Alley. Do you not realise how ill prepared we were to face a threat?”

“But there was no threat...” Aleana started.

Tiernach released her, turning away. “We thought there was no threat,” he stated. “We were wrong. I realise now that we should never have become so complacent. Perhaps much of this is my fault...” he allowed a note of doubt to creep into his voice. “Perhaps if I had been more proactive, insisted that we bolster our military, that we ensure a better income for the state as a reserve for times of need, perhaps this would never have happened.”

Aleana sat down in one of the wooden chairs in the gazebo, looking at the leonin’s broad back. He seemed so sincere, she realised. For just a moment, she wondered if Kaja had been wrong in his judgement that Tiernach was making a bid for power. She looked out over the darkened gardens. Whether or not Tiernach was acting out of genuine concern for the kingdom, she could not agree with his actions, Aleana decided. The taxes and forced labour were too high a price to pay for ‘security’. Genuine belief in his actions or not, Tiernach was wrong. She knew what she had to do.

“I will talk with Kaja,” she said softly. “If he will agree to it, would you be willing to at least review the orders? Perhaps they are necessary, perhaps not, but you have a better chance of implementing them if you work together. As it stands, many of the nobles are not happy about them.”

Tiernach looked at her over his shoulder.

“Very well,” he said softly. “But understand that I cannot compromise the security of the state. All I can do is attempt to explain their necessity.”

“Understood,” Aleana nodded. She rose, and made her way quietly back to the palace through the moonlit gardens.

Tiernach watched her retreat thoughtfully. He had to admit she had a point that reaching a satisfactory compromise with Kaja would unite the nobles more effectively than anything he could do alone, and... he would very much like to be on good terms with his brother again. He realised that he was gripping the wooden railing hard enough to leave claw marks, and forced himself to let go.

The orders from the First had barely been justifiable, but if he could have Kaja’s support, then his chances of implementing them were good. If he could not persuade Kaja... then there was little choice but to keep him locked up on charges of treason. At least that would keep him out of harm’s way. Maybe later, when his plan was complete, when he had the knowledge that the Brotherhood offered... maybe Kaja would understand then.

Calinan looked over his shoulder at the small group behind him.

“Is everyone ready?”

It was fortunate, he reflected, that Aleana had been far from idle during the last few days, and had located a number of nobles who were unhappy about Tiernach’s latest orders. Nobles sufficiently unhappy that a number of them were now armed to the teeth and preparing to do something that Calinan considered rather foolish. Although convinced that there should be a better way, he had been unable to provide a reasonable alternative in the short time available, and had bowed to Aleana’s judgement and made appropriate preparations.

“We’re ready,” a vulpani nodded, the moonlight shining on his sword. This was Kennin, only son of lord Oakroot, and Calinan was forced to give the young man a degree of grudging respect. Although inexperienced, Kennin was brave and determined, and had insisted that he be involved in the matter when Aleana had arranged her somewhat conspiratorial meeting.

“Let’s go,” Lord Flintwash – a lutrani who seemed to have inherited his family title rather before his due time – hefted the mace he clutched tight in both hands.

The keenness of youth accounted for, Calinan looked at the rest of the party, receiving nods from the more experienced – possibly more experienced than Calinan would quite have liked – members of the group.

“Right,” he nodded approvingly. “Stick with the plan. Three left, three right, I’ll go down the middle with Kennin. Wait for my signal.” He looked at Aleana as his group dispersed, vanishing into the thick trees and bushes that formed the southern border of the palace grounds, dividing up as instructed, one group on each side of the path.

“I should go with you,” Aleana said.

Calinan shook his head. “No matter how well this goes, there will be fighting. If it goes badly, you will be Prince Kaja’s only hope. We cannot risk you.”

Aleana looked unhappy, biting her lip in frustration, but nodded.

“Good luck,” she told him.

The lupari nodded, glanced at Kennin, and lead the way down the path.

“Halt! Who goes?” the tall leonin guard lowered the point of his spear, the metal glinting in the light of the torches and brazier.

“Captain Calinan Thornshield, at ease soldier,” the lupari strode purposefully towards the woodshed at the end of the path, ignoring the fact that all six of the soldiers stood up and moved to block his way.

“We can’t let you go any further, sir,” a lupari raised her gloved hand, stepping in front of him, looking at Kennin appraisingly.

“Kennin Oakroot,” Kennin said automatically under the scrutiny.

“His father suggested he join the palace guards,” Calinan said, slapping the young vulpani on the back hard enough to stagger him half a pace forwards. “Thought I’d show the lad some of the ins and outs as it were.”

“I see... bit late for that, ain’t it?” The leonin planted himself behind his superior, glaring down at Calinan. He didn’t look the least bit intimidated.

“I don’t intend to be turned away by you, corporal,” Calinan’s eyes flashed. “Move it.”

The lupari guard paused, seemed to be thinking.

“Sorry, sir,” the leonin growled, apparently less indecisive than his superior. “Our orders come direct from Prince Tiernach. Nobody passes in nor out. Please go back.”

Calinan stepped around the lupari woman.

“Don’t do it, sir!” she grabbed his arm as he passed. He twisted, grabbed her wrist and pulled, sending her crashing into the leonin, both of them falling to the ground in a heap.

“Oi!” the other guards started towards him, but hesitated as they found six attackers coming out of the darkness at them, arrows aimed at their chests. Stepping forwards, Calinan kicked the sword out of the leonin’s large hand.

“Put ‘em down, soldiers,” Calinan gestured to the guards’ weapons. “Nobody needs to die here, don’t make it happen.” Reluctantly they dropped their swords and bows.

“Sir, think about what you’re doing,” the lupari guard said as young Lord Flintwash tied her hands together, her arms around a tree.

“I have thought about it,” Calinan told her. “And I know exactly why I’m doing it. Can you say the same?”

She opened her mouth, thought for a moment, closed it again.

“Right. Now you lot stay quiet, and you’ll only be here until your relief arrives, then you can all go home to bed.” Calinan turned to his group. “You four, stay and watch them,” he indicated the four of the team with bows. “Make sure that relief wasn’t coming right away.”

“It wasn’t, and the patrol won’t pass for another half hour,” the lupari said quietly, and Calinan looked at her.

“Mind what you say, corp!” one of the other guards shouted at her.

“Shut it, Bruntwood,” she told him. “Give me some credit, sir,” she addressed Calinan again. “I do know why we’re guarding this heap of logs,” she nodded at the woodshed. “And all I can say is its a right mess. There’s a fork about a hundred yards in. Take the right branch, the others just loop back to each other.”

Calinan looked at her for a few seconds. “Thank you,” he said. “But I think you’ve landed yourself in trouble by saying that,” he nodded at the other guards who were glaring at her.

“Well now that’s up to you, ain’t it, sir? Now you’re not here to assassinate the prince – either of them – not you, sir, no way. That means you’re here to get Prince Kaja out, which you wouldn’t be doing if you didn’t have a proper escape planned. Now if you’ve got room for me in that, and you can use me, I know which prince I’d rather be serving come dawn tomorrow.”

“Yeah, the traitor!” one of the guards shouted. Kennin kicked him in the shin and then gagged him.

“Funny how my old da’s paying triple taxes since the ‘traitor’ one was locked up now, ain’t it?” the lupari shot back at her subordinate and he frowned at her.

Calinan’s eyes narrowed. He pulled the dagger off his belt and raised it, and she flinched. Had she misread his intent? He cut the ropes binding her wrists, and she relaxed.

“Calinan...?” one of the nobles behind him raised his bow.

“She’s all right,” he stated. “She didn’t have to help us, I’d already said we wouldn’t hurt her.”

“Thank you, sir,” she nodded. “Now we need to move fast if we want to be out and gone by the time the patrol passes. I suggest you grab a torch.”

Kaja looked up in surprise as the wall next to his desk thudded loudly.

“What the...?” he stood up and put his hand to the decorative paper, snatching his fingers away as it shuddered as if under impact again. A moment later he stepped back in alarm as a chain mailed fist punched through it. Backing away he heard a few sounds of cursing, a giggle, and an exclamation of realisation from somewhere behind the painted flowers. The hand withdrew, there was a click, and the entire section of wall hinged outwards.

“Good evening, your Highness,” Calinan said calmly, framed in the hole left by the wall.

Kaja straightened. “Good evening,” he said, equally calmly. “Is there a problem with the door, or can I assume that this is a rescue?” he grinned as the lupari nodded gravely.

“How come I never knew about this?” Kaja asked as they hurried along the narrow tunnel moments later.

Calinan, bringing up the rear, shrugged as the leonin looked at him. “I did tell you about fifteen years ago, your Highness. You said you would remember.”

Kaja groaned, narrowly missing bumping his head on the low ceiling. “I knew I should have been paying attention to what you said all those times when I didn’t listen...”

“Agreed,” Calinan said simply.

“Though it didn’t help that when I did listen you were usually on about some dull piece of family history,” Kaja went on.

Calinan declined to answer, instead hurrying forwards as the passageway opened out slightly, peering up the ladder at the end even as Kennin ascended it.

“All clear, your Highness,” the young vulpani called softly down to them, sticking his head above the ground. “And Derrif says the carriage is waiting.”

“Carriage?” Kaja asked as he began climbing the ladder.

“It seems wise to get you out of capital,” Calinan informed him. “You would be surprised how many of the nobles supported your imprisonment. There are a lot of people will try to put you back where you started if you are discovered.”

Kaja growled as he heaved himself onto the floor of the shed. “Damn Tiernach... what the hell does he think he’s playing at?”

“I don’t know, your Highness,” Calinan pulled himself into the shed. Standing, he closed the trapdoor over the ladder, looked at it for a moment, then heaved a pile of wood on top of it. Crossing quickly to the door, he looked out. “Come,” he gestured and Kaja followed him.

“Hey, Alley,” Kaja said as he sat down in the back of the carriage.

She looked at him. “Hello, Kaj. How was your day?”

The leonin chuckled. “Remarkably quiet, actually. Plenty of time to think things over.”

“Oh. Did you think of anything new?”

“Only that as soon as I get a chance I’m going to kick Tiernach right in the...” the carriage started with a jolt, the clip clop of the horses’ hooves sounding outside the small windows.

“What about the rest of them?” Kaja asked, looking back.

“They’ll meet us at the Oakroot estate,” Aleana said. “I believe we will attract less attention if we do not stay as a group.

The leonin nodded, then sighed.

“I’m sorry you had to do this, Alley.”

Aleana shook her head. “This was not your fault. There was little you could do.”

“I shouldn’t have challenged him so openly,” Kaja growled, grinding his fist into the palm of the other hand.

“Actually, I believe that was for the best. Had you not done so, it would have been difficult to find people to help me. As it was, at least some of the nobles came to your aid.”

Kaja nodded. “We have some good people.”

“We do,” Aleana agreed. “Unfortunately I do not know if they outnumber the not so good ones.”

“I see...” Kaja leaned back onto the seat and closed his eyes.

Looking out of the window, Aleana watched buildings pass quietly by on either side for a few moments before drawing the curtain. “We should be out of the city in a few minutes,” she said quietly.

“How long until we get to Oakroot’s estate?”

Aleana coughed softly. “About three days, maybe four,” she admitted. Kaja groaned. “We needed someone we could trust,” she went on defiantly. “If I’d chosen wrongly you’d be back under lock and key within the week. As would I, more than likely.”

Kaja nodded and yawned, the slight bouncing of the carriage making him feel sleepy.

“Alley?”

“Kaj?”

“Do you think we’ll ever have a normal day again?”

Aleana sighed, and shook her head.

“Me neither,” Kaja sighed.

Katrina knocked on the door, and waited. No response. She knocked again, frowning. Still no answer. Hesitating for a moment, she put her hand on the handle, and pushed the door open.

The room inside was in near darkness, the only light coming from two candles against the near wall. Opposite the door, the large window showed a starry sky, outlining a dark shape in the middle.

“My Lord?” she whispered, closing the door behind her. Tiernach stayed quiet silent, giving no sign that he had heard her. “My Lord, I was told that Kaja has escaped.” Still no reaction. She padded up quietly behind him, her heartbeat sounding traitorously loud.

“Kaja, I might have expected,” Tiernach spoke quietly, not turning to face her. “But Aleana is also missing. It seems neither of them are to be fooled by the First’s orders.” Without warning, he slammed his fist into the window frame, which creaked ominously.

“My Lord, I understand your feelings, but this need not...”

“Need not what?” Tiernach demanded, turning, and the expression on his face made Katrina take a step backwards. The darkness seemed to gather about him as he moved towards her, the candles dimming, and all of a sudden she was very aware of his power. “Need not interfere with the Eye’s plan?” He gripped her shoulders, holding her in front of him, his glittering eyes examining every inch of her face as if he could see through to the bone beneath.

“Yes, my Lord,” Katrina said softly.

Tiernach scrutinised her for a moment more, before releasing her, turning away in disgust. “And what of my plan, Katrina? All this I do... do you believe it is merely for myself?”

“My Lord?”

“I do this for them, as well as me!” Tiernach shouted, gesturing out of the window. “For their good as well as mine I made this deal! For their lives as well as my own! And this, this is how they show their trust in me! They run from me, fear me, believe that I would do them harm!” For a moment, Tiernach’s eyes seemed to burn brighter than the candles, but a second later he slumped, turning back to the window with a bitter laugh. “I should not have permitted the First to force my hand.”

“No harm has befallen them yet, my Lord,” Katrina reminded him softly.

“How long can that last. I don’t even know where they are anymore.”

“Then I shall find them for you, my Lord.”

“They are not to be harmed!” Tiernach turned his head to glare at her over his shoulder.

“And they shall not be, my Lord. I will ensure that every commander in the army is aware that if they are seen, they must be returned alive at all costs.”

“You would let the army deal with this?”

“My Lord,” Katrina spoke carefully, choosing her words selectively. “Prince Kaja has disappeared after being accused of treason. Princess Aleana appears to have aided him in this. There are those who will see this as an admission of guilt, and who will look only to you for orders. You are now the only member of the royal family with contact with the senate, the only ruler still in the capital.”

Slowly, Tiernach nodded. “It does present... opportunities...” he admitted.

“Yes, my Lord,” Katrina reassured him. “Your judgement in all things can no longer be challenged. You are in a position of great power. Is this not what you need?” Without really thinking, she put her arms around his waist, resting her chin on his shoulder and they both looked out at the dark sky. “Do not worry about this, my Lord,” she said quietly. “This is only a temporary problem, I promise. Focus on your study, do as the First bids you, complete the plan.”

“Yes,” Tiernach whispered. “The plan.”

“This has all been in aid of removing obstructions to control of both kingdoms, my Lord,” she reminded him. “No part of that has been compromised by what has happened today. If anything, it has strengthened your position. Now you can concentrate on building the Brotherhood’s army.”

“You know about that?”

“I have heard rumours. Does the work go well?”

“To a degree. It has worked with animals. The First seems to have found some use for them.”

“Interesting...”

“Disgusting.”

“Perhaps. But will it work?”

“Yes,” Tiernach’s voice was hushed. “It will work. In due time, the army of the Brotherhood will march, and the Eye will have its wish.”

“Then all your plans will succeed, my Lord,” Katrina tightened her arms about him. “Have no fears. I will deal with today’s problems.”

“Very well,” Tiernach nodded tiredly.

“You should rest, my Lord,” Katrina stepped back, taking his hand and tugging him towards the doorway to his bedchamber. “Come. Let me take care of your worries. You’ll feel better tomorrow, I promise.”