The horse stopped just inches in front of them. Probably since the horse was interesting in sniffing in Ivy’s pockets for some carrots because Elias did nothing to rail her in.

“What are you doing here?!”

“Taking a walk in the park”, Sasha said. “Do you have some more magic you want to force upon me by the way?”

“How could you be up already? You are healing far too fast.”

The horse was jumpy but Elias held her short.

“Guess”, Sasha said. “I bet you are clever enough to do the math.”

Elias dismounted the horse and patted her.

“The king woke her up to play the clown. If you are not purple to dinner he threatened to drown her”, Ivy said impatiently.

Sasha stared at her sister. Why did she have to destroy her fun? Looking back at Elias she saw his face take a paler colour, the hand patting the horse falling limp down on his side.

“Well, with the introductions properly made, I promised Sasha some food before she fainted”, Ivy said and walked back to the stall selling chicken.

“This is the first coherent thing you say today. Finally”, Sasha said. The merchandiser took one look at the company and the prince and ushered them forward. “And the first time I have usage of you”, Sasha added and looked at Elias.

He just grunted and paid for their food.

“I guess I still owe you a dinner. A proper one, for a later occasion”, Elias said, handing over the chicken in pita bread. He sent a glance towards Ivy, and then quickly looked back at Sasha. “What about tonight?”

Sasha let her teeth sink down in the food. It tasted marvelous.

“The parsley does it. Doesn’t it? We will need some extra. Do you have some extra parsley?” Sasha asked the man serving the food. “It was amazing.”

“Milady”, the man smiled and gave her a bunch of fresh parsley. “Anytime.”

“Now I just need some red raspberries”, Sasha said and looked towards Elias. “It will make the perfect dessert.”

“Raspberries. And why would I save your ass again?”

“Elias!” Ivy interrupted and pointed with her finger at him. “Didn’t you hear what I said before?”

Elias looked from sister to sister. Sasha shrugged.

“He is just his usual wonderful self.” Sasha shook her head. “Now, how do I unlock my magic? I am pretty sure I could make the dye fade away much quicker if I just had…”

“Nice try”, Elias said and leaned closer. His eyes were just slits. “The only one who will be playing is me. Not you and especially not my father. Join me tonight, and I will train you.”

“Will that unlock my magic? Or do I just get to paint you purple?”

“It’s kind of a package deal”, Elias said and rubbed his neck. “I guess I will have to leave the horse and walk you back to the castle. How the hell did you leave anyway?”

Ivy swallowed down the last of her food and took Elias under the elbow with one hand, and the rein to the horse with the other. She started to walk towards the stable.

“Well, as it seems, you invited us to look at the stable”, Ivy smiled sweetly. “It was such a nice touch, bringing your sisters to look at your favourite pet.”

“I have always been a gentleman”, Elias agreed.

They were passing into the castle smoothly, no one daring to question the prince. Sasha smiled towards Nils, who gave her a confused smile.

“That went without problem. Now for the harvesting of raspberry”, Ivy said.

“Not so fast.”

Sasha saw what no one of the others did. She could feel him hiding behind the bushes. Joy was spreading inside of her.

Isaak was sprinting out. He wrestled Elias down before any of them knew what had happened. Sasha smiled. There was no one to fight better than Isaak.

“Sorry brother”, Isaak said.

He stuck the knife in Elias chest.

“Isaak enough!” Ivy was shouting.

“Keep quit and look away”, Isaak said, he jumped away from Elias and pulled Ivy close to him. “Let waste no time. We are leaving now.”

Sasha looked at Elias. It looked bad.

“Sasha!” Isaak shouted. “Come now, I bought us some time. Let’s not waste it.”

She understood. Isaak had ensured Elias couldn’t use his magic. He would need it all to heal. They had to leave now, before it was too late. For Isaak sake she had to move her feet. She didn’t have any choice any longer.

Still she went closer, looking at the cut and the blood.

“Will you survive?”

Elias hesitated, whispering something Sasha couldn’t hear. She looked at Isaak, and her sister, and took some more steps towards Elias.

“Don’t let him fool you!” Isaak shouted.

Sasha stopped dead in her tracks.

“Will you survive?” she asked again. The orb was galling in her stomach. “Please.”

“I will survive”, Elias said and he looked over Sasha’s shoulder, at Isaak. He gave him the evil eye. “But if you leave me now Sasha, I will kill you.”

Sasha turned around to Isaak and her sister. She met eyes with her sister, wanting advice. Ivy was trembling.

“Sasha”, she said.

“I´m ok sister”, Sasha said. “Now, we run.”

And they ran.