“You people with hearts,' he said once, 'have something to guide you, and need never do wrong; but I have no heart, and so I must be very careful.”

- L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

The door to Alea’s room was thrown open and Viola Silversmith stood in the doorframe, hairs disheveled as she called to Alyssa. “You must come at once, something happened at the party, and Alea is injured.” She looked distraught.

Alyssa jumped up from the chair she had been sitting in, “What can I do, where is she?”

“Come with me. Adam is readying the coach. We must make haste.”

They hurried down the stairs and arrived in the yard. The cold made her breath mist and she shuddered.

“Here take my cloak. I will not be coming with you. Adam has instructions and you are not without means. I will try to contact Maximilian. Hurry.”

Alyssa nodded and took the steps leading into the coach, her slight weight nearly without effect on the suspension.

Adam flicked the reins and the coach drove quickly and surely out of the courtyard into the quiet streets. It was sometime in the evening around the ninth hour of the second half of the day.

Alyssa rubbed her hands and looked to Asandria. Cyrus was fidgety because of his mistress's distress.

Asandria tilted her head. ‘I am very sure she is still alive. Other than that I cannot say. It is a pity that Vanessa left before the call came. She had wanted to investigate the Keshians.’

“Please help me if Alea needs healing. I think they should have someone better than me but just in case.”

‘Don’t put yourself down so much. With my support, you are the equal of a common healer, even a magically gifted one. Though you should acquire more experience and it would be important to learn some more about the functions of the body.’

The clacking of horses' hoofs on the pavement was the only sound for the rest of the way.

And then they arrived at the Dornenfurt Mansion. Alyssa hastily exited the vehicle even before the carriage had completely stopped and stumbled a bit as she came to stand on the gravel. Soldiers stood before the house led by a man in plate armor. Behind the four common guards in the livery of the palace, green and gold, there stood a woman in dark grey robes with a mask made of silver a crescent moon imprinted on her brows, dark brown hair flecked with grey fell to her shoulders. She held a staff with a blue crystal set in the top.

“State your name and intention, Ms.?” The knight looked at her but did not neglect to keep an eye on Adam as well.

“My name is Alyssa Miner, I am a fr…” she thought a moment “...member of the household of Graufurt. My lady Alea has been injured. Please lead me to her side.”

“Alea von Graufurt? Yes, she is inside. There was talk of you probably coming here. Sellem here will accompany you. Don't stray from him. We are on high alert at the moment and I cannot otherwise guarantee your continued good health. And don’t let your familiar out of sight.” It did not seem like a threat and as such was a lot more effective.

A guardsman separated from the rest saluted the knight and motioned her to follow. He wore a breastplate and halberd, a shortsword dangled at his left hip. Beneath the steel, he wore padded and quilted cloth.

He seemed very young for a guard with only the beginnings of a beard. Perhaps a year or two older than Alyssa herself.

Inside the mansion, guardsmen bustled to and fro. From an open door to her right, she heard the sound of a young woman or girl crying. Hushed voices echoed in the large entrance hall. A harried-looking butler guided the soldiers on their errands.

They were stopped two times by sentries and they took note of her channeler's orb and the force wand that Vanessa had bequeathed her, but they did not disarm her after her guide told them of her allegiance.

Then they entered a side corridor separated from the rest of the house by large doors it seemed as if this part was reserved for living quarters of family and perhaps some trusted servants. One door was guarded by two soldiers who studied them before one of them nodded. “Sellem, who is your charge?”

“She is Alyssa of the house of Graufurt. She requested to see the lady Alea.”

“She is inside but I don’t know if it would be a good idea to enter at this time. She was hit hard by the bloodshed it seems. Margravine Heloise is with her at the moment to heal her wounds.”

“I have to see her. Before her brother is here I might be able to comfort her. We are close.” Alyssa desperately interjected.

The soldier inspected her. “Oh well. It can't hurt I think. Wait a second I will ask.” Then he turned and opened the door a crack and called in a low voice. “Your Highness, there is an Alyssa of Graufurt Manor. She would like to come in.”

“Let her enter.” The voice was melodic but with an undercurrent of fatigue.

Alyssa hesitated for a second then entered the room. It was a typical guest room even if a lavish one with heavy curtains drawn and an occupied canopy bed in the back with a dresser, side table and a large mirror directly beside it.

Alea was lying on the bed ebony hair spread around her small face, the blindfold was removed and she saw the eye sockets which were occupied by multifaceted jewels, probably some form of mana crystal. Around the eyes were old, faded burn scars radiating like small rays from a stylized sun. The spider was sitting beside her head a bit of smoke showing that not all was as it should be. Alea's chest was uncovered and the person that had spoken stood beside her and dabbed her forehead with an embroidered handkerchief.

Standing beside the bed was a small woman of indeterminate age but youthful countenance. Her most striking feature besides the golden hair were her eyes which seemed made of liquid gold glowing with a soft but cold light. She wore white robes embroidered with gold thread.

“You are Alyssa Miner?”

“Yes. That is me. You know of me?” Alyssa could not contain herself any longer and hurried to Alea's side. Then she took her right hand and asked. “What happened, why is she unconscious, what happened to Cecily?”

“Cecily?”

“Her spider.”

“The automaton was as she is now when I arrived. Alea is another matter. It seems she is not in primarily physical distress. There was a complicated enchantment laid on her to make her forget certain matters of the past. And that enchantment was broken by the combat and perhaps the scene was a bit similar to what she should not remember. And then there is that." She gestured to Alea’s bare chest. There was a large scar where her heart would be and beside that were dark grey metal runes that had been somehow implanted beneath her skin.

“What you see is not nearly all there is. Someone, I can guess who, exchanged her heart for a clockwork mechanism. And as if that were not enough her life and this heart are both bound to the plane of light with threads of soul. I don’t know how, and I cannot guess at the moment, why that was necessary, but it is fascinating.” She tapped her fingers against her lips and then smiled.

“As she is no longer in acute danger and I have some matters to attend to, can I leave her in your care?”

“M...my...care?” Alyssa was startled. “I thought she needed more help?”

Cyrus flapped his wings and glided towards the bed coming to a stop beside the prone girl.

“That is true, but I am not the best at comforting teenagers.” Her smile was intimidating. “So please do what you can. I put my trust in you.” She patted Alyssa on the shoulder, who was a bit surprised that she was – for once- not smaller than the one doing the patting.

“Goodbye. Perhaps we will see each other in the academy. If she wakes tell her that I am impressed by her command of Aruns searing eye. I will give her a bit of academic merit for that.” And then she was gone.

“Alea, please wake up!” Alyssa sat beside the shallowly breathing girl and tentatively raised her hand to touch her arm. “Ah, damn it.” The curse seemed to shock her a bit but she pulled the clothes together. “Why did she leave her half-clothed! That is so inconsiderate.” Alyssa began to get angry then stroked Alea’s face where she felt the residue of drying tears around her eyes. The smaller girl moved restlessly in her sleep.

She kissed the girl on the forehead then got on the bed and pulled Alea onto her lap which seemed to calm her. “Please be well. Asandria, is there anything we can do?”

‘We could try to use the healing waters. They are quite universal in application by simply giving the body the energy to heal.’

Sitting with her back to the headboard she sang to the waters of life and streams of glowing water entered Alea’s head and chest but she did not wake. And exhausted from spells and worry Alyssa finally fell asleep. Cyrus rubbed his head on her shoulder.

Asandria watched them in silence. ‘What a novel way to torture yourself and your loved ones. But to what lengths he went to preserve her life. He used his own soul to stitch her life and the light together so that the heart will never cease to labor inside this silent chest.’

A red-blonde maid entered and looked around and cursed under her breath, ‘Tsk. She already left? Heartless bitch.’ She then went to the two sleeping girls and arranged the blanket to cover them both. ‘You will have quite the sore back in the morning.’ She fluffed a pillow and softly, carefully put it behind Alyssa’s back.

Then she poured a glass of water putting it on the side table beside the still half-full decanter and left, silent as she had come.

Asandria looked after the departing maid. ‘She would have made a great servant of the Throne of Seasons.’

Meanwhile in another room of the same building.

“Why can't I see her? She saved my life, she saved the life of Theresia and Minette too!”

“You will remain here until the knights arrive to escort you to the palace. We- I cant risk you getting injured. And please forgive me for saying it but Alea is not my charge, you are.”

“How can you say that? She saved you by saving me. And it is unclear if some of the blood and glass would not have hit you too.”

“I know all that. And personally, I am very grateful. But please don’t make it more difficult than it is. You know my priorities have to be that way.” Jera sighed and rubbed her forehead. “The shield insignia is shattered. Before I get a new one, we have only your gown's magic and my personal skills. That is too lacking in protection to risk.”

They were in a large guest-chamber overlooking the plaza in front of the mansion. Lieseleta was pacing while Jera stood beside the door and alertly watched their surroundings.

“I have sent Magritte to look after her and last I heard they had called for Heloise to heal her.”

“That is good news. Even as I cannot really stand her she is competent.” The princess plopped down on the edge of the bed rumpling her dress.

A knock sounded from the door. Jera raised her hand and called. “Password.”

“Stars of the old kingdom.”

“Come in.” She nevertheless drew her shortsword as a guard entered in the company of a knight. Behind them stood Theresia.

“Theresia! Are you alright?”

“Yes, I did not get so much as a scratch, thanks to your small friend. It was astounding, how she damaged the Bloodbolt and how fast she constructed that light-spell!”

“Yes, I think that was a time magic compression.” Jera nodded. “The power that would take is completely beyond what I could do. It was an artifact probably.”

Lieseleta looked at her and nodded to herself. “True. But how is she?”

“She is still sleeping, I have spoken to your aunt and there are...complications. She was under the influence of mind magic. Did you know?”

“Mind magic?! What was modified and by whom?”

“Her grandfather probably did it. She was denied access to some of her memories. Heloise told me and allowed me to tell you, but with the admonition that we should not talk about it.”

“I would never. And why did he do it?”

“That is something I do not know. But perhaps it was to protect her from traumatic memories. Were her parents not killed in an assassination?”

“Perhaps that is the case.” Lieseleta looked tired.

Metallic footsteps sounded from the corridor, halted before the door, and then it knocked again. “Palace guard for the princess. Stars of the old Kingdom may they never set.”

Lieseleta hugged Theresia and whispered as she was near “Please take care of her for me.”

Theresia closed her eyes. “Dont worry, even had you said nothing I take my debts seriously. What about Minette?”

They separated and the princess lowered her gaze. “I don’t think there is much that needs be said.”

“Can’t you forgive her?”

“Maybe with time. But that time is not now. Goodbye!”

“Wait!” But the princess had already left. Theresia looked down at the letter in her hand. It was an invitation to the engagement of Carl Askander Josephus von Margrinar, Lieseleta’s brother. ‘They are in the same year and I have to give her the invitation. What happened to them?’ And there was also the matter of the fiance...it was to be Minette Elaine of Saltkeep to the south.

Theresia pinched the bridge of her nose. ‘They were best friends until a year ago. I don’t know what happened. The four of us played together all the time when we were children. I don’t understand anymore.’

Meanwhile in a mansion in the Ivy Terrace.

Alexandra von Stetting bowed down. A man with iron-grey hair regarded her solemnly. “So she protected the princess at great personal cost?”

“It looked that way. She screamed as she saw the assassin and fainted. She seemed to be in pain.”

“Jaros protects. You did well my child. Please keep an eye on her. We will reach out as soon as she is able to receive visitors again. We can't wait anymore. We sought to protect against the darkness, shield this kingdom, but the darkness is already here.”

Meanwhile in a castle to the northwest.

Thunder rumbled as lightning flashed. Trees swayed in the stormy wind. Rain fell and rivulets of water obscured the windows.

Zygmund of Nordmark turned and his burning eyes focused on the trembling maid. “Escort my guest...” His words lingered on the term. “...to my quarters, I have some questions. Take care to accompany him, you will be needed.”

The young black-haired woman flinched and bowed deeply before exiting the chamber.

When she came back it was in the company of a powerfully built, blonde man of advanced middle-age. His craggy face was lined with a well groomed beard. Ice-blue eyes looked cynically at the trembling maid. His complexion was very pale, even a bit translucent.

“Is she to be my evening's repast?”

The maid looked at him fearfully.

“Yes, you may partake as you wish. She won't be missed.”

“Don't mind if I do.” The man grabbed the now sobbing woman and large canines elongated in his upper jaw before he bit deeply into her neck.

Zygmund turned toward the window and looked at the storm while the whimpering behind him grew silent.

“Most excellent, I thank you for your hospitality.” The large man cleaned his mouth with a napkin he took from a nearby table. The dead maid was lying on the floor a small bloodstain seeped into the carpet.

“Please. Next time put them on the stone floor. It is such a hassle to remove the blood without damaging the fabric of those old carpets.” The old duke sat down in his chair behind the large desk. “I feel much better thanks to your potions. So if there is something you desire please let me know. How goes your infiltration of the capital?”

“We have tried to remove some loose ends but the princess still lives. Her older brother has also been lucky so far but there is some indication of a war brewing in the criminal underworld. If that were to happen we could likely sneak someone into the palace.”

“If I can aid that endeavor please talk to me. I would prefer the second prince myself.”

“But not for the reasons we are doing it I presume?” The large man stroked his beard.

“No. He is young, brash, and ambitious and would most likely be amenable to a somewhat unfavorable deal. All the while thinking he would not ever be in a position where he would actually be forced to pay. And that is very much to my liking.”

“That is not at odds with our plans. We could work something out.”

Thunder rattled the glass in the window as they both laughed.