"You will learn how much someone loved you, by how quickly they dismiss you." - Shannon L. Alder

I nurse Reynyn through the night. I try everything that I know, but his condition continues to worsen. I knew from the onset that all my attempts would be futile, but watching the elf pass further into the realm of death causes me to despair.

Just before daybreak Prince Eoghan, Ludel Strongwind and a few other elves return - despair also etched into their faces and defeated posture.

"Princess Aebbé, you must leave the tent now. Reynyn Floodfinder is approaching the end of his life. The end of life is a sacred moment that is not to be shared with those who are not of the blood of water and forest. Thank you for your compassion, Princess Aebbé. It is an exceptional quality to have," Prince Eoghan says as he gently places his hand on my shoulder. His pale eyes seem empty - as if he has already mourned his dying friend's life.

"I apologise for not being able to determine what happened to your friend."

"My people are in your debt, princess Ardam," Eoghan says softly.

With a defeated mood and an exhausted soul, I leave the tent. I am about to exit the Second Order's camp when Lord Caith calls my name.

He is wearing a long-sleeved shirt with a high collar. I notice that he is walking with great difficulty. Now is not the time to attempt to satiate my curiosity, but a host of scenarios are dreamt up by my imagination. Perhaps he is only now starting to show injuries from the skirmish Reynyn was fatally wounded. Maybe he was robbed in the city last night. Or even more likely, he fell down some stairs - but I highly doubt this last one as Lord Caith had the grace of a cat and the balance of a bird.

"I apologise, but I couldn't do anything to save your comrade, but I did everything possible to make his way as comfortable as possible."

Lord Caith nods in sombre agreement.

Wishing to go wail and sleep in my room, I start to walk away.

"Princess Aebbé, do you not usually have training with Prince Eoghan at this time?"

I turn around and meet his eyes with an incredulous frown: "I cannot expect the prince to be my personal servant when he is standing at the deathbed of his friend."

"Do you have any objections against practising with me?"

I'm not sure I heard correctly.

"Don't you have to be there as well? Since Floodfinder is one of your Order and died in the execution of orders that you gave him."

"It does not concern me."

I should have someone asses my hearing: I'm not sure I heard correctly.

"It doesn't concern you? Of course, it does! You were clearly upset yesterday when I took that trinket out of Floodfinder's body."

He blanched: "Floodfinder was also my friend. Damn, I knew him for most of his life and he was a good man I could trust. But the death of elves is a private affair, especially for ones as young as Reynyn. They see death so sparingly that it would be unthinkable to intrude on them when they do. Death is the only secret they keep from even their lord."

This time I pale. Yes, my words were uncalled for, but I am still not satisfied with his answer. Something about it is a miss.

It is time to force an honest answer from him.

"You weren't injured yesterday. You didn't even have a scratch, and this morning you can barely walk."

His jaw tightened, and then he winced as if that in itself was hurting him.

"You are wearing a different type of shirt. And your hair is combed differently as if to cover an injury on your face. Clearly, there is something enormous going on!"

I need to know whether we are on the brink of losing the war.

He is still tongue-tied with a vein popping in his neck.

"If you do not answer me, I will be forced to ask my brothers and betray your trust and my own secret. I will be sure to implicate you in whatever way I can."

I hate manipulating people. I don't believe in forcing people to do something that they do not want to. But if we are going to lose this war, I need to start thinking of ways to save as many of my people as possible. I strongly doubt that the Darkelanders will show any mercy, and I doubt that there are any other strongholds that could offer refuge. Should Raven's Peak fall, Ligtland and Ardam would fall in return.

I can see him calculating the ends of various decisions.

Make the right decision!

"Your brothers suppress your intellect," is all he says before taking off his shirt.

My eyebrows waggled. I expected him to maybe have a bruise and a strained muscle in his foot, but instead his whole torso was covered in bruises and abrasions with a few scattered shallow cuts. A large bruise covers his neck - one characteristic of only one event.

"Someone attempted to strangle you! Did you report this to my brother or prince Eoghan?" I said with round eyes.

"It is not necessary."

"Law states that any attempted murder on anyone of importance must be reported to anyone carrying authority."

Such a vague law, but the law nonetheless.

"I am acquainted with all the laws of Ligtland. We had a disagreement. That is all."

"I thought you said that you went to go see someone who could give you an answer?"

"I did, but he didn't like my question."

"Maybe he doesn't like you."

Lord Caith starts laughing wholeheartedly, even though he winces at every movement of his ribs.

"There is no doubt about that. He hates me."

My face twisted: "Who did you go see?"

Whomever it was must be powerful and strong. There is no way only one man did this to lord Caith. From what I have seen, lord Caith is the best fighter in Ligtland.

His face dulled: "It is not important."

"Do as you please," I say with eyes popping to the heavens. I cannot help him if he does not want my help, but I really want to help him in some way. "Rinse the wounds with salt water. It will help with the healing process."

He starts to laugh wholeheartedly.

"You always laugh at things that contain no humour at all," I say confused.

"From my point of view, they are quite humorous."

"I will leave you to your jokes and go join the serious court and nurse those who actually heed my advice," I start to stomp away without looking back.

"Aebbé, wait! There is a cut on my back that I have trouble reaching."

My course of direction turns around immediately: "Turn around."

He does so with a sly and victorious grin.

I inspect his back: "It is not deep. It will be fine if you wash it with water and salt."

He flashes me a brilliant smile.

"I already did it. As I said, I might have liked being a healer. Do you want to carry on with practice?"

"Are you able to do so? You are basically crippled."

"Oh, princess dear, this is barely an inconvenience. I have fought wars and won them with worse injuries than this."

I shake my head in disbelief at this idiots exaggeration.

"In that case, dear Caith, I won't show you any mercy."

Dear Caith teaches me a lesson in humility for the next hour before I return to the castle. he was definitely not exaggerating when he said that his injuries barely caused him any inconvenience.

I grab an apple in the kitchen and then go to join the ladies in Claira's lounge. I am exhausted, but Claira made me promise her that I would join her today. She had some special musician or poet booked for the entertainment of the day.

The troubadour had a voice as sweet as honey and wit as sharp as a sword, but I didn't appreciate his talent as much as I did because he succeeded into lulling me into the state just before sleep.

"Aebbé, where have you been every morning?" Katharina's clear voice penetrates my slumber.

"And every sunset?" Felicia continues.

"I think our little princess has a lover," Catharina concludes.

The ladies in the room give silent gasps.

How on earth did we come to discuss me? I blush involuntarily. I do not have a lover, but I can imagine that in my absence the past few weeks might be a cause for gossip. I cannot deny that I have a lover, because that would raise the question as to what I have been doing with my time. And that would be bad because then I would have to admit that I have been doing weapons training with prince Eoghan in secret, which might be interpreted as him being my lover in any case. I must choose between two dangerous paths, but perhaps I could play the situation in my favour. I know that all they really want is something to gossip about.

"There might be," I say with a feigned embarrassed smile.

"O! Do tell!"

Lady Katharina is always the first to incite gossip, but she never volunteers any information about herself.

"He is very handsome, and he is a lord."

My words are vague enough, but I know a lord is someone worthy enough of my attention. I want to giggle at the absurd expressions on their faces. They are delighted and horrified at the same time.

"O! That is so exciting!" Lady Felicia squeals in delight.

"Well, who is he?" Lady Claira asks. I can sense that she is the only one who is really interested in my feelings about the matter. I almost feel bad about the lie, but I must lie to protect my sanity,

"I cannot tell you," I say softly wondering when I started to be like them. Lying for my own gain? Twisting truths?

"You cannot leave us with only so little information."

A knock on the door saves me. I pray that my luck in being saved does not run out soon. I will have to think of ways to save my own skin and protect my lies for when my luck starts running out.

"Come in!" I say a bit too quickly. It is appropriate to wait a minute before answering a knock. I can bang my head against a wall for my stupidity - another breach of etiquette besmirching the good name of Vaubadon.

Ria walks to the door and opens it. Two Ardam guards enter.

"I greet the princess Ardam, the queen Claira, the lady Catharina of Ardam and the other ladies of the court," one guard greets and both of them bow.

I nod in silent reply. Etiquette does not allow me to greet the guards using any words, and I do not even know their names.

"Princess Aebbé, the King and his brother command your presence," the other guard announces.

It is not quite the escape I hoped for, but it is still an escape from this terror. Running from the devil into the deep blue sea. Perhaps my luck has already run out.

"Thank you. Will you accompany me?" I stand up from my comfortable chair.

Ria immediately rushes to my side to straighten my dress. I allow her to because we are in court. And I think I have already given the ladies something to frown upon by answering the knock too quickly.

"Yes, my lady," the guard answers.

"I will join you after answering my summons," I say to the ladies and give a slight bow.

"Ria, will you please accompany me?" I do not want to leave her alone with the pack of wolves in my lounge. They will tear her apart for information to feed the lie I told them.

"Yes, my lady," she turns her head downwards, but I can still see the corners of her upturned lips.

Just after leaving my lounge, I address Ria: "Ria, you are free. I will send someone to find you."

"Thank you," she mouthes before disappearing down the hall.

I follow the guards to Friduric's quarters. Four guards stand at the door. One of them knocks on the door. After exactly sixty seconds, I hear a muffled 'Come in'. The heavy door is opened from the inside. I know that Friduric and Ferdaid both have a number of guards inside their quarters.

One of the guards accompanies me inside. "Your sister, the princess Aebbé, as you have asked, my king."

"Aebbé, come in."

I stiffen as I sense the tension between my brothers.

"Out!" Friduric orders.

The guards rush out in hurried union.

Friduric motions toward a third chair at the large table where they are sitting. As I walk to the chair, Ferdaid stands up. I wait for him to draw the chair out for me, but he walks to the door and closes it as I sit down on another chair. He produces a large key and locks the door. He places the key on the table. Ferdaid takes it and places it in a pocket on his overcoat. Friduric resumes his place.

I wait for them to address me.

Ferdaid produces a small black nut from one of his other pockets.

"Are you sure, brother?" Ferdaid asks hesitantly. "There is no need to talk in silence."

"Yes. She has to learn of it sometime," Friduric answers decisively.

"I do not think we can trust her."

"I am your king, and I decide that she should know."

The tension between them electrifies. They have been fighting a lot lately. They have been hiding it very well, but I have noticed Ferdaid's silent scowls at Friduric, and Friduric's mistrusting eyes when he looked at Ferdaid. They have never been very close to each other, but they have been affectionate. Now they barely have any patience to spare.

"Yes, my king," Ferdaid submits.

Friduric takes the nut between his forefinger and thumb: "Sister, do you know what this is?"

"No, should I?" I ask hesitantly.

"I should hope not," Ferdaid quips.

"Let me handle it!" Friduric shouts and slams the table with his free hand.

I jump in my seat.

"Aebbé, this is a black nut from the forest of Bullae."

He sees my question: "Do not interrupt me. If you crush it like this," he crushes the nut between his fingers, "and blow it like this," he blows the powder into the air, "it will enable you to have a conversation in private. No-one will be able to listen in on your conversation - not through walls, and not through any other medium. I want you to know about this because tomorrow you are to leave for Da-Nel, where you are to start your training for our family inheritance."

"I do not understand." Leaving Raven's Peak might give me the opportunity to be free of my brothers, but I do not have a good feeling about this. It must have something to do with whatever happened to lord Caith and his men yesterday. Or Aelfraed already spoke to Ferdaid who spoke to Friduric in turn.

"I have already been trained in everything that I require to be acceptable in court and for marriage." That is all I can think that Ferdaid means by my 'family inheritance'. They are fearing for my life. They don't think that we can win this war. They want to get me out of Raven's Peak. I conclude that Aelfraed must have spoken to them.

"Aebbé, our family has another inheritance. Father never wanted you to be a part of it, but we feel that you have a right to it."

"I am still confused."

"It will all be explained to you when you arrive in Da-Nel."

"I have no choice but to go?" I say in defeat knowing that this is something they are both agreeing upon.

"No."

"And you will not change your mind?"

"No."

"Can I choose my own mode of transportation?"

"Yes."

"I only want a horse and the smallest acceptable company of men. And Aelfraed," I say with an afterthought.

Friduric's shoulders tense at the mention of his son."

"It was already decided that Aelfraed would accompany you to Da-Nel."

"Thank you."

"It is urgent that you arrive in Da-Nel as soon as possible."

"As you wish, my king."

"Good. Your maid will leave in a week's time with the rest of your belongings and the things you will need for your stay in Da-Nel."

Ferdaid speaks again: "Aebbé, do not talk of this with anyone. Some might not feel as appreciative of your legacy as we are. There are still traitors to Ardam that we have yet to root out, and they carry vengeance for our fire in their hearts."

A lot of people are asking me to keep their secrets. Secrets are dangerous things to have around. And I don't understand half of these secrets.

"You can leave. You will depart before dawn," Friduric dismisses me with the wave of his hand.

I walk towards the door. When I place my hand on the knob, I realise the door is locked.

"Could you please unlock it, brother?"

"Why don't you try to unlock it?" Friduric answers.

"Could I please have the key?"

"Open it without the key."

"You do not make sense."

"Just try to open it," Friduric answers impatiently

I turn the knob. It is obvious that the door is locked. "It won't open, because it is locked."

"Try harder," Friduric commands.

Ferdaid places his hand on Friduric's shoulder, but it is shrugged off almost immediately: "She is not ready. Haimo will help with that."

Ferdaid walks towards me. He fumbles in one of his pockets and produces the same key he handed to Friduric earlier. "I have an extra," he offers when he sees my scowl and unlocks the door.

All the guards are standing outside the door with neutral expressions.

"Accompany the princess to her quarters."

"Yes, my lord," one answers.

He motions to another guard. "We will accompany you, princess Aebbé."

I nod.

When we disappear from Friduric's view, I command the guards to stop.

"I can find my own way back."

"Lord Ferdaid gave us specific orders to accompany you, my lady."

"I know, but he will never know. And I know you have better things to do than accompany me to my court. Is it settled?"

"Yes, my lady."

"Thank you."

I walk to the library and enter. The library used to be magnificent in my youth, but most of the books have been moved to Ligeia's Library. My father wanted to have a library that was grander than the LOst Library of the Council in the city that was his kingdom's crown. I go to sit in the corner, with my back against the bookshelves. The carpet is dusty. I doubt anyone has cleaned the library in a while. I give a sigh. The library is in disrepair, unused and forgotten.

I pull the nearest book out of the shelf and open it at a random page. I stare at the words on the crumbling page in an attempt to console the dying library.

"Books do not read themselves," Lor Caith's immediately recognisable voice fills the library with life.

"I did not hear you come in."

"I was already inside. I heard you come in and came to see who it was. No-one ever comes here."

"Oh."

"People never turn to books in times of war. They rely on their logic, and advice from others. If they just read the books, they would find the knowledge they so desired," he says with a wise and faraway look as if looking into the past itself.

"May I sit down next to you?"

"Be my guest," I say while dusting the carpet next to me.

"You move with less difficulty," I observe.

"What?"

"This morning you could barely walk."

"I was injured, but I am better now. The elves have medicines that can achieve wonders. That is one reason why I laughed this morning."

"You want me to believe that you do not have any injuries anymore at all?"

"Yes, because it is the truth."

I snort and immediately cover my mouth with my hand.

"That is a very non-lady-like sound."

I ignore his comment: "I will not be able to continue my training with prince Eoghan and your Order. I thank you for the opportunity you have given me, lord Caith."

A confused look crosses his face.

"I am to leave Raven's Peak before dawn," I offer an explanation.

"You do not want to go.?