The next day and the day after they continued down the narrow mountain path in the same vein. The journey was brisk and the only breaks taken in daylight were to rest the horses. There was an urgency in the Prince's face that grew tighter and tighter as the sun rose and disappeared each day.

They finally came down the rocky mountain side on an overcast day and took a short circuit around the mountain to head towards Edenshire. The rough pathway carved out in the rock by the absent villagers was inundated with overgrown grass. It took them another three days to reach the end of the deserted, valley. They passed through overgrown orchards and grasslands that were no longer tended to by their owners.

"The map says there's another village ahead. We should get there before sundown," The mustached officer pointed at his copy of the map as the group rested the horses. They had taken the bulk of horse feed from the abandoned village and were rationing it wisely.

The group of riders reached the serene lakeside village before sun down. Dotted around the perimeter were ruins much older than the new builds clustered along the south. Unfortunately it did not matter how old or new each building was. It was utterly devoid of human presence. In fact, they had not seen a single animal since the start of the day. The soldiers were grateful they were well stocked with edibles.

"Is it wise to set up camp next to such desolation? What if it's cursed land?" The redheaded soldier nervously dismounted as if expecting the land to recede from beneath his feet.

"I see no harm. We will be next to water and shelter," Dimitri, who had no interest in being well versed with superstitions, shrugged the other man's worries away.

"What if the water is poisoned?" Jade asked. She crouched down to swirl a finger in the clear lake. It was warm to the touch and the secretary surmised hot springs brought up the water to the surface.

"The witch's magic cannot touch water. I believe it will be safe," Luke remarked, his grey eyes fixed on the liquid lost in thought. His dark hair was loose around his face even with the leather binding straining to contain them.

Jade looked high at the dwindling sunlight and saw something on the higher end of the mountain range. A sprawling structure was resting on a peak encircled by clouds.

"Is that the castle of Edenshire?" The secretary asked redundantly. She had already memorised the map. The contents of it were etched in her mind.

"It doesn't look welcoming," Dimitri settled next to the girl on the ground, to wash his dust coated hands. He hummed in pleasure at the water's temperature.

"I think it's our destination, Your Highness," Jade looked at the Prince, certain her instincts were correct.

Luke opened his rucksack and pinched out the small bag of marbles. They behaved predictably until the arrow was pointed at the castle for a few moments before they disintegrated. The men clutched their hats and said prayers out aloud in shock and alarm. The Prince brushed his hands to rid himself of the residue and crouched down with rest of the party to access the water.

He slowly allowed the warm liquid to pool in his palms. With his grey eyes closed he gave a shuddering breath. A hint of a smile appeared on his face as if the signs of magic did not trouble him.

"We have reached our destination, at last," His smooth voice was as languid as his motions in the water, "After we set up camp we must enjoy this lake for a bath. In this weather it is a blessing to find hot water."

The soldiers cheered, breaking the silence of the lifeless valley and set about following their usual nightime routine, anticipating the treat of warm water.

Jade watched the men frantically hammer the tents to the ground while Sir Joseph attacked the rousing flames to ensure a scrumptious meal. She could see the excitement in their eyes and wished she could feel the same way.

The Prince sat at end of the jetty, next to some stone ruins, with a pensive expression on his face. He stared at the castle as if wishing he could expand invisible wings and claim his heart's desire.

"Can I sit with you?" Jade asked, barely disguising a yawn behind her hands.

The Prince was not fooled and remarked, "You should take the opportunity for a lie in. The men will set up the tent soon and there's time yet for dinner."

"While I admit I am weary I have no wish to rest my eyes but I will give you your privacy, your Highness," Jade bowed and nearly stumbled a little on the pebble ground.

"You? Privacy is not your forte"

The man grabbed hold of her arm to steady her and pulled her down, next to him.

"Funny the man who used to enter my rooms without my permission grouses about the lack of privacy," The secretary chortled. The days of hidden passages seemed like a distant dream, fleeting and precious.

The man in front of her let out a loud, gregarious laugh. Jade stared for it had been ages since the man had even cracked a smile. The ominous looking castle seemed to have an uplifting effect on the Prince

"You did find out my secret," Luke brought back his charming dimple to Jade's perusal. She swallowed and jerked her gaze away from his long neck. It felt so insolent to enjoy her view when the Prince was too ignorant to guard himself. He may not wish to be leered at by a common looking girl.

"It's part of my job description. But I admit you vexed me enough to find a solution," Jade replied, her eyes lowered to her stained fingers. Her relationship with her ink pot had grown steadily over the past few days. She had taken great care to note down everything of import.

Jade felt her brown eyes closing shut but she jerked awake before her head could meet the Prince's shoulder. She was mortified to imagine what would be said and done to mock her for this stupidity.

"Why are you afraid to fall asleep?" Luke asked with a concerned look, "I have seen you nodding off while riding your horse. Perhaps it would have been kinder to leave you behind but I am selfish. I needed you to achieve the success this journey. I'm sorry."

Jade shook her head in a indeterminate sort of a way almost as if she couldn't decide whether she was saying yes or no. Her turbulent sleep had nothing to do with the journey. She was terrified to go to sleep because of the nightmares that plagued her. Her father no longer brought her comfort but pain and suffering.

"My troubled sleep is my punishment for finding the lovelorn fools amusing when they tried to run off for the promise of maidens," Jade stiffled her laughter at her memory of the soldiers. She hoped the Prince would move on from the subject but her words were met with silence instead.

"Is that how you perceive me because of my lovestruck ways?" The Prince leaned in closer as if gauging her reaction.

"We have already agreed to disagree," Jade arched her eyebrow and tried to dismiss the conversation. She was not a brute to bring down his morale with her negativity.

"Then you do think I am wretched fool blinded by magic," The taller man's laugh was self depreciating. He continued to stare at her closed off face.

"My opinion should hardly matter. I am just a loyal subject, your Highness," The secretary broke the eye contact and found herself glaring back at her ink sodden fingers. She wished she could care just a little less about the entire situation.

"The stars are breaking," Luke pointed heavenwards, changing the topic and Jade tilted her head to see the magnificent view of a meteorite shower.

"Never have I ever seen anything so otherworldly," Jade announced, reverentially. She wished she could freeze time onto this particular moment. There was magic in the air that had nothing to do with the quest at hand.

"They're a sign of good luck," The Prince informed her. He glanced at her awestruck face and enjoyed her fascination.

"Perhaps an indication you will succeed in winning the lucky lady," Jade brought back the conversation to a safer topic.

She did not wish to make a fool out of herself tonight. Her eyes were now fixed on the grand show the stars were performing. She had no interest in drowning in the pools of the Prince's grey eyes and revealing her feelings.

"Perhaps she will berate me for taking so long," The Prince revealed his insecurity and Jade wrenched her focus away from the stars and onto the Prince. He suddenly looked like the entire world's burden was upon him.

"She wants a human mate thus she must contend with human limitations. Demanding any more is ludicrous. If she is a kind sort of person she will wait," The brown haired girl gently chided. She wished to take his hand but she could not betray herself.

"I hope so," Luke sighed, wistfully, "I estimate it's another day's journey and then we will know."

"If we eat air," Jade taunted.

"We must," The Prince replied firmly. He could wait no longer now that their destination was in sight.

He suddenly stood up and announced to the rest of the soldiers it was time to dive in. He threw his jacket to the ground and tugged at his boots which he promptly flung in Jade's lap. He ignored her indignant cry and dove head first into the water. The girl released a breath she didn't even know she was holding when the dark haired man emerged from the water with a grin on his face.

"Come on, join us," He exclaimed as all around them soldier's dove in with whoops and cries. Even Sir Joseph left his well guarded meal behind to join in the fun.

"I would rather explore the ruins," Jade gave a taut smile and pointed towards her left.

"I'm sure you'll relish the opportunity to learn how to swim among so many trained soldiers and pleasant water," The Prince gestured with his arms wide as he swam on his back. Jake shook her head in negation and was punished with a damp shirt torpedoed to her head.

Jade rolled her eyes at the tomfoolery and decided her excuse would not be a good one if she stayed. She was used as target practice for splashes of water but she moved to the empty ruin before her rucksack could be ruined.

As soon as she entered the abandoned building she thought she saw something in the corner of the eye. Curiously she searched the ruin and found one last place to explore; the tower.

She climbed up the crumbling stairs but there was no one.

The tension did not leave her narrow shoulders and she instinctively knew there was something wrong. She looked down where the Prince and the soldiers swam in the torch light and found nothing amiss. She turned to observe the other side and her heart turned ice cold.

Down in the warm lake water drifted her father's body. It lay there as fresh as the day he had perished. Suddenly his brown eyes opened and Jade's stuttering heart galloped as if it wished to release itself from its prison.

"Why don't you join me, my darling. I've been waiting for you," Her father raised his arms and beckoned her forward as he always did when he came home.

"It can't be. I mustn't look," Jade whispered to herself feverishly but her eyes could not break her gaze away. Beads of sweat coiled up in her short air and her hands trembled.

"Surely you won't let me stay here all alone," The man's voice had not changed in the slightest.

"Luke..."The girl whispered, remembering her duty. She wanted so desperately to dive into her father's arms but she was here on this quest for a reason.

"Is the Prince more important then being with me? We will be together at last if you take the leap," Jade's father's voice grew sharper, sterner. This was a voice she rarely heard much less in her direction. She knew everything was wrong.

"You're not my father. He would never make me break my oaths. I am honour bound to follow Prince Luke till the ends of the earth," The girl said with insurmountable force.

Jade turned around enflamed the witch had dared to use her father's image but her exit was cut off by a hunched over figure wearing a voluminous hood. The girl froze once again. Her fingers fumbled jn her pockets searching for her protection.

"Y-you are the..." The fear was so strong it felt like a vice clenching her heart. Her knees trembled but she managed to keep her form upright. This would be the worst time to go down without a fight.

"Why have you brought us here? I know the girl is just bait," Jade asked, hoping to hide the tremors in her body. The hair on her neck stood on end, so viscerally disgusted she was by the new comer.

"I haven't brought any one of you here. I only want the Prince," An older woman's voice called out from beneath the cloak. Jade tried to glance at its owner but failed.

"You shan't get him," Jade bellowed, losing all common sense. Something about the voice invited absolute wrath even though the figure seemed meek and harmless. The woman walked forward with an uneven gait. It's seemed she favoured her right foot.

"I knew I shouldn't have left you alone," Luke appeared wearing only trousers from behind the cloaked figure but he stilled at the sight of the mysterious newcomer. All of his muscles were ready to pounce as he had been trained.

"My charming prince. I'm pleases to make your acquaintance. I have tried ever so hard to get you here," The cloaked figure whispered and turned minutely so she had both Jade and Luke in her vision.

"What do you want with Ward? Why have you accosted him so," The Prince demanded. None of the tension had left his body. His fists were at his side ready to be used.

"I want nothing to do with your delightful secretary," The woman's voice was amused. She held her staff in her crooked fingers as if it helped her balance.

"Then why do you attack him?" The man demanded. He took firm step forward.

"Because time and time again your pretty little thing thwarts my attempts at gaining your attention. I am most put out," The witch's voice warbled, mockingly.

"You were trying to end his life. I could not just stand by and let you succeed in your evil designs," Jade hissed with ardent fury. She hoped the look in her eyes conveyed to the Prince he should leave but the man had no care for his own life when others were in danger.

"You're mistaken. I was calling him towards me. if you thought I wanted to kill him at the horse race then you are sorely mistaken. It was one of the few times he left the palace and I knew I needed to ensnare him," The witch explained, as if talking to children.

"You lie," The secretary roared and took a step too many forward even as the whites of Luke's eyes stood out at her daring. Adrenaline had set in and she was ready to take the witch down if she dared harm the Prince.

"Me? How long will you conceal your identity Jade?" The witch mocked the girl. She then looked at the Prince, "She is not the man you know. In fact your secretary is not a man at all."

Before Jade could upend the contents of the Mr Gepetto's pouch on the witch the woman vanished leaving only a stunned Prince behind.