Andor and I were heading back from Tom and Steve's new farm and home. It was actually a walking distance away if you were willing to wade through a few streams and walk on the mainland.

My mind was still occupied on the fact that Tom hadn't figured out that Andor was Ianite. We went to visit Steve and Tom practically threatened him to death.

Tom was, as usual, a feisty mess so he immediately started to scream. "What the hell are you doing here!" Practically braking anybody who was near eardrums.

Andor was to taken back to say anything and I was to dumbfounded that Tom hadn't figured it out already.

Jordan stood up. "Tom you idiot", Jordan paused to walk over to Tom and hit him over the head. "He's Ianite."

Tom started a loud "ohhhh yeah", finally taking in all the information and clicking everything together.

I swear he's so dense sometimes.

But that moment was over and it was just me and Andor. I was okay with that. It was nice to have someone who was very quiet and peaceful. He didn't constantly have to fight something. I don't think he really could fight.

"I feel kinda bad", I ignored the ongoing beauty from the sunset over the view of the castle to actually say what I wanted to say.

Andor stopped walking to look back at me. "For what?", he asked now moving back to be at my side.

I held the side of my arms trying to tap in what warm I had left as the day was leaving for night. "I ruined your cheesy kiss."

He laughed. "Are you still on that?"

I felt my face heat up. "No-"

His body, now close enough to give me warmth, made me shut my mouth.

"You seem to care more about that then me." He grabbed both of my hands gazing into my eyes with so much love that I couldn't believe it. I still didn't believe I could deserve it.

I was leant into a kiss that was fit for the setting sun.

Then the very slow and easy moment left just as fast as it had came and I was now staring into his blue eyes.

"There", he breathed out. I still had a strong grip on both of his hands. "You can let it go now."

I leaned into a hug, really just pushing all my body weight into him since I really didn't feel like standing. My feet weren't used to constantly walking on cobble and cement. It was getting annoying as all hell, and I've been to hell.

"I have to go home before Shepard hangs himself", his hands brushed through my hair, "so if your staying up all night to annoy my father to death, I can't join."

I stood up unwillingly back on my feet. Stumbling and trying not to fall. I was really tired, but I knew I needed to check in with Sonja and Tucker.

I felt lips against my cheek and my mind woke up, but my body was still gone.

"Don't stay up too late", he said slowly moving his hand off my cheek.

I smiled and encouraging 'I won't' which was really a lie. I was going too probably be up all night knowing Tom and Tucker's bickering.

I adjusted my backpack on my shoulder and started the long trek to where Tucker and Steve wanted us to meet.

I forgot how dark it got when it was winter. The weather around here was like New York in early spring, but the nights were early like late fall. The amount of daylight didn't bother me before, but now-.

It wasn't pitch black at least. The moon was out with a pretty purple tint to it. It was kinda weird.

At least I thought it was the moon, until the damn thing started hurtling towards me.

"WHAT THE HELL!!!?", I screeched as I ducked my head into the grass and pebbles on the ground.

The aircraft screamed to it's demise as it flew to the ground so fast. It honestly should have combusted into flames on how fast it was speeding to the dirt.

I felt a blast of gravel and air hit my arm that I had using to shield my face. I'm so glad I had been shielding my face because if I hadn't have I probably would have a black and blue eye or a bloody lip. Well my eyes are already blue, but you get what I'm saying.

There was a silent buzzing. A buzzing that sounded like it belonged to a very modern engine.

I lifted my head and latched my eyes onto the object that I had mistaken for the moon and had almost landed on me.

It was an aircraft that almost looked like a modern house compacted into a can shape. It was open in a lot of places covering the view of inside with purple shade curtains. Everything on the outside was either polished white marble or purple sandstone.

"Oh god Jordan", I heard Sonja's voice from my right ear. Everything else was still a buzz from the crash.

"What the bloody hell", Farmer Steve walked over to the airship that was in fine condition. "Martha!"

And then I met Martha.

"Oh my goodness", I posh voice peeped out from the airship. "Well I'm terribly sorry."

Purple boots with silver patterns met my eyes as I was still laying on the ground.

"I can't say I'm the best driver", A pale girl with lavender hair greeted me. Her eyes were blue, like most of the citizens of Ruxomar. It was really the most vibrant thing about her as the blue shone with curiosity. The rest of her, even her outfit, was pastel colors. Greys, lavenders, and whites.

Tucker helped me up as Martha continued to run her mouth.

"Steve is a lot better with my ship. I dwell in the more esoteric things".

Martha, I now know, is 34. At the time I wasn't sure. She spoke like she was in her late thirties, but looked like she was in her late twenties.

A jade pendent sat with a silver crescent moon around her neck, which hung right on the lining of a purple dress that just reached to the top of her boots.

"This is my girlfriend", Steve said in a very tired voice. I could only imagine they have been dating for ages. "Martha-"

"What the hell is going on", and now the crew was complete, including wag, as Hope walked over the creek finally getting here.

"Oh my!", Martha's eyes lit up and she dropped the brown suitcases that she had in her hand. "You're all so vibrant. I could never be so fit!"

"That happens", Hope spoke a rubbish tone. She seemed very lethargic. I don't think she wanted to walk anymore today, "when you continue to run from you trust issues."

Martha wasn't turned off by Hope's comment. She completely ignored it. "This must be the girl who the Prince stole the heart of!" Martha strode over to Hope and held her rosy cheeks. "Oh my goodness you are so pale do you eat anything."

"She eats the whole damn house out!", Tom yelled over Tucker's shoulder.

"Why are you here?", Hope's question was muffled because Martha was pitching Hope's cheeks, trying to get more color in them.

"I called her when the taint started to become a problem", Steve continued, trying not to get off task.

"Mhm", Martha nodded her head, "and you've got quite a problem."

"Problem", Tucker sounded annoyed, "I thought we fixed the problem"

"You can't kill this with flowers and magic", Martha hassled in her words with some sass, "this is a spiritual phenomenon."

Tucker was completely done with Martha after hearing this, so with that he let out with a bit of rudeness, "ALRIGHT WHICH ONE OF US IS PRAYING TO THE TAINT?"

Martha arched her very thin and dark eyebrows about as done with the group as Tucker was done with her, "it doesn't have to do with praying. Just guess what is forcing this blight", Martha paused to cross her arms, "its obvious, really."

There was an eerie silence and then heard a groan from Martha. In our defense, she didn't give us very long to guess.

"I'll give you a hint", she let out, "what do I specialize in?"

Another eerie silence and then more whining from Martha.

"You know dreams and dimensions", she practically yelled out in frustrated. I knew what esoteric meant, I just really feel like saying it. "How the gods have sculpted the landscape, the power of acolytes, untapped evil", Martha bit her lip and poked Steve in the chest, "and Farmer Steve's dirty little secrets."

None of us really knew how to react except Tom.

"I would love to hear about Steve's dirty little secrets!", Tom yelled out like a kid in class who didn't raise their hand.

Steve was still trying to fight off the ongoing tickles and poking from Martha. "Oh goodness no-"

"I'm leaving", Hope turned to head to the kingdom before I grabbed her arm.

"Oh I would never say anything demeaning about Steve. He is quiet the gentleman", Martha lengthened on her words and I didn't feel like finding the innuendo in that sentence.

"So what is affecting the taint", I asked, really being the only one who cared anymore.

Martha turned from Steve and her lavender hair practically hit Tom in the face.

"Well", she raised her eyebrows, "it could be that the town is almost to the brink of a civil war."

Andor and I were walking down the road to Jordan's house the next early morning. Jordan wanted to see me and Andor decided to come over too. I don't know why though. If I had the option I would still be asleep.

"Um Hope?", Andor stammered out a question.

I looked up from the ground to see that his face was laced with a light blush. I couldn't really figure out what was so nerve wracking about the situation.

"Yes?", I asked back with a bit of worry in my voice. I had no idea what was going on.

"I need to ask you something", he paused and his face got more red, "important."

He grabbed my hand signaling me to face him.

"If it's kinda personal can you tell me later?", I suggested, "when I'm not almost being clobbered by citizens."

Andor then moved his eyes, which I just noticed had been gazing into mine, over my head to the ongoing traffic of people. Not that looking over me was to hard. He was a lot taller than me. He was actually taller than everyone but Sonja.

"Right", he apologized now realizing that this wasn't the most peaceful place to talk.

He then lead me up an avenue that lead us to the streets around all of the small cottages and was less busy than Main Street.

"Okay", he took a deep breath and then moved his big blue eyes back to mine, which made me smile. "I'm sorry this is an awkward time, but I'm probably never going to have the guts to bring it up again."

"What did I do?"

"What?" Now Andor was equally as confused. He smiled brightly trying to laugh at my comment and how I immediately thought it was something I did. "No it's not that." He regained his composer. "Well it's sort of your fault, but it's not like you meant to-"

Oh god he's figured you out. Quickly lay out your cards and tell the truth before he can get anymore mad-.

"I didn't feed Shepard table scraps he gained those three pounds on his own."

THAT WAS LYING YOU STUPID BITCH!

And I had successfully made Andor more confused. "What?"

"-nothing-", I let out.

That was close.

"No", he grabbed my hand, which meant this was more important, really important. "It's a little more", he took a deep breath in again and his face was even more red, "intimate.-"

"Like what intimate." Now I was completely lost.

He seemed completely out of ideas to explain whatever he was talking about better. "I just want to know-"

"Andor!"

Someone yelled for Andor and they sounded completely happy for themselves.

Andor on the other hand went from a red blush to an angry flustered.

"Oh for Christ sake", he mumbled out before meeting the person calling his name face to face. "What!", he snapped.

To bad that person was his dad.

Andor immediately realizing this apologized on the spot. "Sorry", he let out wearily like it was a command not a sign of respect.

But there was a man by the king and he stood tall and firm. With a gruff black beard and hair that was around as long as Jordan's he looked very clean and well put together. The dark circles under his eyes only made him look more stern.

"Mianite has sent someone from the royal guard", The king let out slowly and his scowl was direction for Andor to behave and make his words clean and nice. Something that a royal soldier would want to hear.

The soldier arched his eyebrows after making eye contact with Andor. The man didn't seem impressed.

"This is Lieutenant Alister", The king spoke out actually smiling as if this person was a trophy showing how much Mianite cared about the king. Of course I want sure if this Mianite could care about anything.

"I didn't realize that gods needed an army", I tried not to do my sassy eyebrow raise thing, but it was really hard. Who even was this joke?

"Ah well", The Lieutenant let out and his voice was about as commanding as he looked, "I'm actually a Lieutenant for Mianite's empire, but I could see how common folk like you wouldn't know that."

Was that supposed to be an insult?

The king was growing impatient. He cleared his throat. "This is my son. Prince Andor."

Andor leant out his hand, almost to shocked from my last comments to move, and flashed the Lieutenant the most fake smile I have ever seen on his face.

Andor looked as unsettled as me, and confused. I thought Andor would be aware of at least the important and dangerous things that his father was getting swept up in and Mianite seemed both important and dangerous to this town.

"Would you like me to give you a tour now?" The King asked with cautiousness. I couldn't believe that the king had another tone than stern and cold.

"Actually", The Lieutenant had his eyebrows arched, but he still had a smirk on his face, "I would like a tour from the prince", and the Lieutenant's smirk grew bigger and his face read with a plan that I couldn't articulate yet.

The king was shocked, "are you sure?"

"Yes", and now the Lieutenant's face was blank like a white sheet of paper. He turned to the king with an unamused smile. "You can go now."

The King's grey eyes were not cold, but burned with fear, but fear for who. I don't know if The King cared about his life. He walked off with a brisk wind leaving with him.

This left Andor and I alone with the Lieutenant.

The air was silent itself and I almost prayed that the scary man in front of us would say something.

I moved my eyes to Andor who seemed completely of guard for the situation. He wasn't ready to give any big speech or put a fake face on. He had completely let himself go just talking to me.

"So", I started a conversation, "what do you want to see first", I glanced behind the Lieutenant trying to figure out something to say, "we got some trees, and", I trailed off from my thoughts. Jesus Christ what does this town have. "We have a port."

We. Why am I saying we?

"Yes Prince", The Lieutenant smiled again. "Why don't you show me that port that your father seems so proud of?"

Now Andor had no excuse to not show the Lieutenant his attention.

"Um yes", he shook his head out of his thoughts, "right I'm very sorry. I haven't been getting much sleep."

Which wasn't a lie. He hadn't been sleeping well, even though his dreams were getting him nowhere and if I was going to trust Steve he wasn't ready to know.

"This way-", Andor let out nervously.

And thus began the longest tour of my life.

"Why are the gates closed", The Lieutenant asked another question that I prayed to god Andor would answer.

"The castle gates?", Andor elaborated.

"Yes". The Lieutenant continued to walk straight forward. His eyes arched at the quaintness of everything. We were now walking back around to the little streets with the townhouses on it. Andor's house was so close I wanted to run. My feet were so tired and this finicky man wasn't helping.

"Well my father likes to have the gates closed", Andor seemed unsure, "I guess." He was fidgeting with his nails and I could tell from his eyes and the way he was biting his lip that he was anxious.

"Well a King that feels unsafe in his own town. This is something I must fix", The Lieutenant made his own assumptions like he had been all day. He wasn't pushy, just stern and smart. He was to smart and I was afraid he was onto the rebellion that the kingdom's own prince was involved in.

"Um", Andor finally got the guts to correct him, "I don't think he's scared-"

"Oh hello." Sonja's voice had never been more comforting. The Mianites had come to save the day, as they always do.

"Who's this?", Tucker smiled one of his charming smiles.

I could never act so fake so thank gods he was here.

"He's a Lieutenant", Andor spoke out slowly getting the same idea I had. We were going to ditch this guy on them, "from Mianite's royal army."

Tucker squinted his eyes at Lieutenant Alister thinking the same thing I was thinking. Why does a god need an army?

"Why don't we show you around for the rest of the day", Sonja was the only one with a genuine smile or her smile was just so beautiful that it looked genuine. "I believe the prince and Hope are a quite tired."

Thank you Sonja.

The Lieutenant turned to us. "Well this has been a very nice tour", He then leant out his hand for Andor to awkwardly shake again.

The Lieutenant than gave out his hand for me to shake. "I'm assuming you are the girl that the prince has decided to court-"

"Wait court?-" I let out in surprise. LIKE MARRIAGE!

"You both will make a lovely team", The Lieutenant was still smiling. "I love to see when women brake out of the mold of being the weaker sex and decide to fight-"

I could almost see Sonja trying to choke the Lieutenant for the last comment.

-"and with the prince lacking strength-", The Lieutenant continued on, "you might actually be able to defend this town. As I say a fallen enemy is just a tally of all the superior lives you saved-"

And my gut started to ache. This man just kept on talking about death like it was necessary. This wasn't just some guy talking crap, he had been in war and he still thought violence was necessary.

I tried to hold back tears as I felt like loosing it again. I was disgusting just thinking about all of the rotting flesh and blood I have seen in my life.

I looked up at Andor for reassurance, any type of reassurance.

"Correct", The Lieutenant echoed the last words he had been saying, but I was to zoned out to say.

Andor stood their with the same begging look in his eyes that the Modsteps gave to me to keep my mouth shut and listen. It made me even more scared that I could compare the too.

"Correct." I could only say the word wearily. My voice broke and I could feel my eyes get heavy.

Sonja room in a deep breath as I stood in shock trying not to brake down.

"Okay well Lieutenant", She smiled her bright smile, but her greens eyes continued to be aimed at me, "tell us about yourself."

I wasn't going to cry. Not here not in front of all these people.

I started to walk away. As the voices grew weaker my anger grew stronger. I couldn't believe Andor would make me say something like that.

I was also mad at myself for being so weak. I hated girls who constantly cried, but god, I couldn't help it!