((This is completely unacceptable!)) I cried as I burst into the advisor's office. Alloran started at me in alarm for a moment, the smaller male standing next to him dropped the datapad he was holding and watched me with wide eyes as he took in my agitated state. I ignored him.

((That will be all, Axele.)) Alloran said, and the smaller male rushed nervously from the room, giving me another wary look. He left the room as if Crangar himself was on his hooves.

((Did you just get off the ship? The Valorblade arrived only hours ago.))

((I did.))

I began to pace, whipping my tail impatiently as I walked. I was furious.

The room was decorated beautifully. It was as if a portion of the tranquil fields themselves had been transplanted here. The front wall was made entirely of reflective glass. The western wall was solid glass, providing a lovely view of the western spaceport the office was located in. The grass was the finest quality of course. All these offices had the best, although Alloran had outstanding taste. A small pool lay in the corner, littered with brightly colored crystals. The only artificial creations in the room were a large table, which held various datapads and a computer station. Along the eastern wall was a small circular table with a holo of the advisor's family.

((My Prince.)) I said, clopping over and resting my hands on his desk. ((I implore you, make the council see reason. We must attack now.))

I began pacing again.

((We must attack when they are weakest!))

((No. You are not thinking clearly. Prince Zoran. This is war.))

I interrupted him. ((Do not tell me about war, I know this war as well as you do.))

He sighed in frustration.

((This is not the time to make rash decisions. It has only been six months.)) His expression was serious and I began to notice how much older he looked now. There was more tan in his fur than before. He was a great warrior, but now the war seemed to be taking its toll.

My hearts sank as I clopped over to the small table. The holo showed a picture of the family. My eyes flickered to the two figures in the foreground. It showed Zamir-Semitur-Gahar, my shorm, smirking at a beautiful young female, who was laughing and smiling at something he had just told her.

I reached for the holo, and my fingers went through her delicate form, causing the image to distort. I closed my eyes for a moment, attempting to compose myself. I failed miserably. I clenched my fist and stepped back towards Alloran.

((Six months, and we have made little progress. Six months of chasing phantoms. We push, and they push back harder.)) I was unable to hide my bitterness as I spoke. ((They killed Zamir, your son! They have Inara, and your grandchild. My child.)) I continued, my thoughts wavering slightly. Even now, it was hard to speak their names.

((I know what they have taken from me!)) He roared, stepping around the table to face me. ((But we must be smart! You are too close to this! You must trust us to do what needs to be done.)) He sighed suddenly. ((In three months, we will have enough ships to deal with the Yeerks.))

That was too much time, we needed to strike now.

((It will be too late!)) I replied, my tone livid. I had taken to pacing again, wearing a path in the grass. ((They aren't only Yeerks anymore, they have my Elani. If they use her knowledge against us, the damage could be catastrophic. Imagine the damage a prion virus would do here.)) I stopped and spread my arms, gesturing around me.

((We don't only have the Kelbrid sector to deal with. We still cannot take the Hork-Bajir world, and we must maintain the blockade around the Yeerk homeworld. We have been trying to maintain peace with the Humans, incompetent as they are. We are spread too thin.))

((I don't care!))

If they managed to use Inara against us, it could cripple us. If she was even still alive. My anger intensified two-fold and I clenched my fists at my sides.

((She is alive.)) Alloran said confidently.

Had I spoken aloud?

((How can you be sure?)) I said incredulously. Alloran sighed and returned to his computer.

((I was imprisoned for two and a half years. I know this creature.)) His main eyes lifted to mine, looking hollow. ((He would never kill her. His curiosity will keep her alive. As far as the council can tell, she has not been infested either. The Yeerks would have used her knowledge by now.)) His eyes looked strange, as if he was looking through me. Perhaps he was remembering something from long ago. ((The only question is why.))

((We must do something! I will go alone if I must. I need to help her, even if I do not deserve her.)) Alloran held up a hand to silence me. His eyes had returned to the present now, and he looked meaningfully at me.

((You were under orders, Zoran. And besides. She does not need to know.))

His words did little to comfort me and neither of us spoke for a long while.

((I have convinced the council to allow a small recovery team to attempt to retrieve her.)) He paused, seeing my wondering expression. ((I did not tell you, because you would have insisted on going.))

((I do insist.)) Nothing would stop me from going, and he knew it. ((My Prince. You once asked me if there was anything you could do to repay me. It is my fault she is there. I request this one thing. Allow me to make this right.))

Guilt threatened to overwhelm me. Why had she made the trade? I was willing to die for my people, for her. I should have insisted she stay behind. It would have infuriated her, but at least she would have been safe.

((You would ask this of me?)) He whispered, cursing as he took in my steady expression. He knew I would not back down. ((I will need to call in a few favors. Captain Feyorn owes me. He will not be pleased, he is fond of you. The Valorblade is due to return to duty in a week. Finding a replacement T.O. before then would be difficult.))

((Thank you, my Prince.)) I said bowing respectfully. Alloran sighed again. The door to his office trilled and I excused myself.

((Report to briefing room C. in twelve hours.)) He said heavily. ((Do not make me regret this.))

I needed to right what I had done. I had to get her away from that vile creature, even if it meant my death. I would do whatever it took.

Another wave of guilt hit me. I felt guilty for not being able to keep her safe. But I felt guilty for another reason. If she had ever found out what I had done, she would never speak to me again, and I knew it.

I clopped out into the corridor, locking eyes with the male who had been waiting as he clopped past me. He looked about my age, but his posture and expression made him look a bit wild, dangerous even. He was of average size, but more streamlined. His muscles were not large, but clearly defined, making him look even more dangerous. His gray eyes glittered with intelligence and cunning.

I couldn't help but watch the male as he clopped into Alloran's office. Something about the male made my fur stand on its ends and I raised my tail higher than I normally kept it. I left the spaceport feeling slightly unnerved.

((Brother!)) Iolrath came barreling towards me, his tail held high and his eyes filled with excitement. He was getting so big, he had almost fully matured.

((Welcome home, Iolrath.)) I arced my tail forward, touching his briefly. ((Run with me?)) I offered, and clopped past our scoop. I couldn't help but return his smile as we trotted side by side across the meadow. He could keep pace with me now, unlike the last time I had seen him.

((Alright, tell me all about it.)) I said, seeing the eagerness in his eyes.

((It is incredible!)) Iolrath cried, unable to hide the excitement in his voice. ((We captured two Yeerk supply ships in our first week! We stopped them as they were leaving the Hork-Bajir system! I got to fly a fighter!))

I laughed as Iolrath showed me a play by play of one of the battles, gesturing with both hands, showing each turn their ships made. He would make a great fighter pilot someday.

((How did you find Corran?)) I asked curiously. Iolrath let out a frustrated sigh as we stopped to drink by the river on the south side of the meadow. I smiled, remembering how excited Iolrath was when he could finally leap from one side to the other. It was a very wide river and he had not shut up about it for weeks.

He scuffed his hoof against the grass.

((He is alright.)) Iolrath said bitterly. He sighed again, looking down at the grass in embarrassment. ((He is very hard on me. I think he expects me to have your talent.))

((Corran is a great teacher. You should pay close attention to him.)) I urged. ((He was one of my instructors at the academy, you know.))

We turned and galloped across the meadow, and I opened my hooves to feed. It felt so good to be home. The sun was high overhead, but the air left me with a slight chill.

((Why can't you teach me? It comes to you so naturally.)) Iolrath said. ((You are the best fighter in history! Corran keeps comparing me to you, saying you were his best student.)) Excitement and admiration colored his tone now.

((You think tail fighting came naturally to me?)) I said, turning my stalk eyes to his face. ((I practiced for three hours each night, little brother. It took a lot of hard work and dedication.))

((You never told me that.)) Iolrath said in awe.

((Zamir...Zamir and I used to practice with each other every night.))

I wondered if I would ever be able to say his name without feeling a stab of pain in my hearts.

((I'm going to do that, brother. Then someday I will beat you! You will not be the best for long.))

I laughed.

((I am certainly not the best, but if you would like, I will practice with you.)) I offered.

Iolrath jumped in front of me, raising his tail. I skidded to a stop, laughing at the determination on his face.

I frowned at him.

((Aristh Iolrath, you call that a proper stance?)) I teased, stepping forward. ((You are too stiff, relax. You can't dodge a djabala with a stance like that.))

He relaxed slightly, and I guided him with my hands, tucking his arms in, and nudging his legs with my tail.

((Spread your weight evenly on all four hooves. Arms in, you don't want to lose a hand, do you?)) I instructed, taking in the pensive look on his face. ((Stop thinking so much. Much of tail fighting is about instinct. Your body will know when it is time to strike.))

He was overthinking too much, trying to be perfect in his stance. I raised my tail high, assuming the proper stance to give him an example to work with.

((Keep your main eyes on mine, Iolrath, not my tail. Stalk eyes on my tail.)) I urged. ((Don't forget to keep an eye on your environment as well, one trip and it could cost you a match. Now, try to hit me.))

He arced his tail higher and struck, a look of concentration on his face. I blocked his blade easily with my own. He had a strong strike, and decently fast, but it was untrained, and needed refining. ((Do not think about it, just do it.)) I watched him carefully as he tried to hit me again and again.

((Iolrath.)) I said calmly. ((You flex your fingers when you about to strike. That is your tell.))

((Again.)) I said, and Iolrath came at me with renewed determination.