A/N: Hurrah! I'm back again. Two chapter in a row…I'm on fire! No seriously, guys, it's crazy hot here and I'm burning in the sun. But anyway, you guys should really watch Willow to see sexy, sexy Val Kilmer with his long hair and his amazing sword skills…and to laugh at the cheesy 80sness of the movie.

Disclaimer: I'd love to own Albel…and I'd be far nicer to him that stupid Prince Vox…although I didn't decide Vox would be the bad guy until Albel said so and he's the boss….so I guess Albel would own me?

Fayt had a very bad feeling about Albel's plan. It wasn't as if he didn't want to help Albel. After all, if he was in Albel's position, he would want someone to help him. But he wasn't so sure he wanted to be a part of Albel's plan. It involved way more violence than Fayt was comfortable with. It was understandable for a warrior like Albel to lash out when forced into a situation he hated. But for Fayt, a mild-mannered servant who had spent all his life serving the royal family, it was almost unthinkable to imagine killing or wounding anyone in the castle.

Fayt tried not to look offended. He wanted to share his disagreement with Albel's plan gently and tactfully. Although Albel was unarmed and hindered by several layers of clothing, those jeweled fingernails looked deadly.

"Albel," he began cautiously. "I don't think I'd be able to kill anyone. I'm not a good fighter. I wouldn't be able to overpower anyone, especially an armed soldier."

Albel looked at Fayt appraisingly. "You don't look ill or infirm. But being a servant must have weakened your will to fight. No matter. I can break you of your cowardice later. For now, you can make yourself useful in less confrontational ways. I usually detest such furtive measures, but I'll make an exception for you. You have access to the kitchen or at least you are allowed to deliver food. If you're too squeamish to kill, you could always poison someone for me."

Fayt sighed. "Albel, poisoning is still killing. It's less violent and less bloody, but it's still murder."

Albel grinned. "Not necessarily. You could find something that would just make your target very ill or put them to sleep. Surely even you could stomach that."

Fayt nodded. "I suppose I could. I just don't like that idea of hurting the people I serve with."

"Bah! I have no quarrel with the servants. I'm sure they had no part in this. But the soldiers and the prince will be repaid for their actions. That vile prince especially." Albel's eyes narrowed and he clenched his fist. "He has continually tried to force himself on me and make me his woman. I would have killed him if he hadn't ordered several of his men to hold me back. They will all die for this injustice." He bared his teeth savagely.

"I understand, Albel. I'd want to get away from any man who tried to rape me. I'll do what I can to drug the guards and sneak you out. I hope your people will rally behind you and protect you if Prince Vox tries to recapture you."

Albel grinned wickedly. "They'll kill him if he comes back for me." Albel cocked his head to one side. "You've stayed long enough, fool. Hurry up and get out of here. Come for me when you're ready to act." He slipped the veil back over his face and pushed Fayt towards the door.

Fayt hastily headed out the door with the empty stew bowl. There were still six guards sitting in the outer room. Fayt now knew why they were there, in case Albel tried to escape. To post six men to watch one…the prince must be determined to keep him. It was sickening.

"Boy," a guard called out. "Her ladyship ate the whole bowl?"

"Yes, sir. She took her meal behind the privacy screen and had me wait for her to finish."

"Took long enough," the guard muttered. He stroked his beard contemplatively as he looked at Fayt.

Fayt thought fast. "She's an elegant and refined lady, sir. Noble ladies always eat slowly. They must show their delicacy and sophistication by taking small bites."

The guard chuckled. "Right you are. She is a delicate little flower. Skinny as a reed. But don't let her looks fool you. She's a little vixen. Probably took pleasure making you wait. That's how women are."

"I wouldn't know," Fayt said indifferently. "She didn't say a word to me."

The guard looked relieved. His grin widened. "Hasn't spoken a word to me either. Just haughty looks from her. Right, boys?"

The other guards laughed and grinned as if at some inside joke. Fayt sighed inwardly. How had he never realized that the soldiers and guards were so rotten? Well, at least he wouldn't feel bad about drugging them. They deserved it.

Fayt headed back to the kitchen with the empty bowl. The cook pointed with his ladle to a spot on the counter where Fayt could set the bowl and gruffly informed him that there was nothing more to be done for the night. He was allowed what little time was left to sleep and then he had to wake early in the morning to carry out the funeral arrangements.

Fayt retired to his cot in the servant's quarters. He tried t stay awake and think about how best to sneak Albel out of the castle, but he was soon asleep.

Fayt was roused at dawn by the taskmaster's familiar bugle summoning the servants to their morning duties. Fayt joined the other servants as the rushed to prepare the castle courtyard. It was here that old King Arzei's corpse would be paraded around the circular courtyard for the citizens to see before being taken to the tomb of the royals. The Prince Vox would be crowned as the new king in front of the masses.

The servants prepared the yard, sweeping off the cobblestones with the courtyard and scouring the railing of the upper balcony where Vox would be crowned. Fayt's closest companion, the maid Sophia, was tasked with delivering breakfast to Vox and Albel. Fayt, after sweeping the yard, was put to work hanging cheerful decorations across the castle gates.

The hour of the funeral procession was announced by the sound of trumpets. The common people of the royal city filtered into the courtyard to watch. Vox, watching from the upper balcony, looked suitably somber. Fayt, Sophia, and a handful of other servants watched from a distance behind the prince, ready to run back inside to bring out the crown and royal robes once the funeral was over.

"Easy there, your ladyship. We've got to watch out for your frail constitution."

Fayt turned and saw two burly guards grinning as they led Albel out onto the balcony. Albel locked eyes with Fayt for only a moment as his black full face veil blew up in the breeze and then fluttered back down to obscure his face. Albel's accusing glare haunted Fayt's thoughts.

Sophia nudged Fayt. He hadn't noticed that the sounds of the funeral dirge had changed to the tune of joyful celebration. He quickly dashed inside to retrieve the royal crown and robe to place over Vox's black cloak of mourning. The royal priest placed the crown on Vox's head and the servants draped the robe across his shoulders.

Fayt watched as the new king addressed the crowd, talking about how he would honor his father's memory by emulating his benevolent rule. The people cheered at that and cheered even harder when Vox pulled Albel to his side and announced that she would be the future queen. But Fayt couldn't bear to watch. He looked down at the ground, feeling suddenly nauseous.