Ready…Aim…Fire…Ready…Aim…Fire…

The consistent commands echoed through Tromp's head as he shot arrows at the distant targets. He and the fifty other goblins were perfectly in sync. He was proud to be under Kalina's command. His wife sometime got jealous but Pommy knew that he had eyes for no other goblin or female than her, though he couldn't shake the feeling that Pommy resented Kalina in a way.

Halt. All the goblins stopped and stood at attention. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Kalina talk to several other Warriors who seemed to be impressed. If she was annoyed that they didn't believe her in the first place, she didn't show it. They agreed on something, shook hands and the Warriors walked away.

"Practice is over, you may leave." The spoken command startled him. Kalina usually spoke to the troops telepathically to avoid confusion with spoken commands. As the goblins dispersed, he watched as a large black bird flew down and landed on Kalina's outstretched hand. If she had been taller, evil and slightly green, she would have been the splitting image of Malificient from Sleeping Beauty. The raven that she had taken in was her eyes in the sky and had most likely warned her of the coming Warriors. He walked up to her and stood at attention. "Permission to speak?"

Kalina looked at him out of the corner of her eyes and continued to pet Morpheus who had fixed its eyes on Tromp. "Tromp, you don't have to ask for permission. You and the others should know that." Turning to face him she smiled, "Is it about sparring with the other soldiers?"

Tromp nodded, "They don't think we can fight as well as they can. I don't want them to make fools out of us."

Kalina released Morpheus back to the sky where he circled a couple times then flew away. "They won't make fools of us. Memanti has spread the word that the army of the Goblin King is not to be reckoned with." Tromp nodded then scowled as Cavan approached them.

"Kalina, I must speak with you…its important." Tromp had moved in front of Kalina, hand on the dagger he always kept at his side. Cavan looked at him and said, "If I were you, I would move aside little man." After saying that, he was barely able to catch Kalina's wrist as she moved to attack him.

"Don't you ever speak to one of my soldiers in that way again, especially if he's a general," Kalina seethed, "they have developed their own protocol when it comes to shady characters approaching me."

Cavan looked at her then released her hand. "Tromp, go on home. We'll continue this conversation later," Kalina said before stalking away. Cavan ran to catch up to her and Tromp could see them arguing heatedly about something. Sighing, he headed for home.

"What is it now? I'm very busy."

Cavan had to hold back from grabbing Kalina by the arm and making her look at him. This was an important matter and he would rather Kalina stop and actually listen.

"It concerns your father, Kalina." She continued to walk away from him but he saw her shoulders tense. He knew what she was going to say next and practically followed it in his head as she said it.

"My father has been dead for years. What could possibly be so important?"

"I think you should stop and listen."

Kalina snorted, "I can walk and listen. What is it you need to tell me about my father?"

"He's alive."

Kalina whirled on him and jabbed in the chest as she spoke. "Who do you think you are telling me something like that? He's dead. I was at his funeral and was there when they put the coffins of my parents in the ground."

Cavan gently took her hand and asked, "Was it an open casket funeral? Did you see your father in the casket before they buried him?"

Kalina whipped her hand out of his grasp. "My parents were in a horrible car accident. Do you think that they would traumatize a young girl by having an open casket?"

"You are not a typical young girl. What do you remember from the funeral? Who was there?"

"This conversation is over. I have to go take care of something that's important."

Cavan moved in front of her. "This is important Kalina. I'm trying to protect you from secrets that shouldn't exist."

Kalina stepped around him and, without a word, walked away. He clenched his fists and sighed. This was going to be difficult but he had not meant to eavesdrop on Entalon and Zachary a couple days ago. Kalina's father was alive and well. According to what he learned, Entalon and Vernier often switched places so Kalina had been with her father several times without knowing it. Running, he swiftly caught up with Kalina. He grabbed her arm just as she transported, bringing him with her to the throne room.

"What the hell?!" With a twist and a turn, she had him on the ground, his arm pinned behind him. Thankfully the room was empty so no one would see what happened next. Quick as lightening he got out of her hold and sat holding her in his arms tightly.

"Why do you fight me so when I am trying to help you not get hurt? Your father is alive. Ask Entalon and Zachary. Even Jareth and the High King know."

Kalina responded by making herself too hot to touch. When he released her, she turned and faced him. "Do you insist on causing me more pain after all you have done? I wish…" To his surprise, she stopped. Words had power in the Underground and he knew that as angry as she was, she wasn't about to be rash with words. Suddenly she clutched her head and fell to her knees. Her eyes had a distant look in them and it seems she was having some sort of inner battle.

Kalina was battling the Undergound yet again. He was ruthless with his attacks, showing no mercy.

"When orders are given, you are to follow them."

Angrily, Kalina slashed with her sword only to have it blocked. Swinging his sword, he managed to slash at her arm, causing yet another cut parallel to the one she obtained many years ago. "I will not marry someone I do not love. You said that I was not to marry." The attacks kept coming faster and faster making it hard for her to find an opening to attack.

"I am the Underground, I am allowed to change things as I see fit."

"All we are to you is an ant farm!" Kalina shouted, "You stand there high above us with a magnifying glass and when you want to entertain yourself you set us aflame!"

A power blast sent Kalina flying backwards. She opened her eyes to find herself back in the throne room. "Do not tempt me to kill you," said the Underground's voice echoing in her mind. Cavan was running over to her as she tried to get out of the daze she was in. He helped her sit up and held her face in his hand looking in her eyes.

"Are you okay?" She wanted desperately to slap his hand away or at least to blast him away from her but the battle had taken a lot out of her. If only it was Behome comforting her. "Your arm is bleeding. I'll take you to Zachary."

"No. I'll go myself," replied Kalina finally finding the strength to push him away. She had barely stood up when Behome rushed up to them and punched Cavan square in the jaw.

"What have you done to her? Is it not enough that you ask for her hand in marriage?"

Cavan stood up rubbing his jaw, eyes narrowed. "What would Natasha say if she saw how you were acting right now? She is your betrothed, not Kalina."

"And I suppose that you believe that Kalina is yours?"

"I was granted a wish and those cannot be broken unless the one who made the wish releases it." Kalina's ears perked up when she heard this. Was there hope after all?

Behome clenched his hands into fists, "You are enough of a bastard to never release her from marrying the man she hates."

Kalina was getting extremely irritated with where the conversation was going, as if she wasn't there. "ENOUGH!" Both men looked at her and she stared them down individually, "I've had it with the men of the Underground. Do you even stop to think about anything else than your egos?" Turning, she walked out of the throne room, tossing one final comment at them, "I will marry no one so you can quit your bickering."

Once she was in the hallway, she made sure she was a good distance from the throne room before leaning against a wall and sliding to the ground. She was so tired but she picked herself up and went to the stable. A few moments later, she was flying away on Ahern.