In a single rolling motion Miranda changed and grew; her spindly legs defying her gravity as Raythor watched her ascend the castle walls with a haste. It was in some great contrast; the delicate figure that Miranda possessed became so easily a dark threat against beauty. Her strength grew and her cunning silence infinitely proposed to him how lethal the young woman could truly be if she were to put herself to it.

If Raythor could point to one flaw, it would be the choice that Lord Cedric had made. There was no honor in the lie itself that was the wedging snake, but if Miranda had not been lied to the serpent might be freed today. Miranda spoke a bare minimum, but as far as he had told she had accepted the flaws in Cedric: it wasn't even of her interest to lose herself at all, but Raythor supposed that she had been young. And now she knew that the man she'd doted had killed her relation and was set on finishing the species. If Miranda were only to have one thing, Raythor respected that she would risk her precious little for the Prince.

"When you have a son, you will understand!"

"Caleb is not your son, Julian.. We send no one. Caleb is a man, Julian."

Raythor listened intently to the words that slipped from the room, noting the impression that part of their job might be done for them. Except that Miranda didn't seem to be one for loose ends; Raythor supposed that her pride set on showing Nerissa her capability, so he only nodded to those behind him. They were ready. "On my word.."

...

There was a cool presence overshadowing her every step as Hay Lin padded toward the bathroom. Hay Lin was tired of the pain; not intending to offend it, but she was so tired. And a world of promise lingered in the haze of her still dreamy conscious, dancing in her imagination as she wondered what her grandmother meant. Hushed words to Cornelia which flowed from the moment her elder had shooed Hay Lin away. 'If Will was right..'

'Will was fine!' The lost words seemed to echo around her, before each thought seemed to be plucked from her mind. It was a new sensation of forgetfulness, but she liked the pleasant gush of energy swirling around her as though to reward her inability to hold onto those little things that she heard.. What she heard..

Once again, for she had taken to it, Hay Lin blinked as a gush of warmth spread through her; happily moving on with but a shrug of her shoulders as her memories were whisked away by an unknown force.. Except, Nerissa wasn't truly unknown. Hay Lin had simply forgotten.

...

The peace became forgotten in a moment. Slam. Bam. Hurt. Go. Gargoyle grinned massively as he crushed the castle walls; smash.. Hit.. Wreck. "YOU SHALL NOT HARM THE QUEEN! ATTACK!"

Black spider threw her web. Gargoyle grinned more widely as they struggled. Raythor forwarded and the words were too far for Gargoyle to hear. Yelling. He heard yelling. Gargoyle threw what he had been gifted - boils of rock reforming what was a hand once - into the stone walls. Crush went what was on the other side. Sand seeped across the room and spider became a child. Raythor called his word after the boy who'd shouted and continued to try. "I shall not..today."

The job was done. It was time to go.

Gargoyle fisted the small man and boy who struggled.

The little Miranda stepped forward, but light fell over her. Gargoyle kept walking. Frost kept walking. Raythor stopped, but kept walking when the voice rang out, "Miranda! Stop this!"

"The Queen is here! Get out!"

...

Elyon had frozen in fear, the moment she realized that Miranda was not alone.. But the men and the sandman and those Knights of Vengance kept walking on as the bubble formed around the spidery form. Elyon's dull grey eyes met violet and she wondered why it didn't feel any better to have caught her.. Except.. "Julian.. Drake.. Where did you-"

Caleb. Elyon's mind flew to Caleb and her heart seized; the bulk of her royal forces instantly drained when the great monster had knocked down the wall. And Elyon had acted rashly, but Miranda had been spotted. And it was all her fault and now Julian and Drake and..

"BLUNK! BLUNK I NEED YOU TO-" Elyon cut herself off as she came to face with Aldarn's father, who quickly remembered his place and fell to his knee, bowing. But she didn't have time. She'd do this on her own if she needed to. If it was the only thing that would help her avoid the fact that she'd virtually lost her entire guard in half a day. And God only knew whether they were being trampled as well by now.

Still. Aketon's eyes rested on her and Elyon straightened her dress, clearing her throat. Regal poise had never been her prime.. And nor was Will Vandom.