I loved that last chapter, and I've noticed I haven't done much High Entia racism towards Rineah. Though her reactions are pretty limited to mostly her circle. I'm not sure if this one will push my rating up, I hope not.

Amaiah was in a hurry. She had been out running errands for Kallian, but wanted to get back to Rineah. She loathed being away from her for too long.

"Lady Amaiah."

She stopped and turned. "i'm really in a hurry," she began. She was almost at the palace. "I'm sorry," she added, "can it wait?"

"It will only take a moment."

She turned her attention to the woman in front of her. "You and I barely interact, what could you - " She let out a muffled cry of pain as something pierced her stomach. The other woman took her hand away, then stabbed Amaiah again. Amaiah dropped to her knees, her fingers shaking and covered with blood as she pressed them to her wounds. "What...?" she managed to whisper.

Before she could properly finish off Amaiah, the sound of footsteps startled her attacker. She had not been seen, she realized as she ducked into the shadows, it was just two guards on patrol. She did not think they would make another loop of the area.

"Lady Amaiah!" The first of the two guards knelt by her as she struggled to remain upright. "Get a healer," he insisted to the other.

"Kallian," she murmured.

The second guard nodded, hurrying back to the castle. The first one moved her hands, trying to see how badly she had been wounded. "Izo," she murmured, "I want - "

"What happened?" Izo insisted, "who did this?"

Amaiah sighed but did not answer. Izo looked up as someone approached. It was Kallian, not a healer.

"Remy ran into me inside the palace," the young prince explained, visibly shaken. "He's going to get a healer." He carefully took hold of Amaiah and pulled her close. "It will be all right," he whispered to her.

"Kallian," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "These past three years have been the best of my life." She leaned her head against his shoulder

"Don't say such," he began. "You'll be fine."

She had wanted to say something else, but could not get it out. All she could do was let out a final sigh.

Rineah sat beside Albion, watching intently as he worked. He fingers moved deftly as he pulled lines and tied knots. He had been working quietly for several minutes, aware of his little audience, but he did not mind it.

"There," he said, finished. He offered the smaller pole to her and picked up the larger one and his box. "Ready?"

"Yes," Rineah said, holding the fishing pole closely. Albion had offered the trip, and she gladly accepted. The two of them left the villa after informing Izo of where they were going, and followed the transporters to Eryth Sea.

There, Rineah waited on a large rock as Albion baited their hooks. He handed her the small pole and they both cast their lines. Fishing, especially with Albion, was a pretty quiet way to pass the time. He had wondered if, perhaps, Rineah would grow bored.

But she sat by him with no complaints.

"I felt something," she cried as her line jumped.

"Careful," Albion told her, watching as she reeled it back in. She struggled. Whatever was on her line was large.

As he reached over to help, she cried out and scowled. "It got away!"

Albion chuckled at the look on her face. "There are plenty more fish," he assured her.

"I know," she said. She watched him bait her line again and cast off once more. "Albion?"

"Hmm?"

"There's not many people like me, are there?"

Albion blinked, surprised. It was Izo or Vasia she usually posed such heavy questions to. "What do you mean, Princess Rineah?"

She kicked her feet, looking for the right words. "I noticed last night, at the banquet."

"Ah. My lady, there are plenty of part Homs around Alcamoth. I can assure you of that."

She frowned off towards the water. Albion would not lie to her, she knew that. But she wasn't quite sure that was the whole truth. "But not many people have wings like I do."

Albion started to laugh to her surprise. He pulled on his line, feeling a tug. He reeled his fish in wish ease. "Hold this just one moment, my lady." He took the small box containing extra hooks, line, and bait, out of the bigger one. The bigger one he filled with water. Rineah looked at the fish wriggling on the line she held in her hand.

"How many do we need?" she asked when the caught fish had been placed in the water.

"As many as we can get."

He waited until he was settled and cast his line out again before addressing Rineah's earlier question. "About your wings, you are entirely half Homs, half High Entia." Rineah nodded. "It will surprise you to know both Izo and myself are part Homs."

Rineah nearly dropped her pole in surprise. "But - but your wings are so big! Like my father's and everyone else's!"

"My mother is part Homs," he explained, "my father is pureblooded High Entia. So my wings grew as long as a pureblooded High Entia. Same with Izo."

Rineah was silent for a time. She and Albion had caught a few more fish, their container getting a bit full. Albion had told her he would make them that night, enough for everyone he had assured her. Albion wasn't the best cook, but the one thing he was good at was making fish tasty.

"Are your mother's wings short?"

Albion was silent for a moment, then said, "Well, they're a bit shorter than normal, but not as short as yours and Princess Melia's." He paused, then decided to push ahead. "Did someone say anything to you?"

"No," she admitted. "Not at all. I just noticed... with all those High Entia last night..."

Albion sighed. "My lady, near the capital you don't see many half Homs. This is true. But you should not let it bother you. If anyone says anything rude to you - "

"Tell Father?"

"Or you could take it up with myself and Izo. We are sworn to protect you, and that includes from certain people who look down on others."

Rineah managed a small smile for Albion. Albion smiled back. He was glad she asked him. If it had been Vasia, she would have run to Prince Kallian. Sometimes, a child was just curious. He believed her when she said no one had said anything. But Vasia felt Kallian needed to know everything Rineah mentioned. Either was too overprotective of Rineah, or just wanted to see the prince.

Perhaps both.

"Look, look!" Rineah was pointing out to the water. Her excited cries shook Albion from his thoughts. A large turtle had breached the surface of the water. "Do you think he's fishing, too?"

"He just might be. As long as he doesn't take our fish."

"We can share," Rineah insisted.

Albion had to laugh. "My lady, he can reach better fish than we ever could. He could at least allow us these."

Rineah leaned forward to look at their catch. There was nearly a dozen fish. "Do you think we have enough?" she asked.

"One or two more can't hurt." As Albion cast his line, the turtle dove back under the water. Rineah let out a disappointed noise. "He might have just wanted a little air," Albion told her, his tone gentle.

Rineah nodded. Albion was probably right. They stayed a few minutes longer, until Rineah caught two more fish. "Can I help?" Rineah asked as she watched him lift the heavy box containing their dinner.

"Would you carry everything else for me?"

Rineah followed Albion, carrying both poles and the tackle box. "You're really strong, aren't you?"

"I have to be," he assured her. "I cannot keep you safe if I'm not."

"That's true..."

Albion chuckled as he shifted the container, careful not to spill water or fish. "Want to help me clean and cook them?"

"Gross!" Rineah cried, hurrying ahead to the capital where Izo and Fabrion waited. She scowled at Albion, who was still laughing.

"We were just about to come find you two," Izo told them, smiling as Rineah ducked behind him.

"Honestly, we were just getting hungry." Fabrion reached behind Izo and took everything from Rineah's hands. "Did you enjoy yourself, Princess?"

"Yes!" She smiled at Fabrion as the four of them walked together to the villa. "Can... can we go camping? Like we used to?"

Albion and Fabrion exchanged grins, both of them eager for it. But Izo only replied, "We'll see."