I felt my spirit drop immediately. Ash thought of everything. I have no more time here. I'm going to end up back in that tower whether I like it or not.

"Princess?"

I looked up but averted my eyes. I didn't need them to see that I was crying. I wiped my eyes and looked back at Durion.

"Thia. What does it say?"

I didn't trust myself to speak so I just slid the photograph across the desk towards the two men. Durion picked it up and read it first, before handing it to Korvon. He read it then turned it over, he noticed the picture on the back and frowned at it before handing it back to me.

"I'm sorry.. I... I can't do this.." I half muttered, half whispered. I lifted myself up and turned towards the door I took a step before remembering about the locket, I went to pick it up but couldn't bring myself to.. I took the picture and left.. As I reached the corridor again Durion spoke for the first time since we found the note making me pause..

"Princ..." He began but Korvon cut him off.

"Let this one go Durion."

I nodded slightly to show my appreciation and rushed back to my room. I locked the door and threw myself on the bed. I couldn't deal with this. So I went to sleep.

I woke up to a beam of light hitting me straight in the eyes. I turned away instinctively but someone kept calling my name, trying to wake me up.

"Thia! Get up!"

"Princess, wake up!"

"Thia. Ash is waiting. He sent his the other Tallyn as you were late."

That caught my attention.

"She's here?!"

"Yes. Get dressed. We'll wait outside."

I nodded and watched them leave. I took off my clothes from yesterday and settled for some black flexible skinny jeans, a grey t-shirt and a black leather jacket. I pulled my unruly hair up into a high ponytail and threw on some black combat boots.

I strapped my katana to my waist, arm guard on my opposite forearm with the throwing knives strapped in.

I took one last breather and looked around the room I'd come to recognise as my own. I heard a knock on the door. I said one last goodbye to the room and went to join Durion and Korvon.

We walked in the same formation as last time. We reached the main gate where Mistalya was waiting for me. She kept her face blank but I saw her eyes soften as she saw how down I was. Korvon had been walking in front of me, he stopped and stepped to the side. I kept walking but just before I reached her I looked back to Durion and Korvon.. They also kept blank faces but they both gave a slight nod and I swear I saw the fire in Durion's eyes.. I smiled sadly at both of them and turned back to Mistalya. I watched as she pulled out a rope and beckoned me towards her. That was when I lost all hope.

"Ash's orders.. Because you were late.." I nodded to show I understood and she covered the remaining space between us. I turned back to Durion and Korvon so she could tie my hands behind my back.

I could see that neither of them had expected this, and it was bothering Durion. His eyes were obviously filled with shadows. Korvon must have also seen how agitated he was getting as he nudged him slightly, just enough to make Durion aware of what was happening to him. I smiled as best I could for him, it seemed to help him.

Mistalya tapped my shoulder, letting me know it was time to go.. I turned towards the door, Mistalya in front of me. We walked out of the castle, I turned back one last time. I stood staring forlornly at what I now considered to be my home. I didn't realise how fond I'd actually grown of this place. Mistalya pushed my shoulder to keep me moving.

"Pull any tricks, I'll take over. Ash has said to get you to him under any circumstances. Any." She said menacingly.

Just the way she spoke sent shivers down my spine, and brought up memories I had tried to block out many a time.

I nodded submissively and kept walking. Past the tree. Past the stony shore. Around the lake and over to Ash.

As we neared the circle, a perfect circle out of seemingly short grass, a figure appeared out of the trees to one side. His hair shining like liquid silver. I'd recognize that hair anywhere. Ash was walking towards me. Mistalya stopped walking about 30 feet from the circle put pushed me so I stumbled forward. I got the message and kept walking. Keeping my eyes down. Tears started to blur my vision. Ash stopped just as the tip of his shoes neared the shortened grass. I mimicked him and brought my eyes up to match his. My dark green meeting with his icy blue.

"So naive." He tutted..

"To think I'd allow you to keep your precious weapon set, or your locket."

I frowned at that.. I didn't have my locket.. Did I?

"Dylan?" Ash said, looking past me. I turned and saw my best friend come over to me.

He silently removed my katana and rolled up the sleeve of my jacket to unhook the arm guard with all the knives attached. He walked around the circle to give them to Ash.

"And the locket, Dylan."

He walked back around and unzipped the left pocket on my jacket, he pulled out the locket. Throwing it over to Ash and rejoining Mistalya behind me. He didn't say anything. He didn't need to. I knew he was sorry.

Ash dropped my weapons and put the locket in the front pocket of his jeans.

"Now. Since that is sorted, step into the circle."

I hesitated. That was my first mistake. A burst of air hit me in the back, pushing me over, I managed to tuck my head in enough to flip over onto my legs, but it still knocked the breath out of me. I knew Mistalya had conjured that blow. I coughed and managed to pull myself up onto my knees, then slowly to my feet.

"You know the deal." Ash stated.

I nodded and swallowed before answering.

"I have nothing." I whispered.

"What?!"

I closed my eyes and prepared for the inevitable punishment. When nothing came, I looked up to find Mistalya, cousin to Ash whispering something to him. He nodded, she stayed next to him. Her odd eyes staring at me.

"My cousin tells me otherwise. She says you came to her with two men escorting you. One was the banni aliat, the other unknown. Tell me about him and I will not punish you, so long as it is useful. Do not lie, I will know."

My heart skipped a beat. I decided to tell them what I knew. Not that I knew a whole lot.

I swallowed again.

"He arrived two days ago, he thinks he knows me, or has met me before. He greets Durion like a brother. He calls me Thia.. Whenever he looks at me, his eyes go softer. He helped me. He calls Durion his nerothime."

"Is that it? Is this all you bring me!"

I sighed.

"His name is Korvon."

Ash's cold face suddenly grew brighter. His scowl stretched into a grin. But it didn't seem kind, or warm. It was perhaps more frightening than if he had threatened me. Again.

I felt the ropes around my hands loosen, the fall to the floor. I stretched out my hands and rubbed my sore wrists to relieve the ache.

I started to back away from Ash, from the centre of the circle. When no one stopped me I turned and started to walk away, head down, still rubbing my wrists. I started to speed up when again, no one said anything. I felt a little breeze move my hair a little but I thought nothing of it. Just as I neared the edge of the clearing Ash called me

"Princess." He said in a dangerously low voice. I stopped but didn't turn around.

"You didn't actually believe I'd let you go again?" He started to laugh, I started to sprint away. But tears clouded my vision. I tripped over a bramble snaking across my path. I heard someone running after me.. I turned onto my back and tried to drag myself away and up at the same time. I couldn't see what or who was after me.

"Goodnight princess." I heard Ash say, from behind my head. How did he get there so fast?

"Sleep tight." Just as I turned myself towards him. Grinning like a kid on their birthday, everything went black.