There was no sign of The Devil by morning, and but for a few amused looks from Sora there were no longer any obvious reactions from the others about finding him and Four in the same bed. Though it hadn't happened that often, it appeared to have become almost normal already.

The second day of his third week here, not all that long when he thought about it, but long enough that he felt at home here. He could see why some of the long-term residents of the closed world of cards showed little concern about not having seen the outside for so long. After a while you just got used to it.

Since the King and Queen had both retreated back to their rooms after dinner, it was up to Riku as their self-appointed cook to get the kitchen warmed up and some breakfast on the table, aided as usual by Four.

"We do this any more and we might as well take a leaf from your friend and turn into Swords," he had quipped, slicing a loaf of bread.

"I'm a cook, not a farm hand," Riku replied. "I don't mind hard work, at least not as much as I used to, but the idea of working a farm doesn't exactly appeal."

"It's not as bad as it sounds actually," Sora called through to them. "Just some of the duties have their low points."

"Like mucking out the pigs?"

"Yeah. Or the cows – hard time figuring which of them is worse for smell. At least the pigs are more friendly than some of the cows are – especially the bulls. Really don't want to get in their way when they're in a foul mood."

"The joys of being a Sword," Ten chuckled. "You know Three, we never really learn much about the other suits. Until you showed up we had no idea it was even possible to change suits, so we only saw small parts of the others when they called for us."

"I wonder if Page could be persuaded to set up an exchange program," Nine mused. After several puzzled looks he went on, "It's an idea I had from... well, something outside. Anyway, each suit sets aside a few cards who keep their real suit, but go between the other castles – like The Fool does, but all four castles go at the same time."

"Let me get this straight," Five said, still looking puzzled. "We'd still be Staves. But we'd be at one of the other castles, acting as if we were one of them?"

"That's the idea," Two agreed. "I know the idea he's thinking of myself. Say, give them two days at each castle before they get back to their home castle, leave one day – that's for the Game – then repeat but with different cards so we all get a chance."

"Royal," Seven murmured. "Not Page."

"I'm getting use to that," Two chuckled. "I actually understood what you meant."

"I didn't," Sora said a bit petulantly.

"He means we'd have to persuade our King and Queen, not Page," Riku supplied. "Breakfast is up, get it while it's still warm."

Unusually, Page had changed his usual appearance overnight. Rather than wearing the red or blue he normally chose, he'd picked out white instead and not bothered with the cloak. It made him look almost like one of them, if it hadn't been for the silver thread on the front of his tunic that had been sewn into the design of his own staff.

"That's different," Riku murmured to Four. "What's got into him?"

"He's planning a visit to one of the other suits," Four replied. "Only time you'll ever see him wear white."

Page rapped his staff on the floor to silence them before he spoke this time.

"As the more observant among you will have noticed, our night-time vigil has been suspended," he began. "We may reinstate it or not, depending on the outcome of today. Furthermore, we will be returning to our standard duties, at the very least for today, so all other castles will be served equally once more. Any among thee who go to the castle of Swords are to treat them as thou didst before the incident with Ace, but to speak naught of it."

"Would I be right in guessing you're going there to talk to them and smooth over that or something then?" Riku asked.

"Aye, that be so. However, today that be not thy concern, Ace. On to business then. There be only one of the Major Arcana about today, though again I can tell thee not which it is. An any identify it or see the signs of it tell me at once."

"Fat chance," a low hiss came from Riku's shadow. No one noticed it though.

"As we are once again serving all castles, we require three messengers today. Seven, go thou to the Pentacles. Ace, as Three's guide thou wilt accompany him on his first messenger duty to the Castle of Cups – be sure to get an update on the health of the Six of Staves whilst thou art there. Four and Five, thou wilt accompany me unto the Castle of Swords – Four will drive the carriage, as I have no wish to listen to his complaints about horseback for the whole journey."

"Me? Would I do a thing like that?" Four asked innocently.

Page pretended not to hear and continued, "As I will be away, I place it in thy hands Ten to remain in my stead and assign our cards, e'en thee, as thou seest fit when the requests come back."

"Page, you're only leaving me Eight and Nine," Ten protested. "Even if I go too, that only leaves two cards I can dispatch without leaving the walls unguarded."

"The King as decreed that the wall patrol is no longer a necessity except in special cases, and Knight is fully versed in those cases and will mention them as they arise. Otherwise thou need only patrol them if thou art waiting for work."

"Are you feeling alright Page? You always said it was a necessity."

"Times must change out of necessity. It be no longer so save only if Knight says otherwise. Also keep in mind that thou wilt have the three messengers when they return, and Ace also."

"I forgot about that," Ten admitted. "Still, only five cards... I guess I'll have to make do somehow."

"Indeed," Page agreed. "Now to work all. The days labour cannot be met by sloth."

"He is changing," Four murmured with some surprise. "I wonder what brought this about?"

"I'm certainly not complaining," Riku said. "I don't think you should either, or he might decide to get Five to drive instead."

"Be nice," Four admonished. "And you two watch yourselves. There'll be sprites about, and neither of you have met them before."

Then he moved away to prepare a carriage for Page, leaving them to prepare their horses. Sora had some trouble, but having already learned from Four he quickly got Sora ready and mounted up. Four and Five led the way out of the castle, tracking toward The Tower first, then Seven headed south to the Pentacles.

After he and Sora had gone west a ways, he slowed, letting Sora catch up. He wasn't used to horseback. The Swords normally travelled about on their caravans, so no riding was involved.

"I hope I'm not gonna have to do this often," Sora complained when he rode up alongside.

"Don't tell me. You're like me and Four – not a fan of horseback."

"I don't see how anyone can be. I'm sore in places I didn't think I could be sore."

"Just as well we're going to the Cups then. You can ask them to give you a checkup while we're there. Just remember this is your duty though – I'm along to make sure you don't forget anything."

"I guess you had Four do that with you?"

"Right. On this same duty as well actually. We saw The Hanged Man over in the woods off that way," he gestured. "It meant things would be peaceful for the day, but also a warning that Death would attack the day after."

"That's the day before Kai-" he caught himself this time. "Five and I got brought in, isn't it?"

"That's right. You two got brought in because your predecessors were killed when they rode out to turn Death's seige engines into so much firewood. Come on, we'd best get moving before we're late."

While he still complained about it, more than anyone else he'd known ever had, Sora had managed to get the hang of riding and was at least adept enough to keep pace.

"Now what?" he asked as they reached the doors of the drab grey Cup Castle.

"Knock the doors, of course. Hard, I remember Four told me once their own Page is a little deaf at times."

Sora used his staff to send echoing knocks back into the castle grounds, not bothering to dismount. After a few moments, the matronly Page of Cups, exactly as Riku remembered her, opened one door to see them.

"Ah, right on time," she greeted them. "Ace, good to see you again. I see you're acting as the guide this time."

"Apparently I've learned enough that Page thinks I should be teaching and not learning," he replied. "Three's the one on the duty today."

"Of course. I've already consulted with the cards, so I can tell you we'll only need the one card again today. Three, if you'd care to stay we'll stable your horse and ask Ace to return to take word back."

"And I didn't even have to say anything," Sora said. "Oh, wait – he's gotta take back word about our Six too."

"Ah yes, I thought you'd add that," the Page nodded, moving aside to let Sora ride thought, ducking under the low archway. "She's in much the same condition as our Two is," she told Riku. "Conscious but delirious. On the mend, or at least the injuries that are healing are anyway. She doesn't seem too happy about her condition on the rare occasions she's had clarity."

"I think I know the answer to this," Riku said. "But do you think there's any chance something could be done for either of them?"

"I honestly don't know, Ace," she replied. "Our Queen is the one who knows most about it, and we've had Two here for many years and made little progress. Personally I think the only way we'll do anything without a miracle is with magic, but..."

"Magic, huh?" Riku said thoughtfully. "Talk to Three – I can't say too much, since it's sort of an outside thing, but I understand he has some magic. If he's allowed to use it..." he left it hanging.

"Perhaps if-" she started, then a pain-filled scream filled the air. "Oh, gods. She's gone into labour already. Go on back, Ace," she said quickly. "I've got to tend to our Queen. I'm the only experienced midwife on hand."

"Isn't that interesting?" Riku murmured to himself, nudging his horse back toward his own castle. "Another native to the world. Seven's going to have some company."