I gazed out of the window at the courtyard below, where the king's men were gathering. They were going to follow me to wherever Adrian was, and I would follow the raven. The bird remained perched upon my shoulder through the night, rubbing its face against my cheek anxiously. I held it close as we anticipated the journey ahead.

I had to wait until the king was ready for me to go. One hundred men were coming after me at a distance, and undetected, behind me. If I ran into any trouble they would be ready to strike at a moment's notice. The Enchantress was powerful, but we would corner her, and I would come out with Adrian by my side.

And I won't leave without you.

I changed into travelling clothes and cloak, and ate little of what was offered to me. I stood at my window as the sun rose. I had expected to see Stefan, but he was still missing from the night before.

Had the time ever passed so slowly before? I paced the room for hours, waiting for word from the king. With every moment that slipped by, I was without Adrian. And he was all I could think of anymore.

It'll be just like you said in your note, I thought to him tearfully in my mind, will be together again soon.

I would face the Enchantress no matter what the outcome. And I would be leaving soon.

Soon, soon. If only the king will have everything prepared for the siege in time…

As the sun peeked over the hill, Stefan was drawn back to the world. He blinked into the light, his mind a blank slate.

"Ah, great! I knew this would properly revive you!" Marius exclaimed, kneeling at his side after had just poured a heavy dose of medicine down his throat.

Stefan stared up at his old friend, bewildered.

"What is your name?" Marius demanded.

"Stefan," Stefan rasped.

The healer narrowed his eyes. "And no longer a prince, I've heard."

"That's right." Stefan sat up, squinting into the rising sun. "Where are we?"

Marius glanced around, as if he'd forgotten. "This was the only place we could go last night with Gaspard and his band of heathens rallying to smash you to a pulp. You were in and out of consciousness for most of the night, but refused to be taken back up to the castle."

They were in a small field just upon the outskirts of the village. The sounds of the kingdom awakening met their ears already.

"Lance is coming back with food. He saved your neck."

Stefan nodded solemnly. "I was not myself," he admitted aloud, "but myself I never again will be. I have something to do today."

"Besides get some rest and put an end to this madness?" Marius asked hotly.

Stefan looked at him sharply. "I'm going to go find my brother."

Marius cocked his head, "Richmond? Is he not in the mountains with the queen?"

"Not Richmond," Stefan replied patiently, "I have another brother who is destined to rule here. A fairy witch has him captive. It was he who won the tourney yesterday."

"I don't understand."

"Neither do I," Stefan admitted, "but this is something I need to do. And then I'm leaving. Will you help me?"

Marius took his friend's outstretched hand and squeezed it tightly. "I will help you. Besides, there's no way you can get through this without a healer."

Lance approached them across the field, his arms stocked with bread and cheese. As they ate, the sun moved above the trees and warmed the dampened grass. Stefan had regained most of his strength.

"I'm going into the village and will need to investigate some," the former prince explained, "Lance, as I told you last night, you are no longer obligated to fight with me."

"I will fight with you anyway," Lance pledged. "It should also be of note that your father is gathering one hundred of his men in full armor. Do you know anything about it?"

"How do you know this?" Stefan asked, suddenly much more alert.

"A soldier met me in the village. They've been preparing through the night."

Stefan stood up, shaking off the last of his weakness. "It sounds like he's expecting trouble. There isn't much time left. My brother is imprisoned by the Enchantress and there is a plot to put him on the throne under her control. I have to do something about it. Wherever she has him, I believe it's near."

"You want to free your brother who will wreak havoc upon the kingdom?" Lance asked.

Stefan looked at him intensely. "He's my brother. If I were him, I'd wish he'd do the same for me. Besides, I can feel in my heart that this is something I must do—what greater indication can I recognize?"

"None," Marius said, standing up, "and it sounds like there's more to this story than we know. Finding him would be key."

"Time is indeed of the essence," Lance conceded, "if I know your father, he is like a snake in that he is not afraid to strike without hesitation. His men will be ready to move out soon, wherever they are going, we need to be ahead of them."

Stefan swallowed down the rest of his breakfast. "Walk with me through the village. I have a hunch."

The trio wore hooded cloaks despite the morning's warmth as they entered the town square. Going unnoticed was the best plan, as Gaspard and his gang were no doubt still searching for Stefan after the previous night's events. And if Stefan was recognized, there would be trouble.

"Who are we looking for?" Marius whispered.

Stefan ducked into a deserted street behind some shops, and the other two followed suit. He glanced around to make sure they weren't being overheard before lowering his hood. "There is a strange being dwelling here in the village. He is not one of us—you'll be able to tell right away. His lips are black, his face is long and pale and he is a shady figure."

Where did I last see that elf?

The elf was trouble. Stefan knew it the moment he came upon him on the road in the forest. Mary had not forgotten who she was before he saw her with that elf. Now that he was aware of the dark politics taking place in the kingdom, the image of the elf struck him as highly suspicious. And he had seen him again, that day him and Mary had spent together in the village passing out gold. Stefan hadn't said anything, as to not alert Mary, but the elf had been seemingly trailing them through the village that afternoon. Stefan had seen glimpses of his pale face and blackened, smirking lips.

That elf was nearby still, he could feel it.

"If we find him, we take him." Stefan said.

Marius had a ponderous look about it. "You're referring to a dark fellow, not quite human?"

"Yes."

"Well then I've seen him too. Over in the South Quarter; I made a call yesterday to River's Inn and saw him there. Hard to forget such a mystifying specimen," Marius explained.

"I encountered him with Mary; that's how I found her," Stefan said quickly, "She had lost her memory when he turned her over. Fitting, isn't it? If I find out he hurt her in any way, his punishment will be grave."

The South Quarter was a portion of the village where all travelers and traders lodged, for it was closest to the river that flowed into the neighboring kingdom. Marius and Stefan scanned the streets for the elf, but it was Lance who spotted him.

"Stefan-," he hastily drew the others into a narrow space between two shops, "could that be the fellow?" Lance pointed to Riss, making his way down the path.

"It is," Stefan said confidently, "just wait until he passes."

Riss was light on his feet as he strode by the trio with no notice of them. Marius reached out and grabbed onto his hood, causing the elf to be suddenly yanked back off his feet. In a flash, Lance's arms were around his neck and Stefan bound his hands tightly. The three of them managed to smuggle the elf away from the streets and out of sight.

Stefan brandished his sword as Marius and Lance held Riss against the trunk of a tree.

"It's time to come clean, dark elf," Stefan snarled.

Riss perceived him with bulbous, fearful eyes. "I know not what you speak of! I assure you I am an innocent servant carrying out my mistress' tasks. She would not be happy to learn of this circumstance."

"Mistress?" Stefan replied venomously, "it is of the fairy you speak, is it not?"

Riss narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "I recognize you. You are the prince!"

Stefan moved the tip of his sword to point directly at the elf's neck. "Take me to where she is hiding my brother. You will get us there safely if you want to be let go."

"I may get you there safely," the elf sputtered, "but you won't come out again. My mistress is powerful and unforgiving!"

"Don't worry about us," Stefan replied curtly. He turned to the others. "We've got to move fast. Are you both armed?"

Lance had a sword, and Marius had his medicine kit. With all confirmed, Stefan was prepared to fight one last time.

My head rested against the window that revealed the deserted courtyard beneath. The castle was quiet, and my eyes began to fall shut periodically. I had been waiting for what seemed an eternity for word from the king.

A sharp rapping upon my door jolted me awake. I hurried over, pulling it open to behold the head of the king's guard dressed in full armor. He inclined his head with respect as I regarded with wordless anticipation.

"If you are willing, the king is ready for us to proceed now." He said to me.

I swallowed hard, my mind racing. The raven flapped his wings, coasting over to perch upon my shoulder.

"I will show you the way," it whispered in my ear.

I looked to the guard, and nodded. Had the bird learned to speak, or was it all in my head?

Either way, you'd be a fool not to listen to it.