Sam was more content than he thought he'd be on the way back. Firstly because Queen Vitesse had chosen not to bother him since leaving, a welcome thing given her reputation alone. Secondly because of her command. Four was around at least, and that brought Riku out for him. Riku would have kept quiet and wouldn't have minded Four's presence, so neither did he.

But what kept him more content was finding out that much of the rumours were exaggerated. Despite any feelings he had against the Queen, Four took his guard duty seriously. He ranged out ahead, across their path to check the other side, then fell back behind and recrossed. Once in a while he'd rein in and ride alongside them, with a brief report to the Queen so she knew there was nothing there before he joined him.

"At least it isn't raining," Four murmured, riding up alongside again.

"No sprites either," Sam added.

"They prefer the daytime anyway. It's a little dark for them right now."

"It's not even sunset, Four."

"It's night-time for them. They go to bed very early." He yawned, then said, "Just like me tonight, I think."

"And miss hearing what she got up to?" Sam asked, jerking his head back. "You might be surprised."

"Can't it wait?"

"For what? You to sneak me into bed again?" Sam said slyly, though was a little bothered by that idea. What would Riku think of him if he found out?

"Now there's a tempting idea," Four remarked. "I wonder if I can do it without anyone else noticing."

Sam tried to force Vitesse's command aside so he could at least try to warn Four. "At least hear me out," he managed. "Not that I don't like the idea of joining you again, but I think you might want to hear about it."

Four looked curious, but before he could say any more Vitesse stuck her head out and ordered him to take another sweep. He muttered something under his breath, rolling his eyes, but nudged his horse ahead again.

It hadn't been much, he conceded, but at least he could tell him. Vitesse had not told him he couldn't tell anyone, only that he had to act as if he was Riku. And Four might have some objections if he found out that the card he thought was Riku was not, in fact, Riku.

Curious as he was, Four did not press him for any details while they were still on the way back, riding ahead as they ascended the steep hill leading up to the Stave castle so the doors were opened for them.

He'd never been here before. Only here for two weeks, and then only because he'd seen the cards take his big brother. It was some luck he'd managed to get a neighbouring rank in the same suit. But either way, he'd never been to this castle before, and it unnerved him slightly. Unfamiliar cards, unfamiliar grounds...

Fortunately, Riku came to the rescue once again. He recognised the two squat stone structures on either side of the courtyard, on the left the kitchen with smoke coming from its chimney, on the right their communal sleeping quarters. Communal? Riku and Four couldn't get up to much then, the others would hear – if not see.

Part of the gardens in the courtyard had been given over to what appeared to be a small farm, if not managed by the Swords then at least there to supplement them. The great castle proper itself dominated the view though, showing the high windows that let light into the great hall where he'd usually meet Page in the mornings, and above the two windows on either side that were the King and Queen's room.

It was considerably different from his own castle. For one thing, the Staves didn't have to climb the long staircases to reach their rooms. But it was made familiar to him anyway. He paused the carriage outside the stables, allowing Vitesse to disembark and attempt to sweep regally through the great doors Four held open. It made her look ridiculous, but he couldn't say that out loud.

Four further helped him sort the carriage and horses out, welcome enough help as he'd never actually done it before. Most of it continued to be supplied to him, but he still appreciated the help.

"I don't suppose I could persuade you to tell me anything before dinner?" Four asked.

"I'm sure you'd love the chance to persuade me of anything, but they might miss us at the table," he replied.

"Not nearly as much as I'd miss the chance, that's for sure."

"Be nice," Sam murmured. "Anyway, I almost had to miss lunch. Do you know how long it takes to get to the kitchen and back there?"

"Yes," Four agreed. "I'm surprised no one there has thought of making something to make it easier."

"At last," the Ten of Staves said as the two entered. "We thought one of you had ambushed the other."

"Not that he didn't try," Sam said.

"What's wrong?" Three asked with a grin. "Don't you like him any more?"

"Be nice," Four echoed his own statement as they collected their meals. A novelty for him, since his brother usually fetched his for him, on account of barely being able to reach the side. Not needing anything on his chair was different as well. Again he felt the slight guilt at wanting to stay like this.

"Anything interesting happen over at the Pentacles?" the Nine of Staves asked him.

"No idea, I was busy waiting on the Queens, hand and foot," he replied, tucking into what definitely smelled like a steak pie. "Ask Four."

"Don't ask me, I came back here. I only headed back to the Pentacles because someone's got to guard the carriage, and since I'd escorted it there... Did anyone find out what happened over at the Cups?"

"I did," Three nodded. Sam thought he looked a lot like he normally did, eating quickly as if the food would get away. Riku's stomach didn't have the same kind of apparently bottomless depth his own did, but Three looked as if he'd try to fill it anyway. "Though mostly they've been after me because of my magic. It's the only thing that's had any real effect on their Two and our Six."

"How is she?" Two asked.

"Better," he replied. "You can't see most of the injuries any more. There's a few things I couldn't even shift with a Curaga spell, and that's the strongest healing magic I know, but the Cups reckon she'll be back on her feet in a couple days – tomorrow maybe, if they can persuade Knight to let me go there."

"Not Page?" Sam asked, trying to make it sound casual.

"Nah, they said they were gonna keep him overnight," Three shook his head. "Wouldn't let me see him, they reckon he's too old to chance my magic on him. Wouldn't even tell me what's wrong with him."

"Knight isn't going to like having to do a second day," Ten remarked. "He didn't even want to take over today."

"Suggest he talk to the King then?" Five suggested. "He might be willing to do it."

"Up to him, not me. I'll suggest it, but... I don't know. I can't imagine the morning briefing done by anyone except Page, especially not Deti."

"Don't be too quick to say that," Four said. "I know Deti fairly well. He got asked to handle things like when he left them up to you, Ten, and he doesn't think he did too badly. He might be more willing than you think. Well, assuming you could persuade him out of bed earlier."

"Maybe we should ask you to do that," Sam said. "After all, you can get me up any time if you're in the same bed as me."

Four turned a nice shade of red and became suddenly very interested in his dinner as a round of laughs followed.

It wasn't like what he was used to. Here, they all got along. There was no Five continuing to try and pick on him, or Nine who seemed to sympathise. He soon learned as dinner wound down that they didn't get alcohol here, so there wouldn't be any hangovers – or singing, if too many cards had too much to drink. It was another nice change for him, and one he wasn't sure if he wanted to give up. Also one he hoped Riku had managed to bear through.

"Think I'm gonna get some sleep," Eight yawned. "I'm bushed. Anyone else coming?"

"Yeah, sounds like a good idea," Nine agreed. "Especially if we get packed off to the Swords again."

"If we do, I hope we get to take you along again," Two added to Sam, also rising. "They don't seem to think we can do it right without you in charge."

"What can I say, I make a good foreman," he replied. "Maybe I shoulda been a Pentacle instead."

"And deprive you of the chance to play with Four?" Three grinned as he too left. "You must be kidding me."

Five wordlessly joined them, followed by Ten who said, "I'll talk to Knight and maybe Deti if I can, I think. At least see if he wants to try it. Knight will still probably visit Page anyway, but can't hurt to try."

That left him and Four alone with Seven, who took their finished meals to the side for them, then as he left merely said, "Play nice."

The sounds of the Swords cleaning the dishes came through to them, so Sam gestured to Four and also headed out.

"We'll talk on the walls," he suggested quietly. "At least there we'll be able to see anyone trying to listen in."

Four looked even more curious now.

"There weren't any Swords there besides in the kitchen, were there?"

"No, but I'd rather they didn't overhear this."

"Something happened, then?"

"I'll explain up there. You'll definitely want to hear about this."

Four's good-natured personality became slightly more serious, realising that something unusual was going on, though he followed anyway. Once up on the walls, Sam led him part way down so no one could listen in at one of the towers.

"Nice view," Four murmured, looking out over the impressive view of the land – though also glancing back to him as well.

"I'm sure the landscape is too," he smiled. "Alright, before we get into that. I have to tell you what happened. You know Vitesse has those amulets, don't you?"

Four's face hardened, "Sure. She can usually find an excuse to use one of them on me. I don't like it, but she has a way of leaving you no other choice. But I don't see one on you."

"That's because it's with Riku instead."

The silence hung in the air like a weight on the world itself.

"You're being serious, aren't you?" Four said eventually. Sam just nodded. "You'd better tell me what happened."

"I can't tell you all of it. Vitesse told me I have to act like him, and somehow that's forced me to do just that, but it isn't giving me what he knows unless I actually need it."

"Then skip to the parts you do know, I'll get the rest from him. If I still can."

"You can, don't worry. He's got a similar command on him though, he has to act like me. You probably know me better as the Three of Pentacles."

"That hyperactive little-" he broke off guiltily, looking to him.

"Yeah, that's me," he agreed. "I guess he's the hyperactive little whatever you were going to say – at least as long as he has to act like me."

"Wait. Let me guess. Vitesse has an amulet, it got used on him, and you got swapped into each other's places?"

"Sort of. There's two amulets at work, one that's still with him, and the one that switched us. Vitesse still has that one, once she'd switched us she took it back. We have to wear it again to go back."

"What's the other one?"

"A truth amulet, sort of. It's got three gems on it, and they light up depending on whether you tell the truth or not. He said he got disqualified because she used it to find out he wasn't telling the truth."

"I bet he didn't take that too well. I know the amulet though, why is it with him?"

"Well, it was on my wrist – well, his, I guess – before we switched, so I had it afterwards. Vitesse decided to take it off and put it on my old body instead, since he's the one she wanted to bear it, not me."

"Alright," Four nodded, staring into space. "Let me just make sure I've got this right. First she gets the truth amulet on him, he's done something and she uses it to extract the truth, he's disqualified. That happened before the switch?"

"Right," he agreed. "That was before he even got sent to find me."

"So after that, Vitesse and..."

"Xivan," he supplied.

"Thanks. Vitesse and Xivan are talking about something, we don't know what, and decide to send for you."

"I think the switch was what they wanted, actually. Neither Queen asked anything else of me."

"Alright, so we do know what they wanted. Vitesse puts the amulet on each of you, you change places, she takes it back. Truth amulet to his wrist, or at least his new one, you two get ordered to act like each other. That about right?"

"Sounds like it to me. I don't know why Xivan picked me, but I got the impression she had no idea what the amulet would do either."

Four sighed. "So Riku is there, acting like a hyperactive little brat, if you'll excuse me saying so. And you're here in his body, acting like him. What made you want to tell me this?"

"I'm not entirely sure. I think... a bit of it was because... well, I'm not- I mean..." he broke off.

"Yeah, I understand what you mean," he laughed. "Most people have trouble saying it. So you aren't old enough or experienced enough, and you didn't want me to find out the hard way."

"If I'm told to act like Riku, it'd be more than one hard way," he said, smiling.

"Just the sort of thing he'd say as well," he said, still chuckling.

"There's more too. I... think a bit of him might have been involved too. I think he'd want to make sure you knew if something like this happened."

"Probably," Four agreed. "He does tend to stick to his morals. I can accept what you're saying, don't misunderstand me here, but... I need a little confirmation. I can hardly talk to Vitesse, and finding Riku right now would probably be a bad idea."

"Even if you could get to their castle."

"I can solve that, don't worry. Did Riku's Keyblade stay with him, or do you have it?"

"He's got it. Xivan knew about it and asked him to find out while we were still there."

Four nodded. "Right. Here's what we're gonna do. You can go to bed or stay here – up to you. I'm going to commandeer Sora – you do know him don't you?"
"Of course I know him, he's my best friend and the Three of-" he broke off. "Damn. I'm acting like Riku again."

"Don't worry about it. I'm guessing that got provided for you. Anyway, I'm going to commandeer him because he also has a Keyblade, he'll be able to use that to borrow Knight's corridors to go to that castle, and I'll pay your Queen a night-time visit."

"Be careful when you get there Four," he warned. "The portals at the Pentacle castle are in Knight's room."

"I know how portals look when they're formed, so I'll know he's at the other end. I'll think of something to tell him. I won't tell him what's actually happened though, I think we'll want to keep that quiet, but I should be able to persuade him to let me talk to Xivan."

"Do you... mind at all? I mean, what's happened to him and me taking his place?"

"You didn't have a choice in it," he shrugged. "That bothers me, but I don't mind, no. It'll give Riku a chance to see he doesn't have to be so serious all the time, and technically I still have Riku thanks to you. I'm not going to ask you to do anything you're not alright with mind. That would bother me."

"Well in that case... who's bed should I warm up?" he said, smiling again. "Nothing more though," he added quickly. "Just so the others don't realise anything about me. And so I get to find out what it's like."

"Never shared a bed before, huh?" Four grinned. "I'll let you pick. Just try not to disturb the others."