Chapter Five- Purification Retreat

Psalm 109:2- "for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me…"

Fareari was beautiful, Tielle realized with a pang of surprise. She had always been taught how evil the Farearians were and had assumed that that must mean that they lived on an ugly planet. That was certainly not so.

They had landed just on the shore of a vast ocean, its borders stretching farther than the eye could see in one direction. In another, forests and woodlands covered the land, creating a vast green all the way to the horizon.

That was all Tielle saw; the next thing she knew she was being blindfolded and pushed forward. She heard a cry from Arilana beside her as she too was shoved forward.

"Stop." Tielle obeyed the rude voice and halted, nervously wondering what was happening.

She felt herself rise and felt a hum beneath her. I'm on a hover-car! She fought down a tide of panic, forcing herself to calm down. She had had an understandable fear of hover-cars ever since Erete, Matani and Thoena's deaths, and it was terrifying enough to ride one without a blindfold, but having one on made it a hundred times worse.

The hum continued, and it was soon joined by a whipping sound. Branches are hitting the hover-car. Since her were eyes cloaked in darkness, Tielle's imagination took over, and she fought back images of tree limbs slapping her face and knocking her off of the 'car. She fervently wished that hover- cars came with roofs and decided that when she became the Queen of Hidon, she would decree that they had to.

After what seemed like millennia, the hum died down and there was a bump as the 'car settled to the ground. Tielle was once again pushed forward, and the hum started up once again. Tielle cringed, imaging the 'car running her and Arilana over.

The 'car's drone died off and rough hands untied Tielle's blindfold. She blinked once or twice and looked up. Standing in front of her was a huge estate, its imposing figure towering over her. Four floors and numerous wings, plus two balconies, made Tielle know that this was not a prison. The grounds were also too well kept, with flowers blossoming everywhere and fountains spurting out crystal water.

Tielle gazed, openmouthed. This place was beautiful and certainly not a prison of any kind. So why were they here?

Two figures emerged from the building, and once they drew near Tielle's photographic memory placed them immediately: Princes Hristen and Chayden P'ashara of the Royal House of Fareari. Tielle drew back in disgust as the two men came closer, their heritage instantly making Tielle despise them. Oh God, deliver me from these evil captors of mine.

The elder, Hristen, smirked and waved at their surroundings. "Good afternoon, Your Highnesses," he said, his blue eyes mocking them, "I do hope you will enjoy your stay at our humble abode, the atate pa'ifain, or Purification Retreat. This is where Farearian royalty go to renew themselves and recenter their lives around the gods." Tielle shuddered to think that she was at a pagan Farearian retreat center. "My name is Prince Hristen P'ashara," Hristen continued. "But then," he added, the smirk still on his face, "you already knew that, because of your 'photographic memories' and all." He sniffed scornfully. "Although I doubt that that is true, and that it is just part of the many lies you tell to the galaxy."

"Is that what you think?" Tielle retorted, her eyes blazing with as much fire as the color of her hair. "Then tell me, Prince Hristen, what was the song that we danced to on the night of my brother's Recognizing Ceremony, when Hidon and Fareari had a tentative peace? And do you recall the color of the earrings I was wearing? Or even the gem?" When Hristen couldn't come up with an answer, Tielle then smirked. "I thought not, Hristen. Very well; the answers are, 'Across Starry Skies', blue, and crystanite. Do you recall any of that?"

Hristen, flustered and embarrassed, boomed, "Do not speak unless you are spoken to!"

Tielle cocked an eyebrow. "I though not. And speaking of lies, was it not Fareari who wanted the peace treaty and yet kidnaps the world's heirs?" Tielle shook her head and finger in unison. "Sorry, that's not how one goes about getting a treaty. Someone needs to check their Diplomacy etiquette."

Hristen babbled some more incomprehensible commands about silence and respect, but his younger brother, Chayden, stepped in between the two verbal sparers. "That's enough," he declared firmly, glaring at Hristen. "Let's bring the two prisoners to their rooms."

Tielle and Arilana were escorted to their rooms, flanked by Farearian soldiers and led by the two princes. Up three floors they went, passing many rooms and going through many hallways. Arilana was gawking at all the apparent wealth, and even Tielle was surprised, although she managed to keep her composure and outward indifference.

They were obviously being led to the highest floor so that if they did manage to escape from their rooms, the jump would kill or seriously hurt them, and if they didn't jump they'd have to navigate through all of the floors and hallways of the large manor, which would probably prove to be an impossible feat. Realizing this made Tielle wonder how they were ever going to get out of this place.

The two fair-haired princes stopped abruptly, and Hristen took a key from a large set of keys at his waist. He opened the door and barked at Arilana, "You! Come here!" She disappeared into the room before Tielle had a chance to get even a glimpse of it.

The next room was Tielle's, and she tentatively stepped inside, only to be shocked at what she saw.

Her room was not a cell or prison of any kind. Instead, it was a huge room, complete with a small deck leading off of it. A huge bed with a canopy, dresser, bookshelf (void of books, but there nonetheless), and walk-in closest gave Tielle the impression that she was an esteemed guest and not a hated prisoner.

She walked out onto the deck, dumbfounded. A view of treetops and a lake greeted her, and a gentle, warm breeze kissed her face and touched her hair. In the distance the sun was setting, and the scene was very picturesque, perhaps not as much as Hidon's towering mountains and sweeping valleys, but it was beautiful even so. What a pretty place, God! Your handiwork is exquisite!

When she walked back into her room, the deck's doors closed automatically behind her, and Tielle marveled at it. Why would they give a prisoner all the luxuries of a privileged visitor?

Hristen and Chayden were waiting there, the door shut behind them. They looked like they had something to say, and so Tielle sat down on her large, soft bed and waited.

The elder prince looked distinctly unhappy. "I know that you will be wondering why you have these luxurious accommodations. The gods know you don't deserve them, but my father gave us strict instructions to give you only the best that we have to offer. Only the gods know what he was thinking," Hristen finished with a frown marring his handsome face.

Chayden continued. "It's so that when you return to Hidon, you will not be able to complain of being ill-treated." Perhaps reading Tielle's expression of hope, he confirmed, "And you will be returning to Hidon, eventually. We have no plans of… disposing of you."

"And Arilana?"

"She will also return to Hidon unscathed."

She'd better, Tielle thought sullenly. "So then why are we here at all if you're not going to kill us?"

Hristen had recovered from his displeasure and replied with a wicked grin, "Oh, you're here to give us leverage with your father. With the gods' help, we will exchange you for your planet."

Many light-years and parsecs away, Hidon mourned the kidnapping of their princesses as Queen Shari declared that they would find those responsible and make them pay and recover the princesses safely.

One who watched the new-holos and the Queen's patriotic speech knew otherwise. If everything proceeded as planned, and so far it had, the princesses would never return to Hidon and would in fact perish on the planet of their enemies.

In Chapter Seven- First Impressions, Tielle and Arilana settle into their places as captives on Fareari and take different opinions on Prince Chayden's personality…