Disclaimer: I don't own (sadly) any of the characters, just Aileen and the plot.

The sun streaming in Rikash's windows woke him the next morning. He smiled;

blissfully not awake enough to remember any of the events of the previous night. All of a

sudden, memory returned in a flash. Rikash groaned out loud, incredibly embarrassed.

He had always been somewhat of a ladies man, but that didn't apply, obviously, to

Aileen. After making all those suggestive comments and kissing him, she just.left! She

walked out of the room with no explanation what so ever. It completely confused

Rikash, and he didn't know what to think. Had he done anything to chase her away? He

simply wasn't sure. He lay abed until his personal servants came into his room to braid

his hair. The ambassadors from Carthak were arriving today, and it was important he

make a good impression. His parents had already informed him that an alliance with

Emperor Ozorne, the ruler of Carthak, was vital to their survival of the country. Most

likely, for today at least, he would simply have to sit there and look interested, but he

made sure he was prepared for anything he might be called upon to do. After donning his

deep green robe, Rikash braced himself for a round of intensely boring speeches.

Between the two countries, there were many ceremonial rituals that would need to be

observed, so by the time the real speeches even got started, it would be quite a few hours

away. Striding toward the hall where his parents received visitors, he decided to push all

thoughts of Aileen out of his mind until he had a time where he could sit and determine

his next course of action.

Aileen was afraid, although she strove to show no sign of it. She had thought, when she

got into this entire mess at the beginning, that if she didn't like it, she could simply cut

her losses and disappear. Once she got higher and higher into the inner circle, though,

the temptation to stay for the ultimate reward had become too great. Now she was in

over her head, and she was much too dangerous to let go. Vol simply wouldn't let her get

away now, and with all his connections, he would hunt her down and kill her in an instant

if she ever did muster up the courage to get away. So for now, she bided her time,

agreeing to all of Vol's demands and following his orders. That was why she was here

now.

"Excellent, my sweet," Vol was a blond-haired man, not being from the Copper Isles

themselves. He was small, but the feeling of power that emanated from his being was

incredible. He was able to inspire great love and loyalty in even the most skeptical of

men, and thus his web of informants stretched far and wide. He had infiltrated right up to

the royal circle, but his informants weren't in a position of true power, and they didn't

hear of anything of great importance. That was where Aileen was concerned. Men

became fools around her, and they would tell her anything she wanted to know, if she

went about it the right way.

"You have done me proud. The prince won't be able to fathom your behavior, but he

won't mention it to anyone, because that would give the impression that he couldn't

handle it himself. Don't go too far for now, simply tease him until he's willing to tell you

anything."

"Yes, My Lord" Aileen replied, allowing none of her true feelings to show through. She

actually found the prince not as bad as he was said to be. And the way he looked at

her.it almost made her consider giving herself up to Their Majesties mercy.

Vol looked at Aileen closely. There was something different about her.but he couldn't

place it. "Just make sure you're ready at the ball tonight," he told her before striding out

of the room in a whirl of black cape.

Okay, hopefully that wasn't too weak.please please review.tell me if I should continue!!!! Thanks so so so much to everyone who did, you guys are the greatest! XOXO vErLiDaInE28