The castle of Fife was dark and ill-lit. It had been since the thane left with no mention of when he would return. The faithful servants would light the torches, but the lady of the castle put out any illumination she saw.

She was brooding in her chamber now. An attendant guided Daemon to her room.

"She's in there, milord," the attendant said. He passed his torch to Daemon. "Take this, sir."

The thane hesitated. "Won't you need it?"

The attendant shook his head. "No, sir. It's been like this for a while." He offered the torch again. "Don't worry about me. Take it."

Daemon clapped the attendant's shoulders in a fatherly gesture. "You're a good man."

The attendant nodded and left. The thane knocked on the door he'd been led to. It gave.

*

Inside, Mai was standing with her back to the door, facing the window. She had a folded arm, and a hand to her forehead. "Whoever it is, go away!"

She turned to rebuke the intruder, but broke when she saw her cousin's sympathetic smile. "Oh, Daemon, it's you! … I'm sorry – it's not a good time right now."

"That's all right," he said kindly. "I understand."

"No, you don't!" Mai cried. "You don't understand how it feels to be defenseless, with a son to look after – "

Daemon lit the wall sconce by the door and blew out the torch. "I'm sure Joey had a reason – "

"Then why didn't he tell me?" Mai asked. "Instead of just getting up and leaving?"

"Mai, be patient – "

"Why? He wasn't," she said. "He was a traitor and a madman and a coward to leave for England."

"You don't know whether it was fear or wisdom," Daemon said.

"Wisdom?" Mai repeated in a shaky voice. "Wisdom to leave me, to leave his son in a place he himself left? The fool doesn't even have instinct – any bird would defend its chicks to the death, any bitch her pups – " She shattered and fell against Daemon.

He held her. "Mai, control yourself. I assure you Joey did no such thing. He's been keeping track of the violent disturbances in the politics around us and decided to act. It's a cruel time when we are condemned as traitors but are unaware of our treason, and when we fear without knowing what we are afraid of."

He stroked her hair comfortingly. "I'm sorry, Mai, but I have to leave, too." He held her away and caressed her cheek. "Don't worry – everything will be all right."

There as a soft knocking at the door. Mai dabbed at her eyes before saying, "Come in."

Her son slipped inside. "Hello, uncle," Yuuki said before approaching Mai. "Mother, are you all right?"

Mai held him near and stroked his silky hair. "He was fathered but he has none," she said.

Daemon smiled sadly. "If I stay longer, my tears would make you feel worse and disgrace me," he attempted to joke. "I must go – but Mai? I'll be back soon." He gave his cousin a hug before he left.

Mai took a seat on her bed and set Yuuki on her lap. "What will you do, Yuuki? Your father's dead," she said bitterly. "How will you live?"

"Like birds do," he answered cryptically.

She gave a slight smile. "How, on worms and flies?"

"We'll both make do with what we have."

Mai stroked his hair. "Poor bird, you never feared the trap."

"Why should I? They aren't set for poor birds," Yuuki said smartly. "And even though you say it, Father isn't dead."

"Yes, he is," Mai said. "What will you do for a father?"

Yuuki played with his mother's curls. "How will you do for a husband?"

"Men?" she said derisively. "I could buy twenty of them at the market."

"Why?" he asked. "You'd only sell them again."

Mai hugged Yuuki. "You're too smart for your own good."

*

It was raining just outside Fife. Tristan thanked the latest lord and dashed for his horse. He mounted his horse and rode, but the ground was slick, and the steed slipped, landing on its side and catching Tristan's ankle at an angle.

"Milord, are you all right?" a stableman said as he ran forward to help.

"Yeah, just fine," Tristan grunted as he stood. But when he tried to get on his horse, a bright pain dashed up his leg, causing to yell and fall.

"Milord," the man said, "if you can't ride, I'm sure your destination can wait a day. Our lord will have you."

Tristan shook his head. "No, it can't. I need to get to Fife now!"

"Is it a message?" the stableman asked. "If so, I can take your place."

"No, no, you – " Tristan said before the words registered. "Wait – yes, I've got a message. Tell the lady of Fife and her son, 'Run! Kaiba prepares for war against England.'" He watched the stableman saddle up. "You got that?"

"Yes, milord," the stableman said as he spurred the horse. "I go!"

"Good luck," Tristan whispered.

*

A horseman fully rested from a night slept at the halfway point between Scone and Fife raced toward the castle. Yami Marik laughed as he waved his weapon of choice, a rod crowned with a winged sphere that had the eye of Horus on it.

He activated it; the eye glowed and emitted a red beam that set fire to anything it landed on. The rider laughed some more.

*

After a while, Yuuki said, "I heard you talking with Uncle Daemon, Mother. Is Father a traitor?"

"Yes, he was," Mai said softly.

"What is a traitor?"

She thought of the oath he'd taken years ago.

*

Her heart was fluttering. There was no backing out now. The castle was fully decked out – there were bows and wreathes and ribbons and candles. And she was in a dress. She could hardly hear the priest's words over her heart. Finally, she calmed herself down enough take in the last words: "Til death do us part."

She heard Joey repeat the phrase: "Til death do us part."

"You may now kiss the bride."

He turned to her and sealed the promise with a passionate kiss.

*

Well, he's gone now. So much for ''til death do us part,' Mai thought. "A traitor is someone who swears and lies," she said.

"And what happens to them?"

"They should all be hanged," Mai said spitefully.

"Every one of them?" Yuuki asked.

"Yes."

"And who must hang them?"

"Why, the honest men."

*

The stableman was halted at the gates of Fife. "Let me in!" he yelled. "I've got an urgent message for the lady!"

"How do we know you're telling the truth?" the keepers called back warily.

*

"The liars and swearers are fools, because there are more than enough of them to turn on the honest men," Yuuki decided.

"Oh, Yuuki!" Mai exclaimed. "But how will you do for a father?"

"If you were crying, I would know Father is dead. If you were not, I would know that I would have a new father soon," her son said pertly in a carefree manner.

She hugged him and laughed. "Yuuki, how you talk!"

The door slammed open, and Mai glared at the unknown visitor, who was not only interrupting but dripping water all over the floor. "How'd you get past the guards?" she asked.

"Please, milady," he said as he bowed. "I've got a message from the thane of Lennox."

"Tristan?" Mai asked. "But why couldn't he tell me himself?"

"Milady, his horse slipped in the rain, and it fell. He recovered but was unable to remount his horse," the stableman said. "He wanted to tell you to run and leave here. The king prepares for war against England. I think the thane warns of attack against you."

*

At the gate, the keepers had another visitor. "Let me in!" he demanded.

"Unless you give us a good reason why, you might as well try letting yourself in!" The men above laughed amongst themselves.

"Very well," the rider growled. "I will!"

He held up his rod. The Eye of Horus flashed and the door was blast open. His horse galloped away but he paid it never mind. Instead, he laughed maniacally as he continued on his rampage.

*

Inside, Mai and the messenger heard screams. "Where will I go?" Mai asked. "What will I do?" I haven't done anything!"

"I can't stay any longer," the stableman said. "My horse is borrowed and my lord awaits."

"Wait!" Mai said, but he closed the door. "You can't leave me!"

"I'm still here, Mother," Yuuki said as he supported her.

*

In the castle, Yami Marik was reveling in the chaos he was causing. He saw a man dash out of a room for the stairs and leapt in his way. Marik removed the lower half of the rod in his hands, revealing a golden blade.

The defenseless man yelled and stepped back. Yami Marik laughed and drew and quartered him before slashing at his throat. Then he pushed the stableman off the stairs. He looked around himself. "Not enough damage," he growled. "Let's cause some more."

He continued up the stairs and began opening doors. "Oh Mai … where are you, dear?"

*

Mai and Yuuki had heard the stableman's screams. "Oh, God, what are we gonna do?" She sobbed as she got up.

"I'll protect you, Mother," Yuuki said.

The door slammed open. "Peekaboo!" Yami Marik said. "Where's Wheeler?"

Mai stepped back, but said defiantly, "I hope you never find him!"

"He fled for England," Marik said, advancing. "He was a traitor."

Yuuki stepped forward, ignoring his mother's "No! Yuuki!" "He was a better man than you'll ever be!" he said boldly.

"What?" Marik growled. "Let's hear you say that again." He slashed Yuuki diagonally across the chest and stabbed him.

Yuuki collapsed. "Mother, run! Don't let him get you, too!"

Mai hesitated. She looked at Yami Marik. "Go ahead," he said. "I enjoy a chase."

She yelled and ran out of the room. Behind her, she heard Yami Marik laugh as he followed in pursuit.

*****

Daemon returned as promised. But as he neared, horror realized his fear. The gate was in fiery splinters, allowing him to look into the castle and view the chaotic interior. There were corpses still burning, and nothing not nailed down had been left untouched.

He slumped on his horse. "Oh, no," he whispered. "Mai … Yuuki…"