Here's the chapter I promised. I hope you all enjoy it.

The Flower Maiden

Chapter Three: Contact

Written By:

Samanda Hime-sama

"I've got you now." Darres said triumphantly to himself. "When I catch you, I'm going to do more than spank you!"

He entered the Castle of Ci Xeneth and dismounted his horse near the stables. A man came out of the building with a curious look on his face. It wasn't too often he saw a swordsman in such a hurry. Darres threw the man the reins.

"I'll be back to get him later." Darres handed him some coins to cover shelter and grain for his horse.

Then Darres made his way to the castle. Over the time it had taken to get here, his rage at Ishtar had been worn down into weariness. But now, it returned full force and Darres was ready to drag Ishtar back by her hair if need be.

"I need to see Princess Falan or Captain Illsaide as soon as possible." Darres spoke to the guards outside the main gate of the castle.

The one he had addressed gave Darres the once over. "And you are?"

"Captain Darres, Princess Ishtar's bodyguard." Darres snapped at him.

"I'm Jim." He replied. "The two of us are new here so I'm going to have to call in the Captain to identify you."

"Fine." Darres silently groaned to himself. This pair of greenies were going to take forever to get him inside.

"Oh," The other one said. "There's the Captain now. I'll just go get him."

Darres muttered. "My luck must be improving. That didn't take long at all."

"Hello." Illsaide said flatly as he came over to greet Darres after a consultation with the soldier.

Darres's tone was just as flat. "Hello, Captain. I was wondering if I could speak to Princess Falan about her cousin."

"Come this way." Illsaide led the way. "Yujinn, or Yuujel, already gave us the news about the Princess' disappearance."

"Try the term 'running away.' It fits better." Darres said dryly.

"Here we are." Illsaide opened the door to a private drawing room. "Please wait here till Falan can join you. She'll be here as soon as possible."

"Thanks." Darres said as he entered the room.

Illsaide shut the door behind him. "Now to find Falan and Ishtar."

"And Vord said...?" Ishtar prompted her, laughing.

The two girls sprawled on the bed in Falan's personal quarters. Well, Ishtar was sprawled. Falan was sitting in a lady like fashion on the bed. They were talking about Vord's latest interactions with the palace guards.

Falan giggled. "You have to remember, he didn't know I was there. So he told them, 'That's not the way to do it. Come on, I'll show you how a real man does it!' If he had known that I was there, he would have just yelled at them."

"Vord's a great guy, Falan." Ishtar said in his defense. "And he's in love with you."

Falan said, surprised. "What?"

"You didn't know?" Ishtar shook her head in pity. "He's crazy over you!"

Falan tilted her head, thinking. "How can you tell?"

"He told me back in Pheliosta, before he headed here to be with you." Ishtar shrugged. "And he's always near you. How does Illsaide act when Vord is near?"

Falan thought about it. "Now that you mention it, Illsaide has been acting rather strange recently. He's been keeping his distance whenever he sees Vord and he's been avoiding me."

"There you go." Ishtar told her. "He knows and he doesn't like it."

Falan was upset. "But what am I supposed to do now?"

"Figure out what you want." Ishtar suggested. "Your past has already been written but not your future. What do you want?"

Falan blinked. She said slowly. "I don't know."

As if by magic, someone knocked on the door. Illsaide slipped inside and shut the door behind him. He scanned the room and saw a guilty Falan and a nervous Ishtar.

"Darres is here." Illsaide spoke to both of them. "He wants to speak with Falan and ask her for permission to search the castle."

"Oh, no." Falan whispered.

"Crap!" Was Ishtar's elegant response.

Illsaide smiled a little. "If I may?" At Falan's nod, he continued. "Lend her your Sister's disguise, Falan. Agree to give permission as Ishtar escapes the castle. Vord is already on his way to guide her out."

"Good idea." Ishtar nodded. "Let's hurry."

Illsaide slipped out to the hallway and guarded the door. The rush of activity inside was short lived. There was a short silence from Falan.

"Where did you hide all this jewelry, Ish?" Falan's voice was full of incredulity.

Ishtar grimaced. "Believe me, you don't want to know."

"Oh yes, I do." Falan said. "What if I need to do this someday?"

There was a few minutes of Ishtar whispering. Then Falan started laughing. That sounds uncomfortable."

"It was." Ishtar winced. "I'll never make fun of somebody's butt or chest ever again!"

Falan's eyes twinkled. "I'll keep that in mind."

Ishtar dressed hurriedly in the shapeless robes and other items. The Sister's of Holy Phelios was famous in its own right. They were a band of healers who believed that Phelios had been more than a man. He was perfect. Thus they dedicated themselves to him and foreswore all other earthly men. This wasn't a hardship since most of them were man haters.

When she was done, she looked in the mirror and saw an unknown stranger. The robes made her sex an unknown and the scarf and hood covered all of her face except for her green eyes. Gloves hid the delicacy of her hands.

"Perfect." She said in a muffled tone of voice. "Go on, Falan. It will only make Darres more suspicious the longer he has to wait."

Falan hugged her. "Okay. Be safe."

"I will." Ishtar promised. "Love you. And don't forget about what we were talking about."

Falan answered. "I won't." Then she and Illsaide were gone.

The door opened again and Vord closed it behind him. "Let's go, Ishtar."

"Not by that door. Too suspicious." Ishtar said. She pressed on an inlaid rose on the wall. The bookcase swung open. "Through here."

"How many more of these are there?" Vord asked with awe.

"Tons." Ishtar answered. "Falan and I know most of them. We used to play in here. Jened and his predecessors were a paranoid bunch."

"Gee, I wonder why." Vord muttered. "You know where you're going next?"

"Nope." Ishtar answered cheerfully. "Got any ideas?"

"Yes." Vord sighed. "First to the stables and then I know where you can hide."

"You have my permission to search the castle." Falan told Darres. "The palace guard will also help you look."

Darres bowed. "Thank you." He opened the door and strode through the hallways.

"When I catch you, Ishtar, you will be extremely sorry!" Darres spoke through clenched teeth.