The image before Kouichi confused him slightly. It was engraved into a broach that Tomoko had given him to look at, and broadly reflected the same design he had seen over the castle, and some of the servants. He had also seen Tomoki and both the princes wear small pins or patches with similar designs. It looked like the shape of the top half of an egg inverted, similar to some of the equipment a knight used, and on it ran a horizontal and vertical line, dividing it into rough quarters. In each quarter was a different image, a tree, a bow, a river, and a stag. Kouichi turned it over a few times, before passing it to Kouji, to let his twin examine it.

"What is it, mother? I've seen many like it around the castle, but I've never understood what they are. Some sort of religious symbol?"

Tomoko laughed and shook her head. "This is called a 'coat of arms'. It's a symbol that represents my… our family. Our lands stretch between the heart of the Great Forrest, and Whitefords, which is why the crest has a tree and a river on it. Our main income and trade is in hunting."

"So that's why a deer and a bow," said Kouji, still looking at it.

Tomoko nodded. "Each crest you've seen will be slightly different, to describe where the family comes from. Every noble family has a different crest, and in places like these, the personal servants wear badges to show which household they belong to. I've already commissioned someone to make two of these for you. As members of my family, you're entitled to wear them, and you're entitled to call yourself lords."

Kouichi shook his head. "I don't know. Is it wise to call attention to who we're related to? We're clearly elves, and surely it'll bring rumour and gossip about you."

Tomoko forced a smile. "You are all I have left of Kousei. I'm not letting you go like I let him go."

Kouji passed the broach back to her. "You may be forced to, after all, you've already been forced to give us up once."

Tomoko shook her head. "I was young, and it was a mistake. I thought that by doing what they asked of me, they'd see I wasn't a threat, and let me stay. Then when I returned home, unable to tell them, they assumed that I'd slept with some farmer's son, and that I was in disgrace. That's how I ended up here. I just gave up being me in an attempt to please everyone."

Kouichi sighed. "Can you tell us about your family? Not status things, family things."

"I have two brothers. Both are knights, but I don't keep much track of what they're doing. They're part of the king's spy network now I think. My mother died last winter, Mithrir keep her, so the only one I send letters to is my father, Baron Misuki Kimura. It's at his command I stay here. He says it's so I represent our family at court, so he can stay and tend to our lands, but really, it's so I don't bring further disgrace."

Kouji tilted his head. "So we have a grandfather? And two uncles? And none of them know of us?"

Tomoko nodded. "I never told them of you. Now that I have you again, I'm not going to pretend you don't exist, and that you don't have rights. You'll no doubt meet my father when we return. As nearest fief to your village, it'll be my home that hosts the king during the negotiations." She shifted uncomfortably. "I know your presence is going to cause me trouble, but I can't turn you away, pretend you don't exist." She rested her chin on the palm of her hand. "I'd like to get to know you better. Somewhere inside you, there must be a human part, just like there's an elven part."

Kouichi smiled. "There is. We just were told to fight it as we grew up. Kouji's temper used to get us into a lot of trouble. Our ears are as sharp as elves, but our eyes and sense of smell are less, although I think that they are more than a human's. It's just a shame that we have to leave before you can get to know us properly, but we will be back in a few weeks."

Tomoko looked at them. "And you won't tell me why you must leave?"

Kouichi shook his head. "When we return, we'll tell you. We'll tell you everything we can about ourselves, and try to learn to be the sons you want."

"Speak for yourself, brother," said Kouji, frostily. "I'm not going to change myself to please someone who means nothing to me."

Kouichi glared at him. "She does mean something to you, if you just let her. She's our mother, she's responsible for our life, she can't mean nothing."

"She means fear, punishment, not fitting in…"

"I'm sorry," said Tomoko, shocking them both. She looked at them, and continued to speak in Common. "I didn't mean to make you think that you had to change. You don't. I just want you to know that I care about you, Kouji. I'm sorry for what the elves made you do to fit in with their lives, but I'm not going to do that. If you decide you don't like where you come from, and choose to ignore it, that's your choice. I'm just giving you that information so you can make that choice."

Kouji looked at her. "I still can't make that choice. To give up the only way I know to take up the human way of life."

Kouichi shook his head, and laughed. "Kouji, why is it always all or nothing to you? Why don't you accept the best of both peoples? We're not human, and not elf, we're both at the same time. We should be allowed to act like it."

Tomoko smiled. "I'm just happy you agreed to talk to me again. I want you to know that I don't expect any human behaviour from you, just that I'd like to find it. I'd also like it if you took your place in human society, but if you decline, it's your choice."

Kouji nodded. "I'll think about it."

Kouichi smiled at his brother, then turned back to Tomoko. "So what can you tell us about the human villages of your land?…"

...................................

Takuya was in trouble and he knew it. The sweat on the palm of his hand was playing merry havoc with his grip on the hilt of the practice sword, and the heavy padded leather armour was making him feel slow and hot. The shield, he'd long abandoned, partly due to the fact that its weight pulled him off-balance, and partly due to the page who now stood in front of him, none the worse for their bout. He darted forwards, striking at the page's shield, only to be rewarded by a kick to the stomach that the armour couldn't quite absorb. He fell to the ground, then felt the prick of the other swordsman's blade touching at his neck, where the helmet and the armour met.

"I… I yield," panted Takuya, and the sword withdrew, allowing him to stand up. He blushed as he felt the eyes of the rest of the pages on him. I must look like a total novice, I just couldn't find much time to practice.

"Right!" barked the instructor. "What did Kanbara do wrong?"

"Aimed at the shield, sir!" piped up one of the pages.

"Right." The instructor advanced on Takuya. "The enemy is trying to kill you, Kanbara. This is not the time to pussyfoot around giving love taps to them. You hit them, and you hit them hard!"

Takuya swore he could feel the spit from the instructor hitting his face, but kept still.

"Look at me when I talk to you!"

Takuya looked up guiltily.

"In battle, the shield is to defend yourself, not a target for you to attack."

"Yessir," said Takuya quickly, not wanting to antagonise him.

The instructor nodded. "Back in line. Next two step forwards!"

Takuya moved out of the way, pulling the heavy helmet off and enjoying the feel of the air circulating about, making the sweat in his hair evaporate. Tomoki shuffled forwards, looking somewhat spherical in the protective clothing.

"You did really great, Takuya."

Takuya ran his fingers a few times through his hair, trying to cool off. "What are you talking about? I lost, and I got yelled at."

Tomoki looked at him. "Rosco's been a page for four years. He's our best swordsman and you weren't flattened by him. Only the best three years and upward are allowed to fight him in these bouts." He looked away. "Besides, Master Ironarm yells at everyone, even Rosco. You're even better than most of the pages in my year. You know how to strike even if you're striking the wrong place."

Takuya shrugged. "I didn't practice all that much, just what Master Ironarm showed me before I left."

Tomoki smiled. "Then you must be very good to learn that fast."

"Maybe. Maybe I'm just gifted that way," pondered Takuya.

.................................................

The word Izumi thought could most describe the princess's rooms was 'garish'. Many shades of pink and purple adorned the walls, and there seemed to be more cushions than seats. Kalinda herself sat in a pile of cushions, holding an embroidery hoop in one hand, a sewing basket at her feet.

Izumi curtsied. "Thank you for seeing me your Highness."

Kalinda nodded to herself slightly. "Of course. It's only fair that I give you a chance to apologise for that mess yesterday, letting some creature order me about."

Izumi took a deep breath. "In all fairness, those elves were under great stress, and it was on a matter of great urgency that they needed to speak with Lady Tomoko. I felt it wiser to let them speak together, than demand that they find someone else. Besides, with Lady Tomoko gone, we would be unsupervised, which would surely go against your father's wishes."

"Hmph." Kalinda put down her sewing. "Father pays me no heed nowadays. He's distracted by a thousand things, not least those creatures cavorting as ambassadors, and in his few moments free of those worries, he's consumed by fears for my brother." Her annoyed attitude faded slightly. "I wonder what can be taking the messenger so long to deliver the ransom? Surely they must know we'd do anything to get him back. All they have to do is ask, and we'll give them anything."

Izumi bit her tongue on the obvious answer. Maybe there is no messenger and no ransom. Maybe Prince Raoul is dead. "Highness, I'm sure that your brother is safe and well, and is already making his way back, having escaped his captors. He's been trained well."

Kalinda nodded absentmindedly. "Yes, yes." She focused on Izumi again. "I accept your apology, and your kind words. Maybe next time we get together, we will not be interrupted."

Izumi smiled. "I'm sure we will not be. Tomorrow, the elves leave for the coast, on another task for the king. They won't trouble us again."

Kalinda smiled back. "I'm sure they won't. Commoners and creatures have no place in the royal court."

Izumi curtsied, then retreated. You're wrong there, your highness. Those elves have a place in our world, and their taking of it may shatter yours.