-----Side Note---- for some reason, this site will not allow astrics, so when the Blood speak to eachother, mind to mind, there's gonna beparenthesis in their place. Thank you for your understanding.

The two passed the eternally long line for the Auction Block by talking to each other and discovering new things about the other. Ares found amazing comfort just to be in his presence. He was the one male she had met the entire time since she had been taken from her home that didn't want something physical from her. He was a strong and very intimidating man, but he didn't show that ferocity to her.

"How long has it been since you've seen your home?" Ares had asked. Valcan contemplated the question for a moment, and then guessed. "I suppose it's been about five years." He fiercely pushed an image out of his head upon that assumption. Ares' face dropped when she heard that and she bowed her head.

Valcan saw a hint of despair before she dropped her head. He turned inward again, dropped to the level of the sapphire, and placed out on a private thread, spear to distaff. (How long have you been a slave?)

Ares jumped a little upon hearing his voice in her head, but she turned her head farther away, so he couldn't see her face. (Why?) She asked with an unnaturally calm tone.

Valcan kind of leveled his stare on her, and continued. (Because your skin isn't scarred, you don't seem to have much maimed about you. You're very cheerful. he paused a moment. You don't have a shadow in your eyes or face.)

(I was taken from my home a little less than a week ago.) She said quietly, bitterly.

With that, Valcan's brow furrowed, and something inside him began to burn.

(I know enough that if I make a deal of it here, the High Priestess will try to have me finished so there wouldn't be a threat to her power anymore.) Then she turned, looking him straight in the eye, and continued. (I don't know what's happened to my family, or what will become of my Territory.)

Valcan began to see the hints of a red haze at the corners of his vision. He looked deep into her ocean eyes, and looked for any kind of answer.

He hadn't responded to a witch's distress like this in a long time. Something wasn't adding up. The power she was able to wield, Dorothea's threats, her territory...

As he looked deeper into her eyes, he saw a flicker deep within, before she turned her head down.

Suddenly it all fit together. A Queen. This girl was a Queen.

The realization made Valcan both surprised and yet angered him more. It certainly explained his reaction to her, and the distress. She was the next ruler of her territory, that obviously stood against Hayll's shadow. And with her power...

But she was only a sapphire witch. The High Priestess had the upper hand by one level of rank.

Still. It wouldn't matter if her Territory was large enough to defend Dorothea.

But those facts didn't ease his temper. She was a Queen. She had so much power, so much life. And more importantly, she understood what she was fighting against. She was in danger. If he hadn't stepped in the night before...

The urge to protect screamed at him.

The line moved a few feet. They were closer to the Block now, maybe two more people to go.

Ares saw how close she was to being displayed and auctioned off like cattle. She felt a quiver of fear rise up from her gut. She shivered, and quickly looked away from the platform. Oh Darkness, sweet Darkness, please.

Suddenly she felt a large hand on her shoulder. When she looked up at him, Valcan lightly squeezed it, offering a small smile of comfort and courage.

(You're too strong a Queen to lose hope.)

Ares' eyes grew in shock. How did he know? She worked very hard to keep that veiled. Her mother had taught her to shield what she was since she was very small. Was her power waning because of her separation from her jewel?

(How did you know?) She thought fiercely. Valcan was a little taken aback by her tone. Like she would pounce on him.

(I'm a Warlord Prince. My entire being responds to a Queen's power.)

(What about other Warlord Princes?) She asked, with the same fierceness, but with a hint of panic.

(I don't think so. I was only able to really figure it out by what you told me. I could feel your power, but it didn't seem to hold the darkness of a Queen.)

Ares sighed in relief. "Don't tell anyone." she mumbled. Valcan tipped his head to the side, but then dismissed his question. She had perfect reasons.

My Legions, I am in distress.

I have not gotten any review in three weeks, and I'm beginning to feel that the story is being ignored. (No, really?)

Why have you requested more chapters if you do not read? Has school started and there's no time, or is the story just sucking too badly? Why am I even asking these questions? Obviously, there is no one there to answer them.

Whatever.