Morgan woke up to someone putting a feather under his nose. He jolted awake and found Lance standing over him.

"Lance what the hell?"

"That tall lady says we need to get up or breakfast will be gone!"

"What!"

"Well Myrrh hasn't eaten in a day, she's petty hungry apparently."

"Oh….well then let's go!"

They both hurried out to the Kitchen to find Myrrh at the table eating something neither of them had seen before.

"Myrrh…"

"Yeah….?"

"Ummm…what exactly is that…?"

"Oh…that guy Tancred made it, some kind of stew…want any?"

"I guess…hmm this isn't so bad."

"That's what I thought…but it gets better."

"Oh…okay."

"How bout you lance?"

"All right…"

They all sat down to eat. Mio came into the kitchen and saw the two men were up.

"oh good your awake."

She game Myrrh a quick kiss and turned to the two men. Morgan's mouth dropped, Lance fell out of his chair.

"You two are okay?"

'Uhh…yes ma'am."

"Good…look I have to go to the doctor so I wont be back till evening."

"Okay then…hope it goes well."

"Okay bye."

When she left Lance recovered into his chair and Morgan looked at Myrrh.

"Do you want to explain that to us?"

"oh…the kiss…"

"Yeah what the heck?"

"well…a few nights ago…we were both up and…she…kissed me…"

"So your just letting her do that…?"

"Yeah…I figure…"

"Figure nothing! You cant just let her do that!"

"But…"

"No! if you don't want her to do that then tell her not to!"

"But…she might kick us out…"

"No! Tancred wouldn't allow that!"

"Oh…okay…"

"Then if she tires that again, you give her a piece of your mind!"

"All right."

Morgan finished breakfast and went to read. Lance and Myrrh stayed to chat.

Eric's morning had been rushed and chaotic. Seth had gotten him up early to get the supplies packed. Then when they all were awake they started the trek to Frelia. It was a long trip and Eric sang songs to pass the time. An outraged Seth soon silenced him. L'Arachel never spoke during the trip unless she was asked something directly. Eric wrote this off as just travel anxiety. Seth on the other hand thought something else might be wrong but L'Arachel wouldn't answer his questions. As they neared Frelia over the coming days it seemed she got a little more cheerful. He was in the middle of wondering why when an armed column of guards stopped them.

"What business do you have in Frelia?"

"Well…that is a good question…why do you wish to know?"

"this country is forbidden for civilians of other countries until the hostilities cease with Rausten and Carcino."

"Well good if I see any, I'll let them know."

"Your humor isn't looked on with kidness, you may not enter."

"Excuse me…"

"Oh… it's princess larachel…"

"Damn right…we have business here…let us pass I wish to end this quickly."

"Yes ma'am."

The captain let them pass and they continued on their trip. They had been traveling for days and eric really wanted to stop, last night's rest didn't seem like enough. Oh why oh why did Mansel decide them had to take her on this trip? They weren't travelers or adventurers in fact before he became a palace guard Eric had been a male prostitue (poor family finances people stop laughing). He had been forced out of that by getting caught by a city guard, but for the guards silence he joined the palace guards. He had no real combat experience or any experience outside the city walls ever. Seth had run alcohol smuggling for people in Rausten. He had quit and joined the guard as a deterrent from suspicions. He had some experience with combat but it was mostly light fighting. He had traveled extensively for this job but it was mostly over seas. L'Arachel in fact was the only one who had ever fought a battle against anything.

Eric's thoughts lead them to Frelia's hub of trade. He had never seen a city without protective walls. Seth had never seen so many people interested in making money. L'Aracehl hadn't ever visited Frelia much outside of politics and ceremonial visits. Seth and Eric became very interested in the nearby tavern and L'Aracehl decided to join them. She didn't regret her choice, they both drank very little and didn't sing when drinking. Eric in fact didn't hold hard drink too well and had to leave. Seth drank a few more and he and L'Arachel left to find Eric recovering on the wall.

"You don't look too good."

"No…I don't feel to well…I think I'll find somewhere to sit."

"Okay, we'll come and get you in a few."

"Thanks princess…"

Seth and L'Arachel went to find the inn they would stay at. It was a nice place, L'Arachel wasn't used to the cheapness of the facility but Seth obviously was. Eric joined them soon looking and claming to feel much better. Their room was small for three people and Seth was forced to sleep on the floor. This did however alert him to someone softly knocking on the door sometime after midnight. L'Arachel went to answer the door. There was a young woman standing at the door. L'Arachel followed her outside and Eric followed them at a distance. When he came outside he recognized the second person at once. He was no idiot; that was Erika one of the twins of Frelian royalty. He crept closer and overheard some of the conversation.

"I heard you might be coming."

"Well, you heard right…"

"My brother talks of you…often."

"Does he?"

"He is infatuated by the thought of you…"

"Oh…I'm flattered…"

"I am envious…you already have a prospective husband…I yet have no one…"

"Well, there is something…I don't love your brother back…"

"L'Arachel…"

"I love another..."

"I…I…."

"Yes…?"

"I feel…the same…way…"

"What…?"

"All this time…I have thought of you…"

"Erika…"

"All this time…and yet I said nothing."

"Erika…"

"There is no need to say anything…."

"But…"

"No…don't say anything…my love…"

Then Eric saw the kiss. It was deep and passionate on one side and unwanted and misunderstood of the other. When it finally ended, Erika walked into the night leaving L'Arachel in the torchlight. She started silently crying as the moon rose. Eric slowly stepped out from his hiding place. She looked over at him, he had really one it now! This was it he thought; he closed his eyes out of fear. And waited for the slap to come but it never did. He felt something and opened his eyes. L'Arachel had her arms around him crying into his shoulder. He stood there rooted to the ground with shock. They both stood there for some hours until she had regained herself enough to walk back into the inn. They got to their room and Eric went to sleep almost instantly but it was long after sunrise when L'Arachel drifted off to sleep.

Myrrh had spent most of yesterday hiding from Mio. She was apologetic of what had happened between them, especially because she was married. She had come home yesterday with the news that she was pregnant she and Tancred had gone upstairs and probably talked, either way she hadn't been awake to greet Myrrh last night, she had gotten up to see if she would be there. When Mio wasn't there she went back to sleep. That morning, Myrrh hadn't seen Mio at all and had gone outside to look at the trees. She had gone back inside when it started raining and found Tancred home, he had skipped class to go back and read.

"Oh, hey Myrrh."

"Tancred…aren't you supposed to be at school?"

"Yes, I got bored so I left."

"Oh…I didn't know you could do that."

"You cant…but I felt like it."

"Oh…I…have a…confession…"

"Oh…what?"

"Your wife….is…I think…she…kissed….me…im…soryy…."

"Oh…well she's already told me…"

"Why…?"

"She's…umm…how do I say this…she is sexually…indiscriminant."

"What?"

"Well see she loves both men and women…"

"Oh…that's possible…?"

"Yeah, sure…"

"Okay, can you stop her…?"

"I'll try but a negative reaction from you might work better."

"Oh…"

Tancred got up and left. Myrrh was left to wander the living room. Lance and Morgan soon returned from stocking up on supplies. They figured Mio's message would have had to reach the castle by now and they were eager to get back on the road. Myrrh was anxious to see L'Arachel again. Morgan said they would spend one final day here and then they would go. Lance guessed they would be at least four days to reach Rausten castle. Tancred said guards would be increased as he had some information that Carcino had won against Rausten forces in a crucial fight so he told them to be cautious.

Mio returned from whatever she had been doing all day. Tancred got dinner ready and they all sat down to eat. Lance finished and Morgan followed him out to find something to do. Tancred got up and said with a meaningful look at Myrrh:

"Well, I'm off, there was something very interesting at the market, I'll let you two talk."

He left, leaving Myrrh alone in the room with Mio. Myrrh was shaking below the table. Mio seemed to notice.

"What wrong Myrrh?"

"Oh…nothing…"

"You seem on edge…"

"Well…well…"

Myrrh had planned to come on strong and give Mio a piece of her mind. When she started talking, Myrrh had been robbed of her confidence. Mio stood up and walked over to Myrrh. Myrrh wished she wouldn't but Mio put her hands on Myrrh's shoulders. She began moving her hands up and down Myrrh's body.

"You know…I told Tancred."

"So…so…he said…"

"He doesn't really have a problem with it."

"oh…oh…really."

Myrrh's face was burning. She struggled to get out of Mio's firm embrace.

"Mio…i…I…"

"What is it?"

"S….s….Stop It!"

Myrrh forced herself out of Mio's arms. She didn't know why, but all of a sudden she was angry.

"Myrrh what…"

"You can't just take advantage of me like this!"

"I thought…"

"well you thought wrong, I just want to be with L'Arachel!"

With that Myrrh stormed out of the kitchen. She walked down the hallway and found Lance and Morgan coming back through the door.

'Hey myrrh we just found some great…hey!"

Myrrh pushed Lance out of the way. She threw open the door and stormed out in the night. Morgan pulled Lance up and they ran outside. They looked out into the black just in time to see a figure take flight.

"Whoah…"

"Yeah…didn't see that coming huh lance."

"No, boy her father's gonna get us now."