Jaidev arrived just as the foreigners were leaving. He watched as the thickly built man and petite woman exited the throne room. They were followed by a scrawny younger man who was looking over his shoulder at Kida. Bori tossed Jaidev his staff and moved to escort the trio down the stairs.

"You missed all the action," he teased in Atlantean.

Jaidev ignored him and helped Nahuel shut the stone doors. Before they could exit through the open walls and position themselves outside the throne room doors as they usually did, Nahuel caught Jaidev's arm and motioned for him to wait. He nodded toward Kida and King Kashekim.

"Your heart has softened, Kida," the king observed as he laid back on his throne. The king was looking weaker every day, but only Kida and the royal soldiers knew of his rapid decline. It was a secret so important that Jaidev and Siddharth couldn't even tell Jacira.

"A thousand years ago, you would have slain them on sight," the king continued.

"A thousand years ago, the streets were lit and our people did not have to scavenge for food at the edge of a crumbling city!"

Jaidev tried not to make it obvious that he was listening, but he had trouble keeping his gaze off of Kida. Ever since taking the post, he had quietly nursed a crush on the princess. He knew deep in his heart that nothing could come of it, but being near her so often kept the embers of his affection glowing.

"The people are content," King Kashekim argued weakly. His voice had grown hoarse.

"They do not know any better!" Kida argued passionately. "We were once a great people and now we live in ruins. The kings of our past would weep if they could see how far we have fallen. If these outsiders can unlock the secrets of our past, perhaps we can save our future."

When the king spoke again, his voice had renewed strength.

"What they have to teach us, we have already learned. When you take the throne, you will understand."

Kida kissed her father on the forehead and turned to leave. Jaidev and Nahuel exchanged nervous glances. They may be the guards on duty, but it was expected that private conversations between the members of the royal family would remain private. Nahuel dashed around the stone doors to stand where he should have been all along. Jaidev hung his head and waited for a reprimand from the princess. He was surprised when she laid a gentle hand on his arm and said, "come with me."

Jaidev followed obediently as Kida lead him around the door to the walkway that surrounded the throne room. Nahuel gaped at Jaidev and Kida, so Jaidev shrugged at him as they passed. Kida walked to a place out of earshot of Nahuel and pointed down below to where the explorers were gathered. They watched as the three who had just been in the throne room approached their companions.

"I believe these people can help us, but my father does not agree," Kida said after a moment. "He fears that they may be dangerous, but I think that we simply do not know enough about them."
Jaidev glanced curiously at her, but her eyes were still on the explorers.

"I plan to talk to them again, without my father. It would make him feel better if he knew that someone I trusted was among them…gathering information," she said. Suddenly, she turned and looked him straight in the eyes. "I trust you, Jaidev. Will you help me?"

Jaidev gulped loudly. He hoped the princess hadn't heard it. She still looked at him intently. He wanted to say what she wanted to hear so that she would give him one of her beautiful smiles, but he knew that once he opened his mouth, she would turn her attention back on those stupid outsiders.

"Of course, Princess," he said, bowing to her. "I will do anything you ask of me."

"Excellent," she replied with an unashamed grin. Just a moment too soon, she turned and continued to smile to herself as she looked down toward the explorers.

Eleanor rushed over to Milo as soon as he reached the bottom of the stairs. Helga and Rourke seemed tense, but Milo looked contemplative.

"How did it go?" she asked quietly.

"Yeah! Tell us," Sweet chimed in. He, Audrey, Vinny, Mole, and Mrs. Packard gathered closer to be in on the story.

"Well, the king and his daughter don't exactly see eye to eye," Milo said, pulling out a notebook. "She seems to like us okay, but…I don't know. I think the king is hiding something."

Eleanor looked over Milo's shoulder at the characters jotted down in his journal. She was proud to see the hours that Milo spent pouring into learning Atlantean were finally paying off.

"Well, if he's hiding something, I want to know what it is," Rourke said definitively.

"Someone needs to talk to that girl," Helga suggested. "I think Thatch is our man."

"What?" Mole screeched. "I will do it!"

"Milo's the whole package," Vinny reasoned. "He's got good people skills, he's gentle, and he can speak the language."

"I have all those things," argued Mole.

Audrey and Sweet doubled over in laughter at this assertion. Milo, on the other hand, looked solemn.

"Good man, Thatch," Rourke boomed with a hearty slap. "Thanks for volunteering."

"Go get 'em, tiger," Audrey teased, bumping him with her shoulder.

Milo nodded curtly and started for the stairs again. Eleanor watched him go until she heard her name from behind. When she turned around, Rourke and Helga were standing with their hands on their hips.

"We want you to follow Mr. Thatch," Helga said in a low voice. Her eyes were on the stairs as she spoke. "We don't need him getting…attached to her."

"Oh, I'm sure it's not like that," Eleanor said weakly.

"All men are like that!" Rourke laughed. "Trust me."

Helga shot him a dirty look. She gestured for Eleanor to follow her.

"Never mind the commander," she sneered over her shoulder. She turned back to Eleanor. "Thatch doesn't seem to understand what's at stake here. This is the greatest archeological find in modern history. If we can't do what we came here for…"

"Helga-" Eleanor cut herself off. She had known Helga forever, but was she expected to call her Miss Sinclair on this expedition? She lowered her voice and continued sheepishly. "Milo wants this find as much as anybody here; maybe more than anybody. He would never do anything to intentionally halt this expedition. I'm sure he'll do his best to convince the princess to help us."

"He'd better," snapped Helga. She turned away as she continued. "I don't trust the princess. She may be on our side now, but she's wily. And I know, I know: Milo's smart. It's just that it's hard to resist the charms of a beautiful woman. Just…keep an eye on them. If anything seems odd, you report it to me. Got it?"

Helga's face softened slightly as she turned back to Eleanor. She watched Eleanor's shoulders sag and she had wrapped her arms around her torso nervously. This girl isn't a spy, Helga thought to herself. She's never done anything like this.

"Listen," Helga said gently. "You care about Milo, right? This is for his safety. Think of this as your mission. Make yourself useful."

Maybe I shouldn't have added that last part, Helga thought to herself, but Eleanor stood up stronger and dropped her hands to her sides.

"Ok, I'll do it," Eleanor said with only a little shake in her voice.

"Good girl," Helga replied proudly. "Now, off to it!"