Bryce kept telling himself that the Commander had known the locks in this room were easily picked and he was pretty sure that she knew he had his lock-picking kit with him. He always had it with him. This was just for formality's sake. There would certainly be a cloud of disapproval if she had openly let him tag along. She hadn't expressly forbid him from following after all.

The wires and picks were like extensions of his own fingers as he teased his tools into position. With a few expert moves he had it open. The lock clicked audibly and he held his breath as he waited to see if anyone had been left behind to guard his room. There were no footsteps, no warnings or tall, stone faced warriors there to order him back inside. The commander surely would have left Jin or someone if she didn't mean for me to come, he told himself. The years had taught him that when people meant for him to stay put they posted guards, locked him in his room after taking his lock picking kit away from him or if the really meant it they put him in his brother's charge.

His older brother, Duncan, was his polar opposite. Where Bryce was hyper and impulsive, Duncan was calm and controlled. With their parents busy running a kingdom they had been each other's company growing up. The two year gap in age meant nothing to them. All differences aside the two brothers were the closest friends and allies.

He tweaked his clothes straight and strode down the hall. Mouthwatering aromas wafted upstairs from the main room and kitchen. Lunch time was a lively affair here and Bryce hoped to avoid notice but as he descended the stairs two at a time the innkeeper, a charming woman with grey hair, looked up from her spot behind the bar and caught his eye. She made a show of brushing off her apron and sashaying over to him as he reached the bottom of the stairs. "Young ser, I was informed you would be staying in for the afternoon," she said. "Are you hungry? Shall I have the kitchen staff fix you something?"

"Thank you, but I must pass," Bryce replied. "I have an errand that needs to be run."

Suspicion sparked deep in her eyes. "I was told by your leader that you were staying in until she and the rest of your party returned." He smiled. Another ruse, a deterrent to those less determined than he.

Bryce caught her hand and raised it gallantly to his mouth, "The commander does expect me to stay in but I was hoping to sneak out for an hour or so," he admitted, playing along.

She slowly shook her head, "She didn't say you were going to be leaving the inn at all."

Bryce could hear the skepticism in her voice and knew if he played his cards right he could be free and clear. He had watched the commander converse with the innkeeper; the two women seemed to be on friendly terms. "The commander doesn't know about this errand," he told her, confiding in her as if she were an old friend.

"She was pretty adamant that you stay here until she returns," the woman said, glancing around the room out of habit.

He set his arm around the woman's shoulders and steered her out of the way of another patron coming down the stairs. "Well you see, this errand was something I couldn't tell her about," Bryce said, his voice softening so it seemed as if he was sharing a secret.

There was nothing the woman liked better than a good chunk of gossip. Her eyes widened in anticipation. "Oh? And why's that, my lad?"

"Her name day is approaching—fast approaching—and I want to get her a gift while she's away. It's a surprise you see," he told her. His face grew grave, "She doesn't tell people when it is because she doesn't like people fussing over her, you see."

Bryce knew he had won her over as he watched her face soften. "Oh aren't you a dear? Well I guess if that's the reason there would be no harm done." She prattled off a list of merchants he should visit.

"You are too kind, my dear lady," Bryce replied. "You have helped me immensely."

Her cheeks flushed red as she ushered him towards the door. "Go on then, shoo! Your secret is safe with me," she said, flapping her hands at him. "But be back before the others return or it will be my head on a platter."

"Your wish is my command." He bowed to her as he swept out the door and her delighted laugh followed him into the street.

"Do you think we should have brought Bryce with us?"

Cadhla glanced over at Nathaniel as they turned a corner. She had been turning that very question around in her head since they had left the inn. Bryce had good intentions, but he also had a knack for finding mischief. Every time she left him behind he got into trouble; every time he got into trouble she swore she'd never repeat the experience. But she had been telling herself that for years.

"If you had asked me that fifteen minutes ago I would have replied with an adamant no, but now…" she trailed off, shaking her head. "I always tell myself I should just keep him in sight, that I'll be able to manage him better, but I always convince myself not to when the time comes."

Bryce was the perfect example of a child that parents wished on their own children when they were exasperated to no end. He had a good heart, but was a magnet for mischief through and through.

"Next time he begs me to come along you just remind me of today," she told Nathaniel.

A knowing smile creased his face as he clapped her on the shoulder, "You say that every time, but it's not like you could have brought him with us to a place like this."

"No, you're right," she sighed. "But somehow he'll manage to show up, all the same."

*****

The sun sparkled on the ocean as if it were made of a million glittering gemstones. They danced and swelled as the waves broke over sand as white as snow. A little girl skipped along the water's edge, shrieking with laughter when the cool water rushed over her bare feet. Her hair was the color of the sky at dusk and it trailed out behind her like ribbons as she played.

Her father had brought her here, to the ocean. She had never been more excited than when he told her where they were going.

Happiness spilled across her face as she crouched to examine a bright purple shell that had washed ashore. Small, silver fish darted around her feet both startled and intrigued by her wiggling toes. The ocean sang to her as she ventured further into the water, the waves swirling and tugging at her calves. There was something freeing about the ocean, something wild and untamed. It was beautiful and haunting all at the same time.

"Careful Madea!"

The little girl glanced back at her father, smiling brilliantly. "Yes papa!"

When she danced over to him he held his arms open to her and she fell into his embrace with a delicate laugh. "Isn't the ocean beautiful?"

He stroked her hair, "Yes, my darling."

Gulls shouted overhead and she shielded her eyes as she watched them wheel and dart on the thermals. They were bold and reckless, the exact opposite of what two apostates would be. But they were not apostates. Here they were happy, normal people who had escaped from their chores for a day beside the ocean.

"Have you reconsidered my offer?"

Madea was lying broken on the floor but she still managed to snarl in the woman's direction. "I will not deal with you, demon!"

The abuse had turned physical upon her first refusal of the demon's offer. Blows had left bruises, nails had left scratches. Madea whimpered as tears filled her eyes, burning them, as she thought about all of the things the demon had shown her. She wanted it all.

The coppery tang of blood grew stronger as the demon leaned in, sensing her weakening resolve. "I don't believe you, little mageling. I think you really want to accept."

Madea shook her head, but the movement was infinitesimal. She couldn't even bring herself to speak out against the demon's offer so strong was her desire for it.

"Tell me, child, out loud, that you don't want what I offer," the demon commanded.

Madea opened her mouth to refuse the demon again but nothing came out.

"Oooh, that's what I like to hear," she giggled, stroking Madea's cheek with one long finger. "You see, my lovely, that silence is the sound of you accepti—"

The door slammed open, interrupting the woman who whirled around with a snarl. "Madame! Madame!" The breathless young woman was barely dressed and panting for breath like she had run miles.

"What is it?" the woman snapped, sounding more like herself than she had in the past twelve hours.

"TEMPLARS!"