Chapter 3

I had never heard of the Silver Alliance or the Moon Kingdom until I came to the capital. It turns out they exist only in rumors even on the floors of the political forefront of society.

It was during a dinner function that Ambassador D'cartes laughed into his wine at his wife, "Oh dear, you talk about the war in the north like you think the Silver Alliance could swoop down and stop it in its tracks."

"The Silver Alliance?" I asked, looking up from glass. My date, the rotund and patronizing retired army captain whose name had too many vowels for me to keep straight, chuckled infuriatingly at me.

"Honestly, sometimes it's like you are a simple farm girl, Beryl." He laughed. "The Silver Alliance. You know," he sloshed his drink in his hand, gesturing up toward the ornate ceiling of the castle ballroom with an exaggerated motion.

I narrowed my eyes, showing I did not appreciate the joke. "I see. I wasn't clear."

"Be nice, dear," the Ambassador's wife, a simpering thing, said. Her tone made it clear she didn't feel nice at all. "Lady Beryl is a visitor from far away after all. Perhaps she hasn't heard of this rumored 'Silver Alliance'."

"It's a Kingdom on the Moon," the Ambassador stage-whispered to me, "they lead an Alliance of planets, with warriors, always watching Earth from their secret monitors."

I felt my face twist in disgust whether at his words or the at the alcohol on his breath I don't know. "It sounds crazy," I hear myself saying, although suddenly remember vaguely about hearing stories as a child.

The Ambassador's wife confirmed my memories, continuing with an eye-roll about "children's stories." Stories of a kingdom where an all-powerful Queen rules, with a magic crystal. A crystal that could destroy worlds. A Queen with this power who was ironically named: Serenity.

"Why wouldn't Earth be part of this so-called 'Alliance'?" I ask, trying to match her dismissive tone.

"Maybe they don't want us," my date said, laughing. "Maybe they have something against us."

"It's us who should have something against them," the Ambassador drunkenly said, "they want us to submit to them! That's the problem!"

"It's all just crazy rumors anyhow," his wife tried to calm him, her eyes darting around the room nervously. She was worried about appearances as he got ever louder. "Please, Jacques. Calm down." She looked at me. "Nobody really believes in this," she told me. But the look in her eyes said otherwise.

The conversation turned to something much more dull and it wasn't long before I made an excuse to the group and began to look around for the prince.

By this point, Endymion and I were on friendly, speaking terms. It had not progressed further than that, although I found myself making excuses to visit castle grounds from my lodging in town more and more. Sometimes I would speak to him, mostly I just observed.

Although Endymion could be firm when dealing with his subjects, he was too easily moved to the plight of those in need. He worked too hard, didn't delegate enough, was too lenient and didn't punish hard enough. No examples were made. Not enough taxes were levied. Mentally, I began making a list of things that would change when I am put in charge. The adjustment might be hard for him at first, but in the end, he would thank me.

I spotted Endymion standing with two men I recognized as Nephrite and Zoicite near a large, open window. I walked up to the three men and greeted them. They greeted me back, politely.

Endymion introduced the two others to me, I was pleased he remembered my name without hesitation.

I pretended as if I was surprised and honored to make the acquaintance of two of the famed Four Kings of Heaven. Instead, I was busy noticing that Endymion was pale, and his eyes were bright, as if with fever.

"Are you well?" I said to him, without thinking. "You look sick."

To my surprise, he laughed. Heartily, in a manner rather unlike him. "Thank you, Lady Beryl, for the compliment. You look beautiful, by the way."

There was little humor behind Zoicite's smile. "She's right. You do look ill."

"I'm just tired," Endymion said. "Thanks for your concern, as always."

"Have the issues in the north been exhausting you?" I asked. It took me a while to recognize the feeling welling up in my chest as concern. I was not used to feeling worried for other people.

Endymion sighed deeply. "If it's not once thing, it's another."

"Wars have always plagued this planet," Nephrite said. "Endymion is used to dealing with war and-"

"Famine." Zoicite cut in.

"Earthquakes," Nephrite said.

"Droughts," Zoicite nodded.

"Floods." Nephrite added, he gestured to me to add to the game.

"Epidemics?" I suggested, pretending to be nothing but a coquettish girl, playing along. Nephrite grinned in encouragement.

I glanced at Endymion to see if we were making him feel worse, but he didn't seem to be paying attention.

"Prince?" I touched his arm, and he jumped, blinking at me as if he had completely forgotten we were there. I met his eyes steadily, waited until the cloudiness in his blue eyes cleared and they focused on me. "You were a million miles away," I said. I did not take my hand off his arm.

"That's a strange expression," Zoicite said to me. His eyes were surprisingly sharp.

My father used to say that all the time. I realized with a start I've never heard it said here. "It's a common phrase where I'm from," I said lightly, stepping back and tossing my hair over my shoulder.

"Where is that, again?" Endymion was the one to ask, his eyes now looking at me curiously, if kindly. He was half-smiling, but it didn't put me at ease.

"Far," I said saucily.

"How far?" Nephrite asked.

"Well, that depends entirely on which road you travel," I said, rolling my eyes as if it should be obvious and crossing my arms, pushing my chest up against the bodice of my dress. The men laughed. Sometimes it's easy enough to distract even without magic.

"I think I'm going to retire for the night," Endymion said, pushing himself away from the window.

"So early?" I asked.

"Ah, you see, Lady Beryl, I just realized I need plenty of sleep if I'm to deal with – what was it again? The war, and famine, and earthquakes, and floods and droughts and epidemics you all brought up just now. Thank you again, by the way." He clapped Nephrite on the back and bowed to me.

He still looked pale, but I was beginning to realize it was not from illness. There was something very off about him, like something inside him was burning brightly through his eyes. It would burn him up, I realized. Something had happened since I saw him last.

I bid farewell to the Nephrite and Zoicite and made my way to my impossibly drunk date to wish him goodnight. I would like to stay in the castle tonight.

Magic would come in handy tonight. Because I was going to see Endymion. And I didn't want to be seen by anyone, not even by him.

It was easy to make it to his room, (of course I knew where he slept. I made it my business to find that out almost right away) and easy to keep hidden.

I watched as he removed his various decorations and trappings of official formal wear.

He sighed heavily and ran an agitated hand through his hair. He was all wound up, like a spring pulled too tight.

I watched as he walked out onto his balcony, into the moonlight. When he returned, he was not alone.