When the key clicked in the lock again Ilona turned towards the door. She wasn't sure who to expect, but there was a lingering bit of excitement and horror. It could be Varco, but then again, it could just as easily be the Prince. When a man stepped through and the door was closed behind him and the key clicked again, Ilona was grinning broadly. "Varco!" she crossed the room to him. "How are you?"

His brown eyes scanned her compartment and then slowly took in the fact that she was wearing a dress. The way his eyes scanned her almost made her blush. "He's turning you into a girl!" Varco barked with a laugh.

Ilona scowled. "I already was a girl," she shook her head.

"You look better in trousers," Varco offered with a grin. "But if only you wore a bodice with them," his eyes trailed back down to about her middle before glancing back up at her face. It was bright red.

Ilona was having a hard time keeping her composure. She scowled at him. She didn't know what he was doing here, but it was probably to convince her she should give up this silly duel and simply swear her loyalty to the Prince now. However, Varco seemed more intent on playing with her. She said nothing. Instead, Ilona turned around and moved to walk to the other side of the room.

She heard him move before she felt his arms around her. "What's wrong?" he asked in her ear. Ilona stiffened, but shook her head. He pulled away and spun her around to face him. "You're not happy." his own face held a frown and it broke her heart to see it. "We can be together now," his expression pleaded with her to smile back at him. "We can fight side by side forever!"

"I did not swear loyalty to the Prince," Ilona said quickly, her voice hoarse. She turned away from him quickly.

He did not follow. "What?" he stared at her as she sunk down on the bed, her head in her hands. "How-?"

"I bargained with him," Ilona interjected.

"You didn't!" Varco looked a mixture of horrified and proud.

Illona nodded sourly. "Tomorrow we are to have a duel. If I win he will let Janette and I go free."

"And if he wins?" Varco offered.

"I become one of his pawns," the thought made her throat clog with horror.

"It's not so bad," Varco came close to her and sat down on the bed besides her. "He gave me new powers," the man flexed his hands as if he could see some sort of raw energy building up inside them. "I feel so alive."

"But he will use me to kidnap Corrine," Ilona did not cry, but the near wail in her voice betrayed her.

Varco's voice spoke of his surprise. "You know the Prince's bride?"

Ilona nodded wordlessly. "She," Ilona hesitated, wondering how much information would get back to the Prince. However, the Prince already knew that she was friends with Corrine. Besides, he couldn't use Corrine against her. The Prince would never hurt Corrine, "she is one of my best friends," Ilona said at last. "I would do anything to protect her."

Varco frowned. "Protect her from the Prince you mean?" Ilona didn't move. Varco seemed to sigh. "You know," he ventured gently, "you wouldn't like it if someone tried to protect you from me, would you?"

Ilona stiffened. "That's different."

"They're engaged," Varco nodded.

"That's not what I meant," Ilona glanced meaningfully over at him. "I don't need anyone to protect me."

"Maybe Corrine doesn't either," Varco tried with a halfhearted smile.

"You don't know Corrine," was all Ilona said as she turned away from him.

"Illona," Varco tried to get her attention again but Ilona was finished talking to him.

The second time the door clicked open Ilona was certain that it was going to be someone with some food so that she would be able to make it through her big match the next day without fainting from hunger. She was correct to a certain extent. The man who came brought food with him, but he had no intentions of leaving her alone to eat it.

"Rory?" Ilona stared at him surprised for a moment before her shoulders squared and the surprise turned into a glare. "What do you think you're doing?"

"You're hungry aren't you?" Rory replied as he set the tray of food down. "I just called in a favor," he paused, his hand hovering by the tray for a moment before moving to his side as he turned to face her. "I have to know how Christina is."

"You stay away from her!" Ilona responded quickly, her hands clenching into fists. "You've caused her enough trouble already."

There was a thin smile on Rory's beautiful face. "But I am the only thing that can cure her heartache."

"You're the one who caused it in the first place," Ilona shot back. It was good to know that they had neither Corrine of Christina. It was not good to think that she'd soon be forced to help abduct them. No. She would have to think positive if she were to get through this at all.

"Oh, no," Rory shook his head slowly, the smile turning sad. "If you were separated from your lieutenant would your own heart not break?"

Did everyone know about her and Varco? "That's different!" Ilona protested.

"Is it?" Rory asked. "Is it really so different?"

Ilona didn't know the answer to that. Instead she turned her gaze to the tray of food Rory had given her. She wondered if it was safe to eat or not. She was hungry, but she remembered what had happened to Christina. But then again, she had drunk the maidens wine and was fine. It couldn't hurt to keep up her strength. She would be all the more likely to win the match then.

"Are you done?" Ilona didn't care if she was being rude. This was the man who had helped destroy Falston. This was the man who had made her best friend miserable. He did not deserve her sympathy.

Rory seemed to stiffen before he nodded his head. "We will have plenty of time to talk once you are in the service of the Prince," he said before he limped out of the room.

Ilona felt her stomach go cold. Why did everyone seem so certain she would loose? This time, unlike the fight with Varco, there was no one rooting for her. Not even Varco. Even if he hadn't sworn loyalty to the Prince this was one way for them to be together forever. If it had been any other army she would have signed up without a doubt. The life of a soldier was the life for her, but she would not become evil. Ever. Not if she could help it.

She stared at the food on the tray and just as she hadn't been hungry at all she was suddenly ravenous. Carefully avoiding all the fruits and the wine, Ilona helped herself to the breads and the meats. The food was good, but not suspiciously so, and Ilona decided not to worry about it. If she got sick upon her return to the mortal realm she would deal with it. Christina had survived it, after all, and Ilona was stronger than Christina.

Having eaten her meal Ilona decided to get some rest.