I apologize that there isn't much in this chapter. I mean, it's like... it's more quiet, not as pushing the story forward unlike the next chapter ;) (The title for the next chapter is Growing Treachery, enough said).

Darcie woke to an empty feeling in her stomach and her head throbbing. She sat up and groaned as she rubbed her eyes, a minute hadn't passed and she already felt horrible.

Getting out of bed, she changed into her day's clothes and slowly walked down the path in the camp. The sky held faint sunlight despite the sun being over the horizon, clouds appeared to be mixed with a pink and orange.

Pushing open the door to the castle quietly, she made her way to the kitchens. Knowing the servants started breakfast at early hours of the morning, she could only hope they would have some sort of food to give her. Within moments, she was handed a basket of fresh fruits and sent off. She walked around the castle to the back building, eating an apple along the way. Once she finished it, she put the core back inside the basket, unsure of where to put it other than the ground.

She stopped in front of the human-sized door and put her basket down. Opening the door a crack, she saw Kazryth up and stretching. He looked towards the door and saw her.

Good morning.

Did I wake you?

I awoke when you did. I was planning on going out for a morning flight before the sun reaches its full potential. Would you like to come?

Sure. Can I bring my breakfast with me?

Kazryth hummed in response. He walked around Thorn and Saphira, who still slept, and opened the door carefully.

Don't you break that thing down daily?

Not with the other two still asleep. The main door creaked open entirely and Kazryth walked out. Once closing the door behind him, he waited. Once Darcie found the saddle that she had taken off weeks before, she struggled to get it up to Kazryth's back.

I'm going to end up keeping that thing on day and night! she exclaimed once she threw it up and onto Kazryth's back with the help of magic. She the pulled herself up onto his back and into the saddle. Once on, she got the fruit basket up and onto her lap. She held onto it with a tight grip, and then Kazryth took off.

After a long while, Kazryth found a sand dune that was the size of a large hill just outside of Aberon. He landed, let Darcie off, and then walked around to find a place to stand. After a few moments, he dug out part of the land dune and moved around like a dog would until he was comfortable enough to lie down and watch the sun rise. Darcie sat next to him, looking out towards the dot of a city and beyond at the rising sun, occasionally taking a bite out of whichever fruit she had in her hand.

Is it true Rider Murtagh cracked his skull? Kazryth asked, trying to break the early morning silence.

Nearly. He just fainted and hit my desk.

Why did he faint?

Because he was apparently that shocked I'm pregnant with his child.

She knew Kazryth wanted to respond, but for once he didn't know how to.

"Why me? And why now...?" Darcie thought out loud as she fell back into the sand and looked up at the sky. She saw the faint clouds and wished she were one, floating along with the others, looking down and watching the misfortunes of others. All she would and could carry is water, not life.

The sky suddenly illuminated as a tear trickled down Darcie's cheek and disappeared into the sand. Sitting up slightly, she saw a sliver of the sun sitting on the horizon.

A battle rages in your heart, little one.

Darcie smiled faintly.

"I don't know what to believe anymore... things have changed within the past few months. Just less than a year ago I was a girl imprisoned in her own room, now I'm in Surda, ready to fight and destroy everything I've ever known. Of course, now I have sickness to add onto that."

It isn't sickness you have.

"I throw up every morning at least once, and as the days pass I feel more and more lethargic. I swear if it wasn't for you I would be as good as dead."

Your worries shall pass when your 'curse' comes to the world.

"I've heard so many stories about the horrors of labour... It's a wonder women make it out alive, yet most of the time they don't. I've begun to count the days that I fear I die."

I won't let you die.

Darcie wiped away another tear with a smile. She had figured the sun rose over the horizon quickly - she could already see half of it.

"So how do things fare with Saphira?"

Rather well.

"Do you wish to elaborate?"

There isn't much to elaborate just yet, and some things are better left unsaid and in the privacy of themselves.

"That's funny, coming from you."

Hey! Kazryth lightly nudged Darcie's side.

"I only say it because it's true," Darcie said with a smirk.

Kazryth blew smoke from his nostrils and made a series of smoke rings, one way Darcie learned that he was rolling his eyes without technically doing so. He hummed contentedly as the sun rose higher until it was fully over the horizon.

Do you wish to leave?

"If you want to leave, I will follow," Darcie responded with a shrug.

Well if you're really sure...

Darcie squealed as Kazryth grabbed the back of her shirt and dropped her carefully into the saddle. With his talons, he grabbed the half-full basket of fruit and flew off, the dot of a city rapidly growing bigger as he sped closer.