CAPTIVE AND CAPTIVATED

Chapter 9

The sky is burning;

I believe my soul's on fire.

Hikaru fingered the folds of her dress and listened to the Queen's stories of castle intrigues and palace politics. After a time, she picked up the small knife she'd been given and began to peel an apple. She, the queen, her Page and the Queen's young handmaidens had retired to the shade of the apple orchard for the hotter part of the afternoon. Emeraude had packed a lavish picnic for the crew to eat, but Hikaru felt herself lacking appetite. The apples seemed crisp and ripe, though, so she took a small slice and spread on it the thick buttercream flavored with cinnamon that she'd come to like so well back in the palace. She smiled to herself, wondering why the slaves were fed such rich foods if they were meant to be kept in slim, fine condition, but the luxury was much appreciated and she did not question it.

"So," Emeraude continued, "After Mokona had chosen me to fill the place of the Pillar, I was bestowed with special powers to uphold the land. That is how our system remains stable, my dear." Hikaru blinked up at her and nodded, remembering that she was supposed to be feigning interest. The Queen smiled. "I've been Queen here for many years; too many for a lady to admit aloud without shame. Zagato and I married many years later, and together we have created a strong nation that none can penetrate." She took a moment to look proud and pensive. "There are many in this world that covet the Pillar system. We've had our struggles in the past trying to keep it our own. Oh, but don't let that trouble you, darling, you're quite safe with us. Cephiro has been free from conflict for centuries now!"

Hikaru only smiled and nibbled on her apple slice. She remembered that Eagle, the pale-haired, charming second-in-command to the Price, had claimed to be from a neighboring country—oh damn, she'd forgotten the name again—which had an eye for the ruling systems of Cephiro. She squinted. 'Many centuries ago.' Just how old was the Queen?

"Everyone in this world seems to be much, much older than they look," she mused aloud.

"It is magic," replied one of the young handmaidens who sat closest to Hikaru. She was modest and quiet as a mouse, as seemed to be all her companions while in the company of the Queen. "Some are more powerful than others, and the most powerful can look any way they want." She paused, looking cautiously at the Queen but Emeraude only smiled.

"Speak freely, Maren, we're not in the palace today."

The handmaiden nodded. "Well, as I was saying, the very powerful people can choose their own physical forms. I do not have overly strong magical abilities, but since I am pledged to the Queen as her servant, I entered into a magical contract with the Creator and am thus immortal until the Queen casts out my service, or until another ruler is chosen."

"So, how old are you?" Hikaru asked.

Maren paused thoughtfully. "Well, now that you ask… Hmm, I haven't thought about it in a while. Corinne, how old am I?"

The handmaiden sitting across from them swallowed her apple slice and said, "One hundred and four. You're seventeen years older than me."

Hikaru almost choked on her apple and coughed. "One hundred years old?"

Emeraude giggled. "You young girls put me to shame. You won't find me admitting my age."

"One hundred years is nothing," said one of the other maids whose name Hikaru did not know. "Have you ever met the Madoshi? He is rumored to be older than these very hills."

"Not so," said another girl. "His age has a number to it. I think I once heard that he was around 500."

"Oh no, even older than that."

"The Madoshi is around 700 years old," the Queen corrected. "I cannot say the exact number of years, though."

Hikaru gaped. How could anyone ever live to see so many years?

"I couldn't bear the thought of living forever," Hikaru said. "It seems like it'd be so… boring." She blushed and quickly said, "Though, I'm sure you all live wonderful lives, being as old as you are…"

The girls all giggled behind their hands and Hikaru found herself smiling, too.

"You, too, could live to be ages old," Emeraude told her softly, "If you stay in this land."

Hikaru frowned. Again, someone has insinuated that I might not be here forever. In fact, she almost sounds as if it's my choice.

"But, I have no magic," she said. "Could I be taught?"

"I suppose you could. If you were trained by the right person, you could be as powerful as you wanted. This is a land of the will, my girl. The power of your will would ultimately determine your fate."

The sound of hooves startled the women. Lantis trotted into the grove, halting his horse a few feet away from them. The animal swished its great, black tail and Hikaru felt her insides chill.

"Brother-in-law!" Emeraude exclaimed. "Through training your Knights, I take it?"

"Yes." Lantis glanced down at Hikaru and the girl looked away, blushing furiously. Maren squeezed her hand and giggled. "Sister, I was just approached by Madoshi Clef. Apparently he desires your presence. And mine."

"Really? Why so?"

"He did not say."

Emeraude sighed and smoothed out her skirts. "Very well. I'll retire to the castle in a moment. I'm loath to leave the warmth and sunshine today."

Lantis dismounted swiftly; very gracefully. "The weather is indeed lovely." He scratched his head and looked down at the ground. He really hated making casual conversation. He turned to his slave. "Hikaru."

The redhead bowed and mumbled, "Prince Lantis." She noticed that she began to shake. Damn that intolerable Prince. It had been days since she last saw him. Was she doomed forever to be babysat by the rest of the royalty while her Prince went gallivanting all over Cephiro, doing whatever it was that he did for days at a time?

"You look well," she heard him say. It took a tremendous amount of strength to lift her eyes to his. They were black and unreadable, as always.

"Of course she looks well," Emeraude quipped. "I give the best of care to all my lovelies."

"I thank you, Sister." Lantis' tone suggested otherwise.

Hikaru would have liked to say something, but she wasn't sure whether or not she should in the presence of the Queen. She didn't want to act presumptuous. After all, Lantis said they must act as Master and slave in the presence of others. She merely looked dolefully at him, clenching her fingers in the folds of her dress. Lantis returned the look, casting his usual calm, impenetrable demeanor.

Emeraude saw all of this. The two of them studied one another as if they were afraid the other would bite. It was adorable, really. She only wish one of them would open their heart to the other soon.

"Well," she cut in, gathering her voluminous skirts. "The hour is getting late. Come ladies; escort me to the castle."

Hikaru started to rise and Emeraude put a hand on her shoulder and pushed her back to the ground. "Not you, my girl. Your master has you now." She winked.

"Highness," Hikaru started.

"Goodbye, young Miss!" said Maren. She took Hikaru's basket from her and departed in a whirl of billowing skirts behind the Queen and other maidens.

Hikaru puffed out her cheeks in agitation and watched the stroll out from under the cover of the trees. She stood and glanced askance at Lantis. He stayed rooted to the spot, petting his horse absent mindedly with one hand. She couldn't think of a single thing to say to him. He made her so nervous now. His presence induced a fever in her, as it had the other night. Her face flushed and she suddenly felt very warm.

"You seem in good spirits," he observed. "It seems my sister's presence does you good."

If you only knew, she thought bitterly. "We've been enjoying the sun today. Too much. This shade is nice. I picked the spot myself."

Lantis looked at her; one delicate hand against the tree, the other absently twirling the ribbons of her skirts, looking out over the field. She'd tied her hair back for the day. It was done in a delicate pair of plaits that fell over her shoulder. He'd never seen her with her hair up before and thought that it was quite beautiful.

"Hikaru," he began. "I'd like to escort you back to the castle. I have something to attend to, but afterward, I'd like to have the pleasure of your company for the evening."

"And for the night?" she finished. She glanced over her shoulder and saw the color creep into his cheeks. She was suddenly shocked at her own daring.

Lantis sighed and joined her beside the tree. "I requested your company for other reasons as well. I know my sister-in-law and her compulsions. I like not the idea of your in her company for over-long."

"Oh." Now it was her turn to blush. So, he knew all about how Emeraude treated her female slaves, and how she treated her? "Um."

"Her appetites are… diverse," he began. "She and my brother share a strong bond of love, but they both dabble outside the marriage as they see fit. They've worked out their own little pleasure system, I suppose. But Emeraude has always favored the beautiful young men, and the girls." He observed her steadily reddening face and said, "Oh, I'm sure she was able to reign in her desires. She's never encroached upon my bonds with any slave. She's very careful about that." Hikaru noted that he sounded bitter.

"I see." She could really think of nothing better to say.

He shifted his feet. "I apologize if she embarrassed you, or caused you injury."

"Oh no," she replied. "She… she didn't whip me or anything. She was kind. But, she definitely made her feelings known." Hikaru rubbed her bare arms, shivering, remembering that dark bedroom with its gilt bedcovers and ceilings stretching upwards into black infinity. And that intolerable fireplace, burning the fire that cast Emeraude in that frightening shadowy way…

He nodded. "As I suspected. Well, I apologize again, but I cannot tell her who she can and cannot summon to her bedchamber. She is the Queen. It's not my place to command her."

"Ah." She considered his words. In her mind, she still saw Emeraude, like some grinning imp, gazing at her from her pillows with her whole body on display behind her too-sheer nightgown. Hikaru shuddered. "So in this land, anyone can have a go at anyone else's slave?"

Lantis blinked. "No. Unless the master gives consent, such boundaries are never crossed. There is a system of respect in place."

"It just doesn't apply to royalty?"

"Once again, my sister-in-law is Queen and, though you are my slave, I cannot command her."

"So what's to stop her from doing whatever she wants to me in the future? Or even worse… what if the King decides he wants me as well? Both are free to do whatever they like to me. Or to any slave here. My two Earth friends might be called on soon to spend a long night in Emeraude's chamber someday, and there's nothing anyone can do about it."

"My sister upset you?"

"Not exactly. I mean, like I said, she was very kind to me, but…" She pulled away from the tree and walked on shaking legs out into the sunlight. The shadowy grove had turned chilly, all of a sudden. "It's just unsettling."

Lantis followed her, walking slowly through the soft grass, picking his way among the patches of wildflowers. "How so?"

Hikaru sat down in a patch of clover. She flattened the folds of her dress nervously. "I—I find it very hard to talk to you."

She glanced up at him and saw that he was looking at her as if she'd spoken in another language. "Pardon?"

She opened her mouth to speak, but drew her knees to her chest and took to pulling up tufts of clover with her fingers. "Well… you're rather intimidating." He said nothing and she sighed. "Well, I just can't see how I would be able to convey my feelings to you. You're a Prince; a Prince of a strange world that revolves around pleasure slavery. This must all be so normal to you, but to me it's the opposite. I mean, surely you must realize how difficult it is for me to adjust to this situation. But how can I make you understand? I'm fourteen years old, almost fifteen. I'm a—" Virgin. She found the word difficult to say, for some reason. "Well, I've never even kissed a boy, and now I'm thrown in this world where I'm a prisoner, pledged to a man that I have to… do that stuff with—"

"We are all adults here," he interrupted. "You can use the technical jargon."

Hikaru was suddenly angry. "Don't mock me. But, have it your way. I'm supposed to have sex with you. Not by my choice. I know you're a man and you're probably ages old, just like everyone else here, and you've never been made to do a thing in your life that you didn't want to do—"

"What makes you think that?"

"Oh," Hikaru sighed heavily, frustrated. She wanted nothing more than to bury her face in the clover and sink into the ground. "Just try to understand my situation. I'm afraid. This is all new to me. But it really isn't even about that. I could adjust to that stuff, I really could. Given time, I'd be fine. The idea of being your girl frightens me, but I could handle that if I didn't also have to fear being shared. It's hard enough having to comfortably share your bed. I don't want to lie awake nights wondering whether or not the Queen or the King is going to call on me and do God knows what with me the next morning!"

Lantis shook his head slowly and knelt beside her. "You think I like it any more than you do?"

Hikaru shook a rebellious tear from her lashes. "I guess not."

"You surprise me," he said quietly. She gave him a curious, unguarded look. Her eyes were hollow-looking and red-rimmed from much crying. She must have been crying all night. "Your words, usually so careful and quiet, are now forceful. I wonder why."

"Oh." Hikaru blushed again. "I'm sorry."

"You're forgiven. And in response to what you've said, I am aware of your plight. I do realize your vulnerability. All I feel I can do is apologize, for my sister once again, and for myself."

Hikaru stared down at her slippers and said nothing. She felt tears brimming again and she swiped at them angrily. There really was nothing she could do. About anything. She felt frustrated and impotent.

"Don't get me wrong," she said quietly. "I do appreciate the Queen. She's gone to great lengths to take care of me. She likes me a lot, for some reason. But, well, I guess I'll just have to get used to the idea of being passed around like a peace-pipe." She shook her head. "Just like with Eagle, too."

"Eagle?"

"Yes, he—" Hikaru clapped a hand over her mouth, shocked at herself. Oh, no. Would Lantis be angry with me for that?

Lantis stood, removed his cloak, spread it over the grass and sat beside her. "Eagle has taken to you? I'm not surprised."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't trying to be a tattle-tale!"

Lantis studied her for several long seconds. As usual, his dark face was unreadable. Finally, he said, "That was what Eagle wanted to speak with me about, wasn't it? I recall the day. He looked at you very fondly."

Hikaru felt destitute. She certainly didn't want to get Eagle in trouble.

"What did he do to you?"

"Nothing more than what Emeraude did to me, so, not very much." I'll leave out his kisses, I suppose, she thought to herself.

"Well," said Lantis as he stretched out his long legs. "Eagle has a roving eye. He loves women, much like my young brother-in-law. I can guess at what happened. He took you on an outing and became enamored of you. But beyond that, I cannot say. What did he want to speak with me about?"

"He was going to…ask you if you could give me to him."

"Why?"

"Because I told him how little attention you paid to me, and that I felt lonely and unwanted." She bit her lip and looked away. "I'm sorry… it's how I felt. I wouldn't have minded the idea either, you know. I really was lonely, and he was so kind and gentle."

"No doubt," Lantis answered darkly.

"He didn't do anything to me, though. He wanted to, of course, but…" She sighed. "We were out in the forest, at some old castle ruin. I was exploring and then he said he suddenly had to leave. I guess I'm glad now that we did." She began to tremble. "I'm sorry. If Eagle asks you about it, it'll be half my fault. I told him I wanted to go to him, rather than be with you. You ignored me."

Lantis looked grave. "Are you rebuking me?"

"No."

"I've made my apologies for that. Did I not tend to you afterward?"

"You did, yes, but after that, I didn't see you again until today. It's not fair." She sniffled. "I feel like I'm going crazy, thinking it's an injustice not to be actively performing my duties, since I don't like this world or anything in it, but the other two girls practically never leave their master's sides. Fuu is locked up with Prince Ferio day and night, and Umi is always being made to do weird things with the Master Mage, like she's his servant. I've heard the gossip in the Slave Halls," she added.

Lantis made no reply. He observed the clover for a time, then motioned for her to sit on his cloak. She did so, reluctantly, scooting only a little closer to him. He reached out and touched the wispy tip of her braid. "What would you have me do?" he asked quietly.

Hikaru's lip quivered. Her whole body quivered. She wiped at her tears again and shrugged miserably.

"Well," he began, toying with her braid, "I've already requested that you accompany me for the night. Do you not wish to do so? If not, and if you truly do not desire my company, I suppose it would be only fitting to grant Eagle his request."

"No, I don't want Eagle," she said quickly. She was stunned when she realized she meant it.

"I see," he replied. His gaze, when she finally met it, stirred her. It had so much life to it. For a brief moment, he didn't appear to have the blank eyes of a statue. They had a dark, obsidian pulse to them. "So, then, what will you do tonight?

Hikaru scoffed. She stared at him, feeling dumbfounded, opening and closing her mouth like a fish. Finally, she stammered, "Well, I—I'm going to stay with you. Of course I'm staying with you tonight!"

He held her gaze for a moment longer then shifted it to her hair. He took the end of her braid, studied its fine, wispy tip and pressed it against his mouth. "As you wish." He gazed out at the fields and the corner of his mouth quirked. When he looked at her, he almost smiled.

"Lantis!" she hissed. All she could do was stare stupidly at him. What had just happened?

In the question of Eagle or Lantis, who do I want? God, what has this place and its magic done to me? I must be out of my mind…

She watched the way her hair played upon his lips, blushed and said quietly, "Are you angry with me about Eagle?"

"No. Eagle is a charming man. I can see why his smile and his pretty face could melt any woman's heart. However, be assured that he is not a faithful man, at least not to women. He's gone through dozens of slaves and I anticipate that he will go through dozens more. I don't think you would have been very happy with him. You may indeed have had your heart broken, my girl."

"Oh, really." She wasn't sure whether or not to believe him—Eagle was just so kind—but she'd never been given any reason to think that Lantis would lie to her. He was tugging gently at the band tying her braid, trying to undo it.

"Well," he began, "I have business with the Madoshi. I'll escort you to the castle. Please, come with me."

"You won't punish Eagle, will you?" she asked, trying not to sound too worried. "At least, not too harshly?"

Lantis stood up and extended his hand. "I thought not of it. What Eagle does is not my concern. However, if he raises the issue again, I'll be sure to make clear my stand on the issue."

Hikaru looked at his outstretched hand. It was massive; it would swallow hers. "Which is?"

He tugged at her hand and pulled her to her feet. As he gingerly picked stray bits of clover from the folds of her dress, he said, "Because you are mine, and if I don't have to, I refuse to share you with anyone."

The wind picked up. Hikaru tucked stray wisps of hair behind her ear and blushed beautifully. Lantis kissed her hand and almost smiled again.

You are, I'm learning,

The key to my desire.

Umi stood on the balcony of Clef's chambers, letting the wind tussle her long hair. Clef had been gone for quite some time. It didn't concern her much, though. She was thoroughly distracted by the pain in her hand. It lay against the stones of the castle wall, and there she studied it. Her skin blistered strangely and pained her. It throbbed. Something dark was growing beneath the skin on the back of her hand in the vague shape of a triangle.

"Where would you prefer to wait for me? I apologize for having to leave you, but I don't think this will take long. I can take you to the Slave Hall, if you wish. Or, you may wait in my chambers. Whatever your preference is, lady."

Hikaru gave only half a distracted shrug. She was busy peering around at the high-walled gardens around her. Lantis had led her into a massive courtyard. The sun, just beginning to slip against the horizon in the first stages of sunset, reflected orange and pink on the smooth waters of the fountains around her. She reached out to a wall to touch the ivy crawling across its etched surface. "This is a pretty place," she said.

"This courtyard is for my own private use. I often come here to reflect. When the moon is full, as it is now, it is indeed quite beautiful."

"Are those yours, too?" she asked, pointing to a far corner of the courtyard. It was rimmed with hedges as tall as trees. She could see a slim entrance through the tightly-wound bushes. "It looks almost like a maze."

"It is a maze, though it is not exclusively mine. That maze hedges nearly a quarter of the south side of the castle and spans the length of the fields and hills for nearly a mile. The entrance you see is merely one of many. Very few people ever have the time or energy to make their way through the maze from its main entrance all the way over here."

"I see. Thanks for the nice detour. But I thought we were going to your rooms?"

"These are my rooms."

Hikaru stuck out her lower lip. "These don't look like your rooms at all. They don't look anything like the rooms I spent those nights in with you." A slight heat rose in her cheeks as she finished the sentence, but Lantis paid her the courtesy of not meeting her eyes and furthering the embarrassment. "That room was several floors up. With a balcony."

"Those were not my chambers," Lantis replied. "I use those rooms when I entertain slaves. These are my private chambers. I do not usually allow slaves here."

Hikaru stared up at him, bewildered. He'd once told her that he wouldn't treat her like a slave; that he'd treat her as a woman, with respect. At least, he would when no one who mattered was watching. Was this his atonement for his poor treatment of her in the past?

The rooms she'd shared with him previously, which had seemed already huge and luxurious, were like broom closets compared to this room. Hikaru was awed. She felt very nearly embarrassed, staring around like a commoner. Country come to town, she thought. Her family was successful, but they'd never been wealthy. She'd never so much as even stayed overnight in a hotel half as nice as this place. She coughed and took to studying the carpet.

"I'll send for women to attend you. In the meantime, please wait here. I shouldn't be long." He was staring at her again and it made her fidget uncomfortably. If she met his eyes, she just knew she'd start blushing again.

Lantis blinked and reached out to touch her face. She stiffened and very nearly dreaded the contact. His finger touched the corner of her mouth softly. "What?" she asked. Lantis drew his finger away, staring at it. Hikaru wiped at her mouth and tasted cinnamon. Oh, how embarrassing. She'd had food on her mouth all this time and never noticed it. How long had Lantis been staring at it?

He tasted it and said, "Messy eater, are you?"

"No, not really," she mumbled. She heard him exhale sharply from his nose and assumed it was some form of laugh. His fingers at her back startled her. "What? What is it?"

"Please," he said quietly, "Allow me to undress you."

She pulled away. "Why? I've been allowed to be dressed all day! It's drafty in here, please don't—"

"I'm sorry, but inside castle walls, you must follow proper slave etiquette, no matter how your master decides to treat you outside." He pulled at the ribbons of her bodice and untied her corset. He did it swiftly and deftly, as if he had much experience with women and their dressings.

He gently prodded her arms so that she would lift them above her head and lifted the corset off of her. His hands smoothed her sides before hooking the waistline of her skirt and pulling it down.

Hikaru closed her eyes and breathed a tense sigh. She did her best to relax. When Lantis' hand touched her bare skin, she remembered how warm he was, that night on his balcony. That night, she felt as if she were sitting in the middle of the fires that were burning hundreds of feet below while she lay sprawled in his lap. Now when he touched her, she felt fever returning.

"I'm sorry," he said, mistaking the flushing of her skin for embarrassment, "But this dress, lovely though it is, hides your beauty from me. I won't have that."

"Now who's speaking forcefully?" she muttered to herself. She swooned, shivering against the chilly air of the room against her flushing skin. Now she stood nude before him. Her long hair hung over one of her shoulders, while the rest of it was still wound back in a braid.

He was staring at her again with that heated, penetrating look in his eyes. Slowly, he unsnapped the hooks that held his armor in place. She flinched at the loud clanging that ensued when they fell to the floor around his feet. With the armor gone, though, he didn't seem quite as massive. She released the breath she'd been holding and blinked stupidly at him, feeling like a cow being led to the slaughter.

The band in her hair was soon removed with one flick of Lantis' wrist. "Yes, I like you better this way."

She licked her lips. "You think I'm beautiful?"

"Very." He picked her up gingerly and carried her to his bed. Now she felt hot. Her skin was slicked with a fine sheen of sweat. She would have slipped right through his arms had he not been wearing his cotton undershirt.

"Oh," she sighed against his shoulder. "I feel like I'm about to faint."

"I seem to induce that in you."

"Seems so." He laid her on the bed and knelt beside her. Hikaru felt in a full swoon. Her breathing was deep, but quiet, and she looked blearily at Lantis through a thick haze.

He took one of her trembling hands and pressed his lips to it. "You know what they call that, don't you?"

She moaned and pressed her other hand to her forehead. "What?"

"Lust."

Ah, she thought relishing the feel of his mouth on her skin. Is this what it's like, then? She was rather enjoying his caresses. This must have been what lovers felt. She stretched out her legs and curled her toes, letting the sensations take hold.

Lantis cast long, appreciative looks over her body. "As much as I hate to leave you this way, I must." He leaned down to her face, and when she turned her head to look at him, his lips caught hers.

For just a moment, Hikaru's mind cleared and she stared wide-eyed at Lantis' face inches away from her own. The fever took her down again quickly, though, and with a vengeance. She closed her eyes and sighed contentedly. The erotic sensations which had been sweeping down her spine and through her legs and fingertips concentrated in her chest and abdomen. She felt them bubbling beneath her skin, broiling there, like water over a roaring fire. Her arm snaked around his neck, causing him to fall heavily against her and pressing her down into the bed.

He traced the curve of his lip with her tongue, and Hikaru slipped into semi-consciousness. Pictures painted in her mind were so bizarre. Flaming landscapes, burning fields and dripping, blood-red moons wheeling about overhead. Her heart pounded fiercely beneath her breast, sounding loud as thunder in her mind. But it seemed slow. Surely her heartbeat was slowing significantly. Each beat dragged longer and longer, thrumming with more intensity. Soon, it no longer sounded like her heart; it was like a deep gong and it became louder and louder with each blast, right from her chest.

She didn't remember the feeling of his hands on her, or of how wonderful his weight was on her body, but when she opened her eyes with a start, the cacophony of noise inside her head immediately ceased and she saw him sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'll return," he said to her. She blinked at him as he buttoned his shirt and stood. "Wait for me here, please."

"Oh…k," she whispered.

He was gone just as quickly. Hikaru closed her eyes, wondering at the sensation of warmth that continued to roil inside her. Her toes and fingered still tingled nicely. She placed her hand on her chest, feeling her normal heartbeat and pondering it. Hadn't she been in the middle of cardiac arrest a moment before? Perhaps it was only the magic of this land, spinning her into delirium every time she was under distress.

Hikaru was never sure, even years later, just how long she'd lain there like that. All she could remember was staring at the wall, at the candelabra affixed to it, and how all the candles in it had completely melted away into stiff stalactites of wax hanging down from their bronze foundations.

It was late in the evening, and Ferio woke from his long nap feeling drowsy and stiff. Lately, no matter how much he slept, he always seemed to feel so very fatigued. He was quite drained. However, one look at his blonde beauty lying next to him gave him a small measure of strength. He rubbed his eyes and looked at her. He could only vaguely see the shape of her face in the darkness of the room, but she was silent and still, deep in sleep. The ache in his groin reminded him of just how badly he wanted her and how little success he'd had with it thus far. He really couldn't bring himself to do it. Not yet. What was wrong with him? He was acting strangely…

A sharp knock at the door roused him to quick anger. How dare he be disturbed?

Very quietly, so as not to wake Fuu, Ferio slipped out of the bed and donned a pair of plain cotton pants. He opened the door and snapped, "What?"

A soldier greeted him, bowing low. "Forgive me, Prince Ferio, but I've been informed that the Madoshi requires your presence at this time."

Ferio narrowed his eyes. "What does Clef want with me?"

"The Madoshi was very vague, Highness. He only requests your company with urgency."

Ferio scratched his head, sighing. "I hope he doesn't want to discuss that infernal rip in the Veil with me again. As if it has anything to do with me."

The soldier seemed rather distraught. If his Prince would not come with him, he feared the nasty tongue-lashing he'd receive from the Master Mage. "Highness, please—"

"Very well!" Ferio said waspishly. He snatched up a shirt and a set of semi-dress robes and threw them over his shoulders. "I hope the Madoshi doesn't expect a royal entrance. I've just woken up, you know."

"Yes, forgive me, Highne—"

"Enough! It's not your fault. No need to apologize." Ferio rubbed his forehead, glaring down the hall. He wished he wasn't quite so surly; there was no need to be so rude to his poor soldier. "Where is he?"

"Here," said Clef's voice from the darkness of the hall, matching the nastiness in Ferio's own voice. Ferio turned to see the Mage walking swiftly towards him.

"What's this all about, Clef? I planned on retiring quietly for the night, you know."

"I wouldn't disturb your little romantic evening if it weren't important, Ferio." Clef stopped in front of the soldier and cast a dark look on him. "Did you get lost on your way to the Prince's chambers, young man? I've been waiting downstairs for quite some time."

The soldier colored and averted his eyes. "Apologies, Madoshi-sama."

Clef made a dismissive gesture. "Anyway, Ferio, I need you to come with me. I seek an audience with the King and Queen. You must be in attendance as well."

Ferio yawned into his hand. "Why?"

"You'll see when we enter the Grand Hall. It's a rather long story that I don't want to recount twice."

"You'll have to do better than that," the young Prince scoffed. "I don't want to be dragged into another long debate with you about the Veil between the worlds and its great fissure. Yes, we all know it's there, and it's bad, oh my. Doesn't concern me, Madoshi."

"As Prince of this land, I should think it concerns you quite a bit!" Clef retorted. "This land is in your hands as well as your sister's, Ferio! But that's not the issue here; at least, not quite. It's a matter of some urgency. I assure you that you'll be returned to your pretty little slave before the night is out and are you getting all of this, soldier, or am I speaking too fast for you?" Clef turned a scathing look on the soldier who'd remained rooted in his spot. The young man snapped to attention and bowed out of the hall.

Ferio closed the door behind him. "Lead the way. If I've found that you've wasted my time tonight though Clef, I'll be very unhappy about it."

"Your happiness is not high on my list of priorities, Majesty. Come."

"Oh, yes, always we must scurry to do your will…" Ferio followed glumly, hoping that Fuu would sleep peacefully until he returned.

"Spare me your insolence right now, Ferio. I'm in no mood for it. And, wait… Ferio, are you prematurely aging?"

Clef was giving the Prince a strange look. Ferio ran his hands through his hair and, out of the corner of his eye, saw something falling to the floor. It looked like a great, green clump of hair. Ferio frowned. "Not so far as I'm aware…it appears to be a feather."

Clef scoffed. "Well, Prince, what you and your slave do in your private time is no concern of—" He turned sharply and stared at Ferio's hand. "—mine." He strode forward and snatched the feather from Ferio's hand. It was long and green and, in the glow of torchlight that illuminated the halls, fine seams of gold glinted throughout the plumage. Clef gaped in horror.

"Ferio…"

"What?'

The Madoshi dashed past the Prince and threw open the wide doors to his chambers. Inside, candles were lit and a young servant girl was milling about the room, bending over and plucking a myriad of feathers from the floor, muttering under her breath about the young Master and his slovenly ways.

Ferio pushed past Clef and said, "You there! How dare you disturb my girl! Can you not see she was sleeping?"

"Silence!" Clef hissed. He stalked over to the bed and threw back the sheets that covered Fuu. The young blonde stirred fitfully in her sleep but did not waken. She was literally covered in a blanket of loose feathers. They stuck in her hair and to the sheets she slept on. Clef grabbed a fistful of them and thrust them into Ferio's face. "What are these!"

Ferio stood agape. "I don't know. Perhaps I left the window open and a bird flew in…"

"A bird?" Clef repeated wildly. "You could say that, but it would be blasphemy to do so!"

Ferio merely scratched his head again and stared at his slave. "Speaking of strange occurrences, I saw something disturbing the other night. Forgive me for neglecting to tell you, but—The Sky Shrine is alive. It issues an unholy glow."

Clef's fist, still closed tightly around the clump of feathers, began to shake violently. He seethed. "You…neglected…" He swore loudly and yanked Ferio from the room. "Come with me now. That's not a request!"

The Prince stumbled along after the Madoshi, swearing colorfully under his breath and twisting one of the green feathers between his fingers. He studied it closely and felt something trigger his memory. Green and gold. His eyes narrowed.

Windam.