At the Keep. : Terreille.

She was bruised and battered. Her once long plain colored black dress was now nearly more than shreds covering her body. It was stupid going back of the money that she would need to get to the keep. No more than stupid.

Her sire had found her in her room and nearly left her for dead. Or would have if something… a wonderful something… hadn't spilled his guts over the floor. That same something had burst the skull open with such violent force that it intrigued her at the same time worried her.

After she remembered to breath she had bolted. It had been well before dawn yet a black stallion had been waiting for her. Sattled and just standing near her house. No one had been out then. And a horse would make travel so much easier.

Of course riding a horse thru dense woods and across more miles then she had ever seen wasn't smart either. Traveling while hurt well … she would be kicking herself for all the things she did wrong for a long time.

It took days to reach the Keep. Days on a horse who never listen to where she wanted to go, but always knew where water and shelter were. A horse that never once came across something that may harm them yet ran into every brush and bramble without so much a scratch. It was something she would worry about later.

Right now she had bigger worries. Katarina looked up at the tall looming stone structure. Her stomach lurched. She was already too late to save the Prince's life. That she knew. Bearing that news to his relatives or the only relative she knew he had…

… Would he blame her for his brother's death? Would he rip her apart before or after she told him?

… Only one way to find out.

Katarina closed her golden eyes and nervously brought up her hand to knock on the door.

"Come in. I was told to expect you."

Pale skin and to large black orbs for eyes had spoke those words. He was of no race that she knew of yet he seemed warm and friendly. She took one small step inside then found every bit of backbone that had kept her alive. "I need to speak to Prince Sadi's family."

Geoffrey gave a warm smile, "All of the Prince's family or one in particular?"

All? "Perhaps a female?"

She was showed to a waiting room of sorts. Large windows over looking what could only be Avaski. An old style couch and matching chair yet both were barely used. K shivered, not from the room but from how much flesh was uncovered.

"Oh, Geoffrey said you needed a female to speak to he didn't say" Silvia waved it off, "Well darling he is a male." It was meant as a small joke so why did the young girl look more frighten. "Come darling and sit, I'm sure a warm blanket will be in here shortly."

"You-you're a queen."

"Yess. And I'm a member of Prince Sadi's family."

Katarina sat down and let the words she had bottled up overflow. The venom of what had been done to the Prince and what might have been done after she left.

Silvia eased back in her chair. Prince Sadi was alive or had been when she had been told that the child needed to speak to her. Child? No this girl was the age of a youth but not a child. "Prince Sadi is not among the dead."

"But he… he… how?"

"Darling how much do you know about Prince Sadi?" seeing the girls eyes widened she hurriedly said, "You know what forget that. There will be time enough to answer every question you have-"and the ones the 'family' will have "later. Right now I do believe a room has been prepared for you for as long as you need it."

"I can stay here?"

The total amazement and the way the fierce queen turned into a child was remarkable. "Yes, you're staying here. Now no one will come looking for you-"

"No lady, my sire died, um, unexpectedly."

"-if… I see. In that case for the moment consider this home." She was taking liberties with that but what else was she to do? Drag her into Kealeer and drop her on the door step of the Hall. Well that would be a bit of fun watching all the males snarl at who gets to 'help' her first… then again she could take the girl to Hell and introduce her to the Cildru dyathe. Then again if she managed not to flip out over the demon dead they still might attack her. No right here would have to do.

Kealeer:

The High Lord slipped out of his son's room. The image of seeing Daemon as little more than a corpse would haunt him the rest of his days. Damn him. Damn him to the bowls of Hell. What in the Name of darkness was he thinking? Didn't he know… realize … how fragile he was… how fragile Janelle Was? When the idiot woke up he was going to give him an ear full and then some. Ear blistering lectures… Bah… His son didn't know ear blistering… oh but he would.

The sun was starting to rise, or maybe it had already crept over the land, either case why was his wife here? He felt her the moment she was on the landing web. The amount of hot, bubbling anger that was rolling off her concerned him. The fact that she couldn't possible know what Daemon had done, worried him more.

"Oh blasted Hell, Now what." If it was a matter of the demon dead he would purge the whole damn realm. He didn't have time to deal with pity little things right now.

He came to the bottom step of the front hall just as Silvia was being helped inside. The fierce look in her eyes told him he was dealing with a Queen and not his adored wife. The way she was staring at him and his black jeweled pendent was enough to call him to the battlefield even if he didn't know where it was or who for that matter.

In a deep swan song coo he spoke," Lady Silvia."

"Is Prince Sadi Alive?"

That voice was too deep. To calm. And too damn controlled. "He is."

Silvia laced her fingers together across her lap. "Then you won't be needed here."

Damn her, his son was beyond injured, his other… well he didn't know what was wrong with Lucivar but he was damn going to and soon. And that didn't even cover his daughter… his queen… like hell he wasn't needed here. Thunder rolled with his words, "Then where would I be needed, Lady"

"The Keep." She waited while he let the words tumble in the thoughts then added, "Terreille."

Now there was a worthy battleground. It was a place that he should have destroyed years ago. It was an error that he would gladly fix now. "And if the Lady would be so kind as to tell me what's at the Keep?"

Lightning flashed in her eyes and the hall dropped a few degrees in warmth, "That is for Draca to tell, Prince."

Well damn whatever 'it' was sure did piss her off in a hurry." In that case I'll see that…"

"No, you will leave now. Word can sent to you if you're needed."

She was a queen that allowed her some lee way in how she spoke to him, but that push, that tone had him fighting to remain civil. Another push and he would no longer be able to hold the leash.

"High Lord."

That icy controlled voice came from behind him. The dark sent told him who, "Lady Karla, Your talents are needed…"

"Don't you dare tell me where my talents are need, High Lord"

"elsewhere."

He could fight one them but not two. Not when one would be needed to take care of his children. "Lady Silvia was explaining I was requested at the Keep."

"Then I suggest you leave unless you want to explain to your daughter why I'm debating with you when I could be tending to her husband."

Damn her. There was no excuses to stay if she was using that as the bribe. "Will you look in on-"

"High Lord, ' It was a warning tone. A tone that said she was beyond annoyed. And it warned of something darker. She was a black widow and she knew where she was needed.

"Ladies, I'll be back as soon as I can."

They waited till he was away on the web then Karla snapped, "There are enough people in the Hall that need healing and making a tonic for you –"

"I have my own, Lady."

"Well hell then. Since you're to be taking your nap in the High Lords suite then you can check on the other idiot."

Floating up the steps Silvia dared to ask, "How is Prince Sadi?"

"He's an idiot, I'm sure he'll be fine." Karla stopped "Was it necessary to get the High Lord all riled up?"

"It's a warning for what he's walking into. And believe me Lady if he does what I know he'll do he won't be the only male in this house riding the killing edge."

"Lovely, and just when I was getting bored."

sorry I haven't posted in a while. pesky hospital stays. anyways hope you enjoy. any spelling error let me know so I can try to fix them.