(A/N Confusing chapter, I know. I hope you like it, anyways)

Chapter 34: Death

It was the last week of Cashmére's pregnancy, actually. They were going to the Castle, because they wanted to be with Marcia. Trassimma was dead, she had died in her sleep. Marcia had found her, and sent a message to Joseph at once.

However, Cashmére had not wanted to go to the Castle at first. She would have prefered it if Marcia had came over to the Eastern Snowplains, but it was the last year of Marcia's apprentice-ship and she was, as Marcia herself put it; busy, busy, busy. So, Joseph and Cashmére had decided to go over to the Castle. The Wise Seven and Tantibus did, of course, follow. It was on the boat, things started to go wrong.

The fourth day of the trip to the Castle, the whole Seven, including Cashmére and Joseph, Colum (who had insisted in following his uncle) and Tantibus were sitting in the dining room, while eating dinner. It was unusual, since Cashmére prefered to eat dinner in her own room. She didn't like people to see her as big as she was. She was one of these women who grow picky while expecting children.

Cashmére and Naomi was discussing children, when a loud bang was heard. Everyone went silent. Years earlier, before Lorea had been born and had died, they wouldn't have cared. But all that happend had made them, especially Joseph and Cashmére, a bit paranoid for strange phenomens. Joseph grasped Cashmére's hand, and Cashmére squeezed it tightly. They thought they were silly, but they couldn't help becoming worried. What was that? The sound was followed by scream, and everyone flew up from their chairs. Cashmére yelped, and Joseph held her tightly. "Hush." he said.

"What was that?" Cashmére asked.

"That's what we'll find out." Joseph answered. "Now, you, Naomi and Colum must hide. The rest of us will find out what it is."

"Joseph, I think it would be better if you went with the heiress and Naomi and Colum." Lucian said, "After all, you'll soon-"
"I know, Lucian, I'll soon be father." Joseph replied, "That's why I want to protect my family from whatever that might be."
Cashmére knew that Joseph felt bad over that he hadn't been able to do anything in order to help Lorea. She did, too, but at the same time, she knew that Joseph sometimes was very traditional. He wanted to defend his faimly, since he was the father. Cashmére knew that she would have to choose between Joseph's hapiness, and her own. She chose Joseph's. "Be careful." she whispered, as she hugged him tightly.

"I will." he whispered back, and placed a kiss on her cheek. Then he went of with the rest.

Rodrian shifted from his right feet to his left. He didn't like this. He was staring into the dead eyes of someones servant- perhaps his brothers. The woman was pretty. She had black, straight hair and grey eyes. Her lips were lightly pink. Had he really killed her? He licked his lips nerveousley. Yes, he had. "Hey, Overstrand!" Eridiah Beth barked. "Wake up, will you?"

"Sorry." Rodrian replied. Sometimes, he regretted not becoming leader of the rebels. Then, maybe he could have put that horrable man into place. But now, he was just a simple spy. A happy spy most of the time, though. Lorea, who for the moment was with Amanda, was, Rodrian thought, almost looked at her as though she was his own daughter. Rodrian knew it was wrong. It was his brother's daughter, whom his brother didn't even knew was alive. But he kept her to himself. He knew he was being egostic, and he cringed at the thought of what Marcia would have said to him if she knew.

A man entered the room. Rodrian didn't realize who it was at first; he had a fiery tunic and a golden belt. He, Rodrian, thought that the man looked strangely alike his own father. The man even had the same frown as Melchior had had when he had been dissapointed in Rodrian. But this man was younger. Horrified, Rodrian suddenly realized who this was; Joseph!

The man was no one less than his own brother, whom Rodrian hadn't met in over nine years.
"Rodrian." Joseph bared his teeth, "What are you doing here?"

Rodrian was about to answer, but Eridiah interupted him with a chuckle. "I thought your little sister had told you all about Rodrian!" he said, mockingly.

"Rod, I give you one chance," said Joseph, completely ignoring Eridiah, "Either, you're with me, or you're with them."
Rodrian was speecheless. He hadn't expected Joseph to- kind of- forgive him for being a rebel. Yet, he couldn't leave the rebels. It could be fatal to everyone. The rebels had a "fire-bomb". When it detonated, the boat would be set on fire. Rodrian was starting to feel a bit nerveous. Lorea's father- and his brother- was in grave danger. If he'd say he was with Joseph, they would detonate the bomd imediately. If he didn't- maybe he would buy Joseph some time. And, he couldn't leave Lorea alone. Then he was sure that the rebels sooner or later would find her, if he did not protect her. "I'm sorry, Jose." Rodrian said, "But I'm a rebel." And I hate it.

Joseph looked at him. Really looked at him. Then, he shook his head. "No," he replied, "I'm sorry."

"Jose-" Rodrian begun, but was interupted by a short scream. He looked up, just in time to see his brother fly straight into the wall. It made an horrable sound, and Joseph didn't rise up again.

"No!" Rodrian yelled. Eridiah roled his eyes.

"You can't say he didn't deserve it." he said. Rodrian gave him a look, that infact scared him. Then Rodrian settled down beside his brother.

"Jose," he felt for his brothers' pulse, "Joseph, get up!"

He didn't feel his brothers' pulse, so he put his hand half an inch above his brothers' mouth. "Breathe..." he said, "Please, breathe..."
Joseph didn't breathe, and he was starting to feel cold. Already. It wasn't possible. It couldn't be possible. Joseph wasn't dead. Rodrian had never, ever felt that guilty. He had killed his brother. It was his fault that he was dead, at least. How could he ever feel alright again? How could he ever look at himself again? How could he ever look at Lorea again?

"Overstrand," Eridiah said, "Pull yourself together, and get up."

"You killed him." Rodrian rose up, "You killed him!"

"No." Eridiah replied, "The Emperors' bloody daughter did."

"What?"

"Don't you see?" Eridiah asked, "If he'd never had met that... woman, he would have been perfectly fine now."

Although he somewhere deep down knew it was wrong, Joseph could not help, but to feel relieved at these words. He didn't have to blame himself for Joseph's death, after all. It could, just as well, be that whores, Cashmére's, fault. She had, after all, seduced him, hadn't she? She had made him marry her, she had brought him with her to the Castle now. She's Lorea's mother, a little voice whispered. It was still all her fault. The more Rodrian thoguth of it, the more it made sense to him. It wasn't his fault, it was hers.

Rodrian rose up, and went towards the door.

"Where are you going?" Eridiah asked.

"I'm going vengeance his death." he answered. Eridiah grinned shortly.

"You have half an hour." he said.

"Cashmére, what are you doing?" Lucian asked. "You have to get of the boat!"

"I have to find Joseph!" Cashmére protested, when Rodrian tried to push her against the door. "Lucian, I have to!"

"Joseph will be alright." said Lucian, "I swear. Now, we have to get of the boat. They are going to set it on fire."

"But-" Cashmére was interupted by Lucian.

"Think of the child, Cashmére." Lucian said, gingerly, which was enough to almost cause Cashmére to cry. He grabbed her arm. "Now, let's go."
Cashmére finally gave in, and followed him.

There she was! Rodrian had spotted Cashmére. She was with that Ramasotti-man. It was difficult for him to look at her. She looked very much like Lorea- the hair, the shape of the nose... There was so much that reminded Rodrian of Lorea in her. He bit his lip. He had spent the lasy twenty minutes in trying to convince himself that killing Cashmére was the right thing to do, and now he did believe himself. He activated his staff, and charged at Cashmére.

All that Lucian had seen was that there was some man with a staff who charged at Cashmére. It's tip had turned sharp, and it now reminded him strictly of a spear. The staff was just about to pierce Cashmére's back, but Lucian jumped in between the staff and Cashmére's back. He winced. The staff had hit him in the side. Cashmére let out a shriek, and stopped him from falling. "Stop!" she yelled, when the man was about to stab him a second time, "Stop it!"
The man stopped for a few seconds. He looked confused. These few seconds was enough for Cashmére to freeze him. Lucian groaned.

"Cashmére, leave me here." he said.

"No!" she replied, "No, absolutley not. Your nephews need you."

"Cashmére..."

"Are you really going to leave them?" Cashmére asked, "Do you want to?"

"No."

"Then, let's go."

They finally arrived to the lifeboats, where Tantibus, Naomi, Phileus, Oberon and Darius waited for them. Tantibus and Darius helped Lucian down into the lifeboat, then they helped Cashmére down.
"Where's Joseph?" she immediatley asked.

"Cashmére," said Phileus, "I found him."

"Good. So where is he?" Cashmére looked around her, expecting to find her husband.

"I'm so sorry, honey..."

"Where is he?" Cashmére started to feel desperate. Naomi settled down beside her.

"Cashmére, sometimes, things don't always go as you expect..." she said.

"I know, Naomi." Cashmére replied. She was annoyed. "I'm not a little girl."

"I know." Naomi said, "But know, it is so that Phileus found Joseph."

"Where is he, then?" Cashmére rose up. "Joseph!" she shouted, "Where are you?"

Tantibus went up to her, and hugged her tightly. "Joseph is dead." he said.

"What?" Cashmére asked.

"He's dead."

"No. No, you're lying."

"I know how it feels, Cass-"

"No!" Cashmére yelled, but regretted it just after it. He did infact understand. Tantibus had, he too, lost his beloved. He had also been left alone with a child. His only child. "No you don't!"

"Cashmére-" Cashmére didn't listen anymore. She just wanted to get away from there. And she did get away from there. She transported away from there.

(A/N There will be about two or three more chapters. Feel free to review!)