You guys really seem to like my FotA stories, so here is one that started in my creative writing journal! I hope you like it! I feel like it is all over the place, let me know if it doesn't make much sense...

-owl

"Mother." Cardan's voice was cold and his one word seemed to bring the temperature in the room down considerably. "What are you doing here? I was under the impression that you didn't care enough for me and never wanted to be a mother to me."

Asha's mouth opened and closed, as though she was going to say something but thought better of it.

"Or," Cardan continued, not letting her answer his first question, maybe it was because he didn't want to hear the answer, "are you here for the things I, as High King, may grant you?"

She stood there waiting, not saying anything. Cardan wasn't sure what to do. Oh, how he wished Jude were here, she would undoubtedly know how to treat Asha, know how to get him out of the mess that was sure to come from this.

Luckily, the Bomb was nearby and interjected herself into the conversation. "Your High King asked you a question, she said in a warning tone.

Asha sighed before speaking. "Cardan, my son, I am here because now that you have removed that mortal from your side, you will need a new seneschal. You can—" her voice then cut off abruptly, she had clearly tried to lie.

Cardan stood from his throne and walked three steps towards his mother, letting his long cloak drag carelessly behind him in a show of intimidation. "What were you going to say, Mother? Was it that I can trust you? Clearly I can't if you are unable to say it to me."

Asha gritted her teeth in anger. "What will you do to me then?" she spat at him.

Cardan drew himself up to his full height. "Asha, though I have no idea why you are no longer in the Tower of Forgetting, I, as your king, sentence you again to live out your days in the Tower." As soon as he finished speaking, he turned on his heel and left the room as a pair of burly guards grabbed Asha and began dragging her from the burgh.

The Bomb followed him through the halls back to his chambers. Once the door was closed and locked, she pulled off the veil she had been wearing to hide her face. "Are you sure you did the right thing?" she asked.

Cardan turned to face her, anger in his eyes. "While most days, I don't hate your input, I do not care for it now. I am your king, and you would do well not to question my decisions. I don't need to explain myself to you."

The Bomb looked taken aback, and she was opening her mouth when she changed her mind and ducked into a secret passage that Cardan had not known was there. He could hear her footsteps receding through the tunnel, she must have been stomping, because the Bomb was a master at sly-footing. No doubt she would go to the current hiding place of the Court of Shadows, wherever they had moved to after the Ghost's attack, and tell them about what had happened.

"Why did I ever send Jude away?" Cardan muttered to himself. She would know what to do, she always seemed to, at least.

He was walking across the room to his desk when there was a knock at his door. He changed his path to answer it, as there was no one there to do it for him. When he did open the door he was surprised to see the person on the other side.

Jude was standing there, wearing a velvet dress the color of sage. Her hands were clasped together in front of her and her face held deep concern for something.

Jude.

Jude.

Jude.

"Jude?" he asked.

The concerned look turned to a mix of annoyance and disappointment. Her eyes flashed with anger for barely a split-second. Then she spoke. "You exiled Jude, I'm Taryn." her voice had an edge to it the Cardan was certain she never had when they went to palace lessons together.

Of course, it couldn't be Jude. Now that Cardan looked closer, there were minute details that weren't Jude. The sisters carried themselves differently, and Jude's eyes always had a scheming glint to them. "My apologies, Taryn. How can I be of service?" he asked, opening the door wider and allowing the mortal girl access to his outer chambers.

"My king, I—" her voice broke and she lifted her hand to cover her mouth. "I haven't seen Locke in nearly a fortnight, I am beginning to wonder where he is. I'm terribly sorry to intrude, but I knew that if anyone would know where the Master of Revels would be, it would be you."

Cardan frowned. "I can't say that I have either. But, I will send out a search party for him. You will be the first person I will notify once I know anything."

Taryn nodded, and curtsied. "I am at your service." Then she walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.

Cardan sighed, then copied Taryn's steps to the door and stuck his head into the hall. Outside his doors his full guard stood at attention. "Can someone send out a rider to search for Lock, Master of Revels?"

The youngest of his guards nodded and quickly jogged down the hall.

Cardan then withdrew into his rooms, finally taking a seat at his desk and pulling a paper out of it.

Jude,

Life here can be so incredibly dull without you. I realize that I have complained about your… way of making things interesting. I believe I once complained that you solve every problem with murder, but I would never complain again if you would just come home.

Today my mother came to the burgh, which is odd, seeing as last I knew, she was in the Tower of Forgetting. She said that she wanted to be my new seneschal, now that you were gone. I told her no. Then she tried to say something, I think she was trying to say I could trust her, but she could not, it was a quite blatant lie.

All I could do was wish you were her to help me with her, I wasn't sure what to do. In the end, I sentenced her back to the Tower, but I'm sure you would have had a better idea. Come home, Jude, be the ruler you are, the people have been led by you since I took the crown, give them back their queen. You need no longer dwell in the shadows.

After that entire debacle, the Bomb questioned my decision about my mother. I do not know what made her think she could question me like that. I know the two of you are friends, but I am not you.

I thought I saw you today, Jude. You and Taryn really look similar when one is not thinking to look for the differences. Your sister came to my door, looking for Locke. She said she hadn't seen him for nearly a fortnight. I sent one of my guards to search for him. I know you dislike him, my queen, but it would look bad if it appeared I didn't either, even if his 'drama' is no longer something I agree with.

My Love, I miss you. Every waking hour, I wish for you to come home. Even if you come home and yell at me, I would do anything to see your face again.

Please, come home.

-your husband, Cardan

He sighed and sealed the letter in an envelope. Cardan would not send it by mortal messengers, but perhaps one of the junior members of the Court of Shadows needed a field trip.