Another sleepless night, with more promising to follow.

Shana hated this feeling that hung over her, like a heavy pool of water, drowning her and slowly drawing out her life. She rolled over again, taking comfort in the soft glow of the white silver dragoon spirit resting on the table next to her bed.

With nothing else to occupy her mind, painful memories appeared each night, unbidden and unwanted. All the times she had spent with Lavitz assaulted her like some kind of cruel mockery of her grief. As pleasant as the king was, she could not help but wish for her old friend back. She wondered what would be different about their situation had he not died. Would they be planning this venture? Would they be in Kazas at all? Would the king be alive? Would anything be different between her and Dart?

And there she went again, bringing it all back to Dart. She remembered their stolen moment in Lohan, and the possibility of what could have been. Her heart ached every time she thought of him pulling away from her as he had that day, when all she had wanted was to be closer to him. Would Lavitz have been able to sort Dart out if he had lived? She thought of him now, probably sleeping soundly in the next room over. She knew that he was hurting, but there was nothing that she could do about it.

She rolled over once more, then flopped onto her back and stared at the ceiling. Reaching her hand up, she focused a slender tendril of light that flowed from her fingertip to the boards above her. Then glancing nervously at Rose, asleep and breathing evenly in the other bed, she let the light die. Ever since Hellena, Rose had been even more cut off than normal. Their time together in Lohan had brought them closer, Shana thought, and almost had her opening up. But now, she was becoming even more abrasive than she'd been before. Shana wished that she could talk to her about Lavitz, but that seemed a distant possibility now.

Sighing, she rubbed her hands over her face. Her mind was exhausted, but sleep still eluded her. Although the curtain was drawn, something she had insisted upon since staying with Rose in Lohan, she could sense the light beginning to drift into the city. She rolled her eyes and got up, snatching the dragoon spirit as she made for the door. She closed it softly behind her and crept into the main lobby. To her relief, no one was there, and she took a seat before the smoldering fire, which still put out a surprising amount of heat. Soft morning light had begun to creep through the front windows.

"What are you doing up?"

The loud whisper stopped her heart and she jumped, turning toward the voice. Haschel stood in the doorway, eyeing her with worried eyes.

"I could ask you the same thing!" she whispered back, indignant that he had caught her off guard.

"I heard movement, and I came to make sure that nobody was being kidnapped."

"Don't you think I would scream if I were being taken?"

"You never know. Maybe they drugged you."

"And Rose wouldn't respond violently?"

Haschel moved over to join her on the couch. "Maybe they drugged her, too."

"Do you seriously think someone could get the jump on Rose?"

"Okay, okay," said Haschel, holding up his hands in surrender. "I give up. I'm just a little paranoid in this town, I guess." He paused. "But really, what are you doing out here?"

"I just woke up early," she said. "I have... too much on my mind."

"Like the deathtrap we're about to spring?"

She chuckled softly. "I wish it were something that nice."

"Lavitz," he said quietly. She nodded. "Do you want to talk about it?"

"Maybe."

Standing, Haschel held out a hand and said, "Join me for a walk?" She hesitated, not fond of the idea of leaving the rest without notifying them. These streets were dangerous. He seemed to read her thoughts as he urged, "Come on, I'll dropkick anyone who looks at you funny."

Laughing, she took his hand and allowed him to pull her to her feet. "I'll hold you to that. But let's not be too long." Heading out the door, she linked her arm in his as they wandered down the damp streets, vacant except for several guards who stood at attention, swords dangling ominously from their hips.

"I didn't know Lavitz very well," said Haschel quietly. "But he seemed like a good guy. The kind this world doesn't deserve."

"You're right." Her voice was small. "Nobody could have deserved him."

"Did he have any family?"

"A mom."

"No wife or kids?"

"No. He didn't seem to want to take the time."

"Makes sense, I guess," he chuckled. "That man was way too obsessed with his country to give his love to anything else."

"That's not entirely true. He loved us well enough."

"You know what I mean."

She did. It was always one of the things she had admired most about Lavitz: his honor and his duty to his country. That was what had driven them to Bale, and then to Hoax, and that was what had sent them to Hellena Prison. Perhaps if he had been a little less honorable, he would still be alive.

But he wouldn't be Lavitz, she thought.

"When we first met his mom, he told her that I was Dart's girlfriend," she said, smiling. She remembered his laughs at Dart's pained expression.

Haschel laughed. "I bet Dart loved that."

"He didn't know what to do. Lavitz laughed at him."

"I would have, too. Dart is the best to watch when he's uncomfortable." He looked thoughtful for a moment. "I should invest more time into making that happen."

"I don't think it's very hard to do," chuckled Shana.

"Speaking of... what happened between you and Dart in Lohan?" asked Haschel.

The suddenness of the question caught her by surprise, and she stumbled over her words. "Oh, um... Nothing. It's not... I mean, nothing happened." Glancing over to him, she saw Haschel grinning wildly. Shoving him gently, she scolded, "You're just trying to make me uncomfortable now, aren't you?"

Barking out a deep laugh, Haschel said, "I'm sorry, but it's just so easy! With you or Dart, just mention the other, and you both get so flustered. I love it."

"Insufferable," said Shana, although she couldn't help but smile when she said it. "I don't know why we take you anywhere."

"Don't worry. I won't be a problem for too much longer."

Her eyes snapped to him. "What do you mean?"

"After this job is done, I'm leaving."

"What? Why?"

"I can't keep up with you young ones like this forever," said Haschel, stroking his mustache. "Besides, it feels a little weird to be the one normal person among a troupe of dragoons. You can all do these amazing things, and I'm just here to punch things."

"That's not true!"

"Oh, I know." He winked. "I hold the group together. But not so much that you can't fare without me."

Shana paused. She had herself experienced such a feeling during their travels. Before Lohan, Dart's and Rose's power had always made her feel as if she were not needed, and only a nuisance, a burden to be carried by the whole group. Had Lavitz ever felt that way?

"I... understand," she said finally.

"Really? I thought you would protest. Perhaps violently."

"You seem to have your mind made up. Besides, I almost did the same thing several times."

"When?"

"Before I got my dragoon spirit."

He nodded. They continued winding their way down the streets, arm in arm. As absurd a thought as it was, Shana couldn't help but feel as if she were an important merchant's daughter, being escorted about the city by her prestigious father. She almost laughed at the prospect, but she certainly felt safe with Haschel there to protect her. His eyes were vigilant, easily taking in all his surroundings at once, noticing every twitch in the guards' faces as they passed by. She thought it was strange how he managed to be so light-hearted and serious simultaneously. It was certainly not a thing that she could ever be comfortable doing.

"But, really," he said after the long pause. "What did happen between you two? I know it happened before we met, but I could see those looks between you within seconds of our introduction."

The memory flashed before her again: his blue eyes so full of love, and then so dismissive. The change had been sudden and complete, and she had yet to see that emotion in his eyes again. She sighed.

"That bad, huh?" He watched her studiously.

"Yes," she said. Then she explained the scene to him of that day after Dart's first tournament fight, how she had though she would finally reach him. "But just like that—" she snapped her fingers "—whatever was there was gone, never to be seen again. I don't know if I did something, or if he just got scared. And I don't know if we'll ever get back there."

"I see."

"What, no crude jokes or scathing remarks?"

He grinned. "Oh, I have them rattling around in here, but believe it or not, I do have a filter sometimes."

"Sometimes?"

"Sometimes," he confirmed with a smirk.

They continued in this way for some time, laughing and walking together as if they were family. Part of Shana wanted it to be true. With her family so far away for so long, she had been missing such ties. But now she realized that Lavitz, Haschel, and even Rose had wriggled their way into her heart, and she felt more at home with them than she had felt anywhere before. And while Lavitz may have gone on without them, she had hope that one day, King Albert would join their little family unit.

"What do you think of the king?" she asked suddenly.

Letting out a sound of exasperation, Haschel said, "Stiff, that one. Seems to be a nice guy, but he needs to learn how to let up once in a while."

"He is a king," reasoned Shana. "He's been trained to be regal and proper. He has to be."

"Knowing how to be one of the people can be helpful, too. And he really just talks too much."

"I think he has some very interesting things to say."

"You would."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you're too kind for this world, Shana. Lucky I'm here to stave off all the wretches who would exploit that."

She wasn't sure whether to be flattered or offended, but she smiled anyway.

"You remind me a bit of my daughter sometimes," he said, a hint of sadness behind his voice. She searched his face and found that bit of seriousness covering his features, the comedy giving way to solemnity.

"What was she like?" she asked tentatively.

Hesitating a moment, he abandoned his vigil to look down at his feet. "Brave. Kind. A skilled warrior. She had the potential to be a greater martial artist than I am, and because of that, I pushed her. I wanted her to take over one day, but... I never stopped to consider what she wanted. Her heart was always so full of love, always wanting to help those less fortunate. And I tried to drive that out of her, like a fool."

Squeezing his arm, Shana said quietly, "But you've learned from your mistakes. You have to forgive yourself, Haschel."

"Eh, maybe someday. Today, we have to go kill an important member of the government."

Giving deference to Haschel's avoidance of the subject, Shana stayed silent, preferring to simply enjoy his company until they finally made their way back to the inn.

The day passed without incident, and soon enough, they were preparing to leave. Reluctantly, Dart and Albert left behind their armor to be less conspicuous, but Rose and Shana agreed that their plan would be no less successful with theirs. So, the women strapped on their armor and weapons, ready to move. As she strapped on her bow and quiver, she envied Haschel, who had no weapon to carry and yet still managed to be intimidating. Perhaps one day, she could take some lessons from him and learn how to fight with her fists.

Just before sundown, they bid farewell to Connor, leaving under the guise of a precarious business meeting, and headed down to the slums. As the light waned, soft pops sounded in the streetlamps as the flames flickered to life, easily lit by some remote switch. As much as the unnatural illumination irritated her, she couldn't deny that it was a marvel of engineering.

They walked for a long while until coming upon the Black Castle, eerie as ever in the last glimpses of daylight. It was certainly more pretentious than Indels Castle, with swooping balconies and towering spires decorating its outer walls. She wondered how easy it would be to get to the throne room, and whether their unfamiliarity with the layout would be greatly problematic. Beyond anything, she hoped that they would be able to complete the mission with minimal casualties. No doubt, each of the men who worked in the Black Castle had families of their own. Each death would mean another wife becoming a widow, another child becoming an orphan. She glanced around the streets. Sorrow was already too rampant here; she couldn't bear the thought of adding to it.

When they reached the slums, she almost broke down in tears. The broken houses, the standing water, and the sunken faces were almost too much for her. But more than this, she could sense the disease that spread all too easily in such a crowded, damp area. With her power, she would be able to cure every single one of them, ridding the entire country of sickness. But that was not her mission.

At the end of the long trench surrounding the castle, Shana was surprised to find a young boy waiting for them, his face eager with anticipation.

"This is our contact?" she whispered to Haschel.

"I guess, but he does seem a bit young to be running a political campaign. But then again..." He quirked a smile. "He's not much younger than you, I'd wager. Probably fifteen? You could drop Dart and go for him."

She rolled her eyes, ignoring the statement as the boy ran to greet Dart and Albert, practically jumping up and down.

"You came!" he said. "Right this way!"

He led them into a tiny building and then into a dark tunnel. Shana resisted the urge to summon a light but held her breath until they emerged into a large room carved out of stone, lit by several torches. Without breaking stride, they continued across into a much smaller room, empty but for a well in the center. She took a deep breath, not enjoying the prospect of climbing down that rope.

"First, I just want to say hello to the brave people working with His Majesty Albert," said Popo, turning his eyes to Haschel and Rose. But when his eyes met Shana, he paused. "You look familiar... Have we met before?"

She froze. Was it possible that the boy was working for Emperor Doel? Was this all a grand plot to get her inside the Black Castle? Lloyd had seemed very cunning; maybe he'd paid off Popo to guide them here, and he was waiting at the other end of the tunnel to snatch her up.

She glanced at Dart, who had visibly stiffened. But she saw that he wasn't the only one. Each of her companions had turned their eyes to Popo. Haschel clenched his fist and puffed his chest, Albert straightened his spine, and even Rose placed a hand on her sword hilt. Before her was a fifteen-year-old child.

She almost laughed. She had never been in any danger.

"I don't think so," she said. "I've never even been to Kazas before."

"You might recognize her from the posters," said King Albert, stepping forward defensively.

"That's it!" cried Popo, oblivious to the danger he'd been in a moment before. Shana felt her companions relax as he smiled. "Sorry! I just couldn't place your face. And don't worry, I'll keep my word to the king. I won't tell anyone you're here."

"Are you really against Doel?" she asked suddenly, the words bubbling to the surface before she had time to stop them. She could see Lloyd's ruthless eyes glaring at her in Lohan, and she forced herself away from a shiver. Popo seemed indignant, throwing his chest out in defiance.

"Of course I am!" he insisted. "Doel has been nothing but cruel to us. I would have left Kazas a long time ago if I hadn't thought I could do more good here."

"I'm sorry," she said hurriedly. "I didn't mean to offend you."

Popo looked down sheepishly. "I guess you're justified in your wariness. I could be anyone, telling you this information to lead you into a trap. But I'm not, and I will take your secret to the grave. Just promise me that you will end the war." With his last statement, the boy looked around urgently at each of them, eyes resting on the king.

"That is our goal," said Albert, nodding. "We will do our best to see it done."

"I guess I should... leave you to it, then." Shifting restlessly, Popo glanced around at them one more time before darting out the doorway.

They stood in silence for a slow minute before anyone spoke. Shana could feel the tension wrapped around them and risked turning her eyes to Dart. He seemed pensive and anxious but determined. His beautiful blue eyes had adopted a steely quality to them, one she had seen many times before. It had been there before braving the long dark of the cave, before the fight with the dragon, and before every fight in the arena. But now, it was different. There was a hint of sadness hidden there, a grief that was driving him forward.

"This is it, my friends," said King Albert suddenly, drawing back his shoulders in that regal stance that Shana was convinced was unintentional.

She expected to hear more from him, but Dart interrupted.

"This is a dangerous mission," he said, eyes trained on the well. "We don't know what will happen, or what we're up against. Lloyd could be waiting for us, along with a thousand other men. But no matter what, we stick together. We fight together. No losses in this fight, unless we all lose together."

As the last words hung in the air, Dart's eyes raised to hers, sending a jolt through her body. He offered a small smile, and she returned it with joy. And then it was gone as his eyes turned to Rose, who had abruptly started for the well. In one smooth movement, she grasped the rope and swung herself over the side, sliding down into the depths.

"Rose!" Dart called after her, but she was already gone. Then rolling his eyes, he said, "I guess we're going then."

"So," said Haschel, rubbing his hands together mischievously. "Who wants to be the next to go down into the creepy den of darkness?" Dart, Albert, and Shana looked at each other; none of them wanted to go at all. Sensing their hesitation, Haschel shrugged and said, "Then I guess it will be me," and charged in after Rose.

"Shana, you should go next," said Dart.

"Why me?"

"Haschel's going to start complaining about no light in about three seconds."

She chuckled and nodded, then stepped forward, reaching for the rope. It was rough in her hands, and she tugged on it, testing its security. Dart came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder, making her draw in a sharp breath; she hoped Albert didn't hear.

"We'll be right here," he said quietly, close to her ear.

Part of her wanted him to come even closer, but she remembered that day in Lohan. Suddenly grateful for Albert's presence, she stepped forward to distance herself from Dart and sat on the edge of the well with her feet dangling inside. She could see nothing but darkness beneath her, and her skin crawled in response. Closing her eyes, she pushed off and gripped the rope tightly, surprised that she could hold herself up. She knew that she was stronger since becoming a dragoon, but she'd had no opportunity to test her new limits. Quite pleased, she began easing herself down the rope.

Flashes of her fall in the dragon's nest came back to her in a rush, but she pushed them away. She was not poisoned, and she was no longer a mere human girl. She was a powerful dragoon, and she would do her part to end the horrible suffering of this city.

"We're down here," echoed Haschel's voice from somewhere below, giving the faintest idea of the distance beneath her. "We'll catch you if you fall!"

Although she drew some comfort from this, what really bothered her was the pitch black that quickly surrounded her. Craning her neck, she could still see light from the top of the well and Dart's and Albert's silhouettes watching her progress, but she could only barely make out the wall next to her. She paused, and silence enveloped her. Hearing nothing but her breaths and her loudly beating heart, she closed her eyes and tried to calm herself.

Opening her eyes, she sighed to see that a ball of light had formed just above her head, and she drew peace from it. With renewed determination, she continued down the rope until Haschel came near to prop her up. Then she dropped into a puddle of water and gasped as the cold liquid splashed onto her legs and soaked through her leather armor.

Darkness could not have reign over her, because she was the light. Opening her eyes, she grinned as she saw light radiating from her skin, illuminating the earth around her and cascading her mind with peace. With renewed vigor, she continued down the rope until Haschel was propping her up and she dropped into a puddle of water. She gasped as cold liquid splashed onto her knees and soaked through her armor.

"Did you make it?" asked Dart from fifty feet above her.

"Yes!" she called back.

"Alright, we're coming down."

A second later, Albert swung himself over and climbed down the rope, and Dart followed shortly after.

A minute later, they all stood together in the darkness, calves soaked through with water. Albert had summoned a steady stream of air funneling down the well, and Dart had heated himself so thoroughly that Shana could feel it even a foot from him; the water around his legs had started to simmer. Rose was the only one who seemed comfortable, allowing the darkness to wrap around her like a cloak. As they started to march down the cold, dark passageway, there were several times when Shana thought Rose had disappeared, only to see her pale hand or ankle flash in the light a moment later.

They trekked on, their only light from Shana, and worked their way through the narrow tunnel. The ceiling sat just barely above their heads, and Shana could have touched both walls at once by extending her hands. She tried not to focus on the massive amounts of rock above them and instead focused on Dart's intentional footsteps before her. The stale water carried away her warmth, leaving her shivering within a minute of being in the tunnel, but being behind Dart seemed to stave off the worst. As she watched his hair bounce around with his steps, she remembered the night they'd spent overlooking the marshes, when she had slept leaning on his warm shoulder after having been soaked through by the rain. She wondered if they would ever find their way back to a simple moment like that.

After what seemed an eternity, the tunnel curved sharply left and began to slope upward. Slowly, the water splashing around them shallowed until it was only a thin film of water coating the floor. As her wet skin met the steady draft that Albert had summoned, she began to shiver terribly from the cold, and she envied Dart as his pants quickly dried, steam lifting off the cloth of his trousers in violent waves. Then the passageway ended, leaving them facing a jagged wall of rocks.

"What is this?" breathed Shana, her light intensifying almost imperceptibly.

"He blocked off the passage," muttered Dart, setting his flame to hover beside him as he started picking at the rocks one by one. "Haschel, come help me with this."

The warrior squeezed past Rose and Shana to work on the blockage. Shana was about to offer to help when she realized how difficult it would have been given their close quarters, and instead she watched as the rocks shifted slowly from an irritating wall to an irritating floor. The confined tunnel left them little space to put the stones that were pulled from the wall, and eventually they were all forced to bend their backs to keep from scraping their heads on the ceiling. After churning through two thick feet of the blockage, they finally managed to make a tiny hole. To Shana's surprise, no light shone through it, and she could sense none in the room beyond.

"Almost there," muttered Dart, pulling at one rock after another.

The hole grew until it was big enough to walk through, and one by one, they filed out into a dark stone room. Shana brightened her light, illuminating a dusty, forgotten place. Cobwebs filled every corner, and across from them hung an old wooden door with rusty hinges. As the light pushed its way into the crevices of the room, Shana jumped to see several large and hideous spiders glaring out at them from hidden corners.

"So far, so good," mumbled Haschel. "Now to find ourselves three unwitting guards."

"First, I should dry everyone off," said Dart.

"How?"

"I have an idea. I'll see if this works."

He closed his eyes and held out his hands, and a moment later, Shana felt a heat radiating from them. His face crumpled in concentration, but the heat held steady as it pulsed over them. Shana was surprised to see the water evaporate from her legs, lifting off her shoes and into the air. In only a few minutes, they all stood as dry as if they had never set foot in the tunnel.

"Wow," she exclaimed.

"Impressive," muttered Rose.

"Truly," nodded Albert.

A flash of pride ran over Dart's face as he saw his success, but a moment later, he was somber once more.

"This is where it gets tricky," he said, looking around at them. "We need to be quiet and keep out of sight until we can pass as Sandora guards. But we have to stay together."

They nodded in agreement and approached the door, Shana's heartbeat rising with the proximity. Dart signaled, and his flame extinguished. A moment later, the wind stopped chasing over them, and Shana reluctantly drew the light back into herself. The oppressive dark had her breathing heavily until Dart pulled open the creaky door and let a sliver of light into the room. He poked his head out and gestured for them to follow as he crept out the door.

As they emerged into a dank, poorly lit hallway, Shana caught wind of a dead animal. She crinkled her nose and tried to block the smell with her hand. The others had a similar reaction, but Albert looked like he might keel over. Reminding herself of what Lavitz had said once about his need for fresh air, she tried not to laugh at the king.

Since the left side of the hallway quickly reached a dead end, Dart led them right. Their footsteps were uncomfortably loud on the hard stone floor as they passed by several more unused doors glaring at them as they dared to pass by. Shana thought that she would have felt better in the torchlight, but it was just more of that gruesome purple flame that was being used in the city. Still, it was better than nothing; she wasn't comfortable, but she also wasn't trying to calm her heart.

The corridor turned and led up a flight of stone stairs, and they ascended as quietly as they could. At the top was another door, but this one carried the traces of voices from just beyond. Dart signaled for them to stop, and Shana held her breath as he crept closer and pressed his ear to the wood, listening carefully before daring to open the door. Moving ever so slowly, he pulled the door back and peered through the tiny crack before flashing four fingers.

Shana positioned herself close to the door and held up her hands, ready to pull from the massive reserve of power held in her dragoon spirit. Haschel joined Dart and nodded, and the door swung open. Immediately, they looked away as Shana flashed a pulse of white light, blinding all four guards in the room beyond. Sharp cries rang out but were silenced a mere second later as Dart and Haschel rendered the soldiers unconscious. Then they dragged four limp bodies down the stairs and into one of the side rooms.

It seemed to be a storage closet, filled with all manner of barrels, baskets, and other containers. Shana helped Dart strip one of the guards while Haschel and Albert worked on another as Rose kept watch. As Shana took off the man's helmet, she felt a wave of guilt. He was young, no older than she was, and she wondered what kind of situation had led him here to this evil place. But this was no time for sentimentality, and she moved on to the next guard until all four lay on the cold floor in flighty tunics and trousers. One suit of armor was tucked into a nearby barrel, and the men started adorning themselves in Sandora colors. Shana thought that Albert might vomit from the pained look on his face as he drew the purple over his body, but she was certain that Lavitz would have reacted even more harshly. She would have laughed if not for the sorrow.

Soon, Dart, Haschel, and Albert appeared to be three Sandora guards with all but their eyes hidden from view. The armor fit well enough, although it would be easy for a critical eye to see that something was off. Dart's pants were a little too short, Haschel's chain shirt a little too long, and Albert's too loose across his chest. But it would have to do.

"How do I look?" asked Haschel's dark brown eyes on the right, his voice slightly muffled. "Dashing? Debonair?"

"Something like that," replied Shana with a smile. Rose rolled her eyes.

"Gods, I hate helmets," said Dart, taking his off. "I'll put it back on in a minute. But just so we're clear... Shana and Rose, you're captives, and we're escorting you through the castle. Violence is only a last resort. We just need to get closer to a main corridor, and then Albert can get us to the throne room. Oh, and... we... need your weapons."

"Right," said Shana, handing Dart her bow and quiver, but Rose was more hesitant. She eyed Haschel menacingly.

"I expect this back the second we get to the throne room," she said, carefully removing her sword belt and handing it over.

"I swear, I'll protect it with my life," he said. "Or... maybe protect my life with it. I don't know."

Rose's hand retracted right before Haschel could grab the blade, and he scoffed.

"You really need to learn how to take a joke," he said before snagging it from her and wrapping it around his waist. "Ugh, and how to eat some good food."

He struggled for several seconds before he took the sheath from the belt, strapped it to his own, and returned it to Rose. Without her rapier by her side, she seemed different – less confident and deadly, almost lost. Shana tried to catch Rose's eye and offer some silent assurance, but Rose was staring fixedly at the floor.

"Let's get to it," prodded Dart. "Your Majesty, you go in front so you can lead the way. Haschel and I will be in the back. Signal if you need us. Remember, you're the higher-ranking officer. We follow your orders."

"Only in the castle," said Haschel. "Once we're back outside, you're back to being a nobody."

Ignoring Haschel's comment, Albert said, "I am perfectly comfortable with leading us through. But we need to proceed before these men wake up."

"One other thing," Dart said gingerly. "Can you talk more... normal?"

"Whatever do you mean?"

"Uh... use contractions?"

"Why should there be a need to use contractions? Any conversation can be easily navigated without them."

"What Dart is trying to say," interrupted Haschel, "is that you always sound like a king. The way you talk is so... lofty. Bring it down a notch."

Albert puzzled for a moment before he asked, "How does one go about doing that?"

With a bark of cynical laughter, Haschel said, "For one, don't say 'one' like that. The best way to respond would have been, 'How do I do that?' Simpler. Easier. More common. Fewer words. Better."

"Very well. I shall endeavor to speak normally."

With a dramatic sigh, Haschel complained, "Just say, 'I'll try!'"

Albert paused and then said, "I will – I'll... try."

"Are you going to stand there bickering all night," inserted Rose cynically. "Or are we actually going to get moving and do what we came here to do?"

Dart and Haschel sighed but did not protest. They searched around for bits of rope, and soon, Shana and Rose were two bound prisoners being escorted to the emperor's chambers by three armed guards. It was not a feeling that Shana was fond of, but her own emotions were nothing compared to the storm raging inside Rose. Instead of her usual stony glare, she assaulted every object around them with pure, seething hatred. More than once, Shana caught her fidgeting with her bindings.

They walked through the castle uneventfully for a time, winding their way through dimly lit corridors and up several flights of stairs. It was some time before they saw a window that peeked out just above the ground, overlooking a swath of grass near the castle. A couple times, they passed by a pair of guards standing at attention, and Shana held her breath until they had moved past. Once, Shana noticed one of the guards look her up and down before the slightest smirk lifted the corner of his mouth. She shivered, but Rose seemed ready to break out of her bonds and throttle him.

Finally above ground, Albert seemed to gain a sense of where he was going, and soon enough, his steps were shadowed with purpose. But when they all funneled out into a main hall, several guards across the room shouted at them and trotted forward.

"Stop! Who are you? And who are these prisoners?"

It was hard to follow his gaze through the helmet, but he seemed to be eyeing Rose for an inordinate amount of time.

"We brought them for His Majesty Doel," said Albert with a surprising amount of authority. "He called for new sport."

Sport. What a filthy word for it. Rose uttered a sound of disgust, and Shana tried to remember that Albert was only trying to sell the charade.

"Where did they come from?"

"They were poking about in the city. Clearly up to no good."

The guard approached Shana, and she jutted out her chin to appear confident, but she faltered when he grabbed her wrist.

"It's a pity the emperor doesn't share," he mumbled, moving his gloved fingers up her arms and sending a shudder down her spine. He traced the nape of her neck and pushed her loose hair behind her shoulder.

Dart shifted behind her, and she turned her head away from the soldier before taking an abrupt step back. She could feel Dart behind her, heard his labored breaths, felt the heat radiating from him. Calm down, she willed.

"That is enough," scolded Albert, and a rumble of tension ran over the five companions. Haschel cleared his throat, and Shana's pulse quickened. She dared not glance at the other guards but kept her eyes on her bindings. A long second later, Albert added, "The emperor does not like his prizes claimed by others."

"Then hurry on and take them up, before we're too terribly tempted," laughed the guard.

"Very well."

Albert turned and led them to the left and down a hallway, and every extra foot of distance between them and the guards felt like a profound victory.

When they were out of earshot, Dart whispered, "You okay?"

"Yes," she returned, though in truth, she felt quite shaken. She felt as though she were back in her cell in Hellena, surrounded by filth and vile thoughts. She tried to anchor herself to the reality of her footsteps hitting the carpeted stone, the sound of Rose's haphazard breaths, and the clinking of Dart's armor behind her.

As they rounded the next corner, they were brought to a standstill. Before them stood four men, three in white robes and one in a grand suit of armor. They were whispering furiously about something but stopped and looked up at Albert's approach. The robed men Shana had never seen before, but the armored man made her heart race. His dark hair, his green eyes, his lumbering shoulders – all of them came together to leave her breathless and panicked, frozen in place. She remembered him on that dark road between Seles and Hellena Prison, leading the unit of soldiers, keeping them in line. He was the commander who had taken her from her home. Instinctively, she took a step back, almost knocking into Haschel.

The commander's eyes immediately locked onto her, shock and surprise flitting across his features before he schooled them into submission.

"Who are you?" he asked Albert.

"Sir," said Albert, making a convincing show of a Sandoran salute. "These women have been called to the emperor's chambers for the evening."

"Have they..." muttered the commander skeptically. Eyes trained on Shana, he shooed away the robed men, who looked quite affronted before scurrying off down the hall. "I don't recognize your voice. What's your name?"

"It – it is..." stammered Albert. "It's Albert." Shana could almost hear Dart roll his eyes.

"Albert," said the commander, his voice a deep, resonating authority. "Remove your helmet, please."

Shana stopped breathing altogether as the king hesitantly reached up and dislodged the metal, lifting it from his scalp. His long, blonde hair fell, sliding over his shoulders in waves.

This is it, she thought. We're going to get caught, captured, and probably hanged.

But the commander did not react when he saw Albert's face. He studied it for a moment and said, "Come with me. They can't go to the emperor looking like that. Let's get them cleaned up."

A voice inside Shana screamed that something was wrong, but they followed the commander nonetheless as he led them down the hall. Shana's jaw clenched, and she fought the urge to cry as they wound their way through several corridors. Tension pulsed across the group with every step.

Desperately, Shana tried to think of a way out of the situation. If they simply turned and ran, they would have to fight their way out of the castle. If they tried to fight the commander, he would likely call for reinforcements. Perhaps she could blind him as she'd blinded the guards on the lower levels, enabling Dart and Haschel to incapacitate him as they had before.

Just as she was beginning to think about how to approach this idea, the commander stopped and pulled a key out of his pocket, jiggling it in a lock. A second later, he swung the door open and swept into the room while his long black cape billowed behind him. He ordered Haschel to shut the door, and as soon as it was closed, he crossed his arms and turned to study them.

"You're a bunch of fools for trying to sneak into this castle," he said coolly.