Cheers erupted from the fighting pits. A restless crowd shouting in anticipation for the coming match. The reigning champion returned. He stepped into the pit- a cage sunk below hundreds of spectators. He was afforded no armor. He wore only leather pants and a gold band around his arm signifying his undefeated nature. His opponent stood ready in the pit.

The fae who faced the champion had a look of defeat about him. He was afforded his own clothes and his own weapons. He held two golden scimitars against the champion's single iron sword, but still the opponent was shaking.

Almarek, king fae, stood as overseer to the killing pits. His powerful voiced rang out across the crowd and they hushed into whispered tones.

"Here we have Lear. He committed crimes against the king." The crowd booed in response and the opponent's eyes darted around the crowd nervously as if looking for someone to save him. There was no one. "We will all watch as Lear serves his punishment today, fighting the Second Prince, champion of the fighting pits. Shall the fight commence?"

The crowd responded with a thunder of shouting and stomping. The Champion with single purpose stared into the eyes of the opponent. Everyone who watched awaited the spectacle of brutality that was promised in the pits. The opponent consigned to fighting for his life. The champion felt nothing but the hungry drive of survival.

"Fight!"

-/-

Garret Leopold Hallmont woke from his sleep with his heart racing and his arm bleeding. He leaped from his bed in an instant, fleeing the feeling of horrors that were his constant companion. Horrors of waking up when he didn't remember falling asleep and feeling as though some dark enemy stood before him when there was no one.

He threw on a shirt quickly, without care of his still bleeding wound. He would not be consoled until he had seen his brothers and knew whether they had survived another night, plagued by the same curse that plagued him.

He followed the nightly ritual silently through dark hallways.

Mason, Weston, and Larson once all shared the room closest to his. Mason had disappeared into the night nearly a year back along with their three youngest brothers. Now Nathaniel, the youngest remaining brother, stayed in his bed

"We're alright." Larson said as soon as Garrett opened the door. All three pairs of eyes looked back at him, weary but whole.

Garrett nodded. Despite barely waking, they were all tired. Fatigue seemed to plague every brother to their core. He left them to the short bit of rest they would get before the day started and woke them all.

There once was more stops to his nightly ritual. More doors to open and brothers to see but its since dwindled down to four. The three who shared a room and Michael.

Michael was standing and inspecting a cut on his chest in front of his wash basin.

"It's just a small cut." Michael said. He yawned and the act seemed to drain what little stamina he had. "Still, I'll get Ernest to look at it in the morning. You remember the last time I ignored a small cut and was nearly killed off by the fever and swelling that came after." Michael grumbled.

Garrett nodded and yawned in response.

"Get some sleep." he said.

"My favorite part of the night." Michael said, "Knowing I can go to bed without worrying where the sleep will take me."

Garrett chuckled darkly as he left his brothers' room. looking forward to the promise of a bed, but his dreams of his own bed was interrupted by his father standing in the hall.

"Is all well?" His father asked. He looked as tired as his sons. His nights were stretched long. Plagued by worry and fear for the well-being of his remaining sons.

"Everyone is well outside of a small cut."

"That looks like more than a small cut, Garrett." His father said, eyeing the blood on his sleeve, running down his hand.

Garrett inspected his wound. It was deep enough for stitches, but fatigue overpowered any pain.

"I will have it attended tomorrow." He echoed Michael's words.

His father reached out to stop his progress down the hall.

"I must talk to you." The king said.

"Will it hold till morning?" Garrett asked as another yawn overpowered him.

His father was still plagued with the same worries that always came with the night, but tonight he was guilt-ridden.

"It can."

Garrett nodded and turned to leave until his father called out to him once more.

"It can wait, but I warn you now. I've done something you won't like."

Garrett regarded his father. The King stood unkempt with tense shoulders and dark circles under his eyes.

"I will be sure to hold whatever it is against you tomorrow, father. Goodnight."

-/-

Iris was ready. After two days of using every magical means available to her, Iris found Lena's Prince. It was a miserable day. The fall had started to succumb to winter the roads were sparsely traveled. Especially the winding back road between Lirris and the capitol where she had tracked the Prince. She watched him from afar with a slight frown etched onto her face.

Iris was in the habit of testing all of Lena's suitors. Previously, she had tested Robert Thawley. Taking up the act of a frail old woman, she blocked the road and feigned an emergency. Lord Thawley had not heard her cries for help. He demanded room to pass and then continued without another word. Before Lord Thawley, there was a Baron Iris had tested who came upon her in dire straits but instead of helping, had asked to inspect the contents of her cart for any taxation violations and then issued a command to leave the roadway clear or face consequences.

Iris did not expect much from the Prince.

She magicked up her sad cart, gave her long slender limbs a crooked appearance, and hunched her back all collected under a tattered gray cloak.

She ambled around her cart pretending to look busy and when she heard the horse approaching behind her, her heart rate increased at the subterfuge.

"Ho there!" He called out. Iris did her best to look innocently startled. She blocked a large portion of the road, but there was still room enough for a single rider to travel around her.

She held a lead rope for Gabriel, her star actor. Gabriel was a long-time companion of hers. A beautiful stallion with an ocean of patience. She magicked him into an older, emaciated looking mule and quite forcefully ordered him to lie in the middle of the street. Gabriel now sat, unperturbed as Iris pulled on his halter.

"Oh goodness! I am sorry yer Lordship. Give me a moment and this old sack of bones will be outta yer way!" She called out. Her back was hunched and her fingers looked gnarled and weak. "Can't ya see we're stalling the poor man? Get up Gabriel!"

The Prince dismounted his horse Iris took the moment to fully inspect him. He was tall and brawny. Everything a man ought to be. He also had a look of mischief about him Iris had to subdue the smile that threatened to break her as she imagined Lena's reaction to this man. She turned her head from him as he approached and kept her eyes focused on her co-actor. Gabriel played his part well, ignoring her words and her wrestling with the lead rope.

"Please do not rush away on my account." He spoke. Iris turned to the Prince who wore an unexpected smile. "Your animal is too smart to let such a wonderful resting place pass him by. I think I will join him! Perhaps you would not be opposed to joining me in an afternoon meal?"

Iris narrowed her eyes. His response was unexpected. "I thank ye for yer offer, Lord, but I wouldna put out a fellow weary traveler."

"Nonsense! My nag over there, Briscoe," He pointed and the white horse quirked up at the mention of her name, "has been weighed down for miles with an overabundance of food. I am afraid that neither of us will make it home if you do not sit with us."

"I couldna sit with a Lord. What would people think? Widow Agnes dining with blue-bloods." Iris held her head low, giving him every reason to accept her refusal.

"Who said I was a Lord? Perhaps I am a butcher's son heading west to make my fortune in the spice trade."

"If yer not a Lord then y'are a horse thief. There's the royal insignia on yer saddle there."

The Prince's face split into a wicked smile. "Alright, I can admit when I've been found out. I am a horse thief."

He said it with such sincerity that Iris could not hold back her laughter.

"You may laugh all you wish. It is obvious I am a poor one. Now, knowing my deepest darkest secret, would you condescend to share a meal with me? It has been a while since I have had the pleasure of dining with a beautiful woman."

"You are a menace, Milord!" She had only just met him, but she could easily see the truth in her words. "But since you've asked so nicely, I would love to dine with you."

He brought food and drink from his saddlebag. Iris pulled a cloak from her cart and laid it upon the shoulder of the road. The Prince had obviously exagerated. The food was sparse between them but he had given her the majority of what existed.

"You'll tell me yer story then, horse thief." She asked once she had food in her hand. Now sitting with a man she knew to be the crown Prince, Lena's betrothed, Iris felt her curiosity burn.

"My story?"

"Yes. What brings ya out on the road on such a miserable day."

He stalled for a moment, staring out onto the road in thought.

"Come out with it then. I'm old. Ya canna tell me something I've not heard."

He smiled, "It is not a compelling story." He paused in another spell of silence. Iris let him bask in his thoughts for a moment before he continued. "I suppose I am embarrassed."

"You must tell me then to ease your embarrassment."

"I've run away from home." He said with a short laugh. "I received some news poorly and stormed out with barely enough time to grab provisions. Determined to never return."

Iris considered the Prince for a moment, guessing at the news he could have received that would have affected him in such a way. "That hardly lends itself to embarrassment. Runnin' away can be an effective remedy for some ailments in life."

"I suppose but I imagine most people who run from home do so longer than I have. I've only managed half a day before turning back." He grumbled, his attention captured by Gabriel who still sat lazily in the midst of the road.

Iris slowly realized a stark approval that was developing within her. Approval that she had not experienced before.

"Why did you decide to turn back?"

He let out a long sigh. "I have obligations that are mine and mine alone."

"Hmm. I guess the real question is, why did you leave in the first place?"

"I have discovered only this morning that I am engaged."

"I think that means well-wishes are in order."

He only laughed darkly in response.

"Is she ugly, then?"

"Perhaps." He answered, "There is sure to be some defect within her if her family has agreed to marry her to me."

Iris scoffed, "Hardly. I'm surprised that there is not a gaggle of women throwin' themselves at yer feet."

"You will make me blush, Lady Muller. Are you simply trying to cheer up a fellow traveler?"

Iris snorted.

"Tell me of your story, Milady."

"My story is not as dramatic as yours. I am on my way to Lirris to sell my wares. Simple as that."

"It would have been simpler if Gabriel had not decided to excite your life."

Iris looked towards where Gabriel sat. "Certainly."

"Briscoe and I are traveling in that direction. You must allow us to travel with you!"

"I couldna-" Iris started to refuse but the Prince had already jumped to his feet and whistled his horse over.

Straightway he grabbed Gabriel's lead. Gabriel stood, looking as surprised as Iris was when The Prince unhitched him from the cart, bringing his horse over to serve in Gabriel's stead.

"Surely Gabriel could pull that!" Iris was on her feet and at the Prince's side, grabbing Gabriel's lead as he fastened the harness around his own horse.

The Prince shook his head, "Gabriel looks bone tired. It sounds like he's been fast at work taking care of his mistress and he deserves a small break, don't you think Gabriel?" He asked. The mule blinked slowly at him.

"Exactly! I couldn't put it better myself. Gabriel has just told me that he would feel a poor host if he didn't allow Briscoe to have the best seat in the house, the front! We'll tie Gabriel off to the back so we're well guarded on both sides."

"Surely your shared food and company is sufficient kindness!"

"I am not helping you at all. We have already agreed that I am a black hearted horse thief. I have only grown tired of riding astride my horse and now I wish to manipulate you into siding in your wagon for a short while. I am, as you see, wholly despicable."

Iris stood, flabbergasted as he took Gabriel's lead from her hand and did just as he said he would and tied him to the rear of the Cart. She was still standing in the same place when he returned.

His smile dimmed a little as he approached her.

"Please allow me to accompany you into Lirris, Miss Muller. On a dreary day like this I would be glad for some company."

Iris felt her heart melt. She had no intention of actually traveling to Lirris. She only intended on dwelling long enough to try the young man but now she couldn't refuse his help.

"I would be glad for the company." She finally gave in.

The trip to Lirris was made infinitely shorter with the pleasant company.

Iris was only beginning to understand that the Prince contained his own sort of chaos. He was charming and humorous and contained a special sort of character that was rare amongst men.

Iris had passed the point of giving him her approval and was now struggling over the heartbreak that was sure to ensue when Lena left.

"Now that I have shared a lunch with you and painstakingly drove you all the way into town, I thought now would be the perfect time to ask you for a favor." The Prince said as soon as The wagon had stopped and he helped her from the drivers seat.

"What favor?"

"I have been reminiscing on better days when I was a strapping lad. Nothing but muscles and of course my blackened heart."

Iris rolled her eyes. "Yes-" she goaded, waiting for the favor.

"Well it's just that, ever since I had Briscoe here, I've grown lazy. I don't do any good walking anymore and it has turned me soft. I was wondering if you would take Briscoe here off my hands."

For nearly the third time since she had met the Prince, Iris was stunned into silence.

"I have no money."

"No, no. I just want to turn over his ownership to you."

"You- you are trying to give me your horse?" She had nearly completely broken character now.

The Prince shook his head. "Absolutely not. I am a heard-hearted horse thief, and I would never let one of my hard-earned gains go. This horse has been a pain in my- well, you know. If anything, it's a cruelty that I am forcing him on you, but there is nothing you can do about it. You are a defenseless from me, the terrifying horse thief."

"You cannot give me your horse, truly." She insisted.

The Prince smiled, but the smile barely reached his lips. Iris felt something cold come over her demeanor and it left her completely puzzled. "His is yours, Miss Muller and I will hear nothing more on it. He is yours to do with what you will, I only have one favor. Treat her well and if you sell her, do not sell her unless you know she will be well treated. Briscoe is a good horse and it would upset me to discover she had fallen into the wrong hands."

"I swear." Iris said, shocked to hear herself accept such a charge. She cursed herself silently, cursing the effectiveness of her ruse. Perhaps she had played the part of "down-trodden widow too well.

She was certainly guilty in miss-leading him and now, due to her lies, she was giving him a horse.

"I will only take the horse if you let me give you a gift." She could not accept his gift under any other circumstances.

"But I am a famous horse thief! I takes what I want!"

"That as it may be, I have a gift. A wedding present." She amended, "It would be bad luck to refuse."

She turned to the doors of her wagon before he could speak any more. She shuffled items around, using her magic to reach for what she wanted most. Iris pulled out a sword. She held it in her hands and a wealth of emotions poured over her. The last time she had seen the sword wielded, it was wielded in her defense. The day her beloved was cut down.

"You cannot part with something so priceless." He insisted flatly.

His eyes shone, staring at the blade. No doubt he was enchanted by it. The sword had been expertly crafted. No expense spared.

"It belongs to you." She said softly, realizing the truth of her words.

"Please, allow me to pay for it. I have money I can-."

"No." Iris interrupted with a sad smile, "You will not. This is a wedding present four you and your wife."

"This will indeed be a strange gift to give my future wife."

"I said it was for your future wife. I did not say to give it to her. I was in love once. Long ago. This sword was once wielded to save my life and I mean for it to do the same for your wife."

"I am afraid I must risk offending you and refuse. You have professed that this sword has a history of great love. My marriage is merely an arrangement. There is no love between us."

"You cannot give it back any more than I can return to you your horse. We have entered into an agreement even if you are a blackhearted horse thief. The sword is yours with a promise. If you are married and that love never comes you must swear to me you will use this sword to protect her regardless."

Garrett nodded. "With my life."

Iris smiled but his words cut into her heart more than he could know. "Thank you, Lord Prince. You have surely saved me in ways you cannot know."

His startled at the sound of his title, "You knew?"

"Of course. I have been around longer than you know, and I can tell for a surety, you are no horse thief."