Daelyn kept a close eye on Daryn as they walked around the grounds. She was quiet, unusually so, but she was taking in every sight. He could see her eyes scale the wall that surrounded the castle, the guards standing at the top, and the dents and cracks. While he understood what she was doing, he chose to ignore her. They stood on each side of the prince. Daelyn made a note to come back and check out the stables; he loved horses. Daryn's attention was brought back to the journey when they entered the garden. Everything was overwhelming. The colors, the smells, the sounds. It was like stepping out of the royal grounds and into the wild. Daryn couldn't keep her eyes still. She was breathless.

Daelyn sat down beside the Prince; Daryn sat on the other side. When the Prince asked where they came from, Daryn smiled at him. Daelyn took a deep breath and looked at her. She nodded.

"Not far from here, at the edge of the sea, there's a tiny village called Port Danycia. Most of the people there live on boats or raise goats. The ground isn't fertile enough for crops; it is mostly rock and cliffs. We grew up on a fishing boat there with our father," she told him, looking down at her hands. "It was a beautiful place. When the sun set, it would reflect the most amazing shades of orange and pink across the water. The air always smelled like salt and sand. We had a festival, called Festival of Moons, and everyone would help build this giant fire in the village center. There was a man who would tell stories all night, using the light from the fire to cast shadows on the ground." She looked towards Daelyn, who was nodding.

"Once a month, the children and their mothers would make a trip into the royal city to buy medicine and supplies we could not get on our own. It was always a big deal, because we put on our best clothes and brushed our hair. We had to walk through a thick forest to get there," Daelyn continued, "If it rained, we would hide in the caves that you could find strewn through the forest."

Daryn laughed, remembering clearly how small the caves had been. After their mother died, the twins stopped going on those adventures. The last walk back from the royal city had been the hardest journey they had ever taken. It had rained, but the three of them didn't stop.

"When it would storm, the lightning would hit the water, and so we would have to pitch tents on land. The fireflies would come out, and we would open the tent and let them in, only to shut it again and trap them. Waking up covered in dead fireflies was worth watching them create a night sky in our tent."

Daeyln watched his sister talk, seeing her face relax. He missed home, just as much as she did. Yet, he didn't know if they would ever get to go back. It seemed so far away.

"We would love to take you there, your majesty," Daelyn said, "But I'm sure your mages would not allow it. Tell us about your childhood here."

"I've lived my entire life within the walls of the castle; reading books, learning languages, drawing..." His eyes focused on the brightly colored flowers off to his left. "I was never allowed to leave, only once or twice but that was to accompany my father and mother to her home kingdom."

Triver might have never gone hungry or known heartbreak and he's been given everything that he's ever wanted, but compared to the people of his kingdom, the ordinary people who scratch out a living on the bottom of a fish barrel, he had nothing. There are no adventures, there are no times spent catching fireflies. He felt bitter and jealousy flared within his veins. He has everything and yet he has nothing.

"My only friends were Inaris and Ser'deni. They are four years my senior so they were closer to each other than they were to me." Triver looked down at his hands. They fumbled with a few of the silver buttons on his tunic; he didn't know what else to do with them. "You might not like the mages for what they do," He looked at the twins, Daryn in particular, "But to me they are my most precious people. We would play here in the gardens. They would use their magic to take me on journeys. They would make things bearable for me."

There had been a time in his younger years that Triver had wished he could fling himself over the castle walls.

The crow that was perched in the tree gave a caw before flying off. Triver looked for the black bird but he couldn't find it. A soft sigh was pulled from the lips of the prince. "I do not like what my father is doing - has done with the mages." Triver admitted, it was well known that the prince, and almost everyone else in the castle disliked the way the mages were used as weapons. "They are my best friends...but they are sent to the battlefield on a regular basis...I do not get to see much of them; this is the first time in a year that I have been able to be with Inaris and Ser'deni in the same room. This is the first time in months that Ser'deni has been playful towards me." Triver felt the hot tears prick the corners of his eyes. He felt so lonely. What if his friends were sent to battle and never returned alive? He would have nobody then. Triver wiped away the tears that fell onto his cheeks and he looked up at his knights. He laughed in an attempt to clear the tears but more kept coming; he couldn't stop them.

A little while later the crow returned. It came to rest on a nearby bush. "It is alright, prince. Thank you for your kind words, they have warmed my heart."

For a moment Triver was shocked, he knew that magic was something that he could never understand but talking birds? "I came to deliver you a message. All of you. First to the twins; I am sorry for the way I treated both of you. I was simply looking after the prince. And the news that I have for you, prince....it will make your heart heavy. Inaris...he's gone."

"Gone?" Triver felt his blood run cold.

"Not as in dead gone. He's missing, along with some of the king's books. The ones in his private study. A hunt has been called for Inaris; if he is found he will be executed. You two shall guard the prince in case Inaris comes after him."

The crow fell silent as Triver processed what was said. Inaris was gone with some of the most valuable books in all of Danycia. Those books contained spells of great magnitude - they were forbidden; although his father could not cast magic he hoarded magic books since before Triver was born. He had said it was to ensure that when the time comes, he could have the upper hand.

"He is a traitor!" The crow let loose another caw, louder and more heartfelt than before.

Triver felt dizzy.

This could not be happening.

Inaris would no do such thing. He had promised Triver that no matter what, they would stay together. But he had broken that promise before, when he had distanced himself years ago.

He was losing a piece of himself. Triver felt his breakfast in the back of his throat.

The alarms were raised; the guards ran past, their armor clinking together as they shouted to search the grounds for the mage.

Triver could see little black dots in the corners of his vision.

His eyes closed and he slumped to the ground.

Daryn's heart hurt for the prince. She couldn't imagine being cooped up inside these walls, trapped. She needed space to run, struggle. Yet, she also needed company. She glanced up at Daelyn who was watching Triver’s face closely. What would life be like without her brother? It was rumored that they came out of the womb cradled in each other’s arms. How true that was is to be guessed, but Daryn didn’t know who she would be without her brother. To imagine a life spent with Daelyn gone on dangerous battles without her hurt. She felt the desire to go over and hug him, but the Prince started crying. Her eyes went wide, and she scooted away from him.

It was Daelyn who reached over and put a hand on Triver’s shoulder. He couldn’t begin to imagine what the Prince felt, couldn’t even begin to. It was a lot for anyone to deal with. Daelyn commended the boy for being so strong, and he made it a point to try harder to deal with the mages. It was Daryn he worried about treating the mages badly. He knew how much she distrusted them, and he understood why. He glanced over at her to see her wide eyes and chuckled to himself.

The crow flew down and told them about Inaris. Daryn wasn’t outright surprised, but Daelyn was. The man had seemed alright, if not a bit cold. It was clear that Ser’deni and Triver were shocked. Either one of the twins could have seen that. When the prince fell to the ground, out cold, Daelyn leaned after the boy, catching him before he hit the hard ground. The alarms blared over the two of them; guards ran everywhere. Daelyn scooped the boy up into his arms, looking to Daryn for instruction.

“I don’t know,” she said, giving him a look, “I guess we head back to the castle. Find Ser’deni.” The bird was long gone, the sounds of metal armor in its place. Daryn weaved her way through the mess, Daelyn right behind her. It wasn’t long before they ran into a familiar face.
“Twins. I was looking for you,” Enn said, giving Daelyn a odd look.

“Prince Triver was a little shocked,” Daelyn answered.

“No doubt. It is a shock to us all.” Enn shook his head, reaching for Daryn’s elbow. “Come, quickly. Garrod wishes to speak to the two of you and the prince.” They took off then, finding it a lot easier to weave through the crowds with Enn leading them. They ducked inside the castle, where the alarm didn’t sound quite to loud. Daryn felt like she could breathe again. Enn led then down a long hallway that ran the length of the castle, not towards the center. They followed him into a room with a heavy wooden door. Garrod looked up at the three of them.

“Thank you, Enn,” he said, his voice deep. Daryn had to admit the man was handsome, in a kind of scary way. He was built, tanned from years training outside. Yet, in his face were shadows, ghosts of things that Daryn could not have imagined. “Orders from the King are that his son, Ser’deni, and the two of you are to leave the castle immediately and search for Inaris. I know you two are new, and he might be hoping you get killed while you’re out there. Yet, the fact that you’re with the prince right now shows some potential.” He stood to face them both, crossing his arms. “As soon as you wake sleeping beauty, have him call for Ser’deni, so we can prep you all to leave.”

Daelyn sat Triver down in a seat, shaking his arms and hands. The idea of leaving the fortress was exciting, frightening but exciting. Daryn was jittery, ready to move. He could see her out of the corner of his eye.

“How do you suggest we protect ourselves from his magic?” she asked, her back to the prince.

“Wit,” Garrod replied, “You in particular showed some intelligence during the trials. And your brother showed immense strength. Be smart, be fast. Be ready to drive your sword home.”

When Triver woke he was staring up at the ceiling. Everything felt numb as if he had just taken a dip into the garden fountain during the middle of winter. There was no way that Inaris had just up and left with some of the most valuable things in Danycia. He wasn't going to believe it. Inaris was a good man, a bit twisted and hard to understand, but he was good. Triver knew that this was some sort of mistake. Maybe the books were misplaced and...and-

"Prince."

The sound of his sister's voice caught him off guard.

"You called for us- me."

That's right, there would never be an 'us' anymore. The mage had grown used to talking about herself and Inaris as one in the same.

"I didn't call-"

"I heard you calling. It must have been when you were asleep." There had been times in the past when the Prince would call for the mages in his sleep. Inaris had been plagued by those calls, as his mid magic was the strongest and the hardest to control. Ser'deni slumped next to her half-brother and wrapped her arms around him loosely. They stayed like that for a few moments. Broken and afraid. Inaris was a marked man; there was nothing that they could do to save him. Triver was reluctant to let go of his only source of comfort. She pulled away and wiped the Prince's face dry before standing and looking towards the twins.

"Thank you...for ensuring he is fine."

Her tone was dead. Even Triver had lost the spark in his eyes.

"I have some supplies waiting. I was to be sent out on a small mission in two weeks’ time, so we can use the equipment I prepared." She and Triver knew how to guard themselves against Inaris well enough but the knights were a cause for concern.

"If we come across Inaris," she had pulled the twins aside as the prince went to gather some supplies. "Only think of the mundane - a rock, your childhood pet, a fish, anything other than your next move or your feelings."

"Inaris is highly skilled in mind magic and he can and will turn your thoughts and emotions against you. If he does something like what we had done at the trials - the voices - do not focus on them. I can supply two talismans if needed. They offer minimal protection but they would be better than nothing." Ser'deni ran a hand through her dark hair and she sighed. This was a hard task, to kill a former lover. She was worried about what this was going to do to her brother - he had never experienced the death of one so dear. Triver and a few servants came carrying a few weapons and bags of supplies. Soon their horses were prepared and they were sent out.

Above them the vulture and two crows circled overhead while one rode on the mage's shoulder to provide her with information about their surroundings.

Triver was staring blankly at the horse's mane. He should have been happy. This was his first time outside of the castle walls but he couldn't bring himself to smile about it. All he could think about was Inaris.

He searched everywhere in his memories for any hidden clues or something that would allow him to make sense of their current situation. Maybe deep in some memory there was a time when Inaris was acting a little differently and his mind had simply filed it away without a second glance.

Their first stop was a small village just a few miles from the capital. It was on the very edge of the great forest and there were bound to be bandits.

Daryn clenched the reins of the horse, enjoying the gentle sway of the beast under her. She had always liked horses. Animals in general, really. Daelyn had too, which explained why he was brushing his fingers through the horse’s mane, making clucking noises to it. The horse’s ears swiveled around when he clicked his tongue, and he patted its neck periodically. Daryn liked to see him so happy.

They led the group through the woods, Daryn leading the convoy. Daelyn took a guard position behind the rest, a typical guard position. As they walked, the listened to the woods, the birds in the trees and the creeks running through. The woods were a solace, a peace for the twins. These were the same woods she had been telling Triver about earlier, but when she glanced over to tell him, she changed her mind. The boy looked broken. Instead, she fiddled with the bow she’d picked up before they left.

She pulled the group into the small village right outside the woods, a place the twins hated to stop. The village was known for its black market and thieves. Daelyn remembered the place in passing, but the images were vivid. Hurrying through on the way to the capital, afraid to let his hand stray from his money. Bandits, he remembered bandits. Daryn had slowed the group down, and he came in a lot closer, shutting the space between them. He rode up beside Triver and Ser’deni.

“Let us hope we do not stay long in this place,” he said quietly, “No good comes from this village.” The buildings were broken stone, falling into the streets in big clumps. There were no signs telling visitors what was what, and the air surrounding them smelled of strong liquor. Beggars leaned against the same buildings, sleeping with gray matted hair and dirt smeared face. Daelyn couldn’t stand to look at them. He looked towards Daryn, who stared straight ahead, sitting tall. They were still wearing guard uniforms and would be easy targets for the thieves.

Daryn thought, walking the horse into the center of the village. They needed disguises. Everyone would know who the prince was in a matter of seconds, if they took the time to look at his face before they stole all his money. She dug through her mind for anyone she knew through the rebellion that would be here. Sanuel. He owned a tavern in this God forbidden place. She remembered him mentioning it in passing once. Where had he said she could find him?

She pulled her horse up to a building with a solid wooden door, painted red. A big ‘R’ was painted in black across the front in swirling letters. Daryn got off her horse, handing the reigns to Daelyn, who peered at her.

“We need to hide who we are. I know a man who works here. He will provide us with the disguises we need. Just stay outside and wait on me; I’ll hurry back out.” With that, she smiled at Daelyn and walked in, leaving him standing , holding her horse. It took a moment for her eyes to adjust to the darkness of the tavern, the thick smoke, and the stench of liquor. Men piled around tables, staring at her as she passed, but she looked at every face, searching. He had to be here. She got to the front of the store, where a man was watching her carefully.

“I’m looking for Sanuel,” she said, in a low whisper, leaning carefully over the counter.

“No one here by that name,” he grunted.

“My name is Daryn Lyker. He will know me,” she pleaded, feeling light headed. The man gave her a once over, disappearing through a back door. He came back out a moment later, nodded and led Daryn around the corner. Through a door, she followed him, glad to be out of that room. Back here, it didn’t stink. She could breathe. A man stretched out across a bed, hands folded behind his eyes. His sandy blonde hair was long, in a single braid that lay over his shoulder. He was dressed nicer than the men outside, leather vest, clean new boots. His eyes were closed, but she saw his chest rise and fall. When the door shut behind her, his eyes opened, and he sat up. The sight of him made her nervous, twisting her stomach into pieces. Few men could made Daryn swoon. What she felt for the man was a mix of admiration and fear. He gave her a smile, swinging his legs off the bed and standing.

“My girl, how far you’ve come,” he said, looking her over.

“it’s good to see you, Sanuel.”

Triver blinked when a hat was placed onto his head. It was pushed so far that it covered his eyes. With an annoyed huff he quickly picked it up over his eyes before directing his attention to the mage. She was looking uneasy - something that Triver had never seen before in her. She had gone on conquests for their father, she killed people but sitting in a village made her nervous? Triver didn't understand why she had such a change in her mood.

"Don't want you to be seen." She mumbled out before directing her attention to Daelyn.

"Are we getting closer to the sea?" She asked. "We've never been to the sea. It's something that he'd enjoy." Triver hadn't left the castle walls until today and Ser'deni was always placed up north in the Great Desert and the surrounding areas. Ser'deni only wanted the prince to be happy again. "He always used to talk about the sea when he was a little boy...."

Triver was barely able to hear her words; he wasn't paying much attention to anything. His mind kept drifting back to Inaris. It had to be some sort of mistake or this was all some sort of horrible nightmare and he'd wake up any minute and then he'd tell Inaris and Ser'deni and they'd laugh. But this wasn't a dream. He could smell the foul stench of alcohol and waste. It burnt his nose and caused the prince to cover his lower face to mask the smell.

Ser'deni reached out a hand and grabbed Triver's larger one. She could feel is unease which only made hers increase. He squeezed her hand back and gave a faint smile, although it didn't reach his eyes. Her birds were perched around the broken village, keeping an eye and ear out for danger. It was their duty to still protect the prince despite their mission.

Daryn sat on the edge of the bed with the man, one of his hands pressed firmly on her upper thigh. She had finished telling him about the trials, and her hands were shaking where she clasped them in her lap. Sanuel was cooing at her gently, stroking the fabric of her uniform. She was quiet now, feeling his touch, confused feelings washing over her. She liked the man a lot. He was someone she feared and respected, cared for a lot. But there had been times when Sanuel pushed her past her limits. She pushed those vivid memories of unwanted intimacy out of her mind, reminding herself of who he was. Head of the rebellion. Her boss. Although she would never admit it, she was more frightened of him that attracted to him.

"What brings you here, Daryn?" He asked, the smile disappearing from his face. He was back to business.

"We are on a mission as the guards to the Prince. And we need disguises. So we can pass through unseen," she rambled, struggling to steady her voice. The blonde man nodded, standing up quickly. He strode over to a wooden chest in the corner of the room, pulling open the lid. It only took moments for the man to pull out several articles of clothing. Triver would need a hat. Ser'deni would most likely be okay. Daryn and her brother would need new outfits completely. Like he was reading her mind, he pulled out a hat for Triver and two outfits for the twins. To her distress, he pulled out a long dress for her.

"Thank you, sir. I should be going before they begin to wonder too much." Sanuel simply nodded and pulled her in for a hug, hands drifting over the length of her back. She pulled away from him, turning to leave the room with her arms piled high.

Outside, Daelyn watched his sister hurry out the door, shoving a hat roughly onto the prince's head. She carried clothes, nice outfits for the two of them. She seemed uneasy, and her face was a brilliant shade of red. Before he could ask, Ser'deni asked him a question. He smiled at her.

"The nearest city is Port. Which is a coastal city. Well, village. It's too small to call it a city. We can stay there for the night, and then continue on in the morning," Daelyn answered, dismounting. Daryn shoved clothes at him, and he noticed why she was so flustered. The man inside had given her a dress. That was like Sanuel. He was probably going to be watching them leave. Daelyn had a very strong dislike for the man.

"Please excuse my sister and I while we go change," Daelyn said, bowing quickly and then pulling Daryn into the nearest alley. She was already stripping out of her clothes when he turned to face her.

"He didn't try anything with you, did he?" He asked, hurrying. She shook her head violently, tugging the dress over her. Daelyn didn't believe her for a minute.

Daryn felt like a fool. She hated dresses. She hated feeling so constricted and helpless. She felt like a child in a dress, playing house. It was idiotic. If Sanuel wasn't such a pervert, maybe she wouldn't be in this position. She let her hair down as she finished dressing, scowling at Daelyn who was wearing a simple back tunic and pants.

"I'm so jealous," she muttered, pushing past him.

"The color matches your skin," he blurted out, following her. She laughed, nearly bending over. She walked up to where the Prince and Ser'deni waited. She carefully and painfully mounted again, stringing her bow around her shoulder and her sword at her saddle. Another reason to dislike dresses, there was no where to put your sword.

"We should get to Port before dark," she said, kicking her horse into motion, "The past is full of bandits."

Triver and Ser'deni waited patiently for the siblings to return. The prince finally looked around the small town from under the hat that had been jammed on top of his head. He sighed and looked at the blind woman.

"Things are going to get a lot harder, aren't they?"

Ser'deni nodded. "Yes. We have orders and we must carry them out, even if it means killing a part of our hearts. It shall be okay though, I am still here for you." Their hands remained clasped together until Daryn and Daelyn came back.

"What would we do about bandits?" Triver asked as he pulled his horse alongside Daryn's.

"Kill them." The mage said from the back of the line. Ser'deni was more confident in her abilities to summon if she wasn't in the middle of things. The woman held tightly to the reigns of her horse. She wasn't accustomed to land dwelling beasts; her heart was in the sky and often her birds were how she traveled to the war zones in the northern part of Danycia and its surrounding kingdoms.

Triver didn't like the easy way in which Ser'deni spoke but he assumed that it came with the baggage of being a solider for the Danycian King. A soft sigh left his lips as he turned to face forward. His mind drifted to the tales he once read in a book back in the castle library. It had been an old dusty thing bound in thick leather and decorated with gold colored writing. They were nothing more than children's tales but Triver found himself believing them; tales of mermaids luring people, particularly men, to their deaths in the water and tales of mischievous fae who take a liking to human children. Triver's mother was not of Danycia, she was from a neighboring kingdom down in the far south of the lands, so he had grown up hearing her tales from home.

As it grew later out Triver's heart had begun to beat a little faster. He was unsure about this journey. What if it went horribly wrong and things weren't as they seemed. What if he or any of his companions were killed? He didn't think he could live with himself if any of the siblings or his half-sister were to be killed while trying to protect him.

"Three people are ahead on the path." Ser'deni said as she untied the black strip of cloth from her eyes. It had begun to slip down so she decided to use it to tie her hair back. "Four more wait in the trees just before them."

The Prince didn't know if she had other bird summons as he couldn't see the three crows any longer. The low hoot of an owl made the prince jump. He had never bothered to ask just how many different bird summons the woman had, for all he knew the owl hoot could have been a coincidence. To him, the unnatural vultures and red-eyed crows always were frightening. "Shall we confront them or go around them? He cannot fight well and I fear that we may be out numbered. Mages fight at our best in long range attacks." The made asked as she looked towards the dusky sky. It wasn't quite dark out yet but the path was beginning to darken slowly and steadily as they traveled further.

"Can't your birds help?"

The woman sighed, "Yes and no; depending on our situation and if we get to them before they decide to move closer to us."

The Prince was feeling terribly out of place; had no battle experience. Sure he could swing a sword (badly) but he preferred books and studying to swords and daggers, and had paid much more attention in his history courses rather than during his sword training. His stomach knotted nervously as he waited to see what would happen.

Daryn stopped the horses, staring ahead at the trees. Daelyn came up beside her, looking at her face. She was deep in her own mind, flipping through her options. They could continue, take the chance of losing the fight and losing the prince. They could go around them, safe but cowards. If they fought the group, there was always the chance that they would be discovered for who they were. Whatever the final choice, they needed to keep the prince hidden. Daryn scaled her surroundings, wondering if there was a way to fight from a distance, so the birds could help.

"We can't go around," Daelyn said, quietly beside her, "Night is falling, and we would be lost in minutes if we strayed from the path."

"We can't confront them," she said in agreement, turning on her horse to face him, "Or else we risk Triver's safety." They just looked at one another for a second, sharing the same thought. How do we fight them from this distance? An owl sounded overhead, like a hint. Daryn looked around in fright, thinking of the birds in the arena. An idea hit her, and she jerked back to look at Daelyn. "What if we fight from above?" Daelyn's face lit up, and he nodded with a smile creeping across his face. They both dismounted, tying the horses to a tree.

"Daelyn and I will ambush them, since they already know we are here. We can't hide from them, and night is falling too fast to go around. I will climb up the trees and over to where they are. I'm a pretty good shot," Daryn said, tapping her bow, "I can knock the first three out before the other four know what hit them. That's where Daelyn will come in. When the other four uncover themselves, he will catch them off guard and knock those four out." She paused, looking up at the trees. "Ser'deni, we need you to stay back and protect Triver. We can't risk them seeing him, or else every bandit in the area will know we are here. From here, if we need help, you can send some."

Then, Daryn looked down at her outfit. She was wearing that stupid dress. Daelyn caught her looking at it and drew his sword. With a swift movement, he chopped it off at the knee, yanking the rest of the fabric away from Daryn. It was embarrassingly short, showing most of her leg and boots. Daelyn didn't like that so much skin was showing, but she seemed to like it as she disappeared into the nearest tree. She'd always been much better at climbing that he had. Daelyn gave the made and prince a nod, moving forward in the shadows of the trees. Ser'deni had been right. There were three men with jagged, worn swords drawn waiting on the path. They whispered amongst themselves, eyeing the bushes behind them every so often. Daelyn assumed that was where the rest of there crew hid.

Daelyn heard the whistle of the arrow right before it struck the first man. It hit right where Daryn had aimed, the heart. The dead man looked at his two partners and collapsed on the ground as another arrow struck the second man. By now, the third was checking the trees, sword at the ready. These bandits were unaccustomed to confrontation. While he turned himself in circles, Daryn shot her final blow, hitting this man in the back, clearing through to the front. He gave a guttural cry and collapsed beside his friends.

Silence spread over the small path. Daelyn held his breath, hearing Daryn moving overhead. If the four were hiding behind the trees, they weren't coming out. Daryn stared down at Daelyn's hunched figure, waiting. Nothing was happening. She cussed under her breath, putting her bow back over her back. When she led out a long breath, the arrow sizzled through the air, landing in her thigh. It was all she could do not to scream, ducking further into her shadows. They knew where she was. Tears formed in her eyes as she jerked the arrow out, feeling the warm blood flow down her leg. She had to get down to Daelyn. Already, though, she was light headed.

Daelyn saw the bloody arrow land on the grass beside him, and he jumped up. The source of the arrow was a man clad in black, hiding right in the shadow in front of the bushed. When Daelyn stood, the three other men did the same, swords drawn. The black dressed man disappeared, making Daelyn cuss. It was all he could do, though, to keep the other three men at bay. Panting, he drove his sword through their stomachs, pushing them into a heap behind the path.

Overhead, Daryn watched the man in black run towards Ser'deni and Triver. She fought her numb leg to move, eventually crashing to the ground in an unconscious heap. Daelyn heard her hit hard ground, following the sound to her bloody body. He picked her up and raced back to where he was sure the man was heading.

The prince didn't like the silence. It was unnatural and it made his stomach do loops. He didn't know what was going on, he didn't know if his knights were even still alive. It was a good thing that he didn't see anyone running from the trees ahead of them. They were in a small clearing, the path cutting it in half. He had taken his sword up in his hand when the twins disappeared into the trees earlier and now he gripped it with such force that his hands shook and his knuckles where white. His amber colored eyes scanned the forest for any sign of life and he caught the faint outline of something a few shades darker than the surrounding blackness. It moved before standing still.

His heart began to race and his hands shook. What had he been taught to do during a situation like this? He had no time to think as an arrow flew by his face, the feathers scratched his cheek during their passing. Triver's eyes widened and he opened his mouth to scream but no sound came out. It was like his vocal cords refused to work. The prince knew that if he stayed still any longer the marksman would get a direct hit. Then suddenly the prince was flying through the air. The horse under him reared up, an arrow sticking from its chest.

He had hit the ground harder than he had expected. The wind was knocked from his lungs and he gasped for air. Triver rolled onto his belly, nose down in the dirt, trying to catch his breath when something landed close to him. It was an arrow and it had been dangerously close to the prince.

"Come." Ser'deni gripped Triver's hands and pulled him into a crouching position. There was a bit of blood on her face and he looked back to see that her horse had fallen as well. Her priority was the safety of the prince. The man would run out of arrows soon enough and then he would be easy pickings, or so she thought. The final arrow landed a few inches into Triver's side and the man fell to the ground. He let out a cry of pain before twisting to clutch his side.

The shadowy marksman grinned from his spot. "Got him." They would be easier to rob now, the woman didn't look quite strong and he doubted that the man would be able to fight. His poison dipped arrows always won. The poison was imported from the north and it was highly prized due to its paralytic effects. He disliked seeing his prey die so easily. Their struggle was what made his heart race with excitement, robbing them was only an added bonus. He slipped his bow over one shoulder before drawing his dagger; perhaps he could have a little bit of fun with the woman before he killed her. Her companions were as good as dead; there was no one else to help her.

Ser'deni gripped the arrow as close to Triver's body as she could before pulling it out. She clamped her hands over his wound as the blood began to trickle through her fingers. Triver groaned and tried to wriggle away from her hands but his body felt sluggish and tired. "You better not die on me, brat." Ser'deni hissed at the prince as she began to heal him. She couldn't take the effects of whatever poison had been on the arrowhead but she could control his bleeding.

The bandit’s grin grew wider as he approached the woman from behind; he smelled the winged beast before he seen it. The smell of rotting flesh made him gag. The winged beast circled overhead, giving warning caws before diving down. The man had narrowly missed the sharp claws of the putrid beast. There was blood mixed with dirt in his mouth as he scrambled away from the bird. It dove again; this time its talons embedded themselves in the soft flesh of his upper arm. He screamed in pain as the bird began to rise higher into the air. Whatever this best was, it was certainly stronger than he had initially thought.

This bought her some time to focus all of her energy on the prince and his wound. Her brow furrowed as the flow of blood grew less and less but by no means was the woman able to heal him entirely and the poison was still in his system. Her birds wouldn't last much longer; she lacked stamina when splitting her magic into two very different areas. Rean was the best mage of the king to utilize two or more forms of magic at a time without tiring as easily as the others. No doubt the other mages would be on the hunt for Inaris as well.

With the blood stopped, Triver let out a small sound that she took as a thank you. The vulture was still having its way with the man - dropping him from various heights before picking him up again and repeating the process. The birds were far smarter than most realized, she simply controlled them on tight leashes but given enough space to do as they pleased they showed their true worth. When Ser'deni was unable to keep the contract open with the vulture, it simply faded into a white light. The broken body of the man lay in the middle of the path. He was still alive but badly injured.

The woman rolled Triver onto his back before smoothing his hair away from his forehead. She still had no idea where the twins were. They needed to take Triver to a healer as soon as possible; there was no way she could do much more on her own to help him and if one of the twins was also injured then she couldn't help them either. "Daryn! Daelyn!" The mage shouted as she tried her best to move Triver to a safer spot. Her movements were sluggish and she wanted nothing more than to sleep.

Triver stirred a little bit. "He...y." He tried his best to grip the woman's hand but with the poison in his system his grip was weak. Triver was tired but he knew that he couldn't go to sleep.

Daelyn came into the clearing where he could hear Ser'deni yelling for him. He sat the unconscious Daryn down, moving over to inspect the prince. There was a lot of blood, and it made his heart race. It seemed to be all over the two of them. Ser'deni looked weak, but whatever wound Triver had gotten was healed up. Daelyn saw the bloody arrow laying on the grass and assumed poison. He looked around at the horses. Two of them were severely wounded, show through the chest. They would be dead before morning. He stood, going after the other two horses, who were hidden in the bushes.

"There's a healer in Port," Daryn muttered, as he walked past her with the horses. She was moving around, although the wound on her leg throbbed steadily. She didn't even try to get up. Her head spun, and she felt like she might vomit. Daelyn nodded down at her, picking her up and putting her on her horse.

"That's where we will go then," he said, situating her against the beast's neck. He seriously doubted that she would be able to stay upright. He tied the horses reins to his own horse's, going to pick up Triver. The boy was a dead weight. Whatever poison was on that arrow had severe paralyzing effects. Daelyn put the boy on the back of Daryn's horse, right up against her. He wrapped the boys arms around Daryn, and she held on to him as tight as she could. Daelyn moved and swept up Ser'deni next, knowing she could probably walk. But she looked dead tired. He sat her up on his own horse, and swung up on it behind her. She was much smaller than him, and it was easy to reach around her.

"I promise we will make it," he whispered to her, touching her upper arm, "I won't let anything happen to him." He had noticed how close they were. Daelyn didn't know how they were connected, but they reminded him of Daryn and himself. He knew how much it hurt her to see him hurt. He felt it now, looking at Daryn with her still bleeding, fist sized hole in her leg. Daelyn kicked his horse into a run, jerking the other horse into movement.

The path was black. He had to rely on the horse's senses to get through the overgrown path. He forked to the right when the time came, hoping he remembered the way. Hours seemed to pass as they pulsed forward. Daryn could feel the horse's heart racing under her, its muscles pulsing on her pained legs. The air began to smell like salt, and she perked up, knowing they were close to home. Already, if she looked up, she could see the gates.

The horses slowed down as the gates came into view. Daelyn brought them to a stop, staring down at the two guards.

"Your business here?" the older man asked, crossing his arms.

"We are looking for a healer," Daelyn said, "My sister and I were born in Port. We have friends in the village." The man looked at him with hesitation, glancing over at Daryn, who struggled to hold her head up. The man raised his hand at his partner, who went for the crank. As soon as the gate was open wide enough, he lead the horses through.

Port was exactly how the twins remembered. It was on long line on buildings facing the cliffs down to the sea. The natural cliff rocks made roads, and the horse's steps clattered across the sleeping town. They passed the town center, where a fire still burned. Animals roamed around the village unattended, eating whatever had been left out for them. Daelyn led the horses down to the last house in the line and began banging on the door. When no one answered right away, he began to hit louder and faster, until the door swung angrily open. An old, disheveled lady stepped outside, glaring at him. She had a mountain of white, wild hair piled up on her head, and her skin was covered in black markings, making her look threatening. The twins knew better.

"Daelyn Lyker, what brings the likes of you to my doorstep at this hour?" Daelyn smiled at the old lady, who was talking louder than normal. She looked around the street.

"Please, Amaria, we need a healer," Daelyn said, nodding to the three people still on the horses.

"Boy, that man is on the brink of death! And that poor mage looks like she could faint walking," she scolded, "Hurry bring them in, before you wake up the entire village." She disappeared into the house, leaving the four of them on the doorstep. Daelyn grabbed Triver up, taking him into the house and setting him down on the large wooden table that sat in the middle on the front room. He went back and got Ser'deni, laying her down on one of the many cots that lined the room. Amaria had been one of the best healers within 100 miles, but he didn't know if her business still thrived. He went back to get Daryn, who jumped down into his arms. Once inside, she did her best to stand, leaning against the door frame.

"I'll stand guard," she muttered, brushing her long hair away from her face. Amaria rushed over to her, shoving a wet clump of leaved in her hand.

"Pack that into the wound, and don't let anyone in until morning," the old woman said, leaving her to tend to herself.

The ride to Port wasn't rough on Triver, he couldn't feel the horse beneath him and he couldn't see anything beyond just blurs of color that bled together to create dark areas. He didn't feel bad; he knew that he was dying. There was something that he found to be peaceful about it and it was the fact that his body was numb. If he could have felt anything then maybe his reaction would have been a bit different.
There were so many things that the Prince needed to do still. He needed to find Inaris and take him back home, he needed to make sure that Ser'deni wouldn't cry, he needed to ensure that his knights were safe...he wanted a family; he wanted to fall in love and get married. If he died now, he would regret everything in his life.

After some time the Prince simply passed out.

Ser'deni was afraid for once. Usually she could handle things like death and being injured because that was what she had been taught to do. It was different when she cared for the person who was dying. She had never felt this before and the feeling on its own was frightening and confusing. The woman fought to stay awake throughout the ride.
When they slowed and she could hear the sounds of a sleeping town, she let out a deep sigh. There was hope for Triver after all. They were taken down from the horse one by one and honestly she was a bit frustrated. She was a mage, not a kid and she was sure that she was older than the twins anyways.

Triver could hear the fuzzy and far-off voices of everyone around him. He could hear the twins and the stranger and even Ser'deni.

The mage tried to get up from the cot but she felt so sleepy and she nearly fell forward. "It'll be okay." She said to Triver as she reached for his hand. One of her hands was placed on the table to keep her balance and the other gripped the Prince's hand. He would have gripped hers back if he had the chance. Ser'deni sighed and pressed her lips to his forehead before smoothing back his sandy hair. The woman scolded her and the mage was about to say something back when something was thrust into her hands.

"A blanket." The woman said before moving about, grabbing things to heal the prince. Ser'deni felt useless as she felt her way back to the cot. Once she was curled up into a small ball and she had the blanket draped over her, the mage began to cry. Was she going to lose the two people that she held the most dear? She had lost her mother but she had been too young to understand or remember her clearly.

In the morning the mage woke with no memory of falling asleep. The only thing that she remembered was Triver was on death's door. She sat up too quickly and her mind spun as she looked around the room. Although she was weak with mind magic, Ser'deni could reach out and poke around at the minds of other people. She used it as a means of moving through crowded rooms without the need to openly display her disability. He's still here. She thought once she came into contact with Trivr's dreams. She knew it was Triver because everyone had a unique color to their thoughts. Triver's was a deep and dark royal blue. Inaris's had been a muddy gold. Even the twins had their own color.

The mage tumbled to the floor, her feet tangled in the blanket and she furiously kicked it away from her before scrambling to Triver, who had been placed on a nearby cot.

He was asleep but alive and that was all that mattered to her.

Daryn fought sleep as she slumped down and sat at the base of the door. She had crammed the herbs into her swollen leg and then wrapped it in a piece of hot cloth that Amaria had given her. While she fought to keep her eyes open, she watched the old lady and her brother bustle about. Amaria was a mage, but she didn't use her magic unless she absolutely had to. Instead, she used her knowledge of other healing methods. Brews and the like. Amaria lay Triver out on the table and laid both of her hands on his chest. They stayed like that for a very long time, and Daryn knew that she was countering whatever poison was killing the prince. Suddenly, the old mage pulled back, slumping against the back wall. Daelyn moved to help her stand.

"Move him to a bed beside his sister," the old lady whispered, patting Daelyn's arm, "She will be upset when she wakes up. He will want her as well, I assume." Amaria glanced at Daryn whose eyebrows were perked up. The lady chuckled. "Didn't know they were related, huh? Well, there's a lot you two don't know. Protect the Prince like your life depends on it," she said, walking out of the room, "Because, my twins, it does."

Daelyn followed her command and moved Triver to a cot right beside Ser'deni. He covered the boy up and moved away. They were siblings. He could hardly believe it. They didn't look alike at all. At least Daryn and he looked the same. Daelyn sat down on the floor beside Daryn, who wrapped her arms around his body. She hummed a song to him, quietly, and he knew she was going to fall asleep.

"I'm sorry I got you hurt," he said, closing his eyes and falling into the sound of her light voice.

"You did nothing," she said, "It was all my idea. I owe the two of them an apology."

They spent a few minutes in silence, leaning against each other with their eyes closed. Sleep came quickly but unwillingly. It was Daryn who woke up first, hearing Ser'deni hit the floor. She jumped but remained still, waiting and watching the young mage tend to her brother. Daryn patted Daelyn's head and finally stood, moving into another room in the house. The kitchen. Already, Amaria was cooking, and whatever it was smelled better than the castle food had during their short day there. Daryn offered to help, but the old woman scolded her away. So, she waited by the door, watching the prince and Ser'deni. How had Amaria known about them being siblings? More importantly, how had she known it was the prince? Daryn had her guesses, the first being that Triver was very hidden without his hat. Anyone would know who he was now. She made herself a goal to find them new disguises.

"Daryn, set the table," Amaria barked from behind her, pressing a stack of ceramic plates in the girl's hands. Daryn didn't argue, knowing it was useless with the woman. The same table Triver had been healed on would be dined on this morning. The tan wood of the table was carved and burned with different markings, words and letters and symbols that Daryn couldn't read. She glanced at her brother, who was sitting up and rubbing his eyes. Amaria entered the room with food, some sort of meat that filled the room with its scent.

"Now, we wait for the boy to get hungry," Amaria said, sitting down at the table with a chuckle.

"We have different mothers." Ser'deni said as she helped her brother sit up. He was a little pale and weak but at least he was alive. "And do not apologize for being injured Daryn Lyker, things happen that we cannot control." Triver looked around the home with a confused expression before Ser'deni told him of what had happened.
There were fuzzy bits in his mind that were flashes of blurred color or jumbled words muffed by the same fog. With the information that he was given, the prince's eyes widened and he looked at the older mage. "Thank you." he said as Ser'deni helped him to the table. He sat across from the female knight. To his right sat his sister, her hand gently clasping his. The two used to be affectionate with each other as children. Triver thrived on physical contact with others, particularly his sister and Inaris, and it was a habit that persisted.

Triver shook his head, "I didn't think you knew about that." He told the younger mage. She shrugged and scooted a cup closer to him.
"I have known for many years, now be quiet and eat. Thank you Lady Amaria, for healing him." Ser'deni said with a polite nod of her head. Triver had been gifted with the looks of his mother: fair hair and skin, well defined features and a sweet smile that tugged a little more to one side. His eyes were all his father's from the shape to the color. He was an uneven mix of his parents. In contrast to Triver's lighter appearance, Ser'deni looked like her mother's people. Dark skinned with long dark hair and dark tattoos that ran from the border of her lip down to her throat. Only her eyes showed any resemblance to those of her father's and brother’s eyes; of course one could only notice if they were opened. While they might now have looked like brother and sister there were a few things about them that gave the subtle hints. They were just little habits that one would catch over time.

"Should we stay in Port for another night and gather some more supplies?" The mage asked, half of their supplies had been lost with the horses. Other bandits probably already got to them by now and it would be useless to head back to check.

Triver was eating quietly next to her, they needed a map of some sort in order to plot their route. He assumed that one of the twins had a map that they could use. He knew that they were instructed to search the southern part of Danycia for any signs of Inaris.
"We need to see if any one has any information on Inaris." Triver said as he glanced at the twins, Daryn in particular. "How is your injury by the way? I trust that your brother is fine?" He was concerned for their well-being, they were his knights after all.

Daryn watched the prince carefully as he began to eat, breathing out a little sigh of relief. Her brother came over and sat beside her, eating as well. He had fallen back into his silent stage, watching everyone around him, thinking about what they would do next. He weighed the questions in his head for a moment, and then Daryn spoke his answers, like she could read his mind.

"Yes, we should stay in Port for a while. Not for long, but I don't think it's wise to travel before we have regained all our strength," and although she looked at Triver, she meant the latter part for herself as well. While her leg no longer bled, it itched with healing, and she knew she would be limping for several days. "Daelyn and I will go out shopping today, and find a place to stay. We can't burden Amaria."

The last word left Daryn's mouth no sooner than Amaria swung around and whacked the girl on the head. Daryn yelped, reaching for her sword hilt out of instinct. Of course, she had taken it off the night before.

"You will do no such thing," Amaria said, sitting down at the last empty seat at the head of the table, "It would be nonsense to waste money on boarding when I have beds to spare. If you don't mind a few of my patients coming and going throughout the day."

Both twins knew there was no point in arguing. The old woman would get her way eventually. Daelyn shook his head and glanced over at Daryn, who bit her lip. They would be putting her in danger, and Amaria meant too much to the both of them for her to be in danger.

"Whatever you want, Amaria," Daryn said, turning her attention to the prince's last question. "And I'm fine, Prince. No arrow can bring me down. Just seriously maim me." She pulled away from the table and stood, unwrapping and showing the wound to Triver. It was bright pink, looking empty and already faintly scarred. "Amaria wasn't able to heal me, due to the severity of the poison in your system. I don't need it though; I'll be fine." Daelyn nodded along with her, touching her shoulder for her to sit back down.

"And I am uninjured," Daelyn answered, with a small smile.

"We can pay her," Ser'deni said as she produced a small cloth bag of coins from her side. The woman counted out five gold coins per person before sliding them across the table to Amaria. "This is for our medical fees," she repeated the process until there was enough coins on the table to cover their boarding and food. "And here is payment for our board and food." Ser'deni tied the small bag and remaining coins to her belt again before asking Triver how Daryn's wound looked.
The prince was a little uncomfortable with the fact that the woman had showed her wound and he was about to suggest letting his mage finish healing her when she spoke.
It looks good." He said to Ser'deni before looking at the twins.

He wanted to see Port. It would help him keep his mind off of finding Inaris. "I was wondering if it would be risky in allowing me to see Port?" he asked before digging into his breakfast. The mage beside him sighed and shook her head but kept quiet. She didn't know if he should be allowed to leave this place considering that he had almost died last night. Ser'deni didn't want to be overbearing and she knew that he needed to keep his mind free of the fact that they were on a man hunt for their friend but the prince going out in public was something that she didn't want to risk. She could only hope that the two knights would agree with her.

Once breakfast was over the mage helped clean up by taking the dishes into the kitchen; she would rather help than feel like she was being a burden. "Lady Amaria...may I ask how you escaped the King's clutches?" All mages, regardless of their social background, were property of the King according to the Daynician laws. Fake mages, simple folk with limited magical abilities, were easy to weed from the real mages; Ser'deni doubted that Amaria was one of the fake mages. There was a strong feel of magic around the woman.
Triver looked up curiously. That was something that his sister never brought up. Being a mage was like being sold into slavery before one's birth. From the moment a child shows magical skills in their early childhood they are sent to the castle to serve the King. His sister was unlucky enough to have been born in the castle walls. There was a knock on the door and the prince quickly answered it despite the protest of his sister.

Standing just beyond the door's edge was a man of average height with a stocky build and dark red hair with a braided beard and a moustache. He looked to be a few years older than Triver. "Hello! I am here to see Amaria, I am Adi." The man bowed politely before Triver side stepped to allow him in.
Adi grinned and waved to everyone in the room, his eyes scanned over Triver and Ser'deni before landing on the twins. He hadn't seen them in years. "Hello Lyker twins!" Adi said as he moved in to hug them. There was a faint burning sensation at the back of his mind but he brushed it off as exhaustion from work.

Adi storming into the room seemed to stun both the twins and Amaria. He swept both of them up into a hug, which neither twin hesitated to return. Both of the twins had fond memories of the boy, now a man. A childhood friend, Adi had been a huge part of their lives in Port. Daelyn considered the man a brother, although the feelings Adi had towards Daryn were always something a little stronger than brotherhood. Daelyn had always thought that, though it had never been brought full circle. The twins hugged the man, lingering a moment and then returning to their seats.

"I think it would be a great idea for you to get out, Triver," Daryn said, careful not to use the Prince's title, in case Adi hadn't realized already. Their identities were better left secret, regardless of how safe they were at Amaria's house. "I would be happy to escort you around Port for a day or two." She smiled at the boy before her before realizing her mistake. "Oh, I'm sorry. Triver, Adi is an old friend of ours from when we lived in Port before. He's like a brother to us."

"Ser'deni, while Daryn is with Triver, it would be best if we continue on with our mission. We can shop for supplies and ask anyone around town if they have seen Inaris," Daelyn said, knowing very well that it would be a fight to pull Ser'deni away from the prince. Daryn, though, was very capable of protecting him. They were safe within the walled city, and he knew she equalled any man in the city. Triver was safest with the woman by his side.

Amaria offered Adi her seat at the table, moving to the shelves on her wall.

"To answer your question, Ser'deni, I was fired. You see, some years back, there was a rebellion against the king. Several people from Port rose up to join the rebellion." She looked towards the twins, who stared at her stone faced. They held their breath, hoping she would not mention the twins part in said rebellion. "I had been working for the king around fifty years, and when I heard from some rebels from Port were being executed, I helped several of them escape." She looked away from the twins, "Of course, I couldn't save everyone. The king allowed me to live, but, as punishment, my two children were both killed." She paused and looked at the Prince. "What possessed him to let me live, I'll never know."

Ser'deni's brow knitted together as she tried to remember any sort of things that linked back to what the older woman told her. Amaria probably hadn't been one of the king's personal mages because there was no way that they were able to leave him. He has ensured that his person mages would forever be under his control by using spells and seals that would render them helpless or even kill them. No one was brave enough to try testing the limits on them so they didn't know for sure. It troubled her that she couldn't understand the reasoning that the king would let someone live. He was a ruthless and cruel man who had no troubles in using people before discarding them like table scraps.

"What's she talking about?" Triver asked curiously as he looked at Amaria before looking back to Ser'deni.

The woman sighed and she gave a brief explanation. "He caught wind of a rebellious group that, although it wasn't very large, it had a big impact on the southern parts of the kingdom. They planned a larger rebellion that would have resulted in either a civil war or the massacring of our citizens. He chose to massacre his citizens." It hadn't affected Ser'deni in any way and Triver hadn't been told much beyond it was the king's duty to protect his crown. Triver sat stiffly in his seat and he looked down at the table. There was no way that his father could have done it, right? "There was a time when he considered bringing us into it...that would have wiped out this entire town." The other mages were always ready to please the king. They enjoyed taking the lives of others and they were just as bad as he was. "Let's not dwell on that any longer though."

Adi was listening carefully and it didn't take long for him to piece together that the prince was sitting across from him. He sat there with an open mouth, trying to find his words. Finally he spoke up. "What's the prince of Danycia doing here?"

Triver looked up with wide, frightened eyes. He had forgotten about the red haired man and now he was exposed. He looked to his knights for assistance with the matter. "Uh...um..." Triver hesitated and he fidgeted in his seat.

"He's okay; there wasn't any hint of Adi being linked to what's left of the rebellion." Ser'deni said softly. Adi looked at the woman with wide eyes and he jumped up.

"What are you talking about?!"

"Nothing. Just know that you're cleared, now to the matter of allowing Triver to see Port and what life is like beyond the castle walls." The mage leaned against the wall and addressed the twins. "I will allow Triver to accompany you, Daryn, but one of my pets must be following you at all times. I still want to know what is happening throughout the kingdom out of my own curiosity as well."

Triver's heart began to thump wildly in his chest. He would get to see the kingdom! It was slightly tainted now that the mage had told him a tidbit of the history surrounding the area but he was still eager to go exploring. "Can I swim in the ocean?" He asked suddenly.

Adi shook his head. "Not unless you want to be drowned by the mermaids. Beautiful creatures but they have a nasty habit of grabbing ankles." The man crossed his arms over his chest before his eyes crinkled at the edges, "There are some pools up in the north hills that you can swim in, I promise they are mermaid free." Adi was willing to help the prince; he was the next in line for the throne and Adi thought it was better to have a bloodless rebellion than one that would wipe out most of the kingdom. He was a pacifist by nature and he avoided all talk of the rebellion as best as he could. Even if they had to wait another twenty years before peace could be reached then he would be willing to stick it out.

"Are you going with Daelyn?" Adi asked the mage. "It seems odd that you'd leave the prince all alone."

Triver wanted answers as well. Why was there a sudden change of heart from the woman?

"I want him to learn about the outside world in ways the king never did. I want him to be able to understand the impact a ruler has on his or her people and I want him to learn from past mistakes. Most of all...I want my brother to be able to stand on his own when I'm no longer here."

The weight of her words hit Triver hard. He knew that the mages didn't have a long lifespan but she never had said it out loud before. Being born a mage was both a blessing and a curse. You could do things that were unimaginable to normal humans but you couldn't have the best of both worlds. Mages paid for their magic with their life, the more they used magic the shorter their lives were.
The prince stood up and excused himself. He didn't know where he was going to go but he wanted out of there.

"Go get him Daryn. You'll be able to calm him down, take Adi with you as well." Ser'deni said. The prince needed some time to cool off and she hoped that Daryn would be able to help him. He needed people other than mages in his life.

Daryn cussed loudly and jumped up, kissing her brother on the head. She grabbed her sword, strapping it around her hips and looking at Adi expectantly. She didn't like that the man acted like he knew more about Port than anyone else in the room. She definitely hadn't planned on letting Triver swim with mermaids, but he did deserve to see them. They were amazing things, the mermaids. With Adi behind her, Daryn took off out the door, seeing that Triver hadn't made it too far. She fell into step beside him, touching his shoulder gently.

"Today, Triver, you will see some amazing things," she said, smiling at him. First, she intended to take him down to the ocean. Not to swim, but to look. Everyone needed to feel their feet in the water, taste the spray of the water against the rocks. She wouldn't feel right if he didn't at least stick his hands in the water. Yet, Daryn knew that he was hurt. Ser'deni was right, but she knew how hard that was to hear. There had been a time when Daelyn and she had the same conversation. The night before the trials, they had sat down in the dirt floor of their shack, held hands and prayed to whatever god was listening.

"What happens if one of us dies?" Daelyn had asked, unable to hide the shake in his voice. Daryn had squeezed his hand, staring at the footprints in the dirt.

"The other must go on," she had whispered, "And they will have to learn to survive alone."

Daryn knew how impossible it felt to live without a sibling. She couldn't imagine that life, a life without his curls, his eyes, his gentle personality. Daryn snapped herself back to the present, concentrating on where they were going. Triver was leading himself through the center of town. People were lined on the side of the rocky street with fruits, fishes, and other wares. Women shopped, baskets propped on thin hips, babies on the other side. Old men gambled with little wooden balls and cups in front of the tavern, cussing loudly when someone lost. It all made Daryn smile, feeling back at home. There were faces in the crowd that knew her, and she knew them.

"Port is forced to survive on its own. Because of that rebellion Amaria told you about, people here don't receive help from your father. The people are tough, making their own ways to live, and no, it's not always honest. See that lady over there?" Daryn pointed into a colorful tent with clothes hanging from the swaying beams, "Her name is Lydia. She has three children, and her husband died at sea when I was just little. She dyes and sells her own clothes to the people in Port. Lydia is one of the wealthiest people in Port. Without interference from the royal city, Port sort of flourished." She led him out of the growing crowd, onto a smaller pathway. The ocean stretched out to their left, at the bottom of a steep cliff. The farther they walked, the less people they saw. Daryn walked close to the edge, looking.

"Ah-ha!" she said, coming to a stop. "Adi thinks it's a bad idea to swim in the ocean, and I agree. But I think you should definitely see it closer than this." She knelt down on the ground, reaching over the edge. There was a ladder, made from ropes and wood, slung over the edge. It was a long way down, but the edge wasn't as steep as everywhere else. The cliff went outwards here, coming to end on a big stretch of sand. It was like a tiny beach. Daryn pulled the ladder up just enough to show the prince the first rung. "I'll go down first, you go second, and Adi will go last. I promise it's completely safe, and I will not let the mermaids get you." With that, she disappeared over the edge, breathing in the amazing air. It hadn't been this clear before how homesick she'd really been.

Back at Amaria's, Daelyn watched the door shut, hoping Daryn would actually be able to calm the prince down. She wasn't very good at being patient with people. He let out a big breath and looked across the table at the mage. The feeling in his gut told him that the mage didn't like him very much at all. This was business, though, and it didn't matter. They were on a mission.

"The best place to talk to people would be the marketplace. At this time of day, I bet everyone is there. After that, we can go to the docks and see if he got on a boat," Daelyn said, pushing his chair away from the table. He moved to get his sword, squeezing Amaria's hand as he went past. "Ser'deni, do you think you could glimpse into people's minds and see if they've seen him? I mean, we can't ask everyone, and that would be the fastest way to do it." Daelyn remembered her saying that mind magic wasn't her strong point. Yet, he wasn't about to point out that if she couldn't do it, he would find another way. Ser'deni was completely capable; he was sure she was more capable than even he understood. He finished getting ready, standing by the door.

"Oh, sorry about last night. I know you could have taken care of yourself; I didn't need to toss you around," he said, to the mage, "When people get hurt, old shepherd instincts kick in, and I tend to get protective. I didn't mean to insult you, if I did."