Aera stood still as stone as she watched Taris and the physician vanish into shadow. She'd heard of such powers, but had never seen it. Knowing Taris could do it brought a chill that ran through her spine. 

Envy stepped in front of her and turned to face her, his face pale, or what could be called pale to him. "You're not pregnant?"
Aera gave him a half-hearted sneer. "I thought Envy always knows?"
Envy frowned. "I wasn't sure what to believe on that one. And who the hell was that?"
The pale elf's face was stone. "Taris. And yes, I know who he is." She added quickly to Envy's exasperated look. "At least I know what he is. What I don't understand is why he went out of his way to help me."

"Why is that hard to believe? Elves stick together here."
Aera didn't flinch. "Because he's here to kill me."
"Our Mother and Father, Aera!" He growled at her in elvish. "And you brought that bastard here?"
"I didn't know he'd follow me[b]." She admitted. "[b]Or that he could do.... that."

His angry red eyes leered at her. "Should I be worried that you don't seem at all worried about being assassinated?" She didn't answer, only stared at the dummy across the room full of arrows. "Aera?"

"I am." She whispered, switching languages again. "But something tells me he doesn't want to do it." The Kartaian narrowed his eyes, glaring down at her. "The fact that he could have slit my throat, or worse, anytime these past few days but didn't, says something. And he went through all that trouble to dig out the Queen's lies. For what reason?" Aera turned her head and looked at him. "He was so angry this morning when the news got out. What reason does he have?"

With a deep sigh, Envy turned and walked away, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. Aera remained where she was, straight as an arrow, watching him. "I want you guarded."
"I have guards."
"Crooked ones." Envy sat on one of the stone steps, his unnatural height making him bend awkwardly to do so. "I could send word to Rulitus."
"No." Aera burst out immediately, thinking of those piercing blue eyes. "I can't. Neither one of us would like that."
He watched her. "Okay. But I'm still slipping some informants in."

"Envy, no." She switched tongues again. There are no lies in elvish. "I trust him. At least my gut does, and I trust that." She approached her friend. "I promise you, the moment I feel any threat, I will send word, if I can't make it myself." She grinned. "And hey, if I wake up dead, you know who did it."

He hissed. "That's not funny, Aera!"

"Oh, Envy, sheath that cock of yours already." He glared and she glared back. "When have you ever known me to be weak and helpless? I can defend myself. And damn well, if I might add."

The Kartaian stared up at her for a moment before jumped up and wrapping her arms around her, lifting her light frame from the ground. She shrieked, startled, but a smile was on her face. "You have never been weak." He told her, squeezing her tight. "You were half alive when Ruli caught you, and you beat the pride out of the boy in seven seconds." He put her down and stared into her eyes. "But as strong as you are, you didn't look at Ruli the way you look at the assassin."

Aera felt her ears grow warm as she blushed. "I should return to the palace." She stepped away from his arms and headed for the tunnel. "Envy always knows." She lilted before she stepped into the shadow of the tunnel.

Taris stretched out in the chair in front of his mirror. For some reason he felt relieved that Aera wasn’t having Kentaro’s child. Too relieved for him to just be glad he no longer needed to kill her. Taris pushed that thought away. His master needed to be informed of the change of information. He pulled the cover from the mirror and called through it. Once more his master’s grim face swam into view, “Taris. You have a new report.” It was not a question.

The elf nodded, “Princess Aera isn’t pregnant. It seems the Queen coerced the Royal Physician into declaring she was. I’m removing her from the list of targets.”
His master’s face went cold, “You grow more arrogant with every contract, it seems. You don’t get to dictate the terms of the contract. You kill who you are told to kill. You are an assassin. You do your job.”
Taris’ eyes flashed a warning. He leaned back and started rolling a dagger over his knuckles, “The contract is mine, and up to me whether to accept new stipulations beyond the initial terms when I accepted the first time. I have determined that she is no threat to the current contract, and will continue to regard her as a secondary target.”

His master glared back out of the mirror. “You are infatuated with her,” he stated coolly. He continued when Taris stilled, “Your judgment is clouded, Taris. You are one of the best at what we do, but you are making mistakes that will end you. If you refuse to kill her now, fine, I will discuss this with the client. But stay away from her Taris. That is an order.”

The mirror went inert once more, a mere second before a second a thin blade of darkness sliced through the glass. Taris’ eyes faintly glowed, as the shadow dissolved in his hand. That pretentious bastard…

A ray of sun lit his shoulder, the sun was already setting, and Taris was regretting walking out on Aera so quickly in the tunnels. The kiss they shared a few days before flashed through his mind and he sighed. He suddenly wondered if she would still cover for him after today. With another sigh, scryed through a shadow, finding her just as she returned to her room. He wanted to go talk to her, but perhaps it was a better idea to judge her mood first. Else he may find himself with another scar.

Envy stood where he was for a long moment, pulling a cigarette from one of his pockets and lighting it on one of the candles. He inhaled the smoke and sighed before moving to take a seat in the chair by the wall, where he'd watch the children spar with one another. Beside the chair, a platter of fruit sat on a tall table. Almost all the fruit had been untouched, save for the grapes. He reached over and picked up one of the few grapes left and popped it into his mouth.

"What is it with you and grapes?"
"I don't know." Envy answered, chewing a bit before taking another drag from his cigarette. "They're just delicious. Would you like one?" Envy almost immediately regretted his offer, as there were now only two grapes left, and he wanted them.

The other changed the subject. "You didn't tell her I'm here."
"So you were listening, then." It wasn't a question. The Kartaian turned and looked at the figure standing in the shadows. He wore clothes of the desert folk, loose and layered, with the wrapped hood covering the majority of his head. Envy stared into the blue eyes. "It would have raised the wrong questions." He took another drag. "Go look around, see what you can read. I want to know about this Taris character. Specifically, if he's here to hurt Treasure." The elf stared for a long minute, calculating things in his mind. "Oh, and Ruli. Change your clothes. You stand out."

---

"My Lady!" Paytin gasped, noticing Aera's dirty dress and fatigued appearance. "What happened?"
The elf smiled. "I needed to see someone, and the way to their estate isn't easy." The maid gaped. "Help me tidy, will you?" She asked. 

Paytin helped her out of her dress and, holding it like she feared it would kill her, put it near the door to be washed later. Aera pulled her hair over her shoulder to brush it as Paytin undid the ties on her gloves. 

"We're in mourning now, my Lady." Paytin informed her. Aera acknowledged the fact with a nod and stepped into the modest black dress Paytin held out to her. "Your jewelry...." Paytin added hesitantly. 
The elf's hands flew to her ears. She was fine with giving up anything for mourning, necklaces, rings, brooches. All meaningless. But her earrings? She pulled them from her lobes and peered at them. Two identical tear drops, one ivory, one ebony. It was hard to imagine not wearing them. She always wore them. 
"They're beautiful, my Lady." Paytin told her, looking at the elf's hand. 
Aera smiled sadly. "They are. My mother gave them to me." 
The maid noticed the elf's sadness and looked over her shoulder for a moment. "You know, my Lady." Paytin whispered. "I don't think you'd get in trouble if you kept them in your pocket. They'd be close, but you wont get in trouble."

Aera grinned, her violet eyes full of gratitude. "Thank you, Paytin." The maid smiled and, with a promise that she'd keep the secret, went to gather Aera's black gloves. "No." She stopped. "No gloves."
Paytin had worked in Aera's chambers for about three months, now, and had always known the woman to wear gloves. As for why, she didn't know, but the sudden decision to disregard them confused her. "My Lady?" 
I need to be able to protect myself, the elf thought quietly to herself. As quickly as the first rumor had flown through the city, the truth about her pregnancy was bound to be known, and she was still a target. Aera put her hand to her head, feeling the small bump behind her temple from where she'd hit the wall this morning. Paytin noticed. 

"My Lady, if I may... I know the physician lied. About... about your child." When Aera turned her dark eyes to the girl Paytin blushed furiously. But Aera's eyes were on the girls wrists.
"Paytin." The maid froze and looked up, realizing she'd been rubbing her arms. "Are those bruises? What happened?"
The maid blushed again. "I... I made someone angry."
Aera glared. "Paytin, who hurt you?" She gently grabbed the girls hand. The marks were large and dark. 
"N..no one, my Lady."

Suddenly Aera wrapped her arms around the maid, shushing her. She'd seen those marks before. She'd had those marks before. "I'm sorry." She said. "I have to go and speak to the queen, for a bit. Stay here. Relax. That's an order."

A few minutes later, Aera curtsied before her mother-in-law. "Good evening, my Queen."
Lilith bowed her head. "I see you're feeling better, Daughter. It was terrible to hear about our friend's episode. Felt so guilty about diagnosing you wrong, he took his life." News had gotten out about the physicians suicide. 
Aera knew better than to believe that. "I'm sure your son was devastated to learn the truth. As I was. I had truly hoped to give you a grandchild." Her voice was flat.

The Queen sighed, looking bored. "He was so angry he rode off for the evening, to visit my brother. I am following after dinner. Would you care to travel with us?"

Aera bowed and declined. "No, you Majesty. I fear your son is angry will be angry with me, for proving to be so infertile."
Lilith flinched at the word and excused Aera with a wave of her hand. "Is there something more?" 
A moment of hesitation flashed through Aeras mind. "Yes." She said uncertainly. "My Queen, elves are creatures of honor. At least my people are." She added, knowing the queen only knew of the Kartaians. "I know I'm not welcome here. I only came because I loved your son and he loved me. That seems to not be the case any longer. As much as I love him, I don't make him happy." Aera pressured herself to keep eye contact. "If you speak to him and find a lawful reason why we shouldn't be married, by my honor, I have to leave, and you'll never see me again. There's no reason to fight dirty and bribe people to have me harmed."

With that she turned on her heel and left, as fast as she could go without making it obvious that she was in a rush to leave. 

Taris felt himself flush just a bit, when Paytin began to help Aera undress, and looked away for a moment out of courtesy. She’d never know but Taris couldn’t bring himself to betray her trust like that. But he looked back when he heard a note of surprise in Paytin’s voice, Aera was going without gloves. Maybe he’d best not approach her for now, then, if she still thought him a threat, her choosing to go without gloves made him nervous. He watched a little more as Aera gently grabbed Paytin’s hand and examined the marks on her wrists. Damn, he thought, I shouldn’t have lost my temper.

Aera left the room after telling the maid to stay, and Taris waved away the image, instead stepping into the darkness. He emerged slowly into Aera’s room keeping his hands to his sides, “Paytin.”
She turned with a jump, and stepped back involuntarily. “Taris, “ she answered shakily, holding her wrists.
The assassin made no attempt to move, instead he cast his eyes to the side. “I’m sorry, Paytin. I hurt one of my Sister’s and you have every right to demand a… ‘Resolution’ of me.”

He paused and he could tell she was weighing his words. If a member hurt another of his guild-brothers or -sisters, through action or inaction, the wronged guild member could demand what was called a ‘Resolution’ in the guild. One shot at the person who wronged them with whatever weapon they wanted. Usually a dart or dagger with a mild poison to make their lives miserable for a few days, but in severe cases, an arrow through the heart had happened before.

Paytin looked at him a moment or two and asked, “Are you in love with Aera?”
The question was not what he was expecting and it threw him hard, “I… I’m not sure.”
The maid nodded at this, “I understand, it’s hard to keep your mind on your mission around her, like she has this aura that pulls at you.” She shook her head after a moment, “I don’t want a ‘Resolution’ Taris, I’ll live. I’ve had worse bruises than this having a tumble with a friend.”

A laugh burst from Taris’ mouth, and he stepped forward slowly, taking her wrists gently in his hands. Reaching deep inside his soul he grabbed his power, it was hard to use magic like this on this side of the barrier, and sent a burst of healing into the bruises. He let go and reached into a pocket, pulling out a note and giving it to her, “Give this to Aera, to tell her I’m sorry. She’s no longer on the list.”

Paytin nodded and took the note, “Bet that was an enjoyable talk with the Guildmaster…” she watched as Taris snorted and melted into some darkness behind an armoire.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taris walked along the streets sometime later, the sun just barely below the horizon. He needed a kill to clear his head, Paytin’s question had rattled him badly. His next target was the Duke of Mamron, and his son, Perro. A contact told him they were at a tavern in the richer part of the city, and Taris planned on ambushing them on their ride home outside of the city.

He was enjoying the failing light when someone bumped into him going the opposite direction, muttering a quick, “Sorry.” He felt a whisper of something in his head for just a fraction of a moment, before it was gone. The assassin glared and spun around, but the other person was gone, lost to the crowd. He instinctively checked his pockets, finding a piece of wheat that he knew had not been there, but nothing was missing. The man was good, that Taris couldn’t pick him back out of the crowd. One of Envy’s then[/i, he thought, [i]it must be.

The elf sighed, and continued out of town, there was nothing he could do but go threaten the Kartaian. Something told him Aera might not appreciate that right now though, and he missed talking to her already. About a mile out of town he found a nice patch of trees and set up to wait.

A couple hours later he spotted them, they were on horseback instead of a carriage, surprising the elf. He changed his plans and pulled out a rope-dart, a length of light strong rope tipped with a barbed needle. He stood on the branch he was waiting on, until they were right beneath him. Taris threw the dart out, wrapping it around the son’s neck and hopped off the branch, hauling the young man into the air and strangling him, pinning the barb on the other end of the rope into a tree root. The Duke turned around and looked at his dying son in horror. Seeing the elf he drew his sword and charged with a scream. Taris waited patiently until the horse was upon him, deftly sidestepping the blade and swinging up behind the man in one fluid movement. “It was a good attempt,” he whispered into the man’s ear, before burying his dagger into the Duke’s kidney.

Within moments they were both dead, and Taris collected what coin they had, throwing their jewelry and other valuables into shadow, he had no need of them and wanted this to look like a bandit ambush. The assassin then stepped into shadow himself, heading back to his flat in the inn to make his report.

"Here." 
Rulitus took a break from rubbing his temples to accept the glass of wine without a word. "Bastard." He muttered.
Envy's eyebrows went up. "I sincerely hope you don't mean me."
The dark skinned boy shook his head. "The assassin." 

"Did he see you?"
"Can't see shadows at night." Ruli replied darkly. His head was killing him, his eyes felt like someone had stuck needles in them. "Don't ask me to read him again."
The elf nodded slowly, figuring out what he meant. "What did you get from him?"
Rulitus sipped his wine. "Not a lot. His mind's fucking messed up." Envy waited patiently. "She's safe." Ruli said at long last, taking another swig. When he'd bumped into the elf on the streets, as soon as he had skin contact, Ruli leapt into the elf's mind, in search for Aera. He'd caught a brief glimpse of her, but her image was clouded in this haze. For a moment she flickered and her whole body gained this monotone purple hue, but just for a minuscule moment. Another woman, perhaps, Ruli didn't know. But when he saw Aera, he felt conflicted, but nothing to suggest death. "The elf loves her, but has yet to figure that out." Ruli offered freely. 

Envy heaved a sigh. He had figured as much. And Aera knows, too, judging by her words earlier. But does she love him back? His stomach twinged in jealousy. He should have kicked the damn prince out from the tunnels when he first showed up. Then Aera would still be here. Never have met the assassin. Maybe, even, have accepted him.

"Where are you going?" Envy asked, watching Ruli get up, holding his head.
"Home." His friend growled back. "Send word again if you need help."
Envy frowned, but let him go.

---

The world was still cloaked in darkness, the horizon just beginning to lighten with the sunrise when Aera opened her eyes. It was chilly in her room, so she pulled the feather blanket over her bare arm, stretching her long legs. She yawned and rolled over to face the window, arching her back as she moved, her arms outward. Then she froze when she felt something scratchy touch her wrist. Curious, she sat up and looked on the pillow and gasped. It was a piece of wheat.

In a heartbeat Aera threw back her covers and leapt out of bed, grabbing her robe to cover herself. She opened her chamber door and peered out to the empty hall, and then ran to the false wall and checked that the lock was still fastened. Her pulse racing she leaned against the wall and stared at her bed. At the wheat. Rulitus. He had been here, in her bedroom. Why? 

Nearby, in the corner close the the false wall, was a chaise. She sat on it, covering herself with a throw blanket, and stared at the wheat until she fell back to sleep, her dreams plagued with nightmares. 

Paytin found her in the morning and woke her with a gentle hand on her knee. "My Lady?" Aera opened her tired eyes and greeted the maid with a groggy good morning. "My Lady, why are you sleeping here?" 
Slowly, Aera sat up and stretched, her muscles tense and sore from the odd sleep. She didn't answer, just stood and went to the window. Paytin went to make the bed and discovered the piece of wheat. With a confused look, she picked it up and went to toss it.
"No!" Aera shouted, scaring the maid. "I'm sorry, just... don't. Just... put it on the dresser, where I don't have to touch it."
Paytin's brows shot up. "What is it?" 
"A message." Aera turned back to the window. "From a friend."

Paytin put the odd thing on the dress beside Aera's jewelry box and helped Aera dress and brush out her hair, after which Aera toyed with it, pulling it up into a coil at the back of her head. The black of mourning didn't look good with her hair down, framed her face in black in a way that reminded her too much of the priestesses in the city church. Paytin handed her the teardrop earrings and Aera pocketed them after a moment. 

'Here, my darling.' Aera glanced up and saw herself as a child in the mirror, her mother standing behind her, bending to put the earrings in Aera's little ears. 'Ivory on the right, ebony on the left. Wearing them like this will bring you balance'.
Behind her child self's smiling face, Aera frowned. Nothing of my life has been balanced. 

In silence, she stood and headed downstairs, her porcelain mask on, though her eyes announced that she was tired. 
Today, her husband came home.

Taris looked around at the walls, at a place he hadn’t been to in decades, the darkness hiding nothing from his eyes. He knew it very well, this place that had never seen light. It was where he was raised. It was where he was trained from birth to be a killer. He hated this place.

A sound echoed further down the tunnel, and he walked off to investigate. Another sound, it was moving away from him, but still closer than before. Whatever or whoever it was ahead of him was leading him up and out, towards the air and light. He started to run. Another sound, clear this time, a bare foot against stone, the rustle of fabric, he was closer now. He kept running, but now whoever was ahead of him was running too. He heard a woman’s laugh and ran harder, the air was clearer now, he was near the surface. Taris rounded one last corner and skidded to halt.

He was in the open now, gazing out at the opposite wall of the ravine that housed the true home of Zerrinomin city. The sky was dimly lit by the stars, the rock wall above him blocking the moon from view. He was home. A throaty laugh came from behind him, “It’s good to see you again, Mirn’zelnen. Or is it Taris, now?”
He turned slowly, as if afraid of what he might see. “Layne,” he muttered.

She smiled, pale ash-lavender skin glowing, violet hair cascading over her back and shoulders. Her red eyes softened as she looked at him and she stepped forward into his arms. Her lips were like fire against his and he broke off reluctantly, “Layne, this is a dream isn’t it?”

She spun away, the curve of her hip entrancing him just as they always had. Her smile was just as mischievous as he remembered, “Yes, and no. I’m a spirit now, remember?” Her smile became sad, “There’s no barriers in the After, like there are above. Simple matter to jump into your unconscious mind. At least it is normally, you’ve been keeping me out.” She held up a hand to forestall his words, “No, I know… it’s still painful for you, and I don’t blame you, Mirn’zelnen. And I know, about her.”
Layne’s form flashed and shifted, and for a moment Aera stood before him. Taris blinked, and it was Layne again. He tried to say something, but she put a finger to his lips. “No, Mir… Taris, no. I’m glad you’re moving on, I’ve wanted to tell you for so long. I love you Taris, but you need to let me go, not just block me out.”
She stepped forward and kissed him one last time, before turning back into the tunnel. Taris started to run after her, but before he could reach the tunnel, a stone slab slammed down, cutting him off.

Taris sat bolt upright in bed, drenched in a cold sweat. He took a moment to bring his breathing back under control. The elf glanced at the window, judging the time. It must be nearly noon. Taris scowled into the mirror. He got dressed and stepped into Shadow. There was something he needed to take care of.

The assassin came out inside the tunnels of the Thieves Den. Just ahead was the chamber where he’d found Aera the day before. Envy had already spotted him and was swiftly coming towards him as well.
“What are you doing here, assassin?” Envy asked when they were within striking distance of each other.
Taris glared back, “I know you sent him, Envy. I felt him in my head. Never again.”
“I had to be sure you wouldn’t hurt her,” the Kartaian replied.
“She is the only reason I don’t kill you right now.” The assassin turned away, “And you could have just asked.” He opened the shadows again, and stepped through it, back to his flat. He needed a bath.

Aera finished her lunch and went outside to the garden, walking along the roses. Her head tilted back and she looked up at the sun. It was warm, and being in black didn't help. Wouldn't be long before she'd have to go back inside. Though, as she eyed the clouds in the distance, rain would be coming soon, possibly later in the evening. Kentaro would not be happy, having to ride home locked in a carriage.

Her hand was out at her side, her fingers lightly grazing the red rose petals. As she almost never went out without gloves, she hadn't felt anything in a while, and realized now how much she missed the feel of flowers. 
Her eyes went down and she knelt. At the base of the rose bush nearest the palace wall was a small tuft of moon flowers. Gently, she picked one and held it close. It was closed, the flower sleeping for the day, but just holding it made her feel better. These flowers littered her birth-home. They were the flowers the Raielwen Elves related to, as nocturnal creatures who flourished under the moon.

She dreamed about him last night. About ... it. The dark red blood against the snow that didn't exist. The image that had haunted her dreams for years. Until Rulitus accidentally changed that. Now she could remember the truth, and hated it.
That was when she'd started wearing gloves. When he'd tapped into her mind, he unleashed such fear and anger in her that she had nearly killed him, literally catching him on fire in her confused rage. He would have forgiven her if she hadn't seen what he was hiding. His own secret. 
Burned and scarred, he'd left, and he'd never come back. Until last night. Wheat was his signature. Envy had given him the idea, calling him the Wheat Thief, for his straw colored hair. Aera had told him it was stupid, so Ruli, ever the spiteful thief, took it as his name.

Warm under the sun, Aera turned back toward the palace, putting the sleeping flower behind her ear. Her hand went into her pocket to feel her mother's earrings when she stopped, feeling something else. A note, scribbled on a neat piece of paper. Her name was marked across it in a handwriting she wasn't familiar with. Taris. She knew immediately. Leaning against the wall, still in the garden, she opened it, her dark eyes reading. 
She re read it. 
And then she read it again.

So he'd taken her off her list. The elf made a face and crumpled the paper in her hand. How kind of him. She stepped into the palace and went to the kitchens, where the fire burned constantly in the fireplace. With a flick of her hand the letter burned. Aera waited until there wasn't a trace of it left before she went back upstairs, headed for the library. 

Taris would have killed her if she had really been pregnant. She grimaced. There was something unnaturally cruel about that, murdering a pregnant woman. Perhaps that was why Taris looked so upset. Maybe he, too, thought it was wrong. Her lips frowned as she realized that couldn't be the case. Envy's words echoed in her head and she pressed the heels of her hands to her eyes. 

Did she feel something for the Shadow Elf? With a sigh she sat heavily in a chair, still covering her eyes. Her mind going over their kiss. She still didn't know why she'd kissed him, knew she shouldn't have, but, at the same time, she knew it had excited her.

Her ears tingled and she turned her head toward the dark corners of the library, half expecting Taris to step out from them.

Taris grimaced as he toweled off the water from his bath. At least the smell of mint calmed him down. He rubbed his temples, he probably shouldn’t have gone after Envy like that. The elf’s head felt like it was splitting though, ever since that mind-reader dug through his memories. Taris sighed, his dream still haunting him. Layne’s words kept coming back to him…

He tried to ignore the thoughts that wouldn’t stop flashing their way through his mind as he pulled on new clothes, all white today. Taris could almost feel Layne’s spirit staring at him, “Fine, I’ll go see her.” The images stopped, and he nearly laughed. Even fifty years later, she knew how to annoy him. He didn’t bother opening the Shadow this time, instead pulling it around him. When the darkness fell he was gone.

He moved swiftly through the Shadow Realm, slipping past the meager barrier around the castle. The assassin checked her room first, only to find it empty. He scryed through the shadows and found her, stepping out in the library, to find Aera seemingly waiting for him. “Taris,” she said in a cool greeting.
The assassin stopped dead, she wasn’t wearing her gloves. “Aera,” he replied, “how are you feeling?”
Her eyes narrowed. “You would have killed me, had I been pregnant,” she said, “wouldn’t you?” Aera’s voice was quiet, and he could hear the hurt in the words. 
It made him ashamed.

Taris looked away, “I’ve done worse, Aera. I’m a killer, and I happen to be very good at it. It's the reason i was given this contract, despite every human in the city hating our kind. Normally, I would have no qualms about my job, I never had any before. But… you… I couldn’t. And I knew I needed to find a way to keep them from sending somebody else.”
She stepped closer to him, uncertainty on her face. “Why? What makes me so different? Why do you care if I live or die?”
Taris felt his blood rush, he could smell the lavender on her skin, layered on top of the smell of her skin. He stepped next to her, trying to find the words. She looked at him and he knew, words weren’t what he was looking for. Aera’s eyes widened as his lips met hers and a small noise escaped her throat. She melted against him for a moment, her eyes closing. Fire burned in his veins as his tongue flicked inside her surprised mouth.

Taris broke off first, to catch his breath and leaned back in, but her hand came up to his chest. Right over his burn, and he could see she realized it too. Aera looked down, “Taris… I, I can’t… I’m so sorry.”
He stepped back, eyes shadowed as annoyance flicked over his face for just a moment, then pain. But he schooled his face quickly and sighed heavily, “No, Aera, I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have, I just needed to see you again…” The assassin stepped back again, turning to leave. Why did he feel hollow suddenly? Why did every nerve in his body scream at him to turn around, pin her between him and the wall and kiss her again? He paused before opening the Shadow, unable to bring himself to leave.

Her breath caught in her throat when she watched him walk away. For a moment she regretted stopping him, though she knew it was right. She couldn't. She was married to Kentaro and had no reason not to honor that. "I have no reason...." She started, her eyes on Taris' turned back. He stopped, and looked over his shoulder at her. "He's good to me."

Something crossed his face as he continued walking away that caught her her attention, but she couldn't read it, her mind a jumble from the kiss. His kiss. Ah, those lips. On quick feet she stepped up to him and cut him off, pulling his head down to her again, pressing their lips together. His arms wrapped around her back and he held her, his want matching hers. "Aera," He whispered. 

With great amount of effort, she pulled back again, her face torn with emotion. "I'm sorry." Her voice was thick. She covered her mouth with her hand, holding the feel of his lips to hers, as she turned away. They needed to get control of themselves. She needed to control herself. This wasn't like her. "If things were different... If... back when we first had met..." She swallowed. She had only been, what, sixteen? The last time Taris had seen her. Age wasn't always relevant to elves, but she was still young. She'd hardly looked at him, still a young child trying to keep hold of the youth she'd lost when she was kidnapped. 

Taking in a deep breath she repressed her desire, turning to look at him for a split second before realizing it wasn't a good idea. The look on his face would destroy her resistance. In a final decision, she headed for the door. "We'll see each other, later, Taris." 

Once outside the library, door closed between them, she leaned against the wall and covered her face, shaking. 
"My Lady?" Aera jumped to see Paytin, holding a tray of tea, her eyes full of concern. "Are you well?"
The elf swallowed. "Yes." She lied. "I just... I need to lie down."
Paytin nodded and followed Aera to her chambers, where she set the tea down beside the bed and poured a cup.
The elf took it and sipped, clearly distracted. "I don't belong here."
Paytin turned. "My Lady?" The look the woman gave her was a sad one. Like she was fighting a war and realized she couldn't win. The maid wasn't sure what to say. "Uh... there was a messenger. The Prince was delayed by the rain, and will be home after dinner." Aera nodded over her tea. "Is there anything I can do for you, my Lady?"

For a while, Aera didn't answer, leaving the younger woman to stand awkwardly in waiting. "No, Paytin." She finally offered a small smile. "I just need company. Sit, drink with me."
Paytin nodded and sat, pouring herself a cup.

“We’ll see each other, later, Taris.”
Taris watched Aera leave, her words ringing in his ears. A promise? He hardly dared to hope it. At least he knew she didn’t want to kill him. The library door closed behind her, and Taris turned back into the Shadow Realm.

He exited atop a tavern in the city, rain pouring down over him. The elf smiled, he hadn’t sat in the rain for quite some time. He’d forgotten how great the rain felt, as it cooled the fire in his body. Aera’s last kissed still lingered on his lips, and he looked up at the sky. His mind went over her body against his, the way she had molded herself into him. She was incredible.

But she fought against her desire.
For her husband.
A man that didn’t even care for her anymore…

Taris grimaced at the thought. He wanted her, badly, and thought that she wanted him too. But still she honored her marriage to the man. And for some reason he couldn’t bring himself to break through her resistance, her sense of honor. No, she needed to discard them herself. Taris smiled a little, there were many ways he could accelerate the process, he knew.
A tingle ran over his cheek, like a hand lightly smacking him, and he knew Layne didn’t approve. It would hurt Aera worse by far, when she found out he had something to do with it. And he was wise enough to know that the truth would come out eventually if he did. Almost 200 years of life had taught him that lesson at least.

That settled it, the assassin would wait, and watch over her, until he could take her away from the Prince. After all, they were elf-kind, time was something they had in abundance.

Taris dozed in the rain for some time, his own latent power keeping the chill out of him, and the rain itself keeping anybody that might wonder at an elf on some roof out of the streets. But his peace was interrupted by the sound of hooves clattering on the streets. The assassin opened his eyes and peered over the edge of the roof, at the carriage and its escort careening through the roadway. A quick scrying under his hood, and Taris knew Kentaro had returned to the city.

The elf stood, and slipped into a patch of darkness nearby, returning to his flat. A quick change into dry clothes and he sat in a chair in the dark of the room. He really needed to do something about Kentaro though, something to rattle him. He gazed through the darkness into the castle searching out Aera, while he thought about what to do. He found her in her room with Paytin, drinking tea.

Seeing the initiate assassin posing as a maid, reminded him of his request to her. An idea slowly formed in Taris' mind.

"Is there anything else I can help you with, my Lady?" Paytin asked, setting the empty tea cups on the tray, beside the empty teapot. 

Aera sighed, her mind going over what she wanted. She wanted Taris. She wanted to have never married Kentaro. She wanted to be home. Not in Carantathraiel, no, she could barely remember it, but in the tunnels. 
When she inhaled, she smelled mint. Her eyes fluttered, caught in the memory of his embrace, his kiss, that look on his face. She could smell him on her skin.
Uh-oh.
"I'd like a bath," she decided. She couldn't greet her husband smelling like another man. Humans didn't have the hightened senses of elves, but she was paranoid. There was no need to give Kentaro more excuses not to play nice.

Paytin nodded and went into the branching room with the large porcelain tub, pulling a cord to signal other maids to bring hot water. When the tub was full she helped Aera undress and sat in the corner while Aera bathed. Despite almost a year of living in the palace, the elf still refused help with bathing. Dressing, sure, she needed to give the maid some sort of duty. But bathing was her peacetime. 
She slinked down into the bath, submerging her head, the bath turning black with her hair, before coming up to soak, her eyes closed. Even still, her ears caught the sound of busying feet. Kentaro. He's early. Its not dinner time. Her violet eyes switched over to Paytin, who looked rather scared. Aera felt the same as she got up and dried off. She dressed and sat, so Paytin could brush her hair. 

She was shocked when a dinner of foul and stew and some wine was brought to her chambers. Dara brought it with an apologetic look on her face. "Sorry, my Lady," She set the tray down and gathered the tea from earlier. "His Grace is weary from the trip, and wanted to eat alone and clean up."
With a set face, Aera nodded, relieved. A quiet dinner without Kentaro. She hadn't faced him since he believed she was pregnant, and she wasn't looking forward to seeing him. 
And then there was Taris....

She ate, excusing Paytin for the time being, promising to ring if she needed anything. Then she sat on the sill of the open window, listening to the rain as she sipped her wine. There was something abut the sound of water that was so relaxing.

Taris let go of the shadow, a glimpse of Aera’s bare skin the last thing he could see. No need to torture himself watching her bathe. Besides, if she ever found out he spied on her in the bath, one of her hands would end him. Still, she has a fantastic body, he thought. He quickly shook the thought from his mind, Again with the self-inflicted torture...

The assassin made his way to the inn’s tavern, picking a small table in the corner and signaling the barkeep. He ignored the glances and glares that came his way while he waited. A slightly nervous-looking wench came over and took his order, retreating quickly back into the crowd. Taris leaned back and scryed around him, shuffling through the shadows he looked out of and listening to people’s conversations.

His ale arrived and the elf sipped at it distractedly, focused on his scry. Sifting through the voices of dozens of people was hard, but could be rewarding on occasion. He shuffled through a few more times, and stopped suddenly. Somebody mentioned a name he knew. He glanced through the shadows and his ears twitched in concentration as he shifted back to the last patch of darkness. Two men a few booth’s down were whispering to each other.

“Seems Baron Kirro thinks someone’s after him,” said one, a man with a bushy orange beard.
“What? Why? Does it have to do with those Dukes?” asked the other, a man clean-shaven except for a large, waxed mustache.
The bearded one nodded, “Looks that way. A friend that’s bangin’ one of Kirro’s maids told me. Apparently he thinks they were connected.”
“But how, the first was just a random psychopath, right? And Duke Mamron and his son were ambushed by bandits.”
The Beard leaned closer, “That’s just what everyone thinks. There’s been reports of Dark Elves entering the city, but nobody can say for certain cause nobody can find them. And then there’s that strange elf what won the Archery tournament. Nobody can remember ever seeing one with skin black like that. He must not be from around these parts.”

Taris’ food arrived and he absently tossed a silver piece on the table. He continued to listen as he ate his dinner…

“Shh,” the Mustache warned, “that elf is over in the corner, what if he hears?”
Beard scoffed, “Bah, it’s far too loud in here for that. Anyway, I guess the good Baron has locked himself in his manse, refusing to come out and turning away anybody he don’t know.”
“What a nutter. Come on, I hear there’s a new brothel in the Silk Quarter that Lord Kasca frequents. If he goes there the women must be wild.” A laugh burst from the Mustache’s throat at his own so-called wit.
The Beard chuckled, “As if you could afford them high-priced whores the lords use.”

Taris let the shadow fade and finished his meal. Either the Baron was paranoid, or he’d been tipped off about the assassin. Either way, access to Kirro just became more difficult to obtain. He should perhaps lay low for a week or two, and let the suspicions surrounding the Dukes’ deaths fade.

After the meal he retired to his flat once more. Something was nagging at him, like trouble was brewing. He checked in on Aera once more, stopping to watch as someone else entered her room. It was Kentaro.

Aera opened her eyes at the sound of footsteps, and was barely able to hide her surprise as her husband stepped through her doorway. With grace she stood from the window and curtsied to him. "My Prince. I am pleased to have you home."

Kentaro said nothing. With a jerk of his head Paytin was excused and hurried from the room. Nervous, Aera stepped up and embraced him, kissing him. "I hope your trip wasn't too awful."
"I got disturbing news, concerning you." He said darkly. Aera stiffened, and he caught it, his arms holding her to him. His silver eyes looked angry, and, what scared her the most..... he was sober. "News about that elf."
Aera exhaled. "My sweet, don't believe Kasca, he was just angry becau- AH." Kentaro gripped her arms tightly, his fingers digging into her elbow. "Kentaro!" she lifted her arms and wriggled free, stepping away. 
He was quick. His hand snapped out and grasped her left wrist, his grip strong. "It wasn't Kasca, wife." He growled. "My mother says you've asked for her to find proof that our marriage is false." Aera bent her knees, trying to loosen her wrist. He pulled on her and she stumbled forward. "Why, Aera? After all I gave you!"

Her dangerous cycle ignited. His tone frightened her, which made her hands tingle, and she wasn't wearing gloves. The idea of hurting him scared her, and her fear grew. "Kentaro, you're hurting me, let go." She said in a flat tone. He pulled on her arm again and, rather then grasp him for balance, she went down to her knees.
"Its that elf, isn't it? He poisoned you against me. You've been sleeping with him since the moment he marched into my city. Don't shake your head at me! You look at him like you look at Envy, and he was bedding you the moment YOU came into the city."

The elf tensed, irritated, holding her free hand in a fist to her chest. "I've never!" She argued back. "Kentaro, let go. My gloves."
"Are you threatening me?" He gripped her harder. 
Wincing, she shook her head. "No. But -oh, you know what I.. I'm capable of." She tried to choose the right words, to not make it sound like a threat. It didnt work. 
His left arm swung across and he struck her, a back handed fist smacking into her cheekbone. She cried out and fell back, released from his iron grasp.
"GET OUT!" He hollered at Paytin, who had run when she'd heard Aera. The elf scooted back, away from him, and leaned against the wall beneath her window. Her head hurt, her cheek felt like fire. She was angry now, knowing he had harmed her and she was unable to defend herself. It would be her death sentence is she burned him. Or killed him. Instead she glared through teary eyes as he stepped over and knelt, grabbing a fistful of hair and yanking. "You are mine." He snarled over her shriek. "I have put up with the glares and whispers all this time, for bringing in the beautiful savage, for giving you a chance to bring good to the elven name here. And what have you done? Bed archers and threaten me." 
Aera had crossed her arms and was clenching her sleeves. "Kentaro, please." She cried. "I didn't..."

He yanked her head again and released her, standing. "I confine you to quarters." he informed her as he went out. "No visitors. No messages."
Before he slammed the door Paytin squeezed in and ran to Aera, who was crying with her head between her knees. "My Lady..." the maid said softly, feeling pity for the woman. She went to hold the elf, but Aera pushed herself back, begging Paytin not to touch her, which made the maid feel even more sadness for her. For a bit, the maid watched helpless, before she started thinking. This shift between the prince and princess may be useful. "My Lady... here." Aera brought her face up, her left eye already darkening, as Paytin handed her a small piece of paper. "Go to him. Get out of here."
Aera considered it. Being confined, no one would notice her missing. Deciding, she carefully took the note from Paytin with a small smile and rose, gathering her gloves before she vanished behind the false wall. 

The crack of hand on flesh echoed from the pool of shadows. Taris’ eyes narrowed to slits and his hands clenched immediately. His concentration slipped, and the image flashed and shifted, before dissolving completely. His anger roared to the fore as he tried to bring up the image again. The shadow merely swirled and faded. He tried a few more times but the shadow wouldn’t show him anything. The elf growled in frustration and hurled a dagger at the wall, embedding it a couple inches deep in the wood.

Taris sliced into the nearest patch of shadow with a wave of his hand, stepping through into the darkness. He flashed past the openings between his flat and the castle, making a beeline for Aera’s room, dagger in hand. The assassin wanted Kentaro dead. He passed the last shadow before the castle gates and slammed to a stop.

Taris glared ahead and pressed his hand forward, feeling for what could have stopped him. The barrier rejected his hand and flared a bright blue. “Somebody made this more powerful,” he muttered darkly. He tried to slip through it once more, but his anger broke his concentration and he couldn’t even get a hand past the barrier. The elf’s eyes flashed, but he stopped himself. He fell back and closed his eyes floating on the solid nothingness of the Shadow Realm.

His breathing slowed after some time and the assassin opened his eyes once more. he needed to calm himself. Focus his mind. Taris passed a hand over his face and thought about Aera. He needed to be there, to protect her, to calm her, to be whatever she needed. Kentaro could wait. He’d just find something to make the bastard suffer for hitting her.

Taris rolled backwards, righting himself, and pressed against the barrier. His body pulsed and the magic slid around his body. The elf flashed past openings in the shadows and burst into Aera’s room, scanning for her. Paytin stood from her bed at his sudden appearance. He went to her, “Paytin, where is she?” He couldn’t quite hide the worry in his voice.

The maid put a hand to his arm. “She’s okay, Taris, she left. No, don’t ask where, just go home Taris. I promise she’ll be okay.”
Taris looked about to argue but Paytin smacked him in the shoulder. “Don’t argue with me Taris,” she said heatedly. “Just go home, I’ll send word for you tomorrow.”

He hesitated, but she just glared at him. Taris breathed out to keep himself calm. “Fine, Paytin, but if you don’t…” he broke off and glanced at his dagger. The shadows stretched from the wall, spiraling around him. The shadows flashed around him, and he stepped back out into his flat. The smell of lavender mixed into the familiar smell of his mint filled his nose and he stopped dead. His eyes snapped up to see Aera standing there, near the far wall. “Aera…”

The woman who stood before Taris was someone different. While, yesterday, Aera held her head high, her back straight and her shoulders back, this woman was hunched, her head down, her wet hair clinging to her face. Her hands hung at her sides and there was dark coloring on her left wrist from where Kentaro had gripped her. She lifted her eyes to Taris and they were watered and sad, the left one red, her cheek swollen and bruised. 
It was the form of a woman who had given up. 

Aera had been losing her grip on her husband for a long time, and had tried desperately to keep hold of him, a fight that took up a lot of energy. Now, she acknowledged that she'd lost, and looked defeated and exhausted.
"Taris." Her voice was cracked. Beyond that, she didn't know what to say. But, judging by the look on his face, his eyes running over her visible bruising, she didn't have to say anything else. 

She took a step toward him. Before her heel touched the ground he was standing in front of her, his hands out like he was afraid she'd break. His red eyes were on her face as he gently put a hand to her cheek, inspecting her. "Let me heal this." His fingers began to shimmer slightly.
"No."
His eyes moved to hers. "Why?"
She frowned and brushed her hand away, moving her head back. "I'm not supposed to be out." Was all she said. It wasn't an excuse to leave. She was only pointing out that he'd know, if she bore no evidence.
His arms raised in slight hesitation and he pulled her toward him, gently, feeling her slight resistance, before she relaxed and went into his embrace. 

In his arms, what was left of her strength melted. Her body pressed against his, his strong arms wrapped around her, her head nestled against his shoulder, her lips against his neck. Aera shivered and shook her head, her lips trailing over his flesh, causing his hairs to stand on end. "I give up." She said, smelling him. "I'm not fighting anymore. Not for a love that isn't there. Not for affection I'll never get." Her head raised and she looked at him, his eyes on her. "Not against something that feels so right."

It flashed across his face, that emotion, recognition, desire, before Aera pressed her lips to his again, closing her eyes. A shudder went through them both. Her tongue parted his lips and she breathed in. Taris groaned and pushed her back. "Aera..." The muscles in his jaw flexed. "You're upset." He looked her up and down with naked hunger in his eyes. His words sounded forced. "I don't want you to regret anything."

The woman blinked, brushing her arms from his grasp. "I only regret one thing." She said, stepping up to him again. "And it has nothing to do with what I want now." She took him again in a kiss, her hands running through his hair, her nails brushing his scalp. He moaned, his gentlemanly manners dissolving as his arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. Her lips left his lips and went to his jaw, where she left a trail of kisses up toward his ear. "Please..." She whispered, her teeth gently biting at his ear lobe.

A tingle shot down Taris’ spine the moment her teeth touched his ear. His hands slid down her sides, lifting her legs around his waist and pinning her against the wall. He pulled back from her lips, a hungry, predatory look in his eyes. Her eyelids fluttered slightly as she stared into them. His smile turned wolfish. “Please?” he kissed her neck, “Do you really think you need to ask me?” Her breathless sigh was all the answer he needed.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Taris lay still, calming his breathing into a convincing copy of sleep, listening to the slowly deepening breaths of the woman against his chest. At the moment, he wanted nothing more than to remain there for the rest of the night. But he couldn’t help but feel uneasy as memories of the past floated through his head. Images of Layne, her limp and bloody body still chained to the wall were the most disturbing.
She died because he had allowed her to love him.

Aera felt the change in his body and breathing and looked up at his face. “What’s wrong?” she asked, bringing a hand to his cheek. Taris looked back down at her, and felt a cold tingle on his other cheek. He smiled softly at Aera, “Nothing, go back to sleep.” His hand stroked a loose strand of hair behind her ear and she kissed his chest before laying her head back down. Taris stared up at the ceiling until he was sure she was asleep once more, waiting for several minutes before gently slipping out from under her.

The assassin dressed and stood for a moment, watching her, wondering at the fact that she could be even more beautiful in sleep. Reluctantly he turned away and stepped into a shadow. There was something he needed to do tonight. The elf came back out in Aera’s room in the castle, finding Paytin still awake. She opened her mouth to ask a question, but he forestalled her words with a hand, “She’s fine, she’s asleep,” he said.
The assassins initiate smirked, “Tire her out, did you?”
He ignored the comment, hiding a self-satisfied smile. “I need the address to that brothel I asked about, and I need to know when the bastard is going to make his next visit.”
Paytin’s face became all business, “I have the address right here.” She pulled a small piece of paper from between her breasts, raising an amused eyebrow at Taris. He took it without reaction and looked inside as she continued, “And he’s supposed to go tonight, he should have just left. If you hurry you can catch him there and end him without a problem.”

Taris folded the paper up again and tossed it into the fire, his eyes held a dangerous glint that made Paytin step back. “Kill him? Oh no,” he growled, “I have much better plans in store for him first.” He said no more and slipped into the shadows.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kasca laughed at his friend, dismounting his horse as he did. “I told you she was a whore, Kentaro. Glad to see you finally realize how much trouble she is.”
Kentaro said nothing and walked into the plain blue building, leaving his friend to tie up the horses. He glared at the man behind the counter, who babbled a greeting at him, “Welcome, Your Highness. As always it is good to see you. Please head up to the regular room, I’ll have the girl sent up shortly.”
He grunted in response and headed upstairs, not noticing the beads of sweat that were running down the normally cheerful man’s face. Once he was well out of sight Taris stepped out of the other room. “I did what you asked, right? So you’ll let me live…” the man stammered. The Shadow Elf only smiled, and walked up to the man. He reached up and placed his hands on the sides of the man’s face. He gave a quick twist, and the new corpse fell to the floor.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kasca heard a small thud inside the building and turned his head a moment to look towards the door. He looked back and finished tying the knot on his horse’s reins and turned back around fully. He stopped dead as he regarded the elf that had beaten him in the tourney a week before. His eyes flicked to the curved daggers in the elf’s hands, at the moonlight gleaming off the edge on the inside of the curves. His own sword hissed out of the scabbard at his waist and he held it before him, “You will not live to regret this, Dark Elf.” He charged with a shout, his attacks quick and precise, but the elf dodged and parried with ease. Pain lanced through him with each missed strike as the elf’s quickness nicked small cuts from every area of his body. He was being toyed with, bled out, exhausted. Anger roared through him and he spun back away, settling into a low stance. His head snapped up, but the elf had vanished.
Kasca whirled around, scanning around and above him, before he felt a prick at his side. The edge of one of the curved blades slid within a hair’s breadth of his throat. His sword was pulled from his hand and the elf leaned in close to his ear, “I’m a Shadow Elf, not a Dark Elf. There is a difference, though you won’t need to remember that.” Searing pain shot through him, as one dagger took him in the kidney, the other his vocal cords. If he didn’t drown on his own blood, the kidney would kill him. The elf had sentenced him to a slow death.

Taris looked down at the man trying to crawl away with amusement. He reached down and grabbed the man’s ankle, dragging him inside while pulling a length of cord from within his cloak.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kentaro was getting impatient, where the hell was the bitch? He stood from the chair but only took one step before the room went pitch black. Something cold whispered by his face and he felt something liquid on his jaw. Blood, he knew, though he couldn’t see it. The stench of urine filled the room and he realized he’d pissed himself. Whoever was in the room with him laughed. When the other person spoke it sent chills down his spine.

“You are a sad, pathetic man, Kentaro. You don’t realize exactly what a treasure you have in Aera.” Another cut, this time on his arm. “You don’t deserve her.”
“You want the bitch, then take her. She isn’t worth my life.” He knew it was the wrong thing to say the moment the words left his mouth. The room was suddenly freezing cold and the voice became Death itself.
“I’m not worthy of her either, I’m not a good enough person to merit that honor. But I do respect her. I will kill you, it’s what I was hired to do. You have seven weeks, less if you piss me off further.
“Use them wisely.”

The room brightened again and he was alone. The Prince bolted out the door in terror, running down the stairs. He got to the lobby and slid to a stop. Slid, because the floor was covered in blood, and looked up at his friend Kasca, who was strung up to the roof rattling his last breaths. He screamed and ran for his horse, cutting it free and riding for the castle.

Taris walked out and watched him gallop off with a smug smile on his face. Then he turned into a shadow and hurried back to his flat, hoping Aera was still asleep.

Aera stirred as she heard him. She lay on her back, naked in the bed, with her head turned slightly, her black hair loose all over the pillow. After the rain it had dried in waves, curling in locks and loops. On hand was across her belly, the other against her face, over her bruised eye.
Taris watched her for a while before he stripped off his clothing and lay back down beside her. The movement woke her, her violet eyes opening with a smile. She took him in her hands and pulled him towards her. "Where did you go?" She asked sleepily.
The shadow elf bent and kissed her. "No where."
Aera knew he was lying. His hair was a bit wet from the rain and he smelled different, but she didn't question him. "Don't leave again." She pleaded softly against his lips.
He groaned. "Oh, I'm not going anywhere." She grinned under his kiss as she pulled him atop her.

A while later, they were dozing again. Aera lay in his arms breathing softly, while Taris slept with his head buried in her hair, the soft blows of his breath warm against her ears. When suddenly Aera's eyes snapped open, wide and staring, and a chill ran through her body. She sat up, breaking from Taris' arms, her head tilted like she was listening. 
"Aera?" Taris yawned. "Is something wrong?"
She didn't move. "You don't feel that?" Her back tingled and her hands itched. A shadow lurks within the city. "Something's wron-" 
She was cut off by the sound of hurried feet, when suddenly Paytin stepped inside the room, flushed and wet. Aera started and made to cover herself, but the maid threw up her hands. "My Lady, you need to come back to the castle, right away." Paytin's blue eyes darted to Taris, who was now sitting up beside the princess. "Something happened, and if your husband finds you missing, we'll all be in trouble."

With a nod, Aera got up, ignoring the gentle hand on her wrist that said 'stay'. She got dressed and started pulling her hair into a braid. She fastened her cloak and lifted it, making sure none of her hair was showing. When she was ready, and smiled at Taris. "Until later, my love." and she and Paytin went out.

Instead of going through the palace, Aera took Paytin to one of Envy's houses and took the hidden tunnel to her chamber. When they emerged, there was a loud knocking on the door. They threw off their cloaks as Paytin answered, Kentaro's page standing there, looking red faced with frustration. "Its about time you..." he glanced at Aera and bowed. "Apologies for the late call, my Lady, but the Prince needs you urgently."

Aera blanched, but nodded, and followed the page to Kentaro's room. When she got there, her hands flew to her mouth. He was covered in blood and pale as snow, though it appeared that none of the blood was his, and the stench of urine filed the air. His light eyes glared at her for a long while, his nostrils flared, but instead of screaming at her, like she expected, he embraced her. "Kentaro, what happened?" She asked cautiously. 
"Kasca." He shook against her. "Someone murdered him." 
She gasped, holding him. She was sorry that her husband had lost his friend, not that Kasca had died, as wrong as it was for her to admit. "The killer," he continued. "Told me I would be next. That I have seven weeks, at most." He kept the words about deserving Aera to himself. It would be too obvious. He pulled back and looked at her, his finger running over the welt on her cheek.
Holding her emotions in check, Aera kept a straight face, though her eyes darkened.
"I'm sorry." He whispered. He hands ran up her arms and across her back, unfastening her dress. "I will be good to you."
Now, Aera's heartbeat jumped. Not only did she not want Kentaro, but she smelled of mint. Of Taris. But she couldn't deny him without raising suspicion. "You need a bath, my prince." She attempted to stall. 
He looked down and back up again. "Its mostly on my clothes. The rest I'll wash tomorrow." He began pushing her toward the bed. "I have faced death tonight. I want to be with my wife."

Taris watched her go reluctantly, wondering at the feeling of unease that was settling around him. Aera’s words sifted through the haze of sleep. There was a tingle in the air that he felt slightly, now that he was fully awake. It made him nervous, and he’d learned that it was never a good thing when he was nervous.
He slipped out of bed, not bothering to clothe himself. He tried to scry Aera, needed to make sure she was okay. The shadow swirled between his hands but nothing appeared. His brows came together and he tried again. Once more nothing appeared in the shadows, and he became worried.
Someone had set up a barrier against him.

Taris dressed quickly and grabbed his daggers, this was a very big problem. Nobody knew he could scry through the shadows so who would put up a barrier for it? He tried opening a path to Shadow, but again the shadows pooled and swirled but he couldn’t step through without complete concentration. Now something was very, VERY wrong. He needed to contact his master, and call for another assassin. If he couldn’t travel between shadows easily, he may have been compromised.

He pulled off the cover to the mirror and called through, “Master.” Nothing happened. Not even a shimmer. Taris wasted no time, the shadows would take too long with the barrier in place, he bolted out the door towards the castle. Things were going badly very suddenly. The guards leveled their weapons at him when he approached, one nearly impaling him on a halberd if Taris hadn’t dodged. One smirked, “New orders, Dark Elf, you aren’t allowed in the castle anymore. Try it, and we get to kill you. And that’s if you’re lucky. We take you alive and we get a bonus. Prince Kentaro wants you in the dungeon.”

Taris knew he could end them easily, but now was not the time to cause undue trouble. Paytin was inside, she’d keep an eye on Aera for him. He trusted his guild-sister. Quickly he jumped back, disappearing into the night. He made his way back home, and tested his mirror once more. When that failed he tried the shadows again.

Taris sat in a chair and stared into the pooling darkness. He was cut off from his guild, and traveling the Shadow Realm had just become problematic. He was alone. He watched as the rising sun cast its rays through the windows. He had a feeling it was going to be a long day. Taris shuttered the windows, and sat on the floor, testing the barriers to his shadow walking. He needed to find a way past them.

Kentaro slept with his head on her chest, snoring slightly, with his arms thrown possessively over her. Aera stared at the ceiling, her mind running, her thoughts swirling. So many thoughts were screaming at her at once that it was hard to listen to them, to pick one out and understand it. 
But there was one that screamed the loudest. 

Taris would kill her husband. 

The thought made her sick. Her brain tried to pick at it. If it was why he was here. If it was what brought him to the city. If her one comment, on the day of the tournament, had caused him to consider it. Was it her fault, then? Or had he decided to woo her thinking she would help him? What sick game was he playing? 
He had stepped in after her altercation with Kasca, and now he was dead. The Physician had put a target on her back, and he was dead. Was he protecting her? Unlikely, he had admitted to being hired to kill her. 

Kentaro inhaled and stretched, bringing her from her thoughts. She had to talk to him. She wrapped her arms around her husband and rolled him over, moving out from under him. Her head still running, she dressed and went to her room and through the false wall. Lost in her thoughts, she found herself standing before the inn, the rain dripping off her hood.Keep your head.

But once she saw him, the shadow elf with the black skin, she remembered their passionate embrace, her ivory skin against his ebony skin, his breathe in her ear, and her eyes flashed dangerously. Her arm shot up, her fist aimed for Taris' face. With his quick reflexes, he was able to react and she only made contact with his mouth. Her force made him stumble backward. “How could you?” She hissed, her balled fists at her sides.
Taris held his hand to his face, blood from his lip covering his fingers.
“You knew you were going to kill him! You knew!” She stepped forward and swung at him again. Taris raised his arm and blocked her, so she swung again, hitting his shoulder. “And you bedded me anyway!”
Taris moved away. “Aera, wait...”
“No!” She shrieked, her teeth bared in anger. Her slippered foot met his shin and he winced. “What am I? Some sick game? A trophy?” With each question she swung at him while Taris made to defend himself. “Do you get off knowing you're sleeping with your target's wife?”
She reached up and grabbed his head and threw him sideways. As small as she was, she had strength. Taris stumbled to the side before straightening and squaring against her.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Aera cried.

Taris’ eyes hardened slightly, staring at her. Aera was pissed at him, he knew from the lingering shocking pain on his lips and temples. The mere fact that she’d forgotten her gloves was alarming enough. But it was her questions that stung the most. “Aera, calm down and we’ll talk,” he began, but she came at him again. He fell backwards, into a shadow. At least he’d been able to find a way past the barriers before she came in and attacked him, though it took a little effort now.
The assassin reappeared behind her, gently but firmly grabbing her wrists to keep her hands at bay and pulling her with him back into the Shadow Realm. A few seconds later they came out in Envy’s training chamber and Aera pulled away, glaring at him with a fire he’d not yet seen from her.

Envy started towards them immediately but stopped at both Taris’ raised hand and the look on Aera’s face. Having seen her in action before, the Kartaian knew better than to interfere, and started to wonder if he’d need to dispose of a corpse, judging from her eyes. “Kids, bed, now!” he shouted at the orphans, and they scattered out of the room quickly. All but the little elf girl that had brought water to Taris at the archery tournament, she stayed behind, watching from around the corner behind Envy.

Taris pulled off his tunic, aware that he was losing his defense against her power, but needing the increase of movement. He settled into a loose stance, eyes calm, arms in front of him and ready. “I’m ready now, if you insist on fighting me.” Aera said nothing, launching into an attack. Taris dodged her strikes, backing away as she advanced. Her hand knifed at his throat, too quick for him to completely dodge and he brought his arm up to deflect it away. He ignored the small burn the glancing blow left behind, merely taking note that she was even angrier than before.

She wasted no effort on speaking, focusing on her attacks, though Taris noticed a small tear sliding down her face. He made no attempt to strike back, staying on defense. He took a few more small strikes to his arms, and one to his side, ignoring the burns that appeared with each contact. Backing the whole time he soon found himself against the wall, and she pressed her advantage. Just before she struck, the Shadow Elf slipped into a shadow, emerging on the other side of the room.

Aera’s eyes flashed and she grabbed a pair of daggers from a nearby table. She charged low towards him, blades at her sides and ready. Taris held his arms out as he watched her begin her newest attack, darkness swirling around his hands. She was almost upon him when the shadows dissolved and his own daggers came forward to parry hers. She was quick, but he had just a bit more reach on her, his daggers flashing into the paths of her strikes.

She hissed after a while and jabbed one dagger at his heart, the other at his groin. Taris’ own daggers met hers and locked guards. A quick twist and flick, and her blades went flying out of her grip. He vanished his own daggers once more as she stepped back to recover and attacked anew. But her strikes were slower, he knew she was tiring. “Are you ready to talk to me yet?” he asked her between punches. She didn’t answer, but gave a surprisingly quick jab that took him in the shoulder. A shock flew from the point of impact down his arm, numbing the tips of his fingers. That was something, at least, she was calming down.

Aera scowled at him and began to talk between attacks, “You killed the doctor. Why?”
Taris dodged easily now, “He tried to hurt you.”
Another strike, “Kasca?”
Taris gave a feral smile, “Between what he tried to do to you, and the hell he put me through in the tournament? No, I took pleasure in that one.”
Her eyes became steel and her attacks became more furious, “….My husband?”

Now Taris did hesitate, as she backed him against the wall again. He jumped up and launched off the wall, landing midway across the room and rolling to his feet. She hadn’t moved from where she was. He took a few breaths, “Him, I was hired to kill, along with a few more targets.”
He could see her eyes flash even from this distance and watched as she grabbed a bow, nocking an arrow. She drew back, “So I was just a trophy, or did you hope to use me against him?”

Taris stilled weighing his words, knowing she deserved the truth. He sighed, “Before I met you, yes, I wanted to use you to get close to him. But then I fell in love with you, and I just wanted to get you away from him. Aera, you’re not a trophy to me. He deserves to die because of how he treats you, not just because I was hired to. You mean more to me than anyone has in a long time, I think maybe more than anybody ever. Last night was special to me.”

A tear fell from her cheek, then another, soon a stream came forth, but she held the bowstring back still. She no longer knew what to think. She wanted to think he was telling the truth. But he was an assassin, and he admitted he was hired to kill her husband. She knew the anger was ebbing away and should lower the bow, but it left frustration in its place and she wanted him to know she was upset with him. Aera aimed at his shoulder, knowing he could dodge easily. “You idiot,” she muttered, loosing the arrow.

Taris watched the emotions behind her eyes, waiting. He saw her shift her aim and fire, and knew she wanted him to dodge. But something inside him told him he deserved it, and kept him from moving. The arrow plunged into his left shoulder, sending him spinning to the floor. He’d only been hit by an arrow once before, and the pain was one of the worst he’d ever felt back then. Now… now it was still amongst the worst pains he’d felt. With effort he levered himself with his good arm back into a sitting position, breathing heavily and looking up at Aera.