“Well, Mistress Diana, you seem subdued.”

Diana turned from her morose stare into the evening forest gloom to see Carr walking up next to where she sat on a camp-stool. It had been almost two weeks since her arrival at King Tarq’s camp. Lauren and Alaeric, now fully healed during that time, had hunted daily for Lisa and Mark. It made Diana happy to know they were looking for her siblings in earnest. Still, without the older next-door neighbors, she felt lonely and afraid. They were her only link to home.

Diana sighed deeply, “I suppose, Lady Carr. Everything is just…beginning to hit home, I guess. I’ve been sitting here, trying to sort it all out and…”

Carr smiled and knelt next to her. “I know. I can’t imagine how you must feel right now. Taken from your own world. Your family scattered and being thrust into the middle of an insurrection. Plus accepting everything you’re told while being consumed with anxiety over a missing brother and sister.”

Diana reluctantly chuckled. “You certainly paint the picture. You must think I’m impossible to deal with…”

Carr touched her arm gently. “Not in the slightest, Diana. If I may be honest, I’m quite impressed with your composure.”

Diana smiled. "Thank you. And I know you've tried to explain everything to me, but I'm still up in the air. I don't understand why Lauren and Alaeric can't find my siblings. And what is the Tal? And why doesn't the King talk to Lauren? Why don't you and Lauren like each other? Why would anyone name a child Laurenthalia?!" She threw her hands up. “And about a zillion other questions!”

Carr laughed and placed a hand on her shoulder. "I think we've let you be on your own too long. You're going to drive yourself crazy. Come to my tent, and I'll try to answer your questions. If I can't, then I'll at least you can have tea.”

The girl felt more at ease with the sorceress than anyone else. She was secretly happy that someone was paying some attention to her. In the past weeks, she had learned that Tarq's army was scattered in small clusters throughout the forest. She really didn't know how large the force was but understood this met the King's objective.

Diana followed Carr past a group of soldiers dressed in midnight blue uniforms. A young woman named Maril Zan, whom Diana had met earlier, was cleaning an advanced-looking arrow gun that ran on a spring and wheel principle. They watched her for a moment and then continued to Carr's tent.

The sorceress lived in a gray tent isolated from the others. A cheerful cooking fire had a kettle boiling furiously on it, making a shrill yet soft whistling. "No magic needed,” she answered before Diana could ask. "I always keep a kettle on. You never know when you need hot water.”

"Oh,” replied Diana, taking a seat. "How do you keep it full?"

Carr smiled almost sheepishly. "Well, that requires a small divination.” She walked to the kettle and snapped her fingers. The kettle no longer whistled as more water filled the inside. “It's not too difficult if you can command the elements.” She set about getting some small plates and cups.

Diana was impressed. "The only magic we have at home is sleight of hand.”

"But you have science. Surely that's just another form of magic.”

"Well, in a way, I guess it is, though a lot of my people don’t think much of it.” She chuckled. “Actually, in my world not too long ago, people like yourself, with your talents, were burned at the stake.”

Carr paused and stared incredulously at her. “Whatever for?”

Diana shrugged. “To them, magic was evil. The people who practiced it were against God. Nowadays, they’re still feared by some. They just don’t burn them up anymore.”

Carr muttered, “I don’t understand why you’d wish to return to a world so bereft of common sense!”

Diana looked away and sighed, abruptly changing the subject. “Why am I so miserable?”

"You're homesick,” Carr smiled sadly as she placed some dishes on the table. “Feeling helpless about your brother and sister, and you have nothing to do. The only people you know are suddenly not who you thought they were. You're far from home, and you're confused. It's all very natural. But whatever happens, I'm certain Lauren and Alaeric will do their best to reunite you with your family and take you home.”

"Is Alaeric all right?" Diana had been worried about him much of the time. In a way, she felt guilty he nearly sacrificed his life for her siblings.

"He's fine now. The King allowed me to use the Tal to pull the taint from his bloodstream. Since he needed to create an anchor to your brother and sister, cutting him opened his skin to the dangers of your edgeworld and infected his blood. He’s strong again, which is good given the coming times.”

"Coming times?" Diana asked, becoming worried.

"There has been a war for over thirty years. It quiets down at times, but it’s been going on since King Tarq's grandfather overthrew the mad King Philos and took the Tal for his own. Our great families are divided in their loyalties. Look at your friends Lauren and Alaeric. No matter who wins, they lose. They've been pawns all their lives. The Olenteas clan lords never took oaths to Tarq's family. The Princes felt this lapse justified plotting a rebellion.”

Carr sat down with the kettle and poured water for tea. “They sat secure in their mountain strongholds and raised bands of fanatics to fight for them by creating a secret and pseudo-holy order dedicated to restoring Tadiak to power. They're cunning, these Olenteas Princes. After all, they raised their two eldest in complete ignorance of their subversion. Then they sent them as decoys to quell the suspicions of the Pyramus rulers. For years, the children served as tokens of loyalty while the fathers plotted treason. Alaeric's marriage to Princess Tayaela and Lauren's engagement to Tarq were ploys to allay fears.”

Diana spoke up, “You mean the marriages were fake?”

“Yes, in the minds of Prince Kir'san and Prince Ertlan, it was all a hoax, a ruse to dull the suspicions of the King and his loyalists. Tarq and Lauren’s wedding was the sign for the revolution to begin. But some Olenteas' clan folk felt torn about the coup. Not all thought that the reign of Pyramus should end in the return of Tadiak. I was slipped information, and we were able to prepare a defense and keep casualties to a minimum.”

“So you don’t like Lauren because of her relationship with Tarq?”

"I have nothing personal against Princess Laurenthalia. I even admire the way she went into exile without causing a fuss. But she could never explain why she kept postponing the wedding or why she refused to take the blood-oath to the King, as did her cousin. Alaeric went into exile for the sake of his cousin's honor, and all that gesture accomplished was destroying his family life.”

She caught Diana watching her intently and shrugged, “I don't know, maybe Lauren is a casualty, or perhaps she was a participant in the revolt. Her actions were not explicable. It was my duty to urge the King to banish her. The views of the country, as well as my own, are still mixed. Only Lauren really knows the truth about her actions.”

She placed a few strange looking tea-packets before her. “But now you've heard the story. For the last five years, Tarq’s been trying to heal the breach the rebellion caused in Dal Ryeas.”

"Is he going to be able to do it?"

Carr shrugged. "We hope so. The fact that he pardoned most of the traitors helped. Who knows?" There’s one major solution to the entire problem, but Tarq won't hear of it.”

"What's that?”

"Tarq could marry Killia and unite the two houses.”

"But I thought you said she was crazy?”

"Well, we could control that.”

"What about their children? They'd be crazy too. That will only prolong your problems.”

"It is possible to ensure she has none and that Tarq has one with someone else.”

Diana was shocked. "That's awful!”

"I know. But it’s a solution.” Carr looked speculatively at the girl. “You’re very bright and alert, Diana. You have a keen mind and a strong personality.” She lifted her hand, and the kettle floated back over to the fire and sat atop it. "I can't comprehend all of your problems, but I may be able to alleviate some of your boredom. How about if I give you magic lessons?"

Diana was instantly eager. "Oh, yes! I'd love to learn! I'm so tired of feeling useless around here.”

Carr grinned, pleased to see her enthusiasm, “Alright, tomorrow I'll give you a series of tests to determine to which areas you are best suited. And if you like, you can stay in one of the unoccupied tents. Having a tent alone might give Princess Laurenthalia a chance to decide whether to reveal her true objectives to the King.”

Diana grinned. "There are a lot of questions she needs to answer, especially about her feelings for Tarq. Also, my being over here would give the King a chance to see her without an inconvenient chaperone.”

Carl smiled approvingly. "You noticed that? You are quick.”

"Well, I saw how carefully they avoided being alone with each other.”

"They have a lot of mixed emotions to work out. I think I'll also have Alaeric teach you some fundamentals of fighting with the bow, so you can protect yourself…”

The two talked far into the night. When she finally retired to her tent, Diana began to feel more comfortable with her situation and not neglected anymore.

**

Prince Alaeric grinned as Diana ungracefully ran through a series of exercises she had been given. "You really have to start understanding the concept of flowing movement if you are going to be an adequate fighter.” Alaeric got to his feet and held out his hand for the short sword Diana was using.

"Remember, now,” he said, crouching down. "You make," he rose slowly, "Each action," then spun lightly on one foot while thrusting with his sword, "Count.” He firmly placed his other foot forward into a half lunge.

"Now, you try it.” With steady hands, Alaeric guided Diana's movements until she began to feel the rhythm.

"Ric!” she said excitedly. "It's like a dance!”

"Good. Think like that.” Alaeric smiled. "It will help you focus. Once you understand the fluidity of movement in close fighting, you will be able to trust your body to fight with you, not against you. And you will not trip over your own feet when it behooves you to be steadfast.”

"Let's do another one!” Diana said eagerly.

Before Alaeric could reply, King Tarq, who had been watching them for a while, spoke up, "Easy on your teacher, Diana. He's recently been on his sickbed.”

Alaeric smiled. "I am a little stiff, true.”

Tarq grinned and came forward. "Come on, Diana, I'll teach you a Pyramus fighting exercise. It won't do if all you know are the Olenteas' exercises.”

Alaeric smirked and gave the King the sword before doing a mock bow to him and sitting down on a bench to watch. Carr came over to watch the activities as well, sipping tea.

Tarq removed his shirt and tossed it to the ground away from the practice area. As he turned to face Diana, the girl gasped.

"What is it? Are you ill?” Tarq moved to touch her head.

"Uh, n-no sir,” Diana stammered, unable to take her eyes from the four parallel scars that ran diagonally down the King's chest, disappearing into the top of his breeches.

Tarq smiled wryly. "If you think my front's bad, you should see the other side.” He turned so that she could see that the same lines continued halfway down the King's back. "It was a very nasty creature called a griff. We thought it was extinct from Dal Ryeas, but Sindelar reintroduced it to our world some years ago. I was lucky to come away with only these scars.”

Carr spoke up softly, "The King threw himself in front of the beast to save a fallen companion. He was indeed fortunate that the beast's strength was nearly spent, or we might not have saved the King from its clutches.”

"And where were you during this, wizard?" Alaeric turned to her, speaking harshly.

"I was the fallen companion,” Carr answered quietly. She was inwardly pleased to see the prince’s stone gaze drop.

"It is ancient history.” The King dismissed the subject with a wave of his hand. "Come, Diana, this is how the Pyramus fight.”

Alaeric and Carr watched appreciatively as the King taught his young guest. No one noticed that Lauren stood in the shadows of the tents, watching Tarq with a sad, haunted expression. Slowly, tears welled in her eyes and streamed down her cheeks. Those scars. He almost died while she was so far away from him, and this devastated her.

Lauren listened, hearing Tarq’s warmth and wit and Alaeric’s booming laughter. Her loneliness, which never possessed her in exile, grew unbearable.

Here, amid a camp of her own people, near the person she loved most in the universes, she felt like a stranger. She turned and fled into the dark forest.