For a while she sat in an unknown part of the woods, lost in her thoughts. Once her life seemed so simple. She swore her oath to the King, she loved him, and she was to be his queen. Her goals and ideals were all focused and clear.

Now they were all confused. At times, even in exile, she experienced a freedom she hadn't thought possible. She reveled in an un-monitored life. The haughty Olenteas Princess Laurenthalia, heiress to her ancient family, had become Lauren Olenteas, next-door caretaker to three young people. She enjoyed the challenge and appreciated the strangeness of her edgeworld. But in doing so, she had intentionally buried any recollection of the raw passion and majesty of her own world. She had forgotten its hold upon her heart.

And now, once again home, its hold reasserted itself.

Five years. I've lived a new life, a free life. He hasn't lifted the prohibition to allow me to go home. But...do I want to go home? How can I? How can I see him and know it’s all different?

Finally, under a cold, starless midnight sky, Lauren rose and began her trek back to the King's camp. As she looked around to get her bearings, she realized that this was an unknown part of the forest, so she mentally felt for the telltale tendrils of a spell. She only had the skills of a pathfinder to aid her. However, she was a highly skilled pathfinder and able to feel the sheerest wisp of magic, even if she could not undo it.

It was a very subtle spell, the almost-untraceable work of a master. Touching only the very edges of the magic, she quickly checked if any trace of her presence was noticeable. When she was confident of her safety, Lauren backed away slowly from the artificial spell wall. As she reached the relative safety of fifty feet from the affected area, Lauren noticed a slight shimmer between the trees. A moment later, a man stepped from behind it. He was wearing a green and black uniform and carrying a different one in his arms. Checking to see if he was alone, he then began to change.

In hiding behind a tree, Lauren watched as he carefully removed his clothing and hid them in a prepared hole beneath a small natural-looking rock formation. The man carefully replaced the stones and then re-dressed.

Lauren drew her dagger and moved silently through the trees until she was only a few feet away. He was nearly dressed when she reached him. She timed her attack as he pulled on his leather over-tunic. The moment his head disappeared beneath the tunic, she leaped on him, throwing him to the ground. In a second, she pinned him with her knife against his throat.

Carefully, she cut the tunic hiding his face and gasped in recognition. "Why, Merrick Dracos,” she snarled. "Still working for the bad guys, I see."

The man squeaked. "Guys? What's a ‘guys’?"

"What are you doing here?" She pressed the knife a bit tighter to his throat.

"Is the King with you?" Merrick asked nervously.

"And if he is?" The point of her knife flicked his cheek.

"On my honor, Lady Laurenthalia,” Merrick whimpered. "I need to talk to him, please!"

"Right, Merrick, as soon as I do, you'll try to kill me. I'm not entirely stupid.”

"Lauren, I'm a spy for Sindelar. He sent me to see if Tarq would accept me as a clansman of Lady Carr so I could work my way into your graces. I've been to your camp four times. I've seen you, Alaeric, the stranger, and I've never revealed this to him.”

"Why not?" Lauren asked suspiciously.

"Because Killia is crazy, and I don't want Sindelar to win!”

"Give me a break, Merrick.”

"A what? Why should I want to break something on you? I want you as a friend.”

"Never mind, it’s an expression from the edgeworld where I was exiled. Why should I trust you? I ought to take you to camp, tell the King you tried to ambush me and watch them kill you.”

Merrick turned pale. "Lauren, I-I'm your kin!"

"Well, that's war," Lauren sadly replied, "Kin against kin.”

"Look, there are reasons why I'm working for Sindelar.”

"Because you're a good son to your father, and I'm the King's bitch, the Olenteas whore who would sell her father for a crown. Yes, I've heard the stories.”

"My father is dead,” Merrick retorted coldly. "He died, broken, in exile.”

"And for this you hate the King?” Lauren sneered, "After all, he was the cause of the revolt.”

"I hate Killia! Her arrogance cost me my home and my family! We don't need a mad queen.”

Lauren felt a slight twinge of sympathy for her clansman. "I'm sorry about your father, Merrick. Were you with him?"

"Yes, my brother Ferrel and I went into exile with him. He died within the first year. We were trapped on an edgeworld.”

“I see. What of your mother?"

"She stayed here, loyal to her Pyramus kin. She disowned us for going with father. Can you imagine disowning an eleven-year-old boy who just wanted to be with his father?" Merrick shifted and found the knife very firmly pressed against his throat. "I give you my pledge not to run or attack or anything if you let me up.”

Lauren considered and released him. She motioned him to sit on the ground while she sat on a nearby rock, pulling her sword out and placing it near her hand. The dagger stayed in her grasp. "When did you come back?"

"We were brought along a path about three months ago to Morsea. At first, I worked closely with Sindelar, training soldiers, until he discovered my talents at spying. He is a very status-conscious man. My father's close kinship with the Olenteas overlords raised me to exalted heights in his eyes. Being the half-nephew of the great Pyramus Sorceress Carr didn't hurt much either."

"And Killia still trusts you despite the connection?"

“Hardly. Whenever your name comes up, she practically hisses. At one time, Sindelar wanted to contact you in your exile and recruit you and Prince Alaeric to Killia's cause. She told him that if he so much as spoke to you, she'd have him executed. Whatever did you do to her?”

Lauren shrugged. "I supposedly had something she wanted. Go on with your story.”

"At first, I was on their side. It had been my father's side, but now,” he looked at Lauren pleadingly, "now I know that she is ruthless, and he worships her. They'll destroy Dal Ryeas if they ever rule.”

"So, what are you doing in this uniform?"

"They've trapped me.”

Lauren laughed dryly. "Now that I find hard to believe. Just defect to the King. Your aunt will be able to test your loyalties.”

"I can't,” Merrick said miserably.

"So now I have to know why I suppose?"

"They're holding Ferrel hostage. Oh, they don't call it that, but he's there, held for good behavior - my good behavior. They keep silken prisoners, this pair. Sindelar holds another boy too, a stranger, not of Dal Ryeas, and makes Ferrel share his tent with him. I believe his name is Mark. Lisa, the girl with him, waits on Killia.”

"Mark? Lisa?" Lauren whispered. "You know them?"

"Yes?” Merrick said, a little warily.

"I've been searching for them,” Lauren replied. "Are they well?"

“The girl is a pet of Killia's. The youth, I fear for him. From what Ferrel said, there is a deep distrust in Mark for Sindelar, Killia, everything. And sharing a tent with Ferrel will only increase his inward disturbance. No…I fear he will not be safe.” He watched Lauren contemplate and added carefully, "What are you going to do with me?"

"Take you back. And keep you with us,” she answered curtly.

"If you do, you'll be killing Ferrel. Sindelar sent me out to search. There have been infiltration signs behind the spell wall, and whoever has done this doesn't want discovery. Sindelar wants to know who has the power to hide like that, and he expects me to find out. And I'm to report back by first light, or he'll see to it that Ferrel suffers.”

"Merrick, how can I trust you?" Lauren sighed. "You admit to being a spy for my enemy.”

Merrick opened his eyes and stared directly at her. She met his sad gaze with her own cold, unflinching one. His next words stunned her.

"I'll swear an Olenteas blood-oath to you.”

“Do you realize what you're saying?" Lauren was aghast. "A blood-oath? Have you taken leave of your senses?"

"I may have been an exile for years, but I do know the significance of the oath.”

They fell silent as Lauren wrestled with his offer. The Olenteas Blood-Oath had origins shrouded in ancient mystery and intrigue. It was the ultimate test of loyalty - a simple oath consisting of mingling blood - and speaking a few carefully chosen words. This oath blended power, loyalty, and kinship into an irrevocable bond. The commitment went past a pledge, past the binding of liege and vassal. It created between the bondholder and the bonded a tie so strong that if the bonded betrayed the holder, death would be considered a blessing. It was said that even death did not sever the oath, but that if needed, the dead would rise to fulfill the bond.

"Merrick, even if you came to hate me and mine, you'd still be bound to the oath.” Lauren felt touched by his confidence in her and frightened of the responsibility the bond entailed.

"I know. Lauren, I need this oath, and you need eyes in Sindelar's camp. This is my only hope of redemption.”

"What of Ferrel?" Lauren asked. "How will he feel about your bonding yourself?”

"I'll save him this way. You will not regret it. I need a liege, and you are still heir to my father's clan. I have the requisite bloodlines. Once I have rescued him, he'll give you the oath as well."

"So, I get Ferrel as well? A two-for?" Lauren smiled and then became serious once more. "Merrick, if you betray me, the oath will kill you.”

He grimaced. "I know. But without it, I'm only half a man.”

"I'm not a very trusting person. But, maybe this time, my blood is calling to yours. Somehow I believe you. I think you mean what you say, and I'll hold your oath.”

With that, Laurenthalia, Princess of the Clan Olenteas, pulled up her shirtsleeve, took the knife, and deftly nicked a surface vein in the crook of her elbow. The blood welled and began to slowly course down her arm. She wiped off the blade, handed it to Merrick, and then watched as he did the same to his arm. Carefully, he placed the knife between their arms, and Lauren concentrated on their combined blood dripping onto the blade. As their blood mingled on the knife, it changed to a bright luminescent blue.

Their blood glowed and swirled on the blade. Lauren and Merrick exchanged oaths, reciting simultaneously the words every Olenteas child learned to utter as soon as they could speak but never thought to use.

"I pledge my honor, my life, and beyond life to the holder of my bond. Never will I betray my bond. I am sworn beyond eternity.” Merrick stated.

Lauren replied, "I hold this bond and pledge to honor my bonded with my trust, my honor, and my life. I will swear beyond eternity to keep this bond a surety for his honor.”

As Lauren's final words were spoken, the co-mingled blood exploded into a rainbow of sparks and vanished. They stared at the knife handle that lay between them, never before witnessing this ritual. They knew, however, that their bond was accepted.

When it was over, they sat on the ground and bandaged each other's arms.

"What now?" Lauren asked.

"I go back to Sindelar. I'll tell him the supposed infiltration was a rumor. I'll see Ferrel and tell him what we've done.”

"If you see Mark, let him know we're going to get him out of there.” Lauren paused, "You'd better go. I'll tell the King what we've done. Try to get information to us. We'll give you what we can.”

"So now I'm a double agent,” Merrick sighed, getting up. "And all I ever wanted to be was a country squire.”

"We all do what we must,” Lauren said, turning to go. "Good luck, my bonded.”

Merrick raised his arm and returned through the shimmer of the spell wall. Soon he was gone.

It was late when Lauren returned to Tarq's camp. Most of the troops were asleep. As she approached her own tent, she was surprised to find a light shining. Diana must be up late, she thought. She pulled back the tent flap and looked inside.

Seated at the table on a campstool absurdly small for him, Alaeric sat sculpting a small soapstone figurine. She entered the tent quietly, suppressing a laugh at the sight of his massive form on such a tiny stool.

Alaeric looked up at her. "How goes the search for the Harrisons?"

"Poorly.” She sat on her cot and removed her soft leather boots. "Your scouts have been unable to find any trace of them, and neither have I." She thought briefly of confiding in her cousin about the evening's events but thought better of it, deciding to report directly to the King concerning Merrick and his conversion to Tarq's cause.

Uncomfortable with his close scrutiny, Lauren decided to share a half-truth with him to forestall. "I do have one thing to report, though. There has been a compulsion to avoid the Northeast. None of your scouts go that way. Even I felt it today.” She looked at Alaeric. "Mention it to Carr, will you? It's probably a spell.”

"Why don't you talk to Carr? Or are you still avoiding her?"

"I go out again in the morning,” she yawned, deliberately ignoring his question. "If you will excuse me?" she hinted pointedly. "I would like to change and go to bed.”

"That's alright. I used to take baths with you when we were little. You can change with me here.” Alaeric grinned maliciously.

"What do you want, Alaeric?" she said bluntly.

"To know what the hell you're doing? We've been here two weeks, and you're out there more than you're in camp. Gods, you are a Princess of the Olenteas, not a foot soldier. You have one of the best-trained minds of our generation, and you're out there playing scout!”

"We promised to find Lisa and Mark,” she reminded him sternly. "Or did suddenly finding Tarq make you forget our word to Diana? We are Olenteas, children of traitors. Somehow we are responsible for two innocents being lost out there, or have you forgotten that too?”

“Look,” she continued in a reasonable tone, "I know you have been hurt and have only begun to search. You are still not up to long-distance hunts, so why don’t we just split things up. You stay here, as the King's advisor, and I'll look for Lisa and Mark. Then we will all be happy.”

Alaeric rose silently, his head bent to avoid hitting the canvas roof as he walked to the door. "I'll probably never know happiness again, Laurenthalia, as long as Tayaela wanders the edges, but at least I'll somehow help her brother. You loved him once, and you believed in him. He needs your help. You can't avoid him forever.”

"I will help him while I fulfill my oath. My scouting serves his purpose.” She fell silent.

For a long time they stared at each other, their thoughts locked away and secret. "Things change, Alaeric,” Lauren spoke quietly, “Not everyone can be as stalwart and loyal as you.” She sat on her cot and began to undress as Alaeric left.

Lauren reflected on the events of the evening as she sat alone and isolated by her hidden sorrow. She wept to herself for her lost youth and the lost innocence. Then she rose and exited the tent.

She had one more report to make before sleeping.