The king looked up in the voice’s direction. “You’re not safe Star Child.” With that warning, he ran towards the cover of the trees. 

“Mai!!” 

Aundray looked up at her with worried eyes. She furrowed her brow, trying to understand the emotion written on his face. 

“Thank the goddesses that you’re okay! I thought you of all people would be aware of the decree."

"What does that mean exactly?" 

"I just mean. You're a Paladin. You should know what's going on in this forest. It’s dangerous. I don’t think I could forgive myself if something happened to you.”

Maiolaine climbed down the rock. As she turned around, she realized how close she stood next to Aundray. She swallowed hard as he touched her arm. Mai felt uncomfortable at his touch and took a step back to put space between the two of them. Aundray must have felt the tension. 

“You need to find a safer place. Dark Knights are out at night capturing starolve pups. The packs are restless and on guard. They attack everything on two legs to protect their young.” 

“Are you one of them?” Mai asked.

“What?” 

“Are you a Dark Knight?” 

“Mai,” he sighed as he tried to touch her, but she stepped away from him. 

“Answer me,” Mai said in a forceful tone. 

“Yes,” he said, looking up into the sky. 

Mai took another step back. She had been in the enemy's company this whole time. The flashes of the dream came back into her mind, Aundray’s wicked smile and her father’s cries. 

“You. You took my father!” 

Emotions clouded her mind and before she could register what was happening, she slapped him hard across the face. 

Aundray“Please, Mai. Hear me out.” He placed his hand out, expecting another attack. 

“You lied to me! Give me a reason I should listen to you.” 

Maiolaine reached for her dagger, but he was too quick and grabbed hold of her wrist. He squeezed her wrist until she dropped the dagger. 

“You do not want to do that. I have far more experience than you and it’ll be something you'll regret later.” 

He released her wrist. Mai rubbed it as tears stung her eyes, threatening to spill. 

“Please, Mai. Listen to me for one minute. I came here as a lookout. I wanted to find someone in Aeris to give information. When you walked into the forest, I watched you for a couple of days. I wanted to see if I could trust you with the information.” 

Mai did not move, even though every atom in her body was telling her to run and never look back. 

“How did you become a Paladin?” Aundray looked into Mai’s eyes. 

“Are you joking? I was born a Paladin, of course,” she answered his question. 

“Exactly. I was born a Knight. My family has been in the Knights since the Revolt. I had no choice, did I?” 

Pain tinged his words, and she felt pity for him. Thinking back to when her uncle chastised her because Trivett blood flowed through her veins, destined for greatness. It was in her blood. She couldn’t help who she was and neither could he. Mai had the urge to reach out for him, but felt unwise. 

“I’m sorry for hurting you. It was self defense.” He said with a gentle touch to her wrist where it was red and sore. “Can we please go somewhere safer?” 

“There is no need to feel no fear here. It’s safe.” 

“I don’t feel safe at all.” 

“Okay. We can go closer to the edge of the forest.” 

Aundray smiled and grabbed her hand. He intertwined his fingers within hers and led her away into what he deemed safer territory. Aundray explained himself and how came to Nuitetoilée. He had been putting his life on the line to put an end to the suffering he had seen with his own eyes. He even told her of a Paladin the knights had captured years ago. They have him held deep underground.

"Could it really be…” Mai couldn’t finish the sentence. All these years, she had a sense that her father could be alive and with this new information, her hope only grew stronger.

"I'm uncertain of the details and it could also be rumors, but it could very well be your father if the rumors are true."

With all this unfolding, she had not realized that she had to leave. 

un had already set. 

“I have to go,” Maiolaine said.  

“A-are we good?” Aundray stuttered, his eyes downcast and sad.

“I think so. My brain is still a little foggy and I need to time to take this all in.”

Before she knew what was happening, Aundray pulled her in for a hug. 

“Thank you. Please take all the time you kneed.”

After they broke free from the embrace, Aundray looked around as if to see if there were any prying eyes. 

“But hopefully not too long, as our factions are moving swiftly. I won’t be able to come see you as much as I want. Could you meet me in this spot at midnight in 2 days' time?” 

“I’m really not sure I can…”

Aundray grabbed her hand and squeezed it tightly, almost fearfully. 

“What if I could get you the information you are so desperately needing? I promise you I will find out if that Palladin is your father.”

“Are you sure you can confirm that?”

“Yes,” Aundray said. “I promise you I will find out.” 

“Okay,” Mai said, pulling away from Aundray’s grasp. “I will come back.”

“Thank you, Mai,” Aundray said, kissing Mai’s knuckles. 

“I will show you everything you need to know. Then you’ll be able to bring that information back to your clan.”

“What if your people find out it’s you who has been leaking secrets?” 

“I hope to be far from this place if that were ever to happen. You know I won’t be safe here. I'm also hoping to convince a particularly beautiful woman to go with me?” 

“I don’t...“

Before she could finish that sentence, she felt his warm, soft lips on hers. 

“Please say you’ll come in two days.” 

“Okay. I promise.” 

He squeezed her hands and gave her one last small kiss before waving goodbye. 

Mai touched her lips, confused about what had just happened. Confused by her feelings. As for her first kiss, there was something missing from it. It wasn’t like it was in all the romance stories she had read. Perhaps the confusion was because of uneasiness she felt in her belly, knowing that Aundray confessed himself to be a Dark Knight. She ambled to the stronghold, grappling with the emotions she had within her. Then fear washed over her. 

“Papa!” 

She rushed to tell her sister and mother.

“Maman! Emmaline!” she said, waving her arms. “I need to speak with you right now.” 

Concern painted their faces, and they closed the gap. 

“What’s wrong, love?” Olympe searched Mai’s troubled face for answers. 

“Not here.” 

She grabbed her mother’s wrist and led them both to their mother’s chambers. Mai closed the door behind her and paced. She needed to tell her mother and sister the information that Aundray had given her without giving away his identity.

"I've heard a rumor that the Dark Knights have imprisoned Papa and he may still be alive."

"What?" Olympe's eyes went wide. "Where did you hear this?"

"I heard talk in the village amongst the Aerians. They say that the Knights have him locked up in a lab and are torturing him.”

“Maiolaine,” Olympe said gently, clasping her hands around Mai’s. “These rumors have been around for many, many years. This is nothing new.”

“I know this to be true,” Maiolaine said. 

“How do you know this?” Em said from behind her mother. “Is this coming from a new source? Is it this boy you’re sneaking off into woods to see?”

Their mother gasped, “What boy? You’ve been going to the forest even after the decree had passed?”

Mai blanched. Of course, her twin sister could read her better than anyone on this planet, but she never thought that Em would sell her out like that. Then a recent conversation with Em in the training quarters flashed through her mind. 

 “Maman, there is no boy,” Mai said as Em scoffed. “And yes, I have been in the forest, but only under your advice.”

“Do not bring Maman into this mess, Maiolaine,” Em said. Her eyes flickered dangerously with red. “You went into the woods on your accord, knowing full well that it was forbidden.”

“It’s the truth,” Mai raised her voice as she released her mother’s hands from hers. “Maman told me to meditate where I am most connected and I am most connected to the woods!”

“What a bunch of bullsh…”

“That is enough!” Olympe snapped, startling the twins.

“Maman,” Mai said weakly. 

“No,” Olympe said as she shook her head. “It's been two years. Our telepathic link cut off a long time ago. The only explanation is that he is dead.” 

Olympe crumpled onto the sofa with her face in her hands. Silent sobs made her shoulders shake. Mai walked over to her mother, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder. 

“He’s gone,” Olympe said in between sobs. “I can not have you coming in here giving me false hope over some rumors that have been around since his disappearance.”

“Maman, they are not stories,” Mai said, only a fraction louder than a whisper. 

Olympe took Mai’s hand. “Please Mai. I don’t know what you’ve heard, but that is not your father. It's a rumor and you shouldn't hold on to these lies and hope that they are true.” 

Mai opened her mouth to say something, but Em stood up and shook her head. Mai closed her mouth. 

“We’re sorry, Maman,” Em said. “We leave you now.”

“Sorry, Maman,” Mai said as the sisters left her chambers.”

“You can’t be running up to the stronghold like that,” Em hissed, pulling her sister towards their chambers. “Can’t you understand what Maman is going through? Her telepathic tie to her husband cut long ago and now suddenly you hear talk of the Knights keeping Papa locked up and tortured?” 

“That wasn’t my intention," Mai sighed. "I just know he’s out there and have to get to him. And I guess you were right about not trusting your own family. I can’t believe you sold me out back there!” 

“I had to, Mai! You are putting yourself in danger and causing Maman undue stress. You should know I that believe Papa is still out there, but with information such as this, we have to tread carefully. I’m sorry I got you in trouble, but we have to think about this more strategically. We can’t just go in there swinging our swords and declaring a battle.”

“You’re right.” 

“I love hearing you say that. You should say to me more often.” 

“You should be right more often,” Mai said, pinching her sister’s arm. 

“Ow,” Em said, rubbing her arm. “Come training with me tomorrow.” 

“Fine.” 

“Wow. No fighting it?” 

“I’m too tired to fight.” Mai shrugged. “Good night, Em.”

“Good night, Mai.”