“Come, young Lisa,” Princess Killia smiled, "I have an errand for you to run. And you'd love to escape practice, I suspect.”

Lisa, dutifully trying to learn to play the siganhar, a small harp-shaped instrument a cross between an autoharp and a balalaika, looked up gratefully at the excuse of exercise. She enjoyed being with the Princess, but felt much of the freedom she was used to disappearing as she took on more duties for her Highness.

Even though she had spent much of her time alone at home, there were many more distractions there than here. She discovered the few occasions she tried to learn some of the bow work or sword play that seemed so engrossing to Mark, the Princess became annoyed. Killia wanted her ladies available and compliant. After a few feeble attempts of asserting her independence, Lisa fell smartly into line and earned only the Princess' praise. She enjoyed being cosseted, but it was with relief that she learned of her errand, freeing her for awhile from Killia's stultifying regulations.

"Lord Sindelar sent word of a trouble spot near the barrier. He has gone to investigate this. I have, however, an urgent message for him, so I'm sending you to him. You will be accompanied by the soldiers waiting outside.” The Princess smiled, handing her a sealed envelope. "You'd better hurry. It's very important.”

Lisa awkwardly curtsied and left the tent. She found the troop waiting and with Sergeant Orado in the lead they immediately left for their destination.

A few hours later, Mark was once again on the practice grounds with the sword mistress and Ferrel when the Princess' summons came. The two young men exchanged worried looks as Mark put up his sword. Ferrel looked at his friend. "What do you think she wants?"

"Nothing good, I expect.” Mark grimaced. "As soon as I find out, I'll tell you.”

Ferrel touched his friend's arm. "Be careful. Merrick says not to trust her.”

"Funny advice from a spy,” Mark tried for momentary lightness but quickly became serious. "I'm scared, Ferrel, believe me…” He clapped Ferrel's shoulder and hurried towards the Princess' tents.

He could hear shouts of distress before he even entered the tent. Hesitant, he knocked lightly on the tent post. Rhea Volta, looking grim, pulled the pavilion’s flap open and bid him entrance.

Killia looked distraught as she sat at a table. Her hair was loosened and falling in a tangle down her back. Her clothing, usually crisply formal, was limp and hanging awkwardly about her. When she saw Mark, she stood up and beckoned him closer. Her ladies fluttered about her helplessly like directionless chickens. Captain Volta, leaving Mark's side, strode through the ineffectual maids and patted the Princess awkwardly.

"Mark, thank goodness you're here." Killia said in a low voice. "I-I'm worried about Lisa. I may have accidentally put her in danger.”

"We don't know that, my Queen.” Volta stated quietly.

"What happened to her?" Mark sat down across from her, all the plesantries and mannerisms gone.

Volta spoke up, "Princess Killia received what she believed was a real communiqué that Lord Sindelar had to know about. It was concerning the barriers. She sent Lisa with Sergeant Orado and his troops to deliver the message."

Killia replied hastily, "She seemed so bored, you see. I-I was merely trying to give her something to do, An adventure, a chance to see more of our land." She laid her head down on the table. "But that was some hours ago. The journey was not that far."

"So where is she?!" Mark rose up, his temper flaring.

"Mark," Volta said seriously, "we fear Lisa may have been taken by Tarq's spies.”

 "What? How?" Mark exclaimed. "I thought we were protected from them by this barrier!”

"We fear infiltration. We have just learned that Lord Sindelar will be here within the hour. There was no word of Lisa nor Sergeant Orado.”

"How long has she been gone? Dammit, you should have sent me with her!”

Killia replied testily, "You watch your tone. I didn't think it would be dangerous.”

"Not dangerous? We're in the middle of a war, not a garden party! And why the hell would they take her?"

"As you said, Mark, this is war.” Volta spoke up, “But Lisa’s capture may have been purely incidental, since she was with other soldiers.”

"What can we do?"

Volta shrugged. "I'm leaving right away to attempt to track them and rescue her."

Mark thought for a moment then nodded. "Then I should go too." He looked at Killia. "She'll want to see her older brother, if we can find her."

Killia shook her head. "Out of the question. I've already lost one outsider today."

"Please, your Highness?" Mark sat back down and placed a hand on hers. "I can help Volta, I know I can."

Killia surprisingly squeezed his hand and sighed. "And you are family. And I do know how important that is. Alright, go with Volta. But please be careful."

"Hurry, boy,” Volta said as he left. "I'll be at your tent in ten minutes.”

The young man rushed from the pavilion and raced headlong through the camp to his tent. When Volta entered, she found Mark grimly finishing preparations. He strapped a knife to his breeches and picked up his crossbow and quarrels. Then he walked up close to her and stared into her eyes. "I'm ready Captain. Shall we go?"

Mark still felt awkward on horseback, but better than his first ride a month earlier. Volta impatiently rode ahead of him trying to keep her feisty horse from bolting. Just as Mark got his mount under control, Ferrel came up to Mark and waved him down.

"Mark! Where are you off to?" Ferrel asked breathlessly.

Volta's imperious command stopped him. "We should go, Harrison. There will be time for your friends after we rescue your sister.”

"His sister? What has happened?!"

Mark calmed the boy down. "We just need to see if she might be in trouble, that's all." Then he reached down and touched the boy's head. "Why don't you take a nap for a little while? But you might want to re-fluff the pillow."

"Huh?"

Volta interrupted them. "We need to go now."

Ferrel watched them disappear into the woods, and then looked at his tent. Something Mark had said weighed on him heavily. He entered their tent and looked at his bed. There, stickong out from underneath his pillow, was the corner of a piece of paper. He was still sitting on his cot a half hour later, staring at the note and trying to figure out what to do, when Merrick entered.

"Hey little brother," Merrick said, smiling. "Why the sad face?"

"Merrick!” Ferrel cried joyfully, looking up. "You’re all right!"

"Just fine.” Merrick grinned and hugged the boy, sprawling out beside him on the cot. "What's wrong? You look gloomier than when you got bad grades in school.” Since Ferrel was a boy, throughout their exile he had confided in him. Merrick knew that since their father had died, he was Ferrel's only emotional support. All of his own actions were to ensure Ferrel's safety. "Before you tell me what's troubling you, Ferrel, I want you to know something." He walked to the door of the tent and he looked out before continuing. "I’ve sworn a blood-oath to Lauren Olenteas. I am now bonded to Tarq's cause.”

"Oh Gods,” whispered Ferrel. "Then you are spying for Tarq. I thought so!"

"I'm going to try and get you out of here as soon as I can.” Merrick approached his brother and sat down beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "I don't trust this wizard or his Princess. And I think maybe they don't trust me either.” He chuckled. "With some justification, I suppose, I've always had my doubts as to their cause. Pyramus has ruled justly. Father was wrong not to change his allegiance.”

"I know. I've been doing a lot of thinking while you've been away. There's something not quite right going on here.”

"What is it?" Merrick had come to respect Ferrel's assessments. During their years wandering the edgeworlds, he had always been able to determine if a situation was really what it appeared, or if there were something not quite right about it. On more than a few occasions, the younger Dracos kept his older brother safe from harm.

"Everything is wrong about this. It’s as if… Killia has taken someone essentially wise and noble, like Sindelar, and made him come down to her level. I like the wizard, but there is something not quite right about this whole place. All Princess Killia cares about is having her own way. Like with Mark. I know she is trying to hurt him, but I am not certain what she means to do."

"Mark, the boy who shares this tent?" Merrick sat up.

"Uh-huh. He and his sister sort of arrived in the forest,” Ferrel explained, "They got caught in a path maelstrom and were drawn here during Sindelar's spell. And now I think Mark is in danger because Killia wants to keep Lisa. And the Princess wants no other influence on the girl than her own.”

"What do you mean?" Merrick asked.

Ferrel showed his brother the note he had found:

The Princess told me Lisa may have been kidnapped by Tarq's men, which if true is probably not a bad thing. But if she is in trouble she may need me. I have gone with Volta to find her. If I don't come back, please take care of Lisa for me. In spite of everything, I do love her and want her to be safe and happy. -- Mark

Ferrel explained, "I think Mark really wanted me to find this note. He said something about my pillow, and this was under it."

Merrick sighed. "Well...if she is with Tarq, he's right, that's probably not a bad thing. She would be reunited with her sister."

"What do you mean?" Ferrel was confused. "Mark's twin, Diana? Mark told me about her. But what is she doing in the King's camp?”

“Well, it seems that they were friends of Lauren and Alaeric in exile. Alaeric marked the path with blood and followed Mark and Lisa when they traveled across the maelstrom. Diana came with them to help. I think Lauren wants to reunite them and send them home before all hell breaks loose. I was supposed to get news of this to Mark.” Merrick frowned and turned to the tent flap. "Alright, I have to report to Sindelar. Be careful, don't let on that you suspect anything, and destroy that note.”

"But Merrick, I saw his younger sister, Lisa, riding out with Sergeant Orado and a couple other of Volta's crew hours before. I was coming from the practice fields and they were going in the opposite direction than where Volta took Mark just now.”

"How soon when they left?"

"You just missed their departure. If you hurry-"

"I'll try to track them.” Merrick rose from the cot. "Whatever you do, don't let on to them you suspect anything. You're a hostage to my good behavior. And for Gods sake, nothing about my blood-oath!”

"When do we get out of here?" Ferrel asked. "I hate this place. I wish we were still in the edges.”

"I don't know. Lauren wants me to try and find out when Sindelar plans to move.” Merrick grimaced. "We'd better find your friend and his sister and take them to Tarq.” He hugged his younger brother tightly. "I'll find them if I can."

When Merrick had gone, Ferrel felt suddenly chilled. He crossed his arms and began to pace. Instead of burning the note, he hid it in the hollow of his boot heel. He knew Lisa and she was the type who would only heed concrete evidence. Sudden fears for Merrick replaced the ones he had for Mark. He felt trapped in an untenable situation and saw no way to his freedom.

"Well, anyway,” he said aloud to his tent walls. "At least I'll try to look after the girl.”

 

Mark rode in worried silence beside Rhea Volta. Even though she was the first person he had met on this world, her relationship to the Princess gave him inexplicable reasons to fear her. He held her partly responsible for driving the wedge between Lisa and him.

"Captain,” he said after an hour or so of hard riding. "Aren't we closer to them?"

"I think so. Here, let's get down and check the ground.” She got off her horse and knelt by the path side.

Mark dismounted and began to look around. The path ran along the edge of a steep tree-filled ravine. Even in his anxiety, he wondered at the ability of trees to sprout from the side of a cliff. A stream was gently flowing at the ravine's bottom. The woods around him seemed unnaturally quiet. He half-turned to where Volta had stood and realized that she had silently moved and was now behind him. She had a long knife drawn in her hand. Its edge reflected the sunlight streaming through the trees and shone directly in his eyes. The glare was enough to blind him.

Mark started to back away, but she was too quick for him. She grabbed him around the neck with one arm, while stabbing him brutally in the side. He cried out in agony, as she pulled the blade out and stabbed again. With another cry, he broke her hold and staggered to the edge of the ravine.

Volta stalked him, knife held low. He glanced behind him, his fingers clutching at his wounds, blood pouring down his clothing. Volta's menacing form was coming nearer. Closing his eyes, he stepped back, over the edge of the ravine.

As his foot slipped, a wave of pain shot through him. He never felt himself falling until he struck a tree and the direction of his fall took a turn towards the stream. His last sight was that of Volta, dispassionately watching him fall as she stood at the edge of the ravine. Then he felt the cool water of the stream against him and finally nothing.