Marie panicked, her breath coming in short gasps. Not knowing who else she could trust, she ran to Carline’s quarters and rapped frantically on the door. Carline answered the door and took in her student's distressed state. Blinking in confusion she asked,

“Marie, what are you doing here?” She looked at her watch “It’s almost 4:00 in the afternoon, we don’t have another session today.”

Her hands trembling violently, Marie handed the threatening note to Carline, who read it silently. When Carline finished reading it her face was pale as snow. Suddenly she understood her student's distress. Quickly ushering Marie into her modest living space, she bade Marie to sit, taking another chair for herself. After motioning to Marie to stay where she was, Carline went into her kitchen. She grabbed two simple brown mugs, pulled the whistling teapot from the plate-sized heatstone it was resting on, and poured water into each of the mugs. and poured the water she had been boiling into them. Then she put a chamomile tea bag into one and a lavender tea bag into the other. Grabbing the sugar and honey she brought it out, making it a second trip to fetch the mugs.

"Lavender or chamomile Marie?"

she asked softly.

"Uh - lavender I guess."

Marie replied still in shock from the note. Carline placed the mug gently into Marie's hands and told her to take a sip. Steam from the warm beverage caressed her face as she lifted the much to her lips. As she drank more of the tea, Marie became visibly more relaxed. After she finished the mug, Carline gently asked Marie how long it had been from the time she had left to eat lunch with the Duke, to when she returned to find Nadasia missing. Although she was still shaken, Marie managed to pull herself together in her mentor's presence.

“It could not have been more than an hour Carline. I went to lunch, acted as though Father's scolding last night had done some good, and then went straight back to my room. ”

“Where is Baine?” Carline asked well aware that the old man rarely left her side or sight.

Marie frowned and thought for a moment

“It is odd that I’ve not seen a hint of him today. Perhaps he is resting from the late-night last night.”

She said as much to Carline who agreed that his absence was disturbing. When Carline suggested they visit his quarters to make sure that he was ok, her student eagerly pounced on the idea. The pair quickly made their way to Baine’s quarters. Opening the door Marie was dismayed to find that Baine was not there, only another note which was on his pillow. This one was very short and blunt, but still badly written.

Look under the cot.

While Marie looked under Baine’s cot, Carline compared the two letters. She soon realized that they both bore the same mark, that of a sliver sword plunged into the scarlet red and gold breast of a phoenix. Just as Carline made this discovery, Marie shouted in triumph holding up a small package wrapped in coarse brown paper. Opening it carefully, both Marie and Carline were puzzled by the contents of it. Inside there was only a children’s book with a royal blue cover and the title, “The Tales of Skyfire the Phoenix” embossed in gold as well as a gold and ruby rendition of the Skyhills crest.

"How odd. I wonder where the crest came from?"

Marie thought. Deciding that she might as well share her own discovery, Carline drew Marie’s attention to the horrible mark on both letters.

“Phoenixes are revered throughout the land!” Marie cried in disbelief. “Who would dare to create such a terrible image?”

Carline shook her head,

“I don’t know who would Marie, but these people are obviously very dangerous. I want you to be as careful as possible until they are caught.”

Marie nodded in agreement, to have snuck into the Duke’s heavily guarded home and kidnapped not one, but two servants was unthinkable. Suddenly Marie’s shoulders slumped.

“I’ll have to tell Father about this,” she said hating the thought of dealing with him twice in one day.

She turned towards the door slowly.

"Marie!"

Carline called. She turned around in surprise.

"Yes, Carline?"

"Don't let your father get to you too much Marie, he-"

She cut herself off but Marie knew better than to prompt her to continue. Nodding to acknowledge her mentor she slowly made her way to the duke’s receiving chamber. To her surprise, the same herald who had introduced himself to her as Jacob earlier was at the door.

“Hello Jacob,” she said, her pleasant voice the opposite of how she really felt.

“Hello my Lady, I was not expecting you again today,” Jacob replied.

“I must speak to my father, is he alone?”

“Yes, my Lad-”

Marie cut him off, “Thank you, Jacob, I appreciate it but this matter is urgent, please announce me.”

Seeing that Marie was obviously in some distress he did as she had asked, only a few moments passing before her father called for her to come in.

He frowned at her dress and opened his mouth as though to criticize her on it, but Marie spoke first

“Father I believe that Baine and Nadasia have been kidnapped.”

She handed him the two notes,

“This one was in my chambers, on my writing desk and the other was on Baine’s pillow.”

She then handed him the children’s book and the jeweled Skyhills crest.

“These were wrapped in paper, stuck to the underside of his cot.”

The duke blinked in confusion,

“Is this some kind of joke Marie?”

Marie shook her head “No, it’s not, Father please help me find them.” she begged, a few tears trickling out of her eyes. Such a display of vulnerability was extremely rare for Marie but she cared for Baine deeply. He was like her elderly guardian angel, and though she had only known Nadasia for a short time, Marie had begun to grow fond of the girl.