It was becoming increasingly clear to Rhea that she would one day get caught up in the very intrigue that she sought to avoid.

She found she rather liked Althea. She was kind with no ulterior motives, except perhaps the matchmaking.

But this would mean that she would be seeing more of the Duchy in general.

If this was so she needed to arm herself up with information. This brought her to the morning after she got back from her trip to the Duchy, her hand raised to knock on Favian Fern’s office door only for the door to swing open.

“Zara said you were here. Come in, little sis!”

After situating herself in the seat across from Favian, “I would like to have whatever information on the Capital affairs that you have. I will pay the price if needed.”

Favian’s golden hair shone in the sunlight coming through the tall windows behind him.

“Nonsense, we are partners at the Flower Path. I’ve long since stated my information is yours.” He made some notes in a ledger in front of him, “Does this change of heart have anything to do with your trip to the Duchy?”

Rhea nodded, “It would seem I shall be friends with the future Empress.”

“Ah, and you wish to be prepared.”

“Always.”

Favian rose and stepped to his bookcase before pulling a book and a panel opened with a safe behind it. After spinning the dial he opened it and took out a thick ledger.

“Let’s get started, shall we?”

Rhea would make sure she would keep everyone she held dear safe. This was just the first step.

Everything at the Flower Path had been going smoothly.

She had hired the Lady Eadlin Agler on as another hostess enabling her to marry the commoner she truly loved. Disowned by her parents, she appreciated the opportunity to make an honest pay. Eadlin had done well as a hostess, and proven herself to the ladies that though she might have married below her class she had not lost any of her elegance or charm.

Checking the tea rooms each day, Rhea had noticed an odd occurrence. There were a couple here and there that stared and whispered amongst themselves. Deeming it some simple gossip she dismissed it until she noticed as the months passed that the number slowly increased. Their eyes darted to watch her before darting away as soon as she made eye contact.

Deciding to check on it with Favian he chuckled.

“There’s been hearsay that there’s been an Ember sighting.”

Rhea’s eyes widened before she pointed to herself and Favian through his head back in laughter.

“Some suspect you have another power that makes the teas taste better.”

“How ridiculous.”

‘ALICE I haven’t been caught have I?’

[IT WOULD SEEM SOMEONE MUST HAVE SEEN SOMETHING.]

‘Yes but what?’

Rhea would be grateful that she kept up with her spark training when there was an assassination attempt upon the Crown Prince.

It was a nice day, so Rhea had suggested in their letter correspondence to have tea at a secret part of the Flower Path’s land. It had a lovely waterfall and meadow of wildflowers.

They were having tea when Easton shouted for Althea to get down. Althea fell into the pond and Cassius jumped in after her. They both were wet and safe except for a wall of arrows that were being flown in their direction without thinking Rhea summoned a wall of water in front of the couple before freezing it. The arrows hit the ice and fell to the ground.

“They’ll get you next, Rhea!”

Not even addressing the lack of etiquette as Lord Easton pulled her to the other side of the wall of ice. They watched around it as the assassins came into the clearing foolishly. Remember the training the Baron had once instilled in her she moved her hands in tight movements creating arrows of water before sending them across the clearing and attacking the assailants.

The knights were late to arrive, but better than not at all they rushed into the clearing taking on the incapacitated assailants.

“You would have me think Lady Rhea that no one knew of this location.”

“Only myself and my business partners.”

“And who are they?” The Crown Prince looked livid.

Althea placed a hand on her fiance’s arm, “Cassius, she saved us. Couldn’t it have also been on our end?”

Cassius narrowed his gaze, “I didn’t tell anyone except…” His gaze connected with Lord Easton’s, “We must return to the capital at once.”

Then as soon as his suspicions had been laid bare, he changed his countenance.

“Forgive me, Lady Ipheion, I believe there is something I need to attend to at the Capital. If you could keep Althea protected alongside her knights I would be most grateful. Come, Easton.”

Althea stayed at the Ipheion estate with her knights for several days with no news from her fiance. She had grown worried and so Rhea tried to keep her distracted with tours of the Floating Isles, rides upon Wren, and the Flower Path.

It was when they were walking through the gardens of the Flower Path that they came upon a couple whispering. At first, they turned away fearing they were coming across some lover tryst but when Althea and Rhea hid behind a tree they saw the couple was joined by another man with flaming orange hair. A smirk on his lips as he spoke, “The plan is proceeding perfectly. We will have the Capital under our control before nightfall.”

Rhea and Althea looked at each other with wide eyes. Rhea calculated how far away the stables were Wren was, the orange-haired man continued to say how he heard that Althea was on the premises.

“What a prize she’d be?” A cruel chuckle, “How foolish were they to leave spark-less knights to protect her? So easy to incapacitate.”

Rhea’s fingers curled in fists at her sides, nails digging into her palms. Althea held her hands uncurling them and healing the imprints.

‘ALICE? Map please?’

A map only she could see appeared before her eyes. A 3d map of the Flower Path. Quickly she whispered her plan to Althea.

As quietly as they could they crawled through the brush, the berry bushes covering their escape for now. They would have to run at the clearing though. There was a shortcut to the stables leading underground.

As they reached the corner before the clearing, Rhea whispered to Rhea. “If something happens, no matter what make it to Wren.” She slipped a baked good from her apron pocket into Althea’s pocket. “She likes you. Tell her it's an emergency.”

Althea nodded, “What about you?”

“I’ll create a distraction. You run to the passageway I showed you on the tour.”

“The gazebo entrance,” Althea whispered and Rhea nodded.

They made it through the passageway with no problem. They sneaked through the stables to where Wren’s room was. Rhea took her companion out and whispered to the great sky beast, “Wren, I need you to do something for me.” Placing her forehead on her forehead, “Take Althea to the Capital for me. She’s in danger here.”

Wren shook her head but let herself be saddled. Rhea knelt and boosted up Althea just as shouts came from the other entrance of the stable.

“Go!” With one last pat on Wren shook her mighty head before zooming off with Althea holding on tight.

Rhea turned back toward the men who had burst through.

“Too late, gentleman.” Using the water from a nearby trough, Rhea lifted her hands and motioned the water to form arrows. “Shall we?” She smirked.

[WATCH OUT!]

ALICE’s shout was the only warning she had before she was knocked unconscious, the last words she heard were: “We’ll take her instead.”