Chapter One: Homo Fuge

Chapter Two: What Happened After Sunrise

Chapter Three: Arrangements

Chapter Four: Mother Returns

Chapter Five: The Next Day

Chapter Six: Hannah

Chapter Seven: A Subtle Yes

Chapter Eight: I Will

Chapter Nine: Him

Chapter Ten: Old Wives' Tales

“Tobias, we must go see about this.” Nathan rose from his knee.

Tobias nodded and followed him down the hallway after glancing anxiously at me. I gave him what I hoped was an assuring nod and smile. Orius’s tears had slowed a bit and he sat up, criss cross, facing me on the bed.

“So you’re the Princess?” he asked.

“I am; and you’re Orius, the valiant messenger?” I returned in an effort to cheer him a bit.

“Just Orius the messenger,” he replied.

“Why not valiant?” I wondered.

“I haven’t done anything valiant.” he said matter-of-factly.

I noticed a patch on his sleeve that signified his position as the personal messenger for the captain of the guard – that would be Nathan. I motioned to it and sat up, criss cross, to face him. My back faced the doorway.

“It looks like Nathan thinks you’re valiant,” I said with a small smile.

“Not just Nathan.” A deep, earthy voice sounded behind me. I jumped and nearly fell from the bed.

“Khoda!” Orius exclaimed. He quickly clambered from the bed and rushed to him, tackling the giant frame to the floor. He sat easily between the giant paws. “I thought you were busy.”

“I heard you crying,” Khoda said seriously.

“I’m sorry.” The smile quickly dropped from his face. “I couldn’t help it.”

“It’s nothing to be sorry for.” Khoda sat back on his haunches. “Kynder was right when she said that crying wasn’t ignoble.”

Orius didn’t look convinced. The Wolf barked laughter. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed with the intention of joining them, but Khoda stopped me.

“Stay there; we’ll come to you.” Orius’s hand gently rested on Khoda’s side as they came to the bed. The boy scrambled back to my side, while Khoda jumped up and made himself comfortable at the foot of the bed. Then he turned his eyes to me. “Are you afraid?”

My mind immediately reverted back to the list. I hadn’t thought about it in so long. Everyone on it was dead (except of course Tobias and Nathan) because they had all been advisors. Khoda repeated himself.

“I’m not sure,” I answered.

“I can show you the truth about what happened – why no one lives on the outside any longer.” Sorrow prowled on the edge of his words. He offered to expose the knife behind the scar that sliced over the right eye of myworld.

“Could you? Please?” I sat up.

“Yes, but there are two things you must know before.” He leapt to the floor. “The first is that you will return changed, and people will notice.”

I nodded. “And the second?”

“You’ll need to ride horseback and bring food. Change from your mourning gown and bring enough sustenance for you and Orius to last until tomorrow morning. Don’t get a horse from this level – we’ll be going down before travelling out. I will return when you’re ready.”

He walked towards the door, but I was incredulous at him wanting to go out into the main passageway.

“You can’t go that way!” I exclaimed. “People will see you.”

He turned and spoke gently. “Only those I allow will see me.” With that, he slipped out the door.

It banged shut behind him. My feet crossed the cold stone to the wardrobe. Tobias had to have a satchel of some sort in here. Under a pile of old coats, supple leather met my fingertips. It was the perfect size. Orius had followed me halfway to the closet.

I walked to him. “Take this to the kitchen. Put as much food in it as you’ll want for the rest of today and tomorrow morning. Be sure you get enough. Then put a loaf of bread, some apples, and some cold chicken.”

He nodded solemnly and left. Now I realized my dilemma. I had no clothes in Tobias’ room. I couldn’t return to mine, where Hannah died. My father’s chamber, where all my mother’s old clothes were stored, had been burned – not that I would want to wear anything of hers now. In a trunk next to his wardrobe, Tobias kept old clothes.

I quickly sifted through them and found a stiff leather jerkin with black tunic and pants that fit. I clasped the jerkin around my stomach and chest, thinking that it might stop a knife blade. Then I followed it with the shirt, pulling the pants on swiftly after. Before all this began, I had hidden my best sword with its belt and sheath beneath Tobias’ bed. I retrieved it and secured it around my waist.

My hand clasped the hilt and drew the blade. It rang a little and mirrored my face in the flat. A change of clothes wouldn’t be enough to travel unnoticed. My face was familiar to those in this area of the castle. It would have to be masked. I grasped a corner of the sheet Tobias had thrown on the ground earlier and ran it along the edge of my sword to start the cut. Then I ripped a swatch large enough to be tied around my face. Vibrations from the ground echoed up through my feet and hands. I turned to find Khoda behind me.

“How do you do that?” I asked, nearly frustrated because he startled me. “Do you just walk through walls?”

“Not exactly,” his lips pulled back in that lolled smile. “Where is Orius?”

“Here!” he called as he came through the door.

I quickly scribbled a note for Tobias, should he return in our absence: Gone with Him to find the truth. Will return by sunrise tomorrow. Orius is with us. – K

Khoda eyed the mask disapprovingly.

“You don’t like it?” I asked.

“Where we’re going, you won’t need it. Keep it in your pocket; you might want it before this is over.” He answered.

My eyes narrowed at what I thought was a contradiction, but I still loosed the knot and drew the fabric from my face. Folding it neatly, I settled it in my left pocket.

“Now, you’re going to open the door to the staircase behind the bed,” Khoda said. I nodded and walked to move the bed. “Not like that. You’ve used your ability to destroy something today; now you’ll use it to help.”

I looked at him dubiously. “I thought Nathan was going to teach me.”

“Who do you think taught Nathan?” His tone was the closest thing to annoyed that I have yet heard.

Inhaling deeply, I pushed my shoulders back. I bent my mind to the energy that flowed through the air around me. I lifted my hands.

“Gently,” Khoda growled.

I exhaled and pushed energy slowly around the bed posts. Too slowly – nothing happened. I tried pushing it quicker, but to no avail. Twice more I attempted to move the bed. Twice more I failed. Finally, irritated with my inability, I shoved the energy away from my fingertips. The bed scraped across the stone floor and clanged against the step that divided the room.

“Gently?” I turned to Khoda.

He laughed. “Perhaps we have different ideas of gentle.”

“Well,” I said as I approached the tapestry, “I’m not messing with the bolt.”

I tugged the tapestry back and opened the door. Stale, cold air coiled around our ankles and carried the last remnants of the witch’s laughter.