Lord Alistair watched as the wolves he called pets charged at him. Above the bird he had kept in captivity all these years now seemed intent on eating him.

He threw up a barrier of earth, the wolves howled in pain. Cybelline sat on the bird's head calmly, occasionally patting the bird to let it know to let out a flame spout or two on the lord. Below the battle raged, the wolves broke through the barriers twice.

He glared up at the youth sitting calmly above, "What are you waiting for? If you're going to kill me, be quick about it!"

Cybelline was distracted from her daydream, "What? Oh? I was waiting for you to get to perfect roasting temperature. I don't want to my bird to eat raw meat."

Alistair's barrier wavered as he felt his blood pressure rise. Cybelline patted the bird's head, "Take me down."

They flew to the ground. The wolves, seeing the large black bird, all scuttled away from the man.

Alastair was no longer the well dressed, haughty owner of a gambling house. His clothes were disheveled, his face had a few scratches, and there were several tears on his robes. He was breathing heavily from the exertion.

"What do you want?"

Cybelline smiled, "The satisfaction of watching you struggle."

"You bastard."

"Thank you." Cybelline smiled sweetly, "Now, onto the terms."

She turned serious, "For starters, you're going to give me everything you own. This gambling house, the dwarves, this...chicken" She patted the giant vulture on the head.

Alastair looked at her incredulously, "What?" He thought this little brat would demand money, or from him not to compete for Philip's throne. But this.

"Impossible." Alastair spat out.

"Eat him." Cybelline said to the giant bird.

"Maybe there's room to negotiate." Alastair said quickly. Cybelline smiled but shook her head, "It's either become dinner or give me everything you own."

"This is robbery!" Alastair spluttered, "I am a noble of high importance! No one would agree to this, I'll bring it up to my queen if I have to!" His lips curved into a cruel smile of self importance, "I am one of her favorites. I'll make sure she take your head for this."

"This is robbery." Cybelline admitted, "A bet is a bet, and you've lost. Don't be such a ninny."

Suddenly, a peal of laughter like bells rang out, and a young woman floated down, her emine cloak encircling her, as she landed gently on the earth. Hair the color of ripened wheat woven into an intricate and delicate crown set on a heart shaped face, looked at the two with a half quizzical smile.

Alastair blinked and almost laughed with joy, "My Queen Estelle! Help me! I beg for your mercy."

Estelle looked at Alastair, "My noble lord, surely you are mistaken. I am not here to clean up the mess you made." She smiled at Cybelline, "Hello. I am the Queen of the Spies. Estelle."

Hearing this, people on the platform began to bend the kneel and bow to their young queen. The only people left standing was the young general whom no one dared to correct. And Cybelline.

Alastair would not have lasted so long with the support from the Queen of the spies. Now, he was sure she was in his court, "My queen, this brat." He spat, "Has threatened my life."

Estelle waved a hand, "I think this young man has been far, far too reasonable."

"I—Hah?" Alastair's voice seemed to be caught midway, he looked as if a toad had crawled into this mouth. She smiled warmly at Cybelline, "Lord Alastair is...was one of my favorites, but I think I have found a new friend." Cybelline felt the hair on the back of her neck raise slightly.

Estelle turned and looked up, she saw that her soldiers and surrounded the compound, "I hereby declare young...what's your name?"

"Cyrus"

Estelle nodded with satisfaction, "Young Cyrus you have won my approval, you are declared winner of this little bet."

The frown on Killian's face deepened. Too many coincidences now. He looked at the pearls again. There were more and more mysteries piling up the closer he got to the youth.

Estelle continued, "I now revoke Lord Alastair's nobility and gift it to this young lord. Furthermore, he will now be able to compete in this year's festival!"

She looked down at Alastair, who's face had gone ashen, "Did you think that just because I'm young that I don't know everything you've done? I know that you've been selling power crystals without the throne's approval. Alastair, I hereby demote you to serf, and gift you to the new lord."

In her hand, appeared a small bracelet. Alastair's face turned even whiter as he saw what the queen held. "No!" He fell to his knees, "My queen, have mercy!"

"You should have thought of that, when you were stealing from the crown." Estelle said and tossed it at him. THe marking on the bracelet burned red as it clamped onto Alastair's wrist, the iron fused onto the man's skin. He screamed as its metal claws sank deep into his bones.

"A gift in greeting." Estelle said sweetly as she handed a diamond key with the same intricate markings as was on the bracelet.

"If he disobeys any of your commands, you can cause unimaginable pain with this." Estelle tapped the marking, and the man screamed even louder.

Cybelline frowned, "I don't want a slave." Estelle shrugged, "Then I'll kill him. I have no need of him anymore. When he swore loyalty to me long ago he should have known the consequences of disobeying me." Her eyes were merciless, "Now his life will no longer be his own. He won't even be able to die without your permission."

Cybelline stared at the heap of silk on the ground, "You didn't have to do that."

Estelle's smile was bright and innocent, "Yes I did. No one can question the power of a sovereign and get away with it. This is the price."

Cybelline smiled too, "This is why I don't like royalty. You think of everyone as things."

Estelle's smile seemed frozen, and then, she threw her head back and laughed, "You're the first to say that to my face." She gave a meaningful look at Cybelline, "I like you, Lord Cyrus. I hope to see you at my table for the feast... and perhaps even later in my bedchamber." With that, she flew back up into the air and landed lightly on the platform.

Cybelline opened her mouth and almost told the queen that she didn't prefer females. But it was too late.

Alastair opened his eyes and coughed, he looked at his wrist and smiled bitterly. He had gambled and lost everything. Never had he thought that he would be caught.

Cybelline looked at the silk heap on the ground, "Looks like I'm stuck with you. Go clean yourself up and close the gambling house for the day. I have a few things to do, once I'm done, I'll come find you."

Alastair nodded and sat there, his eyes staring at nothing as Cybelline walked away.

Phillip greeted Cybelline with a congratulatory pat on the back, "Well done, young...no, Lord Cyrus." He grinned, "So, you've met Estelle."

"You're related to her?" Cybelline asked. Phillip shook his head, "The Queen of Spies and Prince of Thieves traditionally come from different Noble houses. Every six years or so, Noble youths from ages 10 and up can participate in a battle for the throne. Estelle and I won and have kept our thones the last few years. She became Queen of the spies and I became Prince of thieves." He shrugged, "She hates me. We come from two houses that have warred for centuries."

Cybelline thought back to the smiling young woman, "I can see why she won the throne."

Phillip chuckled, "I'm not as cold blooded." He threw an arm around her shoulders, "But enough about that, I have to get you back to Ithos. We have to explain to that old man how you've managed to infinitely increased the family profits in a day."

Cybelline smiled, "I'm sure he'll be happy to hear." She shrugged off the arm, "Phillip, I don't like people who touch me without my permission."

Phillip grinned and took his hands away, "Yes, my lord."

They walked towards the entrance, but stopped as they saw Killian stood there. He stared at Cybelline, "Cyrus."

Cybelline frowned, "Yes?"

Killian walked another step forward. His eyes intent on the startling green eyes of his dreams and waking moments. Cybelline watched him warily.

"I wish to speak to you, privately." Killian said, he must learn more of this youth, even if it ends with nothing.

Too many times had he hoped, too many times he had gone to the end of the world for the glimmer of hope. He was afraid that the person he searched for was lost to him forever. Nothing more than a whisper of a dream that slept in the back of his mind.

"I don't think we're on speaking terms, my lord." Cybelline said with a cool, distant smile, "As I've told you, we have nothing to talk about."

He held out the string of pearls, "I think we do."

Cybelline cursed inwardly, did he know that she was the thief who had sneaked into the palace? But she looked so different now. With even more determination to avoid this man at all costs, she walked past him.

He reached out to stop her...but she sidestepped his arm. Unfortunately for Cybelline, there was an injury on her leg that had been caused by the vulture. She winced as she felt her leg give out slightly.

Phillip reached for her, but was not as quick as Killian.

He lunged for her and grabbed the slender youth.

Silence. Stunned silence ensued. Cybelline felt his warm breath tickling her cheek as she blinked, a little uncomprehendingly. She was held up by an arm at her shoulder and also... she looked down.

On her bound breast, a large hand rested there.

Killian, having never touched a woman, did not realize what he had done. It seemed like the youth had some padding there, but he thought nothing of it.

Cybelline had skin that was thicker than the palace wall, but it being her first time that a man had ever touched her like that...she blinked.

Large green eyes stared at him, Killian could not read all the emotions in there.

Suddenly, Cybelline moved.

The street was unusually busy for the day, as the festival was happening soon. People had heard the commotion of the gambling house and had gathered outside. No one expected what happened next.

BOOM.

People looked up in time to see a man come flying out of the roof. Wood fragments had exploded around him as he was tossed high into the sky.

Flipping through the air, he landed lightly on a rooftop. Two figures ran outside and looked for their master.

Cybelline shook her fist, it hurt when she'd punch the upstart general, she looked down at the defeated Lord Alistair.

"Fix the roof while I'm gone? And charge it to Lord Killian's name please."