The City of Thieves
Queen Estelle read the report with an aching head. "So...All of Cybelline's property was destroyed in a fire caused by Lord Alistair. Who is a slave of the state."
The courtiers were afraid to look at Queen Estelle, whose rage was palatable. She pinched the bridge of her nose, "How many were lost?"
"Six thousand dwarves, all the pixies, and the black beast. It would be a hundred thousand gold bars."
Estelle's face looked as if she swallowed an entire lemon, she hissed at her advisor, "And you're sure you can't find the writ?"
Lord Jacen saw Cybelline in the crowd and bowed to her, "You're about to come into a fortune."
Cybelline blinked, "Huh?"
Jacen disliked how clueless this woman seemed, "It seems that there was a ministerial error, the writ that claimed Alistair as yours instead of the state's is not where to be found." He glanced at Killian, who was glowering at him. Jacen scratched his head, why did his lord look so mad, but he continued, "It seemed like all of the copies of that writ is no where to be found." Except he knew, since Lord Killian had made him get rid of the evidence.
Lord Evans sighed and pulled Jacen farther from Cybelline, in case Killian decided to throw his third in command out of the window.
Cybelline's eyes light up, "Great, thanks stranger!"
"We've met four times already!" Jacen hissed as she walked away.
Lord Evans tightened his grip on Lord Jacen's collar as he whispered to his friend "If I were you, I would try to become more invisible. There is a man whose jealousy might turn you into jam if you get too close to that woman."
Jacen looked at Killian and protested, "But I was an arm's length distance away!"
"From now, stay at least three arms lengths away. If you want to keep that arm." Lord Evans muttered as he turned to the proceedings.
Estelle sighed and she turned to Cybelline with a sweet smile, "My dear, it would cripple us if we gave you all that we owe."
"I find it hard to believe that. Seeing this is the City of Thieves. I've heard that you guys are pretty rich." Cybelline smiled prettily.
Estelle sniffled, "I could pay you back in a year. But to ensure that you get paid in full, I would have to ask you to stay here." She couldn't resist.
"I wouldn't mind going to you vaults and see if my men can find the money today." Killian suddenly spoke. If this dratted queen dared to delay like this then he would have to conquer the country.
"You know what." Queen Estelle said suddenly, her face pale, "I do believe i forgot about the extra hundred thousand gold bars I have lying about. You shall have the money immediately."
Killian turned to Cybelline, his face expectant. He saw a complicated look in her face.
"Did I do something wrong?" He asked, carefully studying her expression. Cybelline resisted the urge to curse, "Well I was angling for a six month pay back plan with a 50% compounding interesting rate."
Cybelline saw the confused look on Killian's face and patted his shoulder, "When you find a wife, make sure she handles the finances. Otherwise you will be destitute."
Killian was still stuck on the word wife when he realized that Cybelline was halfway down the hall. He turned to catch up with her, "I am very well off, but you're right, I might need help. Perhaps you would like to handle my finances?"
Lord Evans looked up at the ceiling, was his lord trying to woo for a wife or hire an accountant. What a long, and difficult road would this be.
Cybelline looked at him "Um..."
"I have estates and lands that could very well use a woman's touch." Killian continued, incorrectly reading the darkening expression on Cybelline's face, "You could live in any castle, buy all the jewels you want, and live a life of wealth and luxury. Anything you want, I will give you."
Cybelline sighed, "Who taught you to say all of that?"
Killian blinked, "How did you know?"
"Because those are the words of a haughty young lord promising his lovely, brainless noble lady the world. I've heard it in every drama and movie in some format. It's a tale as old as time." Cybelline looked him in the eyes, "Tell me who put you on this path. I promise you I won't break their legs."
Killian realized that he would never be able to resist Cybelline when she looked him in the eyes. Quickly, he pointed to Lord Jacen. Lord Jacen's face was rapidly turning plum at the betrayal. Since when did their lord learn to betray them? And so quickly.
Lord Evan gripped Jacen's shirt in the back and forced him into a bow, and then holding onto the young lord, said, "I forgot, we have to be somewhere that's not here. Somewhere far, far away."
He was risking his life to save Jacen, and if this young bastard ever spoke to Killian about love without adult supervision, he would personally throw him off a bridge. Lord Evan sighed, the road was hard enough with one idiot who did not understand love. But with two....the road seemed like a never-ending nightmare of despair.
Cybelline looked back at Killian "There are many in the world who would love the life you're describing. But not me. You're barking up the wrong tree."
Cybelline turned around, but before she could go, Killian quickly and gently grabbed a hold of her sleeve, "What should I be doing? Tell me."
Cybelline's hand was like a whisper of wind as she gently disengaged herself, "I don't know." She shrugged, "This isn't my forte either. I just know it's not what I want." She waved her hand, "I've got to go pack, see you in a few hours!" With that, she seemed to disappear before his eyes.
Killian looked down at the hand she touched. It brought him back to all those years ago when the girl held onto his hand. He smiled at his own stupidity, why would a girl who saw him at his worst and still liked him for him care about wealth? It was one of the reasons he had fell in love all those years ago with her. Cybelline wouldn't care if the man she loved was a beggar or a king.
He sighed, it seemed that he had much to learn about this woman. He just hoped that before he got it right, no one would steal her away.
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Londaros
Miri looked at the beautiful woman named Solana and felt a twinge of envy. True, she was now a young woman, but she could never become as beautiful as Solana.
Would Jasreth like someone like Solana? She wondered helplessly as her brain cast the shadow of the prince in her mind.
Solana stood up from the table, interrupting Miri's reverie. She looked at Ithos and Mirai, "You were right to bring him to me. There is too much power in his body."
She looked at Miri, "This little one, what did she use to transform?"
Ithos and Mirai looked at each other, "The First Fae of Fire's blood was transformed into a giant red flower."
Solana nodded, "There's your answer. The First Fae's transference of power is often an exchange of blood. Usually it's just a drop, but in her case, Solana's eyes showed pain, loss, and sadness, "It is a good thing that we got rid of a crazy First Fae."
"But where can we find the blood of a Light First Blood Fae?" Miri asked, worried.
"The castle." Solana answered, "I'm sure that the King would have some. It is an ingredient for potions."
Ithos made a face in distaste, "We'll have to steal it then."
Solana sighed, "Yes, it will not be easy. And we have to be fast, this child does not have much time"
Miri looked at Ryion, who seemed to be barely holding on. She looked at the faces of her mother and father who were weary from their trip and her other brothers who were already asleep.
They were in no condition to make a dangerous trip into a well fortified castle. She made up her mind.
-----
The Crown Prince Residence, Londaros
Jasreth was sitting beside the pools in the Garden of the Dods when he heard footsteps behind him. In the light summer breeze he looked at the purple blossoms of the trees in quiet contemplation.
That girl had appeared like a firefly in the middle of the night, her light quietly soft and brilliant as it warmed his soul. He felt a pang in his heart as he thought back to the moment, when he stared into her eyes.
He remembered the warmth in her eyes. But wait, it seemed like there was something strange about the girl. He could not remember what. He shook his head as if to clear it.
Suddenly Jasreth looked to the darkest corner of the garden, "Speak." He rolled a grape absently on the marble bench.
"My lord, all of Lady Celia and her bastard's forces have been killed. Your half-sister is under close supervision." A spy murmured. Jasreth nodded, "Has there been any movement on my brother's part? And my mother, the queen?"
"All is quiet."
Jasreth nodded, he trusted those two as far as he could throw them. There was no one in his life that did not want him dead. He smiled coldly, he would not lose. He dismissed the spy to continue to stare off into the distance.
A servant walked in nervously. Jasreth waved an impatient hand, "What is it?"
"My lord, there is a girl...at the gates who claimed to know you." The servant hesitant, "I would have made the girl go away but she presented this."
In his hands held a silver and diamond button of high craftsmanship and quality, with a sigil only for royalty.
Jasreth stood up suddenly, "Take me to her."
Miri stood in the silvery hall, the fires back lit the silver chandeliers and paintings. Blue light flooded through the windows and cast their shadows on her chestnut hair. She looked as if she had stepped out of a fairy tale, a nymph waiting to capture his heart.
When Jasreth came in she smiled at him. He breathe caught in his throat a little as he studied the smile.
Miri looked at him with a quizzical expression, "You seem better."
In his fine uniform of black and silver, he was as handsome as ever. She felt so short in his presence.
"Thanks to you." He stepped closer, "What is your name, fair maiden?"
"Miri." She tried to curtsey, but gave up halfway and bowed instead. Jasreth suppressed a laugh.
She hesitated, "I need something. A brother of mine is very sick. Well, he's not really my blood brother, but we grew up together. So I've always seen him as a brother" She tended to blather as she got nervous. A blush crept up her face.
Jasreth waited as she tried to think of the way to ask politely. She really was a funny girl, whatever she thought seemed to show itself on her face.
"I need a drop of the First Light Fae's blood." She said finally and waited.
Jasreth frowned, it was very precious and could potentially cause more trouble than it was worth. And for another man? He felt a pang of jealousy in his ribcage. Would she do this for him? He knew how risky this request would be. He must test her.
After a moment, he smiled, "I can help you."
The pure joy on Miri's face was almost blinding, but it faded as she heard the next part of his response.
Jasreth then asked, "What would you promise me?"