"WHAT?!!!" Rowan and Aliyah both looked to Kaden in shock, "Kaden! Why wouldn't you tell us you were Kaizen's brother?"

       "Never came up," he muttered, lifting his shoulders in a tiny shrug.

       Rowan stared at him, "But how... why were you banished if you're his brother? What happened? How did you end up in Irisanna?"

       "Even though I was a year older, they chose Kaden instead to become king," Kaizen sank down into his chair, the ice leaving his voice, "I was young and stupid, so I resented that. When our parents were killed in an attack, I seized the opportunity of chaos and fear to dethrone Kaden. I had always been great at inspiring the public into doing what I wanted. So Kaden was banished without complaint. I felt bad afterwards, especially once I found being king wasn't all riches and power. It was hard, depressing, and lonely." He leaned his head into his hand, another sigh escaping his lips.

       He looked back up to Rowan as he continued, "Then I found that Miraj had stolen millions of credits from us without anything to make up for the missing money. With less money in circulation, prices went up and financial stability went down. I wasn't pleased by my rule anymore. It was too much on one man's shoulders. Then I found the legend of the treasure hidden in an old Tiberian tomb of one of our first kings. Unfortunately, that was on Irisanni land. So I threatened war in desperation for the sightings of gold my spy had found there, and your father was begging for a treaty."

        "So you came to the dance," Rowan said.

        He nodded. "I'm not particularly social, so I found a hiding place to camp out until the king requested a chat. Imagine my surprise when I was suddenly joined by a flustered girl who was quite possibly the most enchanting I'd ever seen. And she sought adventure and danger, yet she was kind and polite at the same time. And the more I spoke to you... the less lonely I felt. Awkward silences in my normal conversations had been replaced by laughter. I have never felt able to talk as freely with anyone before. It was never that easy, that... enjoyable." His face reddened again as he looked away, "I could've danced with you all night. And I wanted to."

         "And once you came back?" Aliyah prompted.

        Kaizen laughed softly, "I couldn't stop thinking about her. Her disappearance worried me."

        Kaden shook his head, looking astounded, "When you said you danced with him, Rowan, I thought you meant like a two second thing! But he's head over heels in lo-"

        Kaizen elbowed him sharply in the gut, "Shut up! My feelings are my business. Besides, we must return to Irisanna. She probably doesn't want any more delays."

        Rowan gave a small nod. Kaizen cleared his throat, turning to Kaden, "I won't have you dragged unceremoniously from town this time. Thank you for protecting her on the way here."

        "Thanks, but she doesn't need my protection," Kaden grinned at Rowan, "She kicks butt pretty well by herself."

        "I'm not surprised. Well, I'll go gather my men. When I return, I'll bring food and drink. How does that sound?"

        "Yes, please!" Aliyah gasped, her eyes lighting up, "We haven't had decent food or drink in days!"

       Once the king was gone, Rowan leaned heavily into the wall. She admired the beauty of the simple room. It was simple but neat, the only things inside of it a cluttered desk, the black seat, and a frame on the wall. There was a huge window behind the desk, though she suspected the glass was too thick for any arrow to penetrate as a security measure.

       "So... king, huh?" She looked to Kaden, who dropped down into his brother's chair, kicking his muddy boots onto the table.

       He shrugged, folding his hands behind his head, "For a few days. Enough time to cause a depression," he added bitterly, "Kai was always right about me. I made a pretty bad king."

        "I think you'd do better now. You understand bargaining much better," Rowan's thoughts drifted to the woman selling the horses, "You seem like the kingly type, Prince Kaden."

        "You're just mocking me now."

        "You'd make a better king than I would queen," she shrugged, and Aliyah joined the conversation.

       "I think you'd make a great queen, Rowan," she sounded surprised that Rowan didn't agree, "You're smart, clever, talented, and you understand better than most people do. Plus you're a nice person in general."

        "You think?" Rowan felt a small smile tug on the corner of her mouth, "No... Quinn would be a much better queen than I would. We both know I don't stand a chance against her."

       Kaden sighed, rubbing his face with a dirty hand, "That's what I said about Kai. But I was king."

         "I don't want my sister to overthrow me," Rowan moaned, banging her head against the wall, "And I don't want to replace my father! He's an amazing king, and I could never do things like he does. I'd start a war with every country in existence! Just because I didn't know how to handle anything."

        "Have faith in yourself," Aliyah told her, "Your life will be much nicer."

       Rowan only sighed again, and the room was quiet for a moment. Then she asked, "Kaden, if you're Kaizen's brother, Mr. Hendrix isn't really your father, is he?"

        "Nah, he's a friend. He offered to let me pretend to be his son so I could get a job. I spent the first year of my banishment on the streets until he picked me up." Kaden drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair, and he noticed tiny scratches in the wood beneath his fingers. He nearly laughed. His brother's nervous tic seemed just as active as ever.

       "What?" Aliyah noticed his amusement.

        "When we were younger, my brother used to have this habit of drumming his fingers on something when he was nervous or stressed. This chair has tiny scratches in the arm as if he still does it a lot," Kaden smirked at the tiny crescents in the wood, "He really didn't know what he was getting into."

       "Are you glad you're not king anymore?" Rowan asked, looking up from the tiled floor she had been examining.

         "It was a lot of responsibility, but if we were at a steady financial state and I was offered, I wouldn't say no," Kaden said thoughtfully, "I liked the sense of power and the excitement. I screwed up at first, but it's a mistake I would never make again."

        "You would make a good king," Rowan gave him a small smile. He cracked a smile back.

At the castle...

       Adeline opened the letter her carrier bird had sent her, seeing the message written on the tiny scroll. Her eyes widened.

"King Alden and Queen Adeline—

       I have found your daughter and am preparing to bring her back to you not only for the reward money, but to once again discuss a treaty. Do not misunderstand me- my kingdom does not want a war more than yours does. I am just as desperate for a treaty that can be accepted as you are, though the demands of my kingdom are high for reasons known privately by us, and us alone. I pray I am still welcome in your company.

- Lord Kaizen Levar"

        Adeline gripped the paper roughly in her hands, fury mounting inside of her. The hunter had failed. And now the little witch was coming back. Not if she could stop it.

       Adeline tore the paper into tiny pieces, tossing them out the window. She watched the pieces flutter to the bushes below, then turned away in disgust. Then a plan came together in her mind. She smiled.

        Then she ran down the hall, bursting into the King's office with a gasp, "Alden!!"

         He leapt to his feet, "What's wrong, my dear? What's happened?"

         "I just received word," Adeline panted, feigning out of breath, "From one of the border guards. She says she spotted an armed battalion heading in our direction! Kaizen is coming to start a battle!"

        "Without a formal declaration? The bastard!!" The king shouted, "Guards!" Two armed men raced into the room, "Prepare for battle! The Tiberian's first battalion is coming now."

        Both the guards exchanged startled looks, "Yes, sir!" With a clatter of their armor, the men raced down the hallway.

        Alden looked to Adeline, who said, "We should use the catapults. That way none of our men will actually get injured or worse in combat."

        "And ready the catapults!" he called after the vanishing guards, "As fast as possible!"