"So you used magic on me, and because of your actions and the actions of some alleged other person, my Cora is dead," Demetri surmised. Pacing in front of the fire that Ziv started but was not stoking, Faith watched the sea hands shaking from behind the couch where she lay Ambros.

"I'm so sorry for the pain that I have caused you." I hung my head; I was waiting for the final blow where he sent me away to prison or killed me. Faith's head popped up at the sound of my voice. Stepping around the couch closer to where I was

"what convinced your father to send his daughters to a country that kills witches?" Ziv asked from the fireside

"Well, my father wasn't really concerned about that since this country has never actually killed a witch," I answered simply. Both of the men's heads turned to me with wide eyes. Faith took another step towards me.

"That can't be true," Demitri stated sternly. His pacing became more stuttered with stops where he would mutter under his breath and pull at his hair, "We have killed hundreds of witches."

"Well, actually, those were just women, humans that were accused, not given a fair trial, and executed. Normal people can't hold a witch if she doesn't want to be there," Faith piped in. She was now practically standing between Demetri and Myself. "We have proof of witches living here but no records of any of them being executed."

"what proof do you have" Ziv stood from the floor, glancing at Demetri, who finally stopped pacing but was now staring at Faith

"Pricilla married into a family that has had witches in the past, meaning there is a chance that her baby is a witch, and she feels quite confident that her little girl is a witch," the men simply stared at me.

"All your ladies in waiting are witches, and people think they are good options for marriage because of how close they are to the crown." Demetri was pale and starting to walk towards me again, but Faith's proximity slowed him.

"Yes, they are witches, but it makes sense that I would want people like me around in a new land where I can't be myself," I answered, my voice cracking a bit. When he finally got closer to me, I flinched again from his cold stare.

"what does any of this matter!" Faith shouted, forcing her way in between Demetri and myself. "None of our problems are about what we are. Someone in that castle is trying to end your line. That person, whoever they are, kept Cora from getting pregnant, attacked Estella, attempted kidnapping your baby, and has now sent an assassin after him. Is it not strange that the assassin arrived the same day as you, almost as if they didn't know where we were until you showed them."

"Are you accusing me of trying to kill my own son!" Demetri had rage in his eyes as he pressed closer to Faith, but all she did was square her shoulders

"you accused Estella of wanting to hurt him moments ago," it was a whisper. "you hurt her and claim to be the victim."

"calm everyone," Ziv stepped in between the snipping pair. "no one thinks that you are trying to kill your son; you would have had the opportunity to do so if you were, but someone high up in the court that you trust must be doing it or told the person who is."

"Who did you tell?" Faith questioned

"My family and the king guard, but I trust them." he started to turn to her but stopped himself and backed away.

"Were there any servants there?" I asked. "someone could have paid a servant to tell them where the baby was."

"I don't know. I don't really pay attention to servants," Demetri replied

"so let's operate under the assumption that someone paid a servant to spy," Ziv suggested. "that means that this is the only safe conversation we can move forward with."

"what does that even mean" Demetri questioned

"We can safely assume that everyone in this room wants to keep Ambros safe. We need a plan because running away will not work." Ziv sat Demitri and Faith down on different couches

"All my ladies in waiting can be trusted. They were not here when this plot started, so they can not be involved," I supplied

"Great, the country will be saved by ninny witches in leading strings," Demetri quipped. Faith nearly rose to her feet, presumably planning on showing him what a ninny witch in leading strings could do, but I put a hand on her leg.

"here is my plan," Ziv continued.