'Mor will help you dress,' he told her once he was able to look away from her.

He had said too much. Frightened her. Averting his eyes, he moved off to wait by the chamber door. He had not taken a step before her hand shot out to grab a fistful of his tunic, panic bright in her golden eyes.

'What will they do to you?' she asked, breathless, almost as though she cared for his safety. Which of course she did not. Any concern now was for her own safety. He knew this.

'Disloyalty to Leoth is punishable by exile,' he advised. Exile, of course, would in time lead to death, but she did not require to know this information at present.

'Disloyalty to Leoth?' she frowned, puzzled.

'There is no greater crime in the eyes of the realm.'

'How could they accuse you of such a thing? What act have you committed that has been disloyal to your realm?'

He had to suppress the smile at her innocence. 'I suppose we shall find out soon enough.'

'Then they will see the truth of it. The High Visier will confirm the truth of it, surely.' The pitch of her voice was incredulous, something like righteous anger shaking her small frame.

'Perhaps. But to see one truth, she must see all truths.'

She opened her mouth to rage at him, before the meaning met her thought. She closed her mouth again.

'Leothine are not known for their patience, princess. We would do well not to anger our guard.' He moved to leave her.

She blinked. 'Then... you believe me?' She whispered. Should he tell her that he had known the truth from the moment the King uttered the accusation, perhaps even before. Perhaps he had known the truth the moment she swallowed her scream in the palace throne room, the moment her beloved had fallen to the floor to drown in his own blood.

'Dress, quickly,' he told her, deciding to ignore the question. 'And I suggest you do not reveal your identity until I tell you it is safe to do so, do you understand?'

She nodded. 'I understand.'

Downstairs, Vala stood beneath the great moon window, studying her claws, her body decorated with the weapons of The Ebon Guard. She turned when she heard him descend, her eyes cloaked of all feeling, her stance impassive. Paeris stood beside her, marginally taller, more officious, the scroll held between his large hands. Behind him he scented Fara's fear, her sweet blood rushing wildly through her veins, her heart beating furiously in her chest.

'Theodan,' Paeris greeted him, informally as his decorated head refused to lower with the required show of respect. Theodan may have lost his right to bear sword and spoil, but until he was found guilty, he was still afforded the respect befitting the Commander of the Realm. He hardened.

'It is Commander until the council strips me of the title. You will read the edict,' Theodan ordered. Val came forward, to stand by Paeris, shoulders pulled back and dark eyes soft. Too soft.

'Commander,' he began. 'You are requested by the ruling council to surrender your sword and spoil, lest it shall be removed from your possession. After which are ordered to accompany us to The Ebon Reach, where you will answer before the council, the charges cited within.'

'And the charges, Paeris?' Theodan asked. 'I am permitted to hear them am I not?'

Paeris, stony-faced yet faintly smug, unrolled the thick scroll and spoke tonelessly in Leoth, 'The 1st Charge, as writ within: The desertion of your command as honoured you by The Dark One and his realm.' His eyes skipped over his shoulder where the Princess stood. 2nd charge as writ within: Failure to present your spoil to the council for census purposes, and 3rd charge as writ within: the act of bringing an Azurian female of age into Leoth during The Plenary without the proper approval by the council.'

'Gods Paeris, you could at least sound excited by my current predicament,' Theodan sighed 'You have waited long enough for it, have you not? I grant you permission to enjoy the moment. Now as you well know, you must formally request the surrender of my sword and spoil. For I will not hand my most treasured possession to you willingly.'

Beside him, Vala bit back a smile, before her eyes moving fleeting to Fara. She stood tense, Mor's hands comfortingly about her shoulders, the sight of her in his mother's gown still unsettling him. It pulled at something familiar and almost known, as though it was not the first time he had seen her in it though of course it was. The moment she'd emerged from the chamber cloaked in green velvet trimmed with gold, his heart had staggered slightly from the shock of it.

Increasingly irked, Paeris requested the surrender of the sword, which Vala took from him carefully. He himself could see the apology clear in the depths of her eyes as she affixed it to the front of her battle harness. Then he requested the surrender of his spoil, something Theodan would have to verbally renounce, or the collar would still bind her to his will.

In the human tongue, Theodan gave his consent, skirting his eyes to Fara as he spoke. 'I surrender my spoil to the protection of the realm until the council returns her to me.' Fara gave no reaction visible reaction to his words, keeping her expression passive, her eyes slightly lowered, her small hands clasped tightly in front of her.

'We accept. She is forthwith under the realm's protection,' Paeris announced, 'until her rights as a free citizen of Leoth are granted, or until her ownership is returned to you.'

Paeris gestured for Vala to assume the right of guard, which she did immediately by moving toward her, offering Mor a friendly look as she did so. 'Your guard intends you no harm, female,' Paeris continued. 'The realm extends its protection to you and bids you welcome under the gaze of The Dark One.'

Fara glanced cautiously towards Theodan who gave her a single nod of reassurance. 'You must accept the vow of safekeeping,' he told her. 'For the transfer of ownership to be complete.'

She looked like she may argue with him, like she may rage and scream and demand to know who these beasts thought they were claiming and renouncing her as though she were not a princess of the realm but a piece of discarded property - he could see it in the embers of her eyes. But she did not. Instead, she swallowed the swell of pride he knew must be filling her body and looked Paeris in the eye.

'I accept the protection of Leoth, Lord Paeris,' said Fara in a clear voice.

Paeris sniffed, a small arrogant noise. 'I am no Lord, female. I am a councillor of the realm.'

'Forgive me, councillor, I meant no disrespect,' said Fara timidly, eyes lowering. 'I am unfamiliar with your ranks here in Leoth.'

'Then the Commander should have advised you of them properly,' he sniped, throwing a look of accusation at Theodan. 'We have no ranks here in Leoth. No nobility, nor royalty. We are addressed merely by our post and given name, alone. I am Councillor Paeris.'

Theodan had to bite back a growl at the tone he deemed appropriate to use in his home and on who was, for all intents and purposes, his female.

'I see,' she nodded. 'Then I shall endeavour to keep up with the way of things here in your realm.'

Paeris, nodded, 'Quite.' He smiled tightly at her before returning his hard stare to Theodan. 'Now, we must haste. The council has been summoned and gather forthwith.'

He followed Paeris outside, Val a few steps behind with the Princess, and was brought momentarily to a stop. He counted sixteen Leoth in full battle dress. Their swords sheathed, they sat astride their Varveh in defence formation before the entrance to his home. In truth, he had not expected such a legion. Which meant they considered it possible he might resist this summons. He cast a glance at Val, for by the colour of their tunics they were her men, and raised an eyebrow. She offered a small shrug before turning from him to lead Fara towards Idura who held the centre of the formation with pride. Vala's varveh was second only to Nux in size and beauty, her great white wings were partly spread, waiting, alert, and her pleated mane entwined with silver like her rider's.

'I will ride Nux to The reach,' he told Paeris firmly. He would not be bound to another Leoth's Varveh like a prisoner. Not yet in any case.

Paeris studied him, charcoal eyes filled with malevolence and distrust. Theodan knew then that it was he who had insisted on the size of the legion who had come here. For not only did Paeris distrust him, but the size of the guard would also ensure news of his arrest would reach as many of the houses as possible.

'You will be surrounded on all sides. Should you attempt to break from your position even slightly, I will have you shot down with an arrow of Acassis,' Paeris warned. 'Every man is armed with them.'

Theodan turned to take in each of the men one by one and nodded slowly. 'And tell me, councillor,' he brought his eyes back to Paeris. 'How long have you yearned for such an end for me?'

'Tempt me not old friend, for today you are not the commander of our army, nor the great warrior of our realm. Today you are a traitor and a prisoner and I shall see you held to account for your crimes.'

A sharp chill arced down Theodan's spine. He was guilty of no crime. Not yet. But indeed who was he if not the Commander of the Leoth army? Who was he if not the great warrior of the realm? Who was he without those titles that had become to him like a second skin? The chill did not subside the longer he stared at Paeris.

In fact, as he did a memory swam forefront of his mind, distinct to his mind as a memory and not a vision, as it was accompanied by smell and sound and all the fragile solidity that came with a recollection that was his own.

A small Leoth - no more than nine or ten namedays though his size suggested fewer - with arms as thin as sticks and a back scarred with fleshy pink burns, hitting the thick base of a large tree with a child's sword. His swing was weak, his balance unsteady, and more than once as he struck the bark the sword fell from his grip into the thick grass. He bent to pick it and began practising again. Altering his grip a little, changing his stance a little, eyes and mouth hard with determination. For hours each day, he would practice the same swing against the same tree, his arms filling out a little more over time, his stance and cross becoming more accurate with it. He would receive no lessons from his betters, would accept no criticism of his attempts, and insisted on training alone in the wood through the night.

Paeris had never lost that air of determination. For it had been hammered into him as a young Leothine. He had been forged by it. Forged from it. Like Leoth steel.

When it was clear that he would still never be a great warrior, a formidable soldier, he had decided to become something else. An indispensable member of the ruling council. Cunning and self-serving in the extreme. This was his second skin.

Theodan suspected he hated him for he was all the things he was not. All the things he had failed to become. Skilled in battle, strong, favoured, well-regarded. To witness these things stripped away from Theodan one by one would be a great pleasure for Paeris.

'Today I am nought but accused, Paeris, but tomorrow I may just as easily be the pardoned.' Theodan kept his voice clear and with a modicum of respect for the position the Leoth in front of him held. 'But you have my word - a word that these men here gathered, and you yourself can attest to - that I come willingly before the council. There will be no need for arrows today, old friend.'

A long pause filled the air as Paeris tried to control his silent rage. After a long moment, he bit out his command.

'Fetch the Commander's Varveh. Ensure no weapons are hidden in the saddle and let him mount it.' Paeris held Theodan's eye as one of Val's men slipped down from his own beast to do as bid, casting a furtive look to Theodan as he passed. Respect held true in the young soldier's eyes and Theodan acknowledged it with a half nod.

Paeris spun on his heel and retreated towards his own Varveh, pulling himself up with a small degree of effort. When Nux was brought before him, he swung up onto her saddle with and harnessed himself in, his normally swift fingers slowing with the chill of unease that had settled over him.

Across the forecourt, he eyed Fara, secured behind Vala in the saddle instead of in front, the deep green of his mother's dress against the dove white wing of the Varveh again pulling at something within him, something cloaked in shadow that did not want to be found. The Princess turned her head, as though she could sense his gaze on her to reveal a fearful look of disquiet on her gentle features. She looked so small pressed against Vala's larger form. He gave her a nod of reassurance. Wishing he could tell her again that he would protect her. Wishing he could tell her that no matter what happened now, he would ensure his safety with all that he had. He no longer felt a choice in the matter, it simply was.

He pulled on Nux's rein and waited for Vala to command the men forward into their positions. She moved to take the front, a short distance ahead of Theodan, before ordering the rest fall into position behind her. Three Leoth positioned themselves behind Vala and the Princess before Theodan was surrounded by five Leoth soldiers on either side. The last three made up the rear guard, closing ranks around him in the centre. Once in the air, Paeris would lead the group from above.

He saw Fara drop her head down, fingers clutching hard at the harness across Vala's back, body frozen with fear. They had not given her any mephyr, and so he could only hope this second journey would not be too unsettling. He needed her strong and sentient before the council. The distance at least to The Reach was not far.

Vala glanced over her shoulder at him and gave a purposeful look which served to settle him. He nodded once at her and she faced the front.

'Aloyttia!' Vala called, charging forward. Embark. The men moved forward as a unit, clearly well trained in this kind of guard flight. They would take to the air at Teredia's edge, flying over the northerly passage of Whisperwood towards the Xhor Wall, and then east towards the citadel. Then his fate would be clear. Pardon or Exile.

As Nux galloped at speed towards Teredia's edge he considered sending a silent prayer to The Dark One. Something he had never done before, something he had sworn to Fara was naive and futile. But as they lifted up into the air, and the green of Fara's dress whipped out behind her, it was his mother's face he thought of. It was his mother he asked for forgiveness for all that he had done, and for all that he must do now.