The royal courier bowed in deep reverence before King Prathios as Elithin materialized at the king's right side.

Lily studied every face in the crowd but not one held the obvious contempt and loathing as Elithin's. By comparison, she was certain that the looks she had received from Elithin were warm hugs.

She leaned closer for a better view. The king appeared unshaken. Then Elithin's voice boomed across the throne room. "State your name and purpose before King Prathios of Kai'lym."

The courier slowly rose and directed his answer at the king as if there weren't dozens upon dozens of ears waiting to hear him speak. "I am Relin, a humble servant of Thathis. I bring a message from my beloved Queen Sarjendra, The Winged Mother."

King Prathios remained silent but lifted a bony finger.

Elithin then spoke, "What is the message?"

"First, the Winged Mother offers you a token of friendship." Relin tossed back his cape like a folded wing and presented the staff on bended knee while holding it aloft for all to see. "This is the staff of Inarldris Verakis, the Mediator of Kings, your shared ancestor. A gift to you, mighty King Prathios."

The crowd inched closer to get a glimpse of the staff.

Lily recalled Inarldris Verakis from a story King Prathios had shared with her. In a time of war between Kai'lym, Thathis, and Lomnar, he had brokered a peace treaty between the three kingdoms. A peace that endured to this day. The staff was made of oak and at the base of the hooked end were encrusted a pearl for Lomnar, an onyx for Thathis, and a sapphire for Kai'lym.

The courier slowly stood and spoke, "Our Winged Mother also bids you, and your kin, an invitation to enjoy the hospitality of Thathis. With what message do I return to my queen?"

"What was the king's answer?"

It was late into the night and Lily sat across the desk from Landros, resting her hands on top of her cane. "He accepted Inarldris's staff, but ordered the courier to return tomorrow for his answer."

Surprisingly, when Lily had knocked on Landros' door earlier, he'd opened it. A clear sign that his strength was returning. The food tray was nowhere to be found, and Landros ushered her in with a begrudged rush.

She shifted her hands, feeling uneasy at sharing the news of the courier with the prince. As if she was betraying King Prathios. It was nothing that Landros wouldn't find out on his own the moment he set foot outside the room, she told herself. If there was one thing that Lily quickly learned from living in the palace, it was how fast gossip spread.

"It is curious," Landros continued, "that none of our scouts reported seeing the courier cross our borders. The sulkan they ride are unmistakable."

Lily's eyebrows bunched with a lack of recognition. "What is a sulkan? I've never seen one."

"No, I suppose you would not come across many with you being a human."

Lily dismissed his patronizing tone and waited for his explanation. There was a rustle of movement, then Lily heard a small thud in front of her.

"Give me your hand and use your Sight," Landros ordered.

Lily offered her hand into the air and felt Landros' light touch on her fingers. An open book lay sprawled on top of the desk before her.

"The way we favor barians as mounts, the people of Thathis favor sulkans, or feathered serpents." Landros motioned to the colorful illustration on the open book. "Sulkans can fly for great distances at alarming speeds."

She leaned in closer with excitement. "That's amazing!" The page was a riot of color as a powerful scaled and feathered serpent shrieked. Its hooked snout was filled with numerous fangs and its wings spread wide across the page. Having seen the courier, she realized his attire resembled the sulkan. "Have you ever ridden one?"

Landros released her hand and huffed, "I have no interest in flying."

"Then for your sake, perhaps the king won't send you as an envoy to Thathis." She paused when she realized that he'd be gone. Would she miss him? She eased back, returned her hand to her cane, and then cleared her throat. "What do you think will be his response?" Lily ventured, wondering if the prince would find her worthy to share his thoughts on the matter.

"I am not certain." He mulled. "I wonder if it is friendship or absolution for my uncle's death that Queen Sarjendra seeks."

"I know it is not my place to ask, but how did he die?" She asked.

Lily heard Landros move about the room, probably to return the book to its origin. But it did not cover the deep sigh he emitted. "It was a duel for the queen's honor. About twelve years before, the queen had proposed an alliance through marriage. Theolios refused and married Ysel instead. For love." He scoffed.

She heard the mockery in his voice, but what astonished her was the thought of a young Duchess Ysel being affectionate and in love. The same woman who had openly threatened her. That woman was cold and ruthless. The two versions were nothing alike.

"He returned to Thathis," Landros continued, "against my grandsire's wish, thinking only he could broker a better trade treaty. Instead, he was challenged to a duel and was killed." His voice turned low. "My grandsire could do nothing but mourn another son."

Lily gasped. Another son? Then that meant Landros' father had died first, leaving him fatherless at a younger age than Valdor. Her heart doubled in pain. They all shared the same loss.

"But enough of that. What else happened at the court?" It appeared that Landros wanted to move past any personal insight she might have gleaned.

"Nothing. The king retired after that." Nerves knotted in her stomach. "I don't think anyone should go to Thathis. It's not safe."

"Whether it is safe or not, it does not matter."

"So, you think he should accept? What if he does send you?" Lily asked anxiously.

"I am the king's to command. He will do what is best for Kai'lym." Landros' voice was steady.

The thought of Valdor, Thia, and Landros in danger sickened Lily, and she tightened her grasp on the cane. "Ouch!" A splinter wedged itself deep into her palm. As she lifted her hand to her lips, Landros took hold of it. Her Sight bloomed at his touch, crisp and unbidden.

Landros stood beside her, holding her hand up for his inspection. Had he been standing by her side all this time? She saw him cup her hand in one of his as deft fingers glided across her palm, massaging the tender flesh between her thumb and finger. Gently, he tugged at the welt. A dim shimmering light winked in and out of existence from Landros' fingertips. The splinter was gone.

"Is that better?" He asked.

Lily blinked, exhaling a breath she had not known she was holding. She blinked again, stunned. "Uhm, yes," she answered. He'd spent what little strength he had on healing her. For such an insignificant wound. Her eyes went to their hands in disbelief. "Why did you do that? You shouldn't have done it. You need your strength."

"My strength is much recovered. And that," he gestured with her hand still in his, "required less than a thought of effort."

She stood and saw past him, to the room where he slept and the small stand where the empty food tray rested. "You ate today." She smiled.

Landros frowned. "I had hoped that if you saw the tray gone, you'd leave me alone, but I see now that you are an unabashedly stubborn human."

Lily laughed, "I prefer the word persistent."

"You should be rid of that stick."

"This stick," she tapped it on the floor, "is my means of getting around by myself. I couldn't part with it." She turned to the door, "Thank you." Lily lifted her hand from his, darkness descended on her without his touch. "I should leave and let you settle for tomorrow if you are well enough."

"No, wait." Landros clasped her hand, preventing her from leaving. "The air is stale here and I could use a walk. I'll escort you to your chamber."

"Very well then." She conceded, but added a request. "As long as you signal to me your return."

"I suppose I must, if only out of fear that you'll return to distrub my rest." Landros guided Lily out the door with her hand in his but kept her at arm's length. He was rigid and formal as they walked up the corridor by the pale light emanating from the glow spheres on the wall.

Lily didn't know whether to giggle nervously or be offended. Instead, she chose to put him out of his misery. "You needn't worry. I can do this by myself," she said and released his hand. Truth be told, she felt just as awkward.

"Why is it so hard for you to accept help?" He threw back the very words she had used against him.

She stopped and rather than answer him, held out her pinky finger down by her side. An admission of a sort, she waited.

Slowly, his finger interlocked with hers. Lily's pulse raced and her cheeks felt flushed as they walked once again. She couldn't think of a topic or comment for conversation.

They rounded the corner and walked in silence until Landros asked, "What will you do once you are healed? Will you leave then?"

"The king has requested my presence for the time being." Technically not a lie, since she was forced to be his spy. The thought made her uncomfortable. Prathios will surely call her to his side soon. What will she tell him? Everything was tangling up in knots upon knots. "I shall remain for as long as he wishes," she answered. They were almost at her door.

"Do you stay for him," Landros' sharp eyes turned on her, "or for my cousin?"

"I don't understand." She was unprepared for the direction his questions had taken. "What do you mean?"

"What is it that Valdor wants from you?" He probed.

Her brows furrowed and she shook her head. "Valdor doesn't want anything from me."

"Of course, he does. Why else would he wish to make you his ward?"

This again, she groaned inwardly. "I don't know. Maybe because he is kind and good." Lily stopped as they reached her door. "Or maybe it's because he wishes to honor Nim, an elf he respected and admired." She opened the door because she couldn't meet his gaze any longer. "Believe me, I have nothing to offer."

"You care for him." He gave her a brief nod, took a step back and unlocked his hold from her. "Until morn."

"Until morn." She called out in farewell to the empty hall. Confused, Lily closed the door and slumped unto her bed, then waited for three knocks that never came.

A/N: Not the chapter I intended to write, but I hope you enjoyed it. Sorry for the awful wait.