Author's Note: This chapter is dedicated to SeriousMoonlight (aka: Liz) for encouraging me and cheering me on as I create this story. She is a great friend and an awesome writer. Please check out her works "Something Lost" (completed) and "Something Found" (in-progress). You won't be disappointed.

            The next day, Eva was less than thrilled to find herself in one of the palace’s many studies enduring the princess’s lessons on history, civics, arithmetic, reading, etiquette, and everything in between. Normally, she would have enjoyed most of these topics, but the information being taught was either far too remedial or completely irrelevant to her. So, she occupied herself by leaning against a window and staring down at the busy city below. With her forehead pressed to the thick glass, she reveled in its cool touch while allowing her mind to wander freely.

            From time to time, parts of the instructor’s lesson would catch her attention and his dry voice would pull her wayward thoughts back to the small room with its towering bookcases and dark woodwork, but very quickly, she would disassociate herself from the discussion and once again resume her daydreams. After spending the better half of the morning this way, though, Eva was suddenly and firmly jerked back to reality by an unforeseen turn of teaching. Her eyes snapped away from the scene below her to the two other people in the room as their words registered in her ears.

            “…and since the Royals and Warriors are not allowed to intermarry, they either marry someone within their own division or from that of the Common.”

            “Excuse me, professor,” Nadia interrupted, “but why can’t they intermarry?”

            Looking up from his instructional books, the graying teacher appeared quite surprised at her question. “Well, it is forbidden,” he faltered as he tried to come up with a satisfactory explanation. “First King Alros decreed two centuries ago that the bloodlines, and consequently the magics, between the Royals and Warriors could not be blended, in order to preserve the balance of power. The faeries were very careful to distribute the magic between the two groups so that they would be fairly equal. Intermarrying, however, would potentially allow one person to posses both sides of the magic and, thus, give him or her more power over everyone else. Such an event could spark an act of tyranny or, even worse, civil war!”

            “Oh,” came Nadia’s soft reply as she lowered her head and processed the information. After a couple of moments, she again looked up at the instructor questioningly. “Has anyone ever gone against the decree?”

            “No,” he replied confidently.

            The rest of their words blurred together in the background as Eva turned away and clenched her eyes shut. Tightening her jaw, she fought against the guilt and shame rising in her chest, the pressure of the two weighty emotions making it difficult to breathe properly. The unspoken accusations raced around her mind, chasing her doubts and worries in a never-ending circle that made her feel lightheaded. For a time, she just stood there and allowed all the familiar emotions to roll over her like waves crashing against a rock before firmly shutting the thoughts off and locking them away in an iron-clad section of her heart.

            No. I won't allow myself any more pity. What's done is done. I was conceived; I was born; I exist. No one can change that, but I will not become a tyrant or be the cause of civil war. No one will know what I am—who I am.

            From the back of her mind, a single whisper arose to remind her, William knows.

            Eva visibly winced. Yes, William knows. She sighed and pressed her forehead and palms against the windowpane again. I can only hope our friendship is enough to convince him to keep that knowledge to himself.

            “Eva?” a young voice called from behind her.

            “Yes, Nadia?” she answered while spinning around to face the speaker.

            “Are you ready for lunch? We're done with the lesson.”

            “Lunch sounds great.”

            “Let's go, then!” Unaware of her guardian's inner turmoil only a moment before, Nadia happily grabbed Eva by the hand and began leading her to the kitchen.

            As they exited the study, Allister and the rest of the guard snapped to attention and fell into formation. Together, the eight of them made the trek to the large kitchen and gathered around the long, rough-hewn table situated at one end of the bustling room. Nadia had barely seated herself at the head of the table and placed her folded hands in her lap before a robust woman in a flour-dusted apron approached with a beaming smile.

            “Ah, it's good to see ya on this fine day, Princess. I hope that teacher of yers hasn't been pushing ya too hard today. If he has, just say the word and I'll slip a little valerian root into his tea next time and he'll be sleeping like a baby the rest of the afternoon.”

            The little princess let out a giggle. “Thank you, Celia, but he's been fine. We've just been going over the laws this morning. I'll keep your offer in mind, though, especially if I have a test.”

            “Very well, then. Oh, but I'll bet ya didn't come here to talk about yer lessons. You came to fill yer stomach. Well, what would ya like? I have some beef stew over the fire now and just pulled some fresh bread out of the oven, or I could make ya eggs with a slice of ham.”

            “The stew sounds nice. May I have an extra slice of bread too?”

            “Course ya can have an extra slice!” Celia exclaimed in amusement while wiping her hands on her apron. “That's what I made it fer. Does stew sound good for the rest of ya?” she asked to the others at the table, and each one eagerly answered in the affirmative. “Right then. I'll have it to ya in a moment.”

            True to her word, Celia wasted no time in setting the steaming bowls of stew before them. Another woman brought two plates piled high with slices of bread and a large slab of butter to the table as well. Everyone immediately set in on the prepared food. Some, mostly the men, used their slices of bread for dipping and sopping up the stew while the others, especially Kara and Eva, preferred to simply bite off a piece of bread and then spoon up the stew. Out of the corner of her eye, Eva watched as Nadia carefully tore off small pieces of her bread and mixed them in with the hearty stew before eating it all together with the meat and vegetables.

            The meal was satisfying to say the least, and after emptying their bowls, or several bowls in Bryce's case, the group thanked Celia and the rest of the staff profusely before heading to Nadia's next lesson. While the first half of the princess's day was dedicated to learning from books and scrolls, the second half was focused on working with magic. Very similar to that of the Warriors' way of training, the Royals' training was broken into three levels. Both divisions spent the first level, from ages five to ten, mastering the elemental part of their magic. The second level, ages ten to fifteen, was spent practicing combat and learning to use weapons, the Royals more for self-defense purposes than actual battle. Only the last level with the fifteen to twenty-year-olds was different between the two divisions. The Royals spent this time practicing and perfecting their ability to heal, and the Warriors used this time learning how to merge with the animals.

            A small training ground had been created within the palace grounds especially for the Royals’ elemental teaching. It was situated behind the garden were Eva had first met the king and queen the morning before and at the farthest corner of the grounds, in order to prevent any accidental damage to the palace itself. Eva found that this period of instruction appealed much more to her and was more successful at holding her interest than the dull reciting of information had been earlier. Standing off to one side of the crude ring under a shade tree with arms folded across her chest, Eva watched with rapt attention as a Warrior she was unfamiliar with worked with the princess to manipulate a large stone in the center. From what she could tell, the goal was for Nadia to cause the stone, which was about two hands' width in diameter, to rise into the air and then fly into a target set up on the eastern edge of the ring.

            With eyebrows drawn together in firm concentration and her jaw set with determination, the little princess stomped the ground forcefully and raised her right palm up toward the sky. The moderately sized stone complied with her intentions and rose from the ground in tandem with her hand. Once the rock reached about head level, Nadia brought her arm back and then punched it forward violently. The force of her action launched the object through the air with impressive speed toward the target, but it sailed far left of its intended course.

            Eva flicked her gaze to Nadia's face to gauge her response at this minor error and was pleased to see her eyes conveyed nothing but calculating resolve. Good. It seems she doesn't become discouraged easily. While Eva continued watching, the words from one of her former teachers came to mind, “Don't let a failure get you down, because it only means you learned one more way how not to do something the right way.”

            During Nadia's ensuing tries, she managed to increase her accuracy, which was the whole purpose of the exercise, until she was at least striking the edges of the metal target. After a little more trying, she managed to hit the bull's eye three times in a row. The last correct hit brought a huge, beaming smile to the princess's face, and she gave a little jig of delight at her success. Eva laughed at her comical display then joined the others in offering a congratulatory applause for her achievement.

            “Good show!” Eva shouted.

            Nadia responded with a gracious bow of appreciation before taking a quick sip of water that a servant had brought forward. Once the young pupil had refreshed herself, the instructor called her attention back to the task at hand. Using a large bowl of water that had been provided, he led her through several exercises that involved sequentially freezing then melting the liquid, lifting and shaping it into spheres or serpentine coils, and then flattening it out into a sharp edge. Eva was pleased to note that Nadia seemed to have no difficulty with these simple practices but was not surprised considering that water was the first element she would have mastered.

            “Alright, your majesty,” Eva heard the instructor saying, “now I want you separate the water into several smaller orbs, about half a dozen will do.”

            “Like this?” Nadia quickly glanced to the middle-aged man then back to the six uneven globs hovering above her hands.

            “Yes, that is fine. We'll work some other time on making the separated parts equal in size. Alright, now concentrate on freezing all of them.” He paused and waited a few moments until the last one was made completely solid. “Excellent. I want you to shoot them, one at a time, at the same target over there. Understand?”

            “I understand,” she nodded seriously. Taking a deep breath, Nadia drew one orb away from the rest and used the same motion as she had with the stone and sent it sailing towards the target. The frozen sphere hit slightly right of center and shattered against the metal target with a sound like breaking glass.

            “Very good,” her teacher commended.

            Seeming to pay him little heed, Nadia continued as instructed by drawing another orb from the rest and repeating the process five times over. By the last two, she was shooting with much more confidence and speed while still maintaining a fair amount of accuracy. Only one frozen sphere glanced off the side of the target and soared on past; the rest at least hit the metal plate solidly, if not directly in the center.

            Satisfied with her performance, the teacher, whose name Eva had yet to learn, moved the lesson on to fire. He lit a torch himself to provide the element required, for the princess was still not advanced enough to ignite a flame on her own. Once she neared the end of her first level of training, though, Nadia would possess the experience required to heat a concentrated portion of air enough to spark a flame as well as draw moisture from the atmosphere to create a sphere of water. With the fire already provided then, the young student only had to manipulate it to her will. Most of the exercises she was directed to do were very similar to the ones she had just performed with water, and after working with the element for a few minutes, Nadia was again instructed to shoot orbs at the target, which she accomplished with the same level of success as with the previous element.

            “Bravo, your highness. I can tell you've been practicing some on your own.”

            Nadia only smiled shyly with her hands clasped behind her back.

            “Well, we're nearly done for the day, but before I dismiss you, we need to try the last element as well.”

            The princess's smile promptly fell to a frown. “Oh.”

            “Come now, don't look so put out. You can do it; I know you can. You just haven't found the key to unlocking this one yet, but today could be the day.”

            Lifting her chin slightly, Nadia gave a small nod. “Okay. I'll try.”

            “That's better. We'll start like before.” He walked a ways away to pick up a leaf from the ground then came back to stand in front of her. “I want you to use the wind to blow this leaf from my palm.” Holding his left hand up in front of her, he gently laid the leaf down in the center. “Ready?”

            “I suppose so,” she replied unenthusiastically. Then drawing her eyebrows so tightly together as to form deep wrinkles between them, Nadia summoned every ounce of her concentration and focused it on the leaf displayed in front of her. With all her might, she willed her magic to cause enough of a breeze to move the small object. She struggled and strained until she was seeing spots and a headache was forming before her instructor reached out his free hand and grasped her shoulder gently.

            “Easy, Princess. You don't want to hurt yourself. Don't push so hard. The wind is a loose and free-flowing spirit. You can't control it with force like you do earth or with aggression like you do fire. It has its own unique attributes and so must be manipulated differently than the other elements.”

            “I know,” Nadia sighed as her shoulders slumped in defeat. “You've told me that before, but I just can't seem to get it. I hear what you are saying, but it is an entirely different matter putting it into practice.”

            “That is very true,” he replied sympathetically as he allowed his hand to drop from her shoulder.

            Eva, who had remained silent during most of the lesson, pushed herself away from the tree she had been leaning against and moved toward the center of the ring. “Excuse me, teacher,” she said with respect as she neared.

            “Yes, Guardian Eva,” he replied while turning himself to face her.

            “I was wondering if I might offer some assistance in this matter, with your permission of course. I believe I may know a way to help the princess better understand your meaning.”

            “Certainly,” he answered, stepping back with a bow of his head. “Your input would be welcome.”

            “Thank you,” she said with a similar bow. Positioning herself so that she was directly in front of her young charge, Eva dropped to one knee to be at her eye level. “Nadia, what he has said is true—each element is unique in how we approach it and handle it. Earth is hard, heavy, and stubborn; so it must be forced through strong will and determination to do as we please. Water is fluid, smooth, and graceful; so it must be manipulated with gentleness and a calm mind. Fire is just the opposite of water—fierce, devouring, and intense. Some use righteous anger or rage to connect with this element, but it can just as easily be controlled through other passionate emotions such as love.

            “Air, however, is different. It can be calm and fluid like water, or it can be fierce and destructive like fire. The wind is at one time gentle and teasing then at another vicious and brutal. The other three elements can be seen and touched. Air is invisible and intangible, yet it is all around us. We breathe it in and feel it caressing our skin all the time, but you must be attentive to the temperament of the wind in the moment to be able to connect with it through your magic.

“Here,” Eva continued, her voice growing softer as she proceeded to give instructions, “let me show you. Close your eyes, and clear your thoughts. While breathing deeply and slowly, I want you to concentrate on the air as it moves around you. How does it feel to you?”

            With her eyes closed, the little princess inhaled and exhaled slowly several times, allowing her frustration to seep away with each breath. Once she finally felt calm and at ease enough, she turned her focus onto the wind as it gently washed over her and combed through her hair. “It feels light and peaceful, flowing lazily around me.”

            “Very good. Now I want you to imagine you’re becoming as carefree and serene as the wind you feel. Can you do that?”

            “Mhmm,” she mumbled quietly.

            Eva studied Nadia's features closely as the slight wrinkles of her brow smoothed away and the tension in her muscles faded. When she felt the time was right and Nadia had accomplished what she'd asked, Eva spoke again. “You can sense it now from within can't you? Not just as it brushes your skin, but it’s almost as if you can see it with your mind’s eye.”

            The young girl nodded her head slightly.

            “Very good, you have connected with it now. Open your eyes. The air is yours to command. Urge it on faster and stronger. You can do it.”

            Slowly raising her lids, Nadia quirked one corner of her lips up in a half smile as the air began to flow faster through the arena. It ran through the locks of her hair like fingers, pulling and teasing it into a tangled mess. Following a gesture from Eva, the instructor stepped forward once more and held out the palm of his hand for Nadia to see the leaf. Suddenly, the breeze surged into a powerful gust and ripped the small object from its resting place and carried it far across the ring. After depositing the leaf back on the ground outside the training ground, the unexpected gust quickly died back down to a light stirring of air once again.

            “I did it,” a wide-eyed Nadia whispered. “I did it!” she exclaimed louder. “Eva, I did it!” Rushing forward, the excited girl wrapped her arms around Eva's neck and squeezed tightly.

            “Yes, you did!” Eva replied a little taken back. Pausing for only a heartbeat, she tentatively returned the embrace by wrapping her arms around the girl snuggly. “Congratulations! I knew you could do it.”

            “Well done, Princess,” her teacher congratulated with a pat on the head. “You performed admirably.”

            “Thank you,” she said as she pulled away from her guardian. “I was only able to do it, though, because of you two.”

            “That's what we're here for,” he responded with a chuckle.

            “Oh!” Nadia squeaked. “I have to tell Mother. She'll be so excited! Come on, Eva. Let's go find her.”

            “Alright.” She laughed as the energetic princess sprinted across the training ring back toward the palace. Eva barely had time to give a hasty goodbye to the instructor before turning on her heel and chasing after her charge.

            In her eagerness to locate her mother, Nadia dashed haphazardly down hallways and careened around corners, barely dodging members of the staff and the Guard as she steadily made her way closer to the throne room where the queen was most likely to be found. With her breath coming in puffs and her cheeks ruddy from the prolonged effort, Nadia at last saw up ahead the final intersection that would lead to her destination. Eva and the rest were hot on her heels but, being more accustomed to physical exertion, were only slightly winded.

            As they drew nearer to the intersection, Eva’s attention was drawn by the sound of someone shouting and heavy footsteps pounding down the intersecting corridor. Realizing that the princess was about to run headlong into someone, Eva reached out and grabbed her around the waist, snatching her back just in time. Nadia let out an “oof” sound as her momentum was rapidly reversed and Eva brought them skidding to a halt. The person that was nearly a victim of a terrible collision turned out to be a member of the Royal Guard. At the two ladies’ sudden appearance, his eyebrows rose in surprise and he stumbled a bit but managed to keep his feet.

            “Excuse me, your highness,” he apologized hastily while still moving at a rapid pace toward the throne room, but the two Palace Guards who stood watch at the door, one of whom was Eva’s mother, stopped him before he could enter.

            “A meeting is in progress,” Eileen informed him. “The king is not to be disturbed.”

            “It is an emergency! His majesty must be informed,” the man reasoned through labored breaths.

            “He is one of my mother’s guards,” Nadia said in recognition. “What is wrong?” she directed to him. “Has something happened to my mother?”

            “Please,” he begged Eileen without answering the princess, “you must let me enter.”

            Glancing first to the princess, Eileen nodded and then led him into the throne room. Nadia hurried through the opening after them with Eva following close behind. They moved to one side just inside the spacious room and looked on anxiously while Eileen and the guard stepped closer to the throne.

          “Forgive me, my king,” Eileen said with a bow when he looked up from his discussion, eyebrows drawn together in irritation. “He said it was an emergency.”

            “Your majesty,” the man began without waiting for permission to speak, “I apologize for barging in here like this, but there’s been an accident. The queen is being brought here now, and the healers have been summoned.”

            The king paled slightly and rose to his feet in a rush. “What happened?” he demanded with a thunderous voice that echoed around the room, causing Nadia to wince.

            “Her carriage was hit by a runaway horse and wagon. The impact caused her carriage to tilt onto its side violently. The queen is conscious but in severe pain; she fears for her unborn child.”

            As he was speaking, a servant broke through the doors panting. “The queen is here. She is being carried to the healing rooms.”

            Glancing around at everyone present, the king’s eyes fell on his young daughter cowering against the wall underneath Eva’s arm. With a flick of his hand he dismissed the men he had been in council with and strode across the marble floor to crouch in front of the trembling princess. “Don’t worry, my little sprite. Everything is going to be fine,” he reassured her while cupping her cheek in his hand. “I want you to go to your room for now and stay there until I come and get you, okay? Eva will be with you to keep you company. Once I find out how your mother is doing, I will let you know.”

            Nodding slightly, she whispered, “Yes, father.”

            “That’s my girl.” After placing a loving kiss on her forehead, the king rose to his feet and looked to the other three people still in the room. “You may return to your posts now. Thank you.”

            The three bowed before doing as commanded. Once they had exited, King Justian offered Nadia one last reassuring smile then strode out the door as well. The princess had managed to keep her tears in check and appear strong until she heard the quiet thud of the door as it closed. Now that she was alone with no one to see but Eva, though, her seven-year-old heart couldn’t hold together anymore. Her vision blurred as fear and worry ran wet paths down her checks, and the minor tremble she’d displayed before turned into an uncontrollable quaking.

            Seeing her hurting so caused an ache to well up in Eva’s chest that brought tears to her own eyes. On instinct, she stooped down and pulled the child close. Nadia weaved her arms around her guardian’s neck and buried her face there, the warm liquid of her tears soaking into the silken tabard as sobs racked her little frame.

            “Shhh,” the older woman soothed as she rubbed small circles on the girl’s back. “It’s alright. It’s alright.”

            Despite Eva’s attempts at calming her, Nadia couldn’t stem the tide of emotion that poured from within her. Each attempt at regaining some semblance of control only resulted in a fresh wave of uncertainty and fear sweeping her back into the depths of despair. Realizing this, Eva simply lifted the distraught princess into her arms and carried her from the room. When she stepped out into the hallway, her eyes met those of Allister.

            “The king requested that the princess remain in her room for the time being,” Eva informed him through Nadia’s weeping. “I’m taking her there now.”

            “Understood,” he said with compassion before signaling the others into formation.

            Throughout the journey to her bedroom, Nadia kept her face hidden from view, choosing to conceal her tears against Nadia’s chest. Even after they had reached their destination and Eva tried to settle her on the bed, the little princess refused to release her grasp. Instead, she clung to her even more desperately while pleading for her to stay. Eva couldn’t find it within her to deny Nadia’s request; so, she situated herself on the bed so that she was lying with the girl cradled in her arms and gently ran her fingers through her hair.

            Eventually, Nadia’s crying ceased and her breathing evened out into the soft rhythms of sleep. Afraid she would wake her if she moved, Eva remained by the princess’s side for the next few hours. At the changing of the guard, Kara had stuck her head into the room and informed Eva of the time, but she had decided to stay until the king came and had asked that her mother be told not to wait for her.

            By the time King Justian knocked on the door, the sun had been gone for nearly an hour and Nadia still hadn’t stirred. When he opened the door and came in, Eva sat up quickly and removed herself from the bed to place a fist over her heart and bow with respect. The sudden motion and absence of Eva’s warmth caused Nadia to rouse from her slumber and rub her eyes in confusion.

            “Eva!” the king remarked in surprise. “I thought you had gone home by now.”

            “I thought it best to stay with the princess until you returned. She was quite upset and I didn’t want her to be alone.”

            “Thank you,” he said tiredly with an approving grin. “Your thoughtfulness is most appreciated. I feel better knowing that you were with her the entire time.”

            “Father?” a groggy voice called from the bed.

            “I’m here, dear.” Moving quickly through the semidarkness, he positioned himself on the edge of the overstuffed bed and gathered her close.

            “How is Mother?”

            “She is fine for now. Apparently, the accident caused some damage inside her womb and the baby was in danger, but the healers were able to stop the bleeding and repair most of the problem so both are safe. We’ve brought your mother up to her room to relax. The healers say she has to remain on bed rest until the baby comes.”

            “How much longer will the baby be in there?” she asked, crinkling her nose in puzzlement.

            “A few more weeks, hopefully. The longer it stays in there, the healthier he or she will be.”

            “Oh… Can I see Mum now?”

            “She really needs to rest, Nadia.”

            “Please, Father? I promise I won’t talk much. Please?”

            Recognizing that she needed to see for herself that her mother was fine, the king released a long sigh and gave her a loving smile that caused the corners of his eyes to wrinkle. “Alright,” he conceded, “but you can’t stay long. She is very tired and needs to sleep.”

            “Oh thank you! Thank you!” Jumping to her feet while still on the bed, she threw her arms around him and squeezed with all of her might.

            “You’re welcome, dear.” He chuckled. “Come on then. Let’s go.”

            “Wait,” Nadia said after he set her on the ground. Turning away from her father, she rushed over to Eva and gave her a hug around the waist. “Thank you for staying, Eva. Goodnight.”

            “Goodnight, sweet one.” She returned the embrace and then patted her on the head affectionately. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

            “Okay.”

            “Have a good evening, Eva,” the king added as he and his daughter made their way from the room hand in hand.

            While tending to Nadia, Eva had not allowed herself to dwell on the situation, choosing to focus solely on caring for the princess, but now that she was left to herself, her own worries came sweeping over her to fill her mind. As she set off down the stairs, she chewed on her lower lip and pondered what the king had said to Nadia. He didn’t seem to be telling the whole truth when he explained to Nadia about the queen’s injuries. I have a feeling her condition was much more grave than he let on…

            “Well, look who it is!” A friendly voice interrupted her musings.

            Looking up swiftly, Eva glanced around in confusion. She had been so caught up in her thoughts that she hadn’t noticed how far she’d walked through the castle. Glancing around now, she was surprised to find that she was almost to the front entrance and had nearly bumped into a man. It took her a moment to register whom it was that stood before her, but after taking in his close-trimmed beard and the laugh lines framing his blue-green eyes and thin mouth, his name rang through her mind with clarity.

            “Audric!” she greeted happily before wrapping him in a familiar hug. “It’s been ages since I saw you last. How are you?”

            The king’s first cousin returned the warm greeting eagerly. “I’m doing fine for an old man,” he teased, for he could be no older than forty-five. “You are looking well, I see. A Master Warrior now, huh?”

            “That’s right,” she confirmed proudly.

            “I’m sorry that I missed your Trial, by the way. I heard you put on an outstanding show, though.”

            “Well, I did my best,” Eva said with a reserved chuckle.

            “I’m sure.”

            “So, what brings you here today?”

            “Work,” he stated simply.

            “You work too much,” she scolded lightly with a playful frown and shake of her head.

            “Yes, well that may be true, but unfortunately, that just comes with being an ambassador. You’re pretty much on duty all the time. I was actually on my way to giving Justian a report on the status of things with the elves when I heard about the queen’s mishap. Is she okay?”

            “As far as I know. They have her resting in her room now. The king and princess were going to see her when I left.”

            “Good. I’m glad to hear it. Are you heading home now?”

            “Yes, it’s well past time for me to be home.”

            “Ah, well then please allow me to escort you at least to the entrance,” he said while offering her his arm.

            “That would be wonderful,” she replied before slipping her arm into his.

            As they made their way to the gate, Eva caught him up on all the recent happenings in her life, including answering some questions about her mother and her well-being. Audric, in turn, told her amusing stories from his stay with the elves as the Ataran ambassador. By the time they came to a stop beside the gate, he had her in hysterics and the darker events of the day were nearly forgotten.

            “It was very good to see you, Audric,” Eva said as she stepped in to give him another hug.

            “You too, Eva. I hope to see you again while I'm here.”

            “You be sure you do,” she added with a smile. “Mother will want to see you as well.”

            “And I her. Take care of yourself.”

            “Same to you!”

            Pivoting around, Eva set off toward home with a happier spring in her step. Before she could go even a few paces, though, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She turned quickly to look and caught a glimpse of William’s face in the light of a lantern he carried before he abruptly turned away. Sprinting towards the last place she had seen him, Eva rounded the corner and saw his tense figure marching down the alley a good ways ahead of her. “Wait!” she called. “William, wait.”

            Pulling to a halt, he did as asked and waited for her to catch up without turning. When she came up even with him, he didn't look at her. Instead, he stared straight ahead while a muscle in his jaw twitched sporadically. His breathing was slow and labored as if it was taking all his concentration just to keep it from accelerating with his pulse.

            “You're mad,” Eva stated simply.

            “What would give you that impression?” he asked coolly. “I'm just heading home.”

            “I'm no fool,” she retorted while moving to stand in front of him, forcing him to acknowledge her presence by meeting her eyes. “I've known you long enough to know when you're angry, and considering what you might have just seen, I think I know why you are. For argument's sake, though, go ahead and tell me what's bothering you.”

            He lifted his burning gaze from her challenging one to look over her head as he considered how to answer. “That was him wasn't it?” he finally ground out between his teeth.

            “If by 'him' you mean my father,” she waited until he gave a stiff nod, “then no. That is not my father.”

            Her answer took him by surprise, and he had to examine her face to verify that he'd heard her correctly. “It's not? But I saw you with him. You certainly seemed pretty familiar with him and he with you.”

            Eva squared her shoulders and stiffened her spine. “That's because he is a friend. He and my mother have been good friends for years. They used to train together when they were younger, and after everyone found out she was pregnant without a husband, he was one of the few who didn't completely estrange her. Your mother is another who remained by her side during that time. Why don't you confirm my story with her?”

            After studying each other in a silent standoff for several strained moments, Eva finally sensed a shift in William's energy and demeanor. His shoulders sagged and the muscles of his neck and jaw slowly relaxed. “No, I believe you,” he admitted at last. “I'm sorry I jumped to conclusions.”

            Letting out a breath, Eva allowed her posture to slacken waited until her own ire had subsided before speaking. “It's fine. I can see how that must have looked to you. I can assure you, though, that he is merely a good friend.”

            William nodded while trying to hide his shame by looking anywhere but at her. “Come on, I’ll walk you home. That’s why I was standing out here anyway.”

            “Thank you. I appreciate that,” she said with a sigh.

            With the lantern held out in front, he led the way down the back streets and alleyways to her house without uttering another word. At her doorstep, though, he caught her hand before she could lift the latch and cleared his throat to speak. “Listen, I want to apologize too for how I’ve handled this whole thing. I should have responded better when I realized what—who you are. I suppose I was just surprised and… a little angry that you had kept a secret like that from me.”

            Eva studied his face for a moment before answering, searching to see if he was sincere. The Royal magic within her assured her that he was; so she allowed him a smile of forgiveness. “I know that came as quite a shock to you, and I’m sorry that I kept it from you. But you must understand how important it is that no one ever knows who my father is. Do you have any idea what they would do to my mother and me if anyone were to discover that I have both sides of the magic?”

            Hanging his head, William blew out a breath. “I am ashamed to admit that I never considered that. I thought I would be helping you by revealing who your father really is… I never considered that I’d actually be endangering you. I can’t believe…” He didn’t finish his thought. Instead, he merely ground his teeth together in frustration.

            “Don’t, William. Don’t beat yourself up over it. I should have spoken to you about it as soon as you found out, but I was a coward and hoped you’d forget about it. Please forgive me.”

            “Only if you’ll forgive me,” he finally answered with a half smile.

            “Agreed,” she replied readily. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I haven’t eaten supper yet, and I’m afraid if I wait much longer I may just die from the hunger.”

            “Of course,” he said before quickly taking a step away. “Go eat. You need all the strength you can get, weakling.” He winked before turning away and jogging towards his own home.

            “Oh go on, you!” she called after him with a chuckle. Sighing in relief that at least one burden had been lifted from her mind, Eva lifted the latch on the door to her home and disappeared inside.