The air hummed with hundreds of voices mixed with the plucking and piping of lively music as Eva tried to make her way to the perimeter of the room. The heat from so many bodies pressed into the banquet hall caused her brow to bead in sweat, and her floor-length ballgown only heightened her discomfort. Unfortunately, she had had little say in choosing her apparel for this evening. For female warriors, the gown with its chain mail bodice was the traditional formal attire. The men, on the other hand, wore pressed breeches tucked into high leather boots and a white shirt under sleeveless chain mail. Both the women and men wore a silk tabard bearing the crest of the Ataran kingdom over their formalwear. Without a doubt, though, the men were better able to keep cool and maneuver in their dress uniforms than the women. However, both genders were equally as dangerous with the swords strapped to their sides, and if the need should ever arise, the women's skirts were designed to be torn away and allow more freedom in their movements for fighting.

Out of habit, Eva placed a hand to her hip seeking the comfort of knowing that her weapon was ready and available should she have need of it. A special pocket was sewn into the folds of each woman's skirt to hold and conceal their sword so that only the hilt was visible. She touched the cool metal now to calm herself as she continued to press her way through the crowd. Finally reaching the edge of the suffocating room, Eva slipped out onto the balcony. Sighing with relief, she summoned a cool breeze to swirl around her and caress her face. She closed her eyes and smiled faintly as the salty air filled her lungs and rejuvenated her weary body.

"Eva? Eva, where are you?" a voice called over the din of the festivities.

"I'm over here, Marissa," Eva answered, allowing the swirling breeze to die down with a sigh.

"Oh," the other woman giggled as she squeezed past several partygoers to arrive at Eva's side. "Why are you hiding out here?" she scolded. "This celebration is for the victors, which includes you, Eva. You should be mingling and gracing everyone with your presence."

Eva lowered an eyebrow and cast her best friend an unimpressed frown. She was quite petite for a female warrior, though, standing nearly a head shorter than most, and Eva had to look down in order for her to meet the other's eyes. "You know I hate crowds of people. Being pressed in on all sides makes me feel trapped. Besides, I doubt anyone will even notice my absence."

"Oh, you're just put out because you had to endure three dances with that one old-timer while he shared exaggerated tales from his younger years."

"Not so!"

"As you say, then," Marissa replied with a shrug, turning away to hide her amusement and watch the people milling around inside. Her chin-length, sandy-blond hair stirred softly in the night air while her deep green eyes studied everyone with interest. She reminded Eva of an eager child waiting for permission to play with the other kids, and after a few minutes passed, Marissa again broke the quiet. "So, do you really intend to stay out here the rest of the night?"

Eva chuckled softly at her friend's persistence. The two of them had been as close as sisters for as long as either could remember, so she was used to such behavior. "Rissa, why don't you go back in without me and have some fun? After all, they're celebrating your victory too, and I know being the center of attention is something you enjoy."

"Hey! You talk like I'm some sort of fame-seeking priss."

"I was only teasing," she replied with a gentle shake of her head.

Giving a long sigh, Marissa smiled fondly at her friend. "I know. Are you sure you'll be fine out here, though? I feel bad leaving you by yourself."

Eva rolled her eyes and gave her a playful shove. "I'm not a child. I'll be fine. Go enjoy yourself. Find some handsome man to dance with."

At the mention of a handsome man, Marissa's eyes lit up, and her overly romantic imagination swept her back into the ballroom with only a slight wave to her friend.

Alone again, Eva rested against the railing and looked up at the sky. After a few moments, though, she began to sense that she was not alone after all. Feeling someone watching her, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and she reached for her sword. Turning swiftly, her eyes searched the shadows around her until she made out the shape of a man leaning casually against the wall at the far corner of the balcony. As her gaze met his, he stepped into the light and raised his hands palm up, creating a gust of air to lift him up onto the roof. In just a few seconds, he was gone from sight.

Eva visibly relaxed and released her grip on the hilt of her sword, having never pulled it free of its sheath. With her eyebrows drawn together in confusion, she tried to figure out what just happened. Who was that? He was definitely Ataran, but I didn't recognize him. So, why was he watching me?

After only a moment's hesitation, her curiosity got the best of her and she created her own gust to propel her to the roof. She set down lightly near the edge and spied the unknown man lying on his back a few yards away from her. Lifting the hem of her dress to keep from tripping, Eva carefully made her way toward him.

As she approached, the man brought his arms up and interlaced his fingers behind his head. Without looking her way, he commented, "You can see them better from here."

Pausing, Eva furrowed her brow. "Pardon?"

Lifting a hand toward the sky, he gestured casually, "The stars. You can see them better from here than from the balcony."

"Oh. I suppose that's true...." Momentarily distracted from her purpose, she studied him for a time, taking in his dark, shoulder-length hair and rough, angled features. I still don't recognize him, and with a face like that, I'm sure I'd remember seeing him. Dragging her eyes from his face, Eva moved her scrutiny to the silver emblem on his upper arm. Squinting in the darkness, she just made out the shape of the Boundary Patrol symbol, a circle inlaid with the initials "BP" in swirling script held in place by a dark green, cloth band.

"So, why were you watching me earlier?" she ventured upon remembering what brought her to the roof in the first place.

"Who said I was?"

"If you weren't, then why were you out on the balcony?"

"Why were you?" he responded while pulling out a silver-handled knife, turning it this way and that to watch the moon's light reflect off the blade.

Eying him warily, Eva closed the distance between them and lowered herself to a sitting position. As she adjusted her skirt around her, she formed her answer, "It was too crowded and suffocating inside. I needed to get away."

"Maybe I was doing the same."

"Do you often creep about in the shadows to spy on people, then?" she asked in a voice tight with frustration and annoyance.

"As a matter of fact," he paused to twirl his knife around his fingers a few times, "it is my job to keep watch from the shadows, although very rarely do I have the pleasure of observing such a lovely creature as yourself. Even still, who's to say that I hadn't ventured outside to enjoy the peace of the night before you made an appearance? Perhaps it was you who invaded my solitude."

"Oh," was all she replied. The young victor had not considered such a possibility and now found herself momentarily speechless. As she processed this information and replayed the scenario through her mind, he tossed the knife into the air for a final spin then caught it by the handle and replaced it in its sheath.

"Okay," Eva finally managed. "I will admit I hadn't considered that possibility. I apologize for jumping to conclusions."

"No reason to apologize," he responded with a slight shrug. "It's your job to be suspicious just as it is mine. I would have done no less."

"I suppose you are right.... Um, I'm Eva, by the way, of the Royal Guard."

The man nodded his head while still staring up at the sky. "I know. I watched you in the arena today. You didn't do too bad, but you might want to be more aggressive when you are in a real battle. You know...," he paused while trying to find the right words to explain, "don't wait for your opponent to make the first move. Jump in blade first before the enemy has a chance to prepare."

"Rrrright," she said slowly while glancing out across the surrounding rooftops. "Uh, thanks." Snapping her gaze back to his face, she narrowed her eyes in accusation. "You still didn't tell me your name."

"Caden," he grunted, "of the Boundary Patrol. You can call me Cade."

"Well, Cade, I'm sorry for disturbing you," she said while rising as gracefully as possible and turning to leave. "I'll leave you to enjoy the rest of your evening."

"Have you ever been in the Faerie Woods at night?" he asked to her back.

"No," she answered, shifting to face him once more.

Nodding, Cade pushed himself to his feet in one swift motion. "Meet me at the foot of the Mother Tree tomorrow just before dark." Without giving her a chance to respond, he took off at a sprint towards the opposite end of the roof and dropped out of sight to the ground below.

That has to be the most unusual conversation I have ever had with anyone. Who does he think he is by ordering me around in such a way? Would it have been so difficult a task for him to simply ask if I'd like to go? Shaking her head, Eva let out a frustrated breath and lifted her face to the sky. He was right, though. You really can see the stars better from up here...

Author's Note: The picture to the side is to give you an idea of what the Ataran tabards and the crest look like.