Phoenix stared at Arabella, her mouth hanging open. The older lady arched a brow.

"Is there something wrong, dear?"

"N-no. I just...I just didn't realize there were any Knights left in Osha."

Arabella let out a tinkling little laugh. "Well of course there are. This is where most of us are from."

"There are more of you?"

Arabella put a hand to her heart as though taken aback. "Just how far north are you from, dear girl? The Knights are one of the most prominent families in all of Braskey."

Phoenix shook her head, trying to reorient herself as a servant placed a plate of food before her. "Yes, I know, but after Norman Knight left I suppose I assumed all of the Knights did."

"Norman? Oh you mean George." Arabella nodded. "I suppose he didn't feel he had much of a choice, what with Tarvril on the rampage and his worry over his wife." She plucked up her fork and knife, daintily cutting away at her portion of pheasant. "Just because they were on the outs doesn't mean we all were."

Phoenix frowned. "Why would only he be on the outs?"

"Because of Clarice, of course. With Tarvril all a dither about not conceiving an heir, it wasn't safe for her here." 

"Tarvril not having an heir was dangerous for Claire - I mean Clarice? Why?" 

Arabella leaned in conspiratorially lowering her voice, and Phoenix moved closer as well. "Little Tyrella Tremaine was a bit of a waif - skinny little thing. It was harder for her to conceive. Though, if we believe the rumors, not impossible."

"I have heard she might have had a son." 

"Indeed. Which is possible. But with a husband like Tarvril, the poor girl was always under stress. Can you imagine having a husband after you day in and day out about not giving him his heir? Last time I saw her, the poor thing's hair was falling out. Not to mention Tarvril's mistress - old what's her name - didn't seem capable of bearing children either."

Phoenix clamped her mouth shut to keep from blurting Helena's name. Arabella didn't seem to notice, glancing askance down the table at Bainon and Narissa to make sure no one was listening.

"With two women a mess of desperation, but apparently incapable of producing a child, Tarvril turned to Clarice, demanding she produce an heir for him."

"She wanted Norma and Claire to give up their child as his?" Phoenix asked, eyes widening.

Arabella's face darkened. "Not their child. His child."

At the tone of her voice and the disgusted twist of her lips, Phoenix understood what Arabella was saying. She fought the urge to gag. 

"He'd do that to his own sister?"

"The man was mad. Of course, neither Tyrella nor his mistress knew what he was up to. George told me in confidence, and I told him he needed to take his wife and leave." Arabella shuddered. "Twisted man." 

Phoenix's stomach churned and she lost any hope of having an appetite for dinner. "But Tyrella might have had a child."

"Indeed. Though his madness continued, Tyrella seemed stronger in her last few weeks with him. Calmer."

"Why?"

Arabella glanced down the table once more. "I think it was because she knew Bainon and Narissa were going to intervene.  Clarice and George were already gone, and with so many Guardians dead at Tarvril's own hand, no one stood in their way. In those last days, Tyrella knew freedom was on the horizon. She may have conceived just due to her own relief."

"Then the baby would be..." Phoenix tried to count backwards. "Older than Mav."

"What was that, dear?" Arabelle cocked her head to the side. 

"Just my brother. She'd be older than my brother. He's almost twenty, now." 

"Mm, indeed. Tyrella's son would be at least twenty-three - perhaps a bit older? It's difficult to tell." 

First in line for the throne, Phoenix thought, staring down at her plate. That is, if the child even exists. 

"Then you remained in Osha because there wasn't a threat to the Knights? Not even the ones related to Nor-I mean George?" 

Arabella laughed again, the same little bell of a laugh. "Not at all. In fact, in all the years since Tarvril has been gone, I don't think we've ever had one quarrel to take up with Bainon."

Phoenix heard what Arabella didn't say. "But what about Narissa?" she whispered.

Arabella's head whipped around, her face pinched into a stern expression. "We'll speak no more on it. Osha and the throne are good to us. Good to all." 

She turned, sitting so part of her back was to Phoenix, ending the conversation. Left to herself, Phoenix moved her food around her plate until the music started, signaling the end of the meal.

Bodies shifted through the room as people stood to move onto the dance floor. Eric led Aundreya out, Phoenix watching them go with a rising sense of disgust.

What is he doing with her? What's his plan? She peered around the room, but couldn't see Abigail amidst the sea of people. Samson, however, she spotted stepping into the room from off the entry hall. He stopped and spoke to another soldier before taking his place along the wall, his eyes on Eric. 

After the first few dances, Eric and Aundreya returned. There were very few people at the table now, most having gotten up to dance, and Phoenix could easily overhear their conversation without using any of her gifts. A young man approached, tall and dark haired - he almost reminded Phoenix of Maverick, if his nose hadn't been a size too big for his face and his eyes didn't remind her of the blackness of Aundreya's soul.

"Lady Aundreya, would you do me the honor of a dance?"

Phoenix expected Aundreya to flat out refuse, but she batted her lashes up at him, extending her hand. "I'd be honored, kind sir. Eric, you don't mind, do you?"

Eric shook his head, plastering a smile on his face. "Of course not, darling. I might venture to find another dance partner myself."

Across the table, Narissa stiffened. "Eric, I'm not sure that's wise."

Eric waved his hand in dismissal. "Aundreya, tell my parents they needn't worry about my devotion to you. I'm in no danger dancing with other young ladies."

Aundreya smirked at him, turning to Narissa. "My queen, Eric is in no danger. He's free to dance with whomever he wishes - you're not worried about him in the least."

Narissa's body relaxed. "Of course, you're right. How silly of me."

Where she sat, Phoenix had gripped the table in an effort not to grunt in pain at the lies flowing from both Eric and Aundreya's lips. She felt the wood splinter beneath her fingertips and forced herself to let go.

She felt a tap on her shoulder and glanced up. Eric stood above her, his gaze narrowed. "A dance, Miss Phoenix, to thank you for your assistance today."

Clenching her teeth against yet another lie, Phoenix nodded. 

Eric led her out onto the dance floor, far away from Aundreya and her partner. As he placed his hand so it barely touched her waist, Phoenix let out a long breath and narrowed her gaze.

"All right, why do you want to dance with me? We both know this isn't a thank you. Also, how come you can lie? I can't lie. That's not exactly fair."

Eric arched a brow, giving her a look Phoenix knew all to well - the one that said 'are you insane?'  "What are you talking about? Why would you not being able to lie affect me?"

"Because we're--" Phoenix didn't get the words out before Eric's hand flew to her mouth, stifling her answer. 

"No mentions of Guardians here," Eric hissed. "People don't know that's what I am."

"I wasn't going to say Guardians," Phoenix grumbled, glaring back at him. Eric didn't seem to catch her insinuation, moving on.

"You need to get out of here," he said. "Now. Tonight. I don't care. The further away you are from me the better."

A pang of rejection mingled with disappointment shot through Phoenix, and she squared her shoulders. "I'm not some little girl you can shoo, Eric. I have important business here."

"Like what?"

"Like bringing Abigail back home to her parents, that's what." 

Eric's eyes widened and he fumbled in his next step of the dance. "Abigail's back? She's--she's unhurt?"

"I've kept her very safe, thank you very much," Phoenix said, glowering at him. "Not that you've bothered trying to find her. You just abandoned her. And here I thought Castor said you were in love with her."

Eric's face scrunched. "Castor? Who is Castor?" Before she could respond, he shook his head. "It doesn't matter. I can't see Abigail - I can't be with her. I'm the reason Narissa tried to have her killed in the first place. She's not safe with me."

"Besides, you're with Aundreya now, aren't you?" Phoenix sneered as she said the name, spotting Aundreya across the room, slipping into a dark nook with her dance partner. Something that almost felt like understanding flitted through her.

"Aundreya is a means to an end," Eric said, shaking his head. "I can't get rid of her - at least not yet. She's not going to get what she wants, but at least while she's around, Narissa won't question my actions. If I disappear for a few hours or seem to be shirking my duties, I can blame it all on being a love struck fool." He blinked, jerking his head back. "I don't know why I just told you all of that."

"Because you can't help it. Because we're connected, you big dope." 

"Because we're both Guardians," he said.

"No." Phoenix squeezed his arm as hard as he could and he hissed in pain. "It's not because we're Guardians. I've met other Guardians and I don't have this connection with them." 

"You've met other Guardians?" Eric perked up. "The Militia has Guardians? Why would they help the people who still wish Tarvril was alive? He was a menace."

"Trust me, I know." Phoenix rolled her eyes. "They don't want Tarvril they want Mav--" she tried to stop herself, but the words tumbled forth. Eric nodded in understanding.

"Of course, myself versus Maverick. But it doesn't really matter, does it? I'm not the heir. In the end, it's going to have to be him."

"Unless Tyrella's son comes out of the shadows," Phoenix countered. "He's the first born heir."

Eric's countenance darkened. "We have Tyrella in our dungeons. I know she had a child - I met her before I knew who she was when she was in hiding. But we haven't been able to get the name out of her yet." 

At his mention of the dungeons, Phoenix remembered Harold. "You know, if you took me down there - I could probably-"

"Don't even think about it." Eric twirled her in a simple move, shifting her back to the edge of the dance floor, further away from the rest of the crowd. "You need to leave. Now. Go back to the Militia. Tell them that, if I get my way, we could end this in a peaceful treaty. Maverick can be king."

Hope swelled in Phoenix as she stared at him. "You mean it?" 

"I do. I'll just need to get rid of Aundreya first. The last thing we need is her on the throne." 

Phoenix smirked. "True."

The faintest twitch of a smile tugged at Eric's lips. "I could meet other Guardians then. No wonder I always felt so connected to you."

"That's not exactly -" Phoenix felt yet another tap on her shoulder and turned. Abigail stood just behind her, her eyes on Eric.

"Mind if I cut in?" she asked, not looking at Phoenix. Fighting a smile, Phoenix dipped into a curtsy. 

"Of course, Lady Abigail."  She had to stifle a laugh at the mixture of horror and delight on Eric's face.

As Abigail and Eric began their dance, Phoenix slipped out of the banquet hall, her thoughts on finding the dungeon.

AHHHH

Eric and Abigail are back together again. La la la. Who can't wait to see how that dance goes?

Not to mention, we need to see if Phe makes it to the dungeons and IF SHE DOES what she learns from Harold. Think she'll run into Tyrella? 

Also, we should probably check in on Mav and the gang to see if...well...you know...he's still breathing.

AND Phoenix was sooooo close to telling Eric the truth about their sibling secret! Alas, no truth for him. Who can't wait to see his reaction when he finds out?

TELL ME THINGS - go now!