The Prince's eyes were darker than they had been a moment before. He scented it then. Rage. Powerful and black as the core of the world.

'You desire your brother dead?' Theodan asked, studying him hard.

Panos pressed his lips into a flat line, his jaw clenched tight. 'Yes.'

Theodan sighed, turning the whetstone over in his fingers. 'I suppose it would be too much to hope for a king to be permitted to sit upon his throne unburdened by the threat of another who covets it.'

'I have little interest in my brother's throne, Leoth. But I would be a better king than he, of this I am of no doubt.'

'The eternal rivalry of brothers, then? Perhaps he stole your toys when you were children? Either way, I care not - I have no need for this kind of help.' He made a dismissive gesture with his head toward the door.

'You have no idea of what you speak, Leoth.' Panos snapped. Theodan turned, fixing him with a dark look. The prince continued, calmer. 'I have no desire to be king, Leoth, and still I do not. I am a soldier - like you. But he is formed of something else. Of darkness and chaos - more so even than Torrik. On this you must trust me.'

Theodan could taste the bitter poison of the prince's hate in the air between them. It was as deep and dark as the ocean's floor.

'Surely you have had ample opportunity to challenge your brother's rule? To take your sword to him and install yourself or any other whom you believe better equipped to serve as king?'

'It is not so simple as that. Our realm is wrought through with division and has been for as long as I was old enough to understand its workings.' The prince's expression was bleak. 'It is not how a realm governed by a bloodline works, Leoth; challenging my brother would have brought chaos. Civil war. Lords against lords. Families killing their own. The divisions in our realm run deep - we have been hovering on the brink of civil war for years. My father barely kept the lords from each other's throats. It almost killed him - he was on the brink of death, for many years, barely able to hold the realm together. When Valdr refused to aid Azura against Zybar, that division only grew. There are men who desert our armies now as we speak.'

'You declared war upon Leoth, and if your sister cannot talk him from this madness, they shall trample your realm to dust and it shall not matter who sits upon your throne, or which Lords kill each other.' Had he meant to say 'they,' and not 'we,'? Did he truly see himself so apart from his own realm now?

'A move we were forced to make. We thought you had slaughtered our sister, Leoth.' He scowled. 'For the first time, it seemed, mine and Valdr's concerns were aligned.'

'A move Torrik of Zybar forced you to make,' Theodan corrected him. 'Men led so easily by other men do not make great kings. Neither of you are fit to rule a realm.' Fara would make a greater queen than either of her brothers, of this he was certain.

Panos looked down at his bound hands. 'Perhaps not. But this war would also serve another purpose. Torrik's death at the end of a Leoth blade. His heir's, too. Valdr and I had counted upon it. With Valdr's marriage to the princess of Zybar and Zybar's army decimated, it would leave Zybar open for the taking. Azura would also be ours through Fara's claim to its throne.' Panos hesitated a moment. Then, 'If we survived this war, Valdr would not return from it. That I would ensure.'

Theodan shook his head, stunned. There truly was no loyalty between kings. Between realms. Or even between brothers. What hope had these humans of peace and survival when trust and loyalty were so scarce as to not be found even in blood? He would give his life for Elyon or Draden. Vala, too. What droves these fragile beings except hate and power and the desperate clawing need for more?

'And what of your sister in all of this? She did not die by my hand, she lives. Do you not consider her grief at all?'

The prince's intense stare did not waver. 'I considered my sister greatly, Theodan of Teredia.' There was something he did not say, something which shimmered deep in the corners of his russet-coloured eyes, but Theodan could not grasp its meaning.

'Tell me, prince, why should I care about the divisions within your blood or your realm? Your brother poses no threat to me. He made a declaration of war against Leoth, and, should he fail to countermand it, it shall be his undoing. As I see it, all I need do is wait patiently here in these mountains for every king of these realms to do what they appear to do so well - destroy themselves. Perhaps you should do the same. This broth here gets less insipid with each bowl I've found...'

'You do not know my brother, Leoth!' He snapped, impatient. 'He will not stop. I am still alive only because I have convinced him I am no threat. Because I have pretended to ignore his perverse--.' He cut himself off, rage staining his cheeks, fists clenched tight. 'Valdr believes it is his destiny to destroy you, to destroy Leoth. The Irhith has all but convinced him of it.'

He had heard of these mages, though he had never seen one. No one had, truly. They were thought to be a thing rendered to history. Old magic conjured from the earth itself. It could not be; a witch perhaps, but not an Irhith.

'You do not believe your sister can sway him from this path?'

Panos scrubbed a hand over his mouth, looking away. 'She is the only soul on Ethis that Valdr may listen to. That he seeks to... please... Perhaps she can. But I do not know.'

Theodan nodded. 'The scouts say she is returned to him safe, so we shall give her time to make him listen. She has a power of conviction inside her that even I could not deny.' Whether Leoth would accept any peace terms now was another thing. With Paeris now upon the Isdar's chair, that window of possibility was all but sealed closed. He stared searchingly at the prince. Something niggled him still. 'You say darkness and chaos lives within him, that he seeks Leoth's demise, that he is not a righteous king, but you have told me nothing of why you wish him dead so fervently.'

The prince looked at him, a haunted look in his eyes. 'Did my sister ever speak to you of our brother, Theodan of Teredia?'

Without cause or explanation, for no chill swept in from outside, a shudder ran through him. It was almost painful; a sharp, piercing ache down his spine. A notion of recognition followed it, as though he had sat in this place before and as though he had heard the prince speak these very words to him before.

Unsettled, Theodan shook his head. 'Why in the Gods would she?'

The prince shrugged. 'I do not pretend to understand what sort of bond you and she shared, Leoth. I thought she may have spoken of him to you, that is all.'

'I was not her ladies' maid.'

He said nothing for some moments. Then he spoke, his tone nostalgic and somewhat mournful as his gaze settled on the warm lick of the flames.

'When we were children, Valdr, Fara, and I would often pretend to be the Gods themselves. When they would walk the mortal realm; before Ethis banished them from it. We would each of us choose a god, for there were four where we were four. Though in truth, Cassine was always too ill to play.' A sad smile touched the prince's lips, genuine in its warmth. Fara had smiled a similar smile whenever she spoke of her sister, a loss stained with pain and love. 'Though it did not really matter because the game was not intended for us; it was for Valdr and Fara.' He lifted his head to look at Theodan. 'Who do you think Fara chose?'

'Azura,' Theodan answered without hesitation. Fara's love for Azura had always shone like its sun, dazzling and powerful. Her love for Galyn of Azura had done the same. Despite all.

The prince affirmed his guess with a half smile. 'And who do you think our brother chose?' The prince asked. Theodan said nothing. 'Leoth. For where Fara was Azura, Valdr was Leoth. Always.'

He did not like the sensation the prince's tone caused within him, but neither could he discern why. 'I'm not sure what childhood games have to do with this hatred of your brother, prince Panos, or why it has offended you so that you see no option but to send him to the Gods... but it was not so long ago that you vowed to deliver me a most painful demise before demanding I bring you before my council to discuss your kings terms. So you must forgive me now if I have trouble seeing you as an ally of Leoth or of mine.'

'There were no terms,' Panos said.

Theodan frowned. 'What?'

'My brother did not send me to Azura with terms for your council. In fact, he did not send me at all.' The prince waited for Theodan's reaction, though within him then he could find none. The exhaustion had grown since the prince sat down across from him, his mind clouding. He needed to close his eyes, rest. 'When I thought my sister dead by your hand, all that mattered was that I made you pay for what you had done. Valdr's wishes, and even his death, did not seem so urgent to me then.'

'And now it is?"

The prince's face was utterly still, his eyes sharp as a blade. 'More urgent than you know...'

'Tell me how you planned to achieve your vengeance upon me, exactly?' Theodan asked. 'If we are to be allies now, if I am to trust you now, I should know how you planned my death, no?'

'I planned to have your council grant me the Right of Retribution.'

He almost laughed. 'Combat? Against me?' Stupid, idiotic, fool. 'And how would your death on Leoth at the of my sword help end your brother's rule?'

'It was not so important if Fara was gone....' He shrugged. 'It seemed to me a good death. To die avenging her, to do finally what I should have done long ago - to see you bleed. If I was lucky, to see those who cared for you mourn.'

'Then it would have been a festival of death and disappointment for you, human, for there are none who would mourn my passing.'

The prince gave him a look.

'So you fear your brother's reprisal for defying his orders?' Theodan asked, thinking now that if the king of Calate reciprocated this enmity for his brother, then perhaps this prince had little value after all.

'I have always feared him, Leoth.' He looked ashamed by the admission. 'He is... troubled.'

'Troubled?' Theodan mocked. 'Every king is troubled by something; crowns have the most unfortunate effect on the mind caged inside it.'

For many moments it looked as though the prince may say something more, some final tome of judgement against his brother. The words seemed to fight their own battle behind his closed lips. Finally, he let out a sigh and hung his head.

As the final spill of light receded from the sky above, turning it a rich deep indigo, Theodan reached across for the jug of wine which sat in a shallow box by his feet, pulled the wax stopper from it and poured himself a cup. Then he poured one for the prince, reaching forward to place it in his bound hands.

'Tell me about the armour you and your men wore?' Theodan asked as he sipped the cool wine. 'My warriors said it was strong as Leoth steel.'

'It was,' Panos confirmed.

'From where?'

'Leoth, where else?'

'It is not possible,' Theodan stated.

The prince raised an eyebrow. 'If there is information you want from me, Leoth, then ask for it.'

'Leoth does not trade with humans.'

'Are you certain of that?' The prince almost smiled as he lifted the cup to his lips.

'If there are traitors within our realm, I would have their names.'

'And I would have something from you,' the prince shrugged. 'You know my terms.'

Theodan watched the prince closely for some moments. He did not know if he could trust this human. He had already proved his disloyalty to his brother, but his love for Fara was clear. In the end it was this which illuminated a way to test the prince's honor.

'This time on the morro, we plan to take Azura back from Zybar,' Theodan said. The prince's eyes widened. 'Scouts spied a large fleet of Zybar's ships heading south from Calate towards the Bay of Uzroth. Only a small number remain on Azura's coast. The rest dock still in your brother's realm. The funeral rites for Zybar's king could take several moons. I believe this, the knowledge the kin have of this realm and indeed the city, and the small number of men Torrik has left behind here, we have enough Leoth to take it.'

The prince's eyes had turned sharp and keen.

'If you have any information which would help our victory, then let us say that it would put me in your debt.'

The prince smiled then, a full smile which almost reminded him of Fara. 'I will help you, Leoth. More than that, I will fight with you.'

oOo

As he slept, he dreamt of her.

He saw her riding a golden-maned horse through a thick forest, face bright with joy. Then he saw her crying at the door of a stable, scarlet blood creeping towards white silk slippers. Then he watched her from across the room as she moved through a crowded ballroom. She wore a jewelled mask over her face, but he knew it to be her. Knew her by the way her body moved, by the turn of her head, by the light in her eye. From where he stood he could sense her fear, hear the thunder of her heart. Around him dancers spun and leaped, revellers laughed and applauded. He watched as she tumbled to the floor and was helped to her feet by Galyn of Azura. He watched as the prince smiled and led her to the centre of the room.

Then, suddenly, he was above her atop a grand canopied bed. In his hand he felt the weight of the blade pressed against her thigh. When he met her gaze, her eyes burned hot with hate and fear and disdain. He shrunk back from her, back from that look, his heart wrenching apart. What had he done to have her look at him thus?

He wanted to go to her, to beg her forgiveness, undo whatever he had done to cause this, but he could not force his body to move. Then he felt it. His blood pulsing with a violence unlike any he had ever known, not in battle, not even in war. Dark. Chaotic. Impenetrable. He knew with certainty that he would hurt her then, in fact, he longed to hurt her then. Use her in unspeakable ways. Though his mind was his own, his body and soul were not. What thrashed and hissed within him was the soul of a monster bent on destruction. With every ounce of strength he had, he tried to resist it, tried to force his body far away from her before he would do what this black soul that rode him demanded. He looked down at the ornamental blade in his hand. Then without another thought, brought it across his own throat.

oOo

He awoke into the buttery warmth of the late afternoon, half-spent sunlight spilling in from above. The tent was empty, and whether Draden had returned during the night, he could not tell. Someone had entered while he slept, though, for there was a pot of broth bubbling gently above the brazier. He sat up and shook off the horror his sleep had visited upon him. The broth did little to settle the rolling unease which swam through his stomach, or the latent hunger which lumbered through his veins. He went outside, the air cool and fresh, and submerged his head into the basin of freezing cold water until his body was as sharply awake as it might be. Four moons away from Leoth, his bones felt brittle and weary. He armed himself and turned to find the boy Sander standing behind him, arms folded, feet apart.

'Corryn seeks an audience with you, Theodan of Teredia.'

'But of course he does, for why else would you be here, Sander?'

The boy grinned. 'Perhaps I have grown to like you, leoth?'

'You raise my hopes even by jesting,' Theodan said. The boy chuckled, the tops of his ears pinking slightly. As Theodan made his way toward Corryn's pavilion, the boy skipped to keep up with his pace. 'Tell me, Sander, how is our tribe chief's mood this day?'

The boy jumped gracefully over a puddle, landing light on the treadboard of the primary thoroughfare. 'His mood is as it always is.'

Theodan studied him. 'How long have you been with Corryn?'

'I was born in this camp. My mother passed as I came into the world,' he said without emotion. 'Corryn saw that I had food in my belly and was of use.'

'And how many namedays have you seen?'

The boy shrugged, halting to pick something up lodged between the muddy boards. A shimmering glint of silver. He rubbed the piece furiously against his thigh until it shone. It appeared to be a much battered silver coin. He turned to show it to Theodan. 'Do you think it enough to buy me an aryian fruit in the market?'

Inspecting it, Theodan nodded. 'Perhaps a whole bunch. You shall need to keep it safe.'

The boy placed it carefully into a crudely made leather pouch tied around his small waist. Taking care to then tie the pouch closed with his small hands.

'I thank you for the escort, Sander,' Theodan said as they reached Corryn's tent. The boy gave a small salute and skipped off back in the direction they had come. The guards outside nodded him through.

He found Corryn enclosed in one of the dens next to the main gathering area. A large rectangular table took up much of the space, long benches on either side of it and a vacant chair at its head. Several of Corryn's men stood around the table, serious looks on their faces, which turned more serious as he entered.

'I would call my men if we are to make best use of your men's knowledge, Corryn.' He said as Corryn turned.

'The Sun Kin will join your attack on the city - but I ask that you give us one more day, attack at nightfall tomorrow. The plan I have shall need a day in the setting. And before you object, may I remind you that you agreed to let me lead this thing.'

Theodan smiled, nodding his assent. 'What changed your mind?' He asked. For Corryn Vane was not a male who often changed his mind.

'I suppose I remembered that you are the best soldier I've ever known.' It was unequivocal, not meant to flatter. 'If you say now is the time to strike the city, then I would be a fool not to listen. But Theodan, my men are not blessed with Leothine speed or flesh or even skill. They cannot fight like Leothine because they are not Leothine. And I will not risk them as though they are. So we will do this my way, or not at all.'

Theodan dipped his head, deferent. 'Very well, commander. Then tell me how this is to be done.' He glanced down at the table. They had spread a large but worn map of Azura across it, markers denoting the city, gelder, and bay. 'The Prince of Calate has agreed to fight with us - I thought he may prove useful.'

'You trust him?'

'I do not know that I do,' Theodan admitted. 'Once we are inside, it will matter little which side he lends his sword to. But at least then I shall know whether I trust him.'

'And if he is killed? He loses any value he had.'

Theodan had considered this. Considered how Fara may react to the news. But her brother was a soldier, and she was smart enough to know that a soldier preferred a death in battle over any other. He reasoned she would be proud he'd chosen to fight for Azura against Zybar.

'Or perhaps his value to us increases. Either way, he is a well-trained soldier, and those we need.'

Corryn thought about this, then nodded slowly, as though an idea had begun to sprout in his mind. 'Perhaps there is a way he can be of use to us which will also test his loyalty...' Corryn fell deeper into thought, his finger scratching his lower lip.

'Are you of a mind to tell me what this plan of yours is?'

'Hmmm? Yes.'

And so it would be. When the sun rose a day from now, he would watch it from the balcony of the Golden Palace, victory warm in his veins and the blood of the Zybar dripping righteously from his sword. Or the next one would be his last. He would not look upon her again in this mortal realm. She who had brought him here to this moment, his heart filled not with destruction and blind obedience, but for the first time with devotion and love. His soul filled with the light of a million suns.