Seagulls squawked overhead, gliding in the cool salty breeze while the masts of ships bobbled as if attempting to spear them. Finding the Armindian ship with its prominent blue striped sails had been simple. Getting the captain to leave with a light cargo was not. It had taken a larger sum than anticipated to add any sense of urgency to his departure.

"You are fortunate the cargo on this trip is light. With this wind on our backs, we are sure to make port in record time." With hawk eyes, Captain Wingspear of The Siren inspected the shipment boxes one by one as they passed the galley way completely ignoring Tezaro and Eri.

Wingspear had sun-weathered skin and a broad physique that came from decades of sailing. He may have been forty or eighty for all the cracks that lined his face. "Of course, there is still the matter of payment." He stopped and his black eyes narrowed at them.

Eri produced a pouch and tossed it at the rusted haired captain who easily caught it. "Here is half of what you asked for. You'll get the rest once we arrive. When do we leave?"

The captain opened the pouch and meticulously inspected the contents before answering. "We set sail at noon. With or without you." Tezaro nodded and Captain Wingspear returned to inspecting his cargo.

Eri led the way down the dock noting  how few foreign ships occupied the marina. "When do I get Owen's money back?"

"When we reach Crown Guard you can take it up with Anthonias." Tezaro winked at her.

A string of curses flew out of Eri's mouth. "Well, at least we'll finally be gone from Lathimnar. The last two days have been grating on my nerves. It's a shame we had to sell our mounts for this passage, though."

"It is well worth it if you ask me. My only complaint is that they only arrived yesterday and not sooner." Without their mounts to barter, they had been at a standstill to board The Siren. "Regardless, let's hurry to get the others and leave. I fear Captain Wingspear is man of his word." As soon as they left the docks, they raised their hoods and blended into the crowds as they headed to the palace.

When the time came, Lily and Valdor accompanied them to the docks to say their farewells. The three companions boarded the ship while Aurora remained on the dock hugging Lily tightly.

"Master Owen has promised me that he will take care of you. Stay close to him."

"I will. I wish you could come with us."

"I'll be with you just as soon as I can. Promise."

Reluctantly they released each other, as Aurora turned to Valdor. "You were the first friend I made here. I don't know what I would have done without you."

He took her hands in his and kissed each one in turn. "Probably accosted some other fellow to get you as far away as possible from your guard." They laughed together as he gave her a roguish grin. Unexpectedly his face turned serious walked her a few steps away.

"Aurora, there is something I want you to know. Something, that I'm afraid I've done a very poor job at hiding, but I need you to know."

With deliberate slowness he lowered his lips to hers, giving her plenty of time to stop him. She did not. There was no rush or demand to his kiss. With expert skill he drew her closer, sealing the space between them while deepening the kiss.

As Valdor had reached for Aurora, Tezaro and Eri emerged from below deck in search of her. Eri took a firm grip of Tezaro's arm fearing what he may do.

For his part, it took more of his self-control than Valdor cared to admit to bring their kiss to a stop. With a shaky breath, he released her. "Until we meet again, pretty one."

Tezaro did not take his eyes away from Aurora and Valdor's locked embrace. "You can lower your hand, Eri. There is no need to do that."

Eri raised a skeptical brow while he fisted his hands. "You cannot deny it. You have come to have feelings for her."

"I also have no true claim over her."

She blinked in astonishment that he'd admitted it. "You have to tell her the truth. Talk to her."

His eyes remained fixed on Aurora. He coulld not look away from Aurora standing beside Valdor, a sight he hoped he never would have to become accustomed to.

"I know I've been protective of her because of Larn," he sensed Eri's objection and continued, "though that is not the only reason. She is the last link I have to finding out who killed my brother. I told myself that she needed my crest to keep her safe." He scoffed at his logic.

"But you may be right. There are many things that must be said. I will speak with her, but not now. Soon." As he turned to leave, he locked eyes with Aurora. "You best get her. I'm not myself."

Eri watched him disappear below deck. "I suppose that's progress. What an idiot." She grumbled before shaking her head and fetching Aurora.

Once on board, the captain barked orders, and The Siren began to glide past the other ships. It seemed like no time at all before they were well out of the cove while Valdor stood beside Lily contemplating his next move.

Once Aurora was set in place as Armindia's ruler, he would be sure to visit her; either as the Red Fox or as a prince of Kai'lym. One way or the other he would get what he needed from Aurora for the Fallen. Nothing else mattered. He turned to help Lily back onto the carriage that had brought them.

He studied her closely as they rode through the cobbled streets. There must be something about her if Nim had died to protect her. She had a mysterious power very much like Aurora, he mused. Suddenly, it occurred to him the reason behind Nim's noble sacrifice. How could he have missed it! Lily had told him herself. It was so clear now.

He smiled at his good fortune then took Lily's hand in his, knowing that she would use her Sight, "Do not worry, my dear. All will be alright. We will visit them sooner than you think. You can depend upon me."

"I know we will. You're just like Nim said. I trust you completely, Valdor." She returned a reassuring smile.

"You do not know how glad I am to hear that." He squeezed her hand in comfort, knowing full well that the true Key of Armindia sat next to him.

The voyage to Armindia had been unexpectedly uneventful. The azure sky reflected the calmness of the ocean as steady winds made sure The Siren sliced through the water effortlessly.

It was on the fourth day of their trip that Tezaro knocked on the cabin door Aurora shared with Eri. He had grown tired of Eri's glares and not so subtle jabs about speaking with Aurora and decided enough was enough.

Believing Aurora was alone he was taken aback when Eri opened the door then called back, "Aurora, Tezaro wants to talk to you." Then she shoved past him muttering, "finally."

He took a step inside and found Aurora picking up a couple of Eri's disks from the ground next to the wall on the far side. If he didn't know better, he'd think she was practicing disk throwing...and failing miserably.

"Aurora, I need to speak with you."

When Aurora heard his voice, she quickly hid the disks behind her and turned to him with a crimson face. "Um, sure. Just let me put away some of Eri's things she left lying about."

He looked at the disk cartridge then at her. "You know I could teach you how to use those."

"I know, but no offense you're a guy."

He took a few steps closer to her. "I'm glad you noticed. I was beginning to think only elves turned your head. But what's your point?"

Heat rushed to Aurora's face. "Eri's a woman."

"So?"

"I'm a woman."

He took another step closer. "I know."

Aurora squeezed her eyes shut trying to focus and calm her erratic heart. The cabin seemed smaller with his presence in it. She felt just as she did that morning in the woods when he kissed her. But the memory only seemed to ignite a fire that she had not felt with Valdor. She bit her lip and opened her eyes determined to bring the conversation back into focus.

"What I mean," she drew in a deep breath, "is that her fighting technique is different because of that and more suited to me."

"But I'm the one that taught her."

A fact she could not ignore, but she was afraid that learning from him would be too distracting. "I know, but it's just better this way."

She took a seat on the drop down plank that acted as a makeshift bench or bed. "Now, what do you want to talk about?"

Tezaro took a moment to study her, with her wide eyed innocence looking at him expectantly, and didn't know where to begin. "I want to talk to you about Larn."

"Alright." She knew this was a painful subject to him and for him to want to share something so intimate with her meant a great deal.

"When I was Armindia's Protector, my sole focus was in keeping Mithoran from invading through the southern borders. At the time, Larn was a squire to Captain Burldof who was part of the Shield Guard under my command.

"Squires are not supposed to fight in a battle unless they are instructed to do so by their mentor or in dire circumstances. Burldof and I do not get along. Needless to say you can imagine how often Burldof let my brother fight. But in all honesty, Larn was better than most." Tezaro began to pace in the tiny cabin.

"We patrolled the border frequently and consequently fought battles with Lord Fennaris's army. One night after a battle, my brother came up to me saying there was something important he needed to tell me." His feet stopped mid stride as he raked a hand impatiently across his hair. Visions of the past haunted him.

Aurora sat patiently waiting for him to continue.

"He, he told me he thought there was a traitor amongst us. I did not believe him." He hung his head.

"I trained with all of those men. There was nothing I did not know about them. I was certain of their loyalty." Frustration gnawed at him and he returned to pacing with angry strides.

"In one particular instance, Burldof was injured badly and was unable to fight in the continuing battle. Larn should have stayed with him." He paused.

"They found his body a distance away from the dead from the battle." Tezaro's voice carried the weight of guilt and bitterness. "As a soldier I understand that death does not discriminate, but he was my brother. When I stormed into Burldof's tent I was ready to kill him for sending out Larn to fight in his stead. He denied it of course, and at first I did not believe him. Then I realized that Burldof had too much arrogance to let an underling take his place.

"No, he did not send Larn to fight. And I knew with certainty that Larn could hold his own in a fight. So why was his sword still in its sheath when I saw his body?"

Aurora stood and blinked as realization hit. "You think the traitor killed him. That means that Larn must have known the traitor and that is why he didn't draw his sword."

Tezaro nodded bitterly. "He went in search of the traitor's identity to prove to me the truth I had refused to listen." His eyes were red rimmed and watery. "No one knows what I have told you. Everyone sees a madman in search of vengeance and that is how it must remain."

She nodded in understanding and he took her outstretched hand. It was so small, and soft; so different from his. He had hoped that telling Aurora would somehow magically lift the burden of guilt he carried. But it did not.

If anything, a dark fear gripped him by thinking that Aurora would be the traitor's next target once she was revealed. Now more than ever, he needed to find Larn's killer. Although if he did not find a way to break his prophecy, it would not be the traitor that threatened Aurora's life but him instead.

"There's something else. I've known you for much longer than you think."

"What do you mean? Have we met before?"

He shook his head and sat beside her on the bench. "I have not been honest with you. Several years ago I visited the Blue Oracle. She revealed various things to me. In one of the visions she showed me you, and you were huddled under a bridge crying. I wondered for many nights what had made you cry. Can you tell me?"

Aurora bowed her head. She knew exactly of what he spoke of. "I was missing my mother. If it's the time I think then that was the time when I ran away from my third foster home. But Lily came after me and found me. That's when things changed. But how is it possible for you to know this?"

"The Blue Oracle can foretell the future and reveal it to her audience using her mystic waters. But from that moment on when I saw you in the water, you became a part of me. I thought I fell in love with you then, but I know I love you now."

His fingertips glided down her cheek until his thumb caressed her lower lip. Aurora's breathed hitched in anticipation. He leaned in closer, but stopped just short of touching her lips with his. Instead his forehead rested against hers.

Aurora was about to answer but Tezaro's finger on her lips stopped her. "I do not expect you to feel the same. Nor do I wish to know. I have had years to love you when you've only known me a few weeks. But I do love you, Aurora. No matter how badly I've behave towards you, please believe that. I just want to keep you safe." Calloused hands cupped her face.

"When we arrive in Crown Guard I will do exactly as I told you that night in Morid." Although it would pain him, he would ask for his crest then. "Do you remember?" His voice had become a whisper.

Aurora felt his warm breath and couldn't think clearly having him this close to her. What was he talking about? The night in Morid? "You mean the night we almost kissed?" She licked her lips to try and quench her dry throat.

A groan escaped him at the sight of her pink tongue. His eyes closed remembering the blessing and the curse on him kissing her had been. He had finally tasted her, and he ached to repeat it but knew he could not. It was not fair to either of them.

"Yes. I will have to leave you then. A dark prophecy looms over me. Too much of it has already come to pass. Until I am rid of it, I will not, cannot surrender to this. I will be rid of this prophecy. For now, I will ask nothing of you; just know that I will return for you as I told you before. Do you trust me?"

"Always."