Lukas let out a quiet sigh, catching Theodore's attention, who turned around just in time to see Lukas' shoulders flatten as if a heavy burden had been lifted off his back. During Raja's testing, Lukas had been tense and on edge, but that morning was different. Lukas's distress had been palpable, and it was the first time he had shown any real emotion. Theodore felt a wave of relief wash over him when he saw how much Lukas had relaxed. He had been worried about the type of reaction a distressed Lukas might have and the damage it might cause to his people.

Theodore had faith in Paulo's capability to safeguard Raja, but Lukas was more wary and less willing to trust Paulo's intentions. Although Lukas and Theodore were becoming closer friends, Lukas couldn't be sure of his judgment when it came to the two most important people in his life. However, Theodore didn't take offense to Lukas's mistrust, because Lukas's concern for Natalia and Raja demonstrated a greater degree of humanity than anything else he did. 

Both men turned back to the King, their expressions carefully neutral. Theodore's father always craved the spotlight and disliked being upstaged or ignored. Even this momentary distraction of Theodore's attention could have triggered a tirade. 

"Edward, are the mages prepared?" The King frowned at the Crown Prince, drawing Theodore's attention. Edward must have been preoccupied to have drawn their father's attention in the middle of one of his rants.

"Yes and no," Edward sat up straighter and looked at Lukas with a frown. "As your Mind Master has predicted, the Adepts do not want to work together under any leadership. They have agreed to sit in an assembly and bring their students back to the Kingdom from whatever travels they are on. But they do not agree to any one course of action."

"You were tasked with making them agree," The King fumed at his heir.

"Yes, and I have failed." Edward's character was defined by his willingness to own up to his shortcomings. Despite his tendency towards arrogance, he admitted his failures, allowing for course correction. If not for a fatal flaw, he could have been an exceptional king who would have avoided his father's mistakes and brought prosperity to his Kingdom. "But, the council of Adepts is a good first step, and it is better than letting the Councils into our lands."

Ah, and there was the arrogance. Theodore's brother believed that no form of magic could ever be equal to the Mage Schools, which had led to their current state. At first, Theodore hadn't given much thought to the matter when it had just involved the prohibition of Elemental Temple construction until Paulo warned him about the dangers of isolation. It was only when the King barred Masters, despite still being their allies, from living in the Kingdom or even visiting that Theodore realized the wisdom of his lover's words. Crown Prince Edward, who had just earned his designation as a Master Class Earth Mage, supported the ban with all his influence.

"And this is how your Kingdom will fall." Theodore had become accustomed to Lukas's audacious opinions to the point that they no longer shocked him. Lukas had been speaking his mind to the King and Heir ever since he joined their circle.

"How so?" The King's voice was calm, but his grip on the table tightened, and he didn't turn to Lukas as he spoke.

Theodore couldn't help but suppress a smile at his father's suppressed anger. Even the King knew better than to anger Lukas, especially after what he had done to the residents of Castle Miritis.

"You do not call on your allies, who are, by all report, an organized group of magic users. They have clear command layers that can bring an army of magicians that would obey a single man's orders. This is something your Adepts cannot do." Lukas silenced Edward's protest with a look and continued, "Would an Earth Master listen to an Air Adept? No, and for sure, a Fire Adept would not. Your system here is built on the independence of the schools. Where there are crossovers, there are new schools. Each school is independent, and they do not work well together. This has been the way it has been for generations. So when the Queen's priestesses follow their leader's command in unison, your Adepts will be hard-pressed to answer."

"Your sympathy towards the Council is well established," Contempt oozed from every word as Edward retorted. "But our mages are just as powerful."

This blind faith in the Kingdom mages was his brother's fatal flaw. He would be a good King if he had not been born a Mage.

"Power is not everything," Lukas said calmly and leaned back. Theodore thought he looked a little bored with this debate. It was an old one. "Organization and the ability to trust that there are no traitors among your commanders are more important."

"We have no traitors in the Kingdom. Who would sympathize with that madwoman?" The King insisted, revealing his blindspot again, his affection for his second son.

Lukas and Theodore were trying to gather enough evidence to prove Cassius's betrayal to the King. However, they were unable to do so. Despite this, Edward agreed to speak with his father and convinced him to exclude Cassius from their war council. Theodore was not present during the conversation, but Cassius was subsequently banned. Theodore expressed willingness to be dismissed as well, but Lukas insisted that he stay.

It was difficult to watch these farcical daily discussions. They discussed the likelihood of the Queen bringing her Temples to war, and Lukas repeated his advice to bring in the Council to aid the mages, but his father and brother always dismissed it. However, Theodore had to admit that thanks to Lukas' consistent reminders, they had made some progress towards unifying the mages. Maybe that was the best they could hope for.

He could only hope that his people would survive the foolishness and conceit of their leaders. His gaze drifted to Lukas. Though he never discussed it, Theodore could not help but believe that Lukas's arrogance had brought about the downfall of the People. Since they disappeared in the middle of the night, no one had heard from The People, once the most substantial source of rebellion in the Queendom. Lukas' resistance to discussing their fate implied regret to Theodore. But had he been willing to talk about it more, perhaps the King could have learned from Lukas's mistake.

Although Lukas didn't mention his failure, history was full of cautionary stories. Those who didn't learn from history were bound to repeat it. Lukas's father and brother's arrogance wasn't just based on their trust in the mages and their sense of superiority.

They were incapable of imagining failure, but Theodore could.

***

Rosamund gazed intently at the Temple grounds as the soldiers of the Queen's Guard, decked in their distinct liveries, made their way in, the sound of their horses' hooves resounding through the air. The Queen's use of vibrant colors and extravagant ceremonies to exert her control over her people was a fascinating spectacle. The traditional uniform of the Queen's Guard, which was akin to the brown and grey uniforms of regular Queendom soldiers, was a far cry from the flashy purple and grey regalia adorning the current Guard.

The Queen's decision to send her personal Guard to collect the Fire Priestess was a calculated move to project an image of respect and honor. The uniforms the Guards wore were meant to reinforce this idea and influence the memories of the Queen's subjects. When people reflected on the incident, they would remember the Fire Priestess being treated with respect, as an honored guest, rather than as a prisoner. However, this was all just a show. The reality was that the Fire Priestess would be a prisoner as soon as she entered Castle Miritis. Her status and reputation would be disregarded as the Queen pursued her goals. Despite the pageantry and grandeur of the Queendom, the truth was, as usual, far from what it appeared to be.

Fortunately, Rosamund had taken precautions. After the stable girl had informed them of the assassin's visit, the Temple leaders assembled and organized a conclave to discuss and plan. They chose a successor for Rosamund. Her novices and the Priesthood were well-prepared for the change in leadership. The fact that they had enough time to prepare was a blessing from Lukas. Despite his failure to assassinate the Queen, he had struck a heavy blow against her. Rosamund was confident that the Queen would have come for her much earlier had it not been for the chaos after Lukas' attack.

She had been so careful for so many years, but, in the end, the horse had been her undoing. In truth, it had not been the horse or her promise to return it to Raja's people but how she chose to fulfill it. This decision was one of many she made in her life that had not seemed important until the consequences became apparent. Rosamund had forgotten about it until the girl came running to her with the tale. Because those who worked for the Queen were closely monitored and stable workers' loyalty unquestioned, Rosamund had not thought to conceal her dealings there. It had been this arrogance that had betrayed her.

When the Guard's formation broke prematurely, she smirked and watched the leader yelling at the younger soldiers. They were still not what they had been before Lukas' gift to the Queendom. So much experience and knowledge had been lost that night. The Queendom still was in the throws of the quiet chaos of rebuilding. Though it had delayed this chaos, it would not save the Priestess from her fate. Rosamund had considered escape, but she could not put the Order in jeopardy. If the Queen banished her, she could return to the Council lands and join the Master as he had requested. If the Queen executed her, Paulo would have to find another Fire Master to train his prodigies. But Rosamund was far more afraid of the other possibilities. Death was the most likely, but in her heart, what the Fire Priestess feared the most was the severing of her bond to Fire.

Turning away from the window, she cradled the small mirror in her hand that the Master had given her, her lifeline, her last line of communication with him. With some regret, she threw the mirror into the fireplace and watched it shatter before the Fire consumed it at her command. They would find no evidence of the Council here and nothing that would harm the Temple. She would not repay their support and honor with their destruction.

The pounding at her door told her it was time. She removed the amulet of office from around her neck and passed it to the quiet priest beside her. Through the priests' conclave, Fire had chosen this worthy man as her successor. Before this, she had entrusted him as the Temple's representative at the castle. His experience there had given him valuable insight that he would need in his new role. It was fortunate he never slept there.

"You could flee. We could smuggle you to the Council Lands, where you would be safe," he repeated as he fastened the amulet around his neck. Before the power transfer, she had confided in him, revealing her true identity and past life. He knew who she had been before she arrived and who she believed she still was. He repeated as he clasped the amulet around his neck. Before the transfer of power, she had confided in him, sharing her past self and the identity she still clung to.

"Yes, I would be safe, but none of you would. I have a duty to this Order, one that I never realized I would feel."

"The Fire would not have called you to be Priestess Superior if you did not feel this duty. Whatever you thought you were when you entered the Temple, you are a priestess now."

"Indeed," Rosamund agreed, then turned around gracefully, her long dress sweeping the floor as she stopped. She paused for a moment, taking a deep breath to steady herself. She then placed a delicate hand on the new Priest Superior's arm and smiled at him. She squeezed his arm gently as she spoke, her voice soft and gentle. "Please take good care of the Temple," she said, her words carrying a weight that belied their simplicity.

"Take care of yourself," he responded. "You need not worry about the Temple."

"I agree with you," she said before walking away. Her steps were slow and measured, each taking her further away from the Temple she had grown to love. She opened the door to the guard captain, who bowed as he gave her the order of retention. Rosamund didn't resist the order, so the Guard didn't attempt to bind her. That would happen later, at the castle.

All of her adult life, Fire had been her constant companion. She did not yearn for their separation but feared it was inevitable. Rosamund could only hope that it would not be permanent.

***

"Did you feel that?" Grey paused their ascent briefly. Til glanced at her and then recollected the slight tremor he had overlooked a moment ago. Mountains often moved and quivered, so he had paid no attention. However, judging by the expression on his partner's face, it appeared to be more than that.

"The quake? Yes."

"It was not an earthquake or not a natural one." Grey put her hands on the mountain and closed her eyes. "A portal opened. The Master of this Vale is a Portal Master. There are very few of those." Til shuffled through the information he possessed about all the known Masters. Part of his talent had always been in storing knowledge. There, he found it.

"One known Earth Master, two known Water Masters, an Air Master, no known Fire Masters, and several Elemental Masters, the most important of which being The Elemental Master, leader of the Elemental Council." He recited the list. He did not know the names of the Masters; those were always hidden, but this was much he remembered.

"I am impressed." As Grey spoke, Til's heart fluttered with anticipation. He had just done something that had pleased her, and a slight widening of her eyes only confirmed it. He couldn't help but feel a surge of excitement, knowing he would be rewarded later for his efforts. When she was amused, the nights were much more thrilling. "There are likely more, but those are the ones our spies have identified. You are a great asset to the Queen with that memory. It is good we have met."

"My First Spymaster trained me on how to create a memory vault. I do not forget anything I have been told not to forget. Though, I do have to search for any piece of information."

"His death was a great loss to the Queen, though I hear the newest Spymaster is an improvement on the last."

"Is there a new Spy?" He had not heard of the death of the Spy who replaced his master. That man had been a fool, sending anyone he deemed a threat away on a mission instead of utilizing their skills to impress the Queen. "Who has replaced him?"

"Simyon Spymaster." Grey's answer relieved some of the tension that had formed in his back as they stood on the narrow precipice talking. Simyon was a careful man, not one to waste talent. If he had been kept here, there had been a clear purpose. Til's master had trained Simyon, and his presence as the Spy gave Til some peace. "You seem pleased."

"He is a good choice," Til offered as he continued his climb.

"Would you have been a better one?"

Til wondered at the assassin's expression. He would have thought it was regret if she could possess this emotion. Whatever it had been, it was soon erased by the stoic glare he had grown accustomed to.

"No, not yet."

"Which Master do you think lives in the Vale we seek?"

"I assume one of the Water Masters," Til answered as they resumed their climb.

"Why?"

"Because no one remembers what the old man or young woman looks like, so one or both of them must have been strong in Water magic."

"Ah, they are Masters of Disguise. Is it only a Water talent?" Grey's probes felt more like tests than queries.

"I can't say for sure, but I have only heard about it among the Water Masters and the occasional Elemental Master." A sense of hope welled in his heart at a stray thought. He had been too young to remember his Uncle, and the Queen had called the entire Water Temple treacherous. Even if he had lived, he would have been an enemy. But still, the chance of his survival would have eased his mother's grief. "Could the Water Priests do this? Do you think any could have survived?"

"I do not see why not. Those who possessed the gift would have slipped away without anyone's notice. But the assassin guild has no record of any survivors." Grey's eyes held a hint of curiosity before she returned to her task.

"My Master never mentioned this possibility," Til mused as Grey pulled him onto another precipice. She pulled out her water and sipped it deliberately, prompting Til to do the same. Here, eyes gazed out over the mountain range that surrounded them. He felt her communing with the Earth and did not disturb her with any other stray thoughts.

"Til, not everyone agreed with the Queen's purge." The softness of her voice surprised him as much as her words. "They may have obeyed her commands but would not have been enthusiastic about hunting down the hidden survivors. If you had family in the Temple, your master did you a kindness by not mentioning the possibility of their survival to you. He saved you from having to make a choice."

"My uncle -" Til started but stopped when Grey touched his cheek lightly with her gloved hand.

"He likely took his treachery to the grave with him. Your Master did not want you to as well. Any survivors are long gone from the Queendom." Her hand dropped, the moment's intimacy broken, and her eyes steeled again. "What you need to worry about is the other possible owner of this Vale."

For a moment, his mind could not concentrate on her words, but years of discipline brought his attention back to their mission. He searched his memory vault for the Master, who met both conditions she had laid out that day. Very few in the Elemental Councils could boast being both Portal Master and a Master of Disguise. When his mind came to the most likely answer, he shuddered. If the man his memory settled on was the owner of this Vale, neither of them would survive this mission.

"You should wait for another assassin, Grey." He said softly, hating the emotion that entered his voice. Sentiment was not part of their partnership. "You would be more likely to survive then."

"That was always the case, Til, but no one comes for us. If another pair comes behind us, perhaps they will succeed where we failed or meet us as we return with our prey." Grey began her climb again.

"Why would The Master rescue the Tribesman?" Til hesitated briefly, then followed her up the mountain again.

"I do not know. It is just a possibility, not a certainty," Grey answered. "But we must be ready for all possibilities, don't we?"

"Of course," Til muttered, his mind drifting to the stories he had heard about The Elemental Master as they climbed.

Could the man no one remembered have been the legendary Elemental Master, leader of the Council of Masters? Would he have risked coming to the Queendom? He was a known associate of the youngest Prince of the Kingdom, and the ship he had followed had been the Prince's. However, he had never confirmed that the cargo had included Raja. Just that the man's arrival had occurred around the same time as the Prince's ship had returned.

Perhaps the woman had also been a magician, the man's apprentice. No one he had spoken with had recognized or could even remember her outside of the veil she had worn. The Master had no known apprentice, so if the woman were the man's apprentice, he would have to be one of the other Masters of Disguise, one with an apprentice.

But then, his knowledge could have been wrong or old. He searched his memory vault for the age of his last briefing on the Masters. It had been just before he left for this mission since he would be going so close to the Council lands. The Master was thought to be safe in his new Vale. There had been no mention of him leaving the Vale since the Queen had forced him to flee. But one could never be sure with Portal Masters. They traveled differently than others did.

No, they could not be following The Master's trail. It had to be one of the others. The Master would not have risked capture for the tribesman. There was no link between the Council Lands and Lukas, that much he was sure of.

As he gazed up at Grey, he felt a sense of destiny wash over him, pushing out a heavy sigh. In reality, they wouldn't stand a chance against even the weakest Water Master's fury in their own Vale, making this mission a death sentence. It was a realization that had hit him hard the moment Grey had revealed her plan to partner with him, and he couldn't shake the feeling of predetermination that now lingered within him—only years of training and dedication kept him arduously climbing towards certain death.

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