Leena met Paulo as he walked through the Portal. Diddero must have warned her that he was coming.

"Diddero is with Jiyun," Leena explained his friend's absence quickly as they walked towards the meeting room. It was his least favorite room in the cottage but the most appropriate for this moment.

"Have you called the Masters together?"

"Not yet. I wanted to wait for your arrival."

"Gather them," Paulo ordered, and Leena nodded at a servant who ran from the room, prepared in advance for the order.

"Done. Do you need any food or drink?"

"No, I ate before I came. Leena," Paulo stopped and turned to his sister. "Call the students as well."

"Yes." Leena nodded, but Paulo noted the surprise flickering in her eyes. As he watched his sister walk towards the living spaces, Paulo knew she hadn't anticipated this part of his instructions and would have to gather the students herself. A small smile crept onto his face; he appreciated that Leena couldn't predict his every move.

As he entered the meeting room, he fully expected to see Mara. However, he was taken aback to find Persephone there as well. It was unusual for her to be the first one at any gathering.

"It is tonight," Paulo said without ceremony. Both women nodded and stood to bow at the Master of the Vale. Tonight, Paulo was The Elemental Master, and all respect due to his title would be given, even by his closest friends.

"Dietrich is to be with him," Jordan spoke as he entered the room with Agnes, his body stiff. As a brother, Paulo had sympathy. Dietrich was Jordan's last living child. Though necessary, his presence at Theodore's side meant he would be in harm's way. As The Master, Paulo appreciated the Earth Master's reserve. His demeanor did not show any disapproval of this decision. Agnes, on the other hand, was, as usual, flaring with emotion. It was good he had called Natalia. A Fire Tamer might be necessary tonight.

"Ah, I was not sure," Paulo answered honestly.

"Yes, and his young apprentice," Agnes responded. "I told him this was unwise, but the boy has some fighting skills that Dietrich thought would be useful." This was interesting. Paulo knew Dietrich had taken an apprentice but had learned little about him.

"Is he far enough along in his magical training to assist?" Mara asked as she grabbed Agnes's hand in support. Though Mara was not known for her empathy, Paulo was sure she could feel the flare of Fire in the room and was doing what she could to calm the Fire Master.

"He had some training before he became an apprentice. Rosemund sent him to Dietrich from the temple. This is why he agreed to help," Agnes answered.

Jiyun and Diddero entered the room, interrupting Paulo's contemplation about the unknown apprentice. Jiyun looked tired, probably from working hard to strengthen the room's shielding. Diddero held her arm as they both bowed to The Master. Jiyun sat at the end of the table, closest to the door, while Diddero stood protectively behind her.

"The children?" He asked Diddero.

"In the Village with the school Mistress," Jiyun answered. Paulo nodded.

Before he could say anything further, Leena arrived with Destan and the students. As Raja and Natalia entered, Paulo noted how close they stood to each other, their hands clasped tight and their body touching comfortably. Much had happened while he had been away. He knew some of it, but there would be more to explore later. It was good the Council did not expect him back for a while.

He turned to the room and watched as everyone settled into their seats. They were almost complete now. When Rosemund arrived, if she survived, he would have all of his Masters gathered. The training would begin in earnest then.

Paulo's eyes focused on his students, and he inhaled sharply. Soon, the real work would begin. His task was to mold these two into the tools the Council needed. But, as he looked at them, he worried. These were two of the most powerful beings he had ever met; he feared he could not control them. And if they could not be controlled, would they need to be destroyed? He looked at Persephone, who frowned back at him. She must have known his thoughts because her frown deepened as she turned towards the students. Was the Tribe ready for that possibility? They were his only hope of a check on the three's power. Persephone's stiff posture was an answer; she was prepared and understood the risks.

"To bring everyone to the same place," Paulo began when the silence stretched long enough. "Tonight, there will be a rescue attempt that will likely spring a trap."

"A trap?" Natalia's voice was calm; her hand laid on Agnes's arm. "For whom?"

"Well," Paulo started, then paused and stroked his beard. Should he tell the available truth or the truth he suspected? "We know their immediate goal is likely Prince Theodore, but through him-"

"Lukas," Raja whispered, but everyone heard in the quiet room. Paulo remained silent.

The Queen was still hunting for her prize, and the students would have to realize that she would never stop trying to possess Lukas. Her reckless desire could be the advantage they needed, and tonight, he hoped to begin to use it.

***

"So you will be in my head the whole time?" Theodore clarified again as Lukas prepared himself.

"Right, it takes a lot of energy to penetrate your shields, but if you open them up a little, I can sneak in and monitor you while you are away."

"But will others enter as well?"

"Only if I am dead," Lukas answered confidently. "And hopefully, if I am dead or dying, you will have the sense to raise your shields again."

"You know that I don't know much about them. I've had them my whole life. They are stronger here in the castle but are always with me. I can only hope that if you pierce them, they will reform without innate skill." Theodore was afraid of the consequences and letting anyone into his mind. But he knew that Lukas was right; it was worth the risk. To have the full power of Lukas' mind without his presence required a vessel, and they did not trust anyone else to be that vessel.

"Yes, it is a strange thing, something that you share with your cousins in the Queendom." Theodore's expression soured as he contemplated his connection to the Queen and her brother. While he held his cousin Destan in high regard, the idea of being related to the Queen was disconcerting. "This is going to take a lot of my energy. Make sure the guards are ones we trust. I may be incapacitated for a while."

"Of course," Theodore answered with a tight grin.

The Prince had not disclosed to Lukas that he had decided to leave his best guards with him. Lukas would have objected, insisting that the Prince needed them at the port. However, Theodore would have Dietrich by his side, and in case anything went awry, he wanted trusted men to safeguard his friend. Seated in the chair next to Lukas's bed, Theodore found solace in the proximity, even though Lukas didn't necessarily require it. The presence of his friend made Theodore feel more secure. If anything were to go amiss, Theodore would be vulnerable to an attack from any of his brother's Mind Masters. Only Lukas could shield him from such a threat.

With a final sigh, Theodore began pushing back the shields that were as much a part of him as his hair or skin. These mental barriers had always been there, an ever-present layer of protection. His mother had meticulously trained him, teaching him to fortify and ease them when necessary. In his youth, he had only diluted them to feel the fleeting pleasure of intimacy, and even then, he hadn't done so since he was very young.

As he matured, Theodore grasped the true significance of these shields. They were his safeguard against the world's chaos, and he never compromised them for anything as frivolous as personal pleasure. But now, with a deep breath, he focused on a small section of his mind and pulled with more force than ever before. The shields resisted. Their strength was a testament to years of discipline and practice. A small opening began to appear, a crack in the seemingly impenetrable fortress.

The moment the gap formed, Lukas was ready. He slipped through the breach with practiced ease, his presence merging seamlessly with Theodore's. Lukas's shielding flowed into the opening, reinforcing and sealing the vulnerability. The sensation was strange and comforting, a mix of intrusion and solidarity, as Lukas's mental fortitude bolstered Theodore's defenses from within.

"You have a very comfortable mind, friend." Lukas appeared before Theodore, smiling. "You did well. I had not expected it to go so quickly."

"Will I be able to mend the tear once you leave?"

"Yes, I must work to keep it from mending while I am here. The shield wants to close me out again. It is treating me like a virus invading your Mindspace." Lukas laughed, the sound jarring in the quiet space.

Theodore, on the other hand, merely smiled, his face serene and knowing. The sensation of having someone entirely within his Mindspace was surreal. He had never experienced such an intimate connection before and found it both unsettling and fascinating.

He wondered just how much Lukas could perceive. Could he see the intricacies of Theodore's thoughts, hidden memories, and emotions tucked away in the deepest corners of his mind? Was Lukas privy to his fears, hopes, and most guarded secrets? Such transparency was daunting, yet there was also a curious comfort.

Theodore could feel Lukas's presence moving through his thoughts, like a gentle breeze rustling through leaves, exploring the landscape of his mind with an almost reverent curiosity. It was strange to share this sacred space, which had always been his alone. Yet, they had an unspoken understanding, a bond forged in trust and necessity.

"You have no internal barriers," Lukas stated with a frown. "We will have to work on this later. Trusting shields that you have no control over is not wise. We have to build a secondary layer of protection."

"If you say so, Mindmaster, but I believe you are the only one who could have penetrated those shields in this world."

"No, there is another, but she is not yet aware of her full strength." Lukas contradicted. Theodore thought of the slight woman he had befriended on the boat and could not imagine her possessing such strength. "Your mind is different than I expected. There is something more to you than I think you realize."

"How so?"

"Later. Now, you must focus on your mission. I will swear to you that I will not pry into your mind. I will stay here, on the surface level. However, I will see anything you bring up to this level. I cannot avoid that."

"You could have mentioned that before I let you in," Theodore chided.

"I did not know you had so few protections. I assumed - " Lukas stopped talking and shook his head. "I assumed too much. Go, my friend. I believe the ship will arrive soon. You need to go."

"Yes," Theodore stood silent momentarily, not leaving but not ready to say anything yet. "Paulo, the Master, could you tell him something if everything goes wrong?"

"If I can," Lukas promised.

"Tell him I am sorry I have always been such a coward."

"You are not a coward, Theo."

"But I am, and he will know what these words mean."

"Okay, keep your secrets."

Theodore smiled at his friend's small deception. Lukas already could hear the truth behind Theodore's words. Had he not said as much just moments ago that nothing could be hidden from Lukas here?

"Thank you, Lukas." Theodore put a hand on Lukas's shoulder.

"This is not goodbye, friend. Don't treat it that way." Lukas laid his hand over Theodore's as he spoke. "We will both survive this. It is a simple rescue."

Theodore could sense the underlying concern in his friend's words, yet he doubted that Lukas was aware he had given away any of his worries.

"No, but I will likely go to the Vale for a time afterward. I will need to bring Rosamund there."

"Yes, but there I will have two people I trust more than even myself watching over you." With a laugh, Lukas moved his hand and let his image fade. Theodore could still feel him but knew it was time to focus on the outer world and his chosen task. At least he would see Paulo soon, or he would if he survived.

***

"Why does he risk this?" Destan asked quietly after Paulo laid out the Prince's plan. "Who is Rosemund to him? Is he not a Prince of the Realm? How could he risk his life so?"

"He is the third son," Paulo explained. "He has more freedom than his brothers."

"But he is still a son, able to take the throne."

"Two brothers and twice as many nephews would have to die first, but yes, Destan, he can legally claim the throne." Paulo sighed, and Leena picked up his thread. Natalia saw a hint of something being exchanged between them before she spoke.

"It is his very ability to claim the throne that makes him so reckless. He would have died long ago if his brothers thought he was more of a risk to their supremacy." Leena laid a hand on her brother's arm, and Natalia looked at Raja. He had seen it as well. She remembered their time on the ship. Paulo was close to this Prince; they were friends.

"He has let Lukas into his mind," Raja said quietly, staring directly at the Master as he spoke. Examining the older man's reaction, Natalia saw the flash of jealousy, gratitude, and, finally, fear in his eyes before he regained his composure. "Though Lukas will remain in the palace, your prince will have Lukas's full strength traveling with him."

"Is it safe for Lukas to allow himself to be so vulnerable?" Destan looked worried. He understood what the Mind Master must do to remain with Theodore.

"The Prince has left trusted guards with him," Raja assured.

"It is exactly this calculated risk that the Queen is depending on," Destan pushed, surprising Natalia with his fierce tone. "Lukas, not the Prince, is her ultimate prey."

"Master Destan," Jordan began. "My apologies, Priest Destan." Natalia thought the title of Master suited Destan perfectly, and she suspected that the slip was a subtle compliment from the older Earth Master. "You can travel the Water Ways and are of royal blood."

"You mean for him to go to Lukas? They would kill him for who he is!" Natalia looked at Destan, willing him to see the folly of Master Jordan's plan without being disrespectful.

"I mean for him to do nothing, Natalia. I merely suggest options. The Priest, who was once a prince, can travel where we cannot. The palace has old protections, dating back to when it was the seat of an empire, built into each stone that keeps us and any other magic user out without invitation. Destan is of the old blood. He can enter the building as easily as a Prince of the Kingdom."

"As could the Queen," Persephone added. "I can Wind Walk to the port. Air will bring me there in a flash, but I could not protect Lukas in the palace, and the Master cannot build a portal there. If you want one of us there with Lukas, it must be Destan."

"Would you be safe?" Natalia asked, knowing she would not win this battle and the Masters were right.

"No, Natalia, but I would not wear this face." Destan smiled and looked at Raja, who nodded.

"Lukas agrees with the plan. He has asked the servants to run a bath. He wonders if your Lady can find it."

"She has been there many times before," Paulo answered, his hand stroking his beard. "But Destan, you are a Priest of Water. You are not battle-trained."

"Do I need to be? I can bring Lukas through the Water Ways with me if needed. It would be hard but possible."

"Can you bring me with you?" Natalia asked, and the Master frowned. "I am not an Elemental Master, but a Mind Master. I can protect what you cannot, Destan."

"I don't know that I can. I'm not sure if the palace will accept you," Destan answered simultaneously as the other Masters voiced their displeasure with the idea.

"Then it is settled," Paulo stood again and sighed. "Destan will go to the Palace, Persephone to the Port, Masters Jordan and Agnes will help Master Mara, and I will build the Portal needed for them to return with Rosemund. And you," His gaze bore into Natalia and Raja, his expression stern and unwavering. "Will monitor Lukas through your bonds." Natalia nodded, then glanced at her bondmate. He could read her thoughts, but his expression didn't change as he stood and bowed to the Master.

Natalia couldn't sit idle while the woman who had saved her life and the man she had worked so hard to save were in danger. Raja understood this; he might disagree, but he would not interfere. Natalia snuck a glance at Diddero, her only obstacle. He would not open the way for her. Ah, but he had already opened a way for Raja and Lukas' bond. She could travel that path.

***

As soon as they returned to their rooms, Raja kissed Natalia fiercely. He craved connection and closeness, trusting her intentions despite thinking her plan bordered on foolishness. He longed to protest and keep her with him, but he knew she would never forgive him if he did.

"He needs me," Natalia explained as they entered her Mindspace.

"I need you too," Raja answered, holding her as tightly in their minds as he did in the Physical space.

"I know, and I don't do this lightly, but they do not understand how vulnerable he has made himself, what he has to do to keep that connection with the Prince open."

"Destan is strong."

"I am stronger," Natalia looked at Raja impatiently.

"You are stronger," Raja relented. "But you must block your Elemental powers, or the Palace may not let you in."

"It's a Good thing we have had our barrier training already," Natalia answered with an edge. He sensed her fear and pulled her closer to him.

"Yes, a good thing."

"I have to do this now. Can you lend me strength?"

"All that I can, but I must also be able to function here, or they will suspect."

"Yes, just some. Keep a channel open, and I will pull if necessary." Natalia paused and looked up at Raja. His heart stopped at the look on her face. "Raja." Her voice was so quiet, but it boomed in his head. "I love you."

"I love you too," Raja answered, kissing her before leaving Mindspace.

When Raja opened his eyes, Natalia was gone. He had seen Lukas do this before—walking the Mind Paths—but had never grown accustomed to it. Perhaps someday, he would learn to move with thought as they did or travel through the Elements like the Masters. But for now, he would remain in the Vale, burdened with worry for those he loved.

***

"She has left," The Lady announced to Destan as they stood together in the great pool near his bed. "We should go now, or she will beat us there."

"Can she move so quickly without you?"

"She can do many things without us, but we wish she would not. She is precious to us, and we can not see her where she travels now."

Destan shivered at the thought of a place where the Elementals could not venture. They could access the Mindspace—so where could Natalia be if not there? Without further delay, he grasped his Lady's hand and sank into the Water, his usual pleasure in the journey overshadowed by a deep sense of unease.

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