Wyeth watched from some distance away where he tended to Jak's wound, his heart splitting in half over Kysoo's distress. Jak thanked him and finished tucking the bandage under his arm, moving over to where Haito was still contemplating Donnie's horrible demise.

"A brutal thing for such a young woman to endure."

"A matter of honour and justice."

"Also a hardening of the line on compassion I would think."

"Does the slaughterer of my family deserve compassion?" Haito's eyes came around, burning into Jak's defiantly.

"Is making your daughter into the same mold as him, deserving?"

"Beware, Gaijin, you do not incur my wrath."

"Father!" Kysoo stepped between the two, one hand on her father's chest the other on Jak's. "It is over. You were allies... remain respectful friends."

The two men stared silently at one another and then Haito gave a short, sharp bow and walked away. Jak called a quick apology after him and touched Kysoo's hand tenderly.

"I intend no disrespect for your father, I am only concerned about the effect of all this on you-and on Wyeth."

"Who?" Kysoo gave him a vacant look.

"Ahh, of course. You don't know." He looked back at Wyeth and beckoned him over. "I should let him tell you."

******

Eldergar dismissed his counselors and paced in front of his throne. A weak shaft of light lay across the floor highlighting the dirt and scuffmarks of years of negligence. He paused at its edge, half of his face in the muted beam and cursed aloud, bringing a worried attendant inside the door of the throne room.

"Sire?"

"Out! Out. I need nothing." The news from Elder Stemm regarding Primula and her now dead uncle left him in a foul mood of indecision. What she was up to was anybody's guess, but he knew it had to do with Lazzard and anything to do with Lazzard was nothing to favour him.

His worries turned to the possibility of Lazzard's son suddenly showing up to claim his throne and decided that this indeed must be Primula's agenda. How to combat this turn of events now occupied his mind with an anger-tinged fear.

In the anti-room, Eldergar's Captain of the Royal Guard sprawled on the wide sill of the window overlooking the courtyard. Waiting on his master's orders was a boring but nevertheless expected aspect of his daily routine. Around the room, small groups of advisors and counselors, distinguished in title only by their access to the King huddled together murmuring like town busybodies.

A few of his soldiers lounged against the massive steel doors leading from the anti-room to the courtyard stairs. The attendant, who had responded to Eldergar's curse, padded quickly across the stone floor and confronted the Captain.

"The King's mood is foul, I fear there will be no reasoning with him until this Primula situation is settled."

"Relax, Oakley, you are too quick to react to every shift in the breeze. I have served the King long enough to know that until he actually issues me an order I think of nothing but sunshine and flowers."

"Captain Mingus," the attendant scolded, "reacting to my King's moods is my prime function here and yours is to maintain an alert mind and presence for whatever his needs."

The soldier rose from the sill, adjusting his uniform and resting a hand casually on the butt of his sword, leaned down to the attendant and in a harsh whisper, uttered a foul oath. "My view of your opinion, Oakley." He straightened up and marched toward the throne room door.

"Mingus." Eldergar turned at the sound of the door. "A situation has arisen that could prove to be quite upsetting to . . . Dramin . . ." He lowered his head and raised his eyes toward his Captain to gauge his reaction. "We need to find out exactly what our friend Queen Primula has up her sleeve."

Mingus sauntered across the room and leaned a haunch on the corner of the King's desk. "A task that has pleasant possibilities," he sneered.

Eldergar frowned at his Captain, taking in the soldier's demeanor. Long, lanky hair hung to his broad shoulders, contrasting its almost black shade with a drooping blonde moustache and bold eyes stared back at him from an arrogant face.

"What situation threatens the tranquility of . . . Dramin, Sire?"

"There has been new word of Lazzard's child." Eldergar ignored the soldier's deliberate taunt. "I don't have to tell you what that might mean- to all of us."

"You think Primula has the boy?"

"No. At least not yet. I think she knows where he might be though."

"How do you want me to handle this?"

Eldergar pursed his lips and sighed. He knew that if he didn't state exactly what he wanted done Mingus would ignore all diplomacy and start a war with the Queen of Terrault. "Delicately Mingus, very delicately. I want you to find a way to learn what the good Queen knows without causing a major disaster."

Mingus bristled at the reference to a previous task given him by his King. "Delicacy will be my watchword, Sire. I will form a plan and leave at once for the area around Terrault." He threw a casual bow to the King and strode from the room, weapons and armour jangling.

*****

Queen Primula jogged across the square in front of her palace home. The citizens of Terrault were quite used to the un-stately behaviour of their young sovereign; her daringly common attire and familiarity with her subjects. Primula was well loved by the populace; it was almost as if she was their ward and they had need to protect her.

She bounced down the last few steps from the square, ran down the street and hurried across the short sentry bridge in front of her soldier's barracks.

"M'lady?" The large soldier stepped forward from the doorway, his face set with concern.

"Greetings Commander, I came to see if there was any word yet from Captain Jak."

The soldier shook his head and smiled. "M'lady, there is no need for you to traipse down here every day for information. The moment I hear anything I will bring it to the palace."

"Visits from your Queen are not appreciated?" Primula asked playfully.

"Nothing pleases me more, M'lady. It is the necessity you place on these visits that frustrates me. It is almost as if you distrust my vigilance." He held back his smile, watching her process his comment.

"Commander Olson you know I trust you with my-"

"T'was a jest M'lady, I know the strength of our relationship."

"As you should," she complained, knocking him on the chest with her small fist. "Your allegiance to my father was unquestioned as well."

He bowed in thanks and smiled. "There is no word yet. I have Gainer down near the border of Caval keeping watch."

Primula kicked at the ground in disappointment. Ever since the death of her uncle, Elder Stemm had been sending messengers back and forth to Dramin and Primula knew what that was about. She needed results quickly before Eldergar became worried enough to take some kind of action. As she turned to leave a soldier skidded his horse to a halt at the end of the bridge and dismounted, running over the wooden slats with his sword banging against his legs.

"Commander- ah, M'lady . . . ," he bowed slightly before speaking to his commander. "A small force of men has been spotted circling around Terrault, heading for Caval. They're Dramin soldiers, sir."

"How many exactly?"

"The report is ten or twelve. The scout was not positive, but he thinks they're being led by Mingus."

"Eldergar's commander," Primula blurted.

"I think the action you feared has been taken, Primula. Dar Mingus doesn't venture out on simple exercises."

"You must send an alert to your men near Caval. I want his every move followed carefully."

"Do we engage them, your Majesty?"

"No. Not unless- not unless we have to." She gave a curt nod and marched past the soldier and across the bridge.

"Get a fresh mount. You will ride to Caval and alert Captain Gainer."