"Why are you telling me all of this?" Dagon asked, still looking at the silver circlet.

"You're friends with Adrastea right?" 

"Wellll...I wouldn't go as far as to say that. Probably closer to acquaintances who manage to say a couple words to each other every day. Honestly even after we got out of Etincelle she still doesn't say much...Although she doesn't yell at me either."

Sylvia smiled and chuckled a little, handing Dagon the circlet.

"That's as close to a thank you as you'll get...No matter what you think, I believe you're the one who can convince her to put this back on."

"Why not you?" Dagon asked, confused and a little flustered.

"I've tried but I think she's too use to me. Adrastea is stubborn and if someone that's a bit of an outsider from her will probably make her think more."

Dagon sighed and looked over at the group now making up a fire and getting out cooking utensils. Everyone there had a purpose and everyone needed to take back what was rightfully theirs...Otherwise terrible things would happen.

"Alright," Dagon breathed.

"I'll try."

Sylvia smiled and took the crown, wrapping it up and giving it back to him.

"Thank you."

                Marcy sighed and leaned back. For the first time in a while she was in complete bliss. The weather was perfect, the food was good, no one was trying to kill her, they weren't killing their feet; life was good...And of course someone had to break that lovely moment.

"Come with me Marcy," Weland said quietly.

Marcy opened her eyes and made it very clear that he was interrupting, but when he did not leave she sighed and got up, wiping the green dress off and folding her arms.

"Where are we going?" she asked as they walked up a narrow path.

"I'm keeping my promise."

Marcy followed him up a stone staircase that led to a rock peak. There was an old oak door in the center with carvings of fantasy creatures and scroll work along the edges, making it almost impossible to ignore.

"This is your trip home," Weland told her in a quiet voice, holding the door open.

Suddenly Marcy felt a wave of misery come over her, like she were some kind of sea shell being swept off of the sand. She did not want to leave. There was nothing for her back in New York and honestly Marcy was just starting to like all the unknown adventure. Something intriguing was around every corner and that was one thing she had tried so hard to find.

"I'm not leaving," Marcy told him in a matter of fact tone.

"But...Isn't that what you wanted? Marcy, we don't need you anymore. Don't you want to go home?"

"To be completely honest...Nothing sounds worse right now."

Weland tilted his head to one side, not quite sure what to make of her. This crazy earthling was something else. First she kept trying to get out of the whole situation and now Marcy was the only one who wanted to stay.

"I...I want to help...If I can," she said quietly.

"Do you now?" Weland seemed amused, shaking his head.

"I will never understand you."

Marcy shrugged her shoulders and grinned a big toothy smile. 

"Does that mean you'll let me stay?"

Weland shrugged as well and shoved the door closed, walking back down the steps.

"I can't force you to go back to earth."

                "Where's Marcy?" Chandra asked, walking passed Dagon and Diomedes who were trying to get comfortable.

"I don't know...Probably went for a walk and got lost," Diomedes answered.

"I was going to ask if she would help me with dishes."

Diomedes chuckled at her but Dagon seemed deep in thought, not even realizing that Chandra was there. He knew eventually he would have to talk to Adrastea about the crown but 'when' was the big question. Dagon could do it now, or he could wait a couple of days. However things would probably only get more tense once they made it back down the mountain. 

"Hey, Dagon...You there?" Diomedes asked, waving a hand in front of his brother's face.

Dagon started and blinked several times before realizing he had been staring at a rock for almost a half hour.

"Hmm...?"

"It's just that you haven't eaten yet...I was wondering if you wanted it," Diomedes said hopefully.

Dagon shrugged and handed him the plate. He really was not hungry.

"What are you thinking about?" Diomedes asked through a mouthful of food.

"Stuff."

"Ahhh...What's that package you have there?"

Dagon instinctively pushed the wrapped circlet farther under his luggage and shrugged his shoulders once more, trying to act like it was nothing important.

"Just a little token," he said, faking a yawn.

"I think I'll turn in."

Diomedes watched as his twin curled up in the blankets and almost instantly fell asleep without so much as a word about 'the token'. He knew full well that Dagon was lying so after he finished eating Diomedes crawled over to the other side of Dagon's luggage and tried lifting the saddle he was sleeping on. The package was still there but as Diomedes reached for it Dagon's hand shot out and slapped him without even opening his eyes.

"Don't touch," Dagon mumbled.

Diomedes grunted and rubbed the back of his hand where Dagon had slapped, walking back to his own sleeping arrangements. Best leave it 'till the morning, he thought. 

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

"Well?" Haldit asked expectantly, tapping his finger on the marble table.

"I didn't get the stone," Demetria answered, not making a single movement.

"...What?...Demetria, have I made a mistake trusting you?"

"Cool off Haldit. We'll get the stone. Once they get the Rinopenya it will be easy to take it from them."

Haldit pondered the news while stroking his chin. It seemed to be a good simple plan, but those so often went wrong. Of course, once they had the stone no one would be able to stop him...Them...

"Very well Demetria. But if your plan fails you'll have to answer to me."

Demetria smirked and slightly bowed her head, turning on one heel and walking out the door.

"Guard!" Haldit called.

A Cieven soldier immediately entered the room, getting down on one knee and bowing his head.

"Bring me Albano."

"Albano left yesterday my lord. I do not know if he has returned."

Haldit cursed under his breath and glared at the wall, standing up abruptly and walking down the steps of the raised platform.

"Where did he go?"

"I do not know my lord...Would you like me to see if he has returned?" the soldier asked, his head still bowed.

"Yes, do that. If he's returned bring him to me...That trouble maker will regret his decision," Haldit said quietly, fingering the handle of his sword.

The guard bowed and left the room, running down the steps to another Cieven soldier.

"Is something wrong?" he asked.

"Yes...Haldit found out about Albano. Do you know if he's gotten back yet?"

"Rode in this morning."

"Let's go find him before Haldit."

The two left the palace, leaving a couple of other soldiers on guard before rushing to the bunkers, finding Albano's horse in the stable. After rushing through a couple of the wooden buildings the two found their friend cleaning his helmet.

"You need to leave right now," the tallest said.

"Theo, an empty grudge won't get you anywhere," Albano answered calmly, blowing the helmet off.

"This isn't about my horse. Haldit found out about your 'troublemaking'. If you don't leave soon he'll come looking for you himself," Theo said hurriedly.

Albano leaped out of the chair, knocking it over in his rush to grab the green cloak hanging on a hook. The two guards helped him pack up the essentials such as food and hunting equipment before rushing Albano out the back door to the stable.

"I'm going to go and tell Haldit that you haven't come back yet. I suggest you stay in hiding for a while before looking for your friend. Haldit will eventually figure out that you're not coming back and if you've been asking questions around Rubin Soth Berglund will not hesitate to tell him," Theo explained.

"Thanks...And sorry about your horse."

"Don't worry about it...Now get going!"

Albano rode out the door and around the back so as not to attract any attention and bolted for the deer trail. At that time of day most of the scouts would be heading back on the main road and it would look extremely suspicious for Albano to be heading in the opposite direction. Rubin Soth would be crawling with spies, he knew, but that was also the center area for any traders. If anything was going on out of the usual the merchants would know. Stay in hiding, Theo's words echoed in his head. Are you kidding? Albano thought. It's getting worse every day. I don't intend on leaving it alone.

<<>><<>><<>><<>><<>>

Adrastea sat up on the mountain and looked over the valley. Everything was so still it could have been a painting on a canvas. The rest of the camp had all gone to sleep and she had volunteered to take first watch. Adrastea had other plans anyway. 

"Right," she muttered to herself.

"Where are we."

Adrastea had unrolled a small map with several red markings all along it. The Tralem forest was the centerpiece for the map and around it stood Salliet and Rubin Soth along with the mountain range. Adrastea took a pencil out of her pocket and traced a line from the mountain down, stopping at the nymph pool which she had remembered to draw in after Dagon's little scheme. 

"If I go in by disguise," she mused.

Suddenly Adrastea heard rustling down at the campsite and saw Dagon getting up. Dang it! she thought. It was Dagon's shift next. Adrastea quickly rolled the map and stuck it back in her pocket, grabbing a knife and leaning against a rock to seem as though she had been sharpening for quite a while.

Dagon, as she had expected, came walking across the small space of ground almost immediately. He was holding a small package in one hand and a rolled up piece of paper in the other.

"What do you want?" Adrastea mumbled as Dagon sat down on a rock across from her.

He did not answer but simply reached inside his cloak and pulled out a round parcel, throwing it on the ground in front of her. Adrastea glanced at it casually before going back to her knife sharpening. 

"What's that?" she asked quietly.

Again Dagon did not answer. He looked at Adrastea until she glanced back at him. Then, without a word, he opened the package, throwing it at her feet.

Adrastea stared at the silver circlet in front of her, shocked and stunned at the sight of it. The silver wires were wrapped and twisted into little flowers, each with a small pearl in the center.

"Where did you get that?" Adrastea gasped.

"So you do recognize it?"

Adrastea glanced up at Dagon who's expression was stone. She had to play it out. She had to!

"Should I?" Adrastea shrugged, trying to resist the urge to throw the priceless crown out the window.

"You seemed shocked."

"Just a little surprised is all."

"If I were to give that to you, what would you do with it?"

Adrastea looked back down at her knife, afraid that her eyes would betray her.

"Sell it probably. I imagine something like that is worth quite a bit."

"No you wouldn't. You'd probably throw it in the nearest lake...It's your crown isn't it?"

"What makes you say that?"

"This," Dagon held out a rolled up piece of paper, waiting for her to grab it.

Adrastea just looked at the paper not wanting to take it.

"You know what this is," Dagon told her.

"If you won't open it then I will."

He quickly unrolled it and shove it in Adrastea's face forcefully. It was a painting of two royals, a king and queen, with their daughter beside them smiling like she had no care in the world.

"I almost didn't recognize you. That smile threw me off. I thought you didn't know how to smile."

Adrastea did not answer. She simply stared at the picture and slowly reached out, taking it from Dagon's hand with reverence. Adrastea looked at the two splendid royals, their faces strong and kind. It hurt just to look at them.

After a moment Dagon softened a little and even started to feel sorry for Adrastea.

"Alright I'm...I'm sorry. I just wanted to know why you lied to everyone."

"I didn't lie," Adrastea said bitterly, standing up and throwing the paper back at him.

"Nobody asked...Understand this Dagon, I know exactly where you got this stuff and you can tell Sylvia I won't have any of it. NONE OF IT!"