Saan’s tight grip does not loosen as he makes his way down the long corridor, to his own chambers. Taking a glance at Aaleyah, her expression is unreadable and his eyes move to Helan.

  Helan touches his own wrist, a subtle hint for him to let Aaleyah go but he can not.

  Reaching his chambers, he is aware of the embitterment that must be on his features, but he can not mask his anger; not when it comes to her. Opening the door he releases Aaleyah’s wrist. “Please.”

  The mask is back on Aaleyah’s face and she calmly makes her way inside.

  “Helan, stay out.” Saan says walking in after her.

  Helan bows and closes the doors.

  Once inside Aaleyah stands in the middle of the room waiting for him to speak first.

  “Is it your intention to be harassed? Why do you refuse to stand up for yourself?”

  “What would you like done? Any attempt to speak will only cause more enmity in the court.”

  Scoffing, Saan pulls out a chair at his table. “Take a seat.” He waits for her to sit before moving to stand in front of her. “Has it occurred to you that there are advisors, generals, scholars, those in high positions who are on your side; but unable to move because you do not allot them the opportunity? That the longer you sit channeling the spirit of the shadows you will eventually fizzle out like a flame in the storm, and take them along with you?”

  “This anger sparks from me not arguing in the king’s court? It was a planned trial.”

  Saan catches the way she addeses herself and feels relief. “Which is exactly why you should have spoken up for yourself. Official Darius stood up for you. He defended you, you could have given him face by showing you were on his side. Why did you leave him to speak alone?” He asks, genuinely perplexed by her actions.

  “I do not have power.”

  “You have so much power,” he argues back.

  “Then maybe my power comes from silence!”

  Silence? Aaleyah deserves far more than silence.

  Placing both hands in her lap, her thumb traces the nail of her index finger. “We had a plan. At breakfast the plan was for the king to punish me and place me under watch. This allows the officials to toss their masks on their own and show their true loyalties. Minister Amon is one of many, but you stopped him before we could-”

  Hearing her cut herself off he grows curious. “Please continue.”

  She shakes her head. “Minister Amon did not exactly say anything wrong.”

  “He wished to punish you as an example. Will you pretend you do not know what that means?” Seeing her face fall, Saan regrets his words. Of course she is aware of what that means. To be accused of craving the king’s power is a dangerous crime. One her family experienced. But it is different now, his father is a king who trusts her. Never again will Aaleyah see her loved ones fall for false accusations.

  Aaleyah rises from her chair, her blazing eyes staring into his. “High-Saan, I understand that you are upset because they wished to punish me. However we were standing before the king, it would only cause unrest to argue about small matters before him.”

  As she speaks, Saan can see it. The shaky breath she exhales, his father makes her nervous. Is it because she fears his power, or fears his knowledge? Is she nervous about being ordered to use the stone? That cannot be, she wanted to use it.

  Saan swallows his anger, replacing it with patience. “Then how about this?” He offers her his hand, “Anyone who disrespects you, disrespects me. In your mind, am I a person who deserves disrespect?”

  “Saan, currently the Kingdom of Nevalvn is in danger. Its mines are something that numerous people from around the kingdoms seek to hold; especially Prince Kian. The kingdom we need on our side the most is the Trivplah Kingdom whose prince is burning down Nevalvn’s temples, and Trivplah’s hatred for the Aljehni family is just as strong. If I attempt to take more power or have a voice in rooms where one should not, it could disrupt the carefully crafted treaty that has been drawn.”

  “You can have all of that, but if you do not deal with those who show you disrespect, I will. Which would you prefer?” He will teach everyone to respect his queen, ally or not.

  He moves his head to follow her line of sight, studying her eyes searching for a sign that she is listening to him. She studies him just as much and he prays she can see his determination.

  “What if my way of dealing with it is different from your wishes?” She asks.

  From the moment Aaleyah returned to the palace she worked in the shadows. Be it with Hammun on plans to aid the government, or aiding the commissioners in cases. Or the silent meeting she has with the scholars of her father’s academies, and ways she helps the academy grow. She just longs to stay away from the public eye.

  Still she is trying to compromise, so he will meet her. If anything Helan can tell him if others disrespect her and he can deal with them later.

  “It depends on my mood. Some words may hurt me more than others.”

  Her eyes widen in confusion. “This one will stand up for herself more in the future.”

  “Does this one vow?” Saan asks, forcing Aaleyah to give her word.

  Her eyes lash but she bows slightly. “Aaleyah Aljehni vows to try her best.”

  Saan stares down at her bowed head. Her hands clasped, one hand over her fist waiting for him to address her to rise. She used to hold her head high, the short girl would jump on the backs of anyone near her so she could reach your eyes and yell at injustice. The bright eyed Aaleyah from before was a force that Saan was sometimes nervous to be around. “Are you still there,” he whispers.

  Raising her head slightly. “What?”

  “Never bow to me, come we will go to a meeting with the generals today.” He turns swiftly and heads out with Aaleyah following behind him. His Aaleyah is still in there, he just has to prove she is safe enough to come out.

  Three days later Hestia stands in the medical room talking to the head physician. “How is the queen mother healing?”

  The royal physician’s darts nervously to the other aids and then smiles politely. “Princess Hestia, all information on the queen’s recovery has been reported to the king. If you have any questions you may retrieve those reports.”

  Hestia purses her lips into a pout. “Why must I go ask for reports? Are you not here in front of me?”

  The royal physician bows. “My apologies princes, there are many things this physician must do and so little time. If the reports are not helpful this physician will have someone write them up with more detail at a later point.”

  An aid rushes inside and gives the royal physician an affirmative nod.

  “This physician must take his leave, princess.” Then he grabs a small chest and heads out with the aid leading the way.

  Wiping the corner of her eyes, Hestia stands dumbfounded. He did not even give her the reports he talked about.

  “What could he possibly be so busy with?” She asks Musinm.

  “_”

  Sighing, she turns to face Musinm, and waves her hand in front of his face. “Hello?”

  Musinm bows, “Princess Hestia.”

  “I asked a question.”

  “My apologies princess, this one did not expect to be addressed.”

  “Do you see anyone else for me to address?”

  Musinm glances down the hall at the other guards standing at their stanchions and shakes his head no.

  Hestia listens to the beads of her clip shake as she moves her head. “It seems like he was running away from me. Maybe I asked him too many questions yesterday before making the tea and now he is avoiding me. That is fine, I can ask the queen instead. Let’s go Musinm.” She heads in the direction of the queen.

  On the way Hestia passes many aids rushing back and forth from the medicinal gardens and stops one of the younger students by the arm so he cannot move away. “What is going on? Why the rush?”

  She catches Musinm’s threatening gaze that force the unlucky aid to stop.

  The white cloth tying his hair up shows that he has barely trained a Blue moon. His job is most likely an errand boy, going to and fro to get plants, or following the orders of the physicians, and learning from experience.

  “P-p-Princess Hestia,” his eyes dart around. “This one must find Physician Mena.”

  “Why? If you cannot find Physician Mena you can try asking me. I may be able to help.” Hestia offers, after all she has medicinal training.

  “No!” He yells, panic all over his face; then remembers himself. “Princess must not trouble herself. Physician Mena requires no help, but this subject must go quickly. Please allow this one to leave.”

  Not expecting his nervousness, and skittish behavior Hestia releases him. “I meant no harm.”

  With one final bow, the young boy runs off. Hestia watches him move down the hallways, his white hair ribbon flying behind him. “There is something strange going on.”

  “_”

  Poking Musinm on his arm. “Do you agree now?”

  “There is nothing to fear Princess Hestia, the security is under control.”

  Hestia sighs and continues walking. “Yes, it is the security that I am worried about. Musinm is security the only thing you know? Do you not have hobbies, or interests?”

  “Every morning there is training.”

  Hestia rolls her eyes. She wonders if she can find another more interesting guard. Perhaps a guard with interests in medicine and tea. That would be most beneficial to her.

  Musinm would be happier working under her High Prince’s intimidating troops. Sadly, to guard the high prince one had to be recommended and then pass Captain Helan’s tests. Rumours had it Saan’s captain was very strict, Musinm would have to exemplify great skills to be approved.

  Clanging her bracelets, maybe she can ask the queen for a different guard.

  In the library Hammun and Aaleyah sit at the table. Numerous books lay open on plants and poisons. In the middle is a map with x’s over areas they have already checked. Circles around places that may have what they are looking for.

  Hammun rubs the side of his head as he reads. “None of these have symptoms of black veins,” he exasperates.

  Aaleyah pauses from her own reading and rubs her eye, it has been hours of searching through pages and reading about so many poisons that they are all exhausted.

  “Maybe a flower is not what we are looking for. Maybe the poison came from a different source. What if the source is an animal?”

  Hammun shakes his head.

  Saan makes his way from the shelf he was searching and places a book on the table. “Maybe black veins are not what we should be researching. Her wound is not healing, the poison is attacking her blood clotting cells. We need to search for poisons that counteract the body’s natural healing process.”

  Hammun rubs his face, his elbows resting on the book. “I wish there was a way to just pull the poison out of her. It has only been a week and it is already obvious that the royal physicians have no idea why she is not healing.”

  At his words Aaleyah’s chest tightens, and her hand clutches the book.

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  Saan takes a seat on the bench next to Aaleyah and scans the book she was reading, his left hand next to her thigh.

  Aaleyah moves the book closer so he can see. “Do you think the poison could be from an animal and not a plant?” She asks again knowing he will answer her.

  He studies the image of the flower and insects she was reading and shakes his head. “It is a possibility, but… there are not many animal poisons we do not know the names of. Nor are there a shortage of antidotes created for those poisons and venoms. It is more likely that there is a plant we are unaware of than an animal.”

  “We still have time, we do not need to panic.” Hammun says, his foot shaking under the table.

  Aaleyah reaches past Saan to pick up the book he brought and scans the contents. “This is a medical book on the body’s natural healing properties? You hope to boost her life system to fight the poison?”

  Saan nods and flips to a specific page. “There is an old treatment that talks about meridians, if we can follow the pathways in her body maybe we can lock it and stop the poison from spreading. We can keep it in one place, and bleed it out? Burn it out?”

  “We will not burn our mother.” Hammun says in an appalling tone. “I refuse to cause her harm.”

  “She is in harm now.” Saan sharply states.

  “She has medicines that are aiding her with the pain. We are just looking to help her wound heal faster.” Aaleyah amicably says. Pointing to the page Saan left open, “Talk about meridians and pressure points, yin and yang energy; this is something Hestia may know.”

  Her and Saan glance at Hammun.

  “She is not to know. With everything happening just give me time until after the treaty is signed. Promise me you will say not a word to her, Aaleyah.”

  Aaleyah drops her head and studies the book. She failed to save all the people in Nevalvn, and three temples were burned down; but she managed to stop Prince Kian’s actions from spreading to other cities. Not telling Hestia about the temples helps make the treaties; but not telling her about the queen does not help anyone. Hestia is the perfect candidate for the job, but she has no place in choosing who can help someone’s mother. Thus she keeps her mouth shut.

  Saan rests his back against the wall, his hand by her thigh lifting to fix the robe on her shoulder. “Surely Hestia will notice something amiss with all the physicians running around. She is with mother daily. It is not a question of if she will find out. The question is when.”

  Aaleyah nods her head in agreement, secrets always get out. Maybe in one generation, maybe two. Maybe you can be lucky and last ten Red moons; but eventually, secrets always come out. Suppressing a shiver she stares intently at the book in her hand, swallowing down her fears.

  A week later the three are once again in the library. The moonlight is not enough for them and the lanterns are lit, candles flicker throughout the room.

  Books and scrolls are littered around the table, each royal going through their own pile. Aaleyah is surrounded by scrolls, most of them are written in the old language, for her fluency is better than Saan and Hammun.

  Saan takes a break from looking for a cure and reads up on the Stilits, and their fighting skills; in hopes that he can recognize the style and see if it is a copycat or the same group from the riots.

  Hammun stands up so fast his chair is knocked backwards and the table he bumps shakes dropping papers and scrolls onto the floor. “I got it!”

  Two pairs of eyes look expectantly at Hammun.

  Saan stands and walks over to see what Hammun is looking at.

  Aaleyah reads the disappointment before he speaks.

  “This is the Story of Lakia. She has not been seen or heard of since before the previous king’s rule.”

  The Story of Lakia is very popular. According to records there was a doctor who came from heaven herself. She possessed a wide range of skills, and could bring people back from the dead. Due to her skills the king of the Heahnian kingdom coveted her skills and sent guards to capture her. She was forced to reside in the Heahnian kingdom and teach the physicians all that she knew. Hence Heahnian’s advances in medicine. Some say that she withheld information and escaped to another kingdom. The last sighting of her was six or seven Red moons ago.

  However, Aaleyah knows of Lakia from another source. Lakia was in her father’s books.

  “Even if we do find her there is no telling if we are searching for a dead body.” Saan frowns, his voice pulling Aaleyah out of her thoughts.

  Hammun shakes his head, “No, no she has to be alive. She came from the heavens, Saan.” He turns to his brother with wild eyes. “That has to mean something. She can heal our mother. We must find her.”

  Saan does not respond, his expression is loud enough, It is impossible.

  Rushing around the table to Aaleyah, snatches the scroll from her hands and tosses it to the floor. Pulling her to stand he thrusts his scroll into her arms. “Aaleyah, my Sun Sister, we are always of the same mind. You agree with me, right? If we find her she will have the skills to save mother.” His desperate tone pleads for Aaleyah to side with him.

  “Hammun!” Aaleyah shakes her head for Saan to stop, Hammun means no harm.

  “Even if it is hard, even if it seems impossible, even if no one has seen or heard from her in generations we have to try, right? We owe it to my mother, no, to the kingdom. We owe it to the kingdom to try. The queen must not die.” Hammun glances back at his brother behind him. “And I do not say this out of emotion. She helps maintain the balance between our kingdom and Trivplah’s. If she dies, especially now, before the friendships between kingdoms have a stable foundation everything will fall apart.”

  Aaleyah watches Saan pinch the bridge of his nose. Hammun will not do this if he does not agree. But if Saan disagrees it may be the last straw for Hammun. For days he has been staying up late and waking early. Hammun has been non-stop studying, reading, researching, looking for doctors, antidotes, medicines, poisons; anything that could help.

  Maybe giving him this search will ease his mind.

  “Alright,” Saan’s answers, his expression one of solicitude.

  Banging and thuds on the door draws everyone's attention and Saan steps forward pulling Aaleyah to stand behind him.

  Hammun stares at the door in confusion. “Captain Helan is outside, surely there is no one he will struggle against.”

  The thuds get louder and then the door opens. Rushing in, dress all white, hair tied up in a bun with a red ribbon that matches her furried face. Her brown eyes glisten with unshed tears as she points her finger at Hammun.

  Seeing her, Saan backs away slowly positioning himself to stand behind Aaleyah. His thumb and index finger pinching her blue sleeve.

  It is understood now why Helan could not hold this person back. Helan is unable to harm her, the thuds were most likely her trying to open the door and push Helan out of the way.

  Helan, nervous she would harm herself, had no choice but to move.

  Her eyes glisten under the weight of his betrayal and as she speaks her voice breaks along with the quiver of her chin. “Hammun, how could you?”

  Aaleyah closes her eyes and looks away.

  It was after all, inevitable that Hestia would find out that the queen was not getting better. Hestia, despite her youth, and childlike personality, is no fool. Her knowledge and intelligence was high enough for her to study pharmaceuticals.

  But Hammun, the top scholar, one whose education is something all students of the academy aspire to have; has one fault. He is hopeful and controlling.

  Hammun whispers her name gravely. “Hestia, I- how did you know to come here?”

  The moment Hestia hears the question her held back tears fall. Hammun’s question is equal to slapping a hungry tiger with a slab of meat.

  “You enjoyed your time not telling me?” She marches towards him and everyone takes steps back, but she moves quickly and slaps Hammun across his face.

  “Everyday I asked you how the queen was doing and you told me I did not have to worry,” her chest heaves as she speaks. The anger fading from her eyes and morphing into something else, her tight voice holds back sobs. “You had the entire branch of physicians lie to me!” Her hands latch onto his clothes, “You had the queen lie to me!” Her tears fall and she shakes Hammun back and forth. Then as if she is hit with a sudden reminder she turns with fury to Aaleyah.

  “Even you lied to me.” And it is as if saying those words completely breaks her. Hiding her face in Hammun’s chest she sobs. Her hands still pounding on his body weakly, her body shaking. Her throat opens and releases a guttural sob.

  Aaleyah takes a step forward, her mouth opens to give words of comfort but Hestia’s next words leave her at a loss.

  “I know I am not really a princess. I know you only want my kingdom for our mines. You only work so hard to make treaties to protect the resources my kingdom’s land is rich in.” She moves away from Hammun’s chest. Her red face is covered in tears. “You do not truly think of me as family. I understand. It is because I am not trustworthy, I understand. But I swear. I promise you that I care about the queen. You can trust me. I want to save her. I am not your enemy.”

  Hestia sinks to the floor and bows, her forehead touching the back of her palms. “Please just let me help her. I will do whatever you wish, please allow me to help her,” she cries from the floor.

  Hammun stays rooted in his spot, his legs unmoving, his face a picture of agony. Unable to silently watch any longer, Aaleyah rushes to Hestia’s side. Kneeling on the ground next to Hestia she pulls her up into a hug.

  “I am sorry, Hestia. Hammun wished to avoid your heartache. He wished to avoid your tears. He did not wish to worry you.” She wipes Hestia’s tears. “Your words are untrue. It is not for your kingdom’s resources, or mines, that we want you. You are Hestia, such a warm light during a cold winter. Hestia, no one thinks you unworthy.”

  Saan slaps the back of Hammun’s head, “Say something,” he whispers.

  Hammun finally seems to melt and kneels on the floor next to Aaleyah. “Hestia.” His eyes bore into hers, no words being said.

  Knowing when she is no longer needed Aaleyah makes to move out the way, and Saan’s hand is there to help her to her feet.

  “I was wrong,” Hammun admits loudly. “I was wrong and I hurt you.” He bows to Hestia.

  Hestia rushes to hold Hammun’s shoulders up. “You must not bow to me. You can’t! We are not the same you and I. I am not worthy of Prince Hammun’s bow.”

  Hammun holds her small hands in his grasp wearing an expression equal to Hestia’s broken one. “You are to be my wife. I was wrong to hide this from you. I promise you that my only desire was to spare you pain. I see now that I have done the opposite.”

  Hestia scoffs and rises slowly from the floor. Her legs shake and Hammun reaches out to steady her but she avoids him. Swallowing, she wipes her tears and raises her head high. “No. Prince Hammun will never have to apologize to me. This subject knows her place, I will teach myself to expect nothing.”

  Her betrayal filled eyes meet Aaleyah’s. “There is nothing within the walls of the Aidkjeen kingdom that this one has a right to. I humbly apologize for forgetting myself.”

  Hestia’s words hit Aaleyah’s heart sharply. To feel alone within the kingdom is a terrible feeling. Hestia was not a fool to have hope, to think that they were a family. To believe they could work together and was not wrong. It was a beautiful hope that Aaleyah has failed to allow Hestia to experience.

  “Hestia, you misunderstand me-” Hammun tells her.

  Hestia bites her bottom lip hard and as she speaks Aaleyah can see blood. “This subject dare not misunderstand the prince.”

  Hestia turns and runs out.

  Hammun watches her run out, not following her. Standing, his eyes stare up at the window so he can look out at the night sky.

  Dropping a hand on Hammun’s shoulder Saan looks in the direction Hestia ran. “You should follow her, convince her that you truly meant no harm. There is a great misunderstanding, only you can make it right.”

  Hammun stares out the window for some time before he turns to face Aaleyah and Saan, a cool expression on his face. “It may be better this way.”

  Aaleyah says nothing, already aware of how Hammun is thinking. With Hestia angry she will stay away. There will be no more question of politics and it gives him time to prepare, for she is still unaware of the events in Nevalvn. Or maybe he is thinking strategically, the ones who harmed the queen may still be around, the Stilits are involved, betrayal of neighboring kingdoms is not an impossibility. The princes of Nevalvn would do best to be uninvolved in all of it. But in keeping her safe, Hammun is chipping away at their relationship.

  “We will continue the talk of searching for Lakia at a later date.” Saan extends his hand to Aaleyah but she hesitates.

  Hammun’s look of exhaustion and worry fill her feet with sand and she is unable to move. She can solve all of this, can she not?

  “It is not your fault.” Saan tells her quietly.

  Hammun plasters a smile. “Saan is right. It has been a long night, you should leave.”

  Aaleyah reluctantly follows Saan out the door.

  Helan bows, “My apologies, Helan has failed you.”

  “You have done no such thing. You may be skilled, but holding back Hestia is not easy. You did well, I should thank you for ensuring she did not harm herself.”

  Helan nods and positions himself behind them as they walk down the corridor.

  Aaleyah tries to pull her arm free but Saan tightens his hold. “The time of your punishment is not up. You still must stay by my side,” he cheekily says.

  “It is late, High Prince Saan should sleep.” Aaleyah recognizes the path they are going is not towards her chambers but to the garden.

  “Is that an order?” He jokes. “If I leave you to sleep you will feel guilt alone and blame yourself for Hestia’s pain.”

  Suddenly pulling her arm she stumbles into his side.

  “Am I wrong, high princess?”

  Aaleyah holds back her annoyance, aware that he is trying to distract her. The matter with Hestia may not be her fault, but if someone is to blame, should it not be the person who is able to solve the situation but refuses?

  Reaching the garden, Helan stays at the entrance as Saan and Aaleyah walk in. Saan motions for her to sit by the pond and takes off his robe, to drape it over her shoulders. “In the library when Hammun was asking you about Lakia, what were you thinking?”

  Not expecting the question, Aaleyah runs her thumb over her nails while she thinks. “I have heard of Lakia. There is a book that I was to study.”

  Saan takes a seat next to her and places his hand in hers.

  Twirling the ring on his finger, she forces herself to think past the memories of her family and to just focus on the book. “According to the legends Lakia is said to have come from the heavens. However, based on my knowledge, she comes from the same place my family comes from. Not Heaven, but a world far away. I personally do not have any relations with Lakia, but if the book is correct, then if I publish a letter in my family’s language, if she is alive she will be able to read it.”

  “The origin of your family? Your family has been around for a long time. No?” He asks in confusion, how can Lakia and her family be from the same place?

  “I am not sure, that book was destroyed.”

  Most of her family’s heirlooms did not survive the fire. Saan’s guilty expression does not help her feel any better so she hurries to speak more.

  “But from what I know, the Aljehni elders spoke a different language, and came from a different land. When the first Aljehni appeared they looked so different from the people of the previous empire, and spoke a different language too.”

  Aaleyah recalls her elder brother talking to her about this. He had much interest in languages and family history, much more than her at least. “My father and Asbed spent most of their time studying languages. They could find no language similar, and no one who spoke it. But if I plead for help, it is possible Lakia will respond. During the times where my family was searching, they did not need help, it was merely curiosity. Perhaps I can try.”

  Turning his hand, Saan squeezes her fingers. “We can try.”