Frances glanced at Timur. She hadn’t had to persuade him to come with her after the day’s talks. He just agreed to and now they were walking through the gardens of the Windwhistler compound. There was the odd scar on the ground from the earlier bombardments, but the hedgerows and plants were quiet, peaceful, and most of all, they didn’t listen in like others.

“Frances, what do you want to talk about?” Timur asked, hands in his pockets. They’d been walking for a bit, and neither had said a word.

Frances winced. Even now she wasn’t sure of what she should say, but she had to.

“Helias. We think he’s alive,” she said.

Timur grimaced, “We do too, but we, as in myself, Antigones and Titania have no idea where he is, or where to find evidence that he is alive.”

Frances blinked, “Wait, but that’s not what it looked like in today’s negotiations.”

Timur tried to meet Frances’s gaze, but he had to look away. “Frances, Alavaria can’t admit we don’t know where he is, especially since we have no proof that he is alive. The only thing I can do is to negotiate for the best deal I can.”

“Even when you think he’s alive?” Frances asked. She tried to keep her voice level, but she could see Timur flinch at her tone.

The prince sighed, “I don’t have a choice. I need to do what’s best for Alavaria and fulfil my father’s orders.”

“And if your father is wrong?” Frances asked.

“My father is the king, and he’s done his best for Alavaria,” said Timur, his eyes narrowing.

Frances swallowed. She knew she was starting to provoke her friend and crush. She needed to be more careful. Even if his father was the person responsible for all the suffering of her family, her friends, and thousands of innocent people.

“Timur, I think I can accept you wanting to negotiate the best deal for the army. I don’t like it, but I understand why,” Frances said.

“Thank you, Frances.” Timur pursed his lips and seemed to study something on her face. “There’s something else, though.”

Frances blinked. Her first instinct was to deny it, but that didn’t feel right.

“Yes. It’s… it’s about your father, Timur.”

Timur wasn’t sure what Frances wanted to say. He did not however like how hesitant she seemed. “Go on,” he said, trying to keep the worry out of his voice.

“Has he… well, he hasn’t lifted your curse. Why not?” she asked.

“Because I haven’t killed Edana yet—not that I will I mean, I don’t think I could anyway,” Timur stammered, quickly raising his hands in the air. “I’m not going to try to kill Edana!”

Frances did her best not to scowl at Timur, but she did cross her arms. “Timur, even if you tried now, you wouldn’t be able to kill her. Don’t you think it’s a little strange that he asked you to do this two years ago when you were not even sixteen?”

The trogre prince spluttered, “I mean—I could… He probably didn’t really mean for me to kill her.”

“Then why would he curse you?” Frances asked. “You told me that it was going to kill you.”

Timur shook his head. “Look, I deserved it. I lost at Vertingen.”

Frances nodded and pressed on. “I remember, but I also remember that you were fifteen and in charge of an army that you shouldn’t have been in charge of. And isn’t Thorgoth your father?”

“What’s your point, Frances?” Timur snapped out. He winced immediately after that. The tone had already done its damage, though, and Frances had to force herself not to grimace.

Still, she didn’t hesitate. The fact of what she’d learnt yesterday pounded in her head. She couldn’t tell Timur about Renia, though. She couldn’t tell him that if he went back to his father, he might be killed

“Timur, I think your father is abusing you,” Frances said.

Timur stared at Frances and a croaked half-laugh echoed from his dismayed face. “That’s ridiculous. He’s never hit me. Not like…” the trogre blinked and swallowed. “Sorry, ignore that, please.”

“Not like my parents, right?” Frances asked in a quiet voice. She took a quick breath. “Hitting me was only one of the things that my parents did to me. What they told me, how they treated me, that was just as painful. Besides, Timur, he cursed you to die.”

Timur frowned, “That was just punishment.”

Frances grimaced, “If you hadn’t met me by chance you would have died!”

Timur sighed. “Frances, my father treats me well. Yes, he’s stern, but I always make mistakes and he has never discarded me, even if I disappoint him. He makes sure to give me missions that I can do with the few talents that I have.”

“Who tells you that you made these mistakes?” Frances asked, acting on an instinct that she suddenly felt.

Timur blinked, blindsided by the switch in questioning. “Well, my father. I mean, he is the one giving me the missions.”

“Does he ever tell you what you do well?” Frances asked.

“Um, no, usually because I just do a mediocre job,” said Timur.

“Timur, I’m not a teacher, but I think… I think you’re really smart. There’s no way you could have just done a mediocre job so to me he just… he sounds cold, and mean.”

“Frances, you’re a talented, genius of a mage, of course, you’d get compliments from Edana. I’m not you. I’m just… the spare prince. I’m nothing special, even when compared to Titania who is uncouth and brash.” Timur smiled sadly. “She’s father’s favourite and he always showers her with praises, and who can blame him? She’s this amazing war hero and fighter.”

It was like a switch went off in Frances’s head. Frustration, building since this conversation started, overcame the hesitancy tempering her words.

“Have you ever wondered why she hates her father, then? Or asked her?” Frances asked.

“Because she’s a bitch?” Timur replied.

“It’s because your father abused her! He tortured her into becoming his weapon!”

Frances, arms crossed, tried to force herself to calm down. She could feel the simmering rage bubbling in her chest again. It raged to be let out, hissing that she was right and that all she needed to do was convince Timur was to just push him a little further.

Only, the wide-eyed shock across his features told her otherwise. He was staring at her, shaking his head, his lips trying to form words that were immediately abandoned.

“Frances, if this is your idea of a joke, it’s absolutely horrible,” Timur hissed.

“What—I—why would you think I would be joking about this?” Frances stammered.

“Because my father commissions plays about my sister and sends her the finest jewels as presents. Does that look like someone who hits their own daughter?” Timur demanded.

Frances frowned. That was strange, but she knew what Ivy’s Sting had told her was true. More importantly, Titania herself had told her that. There was also the fact that Thorgoth had no qualms killing his favourite son, Teutobal.

“Hmm, have you asked your sister?”

“Why don’t you tell me where you got this from?” Timur retorted.

Ivy’s Sting shivered in fear, and Frances gently touched her wand. “Timur, I can’t tell you.”

“Then how do I know you’re not making this up?” he demanded, a growl underpinning his tone.

“Are you kidding—what reason do I have to lie to you? I l—I like you! You’re my friend!” Frances cried.

Timur flinched, and his trembling tail went still. His eyes fixed on Frances.

“I… I know that but you’re telling me my father, who I love, is hurting me? Hurts my sister? How does that make any sense?”

“How does that make sense…” Frances shook her head. “Timur, he’s got a curse that’s killing you. He never seems to tell you he loves you, or that he’s even happy with you. He started a war with the humans for reasons that still don’t make sense and you can’t explain to me why it’s just. He even tried to destroy and kill hundreds of people in Erlenberg before declaring war!”

The trogre prince began to stare at Frances again. “What are you talking about?”

“The burning of Erlenberg’s ships during the Winter Tournament? Have you not heard of that?” Frances asked, her voice pitching up again.

The trogre again, was completely confused. “Wasn’t that an accident?”

“I nearly broke my back falling off a ship we had to blow up to stop them, and we found your sister meeting with conspirators and could have apprehended her if she hadn’t bolted. Timur, where are you even hearing all of these things?” Frances demanded.

“That’s what has been reported to court and… what my father and his close advisors tell me,” Timur signed. “Frances… I get what you’re saying, I really do, but this is really hard to believe.”

Frances gritted her teeth and exhaled. “So what are you going to do then?”

Timur stammered, “Well… um, just… look I don’t know! You’re asking me to believe my dad’s hurting me? That he hurt my sister? How do we know he doesn’t have a good reason—”

“What good reason would a parent have to hurt their children, much less curse them to die!” Frances exclaimed.

“That was my fault and I deserved that!” Timur bellowed.

“You don’t! Timur, your father’s an abusive parent and a true monster. You need to get as far away from him as you can,” Frances yelled.

“And abandon my country? My people?” Timur retorted.

Frances froze. “That’s…well…”

“Look, my father has to know what he is doing. He… he may not be the best father, and maybe you’re right about him hurting Titania, but he’s ruled Alavaria for years. Shouldn’t that mean that I should trust him and his actions?” Timur asked.

Frances’s head was beginning to hurt. “Are you… Timur, why are you making excuses for him?”

“What.”

“I just told you that he hurts his own children and you’re saying that he has a good reason for that,” said Frances.

“Well… Um…” The prince grimaced. “Just answer my question.”

Frances groaned. “If you want to know what I think. I think you should abandon Alavaria! I’m not saying humans are better, but Alavaria massacred three hundred civilians in front of the city to make a point.”

“Those are the actions of one general.”

“Who your father never asked to be punished! Doesn’t that seem even a little odd to you?”

Timur, scowling, scratched at his head. “Yes, okay, this all sounds… odd but how do I know you aren’t just trying to turn me against my father?”

“Turn you—I’m trying to save you!” Frances wailed.

“I’m not saying you aren’t, but you have to kill my father to stay in Durannon. How do I know that hasn’t… biased your judgement?” Timur asked.

Suddenly, the trogre prince staggered, clutching his cheek, as pain exploded across his face. Blinking, he turned to the human mage in front of him.

Frances’s mouth was hanging open, her right hand raised and trembling.

“I… Timur, I’m sorry I didn’t mean—”

“So what did you mean, Frances?” Timur hissed, glaring at the girl.

“I’m sorry. I just got so angry and frustrated—”

“And you feel that towards my father? Or me?” Timur demanded.

Frances flinched. “Your father… and a little at you. I… I don’t understand why you believe him. He’s hurting you.”

“I believe him because he’s my dad. And if that’s your measure, why should I believe you now?” The trogre prince touched his cheek and winced.

“I… I’m sorry, Timur, please—”

“Frances, I like you and I care about you, but… you’re right about this relationship. We can’t go further than this. Especially not when we disagree about my father and the war.” Timur straightened his shirt and stepped back. “Goodnight.”

Frances reached out her hand but stopped herself from stepping forward. “B-but Timur, please, you need to—”

“If you truly care about me then you’d let me decide,” Timur said.

Frances shook her head. “You don’t understand. You’re in terrible danger,” she cried.

“From my own father? Do you have any evidence other than the curse?” Timur hissed.

Frances froze. Renia and Ivy’s Sting’s stories whispered in her mind. At the same time, her stomach twisted at the thought of telling these stories, when neither of them had allowed her to.

“I… Timur, please, at least ask your sister. I do have evidence, but I can’t show you it!”

“Why not?” Timur asked.

“Because it’ll put other people in danger!” Frances swallowed. “Ask Titania, she’ll tell you, and… and…” Frances bit her lip. “You … you should know that Thorgoth has already hurt more of his children than just you and Titania.”

Timur frowned, “What does that even mean?”

Shaking her head, Frances tried to blink back the tears in her eyes. “I can’t say anything else.”

“And I’ve heard enough. Goodnight Frances.” Timur turned to go and paused. “The negotiations are wrapping up tomorrow. I… I do wish we can meet again, under better circumstances, as friends.”

Her heart crumbling, Frances sniffled. “I do too. I’m sorry.”

Timur swallowed, faced Frances and gave a stiff bow, before leaving. He didn’t look back at the crying girl behind him. Frances, sobbing, wracked with guilt and frustration, didn’t follow.

Elizabeth, Martin, Ayax and Ginger chattered away eagerly as they made their way to their rooms. As they reached Frances’s room they stopped.

Martin knocked on the door. “Frances? Are you in there?”

“Yes. What’s going on?” cried the voice.

Smiles faded from the teens. Something didn’t sound right about Frances’s voice.

Martin thought about it for a moment and decided to play it casually. “It’s not an emergency, but Ginger and I decided on something really important and we’d like to tell you in person.”

After a moment, the door creaked open. Frances’s eyes were tinged red and while her hair had been hastily combed, it was mussed, as if she’d been burying her face in her pillow.

“Frances? What happened?” Elizabeth asked.

“It was Timur, wasn’t it?” Ayax hissed.

Frances raised her hands. “I don’t want to talk about it right now. Just… tell me please.”

Martin hesitated, so Ginger gently stepped around him and held Frances’s hand. “Frances, Martin proposed to me and we’re getting engaged. We were wondering if you’d like to celebrate with us. I can see you’re—”

“Wait, you’re getting married?” Frances stammered, eyes widening. Ginger smiled, nodded and an infectious joy spread through Frances.

“It’s not going to be immediate. We think that we’re going to keep being engaged for a while yet, but yes, we want to work towards it,” said Martin, beaming. He staggered as Frances grabbed him and Ginger in a tight hug.

“I’m so happy for you both!”

Ginger stammered, “You’re not… sad or anything? I mean, you and Timur…”

“It was my fault and I… I really don’t want to talk about it. Can we just all go and celebrate for today?” Frances pleaded, looking at her friends.

They all nodded slowly, though, it was clear to Frances that they would be asking for an explanation later.

“Well, I have always wanted to go to a House of Light,” said Elizabeth.

“Ooh, I know a place!” Ayax exclaimed.

The House of Light they went to gave the group a private room to celebrate Martin and Ginger’s engagement. Within minutes, they were all pleasantly buzzed as they ate, talked, and played board and card games.

The most common game in Erlenberg was unsurprisingly a game about trading. Elizabeth professed it was similar to Settlers of Catan from Earth, but based around moving your trading ship around a map to try to build a company.

It was while they were playing that Frances slowly explained the argument she had with Timur and how she’d lost her temper. She left out Renia’s story, though.

“I… I wish I didn’t hit him. It’s just… when he suggested I was being biased, when all I was trying to do was save him, it touched a nerve,” Frances said. She closed her eyes. “Instead I just… I just did what my dad and mom always did to me.”

“Hey, Timur was being a numbskull, and he’s a tough guy. One hit doesn’t mean you’re becoming like your parents,” said Ginger cheerfully.

Elizabeth seemed a little more concerned, however. “Frances, I get why you were frustrated, but why do you feel that Timur is in danger?”

Frances winced. “I learnt something recently about King Thorgoth. The person who told me hasn’t allowed me to share it yet, so I really can’t say more, but it’s alarming. I’m… I’m really scared for him.”

“That’s not good. Do you think he’ll be alright?” Martin asked.

“If he talks to Titania, I think he’ll be fine, but… that’s only if he talks to Titania.” Frances took another deep sip from her cup. “Ah, well it wasn’t going to be possible anyway.”

“Hey, you never know cuz. And if it doesn’t work out, there are plenty of other fish in the sea,” said Ayax, nudging Frances.

Frances forced herself to smile. “I know you’re right. I just… I’m going to need some time.”

“Take as long as you need,” said Martin, filling Frances’s glass.

That night, after the party, Frances called Edana while lying in her bed. She wasn’t sure if her mother was awake, but she wanted to try.

To her surprise the image of her mother appeared. At this late hour, Edana was in a comfy cotton nightgown, her hair an utter mess. To Frances’s surprise, she realized that her mother was starting to show just the littlest bit of grey at the roots of her hair.

“Frances, dear, how are you?” Edana asked, stifling a yawn.

“I’m… I could be better. I just wanted to see you mom.” Frances shifted onto her pillow. “Timur and I… well he’s been negotiating for the army and well, we sortof um, confessed.”

Edana blinked, and suddenly all sleepiness was gone. “Oh. What happened? He felt the same way, I suppose?”

“Yes. But… I don’t think it’s going to work. We had an argument about his father.” Frances bit her lip. “Mom, I really want to tell you what I learned, but I think we need to meet in person to go over it. It’s… well, Timur’s dad abuses him, but he doesn’t believe that.

“How so? I mean, you later told me about how he abused Titania so it isn’t too surprising, but why doesn’t Timur believe that he’s being hurt?” Edana asked.

Frances bit her lip. “It’s something to do with how Thorgoth treats him. From what I’ve been told, Timur always seems to disappoint his father, even when he does his best. And yet, he’s… conditioned? Brainwashed? It’s as if he’s been trained to be happy with the barest compliment. He kept defending his dad, and accusing me of trying to turn him against his father, when all I was trying to do was help him.

“Ah, I see. You didn’t react well to that I guess?” Edana asked.

“No. I slapped him. He… he kept a brave face, but he was hurt.” Frances screwed her eyes shut. “I don’t know how, or why. I like him very much, but at that moment I was so angry he said that…”

“That’s natural Frances, though, not healthy. One reason Igraine and I took a break was because I took my anger and fear out on her, before I realized I was being a terrible person.” Edana took a deep breath. “What I mean is, relationships aren’t easy. It means loving your partner and treating them as best you can, even when you feel like you can’t, and it also means supporting your partner, even when they’re not at their best.”

“Oh… I… I don’t know if I’m ready for that.” Frances winced. “Maybe it’s a good thing we decided to just stay friends.”

“Honestly, you don’t know until you try, and with the matter of his father in the way, it’s no wonder you had that disagreement.” Edana smiled. “I’m… actually glad that he thinks of you this way. Not completely happy, but I am glad he truly cares about you.”

Nodding, Frances bit her lip. “How do I make it up to him? He’s… he’s leaving tomorrow, and I don’t think he wants to see me again, at least not tomorrow.”

“You apologized, right?” Edana asked.

“Yes, but he didn’t accept it,” Frances whispered.

“You can’t press him to do so. Give him time. The next time you meet, tell him you’re still sorry and if you can’t make it up, and ask how you can be a better friend to him,” said Edana, smiling.

Frances nodded, and wiping her eyes, said,“Thanks, mom.”

Edana smiled, and suddenly looked a little sheepish. “You’re welcome, Frances. Um, I’m glad you called because I want to ask you something. I wasn’t sure how to ask you, even though I knew you ought to have a say.”

Frances was puzzled, but nodded. “Okay. What is it?”

“So Igraine and I… well let’s start with that.” Edana took a deep breath. “We’re getting married. I was wondering if you could be my chief attendant.”

It took a second, before Frances’s brain caught up, at which point, sheer elation just overwhelmed her sorrow from the day’s events.

“Oh my Gods, YES!” Frances screamed, before clamping her hands over her mouth and hoped she didn’t wake her friends.

“Yeah, I’m… I can’t quite believe it honestly. It’s been such a long road and… well ultimately we just felt it’s time,” said Edana, dreamily. Shaking her head, she pursed her lips. “There’s something else, though. I’m… I’m not getting any younger Frances, and neither is Igraine. Now, she likes you but we were thinking about raising another kid, though, both of us agree we should ask you first.”

Frances squeaked, “Me?”

“Yes, you. You are part of this family. If I want to have a child, I want to be sure that you’re alright with it.”

Frances made a thoughtful face. Part of her understood what Edana was worried about. She hadn’t had the best experience with her blood sibling, Denise. However, despite the bad memories, she felt surprisingly alright with the possibility.

It would be sad that her mother and Igraine would be focusing more on their new daughter, but… when she thought about how happy her mother would be to complete the family she always wanted…

“I might be a little jealous, but I want you to do it, mom. Though, I’m a little confused. I thought you’d be the one bearing the child because Igraine… well I don’t think she likes men.”

“No she doesn’t,” said Edana in wry tone. “Very perceptive of you. The thing is, though, there are magical means of conception between two women and I’m one of the few mages who can perform the right spell. So it’s possible and since our child needs to inherit her barony, it’s necessary.”

“Woah.” Frances pursed her lips. “Speaking of which… mom, is it possible to fake someone’s death with magic. Like… create a head that looks like that person.”

“You’re speaking of General Helias.” Edana pinched the bridge of her nose. “I was contacted about that by your Grandmother earlier. With regards to that… there is, but there’s no real way to prove it because a mage skilled enough to fake it wouldn’t leave any traces. What’s surprising is that if they did fake it, that mage would probably have already made an appearance in the fighting, but as far as we know, they haven’t.”

“They would have to be dispatched by Thorgoth,” said Frances, grimacing.

“Yes, and we can’t prove that. We have cut Antigones off from retreating, but as Timur did, single riders or small groups could slip by,” said Edana.

“Damn. That does sound like Thorgoth.” Frances took a deep breath. “Thanks mom. I’ll… I’ll keep trying to see if my sources are willing to tell you about what we found out about Thorgoth. They are… they’re just really scared.”

Edana nodded. “I understand. Don’t press them too hard. Goodnight Frances, and thank you, for your blessing.”

“Love you, mom,” Frances whispered, kissing her fingers and pressing them to the mirror.

Edana did the same. “Love you too, Frances.”

The next day, Frances had asked if she could talk to Renia before the negotiations were finalized. Once they were in private, Frances had told the harpy about her conversation with Timur. She also apologized for revealing the little she did.

The harpy took it in stride. “Don’t worry, Frances. I don’t mind that you warned Timur. I… I know I would have, but I can’t let anybody know I’m alive.”

“I understand. I… I just hope Timur will listen to me,” said Frances.

Renia pursed her lips. “I think he cares about you, Frances, but… from what you told me, he’s spent a long time under his father’s influence.” Renia crossed her wings, almost as if she were crossing a pair of arms. “Thorgoth is a very charming Alavari. He embodies everything that we see in an ideal king. He was tough, strong, eloquent and yet concise. I couldn’t have believed that he could do anything wrong, and due to my status, I was always more privy to whispers and rumors. Not at court, but between servants. That and Teutobal was getting suspicious. I think he found out about what Thorgoth was doing to Titania, though, he never told me directly.”

Frances frowned. “Why do you sound like you admire Thorgoth?”

“Because he’s hard not to. Sixty years ago, while Thorgoth’s grandmother Queen Taira reigned, Alavaria was incredibly divided. There was a sporadic civil war that tore the country apart and the humans really took advantage of that to claim disputed territory, such as Vertingen.” Renia sighed. “We even lost a king, King Tagus, Thorgoth’s father, to an assassination. Thorgoth put a stop to that.”

“Why… why didn’t Timur mention this?” Frances asked.

“He was born long after that period, in a time when we were enjoying the fruit of Thorgoth’s success. Teutobal, Titania and I were born just at the end of the wars,” Renia explained.

“So… he… he is a hero to the Alavari?” Frances whispered.

“Yes, Timur has always been around Alavari that see him as such. Not to mention that according to what you told me, Thorgoth always seems to be able to undermine Timur’s confidence in anybody but his father in sneaky ways. The rare compliments, the sarcastic barbs, the isolation from other people his age, and yet relative lack of actual punishment… I don’t know for sure but I think they played a role in conditioning Timur to rely only on what his father says. And if he only trusts what his father tells him, Thorgoth can lie to him, or contradict himself, and Timur would probably believe it.”

Swallowing, Frances couldn’t help but think of how low her crush’s self-confidence was.

“That’s horrifying.”

“It is. There is hope, however,” said Renia, smiling. “You challenged what he thinks. You told him where he should look for answers. If he decides to listen to you, he’ll have a chance of being free from his father’s grip.”

Oddly enough, Frances wasn’t happy Renia had said that. She was hopeful Timur would find the truth, but she had another thought. It was again, tied to a memory of her own.

“It’s going to hurt, though, right? Finding out that his father has been hurting and lying to him all this time? I… I remember when I realized my parents shouldn’t have been hitting me. I… I knew in my heart that they shouldn’t have been, that’s why I was happy to be transported to Durannon, but it was… still does… hurt,” Frances whispered, her eyes filling with tears.

Renia could only nod sadly.