Images came and went, a blur of confusion and loss and yet, an overwhelming sense of love and contentment as well. Jale swirled in a sea of blue, in a lagoon with a waterfall cascading down rocks, a garden of blue surrounding it although he had never seen it before. He floated in the stars, reaching out to move them with his hands as if he, himself, was one of the Gods.

His body fell, spinning and freefalling until a sudden rush of green overwhelmed him, and he was standing in the midst of a lush green forest. He could smell the fresh scent of pine trees, could feel the wetness in the air on his skin, and when he lifted his head to the sky and opened his mouth, a faint mist of moisture covered softly over his tongue.

The vision swirled again, spiraling, and he was on a balcony overlooking a sprawling city that spread out to a clear, flat sea. A hand reached out. He saw it as if he was standing behind his own body. It landed gently on his shoulder. Jale turned, back in his own body, and there before him was Prince Rathner. He was older, more mature, more serious. Jale took a step forward, but he was pulled away by a force he could not see.

He was sitting on the sands of a beach, empty and desolate in both directions as a warm breeze soothed his shoulders. The sky was a blur of peach and pink clouds as the sun set. His fingers dug into the sand, and he brought his arm up, letting the fine grain run through his fingers, so unlike the cold, rocky beaches of Keglar.

He didn't know how long he sat there.

Time passed...or did it?

Something grey emerged to his right in his peripheral vision. He turned his head to find a large, grey wall of water surging in his direction. It bore down, and he only sat their entranced as the reality of his insignificance inhibited any thought of escape. It crashed over him, and he was pulled into the ocean, sucked deep into its depths. He couldn't breathe, couldn't get air, couldn't get the oxygen that was needed for his....

Jale gasped and his eyes shot open. For a moment there was only whiteness as if he was blind or if his brain was receiving too much information to focus. He blinked frantically, and his vision began to clear.

A shape formed, and he blinked again to find Delba directly above him, her hand holding the sponge that was bathing his naked, upper body. His hand reached out and wrapped weakly around her throat. As quickly as he did so, the point of a blade was placed against his jugular. Jale's eyes moved to find the shadow of a person standing beside Delba, and his eyes widened in shock.

"I would strongly reconsider," a female voice said from underneath the mask she wore. "Delba has seen to your health since you arrived." For a brief moment, Jale and the masked woman stared at each other, her blue eyes piercing into his.

He nodded slowly and released his grip. Without another word, the woman removed the dagger, and she disappeared back into the darkness of the room, save for the dim lamp that was a short distance away hanging on the wall. It was all Jale could see from where he lay.

Delba let out a sigh of relief, and she continued to sponge Jale's chest in an ineffectual manner, her concern appearing to be more focused on the fact Jale was finally conscious again. With one last cautious look over her shoulder, she spoke softly, "I'm glad you are awake. It has been two weeks since you collapsed."

"Two weeks!" Jale croaked in surprise. His throat dry and his voice weak.

He tried to gain a better view of his surroundings. Beyond where he lay, it was as if a black mist hung heavily in the air, smothering everything else. Hee couldn't determine whether it was a closed off room, merely night-time or whether they were underground. Frustrated, he attempted to rise, but Delba placed a firm hand on his chest urging him otherwise.

"Be careful," she said. "You have been quite sick."

"Where are we?" Jale asked.

"We are guests among the Talekan Assassins, and you are alive by their gracious hospitality."

"The Talekan Assassins?" Jale asked worriedly. "What about the Prince? Prince Rathner?" Jale paused, filled with fear. "Do we have the plague?"

"You did, we all did. We were all infected apparently," Delba informed him. "After you collapsed, it wasn't long until all of us started to feel sick, both the Talbecans and the Keglans. By midnight, everyone was in a bad way. I tried to do what I could but," she paused, clearly distressed by what she had seen. "I wasn't directly exposed so I saw what happened. The Talekan Assassins rescued all of you and brought you to this temple."

Jale tried to raise his body again so he could sit up, his muscles ravaged by weakness, and he doubted that he would even manage to get to his feet. This time, Delba offered her support and added an extra two pillows behind his head, the effort too much for Jale to sit unsupported.

Delba's words suddenly struck home. "Wait, the Talekan Assassins have a cure for the plague?"

Delba nodded her head vigorously. "Apparently so, I only know what they have told me, which isn't much. They have a treatment that if used early enough, it can starve off the plague before it completely takes effect. The other men fared well but for you, Galton and the Prince. Prince Rathner told me that all three of you stood near the young girl on the stretcher."

Jale shook his head slowly. "Yes, that was quite foolish of us."

"We have been here ever since," Delba continued, looking around the room. "I have been helping the assassins to take care of you all."

"Thank you," he said carefully. He had misjudged her completely. "I guess I am indebted to you as well."

Delba gave him a wry look. "I only did what I thought was best for Prince Rathner," she said, gently teasing him. "I think your survival would be of great importance to him. He has come to visit you on many occasions since he awoke."

"He fared better?" Jale asked.

"Yes, although everyone had different variations of the illness. I was fortunate, I was only unwell for a couple of days. Prince Rathner was sick for a week. You've been one of the worst."

"How did we get better?" Jale asked. "What is the cure?"

"Look around you, Jale," Delba said, and he saw that the room he was in was far bigger than he originally thought. It was lined with beds filled with about thirty Talbecan and Keglan soldiers. "Can you see any of the mountain clansmen here?"

Jale briefly looked again and noted that indeed, not one Dratlin clansman was present. "No," he said curiously.

"It would seem that a cure was right under our noses," Delba continued. "The mountain clansmen didn't even know it themselves, but there is a small, purple flower that grows on their mountains. They eat it quite regularly as it has a sweet flavor. They didn't realize that it was preventing them from getting sick."

Jale closed his eyes. The conversation was exhausting him already, but it tugged on a suspicion he had already had. Did the Keglan Kingdom know of this cure as well? Is that why they planned to kill Prince Rathner, knowing that with this flower, it would keep them safe?

"I'll tell you another part of this story too," Delba stated. Jale opened his eyes to find Delba holding up her wrist to reveal the tattoo engraved on her arm. "Apparently, everyone who had one of these has been saved."

"Really?" Jale asked. "So, our markings weren't for assassination after all?"

"Apparently not. You look tired," Delba suddenly noted. "Rest Jale. I'll let Prince Rathner know you are awake. I'm sure he'll be pleased to know you have improved."

Jale didn't respond. His eyes were already closed, and he could feel sleep creeping in on the edges of his consciousness.

>>

Later in the day, Jale stirred again. This time a Talbecan Assassin attended to him, offering water and warm soup. She spooned it into his mouth for him, and his taste buds clung to the flavors of herbs and medicinal roots mixed with a meaty stock. Afterwards, he lay for a while taking in the sounds and activity of the large room.

It had a variety of men at different levels of sickness. Some were sleeping, some were being attended to by Talekin Assassins, and others who were sitting and chatting quietly. Once they caught Jale's eye, one or two gave a nod while others, Talbecans he noted, turned away. The Talbecans, it appeared and rightly so, were still angry about the betrayal from Jale's men.

The door to the room abruptly opened, hitting the wall behind it, and loud, heavy footsteps thudded across the floor. Jale turned his head to see who had intruded the quiet space, and he braced himself for what was to come.

Galton stalked towards Jale. His face red and filled with rage.

"You!" he shouted, spit flying from his mouth. "I'll kill you!" He grabbed hold of Jale by his shirt and lifted him a good distance out of his bed. "You caused all of this," he growled.

"Did it not escape you," Jale responded weakly. "That it is because of me that your beloved Prince is still alive?"

Galton stopped at the sight of two Talekan Assassin gliding towards Jale's bed, their faces covered but their weapons drawn ready to act if Galton took the confrontation any further. Galton spat on the ground at Jale's feet and let him go, Jale falling back onto the pillows of his bed.

"Galton, enough!" Prince Rathner's voice bellowed from the entrance of the room. "I will not have you speak to Prince Jale in such a manner." Prince Rathner looked around the room, staring at each of his men in turn. "That goes for any of my men. I would not be here if it wasn't for Prince Jale. Everyone is to address Prince Jale in the manner that he deserves, in the manner of his social standing as a member of the Keglan Royal Family. As you were," he said with the wave of his hand to the rest of the room.

Jale brushed off his under shirt. "Charming," he seethed while Galton continued to glare. Jale pulled his shirt high to hide how thin he had become. "Well, I guess it was to be expected," Jale said to Prince Rathner as he came to stand beside his bed.

"What are you going to do to him for causing this," Galton asked Prince Rathner, unperturbed that he was still talking loudly enough for Prince Rathner's men to hear him.

"I honestly don't know," Prince Rathner answered, looking back at Jale.

"How about thanking me and letting me go on my way," Jale cut in, annoyed by the scrutiny. "I'll happily disappear into your Empire."

"Like the pits of all the eternities’ sewers, you will," Galton growled.

"Be gone," Jale muttered to himself. "I'm too tired for this."

"Leave," Prince Rathner ordered Galton. "Take leave now and let me talk to Prince Jale in private."

Galton huffed and spun on his heels.

Prince Rathner sighed and rubbed his forehead. He waited until Galton had left the room before he turned back to Jale. He remained silent however.

"It's good to see you up," Prince Rathner finally said.

"It's good to be awake," Jale replied. "You look terrible."

Prince Rathner laughed and sat on the chair that had been placed beside Jale's bed. "You don't look that great yourself," he said.

Jale managed a weak smile. "So I've been told." There was a soft pause. "It's good to see you."

"Likewise," Prince Rathner responded with a smile. "You'll be feeling stronger after a few good meals in your stomach."

"I hope so," Jale agreed. "The soup I had at lunch was very agreeable. I had no idea that these assassins we were so scared of were going to be so welcoming." Jale paused. "Did the plague kill many of your remaining men?"

Prince nodded solemnly. "There's not much left at all. I only have fifteen men, ten of which are still recovering and from last count, there are only ten Keglans. Brelen and Ladet, fared well. They are here somewhere in the temple, too."

A heavy silence fell between them. There was so much that needed to be discussed.

"My men betrayed you and betrayed me," Jale said softly, braving to speak first.

Prince Rather stared at the empty space in front of him. "I don't blame you for what happened."

Jale didn't respond. He was lost for words. The betrayal would hurt for a long time, and it amazed him that Prince Rathner did not feel any anger towards him.

"I know you lost a lot that day," Prince Rathner added. "Delba informed me. I am angry about Drean as well. He was a good-natured man, and I enjoyed the time I spent with him."

Their eyes met fleetingly. There had been no time to discuss what had happened between them that night and this certainly wasn't the time and place. Despite everything, a flash of a memory, of sensual flesh, of intimate touches overwhelmed Jale's senses, and he had to blink hard to push them away and refocus.

He looked away and when Jale spoke, his voice shook, "I will get revenge for his death, as well as Hoele's and Trent's. Prince Tolder must also be held accountable for what he did to his people." Jale looked straight at Prince Rathner. "Ladet mentioned that Prince Yernal was responsible for the attack on you and your men. I don't know how, but one day, I will ensure that he doesn't get away with this as well."

Prince Rathner only nodded. "What will you do when you are healthy?"

Jale scoffed. "There's not much I can do in the short term," he said. "I don't know how my return will be treated. Will I be considered a traitor? Will I...."

"Come to Talbec with me," Prince Rathner suddenly interrupted.

"What?" Jale stuttered.

"You heard me," Prince Rathner said. "You and your surviving men can come to Talbec. I can blend you all in as Talbecans. Brelen can already speak Talbecan and Ladet is young, he should be able to pick it up swiftly enough. They can be travelers who helped me."

Prince Rathner spoke quickly, and he reminded Jale of someone who was making up plans as he went. "You would all be safe in Talbec," he continued. "We can tell the Keglar Kingdom that there were no Keglan survivors. I'm sure Menelt's men would also back up our story and then in Talbec, we can really plan to get revenge on this Prince Yernal."

"You mean you want me to leave everything behind in Keglar?" Jale asked. It was a ridiculous question really.

Prince Rathner didn't respond, and Jale swallowed down the shame of it. Prince Rathner knew as well he potentially didn't have anything to go back to.

"You could come to the palace," Prince Rathner suggested softly.

Jale's eyes widened. "The palace? In Dalenia?"

"Why not?" Prince Rathner asked. "You can join my army, if you like. Galton would probably want to ask you some questions under a truth serum beforehand to be sure of your sincerity, but I think it could work."

Jale blinked. "A truth serum?" Jale asked, amused. "I doubt that even a truth serum would appease that man."

Prince Rathner chuckled. "After I explain to Galton the possible advantages of having someone from the Royal Ramily of Keglar so close to my council, he'll come around."

Jale's eyes widened. "You do realize that my home is hundreds of miles away from the Keglar Kingdom royal court. No one in the immediate royal family has set eyes upon me since I was a child. I don't know how much insight I could give you."

"Even if it is only a little, at least if you did come to Dalenia, we could," Prince Rathner paused looking Jale directly in the eye, "we could still see each other."

"We haven't spoken about the night we all shared, have we?" Jale stated.

"No, we haven't," Prince Rathner agreed. "I know you were very close to Drean, and you have lost so much in losing him, but I just wanted you to know that I enjoyed the evening the three of us shared." Prince Rathner reached out and placed his hand on Jale's arm. "I wouldn't mind spending more time with you, in whatever capacity that means for you, of course," he added quickly.

Jale turned his head, gazing off into the distance, his thoughts rushing to the memories of Drean. "I need time," he said quietly. "There's so much that's happened..."

"I know, I understand," Prince Rathner said retrieving his arm.

"I would have to speak to my remaining men," Jale said after a while. "I can't make this decision on my own. I would be asking all of them to leave everything behind as well."

Prince Rathner nodded and started to rise to leave.

"Stay," Jale requested. "Your company is welcome."