Teal's relationship with Ladet changed. He had a newfound respect for Ladet, namely for what he had done when he was twelve years old and while in the past, Ladet's interactions with Teal had been filled with contempt and utter distrust, he now interacted with Teal with respect and professionalism.

It was their responsibility to ensure the Empress was safe. Not that anyone had ever been successful in attempting such acts of treason within the core of the palace grounds before, but Ladet and Teal were not going to take any chances. There were still visitors within the palace grounds who required close monitoring and part of Teal's job was to ensure that those visitors were aware of his presence.

Unlike his first encounter with Prince Yernal where he had been cautioned on how to speak with the man, Teal now ensured that Prince Yernal was aware that he had gained the respect and trust of the Emperor. Teal was confident that there was very little he could do that would cause the Emperor to act angrily.

It was in that vein Teal took great pleasure in personally delivering news to Prince Yernal every day to inform him of updates on the preparations for his departure. Teal and Ladet also decided the main building of the palace was out of bounds for non-residents of the palace, a rule that Prince Yernal took great pleasure in complaining about. Complaining that fell on deaf ears.

The Empress remained well and healthy and within the confines of her room, deciding she didn't want to battle with the winding stairs to her room any longer. The midwives announced the baby had settled and was getting ready to come into the world and even though there was a cloud of uncertainty over the palace with the cause of the Emperor's secretive departure, there was also an excited energy buzzing through the halls as everyone waited for the Empress to go into labor, early as it was.

Teal also spent his free time with Lana and their relationship grew. They continued to be intimate, permission granted by both the Emperor and Jale. Delba flitted around the palace, their paths not crossing frequently but when they did, she appeared agitated, flustered and on the verge of annoyance. She was always polite to Teal. He had still not discussed that he'd overheard her conversation with Jale. He didn't want to add to her discomfort.

Two weeks later, on another windy hot night, Teal was conducting his nightly rounds of the palace. It was a job that took him only an hour as he traveled to each station to hear their reports. He took a moment to stand along the outer wall and looked out to sea just like he had on one of the very first nights when he had arrived at the palace. It felt so long ago.

He turned to leave and crossed towards the Purple Jade Palace in no time at all. Before he jumped down from the wall, he spied a shadow on the inside of the palace moving quickly along the path. He recognised the hair and watched as Delba lifted the hood on her cloak after she passed the security guards. Curious, Teal followed to see where her evening walk would take her.

Wherever Delba was going, she did not take a direct path. Several times she doubled back or looped around. Teal tried to stay optimistic, but this was not the behaviour of someone who was out for an innocent stroll. After twenty minutes, Delba changed direction yet again and headed towards the residential quarters of the other members of the Talbecan Royal Family.

Teal paused, climbed up the wall and continued to followed as the doors of Prince Salren's living quarters closed quietly behind her. Confused, Teal mulled over why she could be possibly going into his quarters especially when Prince Salren had now left the palace and was not planning on returning. Only a skeleton staff would be inside to ensure its cleanliness and upkeep.

Teal kept low along the wall to hide himself and followed Delba's outline. She stopped on the edge of the square courtyard in front of the main building. He frowned. It was obvious she was there to meet someone. After a moment, she took a step forward but stopped before the shadows of the surrounding veranda engulfed her. There was no sound. Delba moved her hands emphatically for several minutes and then turned away, walking quickly back to the entrance of Prince Salren's quarters.

Without a second thought, Teal jumped from the wall surrounding Prince Salren's quarters and landed in the middle of the courtyard. He sprinted towards the veranda, his eyes immediately training in on the outline of a figure walking away from where they had met with Delba.

The person must have sensed his approach as they turned sharply. For a flicker of a second, the woman's eyes widened in shock as Teal surged towards her, his eyes glowing in the process.

The Talekan Assassin stood her ground and her hands came up in defence. This wasn't Teal attacking as an enraged or hungry Lombock though, this was Teal attacking with the discipline and determination of a man defending his Emperor's palace. Teal knew who she was. He didn't need to be told and he wasn't going to kill her. He wanted answers.

Two adept and experienced fighters. The fight was quick, strong and fluid. He could tell the woman’s training had had been brutal and rigid for she did not hesitate to attack, but Teal quickly realised that the woman before him was only defending and not attempting to attack and mortally injure him.

She blocked, dodged and kicked to counter strike against Teal's rapid attacks, Satner's training coming forth. Any blow she delivered was an attempt to warn him off. The assassin was small, stealthy and fast, very fast. Whatever her intentions were, they weren't to engage with Teal to cause injury, she was attempting to retreat.

After several moments, of nothing but intense sparring, the pair broke away. They both breathed deeply, catching their breaths and the woman held her hands up in a sign of peace, to warn him off.

"What in all the hells is a Talekan Assassin doing here?" he asked.

The assassin didn't answer.

"Teal?"

Teal turned his head a fraction to see that Delba had returned at the sound of their scuffle. In the moment he did so, the Talekan Assassin took her moment to escape. In the blink of an eye, she climbed up the lattice beside her and scooted up onto the roof of the veranda. Teal immediately went to follow.

"No! Teal!" Delba called out, her hands outstretched. "Let her go!"

Teal spun on heels and stormed towards Delba. "What is going on, Delba?" he hissed. "Why is there a Talekan Assassin in the palace grounds?"

Delba looked around her and then back to Teal. "It's fine. She's here to help. She's not here to hurt anyone."

Conflicted, Teal looked back in the direction the Talekan Assassin had disappeared in. He wanted to follow, but he believed he had more chance in finding out what was going on from Delba than from the assassin who had probably already found a hiding spot to wait Teal out until an easier escape was available.

He turned swiftly and took Delba firmly by the elbow. "Let's walk together, shall we?" he said angrily. "I think you have a lot of explaining to do."

Delba sighed and without looking at Teal, she whispered. "It is not safe to talk here. We must go to the Purple Jade Palace."

Teal had never been inside of Delba's personal quarters inside the Purple Jade Palace. Her room was identical to his in size and decoration however, it was ordained in paintings, artefacts and trinkets, a mixture of a feminine touch and a record of her past travels. Teal turned in a slow circle, the lamp on her wall illuminating the small space.

"Your room is comfortable," he said.

Delba did not remove her cloak, but hovered hesitantly by the window, her hand cautiously inside her pocket on her right.

"There's no need for weapons here," he said, nodding his head towards her hand. "Whatever you have done, it will be down to the Emperor to decide your fate."

Delba laughed viciously. "Everything I have done is for the Emperor and for this Empire," she hissed and then, she added, "I know you were there the other day when I was talking to Jale."

"What have you done, Delba?" Teal asked, his voice low. "Why are you wandering around the palace grounds in the dead of night conversing with Talekan Assassins?"

Delba began to pace her small room, agitated and nervous. She pulled her hair free, letting its long curls bounce down over her shoulders. She ran her hands through it, scratching her scalp as she thought. Teal waited trying to remain calm.

"I murdered the guard that was caught for selling secrets," she blurted.

Teal froze. "What?!"

"I panicked," she said, taking a step closer to Teal. She wrung her hands. "I was scared that he would name me, and I wouldn't be able to vouch for myself or prove what I had been doing."

"Is that why Jale said he thought the Emperor would consider what you had done as treason?"

"Yes." She turned, a wild, scared energy palpitating off her body. "I found out who was selling the secrets. When I heard what was happening, I decided to find out who was betraying the Emperor. I had no idea how high it would go."

"Delba," Teal said, his voice now with a hint of warning, "who is responsible?"

She stepped up close and grabbed both of Teal's arms. "I can't say," she whispered. "I... There's more than one person getting information outside, for different reasons. If it gets out now, I put everyone in the Purple Jade Palace at risk, everyone!" Her eyes filled with tears. "I can't let anything happen to the people here, including you!"

Teal stared at her for a long time, trying to determine where her motives really lay. "Why didn't you join Jale, Brelen and Ladet when they came to Dalenia, ten years ago?"

The sudden question took Delba by surprise but then, her face hardened. "So, Jale has been talking, has he? He has revealed how we all came together." Her grip tightened on Teal's arms. "Then you may have an idea of why I'm talking with the Talekan Assassins. You know then, how complicated this is. You know what the Emperor and Jale are up against and what they want to do."

"Why didn't you come to Dalenia?" Teal repeated.

"I didn't believe that the Emperor's feelings were genuine for me," she said simply. "He was so infatuated with Jale, everyone could see it. He asked me," she shared, "but even if I had felt that he truly wanted me to, I wasn't ready to make that change in my life. I stayed with the Talekan Assassins for some time after that."

It was Teal's turn to look surprised. "You stayed with them?" He took a step back. "Are you a Talekan Assassin?"

Delba laughed, the first genuine, delighted sound from her that evening.

"No," she said. "The Talekan Assassins come from a long line of individuals who have magical capabilities in their blood. They do not take outsiders. I worked with them and studied their assassin skills but no, Teal, I'm not a Talekan Assassin." She stepped back. "I came to the palace a year after, but that is a different story for a different time." Her face immediately fell as she considered her current dilemma. "I'm trying to keep things calm. The Talekan Assassins are currently divided."

"I'm sure we could find a way to protect everyone, if you told the Emperor who is responsible," Teal said gently.

"I don't know if even you could stop them, Teal, for they are persistent, and I'm afraid the Emperor won't believe me," she said, her voice cracking. "There's more, Teal," she said urgently. "I wanted to say something before the Emperor left, but I was so scared, so scared."

"What?" Teal asked. He was becoming more and more concerned at the desperation in her voice.

"It's Prince Yernal," she whispered as if she was worried that prying ears would reach even her small quarters. "He's up to something, I know it. There's been whispers, but I don't know what it is. I want him gone," she said firmly. "I want him gone from the palace."

"You need not fear," Teal assured her. "He leaves tomorrow."

"I won't be at peace until he is off the palace grounds and on his way back to the Keglar Kingdom. Be careful, Teal. Keep your eyes open. I have no idea what he could be planning."

The sound of footsteps running up to Delba's room caused the pair to fall quiet. Delba's eunuch appeared in her doorstep with two parchments held out in his hands. Delba frowned at the intrusion, but she took the parchment and read its contents. Her head snapped up.

"The King of the Keglar Kingdom has passed away, and the Empress has gone into labor!"

>>

Teal paced back and forth outside the Empress quarters. He wasn't alone. Members of the high council were also present as well as some of the ladies from Prince Vox's personal palace. All were waiting with abated breath. Even the Empress's servants jittered around them, nervously giving out drinks and food as they waited, their eyes flicking frequently in the direction of the Empress's sleeping quarters. Time moved slowly, inching past, the future of the Empire resting on what lay behind the Empress' closed doors.

Teal had ordered word to be sent to the Emperor to try to intercept them while they were on the road, but chances were, they wouldn't be aware of the birth until they reached another major city. Delba and Lana had been inside for hours with three midwives who had been interviewed and personally selected by the Empress herself for the task. The sun was now working its way up in the sky. He had no idea how long it took to birth a child although he knew it was an arduous task for most women. His adoptive mother had assisted with births in Hulena and she would sometimes be away for over a day.

Two hours later, Teal heard the cry of a newborn. He paced to Empress Crael's door, placed his hand on her door and closed his eyes, breathing out a sigh of relief.

The door abruptly opened and Teal stepped aside. A lady-in-waiting came rushing out, running to another servant who had been waiting in case anything else was needed. It was enough time to see several bloodied towels on the floor beyond the doors. The door to the Empress's bedroom was closed but Teal could hear the urgent chatter coming from behind it.

"More towels!" the lady-in-waiting cried before running back into the room.

Teal's heart increased. The baby could be heard crying. It sounded well, but why the urgency? Was the Empress healthy?

Teal returned to his pacing as well as the other dignitaries in the waiting room. He couldn't imagine what he would do if the Empress did not fare well. How would they handle it with Emperor Rathner being so far away? He shouldn't have left. He should have remained. Teal swept a nervous hand through his hair, the tension in the room palpable.

After what seemed an eternity, Delba pushed the door open and walked towards Teal. She looked exhausted. Her hair was messy, sweat raddled, and she had shadows under her eyes. But there was a twinkle in her eye, and on her lips, was the largest smile Teal had ever seen. She clasped Teal's hands.

"It is a wonderful day," she whispered. "Twins, Teal! Empress Crael has had twins!" Delba looked around the room and spoke to everyone who was waiting. "They are all doing well. A boy and a girl! The Emperor and the Empress have twins!"