I stopped outside the doorway to the meeting room. The door was cracked, allowing Nadea and her father's voices to leak out as a whisper. I reached to push the door open but stopped when I realized what they were discussing.

"Don't be disappointed. This was a chance gambit. We weren't certain he would be there or that he could be awoken." The duke was trying to comfort her.

"I know, Father. I shouldn't have set my hopes so high, but I can't keep myself from feeling disappointed. Everything seemed right about Kaiyer. He's strong, intelligent, and wants to aid us. If he actually was the O'Baarni, he would help us with the Ancients." Her voice was laced with disappointment.

"It's just a name, the O'Baarni, Kaiyer may not be him, but he wants to help us. From the account you gave me last night and what I saw today, he seems to possess attributes that will help us. Maybe he can actually defeat one of the Ancients in combat?"

"You're right. I should be thankful that my mission was somewhat successful. At least I brought someone back from that time period. He can probably help us in more ways than I am imagining." She sighed. “He just isn’t at all what I expected.”

"You've done very well on this task. I am proud of you, and the king is too. You are a capable young woman, just like your mother was. I wish she could see you as you stand before me." His voice filled with praise and love.

"Thank you," she choked out. They didn't say anything for a while. I was about to push on the door when they started talking again.

"So any more thoughts about him after this morning?" the duke asked.

"I was about to ask you the same thing." Nadea laughed. "He seemed disappointed that he had to tell us that he wasn't the O'Baarni, but I believe he is hiding something. He knows more than he is telling us. During our travels I often observed him staring off into the sky, like he was remembering things. He acted the same during our conversation.”

"I got the same impression. I do feel he is sincere, that he wants to help us. But he isn't telling us everything. I'm sure he knows who the O'Baarni is. It's fine that he doesn't want to tell us now. I imagine he'll open up more once he begins to trust us. I think he'll be able to help us in some small ways in the next few weeks. My brother has taken an extreme liking to him, which is good for our agenda. It also seems that Kaiyer likes him too. This is also good." Nadea agreed with him. There was silence until the duke spoke again.

"He is handsome, no? You told me that he was thin, but I hadn't expected it to be that bad. He must have looked near death when you awoke him."

"I thought we were looking at a corpse that had been laid out on a slab for a funeral. We were terrified when he first woke. He's put on a few pounds in our travels but . . ." Nadea trailed off.

"Yes, but do you think he is handsome?" There was a smile behind the duke's voice.

"Father! How can you ask me that? I don't think of him that way." He laughed.

"That's too bad, Naynay. Your mother would go insane knowing that you haven't been married off by now with a few children of your own."

"I know," Nadea sighed and I guessed she may have heard this before.

"What of Staril? I recall you mentioning how impressed you were with him when you stayed at his estate in Astical," the duke pressed.

"Like I told you before, it didn't work out. He wanted it to, but I had to come home," Nadea said flatly.

I scrunched up my nose. They couldn't have been talking about the Merchant King Staril? The man was a notorious schemer, killer, and had forcefully conquered the broken up country of Astical about ten years ago.

"That is probably for the best. I didn't like the idea of you going down to that treacherous country, but as usual, you got your way. Now I am going to convince you and get my way; please find someone to love and spend your life with." The duke's voice had an edge of sadness in it.

"It's not for me, Father. At least not now. There is work to do to keep these Ancients from our land." Her voice was firm.

"I know, I know. But you've spent the last five years 'working' on the legends of the O'Baarni with this hope. After meeting him, I am surprised you haven't taken more than just a professional interest in Kaiyer. I believe he is attracted to you. He looked over at you many times while we questioned him."

"Most men look at me, Kaiyer is no exception. Sometimes it would be easier if I looked differently, or was a man."

"Don't say that!" The duke laughed. "You've gotten away with more than you realize because you grew up a pretty girl and turned into a beautiful woman."

“Perhaps, but I believe I would be taken more seriously if I were a man. Would you be pressing your son to marry and produce offspring instead of working to help the kingdom, or would you take pride in his patriotism and contributions?”

A loud crunch sounded behind my ear and I almost jumped out of my skin. I turned around to see Grandfather biting into a large green apple. He smiled at me as he chewed, his gray whiskers danced with the movement of his mouth. Without saying anything, he pointed at the door. I felt my face burn when I opened it and stepped into the room. My entrance interrupted the remainder of the duke and duchess's conversation.

"Maerc took a break for a few minutes. Once he comes back we'll talk about what to do with our new friend," the duke said to Grandfather and me when we walked into the meeting room. As soon as we sat down Maerc strode into the room.

"Where do we stand?" the general said as he went to his seat.

"Nadea and I were talking about our thin friend Kaiyer. I'm not sure what to do with him immediately," the duke said as he leaned back. "It seems he wants to help us but we both agree he isn't telling us everything."

The general nodded.

"Agreed. He is telling us most of what he remembers, but I believe he is leaving out something. I really don't understand how a third-ranked assassin from the Guild missed him from a few feet away with a crossbow."

"The princess said that she really didn't see much of the fight. He pushed her out of the way when they kicked down the door, and then she crouched on the ground when he threw the table," Nadea said.

"I'd like to have more time with him. I am sure there are many things we can learn. Perhaps if we ask the same questions in different ways he will make a mistake and inadvertently give us more information," Grandfather said. I felt hot anger rise in my stomach as my heart pounded.

"He isn't our enemy!" I blurted out. They stopped and looked at me. "He saved us many times while we were traveling. He's done nothing but cooperate with us, and he did not have to. I don't understand why you think he is hiding something." There was a lump in my throat and I realized I was shaking.

I could see pity in everyone's eyes but Maerc’s, who seemed annoyed by my outburst. Perhaps annoyed I was even speaking, let alone with such impertinence, amongst my elders and betters.

"Listen Paug," the duke said as he smiled at me. "The kingdom really appreciates everything you have done. But now we need to think of what having this man in our midst really means. We don't know his real motives. He seems to want to help us, but even the best intentions are stones on the pathway to ruin." Nadea nodded and my eyes began to water. I forced the tears back. I knew they already regarded me as weak, naïve and young. Crying would do nothing to dispel that notion.

"You know,” the duke continued, "It is very good that you think so highly of Kaiyer. He will need someone to help him get adjusted to living in our culture, someone to guide him. In addition, we'll need a clever individual to watch over him and make sure that we can really trust him. If Janci will allow it, I would like you to stay here for the next few months and aid us with him. What do you both think?" I felt my hopes soar suddenly. I turned to look at Grandfather. His face scowled in concentration.

"I don't know about that," he said slowly, "if Paug isn't around I won't have anyone to nag me when I pick up the tobacco pipe." His eyes twinkled. "I guess it is okay." He smiled at me.

"Thank you Grandfather!" I turned to the duke. "Thank you, my lord!"

"You might have one of the most important jobs in the kingdom now, boy," he said. His face suddenly became impassive, like the face of a rock. His eyes turned cold. "This man trusts you, and we all believe that he is hiding something from us. Find out as much as you can from him and report it to us. The fate of the Kingdom of Nia, and our very lives, depends on the knowledge in his head. No one else was alive during the time of the Ancients, let alone part of the O'Baarni's forces."

I nodded.

"I won't fail you, sir."

"Be sure that you don't."