The ragtag group of Minkies warriors, 3 Magee fighters, Quib, Arlen, and Aggie, slowly made their way across the grassy fields with the mountains to their left, and wide expanse of golden fields to their right along the road.

It was mid-afternoon, and everyone had been quiet the entire journey, off in their own minds sorting through worries and plans.

Aggie slowly sidled up to Bonnie, a particular question burning in her throat, as she desperately wanted to avoid thinking about the conversation she and Arlen would have later.

“Why did you leave the Inn?”

“We learned where the Thief of Souls was, and it would only be a matter of time before he came for us.”

“How did you find out where he was?” Aggie asked staring at the 3 Minkies backs who lead the troop.

“I have… family members that live in the mountains.” Bonnie cleared her throat politely, and glanced back at Arlen whom walked with his normal flawless posture, his eyes as always either on the path or his Mistress.

“I heard you wanted to free Arlen by taking him to Tara.” She began casually.

“Yes. Being enslaved to someone is despicable. Especially when it even overwrites his own emotions.”

“You aren’t scared of him?” Bonnie’s surprise was abundantly clear in her voice.

“He’s one of the best people I know, why would I be scared of him?”

Bonnie glanced nervously over her shoulder.

“Servicer’s have been bonded either to their Masters or the Ruling Family since birth. Meaning that they have never experienced certain emotions… can you imagine being exposed to those powerful feelings? What if once he is freed of all of his bonds, he changes? He is a highly competent warrior now, Aggie. I bet you give him another month of training with all 3 of us Magee fighters, and he will be on the same level as us. Not to mention when he blurs-”

“So you think he should be enslaved for his entire life?” Aggie snapped shooting Bonnie a dark frown.

“No! Not at all… I just think you should be far more mindful of the uncertain outcome of freeing him.”

“Well if that’s who he chooses to be, so be it.” Aggie shrugged.

“What if he loves you? What if he-”

“What if nothing happens? What if he just gets to make his own damn decisions, and live his own damn life? If there is even a chance that he could find happiness for himself, then we owe it to him. Not just him either… all Servicer’s.”

“Aggie, Arlen isn’t like most Servicer’s, so I am not opposed to freeing him, but-”

“I’m not debating this with you.” Aggie’s tone was firm, and she didn’t care that Bonnie looked hurt. She couldn’t imagine why fear should determine an entire race’s fate- not when they hadn’t done anything to deserve being enslaved.

*

The group continued on well into the night, and stopped Aggie estimated, near midnight to set up camp and sleep.

A fire was set, and the group ate in the peaceful, but cold evening air.

Winter Solstice was just over 2 months away, and Aggie immediately wondered what Arlen and her would do for those icy months ahead.

After a hasty dinner of bread and cheese, everyone laid out their bed rolls, and Aggie realized she still hadn’t spoken to Arlen about the Captain…

She had hoped he had forgotten, but as she sat herself down on the ground, he appeared in front of her, his own roll under his arm.

He laid his cover out, perhaps 2 feet from Aggie’s as he always had, and she began to realize the other night must not have felt all that different to him after all.

“So, what was it you wanted to tell me about?” Arlen took a small lantern that Tork had insisted on carrying for the rest of the group that didn’t have his ability to see in the dark, and lit its wick.

In the soft orange light, while everyone else was whispering to their mates, or in Tork and Quib’s case snoring peacefully, Aggie could see the pleasant expression Arlen had on his face as he stared at her.

Would that expression change? Would he care about the identity of his father?

“Had you ever heard of the Captain who took me while you were with the Ruling Family on the island…?” She started awkwardly, her voice low.

“I have. Captain James Arthur Landon Murphy, He was the last son born to Earl Murphy the 4th. There was great speculation over his legitimacy (there were some rumors about his mother dallying with others), but he was acknowledged by his father, and included in the will. He went missing for a number of years, and when he returned, purchased his way into a position of esteem in the Military. He soon was a privateer of sorts on behalf of the Southern Kingdom, and is one of the wealthiest militia man alive.”

“Was one of the wealthiest militia men.” Aggie’s stomach was already churning painfully, but she knew Arlen deserved to know. It could change his views on being freed…

“Pardon my slip, Mistress.” Arlen bowed his head, regret heavy in his voice.

“I… he… Well…” She was finding it harder and harder to get the words out. Even hearing his name was making it hard for her not to want to throw up.

“Mistress you don’t need to tell-”

“I do, Arlen. Please don’t call me Mistress, or Lady, or anything like that right now. It’s making this a lot harder.” Aggie rubbed her face with both of her hands, then pushed them back through her hair.

“Arlen, your mother was bonded to him a long time ago.” Aggie blurted clumsily her hands becoming fists. She was also aware that the others had stopped their nightly whispering, and were more than likely listening in, but Aggie knew if she stopped and tried to start again in private, she would most definitely be sick.

“I…that is… surprising. My mother doesn’t like to talk about herself, but most Servicer’s are private like that. Many keep anything personal to themselves.” Arlen’s calm rationalizing was betrayed by the slight tremor in his voice. The news bothered him for some reason.

Perhaps he could sense where she was going with this…

“He had a painting of himself with her. You… look a lot like her.”

Arlen’s heart was beating wildly in his chest.

This was all too strange… too personal.

What was going on?

“Arlen the Captain wanted your mother as his Servicer again. He also got upset when he learned about your name and…” Aggie swallowed, acid was burning in her throat.

“He saw you. Before I- on that day when you came to rescue me. He saw you in the crowd, that was why he stopped talking in his speech. His final words after I stabbed him were ‘He’s safe’.”

Arlen didn’t say anything, but he was gripping his own hands so hard that his knuckles were white.

“Arlen I think he’s your father. I think because he was a Shield, your mother went back to the island pregnant with you, and the Ruling Family had no idea.”

Not even the bats dared to flutter by them at that moment.

Arlen stood up suddenly, and began pacing.

“The Seers would’ve still known that my Mother was pregnant.” He said outloud.

“Seers know when someone is pregnant?”

“The Ruling Family has perhaps 13 Seers working day and night with visions for pregnancies, and potential Master’s and Mistresses for them. When she returned, someone would’ve-”

Arlen stopped pacing and talking at the same time.

His mother had a friend.

A Seer named Marney.

He had seen them converse in private before, and the woman had been with the Ruling Family for decades…

The Captain’s name was James Arthur Landon Murphy.

Arlen had 2 brother’s named Arthur and Landon.

Arlen’s hands began to shake, and he felt a twisting pain in his chest begin, suffocating his breath.

“Your Majesty!” He called as he dropped to his knees in the grass.

The Minkies Queen was up in an instant and at his side.

“What’s happening?!” Aggie was on her feet in an instant, her eyes wide and her hands balled into fists at her sides.

“I thought they couldn’t hurt him anymore!” Aggie cried out as the Queen’s eyes closed and Arlen continued gasping.

After several minutes Arlen straightened, and the Queen wearily sat back on her haunches.

Arlen was breathing easier, but tears were streaming from his face.

“I thought you stopped the bond from killing him when he deviated?!” Aggie demanded as the Queen gently touched Arlen’s shoulder.

“That had nothing to do with the Ruling Family. That was panic.” The Queen explained as Arlen breathed slowly.

Aggie blinked several times.

“Panic? What kind of panic steals someone’s breath?” She demanded annoyed.

“The kind of panic where you realize your entire existence and life is a lie?” Declan called from somewhere in the dark camp.

As a large strong hand gripped Aggie’s shoulder, and she immediately recognized Tork’s presence behind her, though how he had crept up on her so quietly was beyond her.

“My Lady come with me.” He forcefully steered Aggie away from Arlen and the Queen, and began walking with her to the other side of the camp.

Once she was out of earshot Arlen looked up at the Queen desperately.

“It can’t be true can it? I couldn’t have been born if I… If I was a mix-breed.” He finished his voice sounding faint.

“It would explain a lot Arlen… You really aren’t like the other Servicer’s.”

“I can’t… I can’t believe that my mother would…”

“He could’ve forced himself on her?” The Queen suggested quietly.

“No. He would’ve been executed for such a breach of contract. She knows that the Family is more powerful than a lone Shield.”

“Is it possible,” Keynan appeared form the darkness in the glow of the lantern, and started settling into the grass across from Arlen.

“-That perhaps the Captain got her pregnant because they fell in love, and he sent your mother back, so that your mother could feign your father being a Servicer to save the both of you? If the Ruling Family had to change the Captain to sever the bond, then he could have been a very different person back then.”

Arlen felt lightened by the notion that Aggie’s captor was a monster due to a warping of the mind…

But, sadly it couldn’t be.

“Servicer’s cannot feel love.” He said slowly running his hands through his hair.

“I suppose the one person who could actually answer is a bit hard to ask.” Keynan pointed out gently.

Arlen swallowed hard.

Apparently he would be all too willing to return to the island with Aggie after all…

He had to know what had happened.

He had to learn the truth.

***

*A long time ago*

“Your left!”

Ida round house kicked the assailant that had tried to rush her from around the corner of the Inn.

What had been a simple business trip had quickly turned into a bar brawl after the merchant James had met with, had laughed in his face about investing in a proper boat for him.

2 of the Inn’s heavy hitters that had been waiting to see how the duo faired against the merchant’s own footmen, stepped forward. With a flying leap, Ida ploughed both heels of her boots into the man on the right’s gut, and as she began to fall, James caught her easily round the waist and swung her bent knees into the face of the next assailant.

He quickly released her, and once they realized that no one was imminently upon them, locked eyes.

“Run!” James hollered as they both turned to the door, and leapt over the groaning bodies of their attackers, and broke out onto the street while the Innkeeper shouted angrily at their backs.

They took off at a dead sprint down towards the harbor, leaping over barrels and weaving through the crowds as they went.

They could hear some distant calls behind them, but their feet were already pounding down the dock, and with a another quick jump they landed in the small 20 foot merchant ship they had managed to purchase earlier that month, and with a few blurred moments from Ida, they were casting off and drawing sails away from the angry merchant with the plush red hat with a cloud-esque feather in his cap, that was panting heavily as he laid his foot on the dock.

Ida turned, and grinned at James whom was already dripping with sweat.

She shed the long light purple vest she was wearing, and dusted off her light brown trousers. She was pleased that the silk tunic she wore remained unmarred, as it was her last piece of clean clothes.

“Well that could’ve gone better.” James managed to say as he used the onshore wind to cut closer to the rocky shoreline than most vessels would dare venture.

“Perhaps if you had looked cleaner he may have taken your proposal more seriously my Lord.” Ida seated herself down comfortably, and used the hatch to below deck to prop herself up.

“Can’t afford anything right now.” He grumbled. He had already been laughed out of 4 meetings that week, and his ego was smarting horribly.

“I told you, just wait another couple of years and focus on your tenements. If you do well by them, your profits will grow, and you can invest in your own ship. I already ensured that they had the newest equipment for their fields, you will reap the benefits of a more efficient land soon.”

“Yes, though in the meantime you have emptied my coffers sufficiently. That isn’t the point though. I don’t need another economics lesson.” He muttered as he glanced at the sky.

“What I do need however, is for you to start reeling in our head sail. There is a small alcove I recall we can reach by evening, and we can rest for the night. A storm is coming.”

Ida glanced at the sky and shielded her eyes.

“Not until the early morning of tomorrow. I say we go to the next port town, and not worry about getting in late.”

“There isn’t a proper port for another several days. With there being a lot of talk about war starting any day now, I’d rather play it slow and safe.”

Ida sighed but nodded as she rose from her position, and headed to the bow to pull in the headsail a small amount.

Once she returned to her original spot, James asked;

“Are you going to stay awake this time to keep me company?” His eyebrows were raised as he stared at his Servicer, whom appeared to be basking in the warm spring sunlight.

“Possibly. The sea is quite marvelous at soothing the mind.”

Ida kept her eyes closed and languished in the warm sun, enjoying the quiet lapping waves against the vessel James had ended up buying that had been called; Merry Times.

“I’m glad you’ve come around to enjoying it.” James said after a moment of studying Ida’s calm face.

He remembered the slight paling in her face when she was faced with the vessel, and how she almost seemed to stop breathing when he had offered his hand to her to step aboard in her heavy dark green dress.

“Do you think there is any chance that the war won’t occur?” James questioned after taking a deep breath of the deliciously salty air.

“Not likely. The Beast Awares are pretty fed up with not being considered people here in the South.”

The young man nodded solemnly, and said nothing. He could tell that Ida’s mind was starting to drift off into a far more peaceful place than current politics.

It took a total of 2 hours focused on navigating around the rocks near the South Kingdom’s cliffs until the incredibly well hidden stony beach appeared before him that he had only discovered by chance a month earlier.

“Alright you lazy excuse for a Servicer, could you start dinner while I set the anchor?”

Ida didn’t respond, her breaths were shallow, and her mouth had opened slightly. James chuckled to himself at how easily she was lulled into a deep sleep whenever they had fine winds.

With a sigh, he dropped anchor and with the evening chill settling on the water, he stripped off the tattered thin black jacket he had been wearing, and draped it over Ida.

He comfortably sat himself with his feet over the edge of the stern, and enjoyed the blush of dusk in the sky with its dotting of stars gradually appearing.

“It’s harder for me to get sick, my Lord I-”

Ida stopped talking when James turned to look over his shoulder, and stared at her with a raised eyebrow and a small smile.

“Let’s drop the ‘my Lord’ malarkey for now. No one can hear us.” Ida rolled her eyes to the heavens.

“James,” She seated herself beside him, and tossed the jacket in his lap. “I’m of hardier stock than you, who was raised in a warm mansion.” He laughed.

“As warm as the hearths were, there was no escaping my father’s cold. I am plenty hardy.”

But she didn’t hear his reply however, as she stared frowning at something on land.

“What is happening over there?” James lifted his gaze to where Ida was pointing, completely enraptured.

A massive ancient willow tree set further back from the stony beach was suddenly being lit with what seemed like thousands of fireflies, and flowers of brilliant blues, purples, and pinks began appearing all over its trunk and the ground.

The sight was so breathtaking, that the two observers said nothing for several spellbound moments, until the gentle notes from an unearthly instrument wafted out to them, and suddenly a young Fey man appeared from behind the trunk.

“I’ve never seen Fey before!” Ida gasped quietly in James’ ear.

“I have.” James whispered back, his gaze transfixed on the Fey man who had seated himself amongst the roots with his eyes closed, and appeared to be meditating.

Despite James having been through Wonder before, the Fey always seemed to beautiful to believe existed.

“Could we go meet him?” Ida asked excitedly touching James’ arm, and making a small blush rise to his cheeks.

“Assuming he doesn’t flee from us.”

The 2 of them lowered themselves slowly into the chilled mid-May waters, but not minding the cold in the least as they swam towards the mystical tree and its guest.

They sloshed onto the shore gracelessly, and crossed the rocky beach in perfect unison.

The smell from the flowers was intoxicating, and the music somehow had the effect of both making them feel incredibly tired, and yet completely alive.

“Excuse us?” Ida’s voice came out as a whisper as she and James stood shivering before the ethereal being whom hadn’t acknowledged their presences in the least.

He had long dark hair that was partially tied back, and wore a suede vest with gold thread lining its edges. While the rest of his attire appeared simple- tan trousers and a silk tunic, it was abundantly clear that it was of the finest materials in existence.

“What is it you humans want?” His voice though smooth as chocolate, sounded annoyed.

“Just to meet you, the Lady here has never met the Fey before.” James answered unconsciously bowing his head.

The Fey man opened his eyes slowly, revealing dark pools of blue with flecks of blackness that would have been intimidating and intense, if it weren’t for his soft nose. He looked as though he was about to wave them away, when his gaze fell on Ida. His eyebrows shot up, and he openly gaped as Ida shrank from his astonishment.

“Would you happen to be a Servicer?” He asked, his formerly dulled tone light with interest.

“I am, yes. This is my Master, Lord James Murphy.” She dipped into an automatic curtsy despite still being in her trousers.

“I see.” The Fey man stood, and bowed before them smoothly.

“I am pleased to make your acquaintance.” He straightened himself, and with a soft smile added;

“My name is Chay.”