The Seer yawned wearily in the otherwise silent room. The Ruling Family had not relented even a little since figuring out that there was the undercurrent of a mutiny happening underneath their noses.

Marney knew the likelihood of living to see a day where she would be free again was unbearably slim, but that was the life she had chosen when she had decided to aid in ending the reign of the Ruling Family.

She could remember the day her mother had sat her down, barely into her womanhood, and informed her of her choice. She could be one of the integral pieces of the revolution, or she could let the imbalance of power in the land continue for another century. Her mother had insisted over and over that it didn’t truly lie solely on her young shoulders, and that what was meant to be would happen regardless of the situation.

But she had known.

Marney knew the moment that the two options had been spelt out to her, that she was supposed to suffer greatly, but as a result she would be one of the catalysts of a change for the better.

Her mother, Libby, was a great Seer known to sacrifice months of her life to delve deep into her visions.

In fact, she was known to sacrifice years for her visions in order to foresee decades into the future.

Most Seers only sacrificed moments or days at for their glimpses of what was to come... and so Libby had quickly earned an impressive reputation for herself.

Her mother had wished Marney would be spared the responsibility of being a Seer, but when she was barely a toddler, it had become clear a peaceful existence was not her destiny.

Marney had approached her mother as she mended one of her skirts, and had informed her that there was ‘A girl coming with green eyes. She’s a bit broken and mean, but she’ll fix everything’. It was the day that marked the beginning of her mother's many years of grieving her daughter's fate...

She too had seen the coming of the Lady Beatha; the woman that would act as both needle and thread to the tapestry for a better world.

Her mother had tried to persuade Marney half-heartedly to deny the calling, but she knew she never could. She knew it was wrong to ignore.

She knew suffering was her fate…

Knew that many would perish in order to create a new world.

The loss of a happy life was merely the cost of her contribution.

Marney had spent nights screaming in agony and sadness, wishing she could let go of the calling from the Gods, of the burden she knew belonged to no one but herself. She mourned the simple life she could never have...

The spouse she would never marry, the children she’d never bear, the beauty she would never see.

She had willingly stepped across hell’s threshold before the Ruling Family, and even though it had never been what she wanted, she knew it was needed. Not just for herself, but for the entire continent.

She had no great emotional motivation like some Beast Awares, or humans to give everything up. No vengeance, or anger that made her want to strike down the Ruling Family. Her life growing up had been well sheltered in a small town in the Southern Kingdom known as Florna. It was warm, and welcoming as she was raised with love, and hope.

No… the only thing propelling Marney into the jaws of the nightmarish life, was the unshakable calling that moved her throughout her entire life. The pull that didn’t let her even consider other paths…

She wished she could resent the duty for longer than those nights of pain and grief...

Wished she could be someone stronger, or different- someone who braved their destiny with stoicism and determination to make the best of the situation.

Instead, the only comfort Marney could ever find to give herself during the nights that felt like she was falling into an abyss of wretchedness; was the knowledge that there was a chance that even if she could ignore the calling, a quaint happy life still was not possible for her. The world needed to be fixed before such lifestyles could be afforded.

It was the epitome of injustice, but…

She hoped she would return in her next life, and get to experience the peace and freedom she longed for.

…After she gave the Gods some choice words about her experiences while alive.

She glanced at her colleagues who all looked like they were a breath away from collapse in the dim room cluttered with dusty bookshelves, and creaky single beds. There wasn’t a single window in the large room that housed them, and there were suspicious growths in the ceiling corners of the damp stone chamber…

A depressing room, for a depressing life.

Hopefully, the Savior was on her way.

Marney wasn’t sure how much longer their people could last in the dungeon without sun, subject to the torturous whims of Alexander.

Most of the Seers there had been sold to the Ruling Family by the South Kingdom for a hefty fee, their previous rights and duties erased with the signing of documents by men and women far more deserving of Marney’s imprisoned lifestyle.

She had strode off the boat with a barely pregnant Ida at her side after kissing her mother farewell, knowing she would never be the same after the years to come.

With a deep breath, she closed her eyes, and resumed the pointless task of trying to find Arlen.

***

Sean O’Farrell sat atop his steed waiting; his insides had become iron as he and his men bided their time at the foot of the formerly abandoned watchtower. The horses were still tied, and dawn had only just broken over the horizon, though the day remained dark as it was overcast, and seemed resilient in remaining horribly frigid.

A hawk’s cry was the first noise from the tower, and all the men gripped their weapons a bit tighter.

A few long drawn out moments later, a lone man exited the tower, wearing a warm green coat, but was otherwise clad in black. A feather dangled from his ear, and his angular face was as smooth as marble. Something about him was incredibly striking and poised despite his strange appearance.

Perhaps it was also that for someone who had presumably just woken up, he looked quite alert, and nonplussed to see the small army that was outside waiting for him.

“Halt.” General Forbes growled. He had never been a morning person.

Instead of looking frightened, or even expressionless, the man dared to look bored as he leaned against the doorway and waited.

“We are given to believe that you are in the possession of Lady Agnes Beatha, and her Servicer. You are to surrender these people as they are both wanted by the North Crown, and the betrothed of Duke O’Farrell.”

“Betrothed? To him?” There was a mocking tone that made Forbes huff through his snout threateningly, while the man pointed rudely at Sean.

“Well don’t get upset with me! Arlen was describing his lover with such ardor, that I was imagining someone a bit more… virile.”

Swords were drawn.

“You will be punished for your lack of respect to Duke O’Farrell, on your knees.” Forbes’ voice rang out in the otherwise silent morning.

“Yes, yes, in good time. Before I surrender Lady Pain-in-the-ass and her charming Servicer, I need to know, would you happen to be heading towards the South City?”

Sean O’Farrell had shown great restraint in the conversation, but with a short wave of his hand, his men fanned out around the tower, and both Forbes and Sir Barra moved forward.

“The Lady was on her way to save the future North Queen, I’m sure if you inform her that she will be traveling in that direction with you she will be far more pliable.”

The guards didn’t respond as they gripped both of his arms, and forcefully brought him closer to Sean O’Farrell, but even then, he appeared less than impressed.

Knights flooded into the tower, and headed up the stairs. Sean continued studying the man in silence while they waited.

At long last, the men returned, and Sean’s mood went from dark, to black.

“No one is there my Lord.” One of the Knights bowed his head as the rest of the men filed out.

“Where did they go?” Sean glowered down at the insolent man with feigned patience.

“She said something about ‘lady business’, and I did not care to have nightmares at learning whatever that meant.” Maverick shuddered.

“Where is the Servicer?” If the Magee fighter heard the dangerous shift in the Duke, he didn’t show it.

“He said something about ‘man business’, and even though I begged him to clarify, he wouldn’t.”

Sean kicked him in the face, but while blood poured from his nose, the stranger remained eerily calm.

“You are charged with aiding and abetting Lady Beatha in her resistance, and theft of an important document.”

“She didn’t have any document with her,” the man appeared genuinely puzzled.

The Duke wasn’t certain if he was feigning ignorance, or if he was once again mocking him, but it wouldn’t matter. With another a nod of his head, a pair of knights stepped forward, bound him, and dragged him away to a solid carriage that only had a small window at the top with bars.

Sean turned to Forbes.

“Fan out into the woods, they can’t have gone far.”

As the men all moved, Sean clenched his reigns. He wasn’t sure whether to compliment his fiancé or throttle her anymore. She had proven to be capable beyond his wildest dreams, and while she was interrupting his schedule to start conquering the Southern Kingdom’s borders, he had to admit that it had been a while since he’d been given a good chase.

He’d interrogate the man they’d found after a cursory look into the woods, and a review of the maps he had with him that could shed some light on where Lady Beatha was hiding.

It escaped his notice that the carriage holding his new mouthy prisoner, was beginning to move further and further away from everyone, slowly goaded by a knight in the driver seat who’s face was completely hidden by his helmet, and whom had a rather lumpy blanket curled at his feet.

*

They found the abandoned carriage by mid afternoon, by which time Sean had settled on the throttling option of his reunion with his future wife.

“How could they have done this?” Sean demanded while glowering at Forbes.

“The Servicer knocked out the knight driving the carriage, and disposed of him in the forest. The Lady must have been hiding in the carriage or by his feet when they left.”

Sean stared off into the distance, trying to calculate where she would have gone.

If the escaped prisoner was telling the truth, and the girl was going to try and save Lady Maude, then he needed all roads and paths leading to the South City to be marched.

He would catch her, marry her, and lay with her, then promptly, and at long last, die in peace.

At the very least, Sean no longer worried about his offspring being left to someone incapable.

*

“I… I do not think I am ready for this.” Arlen swallowed with great difficulty as he stared at the massive slab of stone that stood before him. It’s ancient surface covered in swirls and moss echoed of a great power, one that was both powerfully magnetic in its pull of him, but also inducing gut wrenching fear.

Aggie had explained the bell. She had always said she meant to free him he just… somehow never believed it would actually happen.

“Arlen, they are going to find us in a matter of a day. This is the safest route.” Maverick gestured at the stone firmly, but when the apprehensive expression on the Servicer’s face didn’t change, he rolled his eyes exasperated and dropped his hand to his side.

The gentle touch of Aggie brushing his shoulder made Arlen jump as he turned to stare at her like a startled rabbit.

“I will do everything I can to make sure you’re okay, I promise. You know we are running out of time," her tone was both apologetic, and sincere. A rare combination of sentiment from her, that somehow made it all the more nerve wracking to Arlen. He swallowed with great difficulty, and turned to face the stone.

“I want to I mean… I can feel it pulling me, but its strength mystifies me. I have never felt anything like this.” He wiped sweat from his brow.

Maverick had gone very still as he stared at Arlen, an unreadable expression graced the man’s face before he spoke again. “Well then stand back, because while I may have been roped into helping you both, if you refuse my assistance, there is nothing I can do. I will not be arrested on your accounts.”

Arlen opened his mouth to protest, when Maverick turned to the stone.

“Chay? You meddlesome fairy- get your magnificent watery ass out here. There is no way in hell you are denying us entry.”

Maverick let out a long slow breath, and a strange glow slowly began to gleam off of his skin.The pure white light that grew brighter and brighter, seemed to reach out to the stone. As soon as it brushed against the slab, its light shot through every spiral and line, illuminating the ancient designs that no one alive could understand.

The stone suddenly shook, and with a great crack that rang throughout the forest, it split a seam down its side, cleaving itself in two as its face swung open on hinges that appeared to be made of light. Instead of its inside being another layer of stone however, it revealed a forest. Unlike the somber woods the trio stood in that had surrendered to the impending winter, the etheral world still held lush greenery and vibrant flowers.

Chay suddenly emerged from the trees as though materializing form thin air amongst their massive trunks, and stared at the group steadily while approaching the doorway.

He looked thinner, but remained as handsome as ever. He wore a lavender colored vest with gold threaded designs, that matched the tie around his neck. He wore a crisp white tunic, tan trousers, and rich brown boots to match. His right hand was thrust into his pocket as he stared at them with a pursed mouth.

“Maverick, why have you brought us guests?” His voice was tight as he lay his unfathomable eyes on the Magee fighter who- Aggie couldn’t believe, seemed to have a small blush on his cheeks.

“We have a certain Duke on our asses that I would like to avoid conversing with,” he shifted awkwardly until Windston nibbled his ear, soothing his master.

Chay turned then to Aggie and Arlen. She had never seen the Fey so visibly stressed… The man had always been so annoyingly unflappable.

“Lady Beatha, this is sooner than I thought.”

“You don’t seem thrilled to see us despite all your former taunting,” Aggie remarked dryly.

Chay let out a long sigh, and looked to the ground. He appeared to be in deep thought, and didn't say a word for several long moments.“Well, I suppose not all paths are meant to be meticulously planned. You don’t have anywhere important to be in a hurry, do you?”

Arlen and Aggie shared a look, though she was momentarily distracted by the profuse amount of sweat pouring from the Servicer.

The proximity to freedom was apparently taking its toll.

“I want to rescue the future North Queen from the Southern Prince,” she announced with a quick uncertain shrug, hoping this didn’t affect their entry.

Chay studied her for a moment, then rubbed his forehead with his right hand while closing his eyes. “I wouldn’t worry about her. She is as good as saved anyway.”

“What do you mean?” Aggie frowned, but didn’t receive an answer. Instead the Fey man proceeded to rub his closed eyes wearily.

“You look like shit,” Maverick’s words didn’t match the slight gentle concern that entered his tone. The sound of which earned a judgmental raised eyebrow from Aggie as he continued staring at Chay.

“Yes well, in another month or two I should be at least able to cross into your world again. Come along, Maverick and Aggie first, we need all the help we can get for Arlen.”

For once, both Maverick and Aggie matched in their reactions.

“Is he going to be alright?” The Lady inquired while her voice took on an edge.

“He’ll be fine it’s just… this is going to be difficult for him. Maverick, if I cannot handle Arlen, you need to do your best until help comes. Try to stop him from hurting people.” Chay’s eyes briefly rested on Aggie before returning them to Maverick who looked deeply perplexed.

“Just what the hell is going to happen to him?!” Aggie stepped forward, blocking Arlen subconsciously.

“Do you know what it is like to never know love? Love is the emotion that heightens every other extreme emotion. Emotions like hate, resentment, jealousy, so on and so forth. Everything will crash down on him, and he will have never had to deal with those feelings before. Now, he is getting nearly twenty-eight years thrown into him at once, and he has to fight them all off at once, and not go on a murder spree. We don’t have time for this though. At any moment, Arlen is going to throw himself in here on his own if he has to keep fighting the pull.”

Maverick’s eyes sharpened as his gaze moved from Arlen to Chay, a sudden awareness appearing in his eyes.

Aggie’s face drained of color, and before she knew what she was doing, reached her hand down and squeezed Arlen’s sweating palm. He looked to be too strained to speak.

“Alright, I welcome you all to Tara, realm of the Fey, and the Gods. You will be expected to abide by the laws of nature, peace, and the sanctity of life while in here. Any violation of these laws will result in consequences befitting the offence.” He announced, a hazy glow beginning to emit from him.

Maverick hastily stepped through the now shimmering air into the lush forest.

Once on the other side, Aggie was amazed to see that he appeared somehow a little more… Fey looking. His skin seemed slightly luminescent, his eyes became brighter, and his features seemed a little sharper.

Aggie let out a slow breath, gave one final squeeze of Arlen’s hand, and then stretched her leg through the gate. It felt akin to walking through a warm breeze, with the faint smell of lighting stinging her nostrils as her foot landed on the impossibly perfect grass. She finished the step, and turned to see Arlen standing alone, and sweating in the woods that looked so… depressing in comparison to the vivacious colors and life surrounding her now.

His hands trembled slightly, and with a jarring stiff shuffle, he crossed the barrier.

The door wasted no time in swinging closed behind him, though it only made a whisper of a sound upon doing so.

Arlen was breathing quite rapidly as he stood, waiting for some tsunami of horribleness to crash down upon him.

Aggie stared anxiously, her bright green eyes suddenly seeming to glow in the new world.

Still too terrified for large movements, Arlen moved his gaze to Chay who watched with an almost apologetic expression.

“I think I’m okay.” Arlen let out a breath, took another step closer to them, and that was when his heart exploded in pain. Dropping to the ground, clutching his chest a strangled wordless shout escaped him. Spittle flew from his mouth, but he couldn’t see it.

Everything inside his body was ablaze, blinding him with pain as it burned away more of him than he ever could’ve fathomed existed. He was unaware that Aggie had let out a shout of her own as she too doubled over. Neither of the men standing moved to touch them.

As quickly as it came on, it just as swiftly lessened, and continued to lessen, until Arlen suddenly felt lighter than he had in his entire life.

He had never known how chained he had truly been, until he felt his free heart pound against his chest. His skin, his sight, his mind, were now entirely his own.

“-rlen! I don’t give a fuck! Go get help!” His hearing returned as the last dredges of his slavery evaporated, and he saw Aggie’s knees knelt in front of him. He felt her hands on his arm and back, and discovered he was crouched over on the ground.

Slowly, with breaths that made him lightheaded, Arlen lifted his face, and stared at Chay who was looking at him with undisguised interest in the form of a small smile, and brightness in his eyes that he didn’t fully understand. His gaze moved to Maverick, who was watching with strained features, while Windston continued preening himself without concern.

Then, Arlen turned, and laid new eyes on Aggie. She was frowning in concern, her bright green gaze regarding him worriedly, her chest rose and fell faster than normal, her lengthening sandy brown hair that had been tied high in a ponytail shifted slightly in a warm breeze that carried the scent of jasmine.

His heart constricted, and he suddenly understood Chay’s warning.

“Get… Get away from me,” Arlen's voice came out hoarse as his body tensed, and began to shake.

Aggie froze, but fortunately she was the only one to do so as Chay moved hastily, and grabbed her shoulders, half throwing her into Maverick’s arms who immediately began dragging her away.

“W-Wait, what the- Arlen! Arlen what’s wrong?! I’m so sorry you were enslaved! I am so sorry for being apart of it ! I-” She was unable to continue as Maverick forced her to turn around, and his iron grip didn’t allow her to turn back as he moved them faster into the mysterious depths of Tara’s forest.

Chay slowly lowered himself down to the ground beside Arlen, who was gripping the emerald grass in fistfuls and attempting to breath in between his aching heart’s rapid beats.

“I’m sorry to say, you are not through the worst of it,” Chay slowly rested a hand on Arlen’s shoulder.

The man raised his eyes again to Chay, the pain tensing his face as he struggled to speak.

“Keep… Keep her away from me. For as long…” He gasped several more times, and Chay remained calmly waiting. “As long as possible.”

He waited for the pain to subside, and after some time, Arlen slowly pushed up from the ground. He took in deep refreshing breath as the light feeling of freedom slowly returned to him.

Chay studied Arlen as his appearance began to slowly shift and morph. Though Chay conveniently failed to mention this occurrence.

“Come with me, Maverick will keep Ag- The Lady Beatha away from you until you request otherwise.”

Arlen winced at the pain that pierced him again at her name, then closed his eyes, and took another steadying breath.

“To be honest, you impressed me. I’ve never seen a recently freed Servicer show such restraint. Then again…”

Arlen turned and looked at the man with a raised eyebrow.

“Then again, there is much I need to tell you. Starting with the fact that you are not a Servicer, you are, or were rather, a Guardian.”

Arlen blinked in confusion, then shook his head wearily before letting out a resigned sigh.

“No more games. What I am, is a half-breed. Half Servicer, half human, which is probably why you were taunting me about my father before.”

Chay’s eyes widened for a moment, and then his smile did the same.

“Let us grab a drink. I have a feeling you will be needing quite a few of those over the next few days.”

Arlen agreed, and took another couple of steps into Tara, when his eyes suddenly widened.

Chay turned abruptly.

“Oh no… I did think it seemed a little too easy for you...” The Fey man was back to looking serious as Arlen’s face went white, and he promptly collapsed in a heap on the ground, as hundreds of threads in his heart suddenly snapped.

*

Ida rose suddenly with a sharp gasp, her normally serene face marred with pain. Her children barely stirred in their weakened states nearby her in their cell, but she heard it…

She heard the hundreds of gasps and small shouts from men and women that had echoed throughout the Island belonging to the Ruling Family.

It had begun.

The clock had begun ticking a little bit faster, and Ida began to brace herself.

The Savior and Arlen, were on their way.