“You’re not serious about this, are you?” asked Anna with crossed arms and a stern demeanor. “That’s why we have soldiers for this kind of recovery action. Even Heron has enough soldiers still!”

Jack grimaced at the objection and found much the same sentiment in the faces of the rest of his officers as well. It was nearly an hour later, and he was having a meeting with all the commanding officers of the task force, as well as the division officers of the Destiny with Greg included. All of them huddled around his desk as he broke the news that he would be leaving at first light to go with Heron to recover the treasury.

He'd expected some resistance from the crew. None of them would like this side excursion that would put him further into harm’s way and keep him from his usual post onboard the Destiny. Yet, Heron needed some real firepower, and they were the only force nearby that could take on the task without further delaying the journey. Still, he hadn’t expected quite so many disagreements to the task at hand.

“Heron’s soldiers are still on the southern coast on their way to the city,” said Jack. “They won’t be here for another couple days, and all the while, Barak will get further away with the treasury. We need a light force that can move quickly and attempt an interception before he gets too far away.”

“Will you at least take some of the Marines with you?” asked Abigail. “I don’t like that there’s still so few of you. Take a platoon of men with you?”

“We need to travel lightly, and more people will just be more of a presence. As well as more mouths to feed. We’ll have three good shots with us to handle any disturbances along the way,” said Jack while nodding to Greg. The two of them plus Elektra would form the main cadre of firepower for the journey.

"What about one more shot at least?" asked Luke. "I'm well enough to go and only one extra mouth to feed."

Jack smiled but then shook his head. "I need you with the Valiant. I'm going to be counting on you, Abigail, and Vicky to coordinate repairs while I'm gone."

"Has the supply ship left Quiller's Cove yet?" asked Abigail.

Jack nodded. "Bancroft assured me it's on its way. I don't know how soon it'll arrive, but it'll take us some time to reach Mount Tarpeious and then get back to the city. I'm hoping you can get started in the interim."

"Do we know who we need to contact when we get there?" asked Vicky. "And where are the dry docks located?"

"I've already shared the location with Abigail," said Jack. "Heron has given me instructions on where you'll need to go. When you get there, you are to look for his chief engineer. A man by the name of Andros. He'll have orders to help in any way possible. I'm told he's a very resourceful man, and he should be able to help start the repair work before the supply ship gets here with the raw materials and some of our engineers."

"Is it just going to be him? Or will there be a team of engineers that can help us?" asked Abigail. "What about workers to provide the labor? Are there any men left that can help after the war?"

"Heron has let me know that there should be plenty of men available to help," said Jack. "You're right—most of them were serving as soldiers, but Heron has released a good portion of his army back to normal duties. You should have all the help you need."

"Hopefully we can get patched up before we encounter any Occitanians," said Vicky. "Has there been any word of any engagements with them since war was declared?''

"Nothing decisive," said Jack with a shake of the head. "There was a small action off their capitol but that's about it. From what I heard, most of our fleet is blockaded in Aberdeen and unable to take to the seas."

"I wonder if they'll come into the Vector. Surely by now they know we're here. How long until they send a force in to destroy us?" asked Anna.

"We can only hope that the reputation of the Vector holds them back for a while," said Jack with a grin. "Until we get our needed repairs at least."

"Let them try something," growled Luke. "I only have one disabled turret. I can still take them with the rest of the Valiant's guns!"

Jack began to chuckle. "See why it's so important that you stay with the ships? I need your grit and determination with the Valiant."

A few chuckles went around the room before they settled again. Abigail was the first to speak up. "We'll get it done, Jack. Just please take your command radio, and let us know if you run into any trouble. Or even if you don't. Just make sure you let us know you're safe."

Jack nodded solemnly. "Will do. I think it's paramount that I help out in the recovery of this treasury. We need strong allies, not crippled ones. If Heron isn't in any condition to fight, then all of this bloodshed will have been in vain. Anyway, that should about do it. I'll want to talk with a few of you individually before I go. I'd like to start first with Luke and Vicky."

The rest of the officers nodded except for the two commanders mentioned. As most of them headed to the door to wait outside, Jack came to a stop next to the pair who had served the longest under his command. Luke and Vicky were two of his most trusted officers, and Jack could remember a time when it was just the three of them in their small task force. How times had changed.

"Running off to play hero again?" asked Luke with a scoff. "When do I get to go on treasure hunts and do the really cool stuff?"

Jack had to laugh. "You make it sound like being the commander of your own warship isn't cool enough."

Luke waved his hand through the air. "Yeah, but I've been doing that. I can't say I've ever been on a legitimate treasure hunt though. I can come with you now too. Be an extra gun. I'm just about fully healed as well from the attack."

Luke stood up quickly to demonstrate the extent of his healing. When they had first been allied to Daimanos, he had betrayed them by opening fire on the Valiant when it was anchored in his harbor. One of those blasts had thrown Luke several feet through the air and knocked him unconscious. While he wasn't fully healed from it yet, he had made an impressive recovery.

"I've made up my mind, Luke," said Jack in his sternest commander's voice. The other man's head fell slightly but he eventually nodded, choosing not to continue to argue about it.

Vicky elbowed Luke in the ribs. "Lighten up, Luke. You wouldn't want to spend a few weeks away from Kim anyway."

Luke went red in the face in a silent confirmation of her words. The knowledge about him and Kim was an open secret among most of the commanders even if the two did their best not to flaunt it in front of others. Most of the commanders wouldn't talk about in public either, but it was hard to ignore their lingering stares.

"I'll need both of you to watch out for each other as well as Abigail," said Jack finally once Luke's face returned to its normal color. "You can always radio for me if you need me but be safe and watch out for each other."

"We'll take care of it, Jack," said Luke. "Go get some of that treasure and bring some home for us, eh?"

Jack shook his head while chuckling. "Get out of my quarters," he said with a grin.

The two of them laughed along before they exited. Once they left to return to their respective ships, only the commanding officers of the Destiny remained. Jack first brought in the division head officers and bid the three of them to look out for each other in an almost exact copy of his message to Luke and Vicky. It was only once he dismissed Stephanie and Kyle that he was left alone with Anna.

The brunette officer hadn't warmed up at all from their last few encounters, ever since he'd been wounded after his fight with Daimanos. Jack knew the real reason from Abigail—that Anna had stumbled on their little moment when he was still in the infirmary. There had been considerable tension between them ever since, and her late-night visits had completely stopped.

"So you're really going to do this, aren't you?" asked Anna once they were alone.

"It's the right thing to do," answered Jack. "We need to recover that gold."

Anna sighed heavily and began to play with one of her nails. When she didn't add anything else after a few moments of silence, Jack decided to speak up to clear the air.

"Anna, can we talk? I know something's been bothering you—"

"You're going to have to choose, you know? It's either going to be Abby or me," interrupted Anna. "You can't have us both."

Jack's mouth opened but no words came out. He had hoped to lightly step into the topic with her, but she had bulldozed her way into it without any warning. It was a conversation that had been a long time coming, even if he doubted it would have a happy ending.

"Anna, what you saw wasn't what you think," he started before she waved him away dismissively.

"I know what kissing looks like, Jack," she whispered fiercely. "I can only imagine what happened after I left."

"That's all that happened," he said while staring at her.

"Maybe that time," huffed Anna. "You've slept with her, haven't you? Don't deny it. I know you've done it."

Jack didn't even try to withhold the truth. "Yes. Abigail and I have slept together. Just once."

Anna huffed in such a way to show she didn't believe it to be just once. "Sure, it was only once. Tell me, Jack, which sister was better in bed?"

"Anna," warned Jack. "We're not going to go there. This conversation can be cut really short if you try to pull any of that shit with me."

She sat back in the chair and crossed her arms in a petulant manner. "I just don't get it, Jack. I thought we had a good thing going."

"We did, Anna, but I can say I don't like this side of you. You jumped down my throat about Abigail without letting me have a chance to explain," said Jack. "Yes, we did sleep together once. It happened when I first met her the night I arrived in Quiller's Cove. Once I was put in charge of the task force, she didn't want to pursue anything further because I was her boss now. She thought the crew wouldn't respect her if they found out."

"Oh, smart Abby," said Anna with a teary-eyed look. "She'd never be caught doing something that wasn't proper."

"That was the last time it happened," continued Jack. "I met you right after, and she was happy to respect that."

Anna stiffened. "Wait a moment. You mean she knew about you and I for a while?"

Jack blinked. "Yes, almost from the moment we started sleeping together. She put it together remarkably fast."

Anna pursed her lips. "Great. So she knew all about this, and so did you, but I'm the last one to find out. I feel like a great, big idiot right now."

Jack tried to comfort her but she waved him away dismissively. Awkwardly, he put his hands back on his hips. "I don't know what else to tell you, Anna. It's already happened, and we can't take anything back. It's just how we move forward from it."

She looked back up at him with a glare. "I wanted to take you home to meet my parents. How can I ever do that now and know you slept with my sister too? What would my family do if they found out you slept with both of us? They wouldn't take you seriously or any relationship. It's all ruined, Jack. Not to mention, I don't know if I can trust you."

Jack gulped. "What do you mean?"

She wiped a tear from her eye. "I'm always going to be looking over my shoulder, wondering about every interaction you have with her. Whether there's something deeper going on or if she's tried to kiss you again or worse. There's always going to be this grain of doubt in my head that I don't think will ever go away."

He nodded slowly. "What do you want to do?"

Anna remained silent. She worked at her fingernail for several moments in silence while she processed. Finally, she looked at him. "I don't know, Jack. I don't know what to do about you. But I will say this for certain. When you come back from this journey, I want you to pick. Her or me. No games, no secrets, and no lies. Tell us which one you want, and let's be done with it."

So it would be an ultimatum, thought Jack silently. He looked back down to the woman, seeing a considerable amount of pain behind her gaze. He had hurt her—that was for certain. Perhaps someone was always going to be hurt in a situation where he found himself between two sisters. Either way, it gave him plenty of time to think about a solution on the trip to Mount Tarpeious, yet he wasn't certain he would be able to pick between the two of them.

Anna was volatile, a wild ride of a woman who was looking for a steady boyfriend and perhaps much more. While he had already decided that path with her wasn't for him, he worried now about their professional relationship when the time came to move on from her.

Then there was Abigail. He had just about as hard of a time figuring out that woman as he had with his advanced navigation courses back in the academy. Seeming to run both hot and cold at the same time, he never knew quite where he stood with her. Now, Anna wanted him to choose between the two of them. What would happen if he chose neither?

"We'll talk about it when I get back," said Jack noncommittally. "Nothing good can happen now. Emotions are running too hot. Let's give ourselves time to cool off and think about where we can go from here. Is that fair?"

Anna began to nod. "That's fine, Jack. I mean it though. I want your answer when you get back. Her or me."

With those final words, she rose from her chair and began to leave his quarters. There was no kiss or even so much as a comforting hug at their parting of ways. There was too much hurt for her to contemplate those right now. She only hazarded one last glance his way, her eyes large with the innocent look that she had perfected so well. Before he knew it, she was gone.

He took one final sigh at their predicament before crossing over to ask the last officer to come inside his quarters. Abigail had been waiting patiently outside the door, seemingly watching her sister depart from his office, and from the look on her face, hearing nothing of what was discussed inside.

"I hope everything went all right?" she asked as soon as she entered. She gestured back to her sister.

"It's either you or her," said Jack with a small smile before taking a few moments to enlighten her on the full scope of their conversation.

"Oh, Anna," muttered Abigail under her breath after hearing the full story. "I don't know why she pursued this as hard as she did."

Jack gave her a wounded look. "Do you think I'm some kind of bad catch or something?"

She shook her head. "Not what I meant. Anna has never been great with relationships, and she always seems to go after men that aren't a great fit. Either they are too far up in rank that it makes a relationship impossible or they have some baggage or another girlfriend, or wife, that she finds herself competing against. Her choices in the matter almost always cause her pain."

"I think she's most pained that the other woman in this situation is you," said Jack.

Abigail shrugged. "If it weren't me, it would be someone else. This is just how things usually go with her."

"I still feel bad for hurting her."

"Do you know what you're going to do?" asked Abigail. "About what she asked you?"

"What do you mean? Whether I'm going to pick her or you after all of this?" he asked with a smile. "I thought the door to you was closed permanently."

Abigail averted her eyes. "She's right, you know. If you do decide to continue with her, we can't keep letting our moments of weakness get the better of us."

"You know I'm not going to do that," said Jack quietly. "Anna and I aren't meant to be together. So what if I pick you?"

Abigail fixed him with a stare for several moments before answering. "I can't answer that, Jack."

He frowned. "Why not?"

"You know why. We've talked about this before," said Abigail.

Jack took a deep breath. "So I'll end up with neither of you. In the end, there's really not much of a choice after all."

Abigail offered him a weary smile. "I'm sorry that you got caught up in this. Between us. I know it's had to have been hard on you."

"Oh, it's been quite hard," said Jack, while looking down to his crotch.

Abigail giggled lightly. "You know what I meant."

He sighed and then nodded. "I don't think I'd do anything different though."

"Oh? Is that right?"

Jack stared back at her. "Definitely. You Wainwright girls are a great time," he added with a smirk.

She swatted at him. "Don't you forget it either. Nobody can fuck you like I can," she said proudly.

"Don't I know it," said Jack with a laugh.

She laughed along with him until they both fell silent a few moments later. Finally, it was Abigail who spoke up again. "Please be safe out there, all right? Just because we aren't together doesn't mean I don't care for you a great deal."

He nodded slowly. "I'll be careful. I don't think it will be all that bad. Zip through the countryside, confront and kill Barak and then take back the treasure. Easy as it sounds."

Abigail giggled. "I don't think it will be quite that easy. But I know you'll be as safe as you can. Plus you'll have Greg and Elektra to help cover your back. Just make sure you come back to me, okay?"

Jack raised an eyebrow. "Don't you mean come back to the Destiny?"

She smiled shyly. "I know what I said."

Jack took a deep breath. "You never fail to confuse me. I never know where I stand with you."

Abigail started to laugh. "I think that's part of my charm. Can't make it too easy on you or you might start looking for another officer to flirt with. I turn my back on you for one second and there you are fucking my sister."

Jack laughed along with her. "You're ridiculous."

"I know," she said with a smile.

Abigail raised from her seat and then pressed in close against him. Her lips lingered against his for the longest time before closing the distance for a long kiss. When she finally pulled away, her dark eyes were locked on his. "Be safe and be careful."

"And you as well," he whispered. "You're in charge while I'm off the ships. Take care of the task force, and watch out for the others, okay?"

She smiled. "Of course. But I'm still looking forward to the day that I can hand the duties back to you. Just don't take too long, okay?"

"You got it," said Jack with a grin.

She pulled away from him slowly and fixed her cap against her head. Walking the short distance to the door, she pulled it open and then stopped to look at him one more time. "See you soon, Jack."

"See you soon, Abigail," he replied with one last stare into her dark eyes.

Just like that, she was gone as the door closed firmly behind her. Once he was alone, Jack spent the rest of the day preparing for the trip in front of him. He made sure to get caught up with all the work that was on his desk, and he began to delegate those items that would go to Abigail in his absence.

The biggest item that he had to attend to was his promise to Heron in bringing some of the ship's provisions to the palace for the trip. That mostly included stores of food that they could take with them, items that were light enough for foot travel. Jack had enough provisions for all of them sent up during the afternoon and spent one last night eating aboard the ship in the mess hall before retiring for the evening. Knowing that Heron wanted to get started at first light, he was quick to bed, and after his head hit the pillow, he laid there just awake enough to think about what the morrow might bring.

They had to recover that treasure. He'd done his best convincing his entire task force that this would be an easy journey, and that they'd be able to quickly recover the treasure and get back after the repairs had been finished. The only question was whether it would go as easy as he had said it would be.

*****

"Good morning, gentlemen! Ready to start our little adventure?"

Jack found himself chuckling at the cheery mood of the king as he and Greg crested the grand staircase leading to the palace grounds. It was still early enough in the morning that the sun hadn't yet peaked over the horizon, and the city below them was mostly silent as they slept off the last vestiges of night.

At this height, he could clearly see the harbor laid out below with the three Javan ships anchored in their moorings and sitting peacefully in the waters around them. Jack took a long look at the harbor and the ships of his task force, wondering how long it would be before he gazed upon them again. He took a deep breath after watching them for some time and forcibly squared his shoulders away from them toward the task at hand.

"Morning, Heron," called out Greg from his side. "Those are some fine-looking horses you've secured for us."

He wasn't lying. In front of them were six majestic-looking creatures and almost all uniform in their coloring and size. Each had been fitted with a saddle as well as packs for storage along the way. The beasts danced around slowly in the morning air, awaiting their passengers and the start of the journey.

Heron reached up to pat the mane of the horse in front of him. "Magnificent creatures, aren't they? They weren't cheap either."

"No, they weren't," muttered Nikias.

"Nikias was able to pay the owners for their purchase. I must say that they'll do just fine for the task we have ahead of us," said Heron.

"How long will we be able to use them for? Before we have to give them up?" asked Greg.

"About two days. We should be able to ride hard on the good roads leading out of the city but once we get into the interior, the paths will narrow and become considerably rockier. Once that happens, we'll have to give them up," said Heron.

"I've arranged to have some of your soldiers from a nearby regiment meet us on the road," said Nikias. "We'll be able to give up the beasts from there once the path gets too rocky, and they'll bring them back to the city and their rightful owners."

"Here, Jack. Take this one. She's a strong girl," said Heron, walking to another horse nearby.

Jack crossed the short distance to the animal and calmly used his fingers to nuzzle the side of her face. She pushed in against his fingers, finding the touch comforting.

"She likes you already," said Heron with a smile.

"Do they have names?" asked Jack.

Heron pursed his lips. "Not that I've heard."

"We may have to give them one," said Jack while nuzzling the horse once more. "Especially for all the help they'll be for our mission."

Heron nodded before grinning. "Just try not to get too attached. No sooner will you get to know the animal before we have to give them up!" The king then walked over to another horse nearby. "Greg, this fine animal is yours. If you two want to get your rifles secured, we'll take off soon!"

"I'm only counting four of us though, Heron," said Jack while looking around. "Where are the girls?"

"We're here!" called out a feminine voice from just beyond the western fountain.

Jack turned to watch Vera and Elektra hurrying across the grounds to meet them. Even though they were similar in age, both women couldn't be more different in their upbringings and stations. The princess and the whore. They were even distinguishable by the way their hair flowed behind them as they hustled to join the group—Vera's by her mane of blonde hair and Elektra with her fiery red.

"There you two are," said Heron with a chuckle. "I was beginning to think we might have to leave without you!"

"And miss all the action? Are you crazy?" asked Elektra with a beaming grin.

They loaded the last of their provisions on the horses, and just as the first rays of the sun pierced the horizon, they started to descend down the northern road away from the palace. Almost as soon as they reached the bottom of the hill, Heron turned his horse around to look back at it.

"Still certain you want to knock it all down?" asked Jack teasingly. "It could make a nice home."

Heron smiled. "That it could. But not for me. Too many bad memories. The bulk of the soldiers that will make up the garrison for this town will arrive tomorrow. I've given out orders for them to start tearing it down right away."

Jack's gaze swept over to Vera before returning to the king. "What about the rest of the girls? Vera's friends?"

"All will be taking a ride on Daimanos' old personal yacht back to my capitol," said Heron with a grin. "They'll leave today just behind your ships."

Jack nodded and looked back to the palace, now brightly illuminated by the sun. "Maybe once that palace comes down, the legacy of Daimanos will finally be destroyed."

Heron's gaze turned to him. "We can only hope, Jack. We can only hope."

Once the sun was up, they were able to get the horses to trot over the open road that led out of the city. The northern road followed a leisurely course through the countryside, passing by several rolling hills and quiet farms that had benefited from being close enough to Daimanos to have not been harmed too badly during the war. The six of them set a quick pace through the countryside, especially given that the roads were nearly empty of all people.

At one point, Heron pulled his horse closer to Jack. "This seems so foreign to me. Bizarre, even."

"What's that?"

"These roads used to be teeming with people all the time. Especially being so close to a major city," said the king. "I'm not used to seeing them so devoid of life."

"It seems the war found even this quiet section of the island as well," said Jack. "Despite the relatively good condition of the land here, the effects of the conflict were all-encompassing."

Heron nodded. "We must recover that treasure and help these people rebuild."

When Jack didn't respond, the king turned to look at him. "How are you holding up on that girl? Been awhile since you rode a horse?"

Jack straightened up, already feeling the tightness in his thighs from riding the horse. "It's been a little too long. I may be a bit sore tonight," he said with a grin.

Heron started to laugh. "Well, at least we won't be long on the horses. You may only be sore for two days and then we can walk all the rest of the way there."

"You make that sound so appealing," said Jack sarcastically.

Heron grinned. "It won't be so bad for you tomorrow. Your body will get used to it. I remember the first few times when I learned to ride as a boy. I'd come home so stiff that I could barely move. You'd never think just riding them would affect your body the way it does, but that's the first thing you learn about riding a horse."

In that moment, Jack's horse lunged to the side to avoid a branch on the road below. He clung to the animal a little tighter before looking back to the king. "And what's the second thing?"

Heron gave him a smirk, clearly observing the way he clung to the horse. "Always be prepared for what's in front of you."

With that, the king surged forward in an impressive display of horsemanship and took over the front of their party with Nikias who had been setting their path. Beyond them was Elektra, who was constantly scanning the horizon as she searched for any threats to their mission before trouble could ambush them. Greg followed closely behind her which just left Vera immediately to Jack's rear.

He pulled the reins on the horse to slow the animal down, allowing the blonde-haired woman to catch up to him. Once she did, Vera gave him a slightly terrified look as her horse locked in place besides his.

"First time riding?" asked Jack while raising an eyebrow.

"This is . . . something else!" panted Vera, hanging against the beast for dear life. "How do they ride so fast?" she asked while pointing to the front at the Sorellans.

"They've been doing this for years," said Jack with a smile. "Don't feel like you're not the only one without riding experience. It's been so long for me that it's almost like it's the first time again as well."

Vera smiled weakly. "I'd be happier if I knew this horse would do what I tell it. Sometimes I feel like I might as well not even be holding the reins. No matter what I do, she just does whatever she wants."

"If you stay locked in against mine, that'll make it easier for you," said Jack. "Horses like having a companion to run with."

Vera gave him a friendly smile. "That means you'll be stuck in conversation with me for the rest of the morning."

"I can think of many worse things than that," said Jack with a chuckle.

Vera continued to smile at him before looking away. Over the course of the next few minutes, her gaze kept darting back and forth between him and the road in front of them. It was becoming obvious that she had something on her mind, but whatever it was, she was having a hard time expressing it out loud.

Finally, Jack opened up. "You look like you have something on your mind, Vera."

Vera's gaze quickly dropped back to the road once more. "Am I that easy to read?"

He started to chuckle. "Well, when you keep looking at me, and your mouth keeps opening to say something before you shut it, it's not hard to figure out that something's on your mind."

The woman turned red in the cheeks. "I suppose that doesn't help my cause at all."

"Not at all," agreed Jack. "What's on your mind?"

"I was just curious," started Vera before chewing on her lip. "You know all about me, but I know next to nothing about you. I mean, I know who you are and where you're from. But that's it. I don't know anything about your personal life or your history or your family."

Jack raised an eyebrow. "You want to know those things? Why?"

Vera shrugged. "Why not?"

"It just surprises me is all," said Jack quietly. The road in front of them took a large bend as they began to climb a hill. Off to their left was a heavy forested area while their right-hand side was rolling countryside.

"I just feel like we're going to be spending so much time together that I want to get to know you," said Vera finally. "Especially if we're going to be friends."

Jack smirked at her. "You want to be my friend?"

She nodded eagerly.

His smirk relaxed into something much more genuine. "I can do that. Friends it is. Well, as your friend, I give you permission to ask away. Ask me anything you want."

"Tell me about Java, will you? What is your homeland like, Jack? Where did you grow up?" Vera fired off a rapid line of questioning as her horse drifted closer still to his.

"It's not a much different place than Sorella," said Jack while pointing to the sight of nature around them. "The place that I grew up—Lockhaven—was a small port set next to the sea. I grew up surrounded by the ocean, so you can say it's not much of a stretch to figure out why I joined the navy."

"Was it a good place to grow up? Did you have a nice childhood?"

Jack nodded. "I suppose you can say that. We didn't struggle for much, and I had good parents. They were good to my sister and I, which is about as much as you can ask for."

"You have a sister?" asked Vera. "What is she like?"

Jack began to chuckle. "You'd probably like her. Jocelyn is a spirited girl and very smart. What's more is that she's easy to get along with. She has three children of her own and lives with her husband not far from where we grew up."

"Does she look like you too?" asked Vera, gesturing to the color of his hair.

"No, her hair is long and dark," said Jack without expanding into more detail. He could tell by the expression on Vera's face why she was asking, but he was thankful she didn't ask any further questions on it.

"I would like to see this Java someday," she said out of the blue. "You make it sound like a nice place."

Jack smiled. "Any place can sound nice after hearing a few choice words about it. Java is . . . complicated. Now more than ever with the war."

"But the war won't last forever, right? Peace will come back someday."

"Eventually," said Jack. "But the war just started. I have a feeling this is going to be a long, grinding conflict without an easy resolution."

Vera looked over to him. "Still. When the war ends, would you take me to Java with you?"

Jack gave her a confused look. "Why don't you want to return to your home? Back to Galicia? I know there's no family waiting for you there anymore, but you could start fresh and try again, right? Don't you eventually want to go back?"

Vera shook her head. "Start over with what, Jack? Like you said, I don't have anyone there. I'd be going back to bad memories with no solace for the present."

"Things change though, Vera. I know the past may be painful for you now, but it doesn't have to always be that way. What if you meet someone? A man in which to spend a life with?"

Vera's head dropped. "What man would willingly want a former whore?"

Jack reached over to comfort her shoulder. "You're more than your past, Vera. What you were forced to do, you did for survival. I don't think many would fault you for that."

"Still," said Vera with a sniffle. "I'm used goods. Good intentions will count for nothing when they find out my past, regardless of whether I wanted it or not."

"Life has a way of surprising us all, Vera," said Jack quietly. When she didn't respond, they rode in silence for several minutes before Jack tried again. "Besides, I have a feeling this mission will eventually take us to Galicia. You said how much you wanted to come with us. Would you go back if I did?"

Surprisingly, Vera nodded. "I'd go just about anywhere with you, Jack."

He turned his gaze to look at her and locked eyes on the young woman. There was a certain affection behind her eyes, but not of a romantic quality. It was the same kind of look he was used to seeing from Jocelyn when he was younger, a sibling affection over a shared experience. In seeing that look, he felt even more of a brotherly companionship to the young woman, and he vowed to do all that he could to keep her from harm.

"If we do go to Galicia, I'd need your help with where to go," said Jack with a smile. "From what I hear, Galicia is a big place."

"That's easy," said Vera calmly. "We'd start with the capitol city. A place called Kalmar. I've only been there a handful of times, but it is a wonderful city. It's also the home of the Galician Regent."

"Do you know anything about the Regent?" asked Jack. "What kind of man is he?"

Vera shook her head. "The regents are not very public figures. They are nothing like the kings, from what I heard. Most of them stay locked away in their palace attending the business of ruling and that's about it. I'm afraid I couldn't tell you much about the man."

"It's no matter," said Jack with a small smile. "I am interested in seeing your homeland though, Vera. It would be even better if you would help be my guide for when we get there."

Vera nodded her head eagerly. "I'll show you all there is to know about it. Just as long as you don't leave me there!"

"Deal," said Jack with a chuckle. Vera giggled in response and for a brief moment, Jack was greatly enjoying the start of their trip. That is, until Heron yelled back to get their attention.

"Over this way!" yelled the king, pointing off to the horizon for the entire group. They had almost crested the hill, and Jack noticed there was some smoke in the direction of his pointing. Jack quickly caught up to the main group with Vera just behind him. Together, they sprinted across a large open field to their right, which led to the crest of the very hill they were climbing. It was tough work for the horses going up such a steep slope, but Heron led the way, stopping once they reached the crest.

Jack was the second to last to reach the top and took his first view of the interior lands of Sorella from the heights of the hill. The countryside opened up greatly, and he could see clearly the solitary Mount Tarpeious just off to the northwest. Between them and the mountain laid a mixture of foothills, villages, and forests, with no clear and easy path to get to the top of the mountain. Yet, what laid just beneath them was the smoke that had initially caught Heron's attention.

Jack looked down to find the smoking ruins of a wagon. The wagon had been pulled aside in a small clearing that hugged the side of the hill, taking shelter in a rock formation that surrounded it on three sides. There were the remains of a small firepit that had long since ceased smoking. The wagon however, had been lit more recently and produced all the visible smoke.

"Let's get down there and check it out," said Heron. "Something about this doesn't seem right."

The rest of the group followed the king's lead. To get down to the small hillside overlook, they had to descend the hill they just climbed and follow the road around the formation until they found the small path that led to the clearing. It took about another twenty minutes to cross the distance, but soon enough, Heron hopped off his horse once they reached the burning wagon.

It seemed the king's suspicion was correct. This wagon had been the result of foul play. The first thing they noticed was the bodies. Two men and a woman were found not far from the wagon. Based upon the way the men were fully clothed and how the woman wasn't, it wasn't hard to figure out what happened.

"Whoever did this deserves to rot in a prison cell for the rest of their life," said Heron maliciously while pulling a blanket from the traveler's packs and giving the dead woman some modesty.

"Who could have done this, Heron?" asked Jack. "Could it have been Daimanos' soldiers?"

"It could be," said the king with a nod of the head. "It's the same scene that's been playing out all throughout the island. Defenseless people killed for no reason other than sport."

"This would have happened just last night based on the state of the bodies and the fire," said Jack. "Daimanos has been dead for a week now. Why is the killing still going on?"

"Some of these men only know one thing, Jack," said Heron. "Killing to them comes as easily as breathing does for you or me. Just because the war is over doesn't mean they'll stop doing what they've done for close to a year."

The group spent the next half hour properly disposing of the bodies in a respectful way as well as searching around the nearby area in case the perpetrators chose to stick around. It was Elektra who noticed something unusual about the possessions of the dead people.

"I see clothing here as well as supplies, but they are noticeably short of two things in general," said the redheaded princess. "There's no food here at all or any kind of money."

"This is hard country to be traveling through without either," said Greg. "It kind of points to one thing."

"Perhaps this had more to do with a robbery than just Daimanos' thugs up to their usual hobbies," said Jack. "Has this part of the country suffered from any reporting of thievery?"

Heron shrugged. "I have no idea but perhaps Nikias knows."

Nikias stepped forward. "There had been some reports of thievery in this part of the country in the weeks before you came, Jack. More so than usual that is. With a war, there's always segments of the population who look to take advantage of the chaos. Yet things have been so hectic in the last few weeks that it's hard to get an accurate picture of the countryside without being here."

"Still," said Jack. "We should keep an eye out for this kind of thing as we move forward from here. We can't have local gangs of thieves undoing all of our efforts to put the country back together again."

"Agreed, Jack," said Heron with an approving nod.

The group left the scene shortly after arranging a pyre to burn the bodies in Sorellan fashion. The group took whatever provisions that could be useful and soon emerged back on the main road leading into the interior. From what Jack could see, the road took a turn for the west in the next few leagues, finally leading them away from the ocean. It was the first time in a long while that he'd not been within sight of the great, blue expanse. Once they dropped into a valley and the ocean finally disappeared from sight for good, it became quite the surreal experience for the naval commander to be so far from the comfort of the waves.

If the group had expected any better after leaving the sight of the robbery/massacre, they would soon be disappointed. The further they got from Daimanos' capitol, the worse the signs of war became. Happening upon destroyed or burnt out wagons or country homes became the norm, and rarely did they go much more than a league without seeing some sort of destruction wrought by war. Even the villages they passed seemed no better, bleak and empty affairs showing a mixture of devastation and woe.

One thing Jack noticed in particular was that each village they seemed to pass through seemed to be built too large for the number of inhabitants. There seemed to be twice as many buildings for the people, a real dearth of humanity that didn't escape anyone's notice. Even those that were left seemed to be only the old or the young as all those in the prime of their lives had been swept away by the long conflict.

Heron took the opportunity to act like the king he was. His arrival caused sparks of celebration in each village they passed, recognizing their true king from before the usurping of Daimanos. The common people always gathered around him, showering him with praise and offering all they had left for his good fortune. It was enlightening to see some spark of humanity set against the backdrop of devastation, no matter how tiny the crowds of people left.

After a full day of riding and getting about halfway to the foothills leading into the interior, the group decided to make camp for the night. A small clearing some distance from the main road was found that offered enough seclusion and shelter for them to bed down for the night. After the horses were tied up, Vera made good on her promise to take care of them, offering to make them all a meal from their supplies. The young blonde soon had steaming bowls of oatmeal for all of them, and they ate quietly as the sun went down.

Only an hour or two after nightfall, most of the group began to climb into their own sleeping bags to get their rest for the next morning. It was determined that someone would always be on watch throughout the night, making sure there was a degree of safety for everyone while they slept.

"Does anyone feel strongly about taking the first watch?" asked Heron while looking around at the group.

Elektra volunteered by raising her hand. "I don't mind. I can watch until midnight and then pass it off to someone else."

Greg rose his hand next. "I'll take a watch as well. I can go after Elektra."

Heron nodded. "That sounds fine. Just remember to stay vigilant. If you feel like you're falling asleep, please stand up and walk around a little. This is no country to let our guard down."

Both Elektra and Greg nodded their understanding, and all but the princess headed for bed while she attended to the fire. Finding a log that had fallen a short distance away, she perched herself on the end as everyone else drifted off to sleep.

All except one that is. It wasn't much more than an hour into the watch when Elektra heard the subtle stirring of a sleeping bag when Nikias gave her a sleepy smile and sat down on the log right next to her.

"Couldn't sleep?" she asked while moving across the log to make room for him.

"You can say that," he said gently. "Being on the ground doesn't really compare with being in a really soft bed."

"Perhaps you've been in a soft bed too long," said Elektra with a grin. "Maybe it's made you a little soft."

"You might be right about that," he said while chuckling. "Has it been quiet so far? Heard anything? Seen anything?"

Elektra shook her head. "Nothing but the sound of crickets. It's pretty calm out tonight. I've been looking up at the stars to pass the time."

Nikias glanced up at the sky as well. "There are many of them out there tonight, aren't there? We typically don't see so many when we're in the cities."

Elektra smiled. "It's what I miss about being in the army. So many nights spent just like this under the stars and with only your fellow soldiers to keep you company. It's so peaceful."

"Sounds like it could get a little lonely too," added Nikias.

She gave him a look that was half-confirmation and half-reservation. Saying nothing, she looked back up at the sky and sighed.

"You know if you want to get some rest, I'll take over the watch," he offered after hearing her sigh. "I don't mind. It's been a hard day of riding after all."

"No, that's okay. I wasn't sighing about the watch, I promise," she said with a small smile. "Besides, you really should get your sleep. Just because you don't have a watch tonight doesn't mean you won't have one tomorrow. You don't want to be too tired that you fall asleep by accident. Especially in my regiment."

"Why's that?" asked Nikias. "What happens then?"

Elektra shivered. "The penalty for falling asleep during watch is to be thrown out of the army."

"I didn't realize it was that serious."

"It's very serious. That's how whole units can be wiped out just because one sentry didn't get enough rest the night before."

Nikias chuckled. "Well, I promise I won't fall asleep on my watch. But I just felt like you might want some company."

"Company?" she asked while furrowing her brow. "Why would you want to spend time in my company?"

Nikias was glad for the darkness around them so she wouldn't be able to see the red in his cheeks. "No reason. I just thought it could be lonely."

She took a few moments to respond before finally agreeing. "Yes. It can be."

"So I can stay with you? Talk to you for a bit," he offered. "Make this time less lonely."

She eyed him wearily. "Are you sure about that?"

"Of course," he answered. "I don't mind."

She studied him for a moment longer before finally nodding her head. "I suppose I don't mind then. Your company would be nice. As long as you're not doing it because my father asked you to?"

Nikias started to laugh, knowing that would be a sensitive topic for the princess. "Not at all. I can swear to you he didn't ask me to keep an eye on you."

Elektra visibly relaxed. "I'm glad to hear that. I think sometimes he forgets that I'm not a little girl anymore, and that I can do things without being watched or supervised."

"I know that he knows that," said Nikias. "It's just hard for him. You're all he has left so he's going to be a bit more protective."

Elektra ran her fingers along the barrel of her gun. "I can take care of myself."

"You don't need to tell me that," he said with a chuckle. "But I'm sure it's hard for him to look at you and not remember what it was like when you were little." Nikias gulped after saying the words, knowing that it had been a long time since Elektra looked "little." She had the stunning body of a woman now, and despite her deadly exterior as a soldier, she still carried the soft curves of femininity quite well.

"He wasn't always so protective like this," said Elektra finally. "When Hera was still around, she took the bulk of it."

"Maybe Hera needed more protection," offered Nikias. "She didn't have your training or your toughness."

Elektra nodded. "She was meant to be queen someday. I would have been her general just like Sorellan custom. I think after Theo died, father just embraced that idea for our roles. But seeing as Hera had no mind for warfare, I think he always felt more protective over her."

"And then this whole war happened," said Nikias quietly. "And it changed everything."

Elektra didn't respond and for several moments, he wondered if he shouldn't have even brought up the war or its effects. He cursed himself silently for being so blasé about the conflict and knowing the state of her personal loss from it. When he finally hazarded a glance in her direction, he was surprised to find her already looking back at him.

"Do you think we'll ever be able to actually rebuild, Nikias? Do you think that our society can recover from his war?"

Nikias cleared his throat and gave the easy answer to the question. "Of course. Once we finish this journey and recover the treasury, we'll set the pieces back in place and rebuild Sorella the best we know how."

Elektra shook her head. "How do we rebuild when we're missing so many pieces though?"

His brow crinkled in confusion. "I don't follow."

"There's so many dead," she said quietly. "They're like missing pieces of the same puzzle. How do you remake a puzzle with so many missing pieces?"

He nodded to show his understanding. "We'll find a way. We have to. Too many have suffered for us to finally end the fighting and not attempt to honor their sacrifices."

"Sacrifices," muttered Elektra under her breath. "Is that what we call all those who died so tragically? All of those who were crucified by my uncle in his prisoner camps for no other crime than for not recognizing him as king? How can we even begin to put the country back together after so much tragedy?"

"We do it by being better than Daimanos and his thugs," said Nikias quietly. "We do it because it's the right thing to do. If we don't, then they would've suffered for nothing."

Elektra nodded quickly. "I used to think that war was just like one of our training games back in the army. Two sides faced off against each other and one side clearly won, the other lost, and that was it. It was over and everyone moved on. War is nothing like that. You can't train for it. You can't begin to imagine the consequences of what can and will happen when you destabilize the lives of everyone on our island."

"I don't think anyone expected the kind of war that Daimanos would unleash either," said Nikias. "It was much more brutal than anyone thought it would be."

"Except those who had met my uncle," said Elektra with a sniffle. "I remember him from before father banished him. He was a cruel man even then. I remembered how he looked at me and Hera after Theo died. Like we were tiny obstacles to his taking of power, fruit to be swept away at the right moment. It was terrible."

"Daimanos treated just about everyone that way," said Nikias. "You should have sat in one of his councilor meetings. If you thought you were no good then, you should have seen the way he treated the ministers. Like they weren't any better than the dirt on his boots."

Elektra looked over at him. "I don't know how you did it. You've worked for father long enough that making the transition to Daimanos must have been hard."

Nikias swallowed hard. "It was extremely hard to adjust between the two of them. The two men couldn't be further apart in their mannerisms and ways of thinking. Heron always valued each human life and remained kind, even during times of hardship. Daimanos never really had a soul to begin with. I'm sure even Vera could testify to that," he said while pointing back to the young Galician woman's sleeping bag.

"Yet even my uncle has a way of reaching out from beyond death to affect us," said Elektra. "As we sit here on the chase of one of his men. At least it's a minister and not Daimanos himself. That shouldn't make this as bad."

Nikias shook his head. "Barak was just Daimanos' minister but he didn't get that position because he was useless. Barak can be calculating and cunning when he needs to be. He learned quickly how to play the fool at court, and that's why Daimanos kept him around for so long. His real talent was being the brains behind the government and learning how to implant his own ideas in Daimanos' head and making him think they were his own from the beginning."

Elektra shivered. "So what you're saying is this man is worse than Daimanos? How is that possible?"

"I don't know if I'd say worse, but he's not any less dangerous, that's for sure," said Nikias. "I have a feeling it was Barak who discovered my infiltration and set Daimanos against me."

"Why is that? Did he not care for you? Did he discover anything about you?" asked Elektra.

"Barak doesn't care for anyone besides Barak. He made no effort to get to know anyone. He was the silent schemer, always up to something. It's for that reason that I feel like this task is just as important as killing Daimanos."

Elektra nodded and then sighed, looking back up to the stars. She went quiet for several minutes and switched between gazing upward and tending the small fire in front of them. Nikias kept glancing over to her, watching her expressions change as her mind pondered different matters.

"You've gone quiet on me," he said finally, watching her with a small smile.

"I'm sorry," she said quickly. "I was just thinking about Hera."

"What about? Anything in particular?"

Elektra smiled sadly. "Her birthday was coming up. Next month. She would have been twenty-three. I miss her greatly."

"From what I remember about her, she would have made a fine queen," said Nikias.

"That she would have. I remember when we were but mere children, even before Theo died," said Elektra while leaning back on the log. "Hera was always preparing for a life at the court. She used to always get into mother's wardrobe and take out all kinds of jewelry and fine clothing, symbols of courtly life as she used to call it."

"I imagine you were the exact opposite, right?" asked Nikias.

Elektra giggled. "Of course. I was happy to play with tears in my tunic and mud on my feet. But then again, I never thought I'd be a queen someday. Not with Theo and Hera ahead of me in succession."

"Some things in life we just can't prepare for," said Nikias. "Even the best made plans will go awry when you least expect it. And of course, no one could have predicted this."

"You know what the worst part about losing Hera was? Did you know she was already betrothed before she died?" asked Elektra. "She was set to marry but even that went horribly wrong."

Nikias rubbed his temple. "I remember her being engaged to marry but what happened?"

"It was while you were with Daimanos," said Elektra. "She was engaged to the youngest son of the Soras family of nobles. Constantino?"

Nikias nodded quickly, remembering the well-bred young man and his fascination for the princess. Heron had been the one to suggest the match between the two, and despite Hera's initial objections, they quickly evaporated once she spent time with the boy. Constantino had been a good officer in the army, loyal to the royal house, and above all, a good man.

Elektra wiped a tear from her cheek. "We got word not long after you left that Constantino fell in battle with Daimanos' forces. It was when he was closing in for his final strike on the capitol. Constantino's position was just overwhelmed, and he died on his feet trying to fight them off. Hera was devastated."

"I can't imagine her pain," said Nikias quietly. "I remember the young officer. He was one of the best that Sorella had to offer."

"Hera would say the same thing," said Elektra while wiping her cheek of tears. "She was heartbroken. I don't think she came out of her room once for a whole week. Not even father could comfort her. She was locked away in his family's house and of course, that was the one that took the direct hit during the assault on our city."

Nikias nodded, remembering the look of despair on the king's face as he clutched his lifeless daughter in his arms, wailing to the heavens at her passing.

Elektra sniffled again. "I guess it's a good thing that she's gone too. She can rejoin him in the afterlife. It would've been torture for her to survive the conflict and for him not to. I don't know if she would've ever lived that one down. She was infatuated with him."

"Perhaps a blessing in disguise," agreed Nikias.

Elektra made a sour face. "And now father will want me to be betrothed here soon as well. And I can't stand the very thought!"

Nikias sat up noticeably straighter and cast his eyes on the lovely redhead. Even the look of annoyance on her face did nothing to take from her beauty. For him, there was no more striking sight in the entire world than the vision of the princess in front of him while the fire danced in her eyes.

"Do you have any idea who your father will choose?" he asked awkwardly. "As a suitor, I mean?"

Elektra shrugged. "I have no idea. I doubt I'll be as lucky as Hera to get a love match. With how few of us that are left, I'll probably have to pick between two toothless old nobles."

Nikias smiled at that thought, and once she noticed the look on his face, she began to giggle as well. "It's true, Nikias! Don't laugh at my misfortune!"

"I'm not laughing at you, I swear," he said while holding up his hands. "I'm just surprised that you don't get a larger say on who you'll marry. If you ask me, that should be of paramount importance that you get to decide which man you'd like to call your husband someday."

Elektra blew a strand of stray hair out of her face. "Such things are above my station apparently. Some things only the king gets to decide. It seems even as a princess, I have to follow more orders than I get to issue."

Nikias cleared his throat to ask the question that was burning in his mind. "If you were given the choice, who would you pick? For a husband, that is?"

She swept her gaze over and locked eyes with him. Elektra didn't speak for several moments as she processed his words, but Nikias was afraid she'd be able to see right through the question at his real intent for asking. His heart seized in his chest as he awaited her answer.

"I don't know," she said finally with shaky words. "Someone kind. Someone wise. Someone who would love me and whom I could love as well. Someone not hard on the eyes either—he must be handsome, after all."

She ended that last part with a smirk, enough to make Nikias begin to chuckle. "We can't forget handsome now. That should have been the first requirement."

She giggled and looked back at him before assuming a more hopeless look. "I know there's not many who will match that description of my father's nobles, especially the ones that survived the war. Frankly, it doesn't make me any more likely to want marriage, at least any time soon." Elektra let out a long sigh. "Perhaps I'm just going to be unhappy no matter what."

"Or perhaps you just need to find the right man," said Nikias quietly.

She locked eyes on him again, her gaze questioning his words. "Do you know of someone who would marry me? Who I could want as well."

Now or never, thought Nikias.

"I don't know of any man who would turn down someone as incredibly beautiful, or as resourceful, or as captivating as you, Elektra," answered Nikias bravely.

She turned her head away quickly and cleared her throat while staring back into the fire. "You shouldn't say such things with my father nearby. Who knows what might happen if he heard you say that."

"He already has," said Nikias, remembering an early conversation with Jack.

Her head spun around to lock on him. "And? What did he say?"

He took a deep breath. "He didn't say no."

Elektra huffed. "Because he knew he didn't have to. That could never happen. We're of two different classes. You're not a noble, and I can only marry one of noble blood. It's Sorellan custom."

Nikias leaned away from her. "So it's a no then?"

"It's not a no. It's just that it can't happen."

"So you don't want it to happen?"

"I didn't say that."

"What are you saying then?"

Elektra took a deep breath. "That it doesn't matter how we feel about it. The laws won't take into account feelings, only cold, hard reality."

"We feel?" asked Nikias with a hopeful tone. "How do you feel about it, Elektra?"

Her face turned away from him. It was enough to make him hop off the log and approach her from the other side. In the darkness of the night, only the fire danced in the reflection from her eyes, but he could clearly see something else underneath.

"What would you want me to say?" she whispered.

"The truth. Just tell me the truth."

Elektra muttered something quickly and inaudibly under her breath.

"You're going to have to say that louder."

"I wouldn't be opposed to it," she said in a clearer voice.

"You wouldn't?"

Elektra met his gaze. "No."

"So I meet the handsome requirements?" he asked with a grin.

She rolled her eyes at him. "If you think I'm going to answer that truthfully, you have another thing coming!"

He could only smile in return. There was something to her words and her actions just now that pointed to something deeper. Something that resembled the way he felt about her. His heart swelled at the possibilities that his feelings for her may not be unrequited after all.

"I've been enamored with you for as long as I can remember," said Nikias while forcing her to look at him. "Your grace and your beauty and the way you carry yourself—all of it. There hasn't been a quiet moment in the last few years where you haven't popped into my head."

By saying such a thing so candidly to anyone else, he could have expected to be slapped. But not with Elektra. Her smile only grew wider the longer he kept talking. She was beaming by the time he finished, her blue eyes locked on his.

"I've watched you since I was a teenager," she admitted quietly. "I've always wondered if you would ever notice me. You were so important to my father that I thought you'd never take notice of his young, teenaged daughter."

"You're not a wallflower that could ever be ignored, Elektra. You brighten every room that you enter. There are times when all it took was a single look from you that it was enough to make me forget anything else that was on my mind."

She reached out and caressed his face. His hand quickly covered her own, holding her in place. "I've thought the same about you. But, Nikias, you know this could never be."

The smile dropped from his face. "Why not? We could talk with him about it. I'm sure he could make a special arrangement."

Elektra shook her head. "Laws aren't so easily broken. You know that just as much as I."

"There must be something."

"There's nothing," she said with a tone of finality. She turned her head away from him.

Nikias reached his hand across to her chin and gently pulled her head back in place. When she didn't resist and her eyes once more locked on his, he pressed in for a long, tender kiss. As soon as their lips met, every nerve in his body exploded in euphoria at finally kissing the one woman he had wanted for so long from a distance. When Elektra pressed into his kiss and wrapped her arms around his neck, he pulled her in tight, his fingers gliding through her red locks.

For those few seconds, he felt total bliss. Having Elektra in his arms and tasting her on his lips was the ultimate dream made reality for him. His only regret was that it ended too soon.

"Are you crazy?" whispered Elektra fiercely as she pulled away from his kiss. "My father is just a few feet away!"

"I don't care," whispered back Nikias. "I would kiss you in front of all of Sorella just so there would be no mistake in how I feel about you."

Despite wanting to feign anger at him, his words couldn't help but solicit a smile from her lips. Nikias pressed in with one more kiss, a deeper lip lock that ended just as quickly as the first.

"We need to be more careful about this," moaned Elektra after separating from his lips. "We can't just let anyone see. At least not until we find out if we could ever make this happen."

"I'll fight for it as long as I have to," promised Nikias. "Whatever I have to do to have you, I'll do it."

"I had no idea you were such a charmer," she said with a grin.

"I had no idea that you felt the same way that I did," he repeated in the same tone.

She caressed his face. "You might have if you paid better attention. Sometimes I felt like a lovesick girl around you. How you never noticed, I'll never understand."

"I'm noticing now, trust me," he added with a smile.

"We need to separate," she said while chewing her lip. "The watch is almost over. Greg will be coming to relieve me at any time."

"That's fine," he said with a nod. "I'll get back to my sleeping bag. Although, I wish you were coming with me."

Elektra brought her finger to her lips and shushed him but the unmistakable look in her eyes told him she approved of the idea as much as he did. With one last kiss, he whispered goodnight against her lips and reluctantly pulled himself away from her.

Settling down in his sleeping bag, Nikias found himself anything but tired. His heart was racing, his eyes were wide open and a smile filled his face. He could still taste the princess on his lips and his mind raced with the possibilities of a future with Elektra. A long time later, long after Greg had taken over the watch, the minister fell asleep in good spirits, delighted at what the future could bring.