Dinner in the castle of the Kingdom of Malinas was a lavish affair. Meats and vegetables, fine wines and home–baked breads all graced the Lord and ruler's table.

Millicent sipped her elderflower wine and wiped the corners of her mouth with a napkin. She kept one eye on Corrinus. He seemed in a good mood for a change as two weary-looking Elani slaves served him. He shooed them away with an absent wave of his hand and leaned forwards across the table to smile at his aides.

"Ahh, my loyal aides. Have you ever had such a feast before?" he asked.

"No, my lord," replied one, looking in wide–eyed astonishment as the slaves wheeled in yet another tray of delicacies. "You honour us more than we could ever imagine."

Millicent almost rolled her eyes. Corrinus obviously enjoyed flattery. He sat back in his chair and smiled that smile of smug self-satisfaction. "Yes I do." Then he turned to her. "Don't you agree, my dear?"

She returned his smile and replied a little sarcastically, "You are a genius, my lord. Sending slaves to the kitchens was an excellent idea." He inclined his head and then turned from her back to the other aides. She didn't like the fact he seemed to have regained total control over his sanity now that his sleep was undisturbed. Still, she could always do something about that.

She smiled and enjoyed her meal.

#

"You must, Helena!"

"Please, do it for us if anything!"

Helena looked at the two young twin girls she had been assigned to watch over while their parents served the Lamya their meal. She sighed and once again gazed at the bottle of poison she had mixed up during the night. She had made it for Millicent but the twins had ideas of their own.

"It'll be easy, honest."

"We just slip some to Mum and Dad and they mix it in with the meal."

"That way we can get rid of the most powerful Lamya all in one go."

The twins looked at each other excitedly and then at Helena, their copper pigtails swinging as they turned their heads.

"It's a sad thing that even youngsters are considering murder," Helena said, stroking their cheeks.

The twins exchanged a glance again. That one look was all it took for them to know who was to speak first. And then they spoke in turns.

"But they're the bad guys," said one.

"And we'll be doing everyone a lot of good!"

"You must help!"

Helena smiled sadly, the twins were probably still too young to think of their actions being anything other than just and noble. She twisted the potion bottle in her hand. It was possible. And it would save her from having to make the decision to help Millicent rule.

But then, there were always doubts. If the servers were discovered or if the poison didn't take effect straight away it would certainly result in all their deaths. If it did work and Corrinus and his aides were killed, what then? There was still the very real threat from Slavemaster Noan, not to mention the Lamya people loyal to Corrinus. And Helena knew she would end up as prime suspect.

The twins held their hands together and pleaded for her help. They spoke quickly, one barely finishing her sentence before the other began.

"Corrinus had our father beaten this morning because he didn't bow his head."

"Mum has a long scar on her cheek now 'cos she looked at his funny pink eyes and he lashed out!"

"Our grandmother was killed because Noan thought she was too old to work!"

"And I get threatened with the death of my sister if ever I do something wrong!"

"Me too! Even if I don't know I'm doing something wrong!"

"Girls! Please stop." Helena pulled the children close and gave them a hug. "You must understand my fears. I don't want to put your parents in danger."

One of the twins pulled away and looked up into her eyes. She and her sister must've been no more than nine years old and yet she said, "But you don't seem to understand. We are already in danger. Helena, the Kingdom of Malinas is not a place for kids! Not Elani kids."

Helena shook her head slowly and picked up the poison again. It was possible...

#

Saoirse, her sprained ankle strapped up, was mucking out the stables of the Lamya guards' horses. With her hands and feet still manacled she found it hard work. Flies buzzed around her constantly and the fixed stare of a slaver made her nervous.

She put up her shovel and smiled at the guard. "You know," she said, "I could work faster if my hands were free."

The guard remained impassive.

She took a step towards him and tried again. "I'd be finished a lot sooner, then you could go home. I bet you have a wonderful family you're missing."

The guard looked at her. "I'm not married," he replied. "And I hate kids. Back to your work now."

She dropped her gaze and gripped the shovel tight. "Oh, really? No wife or kids?" She raised her eyes and glared at him. "Then you'll have nobody to complain to about your injured face."

Thwack!

She'd brought the shovel up hard beneath the guard's chin and knocked him senseless. She gave a gleeful laugh and quickly bent to relieve him of his keys, which she then used to open her chains.

It was a spur of the moment thing, she had acted completely on impulse and now she wondered what to do next. Her heart thumped and she was sure someone would discover her. She had to do this for Fox – for everyone. Finish what they'd started. She looked around the quiet stables for a place to hide herself away until dark.

She pondered the haystack and manoeuvred herself into it when the horse in the next stall gave a gentle neigh. She grinned, pushed hay off herself and picked bits out of her hair as she limped into the stall.

This magnificent beast was Slavemaster Noan's horse!

She admired the animal. Black, like all Lamya horses, with large eyes and a muscular neck. She ducked as a slaver walked past the window, blew a sigh of relief and then mounted the horse – gripping his mane to pull herself up. There was no time for saddle or reins, she wanted to be out of there as fast as she could. She knew she wouldn't be spared if they caught her again.

She leaned forwards and untied the horse's head collar, releasing it from the stall. With a triumphant laugh, she gave the animal a sharp kick and charged out of the stables. Saoirse knew she had to get as far away as she could before the slavers reacted and they'd have to be blind not to see her coming.

She looked back over her shoulder as slavers ran from everywhere to get their horses. She laughed madly and galloped away. She knew where she was heading – a sanctuary for the Elani.

Silence Gorge.