The man's eyes were full of greed. "I want Silver, and you're going to help me get him, my lady."

Watching through the small slit in the curtains, Ethyn's eyes widened in surprise. He had heard enough. He could see that Sage was cornered, and the redhead needed to find Silver immediately. Sinking slowly to the ground, the boy crawled away from the window before sprinting out of sight.

Inside the home, a powerful fear gripped Sage. This man knew who she was. She had done an excellent job of hiding for the past few years, only to be discovered by this rat in front of her. What was worse, the rat seemed determined to destroy the little peace she had finally found. How had she gotten here?

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Sage was in fact born Lady Saigera , daughter of Lord Artrau, and great-great-granddaughter of the late King Eraldi of Lakyle. Her family was wealthy, and growing up in prosperity had brought all the comforts and privileges a noblewoman could expect. When she was old enough, the breathtakingly beautiful woman was introduced to the palace as a courtier.

But the court of Lakyle was a vicious place, and the many princes were ruthless. There were no protections for a woman, and the king was the greatest offender of all. If a courtier was caught alone in the wrong place and time by the king, the results were disastrous.

As a girl, Sage was gentle, innocent and quiet. But as a young woman, Lady Saigera had to quickly become cunning and savvy. Avoiding the pitfalls of many of the courtiers around her, Sage found the balance of mixing just the right amount of flirtatious behavior with a touch of cool indifference to keep most of her suitors at each other's throats and away from her.

It was manipulative, but Saigera was determined to survive. In time, it became second nature, and the delicate flower she had once been faded away. She was wiser now, and knew that people were only valued for what they could offer,

One day while walking in her garden at the family's manor, her brothers, who usually treated her with indifference, approached her excitedly.

One of them bowed deeply, "Greetings, Your Highness." He lifted his head and shot her a mischievous grin. The others gave courtly bows as well.

"What are you going on about, Viktor?" Saigera asked without a hint of expression. Her brothers loved a good prank, and she was not going to give them the satisfaction of tricking her.

The brothers chuckled and elbowed one another as if she had made some fantastic joke. "Don't play games with us, sister. We know all about your engagement to Prince Torben." Victor nodded. "I must say it is a great match for the family."

"Engagement?" The lady's cheeks flushed red. "I'm not engaged."

The men all stopped laughing and stared at her. "You mean you really do not know? I thought for sure mother and father would have told you." Viktor gave her a look almost like sympathy, but it was only for a moment. His usual mask of amusement was back in place so quickly, Sage believed she dreamed the first emotion.

"What should father have told me?" the lady asked carefully.

"Prince Torben claims that he has fallen deeply in love with you. Our parents were already making the necessary arrangements for your marriage! Congratulations!" Viktor gave her an unwelcome hug.

"Stop joking," Saigera demanded. "It is not funny."

Her eldest brother released her. "I never joke about becoming royalty. And as the future crown princess, I will be even more careful not to cross you. I will be returning that money I borrow the other day presently," Viktor assured her. "Then we can see what other deals we might strike between us, Your Highness."

Although Sage did not want to believe his words, the greed in all her brothers' eyes told her that what Viktor said was true.

The brothers each offered her whatever she wanted in exchange for favors when she became crown princess. Each proposal was more outlandish than the last. Instead of indulging her brothers' selfish whims, the lady retreated from their presence and ran to the main hall.

"Mother! Father!" Sage cried as she fell at their feet and pressed her head to the floor. "Please tell me it isn't true!"

"Get up, girl," Lord Artrau yanked the girl from the floor roughly before regaining his calm.

Lady Saigera noticed the palace emissary standing with her parents. She lowered her head in shame.

"I assure you she is never like this," Sage's mother apologized. The emissary turned his judgmental gaze on the older woman, inclined his head and left.

"What were you blabbering on about? I hope that outburst does not get back to the king or he may call off the whole engagement!"

"Then I am engaged!" Lady Saigera's eyes welled with tears. Her head began to swim as her hands shook.

"We were planning to tell you," her mother tried to calm the young lady. "It all happened so fast."

"Prince Torben says he must have you as his bride six weeks from this very day." Lord Artrau informed her. He was already running figures in his head. "We must work quickly to make it happen. I shall send you to the dressmaker tomorrow to be fitted right away. We cannot have the king thinking we are paupers!"

"But I hardly know the crown prince. We must delay!" Sage could see things were moving quickly. "I am not sure that I want to marry him."

Lord Artrau gave her a dangerous glare. "Not want to marry a prince? Keep those thoughts to yourself. You will bear the heir to the throne of Lakyle. There is no higher calling."

Managing to wrench herself from her father's vice like grip, Saigera backed up to ask her next question. She breathed deeply, giving her best to sway her father. "Are you sure Prince Torben wants to marry me? Perhaps he has confused me with another. I would hate for the crown to be disappointed."

The lord of the manor looked down his nose at his daughter for a moment considering her words. Then he scoffed. "The King and Crown Prince do not make mistakes like that. You were chosen very specifically."

Trying her best to stay neutral, Saigera asked the question that was most on her mind. "Why me?"

Seeing through her ploy to sow doubt, Lord Artrau threw his hands in the air and barked at his wife, "Deal with your ungrateful daughter!"

The timid mother took Saigera's hand. "This is a great honor, and you will be a beautiful bride. You are already twenty three and all of the ladies your age have long been married. It is best that you wed before you become an old maid."

Saigera pressed her fingers to her temple. She did not feel like an old maid. The Lady had not really wanted children either. That alone made he a poor crown princess. "I don't think…"

Lord Artrau cut her off, "Unless the next word are that you don't think we should have gone to so much trouble on your behalf, I don't want to hear it. You should be elated by your good fortune. Any bad feeling must be put to death now, or else."

Within, Sage seethed. However, there seemed to be no other option. Like the chameleon she was, Lady Saigera adapted and gave a pleasing smile to her parents. "Very well, Father. I will do as you say."

"You will make a good and dutiful wife for the prince. I am very happy for you." Saigera's mother kissed her on the cheek.

'That makes one of us,' the lady thought, but kept it to herself.