Jade, fully clad in her day clothes, took a look at her gold pocket watch and deemed the time respectable enough for an early breakfast. Her stomach lurched at the thought of food but she had barely eaten last night's meal and had no interest in keeling over.

She could hear the rain splatter outside, against the stone cladding of the castle and speculated whether it was safe to begin their journey. She doubted the Prince would relent to delay the trip for another day. He was desperate to save the girl as soon as possible.

Outside her guest quarters stood a guard dressed all in red and Jade wondered whether it was usual protocol or whether she was being guarded in case she made a run for it. Her fists clenched on her sides with a feral sort of aggravation. She knew she was a liar but could not dampen the indignation.

The guard led her to the nearly empty servant's table and she numbly plopped into place not caring what was dropped on her plate. The breakfast of savory buiscits and pudding was as extravagant as last night's venison with quail eggs but she could not appreciate it. Her current state of mind would not allow it.

In spite of Luke's protests she had last night's dinner with the rest of their travel companions and not the royals. With the heavy presense of soldiers looming over her she could not utter much to Dimitri, who sat across from her, except that Princess Delilah knew. Gauging by the loss of colour on his tanned face she knew he understood.

The rest of the evening she sat on an ugly satin chair, resting against the stone wall, while the royals chose to have a late meal, an indulgence of the rich who did not need the sun's rays to begin their day.

She had been introduced to the affable Duke Dorian who was wedded to the Princess Delilah. He was a handsome, solidly built fellow with a cheerful disposition. Both his colouring and personality differed from his wife.

The girl was busy ignoring her meal when the soldier sat across from her informed Jade they would not be leaving the castle early morning and the girl's shoulders slumped. She wanted to be as far away from the Princess as soon as possible. Her head throbbed with a slashing headache that only made the nausea worse. Jade let her uneaten piece of bread drop to her nearly full plate.

The guard, whose duty was to accompany Jade, led her to another wing of the castle unfamiliar to her. The furnishing certainly improved the more distance they traversed and it seemed it was time for another confrontation. Jade steeled herself as the door was opened for her.

The room was a study dominated by a vast window in front of which was a solid, dark wood desk. Princess Delilah sat at the helm, as expected, looking fresh as a lilly. It seems she was an early riser.

"I understand it is not even sun up still but we must have this conversation now. There is no point delaying it," Delilah said in lieu of a greeting. The Princess was dressed in an burgundy morning gown with curls framing her face. They moved with her every movement.

Jade came to halt behind the two chairs facing the desk and gave a stiff bow. She was in no mood for elaborate performances. The younger of the two gripped the back of the leather chair painfully enough that the decorative grooves embed themselves in her skin, leaving marks.

"The displeasure I conveyed last night has mostly to do with the palace's conduct. My brothers are not children barely out of their nappies to make such an error. They have failed most grieviosly," The Princess uttered. Jade nodded indicating she understood the veiled apology. At least the Princess was being civil which was a relief.

"I have your details right in front me and I am satisfied with the contents. You are who you say you are," Princess Delilah remarked, showing no obvious display of emotion.

Jade blinked erratically, exhaling heavily in relief. She could not believe how quickly the woman had gathered her information. The pile of parchments in front of her was not unsubstantial. As a secretary she knew how hard it was to round up such documents.

"I already had the Book of Notables in my library along with the Index of Blood Lines to make my search easier although I obviously have my own resources. It was easy to track down your family for the Dukedom of Durnn is well known. They have withered out due to one sickly heir shuffling off the mortal coil last year. I wonder, oh, I wonder," The woman tapped her rouge covered lip as if her mind was conjuring up possibilities, "I wonder if he was feeling poorly at all before your stepmother took great pains to visit the chap in an effort to promote familial harmony."

"I do not understand. Do you mean to insinuate that my step mother had something to do with his death," Jade pressed, feeling dim. She was not prepared for the conversation to be on the chosen topic.

"Perhaps. You should have been aware about all of this. This is your family we're talking about," Delilah reproached, sharply.

"My father was unwell. I was preoccupied with his failing health." Jade traced the black silk around her wrist unconsciously, "I'm afraid I was not aware of the ongoings of my extended family. They are all but strangers after a land dispute."

"I understand but it seems like your father took great pains to improve your education. Unlike another frilly miss you had no excuse to be ignorant. You should not have been so powerless to be thrust out into the streets," The seated woman said. It hadn't seemed possible for her to look even more stern but she did. Jade was reminded of many a governesses who had been thrown out by her father for being too strict.

"Your Highness, you cannot speak to me about exercising power when you have men at your beck and call. I had no one but a few loyal servants looking out for me," Jade felt her temper rousing from its slumber.

"Do you know what you had in your grasp, you foolish chit? The entire duchy was in your hands! You were the only heir left for the Dukedom of Durnn. You might have not gotten the title but you would have the lands along with the promise that the title would be passed onto any future son."

Jade placed her hand on her forehead trying to sort out the muddle. She asked cautiously, "Does that mean I can go back and cease my land back?"

"The trial for your father's property may take time but the entire Duchy would directly be yours. Permelia Durnn had no claim to it for now," The Princess stated with a tone of voice one would use when talking to the elderly or the infirm.

Jade had no words to express her shock. Whatever she had expected to happen in these rooms this was not it. The tidings of being an heir to a vast fortune bowled her over.

"You stepmother's already performed your funeral and is working on paperwork to transfer the land to her. The best time to go back would be now," The Princess suggested gaining a softer look in her grey eyes. She clasped her hands in front of her.

Jade took a deep, rumbling breath. Her step mother had steadily been outgrowing George the Filthy and it seems taking over a duchy was the first step to rid of his vile presence. There was no trick too underhanded for the money hungry woman.

"You're correct, being a Princess gives me quite a leap of resources above the rest. I could help you. Your stepmother could be taken care of by the magistrate with one snap of my fingers. This is not her first murder, you know."

Jade felt the ground move beneath her feet despite the earth remaining silent. Her assumption her father was murdered seemed to grow firmer. Her grip on the chair was now used to support her wobbling knees.

"Why would you help me?" Jade whispered, feeling so small for allowing her father to be harmed in her presence. The Princess was correct in the insinuation that she was an insipid fool. Instead of talking to correct authories or even contacting a magistrate she had chosen to run off with no plan. It was only luck she had run into Mr. Gepetto.

"My father never did let me me attend the 'Finishing school for the Virtuous, Principled Ladies.' It was considered unsafe for someone of my stature. Do you know we share a tutor; Francis Teller. Do you remember him?" Princess Delilah's conversation ceased to make any sense to the poor secretary.

"Yes, he was a funny fellow. I enjoyed his philosophiy classes," Jade declared with much hesitance. She had no idea why the man was being brought up.

"Maybe I wish to help his former student," The raven haired beauty remarked, nonchalantly.

"You have to jesting!" Jade blinked frantically at the nonsensical chatter. If the Princess wasn't carrying a baby Jade would have assumed she was sloshed for she was making no sense at all.

"Maybe, or maybe I am a wise and benevolent Princess who is finds your situation compelling enough to act. You make your choice," Delilah shrugged now sounding utterly bored.

Jade's cleverness could discern that the Princess' truth was somewhere in between. Most likely she only wanted to help because she had nothing better to do.

"I don't want your help," Jade said, pinching the soft skin above between her eyes, "I am lying, I do want your assistance but I cannot abandon Prince Luke. I have to help him atain his goals or otherwise he'll go mad. He needs help... He's nearly flung himself off a cliff. There's no telling what he'll do next."

"If you return then I may no longer be wiling. After all Francis Teller was a doddering old fool. I found his lessons boring," The Princess' words were threatening, showing how much of her help was being offered on a whim.

"I shall take the risk oh wise and benevolent Princess," Jade retorted. Her brown eyes were like melted copper. She would not be a plaything for a bored Royal.

The Princess directed towards her a charismatic smile and gave the secretary leave to seek out Prince Luke.

....

"Edenshire, Edenshire, what an interesting choice," The Princess murmured as she buttered her warm piece of bread. It was mid morning already and the breakfast was more a brunch.

"Why so?" Luke asked with an inquisitive expression. He was already half way through cup of tea. Jade did not miss how his eyes would dart to and fro from the window. He was eager to leave the castle and begin their journey.

"Have you not heard the legend of the sword of Galios?" Princess Delilah asked with a patronising smile.

"I thought it was just a fanciful tale. Mystical swords do not exist," The Prince brushed the suggestion off as if it were a piece of fluff.

"Legend don't forge out of thin air. There has been a lot of history that wrecked havoc to the parchments of time. Perhaps the enchanted sword is still there," The grey eyed girl gave her companions a winning smile as if she knew many secrets which to her credit she probably did.

"Edenshire still contains the castle remains. Delilah was adamant we must visit," Duke Dorian remarked with a fond look at his wife.

"You mean there's a ruin my sister hasn't examined the width and breadth of. How odd," The Prince grinned at his lunch. He gazed up at his secretary and offered her a piece of pie which she declined. She sat once again in the back, making note of the conversation to put in her diary at the end of the day.

"We did once make plans but I honestly don't remember why we never went," Delilah tried to recollect but her memory faltered. Her brow was marred with a frown as if summoning all her mental faculties to the rescue.

"I believe we detoured to the Prince's ball last year. The one where-" The Duke paused as if realising who he was about to mention in polite company. It was humourous how everyone avoided talking about the mystery girl as if she were the black Plague.

"I would have thought you would have spent all your time gallivanting on one adventure or the other. I am aghast I have such a poor estimation of my sister," The Prince teased, his dark locks spilling over his face.

"I have been on many escapades by now. You can ask my Duke how he fares with such a wife," Delilah took a delicate sip of her cooling tea.

"My darling keeps me on my toes. I don't know half the things she gets up to until they're done and dusted," Dorian said. His emotions were vivid and transparent compared to his cool and collected wife.

The Princess looked out of the window and sighed at the dismal weather. The rain had not paused for second since dawn. It was the middle of the day and the torches were already lit to brighten up the dreary room.

"Then you will depart tomorrow?" The Princess' grey orbs revealed nothing.

"Perhaps. We will depart as soon as the weather clears up," Luke answered. He placed his half eaten biscuit on his plate as if it recoiled in his stomach.

"Are you sure your pretty secretary is up to the mark. I wouldn't want him to ruin his pretty face galloping after you," The Princess regained the mischief in her eyes. She gave the secretary a very pointed stare.

Jade belatedly had the realisation she was being given permission to continue the journey. Her brown eyes met the Princess' grey ones with eagerness. She was only given the briefest uplift of the lips by the Princess all the while keeping her secret safe in her breast.

"I think it would suit me just fine, Your Highness," Jade replied. Her mouth was dry from disuse and coughed politely in her handkerchief. In elevated company the tall girl was taking great care to mind her manners.

"For your sake, I should hope so after all it is you who must protect my brother," Delilah's soft words were demanding a promise.

"Your brother is a grown man, as fit as an ox. I'm sure he doesn't need this poor young fellow holding his hand everywhere," Dorian joked but his opinion was dismissed. His wife had not broken eye contact with the other female.

"But he will try will be not. If he is to keep his head," Delilah's expressions were now a threat. No one could be mistaken about their intent.

Jade nodded once in a sharp, unflinching motion, not hearing Luke and Dorian's protests that the Princess went too far.

....

The soldiers mounted their horses in unison as they finally found a lull in the poor weather. Ten members of the Royal guard usually under Dimitri's command were followed by five more advanced officers in the army. No stones had been left unturned in the Prince's protection.

The weather had disallowed their journey on the day they had planned and despite trying to hide it the Prince grew anstier and anstier until he had begged leave from his sister and decided to begin their journey in the middle of the next day.

The horses had been kitted out with camping gear and supplies and made to wait with complete discipline while the Duke and the Princess waved them off from the balcony above the main entrance. Unlike before the Princess had no warm smiles to their farewell. Her brows were furrowed in consternation. Just like everyone it seemed she too had reservations about the Prince's quest but knew it was futile to argue against it.

The large group of soldiers traversed down the steep mountain path very slowly. They finally reach the base of the mountain and passed a lazy village. A few children halted their game of sticks and marbles to stare at the procession. The Prince had forgone his banner, finding the custom counterproductive. He did not wish to announce he was in the area.

"Off to the witch's land, Sirs and madam?" A youthful adolescent grinned at them from atop his fat donkey. He took a pause in his journey to let them through.

"Who're you calling madam? He may have long hair but he's certainly no Lady," Jade deflected the attention onto the Prince before more could be said on the matter. The long haired man visibly bristled at what he assumed were insults thrown his way. He quickly bound his hair in leather.

"What did you say about the witch?" Dimitri demanded. He wiped the drops of drizzling rain cascading down his face.

"That you're 'bout to step foot into the land of the witch that eats flesh and rips men apart. I wouldn't go there if I were you," The boy did not lose his beaming smile even as he related the troublesome tale to them. His donkey waddled along and the boy raised his hat at them as farewell.

"You think he speaks the truth," Jade asked the Prince's bodyguard. Dimitri shook his head indicating he had no clue.

Beyond the village gates started a dimly lit forest. It grew in density the farther away they went. There came a time when even the lumber carrying donkeys stopped making an appearance. They were now all alone.

A strange sort of fog swirled around them, moving swiftly between the royal steed. The views around them grew dimmer and dimmer. After an hour of travel even the path on the forest bed disappeared into the moss. Nature had taken over the manmade path. The group paused to reorient themselves. They dismounted and tied up their horses on the trees.

"I cannot make head or tails of this map," Jade glowered at the innocuous piece of parchment trying to shield it from the rain. A soldier brought forth the leather, folding parasol and gave her some protection from the elements.

"Give me that," The Prince snatched it away not hiding his impatience.

"It's very confusing, isn't it," Jade taunted. The parasol carrying soldier now ran after Luke.

"We're lost before we've even begun. This damnable map has nothing of import because we don't even know where we are. I cannot see beyond my hand if even that," The Royal complained. The fog churned around his moving hand.

"Let's tie us all up with each other. At least we won't lose each other," An officer suggested. He puffed up as everyone looked at him.

"It will be so cumbersome to travel with such an impediment," The Prince declared making the officer lose all steam.

"Place the marbles on your hands we will follow them. There is no other way," The secretary hissed in the Prince's ear. Luke sighed and pulled out the pouch. The marbles arranged themselves in a familiar fashion on his palm and he began to follow them. The secretary trailed close behind her master.

Luke took a hesitant step forward and suddenly his foot had nowhere to go. Jade grabbed him with pinching fingers by the nape of his neck. The clouds which they had erroneously mistaken for fog now cleared momentarily leaving the valley beneath the cliff face visible.

"Stay back, we're at the edge of a mountain," Jade roared at the their companions who were following them blindly. The men paused at once, not knowing whether the next step would be their last. Step by step the entire group eased back to where their horses stood. Jade's hand was still on the Prince's neck as if leaving him would mean losing him.

"We should have waited one more day," The secretary mumbled to herself as she finally let go. She kicked an errant rock trying to trip her, rather viciously.

"The weather could have worsened even further. The delay would have been futile," Luke replied, having heard her seemingly inaudible musings.

Jade bit back the vicious retort. The premise for their entire trip was due to the Prince's foolish whims. None of the words out of his mouth gave her comfort in the cold, mountain air. She beckoned everyone in as she unfurled the map of Edenshire once more. At least they now had a landmark to identify where they stood.