The warm water drips over his bandaged hand as the servant wrings out the cloth. Her memorizing smile vanishes as she wipes the soot from Sara's sleeping face. Sara’s scratches will heal and thanks to Eclipse's magic she didn't get crushed under an avalanche. He got lucky, only a few bites but nothing to reach the bone. His calf has a bit more holes in it than before but he's had worse. The maid, a smiling brunette, squeezes the wash rag over a milky bowl at the bedside table. There's enough dust caked onto Sara to paint the whole room.

"You're a mess too my Lord," she motions to his torn clothes coated with equally amount of dust. "I can have one of the girls draw you a bath."

"Only if you care to join me, it's awfully lonely by myself." She giggles and dismisses the thought with a flick of the cloth.

Grabbing an extra cloth, Chris shuffles to a table where her backpack rests and gets to work. Pulling each bundle and item he lays them over the surface before washing the dirt from the soft leather bag. It's fascinating to see the child's treasures. There's a bundle of clothes tied neatly together. Various packages of dried herbs, the tiniest of knives, three small bound books, strange mushrooms, and the strangest water pouch he's ever seen. It looks like a real stomach of some huge beast. Of course, the small pouch of coins is always tempting. But the kid's in more dire straights then he is, and he's the thief parading as a lord.

He steals glances of her peaceful face, remembering another child asleep in his oversized bed. The phlegmy cough and lullabies seep into his ears. Each wheeze as his small lungs struggle against the smog, is a reminder of his shame. A gnawing, devouring demon, that suck the lifeforce from his marrow. Guilt, it’s the one thing he can’t drink away. But it doesn’t mean he can’t try.

After a deserved soapy bath, he’s back to sauntering the palace hallways. Zack, his usual distraction, is off with Moira. No doubt they're sharing the most uncomfortable silence as the carriage delivers them to Crowns Avenue. Their mission: to retrieve the kids dragon. How long it'll take depends on how long Zack can keep Moira in check. His feisty Mage was spitting fire since her return. The doctor tended to her injuries with the patience of a saint.

Left alone to his own devices, he does what he does best. Snoop. And turning a corner presents him with a tantalizing opportunity. The door to the king's study is ajar and whispered voices float into the hall. He shakes the anticipation from his limbs before tiptoeing towards the gap; careful to hide in the shadows. The king, lounging on a couch by the fireplace, grips a goblet facing an audience of Eclipse in the opposite chair. Beside him is the bulging form of General Stone, being engulfed by the second chair, with a tentative hold on his goblet.

"This is absurd. A pack of Rocky Hounds, Eclipse she what if she was killed?" Allan snaps.

"When she left the palace, it was unmistakably clear what her goal was."

"She went to retrieve the child, not play adventurer. What kind of wild child wanders alone in the mountains."

"I am afraid I am unfit to answer that, perhaps it is best to question Lady Sherwood of her motives. Because, and this is my humble opinion: a foreign child, with no ties to this area, could not successfully navigate such a vast kingdom, find the exact deserted path leading to the precise location where packs of wild hounds are currently rearing their offspring all on her own."

"You have made your point. But that does not excuse Moira’s recklessness. We have soldiers for a reason, any one if them could find Sara and bring her to safety. Instead, she used untested magic around all of you and had half a mountain fall on top of her."

"What would you do, Your Majesty, bar her from leaving the palace? Only pull her out for special events?"

"Perhaps," Lex finally interjects, "Her Highness’s recklessness is related to the immediate threat the situation posed to the child. Based on Lord Orbit’s account, time was not on their side. Perhaps acting in the face of a do or die situation offers a bit of forgiveness? After all, everyone is safe and it appears her highness has reached a new milestone in her training."

"Are you really going through with this?" Allan asks.

"I will be suffering her a disservice if I ignore today's events. Moira's rank was contested during the Council hearings. Since her evidence of merit were tossed out of court, she was never given the rank she deserves. Her use of the whirlwind manipulation today, without the aid of the staff, proves her mastery of the third element needed for the Imperial Rank. And it is my duty to ensure she receives it."

"She is exiled from the Kingdom of Ancients. Not to mention the odds the Council will grant it to her is low. Why does it matter?"

"Because she earned it."

"It will not make a difference. At the end of the day, she does not require magic to rule Alexandria. It's a futile endeavor."

"I think what Allan is trying to say is—"

"Hey, who are you?” A child whispers behind Chris. He turns on his heels causing a shooting pain to burn up his leg. Facing him is a boy gripping an armful of firewood to his chest.

"Shoo kid," he whispers trying to get back into position beside the door.

"What's happening in there?" He whispers pushing against his leg as he tries to spy on the conversation. Eclipse's tone struggles to stay even as he responds to Allan's previous statements.

"To be frank, Umara is bigger than Alexandria. You have cultivated a small world inside the safety of your court. But trust me Allan, by the time Moira takes the throne, this isolated mentality will not suffice. Despite your attempts, she is an influential and talented Mage. And once she becomes queen Godfrey will once again put a target on her back. The only way to protect her from them is if she has the Imperial Rank. Godfrey would be hard-pressed to get the Council to turn on one of their own. Not to mention the rank qualifies her to vote on actions put forth to the Council. In order for her survival, and that of Alexandria, she needs to be able to go toe to toe with the Council. I promise you; they have not forgotten about her like they did you."

“Wow, Lord Orbit, is really letting him have it,” the boy whispers.

Yeah, he’s not doing too bad.

“Lord Orbit, if I may,” Lex interrupts as Allan clears his throat. “I must ask you to reach out to my contact in the Kingdom of Ancients. As the king is aware, this is something curious happening in Lollardum and I must gather information on a Council Member Toranis, are you aware of him?”

“Yes, he is newer to the position but he is no stranger. How does Lollardum enter into this conspiracy.”

“During the Trade talks, Castellan mentioned Mage Radicals, who have an underground network of terrorists whose goal is to attack monuments and critical infrastructure. However, like most things in Lollardum not everything is as it seems. I have become aware of invested interest for some strange purple gem. The king is noted saying it will level the playing field, and his meaning has myself and Allan concerned.”

“Is it a natural gem?”

“Manufactured, in some secret warehouse. My men could not get close enough to see what was inside.”

“I see,” there’s a pause, as he assumes the panther contemplates the web he’s about to get tangled in.

A log tumbles from the boy’s hands, in a flash Chris grips the wobbling edge. But his victory is short-lived, the loose end hit the stone floor with the thunk. Every inch of him freezes, like ice water dumps over him. The sound reverberates through the empty hall, silencing the group in the room.

The boy’s face is agape, he swears its big enough for a sparrow to nest in it, but the shuffling of chairs springs Chris into action. In a swift motion, that will shame any overrun midwife with toddlers, he scoops the boy and his bundle and disappears behind the nearest corner. His sweaty palm is pressed against the kid’s mouth, and his feet dangle as he presses himself against the wall.

His heart slams in his ears and the group emerges from the room. They don’t mention the log, left abandoned by the door, instead the footsteps suggest they walk towards the throne room. The unmistakable cadence of Lex’s steps vanishes and he breathes the sweetest sigh of relief. It’s the elation of getting away, the freedom of consequence and going home with the prize. It’s a tingle through his body, a high that’s only rivalled by fine wine and a good woman. It’s—

“Why am I not surprised.” The log rolls to Chris’s feet, tapping his boot; Eclipse slinks from the shadows. “Clyde, I assume Catherine is waiting for this firewood to keep the kitchen fires hot?”

“Yes, my Lord,” the boy says sheepishly.

“Then I suggest you not keep your mother waiting.” Clyde doesn’t waste any time, squirming from his arms the boy grabs his wayward firewood and rushes from the scene.

“Cook’s son, eh?”

“I have no time for your games, you know I am about to depart and I require answers.”

“Well answers come at a cost, but for you I’ll give you a discount,”

“By this point, I know you are aware of my role and abilities. And I am aware of your talents and tendencies to be in the wrong place at the right time. So let us cut to the chase, I require the truth. Nothing more and nothing less. I understand lying is a currency for the wealth impaired, and your profession is notorious for it. However, in this moment, I need you to understand, that I am not a threat, I will not exploit, or send you to the stocks.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because I am trying to get through to that thick head of yours, that I can be trusted.”

“Why do you care whether I trust you or not?”

“I have seemed to have arrived at a crossroads where I need to trust you. And that does not come easy for me. I am offering an olive branch if you will.”

His favorite, a stick with a termination clause. It’s an interesting thought though. Oh, it must be eating him alive, to reduce his mightiness to his level. Knowing Chris has the intel he needs. He isn’t wrong either, that’s the best part of it all. Lex has every right to worry about the purple gemstone. He stumbled upon it by chance and now he wishes he never heard of it. But the warehouse isn’t a problem, well not anymore. If they’re lucky he and Zack managed to halt production for the next little while. He shakes the thought from his head, focusing on the creature before him, and what he is about to get himself into.

“Me and trust is a dangerous combination which takes time to work out. However, I’m not dumb enough to spit in the face of an olive branch. But if I don’t like where this is going, I’m walking.”

“Surprisingly reasonable. Very well, what is your relationship with the sweaty thief Artie?”

“We used to run together for the Butchers. After I left the gang, we’d do the odd job here and there.”

“Was he on the job when he kidnapped Sara that day?”

“Yeah, he was grabbing kids for Flann, he sells them to the Cat Smugglers who sell them to the factory owners.”

“Is that all he does?”

“Every thief wears multiple hats, its just the way the money flows. I don’t know every pie Flann has his sausage fingers in and Artie could be doing who knows what. But on that day, he was taking kids.” Eclipse sits, his tail flicking against the floor as he considers his next question.

“What do you know about the ring Artie was wearing? I know you saw it; I explicitly remember you warning Moira not to use her magic. At first, I thought perhaps you were concerned about damage to the buildings, but now I believe there was more to your comment.”

“The whole place can burn for all I care. Yeah, I saw it, and I know where you’re going with this. The thing is, we’re about to get into something too big for both of us and my neck is still on the line. So, understand I may not be so forthcoming at this particular exchange.”

“Noted, you verified its existence, which is more than I had before. What can you tell me of the stone’s abilities?” He surveys the hallway, aware of the possibilities of ears against walls and eyes pressed into keyholes. But the panther’s steady presence is enough to urge him on.

“It’s a creation by a mad man. One who hates Mages, or envies their power, I can’t be certain which. It’s still underdevelopment but if it’s perfect it will become Umara’s first magical weapon.”

“Not the first,” Eclipse mutters, “but your point is made.”

“Where their magical weapons before now?”

“Oh yes, if you doubt me, look to our dear knight. The experimentation might be different but I bet it is the same theory. Thank you, you have been surprisingly helpful.” He turns to leave, his head vanishing in the shadow.

“Wait, that’s it? You’re just going to take off to the Kingdom of Ancients and leave the rest of us here?”

“I have no choice; it is clear time is not on our side. And if what you say is true then we are already three steps behind. Come, Moira is arriving, and I doubt she will take the news well.”