Thirty minutes later, a flock of vishap appeared in the sky not far from the farmstead. In moments, the armored military beasts surrounded the farmstead, dropping to the ground. Armored men dismounted and secured the area. A minute later, a second flock of vishap appeared, most landing in the fields outside the farmstead. However, six landed directly in the courtyard.

Prince Jerome dismounted, Jenna at the same time. Striding forwarded, he bellowed. “Alright, where is that little urchin?”

Melete stepped forward, her legs a little weak and shaking. “Who are you sir?”

The tall man looked down at the young girl and let out a little sigh. He eased his bearing so as to be less intimidating. “I am Prince Jerome Ista”

Melete swallowed, her eyes awed. She dropped to one knee as she said. “Prince Jerome, I am Melete, Common of this land. Welcome, my lord.”

Dista hesitated, his eyes scanning the courtyard. Sammy was not visible anywhere. “Where is Sammy?”

“She went behind the barn about a half hour ago.”

Dista let out a huge sigh and looked over at Jenna. “Jenna, it’s probably pointless, but please go look.”

Jenna raised a hand and three female soldiers headed toward the barn.

Melete looked at the barn, suddenly scared. “Wh, what do you mean, too late?”

The prince smiled at her kindly and she blushed. “I mean she’s probably already run away. What a troublesome child.”

“You knew that before meddling, my prince,” Jenna said, a slight smile on her lips.

“Yeah, yeah.” The prince waved off his guardian’s reminder. “So Melete, please explain to me what has happened here more fully. You were somewhat circumspect before.”

“Yes sir,” Melete said, swallowing nervously. “But why did Lady Sammy run away? I thought she knew you.”

The prince laughed. “Well, yes, we do know each other. She is just somewhat upset with me at the moment is all. She’ll get over it eventually.”

“You certainly hope so,” Jenna said under her breath.

The prince spared her a glance from the corner of his eye, but otherwise did not respond. “So, can you tell me what she has done here?” He looked over at the unconscious and naked men and women.

Melete hesitated, wondering if she should just say it in front of all the farmhands. But then she straightened her back, making the decision. This was something that needed to be known and declared for all to know and understand. And so she started telling him of her parents dying from a strange sickness the previous year and how she had come down with the same symptoms several month ago. She explained meeting with her friends in the grove that bordered all of their lands, and then how a mysterious girl appeared and offered them a gift if they made promise to be her friend.

Melete’s eyes got a dreamy look as she declared in a winsome voice, “It really seemed romantic and the stuff of fairy tales. I really got caught up in it.” Melete grinned at Dista and Jenna, her eyes sparkling. “So we made the promise, oath I guess really, looking back on it. And then she suddenly blazed with a strange pattern and little blue flames appeared over the stones she gave us.”

Several of the really old farmhands gasped, covering their mouths with both hands. Tears welled up in their eyes. Several couples reached out shaking hands for support.

Melete looked over at them for a moment, but then declared in a strong voice. “And suddenly I was better. Nothing hurt anymore. I had energy and didn’t feel exhausted at all. It was the most awesome thing I’ve ever experienced. The poison my uncle had been feeding me was completely gone!” She could hardly contain herself, bouncing several times on her toes. “And then Lady Sammy told us how the curse ended, and how it wasn’t caused by the Count at all. She never said it clearly, but she’s the new Countess, right?”

Jenna turned away slightly as Prince Jerome cleared his throat before answering. “Well, she is this land’s chosen noble, but she is not a Countess.” The prince moved close to the girl, bending low to place his mouth close to her ear, speaking so only she could hear. “She is your new arch-duchess.” He straightened up. “But you should probably not mention that randomly. She would become exceedingly angry with both of us, I am quite sure.”

Melete considered the advice and nodded her agreement. Then she asked, “Why doesn’t she like being called lady or a noble?”

“Oh, you picked up on that?” Dista let out a laugh.

“It was extremely hard to avoid noticing,” Melete said in a sulky tone.

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“Ah, there is a history for it. I’ll tell you if you like, but let’s go inside first. I believe there is much we need to discuss. In fact,” and the prince turned to one of the officers standing close by. “Take a force to the local homesteads and bring the other Commons. Take Colonel Stacey with you to smooth things. Bring the children’s parents and any others who should come. Follow the colonel’s directions.”

“As you command, my lord,” the officer said and departed, Colonel Stacey following him to a spare vishap.

“Come, come,” Dista said. He led the way toward the homestead as if it was his own.

Melete ran to catch up. “”Would it be permissible to allow the hands to prepare you refreshments, my lord?”

Dista waved a hand in the air. “Of course. We have already confirmed they have no malice, so I do not see a problem with that.”

Melete bowed to him. “Thank you. It will mean a lot for them to have this chance to serve you.” She turned to Mafu. “Please let them know, Mafu.”

“Yes ma’am,” the man said, hurrying off.

Melete, Prince Jerome and Jenna entered the house, and the young girl showed them into the large family gathering area. Dista sat in a comfortable looking chair without waiting for an offer, Jenna moving to stand behind him.

Melete stood hesitant, not sure if she should sit in the prince’s presence. Finally, she sat anyway. “Sir, is Lady Sammy going to be okay? It’s dangerous to be out by one’s self in these parts.”

Dista sighed, and his mask relaxed a little bit. “I cannot say I am not worried, but that girl will probably be fine. It is extremely hard to kill a noble while they stand on their own lands, and Sammy is an exceptional example of that, I’m sure. I am amazed that even the dragons responded to her peril. That’s a first for me. Normally dragons move off contracted land, rather than becoming embroiled in human affairs. My parents are going to be quite interested in this newest quirk.”

“I suspect,” Jenna said, smiling at Melete from behind her prince, one hand draping over his shoulder, “that they will be equally interested to learn she has started relighting the common flames on her own.”

“That is quite true,” Prince Jerome readily agreed, smiling a gentle smile that beautifully matched Jenna’s. Melete blushed red. “I can only guess what mischief she’s going to get into running around doing this and that randomly. In any case, once the others get here we should go and have a look at your flames.” Dista leaned forward, though he covered Jenna’s hand to keep it on his shoulder. “If that is alright?”

“Of, of course, my lord,” Melete stammered.

Dista sat back again with a pleased smile. “Good, good. Now, please go into detail on what your uncle has done, if you would. I believe you left out some important things, correct?”

Melete glanced around, noting that they were alone in the room. Her eyes dropped then. “Yes my lord. One of the dragon’s did something to my uncle. I think he read his mind or something and then he, well conveyed? I’m not sure, but suddenly I knew everything that my uncle had done. The people involved and who he dealt with. How he poisoned my mother and father, and how he was poisoning me.” Melete stood up. “Just a moment.” She went up the stairs that ran up the wall opposite the front door and disappeared through a doorway. Going into her uncle’s room, she found the secret compartment in a chest along the wall by the window.

Back in the living room, Jenna and her prince glanced at each other.

“She’s cute,” Jenna said with a laugh. “She blushes pretty.”

“True, true,” Dista chuckled. “I would say Sammy has good judgement in her choice of the Common.”

“Oh, just because she blushes easily?” Jenna said with a coy, teasing smile.

Dista looked up at the top of the stairs. When he answered, it was in a serious tone. “No. This girl puts out a nice aura, worthy of a fully contracted noble. I have met marquis with less presence.”

Jenna glanced up at the top of the stairs as well. “If Sammy heard you saying that, she would get upset.”

The prince chuckled again. “Maybe. It will be interesting.”

“Hmmm,” Jenna hummed her non-comment.

Melete hurried back down the stairs and set three bottles on the coffee table in front of the couple. She resumed her seat and said, “He didn’t know what’s in those, but if you mix the different colored bottles in a ratio of three brown, one red and twenty-five black, it makes the poison he used.”

Dista nodded and picked two of the bottles up and handed them back to Jenna, who stored them away. The prince took the last one and stored it himself. “We will take these back for analysis. Now, if you would continue?”

Melete nodded once. “Yes, my lord. Apparently, my uncle was working with the brigands that have been terrorizing this area for the last twenty years.” The girl sighed. “Which explains why we could never hide anything from them. They always seemed to know when someone had extra crops or found something valuable in the mines. Always taking everything.”

The girl stopped, her voice having begun to tremble. She took a deep breath. “So. It’s so frustrating that I didn’t even suspect him until my lady lit my Flame.” She shook her head. “No, that’s not right. I should say I refused to suspect him. Nephele has been warning me forever that my uncle was bad.”

“Nephele?”

Melete nodded. “You’ll meet her soon. She’s one of the others.”

“Ah, very good,” Dista said.

“You see, for the last twenty years, someone called the Conductor has been forcing us to pay tribute for his protection, or we get attacked by brigands. My uncle agreed to kill my parents and me for him, in exchange for a lot of money and help moving to another kingdom. ”

“Oh?” Dista said, intrigued. “And did your uncle know who this man was?”

Melete nodded. “He suspected. He saw something he wasn’t supposed to once.”

Dista looked at her without prompting. A silence fell over them for several minutes.

“He suspected a Sargent in the royal guard. Well, actually, an ex-Sargent anyway. He retired several years ago. Sargent Tendusam.” Tabitha looked away from the prince. “I don’t know much else, but when the Conductor learns my uncle has been found out, who knows what will happen.” She clasped her hands in front of her and pleaded, “Prince Jerome, will you help us? The royal army hasn’t been able to do anything against the brigands so far.”

Dista frowned, a lot of his enjoyment at the new Common ebbing away as she spoke. “Jenna, do you know a Sargent Tendusam?”

“No.”

“We will have to check, but if he turned brigand, it is possible he’s been using connections made while still in the army. It is troubling that the brigands have been around for twenty years.”

A woman came into the living room pushing a cart with snacks and tea and the three changed the topic, Melete telling her two guests about the current events in her area.