Scipio Davadas knew his wife was in good hands at his sister's house with Tylla and Yewen looking after her.

In his letter to the queen, he expressed his joy at the news and requested the child be named Corellas after the first Davadas king. As a post-script, he expressed his distress at Roselynn's departure and hoped she would come to her senses and return home soon. His sister, he mused, was always a silly creature, but this was unusual behavior, even for her.

Scipio sent the letter by messenger, and while the citizens of Oran celebrated the new royal birth, he met with his henchmen about a letter he had received from Roland Davadas requesting reinforcements against the Nazeers’ stronghold at Crytombe Crags.

Frustrated by the news, the King dismissed his henchmen and called for a private meeting with Rigel Illymium.

"What is your will, your Grace?" Rigel inquired with a deep bow.

"Use your magic to fly to Crymtombe Crags and report back immediately what the situation is there. And if possible, roll some rocks down on the Nazeers. Anything to stop them from advancing."

Rigel balked.

"Something wrong?"

"I've never flown that far as the Lila bird, your Grace."

"How hard can it be?"

"You'd be surprised."

"Well, hasn't Flenn Illymium taught you how to do it?"

"Yes, but Flenn is very ill."

"More reason to move quickly. This is your chance to serve Oran, now off with you."

Rigel hesitated. "I will your Grace and gladly, but..."

"Yes?" Scipio asked with an impatient sigh.

"How long do you intend to keep Starlex prisoner in her own room?'

The king shrugged. "That's the queen's business. She will deal with it when she and my son return."

"And Bonn Skaard and his friend?"

"What about them?"

"The Queen will have them executed when she returns."

Scipio shrugged. "What of it?"

"Bonn Skaard is Starlex's husband."

Scipio huffed. "Husband, eh? Despite your training, you are still a naïve boy. Starlex was weak-willed and played the harlot to those heathens. She is useless now, an outcast among her people. You are not to consort with her."

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Rigel gasped. "But why, your Grace?"

"Any interference with royal business is considered treason." He waved a dark finger at Rigel. "Do not use your magic to interfere. You serve the royal Davadas household only. Do you understand?"

"Yes, your Grace."

"If you return from the Crags with good news, I may go easy on Starlex and her Skaard friends. Now, be off with you." He made an impatient gesture toward the door.

Rigel had no choice but to bow and quickly retreat. Strolling down the wide marble corridor toward the pulley car, Rigel worried less about his ability to fly all the way to Crytombe Crags and more about leaving Starlex alone.

In Oran Tower, he found Flenn in an unresponsive state, lying in bed with eyes open as if they were focusing on something far beyond the realm of Ardelym.

"I will make Flenn's special, rare tea," Rigel said, as he headed for Flenn’s small pantry. "If that won't wake them, nothing will."

* * *

It was past midnight, and Starlex was standing on her balcony gazing at the moonlight's reflection off the Crimson Sea when Raki swooped down in a flash of purple feathers and perched on the railing.

"Rigel? Is it you?"

The bird's head bounced up and down. She approached the bird and stroked its purple feathers. "Have you seen Bonn Skaard? Oh, tell me if he is well."

The long beak opened and cawed loudly.

Starlex laughed. "You will have to transform back to Rigel if you expect me to understand what you're saying."

The head of the great bird shook, its beak bouncing up and down.

From the dark sky above their heads, a shimmering column of light dropped to the balcony floor. Within a spinning helix shot through with prisms of colored light, appeared the translucent figure of Flenn Illyminum, wearing a silver robe, their white hair and beard trailing to their feet.

"My daughter," Flenn said in a faraway voice. "I come to you before I transcend onto the next world to issue you a dire warning."

Her hand went to the lump forming in her throat. "Yes, my dearest friend."

"The Queen has deceived us all," Flenn continued, "and when she returns to Oran, she will have you slain."

But I'm her sister, she thought, not wanting to believe.

"How do you know this?" replied the princess breathlessly.

"Illym has shown me things beyond my former comprehension," Flenn's voice said. "Trust me when I tell you, you must leave Oran immediately. Fly with Rigel to Mynimium and stay there."

"But I can't leave without my husband. I won't!"

Flenn raised a gentle hand. "I will do what I can to free Bonn Skaard and his friend, but you must leave now."

From outside the thick wooden door, the tramp of the palace guards sounded in the hallway.

"They've learned of Rigel's deception. They’re coming now to take you to the dungeon," Flenn said with alarm.

Raki squawked. The purple wings flapped impatiently. Starlex hesitated.

"You will help your husband more outside the prison than within," Flenn continued in a faint voice. "But it must be your choice. I cannot force you."

She bit her lip, considering the possibility that she would never see Bonn Skaard again.

But how will I free him if she too were chained within the lower depths?

The key turned in the lock.

"Yes," she said. "I'll go with Rigel."

Flenn raised their hand and a beam of cool light swirled around Starlex.

The guards rushed through the chamber. The King stood behind them, his jaw trembling with rage.

"Treason!" he shouted. "Seize the girl and the bird!"

The guards charged at them with raised swords.

Flenn pulled a fireball from the air and hurled it at the approaching guards. The guards lifted their shields against the flames.

"They're getting away, you fools!" shouted the king. He pulled a sword from one of the guard's hands and jumped through the wall of fire.

Starlex felt her feet lift from the floor. She willed herself to let go and suddenly she was flying over Oran, swooping low to escape a hail of arrows from the guard towers, then climbing nearly vertically to scale the city wall.

Beneath the glaze of moonlight, she flew westwardly along the jagged coast, then with a wide expanse of Raki’s wings, made a swooping turn and began heading south toward Crytombe Crags. Her heart beat in time with Rigel's and the great Lila bird.