Basin POV

My meeting with King Alfonso is in an hour, and I have nothing. The city guards searched the streets and questioned residents in the neighbourhood. But they had returned with no clue as to where Lorelei and Prince Valor had vanished to.

Some other guards had interrogated the twins without my presence. Neary obviously had nothing to say. But I had been told Narin, had held strong throughout the interrogation, I would have been proud of his stronghold. If it didn't work against us.

Once more I am going over their belongings, which we collected at the inn. It's tiring, but at this point, I don't know what els to do. The file belonging to Lorelei had been sent up to Prince Valor's Chamber. As promised. But the leather piece. With these odd letters. That holds a connection Lorelei's past, is here. I know I shouldn't do it, but I can't help but pocket it.

The items they brought don't reveal much information. There are some coins and garments, including the dress Lorelei wore while breaking into Pupillus. It is bloodstained and torn from my knife. Among the items are some weapons, including a simple bow with some arrows. I'm certain that those are Loreleis. She is an excellent archer after all. I still recall the first time she held a bow. She kept dropping the arrows and never hit the target. But she learned and achieved.

What do I say to the King? How can I tell him I have no idea where his son is? I can't even say I know Lorelei, and she won't harm him? Because I don't know her anymore. Lorelei I know you were caught in a corner and had to do what was necessary. But I hope some of the girl I knew is still there, The girl who swore to protect the the royal family.

A knock draws my attention. Sir Vischer stands at the open door. He is an older guard, who now has the duty of a ward. "What can I do for you Vischer?" When I acknowledge him, he enters the room. "Captain I have a request. As I am about to recruit a new student, I would want to have the liberty of going fishing shortly following the selection."

By the end of each summer, 20 new orphans are selected to be trained as guards. "Actually, Vischer I also wanted to discuss that with you. I noticed that last year you went on seven fishing trips, but only once did you take your children hunting. Could you please clarify why that is?"

Taking the children you are the ward of, out hunting and fishing has long been part of one's responsibilities here. It's a way for them to learn, to accept blood and death. Make them prepared for a kill when it comes to it.

"I never been much for sleeping in a tent. Which is why I prefer to take them fishing." Vischer explains. I was myself never much for going fishing. My stomach never could handle being on the ocean. Nonetheless, I always made sure to do it a couple of times each year for my children's sake. "I appreciate your honesty. You are the ward of two kids, I believe."

"Yes. Godfrey, this is his final year of training. And Yestin. "She is quite a fighter." Vischer smiles as he speaks of them. "Vischer, for your own comfort, you are failing them in their training. That is why I am signing off for you to go hunting next Friday."

My decision is final, and Vischer does not fight it. "Of course, Captain." I don't have much time left before I am to meet with the King. And I still haven't spoken with her. "Then that's decided. Goodbye, Vischer. I have a lot to do and so little time."

This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

At the front of the dungeon, just before we descend the stairs to the cells, there is a small room. The room is built in plain stone walls, with windows that are too high to climb and too small to get through. This room is merely decorated with a wooden table and a few wooden chairs. "Leave us," I order the standing guard. The woman, Ashley I had been informed her name to be. She looks rough. Her golden hair is unkempt, and her short dress is dirty. Her body is slacking. She must be tired after being here all night.

"When can I leave?" She asks the moment I enter. "That depends on what you can tell me." She covers her face with her hands, inhaling deeply before responding."I already told the guards everything I know. I do not have anything more to offer." I sat down in the chair across from her. "I like to ask you about something that happened at the brothel. Tell me about the woman who you protected from a customer." Ashley lowers her hands to look at me. "What about her?"

"What do you remember from the event?"

"Why the hell are you so interested in her?-" cursing is very unflattering, but it is not my place to tell her that. "Nothing much happened, just this random woman who clearly didn't work here, came from upstairs. "

"What transpired when you saw her?"

"I asked who she was, but was rudely interrupted by the bastard who presumed she worked there. I did tell him to screw off. Then it turned into a brawl between him and the eastern man you detained-" Is she saying Narin is involved? "I do not know why she was stupid enough to be there."

"That woman you referred to as stupid is one of the princesses." Ashley's eyes widened, "The princess? Why in God's name would she be at a brothel!" She shouts. "The royal children have quite the taste for adventure and trouble." I sighed. "King Alfonso wants to express his thanks to you for saving his daughter. He is requesting for you to meet with him."

She covers her chest with her arms and quietly says, "I can not meet the King like this." Her shoulders slumped. "I will see what I can do about your clothes." She has been here all night, with no food or sleep. I can't help with the sleeping part but the hunger I can. "I will get some food brought to you too."

The next thing I say, I've been contemplating to ask, since I first saw her. "How old were you?" She tilts her head. "When I started working the streets?" Ashley asks. This is not easy, I need to ask the right question. "No how old were you, when they threw you out." At this question, she adjusted her posture to sit up straight. "I do not know what you are referring to." I need to make her understand that she and I are the same. "I used to have the same hair as you, Thankfully I grew out of it."

Ashley looks away. "They call it a gift. The golden hair. They give it to us to repay us. They took me away from my home, my family and then just threw me out. And they think pretty hair is going to make up for it.-" Her words hit a hard spot. "I never met anyone else, like me. Someone who..." She can't finish the sentence, for the same reason I can't speak directly about it.

"It is hard to meet others when you can not talk about it. In my time I met less than a handful of us.-" I want to say it, but even today, though it has been more than 30 years, the magic still has a hold on me. I can't utter the words. That the Faes stole me.

"I was taken as a baby, and abandoned by them when I was eight maybe nine. I did not even know another realm existed, not before I stood in it." Every memory, every moment is a blur, that if someone told me it was just a dream, I might believe it.

She looks astonished by my story. For a while, I didn't believe she was going to respond. But then she says "I'm not sure how old I was when I was taken, just old enough to remember my parents. It has been three summers since they kicked me out."

It must have been three years of struggle. I was young enough to be sent to an orphanage. But she was an adult, left to fend for herself, in a world she knew nothing about. It is no wonder she ended up where she did.

A knock on the door causes us both to turn towards it. "You may enter." Through the door emerges a young guard. "Captain, a letter has arrived for you. It seems to be urgent." He reaches it to me, I stand up and grab it from his hand. Who would send a letter to me? I never receive those. As I open it, I understand why it came to me. But as I read each line, disbelief and anger rush through me. Lorelei, how can she do this?