A fit of coughing pulled Kate from a dazed state and, by the time it subsided, her head was pounding; likely as much from the drug as the coughing. When she tried sitting up her head throbbed worse. Groaning, she instead just tilted her face to one side to look around.

The two men had been taken to a room that was cut from solid stone. She was in a raised bed facing a door, a small table and a stool. Light was coming from behind her. Rolling slowly over, she discovered if was from an arched window with a view of a cluster of lumiens out on the ceiling of the main cavern.

She was itchy all over. Was that another effect from their oily drugged rag? Kate scratched her side, then immediately sat up, despite the intense headache.

She had nothing on and there was only a thick prickly blanket covering her body. Was this what the soldiers meant by getting her ready to marry their crazy leader? She had to get back to the chamber and ask Tyreth, or the grey eyed man, to come quickly and rescue her. Her hand went to her neck.

The medallion was gone.

Wrapping the coarse blanket around her, Kate searched the room, but her clothes and the medallion were nowhere to be found. She checked under the bed; nothing but dust that swirled up around her. The door was locked and other than the stool and a bowl of water on the table, the room was empty.

Sitting on the edge of the stool, a distinct memory flashed into her mind. She had sat here before, on this same stool while she stared out the window. She had been wearing a long white dress, and an old woman was standing behind her and combing out her hair.

A dusty shaft of blue lumien light from outside the window was falling at her feet. Kate stepped into the lighted path, but as she drew near to the window, she knew what she would see beyond. Below here were two craggy peaks and between them she could make out the dark thread of a river curving back toward a round city with a spiderweb of streets. To her right, the end of the river was obscured by the curve of the cavern wall. Kate sat on the window ledge. She could recall many hours in this spot, watching and waiting for Corvan to rescue her. But he hadn't come and now she knew it was because he had been looking for Tyreth instead.

A key turned in the lock and Kate jumped up, clutching the blanket closee to her body. The old woman from her last visit limped into the room; a steaming bowl in her hands. Out in the hall, a young soldier stared at Kate before the old woman kicked the door shut.

"Here you are, my dear, a meal fit for a queen." The woman cackled to herself as she put the bowl down on the table, then turned to Kate, shaking her head. "So how did you ever wind up back here? You must want to marry him pretty bad.” She gestured to the table. “After you eat your breakfast, we should comb out your hair, just in case he sends someone to check on you."

"Who?"

"The Cor-Van of course,” the woman said, exposing a grin with only a few teeth remaining.

"Corvan is here?" Kate asked, stepping away from the window.

"Of course he’s here. Where else would he be?" The old woman pulled a comb from her pocket and set it on the table. "And he's still a handsome man - even with an eye patch."

"Corvan has an eye patch?”

"Ah, yes. I forget that you haven't seen our Cor-Van's face since the night that boy stole you away. It was going to be such a nice ceremony. You were so beautiful in that pretty gown, with his special jewels sparkling in your hair." She clucked to herself. "It's a pity that boy took that tiara. The Cor-Van is a superstitious man and won't take a counterpart without his sacred jewels. If he doesn’t find them soon you will be waiting here a long time for your special day."

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Kate sat on the edge of the bed, recalling the conversation the rebel leader had with Jorad. When the said Cor-van in that way it meant something different than just a name. So why did Corvan have such a similar name? Somehow, he was connected to this underground world. He had told her various stories over the years about his grandfather and the Castle Rock but she had just assumed it was more of his wild imagination.

The woman turned to the door. "What’s a counterpart?" Kate asked.

The old woman cackled again. "You are, my dear. Surely you remember the big party out in the tombs? Jorad was there to get you joined to our Cor-Van but then those loud noises and bright lights were all around us." Her hands waved about in the air. “It certainly was a crazy night!”

Kate stared at her. Was the woman talking about? She had no memory of that time or the bright lights.

"Oh my. I knew you weren't yourself before the ceremony but surely you remember something of your special night. It’s not every day a young woman is chosen to be the upcoming queen of the Cor."

Kate shook her head. None of this fit or made any sense. Maybe the old woman was as crazy as the squeaky voiced man that she served.

The woman laughed as he headed to the door. “Well, it doesn’t matter much for soon you will get a second chance at mad love. Word among the guards is that the bounty hunters may have finally located the boy, and the Cor-Van’s pretty tiara will be here any time now." Her hand went to the door.

Kate jumped off the bed. "Wait. Do you know where my clothes are?"

The woman laughed. "Not here. That's all you need to know."

"I'd like to get dressed," Kate pleaded.

"I'm sure you would. But it's much easier to keep you here with no clothes. There's an army of men around and you won't get far with only a blanket. You and me is the only women here, and let me tell you, my dear, they aren't signing up for guard duty to get glimpse of me." She cackled as she opened the door and shooed the young soldier away. The door closed and a key turned in the lock.

Kate stared at the door. With the medallion gone, her only hope was the man she met in the chamber. He had promised her in the cave that he would find her. She grimaced. He would be upset that her medallion had been taken away. She should have let him take it for safekeeping before the guards came.

With a heavy sigh, Kate went back to the stool. The steaming bowl on the table was some sort of thin porridge. It didn't look appetizing, but she was too hungry to care. The spoon was almost to her lips before she stopped to consider if the food might be poisoned. She sniffed and wrinkled her nose. It didn’t smell great but why would they poison her if they could just knock her out again with the oily cloth? She touched her tongue to the grey mush. It was bland but at least it was hot and something to eat.

She had just finished the porridge when the old woman came back with a pitcher and cup. Placing them on the table, she picked up the empty bowl and turned to leave.

"Wait," Kate said.

The woman sighed heavily before turning to face her.

"Were you the one who undressed me?"

The toothless grin spread across the wrinkled face. "No need to worry, my dear. It was me. He may be a bit odd, but at least our leader is an honorable man. He believes it is bad luck to see your face until after the wedding. That’s why you need to wear the veil. You’re lucky he still thinks you are Tyreth. I know you’re not but I’m not saying anything. I want this all to get done so I can go back to my home and live in peace." She cocked her head on her deeply wrinkled neck and studied Kate. “I sure hope he’s not too angry when he finds out you’re not her.” She grinned again.

"Did I still have my medallion when you took my clothes?" Kate asked quickly.

The toothless smile vanished. "Medallion?" The old woman shook her head, turning for the door. "Don't recall any medallion,” she said, turning back to the door. “Not to worry though. Our Cor-van will give you the tiara just as soon as they catch up with that boy and much prettier than that old thing."

"What will they do with him?" Kate asked.

She looked at Kate and her wrinkled eyes narrowed. "All our Cor-Van wants is the jewels and you. The bounty hunters have orders to kill the boy and dump his body in the river." She pointed out the window. "To the abyss with him!" she cried out; her words followed by another high cackled.

Kate stood to her feet, but the old woman motioned her back to the stool.

"Nothing you can do about it, dear. Besides, I am told he has already taken up with one of the sisters. That fickle boy is not worth your time. When you are queen of all the Cor he won’t matter to you anymore."

Before Kate could say another word, the old woman shuffled out the door and locked it behind her.