Catalina let the letter fall to the floor. She had always wondered what had become of her Brothers. Now she knew. She knew but wished with all her heart she didn’t. A part of her was glad she hadn’t travelled to Gorias, there was little she might have done to aid them. Yet another part rued the fact. She had missed her last opportunity to see her twin Brothers, there would be no more. She supposed they would have changed a lot by now, it had been fifteen years after all, she had only been a babe when she’d been separated from them, and they only six.

She smiled to herself. She could not count how many times she’d imagined and plotted their reunion after learning the truth of her childhood.

She did not need to imagine anymore.

Perhaps it was better she hadn’t, neither Sandorn or Averan had ever known the truth behind her disappearance. Mother had been tethering on the brink of insanity at the time, tipped almost over the edge by the death of Father. Her idea, however, to send Tron away with her to Arravale city before the others followed soon after had seemed a good one. And likely would have been had Mother not panicked and believed that to leave Gorias would only be putting Catalina at risk. To her, only by her and the boys remaining could Catalina be safe.

So instead she had remained in Arravel, alone save for her Protector Tron and her new family. Her Brothers young as they were, informed that their little sister and Tron had been killed while at sea. From what she now knew Mother was probably right not to tell them the truth, they likely would have come to reunite with her. At least she hoped they would have. Though her childhood must have been far easier than the one they experienced.

She was not bitter about Mother abandoning her. She had been shocked yes, angry even to learn the true nature of her family and history. But that had quickly subsided. Tron had explained it all on his deathbed, with her Mother dead thirteen years and Tron himself at the end he felt he could finally reveal the secrets he had long since held back.

Those she had called father and mother were not her true parents, though they were of her blood. They had taken her in willingly after hearing about what had happened to Drevan, silent supporters of the line of Kings they had tried to stop him but never stopped supporting him.

They were not Aureate’s, not in name at least. But they were of the same bloodline. A great-grandson of the first King had been the Family’s originator, one Lord Dasrar Florid. Wisely the Family had decided to move their wealth, slaves and power to Arravale after the very first rebellion against the Chimerean Kings. The Lords and Ladies of Florid must have seen something then that warned of future tragedy. Instead of drawing themselves into the plotting and scheming of the increasingly turbulent Houses they had taken up residence in one of the new cities of the outer lands. A fresh start, one made far easier by the abundance of wealth and soldiers the House could command. They kept their bloodline secret, no one was allowed know the abilities each member of the House possessed. They were not half man half Beasts come to conquer and take over the city through brutal force, instead, they bought and sold their way into the People’s hearts and minds. In every facet of Arravale's life, the Florid shadow loomed large, there was no part of city life they did not touch. That was real power. Allow the people to believe themselves free, allow the Lords and Ladies of the Forty to think the city vassals. Behind it all only House Florid truly decided the city’s fate. They had shaped Arravale in their image, it was theirs in all ways bar name alone.

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And what is a name? Catalina thought, It is a target, a rallying call for enemies to use to rouse and incite violence in their own name. True power came from those who held it without their subjects knowing. For how can one be deposed if they were never revealed in the first place? That was how to obtain and more importantly, keep power. By remaining anonymous.

Aureate had become intertwined with Gorias, when the Houses of the Forty grew too powerful it was inevitable a line of Kings and Queens could not remain. Catalina understood that fact quite clearly now. She had learned from the Florid way, she saw the sagacity in it even clearer after learning of her Brother’s fate. Like Father, they had failed. Though they might have won more than him with their own attempt they had failed. The Lords and Ladies who had contrived to take power from the kings had done so by clever maneuvering, shrewd politicising, and clinical timing. To take it back would require similar skills. Catalina knew her purpose was to learn those skills. And when she did, she would return to Gorias.

The New Order had used deceit and betrayal to bring down her Family, she would do the same to bring down theirs.

A gentle knocking on the door took Catalina from her thoughts.

“Catalina? It is almost time. Are you ready?”

Catalina dropped the letter into the fireplace, the man who had sent it to her had signed his name only as The Guardian. He would have to be thanked for his work in getting such a message through to her, whoever he was.

She dusted down her dress and looked once more in the mirror by her bedside.

Catalina Aureate, Sister to the twins Sandorn and Averan Aureate and rightful heir to the throne.

“Yes. I am ready.”