Angeline looked at him with both eyebrows raised, but for the first time in her recollection someone wasn't reacting to it. In fact he seemed to be actively ignoring her. Wogan had spent the money on a coach to take them back across the bridge, this would not only keep the girl out of sight but allow them to talk in private. But Xerro just sat there with the girl on his lap whispering soft supportive words to her and running a finger through tangled hair. The girl, on the other hand, was clasped around his ribs and continued to stare daggers at the princess. Angeline was forced, at long last, to resort to vocal cueing.

“Xerro,” she said, this finally succeeding in getting him to look up at her. “care to tell us about your little friend?”

“As I said, this is Melodie. She has been down in the pit her whole life.” He replied in a calm, measured tone. “I promised her I'd get her out of there.”

“But who are her parents?” the princess asked, only growing more confused by the explanation.

Wogan however had caught on. “Her mother was the queen of monsters.”

“I assume.” Replied Xerro, “I saw the beheaded stone statue, and she called it mother.”

“My mother was not a monster.” The girl spoke up suddenly.

“So she does talk.” Wogan said, not being able to resist smiling.

“Yes,” Xerro replied, being the stoic one for once, “and if she were not sitting on my lap, you both would be sleeping right now. She's cursed, just like me. Her curse is that any living thing that hears her voice falls into a deep sleep. It's how she survived so long down there.” He looked down at the girl and he pulled her death gaze away from the princess by her chin to look up at him, “But as long as I am with her my curse nullifies hers and she can have a normal life.”

“So your plan is to just bind yourself to being by her side forever, just so she can be normal?” Angeline asked.

“Unless we find another solution,” he replied, hugging the girl tight. “Yes, I absolutely will. I know what it feels like to suffer a curse, she doesn't deserve that kind of life”

“So, you are sure she is cursed?” Wogan pressed.

“I have seen the results myself.” Xerro answered. “It's the only thing that kept her alive after the legionnaires killed her mother.”

“And that's why you didn't want them to know about her?” Wogan was more understanding than Xerro expected.

“I'm afraid they will consider her a threat like her mother.” The carriage rode over a bump and Melodie made a frightened sound, squeezing into Xerro harder. He looked at Angeline, “she isn't a threat, your highness, just a scared little girl.”

“I believe you,” the princess, ran her fingers through the rats nest on her head, “but Xerro she really needs a bath and actual clothes.”

Melodie stood there, eyes wide and shaking her head vehemently. She had a death grip on his hands so tight you'd think she was being led off to execution. “You need to go with Princess Angeline, she is going to give you a bath. And no talking, we can't have you putting her to sleep.”

“No you.” She whispered.

“I can't,” he said with a sigh, “I can't be in there with you, It wouldn't be proper for a boy to be in there with you.” She still refused, “Angeline is nice, she is your friend. She will take good care of you.”

Angeline knelt by the girl, just before she squinted up at Xerro with a crooked smile and whispered in her ear.

Xerro wasn't sure what was said but Melodie's eyes softened, her grip loosened and when the princess stood she was able to take the girl's hand and lead her to the room with the bath. Angeline scooped up a bag on her way through the door and just before she closed it, turned and winked at the boys behind her.

Angeline had to cut some of the rags off of the girl. Afterward the only way she could coax the girl into the tub was to strip down herself and get in first. Now that she was sure it was not a trap, Melodie climbed in the tub and the princess could wash the girl.

“You know,” she began while putting some kind of tonic in the girl's hair to aid in removing the rats, “I am an only child so I had a lonely childhood too. What would I have not given all those years to have a little sister like you. To bathe with, play dress up and just talk to.” She was making headway on her tangled hair, “I can tell you are not fond of me, “ she continued as she leaned down to whisper in her ear, “I know why, and I am going to tell you I will not take Xerro from you, I promise.”

The girl turned to face the princess, this time those green eyes held no malice, “As I promised out there, I can make you pretty for him. Would you like that?”

Melodie nodded her head and turned back around allowing Angeline to return to detangling her rat's nest.

“It's been quiet.” Xerro said nervously as he took a sip. Wogan was already out of his armor and had broken out the wine while they waited in the common area. “Of course if Melodie made a sound I'd be dragging you and her into your rooms tonight.”

Wogan smiled, “you should have just gone ahead and bathed her. She wanted you to.”

Xerro gave him a side eye, “wasn't gonna happen.”

“You wanted to though…” he said suggestively.

“What!” Sputtered Xerro, “no! Are you kidding? Wogan, she's a child. I'm not… I mean…”

“How old are you again, Xerro?” Wogan asked, still laughing.

“Seventeen.” he replied, wiping off the wine.

“So you are what, three, four years older than her at the most?” Smiled Wogan, “not a big difference, Xerro. You are practically a child yourself. Especially to me.”

“I was thinking, it was more like five, maybe six.” he said defensively.

Wogan chuckled as he downed his glass, “still not a big difference, Nd you definitely don't know girls very well. No, she is older than you think. And I'm sure she isn't just clinging to you because she is scared. She likes you.”

“Oh gods.” Xerro exclaimed, squeezing the corners of his eyes at the bridge of his nose.

It was two hours before they emerged. The princess stepped out, already in her night clothes, and led Melodie out around her. She had put the girl in one of her slips, a purple silky gown that reached to her shins.

Angeline pulled the train of her hair up and let it fall through her fingers, the ends swishing back and forth just below her hind end, “isn't her hair so beautiful. It's like silk.” It was a deep black and very shiny, Angeline must have spent most of that two hours on her hair. She had topped it all off by tying it all behind her with a purple ribbon that matched the slip. The change was unbelievable. From a wild child the princess had brought forth a girl who could have passed for the daughter of some noble family or rich merchant.

Melodie looked at Xerro with nervous eyes. She clasped her hands behind her back and rocked on her feet as Angeline asked, “So Xerro, how does she look?”

Xerro quickly sent an annoyed look at sir Wogan before turning back, “she… she of course… she,” he stammered, after sharing over half a bottle of wine his throat was still strangely dry. He swallowed and coughed and still only succeeded in wheezing out the words, “she looks beautiful.”

Melodie rushed to him and wrapped herself around his chest once more. And once safe inside his null bubble she turned to the princess, “thank you Angeline.”

“Shall we retire for the night?” Wogan proposed, with a smile suggesting he was either enjoying the pure joy the girls were experiencing, or the uncomfortable strain this was placing on Xerro.

“Wait,” interrupted Xerro. He looked down at Melodie, “would you like to repay her highness for what she did for you?”

“How?” The girl asked.

“I think you should sing your mother's song for her.” She looked at him, a little fearful. “Go on.” He coaxed.

The knight and the princess sat on the couch as Melodie turned to them and let the music flow from her lips. It seeped out soulful and sweet and by the time Melodie finished the last note, tears had been pouring down Angeline's cheeks.

“That was awe inspiring,” said Wogan.

“Sweety, that was beautiful.” sniffed Angeline.

Xerro wrapped his arms around her in a hug from behind, “that was what led me to her down there. A beautiful song in the darkness.” He smiled down at her as she looked up. “I think it is some side effect of her curse. I may null the magic sleep but her voice is some kind of magic of its own.”

“Still, we need to get some sleep,” insisted Wogan again, “we need to decide our next course of action tomorrow.”

Xerro looked to Angeline, “the Archbishop refused to help?”

“He was never going to.” She sobbed a little as she replied, “and the other bishop refused, as well as we passed up the aid of sister Margriete to help you two which led to her arrest…” she was crying freely at this point.

“Princess, I am so sorry.” Xerro began.

“No!” She cried, drawing both of them into an embrace, “you two were far more important.” She kissed the top of Melodie's hair. “We will figure something else out instead, I'm sure.”

“We will,” Said the large Kingsblade, taking her hand and falling to one knee, “I promise we will find a way to save the kingdom.”

Angeline had tucked Melodie into the couch with a kiss to the forehead and all had retired to their rooms. As they divided at the doors, Xerro spoke up, “You'll make a great mother some day.”

She let out a small laugh, “it helps that she's so precious, makes it easy.” And closed the door to her room with a smile.

It wasn't an hour before the door to his room opened again and a small shape stood in his doorway. Hands clasped in front of her, head bowed toward the floor.

“Melodie, are you ok?” He asked softly.

She scooted into the room quickly and slipped under his blanket. “Never alone, remember. You promised.” She whispered, now safe once more in the sphere of his curse.

“I was just in another room. You were safe.” He sighed, as inappropriate as it was, they had slept spooned together before in the pit. He wrapped his arm over her and slipped the other beneath his pillow that held her head. She was scared and he in his heart couldn't blame her after her former life. Besides, the softness of the silk slip on her felt good. In fact it worried him more how good it did feel. He breathed in the scent of the oils and perfumes the princess had used on her and wondered if Angeline wasn't trying to make situations harder for him on purpose.

“Xerro.” She whispered.

“Yes”

“I can't sleep.”

“I know,” he tried to comfort her, “neither can I.” They had slept all day, and he knew now sleep would not come easy.

“Well up here, most people sleep at night and do things in the daylight.” He wasn't sure why but he kissed her hair and breathed her in deep. “But there are no beasts and monsters up here in the night to fear. Besides there is a Kingsblade next door that would cut a monster to ribbons.”

She grasped his hand and squeezed it tight. “I don’t need some king blade,” she said with a squeak that told him she was trying not to cry, “I have you.”

“I'm no hero, Melodie.” He said, “I'm just a guy on the run from dangerous things. Maybe you would be better off staying with Angeline and Wogan when I move on. You could spend your life living as a princess. You would have a home, you want for nothing and so would never really need to speak. They could offer you a home that I couldn't. I'll never really have a home Melodie.”

She was crying in earnest now, “Xerro, I have lived my life in a hole. I have never been or seen anywhere else. Why would you think a life going everywhere, seeing everything, with you, wouldn't be the most wonderful life imaginable?” she turned over, and even in the dark of the room he could see her eyes shining as she looked into his. “Do you really want to get rid of me that bad?”

“No,” he replied, “I just wanted to try to give you the best life that I possibly could.”

She smiled at him, a smile that was just as much in her eyes as in her lips or teeth. “how could it ever be the best life if you were not in it?”

She buried her face in his chest and squeezed her arms around him. What was he going to do? She was absolutely attached to him. He hated to put her in the kind of danger his life was, but he knew in the pit of his stomach he would hate to have her leave. ‘What has she done to me?’ He wondered.

“Xerro?” She whispered.

“Yes?” He whispered back.

“What is the prettiest place you've been to?” She looked up into his eyes with anxious attention.

He closed his eyes and sighed, “hard to say. I've seen a lot of beautiful places. In fact, as terrifying as it was, the chasm was a beautiful place at night. Especially this beautiful girl down there with the voice of an angel”

She gave him a half hearted frown and a light thump on his chest.

“But I have seen a lot of places. I saw a waterfall a mile high. A forest so thick it was always night inside and you could nearly walk across the top. I saw a dragon flying overhead, a mermaid off the bow of a ship…” he continued into the night, telling her of the places he'd been, the things he'd seen. And she listened, enraptured by his descriptions until the wee hours where they finally fell asleep.

Daylight was attempting to pry his eyelids open the next morning, but long before he yielded to the assault at the optic gate the sweet sound of her breathing and the warm soft feel of Melodie against him brought a smile to his face. A smile that didn't last long once his eyes were open. Wogan stood leaning in the doorway eating an apple, wearing a big smile of his own.

“You know all I have to do is step away and her cute little snore will put you back to sleep too.” He whispered to the smirking knight.

Even this hushed exchange however woke the petite girl from her sleep, “Xerro?” She said sleepily.

“It's time to get up, I think.” he said softly, “Mr Kingsblade keeps a tight schedule, unfortunately.”

“I could put them back to sleep so we could get more if you want.” She offered, rubbing her tired eyes.

“I already threatened that.” Xerro said, with a smile and a nod toward Wogan, who acted with over dramatic aghast to the threat. “But no. You will miss breakfast if we go back to sleep. Are you hungry?”

She sat up nodding as she brushed the sleepers from her eyes “can we have the fired fish again?”

“No,” he laughed, “I'm sure we could do better than that.”

They were once again in the inn's restaurant, seated as four now rather than three. The fact they were willing to seat and serve them set Xerro at ease that his ruse had still gone undiscovered. When the waitresses asked what Melodie would like, Xerro answered, “pancakes.”

“Yes of course, and would she like anything on them.” she continued.

“How about…” he started and looked smiling at the girl, “how about everything.” He said to the wide eyed server.

Melodie sat there with a grin that threatened to split her face. A green dress of Angeline's that would have reached the princess's mid calf hung to the girl's ankles. Her hair was pulled into a bun that the princess had woven emerald ribbon through, and white gloves were pulled nearly to the girl's shoulders. Melodie wore Angeline's favorite ballet slippers that she only had with her because she herself liked to wear them to bed. But she loaned them to Melodie because she could tie them up tight enough for the younger girl to wear.

When the food arrived Melodie had never seen food so colorful. The stacks of pastry disks were dripping over with molasses and honey and piled high with fruits and berries and thick cream. Chocolate shavings were sprinkled over all of it, driving the girl to grab the top of the stack with her hands and shove what she could in her mouth.

Angeline screeched, “no, not like that.” she looked over at the laughing Xerro, “it's not funny, use the fork sweety,” looking back to the girl still eating at it with her hands. “Oh, those gloves are ruined.”

“All she has eaten her whole life is fruit and raw fish.” Smiled Xerro, placing a hand on Angeline's. “Give her time to adjust,” he added before setting down his fork and picking his food up with his fingers too.

“You could have ordered her something less messy.” The princess laughed, removing her own gloves and picking her breads and fruits with her royal fingers. The wait staff were perplexed at the group's sudden departure from decorum.

“Oh no, only the best for her from now on.” He smiled at the girl who returned her own sticky faced smile.

“Only the best that we pay for.” Grumped Wogan, still using his utensils.

“Relax big man, when we part ways upon leaving Adephi she'll be on my sliver.” he replied.

“No!” Angeline yelped so suddenly the rest of the table stopped eating and the waitress nearly dropped a pitcher of water. “We've just got to know each other, Xerro. I mean, you can't take her away from me already. ”

“You have a kingdom to save and I have a monster wizard to avoid, Angeline. We can't stay together forever.” he replied with genuine sorrow, “I'm sorry, my princess. And I have to think of her now.” He looked over at the girl, her head laying on the table, eyes closed with a large smile while she chewed. It gave Xerro a small chuckle to see her like that.

Angeline pouted, ”well she still needs clothes of her own. I am absolutely doing that for her. So we aren't leaving today. Today is a shopping day.”

The shops in Little Adelphi had no idea what hit them. Angeline was a natural born diplomat, that made her a powerhouse of a shopper. She looked at everything in each shop, and haggled the prices in such a way that she paid half again the asking price without the shop owners realizing she got three times the merchandise in extras like belts, gloves and delicates thrown in. At first Xerro was curious as to why the princess's loyal bodyguard always stopped just inside the door of each shop. But the man had obviously experienced the tornado of a shopper Angeline was. By the third shop the seamstresses didn't have to bother measuring the girl, the princess simply rattled off the measurements from the precious two stores. Three shops and eight hours yielded FIVE tailor made dresses with multiple interchangeable accessories to be delivered to the inn tonight. Plus one off the rack dress with shoes, hose and belt to wear to the other shops. Angeline was drunk with happiness, as if Melodie was her own personal living doll to dress up and play with.

By the third store Xerro had given up trying to keep up so the girl didn't accidentally make an off sound putting the store to sleep, and he flopped in a chair and watched from a distance. Melodie seemed happy, altho now the smile was a little harder to keep upright, and her jade eyes were drooping from exhaustion.

“Sixty-four dolls.” Came the side comment from Wogan. When Xerro raised a curious eyebrow he expounded, “back home in Amberwyben, Angelina has a room with sixty-four dolls all from the best doll makers on the continent. And trunk upon trunk of dresses and trinkets to play with them. Her parents could only have her, and even then she was weak and they nearly lost her when she was born. With a weak constitution she spent most of her first years in that room playing. Outside was too dangerous. I was a kitchen boy before I was a squire. I took her lunches up to the doll room on most days so she could imagine fancy parties and feasts. Those dolls were as close to sisters as she had ever known. Closest until now.” He punctuated his last comment with a nod to Melodie. “If you take her away Angeline will be heartbroken.”

“I offered Melodie to stay with the princess. She refuses to go anywhere without me. Believe me, I have no doubt you all could care for her many times better than I can, I'm not stupid. But I can see why she wants to be with me. If I leave her she will never be able to speak to someone again. She will once again be isolated. I can't do that to her.”

“She loves that she can talk now, I'm sure. But that is not the main reason.” He looked at Xerro expectantly.

“Not this again.” He groaned, “she is a young girl, raised all alone on fairy books. She doesn't know what love is or what she wants.” Xerro hung his head as if this next part pained him on some level, “one day she will find some prince charming and be willing to be silent forever to be with him instead of some cursed peasant, forever on the run.”

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

“Trust me Xerro, girls figure out what love is long before boys do. At the very least, she has a very real crush on you, and I suspect you have at least a small one on her as well.” He gave to Xerro what seemed like a very smug smile.

The lad returned a mischievous smile of his own and asked, “so, these times you delivered her meals to the doll room, was it one of those times when you fell in love with her?”

Xerro was sure the first look on his face was anger, and thought maybe he pushed the wrong nerve. But Wogan's face quickly softened, “it was.” He tilted his head thoughtfully, “you are a peasant now Xerro, but at one point I was a kitchen boy. We better ourselves for the ones that mean the most to us. Who knows what time has in store?”

“Does she know?” Asked Xerro, “does she love you too?”

“I think she does, but she knows as well as I, it can never be.” he said sadly.

“Why not? You love each other.”

“I am a Kingsblade, my duty is her protection. I am not allowed to have a relationship with my charge. One day she will marry someone in a big treaty or alliance and it will be my duty to protect not only the woman I love but the other man that she marries.”

“Sounds like a ton of skite.” Xerro quipped, but his heart ached for the big man.

“What sounds like skite?” Asked Angeline with a sigh. Melodie was beside her holding her hand.

“Language princess,” teased Xerro, “there are children present.”

She drew Melodie in front of her and gave her a big hug from behind. “Well this child and this princess are starving.”

Melodie broke free of the hug and ran over to Xerro. She wrapped him in a big hug and asked, “what are we going to eat now?”

“Well,” he replied, with an over exaggerated expression of consideration, “I guess that is up to auntie Angeline.”

“Auntie!” Squealed the princess, “I am far too young to be an auntie. You mean big sister Angeline!” She smiled big once more, “but one of the seamstresses here told me there was a fair being held here in the square tonight.”

Barkers called out to play their games, booths with farmers passing out novelty treats made from their crops, and in the center of the square was a stage with musicians and people dancing in front of it. Colorful ribbons and streamers ran from booth to booth. People everywhere were smiling and laughing.

Melodie had a death grip on Xerro. She was not used to people in general, much less so many packed in a small area. Angeline couldn’t help but smile at Xerro, a boy his age handling her like a wisend parent, sofly convincing her none of these people were going to hurt her. He looked about quickly and spotted a huckster with a drop the bean bag in the bucket game. His spiel was how easy it was as he tossed it into the pail. Only Xerro noticed how his hands moved when the mark tossed the bag. He was a trickster, using magic to move the bag in flight. Around his booth hung his prizes, little stuffed rabbits in various colors a little larger than his hand.

“Hey,” he said, pulling her chin up to look her in the eye, “would you like a bunny?” Her eyes widened as he pointed at the stuffed toys.

She held his hand, smiling and looking at the bunny she wanted. “Sir, she would like a bunny.” Said Xerro with a smile.

His smile just dripped smarm, “of course sir. You wanna win your girl one of these wonderfully crafted novelties. Let me assure you it could not be easier. You just toss this little bag in the pail.” He emphasized with a lob into the pail not three feet away. He pulled it back out and tossed it again, “see, the simplest thing in the world. One bit per play”

Xerro gave him a big smile, handing him a copper coin and taking the bag from him, “I'm sure it is.”

Xerro lined up the pail and tossed the bag, but this time when the attendant made his finger movements, the bag sailed right into the bucket uninhibited. The man's face dropped, and when Xerro pointed out the purple toy his demeanor shifted suddenly once more to his game face.

“Oh, the purple one is a grand prize,” his predatory smile returned, “you need to make three in a row to win the purple one.”

“Really,” Xerro asked with a suspect look. But he handed him two more bits. And once again the bag plunked down in the pail. The man had been so confident in his ability to affect the outcome he really had made his game of chance too easy. He handed the bag back to Xerro with no trace of a smile remaining. The man's face was a mask of determination, focusing as hard as he could while Xerro lined up the shot, but for a third time the bag sailed up and dropped with a thunk, into the bucket.

He reached up and unhooked the purple rabbit, “here” he said gruffly as he handed Melodie the toy. All fun and charm was bled out of his face and tone.

Melodie squeezed the bunny, rubbing its soft velvet covering against her face. The toy had the effect Xerro hoped, she was enraptured in the rabbit and distracted from the crowds surrounding her.

“Can we play something else?” She asked as they walked away.

“Just don't come back here.” The huckster grinched under his breath, pulling the bag back out of the pail.

When he turned around a large man in armor stood at the rail to his booth.

“I want that one.” He said pointing.

“Yes sir,” the barker said, putting his smile back on. “Just one bit per play.”

“No.” The big man said. “You are going to give it to me and in exchange I will not report you to the legionnaires for using magic to bilk your customers.”

Angeline was sitting at a table as Xerro and Melodie approached, sipping from one of four wooden cups of cider at the table.

“Princess, look what Xerro won for me.” She said proudly displaying the purple toy for her.”

“So pretty,” she smiled, “I wish someone had won me one.”

Moments later Wogan walked up with a hand behind his back. He crouched to one knee before Angeline and pulled the rabbit from behind his back. He had chosen a toy as close as he could to the color of her eyes.

She bit her lip as her eyes watered, “oh, Wogan.” She took the crudely made doll with its cheap velvet and its wide loose stitching that threatened to let the yellowing wool it was stuffed with escape and hugged it to her bosom.

“I thought the princess shouldn't walk away empty handed.” He smiled, “I know it isn't as fancy as your dolls at the castle…”

“No Wogan,” she interrupted, “it is even better.” And she gave him a kiss on the cheek.

Xerro gave him a sideways smile and nodded as he stood and drank down his cider.

Xerro looked at his cup quizzically, “is this hard cider?”

“Three are,” said Angeline, “the one for Melodie is not.”

Wogan smacked his lips, “my lady, this one was not.”

The three looked over at the girl, her cup to her lips, already tipped upside-down.

They wandered the booths, trying the novelty foods that sounded tempting, Wogan and Xerro even braved a few that didn't, until they were all satiated and tired before sitting down at some benches in front of the area where many had gathered to dance.

Angeline sat with one hand on her belly, “I do not think this food will be good for my princessly figure.”

Wogan had one hand over his mouth while his stomach made little spasms, “at least you didn't try the frog on a stick.” He looked over at Xerro, “you, however did, and how are you fine?”

“You are too spoiled on your fine palace food,” he replied with a chuckle, Melodie had sat on his lap as usual, holding her bunny and rubbing a finger along the velvet of its casing. “I mean, don't get me wrong, that tasted horrible, but I've had to eat worse to survive.”

Melodie's attention was now on the people spinning and twirling around each other as the band played. “What are they doing?” she whispered, the haze of the hard cider becoming more evident in her voice.

“They are dancing.” He replied.

“That is what dancing is?” she asked, “I have read about it but books never explained what it was.”

“Well that's what it is,” he said with a smile, “movement in time to music.”

She watched, enraptured for several minutes, until Xerro noticed Angeline looking at him once again with her raised eyebrow, “Xerro,” she said softly but stern, “take Melodie out there and dance with her.”

“I'm not very good though,” he said, trying to politely refuse.

“I don't know how at all.” The girl added.

“Perfect,” smiled Angeline, with menacing beauty, “then teach her.”

Xerro sighed, but at the next pause he walked the petite brunette out to the dance floor. He set her other hand on his shoulder and his other hand on her waist, “just follow me and do what I do.”

When the music began she had a jerky start and a few miss timed steps, but she quickly caught on. Even through the growing spin from the alcohol, she was naturally graceful and she mimed the other girls around her with such proficiency, she was well into letting Xerro twirl and dip her with minimal difficulty. She was smiling and laughing. She was laughing so easily, in fact he worried she might accidentally lean too far outside his bubble and put the whole fair to sleep. So when the tempo of the next song lowered quite a bit he pulled her in close enough for their bellies to touch. She gasped and looked up at him. As he looked down her sparkling jade like eyes looked into his and he noticed the far away, almost dreamlike quality they had taken on. They were captivating, they held his attention. In fact she had ceased trying to copy the other girls on the floor not wanting to engage in any dance move that might move her any farther away from him. She closed her eyes as he dipped her once again and as she returned to her feet expecting to meet his eyes once more they were not there. His attention had wandered, she followed his gaze that was looking back at the princess.

In his distraction another boy, slightly older than Xerro, squeezed between the two.

“Mind if I cut in mate?” He whispered, as he spun Melodie out of his grip.

“My my, aren't you quite the beauty?” He said as she could only stare, wide eyed at the sandy haired boy. He was thicker than Xerro, obviously he did more manual labor. “I am Chadwick, what would your name be?” He whispered in her ear.

Melodie was in a panic, she knew she shouldn't scream, but the strange boy kept spinning her around, in conjunction with the blur of the cider it was making it impossible to spot Xerro.

Angeline watched the two youths dance and it brought a smile to her face. She was glad Melodie could enjoy herself after what her life had been. Someone stepped up next to her as she watched the two.

“Sorry, I am not in the mood to dance right now.” She said without looking up.

“While a dance with you would be wonderful I am sure princess, what I need to speak to you about are more urgent matters.” Recognizing the voice, Angeline looked up into the face of Father Thaddeus.

“Your grace,” she exclaimed, standing up.

“Just Father Thaddeus please, and sit,” he motioned to the bench and sat down beside them.

“Please, sister Margriete was only trying to help us, don't punish her because of us.” Pleaded Angeline.

“Princess, I have known Margriete all my life. We grew up in the Highlands together. When I heard my calling she followed me into the church.” A big smile crossed his face, “tell me, when you first met her, did she drink you under the table?”

“Don't remind me,” groaned the princess. A snort from the Kingsblade got an ineffectual elbow to his armored ribs.

“I may let her stew in the cell for a day or two, but believe me I will not let anything happen to her. If I had not heard the calling I probably would have married her.” Father Thaddeus had a wistful look for a moment but the expression changed. “Now I must ask, where is the girl?”

The question took Angeline off guard. Xerro feared the legionnaires finding Melodie, but the legionnaires worked for the church. “What girl Father?”

“The girl, sister Margriete told me your missing friend rescued from the chasm,” he said, growing impatient. “I mean her no harm, but there are things about her you must be made aware of.”

Angeline realized he already knew Melodie was with them. “She is dancing with Xerro.” She motioned to the two on the dance floor.

Thaddeus saw the girl and although he could not see her mother's eyes as Margriete had other features were unmistakable, her nose, her chin, her dark hair, undoubtedly her father's features.

“Oh, by the gods.” he gasped. “She is not what you think. Fourteen years ago, even before the cataclysm that pulled a third of the city into the pit, we were in upheaval. Revolution and reformation threatened to burn the city to the ground. It was thought that the event that tore the city apart was the work of the gods punishing the wicked and paving the way for their true prophet Ambrose. But there are always rumors. Most people believe the so-called queen of monsters was released when the pit opened under the city. But she lived among us first. She was a woman named Delilah. A prostitute from the red row.”

“The red row?” Asked Angeline, “I've never heard of it.”

“It was a street behind our grand library, where most of the poor, the destitute and the disenfranchised gathered. It was where in my early days in seminary we went to spread the word and works of Amon. The people there however, looked to Delilah. She was their spokesperson, and leader. She did as much for those people as the church, some people say more. She cared for them and protected them. She may have been a whore but she was smart and kind, and in most people's opinion, the most beautiful woman in the city. With the most dazzling green eyes imaginable.”

Angeline thought about Melodie's eyes, how they looked and the description definitely fit.

“But after that day, when the city was consumed, anyone who met her gaze turned to stone.” He blotted his forehead, this was so traumatic he was sweating. “She was cursed. That day, at least rumors say, she went to see Ambrose. And fled leaving a trail of statues all the way to the chasm. And I fear if she was with child when she was cursed, as those rumors insist, then her daughter may be cursed as well.”

“Father, Melodie is cursed.” The princess admitted. The priest visibly paled in front of her. “But it's fine,” she tried to assuage his fears, “she just puts people to sleep when they hear her voice. And her curse is inactive as long as she is around Xerro. So she is perfectly… ” She looked to the dancing youths only to not spot them. “Wogan! Where are they!”

The young man had danced and spun her off the dance area and into a space between buildings. He tossed her against a wall and pressed himself against her.

“Now, are you going to tell me your name, precious?” he asked, running a finger down her cheek.

Melodie closed her eyes tight, she wanted to scream, she wanted to run, above all she wished Xerro was here.

“Don't tell me someone as cute as you is shy.” He breathed into her ear.

Xerro ran after the boy who had broken between he and Melodie. He worried at any moment she would cry out and let loose her curse. He fought his way through the other dancers, bumping off them every time he had to change direction. Her abductor spun her through the dance floor effortlessly, as if he had done this many times. He was tempted to cry out to her, but if she called back to him the square would be filled with people in enchanted sleep. So he fought through the crowd, but by the time he reached the end of the dancers he was pulling her between two buildings. Xerro ran after, now unencumbered by the crowd, but as he passed into the alleyway two other boys grabbed his arms. It occurred to him only now how often he must have done this before. His stooges had him and he had Melodie pinned against the wall.

“Leave her alone,” he yelled, “trust me pal, you don't want to do this.”

The cad looked over with a twisted smile, “why don't you let the lady decide. Maybe she would like a real man to dance with.”

“Melodie, it's going to be ok.” Xerro called out, “just stay calm.”

The guy nodded to his two buddies and one drove his fist into Xerro's gut. He doubled over, the two boys grip on his arms preventing him from falling to his knees.

Melodie watched them hurt Xerro, “no,” she gasped softly. It was out of her mouth before she could realize what she had done.

Chadwick's eyes rolled back in his head as his legs buckled and he crumpled to the ground.

“What did you do?” One if the boys cried. “What did she do?” He asked Xerro. “She's some kind of witch!” He cried out, just before both boys let go of Xerro's arms and ran from the scene, leaving their friend forgotten in panic.

Melodie stumbled over to Xerro, knelt on the ground, clutching his middle. The girl fell forward just as he reached him, luckily he caught her in his arms just as the food from the fair decided to make a cider tainted reappearance.

“It's okay,” he cooed to her, rubbing her back, “you're safe now, it's okay.”

Wogan reached the alley just as Melodie made a repeat performance of gastro-gymnastics. He had seen the two delinquents fleeing the area and now could see the unconscious Chadwick further down the way as he lay unmoving. Xerro stood and picked Melodie up in his arms.

“Do you want me to carry her?” Wogan asked, trying to be sympathetic.

“I've got her,” Xerro replied tersely, he knew deep down the knight was trying to be helpful, but after not being able to protect her from the ruffians and her having to save them both, he wanted to at least feel man enough to carry her. She acted like he was her hero, but he felt anything but. Her head lay on his shoulder, dripping a small amount of bile down his shirt as she looked up at him with drooping eyes.

Angeline and Father Thaddeus arrived and saw the unconscious Chadwick. The priest ran up to the boy, checking him over.

“He is alive.” Thaddeus said to Angeline, prompting a look from Xerro indicating he did not appreciate the insinuation.

“I told you she only puts people to sleep.” She told the priest.

“And you said she was safe if she was around HIM.” he said a little too sharply.

Xerro practically stomped over to Thaddeus, “he snatched her away from me, and then he accosted her. You would expect her to not make a sound throughout that?”

Melodie looked sleepily over at father Thaddeus, and he saw the green eyes of the Lady of Red Row, the mother of monsters. “Merciful Amon,” he exclaimed.

Xerro walked away, headed back to the inn, uncaring if anyone else was following him or not.

“We are leaving the city in the morning, father, and we are taking her with us. You should have no worries.” said Angeline, following in step behind them.

“And I will not allow harm to come to that child.” Added the Kingsblade, as he turned to follow his princess, hand on his sword hilt leaving no doubt as to what he meant.

Xerro walked until his arms burned but refused to let Wogan take her. He did not get to play the hero this time, he thought, though he wasn't really sure what he was angry about or who he was really angry at. Since Melodie had come into his life his emotions had become a tangle of string in the pit of his stomach.

He walked straight to his room when they reached the inn.

“Do you need me to get her ready?” Angeline asked softly.

“I have her.” He replied with his eyes closed, resisting the impulse to snap at her. “I can handle it.”

The princess touched his cheek tenderly, “we are here to help, you know. We care for her too.”

He continued into his room without a word, closing the door behind him with his foot.

Wogan stepped up behind her after she just stood outside the door for a few minutes. “You are thinking about what I fear you are thinking about.” he whispered.

She squeezed the hand he had put on her shoulder tightly, “what her voice could do against an invading army? Of course,” she replied as a tear ran down her cheek, “of course I have thought about it, and I hate myself for it.”

Sister Margriete sat in the cell, remnants of the dinner of bread and cheese still sat on the tray. Benedict in the kitchen had got word the food was for her and slipped wine into her pitcher instead of water, as well as two small jelly tarts under her bread. She did not want him to be reprimanded, but she appreciated the gesture.

“Margriete, I didn't expect you to betray the church.” She looked up to see Ambrose on the other side of her bars.

“Since when is aiding people, especially our allies, a betrayal?” She returned calmly, no emotion on her face.

“But I decide where the gifts of Amon are needed or used.” He responded, and she noted a hiss of anger in his voice.

Against her better judgment, but simply out of a curiosity of how big his ego had gotten, she poked him further, “I would have thought it was up to Amon to decide who and where his gifts were given.”

He literally growled as he tapped the end of his staff to the ground, and its jewel top flared to light, “I am his voice, I am his hand!” Sister Margriete felt as if she was gripped by an unseen hand. She could not move and the air through her throat was restricted, like a claw clamped around her neck, “now what else are you hiding?”

The back of her mind burned, “the girl,” she croaked. She tried to resist, to still her tongue, to clamp her jaw but the words were pried out nonetheless.

“What girl?” He asked. No, he commanded, “tell me!”

“The… the daughter… of… of Delilah.” She fought fruitlessly.

His eyes widened, in shock or was it fear she wondered. But his face was soon once more one of determination, “tell me about the girl.”

Melodie lay once again, spooned against Xerro's belly. He got her ready for bed, going no further than her under garments. And her hair spilled down her shoulders and back once again, as he took in its pleasant scent. He didn't even argue or try to fight her this time, he knew this was how she felt safe, As to why he could make her feel safe when it seemed he had proven to be useless, unable to protect her, he could not fathom.

“Xerro?” Her weak, sleepy voice peeped in the dark.

“Yes?” He replied.

“Am I really pretty? Do you really think so?” she whispered.

“Of course.” He squeezed her lightly in his arms, trying to reassure her in any way he could that she was safe. “You are not just pretty, I think you are amazing.”

She was quiet for a while before continuing, “but not as beautiful as your princess.” It wasn't a question. By her tone this was something she was convinced of.

“Angeline is not MY princess. She is just my friend, just OUR friend.” He tried to comfort her fears. “and yes she is pretty, but it is not a point of being more beautiful. You are utterly unique, and no one could ever compare to you.”

Again silence filled the room, then she spoke quieter still, “but do you love me, Xerro?”

He took what he knew was too long to respond as the question had hit him like a hammer, leaving his thoughts spinning. “I… Melodie I think… I mean I care for you so much… I… “ while he stammered his way through what he was trying not to say he became aware of the gentle purr from her nose, dragged down at long last by exhaustion, trauma and apple spirits into sleep. “Great job, idiot.” he whispered to himself.

The next morning Angeline insisted, before leaving the city and parting ways forever, that they had breakfast at a charming cafe she spotted while they were shopping. Xerro knew she was just prolonging goodbye in hopes she could convince the two to stay with them, but he was not fighting too hard as he had to admit to himself he would miss them. So they had breakfast tea with sweet breads and fruit outside while the street vendors around them set up shop for the day.

“You can't just take her away from me, Xerro, you just can't.” Angeline was done with subtlety now and was blatantly arguing her point. “You think you are the only one here who has grown attached to her, that cares about her?”

He looked over at Wogan, “well sir knight, are you? Have you grown attached to her as well?”

Wogan set down his tea cup with a shake of his head, “don't drag me onto this, it is not my debate.”

Angeline looked at him as he had just betrayed her.

“Look your highness, I believe you do, but I also know but you are headed back to a war, to a castle under siege. And that is not safe for her.”

“Have you even asked her what she wants?” Angeline threw back, then she looked at Melodie, “what about you sweetheart, where do you want to go?” But Melodie's attention was on a cart that was selling exotic flowers. “You want one?” Angeline didn't even say a word before reaching into Wogan's pouch and pulling out two slivers. She handed them to Melodie. “Go get whatever you want.”

Xerro caught her hand before she rushed off, “just stay quiet ok. Please.” With his finger to his lips.

Melodie gave him a beautiful smile, and placing a finger on her own lips, nodded.

“You do that so well.” Angeline said softly. “You might be a great dad someday.”

“It helps that she's so precious, it makes it easier.” he replied, still watching her as she ran to the cart. Happy, trying to make sure he was doing what was best for her had consumed him. Now he realized that what was best for her was her being happy. A happy Melodie was willing to be quiet, she didn't mind not being able to talk because she wasn't alone. Because even without being able to speak, she was still heard. And being spoiled by a princess definitely made her happy.

“Okay,” he said as he turned back to face Angeline, “we will not split up as soon as we leave. We can travel with you for a while and then go our own way before we reach your castle.”

The princess beamed at his news, “oh, thank you, Xerro.” She put a hand across the corner of the table on top of his.

“Just stop trying to play her against me. No, I don't have money to spoil her with, like you do. I want to keep her safe but I also want her happy, whatever that means.” he sighed, “last night she asked me if I loved her. She passed out before I could even get myself to answer her. Honestly, I don't know which answer scares me more, yes or no.”

“I know which it is,” smiled Angeline, not a mocking smile, but a soft understanding smile, “and don't worry Xerro, you are the sweetest guy ever.” She reached the other hand around his head and pulled him to her, planting a kiss on his cheek.

Xerro gave an amused huff and looked up to see Melodie.

The flower she had chosen, some kind of tropical orchid, was falling to the ground from her hand. In her eyes he saw fear dancing with sorrow, and heartbreak gave way to anger boiling up from her as it rose in her throat like a tea kettle about to burst.

“Melodie, no!” He cried, but his voice was like a dingy trying to charge through the oncoming tidal wave. As the scream radiated out, he could almost see it move in slow motion as it traveled past people in the square and they fell to the ground like marionettes who had all their strings instantly cut. The waitress walking away from a nearby table collapsed and her tray and everything on it scattered. Angeline was still in kissing proximity to Xerro and the wave of Melodie's magical voice passed over her harmlessly, sir Wogan however was across the table opposite the lad and fell from his chair to the cobblestones like an entire kitchen of pots and pans dropped at once.

Melodie turned on her heel, still mid scream and ran away down the street, torrents of tears running down her cheeks.

Xerro was up, kicking his chair back as he stood. Angeline closed her hand on his and she was pulled to her feet behind him, “what is wrong? Why is she screaming?” She shouted as she attempted to keep pace behind him.

“She saw you kiss me!” he yelled.

“So?” She replied confused.

“All she really knows of life are the things she read in storybooks, fairy tales, and who are the only people who actually kiss in fairy stories?” He said, still running desperately to catch up to her, to get her in his field to nullify her curse.

“lovers!” She gasped, as the realization of what that would have looked like to Melodie hit her like a kick from a horse. She would think she lied to her, she broke her promise, she betrayed the girl in the worst way possible. Then she realized she was running after her holding Xerro's hand. Angeline let go, Melodie's scream had stopped but down the street her crying sobs were still putting people to sleep as she ran past. She was out of range as Xerro continued on after her. “Wogan!” She thought of her Kingsblade lying there on the ground at the cafe, and ran back to him.

Bob Millant was at his cart, as he was every morning, selling jugs of milk from his cows. He was handing one to Mrs Keiest, as he had countless mornings before when he noticed the tear soaked girl running up behind her down the street. The jug fell to the stones below their feet and shattered as Mrs Keiest folded her body and lay there. Then blackness descended on Mr Millant.

Private Doggerson was watching from the top of the wall. His post looked down market street toward the main gate that led into Little Adelphi. Doggerson was vigilant, he had to be since he could barely hear a thing since that time he was sick as a boy. It was like the fever had stuffed cotton in his ears. But he still made it to the legionnaires because he learned to keep alert and make up for the fact he could only hear the loudest sounds. So a little girl running down the street and everyone she passed falling down, unmoving was something he noticed right away. He tugged on his chinstrap, tightening his helmet and drew his sword. As the girl approached, he quickly made his way down the steps to the ground.

She knew it. How could she compete with a princess? A beautiful princess right out of her books that any guy would fall over themselves to be around. She was just a rat from the pit, a cursed rat. She fell to her knees as the street ended at the wall. The wall, and on the other side, the chasm. She should have never left. She should have known her life would never turn out right. She should have stayed in the pit where she had her food and her books and never come up here. She began to struggle to her feet when a sharp pain in the back of her head flung her down into darkness.

Xerro watched the wall looming up ahead get closer. When he finally spotted her she was kneeling on the ground. Either too tired to go on or too distraught to figure out which way to go. But before he could close the distance between them a legionnaire stepped up behind her and she crumpled to the ground, like the people that heard her lamenting cries.

“No! Melodie!” He screamed. But an impact behind his head sent him into unconsciousness as well.

Another legionnaire stepped up behind the one holding the mace over Xerro, “what do we do with him, Captain?

Captain Longinus, looked over the unmoving boy, “his Grace only asked for the girl. Load her up, he is of no importance. Let his friends find him.”

It was hours later when Xerro opened his eyes and pain shot from them and out the back of his head. He reached up and touched the spot where the pain met and brought back a hand coated in blood, his blood. He looked about to find the street empty, save the citizens still in the deep sleep of Melodie's curse. She was nowhere to be found. His chest rumbled in spasms as sobs fought their way out of his lungs and pushed tears from his eyes. She was gone. Once again he had failed her. Failed to keep her safe and broke her trust on top of it. The sobbing spasms rose up his throat and he choked out one word, “Melodie.” softly at first and with a gasp of air in he bellowed it out this time, “Melodie!”