From Princess to stowaway in three days. I wonder if I’ve lost my mind. Kyriadra brushed a piece of her now-dirty hair away from her face, closed her eyes tightly shut, and buried her head in her arms. She sat with her legs tight against her chest in a corner of a dark room, tired to the bone and with the events of the past three days flashing through her mind. Has it only been three days? It feels like an eternity. And Ilithya...what am I doing here? Who are these people? How did I ever do this...I’m so tired and I don’t know what to do anymore. Kyriadra swallowed back a cry of helplessness and fought down the bubble of terror that was threatening to rise within her and take over everything. Have to be strong. These people are all here for me. I have to take care of them. Not that anything like this was supposed to happen. Fighting terror with conviction, Kyriadra opened her deep blue eyes and peered around.

The room was dark, damp, and smelled like some hopeless creature had crawled into it and died. Old boxes were strewn around, and the others around her lay amongst them. Their ship, the Karanene, was rocking softly on the water, and this made the room shift from side to side. Almost relaxing in a way, thought Kyriadra to herself.

Suddenly, the little hatch that led to the rest of the ship creaked open, and thick, male voice could be heard right outside of it. "...They’ve dumped us in the hold," it barked. Then a dark head peered inside, and Kyriadra looked up warily. It was a disgruntled, mean-looking man, who peered around and then glared right back at her. "Figures," he muttered disdainfully to himself. Then, tossing his head back, he added, "And we don’t even get the bloody place to ourselves." A thump sounded from above, then a few shuffles, and suddenly, another head peered through into the hold. Kyriadra’s eyes widened.

It was the Myr’l mercenary. The strange, half-woman half-cat peered at Kyriadra’s small group and blinked. Then she groaned. "If I hear one more scream tonight, someone is going to die." Then the Myr’l placed herself on one of the crates, tossed her hair back, and began unloading her bags. The rest of the men–the mercenaries the Myr’l was with–filed in after the first man and settled into the already-cramped room.

Meanwhile, Damia had slowly walked towards where Kyriadra was resting. Sitting herself down beside her friend, Damia tilted her head towards the mercenaries and murmured, "Small world, hmm?"

Kyriadra shook herself from the shock at seeing the mercenaries again. Then she nodded towards the fairy. "Very small," she replied softly.

The group sat without speaking for what seemed like a long while. In the other corner, Doku, the strange Rothelien from the desert, sat alone, leaning against a crate and humming softly to herself while staring into the distance at something which only she could see. Off a little sat from her, Devon and Calhan talking intensely to each other. There’s something about her though, thought Kyriadra as she watched Devon, who was frowning softly as she spoke. She looked at me very strangely when we first met. And...something else, too. I think she loves Achryn just as much as I do.

A mercenary had risen. "Jer," he said to the man who had opened the hatch earlier. "How about a game of cards?"

The man, Jer, nodded. "Just as soon as this here boat starts going, Talis."

And, as if that had been a heavenly prompt of some sort, the ship gave a great lurch, and suddenly they were moving.

I’m leaving Achryn. Kyriadra breathed, staring hard at the wooden floor and trying to keep her limbs from shaking terribly. She was afraid, and she had never been this afraid in her life. Well. No. That’s not exactly true. But I am afraid. I wonder if I ever meant to take it this far... Kyriadra didn’t know how long she spent lost in her own thoughts when she felt a nudge at her shoulder. It was Damia.

"How about we get some air," she said lightly, looking at Kyriadra with wide eyes.

At that moment, what Kyriadra wanted the most was some fresh air. To get out of this stinking tub and be able to think clearly. But...the dock. What if someone recognizes me...

"We’re probably out of sight of land by now." Damia pointed out with a wry smile.

What? "How did–"

Damia grinned. "Never mind, Ria. Let’s go." She clambered to a standing position and pulled Kyriadra up with her. Fluttering her wings slightly, Damia walked towards the hatch, opened it, and quickly darted outside. Kyriadra made to follow when a voice made her stop.

"Wait."

Kyriadra turned around, startled, making her dress swish. Devon had half-risen from where she was sitting. "Yes?" Kyriadra asked.

"Where are you going?" came the suspicious question.

"Up onto the deck. Damia and I would like some fresh air."

"Huh," Devon replied and sat back down. After a brief pause, she added, "Don’t attract too much attention, then."

Anger flared within Kyriadra. I am not dignifying that with an answer. Fists clenching, she stalked out of the hatch and made her way up the narrow ladder. What Kyriadra didn’t see, however, was that Devon’s frowning gaze remained at the door, rooted to the spot where Kyriadra had just stood.

As soon as she opened the little trapdoor to the deck and poked her head out, a wild wind blew against Kyriadra’s face, making her hair fly back. She then breathed in the salty sea air and climbed out of the hole she’d inhabited the last few hours. After basking in the wind on her face for a few minutes, Kyriadra made her way to the rail where Damia stood waiting and looked out onto the sea. The sky was grey, which made the sea black as the waves crashes against the side of the Karanene. They had indeed, left all land behind, and all round them was an empty span of grey on black, silent and brooding. Well, no, Kyriadra thought to herself, it only seems silent, with the rush of the waves blocking out the many loud sounds of the ship, making everything a meaningless noise which you can treat as silence.

"I’ve never seen the sea before. Not like this, anyway." said Damia, voice clear and matter-of-fact. "It’s absolutely magnificent." Seeing Kyriadra’s confused look, she continued. "My country, Faylinn, doesn’t border any seas. Our borders are Achryn and Tyball on either side. We get plenty of rain though. Forest country."

"That sounds lovely," replied Kyriadra with sincerity. "Achryn doesn’t possess many forests. Our land is mostly plain, for agricultural purposes, so that the people can make a living. I mean, we have many cities also, of course, for the business-inclined."

Damia gave her a sidelong glance and grinned cheekily. "You speak of Achryn as if you owned the place."

"Oh..." Kyriadra was speechless. And I thought I was being so careful. I guess sixteen years of upbringing can’t just be flushed down the lavatory in three short days. "Well, that is to say..." she stuttered.

Damia laughed and said brightly, "Don’t worry, Ria. I knew you weren’t an ordinary girl from the first moment I saw you. You must be someone important for all the trouble you’re going through right now. But it’s all right. I won’t bother you about this one. In my life, if I’ve learned one thing, it’s that everyone has secrets. You, me...that Doku character seems to have secrets spilling out of her sleeves..." Then she grinned somewhat evilly. "Oh, and also that Calhan boy. I can tell what secret he’s hiding from a mile away. I see it every time he looks at Devon." A pause, and then, "It’s probably tearing him apart." More laughter.

Kyriadra blushed, then laughed softly. This is nice. I haven’t been this relaxed in a long time. She tilted her head and smiled at Damia. "You don’t miss much, do you."

Damia shook her head, eyes turning serious for once. "I never miss anything. It’s meant my life, sometimes." Then she looked away and turned her body back towards the sea.

We each have secrets, hmm? Kyriadra sighed and stretched out her arms. Remembering the circumstances of their meeting, she then turned to Damia. "What did you run away from?"

Damia swung her head back and looked at Kyriadra for a moment. Then she grinned and replied back, sparkling, "What did you run away from?"

"I wasn’t running away; I left to help my country!" blurted out Kyriadra. Then she continued more quietly. "I didn’t want to go, but I had no choice."

"Why did you have no choice?"

"Because they would not let me go. They would not let me help..."

"Who?"

"My...parents."

"Ah, I see. Your parents. So you ran away, almost died, and hired a bunch of sketchy thieves and murderers to take you to Tyball where you will somehow stop the war?"

Kyriadra bowed her head. She’s right. I’ve lost my mind. How could I expect...what possessed me to...No. That’s the kind of thinking I swore I would never do again. "It’s not like that," answered Kyriadra. "I know what I’m doing may seem strange, even crazy. And perhaps it won’t work either. But...but you don’t understand how desperate this war has become. Everyone was here. Everyone was fighting. Except me. I couldn’t stay behind and watch everyone around me, everyone I love, do everything they possibly could to win, and not win. Or rather, lose because I did nothing to help. So I’m here. And I’m going to fight. And even if we lose, at least I will know that we did everything to try."

Damia had been quietly listening to Kyriadra’s passionate oratory. Afterwards, she smiled broadly. "Ria, I’m impressed. You’re stronger than I thought."

I’m stronger than you know. I’m stronger than I knew. I’m glad. Kyriadra smiled. "Thank you."

Damia nodded.

"Damia?"

"Yes?"

"Why are you here?"

Damia blinked. "Why, Ria, I’m looking for an adventure of course!" She laughed, a sound much like the tinkling of little bells, and then added, "I’m quite refreshed now, I think. I may as well go back down and torment someone else with soul-searching questions. Maybe that cat lady...you coming?"

"Oh...no," Kyriadra replied. "I’ll stay out here for a while longer." It was really lovely outside, and the sun had began to peek through the overcast sky.

"All right then," said Damia as she walked back towards the trapdoor.

Kyriadra had just turned back around when Damia’s voice floated back to her. "One more thing."

Kyriadra turned, "Yes?"

"Are you human?"

Kyriadra blinked. Excuse me? "Yes, why?"

Damia shook her head and smiled mysteriously. "No reason." Then she disappeared down the trapdoor.

What a strange person, thought Kyriadra to herself. She then wondered if all fairies were like that, or if Damia was a special case. She did help me find myself a little, though. Kyriadra smiled to herself then. I know where I stand, finally. Breathing a little deeper, a little freer, she returned her gaze to the soft, murmuring waves.

--

Three days passed, and while the sun often tried to push itself past the thick, oppressing clouds, the days remained grey still. For her own pleasure, Kyriadra spent most of the time on-deck, either looking up into the sky or looking out onto the waves. She let the sea’s strong power take hold of her, letting the spume sprinkle her face and feeling like it was Ilithya herself, showering her with blessings.

The others didn’t come up as much–except for Doku, who seemed a little unused to the rocking sea–and spent most of their time below deck, talking quietly or playing cards. Kyriadra didn’t really mind, though. As long as she had her prayer book, she was perfectly content to be by herself.

In the late afternoon of her fourth day at sea, Kyriadra left the small, dim hole that was her temporary home and went up on deck. There, she spied a sea gull perched upon the railing. She frowned. Birds don’t come out this far, unless they want to die. The bird, however, was squawking very loudly and seemed to be at the pinnacle of health. Does this mean that there’s land nearby? But...we can’t be anywhere near Tyball yet...The large, white sea gull turned towards Kyriadra and cocked its head as if it were asking a question.

Kyriadra laughed. "Sorry, little bird," she apologized. "I don’t have any food for you..."

Suddenly, Kyriadra heard the sound of footsteps behind her as it was impossible to walk quietly, for the wood was slightly cracked, and even the lightest step produced a sound akin to thunder. At the sudden noise and vibration, the sea gull opened its wings and launched itself into the air. Frowning, Kyriadra swirled around.

It was Devon, hair flying in the wind, hazel eyes burning. "I need to talk to you." she said.

Kyriadra blinked. The other girl had hardly spoken to her the entire time they were at sea, but Kyriadra knew, however, that Devon was constantly watching her and had probably wanted to confront her for a long time. "Is something the matter?"

Devon started pacing back and forth. Then she walked right up to where Kyriadra stood and cried, "Who are you?!" Their noses were almost touching, and it was like Devon was trying to look into Kyriadra’s head.

Kyriadra panicked. Does she recognize me? "What do you mean? I’m Ria." She extemporized, smiling hopefully and clutching the sides of her skirt with sweaty hands.

Devon growled and shook her head in agitation. "I need to know...I need to know." she muttered to herself. She looked back up at Kyriadra. "Look," she said. "The day we met. That Doku...she killed someone, remember?"

"Yes..."

"Well...you saw. I saw. What did you say?"

Kyriadra was really confused. "Yes?"

"No," Devon said, clearly frustrated. "What did you say when you saw the death?" It wasn’t really a question, though.

"I..." Kyriadra floundered. "I don’t..."

Devon held out her right hand to stop her. She then turned her hand face-up and looked into her palm. After a while, she closed her hand into a fist and said quietly. Said intensely. "Life itself is a fight against death."

Kyriadra felt the hairs on the back of her neck stand on end. "Oh." she breathed.

Devon was still looking at her fist. "You said that, didn’t you?"

"I did." I did. It’s almost like a prayer...

"Why?" Devon’s voice was pained.

"I...don’t know." I do know. Kyriadra remembered the first time she’d heard it. She was only seven, when there had been sickness in Damali. She’d heard it from the King’s own lips and had been saying it ever since. I’ve been saying it my whole life.

"I’ve been saying it my whole life." Devon frowned, inadvertently echoing Kyriadra’s thoughts. "It’s something a...a very dear friend of mine used to say. I can’t for the life of me understand how you know it too. Unless I’m supposed to know you, but don’t. Or...you somehow know me?" Devon’s eyes became searching. Her lips were white with strain and her brow looked feverish.

Kyriadra shook her head furiously. "I’m sorry." she said unhappily. "I can’t tell you." I can’t let you know who I am...I have do this without you knowing who I am...or rather, what I am.

Devon looked baleful.

"I don’t mean to make you angry," Kyriadra hurried on, her heart going out to the older girl who was wringing her hands in desperation. "Please...I honestly wish I could relieve some of your pain...but...we just met, and–"

"You don’t trust me." Devon interrupted bitterly, wrapping her arms around her body, shielding herself from the wind. "You hired me," she spat, "but you don’t trust me."

Kyriadra broke eye contact, twisting her lips. You never gave me your trust, either. After a long pause, Kyriadra turned her head back to look Devon directly in the eye. "I don’t mean to..." she whispered, voice barely audible over the wind. "But can you blame me?"

"I...suppose not." The tension slid out of Devon’s shoulders as she blew out her breath. "But there has to be something that I can do..."

Kyriadra reached out to Devon and took her arm, her eyes searching back. You bewilder me... "Why is it so important to you?"

Devon pulled her arm away and averted her gaze. "He was...my family. Please...please tell me. I have to know. How did you...why did you...why do you say it too?"

Kyriadra sighed and regarded the older, stranger girl with a wary gaze. While Devon hadn’t treated her terribly well, Kyriadra knew that this was a girl who also loved her country. This was a girl with secrets as terrible as hers, and someone who deserved to know the truth, wherever she could find it. I won’t keep it from her anymore...I can’t be that selfish. "I heard it from the King." she replied quietly.

Devon’s head snapped back to face her. "What?"

"The King was the one who said it." Kyriadra repeated. She sighed again, voice quivering. "I heard it once...please don’t ask me anymore."

"The King..." Devon was stunned, sputtering, and completely bewildered. "But...that makes no sense at all...the King murdered–"

Kyriadra blinked. "Pardon?"

"No...no." Devon shook her head absently. "Nothing." She stared out into the broiling sea.

Night had come; the sky was growing darker and more ominous by the minute. Clouds rolled upon clouds, and the crack of thunder could be heard in the distance. In the silence which had fallen between the two confused girls, the harsh wind rasped. Kyriadra rubbed her hands together in the cold. "D-Devon..." she said, her voice filled with uncertainty. "We should go back down."

Devon was still staring at the black sea. "Right," she replied quietly, not really paying attention, "I’ll follow you..."

Kyriadra waited, but Devon didn’t move. Shaking her head, Kyriadra turned around and walked away. I wanted to give her truth, but now she looks more lost than ever. Kyriadra shut her eyes tightly and pinched the bridge of her nose with her thumb and index finger. Can’t let this get me down. I won’t let this get me down. I will succeed somehow. I have to. Slowly, she climbed the ladder back down into the hold to join the rest of her...army.