Episode 5

"Her cousin?" Olive swallowed the puke that was rising from her stomach. "I'm afraid Silver and I are not acquainted."

"Non-non. Perhaps you know her as Galora... Galora Moore. Fascinating what one finds out when you torture the right people... the right Commoners."

Titen. Realization dawned over Olive. The corpse was Titen's cousin. "No, what is her cousin's name?"

"Oh you know him. We all know him. The Great and Powerful Titen Moore." The Prince stood and Galora's body tumbled out of his lap. "Where is he?"

Olive tried her best not to react. The Prince was obviously in a bad state of mind, the chances of him knowing that her shop still serviced Titen was slim to none. Lord Godrun was careful about sending her money that hadn't been on his family's ledger yet. They had been so careful.

"If you find out - please pass on the information. My family has a bone to pick about his deception." She tried her best to appear cold and distant. The emotionless facade taught to her as a child was ever useful.

"I had hoped..." Evermore descended the steps until he was face to face with Olive. "But perhaps you are lying to me, Olive Andersy."

"Oh, my prince. If I knew where the man was, who played me for nearly a decade - I would wish the worst on him." Olive lied. In all honesty she didn't blame Titen one bit. Life in the Commons was no secret - any form of escape should have been heralded.

His Highness paced in front of Olive, before slowly making his way back to Silver's body. "Very well. I have a proposition for you." Prince Evermore lifted the corpse and placed it back on the viewing table. He spent several minutes arranging her hair before returning to the conversation. "Solotero - an update on the raizing?"

Solotero narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "I will return with a report." Flipping his cape over his shoulder Solotero stalked out of the chamber.

Nervous, Olive clasped her hands in front of her. The Prince Heir settled into his throne, his eyes never wavering from the woman on the viewing table.

"You outfit the Lady Empress - do you not?"

"I do."

"I want her gone, Olive Andersy. I want her... permanently removed from the palace... from my life... from this wretched world." The Prince laced his fingers together and for a brief moment he appeared to be none other than the Emperor himself. The same emperor that had mandated Olive's mother to weaken the empress with a sickening poison. Just enough to cause her constant misery and discomfort. A task she had taken up when she had taken over for her mother after graduating finishing school.

"It can be done."

"Of course it can." The Prince Heir grinned as a child would. "And it will be done today."

"Your Highness..." Olive tried to choose her words carefully. She walked up two steps and stopped. "I have anticipated this moment for weeks."

"Is that so?"

"Since she sent Prince Kuvial to Takturn... I expected Your Highness to want retribution. So," Olive took another step upward. "I began a slow poisoning process of The Lady Empress."

"And how soon is that to completion?"

"Five days, naturally. The Lady Empress has another fitting on the morrow and her final fitting on the last day of this week."

"And she will be gone for good?"

"Forever." Olive finished walking up the steps and dropped into a kneeling bow in front of The Prince Heir's throne. "And you will be vindicated, without consequence."

"Do not disappoint me, Olive Andersy."

Olive accepted Prince Evermore's last sentence as a dismissal. Slowly, she rose and left the presentation room, taking care to move so that she could stop if he called to her. Once she was out of the main exit, she waited for the doors to click shut, before searching around for Solotero.

Olive followed the sound of Solotero's voice. She found him giving instructions to several imperial soldiers at one of the side entrances. The unit was lightly dressed for easy movement.

"He should be at Captain Rotan's house. You understand how this must be done." Solotero waited for the unit to nod their heads curtly. "Good." The group of imperial soldiers turned and disappeared down the hallway.

"Solotero!" Olive called out pushing herself to be out of breath. "I am ready to return to my shop."

"Your conversation with His Highness ended well?" Solotero cocked one of his blonde eyebrows and smirked. For a split second Olive could almost see the man Lulu had fallen for.

"Yes, I will keep an eye out for Titen Moore and inform the crown immediately if I see him." Olive tried to appear somber as she contemplated ways to warn Titen without drawing the eye of the crown.

"Good." Solotero opened the carriage door. "Shall we?"

When they arrived at Olive's shop, the sun was beginning to rise, coloring the sky. Lulu opened the carriage door and assisted Olive on descending the short steps.

"I will return," Lulu whispered loud enough for Olive to hear, before disappearing into the carriage. The door swung shut before Olive could respond. Alora held the shop door open, holding her axe at the ready. Evangeline emerged with a heavy coat and draped it over Olive.

"Bring me pen and paper."

"You should sleep before you write any letters." Quixa lead Olive inside, her suspicious yellow gaze watching their surroundings.

"No. I need to pen this now." Olive sat down and accepted the mug of steaming caramel drink from Evangeline. "The new girl..."

"Palorie?" Alora interjected.

"No, I don't want to know her name. Does she have any important attachments?" The mug shook in Olive's hands. Quixa reached out to steady it.

"Excluding you - there are none."

"Pen and paper!" Evangeline held up the items Olive had requested. Olive's expression must have held some of her true feelings, for Evangeline sat next to her and rested her hand on Olive's leg. "Tell us what you need Miss Ollie, and it will be done."

"First... " Olive lost her train of thought for a moment, a crooked display catching her eye. "First we send a message." Passing her mug to Quixa, Olive accepted the pen and paper from Evangeline.

"Then?" Alora crossed her arms, her fiery red hair shimmering under the new sunlight.

"We kill the empress, of course."

***

Tibeden held the serving tray evenly to balance the three full glasses sitting on it. He waited for Titen to give him the signal to serve. The Raton family had not come down for dinner yet. The boy, a healthy looking elite, was nowhere to be seen. Tibeden had done his best to avoid staring at any of the masters, for fear of punishment.

"Butler," The lady of the house entered the dining room, tossing her shawl in Titen's general direction before waiting for him to pull her seat for her. Titen graciously caught the shawl, draped it over his arm, and assisted the lady into her seat. Tibeden bit back a smile. There was nothing Titen couldn't do.

"...no I will not hear of it. You will not go to the castle again." The lord of the house entered with his son. Their likeness was uncanny. The boy looked more like his father than the man himself- if that was possible. His features were sharper, his hair darker, his eyes grayer. Both were filled out with muscles and their skin was kissed by the sun. Two heirs of elegance. The lord took his seat at the head of the table and his son sat at his right side.

"Now," Titen nodded his head slightly and Tibeden walked evenly as instructed. He placed each glass in front of their prospective owners, careful to keep his head down. When he placed the boy's glass down Tibeden raised his head to look at his teacher for reassurance, but instead his eyes met the young master's. A surge of familiarity ran through Tibeden, but he ignored it and stepped back to his post. "Good job." Tibeden felt a swell of elation in his chest at the simple comment.

"Butler," The lady of the house held up her empty wine glass. Dinner had yet to be served by the two kitchen maids. Titen refilled the lady's glass and bowed curtly before returning to his post. "What's this I hear about your father not allowing you back into the castle?"

"Nothing, Aunt Leetha." The boy mumbled.

A loud bell echoed through the house several times and Tibeden jumped.

"Who could possibly be at our door at this hour?" The lady snarked, causing Tibeden to stand straighter.

"I shall go and check." Titen offered, already moving.

"No." The lady stood, throwing her napkin on an empty plate. "I will go see who has the nerve to interrupt our supper."

"Leetha," the lord sighed. "Let Titen take care of it."

"Butler will stay here, and I will go." The couple stared at each other for a tense moment, before the lord sipped on his own wine glass. "Come with me, boy." The young master stood as Tibeden moved to follow the lady of the house. "Not you, Fel." The young master sat back down.

Tibeden rushed ahead of Lady Leetha, so he could open the door.

"Stand right here and don't move unless I call you." Lady Leetha pointed to a spot near the bannister at the bottom of the staircase.

"My Lady-"

"Be quiet."

Tibeden silenced his response. Allowing the lady of the house to open the front door seemed like a breach of propriety and Tibeden hoped Titen wouldn't blame him. She pulled the door open with some effort and retreated a few steps.

"What is the meaning of this? Rotan's leave does not end for another few weeks." Leetha moved away as several imperial soldiers stepped inside. "I did not invite you into my home."

"Who all is home?" Their leader asked and Tibeden ducked behind the bannister.

"My brother, his son, and our servants." Leetha tried to block the leader from coming further into the house, but he moved her easily.

"Servants? How many?"

"No. I will not answer to some secret soldier from the castle. My brother is the grandson of an emperor. My step-father is a prince. We are under the protection of-" The leader of the secret soldiers grabbed Lady Leetha and pulled her head sharply to the side, leaving her sentence forever unfinished.

"Perhaps we should have extracted more information, Captain Yorick?" one of the others suggested raising his eyebrows.

"If I wanted to listen to needless squawking, I would be home with my wife."

Tibeden crouched out of view and crawled backwards to the dining room. Careful to open the door enough for only himself he slid through and stopped.

"Tibeden - what is wrong?" Titen rushed over so quickly Tibeden barely had a moment to blink.

"There-th-there are soldiers in the entrance."

"Where is Lady Leetha?" Lord Rotan stood, wiping his mouth.

"D-d-d-dead." Tibeden hands shook slightly. He'd seen death in the commons. He'd watched others starve to death because their mothers were too prideful to sell themselves. He'd seen livestock slaughtered for meals and yet the cruelty of the imperial city was unmatched.

"Titen, take the boys and go." Lord Raton grabbed the sword hanging over the mantel and tested its weight.

"Captain - I cannot leave you." Titen shook his head.

"I will buy you as much time as I can." Pulling open a vanity drawer, The lord grabbed a handgun and tossed it to Titen. "Protect Fel." With one last wink, the lord of the house left the dining room.

"Come!" Titen grabbed the young master by his collar and Tibeden ran to keep up with them. Titen pulled them out into the kitchen. "Leave this household!" He shouted at the kitchen maids as he yanked the young master out the back door. He led them through the alleyways, turning left and right so many times Tibeden knew if he fell too far behind he'd be lost and forgotten.

"Tibeden!" The young master called, reaching back to clasp Tibeden's hand as he started to lose speed. The buildings began to taper out as they reached a thick treeline.

"NO!" Tibeden let go of the young master's hand. He'd heard stories of the elite murdering children in the wood for sport.

"Tibeden, for fucksakes," Titen released the young master and threw Tibeden over his shoulder.

"No! I don't want to die!" Tibeden cried as branches struck his body and face. Giving up, he covered his eyes with his hands. He tried to think happy thoughts. Thoughts about his mother. About how on the coldest nights in the commons she would bury Tibeden under the few blankets they owned and cradle him. Even then, as she shivered, she would sing to him until he fell asleep.

Tibeden thought of the smoke and fire from the square. His heart had twisted painfully, but he'd suppressed it, knowing that his mother would never be cold again. Perhaps that was the ending all commoners should expect. Peace in The After.

"Felicias! Do not fall behind!" Titen called, pulling Tibeden out of his spiraling thoughts. "Hurry, Felicias."

"Felicias?" Tibden removed his hands, they were climbing the side of a mountain, Felicias slightly behind their guardian. "FELICIAS MOORE?"

"It's me, Tibeden... We'll speak on it later." Felicias spoke like an imperial child. Even knowing his name, Tibeden could not believe his eyes. The boy he'd grown up with was gone, and in his stead was a grand elite. Someone so clean and perfect had replaced his friend. "At the moment we must get to safety."

"Where'n we goin'?" Tibeden tried to turn to look at Titen's face, but he was slapped down. "I don't understand. I saw them take you. I saw..."

"Stop talking Tibeden." Titen hissed. "Just stop talking."

Doing as he was told, Tibeden watched as Felicias leapt over logs and scaled the mountain, keeping pace effortlessly with Titen. Was that what life in the imperial city offered? An opportunity to be the perfect version of oneself?

Tibeden's mother used to tell him the legend of Titen Moore, The Commoner that deceived the Emperor and all of the Imperial City. Tibeden had always wondered as a child if Felicias could do the same: after all, he was Moore. What were the chances that Felicias had thought the same? And now they were being saved by a man whose namesake was Tibeden's hero. His mother would have loved to know these things. Tibeden saved the information to tell her later on in prayer.

Eventually Titen stopped and Felicias collapsed, out of breath. Titen dropped Tibeden on the grass.

"Sanctuary." Titen heaved, out of breath. "Sanctuary, for us, Brother Iwen."

"You are welcomed, Lord Godrun."

Tibeden rolled over so he could see who Titen spoke to. An old man hunched under heavy robes opened his arms in a welcoming gesture.

"We run from the emperor's men." Titen picked Felicias up from the ground and motioned for Tibeden to join him.

"What's new?" Brother Iwen's aged face crinkled in amusement. The monastery behind him was built into the side of the mountain. Large lanterns floated above their heads, illuminating the pathway. "The sun is about to rise. Would you like to rest?"

"I would like nothing more. In one room, please." Titen passed the exhausted Felicias to a younger monk. Brother Iwen nodded slowly, reminding Tibeden of a desert turtle he'd once seen in a market.

The Monastery was decorated with furniture so fine and elaborate that Tibeden was afraid to touch it. Each monk wore a hood, but underneath seemed to hold different men from various regions. Tibeden could have sworn he saw the glint of a nose ring from a pirate.

"Tell me, young master - do you enjoy your secrets being revealed?" Brother Iwen stopped walking and turned to look at Tibeden pointedly.

"Uhm... Nay. I do-nuh."

"Then perhaps you could stop trying to see under my brother's hoods."

Ashamed, Tibeden bowed his head and followed Brother Iwen to a room that had already been prepared. Three bedrolls were spaced evenly apart. The curtains had been drawn to keep the light out. Felicias had already been placed in one of the bedrolls and was sleeping soundly.

"Rest, Lord Godrun." Brother Iwen gestured to one of the bedrolls. Titen undressed quickly and climbed in. "Young master?" Brother Iwen stepped out of the room and waited for Tibeden to follow him. "Moore's tend to sleep after they've experienced a large amount of stress."

"Really? All of them?" Tibeden forgot his uneasiness on leaving Titen and Felicias behind.

"Oh yes, have you ever been inside the Presentation Room in the castle?" Brother Iwen slid open a door, revealing a garden of fountains.

"Nossir."

"Well, should you ever get the chance, look up. There is a mural of the first Emperor Xo Vlsag and his best friend Alabaster Moore. They were sparring together. Alabaster believed that one needed to stay sharp even in times of peace. After the drawing that mural is based off of was done, Alabaster slept for three days." Brother Iwen slowly sat at the edge of a fountain spouting gold liquid.

"How do you know?" Tibeden took a seat at the fountain across from Brother Iwen.

"I drew it." Brother Iwen cackled. "I painted that mural too."

"That's impossible, sir." Tibeden knew that an emperor could live to be several hundred years old, but to be thousands of years old was improbable.

"These fountains - do you see the waters in them?"

Tibeden looked around and each fountain spouted a water of a different color.

"Minerals of the earth. We had no idea when we discovered these springs that they held infinity." Brother Iwen ran his hand through gold water.

"What is it like - not dying?"

"Exhausting." Brother Iwen sighed heavily. His bones rattling.

"Then why not stop drinking the waters?" Tibeden resisted the temptation to dip his head in the fountain to see if it would make his mind clearer.

"You have a knack for asking the right questions without wasting time." Brother Iwen laughed, his voice raspy.

"Apologies." Tibeden flushed for the second time.

"No.. no. Do not apologize. It's a gift. If one does not have the knowledge - then why not the quest for it?" Brother Iwen moved his gaze upward and Tibeden followed. A map was painted on the ceiling. The word "Kudan" ran across the center of the large piece of land. "Perhaps, I'm waiting for this world to right itself. When the grandchildren of Xo and Alabaster butted heads, they took the entire continent with them. Perhaps..." Brother Iwen chewed on nothing, his wrinkled mouth moving. "Bah, what does it matter? Let's get you some rest, young master."

Tibeden brushed off his clothing, surprised that the travel hadn't torn any of the fabric. When they reached the room set aside for them, Brother Iwen slid open the door and bade Tibeden a goodnight, before closing it behind him.

Tibeden was careful in removing his coat and trousers. Though they were dirty, they were still the finest clothing he'd ever owned.

"Be careful with what you learn from the monks." Titen spoke from under his covers causing Tibeden to lose his balance in fright. "Knowledge can never be sated."

Tibeden righted himself and climbed into his bedroll. "Did you know that brother Iwen is thousands of years old?"

"I did not." Titen yawned. "I would not share that information with anyone, either."

"Why is that?" Tibeden adjusted his pillow and laid back, reveling in its simple comfort.

"People kill for the chance at life."

Titen's response left Tibeden silent with worry. The last thing Tibeden wanted was for Brother Iwen to meet his end because Tibeden could not keep a secret. The boy debated on sharing his new knowledge of the Moore family, but after consideration he decided not to.

"Tibeden Secretkeeper." Tibeden tried out the surname, before scooting further into his bed. He thought of the rumors he'd heard of his mother in the marketplace. "Tibeden Secretkeeper son of Tibora The Brave."

"Sleep, Tibeden Secretkeeper." Titen muttered. Deciding he would keep every secret he was ever told, Tibeden yawned heartily before sleep took him.