Draining

"I said Sir Taran was up to something all along. I knew it. I just knew it!" Mairwen paced in a once quiet sitting room of Duchess Ashleigh's manor. "I have been telling everyone for months. No one would listen!"

"I listened," Alaron mumbled under his breath. He knew better than to interrupt his twin's dramatic tirade. She needed something to focus on. And she was very focused indeed.

"Hmph, at least you have proof now that Taran is connected to the attack on the palace. That man won't get away with this. Ah! He took my friend and tried to kill my mother and brother. He...he infuriates me! I hope you issued a warrant for his arrest!"

After a returning to the manor and a short night of rest, the bleary eyed visitors from Valiant (along with an eager halfling) assembled in the private sitting room of Duchess Ashleigh for breakfast.

With Ashleigh rounding out the group, they had spent the morning exchanging every manner of information in great detail. Hearing the fate of Velia, who was within a year of Mairwen's age and had died far too young, angered the princess to no end.

'How could someone treat another person as disposable? And she was related to him by blood, no less!' When added to the man's other transgressions, Mairwen could only come to one conclusion. He was pure evil.

Devrim could see the young lady was at her limit. He could not blame her after hearing what she had been through. Part of the Emperor wanted to shield the woman from any more heartache, but it seemed unwise to hold back anything.

"Yes, I issued an arrest order for Sir Taran. Though I do not think it will do much good. They would have to find him to arrest him and that seems nearly impossible."

"You mentioned a note from Dania that pointed to his location..." Gandr chewed on his cheek as he sat in a highbacked, forest green recliner. "I don't suppose we could see it?"

All the wind went out of Mairwen's angry sails as her shoulders slumped. "The note was ruined beyond repair by the rain. I'm just glad it wasn't with my bag or the lizards would have gotten it like they did the..." she paused.

"Like they got the magic mirror. Do not worry. We trust your recollection of what it said." The Emperor reached out for his daughter's hand. "We cannot always control the hand we are dealt," he told her. After years of extraordinary things happening to him, he could say this with certainty. "All we can do is make the best off the cards we have."

"I suppose that is true.." Mariwen walked around the couch to her father and collapsed next to him. "I never pegged you for a gambler, father," she said resting her head on his shoulder.

The grey-eyed man remembered how many times she had done that very same action as a child when the problems of the world weighed on her mind. The princess had gotten bigger and so, it seemed, had the problems.

Devrim sighed and wrapped his arm around the young woman, gracing her with a melancholy smile. "Me? A gambler? Hardly. I learned that expression from Junayd, of course."

The Emperor looked up at the advisor, who was suddenly grinning.

"I pride myself on having made and lost a dozen fortunes, yet somehow I always manage to come out of it alright. I don't let the cards control me." Junayd placed his hand on his chest.

The winsome former soldier never risked more than he was willing to lose, and when something was taken from him, he always found a way to bounce back. It was that unyielding spirit that had landed him as an advisor to the Emperor, and he did not regret a moment of that time.

Junayd straightened his official cape over his tunic. "We will make the best of this situation too, Your Highness. We have the cards we need, we just have to find a way to play them properly."

Nodding, Devrim thanked the advisor for his vote of confidence. "Now what did exactly did Dania say she needed?"

Mairwen closed her eyes and reread the letter in her mind. "She needs a lot of magical water."

"Then I think Alaron had the right idea. Only the lake outside the land of magic is easily accessible to humans." The Emperor thought for a moment. "Unless those creatures let him inside the barrier, but my gut says that they did not."

"Then we should head to the lake as soon as possible," Mairwen blurted before she remembered her husband. "At least, someone should go…" she said more calmly. Her heart was divided. How was she supposed to choose between two people who needed her?

"I do not feel comfortable splitting my forces just now. The last of the reinforcements should be coming over on boats any time now. We have to defend Oblivion from the incoming attack before we can move on." Devrim was firm on that point.

"I can go and scout it out," Alaron offered. "I don't know how much of an advantage I will be here with so many capable fighters. Mairwen may have called me a one man army, but you have an actual army at your disposal as well as Gandr's power. I do think I am more help if I am able to find Taran and report back to you."

The Guardian was trying to make his case, but really there was no need. He no longer answered to the crown of Valiant; he answered only to the absent Fates. Beyond that, Devrim was already nodding in agreement.

"Guardians were made for covert movement, and I do think Justum has trained you well. While I believe that you would be an asset in the battle, I want to cut off the head of this snake as soon as possible. If you are successful, hopefully the battle at Oblivion will be the only battle fought in this war." The Emperor smiled at his son.

Devrim had been a little shocked that the duchess had so easily identified the lost prince, but now he was glad, for the Guardian could remove his hood now that all six members in the room knew who he was.

"Thank you, Father," Alaron dipped his head as his silver eyes shone. "I will not let you down."

"I know you won't," the grey-eyed man answered. If not for the gravity of the situation, the scene would have seemed peaceful. The 'peace' was short-lived.

Alaron lifted his hood a moment before there was a knock at the door. Ashleigh bid them enter, and a servant came in and bowed before his mistress. "Your Grace..."

"I know, I started to hear it a moment ago. Are the boats clear of the water?" Ashleigh stood and smoothed her dress.

The servant folded his hands behind his back respectfully. His calm demeanor suggested that he had anticipated this question. "The lookout said he saw the green flag wave from the docks before I came to get you."

"Very good. Thank you, Thyo." Ashleigh motioned to her guests. "Things are changing very quickly, it seems. I do think you all should come with me."

Mairwen sat up quickly. "What's happening?" Her pulse quickened when she saw the duchess's calm demeanor had become more determined and slightly agitated.

"It is better if I show you. We can view it from the top of the manor." The thin older woman moved to the door and paused for the others to follow.

Their curiosity piqued, the group followed the woman through the halls up to the highest point in the manor.

"The manor is the only thing taller than the walls. Whoever built this castle wanted to be able to see outside." Ashleigh gave them a history lesson as they walked. This particular tower was in the heart of the manor yet was separated by a heavy metal door. Her theory was that it was used as a last defense by some king of old. Though whether or not it had worked was lost to time.

As the group reached the iron barrier, they could see what she meant. It was truly massive and would not be breachable by normal human means. Fortunately for them, the forbidding door was sitting slightly ajar. With a bow to his leaders, the guard at the entrance pulled it open for them to come inside.

Ashleigh led them up a winding staircase. Its circular path seemed to go on forever. Fortunately they were all in good physical shape or they might never have reached the top. It still wasn't easy. But because his focus was elsewhere, the Guardian barely noticed the climb.

Alaron's acute hearing had been picking up on a sound since before the duchess had mentioned it. At first he had assumed it was just the wind. As he passed one of the windows on the stair, he realized he was wrong. Outside, the flags on the palace seemed still, but the sound was even louder out in the open air. 'What can cause such a rushing sound?' he wondered.

At last, the group reached the uppermost level and exited through a hatch to stand on the circular flat roof. The area was barely big enough for all of them even when they pressed their bodies against the parapet. The lookout was surprised to have so many guests, but with the duchess's permission, he ducked down into the stairwell to give the others more space.

Mairwen looked in all directions. She, too, could hear the whooshing but not place its source. "What is it?" she asked Ashleigh.

The woman pointed downstream. "As you see things are about to change very quickly..."

That was when the princess focused on the water's edge. Her eyes opened wide.

The river around them was draining. And quickly.