Harrogye, Ausicaa

Kaz and "Cadet Waevers" submitted requests, separately, of course, for a leave of absence shortly after their remarkable discussion pertaining to lost princesses and doomsday premonitions. Over the next few days, Kaz reached several startling conclusions upon the precipice of the arrangement he was about to finalize with—no, not Cadet Waevers—Miss Catannach.

Brenna.

The very same Brenna whom Herra Catannach had called for so desperately during her final moments in that fateful Levings alleyway almost a year ago. As the dots connected in Kaz's mind, he chose not to reveal his ill-fated encounter with Herra to his gray-eyed companion—or any other information of consequence for that matter.

He wanted Miss Catannach to regard him as nothing more than a dedicated soldier whose only ambition in life was to serve in the Imperial Levish Navy. As Lady-Consort masil-Kepar often advised, Fortune favors those who learn to shroud their complexities within a guise of simplicity.

Sharp truths were best guarded behind easy smiles, and the girl's real value to his cause had yet to be determined. Until Kaz could confirm the validity behind her assertions, he saw no need to reveal more of his hand. He even questioned some parts of her sanity, especially when she rattled on about magical keys and centuries-old witches.

However, Kaz wasn't inclined to write her off entirely. Not at all, in fact.

He found her claims to the Levish and Zan thrones to be most extraordinary—yet, not impossible to believe. From his years of studying Levish history, politics, diplomacy, and the like, Kaz already knew of the Zan prince, Sen Vail. The young royal had indeed spent some time in the Imperial Palace during Emperor Warwell II's reign, and Kaz suddenly recalled how the prince's reputation seemed to precede his name...

---

The three sons of the Commander Admiral were sitting in Young Master Ariss' study for yet another morning lesson from Professor Lombarde. The bald, portly professor was in the midst of explaining the intricacies of Zan-Levish diplomacy. His nasally, monotone voice clung to the air like the quiet hum of a mosquito.

"Princess Aisen Vail married into the Imperial harem at the height of Emperor Warwell II's magnificent reign. This most unprecedented union between a Levish monarch and a Zan royal proved to be a stroke of genius in securing peace between Zan and Levose. The Zan princess' elder brother, Prince Sen Vail, was also present at the time. In customary Zan tradition, he had been tasked to protect and chaperone his sister until the day of the wedding ceremony. The practice of Warwell emperors marrying Zan princesses continues to this day. As we all know, Emperor Warwell III boasts three Imperial Consorts of his own from the Zan Republic—"

"My apologies, Professor, but I am finding all of this to be mind-numbingly dull," Young Master Givenue intervened in bored tones. "Please, please, please allow me to add some flavor to this stale lecture of yours!"

Professor Lombare blinked rapidly. He stammered, "Why, Young Master Givenue—"

Young Master Givenue cut him off again with a feral grin, "Did you know the foreign Zan princeling was rumored to be a bit of a rascal? According to my sources, he engaged in an illicit affair with a high-born lady from the Emperor's court! That was why he was booted out of the palace the day after his sister's wedding. The prince was rushed back home to marry a Zan countess—who was far below his ranks, by the way—within the month to quell the fires he stoked with his lady love in Levings..."

Young Master Ariss glared in his direction. "Only a foolish, flapping tongue like yours would prattle on about such nonsense, Danverse!"

Young Master Danverse sighed dramatically. "Dear brother, why must you always reject every ounce of fun that comes your way? I was merely trying to liven up the atmosphere. Live it a little, laugh a little, why don't you?"

Young Master Ariss rolled his eyes. "At times, I envy your denseness of mind. I truly do. How nice it must be to exist in a constant state of pointless inanity!"

"Now, now, my good young masters," Professor Lombarde declared tentatively as he tried to regain his authority. "Let us not bicker amongst ourselves...."

---

At the time, Kaz had observed the scene play out before him with a detached sense of amusement. Unlike the elder Young Master Ariss, though, Kaz wasn't as dismissive about the petty gossip that often erupted from Young Master Givenue's mouth. The boy was notoriously careless with his speech while being well-connected through the House of Givenue, so, more often than not, hearsay from him was almost always based on shadows of truth and whispers of reality.

Over the years, Kaz had been careful to file away these nuggets of chatter from his half-brother. One never knew when they might prove relevant, after all. Like now, perhaps. He wondered if Miss Catannach was indeed the by-product of this presumed affair between the Zan prince and his secret Levish lover. He also wondered if Grand-Consort Ariss was searching for the princess as well, except that she had been misinformed about the child's gender...

Kaz recently received a very telling telegram from Lady-Consort masil-Kepar as well. The message informed him that she would be sending two of her men to Harrogye to further investigate "Cadet Waevers." They would arrive in about a weeks' time. Clearly, his birth mother sensed something of significance regarding this Zan-Levish "boy" he had been reporting to her about nonstop. Otherwise, a woman like her would never waste time or resources to dispatch men all the way from Sindor to Ausicaa. There was simply too much speculation swirling around Brenna Catannach from too many high profile parties for Kaz to ignore his instincts.

Granted, Kaz sometimes wondered if Miss Catannach could be putting on a show of her own to mislead him. She certainly didn't appear to be dim-witted or half as affected as her cousin. On the contrary, she seemed rather bright in her own convoluted manner, but with it came an air of innocence that was unseasoned, unpracticed, and unrestrained enough to be used to others' advantage—hopefully, to his advantage.

If the girl proved to be exactly who she claimed to be, then Kaz determined to never let her out of his sight again.

He wouldn't turn her over to the Grand-Consort.

He wouldn't turn her over to Lady-Consort masil-Kepar or her men.

Kaz had meant every word he said days ago.

You might be surprised by how much I would like to believe in these absurd theories of yours. Especially the revelation about your lineage. If it is true, then it may forever shift the political landscape of Zan and Levose.

A princess bearing pure Zan and Levish blood was simply too valuable to give up. There would be players coming for her from all corners of the Empire and the Republic. Some would seek to possess the girl and use her for their own political ascension. Some would seek to kill her, again, for their own political ascension.

Kaz wouldn't let them take her. He would keep the girl for himself and use her to reclaim everything that had ever been denied him. He could take back his position at the Academy. He could pursue the rights to his father's titles and wealth. He could ascend the ranks in the Imperial Levish Navy or even pursue a career as a High Councilman in the Imperial Court.

A tenebrous beast began to form inside of Kaz. He thought of all the opportunities that had been stolen from him since childhood. Kaz brooded over the suffering he had endured at the hands of those who deemed him inferior for his half-Sindori blood, for being the youngest son of a Sindori-born consort...

Indeed, if the girl proved to be exactly who she claimed to be, then he would no longer need to bow to anyone.

Kaz needed more time to conduct research—to ascertain whether Miss Catannach spoke of fact or fiction—and formulate a plan to outmaneuver the Grand-Consort, Lady-Consort masil-Kepar, and anyone else who might be involved at this point. Until then, he intended to keep Miss Catannach close, earn her trust, and work to throw everyone else off their scent.

Kaz recognized that he was taking a serious gamble by placing all of his hopes into an almost stranger, but the potential reward that dangled at the end of this particular leap of faith was, quite frankly, too advantageous to pass up. Kaz resolved to learn everything about Miss Catannach, and he would begin by accompanying her on the trip she had planned for them to her childhood village.

A day later, the Lieutenant approved both of their leave requests, and, on the following morning, Kaz and Miss Catannach set off for Lachsea together.