FALDREY

Faldrey spent the last five days in anticipation, anxiety and love. Mostly love. His telepathic connection with his lover had returned, reinforced and more powerful than it had ever been.

As their connection grew stronger, so did Faldrey's water Stoichi. He began to do things he never imagined he could, he also felt Eren grow a lot stronger than he was when he saved him from his deranged sister.

The anticipation and anxiety rising from the note he'd gotten five days ago, but that was all over now. Today was the faithful day, he was finally going to find out who left that note in his pillowcase.

He had informed Aphrodite about it after thoroughly thinking it through. He had countless reasons to trust her, one of them being the fact she knew almost everything about him. Everything except the deepest secrets which he had just recently told his lover. On the plus side, if something was to happen to him then she knew exactly where to start to look for him.

They had said a prayer together to Zaal before she went to her side of the servant's quarters. It was midnight now. Faldrey knew because despite not being a fire Dakyre, he could feel the warm kindness of the fire sprites, which were the complete opposites to most fire Dakyres in the Tribe, since the spell suppressing his Stoichi wore off.

Faldrey sneaked out of the servant's quarters with a strap keg filled with water hung around his shoulders, he needed to be safe and protected even though the person who sent the letter had a message from his mother. And knew his mother's name.

He sped through the soft green grass that surrounded the servant's quarters so stealthily, before making it to the hard gravel floor of the pass which was the large demarcation between the Green House and the servant's quarters.

It had been raining heavily almost on a daily basis, as if warning the land of a looming danger, but tonight was clear and the bright waxing gibbous moon lit the night sky, making it quite easy to see.

Getting to the Green House he first scanned through the terrace, but it was empty. He walked up to the window of the actual greenhouse, peeking in through the transparent glass.

The transparent roof made it possible for the ample light of the moon to penetrate into the room and light it up, just enough for Faldrey to see the extravagantly posh and upscale flowers being grown in there.

Faldrey could recognise some, while the rest looked as foreign as ever. He knew Goliath grew some vile flowers which he used for his awful practices in there.

Still admiring the beauty of the greenhouse, almost forgetting the reason he was there, he heard a voice call out his name.

"Hello, young Faldrey."

He snapped his head around with so much force, almost jumping into action with both his hands clutching the keg around his upper body. But the view of the person standing before him made him freeze in his action. He couldn't believe his eyes, and he couldn't believe his real name had just left the person's mouth.

The only person in the entire castle who was supposed to know his name was Eren, so why did this person just call him by his name.

"How do you know my name?" He shivered, fear that he might be in for another near death experience clogging his lungs and making it difficult to breathe.

The person walked slowly, with their hands raised in the air, signalling that they weren't a threat. Taking a sit on one of the benches in the terrace, they motioned for Faldrey to come sit beside them.

However, he didn't take a step from where he stood, he just watched with skeptical eyes as they walked so calmly.

"I'm not sitting beside you, you haven't answered my question. How do you know my name?" He repeated himself, getting a bit more impatient.

"I did tell you I've a message from your mother, dain't I?" The person said with a smile.

"You're the one who sent me that note?" Faldrey frowned, wondering how in the realms the person sitting just a few metres away from him, knew his mother.

"Indeed I was. It's nice to officially meet you. I'm certain you already know who I am."

"No, no I truly don't. Who are you and how do you know my mother's name and my real name? You shouldn't know that!" His voice rose a bit as he neared the end of his statement.

"So many questions and so many strong emotions coming from you. Well that is very much expected, you've been through what most Dakyres wouldn't survive in just a year and some months."

"Answer my questions! You talk too much dross! Just like you do in the Throne room!" Faldrey's impatience was almost sky-high, his temper daring to reach the same height as well.

"I admit I talk a lot sometimes and tonight I've quite a lot to tell you, so why don't you please come and take a sit."

Faldrey was breathing hard and heavy, his temper rising but he struggled to get it under control. Still clutching the keg in his hands he slowly walked over to the bench and sat well away from the fire Dakyre sitting beside him.

"Good, now let's start over, shall we?" The person held out a hand for a handshake, "I'm Ursa, special adviser to the Tal Dane. It's a pleasure to officially meet you Faldrey Kieslaer."

Faldrey looked down at the hand doubtingly, he didn't want to take it. Almost every fire Dakyre he knew had hands that burnt the sensitive skin of whomever they touched. His former mistress for example. The only hands that felt right to hold was that of his lover, Eren.

Slowly reaching out, Faldrey took the hand. It wasn't burning or over heating, it was the normal temperature of any live Dakyre.

"Great! Now I feel we've established a certain level of trust, I'll answer all the questions I know you have."

"Starting from how you know my mother," he stated.

Ursa cleared his throat and then started.

"Well you see, your mother, her sister, Berileth, Zeldrius, and I were all friends during the first raid we experienced. Your mother's father was from the Red Stoichi Tribe and her mother was a Crescent Moon. Your aunt, Taneri, turned out to be a fire Stoichi Dakyre while your mother was gifted with an affinity for water. They remained in the Blazing Sun, your grandfather special adviser to the Tal Dane at the time, Zeldrius's father. But the council of Lords disapproved of what your grandfather had done, he married outside the Tribe and was therefore executed by the order of the Tal Dane of the time, Zeldrius's father. Your grandmother was then sent back to her Tribe with her daughter who was gifted with an affinity for water and that was Zaneri, while Taneri was kept here in the capital whe—" Ursa continued to explain but was interrupted by a very confused Faldrey.

"You're trying to tell me that my grandfather was a Blazing sun and the special adviser to the Tal Dane, and my aunt, was a fire Stoichi Dakyre?" Faldrey inquired, with wide eyes. The information was so overwhelming for him.

"Yes, your grandfather was. Zeldrius became the Tal Dane after his father transcended to the Otherrealm, he adored his father and really wanted to be like him. The obsession and power finally got to his head. He was originally supposed to marry Taneri and I, Berileth because we were lovers at the time. But Zeldrius's taste for power made him force Berileth to marry him, because he wanted his children to become descendants of Karth, thereby giving them the power to wield the merciless blue flame."

Faldrey held out his hands, motioning for Ursa to stop talking.

"If Zeldrius took your lover from you why are you still his special adviser? Why did you just forgive him like that?" Faldrey was beyond puzzled, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

"Forgiveness is most times a myth to some people, I'm one of those people. I didn't forgive Zeldrius, I haven't forgiven him. I'm his special adviser because he chose me and the Tal Dane's decision is absolute over the red sands of the Tribe. I'm obliged to obey." Ursa noticed Faldrey's frown had deepened, but he smiled and continued while Faldrey listened attentively. "Zaneri and her mother were outcasts in the Crescent Moon because of the atrocity they accused your grandmother of committing; wedding a fire Dakyre, betrayals of the realm, and having children with him. But she eventually met Lancelot, your father, a very good man if I must say, who took them in. Your mother and your grandmother lived with Lancelot and his family, we still communicated through letters."

"What letters?" Faldrey scooted closer to Ursa, "I thought nothing makes it across the lava sea? Well nothing except the Westian floating metal crafts," he corrected himself with a sad tone.

Ursa laughed at his naïvety.

"You'll be surprised at the number of good fire Dakyres in the Red Stoichi Tribe who hate our alliance with the Westies. Well some hate it out of fear that it'll be our turn soon, while some hate it because we're betraying our own kind for foreigners. By the way, trade occurs between tribes, a few fire Dakyres have people in other tribes so letters can be passed across if you've the right connections."

"Why aren't these fire Dakyres protesting against the alliance then? If you ask me you all seem very comfortable with the way things are," Faldrey shrugged, interrupting Ursa again.

He chuckled softly and clicked his tongue. "Things are not that simple young Faldrey. Till date Eren is the only one in the royal family who has spoken up against our alliance with the Westies. None of the Lords have spoken up against it, not even once. That is why Eren has a scar to remind him not to disrespect oaths and agreements older than even his father can remember."

Faldrey heaved and pressed his fingers against his temples, rubbing and soothing the pain he was starting to feel. "So you're saying my grandmother crossed the lava sea just to get married to my grandfather, a fire Dakyre who was the special adviser to the Tal Dane of the time?" His eyebrows were still furrowed in confusion as he spoke.

"No, she didn't cross," Ursa emphasised, "she was hoisted and taken into the castle as a servant. Your grandfather fell in love with her and they had twin daughters; Zaneri, your mother and Taneri, her twin sister."

"So what happened to my aunt then? Why isn't she still here in the Red Stoichi Tribe?" Faldrey inquired. He was catching on slowly, but effectively while trying to put pieces together.

"During the first raid with Zeldrius as the Tal Dane, Taneri crossed over to Delta to warn her sister and her family. She never made it back, so it was assumed she died during the raid. Didn't your father tell you this?" Ursa tilted his head to the side, scanning Faldrey's puzzled expression

"No, I don't think he…" his mind ran back to the night his father had the outburst. How he had shed a tear in their presence when he complained about being too weak to save his family, how all he could do was to take Zaneri and run to the sea. "I-I think... I think he did," Faldrey stuttered. His mind was working on a lot at once. "So my aunt died during the last two raids, Zeldrius married your lover and my mother was driven out of the Red Stoichi Tribe because she was the water Stoichi Dakyre daughter of the executed special adviser?" Faldrey put all the pieces together, seeing a clearer picture of what Ursa was trying to portray. "Oh, and Eren's grandfather ordered the execution of my grandfather," he added lastly.

"Yes, that's basically the summary of everything. That's how your mother and her twin sister were separated from us," Ursa answered.

"How did you know Zaneri was my mother?" Faldrey narrowed his eyes at Ursa.

"From the very first day you were brought into the throne room, I had strong suspicions. You have brown long hair like that of your mother, you've her eyes," Ursa looked Faldrey up and down before settling back on his eyes, "and you've her slender figure," he concluded, taking into notice all of Faldrey's striking features.

"If you had suspicions why didn't you save me from the very beginning?!" Faldrey unknowingly yelled out of annoyance. He thought if Ursa had known his mother for so long why didn't he save him.

"They were just suspicions, I wasn't sure. And trust me being the Young Mistress's maiden servant was the best treatment you could get, there are worse things that could've happened to you. I kept watching you until a year ago when I got my first letter from your mother," he gently held the boy's hand in his, trying to calm him down.

"My mother died during the last raid, how did you get a message from her?" Tears had began to leave his eyes.

"She did not, her desire to keep her son safe kept her alive. I first wrote to her, telling her about a boy who looked so much like her in the Tal Dane's castle, describing your features to her in the letter. I figured if you were here then your entire family had to be dead or taken away by the Westian army, but I was shocked when I received a reply from her, confirming you were her son, Faldrey," he explained.

"Why didn't you step up then? Why didn't you meet me and maybe given me a better life? Why didn't you even try to save me from all the suffering I've had to go through?" Faldrey was outright bawling now.

Ursa pulled him closer and laid his head on his chest, fondling his long hair.

"You were still the Young Mistress's servant then, but after the fight the royal twins had over you and Zeldrius commanded you be sent out of the capital, I had to try my best to keep you in the castle. That was the least I could do in that situation. If I had been too obvious and Zeldrius had found out you were Zaneri's son from me you would've seen a lot worse." He kept stroking his hair, soothing his childhood friend's nearly broken child.

"Then why are you coming forward now? Am I not still in danger if Zeldrius finds out that Zaneri is my mother?" He asked in between sobs, wiping his tears with the back of his hand.

Ursa pulled him away from his chest gently and held his arms so he could look straight into his eyes as he spoke.

"I'm coming forward now because here is not safe anymore, young Faldrey. The Sphinx is back and we've to leave before their wrath hits us," Ursa said in a stern clear tone, making the severity of the issue obvious.

Faldrey tried to stifle his sobs, everything had already happened and the past couldn't be changed. But now he knew his mother was still alive, going back to meet her became of utmost importance to him.

"What's the Sphinx?" Faldrey sniffled.

"Oh child, did your mother tell you nothing except legend stories?"

"She did tell me to always step up and help those in need when it's in my power to help them," he retorted nonchalantly, staring blankly at the night lit green field ahead of them.

"Faldrey," Ursa laughed, "you've no idea all I've done for you. Remember the group of guards who forced you to their chambers and made you dance for them?"

Faldrey's eyebrows furrowed on their own. Only Aphrodite knew about that.

"How do you know about that?"

"I've been watching and helping you more than you think, and now I'm here to help you again. In a fortnight, which started counting from the day I sent you that note, a battalion of Dakyrian warriors from all the tribes, an army put together by The Sphinx is attacking the capital. We've to be safe in Delta before then."

Faldrey couldn't exactly understand what Ursa was talking about.

"How're they coming to the capital and what is The Sphinx? You still haven't answered my questions," Faldrey's whole face was contorted in confusion, he was struggling to catch up with the adult Dakyre sitting beside him.

"The Sphinx is the order of the most powerful Dakyres from all the Tribes, they'd been inactive for centuries since the raids became too frequent, but now they're back and they put together an army which is coming for the Tal Dane and his Lords. The Mustard Tree, the Crescent Moon and the Floating Mountains warriors all put together are coming for the capital. The Tal Dane won't know what hit him," Ursa explained further but Faldrey was still trailing slowly behind.

"How do you know about this?" Faldrey inquired, watching Ursa cautiously.

"I received another letter from your mother yesterday, she wants her son far away from the castle and safe with her before the attack."

"Is my mother a member of The Sphinx?" Faldrey raised an eyebrow.

"She's not, but she's involved in the treaty. That's why she's providing us with all the information we need to save ourselves. All the information I need to save you, her only son."

"And what if they don't win? The Sphinx that is, what if they lose to the Red Stoichi Tribe?" Faldrey queried, fear and uncertainty hinting in his voice.

Ursa laughed almost mockingly at Faldrey's naïvety. Taking the boy's small hands into his, he started.

"Even if the Tal Dane and all the Lords in the Tribe are given five years to build their own army, they wouldn't stand the slightest chance against the wrath of The Sphinx. This is the first time an army as powerful as this is being formed, the capital wouldn't last an hour under the siege," he spoke, slowly and clearly, while keeping his gaze fixed on Faldrey's.

"How does The Sphinx know so much?" Faldrey kept the questions coming.

"There are members of the Sphinx even here in the Red Stoichi Tribe, and they know all the Lords are currently in the capital because of the frequent meetings, they know this is the best time to strike."

"If the castle is about to be brought down, why are you not trying to save every foreign servant in it?"

A sad smile broke on Ursa's face as he gently squeezed Faldrey's hand.

"Trust me, if I could, I would. But I can only save you and I vowed to Zaneri that I would bring you back to her safely."

Faldrey's mind was racing, if the castle was going to fall then he couldn't just leave all of his friends behind.

"I can save two people and I'm not going anywhere without them, so if you truly want to save me, you've two more Dakyres on your hands," Faldrey stated firmly.

"Eren and who is the second Dakyre?" Ursa asked like he'd been expecting this from the beginning.

"How did you know I was going to mention Eren?" Faldrey stiffened and withdrew his hand from Ursa's grip.

"I told you I've been watching you, young Faldrey. I've seen you sneak of to the watchtower near the rear wall for your little trysts with the Young Tal Dane," Ursa put a hand on Faldrey's shoulder. "Is the earth Dakyre girl the second person you want to save?"

Faldrey stared at the man in front of him in shock, before finally opening his mouth to talk.

"Yes, Eren and Aphrodite must come with me. I can't leave them here to die under the attack."

Ursa smiled at the boy in front of him with proud eyes.

"You still have a big, good heart even after everything you've been through and that is your strong, unbreakable spirit. It's also perfect that you know everything and everyone in the capital who stands in their way will die," Ursa paused and rubbed the bridge of his nose. "But there's a little problem, it might be difficult convincing Eren to come with us. The boy still loves his family despite all they've put him through."

Faldrey heaved a sigh. "I'll try my best."

"You've less than four days to do that or we're all sitting ducks like the Tal Dane and the rest of the Lords in the capital." Ursa stated, reminding Faldrey of how crucial the little time they had was.

"Isn't Goliath going to pose a big problem to The Sphinx and the battalion of Dakyres?"

Ursa smiled and leaned back on the bench. "First of all, no. Even Goliath wouldn't stand a chance to one third of the Dakyrian army. Secondly, Goliath has been taken care of," he spoke, looking up to the sky.

"What do you mean by that?" Faldrey inquired, adjusting and swallowing thickly.

"He has been poisoned, and the effects kills him slowly. He wouldn't even notice until it's too late. Let's just hope he doesn't go probing around my mind and the minds of my accomplices before then. He's been onto me for a while now," Ursa sighed, looking up at the sky.

Faldrey wasn't expecting any of this, he thought he was on to a very basic life which would end in a very basic way, but this was far from basic. His mother was alive and he was going to meet her with the people he cared the most about.

The news invigorated him, but he knew there were countless obstacles in their way.