Sara had always wondered why people feared Damien, without a doubt he was the best swordsman in Silva, no one could match his wit and strength in battle. But he was a withdrawn soul, one who would rather stay silent than engage in social formalities, hence he had no friends and no allies, or so Sara thought.

In her opinion, Richard should have been the more revered between the two, with his active engagement in politics and the strong allies he had gained, she felt he had more control of Silva than a reticent Damien, whose brutality was his only support.

But now, as she stood in front of him under the cover of the night, she realized how wrong she had been. There was every reason to fear a silent observer.

"Join me to dethrone the king." he had said, the moment she stepped into the garden. She should have known, Damien never did anything without benefit, that was what made him terrifying, even more than the crown prince.

"You want to be king. Ha, you have always wanted to be king. You've hid your ambition and greed behind your steel, but I now see through you." said Sara, raising her dress, she sat on the boulder letting her dress fall around her legs.

Damien laughed, "it's good that you see through me, there will be no pretence between us. I want to be king and you have the power to make me one."

Sara turned sharply, "Are you admitting to the murders. You killed those people, didn't you? So you can seize the throne?"

"I may have done a lot of unspeakable things, but I would never go on a murder spree." he walked the few steps to where she sat and squatted, unflinching Sara looked him back in the eyes, "I want to find the murderer as much as you and the brotherhood."

"How-" Sara was at a loss for words.

"Don't look so surprised, I know everything there is to know about the brotherhood, and I know they called you here. I also know about the replica heirloom and the notes. The brotherhood feels threatened, a small mistake on their part and the king would have a reason to label them traitors. Help me become king, and there will no need to hide their identities."

"How do you know?" Sara felt stupid asking him that question, of course a spy would be the only reason he knew about the brotherhood.

"Tell Selene she has traitors in her pack, much sealing of lips is needed." he replied instead, with that same cold gaze.

"What do you want?"

Damien rised to his feet, and folded his hands to the former position, behind his back. "Take me to your council, convince them to join forces with me in forcing the king to abdicate the throne. My plans are much better than that petty rebellion they had, and their place in Silva will forever be secured too."

Sara also rised to her feet, "And if I don't?" she asked.

His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled, revealing a straight dentition. Sara had always known he was handsome, his dark brown hair always appeared glossed, and his eyes reminded her of the late queen, it shined brightly contrasting with his cold face.

"Treason, murder, attempted assassination..." he drawled, "those are a few of the many things the brotherhood's council and the rest of the members could be executed for. It would be a blood bath. Would you sit and watch your mother's first love cease to exist, I didn't think you were that heartless Sara. And what about Alexander, my father's most trusted guard and his father, Bertram, one of the king's aide?"

"Damien." Sara warned

"What do you think the king will do once he finds out that the two people he trusts the most, are members of the same secret guild that tried to dethrone him." he chuckled, "I don't even want to imagine the terror it would cause."

"Have you always been this way?"

"I'm not the villain Sara, we both know the king is too sick in the head to rule Silva, he doesn't even know how to put an end to the killings. And Richard? He only has a mind for art, he's not fit to be king. I am the best candidate here and-" he paused.

Sara raised an eyebrow, slowly he turned to look at her window, it was dark but she could see the outline of the balcony.

Continuing he said, "I can help you find the killer. He's right here in the safety of the palace. Fishing him out will be as quick as I can draw out my blade." then he turned back to Sara, "what will it be then? Are you with me or against me?"

Sara was the bait, Damien was the captor but who would be captured. In a world like Silva where everything was connected and one could only survive if there was an ally, someone powerful. Could she risk it all and trust a blood thirsty cousin? Perhaps that was the only way to find the killer? But, would it also find her mother's killer?"

Sara hesitated for as long as she could, there was no denying that Damien had insiders in the brotherhood, he could rip it apart and he could mend it. He was the powerful ally, but with his support came the cost.

Nothing is free in this world Sara, most especially here in Silva. Her mother had once said.

"I-" she started.

"You know, I'm feeling generous," he said with a smirk, "I'll give you a week. Make your decision by then." He suddenly leaned in and placed a swift kiss on her lips, so swift it felt like the blowing wind.

With that, he turned to leave the garden but then stopped and turned back, "Be more careful, will you Sara? We wouldn't want you dying just few weeks to your arrival. And I'll have the first dance at the ball."

"Do something for me then."

Damien cocked his head, it reminded her of Cece.

"Adams, he's one of your guards I think, if you could raise him up the ranks..." she said.

Damien laughed, he seemed to be doing it a lot that night making him look more like his age. "You never ask for favours Sara, what are you planning?" he stared at her for a while longer, then shrugged, "I guess there's no harm in promoting... Adams is it?" he said as he left the garden.

Sara leaned back on the tree after he left, her mind in turmoil.

"That was unexpected." a quiet voice said.

Sara felt her heart in her mouth, "Goodness!" she said after turning back to see the intruder. "Daya? What are you-how did you get in here?"

Daya smiled sheepishly, tugging the back of her hair. She had come out from behind the tree, clearly she had listened in on the entire conversation. How she had managed to hide unnoticed, baffled Sara.

"What will you do about Prince Damien?" she asked, coming closer to Sara.

"Nothing." Sara said almost immediately. Daya gave her a disbelieving look and Sara felt her heart beat fast at the innocent look. Her mind began to think of some sort of excuse, how much had Daya heard?

"I mean, he kissed you, well it was just a brush of the lips but a kiss nonetheless. And you'll do nothing about it?" Daya said exasperatingly, her eyes shone in excitement.

Sara stared at her for a while, "You didn't hear our conversation?" she asked.

"What conversation? I came to find you since I thought you would be in the garden, and I got to see Prince Damien steal a kiss from you."

Sara inwardly breathed a sigh of relief, "You didn't see clearly." she replied, glad for Daya's obliviousness.

"I'm sure I did, what if he asks you to marry him?"

"He is my cousin!"

"Second cousin. You are distantly related enough to be romantically involved." Daya reasoned, she linked her arms with Sara and began to lead a baffled and relieved Sara out of the garden.

Sara didn't reply, what was she to say anyway? Her cousin had kissed her, though a mere brush of lips didn't really count as a kiss, did it? Her mind was more focused on what he had asked, she pondered on her next step. What did he think she could do? She didn't want to think of Selene's reaction. She refocused her attention back to Daya to hear her tattling off.

"......and so that was how I found myself to be here, as your companion." she was saying.

"What companion?" Sara couldn't hide her confusion.

Daya had a disappointed look, "The king asked me and some other maidens to be your companions. You weren't listening, were you?"

"I don't need companions." Sara said slowly, as though making a conscious effort to make Daya understand.

"Yes you do." Daya retorted, "you have to act like royalty now. It's only proper."

Like a true defender of propriety, Daya began to list the reasons why having companions would be beneficial to Sara, she was quite upset about the attack on Sara, but Sara assured her with great difficulty that it wasn't serious. With Daya's chatter and Sara's contemplation, they got to her room quickly. That was when Sara remembered something she should have asked of immediately.

"Where's Cece?"

Daya laughed quietly, "I thought you'd never ask. She was such an angel, though there were times she tried to run off, not sure where she thought she could find you though." she opened the door for Sara, "rest now, you'll see her tomorrow." then shut the door, leaving Sara with the quietness of her thoughts.

The next day came with a weight on her feet, sleepily she tried to nudge it off, but it pressed down with more pressure then it became wetness. It felt like, like, a tongue licking her feet?

Meow, meow

Sara opened her eyes and the sight in front of her pleased her immensely. "Cece!" she wrapped her arms around her furry cat, bringing her close to her chest. Cece's paws gently pushed at her night garment, Sara chuckled. Daya had done a good job, Cece glowed past her white furs and her eyes shone like a sea glass.

"Did you have a good sleep your highness?" Sara looked up at the voice, she hadn't realized she was not alone, with the same silvery voice and serene smile, Ingrid stood in front of Sara's bed with a bundle of clothes in her hand. Sara briefly wondered if anything could anger the woman.

"We have drawn your bath, and here are some clothes we think you'd like to wear today." Ingrid snapped her fingers and Sara watched as a group of three girls waltzed into the room, Daya being one of them. Two maids followed behind, their eyes not leaving the ground. They curtsied.

Sara stared at them, then dropping Cece on the bed, she got to her feet and wrapped a coat around herself. "What is this Ingrid?"

"The king has requested them to be your companions." she replied, pointing at the three highborn looking girls, dressed to perfection, even Daya looked her best.

"I don't need companions." Sara turned her attention back to Ingrid. She was beginning to miss the privacy her cottage had offered her.

"It is not a matter of choice, you are royalty and should be treated as such."

Sara sighed, "Call Millicent." she said to one of the maids, "the rest of you are dismissed." the maid rushed out.

"Princess Sara, I know you have become accustomed to life in the forest." Ingrid began, "but you're back in the palace and there are certain ways things are done, if you'd just let me-"

Sara walked to the door, and held it open, "Leave."

Ingrid sighed, gently dropping the clothes on the bed, she walked out of the room with the girls in tow. Daya, who was the last to leave happily winked at her before walking out.

Sara shut the door and sighed. Cece stared at her with her head cocked, "How do I carry out my plans with companions at my back. Ingrid is the last person who should know about the brotherhood." as always Cece didn't reply, she began to lick her feet.

So Sara took her bath, resolving in her heart to do things her own way. If she was going to find the killer, she had to be discreet.

Millicent came in a while later, with the clothes she had ordered and a letter with no address. Quickly, she got dressed with Millicent's help. The dressmaker had not forgotten her preference, a long slitted dress with tight pants and sturdy leather boots. She smiled, for once something had gone as she wanted.

When the letter was then handed to her, Sara looked up at Millicent, "Your brother is going to be promoted. Being loyal to me comes with a lot of gain." she said as a matter of fact.

"Thank you, your highness. Thank you so much." Millicent gushed out, repeatedly dipping into curtsies. Sara smiled at her, and motioned for her to leave.

When the girl had gone, she opened the contents of the letter. The moment she opened it, she knew who it was from.

Quickly, she read it and smiled. For once things were really going her way.