Anya listened to Irien with half an ear as they walked quickly through one of the endless passages of the palace. When unknown, the palace's abundant hallways created an intricate maze for a guest. Anya had managed to solve the puzzle and what was once a tapestry of crossing paths and turns, was now a beautiful pattern that made about as much sense as an painters work bench. "Anya, are you listening to me?"

"Hmm? Excuse me, pardon?"

"I said, we should send out search parties."

"For what?"

"Were you not listening at all?"

Anya smiled sheepishly. "Sorry my mind wondered a bit there. Please, explain again."

Irien sent a poignant glare at her, which Anya knew meant even though she was Keeper, Irien was still her teacher.

Anya laughed. "If I didn't know better, I'd say you have a scolding on the tip of your tongue."

Irient snorted. "I was saying that we should send out a few scouts or search parties just to make sure no other drows or goblins are in the forest. I doubt they sent only one horde and if there are more maybe we can capture one and find out the reasons for their tresspassing. It would be useful..."

Anya lost focus again. She was still thinking about the battle that Trey, Roan and Sam had explained to her. She was proud of them for their clever plan to distract the enemy; to give the elves and those poor warriors a chance of victory. Even going as far as helping shoot off some of the goblins and howlers too.

"So what do you think?" Irien had finished once again what she had to say.

"I agree, you should speak to Jaeden now." Voices up ahead made them pause their conversation. They turned right into the next passage to see the owners of the voices. Two tall men with black cloaks that trailed on the floor like a flag in an imaginary wind, both intimidating in size and appearance. They were locked in a low conversation, both with their heads slightly bowed as if they knew there were ears around them.

Anya gasped, her heart plummeting to her stomach and her breath escaping her chest in a swift whoosh. Both men looked up.

"Anya?" Nic exclaimed, his eyes wide.

Anya stared at the familiar stranger in front of her. The boyish features of his face had hardened into a mature adult, but his eyes were still the same grey she had thought so unusual back in Tjorin Vale. Questions ran through her mind. How was he here? Why was he here? And how could someone change so much?

His eyes almost whispered to her across the small distance between them and even though she could feel most people's feelings she could sense nothing of the content they shared. "Hello, Nic," she said, trying to withhold a smile even though it was bursting inside of her. Usually she would have thrown her arms around his neck in an embrace of a past shared, but she knew that was not proper and she would only receive a scolding from Irien afterwards.

"Wh-How are you?"

"Well, thank you," she reined in the smile to just a curl in her lip. "And you?"

"Yeah, great!" he laughed to himself and to her surprise her stomach twisted in response. Five years later with no correspondence nor encounters, and he still had a hold on her.

"Do you remember Caleb?" Anya smiled at the other man. She remembered him being a lot taller. Nic was almost the same height as him and she was not far behind Nic.

"And you remember Lady Irien?" Nic's smile seemed to falter and Anya sensed uncertainty. She could see the strain to reinforce the smile in his eyes.

"I do. Good to see you again, Lady Irien."

She sensed irritation and worry from Irien but chose to ignore it since she could not make sense of it. Caleb lowered his head but Anya had only eyes for Nic. No one spoke for a while, Anya smiled at Nic and he smiled back, despite the tension from the elders.

"You look good," Nic finally said, his smile curling in a mischievous manner she had never witnessed before. A thrill went through her at the compliment and for a few moments she struggled to think of a response that did not reveal too much.

"You too," she replied simply, feeling her cheeks warm as his smile widened.

A servant appeared behind Nic, he seemed out of breath from running and bowed low when he noticed Anya and Irien.

"A message from the stables,"

Nic's gaze finally released her and managed to breath again as his attention shifted to the servent. He spoke on a strained inhale. "Has my horse bitten someone's finger off again?"

The elf paused, but tilted his head in a way that said Nic wasn't far off. "Your horse has gone mad, he refuses to go in a stall no matter what we try."

Nic's top lip curled in a snarl. "Thank you, I am on my way."

"I will let the stable master know," the elf paused. "I passed an elf who was searching for you Keeper Anya. I think the king wants to speak with you."

Anya smiled. "I am on my way now." She returned her gaze to Nic. His eyes were wide and his mouth slightly open.

"Keeper?" he mouthed.

"Pyra Nicholaes. Do you wish me to lead you to the stables?"

Anya felt her eyes widen and heat rise into her cheeks. Pyra! How had fallen for their lies?

"I'm coming," he turned to Anya. "If you will excuse us, Keeper Anya. We have matters to attend to." He lowered his head with a rigid back and followed the elf away from her. Caleb's chest rose in a deep inhale of air and then followed Nic. Once he had gone, she turned to Irien.

"He is a Pyra!"

She nodded solemnly.

"You knew?"

Again she nodded.

"And you did not think it necessary to tell me?"

"If I told you, it would have risked your future as a Guardian. As the Keeper."

"How so?" Anya allowed her anger to show. She could not restrain herself like she had been taught. "How so, Irien? Answer me or by the Gods I will force it out of you."

"You know why. I sensed your feelings for him and his for you. To know who he associated with was to place everything at risk."

Anya clenched her jaw, the truth hit home more than she liked to admit. "We should see the king now. We will talk about this later."