Master George did NOT like the idea of Diana in the council.

'Why?' He asked as soon as they had suggested it.

'Why not?' Asked Diana, though it was not a wrong thing to ask, her tone infuriated Alexandra. She loved Diana, but nobody spoke to Master George that way.

'We're talking,' Alexandra told her, gently, but firmly, then looked at Watson, as though saying, do something. He nodded and pulled the Sister away. Daniel had left for getting Everly's replies from the supervisory. Nobody was quite interested in invading Daniel's letter-reading space. It left Alexandra, Fannel and Kane to press Master George until he agreed. It was good, because none of them were very prone to losing their temper, knew the subtle art of bribing and buttering, and were diplomatic.

Of course, he finally gave in.

Not without conditions though.

A list of seven huge points. By the time he reached his seventh condition, Alexandra had forgotten what the first had been. In any case, when he was done, they nodded as if every word had been engraved in their heads.

'I trust you three and so I'm allowing it. Personally - I did not like her attitude. I would not believe she was your sister, Mark Fannel, unless five spies were giving me their word.' he added in a grumble.

'If you would only duel her, Sir.' Mark replied, with a tilt of head. The prospect of a duel always brightened up their teacher, and he walked with a new spring in his step later on. But not before he had given them six months of supervisory, to which Kane had had some objection. That had been resolved only when Master George had mentioned an alternative of cleaning the weaponry in place of supervisory. Watching him go, and deciding that it had been quite a while of it, Alexandra decided to challenge her brother to a duel. A casual match - which he claimed she would lose in a minute. 

* * *

Alexandra and Mark - drenched after the long duel, because it had been raining outside when they had been at it - stepped into the Supervisory center the next night. The rains had stopped a quarter of an hour earlier, but their match had lasted three quarters of it.

'So, what happened?' Kane asked, with polite interest. Daniel didn't indulge in combat much, and as Alexandra soon registered - Watson was having an animated conversation with Diana.

'Huh - close match,' she told Kane, 'I lost.'

'Honest compliment - she is getting dangerously good,' Fannel told him, dropping down. He had a level of understanding with Kane that Alexandra didn't think she could reach soon. They both talked could almost talk with their eyes. Then Mark's eyes fell on Diana. 'You?' he demanded, 'Come on, this is spy business, Diana.'

She tilted her head in a soft challenge. And Mark would have picked up his fallen dagger in acceptance of it, had he not been tired out.

'Let her stay,' Watson offered, scrambling to Fannel's side, which he could now finally occupy without getting smacked. 'She'd anyhow be a better spy than you, had she got the chance to be one.' and then he got smacked.

Alexandra had put up on the floor too, trying to make herself comfortable against a hard chair, because she couldn't pick herself up the ground. Like all the other times when she rested, Liam had almost started coming into her mind, and she had started rolling her eyes at him without making any true efforts to push him out. Diana was leaning on the wall and twisting an iron ring on her finger, watching Watson make another go at Mark (which was duly returned in equal brutality of comment). 

What's going on between Watson and Diana? Alexandra asked herself, Mark Fannel will never let them be a couple. 

Mark himself was remarking to Kane with a shake of head, how the batch of Alexandra's year would never grow up. And Kane was talking, at the same time to both Daniel and Mark, somehow managing to listen to both and reply aptly enough to have them thinking awhile for a reply.

There was a loud chatter in the room. But Alexandra was next to the window - and she heard it first. Light footfalls, neat and in a single, straight line were approaching. She couldn't say if it was a single person or many.

'Shh!' she pointed at the rest immediately. 'I hear footsteps!'

Instantly, a pin-drop silence descended upon the Supervisory. Diana looked the most alert - her green eyes were round and anxious, as if a predator was coming their way.

As the steps grew louder Alexandra's hand closed upon the hilt of Moira. Palpable tension fuzzed around her head. Only after a minute, she realized that she couldn't hear anything anymore. Everything had gone silent - the periodic steps had ceased.

'False alarm,' she shook her head, sheathing Moira back and turning away. Then, with a moment to spare, her ears perked up again -

'No - they're coming faster!' She exclaimed, frantically.

Too late - something flew through the large window in a fraction of a second and landed right in the center, amid them.

Not something - someone. In a black cloak, unarmed and a metal helmet Alexandra knew only too well.

Barely one look at him, and she recognized Liam. Or that figure, because it reminded her of that shared horse-ride so strongly that something within her ached. But she was the only one who did - as Liam straightened up, five daggers were pointing at him. It was funny that Watson and Mark were standing shoulder to shoulder, their blades pointing at another man.

Alexandra shook her head, walked over to him and pulled out the helmet, saying,

'You'll make a passable spy.' 

The attempt at humor was good, with her heart hammering and cheeks flaming.

He grinned, and looked so fine, so captivating - Alexandra couldn't help an embarrassed smile herself. 'I suppose you meant exceptional spy.' and then running a hand through his hair, 'Losiane has tanned you,' he added. 'But you look better, if you possibly could.' 

A mild form of flirting that Liam used with a lot of other young ladies, was not enough for her. Nevertheless, Alexandra was about to say she was rather flattered. But a single look at her friends and the joke died down. Liam was already scratching his head at them with an expression that read: did I do a mistake? All the other Agents were kneeling: Fannel had pulled Diana down - though she didn't look too happy about it - and they had all put their weapons back into their sheaths.

'Look,' Alexandra told. 'I'm not kneeling.'

'I am glad you are not - Agents, you are embarrassing me. Ple-' but he didn't complete, because that instant, Diana got up. She had been struggling to do so since long, but Fannel had been holding her back - now she had succeeded, and looking at Liam with hot, burning rage - which made Alexandra look at him in confusion,

'Your father, Emperor Liam, was a crook!' she snarled.

They were up for a great episode. But Alexandra knew one thing - she was not involved in this, and she was innocent and she was going to keep her mouth shut. So much, for a single line. But when that line had been spoken for the late monarch of the country, in presence of his son - at the face of him - it was so much. She didn't know whether Liam would ignore Diana (highly impossible), give her a lifetime serving of prison (highly possible), or simply behead her (cannot be ruled out). Wars had been waged for a single insult, for a single slip of tongue. Royal life had power, but it was not easy - and right now, either Diana was in trouble, or Liam had gone deaf.

Fannel got up, looking aghast - and scared. 'She didn't mean it, My Lord!' He said, talking to Liam but not looking at him. 'She has just been back from a terrible place. She's traumatized - and a bit disturbed. She doesn't know what she's speaking.' Diana shot him a furious look.

'I'm not,' she told him. 'I know what I'm speaking. You stay out of this, Mark.'

'And - she will apologize. Right away,' he continued, like Diana hadn't spoken. He put a hand on her shoulder. 'She will,' he said, though Diana looked like she would rather eat mud than do anything related to apologizing.

'No,' Liam said. Perhaps he didn't mean to, but it came out harshly. Almost everybody present took a step back - Alexandra, because she was standing closest to him, retraced two steps. 'So much has changed,' he then sighed, having a look at them and shaking his head. 'The Agents ten years senior would have advanced upon me with their weapons drawn - and you all are backtracking? If that's respect, I don't need it - and if it is fear, I do not accept afraid agents. This is not fine at all. I was making myself the loudest possible back there - and none of you thought of just shutting this window?!' he demanded, frowning at them all. 'I know you have all got a life, but five exclusive agents - in the country's capital - sitting and gossipin-'

'The country's monarch - in the capital - escaping and running around like a schoolboy?!' Diana mocked shrilly, in the same tone. The fact that Diana could be nasty, showed itself to Alexandra that night.

'Oh,' Liam registered, turning to Diana with his hands behind his back. 'Say, Diana Fannel, do you know what the bounty on your head amounts to?' he questioned, 'Have you counted the number of murders you have done? Number of crimes? Should I call you that? Or will it be Celyn?'

Diana had gone pink. But apparently, once Liam had started, he knew how to find a hole in everybody's armor.

'Terrorists break you apart. You join them and break apart a hundred others. Have you got yourself justice? You say the late king was a crook. But unless you have been exemplary, I do not think I give you the right to interrupt me.'

It made Alexandra wonder how many times she had interrupted Liam. And he had laughed it off. The same did not seem to apply for Diana. Then again, had Alexandra been a criminal, things would have been different.

'What can you do then?' Diana demanded, eyes narrowed. She was almost maroon in the face and yanked her dagger out. 'Take me to the stake? You will take everybody who speaks up to the stake. And then, congratulations on ruling a land of dead!'

The remark was strong, but so ill-timed that it appeared foolish. Liam shook his head and turned to Alexandra with a look that read, does the dagger remind you of somebody?  

'I'll tell you one thing, Diana Fannel, that if I had to bring you to the stake, I would have done so a year back in Losiane.' he told Diana coolly. Daggers were a toy - because with two steps towards her and a simple wave, Liam slapped the weapon out of her head. For the first time, a flicker of fear showed on Diana's face. 'You grip a dagger obliquely, My Lady, if you are dealing with a taller opponent. And your hand shouldn't tremble if you want to do any real damage. But - where were we? So yes, even as a terrorist, you surrendered willingly, Miss Fannel. That speaks a lot (more than you yourself can) in your favour. But it does not mean I can entertain all that you say, or that you can say all that enters your head. Now,' he added, with an air of finality, because Diana had opened her mouth. 'Now, I request you to provide the agents with all that you can. In fact, I do not even request. I simply ask you to help them. Does that settle?'

It did not, because there was no reply and only a stubborn silence. In the silence, Liam looked down, exhaled and looked up again. 'Look,' he said, sounding just a fraction of degree sterner, but it had an impressive effect on everybody. 'Respect is mutual. And I am not in the habit of repeating myself. I would like to tell you that the late king was much more than a crook - but that wouldn't set a good example. Since you know everything about the whole terrorist network, you are going to help these Agents wipe them out.'

'I have helped them.' Diana said, in a deadly voice.

'To your full potential?' Liam asked, raising an eyebrow, realizing that Diana only heard things that she wanted to hear. 'I hadn't expected such a blatant lie.' he added.

'Fine!' She yielded. 'Take that! And we shall duel again - I was just not ready.' she added.

Liam regarded with a mix of exasperation and interest, like she was a talented, but headstrong child. 'If you say so, Miss Fannel,' he obliged, 'but pray work on that technique a little. Talent isn't everything.' 

'You talk of politeness, but make it impossible to practice.' Diana told him, seething. The three other men seemed to have melted into the background. Alexandra herself felt so.

'Do I?' Liam asked, but he was looking at Alexandra. She realized he was asking her. 

'Um ... I never felt that way...' she replied, shrugging.

'Then why aren't you ever polite?' He questioned, 'In any case, there is a lot I need to know. If you all would lend me an hour...'

'With just the six of us?' Alexandra asked, 'talk of eccentricity.' she added.

'In my case, the lesser, the better.' Liam assured, 'And no, do not talk of eccentricity, you will find yourself exposed.' he added in an undertone.

* * *

'We've got the Divided Kingdoms covered, haven't we?' Daniel asked,

'I wouldn't be so sure,' Alexandra said, looking at the map in front of them. 'Goodness knows what goes on in these places,'

'And particularly not this Yorkyte,' Watson added. 'They're never straight,'

'Agent, you're a bit behind time. What you just marked is Peirdalos. It gobbled up Yorkyte a month ago,' Liam enlightened.

'They did?' Kane asked, his blue eyes clashing with Liam's Amber ones, 'And the rest of the DK isn't doing anything about it?'

'They hardly can. They're too busy in their own internal issues,' Fannel replied, 'The Divided Kingdoms are going to divide more, at this rate,'

'Which is never happy news,' Alexandra said.

They all turned to Diana.

'Er-' She said, almost like a twelve year old, flustered preteen. 'Why are you all staring at me?'

'Unless we're mistaken - three years back, Losianish Terrorists wreaked havoc in Lemeva,' said Fannel.

'And Lemeva responded by severe police action... as well as threatened to declare war on them.' Watson said.

'That was when Losiane defended itself by saying that this was the work of independent terrorists, funded by Sponsors.' Daniel added.

'But the sponsors were meeting the Finance minister!' Alexandra said.

'Which is the point,' Liam continued, 'Sponsors are funding - but not independently. This is international plotting. So - our respected Diana Fannel will now tell us which countries the sponsors belong to.'

'It's evident!' Diana exclaimed, 'Haven't you people figured it out by now?'

'Straight answer, Diana. Please,' Said Fannel.

'Fine then, have it!' she shrugged, 'All the sponsors are Ethorians.'