He must have figures out that I wasn't actually on his side of things- if, of course, the wraith is a part of the Dawning. 

The corridors are silent, too silent. Hardly even moonlight filters through the glass as I steal my way slipper- footed down the hall. I hear a whisper of black cloak against stone floors, and my heart pounds so loudly that I'm afraid the phantom man will hear it.

I duck into an alcove that holds the portrait of a regal- looking, dark- skinned woman and hide in the shadows. The whisper gets closer, closer...

Suddenly the hooded figure is right in front of me, in a patch of moonlight, and with a loud cry I launch myself onto it. It's not a ghost or wraith but a very real man that forty-five kilo me knocks to the ground by the shoulders, my knees on his chest, all of the air knocked from his stocky chest. In the last second something possessed me to do that, to alert guards, to at least hinder this assassin. I hear the clattering of guard's armor down the hall, far off, and with horror I look at the man's face, revealed and pale in the silver pool.

"Sir Nolan," I realize. The face beneath me, gasping to regain his breath, is undoubtedly my supposed uncle's, the man of many names. Before I can say another word, I am flipped over and held with a knife at my throat. I raise my chin so as not to be cut, and hear his familiar, though somewhat raspier, voice in my ear.

"Come with me willingly and silently or I will slice your throat open right here."

I nod very carefully. The knife lowers and I am grabbed by the left wrist, a terribly uncomfortable position as Nolan runs down the halls, dragging me with him. He bursts through the kitchen door to the outside and I struggle to keep up, my wrist aching, feeling like my shoulder has been yanked from its socket. My feet have a feeling akin to walking on knives and I realize my slippers fell off at one point between here and the castle.

Finally, after a mad dash through pitch- black alleys we reach a fisherman's cottage on the rocky shore of the lake. Nolan's grip releases me.

"You didn't need to drag me," I say, scowling and massaging my bruised wrist. "I'm on your side, remember?"

"Why did you try to stop me killing the prince, then?" he mutters darkly, opening the door.

"I didn't sign up for murder. I signed up to promote peace among my people and because I believed that Prince Asdagh was unfit to rule." Of course what I've just said is untrue, I think that Asdagh and I will be quite capable rulers. When your life hangs in the balance, though, you're willing to tell some sort of untruth to keep yourself alive, unless you really believe in your cause...

"Well, you're here now." He steps inside the dark room and I follow him. "We may as well make plans to your liking, Nivh. At least, we can compromise." He gestures in the light of the window for me to sit on a straw mattress. I do, hating how rough it feels beneath me. I see the sleeping shapes of a few other people on other mats and pallets around the tiny cottage and hardly feel the cord around my wrists until it's tied tightly.

"What is that for?" I hiss quietly. I test the bonds- they're tied to the bedpost.

"If you're anything like Morrick, you'll try to escape, no matter who's side you're on. I know him like nobody else, and you are indeed your father's daughter so far." He speaks equally quietly so as not to wake anyone else.

"You knew my father?"

"He was my younger brother."

"So the stories, then... they're true?" Do I dare believe it? Those who are desperate will try anything to gain something that they want. In this case, it seems to be trust.

Nolan sneers. "Yes, they are. I hate to think that word's getting around. I wanted to do the dramatic reveal on my own."

"Keeping an embroidered handkerchief was not a good idea, then."

He ignores me. "I was born the heir to the throne of the hills, but when I was younger, say, fifteen years ago, I decided I didn't want to wait to be the king. Our father, Nivh, your grandfather, ruled lazily and the kingdom was falling into an awful state of disrepair. I knew that I could fix it, so I plotted to get rid of my father and rule the kingdom myself."

"You would so easily just kill him? Could you not have waited a few more years?"

"No. Things were too awful in the kingdom to wait. I couldn't see my people suffer." His eyes flash angrily in the darkness. "I was going to kill him in the night and seem as though one of his guards had done it. I was caught."

"It's not hard to do. I've caught you twice now."

Nolan's eyes take on a dangerous look. "You saw me twice. You've only caught me once. And you should not have. You're on our side."

"I may be a seeker for equality. That does not mean that I am in favor of murder and bloodshed!" My voice raises.

"Shut up," he hisses, glancing around at the sleeping forms. One is stirring slightly.

"Excuse me?" I do not shut up. In fact, I speak in a normal tone of voice, just to annoy him. I don't care if he's my uncle. I don't like him. I don't trust him. I'm only here to help my people and keep my future safe.

"Be quiet, girl, or you may force my hand," he says between gritted teeth.

"We may not be ranked here, but equality means respect, does it not?" I reply angrily, only lowering my tone a fraction. "Telling me, a woman, and your relative besides, to 'shut up' does not show any form of respect or equality whatsoever. Speak to me calmly, be respectful and reasonable, and then I will consider myself equal to you."

"Equality cannot be fully achieved by reason. You've got to get your point across," he sneers. "I'm done talking with you, Nivh. I'm leaving now and I won't be back until tomorrow night. Stay here, won't you?"

"I'm on your side, aren't I?"

"If I didn't trust you, I wouldn't have brought you here. I might not agree with your methods, Nivh, and you're a right spoiled brat, but I know you want what's best for your people. And I think you truly believe that this may be the right way to do it."

Without another word Nolan leaves me tied to the bed, aching in body and soul, and closes the door.

A bundle on the other side of the room stirs. A draft from the window leaves me shivering, uncovered by the blankets and only in my white nightdress. I feel my feet bleeding as the shadow stands.

It is Kell, his dark hair tousled and his eyes reflecting the moonlight.

"Nivh," he says. Nothing else, just my name, left to the moonlight as a breath of relief. Someone who I know will respect me.

"Did you go with him willingly?" He asks it in the silence.

"If I had, Kell, I wouldn't be tied to the bedpost." I can't help but sound bitter, though immediately I feel bad. He comes closer, bending down so we're at the same level.

"I'll get you out of here," he whispers, looking around so to make sure nobody is listening. "Your job is in the castle. Why did he even take you in the first place?"

"I don't know."

"Do you want to stay and find out? I'll get you out of here, I really will. I don't want you hurt, it's not helping anybody."

I can't trust him, I know that I can't; but I so desperately want to, I want to leave and go back to the castle where it's safe.

So I take the risk. "Fine," I reply. "Help me."

Quickly my bonds are released by Kell's able fingers. His hand takes mine and gently leads me outside, silently, in the early dawn. Summer nights are mercifully short, dawn comes quickly and darkness falls late.

I wince as my feet sting on the cobblestone road. "Thank you," I whisper. "I'll be sorry for whatever happens to you."

"He won't hurt me. I've been at his side for too long."

"I hope not."

"I promise."

I turn towards the castle. "I'll come up with a story of some sort. I can't let you be discovered too quickly, not before the goal is accomplished."

He steps in front of me and takes my hand. "I'm glad you're on our side. We need you, Nivh, you're going to be our greatest asset."

I smile, playing along with him but not lying... just not saying everything. "I'm going to make sure everybody gets what they deserve." 

They believe me. The plan is well on its way.