The door to the commanders courters swung open and smacked the side wall as it swung on its hinges as three large men emerged from the darkness. Two of them each carried someone over their shoulders.

   Mike's heart dropped when he recognized who they were. "What did you do to her?" he shouted, pulling on his restrains, obviously more worried about Saphira. He and Priella were both tied together on the mass that held the smallest sail.

   "Ouch! Mike, stop struggling," Priella demanded him, feeling the rope rub against her arms leaving a red mark.

   Mike didn't stop. He didn't care who he hurt, let alone a Dark Being. He just wanted to get to Saphira. Make sure that she was okay.

   "Micah!" Priella insisted. "Kowle already gave you one black eye. Do you really want another one?"

   Another man with short, red hair and a goatee stood Saphira up straight to the mass that held the largest sail, straight across from the other two, while another man tied rope around her to keep her in place. Once they were done, the red haired man let go of the Princess, and she slumped forward over the rope.

   Mike tried to conceal his rage, but it wasn't much use. He still tried to free himself, but the bonds were too strong.

    "Sorry about your friend, boy," someone with a rough voice said from off to the side. Mike knew who it was. How could he forget that voice so easily? He had only beat the Squire to a pulp trying to get him to talk. Mike turned his head slightly to see Kowle leaning against the side of the ship with a smirk on his face.

   "Not as sorry as you're going to be if you don't release me right now!" Mike shouted back at him.

   Kowle rolled his eyes. "Such temper will get you into trouble, boy," he said rather plainly.

   Kowle began to step up close to Mike, drawing a dagger from its holster on his right side. He leaned in close— only a few inches away— to the young Squire. He raised his dagger resting it on Mike's cheek.

   "If you want to make it off this ship alive," Kowle whispered, digging the tip of his dagger in Mike's cheek until it drew blood. "I suggest you remember that."

   Mike opened his mouth as if to give a smart reply, but a quick jab in his ribcage from Priella to empathize Kowle's point made him hush up real quickly.

   Kowle snorted. "Better listen to this fine young lady," he continued. He placed the tip of his dagger on Priella's cheek and gently traced it downward to her chin. "She might be able to keep you alive longer." As he straightened himself upright, his boss called out to him.

   "Kowle!" Malak called from across the deck. "Time to go!" He and two other men— one of them carrying Snyder over his shoulder— were already in a row boat ready to be lowered down into the sea.

   "I'm coming, Sir," Kowle replied, immediately running across the deck to reach the lowering boat in time.

   "What do you think they're going to do with him?" Mike heard someone whimper in his right ear. He turned his head to the right to see the Dark Being looking into his eyes as hers began to water. Her expression pleaded for an answer.

   "I don't know," he could only reply. He turned his head left to try and get a glimpse of his Princess. She was still unconscious— he could tell with her head remaining drooped forward. "But I can only guess it isn't good."

   Malak and his men stepped out of the small boat and on to land. The Commander sucked in a gulp of air through his nose. "Ah! Smell that, boys?"

   Kowle and the other two men exchanged glances. Kowle took in a breath himself, but couldn't find anything different with the air. "No, Sir," he replied puzzled. "What am I supposed to be smelling?"

   Malak placed his hands on his hips. "Today is the day we become filthy rich!" He threw his hands up into the air. "Everything you've ever wanted can finally be yours when we get what corans are waiting for us."

   Kowle looked to the Dark Prince who hung on his crew members shoulder wrapped in the same magical chains— it had to be a very uncomfortable situation. "We're going to sell the Dark Prince, Sir?"

   Malak turned around with a raised brow. "Of course we are!" he answered joyfully. "King Edwin has been wanting to kill this boy for who knows how long. Now, we're just going to hand him over to Edwin? Don't think that we'd just willingly give the Prince over." Malak placed a finger on his chin, thinking. "It would be fun to keep the boy and torture him as his Father did me..." He paused. "But then where would we get our corans?" Malak giggled annoyingly. "No, this is definitely better. Let's go, boys!"

   Kowle did not want to argue with a man like Malak. He simply let the water drain from his boots, then continued on following his boss.

   It felt like hours later before they finally saw a light in the distance. Nara had already taken her place in the sky not long ago.

   Malak kept glancing from his path back to the Prince who laid unconscious. He was honestly getting a little worried. It was now dark out. That is when the Dark Beings are at full power. "Make sure those chains are on him tightly. I don't want any funny business going on back there."

   Kowle rolled his eyes once more. Malak worries way to much about the little things. The chance of Snyder ever breaking free from these chains that were literally unbreakable was impossible.

   Malak stopped in his tracks and stared off into the distance. "There it is, boys," he said a little dazed. They all stared straight at the beautiful castle that stood above the trees. Surprisingly, it was a little hard to see.

   "You know, for a title such as the Light Kingdom. It's not very illuminating," Malak said with a wave of his hand, gesturing toward the Kingdom. "Come on. We've got business to attend to."

   Malak and his men strode their way into the village, no sign of anyone on the streets. That just made their day easier. Malak looked straight ahead toward their destination— the Light Kingdom's castle. A wide smile spread across his face from ear to ear.

   Malak looked back at Snyder. "Take the chains off of him," he told his men. "Put rope around his wrists and ankles for the time being." The men didn't protest. They did exactly what they were told— even though Kowle had no idea why.

   The few men stormed into the castle frightening many of the late working servants. Malak stepped up close to a young servant boy who had a basket full of clothing in his hands. "Where is your King?" Malak demanded from the young boy who was shaking in his boots.

   "He-he's..." the young boy began, stammering. "He's in the co-court chamber." He pointed to his left, Malak's right.

   Malak smiled in a way that made the boy even more uncomfortable. "Thank you, lad," he thanked before leading his men to the right. Just a few more turns around a couple hallways, they found a set of double doors.

   Malak held up his hand to halt his men and leaned his ear against the door. Inside, he could hear two soft voices. He could pick up a word here and there, but he knew it was the Queen and King having a little evening chat... or maybe a full blown argument.

   Malak, once again, smiled. "This is it, boys," he said with confidence. "This is where we gain our way to fortune." He placed both palms of his hands against the wooden door and pushed them opened with as much force as possible.

   The King and Queen both bolted upright in their seats, the Queen nearly jumping out of her skin.

   Malak stepped up toward the table in which they sat at. He did a dramatic bow as he spoke. "My lord," he began.

   King Edwin stood to his feet at the sudden interruption. "What is so urgent that this couldn't wait until morning?" Edwin asked. "Where are the guards?"

   Malak chuckled in a silly way. "I would wait to call the guards if I were you, my lord. This is definitely of great urgency." He paused as the King leaned forward in his seat waiting to hear from this man. "I have captured a special someone who I think will be of much interest to you." He snapped his middle finger and thumb together, and Kowle, who was now holding Snyder over his shoulder, stepped forward.

   Kowle pulled Snyder off his shoulder and threw him to the ground. The Dark Prince slid across the marble ground until he came to a stop at the King's feet.

   "I give you Prince Snyder Daracon of the Dark Kingdom!" Malak informed. Aithusa and Edwin both looked at this strange man in front of them with unbelief.

   "Who are you?" Aithusa asked as she began to stand up. "Why did you bring him here?"

   Malak bowed once more. "My name is Malak, my lady, and I am the leader of the Vomika."

   Edwin stepped in front of his wife to keep her safe. "You are not welcomed here!" he declared sternly. "The last time a Vomika stepped foot in my Kingdom they tried to take over."

   "I am different than they are," Malak reassured. "I take no part in the Vomika's ways." He winked. "Just their name."

   Aithusa cautiously stepped over to Snyder, fell to her knees, and placed his head on her lap. At that moment, she caught a better glimpse at who he was. "How?" she asked with disbelief.

   "That's not really all that important, my lady," Malak replied as he glanced down at the boy.

   Aithusa trembled. "Where is the Princess?" she asked, her voice shaking.

   The King, who had been staring at Snyder, swung his head upward. His face turned a deep red. He ran over to Malak, grabbed his coat, and lifted him off his feet.

   "Where is my daughter, you creep? Where is she?!" Edwin shouted loudly shaking Malak in his grasp.

   "I advise you to put me down, Sire, or my men will do something drastic about it." He gestured toward his men standing on his right and left side.

   The King glanced between Malak's men. They all had their swords drawn and their teeth gritted. Two of them pointed their swords at the King, and the last one at the Queen. Edwin released Malak immediately.

   "Thank you, Sire," he said brushing himself off and straightening his coat. "Now, the Princess. She is alright." The King sighed in relief. "For the moment." Aithusa sucked in a breath. "We will kindly hand her over to you." Malak held his hand up, a big grin creeping up on his face. "If you can pay ten million corans. If not, well... then I'll just have to take the little Princess along with me."

   "What? Ten million corans!" Edwin sneered. "You better hand her over to me this instant unless you want to declare war!"

   "Don't get your beard in a twist," Malak said with a roll of his eyes. "I'll give you time to think about it. If I don't have my corans by sunrise, then I'll get out of your way. But I'll be taking my prisoners with me." He glanced down at Snyder. "That means the Prince, the Princess, you Squire, and another Dark Being." He looked back up at the King. "If you want to save them all, well, then I suggest you start thinking."

   "I'll let the Prince stay with you for now, but if you don't make the right decision, then I'll be sending a few of my men in here after him. And I'm sure the Dark King and Queen will give an excellent price for both of the children." Malak smiled. "You wouldn't want that nasty ol' king to get his hands on your daughter, would you?" He and his men marched out of the court chamber, Malak laughing hysterically the whole way.

   Edwin looked over at his wife. She was staring at him with anger and distress both shining in her eyes. "What are we going to do?" she asked him hurriedly.

   Edwin could only shake his head. "I don't know, Aithusa," he responded. "We don't have that kind of money in all the Kingdom."

   "Look, we don't even know if Malak was telling the truth," Aithusa argued. "I've never seen the Dark Prince, have you? We don't even know if this is him or if he has our daughter. Vomika's like, Edwin."

   Edwin nodded his head in understanding. "Then we have to be sure, don't we?" He turned towards a guard who had just entered the chamber. "Bring in the girl," he demanded of his guard.

   The Guard bowed before running out of the chamber. A few minutes later, one of the maid stepped in. She walked a few steps from the door before giving a curtsey. "Sire?"

   Edwin moved out of the way to reveal the Dark Being on his floor. "Is this him, Briar?" King Edwin asked. "Is this the Dark Prince?"

   Briar stepped forward to get a closer look at the young man. As she stepped closer, she began to see a closing wound on his forehead. She nodded acknowledging that this was indeed the Dark Prince. "Yes, Sire," she finally responded. "This is the boy that your daughter led me to. He said himself that he was the Dark Prince."

   "Are you positive?" Edwin asked.

   "Yes, Sire," Briar answered, remaining staring at the unconscious lad. "I could never forget his face."

   "Why did Saphira lead you to him?" Aithusa asked bewildered. "What would she have to do with the boy?"

   Briar shrugged. "All I know, my lady, is that she was trying to patch up an injury of his."

   Edwin placed his hands on his hips and looked down at the boy in a thinking matter. "Thank you, Briar. That will be all."

   Briar curtsied once more before turning around and exiting the chamber.

   The King then walked over to the Dark Prince and picked him up bridal style.

   Aithusa was shocked at her husbands motions. "Edwin, what are you doing?" she questioned in fear.

   "What?" Edwin turned his head to the side toward her.

   The Queen sprinted over to his side. "He's a Dark Being! You don't need to protect him from anything." As Edwin placed the young man onto the table on his side, the Queen grabbed Edwin's hand and pulled him away. As Aithusa dragged her husband away from the young man, he tried to break free from his wife's grip, her nails digging slightly into his wrist.

   "Aithusa, what is this?" Edwin rebelled. "He is just a child! You know I will not see any child hurt when I can help them, and I will help him!"

   "Don't you say that, Edwin!" Aithusa said sternly. "This is a creature that can't be helped, child or not. He is evil and vial."

   "No, he is not," Edwin tried to reason, softly.

   "What about our daughter?" Aithusa asked, still dragging him away. "We don't know what he has done to her."

   "Exactly," Edwin reasoned. "Briar didn't say he was dangerous. He might not have done anything to her. All we know is that Malak took them both from their homes. Saphira was trying to help him. She wouldn't do that if Snyder was going to hurt her in return." Aithusa finally let of of her husbands wrist. "Why do you judge one person based on their history?" he continued asking tenderly.

   Aithusa was quick with her words. "You of all people should know, Edwin, considering your brother." She stomped away from her husband before swiftly twirling around and pointing an excusing finger at the boy on the table. "That boy right there is destined to kill our daughter!" she screamed. "How could you be so calm?"

   The King lowered his head and frowned. "Aithusa, that prophecy has been written for so long. We can't even be certain that it means our daughter and this boy."

   Aithusa shook her head as she looked at the unconscious Dark Prince in disgust. "No, I know it's him. It has to be! You know their past."

   While the Queen wasn't looking, Edwin's man servant came over to him bringing a knife. He handed it to the King presenting it with both hands.

   "Thank you," Edwin said taking it into his own burly hands. His man servant backed away as Edwin walked back over to the table.

   He shifted Snyder on to his side and began to cut the rope that bounded the Princes hands and feet.

   "Wait, don't do that!" Aithusa dashed to her husbands side and snatched the knife from his hands.

   "Aithusa, Sweetheart, give that back." Edwin reached out to grab the knife, but Aithusa threw it across the chamber out of reach. It smacked the wall and fell, clanking against the floor.

   "If we cut him loose, he will escape." Aithusa turned around and began marching away.

   "Look at his hands," Edwin called out to his wife, pointing. "They are bleeding. The pressure of the rope is cutting into his skin." He turned away from the boy and began to walk over to where the knife lay.

   Aithusa stepped in front of him before he got too far. "I don't care if his hands get cut off!" she yelled. "If we let him go he'll be able to hurt us."

   "And what if he doesn't?" the King asked with a stern yet soft tone. "Are you afraid of being proven wrong?" Edwin tried a different approach. "I can sense good in him, Aithusa. I can't tell you how I know, I just know. Why won't you trust me? Your own husband, your King. What relationship lasts where there is no trust?" Edwin grasped his wife's arms tenderly and drew her in close looking deep into Aithusa's eyes. "If that man has our daughter, we need him to tell us where she is. I can tell you that I know Saphira believes he wouldn't harm her. She has that trusting spirit. Now you just have to trust me."

   "Well, I believe he would and still will hurt us!" Aithusa yelled jerking away from her husbands grip. "Besides, how can you tell he's good? Your powers were taken from you years ago. There are some people who can put on an act to appear good."

   Edwin shook her head. "I don't need my gift to know that he is good. This is a feeling that will never change. It comes with the title of being King... and making good decisions." He looked to his left. "Derall!" Edwin shouted to get his man servants attention. "Bring me another knife. I'll get those ropes off him somehow. Even if I have to use my own teeth."

   "Derall, if you bring another knife you'll spend a week in the dungeon," Aithusa yelled pointing at him.

   "Don't listen to her," Edwin said calmly. "You are my man servant, and I am your King. You have nothing to fear. The Queen cannot harm you."

   Derall left the chamber and returned within three minutes— the whole time Aithusa stayed silent, which surprised Edwin. Derall slowly walked over to the King with the knife's handle extended, fearing what the Queen might do.

   Edwin took the knife, stepped back over to Snyder, bent forward to get a good grip on his hands, and started cutting the rope once more. This time Aithusa didn't stop him. He cut straight through the rope. It snapped and he threw the cursed thing aside along with the blade.

   Snyder's right arm dropped from his chest to the table. He moaned and began shaking his head as consciousness began to return.

   "Derall," Edwin called, "help me get him to his feet."

   Derall sprinted over and grabbed Snyder's left arm, Edwin getting his right. Together, the two pulled him off the table and continued to hold his arms for support as he tried standing.

   Snyder shook his head and blinked rapidly. "What... what happened?" he asked half dazed.

   "I was hoping you could tell me," Edwin answered softly.

   Snyder looked around the unfamiliar chamber. Once his eyes fell on the King holding his arm at his right, he gasped and widened his eyes. He tried to break free from Edwin and Derall's grasp fearing the worse, but they held on tightly to him.

   "I told you he would try to run!" Aithusa growled with anger as she swiftly bent down and picked up the knife the King had thrown.

   "That's just because he doesn't trust me," Edwin shouted struggling to hold on to the Prince. "Give him time."

   "What are you trying to do to me?" Snyder asked, staring at the King in fear.

   "Mugging you." Edwin said with a role of his eyes. "What does it look like, Son?"

   Snyder turned his gaze to the Queen to see a knife clenched tightly in her grasp. "It looks like you're trying to kill me!"

   Aithusa crossed her arms. "The King wouldn't let me get to you even if I tried." Snyder tried harder to escape at her words.

   "Aithusa, stop this nonsense!" Edwin yelled. "Young man, we are not trying to kill you."

   "Why?" Snyder asked, his heart racing rapidly. "Why wouldn't you kill me?"

   "Derall, grab a chair," Edwin told his manservant, ignoring Snyder's question.

   "Yes, my lord." The King's manservant let go of Snyder for a second and grabbed a chair from the table behind them. He helped the King forcefully sit Snyder down.

   "I have some questions you need to answer," Aithusa commanded.

   "Wait a moment, sweetheart," Edwin interrupted. "Let the young man catch his breath."

   Snyder drew in a few breathes until his heart began to calm to its normal pace.

   "He's had enough time." Aithusa marched forward with the dagger still in her hands. "Now, you need to tell us where exactly our daughter is."

   "Saphira? I don't know where—" Before he could finish, he remembered the ship, Vomika, and being chained up but he had no memory of the ropes or where they even came from.

   "He knows where she is," Aithusa told her husband looking over at his expression. "Do they really have Saphira?"

   Edwin stooped down to where his face was inches from Snyder's. "Is she on his ship?"

   Snyder shook his head as he tried desperately to remember... his head ached so terribly though. "I... I think so," he responded in a daze.

   Aithusa stepped even closer, the knife pointed directly at Snyder. "You better be telling the truth, you vial creature."

   Edwin stepped in front of Snyder to protect him from his wife. "Aithusa, let me handle this." The Queen backed away as he turned around and squatted in front of the boy. He could tell that Snyder was having a hard time. Perhaps from being slammed in the head. "Snyder, what all can you remember?" he ask the boy.

   Snyder shook his head. "Uhh, it's all a big blur. But there was a ship, Saphira and I, the Vomika's, and—" He looked down at his hands. They were stained with dried blood and still bleeding in some areas. He placed his hands in-between his legs and could feel a tear trickle down his cheek as he remembered seeing Saphira's limp body on the ground just before he was knocked unconscious.

   Snyder looked back up at the the Queen, who was obviously stricken with grief as she saw the boys frown. "Saphira," Snyder began, barely able to let a word escape from his mouth. "Saphira is... is dead."

   The King sat completely still on his knees. The Princes news had struck Edwin in the heart so hard that he felt like he could just kill over and die.

   Aithusa slowly sank to the floor dropping the knife as the tears rushed down her cheeks. "No," she wept silently before leaping to her feet and screaming at the top of her lungs, flinging the knife she had grabbed again across the chamber.

   Snyder stood from the chair. He didn't know why he was feeling sorry for these people. They were, after all, about to kill him. They were his enemy, but... wasn't Saphira? If she was their daughter then shouldn't Saphira be his enemy too? She was even going to trade hers and Mike's freedom for the Prince and Priella... but all he could feel was sadness as he remembered seeing Saphira's limp body on the ground, completely unmovable. There was no possible way she could have laid so motionless and still be alive.

   Yet, Snyder couldn't think of Saphira as his enemy. She had helped him, cared for him, when he was injured beyond his own healing. He felt like she was more to him now then just someone who had helped him a day ago. He was beginning to think of her as... a friend.

   Queen Aithusa's face transformed from grief to bitter hatred. She clenched her hands tightly and turned her gaze towards Snyder. She quickly began to take a few steps toward him.

   Snyder swiftly swiveled around the chair behind him to back away from the Queen as she approached the Prince.

   "This is all your fault!" Aithusa spat. "What are you even doing here? You have no business in our Kingdom! And now, my daughter is dead because of you!"

   Snyder kept backing up until his heels reached the wall. His face filled with fear. He had no clue what the Queen was about to do to him, but he knew that whatever it was, it wasn't going to be good.

   Aithusa suddenly lunged out at Snyder and wrapped both her palms tightly around Snyder's neck— surprisingly, she was stronger then she looked. Snyder scratched at Aithusa's hands trying to get a single breath of air.

   "Aithusa, don't!" her husband shouted as he sprang to his feet.

   "He killed our daughter!" Aithusa argued. "He deserves to die!"

   "No, he didn't," Edwin shouted from behind Aithusa. "The Vomika did! Don't kill an innocent child for something he didn't do!"

   "This boy is far beyond innocent!" Aithusa continued to squeeze Snyder's neck tightly. She didn't want to quit. The fact that the two had even met made the situation worse. She should've never let her go riding this morning. This wouldn't have happened then. To her, this child deserved to die.

   "Aithusa, stop!" Edwin dashed to her side and began to tug on her arm.

   Aithusa finally let go, and Snyder fell to the ground motionless, Edwin falling on his knees beside the young lad. He felt the young Princes neck for a pulse but could find none.

   "Aithusa, what did you do?" he practically yelled at his wife.

   "I put a stop to him for what he has done to our daughter," Aithusa stated, rage obvious in her tone. Her voice softened as she began to weep heavily. "It's all my fault. I should've never let her leave this morning alone."

   Edwin stood to his feet and faced his wife. "Snyder was unconscious when they left him here. What if what he saw was not Saphira dead? Only hurt." He lowered his head to the ground. "It is the only alternative reason I can think of. I will not stand by while he claims she is dead." He raised his head and began to march toward the door. "I must know that she is alive!"

   Aithusa jumped up and ran to her husband wrapping her arms around his thick waist. "You can't go out there, please. If Saphira really is gone, I cannot risk losing you too."

   Edwin turned himself around to face his wife, tears flooding from her eyes. He smiled slightly as he used his thumb to wipe the tears from his beloved wife's cheeks. "I will find her," he continued. "And I will bring her back." He paused. "Whether is be her body or not."

   Edwin let go off his wife and looked over at the Dark Princes body that laid on his floor. Something inside him made him feel guilty for what had happened to the boy, for not controlling his wife better. Edwin couldn't think of that now. He had a daughter to find.

   Aithusa slowly strode back over to the boys side and knelt down. "It is a shame," she whispered. "Such a young life... wasted. If only you weren't from the Dark Kingdom." She placed a soft hand on his chest.

   At that instant, she could feel a slight movement. His chest was rising and falling in a shallow way. Aithusa gasped and withdrew her hand. "You're still alive!" she whispered, her eyes widening in anger.

   Unbeknownst to her, the King could hear every word she was saying from behind her back.

   "What?" he questioned in unbelief. "But how can that be?" He knelt down himself to make sure that his wife was not lying to him. When he felt the movement for himself, his spirit lifted.

   "Lock the boy up in the cells!" he demanded the guards that stood watch at the door. He then turned and looked at his wife as she stared up into his eyes. "And you are all commanded not to let the Queen into his cell."

   Two guards came over to the Prince. One grabbed him under his arms, and the other grabbed his legs, Snyder's head hanging low to the floor. Aithusa watched, her blood boiling as Snyder was dragged out of the chamber.

   "Now," the King began. "It's time to get our daughter back."