A-The Prologue

A heavy honeyed night, with just a pale breeze to keep things light
enough to be comfortable. The garden was vast, and beneath the stars
seemed to shimmer, and glow. They were the King's special gardens, and
a popular meeting place for the officials, who liked to keep up
mysterious appearances, and meeting in a moonlight garden made them
feel covert, and important. It made others laugh to themselves, in
ridicule of the officials. Unfortunately, Lord Hardira was one of these
lords. Hardira was a tall, imposing man, getting to be middle aged, and
soft around the middle. He was from one of the more powerful Families,
and liked to make his importance known.

He was intending to meet Pasha de Enies, the only offspring of the
second most powerful family in the Sacien Kingdom. The royal family
were the only ones who ranked above them. Although the House of de
Enies was unpredictable, and no doubt could overthrow the House of
Naurice easily enough. That was the problem with the de Enies family,
they were too powerful. They had a habit of producing only two kinds of
people, scheming traitors with a hunger for power, or hopeless dreamers
who wouldn't know it if the world was falling down around their ears.
Old Lord Faillon had had two sons, Hygriv and Keyvin. Hygriv the elder
son, took his fathers place, immediately setting his sights for the
throne, and a kingdom. The younger son, Keyvin, had traveled into the
human realm, and married a woman there, a beautiful dark haired woman,
with green eyes. Unfortunately, the young Lord Hygriv met with an
accident while hunting, tripped over his own weapon, impaling himself.
Keyvin had to be called back. It hadn't been an easy job, as he had to
leave behind his wife and daughter, but he came. He was immediately
married off to a very beautiful highborn woman, stupid as a cow, in
hopes he would produce gentle, easy to manipulate children.
Non-threatening. But Lady Theron never produced children, and much to
their grief, they had to bring Lord Keyvin's daughter by his first
wife.

At the age of 11, Pasha came to the kingdom, immediately charming
people with her foreign ways, and innocent, na?ve countance. A doll to
be admired, and cooed over, the way you coo over an impertinent child
for trying to play adult. Who would ever suspect such a child, such a
little angel? The very idea made Hadira's teeth ache. He couldn't stand
her, and when he saw her, he saw her uncle looking out, laughing at
him.

He could see her shadow coming down the path now, a lean form, although
short by the elven standard, and somewhat tall by the human standard.
She was cloaked, and cool, jade green eyes saw him, caught him, watched
him, the way a cat watches a mouse. She was sixteen years old, but
looked young for her age, more like fourteen, a little girl, with wavy,
dark golden hair that flowed around her face like a lions mane, a
boyish figure that hadn't yet developed a woman's curves, legs like a
colt. She stopped before Hardira and looked him up at him, her eyes
dark with questions she didn't voice. She preferred to let him do the
talking, as he had called her here. He waved her toward a bench, making
a motion to sit down. She did, crossing her legs, a human habit that
drove him up the wall. A flicker in her eyes as she watched him
flinched registered the fact that she was aware of that. She pulled her
mouth into an impatient frown, and Hardira decided to just leap into
it.

"As I am sure you know, the King has no heirs, and all his brothers
have died, in one war or another, without any heirs themselves." Pasha
nodded,

"Those darn wars." She said in a mildly amused drawl. Hardira gave her
a narrow look, and she went as quiet as a mouse, though not out of
lady-like subservience, but a mere biding of her time. Hardira
said,

"Prince Otaris was last in the human world, before he died, and sired a
son there, a half elf like yourself. We need someone to watch this heir
until the time comes to bring him here. Forlorian, who would be next in
line for the throne, doesn't want to lose his chance, and the King
doesn't want Forlorian to have the throne. He is afraid of an
assassination attempt on his nephew. He thought you would make the idea
watcher. Your close in age, easily able to pass as human, familiar with
their world, and you have enough strength to protect as needed." Pasha
nodded, and they both knew that she had more then enough strength to
protect him. She was second in power only to her father, and even the
likes of Hardira couldn't hold up against her, if that was her wish.
Pasha smiled, a gentle turn of the mouth, and her eyes were downward,
and she said,

"My Lord, I would love to accommodate you, but I cannot, by the human
standards, I am still a child." This was where Lord Hardira was
pleased,

"Your mother had already been sent a letter saying that your father is
no longer able to care for you. You leave three days hence. You will
keep an eye on our little prince, but don't let him know your there.
You will stay our there with him, until we want to bring him here. Do
you understand?" For just a split second Hardira thought that she
paled, and a look of horror had fluttered over her features. Then she
was a smiling little girl again. She said, as sweet and demure as a
kitten hiding it's claws,

"As you wish my Lord. I would never defy an order by one of the King's
own." There was a faint edge to the word order, a hint of angry
sarcasm, although looking at her face, she was perfectly composed and
serene. She stood up, and curtseyed to him, again like a perfect little
girl, like she was eight or name. She murmured,

"My Lord, I shall leave now, and prepare myself to go back to the other
realm." Hardira nodded,

"Ualth Pirscept will be your contact between here and there. Talk to
him tomorrow for further instructions." Pasha nodded, and pulled her
hood over her head, and scurried away. Hardira watched her, his mind
curious as to what she would do once there. He knew that she would
prove to be trouble one day.

***
Girzine was a sprite, whose specialties lay in children and childbirth.
She was small, and winged, and looked wizened with age. It was just a
guise though, an old lady sprite to entrance people in, hold them in
awe of her wisdom. Girzine chuckled, looking at the heavily cloaked
woman before her, as if she didn't know the true identity of each and
every woman who came before her. This one claimed to be called Sariha
Shoen. Deep, chocolate brown eyes looked up at hers hopefully.

"Mother Girzine, please, can you help me again?" Girzine adopted a
vague, thoughtful look. This woman was infertile, and Girzine had
granted her a pregnancy. It hadn't been easy, but it was done. This was
one of the reasons she was so popular, that her magic was so strong she
could make a barren woman bear children. They didn't know how that, and
that was a secret Girzine intended to keep. This woman's baby had been
stillborn however. A great tragedy for her. Girzine didn't worry
herself over it though. She knew the baby had been healthy in the womb,
and knew what kind of poison had shriveled it's health into a dry husk,
into nothing. She knew who did it too. The woman waited, her eyes as
big as a rabbits, as she awaited Girzine's answer. Girzine let the
silence drag out, as if she were in great contemplation. Of course she
could do it again, that was no problem. The problem lay with where her
allegiance was. Finally, she said cryptically, lifting her heavy veil,
to look the noblewoman right in the eyes,

"My Lady, I could try, although I could offer no promises." She knew
where the wiser decision lay. She would abide by it. The woman nodded
strangely, a small glint in her eyes. Rumors flew everywhere of
Girzine's ability, no doubt the woman though she was trying to get some
more money. The woman held out a bag, and it clanked with heavy gold
coins. She set it before Girzine, and bowed so low, her forehead
touched the mat they sat on,

"Please, my Great Mother, there is ten times more then where that came
from, if you can make me conceive a child." Girzine waved an impatient
hand,

"Yes, go home, my Lady, let me rest tonight, and tomarrow, you know
what to bring." The woman's eyes lit up eagerly, and she rose to her
heat, bowed once more, and then backed out, to disappear into the
night. Girzine sighed and sat back on her heels, pulling off the veil.
A cloaked figure drew up beside her. Girzine smiled warmly,

"Well, I was wondering where you were." Pasha pushed back her hood, and
helped herself to a cup of Girzine's tea, and taking a hesitant sip,
while making a face. It was a harsh drink, and Pasha had never been
fond of tea to begin with. She looked at Girzine sternly and
said,

"What are you going to do, Girzine?" Girzine took the cup from Pasha
and put it down, then leaned in close, waving a finger in her
face,

"I already promised you that I would hex every chance she had of ever
having children. You don't need to worry." Pasha nodded, relaxing a
little,

"It is just that last time never should have happened. If that baby had
survived?" Pasha shivered, a look of disgust crossing over her face.
The she added, her voice mournful, "It had been a boy, you know."
Girzine nodded sagely,

"She had asked for a boy. I know." Pasha picked at the hem of her cloak
and played with it's edge,

"I have to go into the other realm, so I won't be able to watch over
you. But I will still here about it, if she bears a child." Girzine
adopted an innocent look,

"My Lady! Do you suggest that I would ever deceive you?" Pasha
nodded,

"You thrive on duplicity." Girzine shrugged. It was true, who was she
to deny it? Instead she said,

"Well, what if Lady Theron finds out that I am taken payment for making
sure she never has children?" Pasha grinned, something that appeared
good natured, but if you looked closely, you could see the flash of
malice in it,

"Don't worry about what she'll do if she finds out, worry about what I
would do if I find out that she did have one." Girzine immediately went
to cleaning up her various props, a concerned frown on her face,

"I understand exactly where the true danger lies." Pasha nodded, and
prepared to leave, making her way back home. She gave Girzine one last
look,
"Don't fail me Girzine, I can be a hard mistress."

***
Theron looked at herself in the mirror, pleased to find that she looked
just as beautiful as when she left. She checked her mirror about 8
times a day, never would she be caught at less then her best. The
candlelight danced over her, and she looked like so much more then a
simple lady, she looked like a queen, with long, dark hair, and almond
shaped eyes as black as obsidian. Skin like cream. She was one of the
most beautiful women in the land, it was her curse that she couldn't
have children. It was just her luck that instead she was stuck with her
husbands child, a snotty little brat that disrespected her step mother
at every turn. Theron pulled her hair back, and called out,

"Oh Keyvin!" Keyvin appeared at her shoulder in just a moment. Tall,
lean, with curly, orange-red hair, and innocent green eyes, he was so
sweet, so good, it made Theron sick. But this was her lot, she had to
make the best of it. She motioned for him to come near, and stood up,
slipping her arms around him, and kissing his shoulder.

"It's a beautiful night isn't it?" Keyvin nodded. His mind was clearly
nowhere in the vicinity, and Theron was exasperated. He got like this
sometimes, his mind would wander down another venue and get stuck in
the mud. She didn't get much of a chance to do anything about it, as
there was a sudden knocking on the door. She growled in frustration, as
her Lord Keyvin rushed to answer it. A tired looking house page said in
a pant,

"Milord, Lord Hardira is here. Says it is very important." Keyvin
nodded, giving his wife an apologetic look, and slipped out after the
page. Theron picked up a small, expensive crystal vase and hurled it at
the wall in frustration. It shattered, and a little bit of her rage
went with it. But not enough, she stalked around the room, her mind
racing. A chuckle interrupted her thoughts. She looked up, only to see
the smirk on her stepdaughters face. Pasha was perched on the bed, her
eyes laughing at Theron merrily. Theron wanted the vase back so that
she could hurl it at the girl's head. Such a sloppy, ugly little girl.
Dressed and acted like a boy. Never be accused of even being pretty
that one. Theron demanded,

"What are you doing? I've warned you about just coming in here like
this. I will have a talk with you father and we'll see what he does
about this." Pasha laughed and slipped off the bed, her motions
languid. The look in her eyes made Theron's skin crawl. Pasha chirped,
as good natured as any young girl,

"But Stepmother, I have come to tell you that I shall be leaving. That
is why the Lord Hardira is here." Hope sprang up in Theron's heart, but
she quickly damped it down, refusing to take this at face value.

"Oh?" She said blandly and moved away, back to her vanity, and started
organizing her make-up. She watched the form of Pasha in the mirror,
the way the girl seemed to distant, yet Theron knew without a doubt,
she was absorbing every move she made. Pasha nodded,

"I thought that might cheer you up. I am going back to the mortal realm
to live with my mother." Theron stopped what she was doing, frozen,
then she turned slowly, her eyes cold,

"Is this true?" Having the girl that far away would be a dream. Pasha
nodded,

"On an official assignment, could be just a few weeks, maybe a few
years. I don't expect you shall see hide nor hair of me for a good long
while." Theron smiled,

"I am sorry, my dear, we shall miss you." Pasha chuckled again, and
strode near Theron, who instinctively recoiled. Pasha stopped a breath
away, and touched the taller woman's cheek lightly. A bolt of energy,
like electricity jolted through her. Theron sucked in a breath. Pasha
stepped away, grinning broadly now, like a chestshire cat.

"You lie badly, Lady Theron. Enjoy your time without me. Enjoy it while
you can. Just remember, that when my father dies, this all becomes
mine. I already have a nice little monastery picked out for you in the
human realm. Bind your powers up nice and tight, and boom, you human!"
Glee flickered in the girl's eyes, and Theron went cold, cold as ice,
and colder. She turned swiftly and picked up a candlestick, throwing at
where Pasha had been standing. Theron's eyes sought her eyes, examining
every inch of the room for the brat, but she was no where to be
seen.

"You silly little goose. Perhaps you belong with the humans after all.
I am right here." Theron turned, as here was apparently right behind
her. Pasha gave her a mock curtsey and skipped out. Theron shivered,
partly with fear, partly with anger. She had to get rid of that girl.
No matter what happened, she had to make her go away, and stay gone.
Maybe this would be the perfect opportunity, while she wasn't here,
Theron could work on it. Something had to happen. Maybe she could
convince Keyvin to disown her. Not likely. A child? Theron grinned.
Perfect revenge to oust her with a sweet little baby boy. Theron hummed
as she straitened up the room and awaited her husbands return.