Sweat slicked Asteria's back as she waved the sword around as the sun bowed down to another night. She had spent the day walking around the market, making sure she was seen by as many merchants as she could, knowing very well that Aderas would be searching for her.
Unsurprisingly, she felt a presence behind her and knew that someone had found her.
"A lady of many talents it would seem," Dion said from behind her. Asteria waved her sword before letting it drop loosely to her side as she turned to face Dion.
"Sword fighting is a skill that everyone should know," Asteria said. "It was one of the things my mother stressed that I learned before she passed on," She breathed.
"You don't talk much about your family," Dion said.
"My father was a powerful merchant, that had many qualities, among them was greed," she said avoiding Dion's gaze. "We lost everything to his greed, and when he died Zathrian struggled to pay back his debts, working as hard as he could, and then he was kidnapped by Pirates because of a skill his mother had asked him to learn." Asteria's face darkened.
"I don't talk about my parents because neither of them kept us safe. They gave us a legacy of ruin that we are still trying to piece together so many years later." Asteria said. "I shouldn't be here, but I have nowhere else to go."
"So you do realize that being here is not going to end well for you." Dion mused.
"Of course I do," Asteria said. "Why else would I have dedicated so much of today avoiding the King."
"If it was in my power I would help you," Dion said quietly.
"Like you tried to help me into a cell when we met the first time?" Asteria asked. "I think I've had enough of a man's help for my lifetime." She remarked. Asteria looked back at the Castle and saw something she had never expected.
"What is that?" she gulped.
Dion cast a look and gasped. "That's not possible," he murmured, walking up towards the castle. Asteria frowned, sheathed her blade and followed behind Dion, and saw that the hulking shape turned more defined looking more like a large bird, a raven as it flew lower and closer to the castle, eventually perching on a tower before it lowered itself and shrunk disappearing from view.
Dion shouted something to the guards in the front of the castle and all three of them ran inside. Asteria followed discreetly as they ran into the throne room where she had once been dragged across.
As the door opened, she saw Aderas embracing the bird that had become a woman with pale white hair. As she turned slightly to look at the guards, her indigo eyes flashed as they became less like a bird and more human, and Asteria immediately ducked away her eyes wide.
"Gwendalyn." she cursed.
XXX
Asteria busied herself in the Library, long before everyone had already gone to dinner. She hoped that with the new arrival the King would not think to look for her here. She needent' have worried about that particular person coming to look for her.
"Asteria, of the Stars. How I wish you were not here." Gwendalyn said her shoes clacking on the marble floors sounding not unlike the claws she usually wore.
Asteria turned to look at Gwen, feeling slightly apprehensive. "I do not wish for trouble." Asteria said putting her book down.
"If that was true. You would not be here." Gwen said.
"My brother is in danger," Asteria said.
"And yet you are here, in a lavish castle." Gwen pointed out.
Asteria gestured around her, "This was not my doing." she remarked.
"Yet it is the easiest thing of all for you, is it not?" Gwen asked.
"What would you have me do?" Asteria asked.
"I would have you not make my job harder," Gwen said.
"Your job?" Asteria asked.
"Stay away from the King. You viper. I know very well of your kind, and more importantly. I know who your friends are. The King has done much. Do not make him regret his choices." Gwen said with finality. Disappearing in a cloud of smoke.
Asteria rolled her eyes. Gwen always did have a flair for the dramatic. She walked out the library and into the Mage tower. Where Gwen stood looking through the paperwork. Asteria closed the door shut and walked up to her.
"You and I both know that there are things happening in the world right now that cannot be quantified." Asteria said."Warning me of the King will do you no good. Not now." she said.
Gwen dropped her papers looking at Asteria. "What have you done?" she asked.
"I did nothing. He made all his choices. I was just a victim to yet another mans desires." Asteria said.
"I wonder if that is what your mother said," Gwen said narrowing her eyes.
"Don't you dare talk about my mother." Asteria hissed. "You don't know all that she went through, the things she had to do to simply survive."
"What did you do, bat your eyes and play wounded victim?" Gwen snarled.
"I did what I had to, so I didn't get hanged." Asteria said her eyes flashing. "My brother had been kidnapped by Pirates. What other choice did I have, but to leave camp and hope that I could gather enough possessions to free him?"
"Yes, because I believe that story." Gwen said. "I know very well who you would have to leave and she isn't exactly one to give up boons."
"Are you saying I'm a prize?" Asteria asked.
"I'm saying if you cross me, it will be the last thing you do."