Tarras stopped at a corridor junction. Directly ahead was the tower, while another passage opened to his right. He could glimpse the open area before the tower entrance. The guard was likely standing just out of view.

He did not dare go any further. If Q'yros had placed another of his "trip-wires" keyed to the enchantment on his possessions, he would bring the Mage running. He knew that Q'yros would be called to this area eventually, but it had to be someplace away from the tower.

Tarras looked down the other corridor. It was empty, as he had hoped. All the guards were patrolling more critical areas or keeping watch over the Lords at dinner. It was a wise move on the Mage's part. People are more dangerous in groups than individually. It was likely why no guard had decided to follow him or inquire as to where he was going.

Now he needed to attract the guard at the tower.

Tarras ducked into the side corridor, moving silently. On either side were simple wooden doors that led to clerical offices. The abundance of cobwebs was evidence that they had fallen into disuse. From the symbols on the doors, cartographers were once employed here. There was little more to be explored in the lands surrounding Oceanus. He doubted that these rooms had seen use for the past three Emperors.

He crept past a few doors before extracting a small dagger from his boot. He wished he had an accomplice for this, for the lack of one meant one key effect would be missing. He had to hope it would not reveal his ruse too soon.

Tarras gripped the knife and turned towards the junction. He walked such that his boots echoed off the stone floor. He came to a sudden stop. "Hold! Who are you?!" he shouted. "What are you doing?! No!"

He scuffled his feet. He brought the dagger to his shoulder and winced as he slashed the blade against it, cutting his shirt and drawing a bright red line of blood.

"No, stop!! ARRGH!" he screamed.

He flung the dagger against the wall behind him as hard as he could and fell to the ground. As he dropped, he heard the dagger make a metallic noise off the wall and fall somewhere in the main corridor.

As he heard booted feet pound towards him in the distance, he wished now he had an accomplice to simulate the sound of an assailant running away.

When the first of Tarras' yells came to Janna's ears, she nearly gasped.

The second guard's patrol had taken him into the area again. He had just started away when the sound came. She heard the scrape of his boots as he turned around.

"What was that?" he demanded.

Janna could hear the tower guard come to attention. Janna missed their reaction when Tarras screamed because it was all she could do not to react herself.

"I don't know," the tower guard said. "I'll check on it."

"Shall I cover your post?"

Janna swallowed. No no no no ... she thought desperately in the short pause that followed.

When the tower guard spoke, he was already moving away. "No, stay on your route and watch the other side corridor in case we have a miscreant about."

"Yes, Commander!"

Janna swallowed and let out a sigh as the other guard turned and marched away again. She heard the footsteps of the tower guard quicken and retreat down the northward corridor.

She came out from behind the column and crept forward. She advanced until she glimpsed the second guard disappearing down the other corridor. She wasted no time. She dashed forward, her bare feet making very little noise. She slipped through the narrow, arched entrance of the tower and stepped to the side, putting her back against the wall.

Janna tried to keep her breathing under control. She looked ahead. In the center of the room was a dais. She could see the slight residual glow of magic around it and assumed it was a lifter. Stone steps rose in a spiral circling the dais.

She could not take the chance that the lifter would trigger a warning or make noise. She started up the stairs as fast as she could.

"What happened here?" the guard demanded when he came to a stop at the prone form of Tarras.

Tarras moved slowly and groaned. The guard spotted the blood and immediately dropped to one knee beside him. "Are you all right, my Lord? Who did this?"

Tarras very slowly pushed himself up. "One moment ... please ..." he gasped, pretending to be winded.

"You are injured. Do you need me to summon a Healer?"

"Eh? Injured ... " Tarras moved as if in shock. He slowly rose to his knees and placed a hand briefly against his shoulder. He looked at the blood speculatively. "Hellfire ... that's all he did ... I was sure I was dead ..."

The guard's forehead creased. "What were you attacked with, my Lord?"

"I-I'm not sure. He threw something at me. Heard something clatter ..."

The guard looked around and saw a glint of torchlight off steel in the main corridor. He stood and retrieved the dagger. He looked it over, then turned to face Tarras, frowning. "Who attacked you, my Lord?" he demanded.

Tarras stalled as much as possible. First he paused as if catching his breath, then rose unsteadily to his feet.

The guard, however, was impatient. "I ask again, who attacked you? Every moment that passes means a greater chance he will get away."

"I don't know who it was, guardsman," Tarras said. "I could not see his face. He had a dark hood drawn over it. All his clothes were dark."

The guard raised an eyebrow. He reached into a cloth bag attached to his belt and withdrew a blue pearl. He waved his hand over it once. "Summon Plantho."

The image of the second guard shimmered into view. It was a bit dimmer and more indistinct than Tarras thought a Farview should be. "Yes, Commander?"

"One of the Noble Lords claims to have been attacked by a dark-robed figure with a hood. Do you see or hear anything at your end?"

"Nothing, Commander. All quiet here."

The guard nodded. "Carry on for now." He waved his hand again and the Farview ended. He turned to Tarras with a skeptical gaze. "And just where did your assailant go, my Lord?"

Janna was panting by the time she reached the top, her legs aching. She stood in a large, round chamber. A table curved about half its circumference. Everything appeared impeccably neat. On one end of the semicircle lay more than a dozen blue pearls seated in velvet. Several maps were piled near the center. At the other end was a group of scrolls.

Just as she looked over to them, she again felt the tug of a Farview summons. Duric had been doing it on a regular basis ever since she had come within sight of the portico. Her eyes returned to the scrolls. It had to be among them.

She picked up the first one, undid the cord holding it, and unrolled it. She sighed when it was not what she was looking for. She had to roll it back up again and re-tie it, so Q'yros would not notice anything out of place. There were seven more scrolls to examine.

And this was all assuming that the Mage did not have wards or other spells on the room or its contents that would have him running to the tower even now. It had not been something she had even considered, much to her chagrin.

She had to hope that luck -- and time -- were on her side.

Tarras was trying his best to stall, but it was clear that the guard was seeing all the holes in his story. He managed to buy some time by stating that he had heard the assailant start to run away but that the sound of his feet simply stopped. This at least made the guard check some of the rooms on either side of the corridor.

"I am sorry I am not much more help, guardsman," Tarras said. "It all happened rather fast, and I was more worried about dodging his knife. I am not as young as I used to be."

The guard closed the door, having to yank it hard to get its rusted hinges to work. Dust wafted down from above. The guard waved it away in annoyance as he turned to Tarras. "I find no evidence of your assailant."

Tarras sighed. "I suppose he got away, then."

"Which is impossible. There are a very limited number of passages from this area of the palace. Unless you wish me to believe he could turn himself invisible?" he asked in a mocking tone.

"I have no idea, guardsman. I only know what happened as I have told you."

The guard considered the Noble Lord for another moment before lifting the pearl again. He snapped his hand over it. "Summon Mage Q'yros."

Tarras stepped to the side so he would not immediately appear in the Farview, but otherwise remained impassive. Interesting, Tarras thought. That is the same pearl but it can summon more than one person. My, Q'yros has been busy.

It was a few moments before Q'yros' image appeared. "Yes, what is it?" he demanded.

"This is Commander Gruth, my Lord. One of the Noble Lords is here and claims to have been attacked by a dark-robed man with a dagger."

"What?! Are you serious, Commander? Wait, are you the one guarding the southeast tower?"

"I am."

"Do not leave that tower unattended!"

"One of my men is patrolling the hallway near the portico, my Lord. It is covered." He glanced at Tarras with a critical eye. "I do not believe I should leave the Noble Lord alone."

"Which one is it? Janna? Uras?"

Gruth turned his gaze inquisitively towards Tarras.

"Lord Tarras," said Tarras placidly.

"I heard that!" Q'yros declared before the guard could speak. "Do not let him out of your sight! I am on my way! And you are sure there is no one else around?"

"No one at all, my Lord. I assume you did not detect anything yourself?"

"Nothing," Q'yros grunted. "Let's keep it that way, shall we?"

"Yes, my Lord. If you wish me to return to my station, I can take Lord Tarras into custody."

"No. If another Lord enters that area, I don't want to have to sort out Tarras from his accomplice! Remain where you are until I arrive!"

Q'yros' image faded out.

Tarras now realized there was a second guard about. He hoped that Janna had managed to get past him and into the tower. He had no way of knowing. He had to continue as if things were going to plan.

"Finally ..." Janna breathed.

She found it on the third scroll. It was taking her so long to re-tie each scroll she was sure she would run out of time. Now as she unrolled this one fully, she was seeing a table of patrol numbers, towns and landmarks, and times of day. It was what she was looking for.

She mentally answered the summons and held the scroll unrolled before her. Duric and another fellow that she had never seen before appeared superimposed with the table.

"Thank the gods," Duric said, his voice shaky with relief. "All right, just hold that up so ..." He paused and blinked. Next to him, the fellow's eyes widened, then his lips curled into a lascivious smile. "Janna ... are you naked?"

"No time to explain! Just start copying this! But I don't know if you'll have time ..."

"Should take no more than a few moments," said the fellow next to Duric with a sly smile, his eyes making no pretension of where they were roaming.

"This is Annas, Janna, the rogue Mage that helped me transport the army. I had him Port back here because I thought he might have a way to copy the document faster."

"Almost done," he said, his hands waving over something off to the side. "I am in effect recording the image from the Farview into a pearl. Then we can simply examine it later and send it to Duric's army over Farview."

"Hurry up, I don't know how long Tarras can stall them ..."

Duric raised an eyebrow. "Lord Tarras K'riis?"

"Yes, he's helping me. He knows all about what you're planning. So does Lord Uras."

Duric smirked. "And Uras doesn't want to kill me?"

"Believe me, Duric, you have no idea how bad things are here. He's glad you're ..."

"Done," said Annas.

Janna immediately rolled up the parchment. "I have to get out of here. Contact me tomorrow. Now go away!"

Duric nodded and quickly terminated the Farview.

Janna re-tied the scroll, careful to do it right despite her desperate need to escape. At the same time, she took an idle glance at the maps in the center of the table.

Something she saw made her take a second look.

She recognized it as a map of the lands immediately surrounding the Imperial Palace. Her eyes roamed over it, taking note of the symbols drawn about the palace. They were Imperial regiment designations.

Damn, this is the deployment of their defenses, she thought. If I had known that was here, I would have had them ... wait ...

Janna put down the scroll and leaned in for a closer look. Her eyes widened.

She was not an expert on military matters. She had no idea how many regiments comprised a legion. But the number she was seeing was a bit alarming. She was pretty sure it was more than one legion.

Unfortunately, she had no time to study it. She had to get out.

She ducked out of the chamber and started down the stairs.

Q'yros thumped his staff hard against the floor with each step he took down the corridor. He was flanked by two more guards, their crossbows drawn.

Tarras turned casually and flashed the Mage a smile. "Good day to you, Mage Q'yros."

Q'yros said nothing until he was upon them. He thumped his staff one last time and crossed his hands over the end. In a remarkably calm voice with a smile devoid of warmth, the Mage said, "Lord Tarras, give me one reason why you should not be arrested this very minute."

"Hmm. A tough one. You always give impromptu quizzes like this to visiting Nobility?" Tarras asked with a grin.

Q'yros glowered. "You have one more chance to answer me seriously, or I will take that as an admission of guilt."

"Guilt? Guilt for what? I suppose then my answer is, 'because I have done nothing wrong.'"

The Mage took a deep breath, though it did little to calm him. His fingers curled tightly around the end of the staff. "Why are you not at dinner, Lord Tarras?"

"Perhaps because I did not quite have enough of an appetite. I assume that is not against the Emperor's rules, now is it? Nor is wandering the palace."

"There are areas that you are not to traverse ..."

"And I have not traversed them. You, of all people, should know that."

Q'yros' eyes narrowed.

"Really, Q'yros, I see no reason for this interrogation," said Tarras in what he hoped was typical indignant-Lord fashion. "You are so worried about security, yet a Noble Lord can be attacked in your very corridors ..."

"There is no evidence that he was attacked, my Lord," Gruth said to the Mage.

"Hmm. The wound in my shoulder would appear to indicate otherwise," said Tarras smoothly. "Unless you contend that I threw the dagger at myself."

Q'yros frowned. "Dagger? What dagger?"

"He claims this was thrown at him, my Lord," said Gruth, handing over the weapon.

Q'yros gave it a cursory glance, turning it once in his hand. He looked up at Tarras. Without taking his eyes from the Noble Lord, he said, "Commander, take one of these two guards and check the tower. Make sure no one has breached it."

"Yes, my Lord."

Tarras kept his outward demeanor unchanged as the Commander and one of Q'yros' guards left.

"Care to tell me now what they will find, Lord Tarras?" Q'yros asked with a smug grin.

"Most likely whatever you last left there, I would wager," Tarras replied. "I hope you're not a messy person, or you're likely in for some embarrassment."

The Mage frowned at this and remained silent.

Janna reached the bottom of the steps and stopped. She heard booted feet approaching from the second guard on his patrol. She had to wait until he had retreated.

The footsteps stopped, and there was a maddening pause. Finally, there was the scrape of his boots against stone and the sound of him walking away. Now she just had to wait until he had reached the ...

And at that moment, she heard approaching footfalls from the main corridor to the junction.

Janna tried to contain her panic. She leaned out of the doorway and saw the retreating back of the other guard. He had just passed the far edge of the portico. Janna glanced towards the main corridor. She could see the shadows of the approaching guards.

Janna quickly slipped out of the tower and towards the portico. Suddenly the guard ahead of her paused.

She didn't stop to think, she just acted. She made a final dash onto the portico. She heard the boot-scrape sound just as she hid behind the center column.

"We are to search the tower," Janna heard the tower guard's voice say. "Have you seen anything on your patrol?"

"Nothing, Commander. All quiet."

Janna swallowed and let her breath go in a shaky sigh.

"Resume patrol. This will take only a moment."

"Yes, Commander."

Janna waited. She heard the tower guard and another enter the tower. She heard the other guard walk away. Once it was quiet again, she dashed to the railing and vaulted it, wincing as she caught her forearm on a thorn. She landed hard, but remembered to tuck herself into a roll, and came out of it without more than a bruise or two.

She paused to make sure she had not been discovered. The moon had cleared the trees and provided her some silvery radiance. She glanced at her arm. A thin trail of blood traced a jagged path. The flow of blood had already slowed. She ignored it for now.

When she heard nothing from above her, she stole away from the portico, creeping along until her eyes adapted to the darkness. Soon she was lost in the shadows.

Q'yros suddenly turned away from Tarras. An image of Commander Gruth appeared before him. "Well?"

"The tower is secure, my Lord," said Gruth. "No one is here, and there is no evidence that anyone has been here."

Q'yros frowned deeply. "Fine. Resume your posts." He terminated the Farview with a swipe of his hand and turned to Tarras.

"I take it I am free to go now?" asked Tarras. "I believe I have enough of an appetite for dinner now."

"Where is Lady Janna?"

Tarras looked unconcerned. "Janna? Last I saw her, she was going for a stroll in the gardens. She was to meet me later for dinner. Why?"

Q'yros' jaw clenched and he thumped his staff once. He turned and rushed away.

"My Lord?" the remaining guard asked in confusion.

"Let him go!" the Mage snapped without turning around or slowing. "And resume your duties!"

Lord Tarras smiled pleasantly at the guard and walked away.

Q'yros was winded and tired by the time he reached the room. He ran with an unsteady gait to the still-broken stone table and shouted, "Show me!"

After a short wait that nevertheless set his teeth on edge, the three dimensional view of the palace appeared, glowing dimly.

"Janna J'garon! Where is she?!" the Mage roared.

A dot appeared in the far corner of the gardens.

Q'yros clenched his teeth in frustration ... until he continued to stare at the dot.

It was not moving.

He continued to stare. It continued not to move.

He was about to bark another command when the dot suddenly quivered for a few moments, then finally started to move out of the gardens. He watched as it headed through the courtyard and into the Palace proper.

Q'yros frowned. "Show me Lord Tarras."

A second dot appeared. It moved towards his quarters. Soon, the dot that was Janna joined it.

His eyes narrowed. "End!"

The image flickered out. Q'yros looked visibly exhausted from the effort, but it did nothing to diminish the fury in his eyes.

"I do not know what you just did, Janna, but I will find out. I will find out!"

Despite his tiredness, he stormed out of the room.

Tarras and Janna hugged each other tightly.

"I did it ..." Janna said in a shaky voice, her eyes teary with relief. "Duric has the information, he has the patrol schedule."

"You got away with it, Janna," Tarras said, smiling, though his own eyes shimmered as well. "Q'yros had sent some guards into the tower after you left."

Janna pulled back, her eyes wide. "I know! Just after I left! We cut it close!"

"The point is, he found nothing. You must have left everything as you found it."

"Gods, I tried, yes, it was maddening having to re-tie all those scrolls! Tarras, thank you. I never would have been able to do this myself."

Tarras smiled and kissed her. He had intended it to be short, but Janna pulled him close, and it lingered for quite awhile.

When they broke off, they looked into each other's eyes. Again, the words came to them. Again, it didn't seem right. It was not the right time or the right place.

"We better get to dinner," Tarras said softly.

Janna hesitated, as if she were reconsidering. Instead, she nodded slowly. "Yes, I'm ... I'm getting a bit hungry myself," she lied.

The two of them gave each other a small, somewhat awkward smile before heading out of the room.

General Yollon considered the image of the document that hung suspended before him as his clerk dutifully transcribed it to a parchment by the light of the fire. His adjunct looked to him with interest.

Yollon turned to him. "What do you think, Donlas?"

The young adjunct, Donlas Ve'carro, stepped forward. His eyes flicked over the image. One corner of his mouth tugged upwards. "Classic cross-country sweep with a few odd variations and timings."

Yollon nodded in agreement. "And?"

"And ... very amateurish."

Yollon folded his arms. "Obviously done by someone who is not a military commander."

Donlas nodded. "My thoughts as well. But it's varied enough that we can't do a straight run for the palace."

"Agreed." He gestured for the adjunct to come with him. They headed around the fire to a small makeshift table, where a large map had been unrolled. He had another soldier bring a lantern and hold it over the map. He pointed as he spoke. "We start here ... go around here ... camp here the first night ... then ... around the base of the hills, putting them between us and two of the patrols ... and ... either here ... or here, depending on those last lines on the patrol schedule."

The adjunct furrowed his brow. "That will have us coming at it almost from due west."

Yollon nodded. "The terrain is more favorable anyway."

"So ... how long?"

"Assuming we encounter none of Z'haas' forces before we reach the ramparts of the Imperial City, five days' march."

Donlas nodded and looked over to the scribe as the transcription continued. "I don't know what we would have done without that, General. At least now we can concentrate on getting to the Imperial Palace and not ..."

Yollon raised a finger. "Ah. You were doing well until that point. No, we leave nothing to chance. I want a rotating series of scouts ahead of us to make sure that the way is truly clear. We cannot afford to be taken by surprise."

"Yes, General, of course."

"You will be in charge of that. Draw up a quick draft plan before retiring this evening."

"At once, General!" the adjunct said eagerly before heading off.

Yollon watched him go. He turned from the fire and headed a short way into the darkness, towards the river they were going to cross in the morning, and the lands beyond under the starry heavens.

"Nothing to chance," he repeated softly.

When Amanda lifted her head from the bed, she experienced a moment of disorientation.

It took her a moment to remember where she was. So used to sleeping uncovered all the time, she had been momentarily confused by the furs covering her body.

She sat up in bed, blinking blearily into the dimness. The fur fell away from her breasts and the touch of chilled air helped awaken her fully.

Amanda looked around as she tried to figure out what had disturbed her. Duric lay still in the large bed. He was snoring very softly, not nearly loud enough to awaken her.

She glanced over to a window. Silvery moonlight faded in and out as a stiff breeze blew the clouds across the sky.

She was about to settle back down to sleep when she felt it again and realized what had awoken her.

A Farview summons? Now? Amanda thought in confusion.

She did not understand why Jollis was Farviewing her now. Surely Sirinna had told him by now that she was with Duric at base camp? He would not try to summon her if he knew this.

The summons came again, quickly on the heels of the first.

No, Jollis, I can't answer this now, she thought, hoping it would somehow get back to Jollis. She laid back down on the bed and tried to go back to sleep.

Yet the summons continued, just as urgently as before. Now she was worried that something was wrong. Or worse, that something had happened to Sirinna. She wished she had brought her Farviewing pearl with her. She briefly entertained the frightful notion of the pearl lying broken and shattered on the sanitary floor.

Amanda sat up and kicked off the furs, trying not to shiver at the cold. The hut was not well-insulated. Where it was designed to be temporary, amenities had to be skipped. It would keep out the wind and rain and that was about it.

She carefully pushed herself to her feet. She looked over to Duric as she crept across the hut. When she reached the door, she turned the latch slowly and pulled gently. It gave an initial squeak. She tensed and glanced behind her. Duric remained still and -- she hoped -- asleep.

She opened the door just enough to allow her to slip outside and pulled it closed behind her.

The wind bit at her as soon as she stepped away from the hut. She wrapped her arms around herself, shivering. She could see a few guards at the very edge of the camp, facing away from her. She quickly put some trees between herself and them. She found the hut where the supplies were kept and hid behind it.

"I accept the summons," Amanda said in a quavering voice.

Jollis' image materialized before her. He smiled. "Hello, dear one."

Amanda managed a smile despite the cold. "Hello, Master Jollis. I ..."

She paused. Jollis was dressed oddly. Instead of his usual tunic, he wore something made of rough and weatherbeaten leather. A satchel hung over one shoulder. She peered to either side of him and thought she could make out the dark outlines of trees.

"I am sorry to draw you out on a cool night like this, dear one, but it was important that I speak with you."

Amanda's heart thumped. She just knew it was going to be bad news. "What is it, Master Jollis? Is something wrong?"

Jollis sighed. "I am afraid so. I have had to terminate my business arrangement with your Overlord rather abruptly."

Amanda felt something inside her twist. "But ... what ... h-how ...?" she sputtered.

"I am sorry to upset you like this, dear one."

She swallowed. Her throat felt tight. This was exactly what she didn't need. "Master Jollis ... I ... w-we can still see each other again? If I ever get released from Master Duric?"

"We will see each other again. I can promise you that. I just cannot tell you exactly when. I am hoping it will be very soon."

It pained Jollis to say this, even more so to keep his face in a forced smile of reassurance. He knew what the circumstances of their next meeting would be if everything went as planned. He hated deceiving her like this. He felt it wrench his heart. He was beginning to understand the depth of the feelings he had developed for Amanda.

"Please, don't just tell me that," Amanda snapped, her voice quavering badly. "Don't just say it like you want to make everything better. Just tell me the truth. I-I've earned at least that much."

Jollis was stunned. He had not expected Amanda to be so bold. Nor did he expect it to pull so hard at his heartstrings that he momentarily wished his Master had relieved him of this task when his initial plans had gone awry.

"Dear one ... it pains me to be away from you ... I would not tell you this if I did not believe it to be true."

Even over the Farview, Amanda could sense the sincerity in his voice. She slowly smiled, though her eyes grew teary.

Jollis gave her a curious look. "Are you somewhere other than Lord Duric's palace? Your surroundings look odd."

"Yes, I am. Master Duric took me to his base camp where he's commanding his army."

Jollis' eyes widened a touch. "He is personally leading the army?"

"Well, not right with the army. They've already gone. Master Duric is staying at a camp just a few days from the Imperial Palace."

"Ah, I see. He wishes to inspire his troops."

"I think so, anyway."

"So you are with Lord Duric much of the day?"

Amanda nodded. "He takes me wherever he goes. It's almost like he wants me to see everything, Master Jollis."

"Was he impressed with your research on the Battle of Selemas Keep?"

"Actually, yes, he was," Amanda said. Her voice was a little subdued. She had noticed that the people that had not paid very good attention to her had disappeared from Duric's staff by the next day. She had a feeling Master Duric had "fired" them. She felt partially responsible for it.

But it did not diminish the sense of pride she felt. She was simply glad to have been given the opportunity to learn. She felt it placed her a peg above an ordinary slave.

Jollis, however, was positively elated.

Now he could revisit a crucial part of his original plan. He had intended Amanda to help him influence Duric, to help maneuver him into favoring certain actions or approaches. When other factors made his plans fall to the wayside, he had abandoned this as well. Now he had the opportunity to reclaim it and give him the edge.

He felt the guilt again for using Amanda this way but dismissed it. He had to capitalize on this. His Master would expect no less of him.

"Have you spoken with Sirinna before you left the palace, little one?"

"Yes, I did." That means he left only today, Amanda thought, or he would have heard that from Sirinna.

"Did she give you any advice by any chance?"

Amanda paused a moment before nodding slowly. "Yes, she did. She wanted to make sure I tended to Master Duric's needs, as he might be under some stress."

"Ah, very wise of her, dear one. If it were not to presumptuous of me, might I add to that?"

Amanda nodded a little more assuredly. She valued Jollis' opinions.

"Lord Duric will be facing hard decisions. He will be sending men into battle for the first time in many, many years. He must never lose his nerve. He must be bold. He must strike when the opportunity comes."

"I don't understand, Master Jollis. This sounds more like advice Master Duric should hear."

"But he can. From you."

Amanda's eyes widened. "But I can't tell him how to run his army."

"Very true. But you are a student of Oceanus history now. If you see him waver, you might offer him words of encouragement."

Amanda fell silent. She bit her lower lip.

"You have told me you wish to be a good slave," continued Jollis. "This is important to you. It is my understanding that slaves can be companions in areas other than the bedchamber."

"Well, yes, but I don't think Master Duric would be interested in that from me."

"Ah, then why has he sent you to learn of one of the most pivotal battles in Oceanus history? Why was he so eager to listen to you? Or to have his staff listen?"

Amanda had no answer. She did not want to think that Duric was interested in nothing more than determining who to fire from his staff. She wanted to think that he was actually interested in her education.

And Duric had stated that he thought the battle was an example of clear strategic thinking. He had wanted the others to learn from it.

She looked at Jollis, eyes glistening. "Master Jollis, you may be asking more than I can give."

"Please, do not despair, dear one. I do not want you to do something that makes you feel uncomfortable. I simply advise that you may wish to speak your mind when the time comes."

"I think Master Duric has things well in hand as it is."

Jollis could sense the doubt in Amanda's voice. It had been more of a hopeful statement than anything else. Jollis understood now. She was scared. She wanted things to go well, and did not want to have to be responsible for them. She wanted to trust that others would take care of it for her.

He could understand the sentiment. And he had faith that Amanda would not let herself do this in the end. She would rise to the occasion. She always did. It was in her nature. Otherwise, she could never have confronted the Imperial Agent and saved her lover, or distracted the assassin sent against Roquan. Twice she had done it, and twice she had a pivotal role in events. She would do it again.

Even if it was to plunge Oceanus into bloody chaos by Jollis' design.

Jollis bowed his head to Amanda. "You will do what you believe is best, dear one. That I believe, and that I trust."

"I never know whether or not what I do is really for the best, Master Jollis," Amanda admitted in a soft voice.

"What matters is what is best for you."

Amanda's lips curled into a small smile at this. She felt a little better. Jollis always seemed to care more for her feelings than anything else. But it made it all the more troubling why Jollis had to leave the Manor in the first place.

"I must take my leave of you, dear one," said Jollis. "I will contact you again soon. Please, take care of yourself, and Lord Duric."

Her smiled widened. "I will, Master Jollis."

Jollis returned the smile, bowed his head, and faded from sight.

For a long while, the only sound in the darkness was of their breathing as they clung to each other.

Tarras lay on his back, Janna draped over him. His arm held her tightly, she clutched at him. Her sex ached from the sheer number of times it had come down on Tarras' manhood. She had used their lovemaking to drown out her doubts and fears again.

It had been only partially successful.

Now they were coming back to her, but one in particular stood out. She had not had an opportunity to mention it. Like that other thing she had wanted to say, it had not been the right time or place.

And for that it still was not. But she had to say something about the first matter.

"Tarras," she said in nearly a whisper. She barely moved against him.

His hand squeezed her arm. "Yes, Janna."

"I saw something in the chamber at the top of the tower. A map of the Emperor's forces around the Palace."

Tarras paused for a long moment, staring up into the shadows of the ceiling. He wished he could say something soft and tender to her. Instead, he said, "Describe it, please."

Janna did so. When she was done, Tarras was silent for a long while.

"Hmm," he finally responded. "Two legions."

Janna swallowed and clutched at him more tightly and let go with an anguished sigh. "Duric's army is going to be defeated, isn't it?"

Another agonizing pause.

"Not necessarily."

Janna lifted her head. "How can you say that?"

"I have said this before, Janna. Wars are not won on mere strength of arms."

"I think you're giving Duric's charisma more credit than it deserves, Tarras."

"And you, my dear, may be putting too much credit in the Urisi contingents."

"You really think the Emperor did that? That he would actually pit foreign soldiers against Oceanus people?"

Tarras paused. "Yes and no."

Janna frowned. "Please, Tarras, I'm not in the mood for this."

"I'm sorry, my dear. I mean, I believe the Urisi provided them with the intent that they would be used against Colos. I believe Z'haas decided to hold them back instead in defense of the Imperium."

"But why?"

"I could say simply because he is mad, but there is more to it than that," said Tarras. "I imagine that he decided he did not want a Urisi influence to the west."

Janna digested this. "But ... you're thinking that they won't fight? That the Urisi will just lay down their arms or something?"

"I am betting on that, yes. They won't risk the political fallout."

"But then why did the Emperor do it? Does he not see this?"

"Do I really need to answer that, Janna?" he answered gently.

Janna sighed and settled back against his chest. "This is the first time that I will actually wish that the Emperor is as insane as we're making him out to be. But, still, Tarras, Duric's going to be facing ..."

Janna lifted herself from him again. He grabbed her shoulders and pulled her down.

"What ...?"

"Shhh ... No more, Janna, not tonight."

Janna just stared at him, her lips parted. Her eyes glistened in the low light of the oil lamp by the side of the bed.

"Please ... no more politics ... no more Z'haas ... no more Duric ... no more worrying about what will happen. There's just the here and now. There's just us."

Janna felt him tug at her, but that was all. He wanted her to make the move, to show that she desired it herself.

She descended upon him, her eyes sliding closed as her lips met his.

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