Mist clung lovingly to the stone pillars of the palace's balustrade. A lithe figure leaned indulgently against its railing. The salty wind teased at the man's lengthy black hair, and the twilight brought emphasis to the shimmering shine of his ivory skin.

His eyes, a dappled gray, stared off into the ocean's depth, paying little notice to the graceful arched halls connecting the rooms on the lone islands to Lost Haven Palace. The swishing of the waves lulled him into relaxing, the tension built up earlier now waning. Footsteps herald an intrusion to his solitude.

Serpent Mourn Alqualond, Lord of Alquahoon, Moon Warrior to Sehanine Moonbow, and Prince Astyr's close friend, stood at the balcony's entrance, eyeing his liege shrewdly. Opening his shields, he let his empathy brush against the prince, gauging the other man's mood. "I'm leaving tomorrow, Your Majesty." his tone deadpanned, lacking of warmth and emotion.

Astyr tilted his head to the side, catching a glimpse of Serpent in his warrior garb. Blue became Lord Alquahoon, emphasizing the man's colorings and natural handsomeness. Many of the women in his court whispered longingly about catching his eye, but Serpent kept himself apart from the others.

"On Azulous's business?" he asked, an elegant winged brow arched in silent inquiry.

"And the temple's," Serpent nodded stiffly, his posture impeccable as usual, "yes." Switching his winged helm to his other arm, the elegant piece laid against his hip.

The prince snorted his contempt for his friend's guardian. "You should not put much into his words." Astyr turned, half sitting on the railing's thick edge. "The man is much like your namesake." He shook his head. "His name should be 'serpent' instead of you."

Alquahoon's lord sighed; this argument would never rest between them. "No matter how we feel or view him," his eyes appeared purple with his uncertainty, doubt creeping into his cultured voice, "the man raised me. He even brought me before you and your father. I owe the man much."

Gray eyes narrowed. "That's exactly how he wants you to feel." Astyr's head shook in regret. Azulous's manipulations dug deep into his friend's noble subconscious. "Damn," he swore vehemently, striking the rail with a fist, "I wish Chay was here."

A ghost of a smile cracked Serpent's cool façade. Warmth touched his mood-shifting eyes. "Why?" he countered boldly without fear of repercussions from his prince. "So the two of you can abduct me again? Take me out," his expressions softened a little with humor, "on the ocean so I'd be forced to abort the mission given to me?"

"That's," a broad yet cocky grin split the prince's lips, "not a half bad idea."

Indifference descended back on Serpent's features, his lips thinned into a firm, tight line. "This is important, Astyr. I must do this." His voice reverted back to the deaden monotone that the prince despised.

"Then if you must," annoyance coated the prince's tone. Astyr purposely slipped into his prince persona, waving a nonchalant hand and presenting his lord with his backside. "You must."

His friend's behavior grated. "Alright," his tone still emotionless, the swirling violet of his eyes relayed Serpent's growing frustration and anger, "I'll admit doing this for myself. I need to know the truth, Astyr. Do I not deserve that?"

Serpent did not see the smile on his friend's lips. "Where?" Astyr asked, deigning not to answer the last question as he leaned back against the railing to let the salty breeze rail at his hair.

"Elven Sanctuary," Serpent answered promptly. "Inside a wooded area called Ellyon Woods. The fugitives have been using the forest as a cover to hide the base of their operations."

Astyr's brow's knitted the name unfamiliar to his eyes. 'Mm, perhaps Chay has heard of this place. Must remember to ask him or Syrene.'

Serpent recognized his friend's look and explained. "It's a sylvan city, Astyr. Matron Mother Hecalene has a Moon Warrior who often visits there. By their reports, it's a port city and they have a temple that caters to all religions. That's where I'll stay, and I'll send word once I arrive there."

The prince blinked in surprise. 'How covenant for Azulous to have a Moon Warrior with such information. Mm, a visit to Isilluva Temple and Nair Rainingstar is in order tomorrow. She'll tell me about this Moon Warrior.' Astyr felt confident his lover would tell him what he needed to know.

"Do so," Astyr gave his reluctant permission. "I want frequent reports. I don't care," he turned back to the sea, his shoulders tight and his back ramrod stiff, "how you send back your missives, just that you do and they are frequent." Serpent's empathy, the prince knew, would alert the man to his friend's worry and concern.

"Is that a request from a friend?" The lord's drawl was soft and light. "Or the royal request of my Liege?"

"Both." Astyr turned his head and answered with a cocky grin. "Alquahoon has been too long without a Lord or Lady, so please return with haste." He sent the man a sly wink. "I'll amass a group of willing women that'll be glad to bare your heir during your absence."

Serpent groaned. The last time his prince insisted he be with a woman, Serpent spent the majority of his time tied in a chair with a lovely woman straddling his lap while Astyr and Chay spent their evening in bed with their chosen bedmates.

Astyr laughed demonically; he knew where his friend's mind wandered too. "Go, my friend," he urged with a wistful smile, "I'll watch over Alquahoon for you. I promise not to woo and seduce your female servants." He teased.

The Moon Warrior bowed, his smile hidden. "Thank you, Astyr," he murmured in relief. Serpent turned toward the entrance to depart.

"Serpent?" The prince halted his friend's departure.

"Aye?"

"If you find yourself in any kind of trouble or need anything at all," his tone commanded, this was the Prince of Alunae talking, "go to the port and send word to Chay." A wry look crossed over his handsome features. "Chay'll give you what you need. The round-eared bastard will make certain to take it out of what is owed to me."


* ~ *

Tapered fingers toyed with indigo strands, enjoying their silken texture and light weight. Priestess Nair Rainingstar took exquisite care of her beautiful hair, all because of him. His talented lover knew him well; the two of them, along with Serpent and Chayton, grew up in Isilluva Temple.

"Asty?" Nair raised her head from his naked chest and stared into his handsome face. "You're far away." She accused with a rueful smile, easily forgiving him of any sin.

Her dulcet voice brought him from his wandering thoughts. Dapple gray eyes swept over lush, milky white skin tinged in places with azure blue appreciatively. He returned her smile with a smirk, leaning down to kiss the tip of her nose before capturing those enticing lips. "Sorry, my elen."

Nair brushed the weight of her hair behind bare shoulders and rolled her body until her front was pressed against his. "Anything I can help with?" she entreated with a coquettish look, gliding her tongue around his areole.

Astyr stifled a groan of pleasure. "Wondering why Hecalene would send Serpent," his head burrowed deeper into the plushness of the pillow, "to Elven Sanctuary." His words escaped his mouth in a breathless rush.

The priestess paused in her assault; her blue brows slashed over topaz-brown eyes dark with confusion. "She did no such thing." Nair cocked her head to the side, wisps of her hair falling over her shoulder and tickling his chest. "Where did you hear such?"

His body, and libido, stilled over her comment. "Are you certain?" he asked instead of answering her inquiry.

She was use to not having her questions answered by her royal lover. Nair bobbed her head, gazing at him queerly. "Positive," she rejoined promptly. "I am privy to all her orders because of my station and duties to her."

'This smells of a snake.' Serpent would never cover a mission with a temple's decree. That stank of his guardian's hands. Astyr recovered from his pensive thoughts, determined to distract his inquisitive lover from thinking too much into this. "Must have," he distracted her with a thorough kiss, "misunderstood."

Nair purred beneath the onslaught of the prince's seduction. Slowly, she blinked lust-fogged, hazy eyes. "Of course you did," she laved her clever tongue against the cords of his neck, eliciting a reluctant groan from her lover, "Hecalene would have," she nipped his lobe, "sent Moon Warrior Kesara."

Astyr pushed lightly on the priestess's shoulders, needing to keep his wits clear and remember all the tidbits told to him. He hated to use Nair like this, but his lover was filled with useful information where the temple was concerned, and this matter was important. "Lady Ithil's illegitimate daughter?"

She grunted at being thwarted, tempting her lover's lusty appetite with her body. "Yes," she rasped, gliding the tips of her fingertips against his thigh, "Achren supposedly has a friend who resides there. From what I've heard," her fingers tickled sensitive flesh, causing him to quiver, "a person she grew up with in Cele'kera lives there."

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Silvery hooves clipped subtly against the hard dirt of the forest's main road. The soft chime of the moon-horse's harness held in the unnatural silence. Intelligent, purple-blue eyes surveyed every bush, brush, or tree close to him and his rider's proximity.

This jaunt was routine for them. Aeglos used his magic while Serpent used his gift. ~ Tura? [Master]~ The stallion's mind-voice slipped easily into the elf's mind.

The Sehanite heard the warning coached in his partner's voice. The silver helm atop his head covered the majority of his face. All that remained in view was those sharp, lilac eyes, nose, and sensual-sculpted lips.


Serpent leveled his gaze on the areas his empathy suggested that people hid, awaiting him to reach their rendezvous spot to ambush and rob him. He leaned forward to give the stallion an affectionate pat. ~ I sense them tiri'mellonamin [my bright friend]~ he responded mentally, smiling grimly.
Azulous warned him about his prey's enterprise. Many rich caravans suffered great losses at the hand of these thieves, and thus far, none of the authorities could flush out their hidden encampment.

"Weel, weel, weel," one bold thief crooned loudly to his fellows, "look wha' weh have here, boyos?" He whistled long and low. "And takee look a' tha' fancah trappin's on his horse."

His friend, a handsome young man with ebony-black hair and midnight-blue eyes, hesitated when his gaze touched on the man's traveling garb. The shape of the helm, the particular blue shade of the man's tunic and undershirt, they all put him in mind of what his Aunt Achren wore.

Ralemar betted the stranger wore the medallion of Sehanine Moonbow beneath his shirt, the same Goddess Achren served and his mother revered. His dealings with his aunt's trustful mount Amrun Lith told Rale that the man rode a moon-horse.

He waved for Japh to continue with his deception of being in charge. Moon-horses were highly intelligent, so Rale figured the stallion already alerted his rider to possible danger. While Japh held the elf's attention, he could study the Moon-Warrior carefully.

At his rider's knee command, Aeglos slowed to a stop. The helmed Sehanite dismounted with flawless grace, his every movement spoke of his elven nature and noble bearings. He murmured something to his mount, followed by a fond pat, and then he turned to where the talkative elf's contempt radiated hotly.

"Perhaps you could be of some assistance to me," he stated in a lack-luster monotone.

The man's mannerisms, the lack of feeling in his voice smacked familiar with him, a warning niggling at Ralemar's conscious, yet he could not pin-point who this person reminded him of.

Japh jeered candidly at the man's fancy way of speaking. He stepped away from the tree, out in plain sight. Bronze fingers held the bow-string taut, and the leaf-arrowhead pointed straight at the Sehanite. "Wha' would I have tha' yeh'd wan', hrm?" he taunted.

The green-eyed sylvan's snide behavior brought a ghost of a smile to Serpent's lips. Waves of disdain rained against his mental shields. "Information," he intoned blandishly. "On a certain rogue known to reside in this very forest."

"Yeah? " A ginger-brown brow arched up condescendingly. "Thare's manah, yeh'll have tae beh specific."

Serpent steadied his stare on the belligerent thief. "Rhaedayel. Is that specific enough?" The thief's startled gaze jumped to the left, where another of his band crouched. Curiosity marked that one.

Rhaedayel's name caused Japh to jerk his gaze to Ralemar. Their men grew silent and wary at the mention of their leader's name.

Ralemar wondered what this one wanted with his father. He motioned for Japh to step back, to let him handle the rest of his situation. "And why," he sauntered forward and propped a shoulder nonchalantly against an elm's trunk, "do you seek this Rhaedayel?"

~ Tura, he shares your likeness. ~

Aelgos mused inside his rider's head.
~ It is safe to presume that I am meeting my brother face-to-face. He's too young to be Rhaedayel, though I can not fathom why he'd protect the blackguard. ~

It went against all that Azulous told him about the man. Rhaedayel rid himself of his by-blows, not wanting to be saddled with them.
'If that is so, then why is this one apart of his band?'

It all made little sense. Unless Rhaedayel needed an heir to his illegal empire, that brought on a surge of anger, hurt, and betrayal. Serpent cared little if he broadcasted his feelings.
Stormy violet eyes regarded his brother before white gloved fingers encased either side of the helm and lifted away from his head. Sweat-soaked black hair fluttered wildly about the glinting shoulder guards. Pale flesh revealed.

Rale's breath hitched in recognition. The features, the way they were set, he knew them achingly well whenever he looked at his own reflection or into the face of his sire.

"Those eyes!" One of his men exclaimed in wonder. "They put me in mind of Rhae's lady, Eriea." Another added.

His rapt attention swung up to the stranger's eyes. Violet. The same hue his mother's turned whenever she was angered. This man had the same mood-shifting purple eyes as his empath mother.

Serpent maintained his bland facade. Shock and wonder resonated strongly from his brother's person. "You can say," his voice was whisper-light, "I have an invested interest. Then there is the matter of his crimes."

Ralemar easily reclaimed his equilibrum, slowly arched a brow, and grinned with lazy arrogance. "Your Goddess must be smiling her favor on you, stranger. Rhaedayel, at your service," he performed a mocking bow, his lips twisting in a smirk.

"Crimes you say," he feigned a look of pure innocense, a look he perfected on his mother and two aunts. "What crimes are those? If you mean stealing, I do what I must to keep myself, my children, and my love alive. If you have a problem with this, then you will have to kill me to stop me."



The black-haired thief lied, yet Serpent felt the truth in his words. Something ringed false about this entire scenrio. Intuition told him there was far more to the story his guardian fed him. His prince's words came back to haunt him.

***


He stood at the balcony's entrance, eyeing his liege and close friend shrewdly. Opening his shields, Serpent let his empathy brush against the prince to guage the other man's mood. "I'm leaving tomorrow, Your Majesty."

Astyr tilted his head to the side, catching a glimpse of Serpent in his warrior garb. Blue became Lord Alquahoon, emphasizing the man's colorings and natural handsomeness. Many of the women in his court whispered longingly about catching his eye, but Serpent kept himself apart from the others.

"On Azulous's business?" he asked, an elegant winged brow arched in silent inquiry.

Serpent nodded stiffly, his posture impeccable as usual. "And that of the temple's." He switched his winged helm to his other arm, the elegant piece laid against his hip.

Alunae's prince snorted his contempt for his friend's guardian. "You should not put much into his words." Astyr turned, half sitting on the railing's thick edge. "The man is much like your namesake." He shook his head, the edges of his midnight black hair dancing about his shoulders. "His name should be 'serpent' instead of you."

"No matter how we feel or view him," Serpent sighed, his eyes appeared a transparent purple in uncertainity, doubt creeping into his cultured voice, "the man raised me. He even brought me before you and your father. I owe the man much."

Yet Astyr and Chayton's insistance made him question his guardian's validity.

Dappled gray eyes narrowed. "That's exactly how he wants you to feel." The prince shook his head in genuine regret. Azulous's manipulations dug deep into his friend's subconcious.



***




"Never try to fool an empath with lies," Serpent advised his brother; he studied the man in frank consideration, wondering anew if Chayton and Astyr were correct in their assumption of Azulous. "My orders said nothing about killing. I was advised by my superiors to bring him back to Alunae for his crimes against my temple."

Ralemar's cocky smirk remained fixed on his lips and his body stone still. "I'll have to advise you to stand down, brother. You and your moon-horse are surrounded, and Father's men are trained to find the holes in any armor."

He held up a hand, one finger ascended. "Ralemar's my name, and you 'have' to be Rhae's son," his men took cue from his words and trained their arrows right at the stranger, "which would make you my brother. Japh shot his friend a queer look at that last piece.

~ Tura? What is it you wish to do? ~

Serpent would understand the underlining to those words. Whatever decision he made, then Aeglos would stand by his master regardless of the danger. ~ We are surrounded... and one or two are bow-marked. ~


"That is correct, Rhaedayel is my father," he admitted with a firm nod of his head.

Ralemar considered his brother conscientiously. "You have mother's eyes and empathy." The Sehanite already admitted his gift. "She once told me it's a particular trait of the Alqualond." The mention of his similiarities to their mother made his brother lose his composure.

"Will you lead me to them," he queired tentatively, "our parents. I have many questions to ask them, and I suspect only they can answer. My prince hinted that this mission smelled corrupt, and he's rarely wrong." Serpent needed to know if his entire life was built on a lie.

"Ahh, there are a few rules against that." Rale feigned sympathy. For one, he knew nothing about this brother of his. Another, his parents had much to answer to him for never telling him about having a brother. Until his brother proved himself, then he'd trust him.

He rose one slender finger. "For starters, you have no loyalities to our band, so thus you cannot see the route. It would be against the rules. And two," another finger joined the first, "you cannot walk into our camp armed. I will have to ask you politely to hand over your weapons. Our father," his tone dry, "would have my head, not to mention our mother."

Laughter, from his brother's men, followed his statement. "Oh! One more thing, I must have your word that you will not harm our sisters or our parents."

"S-sisters?" The sudden discovery that he had siblings threw him off balance. The fact that his guardian neglected to inform him of such information hurt. So much denied him. 'If Azulous with held this, then what else has he lied to me about?'



The betrayed expression on his brother's face spoke volumes. "You honestly did not know?" Ralemar asked gently, no one could simulate a look as that.

Serpent shook his head once. Then, with firm resolve, his fingers worked the sword belt free from his waist and threw scabbard and weapon at his brother's feet. "My Sehanine take me, I promise not to harm our sisters or our parents."

Japh appeared next to his friend, a dark-red swath of material dangling from his fingers. Ralemar nodded his thanks and tossed the cloth to Serpent. "Blindfold yourself," he idly wondered how Rhae or Eriea would take to this man's appearance in the camp.

Rale blinked, realizing he never caught the man's name. "What name do you go by, brother?"

The Sehanite plucked the cloth from the air and began to wound it around his eyes. "Serpent, Serpent Mourn Alqualond."



'Cele'kera' . The same temple Azulous survived miraculously from. Its massacre still left Alunae reeling. So many novices, clerics and innocent bystanders perished. Astyr's hands roved over her velveteen shoulders, wordlessly giving his lover incentive to continue.