He’d often asked himself that question since he’d turned sixteen. At that time, he’d finally been allowed to go with his father to visit neighboring kingdoms as well as travel to some of the farther ones. He knew that they must pass by that particular section to get out of the city gates, but he’s never seen much other than glimpses through the windows of the carriage that they rode in. Even then, his line of vision was further blocked by the guards that perpetually surrounded the carriage. He vaguely remembers seeing eyes that peered at the procession from behind window shutters and doors, but he doesn’t remember ever seeing a soul wave at them. It was as though the people living there were afraid of them.

"Prince Quatre."

Quatre was jerked out of his musings by the rough voice of his personal manservant/bodyguard Rashid. He often found it disconcerting that Rashid could sneak up on him without alerting him of his presence despite his huge frame. He knew that he could stand in the middle of an empty room and Rashid would still be somewhere there, hiding in the shadows until he was summoned or he had news to give the prince.

"What is it?" Quatre asked as he turned around to face him and leaned against the railing.

"Excuse me for bothering you, your Highness, but the princess of Cresencia has arrived," he answered in a grave tone. "Your father absolutely insisted that you come to the great hall and welcome her to the kingdom."

Quatre sighed to himself as he left the balcony followed by Rashid. Behind him, the rich rose and gold color of the sky faded into the violet and blues of the coming night.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The sound of rushing footsteps echoed in the night as a cloaked figure navigated the dark alleys that had been the subject of the Prince’s earlier musings. Night in the desert signaled a halt to the bargaining that generally ruled the days and ushered in the festivities that usually lasted until the first rays of the coming dawn. In the section known as the Labyrinth, it was less than jolly. The coming of night whispered horror upon the ears of its inhabitants for it was the time when the Gatherers made their way through the city. They were a band of thieves and assassins that ruled this section of the city. It was not unusual to find a body in the morning bearing their mark expertly carved into the flesh.

The figure rounded a corner, white mist forming at each breath from the rapidly dropping temperatures that characterized desert nights. Leaning against the wall of a building, the figure paused to regain lost breath when a hand shot out of a doorway and pulled the unsuspecting person in. A hand clamped onto a mouth ready to scream and the scent of a well-known sleeping potion stole away consciousness.

The man who’d pulled the figure in smiled as he pulled off his own hood and looked at the person lying senseless at his feet. He pulled off the hood and was surprised when he was greeted with a cascade of long copper hair and the face of a young girl.

He thought as he cradled the girl in his arms. It was not safe for anyone to linger there and he knew that fact all too well. He rushed through a maze of corridors until he came to a door. Rapping at the door in a previously agreed-upon manner, the man waited until the portal swung open and he carried her in. He had just set her down near a cheery fire when she regained consciousness.

She opened sleepy eyes which widened instantly as they took in the surroundings. The girl leapt to her feet and brandished a knife at the man, her long hair cascading down to her waist. She locked gazes with her captor with intense emerald eyes and spoke.

"Where am I?" Her voice was melodic, but they showed the rage that she felt. "Who are you and why have you brought me here?"

"Easy, little one," the man said raising his hand in surrender. "You are amongst friends. It is not safe to be walking the Labyrinth at night, so I brought you here. At least here, there is safety in numbers."

The girl took note of the number of people gathered in the large underground room and nodded at the logic of the man’s words. She slid the knife into a sheath strapped on her thigh, but she still looked at him with suspicion. He looked like he was in his early thirties and had the customary black, wavy hair common to the desert dwellers as well as darkish, sun-browned skin. He had a gentle expression on his well-chiseled face but she knew that that same face would most likely also be able to display cold indifference when necessary.

A shriek and the sound of a woman sobbing shattered her thoughts and her gaze wandered over to a group of men and women trying to hold down a teenage girl who was obviously waking from the throes of a nightmare.

"Help me! They’re after me!" The girl screamed as a woman wrapped her arms around her and the teenager fell into desperate sobbing as she clutched at the woman’s clothes.

The man noted the horrified expression on the emerald-eyed girl’s face and spoke. "Her name is Lydia. Three weeks ago, she disappeared without a trace. Her mother, Meryl, had been frantic for we knew that she had undoubtedly been taken by the Gatherers. We found her three days ago, hanging from a makeshift crucifix, half-dead from the loss of blood with the mark of a scimitar and eye carved into her chest," he sighed as he rubbed his temples with his fingers. "Every time she closes her eyes, she wakes up screaming."

The girl clutched her arms suppressing a shudder. She could not begin to imagine the horrors that the girl must have gone through. The man laid a comforting hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"What’s your name, little one?" he said gently, eager to change the subject. "I am Jared, one of the runners for the people."

"Jared," she whispered letting the word play over her lips. "My name is Odessa."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Quatre gave a long suffering sigh as he sat down on the smaller throne beside his father’s. Princesses seem to have started coming out of the woodwork ever since he’d celebrated his twenty-first birthday. This was the tenth to date and his birthday had only been six months back. He sneaked a glance at his father, trying to rationalize why he seemed to be in a rush to marry him off.

The doorman announced the princess’s name, but Quatre had been too preoccupied with his own thoughts and missed it totally. His face turned a warm shade of pink as he spied Rashid behind a curtain shaking his head in dismay at his charge’s inattention.

Prince Quatre came from a long line of children borne from his father’s wives and from his harem. He had had twelve brothers, all of them older than him, and twenty sisters, only two of which were younger than him. His own mother had been a slave girl that his father had purchased from the slave market yet he had loved her more than any of the other women in his life. He had been distraught when she’d died giving birth to Quatre but he marveled that their child possessed the same golden hair and large, piercing blue eyes that had tantalized him when he had first set eyes on her. Quatre had been given over to the care of his sisters and at the age of five, had been turned over to his father. Quatre further impressed the sultan with his grace in both battle and dance. His eyes were the direct reflection of his soul and many a courtier had fallen in love with him but none has yet been able to lure the prized catch to her bed.

His father’s announcement that named him as the heir to the kingdom on his eighteenth birthday sparked outrage amongst his other male siblings, each of them claiming that they had more right to the throne than the spawn of a lowly foreign slave. That had been the first time he’d been provoked into a fight. The entire court had been horrified as Quatre challenged brother after brother who had dared to call him a bastard. Five of his older brothers lay dead at his feet before the sultan ordered him to cease. The young blonde walked calmly up to his father, his blood-soaked garments already starting to brown and his face and hair splattered with his own blood as well as that of his kin. He knelt at his father’s feet offering him his bloody scimitar and exposing his own neck in acceptance of the only punishment that would be dealt in such cases.

"Is there any one else in this hall who would question my choice of heir?" The sultan asked the gathering as he pulled the shocked Quatre to his feet. "My choice has not been colored by my love for Quatre’s dead mother, but had been based on what I see before me." He shot an angry glare in the direction of his remaining sons. "Of all of you, Quatre is the only one with enough strength to lead this country when I am gone. Question not my decision any more for I have no desire to lose another son."

Hate-filled gazes still followed him whenever he happened to pass by some of his brothers, more so now that he was apparently being pressured to chose a wife. He did not miss the hungry looks that his older brothers shot the princesses that have come and gone from the kingdom, all of them lusting for them and wondering why Quatre still hadn’t managed to chose one to be his bride.

He gave Rashid a small nod of thanks as the big man mouthed the latest princess’s name from behind the curtain before disappearing once more. This one wore a voluminous outfit made of pastel silks that showed every curve of her body. A pastel pink veil covered the lower half of her face as she gazed up at him with black eyes that hinted of unspoken pleasures. Long black hair hung down past her waist and swayed with each of her movements.

He gulped down the lump in his throat as he took her hand and kissed it. He didn’t like the way she was looking at him, much like a tiger thinking of the best way to devour its prey. A cordial smile forced its way to his face and he escorted the princess for a tour of the palace.

The sultan watched his receding back and sighed in frustration. It was obvious that Quatre would send this one packing too. He turned to the woman sitting on a cushion near his feet as he waved a hand, dismissing the rest of the court. The woman shook her head and gave him a small smile.

"We’ll just have to keep looking, Father," she said as she laid a reassuring hand on his arm.

"Iria, I am getting more and more frustrated with that son of mine," the sultan said in a weary voice as he got off the throne. "What in the world does he want in a wife?"

"Give him time," she said as she got up and walked after him. "I’m sure that he’s bound to meet someone he’ll like." She watched as her father walked towards his quarters. Iria thought as she walked towards her own room.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Quatre had somehow managed to evade the latest of the amorous princesses and was once again staring over his balcony. He’d feigned a headache and had retired to his quarters despite the looks Rashid had been shooting him. It was the lamest of excuses, but the princess looked like she believed him.

he thought glumly as he continued brooding. After a short exchange of words, he was fairly sure that this one was a few bricks short of a full load. He heaved a long-suffering sigh as he propped his elbows on the railing. he thought as he watched the twinkling stars.

"Prince Quatre."

The voice didn’t surprise him so much. In fact, he’d expected Rashid to have made his appearance almost at the exact time that he’d arrived at his room. Now, the big man was standing behind him with the most weary look that Quatre has ever seen on his face.

"You do know what your father’s been trying to do for the past six months, don’t you?" he asked as he took a seat beside the prince.

Quatre nodded slowly as he dropped his head into his hands in frustration. "I know only too well. He couldn’t be that eager to see me get married, Rashid, besides, he’s not that old!"

"And you are not that young," the man said as he laid a hand on the blonde’s shoulder. "Your father is just thinking about the good of the kingdom and yourself. You have to understand that."

"But I do understand!" he said in a voice that spoke of both frustration and anger. "Can’t he see that I am not ready?! Can’t he see that no matter how many princesses he parades before me, I’ll never be able to choose just yet?" Quatre stood up and started pacing, his loose, deep blue shirt shimmering under the moonlight. "Besides, does he expect me to fall in love with just one look?"

"It was never a question of falling in love, my prince," Rashid said as he locked his eyes with a stern gaze. "Royalty has never had the luxury of falling in love with the person they have been destined to marry. Love has never been a crucial factor in a union -- what’s important is that the kingdom survives."

"Rashid," Quatre said as he approached him, "take me out of here." Before he could protest he continued. "I’m not going to run away. I-I just need time to think without all of this hanging over my head." He gestured to his room and the palace in general.

"And where might you want to go?"

"The city," he whispered, "I want to see the city with my own eyes, not behind a carriage window nor through a contingent of guards. I just want to be there and see it myself. I want to see a real market and meet real people. I am so tired of needing to keep my guard up all the time in case one of my brothers decide to try his luck on my life."

Rashid looked deeply into the young man’s eyes, trying to weigh the sincerity of the request. After a while, he rolled his eyes and said, "all right. But on one condition," he saw Quatre’s eyes lose a little of their sparkle and grinned. "I’m going with you."

"I wouldn’t have it any other way," he said cheerfully and started looking for less princely clothes.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Odessa adjusted her veil and cloak. She hated needing to hide her face, but unfortunately, it was protocol, lest she be mistaken for a whore and carted off to the nearest dungeon... or worse.

She had taken up Jared’s offer to become a runner and she was in the midst of looking for a reasonable bargain that would supply food for the residents of their simple ‘clan.’ She loved going to the market and seeing the mix of people that gathered there. Every now and then, she would spot a man or woman wearing palace livery being accompanied by slaves that bore their purchases. She had to snuff the itching in her fingers that betrayed her training as a pickpocket and go about her business. It wouldn’t do to get the clan in danger.

A fruit and vegetable vendor waved at her from the shelter of a nearby awning. Smiling beneath her veil, she made her way towards the buxom woman. She was one of the people in the marketplace that gave generous portions for a fair price especially to people who couldn’t afford much.

"And how are you doing today, Odessa?" she asked as the girl laid her basket on a nearby counter. "Are you still with Jared and the others?"

She smiled warmly at the woman and nodded. "Yes, Sanura, I’m still with them. I wouldn’t have it any other way."

Just as she was about to say more, her attention was distracted by the slow passage of two figures. They were a strange pair, both were male and wore headdresses that shielded their heads from the direct heat of the sun. One was of average height and from they way he moved, Odessa knew that he was a fighter with his grace. The other one, however was a giant. But these were not what had caught her eye. It was their clothes. They stood out like flowers on the desert sand with the fine linens that they wore, so unlike the crude homespun garments that were the usual clothes of the people.

"My, my, who might those be?" Sanura whispered to her. "They look like they could clean out the entire market!"

"Sanura!" Odessa whispered back, half-heartedly as she watched the pair make their way through the crowd. They were an interesting pair and she was not one to let something like that slip away -- not when a little profit might be made.

Sanura saw the sparkle of mischief in her eyes and looked at her reprovingly. "You are not going to do what I think you’re thinking! It’s too dangerous!"

"Oh, Sanura!" Odessa said reassuringly. "I promise I won’t take much. Just keep an eye on my basket for me!" And without waiting for Sanura to reply, she melted herself into the crowd in pursuit of the pair.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"So this is the market," Quatre whispered.

They’d been assaulted by the sights and sounds almost as suddenly as they’d stepped into the square. He’d bought a few knickknacks to give his sisters when he got back and had dragged Rashid into practically every stall in the place. Rashid, meanwhile, couldn’t shake the feeling that someone was following them, but he still had to find out who.

Quatre let out a small sound of delight as he spied the small door of a jeweler at a nearby building and made his way to it with Rashid in tow. The interior was kept cool by the thick stone walls and was lit by oil lamps that burned flowery incense along with the fuel. A white-haired old man made his way to them and asked them if they were looking for anything in particular.

"Not really," Quatre said shaking his head. "We’re just looking."

"Actually," Rashid cut in, "my good friend here is looking for a present for his bride." Rashid put on a satisfied smirk at the glare Quatre shot his way.

"Ah," the old man said knowingly. "I do believe he has pre-wedding jitters, am I correct?"

"I don--"

"Yes, he does," the big man once again cut in. "He’s looking for something that would make his rather feisty lover be more amorous around him."

The old man turned to go to the back of the shop and Quatre took this opportunity to have a word with his friend. "What’s the big idea, Rashid?" he said fuming. "I don’t have a feisty lover! In fact, no lover is just fine with me at the moment!"

"Then give it to Princess Iria," the big man said as he smiled. "You know that she’s your most loyal supporter of the lot. What better way of showing her your appreciation than giving her a present?"

The old man came back in and laid a velvet tray in front of the pair. Quatre was amazed with the craftsmanship of the pieces. He held up a gold bird made entirely of fine gold wire woven meticulously together that it seemed like it had golden feathers. Its eyes were deep amethysts that further enhanced the sparkle of the metal. Quatre thought as he set aside the bird, intending to give it to Iria. He picked up and set down a few other pieces, all of which displayed the same magnificent craftsmanship when his eyes strayed to a necklace behind a glass stand. The chain was of a simple enough design and the simple pendant boasted a mounted emerald cut so precisely that it sparkled more beautifully than any diamond that he’d ever seen.

The old man followed his gaze and smiled. "Ah, I see that you have noticed the necklace." He walked over to the stand, removed the necklace and laid it on the velvet tray. "It’s my greatest design and I have not yet found anyone worthy of owning this particular piece. The stone came from the legendary mines of Cleopatra and it is flawless. I inspected it myself." He looked at the way Quatre was transfixed by the gem and a thought came to him. "Are you considering buying this to give to your fiancée?"

He gave him a sheepish grin as he set the necklace down. "It would be a waste if I bought it. I have no fiancée." Quatre noted the look Rashid was giving him and summarily ignored the man. "But I will purchase this bird and the seven other items that I had set aside." He was surprised when the man laughed.

"Young man, I will give you the necklace as a bonus for your other purchases," he said as he wrapped up the items on the counter as well as the necklace before a shocked Quatre. "You might think that I am going mad, but I had a dream while I was crafting this stone and I know that a young man with a good heart would someday come for it." The old man tapped his chin as he finished wrapping the items. "If I remember correctly, the man in the dream was a prince," he gave him a wink as he added, " a word of advice, Prince Quatre, it would do you a lot better if you did not look at people too directly. Your eyes are a dead giveaway."

Quatre gaped at the man upon hearing his name. "You knew who I was? But how?"

"I overheard you two talking and Princess Iria is no stranger to me," the man said as he guided them to the door. "Give my regards to her and tell her that old Naasir said hello."

Quatre and Rashid were shaking their heads at the humor of it all when Quatre collided with a girl. The two went down in a heap and the girl immediately adjusted her veil. Sapphire and emerald eyes met and Quatre was shocked to see that her eyes were the exact same shade as the emerald on the pendant. Before he could ask her her name, she whispered a hasty apology and was on her way.

"Rashid," he whispered, "did you see...?"

"It’s getting late," he cut in as he helped Quatre to his feet. "I think that it’s time that we started heading back."

All Quatre could do was stare in the direction of the figure’s flight as Rashid dragged him off at a swift pace in the direction of the palace.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Where have you been?" Sanura practically shouted as Odessa appeared back at her stall. "Did you realize that I was scared to death that you might have been hurt?"

Odessa on her part wasn’t thinking too clearly as she sat down on a small stool. The sight of those wide blue eyes was still very much fresh on her mind. She didn’t see blue eyes often enough and those two perfect orbs had made her knees feel weak. They’d been so beautiful.

"Odessa, you’d better go and bring this to the others," Sanura said, shoving the basket into her arms. "Jared would probably be upset seeing that it took you this long to buy produce."

"Blue eyes."

Sanura stopped her fussing and looked at the girl who looked like she was still in a trance. "What did you say?"

"Blue eyes," she whispered. "He had blue eyes. The shorter of the two."

"Odessa," Sanura reprimanded, "will you stop letting your head get caught in the clouds and get back to the real world! A lot of very hungry people are waiting for you to get back. You can’t spend precious time thinking about blue eyes. Oh, what will Jared say?"

"Jared," Odessa whispered and her eyes widened in shock to see that the sun was making its way down in the west. "Ohmigosh! I forgot! Sorry, Sanura, but I have to go!" With that, she ran out of the stall leaving the woman shaking her head in exasperation.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"What is it you wanted to talk to me about?"

Jared turned around and faced a puzzled Odessa. Even though they’ve known each other for only a short time, they considered themselves the best of friends. He’d asked her to meet him outside the hall, saying that he wanted to discuss something. Jared cleared his throat as he spoke.

"I’ve been worrying about you Odessa," he began. "You’ve been having dreams for the past few days and you’ve been talking in your sleep. You’re starting to sound like Lydia after we got her back from the Gatherers, only you seem to only be disoriented when you wake up." He clutched her shoulders and looked her in the eyes. "I want to know what’s been bothering you."

Odessa broke the gaze and sat down on the floor. "Nothing’s really bothering me, Jared, it’s just that I dream about something that happened almost a week back. I bumped into a man with blue eyes so beautiful that their very memory is still fresh in my mind, that’s all."

Jared let out a small laugh as he sat down beside her. "Are you trying to tell me that you are in love with a pair of blue eyes? What about his face? What about his voice? Are his eyes the only things you remember?"

Odessa smiled sheepishly back at him and replied. "I know that it sounds a bit bizarre, but --"

Her reply was cut short by a scream. In an instant the two of them were on their feet, Jared with his scimitar and Odessa wielding her dagger. They ran out into the street and managed to see several men attacking an old beggar. One of them held a stiletto knife and plunged it repeatedly into the poor man’s body as he screamed for mercy.

In a flash, the pair were moving. Jared swung his scimitar and managed to disarm the man with the knife while Odessa slit his throat. They watched from the corners of their eyes as the old man hobbled away and they stood back-to-back as they face the five remaining men. Odessa had just adjusted her hold on her knife when a laugh broke from the shadows.

"Well done, Jared!" The figure said as he walked from his hiding place beneath the shadows of a nearby building. "That was well done!"

"Kaleb?"

Odessa watched in mute shock as the two grasped arms in a gesture of comrades in battle. He patted Jared on the back as he ordered his men to stand down.

"It’s been a while, Kaleb," Jared said as he shook his head. "I thought the Gatherers have gotten you."

"Actually," he replied as he showed him his arm, "they have."

Odessa tried to scurry away at the sight of a perfect tattoo of a scimitar and eye over his wrist. One of the men grabbed her from behind and placed a cloth over her mouth to keep her from screaming.

"What’s the meaning of this?" Jared asked him in a dangerous tone.

"We are in need of someone like you, Jared," Kaleb said as he walked towards the struggling girl. "And her too, of course. You see, the Gatherers want to have contacts within the palace and what better way of doing that than to pose as a courtier? Your friend would be perfect for the job."

"I would rather die," she hissed as she kicked the shins of the man who was holding her and managed to get the dagger across his throat. In a spray of blood, he was dead.

"Nicely done," Kaleb remarked as he looked at the cold fury in the girl’s eyes. "We must definitely have her on board."

"No, Kaleb," Jared said firmly as he took hold of Odessa’s arm. They started to walk away when Kaleb hit them with his trump card.

"Then I won’t be able to assure the safety of your little ‘clan.’ It would be too bad if they should meet with some form of accident."

The pair froze in their tracks and Odessa had her dagger in her hand once again.

"You wouldn’t dare," she whispered.

"He would," Jared said in defeat. He placed a hand on her shoulder as he made his way towards Kaleb. "If we join the Gatherers, will you be able to assure me that the ‘clan,’ as you call it, will be properly cared for and fed?"

A genuine smile crept over Kaleb’s face as he slapped a hand onto Jared’s shoulder. "Oh, yes! Our agents will make sure that they have everything they need. You don’t have to worry about a thing!"

A feeling of deep anxiety settled into the pit of Odessa’s stomach as she followed the two to the new life that she would have to lead -- a life that was more than likely to get her killed.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Quatre gave a half-smile as he watched the procession of the latest princess leaving the palace, occasionally seeing her glancing back mournfully at him. Iria had taken her customary place beside him and he heard her sigh as they made their way back into the palace. They’ve reached the inner gardens and she guided him to a secluded bench and, patting the space beside her, gestured for him to sit down for another one of their ‘talks.’

"I’m glad you didn’t choose her," Iria said as she gave him a conspiratory smile. "In fact, I’m glad that you didn’t choose any one of them. None of them deserved to have someone as good as you."

Quatre blushed at the praise. "They were all beautiful, Iria, it’s just that I always seem to find something wrong with them. I can’t believe Father’s doing this."

"You and me both," she sighed as she gathered up her knees to her chest. "The thing is, another princess is scheduled to make her appearance in a few days or so."

Quatre rolled his eyes and looked at his eldest sister. "Is there any chance of me not being here when she comes?" he asked her wearily.

"Not likely," she said as they got up. "Oh, I just remembered. Rashid wants to meet with you at the practice hall. He said that he wants to teach you a few new moves."

"That’s Rashid, always looking out for my health and happiness," he said as they walked. A small pouch at his side bumped against his hip and he remembered the gift he wanted to give his sister. He pulled her wrist gently and handed her the small velvet pouch. "It’s just something I thought you’d like."

Iria looked at him curiously and opened the drawstrings. Inside was a small golden bird. "Old Naasir," Iria murmured and she smiled at the beauty of the craftsmanship, then remembering something, she shot narrowed eyes towards her brother. "You’ve been to the marketplace, haven’t you?"

Quatre blinked back at her, unsure as to how she’d found out. "Yes, but I had Rashid with me."

Iria shook her head as she grasped his shoulders. "That’s not the point! You will be the target of many of Father’s enemies if you expose yourself too much. If they come at you from different sides, not even Rashid nor your fighting prowess would be able to protect you." She made him look her straight in the eyes. "Promise me that you’ll never go there without a contingent of guards. Promise me!"

Quatre nodded his head and he felt Iria’s arms around him.

"I love you, Quatre," she whispered to him. "You are the only brother I love and I don’t want you getting hurt."

"It’s okay, Iria," he said as he gently pulled away. "Now, I think it’s about time I met with Rashid before he sends the palace guards out to look for me."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Odessa plastered herself to the wall and waited for the sounds of the riders.

The Gatherers have decided that they would capture the next princess to make her way towards the palace and hold her for ransom. She and Jared had been amongst the ones chosen for the delicate assignment due to their ability to not only work together effectively as a team, but also the fact that this would prove their loyalty to the Gatherers. Kaleb had been stationed somewhere to their right and they were all outfitted in the deepest of black clothes to shield them in the shadows. She pulled out her dagger and the short sword that had been given to her by Kaleb, saying that ‘there was just so much a dagger could do.’ Her keen ears picked up the rumble of hooves and the slight stirring of sand from the movement.

The moon was hidden by the thick clouds when the contingent arrived. Almost immediately, the torches were put out by precise gouts of water and they attacked. Odessa slashed her way towards the carriage while fellow Gatherers cleared a path for her. A hulking figure barred her path but she soon disposed of him with a quick swing of the keen-edged sword. The body made a few more feeble twitchings before flopping to the ground beside its severed head. She saw Kaleb give her an approving nod as she jerked open the carriage door to find a quavering princess inside.

She saw the terror in the woman’s eyes and she could understand why. Her black clothes and mask were stained here and there by the blood of her protectors and she’d been left powerless against them.

Odessa grabbed the princess’s arm and yanked her to her feet. Her eyes widened when she saw that the face looking back at her looked too much like her own. Immediately, she dropped the princess and the poor girl scuttled over to a corner and huddled there, sobbing.

"Everyone’s taken care of," Kaleb said as he stepped inside the carriage. "Looks like we have our prize right here." He patted Odessa’s shoulders and arched an eyebrow at the cold expression on his fellow Gatherer’s face.

"She has my face," she whispered quietly.

Jared had just come in and heard her remark. He yanked the girl to her feet and peered at the girl. Although Odessa’s hair was a lighter shade of coppery red and her eyes a more intense shade of green, they basically looked alike. Even their build was the same. "What’s your name?" he asked her in a dangerously quiet voice.

"Princess Rionne of Torigan," she whispered in fright.

Kaleb smiled as Jared hauled her out of the carriage with Odessa walking behind him. "Well, looks like we won’t be ransoming this one and we will have our little palace spy."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Quatre," Iria said, peeking into his room. "Father wants you to come down now."

"Hmm?" he answered confused. He’d been too busy studying the emerald he held in his hand. It was strange the way he the gem reminded of the woman he’d bumped into at the marketplace. "What did you say?"

"You are HOPELESS!" Iria said in mock exasperation. "Your latest princess has just arrived and Father wants you to meet her."

Quatre dropped the necklace inside a small jewelry case and followed his sister out the door. Standing beside his Father, he waited for the newcomer with a resigned expression on his face. He only hoped that this one wasn’t like the others and that, even if they don’t end up together, she would be able to provide decent conversation at the least.

"I present to you Princess Rionne of Torigan."

Quatre’s eyebrows quirked when he saw the princess come in.

She was wearing a simple dress of light blue silk and her face was not obscured by a veil. These showed that she had definitely come from a very far country and the copper-colored hair gathered into a neat twist on her head betrayed her heritage further.

He could feel his heart beating nervously as she curtsied gracefully before them. She had an air about her that he couldn’t quite comprehend. There was no trace of arrogance that had characterized the other princesses, but rather a feeling of mystery about her. He shook himself out of that trance and just told himself that it was most likely a product of seeing someone of a culture very much different from his.

Quatre made his way down and held out his hand to lift her from her low curtsy and he was overwhelmed by the shock as their gazes met. He swallowed the lump in his throat as he tried desperately to regain his composure. There was no doubt in his mind that this was the same girl with the piercing emerald eyes that he ran into that day in the marketplace.

Odessa felt her heart jump to her throat when she recognized the eyes -- the same eyes that have been haunting her every waking moment for the past two weeks. Just as suddenly as her heart rose, it fell into despair when she realized that those eyes belonged to Prince Quatre, heir to the throne of the Kingdom of the Sands.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"This will be your quarters for the duration of your stay in our kingdom."

Odessa and Jared hid the wonder they felt as they looked at the grandest room they have ever seen in their lives. The room was lit by oil lamps with crystal casings that enhanced their light a hundredfold. Silk curtains hung from the huge four-poster bed at one end of the room and heavy velvet curtains served as partitions that separated the other rooms. Mahogany furniture with velvet cushions added to the appeal and rich carpets muffled the sounds of their footsteps as they walked further into the room.

"Princess Rionne, please make yourself at home. I am sure that you must have had a very tiring journey," Iria said as she gestured for the servants to bring in Odessa’s luggage.

Odessa turned around and smiled at her. "Thank you for your hospitality, your highness. I... I don’t know what to say."

Iria laughed and squeezed her hand affectionately. "Just say that you’ll enjoy your stay with us. I do believe that you’ve gotten my brother’s attention."

Odessa kept the cordial smile on her face and waited until she was left alone in the room with Jared before she collapsed onto a chair in despair. "What am I gonna do?! Damned Kaleb, we should have just ransomed Rionne and be done with it!"

"I must admit that this is a big risk," Jared said as he picked up an apple from a fruit tray. "But look on the bright side. If we play this charade right, they wouldn’t suspect a thing and we’ll be living it easy for a while. Besides, it isn’t everyday that you get to meet royalty, you know."

"That’s just the problem!" She stood up and yanked the ribbon off her left wrist. The Gatherer mark that had been burned into her skin was starting to itch. Turning around, she faced Jared with a mixed expression of annoyance and grief. "Remember when I told you about the blue eyes in my dream? Well, they now have a face, and somehow, I’m not really that happy nor hopeful knowing who they belong to."

Jared looked at her in confusion and said, "what are you...? You mean the prince?!"

"Right," she said and plopped down on the bed. "Allah must be laughing his heart out right about now with the circumstances that he’d just plopped into my life. Imagine a little beggar masquerading as royalty suddenly finding out that she will never be able to be with the man of her dreams just because of her station." She turned over to hide her face from Jared as tears began to fall from her eyes. "It is the most classic of ironies."

"I wish I could tell you that everything would be alright," he walked over and held her tight. "Sometimes we just have to make the best out of what we have."

Odessa’s mind shouted as she cried into Jared’s chest.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"You look awfully happy," Rashid said as he regarded Quatre who was currently playing a tune on his violin. "Is it because of a certain visiting princess?"

The blonde smiled enigmatically and set the instrument down on a nearby table. "Maybe," he answered, "Rashid, she’s... I don’t know..., different somehow. Totally unlike the other princesses. There’s an air about her that’s nothing short of mystifying...." He stood up and shook his head as he laughed. "I’m not making much sense am I?"

"No, my prince," Rashid sighed. His eyes lit up as an idea came to mind. "Might I suggest some training? It might help you figure out what kind of spell this foreign princess has put over you, or at the least, clear you head a bit."

"Sounds good," he replied and grabbed his scimitars from his desk. "I think I could use the exercise."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Odessa walked through the long corridors of the palace and sighed. She had decided to do a little exploring on her own and had left Jared sleeping in the room beside hers. Somehow, her sense of direction had gotten a bit muddled after a few turns and had gotten completely lost -- and that had been nearly twenty minutes ago. She thought as she continued to walk around. After turning the next corner, the faint sound of steel clashing against steel came to her ears and she stopped to listen. With her keen hearing, she was able to follow the sounds to a large indoor arena where she found Prince Quatre and Rashid.

A bright pink flush came to her face as she stood behind a pillar and watched the two fighters in the arena. Both men held a pair of scimitars and were dressed only in loincloths. Sweat poured off their bodies freely and the yellow light from the room’s lamps gave their well-toned bodies a glassy sheen. She could feel her heart pounding in her ears as the fair skinned prince dodged the giant’s slashes and delivered his own blows in a beautiful, but deadly dance. She didn’t even realize that she was holding her breath until a hand on her shoulder nearly made her scream in fright.

"Enjoying the show, Princess Rionne?" Iria whispered into her ear as she crouched beside her behind the pillar.

"Princess Iria!" Odessa whispered in surprise. "Um, I didn’t mean to spy on Prince Quatre like this.... Well, you see...."

Iria let out a small laugh. "You don’t have to apologize, princess. I think it’s perfectly normal for a woman to try and see for herself how great a catch her prospective husband might be." Iria gave her a wink and smiled as Odessa blushed even deeper. "I take it I’m right on the mark with that one."

"Actually...."

"Well, well, well, what have we got here?"

Both women looked up to see Quatre and Rashid behind them with towels draped over their necks. Odessa immediately averted her eyes so the prince wouldn’t see the utter humiliation she felt at being caught spying.

"Nice job, both of you," Iria said as she helped Odessa to her feet. "You two make swordsmanship look too beautiful."

"You flatter us, sister," Quatre replied and he regarded the blushing girl. "Is there something wrong, Princess Rionne?"

"Please, Rionne would be just fine," Odessa said meekly. "I... I mean, calling me Rionne would be just fine!" It was going to take a while to get used to that name.

"What did you think of our little spar?" Rashid asked, sheathing his scimitars. "Did you also think of it as something beautiful?"

Odessa’s expression changed into one of utter gravity as she looked directly into the big man’s eyes. "No, I think it’s not. Swordsmanship is an art of war, of killing. There may be beauty in its grace and technique, but there is no beauty in the death that it causes."

"You speak as though you have known death before," Quatre said as he looked deep into her eyes.

"Where I am from, both men and women must know how to wield a weapon in order to survive," she replied, no longer mindful of the prince’s almost-naked state. "It’s a harsh world where you must either kill or be killed to survive and there is no place for the weak unless there are people who are strong and are willing to protect them."

"If I were to challenge you to a duel to see your fighting prowess, how would you answer?"

"Tell me when and where and I would be willing to show you what I know." Odessa was never one to back down from a challenge and she was not about to start.

"How about right now?"

"Fine."

Iria accompanied Odessa to change all the while marveling at the nerve she displayed. She watched as the younger woman changed into a loose shirt and trousers and bound her hair with a thong. "You must either be very good or totally insane," Iria said as she began to stretch. "You saw what my brother could do, yet you still did not back down from his challenge."

Odessa stopped in mid stretch and offered her a smile. "Like you said, princess, I just trying to ‘see how great a catch’ Prince Quatre really is."

Iria shook her head as they walked back into the arena. "You amaze me, Rionne. You truly do."

Rashid had put his clothes back on and was standing beside a table full of weapons and gestured for Odessa to approach. "Pick out you weapons of choice," he said and gestured at the array. He was surprised when she picked up a short sword and a dagger without as much as a thought and watched in fascination as she tested their weight with a few swings.

"Are you ready?" Quatre asked as he stood before her. "It’s not too late to back down, you know."

Odessa let out a very unprincess-like snort at his remark. "You insult me by even implying that I would back down." She let her weapons rest in a loose cross over her thighs. "Let us begin."

Almost immediately, Quatre began circling her and flipping his scimitars lazily over on his hands. He found it odd that she didn’t make a move from the seemingly relaxed position she was in. he thought as he stopped behind her. In a split second, he tensed his right leg and charged at her with his weapons. His surprise was total when he suddenly found Odessa’s dagger at the crux of his scimitars, stopping his attack and while her sword was making a quick sideward arc to his left towards his midsection. He disengaged his scimitars and rolled away from the sword’s lethal swing.

"Don’t ever think that just because I am a woman I also wouldn’t know how to handle a weapon," Odessa said with a smile as she took on a defensive stance. "That single mistake would have been your undoing."

Quatre smiled a bit at her remark. "You wouldn’t need to worry," he replied as he changed his grip on the hilts of his weapons. "I’m a fast learner."

Iria held her breath as she watched the match. Odessa had taken on a neutral stance and had bent her knees to prepare for a quick attack while Quatre continued to circle her. The young prince had just finished his first circuit when Odessa propelled herself forward leading with her sword. He hadn’t expected her to initiate a move, but he managed to deflect the strike with a broad sweep of his right scimitar and he stopped her dagger by locking the weapon’s hilt with the hilt of his left scimitar. He wanted to shout in triumph as Odessa let go of her sword to concentrate all her strength in keeping Quatre from forcing her to her knees. Going body-to-body with an experienced fighter was not one of Odessa’s favorite tactics since she didn’t have the body mass to keep it up very long.

"Yield, princess," Quatre whispered as her continued to press down on the hilt.

"Never," Odessa hissed and she managed to disengage the weapons by ducking under Quatre’s arm, making him lose his balance temporarily in the process. She stood a good ten paces away from him and was struggling to catch her breath. She could hear her heart pounding in her ears partly from exertion, but mostly from having the prince so close. she admonished herself as she regained her inner balance.

The doubt and fear in that last thought made her move even before she knew it. Two steps brought her to her discarded sword. The sweat pouring down her brow masked the tears that were starting to come to her eyes as she once again rushed towards him. She had to end this fight and she had to win. Her first strike had been so forceful that sparks flew when they met Quatre’s scimitars, much to the prince’s surprise. He slid the blade of his weapon downward and locked their hilts together. Odessa’s eyes grew wide when she realized her predicament. This time, she couldn’t duck out of the way -- the ornately carved hilts were hopelessly caught in each other. Odessa took several steps back as Quatre started to press down on the hilts once again. In her panic, she did not see the small puddle of moisture on the floor and stepped on it. A second later, the interlocked swords went flying and Quatre and Odessa went down in a heap on the floor, ending the match.

Odessa barely heard Princess Iria’s voice, asking her if she was alright. She was too entranced by the sapphire-blue eyes that were staring intently back at her. she thought in mounting panic.

Her thoughts were cut off as Quatre lowered himself the rest of the way and kissed her. His lips were so soft and warm that she couldn’t resist kissing him back. The sensations were so frightening to her yet so disarming that she began to wonder if it was possible for someone to die just because of one kiss. She opened her eyes slowly when their lips parted and heard him whisper.

"Where have you been all this time?"

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

That night, Odessa lay in bed thinking. Iria had escorted her back to her room after that afternoon’s match, apologizing all the while for Quatre’s behavior. At dinner, she couldn’t help but steal glances Quatre’s way. She’d blushed a deep red when she saw him doing the same. The image of a frightened Princess Rionne crossed her mind and made her sit up.

she thought as she hugged her knees to her chest.

She wrapped the sheets around herself and walked over to the balcony. The desert night sky was clear and the stars shone in full grandeur. She was tracing the patterns carved into the balcony with her hands when a voice made her start. Looking down, Odessa suppressed a gasp when she saw Quatre smiling up at her. Gesturing for her to be silent, he started climbing the trellis beside her balcony and within minutes was beside her.

"What are you doing here?" Odessa whispered in alarm before she was silenced by his kiss.

"I just had to see you again," he whispered back as he held her in his arms. Quatre felt his heart racing. He now knew for sure that the princess was real and not just a figment of his imagination born out of his father’s persistence. It was then that he suddenly realized that Odessa was wearing only a thin negligee and a bed sheet. "Sorry," he stuttered and looked away.

Odessa laughed at that. "If you’d wanted to see me that badly, you could have entered through the door," she remarked as she made her way to a screen and began putting on more suitable clothes.

"I didn’t want to wake up your manservant," he replied sheepishly. He turned around when he’d heard her finish and just stared. She was dressed like a man.

"I’d much rather be comfortable than girlish," she replied to his expression.

He smiled at that remark. This one was a treasure that he wanted to keep. "Follow me," he said as he swung himself over the balcony and down the trellis. They ran through the courtyard and into the stables where Quatre saddled his horse and he pushed up one of the torch brackets on the wall, revealing a secret passageway. "Put this on," he said, tossing her a dark cloak. They rode the horse into the passage and after what seemed like an eternity, they emerged into the cold desert night. They were in an oasis several miles from the capital, atop a ridge. They dismounted and Quatre led the horse to a patch of grass to graze.

"What is this place?" Odessa asked him. Overhead, the stars looked as though they were close enough to touch.

"This is my refuge," he replied. "A place well within the borders of my kingdom which nobody knows of. Here, I can forget that I’m a prince and just be me." He wrapped her in his arms and whispered, "I wanted to know you better without all the people in the palace hanging on to every word we say. I want to know you, Rionne, as a real person."

"I-I don’t know where to begin...."

"You can start by telling me what you were doing at the marketplace."

Odessa turned in shock and just looked at Quatre. "Wh-what marketplace?"

"You ran into me as I was coming out of the jeweler’s shop," Quatre said as he came closer. "I only saw your eyes, but I never forgot. Those eyes were in my mind whether I was asleep or awake and just as I thought they would drive me insane, I find the person they belong to." Quatre pulled out a small case from his pocket. "You don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to, but I believe this has been waiting for you."

Odessa’s eyes widened when she saw the emerald necklace. The stone matched the shade of her eyes so perfectly as though they had come from the same stone. "This is too much," Odessa whispered as she stared at the stone in awe.

"I know for a fact that this piece was made for you," he said as he took out the necklace and fastened it around her neck. "It perfect."

"I don’t understand you, Prince Quatre," Odessa said, shaking her head. "You have known me for less than a day and you’re practically professing your undying love."

Quatre walked over to the horse and took out a blanket from the saddlebags. He spread it over the grass and they both lay down, looking up at the sky. "Let me tell you my story. My mother was a slave girl in my father’s harem, but he loved her very much. She died giving birth to me and it devastated my father almost to the point of madness. I was practically raised by my sister Iria and I was already five years old when I first laid eyes on my father. Acceptance by my siblings was hard because I was not like them. My brothers hated me because of the way I looked and more so when I was declared heir. I ended up needing to kill five of them." He laughed bitterly as looked at Odessa. "Not exactly a normal childhood, huh?"

"I know how you must have felt," Odessa said as she continued to look up at the night sky. "To feel that you’re all alone in a crowd, having no one you could trust except yourself." She remembered the haunted expression on Lydia’s face and a stray tear rolled from her eye. "To live in constant fear, never knowing if you would still be able to open your eyes when you go to sleep." She looked at him then, and smiled. "I guess we’ve a lot more in common than we thought."

They held each other tightly, gaining strength from each other’s being. Odessa felt all her pretenses being washed away at the realization that this prince did not really love the person she was pretending to be, but was in love with her. And as they kissed once more, despite all of her protestation, she realized that she also loved him.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The days that followed were filled with official functions where Odessa was paraded before Quatre’s family and the court. Once, they even went into the city in a parade. The look on poor Sanura’s face was priceless when Odessa winked secretly at her as the parade passed by her stall. Old Naasir was also in attendance and Quatre saw him nod in approval when he saw that Odessa was wearing his prized necklace. During the parade, Odessa had ordered the carriage to stop and she went down to give alms to the beggars on the street as well as to the poor children who looked up at her in awe. She was even more surprised when Quatre also went down and helped her with her task. After the parade, he’d told her that he’d been surprised by her actions.

"I know the hardship that those people were going through," she replied. "The kingdom is only as strong as its people and a ruler who is loved by his people would be stronger than a ruler who uses fear."

The twelfth night saw Odessa combing out her hair in her quarters while Jared paced behind her. There would be another dinner at the banquet hall that night and Quatre had promised her a surprise.

"Odessa, I think you’re taking all of this too far," Jared said anxiously. "What if the prince asks you to marry him? Would you accept?"

"I would," she replied as she put her brush down. "You don’t know him, Jared! You don’t know what he’s gone through growing up. I do. And you know what? We’re not at all that much different."

"Except for your station," he retorted. "You are only setting yourself up for a fall."

She looked back at the man that had been her surrogate father in the clan. She knew that he just didn’t want her to get hurt, but.... "It’s a fall I’m willing to take."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The party was in full swing by the time Odessa and Quatre came down. Odessa was dressed in a gown of gold-colored silk that hugged her slender waist and her hair hung in ringlets framing her face. A pair of white velvet gloves hid the mark of the Gatherers from view. Iria nodded in approval at the striking couple the two made and Odessa smiled. The princess’s approval meant so much to her.

"You said that you had a surprise for me," Odessa whispered to Quatre as he twirled her around on the dance floor.

"Later," he replied smiling. "We have to wait until father comes down. But I promise you that this night will change your life forever."

"It’s already changed since I met you."

After two more numbers, the attention of the crowd was directed to the stairway where the sultan was making his way down. Quatre led Odessa over to him and they both bowed.

"Now that my father has arrived, I have an announcement to make," he said in a clear voice that carried over to the entire assembly. "As you all know, the past few months have been marked by princess coming and going in the kingdom, each hoping to be my bride." He guided Odessa to his side and continued. "No more princesses shall come to this kingdom. I have found the one that has captured not only my heart, but also my soul. I give you my future bride, Princess Rionne of Torigan."

Odessa’s joy was shattered when she heard the name of the foreign princess, and she realized that she was still playing the charade. She hardly heard the applause in the hall as Quatre held her in his arms, her heart and mind weeping.

"UNHAND THAT WOMAN!"

Odessa’s heart leapt into her throat and she saw Jared rushing towards her as well as Kaleb and five other members of the Gatherers. One look was all it took for Odessa to recognize the woman standing at the doorway.

The real Rionne of Torigan.

"We meet again, you little witch," she spat out as she removed her cloak. "Did you think that you could actually take my place? To take that which is mine?"

"What’s going on?" Quatre said as he looked from Odessa to Rionne and back again. "Why are there two of you?"

"The woman you’re holding so closely in your arms is an impostor, your highness," Rionne said triumphantly. "Haven’t you noticed that she always keeps her left wrist covered? It’s because it betrays who she really is. A Gatherer. An assassin."

"Are you implying that there are assassins in my palace?" The sultan exclaimed. "And that this woman is one of them?"

"Rionne, show me your wrist," Quatre said gently, "unless what she claims is true."

Odessa only looked dumbly at him, scared. Kaleb made the decision for her when he threw smoke pellets on the ground and brandished his scimitar. Jared pulled Odessa from Quatre’s arms and the other Gatherers took advantage of the confusion to get out of the palace. All the while during their flight, Odessa heard her reply to Jared’s words in her mind.

It’s a fall I’m willing to take.

But it was a fall she was not prepared to take.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"We have to get you out of here."

Odessa looked up at Kaleb. They were back at the hideout of the Gatherers and they had learned the circumstances of Rionne’s escape. She had managed to seduce her guards into letting her go with promises of money and women, only to find death by the hands of the palace guards. The rest was history.

"Odessa, are you listening to me?!" Kaleb said as he shook her out her trance. "The sultan has ordered a manhunt upon all of the Gatherers. You and Jared have to leave the kingdom if you hope to live."

"But what will happen to the clan?" Odessa asked him. "What of the children and the others? Are you going to prey on them again once we’re gone?"

"They will not," Jared cut in. "I have Kaleb’s word on that. He’s not broken a single promise in his life."

"And I’m not about to start now," Kaleb continued. "There’s nothing we could do for now but sneak you both out of here. The Gatherers may be an assassin and thieves guild, but we have a code of honor: Never leave anyone behind." He placed a reassuring hand on Odessa’s shoulder. "We knew what we were getting into when we asked you to masquerade as Rionne and none of us blame you for what happened."

"Thank you," Odessa replied. "Jared and I will be ready to leave in two hours."

After bidding Kaleb farewell, the two left the hideout to go to the meeting place where they would be given two horses and enough money and provisions to see them to the next country, where the local branch of Gatherers would be waiting for them. Outside, they could hear the city soldiers turning the slums upside down and inside out trying to find the Gatherers. Odessa could only pray that their luck would hold. Unfortunately, they found that soldiers were stationed at every entrance to the city.

"There they are!"

"Looks like we won’t be making it out of this kingdom," Jared said grimly as he unsheathed his scimitar and they saw the soldiers rushing at them from all sides. "But if I have to go, I’m taking as many of them with me."

"Likewise," Odessa whispered as she unsheathed her own weapons. "See you in hell."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Quatre was silent as he and Rionne stood by his father’s throne. They had been summoned from their sleep by the announcement that they had caught the two Gatherers who had infiltrated the palace. Jared was bleeding badly from the deep stab wounds that he’d received while fighting for his life. Odessa had been thrown unceremoniously on the floor before the throne. Blood had streaked her face and she was wincing from the pain of the wounds she had taken during their failed escape.

"They managed to kill fifteen of our best men before we were able to capture them," the captain of the guard reported as he shot Jared and Odessa dark looks. "Too bad they were assassins. They were two of the best fighters I have ever seen in my life."

Rionne ignored the captain’s words and strode over to the girl curled up in a ball on the floor. She grabbed a hank of her hair and forced her to look up at her. "You little witch," she spat. "How dare you take my name, my station, and my prince for yourself."

"How can you claim that he belongs to you?" Odessa gasped. "You never earned his love nor his respect."

"Silence!" Rionne slapped Odessa and she fell back onto the floor in pain. A sparkle out of the corner of her eye caught her attention and she saw the emerald pendant. A quick snap of her fingers and an attendant unclasped the necklace and handed it to Rionne. She smiled as she put it around her own neck. "A beautiful piece," she remarked, "obviously too good for someone like you." She turned her back to Odessa to face the sultan. "I demand satisfaction! Let me decide the fate of these two traitors!"

"I grant you your request," he replied. "Pass judgment upon them as you see fit."

"Very well," Rionne said with a smile. "The man shall serve as a slave to the palace to serve like a dog until he dies. As for this one," she said as she looked down on Odessa. "She shall be given thirty lashes in the public square," she paused and smiled. "Then beheaded for her crime."

Quatre’s eyes widened at Rionne’s announcement. He saw the cruelty in the princess’s eyes. She was reveling in the position of power she was now in. The other ‘Rionne,’ on the other hand, was just kneeling on the floor, defeated.

The sultan nodded his head and ordered the guards to lift Odessa to her feet. "Do you have anything to say in your defense?" He asked her. Silence. "Then it has been decided. Her silence confirms that she accepts the punishment of Princess Rionne. It shall be done on the morrow. Take them to the dungeon."

Rionne watched in triumph as Odessa and Jared were taken away. Hidden by the room’s arches, Princess Iria wept bitterly at the fate of the woman she had grown to love like a sister.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Are you awake?"

Odessa didn’t need to turn around to know who was talking to her. Her wounds have been washed and cleaned as a final mercy before her execution and she had been given a plain white shirt and trousers to wear. Right now, the person talking to her was the last person she wanted to see.

"Yes, Princess Iria, I am awake," she said as she looked at her. "Why have come? Do you hate me as much as Princess Rionne does? Have you come to relieve yourself of it?"

"I don’t hate you," she replied. "Allah knows that I’ve tried to hate you, but I couldn’t bring myself to do it."

"Then why have you come?"

"Because I asked her to."

Odessa wanted to scurry to the farthest corner of her cell if it meant being spared of Prince Quatre’s scrutiny.

"Talk to her all you want, Quatre," Iria said as she moved to one side. "This may be your last chance to do so."

He waited until Iria was out of earshot before he spoke. "Why didn’t you defend yourself?" he whispered harshly. "Why did you accept her judgment? Are you so eager to die?"

"Because it would have done me no good," Odessa replied. "It was her words against mine. If you want the truth, yes, the Gatherers had planned to ambush her entourage. Yes, I did assume her identity. I am guilty of the crime and now I must pay the price for what I have done." Tears were starting to fall from her eyes.

Quatre reached into the cell and pulled her close to the bars of the cell and held her as she cried. He’d spent a lot of time thinking -- about their conversations, about her actions, about her. "Your name?" he whispered into her hair. "I don’t even know your name."

"It’s Odessa," she replied.

"The voyager," he whispered and smiled. "That’s what your name means. Everything you do is part of a journey and only you know where your final destination would be." He looked into her eyes and lifted her chin. "You know, you look even more foreign than I do."

"That’s because I am," she replied. "I came to this kingdom with my parents when I was seven. I was their only child. My mother had gotten sick during the journey and died a few months after we had gotten here. My father was killed by bandits when I was thirteen. I’ve been on my own until a few months ago when I met Jared. He and his clan took me in and we cared for each other as a family. We became part of the Gatherers only about a month ago when they threatened to harm the clan if we didn’t. And about that time... I met you."

Quatre looked at her and saw the sadness in her eyes. Knowing that she was about to die, she’d willingly told him her secrets all in the hopes that he would not despise her in the end. This girl who had known nothing but fear and loneliness in her life. This girl who had opened his eyes to the world beyond his palace walls.

"Rionne has the necklace," Odessa said, pulling away from him. "I told you it was too much for me." She stood up and walked over to the cot in the corner. "Forget about me, Prince Quatre. Marry a princess and love her as much as you can. Only don’t forsake your people."

"Quatre, we have to go," Iria whispered. "I don’t know how long Rashid could keep the guards running in circles."

"Odessa..."

"Good-bye... my prince." Odessa whispered in return and waited until they were gone before she let loose the tears she’d been holding back.

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

Quatre couldn’t help but wince when he saw the monstrous construct that had been set up in the square for Odessa’s execution. A pair of manacles were hanging from twin poles to one side while a chopping block was set on the other side. The hooded executioner was swinging a wicked cat-o-nine-tails and it made a sickening crack as he wielded it.

A large crowd had gathered and they were all wondering who the traitor was. It was then that a cart bearing Odessa was wheeled into the square before the thrones. The shock on the faces of the people were apparent as they recognized her as the Princess that Prince Quatre had proudly paraded through the streets earlier that week.

"You have been charged with the crime of treason, for assaulting a visiting princess, for assuming her identity and making an attempt at Prince Quatre’s life," the herald began before the silence was shattered by a woman’s scream.

"NO!" Sanura ran into the square and knelt before the sultan. "I know this child and she would not harm anyone unless it was to defend her own life! Please, great Sultan, spare her life. I beg you!"

"Take this woman away!" Rionne ordered. "Lest you be willing to accept the same punishment as this girl you want so much to protect."

"I accept all of the charges you have put forth upon me, just leave these people be!" Odessa screamed. "If, with my life, I can quell your anger, princess, then so be it! Harm no other!"

"Lashes first," Rionne said wickedly. "Then behead her and place her head upon a stake to serve as a reminder to those who would dare do the same!"

Sanura was dragged to one side as Odessa was pulled off the cart and her hands were placed in the manacles. The executioner’s first strike knocked her off her feet and the people winced when they saw it almost immediately draw blood. By the second strike, the people in the crowd were pleading with the sultan to spare her life while Rionne cast them all dark looks that promised nothing but pain.

Through all this, Quatre was lost. Each strike of the whip brought about images of him and Odessa together -- their duel, that night in the oasis, Odessa wiping the dirt off an old beggar’s face, her laughter when she spoke to the children in the streets, her expression when he first kissed her, but most of all, an image of her beautiful emerald eyes. Those same eyes that had haunted his every waking moment, the key to her soul. It was then that the realization hit him. That after all this, he would never see those eyes again. Their mystery, along with the enigma that owned them, would be lost to him forever. It was at that moment that he realized how much he truly loved her.

Odessa had borne the punishment in silence, not uttering a sound even when the pain had been too great. The manacles were the only things that were keeping her on her feet and she collapsed when they were removed. Her consciousness was already failing her and a voice pierced the buzzing of the people around her.

"ENOUGH!" It was Prince Quatre. He had stood up, relinquishing his silence. "There shall be no execution this day." His words were greeted with cheers from the crowd with the loudest voices coming from the direction of Odessa’s clan members. He saw that Rionne was about to protest, but cut her off. "Be satisfied, Rionne of Torigan," he replied. "I had allowed myself to be blinded by your hate and turned away when you passed judgment on this girl, but I am glad that I was not too late to realize my mistake. You may have been born a princess, but Odessa will always be a hundred times more of a princess than you’ll ever be." He looked at her coldly and continued. "Be satisfied and leave this kingdom. You shall never be my bride."

Rionne was dumbstruck by Quatre’s announcement, but it didn’t take long for her to regain her wits. "So I see," she said, as she ran her hand though her hair. "You would rather spare the poor sap than take me for your wife. But I tell you that if I cannot have you, no one will!"

She pulled a stiletto knife from her hair and lunged at the prince. They went down onto the floor and the sultan struggled to pull the wild princess off his son. Rionne’s strength was unbelievable, fueled by her rage and the knife was inching its way to his throat. In another instant, Rionne stiffened and became limp, an crossbow bolt protruding from her back.

Jared had seen the bolt’s flight and followed it to its source. Kaleb waved to him from the window of a building before disappearing inside. Never leave anyone behind. That had been the Gatherer’s Code of Honor.

Jared thought as he felt his manacles being undone. He heard the guard say that he was free to go and he saw Sanura rushing up to him and he gave her a hug. Together, they walked up to the platform where Odessa lay forgotten because of Rionne’s outburst.

"Are you alright, Quatre?" The sultan asked his son as they rolled the dead princess off him.

"Yes, father, I’m alright." He looked at the expression of surprise forever frozen on Rionne’s face and he noticed that she was wearing the necklace he’d given Odessa. He took it off her and placed it in his pocket.

"Oh, dear," the herald began as he looked at the mess. "What in the world are we going to say to Torigan?"

"Tell them that their princess had attempted to assassinate my brother," Iria replied smartly. "They need not know the events that led to this."

"Yes, your majesty," the herald replied as he ordered the soldiers to take Rionne’s body away.

"I guess we’re back where we started," the sultan said to Quatre. "Looks like we haven’t quite seen the end of princesses coming and going to the kingdom."

"Father," Quatre said as he looked at Sanura and Jared who were crouched beside Odessa, "when you saw mother for the first time, why did you decide that you love her more than any of the women who’ve come into your life?"

"Well," the sultan began, "it was because I saw in her something. It’s little hard to explain, but it felt as though she completed me somehow. I would have given away my throne, my kingdom if it meant that I could have her back."

"Even though she wasn’t a princess?"

"Yes."

"I want to marry Odessa," Quatre said. He had never been more sure of anything in his life. "Even if you despise me for this decision, I love her too much to just let her go."

The sultan laughed at that. "My son, I’ve known that all along. I was just waiting for you to realize how much she meant to you."

"You knew all along?" Quatre said as he gaped at him. "But why didn’t you try to stop the execution?"

"It was not my decision to make," he replied. "I cannot always make your decisions for you." His eyes strayed to the platform. "I think she’s starting to regain consciousness. Go to her."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

"Odessa?"

Sanura’s voice coaxed Odessa out of her sleep and into the world of pain on her back. She curled up into a ball and Sanura ripped the tattered back of her shirt to apply a salve on her wounds.

"Sanura?" Odessa said hesitantly and she looked over the woman’s shoulder and saw Jared. "Jared? Why are you here? Are you dead too?"

"We’re not dead," Sanura replied, "and neither are you, thanks to the prince. Now hold still. Your wounds need to be taken cared of."

"The prince?"

"Yes, the prince," Jared replied. "He called the executioner to cease just as you passed out. He declared you and I free of our charges and ordered Rionne to leave the kingdom. That was when she tried to kill him." He saw her eyes widen at that statement. "Don’t worry. Rionne’s dead. Kaleb shot her with a crossbow from that building over there," he pointed to a three story building.

"And the prince? Where is he?" Odessa asked weakly.

"I’m right here."

Sanura and Jared’s eyes widened in shock when they saw Quatre standing behind them. He knelt before Odessa and took out the emerald necklace from his pocket. "I think you lost this," he said as he fastened it around her neck her neck and kissed her. "You have got to be the bravest, most selfless, most insane person I know and I can’t believe that I almost got you killed!" He held her loosely so that he wouldn’t aggravate her injuries any more than he already did.

"I’m sorry I lied to you," Odessa said as she laid her head on his shoulder.

"And I’m sorry for lying to myself," he replied and he looked into her eyes. "When I found out who you really were I wanted to forget about you, but I just couldn’t. Then I remembered my parents. My father loved my mother despite who she was. I would gladly die for you if need be. I just don’t want to lose you."

Odessa wiped away the stray tears that had emerged from his eyes. "I’m not going anywhere, your highness," she replied. "I was yours the very first time our eyes met."

"As was I."

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

The tinkling of the bell at the door of his shop made Naasir start. He didn’t expect anyone to come in after all the confusion that had occurred earlier that day. He smiled when he saw Princess Iria wearing a black cloak enter his shop.

"What can I do for you today, princess?" he said as he ushered her onto a seat before his display counter.

"I was just wondering," she started, "did you sell Quatre that emerald necklace that he’d given Odessa?"

"Yes, I did," he replied, smiling. "What about it?"

"I knew the craftsmanship was familiar," she replied. Her eyes narrowed a bit as she looked back at him. "If I know you, you must have handed him some story about how the gem had special destiny, right?"

"Guilty as charged," he said laughing as he walked behind the counter and leaned on the glass. "I knew that once he saw that gem, he would find the woman that he loves."

"Once again, your gift of foresight has proven infallible," Iria said. "You knew exactly when to display that piece, and you also knew that he would eventually find Odessa, didn’t you?"

"Correct," he replied as smoke began to appear all around and his voice changed into that of a much younger man. "And I shall always be there to protect the Winner family as long as they would need me."

"Thank you, good djinn," Iria replied as she took her leave.

"It is my sworn duty, milady."

****************** The End ******************

original © July 2000 by Lady Aria