The Serelda arranged for them to be released from prison and commissioned Captain Erfla to take them under his care. The latter humbly accepted the honor given to him and motioned for the four of them to follow. Tavus tried to help Leona to carry Jarael, but seeing he was too tall for either of them to actually lift from the ground, Captain Erfla ordered some of his men to take Jarael ahead to his home.

They passed through the glass doorway again as the hall was being cleared. The other faeries bowed solemnly towards Leona as they passed.

“We’ll have to fix all of you up a little bit,” Erfla said, noticing their torn and blood-soaked clothes and grimy faces, “Evra will see to that later.” He looked at Evra, the latter smiled and nodded.

“The two of you live together in the barracks?” Tavus asked. Erfla looked back at him with a raised eyebrow.

“No, we do not live in the barracks,” Erfla replied sternly.

“But yes, we do live together. Captain Erfla is my ta-um,” Evra said softly, she noticed the confused looks on their faces. “He is my mate.”

“Do you live underground, then?” Leona asked, as the marble walls turned gradually into earthen halls that stretched as far as their eyes can see across it. High, wooden doors appeared every twenty steps.

“Majority of the population live underground in the earthen caverns,” Evra explained as they descended several flights of stairs, “Most of them are the lesser faeries like the pixies, the fauns, and the hobs. Court fey live in halls of crystal we mine. But us, the elite of the court fey,” she paused as Erfla opened an ornate doorway made of sapphire.

Leona and Tavus gasped as they entered a massive space where sunlight reflected blue and almost liquid-like on the wide circular blue floor almost a league across.

A white two-storey structure covered most of outer edges of the space. Flowers bloomed splendidly on every windowsill and on the balustrades of the many covered bridge ways that connected the buildings’ farthest points before being joined in the middle through a quaint white pergola.

A colossal glass dome held by soaring metal structures also a league up separated the grand hall from the waters above.

The light reflected the ghostly shadows of passing shoals of fish.

Nareana squealed in delight and ran towards the center of the hall. Leona urgently called her back.

Evra laughed softly. “Let her do so, the prison back there is no place for a little girl.”

“But won’t she be seen?” Leona asked nervously, watching Nareana do pirouettes across the floor. Evra shook her head.

“Don’t worry, bright one,” she said, “Only we live here. That is, if we do not include the Serelda.” She snorted.

“The Serelda live here too? Do you have problems with them?” Leona asked as they ascended an ivory staircase. Evra looked at her and said, “Unfortunately, they do. I shall explain to you why later.”

“This is the Erihppas,” Erfla announced with a flourish, leading them into a cozy common room, “once the palace of the Faery King now merely a very large house. Please, make yourselves at home.”

He beaconed to Tavus to follow him. Tavus waved at Leona and walked away.

Leona called to Nareana and followed Evra up a different staircase.

“You have such a magnificent home,” Leona said breathlessly, staring at the domed ceiling where flowers and vines bloomed in the crystal chandeliers.

“It was more beautiful once,” Evra said solemnly as they reached the second landing. “Back when the King was with us and the Queen was alive, this place was buzzing with activity. After the Fall, everything was just different.” She sighed as she opened a door down the hall and ushered Leona and Nareana inside.

Leona gaped as she stared around a small room where a large four-poster bed covered in gauzy peach drapes sat by a large window overlooking the courtyard.

Nareana gleefully bounced on the bed as Leona looked at Evra.

“How can we ever repay you for your hospitality?” she said breathlessly, Evra smiled back.

“By helping us defeat Ramadak and save Ramorgra before the allotted time has been used up.”

Leona then felt the renewed responsibility place a heavy burden on her shoulders. Not only does she have to rescue her grandparents now, but she also has to save the whole of Ramorgra as well.

Evra nodded appreciatively. “Well said, bright one.” She pointed to another door on the far corner of the room.

“Through that door is a hallway,” she said, “at the end is a spring. You and your little girl can bathe there. I shall be back with clothes for you to wear.” With a smile, Evra closed the door.

Leona looked around the room and contemplated over the sudden pleasant turn of events.

Smiling to herself and quietly thanking the gods for their guidance, she wrestled a squealing Nareana and went through the door Evra indicated.

The hallway was longer than Leona thought. By the time they got to the spring, her legs were already aching.

The spring was situated by a wide window showing the lake. Water weeds swayed in the current as fishes swam past. Leona almost screamed as she saw faeries with long green fish tails scoot past the window.

Leona helped Nareana into the shallow spring before slipping of the torn suit and immersing herself into the warm, wonderfully-scented water. Something floated in front of her.

The monocle, she thought. She held it to her eye and waited until the water cleared the glass. Outside, the lake glowed with a myriad of colored lights similar to those she had outside her window in Haikhan. Her jaw clenched at the thought.

I wonder if our neighbors back home noticed our sudden disappearance…

She was distracted from her thoughts as Nareana splashed playfully beside her. Laughing, she played along.

When they got back to their room wrapped in towels and dripping water on the polished wooden floors, they saw that a pile of clothes were neatly placed on their bed. Leona’s Rubida Nurthia was there also, neatly replaced in its scabbard. Leona dressed up Nareana in the lacy lilac dress Evra had provided them. She herself put on a dark blue gown that left her shoulders and collar bones bare, displaying the Arita Maija perfectly. She buckled the sword to her hip and slipped the monocle’s delicate silver chain over her head.

Evra returned soon afterwards as Leona fixed Nareana’s hair.

“Is everything all right, bright one?” she asked. Leona marveled as Evra’s pink hair was tied in a graceful knot at the back of the faery’s head. Evra had discarded the silver armor for a maroon dress similar to Leona’s. The golden markings on her face shone beautifully in the ghostly blue light.

“Yes, thank you, Lieutenant,” Leona replied. Nareana hopped on the floor and raced to look outside the windows. Leona smiled and began to comb her hair. “What was in the water? It smelled nice.”

“That was rose water. Spring water infused with rose petals. Let me help you with that, bright one,” Evra said. She took the comb from Leona and began brushing her blonde tresses.

“Please, call me Leona,” Leona said, blushing at the title given her.

“Very well, Leona,” Evra replied, “you will be able to rejoin Tavus and the Giraj later over supper.”

Leona nodded, and then remembered what Evra said of the Serelda on their way up.

“Can you tell me about the Serelda? You do not seem pleased about them.”

“Oh, the Serelda are a pain in the neck, the old coots,” Evra said disdainfully, “All they want to do is to rule over Kezta Frasika. They never dared relinquish their power even if the heir to the Faery throne is here. They are a horde of power-hungry goblins with no right to be called faeries.”

Leona was surprised at Evra’s criticism. “Then why wouldn’t the heir force them to do so?”

“He’s being too humble and his resilience weakens whenever the Serelda reminds him of his father,” Evra replied.

“Who is the heir then? He doesn’t seem to be very courageous,” Leona asked.

“Captain Erfla,” Evra announced, brushing Leona’s hair up in a ponytail. “King Jamori’s only son.”

Leona gaped wordlessly as she turned to Evra, dumbstruck.

“Erfla is a faery prince?” she said, “then that makes you a princess!”

Evra nodded. Leona shifted her position and sat cross-legged on the bed.

“But you have so much authority, then!”

“Only Erfla does. I am a mere consort,” Evra said, remorse in her voice, “But his benevolence and his tendency to yield to other people easily is his greatest weakness. That’s what prevents him from taking the power from the Serelda. He also has another reason for not taking up the crown.”

“What is that?” Leona asked, intrigued.

“He said that he would not take the throne until his father dies.”

“Then the King is alive this very instant?”

“That is what we solemnly believe with faith.”

Leona thought for a while, and then she asked Evra, “Do you know where King Jamori is now?”

“He has been imprisoned in the fortress of Neizagaard since the time of the Fall. After his submission to Ramadak, the Queen died in misery, and the entire fey were made to live underground. We’ve confined ourselves to Kezta Frasika alone since then.”

Leona’s eyes grew wide with surprise and sudden excitement. Her heart pounded against her chest, and she saw her Arita Maija flicker in the wall mirror.

“Have you tried to rescue him?” Leona asked eagerly, hoping against hope that the faeries have made a route towards Neizagaard from Kezta Frasika.

“We have,” Evra replied sadly, “But our forces could only reach as much. They haven’t got within the fortress walls itself, only outside. When they had surfaced, it’s either they are killed by T’lakr, or imprisoned. Our forces depleted so rapidly that we have stopped sending troops there.”

Leona grasped Evra’s hands, her eyes wide with enthusiasm, trying to remember the route Olfragh had taught them, “Evra, I know how to get inside Neizagaard!”

Evra frowned in confusion, “What?” she asked.

“I know how to get inside the fortress!” Leona exclaimed, praising the gods in her heart to have been given an opportunity and a reason to go to Neizagaard to save her grandparents – now she will have the entire population of the fey to help her and she’ll be able to do them a big favor by giving them back their King.

“The god,” Leona said, “Lord Thu’ril, taught us how to navigate the tunnels the rebels have dug through the years, we know how to get to the prisons from under the ground.”

Evra shook her head and gripped Leona’s hands, “Are you sure of this, Leona? You do realize that you’re putting yourself in the hands of death!”

“I am certain!” Leona said, “give me a replica of the map of Neizagaard and I will be able to trace the routes of Lord Thu’ril.”

“Leona,” Evra said, hesitating, “This is a feat a lot more dangerous than you may think. Millions have died just setting foot in the cursed soil of that island… ”

“Let me speak to Captain Erfla, Evra,” Leona said pleadingly. Evra pondered on Leona’s words for a minute and then faced her again. Determination etched in her face.

“So you shall, bright one,” Evra said severely, and then her voice softened. “Just keep this discourse between the two of us until the time comes that you have to tell Erfla about this. We do not want this to be heard by the wrong ears, especially the wrong tentacles.”

Leona smiled widely as she remembered Reanitchka. Both women laughed. Evra wrapped her long limbs around her shoulders. Leona embraced Evra back.

“We’ll have the true King back here in Kezta Frasika,” Leona said determinedly, Evra looked at her and smiled.

“I do hope so,” she said. “Now sit properly. That’s not how a woman sits.”