Julia woke up in such a perfect state of contentment that she never wanted to move again. The outside world didn’t exist. All that was real was the leg under hers, the chest beneath her cheek, the warm, naked body molded against hers, and the strong arm holding her close. There were no problems in this world; there was nothing but the glory of how she felt lying next to this incredible man. The weather seemed to agree with her mood as sunlight poured in through the window.

She snuggled more into Falcon’s side and kissed his bare chest. He moaned softly. He was awake too―of course he was. The fact that he wasn’t already up and ready to go was surprising, though she was extremely thankful that he wasn’t.

His other hand slid around her and pulled her closer. She moved her head, resting it on his shoulder so she could gaze up at him. His smile was serene. His eyes were like warm chocolate, she thought. She could feel her own eyes growing misty. Why did she have to cry so easily? She blinked back the tears. She wouldn’t let them blur his sweet face.

“Good morning,” he breathed.

“A very good morning.” She smiled as she ran her hand up the soft skin of his stomach, to his chest and then his cheek. She kissed him lightly, and he caressed the small of her back. The touch was pure bliss, and she never wanted to lose contact.

Of course, it was inevitable―they couldn’t stay entangled forever; the world did exist, and there were important things to do. It still took them over an hour to leave the room. By that time, her growling stomach would wait no longer.

They ran into Ikoris as soon as they stepped into the hallway. Amazingly, he remembered them, though it was probably because his chipmunk familiar was on his shoulder.

“Ah! I need to talk to you,” Ikoris told them. “Come into my study.” He walked into a nearby room, leaving them to follow.

“Why don’t you go get some food and bring it up?” Falcon suggested.

She nodded and headed for the stairs while he went with the old mage. Halfway down the steps she noticed Lotus and Cael sitting in the dining room. They were next to each other in a corner, her hand in his. Their eyes never left each other’s faces as they spoke too softly for Julia to hear.

She stopped to watch them for a moment, biting her lip and holding in a sigh. They were so beautiful together, both glowing with their newfound romance. She felt swept up in the emotion of it, as if she were watching a movie. Some part of her knew she should make her presence known, but she couldn’t bring herself to interrupt them, or to turn away.

When Cael stood, Lotus got up with him. He let go of her hand only to caress her face. They stared into each other’s eyes for a long moment, as if they were communicating silently, and then he dipped his head down to kiss her. It was too tender, too intimate for people who had just met. It was strange, though achingly beautiful. At last, Julia had the decency to look away, though she stayed where she was.

“Julia.”

The sudden sound startled her. She gasped and whirled around.

Lotus stood at the bottom of the stairs, her eyes dreamy and her face lit with a huge smile. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you.”

Julia blushed. “No. I’m sorry. I was just… um…”

Lotus giggled as she reached out a hand to her. Julia descended the remaining steps and took it; then Lotus grabbed her other hand, too, and beamed. “How wonderful is life?” she asked, then sighed happily. She turned and led Julia to the front door. “Let’s go out and find some flowers.”

“Lotus.” Julia pulled her to a stop. “It’s light outside and there are wanted posters for me and Falcon,” she reminded her.

“I think the kitchen might be better,” Lotus decided, hearing Julia’s stomach growl.

They headed through the dining room and into the kitchen. All of the rooms in the house were decorated in the same way―all had polished walnut wood furniture and wainscoting, with light diamond-patterned wallpaper, hardwood floors, and fabrics that were mostly cream. Everything was so neat and tidy. Julia figured that Ikoris must have a maid here, because his cave had been the complete opposite.

Lotus showed her the pantry on the right side of the room, next to a small table and two chairs. “Take whatever you want.”

Julia grabbed some bread, fruit, and smoked ham. “Do you mind?” she asked, knowing that Lotus was a vegetarian and sensitive, but really wanting meat.

“Go ahead,” she said, smiling indulgently. It was doubtful that anything could bother her this morning.

They sat at the table, and Julia watched her as she ate. She had never seen anyone so happy before―it seemed like it was too much. But then she realized that Lotus wasn’t any more carried away than she was herself. Lotus just didn’t hide any of it like normal people. She couldn’t hold anything in, so she shone brightly with her love. She didn’t know how to be any different.

Julia smiled at her, knowing how she felt. “I’m glad you two hit it off. He’s a really good guy.”

Lotus nodded. “Yes. I’m so glad to finally meet him.”

“Had you heard of him before?”

“No.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We all wait for that one special person,” Lotus said. “The one who completes us.”

“It’s that connection thing, isn’t it?” Julia asked. “Cael was talking about how woodlanders know their mate quickly. It’s just… I really don’t get it. You only just met, and…”

“Let me see if I can explain it,” Lotus said and thought for a moment. “Okay, you know how I can feel what he feels and vice-versa? Well, first I feel, like… wow, and then I feel his wow. Then I feel attraction, so does he, and it just kind of keeps escalating from there.”

“Cael said you don’t actually feel the emotions.”

Lotus rolled her eyes. “He’s just being technical. It’s the same difference,” she said dismissively. “Anyway, just imagine all the stages of feelings you had for Falcon. Now imagine if every time you had one, he returned it immediately. It’d push you to the next feeling, and so on. With two people, like Cael and me, who can feel each other's emotions, it can go very quickly. Before you know it, you’re head over heels, and they’re right there with you.”

“How long?”

“From the first moment I saw him?” She smiled. “Within seconds. But it’s more then just emotions. It’s rahnam―an unexplainable, undeniable connection. We were halves, and now we are whole. It just is.”

“Wow.” Julia shook her head in astonishment. “And you know that you’ll stay together?”

“Without doubt, without conditions, and without any fear of it being otherwise. No more or less than you and Falcon, I’m sure.”

Julia smiled and nodded.

“By the way, I’m so happy that he finally told you.”

Julia laughed. “I told him, actually. Apparently we were all wound up and Cael didn’t want to travel with that. So he gave me this whole pep talk, and, well… made sense,” she told her. “Oh… and thank you for this.” She touched the locket. “It means a lot.”

“You’re welcome. Someday you can pass it on, to your daughter perhaps.”

“Why didn’t you keep it for your own?”

Lotus shrugged. “Because it feels right for you to have it.”

“Thanks. By the way, I just want to say that I’m really sorry,” she told Lotus seriously. “When you were with us before, I was so stupidly miserable. I thought…”

Lotus nodded. “I know. But the truth is, Falcon was already head over heels for you when we met. He never thought of me for a second. You mean so much to him,” she said, smiling happily.

“True,” Falcon agreed as he walked in the room.

Julia gasped. “Oh, food, sorry!”

He shrugged. “It’s okay. Ikoris didn’t have much to say anyway.” He went to stand beside her and took a piece of ham.

“What did he say?” Cael asked, joining them. The small kitchen was starting to get a bit crowded.

“With Lotus’ help, Ikoris tracked down an old elf, a hermit,” Falcon said. “They think he might be a survivor of the Shia’Lan, actually, but he wouldn’t tell them.”

“What is his name?” Cael asked.

“He wouldn’t say,” Lotus told him. “He wasn’t very happy with us being there in the first place.”

Cael nodded. “After we defeat Kieran, I will pay him a visit.”

“We,” Lotus corrected him lightly.

He moved closer and stroked her hair. “We,” he agreed with a smile.

She leaned her head against his side and continued where Falcon had left off. “So we ended up persuading the elf to tell us the words needed to use the orb. Also, he said that if you found the pieces of the orb, then that means there is someone inside it. We’ll have to get them out first before we can use it on Kieran.”

“Of course,” Cael said, his tone businesslike. “Shall we?”

“Ikoris is waiting for us in the living room,” Falcon said, and the four of them walked to the large room, where they formed a circle.

“Best not to appear threatening,” Cael told them. “Do not take out your weapons, but be ready. It could be any kind of humanoid that was trapped.”

They all nodded.

The old mage held out the orb pieces in the palm of his open hand and said the words; “Saora ilo.” The four parts pulled themselves together and formed a small, seamless ball. It began to glow and soon became so bright that they had to close their eyes. When they reopened them, there was a woman standing in the middle of the circle, and the orb was now a dull gray, though still intact.

The woman wore a robe of pristine white. Her long, straight hair was also pure white, and her eyes were an unreal shade of light, watery blue. Her face was extremely serene, with a look of complete innocence―not just like a child, but like a very young child.

She glanced around with wide-eyed astonishment that matched their own. “Where am I?” she asked, her voice soft and calm. She showed no sign of distress or fear, only curiosity.

It was Cael who answered, pointing at the old mage. “This is his home in the city of Oraunt.”

She nodded. “Where is my sister?” Her voice was almost monotone.

“We do not know her,” Cael answered. “Tell us who you are, and why you were trapped in this orb.”

“My sister.”

“Your sister did this to you?” Julia asked in surprise.

“I am not sure,” she said slowly. “She was just here, with that orb.”

“What do you remember?” Cael asked.

She looked at him with gentle eyes. “My sister touched my face with that, and it glowed brightly. I closed my eyes and now I am here with you.”

Cael frowned. They all did. “Who is your sister?”

“Her name is Kieran,” she said, and there was a collective gasp. “She is a priestess in the service of Malluk. That is mostly what I know of her. I have never seen her before today.” She reached into a pocket of her robe and pulled out a letter. “But I carry this always. It was all I thought I had of her.”

Cael took the parchment from her, unfolded it, and read aloud:

My beloved Amiya,

There are things to tell you, things you are not yet old enough to understand. But I’m dying, and so I write this letter, which will be given to you when you’re sixteen. I’m sorry it had to be this way.

You need to know that you have a twin sister. The reason I didn’t tell you before is because you were each born with half of a birthmark that was in the shape of a hellhound’s head. They say the Dark God only preordains children from families who have committed evil acts. Please know that my intentions in those acts were for a good cause, or so I had thought. But I will say no more on that matter, only that I’m sorry for the effect it had on my children.

I was scared and ashamed when I saw the marks, so I took you both to High Priest Lukis at Daegon’s temple. He agreed to pray for you both. After two days, his god agreed to save one of my children. The other had to take on the full mark and the cold conscience that it gives its bearer. I was selfish; rather than take the chance that you would both escape that fate since you only had half of a mark each, I agreed to Daegon’s terms.

After the high priest was finished with you, your sister’s hair had turned from blond to complete black, and yours had drained of color until it was white. Then I laid your sister on the doorstep of Malluk’s temple in Port Vallyn. I don’t know anything more of her.

I see now, seven years later, that something more happened than you being saved. I believe all the darkness entered her and all the light went into you. I fear for you now because of that imbalance. You trust anyone―you cannot understand evil intent, and are devoid of fear. You believe everything told to you, unable to grasp a lie. I pray that time changes that, because I worry you won’t live a long life if it doesn’t.

Please know that I loved you more than anything. Know that I cherished every moment I had with you.

Your devoted mother,

Tana Trent

“So you are Amiya,” Cael said as he handed back the letter.

She refolded it and returned it to her pocket. “Yes. I am Amiya, second priestess of Daegon.”

“High, second, third, cleric,” Cael said in response to Julia’s confused look; he indicated each level with his hand, moving it down with each place. Then he turned back to Amiya. “I am Cael’Kashlan.” He bowed his head. “This is Lotus, Falcon, Julia, and the old mage is Ikoris.” He pointed to them as he said each of their names, except for Ikoris, who had wandered off.

She smiled at them all. “Pleased to meet you.”

Cael nodded. “Before, you said the letter was all you thought you had of your sister. What did you mean by that?”

“It seems that when the ritual was performed, something unintended happened,” Amiya said. “It left my sister and I linked. It took part of me, the evil part, and put it into her, and it put her good into me, so one of us cannot die without it killing the other.” When she said the words evil and wrong, it didn’t touch her eyes. She knew their definitions, but didn’t truly grasp them. “My sister came to see me today for the first time. She said that she had found out about our connection. ‘I have great plans,’ she told me, and I can’t take the chance of someone using you against me. ‘So I’ll keep you safe in this.’ She showed me the orb, then touched it to my cheek, and it glowed so brightly that I closed my eyes. I heard her whisper the word ‘gahala’ before everything was gone. That’s all I remember.”

“Your sister has done great wrong in the world,” Cael told her. “We are going to stop her.”

“But if we destroy Kieran, then she dies as well,” Lotus worried.

“Do we have a choice?” Cael said flatly.

“Yes,” Lotus replied. “We can use the orb to hold Kieran, just like Amiya was held.”

“We cannot risk keeping such evil in existence,” Cael told them. “However, instead of killing Kieran, there is better option to take.” He looked pointedly at Amiya.

“Don’t say that,” Julia said, shocked he would suggest it, especially in front of Amiya. “She’s right here.”

“If we are speaking about her, then it is only right that she be present.”

Julia turned to Amiya, who had shown no reaction to what he was saying. Perhaps she didn’t even understand what he was getting at. “Could you please wait for a few minutes in the kitchen? It’s that way,” she said and pointed through the dining room.

“You will stay,” Cael commanded, calm but firm.

Julia glared at him. “Why are you being so callous?”

“I think you will find the words logical or reasonable to better define me,” he said, his usual light mood replaced by cold detachment.

“There is no logical reason to unnecessarily upset her.”

“It is not unnecessary. Now let us get back to the point. We should take that option and do so as soon as possible.”

His features were hard as stone. He would have them murder Amiya to destroy Kieran. Julia looked at Lotus. Her face was distressed and her green eyes scared; it was clear that she disagreed with Cael.

Falcon’s eyes were almost as hard as Cael’s. When Julia looked at him, he glanced at the woman and then back to Julia. She understood that he was voting to murder Amiya. Then she realized that everyone was staring at her. She instantly felt a weight press down on her. They were waiting for her vote.

If they killed Amiya, it would all be over. It would be quick and easy. Julia wanted it to be over so badly―she wanted to know that tomorrow they wouldn’t be facing some horrible danger, that she wouldn’t have to be terrified that Falcon could be killed and taken from her. They could be together, living a nice, quiet life, no longer on this deadly quest.

The others continued to watch her, waiting for her decision. Lotus looked worried, and Cael and Falcon stood like military officers, emotions put aside, ready to do what needed to be done―for the greater good, they would say.

Julia was stuck in the middle, balanced on the fence, she thought. Falcon should be impressed―she was at least thinking it over, at least being rational… or trying to be. And this time, she could see both sides.

Though her heart told her to save Amiya, her brain told her that maybe the guys were right. She had seen enough in Kelstone to realize that maybe there were times when you just had to do things for the greater good, even very horrible things.

To kill an innocent person―and not just innocent, but someone who was completely pure, someone who held no trace of evil in her whole being? It would be like killing a child. The thought twisted her heart, but… it would all be over. It would mean that all the evil things Kieran was doing would stop now. Here was the tool of her destruction, standing before them, like a gift of fate. It would be so easy.

They hadn’t even heard the news since they came into town, but Julia was sure she didn’t want to know. She noticed that Cael held a newspaper in his hand. What did he know that she didn’t yet? Were the contents of that paper affecting his decision? Did it matter either way?

What was the right thing to do?