'What brings you out here, Prince?'

'I came for you.'

'To stay with me or take me back to the castle?'

'Take you back to the castle.'

'For what purpose?'

'What purpose?' he asked, standing. 'To marry you and live with you.'

'Marriage fine. To live? I... Torta, what...? Ahhh!'

James heard a crack just before she screamed. 'Lilly!' He moved towards her, but he felt Torta brush against him, stopping him from going to Lilly. 'Torta, move!'

'Stay where you are James,' Lilly said. 'Torta's right.'

'Right about what?'

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Several shouts could be heard through the trees and James stepped into Torta again trying to get to her.

'James, be still!' she pleaded.

He stopped and listened. The voices came closer until they were only a few feet away. Then there was only the sound of steps and the crunch of dried leaves.

"What have we here? An Adremedian? A wounded one at that. Which are you—the leader? Or a weakling?"

'I neither lead, nor am I weak.'

"Oh really?" There was a soft thwack.

'Ah!'

"Very well. Then perhaps you can tell us where your leader is."

'She died hundreds of years ago... at the hand of Periculae Marigold.'

James heard an audible slap.

"How dare you speak that witch's name.… But I guess there'd be no point in killing you. Poison is written all over you, you'll be dead soon anyways." Then the footsteps retreated and Torta took a few steps once they were out of hearing range.

'Lilly,' James said, hurrying forward again.

'To your left,' she replied.

He shuffled left, not wanting to step on her, and unsure as to where she was hurt. After a few steps he b.u.mped into her arm and knelt, hands following her arm to her face. 'Where are you hurt?'

'My left leg is broken.'

'What did you do to make Torta kick you?'

'Nothing.'

'Then why...'

'James, Torta just saved my life. The look of pain and the poison markings made them believe I was dying.' She s.h.i.+fted slightly. James felt her jaw tighten then followed her arm down her leg. It was starting to swell, but the skin wasn't broken.

'Sticks,' she said. 'We need sticks.' Lilly rolled slightly as if to get up, but he found her shoulder and made her to lie down again.

'Don't move. I'll find some,' he said to her.

'James. I have some here.'

He felt them touch the back of his hand.

James tore the sleeves from his tunic to secure the sticks in place. He was almost done when his brow furrowed.

'What is it James?'

'Periculae Marigold. That name sounds familiar.'

'It should. She's one of your ancestors.'

'That can't be right. Isn't she Gerrabella?'

'She is. Did you not wonder how part of you is Gerrabella?'

'But...Gerrabellas hate Humans.'

'As a people, yes. Periculae Marigold was the exception. She found herself attracted to a Human king, they married and had a daughter. Her people were furious when they found out, her husband and child fled and she was killed.'

'Then how does she play into Adremedian history?'

'Almost eight hundred years ago there was a war between Adremedians and Gerrabellas. Periculae Marigold was one of the soldiers and ended up confronting the Adremedian leader. Both were wounded, but only the Adremedian leader died soon after that battle. Periculae Marigold recovered, fell in love with a Human captive, who—at the time—was Prince Rapui.'

'Who was the child?'

'Her name was Iris.'

'That's my...'

'Rosae Lilly,' an unknown female Adremedian panted as she came through the trees. 'Are you...? What is he doing here?'

'I'm fine, Star,' Lilly replied. 'Just a broken leg. James is helping me.'

Star looked doubtful as she studied James. 'Why won't he look at me directly?'

'He's blind.… Is there something I can help you with?'

'Just stop over doing it will you? You know we worry about you.'

'Thank you for your concern, Star.'

Slowly Star turned and left. Lilly sat up and gave James a hug. 'Thank you James.'

He just held her for a while, enjoying her closeness. Then he asked. 'Rosae Lilly? Is Rosae the t.i.tle for Leader?'

'No.'

'Then why do they call you Rosae Lilly and not just Lilly?'

'Out of respect for my mother.'

'Your mother?… Your mother was the leader of the Adremedians?'

'Yes.'

'How can she be your mother if she died in battle hundreds of years ago?'

'She didn't die in battle.' Lilly stood and started to move towards a tree. James helped her so she could stay off her leg. They slowly made their way to the closest tree and leaned against it. His arm moved around her waist. 'My mother died to save me.'

'I still don't understand. That happened so long ago, which means you'd have to be...'

'Seven hundred and ninety-nine years old.'

'That's not possible.' James let go of her. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his legs.

'Unfortunately, it is.'

'How long do Adremedians live?'

'On average? Two hundred years.'

'Then how...?' His sightless eyes, turning in her direction.

'My mother.… I don't understand how... just that... I can never die.'

'But you said not long ago that Torta saved your life.'

'I did. That is because my physical body still acts like that of a normal Adremedian. If it becomes sick enough or wounded enough to kill a normal Adremedian it takes me a long time to recover.'

'How many times has that happened?'

'A few times. It's hard on the others so I try to avoid it if I can.'

'Huh.' James stood and took a few steps away from the tree. 'What does that mean for me, now that I'm part Adremedian?'

'I don't know.' Lilly turned her head to the sound of running.

James heard the sound of something running toward them. He turned toward the sound. His gaze slightly off. The running stopped short. Their breathing hard.

'Briar?' Lilly asked softly.

'What are Gerrabellas doing here? What have they done to you?'

'They came looking for Rosae and did nothing to me.'

'Then why is your leg broken?'

'My horse, Torta, kicked her,' James put in.

'You,' Briar growled. 'What are you doing here? Every time you're around, Lilly gets sick or hurt. Do you not realize how hard that is for us? To have to watch our leader suffer?'

'Briar, it's not...' Lilly started.

'You're right, Briar,' James interrupted. 'She has been sick a lot since she met me, but after learning so much about the Adremedians I have tried my best to make sure that I am not the cause of her pain. Though, in light of what's happened, it looks like I've failed.'