Max held the carrot out to Starlight who s.n.a.t.c.hed it from his hands. "Where did they go?"

"Don't know. Most of the other soldiers left several days ago. Lord Avram and his commanders left early this morning"

Max nodded at the boy. "You've kept good care of Starlight; think you can watch her a little longer yet."

"Sure thing!"

Max patted Starlight one last time. "Wait a little bit longer girl."

What is going on around here? I hope Mr. Penna is home.

At the gate to the courtyard stood two guards. At least I'm not the only one still here. The guards nodded at Max, opening the gate. He entered the square and made his way to Mr. Penna's home. He knocked on the door and waited. He knocked a second time with the same results. He sat down on the step in front of the door, head in his hands.

Now what? Any time I've been in trouble, Eve's gotten me out. If I had a question, Mr. Penna was there to answer it. Now they're both gone. Even worse, Eve may be the one in trouble. Where would she even go? The only places she knows are Alexandra's camp and Melody's church.

Max raised his head. The church! Maybe Eve's there. If she isn't, I can at least talk to Melody. Maybe she has an idea of what's going on.

Max took off running for the church. Strangely, the streets on the north side of the city were deserted, and all the doors and windows of the buildings closed. South of the market he found the opposite, lacarnians filled the streets. Many turned to face him as he ran by, their expressions resembling that of Eve's when she stalked prey. He ran faster.

Max breathed a sigh of relief when he reached the archway to the church. He ran through the empty garden and into the church itself. Inside, Lady Metis stood at the front of the building addressing those packed into the room. Max tried to spy Melody among the throng. Not finding her, he pushed his back against the wall and began to scoot his way along it to the front. He made it to within a few feet of Lady Metis when someone grabbed him, pulling him into the kitchen. Spinning around he saw Melody.

"Melody, thank goodness. Is Eve here?"

"What?" Melody tugged at Max's sleeve. "Let's go to the store room where we can hear one another."

Melody led Max to a small room next to the kitchen where the noise from the main room dissipated. Before Max could ask about Eve again, Melody spoke.

"Why didn't Lord Avram take you with him?"

Max blushed. "I didn't even know he had left until I spoke to the stable boy a short while ago. I guess I overslept."

"Do you have any idea where he went?"

Max shook his head. "No idea."

"He didn't tell you anything at all?"

Max threw up his hands. "No, not a thing. I tried to find Mr. Penna to see if he knew, but he's still not back. All I want to do now is find Eve. I had hoped she had come here."

Melody took a few deep breaths to calm herself. "I'm sorry, Max. It's just that everyone's frightened. Nearly all of the soldiers left the capital yesterday, then Lord Avram left this morning."

"The only thing he said to me was that he planned to make things as they should be and to get some rest for the weeks to come. That's it."

"He must not trust you, Max."

"Why would he not trust me?"

"Why did you come here, Max?"

"I had hoped to find Eve here, or, at the very least, find out what you believe really happened with my father. Either Lord Avram or Alexandra is lying, but I can't tell which.""That's why he doesn't trust you, Max, because you don't trust him. If you did, you would not question his story. Add to that your friendship with Eve, a lacarnian, and he will never trust you."

"I just want to know the truth."

Lady Metis appeared behind Melody. "I might be able to help you with that, Maxwell. What would you like to know?"

"Do you know why my father gave you that box?"

"Your father left with few words, and I fear what he did say you will not want to hear."

"Please, Lady Metis, I must know what happened."

"Very well, Maxwell. When he gave me the box, your father said that he had lost faith in the Protectors, and, because of that, he had betrayed them. He then instructed me to never give the box to anyone other than himself or a little girl of whom he described in great detail. With that, he left."

"Did you know anything about my father before then?"

"Oh yes, Maxwell. Almost everyone in Moenia knew of your father, along with many of the villages. Your father treated everyone with kindness and fairness, human and lacarnian. Where other Protectors closely followed Lord Avram's orders, your father often went his own way."

"What do you know about Lord Avram?"

"Very little I'm afraid. He is a mystery to many, or at least he was. Melody told me Alexandra's story."

"And you believed it?"

"I am not sure at this point, but there is one piece of it that I can confirm. We had heard rumors that a forest once existed in the dead lands and decided to send diggers to research the area. It so happens that you met the two I sent."

"You mean Zeth and Bastiaan?"

"Yes."

"Did they make it back? What did they find?"

"Bastiaan returned to us, after having hid in a cave for several days. We still have not found Zeth."

"I'm sorry he has not returned, Lady Metis, but did Bastiaan say what they had found?"

"Yes, evidence that a forest once existed where the dead lands now lie. They also believe that the destruction of that forest and the creation of the dead lands both occurred from the same catastrophic event."

"Then what Alexandra said could be true, at least that part of it."

Melody sighed. "If it is true, it would provide a reason why Tyco tried to stop us from returning. The information could have been used to undermine Lord Avram and the Protectors, especially if it led us to Alexandra. An even greater possibility once we knew you were alive."

"So you believe her, Melody?"

"I'm not sure, Max. Doing so would mean our understanding of the Immortals and the spirits is wrong. That's not easy to deal with."

Lady Metis gently laid a hand on Max's shoulder. "Maxwell, you've asked everyone else what they believe. What is it you believe?"

"Honestly, I'm not sure. I thought dad was devoted to the Protectors, that they treated everyone fairly. Since I left Swift.w.a.ter, I've seen nothing but the opposite, and now I'm told my father betrayed them. Believing Alexandra means everyone has lied to me. Except maybe Mr. Penna, he never has liked the idea of me joining the Protectors."

Max paced back and forth, his face furrowed in concentration. "I don't know what to believe, and I'm tired of trying to figure it out. Right now I just want to find Eve. I saw her face before she changed. She was ashamed. If I don't find her, she might not come back, and I won't have that. I don't care what she is."

Melody smiled, "Eve couldn't have a better friend. I'll help you find her, Max."

"Thanks, Melody, but where do we start."

"Alexandra warned Eve ahead of time, maybe she also told her where to go."

Max nodded. "You may be right, Melody? I guess I'll have to ask her."

Max pushed past Melody and Lady Metis, making his way through the kitchen and out past the throng of people. He had made it halfway through the garden before Melody caught up to him.

"Max, they're holding Alexandra in the dungeon. How are you going to get in to see her? Lord Avram's surely warned the guards not to let anyone near her."

Max gave a nervous laugh. "Get in? I don't even know where the dungeon's at."

"It's hidden under the Protector's headquarters."

Max's face hardened. "That's a start. Are you still coming?"

"You really trust me, Max?"

"At the moment, you're one of the few I do."

Melody smiled. "Lady Metis was right."

Max stared at her blankly. "What?"

"She said your father always followed his heart and that you are a lot like him. She also told me that I would be a fool not go with you."

"I would understand if you didnt. Who knows what trouble I'll get in to?"

Melody gave a hearty laugh. "Plenty, I'm sure, but I will not let someone go alone who has put so much trust in the Church, or in me. Besides, I still owe you for saving me in the dead lands."

Max felt his heart lighten a bit. "Then let's go. I want to figure out how we're going to break into the dungeon before it gets too dark."

Melody rolled her eyes. "And I kept thinking Eve was the crazy one."

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE.

"Are you sure about this Max?"

"No, not really. I'm open to suggestions."

Melody sighed. "Nothing here, it's just that this seems a bit too silly to work."

"Normally I would agree, but, like I said, the only guards I saw this morning are at the gate. You saw for yourself that the ones on this side are asleep. I'm betting it's the same for the two on the other side."

"Okay then, let's give it a shot."

Max and Melody each rolled a barrel next to the wall separating them from the Protectors courtyard. Carefully, they stood them upright side by side. Max walked back behind the nearest house to retrieve a third barrel they had found. Rolling it next to the other two, he and Melody lifted it on to the others forming a pyramid. Max tried to rock the top barrel, but it remained steady.

"Thank goodness the first gate was left unguarded or this wouldn't have worked."

Satisfied, he stepped back next to Melody to survey the pyramid of barrels. She nodded at the stack. "Well, this is your idea, so you first."

"What happened to ladies first?"

"I'll be the first to run when they catch you climbing over the wall, how's that?"

Max rolled his eyes. "Right."

Max climbed the stack of barrels. From the top he grabbed the ledge of the wall and pulled himself up. He looked down the length of the wall.

"I don't see anyone coming."

"And you haven't been shot by an arrow yet either."

Max started to laugh, then realized she wasn't joking. "Hurry, before that changes."

"Okay, okay, I'm coming."

Melody climbed the stack and stood on the top barrel. Max knelt, reaching out his hand to help her onto the wall. She slapped his hand away and grabbed the ledge. She pulled with her arms as she jumped and managed to slide her stomach onto the wall. She paused a moment before swinging her legs up behind her. Max shook his head and dropped down off the wall to the courtyard below. Melody, still lying on her stomach, looked down at him.

"Um, I don't know about this."

"You climbed up fine."

"I didn't have to look down then."

Max shook his head. "Fine." He held out his arms. "Go ahead, I'll catch you."

Melody moved to a sitting position with her legs hanging over the ledge. She took a deep breath and shoved herself off of the wall. Max caught her in his arms and lowered her to the ground. She straightened out her robe.

"Thank you, Maxwell."

"I still don't see how you climbed up, but couldn't..."

"So what's your plan now?"

Max stared at her a moment then shook his head again. "I'm a.s.suming that access to the dungeon is from within the building. So, we go in and find it."

"That simple, huh?"