Back at the People's Palace Lord Rahl returned to his usual routine. In the two months since his return, he womanised, gambled and drank and was thoroughly miserable.

He bedded every Mord'Sith and whore that took his fancy, he seduced palace servants and noblewomen alike, but none compared to Ellie. Some were more adapt at pleasing a man than she was, but they did not provide the emotional bond he had with her and all encounters in comparison were deeply unsatisfying.

When he gambled he won every time, the lucky coin Ellie gave him saw to that. He contemplated throwing it away, but could not bring himself to stop carrying it.

He drank to ease the pain in his soul, but all it did was make him maudlin and sad.

Initially it hadn't been like this, when he first returned to the Palace he was determined to bring her here and make her conform to his will and if she resisted, he would get Geller to examine her and experiment if necessary to find out the true extent of her powers, but he knew Falcone would resist any attempts to take her, so he decided to wait a few weeks before he did anything. Darken knew of the reputation he had with women and Falcone would think he had forgotten about her. A change in troops was due shortly when the trained soldiers would be transferred to other posts and new recruits would arrive, that would be the best time to remove her from the castle.

In the mean time he decided to review Valmont's papers, there were still a few boxes to sort through, but Darken felt he had broken the back of it and his plan for a new military book based on Valmont's writings was progressing well. That was until he found the secret compartment. He had emptied a box and was about to move it off his desk when he noticed the dimensions were wrong. He had always had a keen eye for detail and upon a more detailed examination found that the depth of the box inside did not fit the outside. He looked around for an opening, but found none; the wooden box had many carvings on it so he randomly pressed on carved flowers and raised shapes, still nothing. He contemplated using his knife (the one that she gave him) to cut a hole, but that would have meant he failed the challenge before him. Instead he closed his eyes and felt all around the box, as he did so he concentrated on the feel of the wood, his fingers carefully explored the carving feeling for something different. Eventually he found it, something felt cold, but wood was a warm material. When he opened his eyes he saw a small carved leaf on the box, it looked no different from the rest of it, he found a magnifying glass and realised it was painted metal. Darken tried pushing on the leaf, but nothing happened, he tried twisting, again nothing, finally he tried pulling the leaf and there was a small click. Inside the box the base had lifted slightly and underneath he found a dozen letters

The majority of the letters all said much the same, they were letters to General Valmont, all filled with general chit chat about families & neighbours and life at home but, all of them would mention that a fox was searching the area and the phrase 'We have been forced to move the chickens because of the disturbance.' It didn't make sense, why would Valmont care about a few chickens?

The next paper was a document entitled 'A true and full account of the abduction as dictated by messenger' it read as follows:

"My dear friend, two days ago I left my home to go into town to conduct some business. In my absence, my dear wife was left to tend to your daughter, which is in no way a hardship, for she is a pleasant child of a sunny nature and has brought much joy to our household. Whilst I was away, several men came to our home demanding entrance, they said that I owed unpaid taxes and they were there to collect payment in either gold or goods equivalent to the sum owed. Our steward forbade them entrance and sent for my wife to consult with her on the matter, at which point the men tried to force entrance through the front door, all the men servants in the household were brought to bear to prevent such an intrusion and they successfully repelled the men from the house. During this time most of the household was concerned with the events at the front door, except for one of the household maids who was hanging out washing when she heard your daughter crying for help, she observed two men had hold of the child and were carrying her by force from the back of the house. The maid tried to intervene, but was threatened with a knife and so instead ran for help. It was then determined that the men at the front door were a rouse to distract the household. Defence of the front door was abandoned in favour of protecting your daughter but, by the time my steward and his men had reached the garden they found your daughter laying on the ground sobbing. Of the two men who tried to abduct her one man was dead, the other, a wizard was quite insane. My wife has tried to console your daughter, who was quite distraught. We cannot elicit from her any of the facts of the matter and all she keeps doing is sobbing and referring to herself as a monster. The men at the front of the house ran off, but I am certain they were Rahl's men. I have disposed of the body, as for the wizard, we changed his clothing and deposited him anonymously at a place of healing, although it is doubtful the man will ever recover his sanity. We have moved your daughter to my country estate, it should be more secure but, how long before Rahl discovers her there, I do not know. We need to talk my friend, in person, we cannot hide her forever. This matter needs to be resolved."

The account ended at this point, Darken was stunned, for all their discussions, Ellie had never mentioned this incident to him. As for his father, he would never have openly kidnapped the daughter of such a famous general, but this devious attempt would not have been beyond him and suddenly the other letters mentioning a fox and chickens made sense. There were two more letters left to read, one looked quite ominous with a black border around the edges of the paper.

My dear friend,

It is with a heavy heart that I regret to inform you of the death of your daughter Ellissia. I have said on many an occasion how delighted we were to have her with us; she was always of a sunny disposition and was loved by the whole household. Having said that she was also an adventurous child and loved to explore around the house and gardens. On the day of her passing she was climbing an apple tree in the kitchen garden but, unfortunately fell and her leg was impaled upon a spiked fence, she was quickly discovered and brought into the house. However, despite all the efforts from the healer, she had lost too much blood and died peacefully in my wife's arms. Ellissia never regained consciousness after the accident and the healer assures me that she was not in any pain at the time of her passing. Both my wife and I are distraught at this occurrence and beg your forgiveness, we did everything we could to keep her safe but, ultimately failed.

I pray now that she is now reunited with her dear mother and they lay together in the arms of the Creator in peace.

It was signed by a Thomas Havering; Darken recognised the name, another Red Dragon, this was too much of a coincidence. Ellie was clearly not dead, he had seen the wound in her thigh, so the description of the accident was true, but why write such a letter? As he closed it up he saw the broken seal, taking his magnifying glass again he examined it and saw that a second seal had been place over the first. It was only now, years later, that the colours in the wax had faded to slightly different shades, but it would have been barely noticeable at the time. Valmont suspected his letters were being intercepted, the coded messages and verbal reports confirmed it and this letter had been written knowing that fact. Why did his father begin to take an interest in Ellie? Then Darken remembered her story about the first time she saw a confessed person, undoubtedly someone would have reported that incident to Panis Rahl, his father always had spies about watching and listening.

The last letter was from his father Panis Rahl, this letter was different not only because it was in his own hand (father always had a clerk write his letters), but the wording of the letter was filled with warmth and kindness and not in keeping with his father's usual terse comments. In the letter he consoled Valmont on the death of his daughter, praised him for all the fine work he had done to aid the cause of D'Hara, then reluctantly, accepted Valmont's resignation. Valmont had written one word across the page. BASTARD.

Darken felt a deep shame, his father had hunted Ellie until he thought her dead and now he sought to do the same thing. By planning to capture her and drag her back to the palace, with the intent of discovering the full extent of her powers, he was no better than his father. Darken felt disgust that he had become the very person he despised the most. It made sense why Ellie was so reluctant to leave the safety of her castle and he now bitterly regretted his decision to leave her, but was too ashamed to return and beg for her forgiveness and reasoned that she was better off without him. So instead he tried to find other distractions, to take his mind away from her. They didn't work.

It was afternoon as he sat at the table staring into space, his fingers gently caressing his lips while imagining her kisses, it was something he did so frequently these days that it was becoming a habit .

"Lord Rahl… Lord Rahl?"

"Hmmm?" He looked up at a dozen faces staring at him around the table, a committee for something or other had gathered to show him their proposals.

"What do you want us to do Lord Rahl?" The faces looked hopeful. Lord Rahl had no idea what they had been talking about.

General Egremont interjected "Lord Rahl will need time to consider your proposal, thank you gentlemen, this meeting is now over."

The men got up and left. This wasn't the first time this had happened and General Egremont was becoming very adept at covering for him when he fell into these melancholy moods.

"I can outline their proposal for you later My Lord, may we dine together this evening?"

"Hmm, oh yes, of course."

Lord Rahl waved him away and lapsed back into his day dream. Egremont stared at his master for a moment; he opened his mouth as if to say something, but changed his mind and left the room.

Later that evening Egremont arrived for supper carrying some papers.

Lord Rahl, who had already started drinking, saw the papers and said "We will review the proposal after we have eaten."

As the general sat he casually remarked "I thought we could also discuss the matter of a suitable wife. I have a list you may wish to review my Lord." He placed a second document on top of the papers for the proposal.

Lord Rahl scowled, "We'll discuss that later too."

The two men ate in silence; Egremont had learned that when his master was in this mood, no amount of conversation would revive him. The food was excellent as usual though Egremont noted that his lord drank more than he ate. After the main course, they were presented with pudding, Egremont loved his puddings and this one was lemon, his favourite, he took one mouthful and the memories came flooding back and without thinking, he gave a sigh.

What's wrong? Asked Lord Rahl

"Oh, err, nothing my lord." Egremont found it unnerving how his master could go though a whole meeting without hearing a single word, but another time pick up on the slightest thing out of the ordinary.

"Then why did you sigh?" Lord Rahl demanded to know.

"Well, actually, it's the lemon pudding…."

"If you don't like it, just say so." Snapped Lord Rahl "Take it away, take it all away."

The palace servants moved with lightening efficiency to remove the offending dish from the table

"It's not that…." said Egremont desperately trying to wrestle his bowl of lemon pudding back from a very determined servant. Since Lord Rahl's return he had become a very severe, unforgiving Lord and his servants had learned very quickly that it did not do to disobey his commands. A few seconds late with something or a dropped plate were no longer met with his previous look of irritation or harsh words, instead minor misdemeanours would result in a week in the dungeons or worse, punishment by the Mord'Sith.

Egremont was beginning to win with the bowl, but the servant feared Lord Rahl more than General Egremont and in desperation grabbed a spare fork from the table and stabbed the back of Egremont hand with it, the surprise made him release his grip and the servant whisked the bowl out of his hands and out of the room before he could react. Lord Rahl had not noticed, he was busy draining his goblet of wine which was instantly replenished as soon as it was put down on the table.

"What I meant to say," Said Egremont rubbing the back of his hand "was that it is a fine lemon pudding, just not as fine as the one they served at Martello Castle." Egremont pause, it was the first time he had mentioned the place since his return and he was unsure of his lord's reaction to that name.

"Well if it is not up to your exacting standards Egremont, I shall have the cook horse-whipped."

"No don't! I mean, the cook does an excellent job and she does make a fine lemon pudding, but," Egremont paused for a moment and then speaking quite deliberately said. "It wouldn't matter how many puddings she made, or what ingredients she used, it still wouldn't be the same as the one at Martello Castle."

There was a long deathly silence in the room as Lord Rahl sat there staring into his wine, he eventually looked at Egremont and scowled. "Oh very well, if you insist, we shall pay them a visit. I can't have my finest general moping about the place for lack of a lemon pudding."

"Thank you My Lord."

"You had better make all the arrangements, we will set off at dawn tomorrow. Oh and take those away with you, we haven't got time to discuss them now." Lord Rahl waved a dismissive hand at the papers on the table and returned to his wine.

"Very good My Lord."

Egremont picked up the papers, gave a short bow and left the room. When he returned to his office, he placed the proposal on his desk, but held onto his list of suitable wives for Lord Rahl. His hand still stung and he was disappointed about not having any pudding, but it was worth it as he wasn't sure that showing his lord this list would have worked. There was only one name on it, Lady Ellissia Valmont. Egremont smiled, put the list away in a drawer and went to make the arrangements for tomorrow….