The Story:
In the Kitchens

"Cor is the Emperor?" Kauria repeated incredulously. "And I thought-"

Gedry nodded. "It's just an act so people never know his true identity. Of course, Cor is still essentially himself... he's still Lt. Henison of old.... but he's got Torrel inside him. That's how he's lived so long."

They talked in hushed whispers, but the hall was as empty as ever.

"And you know this because you're his agent? He actually told you?"

"Not directly... but there's a reason I'm a spy." He smiled, and Kauria didn't think to ask any further.

They stopped talking a long moment. Kauria wondered exactly how long they had been in the locked room. She could vaguely sense two guards outside the door, who she thought felt sleepy. There was no windows, so she didn't know how late it was.

Gedry abruptly sttod from his chair, and began walking up and down the length of the table. "I wonder why Torrel's doing this," he thought outloud. "What's with the waiting?" He cast a brief smile at her. "Not that I want our time together to end, dear one, but I've been here for hours before you came...."

She nodded absently, not sure what else to do. "There's no way out?" she asked again.

"None."

There had to be a way, Kauria thought determinedly. The sudden image of a cart's wheel appeared. She quickly left her chair, walking back to the door.

Gedry stopped his pacing. "What are you doing?" he asked midly, slowly joining her.

"I'm examing the door," she answered, peering at its side. "If I can find the hinge, maybe I can loosen the bolts with my skills."

"That's my Kauria!" Gedry exclaimed with new hope. "I wouldn't have thought of that, but then, I don't have Magic like you. Wait... what's wrong?"

"You might not have thought of it," she dejectedly answered,"but the Emperor did..." Kauria backed away from the door. "I can't find them. They have to be on the outside... where I can't see them."

"And you have to see them, right?"

"I don't know how to do it anyother way. It's all still new to me..."

"Evidently," Gedry sighed, "we're just going to have to wait."

Rhillan was even less used to seeing Dark Stars than Lady Miraussa. The kitchen was eerily silent as each Dark Star mindlessly did the tasks they were assigned, like some bug in a hive. They hardly paid any notice to Rhillan and Miraussa.

He navigated his way through the kitchen, picking up food and drink while Miraussa began to search each of the drawers. Miraussa was like that; she always was thinking about the future, such as reminding him to stash enough food for Kauria when they found her.

"Ah-ha!" she exclaimed suddenly and held up shining objects: some small spits and picks.

"What do you need those for?" Rhillan asked.

Miraussa shook her head impatiently. "Kauria is going to be locked up, and I want to have a backup plan in case there's no convenient set of keys hanging nearby. That means lock picking. I'm not going to try using my Magic again, that's for sure!"

Rhillan grinned. "You've been traveling with traders too long, Mira. You're becoming a pick." She smiled back, but the moments of levity were short as a sudden commotion was heard outside the kitchen.

"Quickly!" Miraussa hissed at Rhillan. "There- in that pantry!" The two dropped what they were doing and rushed into the open pantry, but there wasn't enough room inside for both of them.

"One of has to stay out there," Rhillan interjected.

"I'll go," Mira offered and slipped out of the pantry before he could stop her. "I've been watching the Dark Stars more- I have a hiding place in mind. Now close those doors!"

She forced the doors shut on him and heard them lock shut. She searched the room for another hiding place. The doors to the kitchen opened and she ducked behind a table, hiding behind several of the mindless Dark Stars stirring a form of gruel.

Two men entered the room; one was tall while the other was dark-skinned and haired.

"Can you believe they assigned us to watch a gir;?" the dark haired one was saying. Miraussa could catch a few glimpses of them as they entered the room, but daren't move from her precarious hiding place. "They're acting all high-and-mighty over capturing a mere village girl."

"I wouldn't talk like that," the tall one said nervously. "They have ways of knowing... and there's the other fellow two, the quiet one."

"Oh, forget them! Now let's get something to eat." The dark-haired man pushed aside a few Dark Stars standing in his way, cursing at them. "Stupid things, only do what the Emperor says and no one else! Move out of my way!"

Mira surmised the dark one was the superior of the two; the tall guard was apprehensive and edgy in comparison.

"Besides," the dark one continued, "there's no way out of that place except the door; checked it myself. And you've seen the special modifications the Emperor made to it." He grabbed a two bowls of gruel, shoving one toward the tall guard. "Wonder what's the fuss over some commoner like her. Hey, find some spoons, would ya?"

The tall man started circling the tables, steadily approaching Miraussa. If he came too close, he might see her...

"They say she has special powers, Ferrin," the tall one reminded him. "And something about the other one makes me feel uneasy."

"Special powers indeed," Ferrin scoffed at the idea. I'd like to she her try to escape. That door was specially installed by the Emperor; not even that spy could open it."

"Is he a prisoner, then?" his companion asked. "I wasn't sure."

Miraussa held her breath; the tall man was only a few feet away from where she crouched. One move and...

"Hey!" the tall man shouted. "I found them!"

Miraussa froze.

The tall man held up a couple of spoons. She relaxed.

"Great," Ferrin grinned. "Let's go then, Jorr; these Dark Stars are giving me the creeps."

"What about Harris and Berni?" Jorr asked. "We said we'd bring them something."

"You can go back if you want, but I'm going to bed. It's been a hard night and having to deal with Cor didn't make it any better." Ferrin snatched a spoon and started on his way.

Jorr sighed disparagingly. "All right. But only because I don't feel like walking all the way back to those old rooms. I understand why they were once blocked off: too far away from anywhere useful!"

Miraussa slowly let out a breath as the two men left the kitchens. She waited until the only steps she could hear where those of the Dark Stars, then sprang to the pantry, unlocking the door for Rhillan, who was stiff after being crammed inside.

"Did you hear that, Rhillan?" she anxiously asked. "Kauria's being held in the old part of the palace! There's hope yet."

"I told you she was," Rhillan teased, but secretly wondered who the "other one" was. He flexed out a few cramped muscles. "Now, let's get moving before anymore off- duty guards get hungry."