Days became weeks in the wake of Velasca's departure from Phalion, and though they were freed from being under her eye, the city only grew more tense. Word had reached them of an army heading their way, a great mass of armed men and women who seemed intent upon taking the city and citadel for their cause. Scouts reported that it seemed to be the rebels, but without confirmation of that, there was a great deal of trepidation as to what Phalion could expect when that sprawling mass of people reached them. Adare was put under closer watch, though he had insisted that messengers be sent to the approaching army to determine their intentions. The guard on the walls was increased, Rory's training was ramped up another notch or two. Everyone was on edge.

Through it all, the blood moon grew closer and closer, each day counted by those who knew what it meant. And yet, when the day came, nothing happened. Adare had spent that day torn between his duties and a sense of anxious anticipation drawn from a dull ache between his hips, wanting to see this wonderful something Rory had promised him and yet disappointed when it did not come. When night fell, he fell asleep quickly, unaware that only hours now kept him from knowing the secret that those he loved had risked their lives for on the day he was born.

As for Rory, the last few days had brought anxious anticipation, as well as a certain amount of worry. He wasn't sure how Adare was going to react to the changes, nor was he sure exactly how those changes were going to take place, but he knew whatever happened, he would remain steadfastly at Adare's side through whatever befell them, for good or ill. He had been on edge all day, not only because of the army massing outside the city, but because of his anxiety for Adare, relieved the other boy had fallen asleep so quickly and easily without pain or dread, though as for himself, sleep was an elusive mistress this night. As much as he tried, he could not sleep and eventually, he had crept from the bed that he and Adare had shared since his arrival at the citadel to sit and watch restlessly at the window while the other boy slept.

Dalan, too, had been watching anxiously all day, not sure what he was waiting for but sure he would know it when it happened. Mila had been forcibly put to bed an hour before midnight, having stayed awake the entire night before, just in case. But perhaps most unsettling was the awareness that Brother, the ghost, was very much present. He might not be visible, but he was there, watching over Adare with the rest of them.

As midnight passed and the red moon rose into the sky, Adare made a soft sound of discomfort, rolling onto his side, and something caught at his subconscious, nudging him toward wakefulness. There was something cool and sticky in the bed with him, unpleasantly slimy. Unaware of Rory's anxious vigil, he pressed a hand down between the sheets to investigate, raising it in front of his sleepy eyes, and horrified terror suddenly took hold of him. With a yell, he sat bolt upright, pushing back the covers to stare in horror at the blood that soaked the sheets.

As it so happened, sleep was just starting to make Rory's eyelids grow heavy when the yell from Adare startled him to wakefulness and he nearly fell from his perch near the window to stumble to his feet and hurry back to Adare's side. "What is it' What's wrong?" he asked the other boy, his own eyes a little bleary with sleep.

"I'm bleeding!" Adare shouted, utterly unashamed of his panic as he scrambled back from the bloodied patch of material. He raised his nightshirt to inspect himself, finding no wound, no cut, nowhere he could possibly be bleeding from ....but he was still bleeding. "What's happening?" As the panic intensified, a cold hush covered the room, and they both knew that Brother was right there with them, even as the door opened to admit Dalan. The older man took one look at the bloodied bed, and nodded to Rory before stepping smartly from the room once again. They'd discussed this beforehand - he was gone to ready the horses.

The illusion that caused Adare to appear to be a boy was starting to wear off, and while Rory had already known this would happen, seeing was far different than merely knowing. His eyes widened for a moment, heart racing with mingled excitement and concern for the brother of his heart who was really a girl. He sat down beside the boy, careful to avoid the bloody stain, and took hold of Adare's hands to wipe them clean of blood. "It's all right, Adare. This was supposed to happen. It was expected," he told him in as calm a voice as he could muster. He glanced momentarily at the door when Dalan poked his head in, returning the nod before quickly turning his attention back to Adare, well aware of the chill in the room that announced the ghost's presence. "Listen to me, Adare. We are going to leave the citadel and take you someplace safe, but you must be quiet so that we don't draw any unwanted attention. Do you understand?"

"But how is this a good thing?" Thankfully Adare had managed to moderate his tone, but he was still shaking, still panicked, his eyes wild as he looked into Rory's, pleading with his friend for a real explanation. "I'm bleeding, and I don't feel right, and that means I've got plague, and you should get away from me right now before you get it too and die!"

"You're not sick, and you don't have the plague," Rory replied, wiping the blood from Adare's hands as best he could. He lifted his head and met Adare's eyes in the darkness, his expression grave but compassionate as he held tightly to the other boy's hands. "Do you trust me, Adare" Tell me truly."

"I ..." Adare hesitated, on the verge of tears. He had never been this frightened in his life before. Everything he knew was running through his head, but what if something had gone wrong" What if the something wonderful Rory had promised him was coming had been broken somehow" What if he'd done something wrong and he was now going to bleed to death in punishment' But despite all these whirling, terrifying thoughts rushing through his mind, he held onto the reality of his dearest friend right there with him, asking him a question that he should have known the answer to. "Don't be ridiculous, of course I trust you."

Rory smiled back at his friend, a warm, reassuring smile that he hoped would instill not only trust but courage and patience in the other boy's heart. "Then trust me in this. Dalan and Mila and I will let no harm come to you. This night has been expected and planned for. We are here to protect you. I am here to protect you. There is nothing wrong with you, but....It is not my place to explain, nor is it time. You will know the truth soon enough. Until then, you must trust us to know what is best and to keep you safe. We are going to take you someplace safe, but I need you to get dressed and to keep calm. Can you do that?"

If Adare took a moment, he might notice that Rory was already dressed, already packed, already ready to go at a moment's notice. He had laid out clothes for Adare and packed what belongings he might need for the trip ahead. All was prepared in advance. Adare needed only to trust those who had cared for him all these years and place his life and safekeeping in their hands. "I swear to you on my father's grave that no harm will come to you."

Rory nodded, as if to silently assure Dalan - not for the first time - that he wouldn't let him down, that he wouldn't let Adare down. He had sworn to protect Adare's life with his own, and he would honor that vow to the death, if need be. Rory waited for Adare to say his goodbyes. If all went well, it wouldn't be long before they saw each other again, though Dalan would not know what to expect.

"Look after them for me, Dalan," Adare managed, his first thought always for the people of Phalion above himself, even when he was gripped with terror about his own immediate future. Dalan nodded, stepping back to let the boys ride on toward the west gate and out into the night, confident that they would not be challenged.

Rory was glad now that Adare had made a connection with his mare, and that the mare wasn't spooked by the prince or by the unusual circumstances surrounding their ride. They were relying on the horses to take them where they needed to go, and time was of the essence. Rory wanted to have Adare safely with Kari well before morning arose. As soon as Dalan and Adare had said their goodbye, Rory nudged his own mare to motion, leading the way toward the west gate and the northern road beyond.

Quite how Dalan had managed it was anyone's guess, but no one came out of the gate house to challenge them as they passed from the city and onto the road that led north toward the border. As the woods began to gather in around them, Adare looked back over his shoulder, deathly afraid that he was never going to see the city he loved so well again. It felt as though he were leaving a part of himself behind, a part that belonged here in the north of Arctra, in the citadel where his parents had lived and died.

In a way, Adare was right. He was leaving a part of himself behind, or would be soon, but it was a part that was not truly him, and in place of that part, he would find the truth of his very own existence. No words passed between the pair of boys as they passed through the gate and onto the road, as if they were afraid their voices might attract the wrong kind of attention. They rode on in silent for a while, until the citadel was behind them and a dark wood lie ahead.

Ill at ease, Adare nudged his mare closer to Rory's as the night began to close in on them, not daring to look up at the full moon that shone down, tinged with red. Brother was keeping his distance for the moment, no doubt to keep Adare from being thrown by a terrified horse, but he was still out there. "How far?" the prince whispered uncertainly.

Rory was about to answer that question, when a pair of cloaked figures emerged from the wood directly in their path. They were on foot, rather than on horseback and appeared to pose no threat, though they could not be too sure.

Adare tensed as the figures stepped out onto the road, worried that perhaps this wasn't part of the plan at all. He glanced uncertainly toward Rory, and Brother suddenly struck, coalescing into solid form as he charged at the newcomers. The smaller of the pair stepped forward and threw back her hood, speaking a single word in the old speech of Arctra, and Brother halted abruptly, kept from doing harm by something in that word. She looked to her companion to speak for them, focused on the ghost with wary sympathy.

The taller of the pair started at the sudden appearance of the ghost, startled and even afraid, but as soon as his companion had the ghost under control, he, too, stepped forward, arms spread wide open, palms up to indicate he was bearing no weapons and meant no harm. He pulled back his own hood to reveal a face that was unknown to either of the young riders, but appeared non-threatening. "It's all right. Don't be afraid. We are kin of Kari's and have come to take you to her. You have my word by Thalan and the moon that you are safe with us."

The man turned his attention to the smaller of the two boys, recognizing him as the prince. After all, Conall had been raised in Phalion and had seen the prince often, if only from a distance. "My Prince," he greeted the boy, offering a respectful bow. "My name is Conall. This is my..." He paused a moment as if searching for the right word, choosing to use the common tongue so that he would be understood. "This is my wife, Liayna. She is Kari's granddaughter. But come, it is dangerous on the road, and Kari is not far," he added quickly.

It was only Rory's presence that kept the horses from throwing both boys when Brother made his appearance, both mares obedient to the horse-master's will despite their panicked discomfort. Adare jumped when he was addressed directly, tearing his eyes from the intriguing sight of his ghost brother being held at bay by what was obviously a nomad woman. He looked down at Conall, curiosity warring with wariness in his eyes. "My brother will kill you both if you are lying to us," he warned the strangers, glancing one last time to Rory before moving to dismount, silently calling Brother off. The ghost snarled at them all and dissipated from view, but did not leave, lingering in the cold air.

Liayna smiled, impressed by the control the young prince had, and turned her attention to the squire Shaye had told them off. "Shaye Dervla sends her greetings, Rory Brennan," she told him warmly, gesturing for him to join his prince on foot. "And promises to kill me herself if I hurt you." This was delivered with a faint chuckle.

"Well," started Conall, smiling a little at the prince's bravery. "It is well we are telling the truth then." He glanced at the sky, frowning to see that the night was growing short. They could not chance lingering much longer on the road. He was only mildly relieved when the ghost disappeared from view, though he could still feel the chill of his presence hovering nearby. He quieted, letting his companion join him in greeting the pair, his eyes shifting to take in the squire, whom Shaye had told them about. "You made a good impression on the First Blade, it seems," he added, moving forward to help with the horses.

Rory arched a brow when the woman greeted him by name, surprised at what the First Blade had said about him. "You know Shaye?" he asked, unable to contain his excitement. "Did she find the rebel camp then" Is she well" Are you of the rebels, too?" he added.

"She is well, she is married, and she is with the army that is less than a day away," Liayna told him with a chuckle, turning to guide their little group onto the game trail that would take them to Kari's campsite.

Adare was not quite so ready and eager to trust these unknown people, but he trusted Rory. Besides, he had Brother with him, and he had to know what was going on. The dull ache between his hips was back, making him feel just a little nauseated on top of everything else, as well as aware of the gathering stickiness between his legs. "How far is it?" he asked uncomfortably.

Rory found his own face wet with tears, moved by Adare's pain and confusion - years spent in darkness and ignorance of who he really was, of his true nature. He deferred to Kari, privately berating himself for being foolhardy and brash and stupid while still trying to give Adare what he needed from him - friendship, comfort, acceptance, understanding, and most importantly, love. He sniffled aloud as he, too, lifted his head, making no effort to hide the tears from Adare that he wept for them both. "Let her show you the truth, Adare, and everything will become clear."

"Come, vipsana." Kari invited them all to the large stone bowl she stood beside. It had been filled with water that rippled in the red light of the moon.

Holding onto Rory's hand, Adare approached slowly, aware of Brother on his other side, each of them as curious as the other, for differing reasons.

Kari nodded to them, passing her hand over the rippling water. "You watch," she told them. "Goddess show."

As the boys watched, two living, and one dead, the water grew clouded, seeming to draw something in from the world around them, and slowly images began to form. Images of Phalion, sixteen years ago, under siege and greatly damaged. Images of Dalan and Mila hurrying through the halls of the citadel, up the steps to the tower that now stood burned out and abandoned when it was richly decorated and in use. Images of Kari, kneeling at the foot of a wide bed on which labored a woman who could only be Princess Ariana, watched over by her husband, the handsome Lord Farus. Gradually, the events of that night unfolded in the water - the shaking of the tower, the birthing of a living girl child, the angry argument that followed. The birth of the boy child, and the stopping of his first breath. The earth magic worked upon the two babes to hide the girl in the guise of her brother, to convince the Usurper that same girl was dead. The death of Princess Ariana, the taking of the citadel, the burning of Lord Farus. The passing of years as Adare grew from child to boy, to young man, never knowing the truth of what he was.

As the images faded finally, Adare slumped down onto his knees, his gaze seeking that of his ghostly brother. "Is it true?" he asked, his voice shaken but level.

The ghost nodded, for the first time showing some form of empathy for the struggle his living twin must be feeling. "Every moment," he whispered in the darkness. "I was not allowed to live, so that you might restore the balance ....sister."

A cold hand touched Adare's cheek, and the young prince suddenly realized the truth of his bleeding, of his pains. "The blood moon," he said quietly. "Moon blood. Why am I bleeding now?"

Kari raised her eyes from the water to answer that, some touch of the Goddess allowing her to speak eloquently for just these few moments. "The spell is nearly ended, vipsana," she said gently. "Tonight, your spirit must be unbound from your brother, or you will both be destroyed. I will do that for you. But the breaking of the spell must be done by you. On the day of the hidden sun, eight days from now, you must cut open the scar on your breast and remove the bone. Your disguise will be over, gone, and you will take your true form for all to see. It must be witnessed, and you must visit the Pythia when you can. And your brother will find his peace, in his own time."

Rory watched it all, tears on his face, seeing with his own eyes that which had already been told to him in so many words, his heart breaking, not only for the boy he had grown to love, but for all those who had been touched by the tragedy of that day and the malevolence of Velasca. He wept mostly for the brother and sister whose lives had been forever changed by the events of a single night, but also for himself, unsure of his own place in the larger scheme of things. He remained silent now, letting Kari explain, a silent witness to the unveiling of a secret that had weighed heavily on his heart, and on the hearts of all who'd known.

"Free me," the ghost hissed. "Her pain ....I feel her pain. I do not love, but she does. It burns!"

Kari nodded, understanding the torment of the dead feeling the living's emotions. She extended a hand to Adare. "Come, vipsana, let me break the bond of your spirits," she said, aware that the disguised princess was numb now with the truth.

Adare barely reacted, simply rising to his feet as she directed. Brother stood beside him, twins side by side, identical in so many ways on the outside. As Kari chanted, a blue nimbus began to glow about them both, linked one to another by a single thread of that brightness. The Wild One took that thread between her gnarled hands and broke it - such a simple action for such an important moment. In the instant the thread broke, Brother roared with triumph. And Adare ....Adare convulsed, collapsing in a dead faint as the shock of that loss jolted through every part of him.

Rory looked on silently, almost feeling like an intruder, an outsider, witnessing something that was so personal to the pair before him that he wondered if he should be there at all. He looked on in wonder and shock as the old gnarled woman worked what seemed to him to be magic, separating the twin souls once and for all, it seemed, as numb and unmoving as Adare until the prince crumpled to the ground and Rory cried out in horror. He hurried to Adare's side, dropping onto his knees, and gathering the other boy up in his arms, fresh tears filling his eyes. "Adare! Adare!" he called, terrified for the other's life.

Brother's triumphant howl had brought Liayna running from where the horses were tethered, bursting through the brush in time to see the ghost whisk away without a second thought. She saw her grandmother drop down onto her knee heavily, alive but weary, and the boy, Rory, cradling the hidden princess in his arms. "Easy, Rory," she called out, moving to his side. "Be gentle." Taking one of his hands, she laid his two fingers against the steady pulse in Adare's throat. "You can feel that. He isn't dead. He's just sleeping."

Conall was not far behind, leaving the two boys in Liayna's care while he went to tend to Kari. He gently helped her to her feet, taking her weight as he led her to a fallen log where she could sit and rest.

Rory looked up at Liayna with tearful eyes, no longer hiding the pain he was feeling, the grief and confusion and fear for his friend. "He....he....Everyone keeps calling him he, but he's not a he at all, and I don't even know her real name."

"Because, for now, it is only safe to be a he," Liayna tried to explain gently. She eased herself down beside Rory, making no move to take his arms from around the unconscious Adare. "In eight days, this disguise will be taken off forever," she said gently, curling her arm around the boy's shoulders as she spoke. "But there must be no suspicion in anyone's mind. He must be as he appears until that moment. If anyone doubts, if anyone hears us speak of a princess, or mention a she before that time ....there will always be doubt. Arctra cannot afford that."

"But..." Rory started as he looked up at Liayna, his heart feeling like it was breaking as he held tight to Adare, who was not really Adare at all. "I love her," he admitted for the very first time to someone who was not the princess in disguise.

"Good." It was a simple answer, but then, Liayna was a simple woman. "She and he, they are the same. It is only what others will see that will change. Your aera needs you, Rory. There will be much confusion in the days to come, even before she sees her true face. You must become a rock, an anchor, something to cling to that never changes, never moves. Someone who is always there, through everything that happens. Can you do that?"

He heard what Liayna was telling him, understanding most of it, swallowing the lump of tears that was clogging his throat so he could speak. "But....What if she doesn't love me in return" I don't know if I can bear it. I don't know if I can be strong enough. I promised....I promised to protect him....her....What if I fail?"