A couple days had gone by since her return from her mission. She was slowly getting better, but it was taking Parker time due to the magical protections that usually kept Aja from harm.

Removing the protections couldn't be done, they were inherent to who she was. She was born with them. Even with Anya's help, there was very little in the way of progress. She'd have to heal on her own. A fact that fustrated Aja because she couldn't just get up and go like she wanted. For someone who spent her normal days running between projects, it was practically torture.

The farthest anyone was willing to let her travel while injured was to her office. Not that she just stayed there, she'd make her escapes via her many inlaid secret tunnels and passageways to other parts of the city.

At the present moment, Aja was at her desk looking a pile of papers that had built up during the days she was gone, which she was lucky Padriq hadn't tried to tie her to it. After the mission and the following battle in the harbor, he'd been checking in on her every hour practically. Her injuries had put a look in his eyes that hadn't faded yet. every wince she made, she swore she heard him hold his breath.

Parker, she knew, had told Padriq and Rico about the magically enhance weapon that had been so damaging to her protective wards. Not that she faulted Parker for telling them, she just hated to make them worry.

Rico had never even gave it a second thought before, Aja had always come through battles with very little damage. Padriq, who had no such prior experience with how many battles she had endured before, worried on a different level.

Aja turn to look out the window that overlooked the slips. she sighed seeing the Breeze in a repair slip. Her baby, injured. It was killing her that she wasn't down there doing the repairs herself. She couldn't think of a time she wasn't able to.

Her phone rang and she answered it without seeing who was calling. "Yeah?"

"Why in the hell am I getting a call from Padriq that you have been injured instead of one from you?" Ajay shouted over the line making Aja cringe.

"You just put a lid on that yelling thing." Aja shouted back then winced as she had turned too fast turning her leg in an awkward fashion. "I can hang up on you."

"You wouldn't dare."

"I would." she retorted solemnly.

"The question remains, why is it Padriq that has told me about it?"

"Cause unlike Padriq, I saw no reason to get you all worked up when no one was going to die." Aja hit the speakerphone button and put the handset down. "I'll be fine."

"Aja.."

"Ajay." her tone cautioned him.

"Didn't it cross your mind to call me and at least let me know you were doing something that could cause you to get hurt?"

"It did." she said. "But since I wanted very few people in on what I was doing," she explained. "I kept the need to know list small."

"This changes what I was going to ask you to do."

"What the heck does that mean?"

"I have a friend, who has a daughter." he started. "There have been several attempts on her life."

"Attempts on her life or someone trying to take her to use her for leverage?" Aja asked figuring that it was a royal someone that Ajay was referring to.

"Likely the second."

"What did you need?"

"I sent them to Arcadia." Ajay explained. "For you to look after her."

"Aye." Aja sighed. "I can do that for you."

"Not while you're injured."

"I have trained guards, Ajay." Aja sighed. "I wasn't speaking of me looking after the little urchin."

"She's a teenager. I thought perhaps I could have Mara spend time with her here, but I didn't want to put Mara in a position like that."

"I'd have beat ya ta a pulp if ya had." Aja replied. Injured or not, she would've come unglued and gone head to head with her brother if Mara came within an inch of danger under his care. "So they'll come. They'll be looked after."

"I can't possibly..."

"Ajay, I'm injured. Not broken." she said sensing what he was going to say. "I have guards. I have wards and I have a large house she can stay in with Maria watchin her like a hawk."

"They should be arriving soon."

"By ship?" she questioned gathering information now.

"Yes."

"Escorted?"

"Yes."

"Hells bells, Ajay." Aja sighed thinking that sometimes for a smart guy, he wasn't always the brightest crayon in the box. "Just put a big sign on that ship with the words "Target here" on it." she rubbed at her head. "How was I supposed to know?" "Ya don't. Yer a king. That's what you know. This other stuff is more my area." Aja thought for a moment. She couldn't do it herself right now, not in her condition. She thought of Tristan then shook her head. He was just getting back to having a normal life.

Calix. He might be interested in guard duty. Aja knew he had a sense of humor, but a take no crap attitude. He'd be perfect for this. "I know a guy. I'll speak to him about being the kids shadow. In the meantime, I'm sending my own escort ship to intercept. Contact them and let them know." "I will." "Ajay, warn them it's a sub coming to greet them." "A what?!" "A submarine." Aja stated clearly for him. "Whoever is hunting this kid can't find what it can't see." she said simply while she fumbled with her phone. She sent a text message to Calix. ~Cal. Got a job for you.~

"Where did you get a submarine from?" Ajay was asking her while she read over the return text from Cal. "I built one, Ajay." she answered him while texting Cal back. ~I need you to protect a girl. Several attempts to kidnap her. Getting details on arrival time now. She's probably a brat. No. You can't shoot her for it. :) Interested"~ "You built a submarine?" "Yes. I built a submarine." Aja sent the message off to Cal. "I do a lot of things. Get past that, get on the phone and get the message to the ship. Right after you send me the info on the ship bringing her here so I can get things rolling."

"You're so bossy." Ajay tried kidding around with her now. Probably to make up for earlier. "You gave me a job to do." Aja said simply while answering Cal. "It'll get done right. Get me that info quick Ajay, as soon as I hang up this phone, I'm rolling the sub. I need their current location. The second they send that message, they make themselves more vulnerable." ~Sending sub to intercept ship. Will text you when they are on return to Arcadia.~ "Ok." Ajay said then paused. "About earlier..." "I get it, J. We're good. And I love you for being worried." Aja said. "Promise I'll come see you soon. Let you fuss at me about it." she grinned. "Play big overprotective brother and all that." Ajay laughed then. "I'm holding you to that." "I have no doubts." Aja smiled. "Love you." "Love you too." he returned then hung up. As promised, Aja contacted the sub captain and told him to get on the move to intercept a vessel likely coming from Ballentine area.

Aja got Cal's message and thought for a moment about what he would need to do the job. He had his own place, but she didn't think he'd want a stranger in it. ~Make a list of what you need. Safe house, weapons, supplies. I'll make sure you have them. I'm in the office in the meantime. ~

Aja read the text from Cal with a smile. 'Well, he's stubborn. That's always a handy trait when dealing with a teenager.' she thought with a smirk. 'And his own stash of weapons is handy.' She thought over several locations near and around Arcadia that had cabins, or homes on them. If it were her, she'd want to be at a place hidden with a good line of sight to anyone approaching. The woodland area. A while ago, on a whim, she had built a house in the trees, just to see if it could be done. Much like her Avalon treehouse hideaway, but this one was made for people to live in. With an elevator hidden inside a large tree, and the lower branches of the surrounding trees hiding its location to anyone below. It took her a moment to figure out how to send Cal the location map through the phone. But she got it and sent that off to him for him to check out and ok or not. It was his job, he needed to be secure with the location as Aja herself would have to be with anyone sending her a previously unseen location. ~Map sent of safe house. Check it out. I'll get together the supplies for you. Food, entertainment and etc. Pick them up if you're good with the location. You and I will be the only two knowing where you are going.~

Aja got the location of the ship, who it was that they were to protect and sent that along to the sub, with instructions to blow any ship that looked like it was following the escort and the main vessel out of the water if need be. The sub captain confirmed that he had gotten the coordinations and orders. He also said he would send another message once he had the girl aboard. Now all she had to do was wait. Ajay sent her name, and all the particulars. Aja put that together in a dossier for Cal. Britney Radcliff. Princess. She looked up what she could in her files, she knew the Radcliff family fairly well. Britney's mother was Sophia, a beautiful woman, but fairly clueless about how to do much of anything except be a queen. Her daughter was likely to be the same. Pretty, but clueless. Aja smiled thinking of Cal dealing with the youngest Radcliff. The young lady had been a spoiled child, she was likely now a spoiled teenage.

Arcadia was protected, so it was unlikely he'd ever have to deal with anyone finding the woodland house, but she wouldn't put it past Britney trying to slip out and contacting people back home. Aja called upon Sue to put together a list of items to be gotten and put on one of the ATVs. Once it was all put together, she text Cal just as she got word that the sub would return inside two hours. ~Got your supplies. Come pick up the ATV. There's a hidden underground shed for its storage. Forty paces straight on from the elevator entrance. The elevator can access that level.~

When the submarine finally surfaced in its slip, Aja was waiting nearby. The hatch came open and the crew and her passengers disembarked. The "them' Ajay had spoke of consisted of an advisor from the Radcliff court and the Princess herself. Aja greeted them at the docks. "Princess Aja." the advisor gave a bow and it was all Aja could do not to snort giggle, then smack him. It sounded so insanely crazy for anyone to greet her like that, especially given how she was dressed. "I am Archibald Hughes, at your service." "Just Aja will do fine, Archie. We're pretty informal here. This is Britney, I assume." She motioned to the bored looking girl behind him playing with a phone. The blond haired, blue eyed teenager stood a little under five foot five and dressed as you'd expect a royal to dress to go horseback riding. At least they were smart enough not to put the girl in a big poofy dress and corset. "This is Princess Britney, yes." "Britney." Aja spoke the girl's name and got no response. Aja waited a second longer before snatching the phone and tossing it into the harbor. "No more of that. I know they can track that signal." ?" "Hey!" Britney protested. "That was my phone!" "And now, it's a fish toy." Aja replied and turned to move. "Come with me." "You will get me another phone this instant." Britney stomped her foot on the dock, making Aja stop in her tracks to look at the teenager. "Princess Britney..." Archibald started in a placating tone, but Aja stepped in. "Archie. I'm sending ya ta da spa. Ya get a little vacation. I'll be lookin after Britney here." Aja motioned for her boys. "Go with them. They'll get ya settled." "I couldn't possibly." "Ya can." Aja pushed him along. "Now scoot." she shooed him along with her hand and the guys led Archie away leaving Britney with Aja, who was staring daggers at Aja's head. "And you. Come with me." "Not until you get me another phone." "Alright." Aja sighed. "Da hard way it is." Aja motioned to her boys and pointed at Britney. "Take her to my office please. Try not to hurt her too much." then Aja pointed to the bags. "And y"all make sure her things are free of any electronics and put them in my truck. Warren stepped over, and swept Britney up in a fireman's carry and started for Aja's office with Britney screaming and yelling the whole way. "You put me down! I command you! My father will hear of this and you'll be locked in the dungeon! Put me down!!!" "Oy." Aja rubbed her head and finally shouted over Britney, using her Captain's voice "Enough!" Britney went silent then. "Kid, all the yellin in da world ain't gonna do crap for you. No one here knows yer daddy nor do they care." That seem to grab the girls attention and she went board stiff. Warren deposited her into a chair in Aja's office then waited by the door. Aja took her chair and stared at Britney who was slowly catching on to the idea that no one here was on her side. "Now. You were sent here for me to watch over you cause someone is trying to extort something from your father and they have mentioned kidnapping you to get it." she stared at Britney seriously then who was starting to look alarmed. "And believe me, kid. They wouldn't be as nice as me either. Ya'd be black and blue within two minutes." "Aja let that sink into Britney's head for a moment before speaking again. She motioned for Warren to leave them. He gave a nod and did as he was silently ordered to do. "Now. While yer here, ya will do as yer told. Ya will behave yerself. There will be no phone, no computer, no contact with anyone back home. Ya will have books fer school lessons to keep ya occupied." "You can't do this!" Britney stood up and tried looking down her nose at Aja who was already in no mood to deal with snotty kids, her arm hurt today. She drew her BB pistol and shot Britney in the leg. "Wanna bet?" Aja put the BB gun down on the desk and watched as Britney screamed, then hopped around. "I can't believe you did that!" Britney screamed at her. "And I'll do it again if ya don't set yer arse back in dat chair." Aja pointed to the chair sternly and waited. Britney looked at Aja for a long moment then plopped back into the chair. "Better." Aja cleared her throat. "Now. As I was sayin." Aja stared at Britney. "There will be no arguments, no whining, no tantrums." Britney opened her mouth to speak and Aja held up her finger. "No. No negotiation. It's my way or .." Aja paused. "Actually. It's jist my way." "Aja got up and went around the desk to look at Britney more seriously. "Someone is hunting you. You want ta stay alive?" she asked the girl seriously and Britney nodded. "Then do as yer told." Aja got up and started for the door. "Come with me now, and don't play around or the next time I shoot you, it ain't gonna be with a BB gun." Aja paused by the door and waited. She didn't have to wait long for Britney to come with her. "Now. I'm sorry for having to be so harsh. But, you left me little choice." "Who are you anyway?" Britney asked as she watched Aja as she moved slowly down the stairs. Surely, this woman wasn't what she was told. On the way over, she was told about the Princess of Ballentine, who would be looking after her. Her expectations of the woman were nothing like what she had so far seen. The weapons that this woman carried didn't scream princess and she was surrounded by men that did as she ordered even if she hadn't spoken a word. Britney had seen the looks on the mens faces, it was similar to the way the men in her father's guard unit would look at him. They would lay their lives down for her father. These men, would no doubt, do that for her. "Are you a mercenary for hire" I thought you were supposed to be a Princess." "I am." Aja replied lightly as she moved for the front door. "I am also I a pirate." she paused at the door and looked back at Britney. "A business woman. A mother." "You have kids?" Britney sounded doubtful. "Alive?" "Yes." Aja smirked as they walked towards Aja's truck. "Get in." Britney did as she was told, mostly out of curiousity. Rico came running to the truck then in a panic. If she left here without telling people, Padriq was going to go crazy. Rico didn't relish having to tell the man he had no idea where his fiance was. Again. The last time, he nearly tore up the town looking for her. "Aja!" he came to the driver's side door, as she started the engine and paused seeing Britney with her. "Who the hell is that?" "Never you mind, Ricks." she said looking at him evenly. "I'll be back in a little bit. Ya keep yer panties on and don't mention this ta anyone or I swear ta Zeus, I'll feed yer arse ta da sharks." she put the truck into gear. "And take away yer tacos." she gave him a wink and drove away, leaving him in shock. " "Who was that guy?" Britney asked as she turned to watch Rico through the back window. "My First Mate." "He's cute." "Yeah." Aja chuckled as she drove through town quickly heading towards the wooded area. "A lot of da ladies think so too." "Where are we going?" "Somewhere safe." Aja said as she turned the truck off the roadway to a path that had been used during the construction of her treehouse, but not much since then. Luckily, "Aja knew it by heart. "Cal is going to be looking out for you. And if ya think I'm cranky, wait till ya pull that snobby princess crap on him." Aja glanced over. "I don't recommend it." "Why are you helping my family?" Britney allowed herself to ask. No one did anything for her family without wanting something. "Is it for money?" "No." Aja answered as she drove them along. "My brother asked me to." "That's it?" "Yeah. That's it." Aja glanced over to Britney who seemed to be thinking that over. "No one does something for my family without wanting something." "Perhaps." Aja tilted her head slightly. "I can only tell you that I have no need of money, or power or any other sort of deal." "So. Your brother asks you to protect me, and you just say yes?" "Yep." Aja's tone was light but serious. She'd answer the girls questions the same as she'd answer Mara's. Honestly. She glanced over again and could see that Britney was having a hard time of grasping the concept. " "Are you stupid?" "No." Aja smiled at her. "Are you?" "No." Britney said quickly. "Alright then." "You were supposed to just be a princess." Britney said quietly. "Ya can spend yer life in dat big fancy castle, jist being a princess. Never learning anything but that life." Aja looked over. "But I never had any use fer bein stupid. Ya can take da opportunity yer being given here, ta learn something new. Be more than who you are, more than they expect." "Like what?" "Maybe you could learn how to defend yourself." Aja talked as she drove. "If ya behave, maybe Cal will be inclined to teach that to you something." Aja stopped the truck outside the safe house and honked the horn. She got out of the truck and waited for Cal to appear. Britney got out, looking around with a wrinkled nose. Likely not loving the idea of being way in the middle of the woods. "Am I going to have to sleep in a tent!?" Britney scoffed as she looked around at ground level. Aja just smiled. "That could be arranged." annoying an already spoiled to death teenager even more than they already were was amusing entertainment. "Are you kidding me!?" Britney screeched. A princess sleeping in a tent?! She had to be kidding.

Calix would let Britney get used to being in a new place for now, as he knew this had to be a lot on her. New place and new people that were different that what she was used to, and the moment she arrived. She was whisked away with some guy that she didn't know and told to listen to him. "Britney' If you need something to eat. Just let me know. I know this is all rather strange and sudden to you. Being away from home with people that you do not know, but you can relax. Neither Aja or me will let anything happen to you."

Britney looked up at him and nodded. "So. You work for her too?"

He nodded lightly to that. "I do, but this is a job she asked me personally to take." Moving to look out the window a moment, then back to her. "We will be staying inside, so not to be spotted by others. No one else knows that you are here and both of us want to keep it that way. For your own safety."

Britney seemed to consider that for a moment, as she watched Cal move around the room. "Did you build this place?"

"No." Looking back out the window.

She nodded again watching him carefully. "It's a nice place for being up in a tree."

He chuckled to that. "Aja was the one that had this place built, and it is a nice place." Looking to her again. "You hungry?" Brows rose a touch.

"A little." she admitted. "Please tell me you have other stuff than what palace cooks usually serve." she sighed. "Daddy likes all the fancy food. I think most of it looks like baby poo."

There was a pause as he just blinked to her words, then just laughed softly as a smile crossed his lips. "You wait there. I'll be back in a few minutes." Turning on a heel to head for the kitchen.

"Ok.? she picked up a magazine then and started to read. She was starting to think that maybe being away from the palace wouldn't be so bad after all.

Still a bit amused to her choice of words about palace food, as he started to whip her up a nice home cooked meal. Real food, not that fancy stuff. A down home cooked meal seemed to be the way to go.

With Cal in charge of Britney's protection, the royal family had been free to handle their enemies as they saw fit.

Aja was kept apprised of the situation, she'd offer advice every now and again, but for the most part was content to allow them to handle it as they felt they needed to.

Strangers came to town, which Aja kept an eye on. They merely turned out to be more from RhyDin City looking for a place to escape the mayhem.

A month went by, Aja would covertly check up on Britney. Cal knew she came by, but said nothing to alert the young princess to that fact.

When it came time for the princess to return to her homeland, she was a much different young lady than the one that had arrived on Arcadian shores. A self defense teacher had been contacted and he would be continuing Britney's education in that area.

Cal had said his goodbyes at the forrest house. Aja stood on the docks, watching the Princess and Archie board the ship for home. Britney stood at the rail, she and Aja looked at each other, a silent communication between the two.

Aja gave her a warm smile and a nod. Britney returned that smile. When the ship set off, Britney gave her a wave and blew her a kiss, one that Aja smiled at. It was all the thanks she needed.

As she walked from the docks to return to her office, she knew that one more life had been changed from time spent in Arcadia. Somewhere in the back of her mind, Aja knew Tanner would be pleased.