ONE

Mare stumbles into the room. I fix her with a glare, and tuck Maven under my arm.

"You will kneel." Elara murmurs, I'm tempted to scoff, the rat would never.

"I will not." She says looking up. My face twists into disgust and I turn my head to look at cal, he's the picture of calm, ever the prince.

"Do you enjoy your cell, girl?" My father says. Just get on with it I think to myself.

"What do you want from me?" She asks. At least someone has incentive. Elara leans down next to him.

"I told she's read through and through-" My father waves her off, she stands back up pursing her lips trying to hid her annoyance. Good.

"What I want concerning you is impossible." My father snaps.

"Well I'm not sorry you can't kill me." my father chuckles.

"They didn't say you were quick." My father throws a stack of papers in front of her, There everything on her, parents, date, blood type, criminal record, everything. My father recites the information on the top sheet "Mare Molly Barrow, born November seventh, 302 of the New Era, to Daniel and Ruth Barrow." He lists her offense and a bunch of other crap that I'm not interested in. Finally they something worth hearing. "And yet," He says getting up, "You are also something else. Something I cannot fathom. You are red and silver both, a peculiarity with deadly consequences you cannot understand. So what am I to do with you?" It takes he a moment to realize he's talking to her, asking her.

"You could let me go. I wouldn't say a word." Elara's sharp laughter cuts into the conversation.

"And what about the high houses? Will they keep silent as well? Will they forget the little lightning girl in a red uniform?" Mare doesn't say anything. "You know my advice Tiberias," she adds to my father, "and it will solve both our problems." Cal clenches his fist. He cares for the brat! I realize. Mare must have noticed the motion because she looks at him, they lock eyes for a quick second and then she looks away.

"Yes Elara," is all he says. "We cannot Mare Barrow." I expect a not yet to come next me, but my father is smarter than that. "So, we will hide you in plain sight where we can watch you, protect you, and attempt to understand you."

"Father!" Cal bursts I whip my head in his direction. Maven grabs him, as I should, by the arm holding him back. Cal shuts up and I pull Maven closer. My father ignores him and continues,

"You are no longer Mare Barrow, a Red daughter of the Stilts."

"Then who am I?" she asks, her voice shakes and I feel my lips curl into a smile.

"Your father was Ethan Titanos, general of the Iron Legion, killed when you were an infant. A soldier, a Red man, took you for his own and raised you in the dirt, never telling you your true parentage. You grew up believing you were nothing, and now, thanks to chance, you are made whole again. You are Silver, a lady of a lost High House, a noble with great power, and one day, a princess of Norta." she yelps

"A Silver—a princess?" her eyes move to cal. I slide into her mind, Ahh, she thinks she will marry him, how stupid is she? My parents would never permit such a thing...for any of us. I add the last part to assure myself.

"You will marry my son Maven, and you'll do it without putting a toe out of line." I gasp at my father's words. Her mouth falls open and some weird sound comes out. Maven yanks out of my grip, equally confused, and starts sputtering, cal restrains him this time.

"I don't understand." Maven blurts.

"Neither do I." I mumble, but we have no say in this. He walks toward our father.

"She's—why—?"

"Quiet." Elara snaps "You will obey." Maven glares at her like we all have several times.

""This seems a bit . . . much." Mare says faintly. "You don't want to make me a lady, much less a princess." she says trying to wiggle her way out of it.

"I completely agree." I say, talking to no one. They ignore me. My father's face spreads into a grim smile.

"Oh, but I do, my dear. For the first time in your rudimentary little life, you have a purpose." OOF is all I can think, because I wouldn't know that, all my life I've had one perpose, to serve my country, her on the other hand though...

"Here we are, in the early stages of a badly timed rebellion, with terrorist groups or freedom fighters, or whatever the hell these idiotic Red fools call themselves, blowing things up in the name of equality. My father continues.

"The Scarlet Guard." I hear her say, "They bombed—"

"The capital, yes." My father shrugs trying to make it seem like no big deal.

"And you, " he continues as he leans forward, "You might be able to help us stop there from being anymore." I want to laugh.

"By marrying—sorry, what's your name again?"

"My name is Maven." Maven says blushing.

"What Father is trying to say is that she represents an opportunity for us, " cal cuts in to explain. "If the Reds see her, a Silver by blood but Red by nature, raised up with us, they can be placated. It's like an old fairy tale, a commoner becoming the princess. She's their champion. They can look to her instead of terrorists." He adds the most important part last. "she's a distraction." "And if we get the story right, the High Houses will be satisfied too. You're the lost daughter of a war hero. What better honor can we give you?"

"This isn't a request, Lady Titanos, " My fahter says "You will go through with this, and you will do it properly." Elara looks at her.

"You will live here, as is the custom for royal brides. Every day will be scheduled at my discretion, and you will be tutored in everything and anything possible to make you-" she chews her lip looking for the right word. "suitable." she settles with the word.

"You will be scrutinized. From now on you live on the edge of a knife. One false step, one wrong word, and you will suffer for it." I think I hear Mare gulp.

"What about my life—?"

"What life?" Elara crows. "Girl, you have fallen head over heels into a miracle."

"She means her family. Mare—the girl—has a family." Cal clarifies shutting his eyes.

"Oh, that, " the father huffs, sitting back in his chair. "I suppose we'll give them an allowance, keep them quiet."

"I want my brothers brought home from the war." she says "And my friend, Kilorn Warren. Don't let the legions take him either."

"Done." is all my father says before I turn my back on them all.