With words I whisper in your sleep, it goes untold,

I found the missing pieces of my heart in your footsteps as you go.

22nd☾

Ember and Smoke

"Are they looking for you?" Alec asked, alarmed.

"It's because of the seal." I was holding my breath before I'd realized it. My pounding heart went wild as the soldier's heavy marching feet got closer, together with the clinking and clattering of the horses' hooves. It had ensued fright on the once peaceful forest that had unfolded with the morning light, as the birds scattered away and the animals sought shelter.

"You're the first person I've met who also possess the seal," Alec told me, guarded. His eyes were also drawn to where the marching noise was coming from.

But even if the situation had turned to this, I couldn't help but feel relieved with what he'd said. Keenly, I asked, "So you do have it?"

He slowly nodded his head, turning sideways to face me. "Since I was young."

"Thank goodness." Relief flooded over me. I almost gave up, shooting blindly in the dark. And then here it was—I finally found the former prince of Incantasi.

"She's here! Let's split up. You, go back to the inn and report to me if anyone had seen here," a soldier's voice echoed across the woods.

I took a deep breath, muttering, "I must leave."

"Why do you have it?" Alec asked me in an equally hushed voice, as we stepped away from the clearing and proceeded deeper into the forest.

"I can't explain it now," I told him. "They're coming for me. Can you meet me tonight instead?"

"Where?"

"There's a small shack located in the forest east of the town plaza. You would see a dried up well beside it. Meet me there tonight. You have to come, Alec. For Incantasi," I convinced him.

"Can't you tell me about it now?"

"I don't have enough time. If the seal's been a question to you all your life, come to the shack and I will tell you. I have to go now. They can't find me here." I looked around, wondering how much time was left for me to escape.

"Are you sure that it's not just a coincidence?" Alec was still oblivious that such an army was here for me.

I shook my head, saying, "Tell me you will go."

He considered this.

"It's important for you to be there, Alec," I urged him.

After a moment, he finally agreed, "Alright, I'll come."

The skies above us suddenly turned dark. When I looked up, I saw that a flock of crows was circling over the trees, and their piercing cries drowned the soldier's footsteps. It was very odd, because the once blue skies of noontime scattered over the horizon a few hours ago was also blemished with streaks of dark clouds.

And then I realized that it was finally starting. The books said that unusual things happened when the two crescent moons were bound to appear. The sorcerers said that it was mostly because their spells were waning and that paved way for the darkness to meddle with the world of the living.

"I wonder what's going on," Alec mumbled.

"The night of the crescent moons," I explained to him. It was the same night our seals were bound to become one. "It's going to happen tonight."

"Crescent moons?"

"Strange things will happen today, Alec," I warned him. "And I must go. I'll see you tonight."

"Where are you heading?" Alec asked, as I was deciding which path to take.

"I don't know yet. I need to find a place to hide," I replied, throwing a rueful smile to him before I started to run. Holding my skirt up, I went deep into the forest, until I reached a dirt road that I couldn't recognize.

From here, the sound that the soldiers made could hardly be heard. I had to get as far away as possible. By now, Henry knew that I had finally appeared once more. I'd been out of his sight for years, and considering the extent he went through to find me before, I was certain that he would never let me off that easily.

Not this time.

Catching my breath, I stopped from running when I reached a river. Was this far enough? I wondered to myself. Just to be sure, I climbed a high tree, trying to locate where I was. When I reached the top, I saw that the town was located northwest from here. I couldn't go that far away, either. It would be harder for me to find my way back.

I still had time, and it felt wasteful for me to just wait out here. I already found the missing prince, and he had already agreed to meet me tonight. The only problem left was if I could make him agree to the conditions indicated by the scroll.

It really felt odd for me not to do anything and just wait. I wanted to go to town and see what was happening there, but disguise was not an option anymore. If the guards would look into my belongings left in the inn, they would be able to figure out how I'd escaped their eyes for years.

I wondered where Lancelot went off to. There were also questions that I needed to ask him.

Alec had also confirmed that Lancelot didn't ask him anything, after Lancelot had claimed that there were several things he had to ask Alec. I wondered why he let that chance slip by? Did he run out of time? If he really needed his answers and he even snuck out of the castle to come here, why didn't he ask them?

There was one way to gain my answer to all this, and that was to find him. Where could he be?

If he was hiding from the soldiers like me, I thought of one place where he could hide. It did have a basement, and it was a place that we both knew. Heck, I even told Alec about it. The only problem would be the guards, if they were patrolling near the area.

Deciding whether it was a good decision to go to that place right now, I considered the pros and cons of what might happen. I would have my answers if Lancelot was really there and he would be willing to share his childhood stories with me. I might be able to find the missing pieces of the conflicting events that surrounded this mysterious seal. Even if I couldn't tell him about the seal, he might know a few things indirectly associated with it.

I would only check, I'd told myself. There was nothing much to do while waiting here, anyway.

I went ahead to look for the prince of Incantasi. After a short trek, I arrived near the shack, stayed on watch, and confirmed that there were no guards around the place before slipping inside.

A few hours before dusk, the shack was marginally lit up by the sunlight coming from the spaces in between the plank of woods that covered the windows. I couldn't tell if Lancelot was really here and he had already heard me come in.

Lifting the same floorboard that he'd used before, I saw the wedge. It was already pushed forward, indicating one thing. I put back the board that covered it, heading for the trap door.

Like expected, it was already unlocked.

I took a deep breath, lifting the trap door that led to the basement. There was an ample light that came from the bottom of the well, but I couldn't see him.

"Anybody?" I tried asking.

"I'm down here," answered a familiar voice.

Swallowing my uneasiness, I was stuck there at the top of the concrete stairs. I did expect to see him here, knowing that this was one of the places where he could and would likely hide. And yet, upon confirming it, I was helplessly smitten with the mere thought of having a chance to see him once more.

I hesitantly went down and closed the trap door above me, finally locating whom I'd been wanting to see. Lancelot was here. He was alive and well. It was selfish—this feeling of satisfaction to my longing for him.

"Let me guess," Lancelot said with a good-humored voice. He was sitting on a wooden chair a few distance away from the source of light, which was the bottom of the well. There were several books scattered around him, and he closed the one he was reading as he was talking to me.

I was just staring at him, hiding the feeling that was growing strong inside me. What had truly brought me here? Was it because I wanted to ask him about what he could remember, in lieu of everything that had happened after Anthony was able to unlock a certain part of Alec's memory? Or Clave's words last night?

It was something else, I'd admitted to myself.

Even if this was clearly an excuse just to see him again, I disregarded the sudden realization away. How much could you fool yourself for you to see it as the truth?

"You're also hiding from the guards that's why you're here?" Lancelot asked, wondering.

"No," I replied, in a calm manner.

He raised an eyebrow.

"I did come here to find you," I disclosed, seeing the slightest pleasure that crossed his face.

"Really?" he asked, intrigued.

I took a seat across him, on the bottom step of the concrete stairs. The underground room was small, and he was only a few steps away. Lancelot shifted to his right, facing me. "Have you eaten yet?"

Shaking my head, I asked, "By chance, do you also have food here?"

"Enough to survive hiding for days." He laughed a bit, throwing a brown parcel to me.

"Thanks," I said. Opening the bag, I saw several loaves of bread inside. I took one, breaking it in two.

"No problem," Lancelot replied. "So what brings you here, Cassandra Montforth?"

I smiled, contritely.

"I've actually found out a few things about you."

"You did?"

He nodded. "Records."

"I forgot." I smirked, comprehending what I'd failed to realize. "Of course, you finally knew my real name."

Lancelot acknowledged this with a light nod, saying, "Apparently, your entire family have a special search warrant. The reason was not stated. It did say that you were the daughter of a duke."

I swallowed the chunk of bread in my mouth. "What else?"

"They didn't elaborate on anything. Funny enough, it was my father himself who had ordered the search."

"I'm probably more dangerous, then," I replied, humorously.

"The records said that your family was located four years ago in the Village of Moss. And I'm sorry about what happened to your parents," Lancelot said in a sincere voice, looking burdened.

"It's not your fault."

"Is that why you ended up with the rebels? After what happened to them?"

"Did the records indicate that I had escaped?"

He nodded.

"I met Bryce when I was escaping from the royal guards. It was that same day. He took me in, and I'd spent the last few years with them," I replied.

"Did you miss it?"

"Miss what?"

"Being Cassandra Montforth."

"Sometimes," I answered. "But there are far more important things than that now. Like a kingdom to save. Or to die saving. What about you? Why are you doing here instead of coming back to the castle?"

"I'm undecided on what to do," Lancelot confessed.

It caught me surprised. "Why?"

"What happened to Alec Gaunt?" he asked instead of answering.

"He's still at the inn."

"Did you confirm if he's Alec Forthwind?"

I narrowed my eyes. "Speaking of Alec Gaunt, why didn't you ask him your questions? You said they were important."

With a shrug of his shoulders, he replied, "I didn't find the opportunity. The guards that my father had sent to locate me had already known about my location. Did Alec Gaunt really turn out to be Alec Forthwind?"

"Yes," I replied, uncertainly. Why didn't I find his explanation convincing enough? Clasping my fingers together while thinking about it, I also said, "Thanks for helping me find him, by the way."

"Did he say if he wanted to reclaim the throne?" Lancelot suddenly asked.

I lifted my head, confounded. "Why did you ask about that?"

He didn't treat my astonishment in a negative light. Instead, he evenly replied, "I have to know."

"He's confused about that matter right now."

"Do you think he'll be a good leader?" Lancelot asked again.

"I can't say for sure." This was truly confusing, for some reason. Maybe it was because I expected him to ask something else, or anything else but these things. And yet, he was consistent that this was what he'd wanted to find out, after the confirmation that Alec Gaunt was the same person as Alec Forthwind. "He doesn't know a thing about ruling a country. I try not to think about it for now. It's still hard to tell if we would succeed in claiming back the throne from your father. There's something else I have to obtain before all that."

"Too far fetched?" Lancelot guessed.

"Yes," I answered. "For now, I keep my focus on helping get back the throne. Being the rightful heir, if he wanted it, I'm sure Alec could learn the ropes if he needs to."

"Cassandra," my name easily rolled off his tongue.

"Why?"

He shook his head, amused. "Nothing. It only felt good calling you by that name."

"I'm still not used to it," I said, feeling flustered. It would take a while to get used to my old name, especially when he was the one saying it.

There was another silence that fell between us again. I kept my eyes on the sandals that I was wearing, reminiscing when I first met him and how it all came to this. The night of the crescent moons had finally arrived. A part of me wondered if after this was through, could I still feel this way for him?

But there was no telling what would happen to me. Even to him. Obtaining the sword was only the start. We still had to find a way to get near the tyrant for the sword to fulfill its purpose.

Lancelot stared at me. "Can I ask you another question?"

"Go ahead," I told him.

"Tell me honestly, do I really resemble Henry?" he asked. I raised an eyebrow. And then he went on, "Not in a physical manner. But do you see him in me?"

"You are your father's son. If I were to be honest, I'll always see him in you. It's hard to contradict what you know. It would have been easier if I didn't know about it," I answered him, truthfully.

"That's true," Lancelot agreed, although he appeared to be bothered. "What do you think matters more? What makes a person? Where he came from or where he grew up?"

"A bit of both?" I presumed.

"Which part weighed more?"

"If I were to decide," I said, pausing for a bit, "I think it's where a person grew up. It will influence him more. Take me as an example. I grew up with the bandits. And even now, I see myself more as one than the duke's daughter that I used to be."

He thought about it. "I guess you're right."

"Why are you asking me this?" I said to him. But then again, it wasn't the question that I needed an answer for. "Forget it. What I really wanted to ask was why didn't you ask Alec Forthwind your questions?"

"Of course," Lancelot said, unable to hide his fascination, "you would ask about it again."

"You never answered it, that's why," I replied.

"It was because I'd found my answer already," said Lancelot.

"How..."

"His mannerisms, for one," Lancelot answered.

"That's really vague," I muttered. "What were you trying to find out in the first place?"

"His identity."

"How could you tell that just by observing him?"

"I only needed the confirmation," Lancelot replied.

"Whose identity were you confirming?"

He didn't answer. Instead, he told me with an apologetic smile, "I'll tell you when I'm done thinking it over."

"If that's what you want," I just said, seeing that he was decided not to tell me yet.

"It seems like there's another thing you wanted to ask me," he said to me.

"Guilty," I admitted. "Where did you grow up?"

"The castle?" Lancelot replied with an empty shrug, but I heard that distinct interest that he'd tried to cover up. "Why are you asking me these questions, anyway?"

"Before that," I clarified, "when Henry's not yet the king."

"I can't remember. I was too young at that time," he responded.

"Where were you during the night when your father took over the throne?" I kept on asking.

He didn't answer.

"Could it be that—"

There was a sudden chaos that ensued outside. We both looked at each other, suddenly alarmed. A couple of footsteps could be heard as we both steadied our breaths and refrained from talking.

Lancelot hurriedly closed the light entryway underneath the well. He whispered, "Stay close."

"Fire!" someone yelled outside.

Something dropped to the bottom of the well. It was shortly pulled back. Someone shouted, "The well's empty!"

A few more people gathered, and we could hear them talking among themselves.

"Where did the fire come from?"

"The inn at the southern part of the town."

"Alec," I muttered under my breath, realizing what they were talking about. This couldn't be happening. Even if it was dark, I tried to find my way out of the basement, heading straight to the stairs.

A hand held me back, as I was about to head outside the trap door. "It's dangerous."

"I'll be quiet, I promise. I won't let them know you're here," I said, lightly shoving his hand away.

But he only tightened his grip on my wrist. "They're looking for you."

"I already know that," I answered.

"I can't let you leave, knowing that one wrong move and you will be caught by my father," he firmly replied. "Stay here and hide."

"I mean it, let go." I forcefully got out of his grip.

"Miles," he hissed. In a much softer voice, he whispered, "Cassandra."

I still went ahead and got out of the trap door, faintly staggered by the sunlight. The ones who'd gathered outside the shack had already left, probably in search for another well or water source.

Lancelot came out as well, saying, "You can't leave."

"I must save Alec," I said, heading for the door.

Lancelot walked past me, blocking the way. "You don't know what my father will do to you. He won't just kill you, Miles. Did you know how many years he'd been eagerly waiting? Merely killing you won't be enough."

"Believe me, I know." I pushed him, but he refused to move away.

"I don't want you to go through that. Why do you even have to go there?" Lancelot said impatiently.

"I can't tell you," I told him the truth. "And either way, you won't understand. Not until after tonight."

"I'll come with you," he insisted.

"You can't. They're also searching for you!" I exclaimed.

"Don't worry, if he wanted to kill me, he had all his chances and yet he didn't. I've been doing well on my own," Lancelot bragged.

"That's truly great to hear." I'd been doing well for years. I checked if there were no people outside, before motioning for him to go out.

We headed to Esme's inn, avoiding the crowded areas as much as we could. Even from afar, the black smoke coming from the inn was already visible. The atmosphere was scorching hot as we were getting nearer. And when we finally arrived to the place where the inn was supposedly located, a full-blown inferno unfolded in front of us.

I started asking around. The woman was surprised when I suddenly caught her arm to get her attention. "Are there people trapped inside?"

She then nodded, saying, "The owner and her grandson. They haven't been found yet."

"Where were they last seen?"

"The second floor," she replied.

I didn't waste time. Pouring a bucket of water over me, I headed straight inside the burning inn. There were gasps when they saw that I came in despite the danger it posed. All I knew was that Alec had to live. I had to save him.

I tried to locate the staircase. I glanced around and all I saw was flame. It stung where the fire touched my skin, and my eyes continued to burn from the smoke, making it harder to see.

Fire was consuming the inn, devouring and destroying everything on its way. The crackling sound it created rung inside my head, momentarily disrupted as the woods from the ceiling and roof also started to fall.

"Are you insane?" a voice screamed, pulling me back by the arm. I collided with the person, and saw that it was Lancelot. "Do you really want to be killed?"

I coughed. "They're at the second floor."

I saw the intensity of anger in his eyes, but he let me off this time. Putting an arm around me, he led the way. "Don't you dare do things on your own again."

"Over there," I disregarded his quarrel, pointing to the staircase.

Only a portion of the staircase caught fire, so we were able to get to the second floor. The left wing was a hopeless case. We tried for the right wing. I hoped and prayed that Alec and Esme were here.

Lancelot started knocking down the doors, as I yelled, "Alec? Esme?"

There were no answers.

"Stay here," Lancelot told me, going inside a room. After a while, he got out and shook his head.

We tried again.

"Wait!" I held Lancelot's arm, making him stop from charging against the doors. "Did you hear that?"

There was a distant voice among the chaos that surrounded us. "Help! Anyone there?"

"Alec?" I yelled.

"Move back," Lancelot said, as he kicked down the door. He cursed, "It's stuck."

"We have to save them. We have to get out of here," I said in a panic.

"Let's try again," Lancelot said.

"I'll help."

He nodded, counting, "One, two, three!"

There was something heavy that prevented the door from opening. Determined, I said, "One more time."

We pushed against the door as much as we could, and it started to open. When it was enough for one person to fit inside the entry, I went inside the room and searched for Alec. I saw that there was a cabinet that had fallen behind the door. Lancelot also got in and we both pushed it out of the way.

"Where are they..." I frantically glanced around, searching for their silhouette. It was becoming harder to breathe, as smoke filled my lungs. I wiped the beads of sweat trickling down my face. "Alec?"

"We're... here..."

"To your left," Lancelot instructed.

As I followed where he had pointed, I could make out their silhouette. I ran to Alec, asking, "Are you both okay?"

"My grandmother..." Alec faintly replied.

"What happened?" I asked, assessing his state. And then I saw that a timber fell on one of his legs. I tried to lift it by myself, but it was heavy. Lancelot saw what I was doing, so he went over to help out. I asked aloud, "Where's Esme?"

"My grandmother's over there," Alec replied, pointing to a dark portion of the room. "Save her. She's not responding anymore."

Lancelot picked up a burning wood and directed the light to where Alec had pointed. The room had the same furnishing as the one I stayed in before. A bed and dresser was supposedly located there, but now it was hard to tell because of the fire.

Unexpectedly, as we were all searching for any sign of Esme, a part of the roof fell on the bed, thoroughly crumbling its frame.

I gasped.

"Miles," Lancelot called my attention. I turned to him and saw that he had proceeded on lifting the boulder that fell on Alec's leg. "Let's get this away first."

"Please save my grandmother," Alec pleaded, as I helped out Lancelot.

I lifted my gaze and saw Lancelot shook his head a bit. I felt tears welling up in my eyes, and it wasn't just the fire that was making my eyes stung. This was a sick mess.

It took us a while to lift the lumber. Alec struggled to get up, but he had broken a bone. With a shaky voice, he said, "Grandmother..."

Lancelot was already sorting out the way to get past the mound of debris where Alec told us Esme was caught in. But the flooring of the room started to tremble, throwing us off.

The part of the floor where the heaps of wood from the bed and the ceiling that had fallen on it suddenly collapsed. Nobody was able to say anything at first.

Esme.

Bolting noise deafened our ears as the room started to be consumed with fire that sprung upward, seemingly having a life of its own.

Lancelot stepped back, walking over to me. He shielded me with his arms as the fire continued its rage, saying under his breath, "This is not good."

"Grandmother!" Alec screamed. He was heading to where the debris kept on falling, and Lancelot had to hold him back with force.

"We need to get out of here," Lancelot said, putting one of his arms around Alec, helping him stand up. With a comforting voice, he told Alec, "I'm sorry, but it's too late now. We have to leave or this whole inn would collapse on us."

"Alec, we have to go." I also did the same and put Alec's left arm over my shoulders, so that we could get out of here faster.

"I can't leave my grandmother there," Alec cried.

"I know and I'm sorry," I said, forcing back the tears.

Alec's body refused to move, and we had to drag him forward with force. The hallway was already collapsing to the ground floor, and we had to be careful with each step that we took. Half of the staircase was already burning as we were about to go down, so Lancelot took Alec and went ahead. I silently followed behind them, my eyes lingering on where Esme's body could be.

It was too late now.

The place where she could have had fallen was nothing but a consuming blanket of deep orange and red flame. My heart ached because we weren't able to save her, feeling apologetic that we had to leave her like that.

Lancelot had chosen a different exit, away from the crowd that had gathered outside at the front gate. Alec was too exhausted to protest or utter a word. All of us didn't say anything, as we headed away from the inn and hid deeper into the forest.

When we were at a safe distance, Lancelot put down Alec and helped him sit on the grass. I saw the wound on Alec's leg, and he would need to see a healer for that. But it was easy to tell that he didn't feel the pain from his leg. With emptiness in his eyes, Alec was still nothing but in shock about what had happened to his grandmother and to their inn.

"Let's give him some space," Lancelot told me, urging me to move forward.

"We can't leave him here."

"He needs it," Lancelot insisted.

"But..." I said, looking back at Alec. And then I saw the tears that streamed down from his eyes. He furiously wiped them away with his soiled arms. I stared down, understanding what Lancelot meant. "Okay, let's go."

The two of us didn't say a word as we were walking around the forest. Maybe it was the shock that slowly awoke into our consciousness.

I turned sideways, seeing the mess that he was. Lancelot's arms were slightly burned and his face was filled with black smudges. His clothes were torn. With this appearance, it would be hard for anyone to believe that he was the prince of Incantasi.

Lancelot turned to me, and his gaze was tender. His hands reached out for my face, wiping it gently. "Are you hurt?"

I slowly shook my head in response.

"Why are you always leaving me in the dark about the things you do?" Lancelot quietly asked.

"Because you won't understand," I answered, closing my eyes and pressing my lips into a tight smile.

"There's nothing in this world that could make me feel differently about you," he said, stepping closer.

"You don't know everything about me for you to say that," I told him.

"I know who you are, Cassandra Montfort," Lancelot said. The affection in voice made me open my eyes and gaze at him. His blue orbs were staring back at me, steadily holding me there. "I even know that you are the damsel with the seal."