Late Afternoon.

That afternoon we did a little more snooping around the docks. I found a ship of similar design as the one we wanted to get aboard and even got the captain to give me a little tour. Enough to give me a layout of the ship. The gold would be in the cargo hold at the bottom to maintain the ships stability at sea. Even if I could sneak on board I would have to go through the men on the top deck then through the second deck which served mostly as the crew quarters. I shook the captains hand and told him I would be in touch.

"Any luck on your end?" I asked Sura who was waiting on me at the docks.

"Maybe." She said as a small skiff pulled up to the ship. They where hoisting up barrels. "The crew has to eat. Since they aren't docked they would have to do daily runs like that." She said. Well it was something at least. We headed back and ran into Willow who was on her way to find us.

"What did you find out?"

"The ships captain has a rotating schedule for shore leave. Always six men a day. They leave in the afternoons and return in the morning. The whores even said that the same men visit them on a certain day. So that is roughly forty-two crewmen total with thirty six on board at any given time." Willow said. That gave us an idea of the numbers we would have to face.

"Don't suppose the Prince visits any of the whore houses?"

"No such luck." Willow shook her head. "There is something else one of the girls told me. One of the crew told a story at the brothel. He said that one of the men was caught trying to steal a bar of gold. When he was brought before the prince he wasn't the one who killed him. It was the dark elf who hit you with the lightening."

"Not surprising." I shook my head.

"No. But he said her eyes turned as black as night." Willow said. I had seen that only once before.

"The night mother?"

"Yes. That is how the prince probably got his immortality and why he always has a dark elf at his side. She is using them to communicate with the Prince. He is her champion." Willow shook her head.

"Great. Where both part of someones game."

"That is probably a good thing. If the night mother knew you where here you would most likely already be dead." Willow replied.

"You think the earth mother is protecting me?"

"Maybe." Willow shrugged.

"Can we kill her when she is in someones body?"

"No. Least not with weapon or spell I know." Willow shook her head.

"We got company." Sura said as three castle guards approached.

"Sir. I have been asked to bring you to the castle." One of the men said.

"In what regard?" Willow asked.

"That is none of your concern." The guard shook his head.

"We are making it our concern." Sura stepped forward putting her hand on her sword.

"Tell your body guard to step aside before we..." The guard began to say but before he could finish Willow had a knife to his throat.

"Before what?" Sura grinned.

"I didn't hire these two ladies because they looked pretty though that was a bonus. You want to try again with manners."

"The magistrate wishes to see you at the castle." He said.

"Very well. Stand down." I said to Sura and Willow. "Wasn't that better. I will see you two at the Tavern." I smiled. They led me to the palace and into a room with an office. I was told she would be along shortly so I decided to enjoy the view as I walked out onto the balcony overlooking the city below.

"Quit a view isn't it?" A voice behind me said straddling me a little.

"Princess Kiara." I said as I looked back. She looked so young and innocent in the face but I knew better then to fall for her beauty.

"I am glad to see you know who I am but the real question is who are you?" She smiled.

"What do you mean?" I asked playing dumb though I should know better. If she was anything like Raven she could read me.

"Have you ever used a sword?" She smiled.

"Yes but you already knew that."

"I did. You aren't wearing one but still your hand moved slightly out of instinct. Your hands tell me..." She began to say before I cut her off.

"I grew up a working man. Born to a little town in the middle of nowhere. Luckily my mother taught me to read and write so I might make a better living for myself."

"Tan lines at your wrist suggest you were..."

"Bracers, I like to hunt. I am pretty good with a bow and arrow if you like me to teach you." I smiled. The trick was not to tell a direct lie.

"I am good but thank you for the offer." She smiled slyly.

"How about I save us both some time and say I do not work for King Lionhart or the crown." I said. This mission was directly from the queen herself.

"I had to ask." She grinned. "How many ships does your shipping company have?"

"Three but where looking to expand." Not a complete lie since I was thinking about Lars fleet.

"Hello Princess." Raven said as she entered.

"I hope you don't mind but I was chatting with your friend." Princess Kiara smiled.

"He isn't my friend Princess. We just merely shared each others company. Though I can say he is pretty good in the bed room if you need any help in that department." Raven smiled.

"Maybe another time." Princess Kiara nodded and looked me over like a piece of meat.

"It was a pleasure seeing you Princess." Raven smiled as she left. When the door closed she quickly cast a silencing charm. To my surprise even the birds out the window were silent. "We have trouble. Our Syndicate contact has found out what they are buying. Two black mirrors."

"Do I want to ask what a black mirror is?"

"Basically you could step through one here and walk out the other side in the dukes castle. An army could appear in the heart of the crescent city if they manage to get the mirror into the city."

"So it could change everything, we would lose the war."

"Yes. To open the path two people with a strong connection to one another have to die on both ends. Their souls trying to reconnect in **** creates the tear in reality. The last emperor ordered there destruction but apparently not all of them where destroyed. The Syndicate of course is trying to steal them before they get here tomorrow."

"So we have to move tonight."

"Yes."

"Have you found onto the ship."

"No. Not one I like anyways but I suppose a bad plan is as good as it gets."