196 Kyera Returns part 1

"She was completely alone then?" Clovis asked, finding it Ironic how close to his own daughter's tale this seemed. No wonder Kyera and Raina clicked so well. He couldn't imagine what would have happened to Raina had he not come in time.

"No, not at first. You see Kyera had 4 elder siblings and they managed to take care of eachother. I stood by her as much as I could during that time. Verone often gave her support and trained alongside her. Everyone thought the pair of them would be a pair." She rambled softly. At a certain point she was no longer talking to him, but reminiscing in the memories. "Unfortunately She lost her brothers when she was 10, and then Verone's death last night…" A tear gathered in Mally's eye.

"What happened to her brothers?" He asked curiously and Mally wiped the tears from her eyes.

"No one truly knows. We know someone broke into the home and tried to steal the youngest from her bed. Apparently the eldest woke and tried to defend her. All four brother's fell and left Kyera, their youngest sister drenched in blood." Mally replied recounting what she could remember as the tears trailed down her face. Keenan's young bloody body still all she could remember from that night. "Kyera changed that night. I don't think she was ever the same. Her ties with Verone grew stronger and then to be ripped away as brutally as she was…" Mally whispered shaking her head as she remember the truth Kyera had told her of her very last moments with Verone.

"Ripped away?" Clovis asked raising an eyebrow as he looked over at her. There was something strange about those words. He had no idea why Kyera would not be able to return home to her lover. Then again he remembered the sadness in her eyes when she had mentioned him before.

"She could never go home… not till it's removed." Mally whispered settling her forehead on the table before her.

"What must be removed?" Clovis asked but Mally didn't answer. Several long moment's passed as she lay motionless on the table. He shook her gently, but found the lady had fell deep asleep on his table. The alcohol had finally caught up with her. Picking her up, the Prince carried her to the spare bed room of his palace, laying her down. "Sleep well Mally my dear. Next time I won't let you drink."

He turned and walked away, letting her sleep and seeking his daughter's room. Peeking in to find the princess fast asleep in her bed. Watching as the night passed, his daughter's slow breathing. Clovis couldn't imagine leaving his baby girl alone and defenseless. For a moment he wondered how Kyera had made it. Perhaps there was more for Raina to learn from the musician who taught her joy. His mind trailed back to Moon yet again. He wondered where the tiger had hidden now.

"I pray you sleep well my dear, and never befall the pains of love." He murmured before turning to walk away and finding his bed.

Three Days later, The Gardens.

The sun shined down on the garden, melting the frost of night on the grass. The gentle sound of a Zither caught Raina's ear. It was a sorrowful sound that nearly hid its maker from Raina. She was so use to the joyful sweet melodies that those strings made for her. Curiosity caught her mind and the little girl found her way down the path to the sound.

She came up behind the woman playing. A beautiful woman surrounded by some of the shadows of sadness that she had never encountered before. Long silver hair spilled down her back and danced in the softest breeze. The deep blue dress was almost black even in the warm sunlight spilling over the cloth. Silver roses seemed to be embroidered over the gown and flourishes of silver danced across her curves. Long sleeves brushed over the edges of the wooden instrument across her lap. It was so familiar.