Moonlight shone down on Aldius from the opening in the ceiling leading up to the tower. Gordan and Theo were posted up top while Vernon was stationed outside the door. All three could hear the man they'd bound to a post, his hands still tied behind his back, but Zander didn't want them having too much contact with River's killer yet.

Asa set down her quill, laying the parchment flat to dry the ink. Aldius had answered every question in great detail. If they presented this parchment to Iceheart, Zander's objectives would all be completed.

Alexia wasn't here. She left Mirrevar to gather peace watchers against Ruby aggression and to compel Gideon Sapphire to cease the fighting. It was her spirit that remained in Mirrevar, leading to the conflicting responses Zander had from previous captives. Alexia had done amazing things to protect the Sapphire encampment. She used her powers to heal hundreds of wounded on the verge of death, then rallied the bruised Horned Ape host to forge new friendships with the Ruby. Then she recruited several thousand Sentinels from Maypine to bolster their defenses. Indeed, the Sapphires in Mirrevar were committed to peace. Thanks to Alexia.

While Zander agreed that Alexia was incredible and feats worthy of admiration, he didn't like how this man, River's killer, spoke of her. He didn't like how his eyes leered at Asa when she asked questions. Zander's stomach turned over when he spoke of how beautiful Alexia was or how incredible her powers. He laid it on thick, Zander remembering how he called out Alexia's name during the battle at the trenches. This handsome, arrogant man wasn't someone he could see Alexia enjoying the company of, but he couldn't help but feel this man sought rivalry for her affection.

Zander held to his locket. Aldius didn't know that he'd already lost.

Aldius had shared troop numbers, command structure, their strategy to restore a stalemate, the identities and specialties of their cognitive-affectomancers, and a promise that Alexia would return within the next moon, with even more power behind her. He expected the king himself to come, escorted by Azureknights like Sir Garrond the Dust. Alexia would usher in the Second Great Peace.

Whatever he felt about Aldius, he felt giddy with the information. The Sapphire encampment had greater numbers, more cognitive-affectomancers, and entrenched defensive positions along the Great Eagle Bridge and upon Goddess Hill. An all-out offensive would be devastating for Iceheart without significant cognitive-affectomancer support. Their navy would be stopped at the Grand Confluence and their infantry wouldn't be able to take the Sapphire encampment. They could win small skirmishes near the Cardian against pacifist enemies, but they couldn't take Mirrevar. Iceheart would have to accept stalemate or risk a humiliating defeat. Knowing his ego, Zander anticipated that this news would end all talks of battle. He'd completed his mission, and honored his promises to Alexia.

It all came together, like a perfect storybook ending. He'd deliver Aldius to Iceheart so he could corroborate the information. Battle prevented, Alexia would return and peace would be restored. They'd be able to be together again in a unified Mirrevar where it didn't matter whether your banner was red or blue. Hope rose in him, blooming into visions of dreams come true.

Everything was going to be alright. He would do his part, albeit a far smaller one than his life's mate's role. Alas, Zander had learned not to chase after dreams of glory. His only dreams were peace and love. Alexia would bring him both.

The smile that grew upon his face was the most natural one he thought he felt since the arrival of Iceheart. He flashed it at the smarmy knight sitting across from him, imagining just how shocked he'd be when Alexia kissed him, waves of Leverith's blue light rushing from the locket as he returned it to its proper place.

Aldius grinned wider, looking even more arrogant as he chewed a strip of jerky that Edrea was holding for him. He winked at Zander before flashing his smirk at Edrea. "I shall remember your kindness, my dear Edrea."

Edrea blushed crimson. She and her sister were both easy on the eyes, if rough. Zander didn't hold it against her that she might fancy the charming, roguish knight. Leverith's white carnation would bloom between red and blue in more ways than Zander and Alexia. Mixing love across borders could only help, right? For all that, he felt like a protective older brother watching his sister fall for the bad boy that would leave her broken after he was done using her.

Zander glanced toward Asa. Kenneth sat beside her on their log. Zander reckoned the thing was probably imprinted with their arses by now.

"There is one thing I still cannot comprehend," Asa said, leaning forward, her aura pale gray. Leverith's light, she was trying hard. Zander loved her for it.

"Mayhap I might illuminate you," Aldius said, chewing on that jerky.

Asa looked down at her feet, hands wrung, her aura dimming slightly. "How did Bluerose persuade you all toward peace?"

Aldius beamed like he was on top of the world rather than tied to a post and surrounded by people who had reason to murder him. "Have you ever seen her or listened to her speak?"

Asa shook her head. Her aura dimmed until it was barely visible.

"All due respect, Master Asa, your powers are considerable and you are pleasing enough, but Alexia is Leverith's Chosen."

Asa squeezed her hands, her aura darkening.

Aldius let out a lovesick sigh. His eyes rolled over Zander, smirk smarmier than ever. "Alexia Bluerose is no normal woman, Sir Zander. She is a true rose among a room full of imitations and weeds. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Stunning. All of these words would be true of her, but none of them are remotely sufficient. She has the perfect body of a goddess, eminently fit like a soldier but still as full as a woman should be. She could grace a ballroom in a gown just as well as a battlefield in armor."

Zander didn't think himself insecure. Alfread had praised Alexia's beauty and it only reinforced Zander's giddiness for her. Yet when Aldius spoke of Alexia, Zander felt sick to his stomach. He lusted for his life's mate, and Zander wanted to wrap his hands around his throat and squeeze until he burst. But he managed to restrain himself, knowing that his control proved he was the man Alexia wanted to be with, not this peacock with the wagging tongue that fought arrogantly beneath the full moon. Alexia would never give Aldius a second look, except to avoid where he was.

Aldius finished the jerky. "Thank you, Edrea. Have a seat and I'll tell you more about our savior."

Asa shook her head, keeping her eyes down. Kenneth put his arm behind her, pulling her to him. Her aura briefly sparked silver, then settled into a dull gray.

"She has a face that would cause any other woman to sell their soul to Zamael to spend just one day looking through her bright eyes at the adoration of every man and the deference of every woman. Her hair shifts color, one moment golden greatness and the next an earthy brown. She is a marvel to see, as natural a beauty as this world has ever known, and unique in a way that any fool can see."

Kenneth nodded at Zander, putting up a thumb behind Asa as he grinned that classic shite-eating grin.

Zander shook his head, but couldn't stop his heart from thumping as he imagined Kenneth witnessing the truth of Aldius's claims. Yet, it wasn't Alexia's beauty, it had never been that, which convinced him of her greatness. If that was all that Aldius saw, he was the greatest imbecile this world had ever known.

Asa kept her eyes down and her voice was, if anything, even lower. "So, she convinces powerful men to do her bidding with a pretty face and a smile?"

"No!" Aldius boomed as if Asa had said the dumbest utterance in all history. "The veneer pales before what it hides within. Her words speak straight into a man's heart. Even her voice is beautiful and strong, with passion to provoke sentiment from the coldest man. She is Alexia Leveria come again, and when she speaks, the blue spirit of the great goddess touches you and fills the holes in your heart with her love." He leaned back into the post and stretched his neck, cracking vertebrae. "You would need to possess the darkest of hearts to see her, to hear her, to feel her love, and not dream of peace with her."

Zander and Asa locked eyes. Her aura fluctuated, noticeable as it was their only light source besides stars and moon. She was trying to understand, but it was hard. Zander knew there was hatred there, and also envy. Put together, seeing her have flashes of silver as the aura cycled was enough for him. He couldn't expect an instant metamorphosis from her. These flickers of silver were more than enough, considering he thought she'd have left him once the truth came out.

"What does she say?" Asa asked Aldius.

Aldius was quick to respond. "I can never forget what she said or how she said it. Blue light flowed from her and touched us all. Leverith! She was beautiful and her love flowed through us! She healed our wounded bodies, minds, and hearts. Hundreds of us owed her our lives! She told us we deserved to feel our vengeance but then she showed us that the Ruby had a right to theirs too. She told us about her time in Ferrickton where a sweet child had befriended her and how this child had every right to want Alexia dead after what she did to her hometown."

"Hold!" Asa demanded. "Did she mention that child's name?"

Aldius nodded. "I could never forget it. Allison."

Asa crossed her arms. Her aura settled into the dull black, siphoning light from around them. "What did she say about Allison?"

Aldius looked up into the night sky. "Words to break a man's soul in two. Allison was a loving child who traded stories for songs and welcomed Alexia into her life. She showed Alexia naught but compassion and even decorated a doll in her image. Alexia held the doll aloft and wept as she told us how the girl's father told her that she made Allison smile more than anyone else had since her mother had died."

Asa broke. She sobbed with no end and no control. Her aura shifted to gray as she straddled the line of vengeance and forgiveness. She utilized Kenneth's tunic as a handkerchief.

"You see," Aldius continued, "Alexia healed the wounds you and yours caused us, but her tale of Allison of Ferrickton cured the hatred in our hearts."

Asa wiped at her eyes. Her voice was thick with pain. "Did she … did she tell you…" Asa couldn't carry through with it.

Aldius shot a quizzical look at Zander. Zander cleared his throat. "Allison is Asa's cousin. Did Alexia tell you what happened to her?"

Aldius shook his head. His voice was soft, somber. The grin finally fell off his roguish face. "She did not, other than saying that Allison has every right to wish for Alexia's death. For what it is worth, she spoke as if the girl was still alive."

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Asa stopped sobbing. She did her witch breathing exercises. The aura shifted back to a dull silver.

"She reminds me of you, Zander," Vernon said, stepping into the building. "I don't know if you realize this, but you have the same effect on us."

Gabor, Emeric, Edrea, and Erina all nodded.

"You make us yearn for peace," Gordan said from above, his voice carrying down the ladder. "Even when our hearts crave vengeance."

Asa smiled at him, tears glistening on her dark face. "She does sound like you, Zander."

Zander clutched the locket. Her locket. "I try to be like her. To be worthy of her."

Aldius leaned forward as far as his bindings allowed. Zander wanted to punch that smarmy grin off his face. But he wouldn't.

"My friend," Aldius said, licking his chops, "I'm afraid you are late for that carriage."

Zander inhaled. He leaned in too, ready to see Aldius's grin finally abolished. "We've already spoken vows of devotion. I am the Moon to her Sun. None shall come between us. I am hers and she is mine."

The others startled at the revelation, but Zander kept focused on Aldius. His grin slipped a moment, eyes narrowing, before it returned more vicious than ever. "I am so sorry," he said. "I can only imagine that she said what she needed to escape you."

Zander shook his head, his fingers closing into fists. That wasn't the truth. He had proof. "Our lovemaking conjured an abundance of Leverith's spirit."

"I took her maidenhead before I guided her across Mirrevar," Aldius said. "Blood in the bed. As she screamed my name, as Leverith's blue burst from her with every deep thrust, she promised I would be her first and her last. When she returned to the encampment, I took her another five times before she left for Maypine." His voice changed, becoming the cold, bitter steel of condescension so reminiscent of Iceheart that Zander wanted to murder him. "She never even mentioned you, Sir Zander. Mine was the only name she paired with Leverith's. My ring the one on her finger."

Just as he hoped she wouldn't hold his history of tribute, Zander didn't care if Alexia had been with other men before they met. But if she'd been with another man after leaving him at Goddess Hill, after telling him they'd be enemies the next time they met…

He gripped the locket, feeling its soothing warmth. But it wasn't enough. He burned with anger, an inferno of rage that would char the whole world to get to this man. "Liar!"

Aldius shrugged. "My condolences." Yet, that smile widened, the glee he felt at Zander's reaction palpable to the most gullible soul. The falseness only fueled the inferno burning within Zander. "Please consider this a friend trying to spare another friend greater heartache with a little heartache now. I am Alexia's life's mate, Sir Zander of Mirrevar."

Zander charged toward him, craving murder. He caught himself before his fist collided. Zander reached for the locket instead, pulling on it so hard it was a marvel it didn't break. If he wanted to be worthy of Alexia, he had to be better than this man. He needed to keep the peace.

Blood in the bed.

Zander chewed on the words. They weren't how a man in love described his first time with his life's mate. They were the words of an envious boy. Alexia would never love a man so shallow and callous. She would be disgusted by him.

Zander stepped back, returning to his seat among the rubble. He would be an envoy of peace, not one who murdered every smarmy arsehole. That was why he was Alexia's life's mate. He breathed in these truths, using Alfread's techniques. In. Hold. Out. Repeat.

Aldius met him with a stone-faced stare. "She would be proud of your restraint, Sir Zander." He snorted. "I would kill me if I were in your place. Alexia is worth it." Aldius tisked. "Or perhaps my willingness to fight for her is why she chose me over you? Perhaps that is why she left me in charge of Mirrevar while she just left you behind?"

The binds of control snapped, unleashing the beast of hatred that lurked in every heart. Zander slammed Aldius's head into the post. Kenneth pulled on his arm, calling for him to remain calm.

But Zander yanked free, sending Kenneth sprawling. He hit Aldius as hard as he could in the chest. He wheezed, not sounding so tough, nor smiling anymore.

Zander seized the locket. "I would tear you apart if you weren't a divinedamned envious liar. She is mine and I am hers!"

Aldius struggled to breathe, but still found the audacity to unleash a wheezing laugh that quickly turned into a cough. He closed his eyes, steadying his breath. "The blood stains on my sheets would disagree. It is my name she will forever moan beside the Divine, cuckold." His temper boiling over, Aldius yelled, "You're nothing to her!"

Zander seized Aldius's raven black hair, falling to the bottom of his neck. Then he swung as hard as he could, breaking Aldius's nose. Blood gushing, Zander slammed him repeatedly into the post. The watch tower wobbled as the post cracked. Above, Theo cursed frantically until the tower settled into place.

Kenneth tried putting his arms under Zander's. A baby bear would have as much success wrapping its arms around a sequoia. Zander pulled free, turning on Kenneth, ready to cuff him on the ear.

"Stop it!" Asa growled.

Seeing her aura darken, hearing the intensity in her tone, Zander let Kenneth lead him away from the liar.

But Aldius couldn't stop himself. "Must be quite the man to attack a bound prisoner. The type of well-adjusted man that a great woman of peace and love would adore!"

"Live in your fantasy, Aldius. Alexia will wear my locket, and she will never so much as look at your bed!"

"Funny that you wear that necklace like a cuckold while she parades around Leveria with my ring. After the armistice is signed, I'll leave a chair for you in the corner of our bedchamber."

Zander gripped the locket, remembering how it looked on Alexia when it was the only thing she wore. This pathetic man wasn't worth dishonoring the vows he made to her that day. "I hope you enjoy the peace she forges, Aldius. Because that is the only piece of her I will ever share with you."

"Enough!" Asa yelled.

She strode to Aldius, staff in hand. Blue wisps of Leverith's spirit spiraled out of the angel wing tips, restoring Aldius's battered face back to pristine condition. "You would do well to abandon this subject or else I will be the one bludgeoning you with my staff," Asa warned Aldius. She turned to Zander. "You! Out now! Cool off!"

"Go ahead," Sir Gabor said. "Take the evening patrol. Emeric and I will take the pre-dawn instead."

They were right. Zander would kill that man if he kept goading him.

"I wish you a peaceful evening," Aldius said, the words chasing him out of the dilapidated farmhouse. "Until next time, Zander of Mirrevar."

Zander said nothing. He gripped the locket and left without looking back at him. He didn't trust himself to see that smarmy grin and contain his rage. He wanted the man dead but would settle for using his testimony to forge peace. Besides, it would be glorious to see his face when he and Alexia reunited with a kiss.

Zander reached for Paladin.

"I don't trust him, Sir," Vernon said, having followed him and Kenneth out of their post. "He's goading you with lies. There is no way your Alexia would choose an arse like him over you. No way, Sir. It makes me question everything else he told you about the Sapphire defenses."

Vernon. Ever serious. Ever trying to do or say what was right. Few had worked as hard as him in the blademaster drills. Few had grown as much. Just the sight of him doing his best to calm him down and sort through the mess Aldius made was enough to stir a pride in Zander that could momentarily overshadow his rage toward the Sapphire knight.

Zander clapped Vernon's shoulder. "Still, we must always be better than those who seek to anger us. I need to keep control because there are bigger pieces of hateful shite than Aldius."

Vernon bobbed his head. He'd grown handsome in the moons since they'd met. His face lost its original baby-like paunch and had grown masculine. "Like the one we left back in the encampment."

"Yes, like Iceheart, and I'm sure bigger dung awaits us if we remain committed to ending Leverian strife." Zander was already braced to deal with the Sapphire and Ruby kings, but he'd have Alexia with him when that happened. "We need to break the cycle of hatred, not spin the wheel further into the mud and get shite on everyone's faces."

"Understood, Zander. I watch for peace. I'll keep an eye on this liar while you're out."

Zander hugged Vernon. "I am proud of you, Vern. River would be proud of you too."

Vernon gave Zander a squeeze. "I won't let you down, Zander."

"I know," Zander agreed, clapping his back, before mounting Paladin. "Blow the horn if Aldius so much as looks at you the wrong way and I will return."

Vernon did the Peacewatch salute, holding it with pride until Zander couldn't see him.

Kenneth, mounted on Storm, rode behind him in silence. The divinedamned bastard wasn't Alfread. Alfread would know exactly what to say right now. Kenneth worked hard and had come far in a short amount of time, but Alfread was his best friend and confidante. Zander tried to keep his anger from spreading but it was hard to cage it once it was released.

"I should untie Aldius and settle this. Pummel his peacock face until he falls back to earth."

"Maybe," Kenneth said, not sounding like he had an opinion on the matter.

Zander scowled, riding on. He imagined all the different ways he could kill Aldius in a fight instead of scanning potential Sapphire crossings in the moonlight. They wound through animal trails, failing to search for signs of human disturbance in the twilight while they inspected their vulnerable psyches instead.

After several degrees of silence, Kenneth stopped riding. Zander halted Paladin beside him. Kenneth exhaled. "I cannot compete, Zander. Not with men like you, like Aldius, or like Alfread. She'll never see me that way."

"Maybe," Zander said, not sounding like he had an opinion on the matter.

Kenneth laughed until Zander thought he would fall off the horse. The laughter lifted Zander's lips reluctantly into a smile. After that, he was able to better shift his focus between patrol responsibilities and convincing himself that Aldius was merely jealous. How could Zander blame him? Alexia was remarkable. He couldn't fault other men for yearning for her any more than he could fault them for admiring the sunrise each morning. Each time he conquered his doubts, one line kept reviving them.

Blood in the bed.

Zander kept imagining Alexia entangled with Aldius and Aldius flashing that smarmy grin as he thrust inside of her, kissed her lips, and ran his fingers through her hair. The idea of her being with this scum infuriated him.

When they shifted southward, Zander stole glances at Goddess Hill and Covademara, remembering how it felt to be with Alexia that morning. He refused to accept that she would crawl into another man's arms after the wonders they shared. Yet, the part of him that feared abandonment kept whispering the lie over and over again.

Gidi's Greatsword! Even if Aldius had made love with her, Zander was going to win her back. He couldn't kill Aldius, but Zander would prove to Alexia that he was the better man. He would never give up on the Sunrise. Never!

Until next time, he would be friendly with Aldius and further her vision of peace. If the man was lying, Zander had nothing to worry about but an envious, pathetic man who wished he had what Zander did. If the man was telling the truth, Zander would prove to her that they were life's mates. The ending was the same; Alexia would wear his locket, and they would be one. They'd live happily ever after. The end.

If only that was an end to the trouble Aldius could cause him.

A faint sound resounded from the direction of the outpost. He leaned in and the sound came again. Vernon's horn. Kenneth's wide gray eyes flashed with terror and Zander knew his seers mirrored the same panic back to Kenneth. They set their horses forth, spinning and making a mad gallop through the dark wood.

Smoke billowed above the forest, blackening the sky. It seemed like stars burnt out one-by-one as clouds rolled in. Kenneth was a better rider than Zander. He didn't wait, galloping ahead through the darkness toward the rising pillar of smoke.

Zander raced after him, his thoughts chasing the hope that they wouldn't be too late.

Iceheart's threat rushed back to him. Guard your witch, boy.

Zander roared like a wounded wolf howling at the moon. Truth bit him in the heart. Iceheart had been right. Zander's mercy had brought ruin upon them. He judged himself before the evidence had arrived, and in his gut, he knew that Aldius had escaped. Or other Sapphires had found them.

His thoughts were visceral punches to his gut. Asa. His staff-sister, his responsibility. Oaths broken. For nothing.

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