> Odessa had become more compassionate towards Rellah, since the night she left the deep claw wounds on her leg. The wound had healed completely, though the skin showed scars of four long marks, which Rellah would carry for the rest of her life. The scars were a lighter pink than the rest of Rellah�s naturally sun-kissed skin, but never visible as she had gone back to wearing her royal gowns instead of her leather armor she had grown to love in Britannia. Odessa had taken up drawing Rellah�s baths each night, and forcing her to leave the fur-covered chair by the fireplace to bathe. She worried over the princess� deepening depression, as the light from Rellah�s beautiful violet eyes had all but faded away, and when she looked into them, Odessa felt a sickening pull in her stomach; an instinctive warning that something was severely wrong.

> Nikita had been kept away from the Tower during the day by Caranthir, so even if Rellah had been animate enough to speak, she wouldn�t have gotten a chance to ask her about the last vision she had while in Brittania. Rellah would overhear Odessa question Nikita on her whereabouts, but Nikita just waved away the questions and would go out to the balcony to look out at the castle.

> Tonight, when Nikita returned, her weariness had become more evident. There were large circles under her dark eyes, her skin almost a sickly pale. Odessa left the fireplace and stopped Nikita as she appeared in the doorway. �Nikita, where have you been? You look absolutely exhausted.�

> Instead of the usual dismissal, Nikita sat down in a chair and replied, �I will not be going tomorrow. He has requested your audience in the morning, for questioning.�

> �Questioning of what?� Odessa sat on the arm of the chair, looking down at Nikita.

> �About our search for the princess in the realms. He will ask you why we allowed her to stay longer after we located her,� Nikita leaned back, sighing.

> �Did you speak the truth, or did you lie?� Odessa�s yellow eyes filled with concern.

> �I told him the truth. I told him that Rellah had grown attached to a young girl who had gone missing, and she wanted to stay long enough for the girl to be found,� Nikita looked to Rellah, who hadn�t looked away from the fire�s gaze, wrapped up in a heavy sheep�s wool blanket across from them.

> Odessa nodded, standing from the chair and moving across the room. �I will tell him the same, as it is the truth.�

> Nikita leaned forward, her eyes searching Rellah�s face. �Princess, I have some good news for you.�

> Odessa�s head jerked upward, watching Rellah finally turn away from her intense stare to look upon Nikita. Rellah said nothing, but waited for Nikita to continue. Nikita smiled at the princess. �I have finally obtained permission for you to see your mother, Queen Isilwen, tomorrow morning.�

> Rellah�s eyes flickered a moment with light, her pink lips tugging at the corners, but the expression quickly faded. Standing up, Rellah pulled the blanket tighter to herself, and slowly made her way to her bed, climbing in and turning again toward them once more, but only to draw the drapes closed.

> Odessa quickly glanced to Nikita, her yellow eyes widening with confusion. Nikita gave her a reassuring smile, and mouthed �she will be okay� before standing from the chair and walking out to the balcony. Behind her she heard Odessa settle into a chair, ready for some well needed sleep before the grueling questioning that faced her tomorrow. Nikita looked into the night, watching the moon peek out periodically from the clouds that covered the sky. She hoped that the visit with Queen Isilwen would be enough to snap Rellah out of her depression before it consumed her entirely.