It is less than a week since the death of King Neptune and imprisonment of Prince Grobian. The sun dawns brightly on a small japanese garden on the grounds of Ebony Castle. All is silent in the gardens, except for the humming of insects and the cheerful gossip of the birds.

Ebony's princess goes through her morning routine, which involves low-impact stretching and exercise [OOC: similar to Tai Chi]. The young woman is obviously very flexible. Mercury faces into the sun and her long shadow covers the length of the small garden. The sun plays off of her blonde locks and reflects from her blue eyes. The Admiral wears a comfortable yellow and blue outfit that allows her freedom of movement. After she finishes her routine, Mercury takes a long drink from a small fountain nearby.

Dalatriene stalked through the halls of the castle, his face pensive and his eyes brooding. He passed an arched window and blinked away the dawn light with surprise. He'd been wandering the castle for a good part of the night, reflecting on current events and how gloomy things looked. He looked out the window and spotted what looked like a young woman in one of the gardens. He almost walked on, but then she turned just right and he recognized the face of his older sister. Deciding that talking to her had to beat brooding, he headed for the gardens.

When he emerged from the archway leading into the garden he gave a quick wave. "Good morning sister." He tried to make his tone light, but his face had always been expressive and couldn't conceal his worry or his lack of sleep. Dala was clad in the loose, flowing tan robes he'd once worn as a hermit in the shadow of Sai. Slippered feet padded softly into the grass. "You're up early."

"Good morning to you as well," the young woman replied. She added, "I am always up early, although" at this she looks into Dala's weary vissage, "unlike yourself, I am not prone to staying up late. So what is bothering you on such a beautiful day? Have your opinions of the late-Neptune and his lot changed of late? Or is it the prospect of open hostilities?"

Dala sighed heavily and sat down on the grass. "Both, I think. I just don't understand. I can't say that I was Neptune's greatest admirer, but I did respect the way he kept the peace. It was difficult really. Seeing him with Mother. I always felt a part of me give a little wrench inside when I saw them together. But from their union we gained two new brothers."

He shook his head. "Now one of our brothers stands accused of murdering his own father! The peace is shattered. It seems so senseless! Why would Grobian, or anyone, kill a man and put two nations at war when there was finally a measure of stability? The peace wasn't perfect, to be sure, but even an imperfect peace is better than war.

And poor Asterion and Donovan! Asterion has lost his father, and little Donovan is born to a time of war, just as we were. Natania is as indifferent as ever. It feels like our family is coming apart, sis. And now, of course, the Prince-General and the Princess-Admiral are most likely going to be called on to do battle with Y'Nobe, as our father before us did, and assuming we win, we'll not endear ourselves to our undersea cousins, I fear."

He released a deep breath. "That is what has kept me up all night." Suddenly his lips quirked into a ghost of his normal smile. "Did I congratulate you on becoming Admiral yet? If not, then congratulations. I know you'll do the Fleet proud."

The little princess gave her brother a comforting pat and replied, "there was never going to be a true peace until Ebony or y'Nobe was conquered. It is, unfortunately, the only way that one or the other can expand outward. And Neptune, whatever his gifts, was not overburdened with enlightened leadership. I suspect that y'Nobe is well rid of him, although I have reason to suspect that Grobian, despite his many other shortcomings, did not kill his father."

Mercury let that last thought float about for a moment before continuing. "Has Asterion approached you yet about supporting his bid to become ruler of y'Nobe?"

Dala looked up, startled. "Asterion as King of Y'Nobe?! Isn't it too soon to speak of such things? The poor lad's just lost his father! He should have the time to at least lay Neptune to rest and grieve."

His head rested on his hand as he seemed to ponder something for a moment, then he added in a musing way "Although, if he were to take his father's throne, he could end this war before any real bloodshed can begin. And he is our brother. He could help link our two realms, make them one, that both prosper." He looked up with a hopeful smile on his face. "Yes...yes, that can work! You're a genius Mercury!"

Mercury shook her head slowly, "What if Asterion was not in mourning over his father's death, but instead planned it and framed his brother?" Before Dala could reply, she added, "it makes as much sense as Grobian killing his father. Perhaps more if Asterion's plan was to take the throne of y'Nobe by eliminating the current King and the only competition for the throne in one fell swoop."

Dala's older sister continued after a time, "you must have figured out by now how Grobian feels about us and father, be it his repeated desecration of father's tomb, his comments about our suitability for the Ebony throne, or his general disdain for the Court in Ebony, right? And you still think that Asterion is so different in his views? Perhaps less vocal, but not all that different. Do not be too surprised if after Asterion is crowned he frees his brother, explains that Grobian was framed by Ebony and continues the war. Then the y'Nobians will have a pair of leaders and a cause." Mercury shrugged, not expecting her brother to believe but feeling it necessary to once again try to voice what she saw coming.

Dala's face flushed a bright red. "Grobain desecrated father's tomb?! And what comments has he made? Remember, I was not here for some time so there are some things I am not aware of." He took a deep breath to regain his calm. "Though I do admit to some...unease around Grobian. For the time I was here, he always seemed bitter around us. I just assumed it was a defensive measure because he felt uncomfortable about being of mixed heritage. Also, I once experienced an extremely disturbing vision of him in Penumbra that I'm still trying to decipher.

As for Asterion, I suppose it is possible. You have been right before. Still, just because his brother may be ambitious doesn't automatically mean that Asterion is. And even if he is, we have to do whatever we can to safeguard the realm. If there is even the possibility that Asterion's crowning can end the war, doesn't it behoove us to take it?

And let's say the worst-case scenario does happen and Asterion and Grobian unite Y'Nobe against us. What would you do then?"

The young princess seemed a little surprised at her brother's lack of knowledge about Grobian's many misdeeds. She noted matter-of-factly, "well, he desecrated it every time he traveled from y'Nobe to Ebony and back. It was, in fact, one of the few things I ever saw him take much pleasure in. Rumors have it that he urged his father to let it be known that he and Asterion were the rigthful heirs to Ebony's throne, as the only children of 'royalty.' As for his being bitter, I suspect he was bitter about life in general. Some people are simply not suited to happiness." With a dismissive shrug, Mercury continued, "which is really just too bad for them."

After a few moments' thought, Titania's daughter went on, "Asterion seems a bit more polished. I'd say just as ambitious, but probably unlikely to be as much of a disaster if given power. It just concerns me that he might have plotted a lot of what is going on and what that would suggest about his real motives. I would not, however, agree that peace should be sought at any price. There are far worse things than war."

At the suggestion that Neptune's sons might unite y'Nobe against Ebony, Mercury's blue eyes turned cold and with an expressionless voice she calmly noted, "well then I would have to kill them, wouldn't I?"

Dala's big frame shivered at the look in his sister's eyes. He had seen Mercury in many moods, but never had she been so cold when discussing the death of others. Especially not the death of kin. The only comparison he could make was to their half-sister Natania. He'd expect such a statement from her, but never from his big sister.

"You...you would kill our own brothers Mercury?" All traces of the mighty warrior were gone from his eyes and voice. He seemed instead the little boy who'd once rode at their father's side in Birnham Woods, excitedly pointing out butterflies and birds to his big sister.

"That is the price of treason," she replied simply.

Dala sighed and nodded sadly. "If that becomes the case, I suppose that it may be necessary. We do have to protect the realm. I just hope it doesn't end up that way. The loss of even one of us diminishes the whole family."

He took a deep breath, then seemed to shake off the bleak mood. "When this is all done, do you want to take a break and ride with me into Shadow? We could visit the worlds we've brought into the Rim, or Vestige's shadow. Neveline, was it? Or just find new worlds to explore. Just the two of us, off having fun and exploring new things, like it was before."

"Well, don't worry about diminishing the family. At the rate mom is going there will be plenty more brothers before the end," Mercury said with a chuckle.

"As to heading off into Shadow, why wait? There is never a perfect time, there will always be something holding us back. We both have able commanders and trumps. Give me time to take a bath and get some food for the road and we can be in the Silver Rim by lunchtime." The eldest royal raised an eyebrow, "Well?"

Dala beamed brightly and nodded. "I suppose the war can do without us for a little while. Sure. I'll go bathe and change myself. Meet you at the stables!" He bounded to his feet like an excited child and started off into the castle at a brisk, long-legged jog.

Mercury drank a bit more water and then strolled leisurely into the Castle. She stopped by the kitchens and requested provisions be supplied to the stable and then headed up to her rooms where a hot bath was already awaiting her. The slender woman slipped out of her exercise clothes and into the soapy water. She relaxed in the hot water and organized her thoughts. Once clean and dried and into her traveling clothes, Mercury contacted her commanders by trump to let them know that she would be gone and how to reach her. She then wrote a quick note to her mother, informing her of the same.

Within an hour she was on her way to the stables, with clothing and other necessities packed. Her hair was shoulder-length, straight and brown and her eyes a dark green. Cymneo's daughter wore high black riding boots, cream riding pants, and a brown top. She arived at the stables to find that her mare -- Shadowfane -- was already groomed and ready for travel and that their provisions had arrived.

Dala informed his commanders by Trump that he would be absent for a period of time and to contact him if necessary, then he went to his chambers and bathed himself in floral soap. That done, he left a note for his mother, dressed, and made his way to the stables.

He arrived, dressed in a blue silken shirt, blue riding pants, black boots, and a knee-length indigo cape. Cyrais, the sword of Cymneo, hung at his side in its' gold-lined black scabbard. Smiling, he saw that his great bay stallion, the warhorse Juggernaut, was groomed, fed, and clad in his protective steel barding. He swung up into the saddle and laughed as Juggernaut nickered cheerfully at Shadowfane. "Ready sis?"

"Ready for what?" Mercury replied with a snort. "It looks like you are preparing for battle, rather than a pleasant ride through Shadow," she continued, indicating her brothers armament. For herself, she had only a rapier at her side.

Nudging her horse from the stables, the princess inquired, "where to? Silver Rim? Infinite Shadow?"

Dala laughed. "Juggernaut's armor saved him quite a few times during my adventures in Shadow before, so I just put it on him as a precaution. And I see you bear your own blade as well." He grinned, following her out.

"I say we travel to Infinite Shadow and see new things there!"