-now-

He was all but breathing down his neck.

It was all Sounou could do not to twitch. If he did, he knew, Reef would snap at him. Sounou was too wound tight to survive a verbal attack from the bodyguard. That would be too much for his poor nerves. He would be forced to tears.

And that wouldn’t do.

The warlord does not cry. His hand tightened on the reigns and the horse snorted. He quickly loosened his hold and allowed his gaze to drift to the girl at his side. She smiled up at him, briefly.

Rem was a lifesaver. He was pretending to be Sounou, while Sounou pretended to be Ryjid. Reef was not amused.

And yet, so far, not a single member of the envoy had noticed anything unusual. Luck was with them.

Their caravan traveled with all pomp and glory that a great king could afford. Delegates, counselors, and servants rode around their warlord, while soldiers surrounded the party in bright flashing colors.

Just inside the borders, Sounou singled for the party to stop and ordered camp made. Servants instantly went into motion, erecting a large tent for Sounou and... Sounou grinned, Sounou. Rem.

Sounou shifted on the saddle, ready to get off the horse. Reef was suddenly there, blocking his path.

“Don’t move.”

He faced the bodyguard, smiling genially. “Why ever not?”

“The Warlord will not set foot upon such filthy dirt.”

Sounou blinked. “Huh?”

“Your face looks stupid.” Sounou quickly rearranged his expression to a sardonic smile. “You have to wait until the servants have the camp created. Look, the counselors all have not moved.”

Sounou glanced at the men gathered on their horses, all of them looking hot in the direct sun. He grinned. Rem leaned forward to see around Sounou.

“Why is that?”

Reef shrugged. “Something passed down from the queen.”

Sounou sighed then straightened in the saddle. “Very well then, I see no reason not to use this time.” He turned to Rem. “Wait here, I never join Ryjid when he’s doing ‘business’.” Rem nodded.

Sounou nudged his horse forward and Reef followed. Sounou raised a hand and motioned a horseman forward. “Take my flag,” he said in Ryjid’s voice. “Go to their city and deliver my message.” The horseman bowed in the saddle as much as he could. “My message is thus: I release to you these three prisoners as a sign of my good will. In your captivity, you have my decoy. I demand his release, along with the other ten and three they hold. In return, the rest of our prisoners will be released. If you decline my offer, we will take up arms against you, and this will be settled with war. Think carefully, until now, I have been generous. Even now, I am lenient regarding your audacity in attacking my people. I give to you three days to release my people. At the end of these three days, I will come and take them. Go now. Take three hostages and nine soldiers.” The man bowed again and took off.

Sounou went back to Rem, followed by Reef. Reef nodded his approval and motioned to the now erected tent. Sounou looked forward to the bed he knew that was hidden behind the folds. Even more, he wanted Ryjid in that bed with him.

---

Sounou had shifted his appearance just before he entered the receiving tent. He entered a step behind two guards and with Reef one step behind him. Rem was already in the tent, sitting on a stool to the right of Ryjid’s own throne, dressed as the Prince Consort, appearing like Sounou usually did.

Eyes forward, it didn’t take much to notice all eyes upon him, including the surprised looks upon the counselors. They knew what the Warlord looked like. He had been here, not an hour before, and now he had an almost double playing his part?

A few pairs of eyes suddenly turned to Rem, realization dawning only to be replaced by confusion once again. If the Darcia prince was sitting there, who was this double?

Rem shared a secret smile with Sounou as they realized the thoughts filling the counselors’ minds. Not many knew that Rem was also a Darcia.

Sounou sat on the throne and quickly scanned the gathered people crammed into the tent. There, hidden by several bodies, was Ryjid, glaring right at him. Sounou’s lips twitched. He was going to be in trouble for this later, he knew.

His eyes turned to the emissary bowing before him. “Speak.”

They cried peace. Never mind the fact that they were the ones that invaded the Warlord’s lands. They had taken the liberty of drawing up a treaty if the Warlord would be so kind as to read over it and make whatever changes he deemed fitting. No matter what, the prisoners would be released.

The entire time he spoke, the envoy quivered in fear. Sounou watched him, not really listening, with a small quirk twisting his lips.

So this was the power his brother held? Ryjid had told him, time and again that when the time came, all this would be his.

Sounou didn’t think so. His eyes sought out Ryjid’s again. Not only did he not want this power, but if Ryjid died, Sounou would follow him into death.

---

AN: a rather abrupt ending... but that is the end. Please review if you read this far, I'll be really grateful.