A/n Before you read this you must read chapter entitled Death of a Prince which no one seems yet to have done. Please review, otherwise how can I improve?

The pub was crowded and noisy. Smoke from the hearth filled the pub, mingling with the stench of stale beer and vomit.

It had been three days since Brythorn had been murdered and they were no closer to finding the murderer. Many blamed it on Bashraan or the Haellean Empire. Karavere blamed herself.

When they had returned to the palace, Kara had taken the body to his room, laying it upon the bed. If it wasn’t for the blood everywhere and the paleness of his face, she could have sworn he was only sleeping. The, summoning up her courage, she went to find her father. He hadn’t taken the news well. Ever since her mother’s death, he had been different, more moody, even cruel, especially towards Karavere, as if it were her fault that her resemblance to her mother caused him pain every time he set eyes on her. He hated her even more now for bringing the news of the death of his only son and heir; as if, somehow, by shooting the messenger he could eradicate the message, the truth; the grief.

At the feast after the funeral, Karavere had endured the condolences of the court as long as she could but the second one of the courtiers came with true sorrow in their hearts she could bear it no longer and ran from the room. Tiemil followed her out into the vast palace gardens and soon lost sight of her among the hedges and ancient trees. Eventually he had found her on a cold stone bench beneath a draping willow, tears running down her pale cheeks. He sat down beside her, putting his arms around her in an attempt to comfort her.

‘I can’t forget,’ she sobbed, ‘all the blood…everywhere…so much blood’

‘You need to get out of here.’ Tiemil told her, gesturing up at the imposing walls of the palace which held so many unwanted memories.

‘How?’ she asked in a small voice.

‘Tonight. Say you are ill and have dinner brought to your room. I’ll come and fetch you. We’ll go out into the city.’

‘But how? I’ll be recognised.’

‘I’ll bring some clothes for you.’

‘Where will we go?’

‘Somewhere they will never think to look.’ He had replied.

And so here they were, in a filthy pub near the docks, where no one would be able to find them. Karavere sat at the bar, a cap pulled low over her face, in the guise of a youth. Tiemil sat beside her.

She waved a hand at the barkeeper and slid a coin across the dirty counter. The barkeepers quickly pocketed the money before plonking a mug of beer in front of her. She smiled her thanks and swiftly downed the bitter brew, grimacing at the taste. Tiemil watched on with concern as she ordered yet another drink, realising too late what a mistake it had been to bring her here. ‘Are you sure?’ he asked, ‘You’ve had five already.’ He received no answer. It was then he noticed her attention was solely fixed on two sailors sitting in a dingy corner.

‘Good riddance!’ one was saying, a distinct toadishness about his appearance.

‘Aye!’ agreed his companion, a great bull of a man.

‘Tha’ stupid li’l princlin’ weren’t good fa nothin’. No’ to be king at least! Spent his ’ole worthless life readin’ books!’ spat Toad.

‘Oh, aye.’ Agreed Bull, who appeared to have a rather limited vocabulary.

A vein throbbed in Kara’s neck, her face purpled with anger.

‘Kara,’ came Tiemil’s gentle warning, ‘don’t.’ He placed a restraining hand on her arm but she roughly shook it off.

‘’is sister though, she’s a migh’y proud one.’ Toad was saying, Bull nodding in agreement, ‘Bet I could bring ’er down a peg or two, if I had my way! You get me meanin’?’ he grinned lecherously, making an obscene gesture with his hands as Bull laughed.

This was the breaking point. Karavere leapt from her seat and strode angrily towards the two men, hands clenched tightly at her sides.

‘Who are you!’ she demanded, ‘Who scorn, defame and defile the late Prince and his sister with your foul words?’

The men were momentarily taken aback. They sat stunned, looking at Karavere, mouths agape, before bursting into peals of laughter, ‘You from the upper, aren’t ya, wit’ ya fancy talk.’ Toad spluttered through his laughter.

It was Toad who first regained his composure. ‘Besides, what’s it to you?’ he sneered, standing to face her

‘Aye, what’s it to you?’ Bull chipped in, also standing.

Kara looked coldly from Toad’s sneering face to Bull’s idiotic one, rage boiling madly inside her until she could keep her composure no longer. With a well-aimed swing Kara punched Toad in the face. Blood streamed from his nose as he stuttered in surprise.

The other customers had all fallen silent, watching the scene unfolding before them with morbid interest, already placing bets on the outcome.

Toad uttered a low growl. THUMP! Kara blinked, momentarily winded, before retaliating with even greater force and fury. By this time some of the other patrons had decided they wanted a piece of the action and it soon became and all out brawl, every man for himself.

Tiemil struggled to fight his way through the crowd towards his wayward cousin and had almost reached her when a man accidentally wrenched the cap from her head. Her long golden hair fell loose about her shoulders. There were gasps of surprise as all around the room man stopped and stared.

Karavere froze mid-swing and stared back, as surprised as the everyone else. Slowly her pale green eyes narrowed into a dangerous glare.

‘Come on,’ Tiemil said, holding out his hand to her, knowing they had to get out before it got any worse, ‘We had better leave this place.’

Kara nodded briskly, snatched the cap from the man who still held it, taking the steady arm proffered and staggered towards the door.

As they passed through the throng, some doffed their hats; other glared or made rude gestures. Kara ignored them all, trying to keep her face a blank mask while her head pounded with the affects of the alcohol and her eyes were brimming with unshed tears.

When they had left the pub far behind, Tiemil pulled Kara into an alleywa. Looking concernedly into his cousin's face, he asked, 'Are you okay?'

Kara looked away, not trusting herself to speak. 'I'm sorry,' Tiemil continued, 'I shouldn't have asked you to come.'

Karavere took a deep, shuddering breath, trying to bring herself back under control. ‘It’s not your fault.’ Was all she managed to say before leaning over and retching onto the darkened cobblestones ay their feet.

When she had finished, Tiemil embraced Kara in his strong arms and held her as she cried into his shoulder. Silent tears of his own began to fall but he made not a single noise. They remained thus for a long while.

Finally, Tiemil gently pushed Kara away, ‘It’s late,’ he said, ‘We should be getting back.’

Karavere nodded in agreement and they headed back to the palace in sombre silence.