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[travelingprince]

I had not expected, when I woke that morning, to find this.

It was clear nearly from the moment I woke that something was amiss; there were shouts, strange noises, sounds of fighting and misery and fear. My first thoughts were for Phedre and Joscelin, and I went to their treehouse to be certain they were unharmed, but it was empty. Had they been

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[queenysandre]

Ysandre had woken to the sounds of screaming, and after dressing hastily had found nothing but utter chaos wherever she went. It seemed nowhere was safe; everywhere there lurked all manner of strange, terrifying being, and Ysandre was at a loss, experiencing true danger for the first time without her Cassiline guards or even her Champion there to protect her.

Once outside, she spotted Hyacinthe on the path, holding a lifeless body in his arms. She could not see the woman's face at first, but the dark hair was quite familiar, and as she drew nearer, her suspicions were confirmed.

"Phedre!" she cried, dropping to Hyacinthe's side, still utterly graceful even in her horror. "How did this come to pass?" she asked Hyacinthe, tears filling her violet eyes as she reached a hand to Phedre's hair.

[travelingprince]

"Your Majesty," I said softly, my voice at the point of breaking. "I have no idea..." I found I could say no more without giving in to the grief that overwhelmed me, and I lowered my head, cursing my loss of the dromonde that could have given some warning, something...

[queenysandre]

"Elua, no," Ysandre whispered, her voice much shakier than she'd ever allowed it to be, abandoning all show of control and propriety as the tears spilled down her sun-kissed cheeks, blurring her vision. "No."

It was all she could say, all she could think to say at the sight of her near-cousin, one who had grown so very dear to her over the years, and one hand went to Hyacinthe's shoulder as she bent to press a kiss to Phedre's temple.

[travelingprince]

"I'm sorry, Your Majesty," I said, when I finally found voice to speak. "I have no answers." I got slowly to my feet, holding Phedre's body close. "But I must get her out of here." I had to find Joscelin and tell him -- unless somewhat had happened to him as well, something I did not wish to contemplate but found very likely given his oath to protect her.

[queenysandre]

Ysandre rose with him, attempting to compose herself as she did so, until a thought struck her and she had to take hold of Hyacinthe's shoulder again to keep herself aright. "Joscelin! Oh Elua, where is Joscelin?" she exclaimed, knowing he would not have allowed such a thing to happen, and could not prevent herself from thinking the worst.

[travelingprince]

"I don't know," I replied, though I knew that if there was any way he could have stopped this, he would have. I knew that the Queen was thinking the same as I, however, and so did not give voice to the thought.

It was a slow and hard walk, though it should have been an easy one; Phedre seemed to weigh far more in my arms than she should, though perhaps it was the weight of grief more than anything that slowed me. But what stopped me completely was another, yet more unexpected sight, in the path before us:

Another Phedre.

There was no mistaking her, even though she had met somewhat more violent a death; the black lines of her marque showed clearly through the remains of the back of her gown.

A trick, sorcery of some kind, but I knew not what.

[queenysandre]

"Elua!" Ysandre exclaimed, and near flew to the side of the other Phedre, crouching down to gently turn her, brush her hair from her face.

There was no mistaking it; this was Phedre as well. And yet, how could that be possible? Was this more of the island's trickery? Ysandre looked up at Hyacinthe, her eyes wide with shock and confusion. "This is Phedre, I'm certain of it. What sort of twisted game is this, that the island has seen fit to play with us today?"