Eric stood in front of the Leyera home and straightened the navy blue tunic of his uniform, swallowing hard. No matter how many times he'd been in this situation, it hadn't become easier. Something about dining with the families of the towns they visited left him on edge--drained, agitated, and desirous of a nap. 

As if reading his mind, Samson grumbled beside him. "I hate this part."

On Eric's other side, Terrance Jensa snorted. A man in his late forties, Jensa served as a sort of council for both Eric and Samson, his years of experience invaluable to their novice--despite their aptitude and excellence in their years in the lower ranks.  Jensa was to blame for dining with the wealthy families of each town, as it was expected, and he always ensured they met their expectations. Jensa had also been the Second to the Commander before Eric, and Queen Narissa promoted both his pay and his family when he agreed to stay as Eric's wise council.

"Get used to it, boys. Lip service keeps us in favor with the people. Makes them respect us as authority. That alone keeps us on top." Jensa never seemed to have trouble with small talk or large gatherings, and even Samson managed well with conversation, though he found it boring.

Eric alone seemed to struggle with the whole of it, unsure of what to say or how to act. He'd trained his entire life to be a warrior, capable of handling any combative situation. King Bainon insisted Eric would face more dangerous struggles against rebellions than he himself ever did. Queen Narissa agreed--Eric's responsibility would be to learn the way of the sword, not the way of the tongue.

"When you're king, my child," Narissa said, placing a slender hand on either side of his face as she cast him a look of motherly love, "you will be the strongest in all the lands. Should you desire it, they will be yours. If you show them mercy, they will honor you."

A soft shove from Jensa pushed Eric's feet forward, up the cobblestone path to the largest home in all of Treywick. Four columns erected in the front, two on either side of a pair of massive oak double doors. One of the only two story homes in Treywick, the Leyera Mansion reminded Eric of the homes in south Braskey, in the capital city of Osha where he grew up. A memory of a laughing young lady with strawberry blonde hair, shoving lightly at his shoulder hit him like a fist to his stomach.

Forget. Forget or risk what comes with it. 

The front door opened before they reached it, one of the Leyera servants dipping into a curtsey and inviting them inside. 

Aside from inspecting the disaster in the archives upon their arrival, Eric hadn't spent much time in the Leyera home. He let out a breath of relief at the unfamiliar interior--no memories crept up from the ghost of his former life. 

"Commander, welcome." Mayor Leyera stepped into the large great room from a door to the left, his arms spread wide. The mayor, short and stout with a large black mustache and thinning salt and pepper hair had a jovial look about him that left Eric with the feeling of someone trying to sell something.

Before any of them could respond to the greeting, a tall, reedy woman descended the grand, twisting staircase on the right side of the great room, her deep set, dark eyes widening with delight as her wide mouth stretched into a horsey grin.

"Commander Lee! We're so delighted you could join us. We have a three course dinner planned in your honor. The best venison you'll find in the entire western countryside."

To avoid a grimace, Eric forced a smile to his lips, dipping his head in thanks. He still hadn't mastered the art of explaining to people that he didn't eat animals. He cast a sideways look at Samson, who bit his lip to keep from smirking.

"Commander!"

This time, Eric had to forcibly stifle a groan. Aundreya Leyera entered the great room from a door on the right, her dark eyes wide with shock at the sight of him. Why she seemed so surprised, he didn't know, but he shared the feeling when a second girl--nearly identical to the first--appeared through the door right behind her.

All three soldiers turned their attention to the unknown girl, one they'd never seen before, but who looked like a lighter version of Aundreya. From her hair to her eyes, the girl was a duplicate, but in shades of chestnut and caramel as opposed to Aundreya's onyx and coal. 

With a little "oh," the girl froze, nearly bumping into Aundreya. She glanced from Eric and the others to her parents, both of whom seemed frozen, unsure of what to do next.

"Miss Aundreya," Eric said, finding his voice. "I didn't realize you had a sister."

"I don't." Aundreya's words were clipped, but something about them urged Eric to believe her, despite the presence of the girl behind her. "She doesn't exist."

Eric glanced from Jensa, who nodded as though all of this made perfect sense, to Samson, who frowned and cocked his head to the side, staring at the new girl.

"I can see her," Eric said, stepping forward as suspicion grew inside him. "She does in fact exist. What's your name?" He addressed the girl, raising his hand with Aundreya opened her mouth to speak on the other's behalf.

"Noelle," the girl whispered, her cheeks reddening as though unaccustomed to such attention. 

"Noelle." Seeing her unease, he put his hands behind his back in a relaxed stance, away from the sword at his hip. "You exist, Noelle."

At his words, her chin jerked up, eyes widening. A strangled chuckle from behind him drew his attention back around to the mayor.

"Of course she exists." He stepped around Aundreya and put his hands on Noelle's shoulders. "I'm terribly sorry, Commander. Noelle isn't healthy or of sound mind. Her frailty prevents her from being out in the community. We found it was easier on her and Aundreya if we didn't have to answer questions about her. She's fragile, but harmless."

"We care about her too much to let outsiders cause her pain," Aundreya said. Noelle nodded, casting her sister a light smile that softened her features even more. Still, something felt wrong, and Eric saw Samson's gaze narrow as he glanced back. Jensa, however, clapped his hands together.

"My sympathies, Mayor, young Noelle. I'm sure our arrival has been quite a shock."

"We didn't realize you'd be here so soon." Aundreya reached out and grabbed her sister by the wrist. "Noelle usually stays upstairs when we have company. We were just headed up when you arrived."

Eric watched the way her fingers tightened around her sister's wrist, the skin around Aundreya's grip growing red.

"If you feel up to it, we'd love to have you join us for dinner," Eric said, watching Aundreya's face more than Noelle's.

Aundreya flushed, but beamed up at him. "That is a lovely idea. Noelle, would that be too much for you?"

Noelle hesitated, glancing at her father, whose encouraging nod helped her find her voice.

"No, I think I could be at dinner."

#

Dinner was a stilted affair, Eric squirming most of the way through the ordeal as he pushed the venison around his plate, hiding bits of it in his napkin and passing it to Samson. Jensa kept the conversation rolling, and Eric only had to join in when addressed directly.

I hate these dinners. They make me feel like I'm ten years old sitting at Narissa's table, trying to answer for my poor scores in mathematics. 

No one knew he was the son and sole heir to King Bainon and Queen Narissa. They'd kept his identity secret to keep him safe from the rebellious forces growing in the north. The previous commander hadn't been able to find their base of operation, which was why Eric and all of the Army troupes were visiting every single town, investigating every family to see who belonged to the Militia and who didn't. 

Though most didn't know it, the Militia had been King Tarvril's illegal slavers, renegades, and wretches. Under the guise of protecting the crown, they'd pillaged villages, raping women and enslaving children along the way.  Only when Bainon's coupe proved successful and the Militia was disbanded did the terror stop. The Army had been formed to make sure it never happened again.

"How are things in the east, Commander? Does Osha still have the grandest view of the seas?" Madam Leyera's dark eyebrows arched as she turned her sallow face toward him. 

"Osha remains beautiful and safe, ma'am, thank you. The Queen and King are in good health."

"Adonai keep them," the Leyera's said in unison. It was a customary saying when discussing royalty, though Eric knew not why. Adonai wasn't fickle and disinterested like the Myrzellian gods. A simple phrase couldn't change the destiny written in the stars for anyone.  Their stories were set.

"How are we coming on the missing books from the archive?" Mayor Leyera asked, pieces of venison spraying from his mouth.

"We've met with several families today, but it will take time to speak with all of them." Samson's words drew the attention away from Eric, and he mentally thanked his Second. 

A soft cough drew their attention to Noelle. She hadn't spoken all of dinner. Eric had the impression she was so stunned to find herself as a member of the party, she didn't dare risk it. Mayor Leyera turned a loving expression on his sickly daughter, his eyes crinkling at the corner as he nodded for her to speak.

"I'm afraid the fault lies with me."

A loud clattering sounded as Madam Leyera dropped her utensils onto her plate and grabbed at her neck in surprise. Aundreya's mouth fell open, and the skin between the mayor's brows puckered.

"Come again?" Jensa asked, cocking his head to the side.

"I'm home by myself, day and night, not well enough to be out in the world." Noelle gestured toward the large window on the far wall of the dining hall. "I know I shouldn't have, but I snuck into the archives for a bit of reading. I didn't think the books would be missed, and when the Army arrived, I was too afraid to admit what I've done."

"We saw the archives," Samson said, his lips pursing. "It was a disaster."

Noelle nodded. "I think a tarahk got in. I saw tiny footprints in the dust, and those imps love causing mischief if they can manage it."

"Noelle, how could you?" The mayor's tone wasn't angry, but disappointed--and scared. His eyes shifted to Eric as his face paled. "She didn't mean any harm."

Love blinds. The thought sprang to Eric's mind before he realized it. He'd heard it enough. Love distracted people from doing what needed to be done.

Abigail. 

Stiffening, Eric glanced at Aundreya, the least like Abigail in the whole room. What he saw drove the memories out of his mind.

A wicked smile twisted Aundreya's lips, her deep brown eyes lit with excitement as she watched her sister. It was as though Teramas--the celebration of the age of contentment--had come early. His gaze narrowed.

She wants to see her punished. 

For the first time, Eric focused on Noelle with all of his faculties, including the ones he'd spent years developing to be the best Commander he could be. 

At first glance, Noelle Leyera appeared lovely and fragile, just as they'd been told. The longer Eric looked, however, the more yellow-tinged skin he noticed luring beneath the edges of her dinner dress. As she gripped her knife, Eric saw the fingerprints around her wrist, purple like bruises. 

One glance at Mayor Leyera told Eric he loved his daughter with his whole heart, and Eric couldn't see the mayor's wife ever being capable of physically harming another.

But Aundreya...

"She'll receive no punishment," Eric said, catching Aundreya's disappointed gaze before she changed it into one of polite agreement. "I cannot blame a young lady confined to a life of seclusion for seeking a bit of entertainment."

He pushed to his feet, no longer caring about rudeness. Samson and Jensa followed his actions, and the Leyera's copied them.

"Thank you for this lovely meal. If you'll excuse me, we must away." 

Without waiting for an answer, Eric turned on his heel and marched out of the door, intent on getting out of the house. 

Love blinds. Hatred burns. 

If she were left in that house, Noelle Leyera wouldn't live to see the age of twenty.

Whoa. Heavy stuff. I suppose when you have the gift of deception like Aundreya, you can make almost ANYONE believe your lies.  Lucky Samson and Eric are trained to see past that, yeah?

So, who is loving Eric? Who is intrigued by the other side of the story about the Militia? Remember, nothing is one sided.  There's no way of telling WHO is the bad guy here. 
PLUS we found out a huuuuuge secret about Eric! Did you catch it? I bet you did.

Tell me ALL THE THOUGHTS in the comments after voting for this chapter. Wuv you!