Inside the courtyard there were lights glowing, music playing, fountains splashing, and food being served. People costumed as everything from beggars to queens mingled and danced and ate. Sitting in a dais overlooking the revelry was a bearish man with flaming red hair. He could be no other than Baron Almaric.

"So what now?" said Flame softly as they stood to one side of the courtyard.

Brianna looked at Baron Almaric. Then she shrugged. "There's nothing else to do but go ask." And she walked across the courtyard, heading directly for the baron.

“She has quite a bit of courage, doesn’t she?” said Lavasida.

“Courage, yeah,” said Aidan, thinking that he would probably have called it craziness rather than courage. Lavasida smiled and set out after Brianna, the others close on his heels.

"Baron Almaric." Brianna presented herself in front of the Baron's raised throne with a bow. A curtsy would have looked out of place in her tattered warrior's clothes.

“I don’t think I know you,” said the baron, his voice rich and deep.

"You don't," said Brianna. "We have come from... elsewhere. But we've come in search of something that you might have in your possession. We need it greatly."

"Oh?"

"Yes. A piece of crystal. It would be perhaps half the size of a man, a silver-blue color, and too hard for anything to scratch it."

"I might have such a thing," said the baron, his face revealing nothing. "I might not. If I did have it, why should I give it to you?"

Brianna looked for a long time at the baron, trying to judge him, but his face was impassive. She remembered the gypsy's words, so at last she said, “My lord, I could give you many reasons. I could talk about doing good, I could talk about saving lives, but instead I’ll tell you this. I will do anything you ask, complete any task you set, give you anything I possess, in order to gain it. And all of these my companions can say the same.” She gestured at where the others stood behind her.

"So." The baron's cool blue eyes regarded her levelly. "You tempt me to test the limits of 'anything', but perhaps there is something you can do for me. You want what I suspect is an item of great power from me, and yes I do have the thing you seek. Well, there is an item of great power which I want as well. It lies now beyond my reach, but it may not be beyond yours."

He sat back in his chair. "I will spare you the lengthy details and simply say that I have a sister. She and I divided up our father's kingdom long ago. She took the smaller half, an island with few inhabitants some distance from here. It has even fewer now, I suspect. She is a sorceress of great power. Her castle there is defended by many magics. By my own sworn word I cannot set foot on her lands, nor she on mine. But a servant of hers stole something of mine some years past. I would send my own servants after it, but none of them are a match for her magic. You, however..." He surveyed the group and smiled. "I think that you may be able to succeed where my own people would fail. So. If you want your crystal you must bring me my talisman. It is an amulet, the size of a child's palm, tarnished silver set with clear stones. She wears it always. If you can take it from her without killing her, I would prefer it, but if her death is what is required, then so be it."

Aidan shivered at the coldness of those words. He would order the death of his own sister?

"We will do it," said Brianna firmly. If she was put off by Baron Almaric's ruthlessness she showed no sign of it.

"Very well. I can supply you with a ship to reach her island, which is two day's sailing from here. And if you need any other supplies, I will be happy to provide them."

“We’ll be ready to go as soon as the ship is,” said Brianna. Aidan just sighed. Two days there, two days back, and probably a day or two getting the thing, he thought. I am so sick of this world! I want to go home. Home… With a kind of inward start he realized that he had really started thinking of Aretha as home. When had that happened? Earth used to be home. But it’s true. Aretha is my home now.

“The ship will sail on the morning tide,” said the Baron. "But in the meantime I invite you to enjoy the party. I must say your costumes are quite excellent.” The twinkle in the baron’s eye as he said that last made Aidan quite certain that he knew the “costumes” were nothing of the sort.

Brianna stepped in closer to the dais, apparently wanting to talk to the baron further. Aidan took a good look around. There were people dancing, food, laughter, and generally a good time all around. He couldn't enjoy the food, but there was no reason not to enjoy everything else. He smiled at Flame Song and held out his hand as the musicians struck up a new song. “May I have this dance?”

Flame laughed. “You ought to know I’m not the best dancer.”

“But you’re the only one I care about.”

She blushed and took Aidan’s hand. Aidan held her close as they circled the dance floor, just enjoying her nearness. She was beautiful in the warm light of the many lanterns set up around the courtyard. Her green eyes sparkled and she smiled warmly down at him. He smiled back, amazed all over again at her beauty. His newly enhanced senses let him smell the scent of her, feline and feminine and alluring. He felt a different sort of hunger stir as he gazed into her eyes. My blood may not be all my own these days, he thought to himself, but it’s a red as the next man’s. Too bad we’re not likely to have much privacy for the next few days. Ships aren’t exactly known for plentiful and spacious accommodations. Ah well. I will enjoy what I have now and not worry about tomorrow.