Lessons with Janus had once been her favorite part of the day. That place had been usurped by Galen when Serali began seeing him on a regular basis. But now her times with Cervus were beginning to be the best. Magic lessons were fun, but she was still at a point in her learning where a great deal of tedious trial and error was necessary for the least little spell. Fighting lessons, on the other hand, were exciting and fun, after she got over the soreness of the first few. While she had been with Janus, she had gotten soft. As a child she had run wild over the hills and valleys near Land's End, but magic more often required one to sit in one place for long periods of time.

Exercising was enjoyable, and she took confidence in her quick mastery of the subject matter. Cervus himself, who was always sparing with praise had told her that she was "Not half bad, for a skinny mage girl."

Her time with Galen was another matter. She still enjoyed being with him, but there was always the nagging guilt about how she was keeping him in the dark. She had promised Janus that she would tell Galen her secret, but the knowledge that it might drive them apart kept her procrastinating. And when she wasn't busy thinking about her own problems, she sensed that something was troubling him as well. Admittedly, she couldn't be sure. She had never been close like this to anyone before, so she didn't know how accurate her perceptions were, but he was quieter than he had been, and he sometimes would start to say something and then break it off and refuse to continue.

A few days later Serali finally found out what had been bothering him. Galen had come later than usual, arriving long after Serali's magic lessons had ended. His expression was serious, almost sad, as he asked her if she would like to go riding. Serali agreed, and the two mounted up and headed off. Galen led the way, not out to the country as he usually did, but in towards the center of the city. Serali asked where they were going, but he didn't answer. He just shook his head and continued on. The ended up at a tiny square of park-land that sat on a gentle hill not far from the palace. The whole city was visible below them, the only thing higher was the palace itself. Serali looked out over the scene, with the sun setting in the west, near where she could dimly make out Janus' tower. To the east, the great river flowed on its way to the distant sea.

For a long time they stood, still mounted on their horses, looking off into the distance. Then Galen spoke. "Serali, there's something I've been meaning to tell you. I didn't want to because I wasn't sure how you'd react, but I've been lying to you for a long time, and I can't keep it up anymore."

"Galen, I..."

"No, let me finish. If I don't say this now, I don't know when I'll be able to work up the courage again." He paused, as if uncertain of what to say next. Then he turned to where the palace towers loomed above the city. "There, can you see that northernmost tower, the short one with the balcony half way up?"

Serali nodded. "Yes, I see it." A short tower at the edge of the palace grounds, square rather than round like the tall central spires, and with a railed balcony on the third floor.

"The room with the balcony is where I live."

"You live in the palace? I thought that only the royal family and their retainers actually lived there."

"Yes. That's the truth."

"But you always said you were a noble, not a servant."

He sighed. "I am a noble. More than a noble, really. You see, my name isn't really Galen Marten. It is Galen, though. Galen D'Trevius."

Serali stood blinking for a moment. "You mean Prince Galen?"

Galen nodded.

"The second son of King Valor?"

"Yes."

"But what is there to be ashamed of in that? I was afraid that you were hiding something awful!"

"I'm not shamed to be a prince, but I was ashamed of lying to you. You've trusted me so much and I wasn't telling you the truth."

Serali shook her head. "Don't be so eager to put me on a pedestal, I'm not perfect either. In fact, I've been hiding something from you as well. Something a lot worse than your secret, I'm afraid."

"I can hardly believe that. You're practically perfect." He smiled.

Serali sighed. She wasn't perfect at all. "No I'm not. But why did you hide who you were in the first place?"

"I didn't really intend to hide anything, I assumed that everyone would know who I was, so I never bothered to introduce myself as 'Prince Galen.' And when I realized that you had no idea who I was, but you had danced with me anyway, and seemed to like me, I couldn't bear to tell you for fear that you would turn out to be just like all the silly girls that chase me for money and power. I decided that I would get to know you, find out if somebody could really love me for myself instead of for my title. And you have, you've been perfect and wonderful."

"No." Serali interrupted. "I haven't been perfect. Didn't you hear? I've been hiding something too."

"What horrid secret could you have?"

"I... It's not something that you'll believe if I just tell you, I need to show you. Follow me."