All is Fair in Love and War 2.0

"Oh no, it's quite all right. Most of us here can see you, I'm sure." The most minor magical skill was seeing and speaking with the dead. Anyone in camp probably could.

Taelin decided to have a bit of a laugh. "See what? I don't see anything. Who you talking to, Regius?" When the rebel leader elbowed him harshly, though for a unicornthat wasn't much of a deterent, he decided to drop it. "Oh, fine. Yes, we can see you. What's your name, Miss Ghost?"

"Of course, my lord," Beatrice replied before turning on her heel. She headed straight for the hounds and tossed them most of the fine unicorn hairs. She kept a few for herself for her potions and fortune telling. "Find that creature," she told them, weaving an enchantment as she did so. She might not be good at much besides fortune telling or plant magic, but she's practiced vision magic to see through the eyes of other beings. "Find the unicorn, and kill it." She released the hounds.

"Weeeeell," Sierra said shrewdly, her face shifting into one of great contemplation, "It may be because that was the first ability Regius had when he was growing up. And as you probably know already, Kalani isn't really fond of Regius that much..."

"He's afraid," Regius replied. "He's probably afraid of my power or that I'll change my mind."

"Or maybe he's just jealous of your power," Taelin suggested. "That kid's not special at all. He couldn't magic his way out of a sack."

"Huh?"
Shortly after Danica began speaking, Sierra noticed someone else had entered the barrier. She tiptoed over to where the woman was standing and...
"BOO!"

Sokra had been listening to Nathaniel and Beatrice's report in the other room. News of their failure was good news for her. As for the unicorn, it's power is no match for hers. Though souls for her ritual tonight excited her, first she needed to tell the king a few things. She would wait until Nathaniel left the room.

"Who is she?" Regius whispered quietly to the ghost. "I've never seen her around before." What he was trying to say, in other words, was "can we trust her here?"

Regius gave the smallest of nods and stepped forward. "You are an elf, I believe? Might I ask for your name, milady?" He was being as polite as possible. It was best not to offend someone who was able to sneak into your enchanted camp undetected.

Sokra slowly entered the kings chamber
"So, your favorite pet failed did he? That's no good."

Beatrice, after setting the hounds on the trail, went back to her room to put together another spell. This would bring them out of hiding, she thought. Unicorn hairs were very magical. With these, she could make a spell to block all illusion, which was certainly what they needed in this case.

She made a braided rope of herbs and threaded the unicorn hairs throughout. There, that would do. She stood and started for His Majesty's chambers once more.

"I see. It's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Lyn," Regius replied, feeling more than a little awkward. They had few elves among those in the camp, for their people had either been eradicated already or gone into hiding. Few of the survivors went where they could be seen or communicated with.

Taelin stepped forward. "We would never harm this forest, Lady Lyn," he promised. "We unicorns never lie." He glanced down at Madelyn and Danica. "We're only here because we have nowhere else safe to go. The king here is bent on destroying us all."

Beatrice took a deep breath and knocked at Kalani's door. "Your Majesty," she said with a deep bow. "I've made something you might require." She held out the braided rope of herbs and unicorn hair. "This blocks illusions, Your Highness. Your brother is probably hiding within one."

"Sorry, it's just that I've never met an elf before," Regius admitted. "I'm afraid I might say something to offend, since I don't know much about you or your people." He bowed politely. "You are welcome to stay here as long as you'd like."

But what she'd said about the laguz worried him. "Do you know if the laguz happened to be in the service of my brother, by any chance?"

"Probably not," Taelin scoffed. "He doesn't consider magical creatures more than a beast of burden. If he knew of the laguz's true form, he wouldn't allow it to roam so freely."

"The captives are to be scarified tonight," she replied, adding on "Oh by the way, I didn't mean the kitty."

Beatrice stopped where she stood. Sacrifices? What on Earth was she talking about? "Your Majesty?"