Professor Ka-Trae nodded slowly, glancing at his records of the game.

"I'm sending half of them into the forest through the west gate to find backup," Jillia declared, "Two to the nearest town, two to recruit the mercenary company along the river, and the others across the Border to request help there."

Ka-Trae nodded with mild approval, marked it down, and turned to Klaus.

Klaus wasn't allowed to react to Jillia's most recent move, because in a real war he wouldn't know such things. But he, too, had noted that a change of strategy needed to be made. He studied the board for several minutes. "I'm pulling back all troops into the forest," he finally decided.

"What?" Jillia exclaimed, unable to keep her tongue. He was retreating?

"Hold, Jillia," Ka-Trae instructed. "Klaus, explain your tactics. I believe I know your intent, but say what you're thinking of."

Klaus blushed slightly at the attention. "Once the my troops have seemed to retreat, the enemy's guard would be dropped. My army would split into two groups and return separately. The larger group would attack the front of the fort, and while their attention was taken, the other group would attack from behind. One or the other group would probably be able to break in."

Jillia blinked. She wouldn't have thought of that.

"A good plan, Klaus," Ka-Trae commended. "Jillia, can you think of an effective defense in that situation?"

Jillia opened her mouth and closed it again. After a bit of time thinking, she said, "All I can think of is to try to reduce the invader's numbers as much as possible. I would get the remaining scouts out to warn the next closest location on my side if possible. Last, I'd destroy the fort if possible, and poison supplies. That would take out both supplies and an important base."Ka-Trae nodded, "That is probably the most reasonable response for the circumstances. In the most basic military structure, where there is no hidden escape route, that is." He began to pile his notes into a single, neat stack. "We know how this game will end. Jillia's fort is taken or destroyed and Klaus will sorely regret expending eighty percent of his supplies. The game is over. Clean up the pieces and then you may both run along." He went to collect the few notes which had been left at the door.

Jillia and Klaus began to clean up. Jillia had nothing on her schedule yet, and Klaus wasn't really looking forward to weapon's practice. "You really spent most of your supplies on taking one fort?" she asked in a low voice.

Klaus gave a sheepish grin, "A lot of it was to bribe the neutral country into not assisting you."

"What?!" Jillia said in surprise. "Tricky. I knew you were better at this than me."

"Not really.." Klaus protested.

Ka-Trae interrupted them, "Jillia, you have formal court in half an hour. Klaus, your father wants to see you before weapons practice."

"Yes, sir," Jillia replied automatically, already calculating how much time she had to get ready.

Klaus nodded as he put away the last of the tokens. A moment later, they were running off down the hall, trying to keep up with their busy schedules.

Ka-Trae watched them leave and sighed. They made him feel so old. At the same time, teaching them was one of the most enjoyable parts of his day. He sat down at his desk and began to work on the seemingly infinite pile of paperwork.

Jillia rounded a corner, hurrying towards her room to get ready for Formal Court, when she ran right into someone who was coming from the other direction. She promptly lost her balance and fell down.

"Hey! Watch it -" At that moment, Seed looked up to see who had run into him. Sis? He paused before opening his mouth "Jillia! You have to watch where you're going." He said then offered his hand to help get up.

Jillia accepted his aid in getting to her feet. "I'm sorry, U - Captain Seed," she blushed, "I have to be in court soon."

"Ah, I see. But as a word of advice, you shouldn't run at breaking speed just to be somewhere on time," Seed grinned, "I don't know what I would do if you got hurt."

"I'm perfectly able to move without hurting myself," Jillia blushed again and smiled, "But I suppose I'll go a little slower." She looked at the clock on the wall, "I have to go now. Bye Seed!"

Seed sighed as he watched her resume the exact same speed, nearly running into someone else, towards her room. You know that you can still call me brother, right little sis? He thought and laughed. He wasn't old enough to start thinking like that, but with thinking like that he barely noticed that Jill wasn't remaining a little girl all her life.

Seed continued down the hallway as a part of his daily route. Being the captain of the palace guards was not the easiest of jobs in the Highland army. Some ignorant higher-ups in the Highland army think that it's a safe position for the weak. What they don't understand is that there is plenty dangers in the palace. But that was a different matter.

Jillia on the other hand, the royal princess of Highland. She really is like a sister to me Seed thought to himself, as he rounded a corner. I guess since both our parents were dead.. At least mine are, her mother was dead. And her father was literally dead to her. As for her blood brother Ruka, he would rather her not exist to him. Sometimes I think that I'm the only one who cares for her. No.. That wasn't true, there was her strategy instructor. And Kiba's son Klaus. Unlike what Jillia thinks, Agares probably really does care for her. Wow.. That's ignorant of me, presuming what others think? Seed laughed softly to himself. I really do talk to myself to much.

"Your orders have changed," said the hooded man. "You are to bring the Princess Jillia to the agreed upon place. Use whatever means you see fit, as long as she remains alive. You may make use of other agents stationed within the palace."

"Yes, my Lord." His eyes flickered slightly, "I will be unable to continue my work here after this."

"You need not worry. Should you fail, you will surely die in a timely manner. Should you succeed, we will be able to find a place for you elsewhere. You are a valuable asset, Ka-Trae, do not think that you will be forgotten."

"I understand, my Lord. I will deliver the girl shortly."

"Your orders have changed," said the hooded man. "You are to bring the Princess Jillia to the agreed upon place. Use whatever means you see fit, as long as she remains alive. You may make use of other agents stationed within the palace."

Footsteps echoed through the area of L'Renoille's castle's disengaged area. A castle so big is bound to have such places. Just another idle afternoon spent lurking about these hallways. He had completed his studies, and living in such a place does not give much time for friends, so most of his free time was spent wandering around such places.

Perhaps he could visit princess Jillia, but never would it be acceptable to do so without a sufficient alibi. After all, she was royalty, much too high a status to be caught with him, and she is always so busy in royal affairs. Though at least he was able to meet up with her at least a couple of times, the only thing uniting them was the tactics lessons.

"Your orders have changed" A voice rang from one of the doors. A commander ordering his soldier on a mission no doubt, but what was he doing in this place? Klaus speculated it was a secret mission, and attempted to go away before those words shattered the place.

"You are to bring the Princess Jillia to the agreed upon place...."

What?

Klaus tip toed to the source of the noise. The door shut tight, and there was no other way to look who was inside. So instead he placed his ears on the door and hoped for a voice he could recognize.

".......I will be unable to continue my work here after this."

Professor Ka-Trae?! He hoped this wasn't what his intuition was telling him. After all, he had known the professor for quite a while, and the idea that he was involved in some plot seemed absurd to his logical mind.

"I understand, my Lord. I will deliver the girl shortly."

Could the Highland royalty be so lenient in selecting their instructors? The last words stunned Klaus, who tried to fade into sight before the conspirators would come out. As they did the fact just became clearer, indeed it was the professor, with another man who covered his face with a hood.

Trust is a powerful weapon in the ends of the enemy Ka Trae had said in one of his lessons. Don't be foolish and give it away to anyone just because you know him.

How true this statement was.

Jillia was bored to her wit's end. Other young ladies of the court giggled and gossiped around her in the dower, and Jillia half-heartedly tried to look as interested. In truth, the only thing keeping her awake was trying to think up a good defense against Klaus' new tactic. But she did perk up when she caught mention of her classmate. "What was that about Klaus?"

A blond girl, Etaillee, explained with a grin. "Tenny's in love with Klaus' pretty face." She indicated the red-faced Tenayra.

"But he wouldn't glance at any of us, of course," Erim remarked with a sharp tone, "We're far too low in rank for him. Wouldn't you agree, Jillia?"

"What do you mean?" Jillia asked, slightly confused.

Etaillee giggled and quickly said, "Don't mind Erim one bit. She's just being silly."

All the other young ladies joined in the laughter, including Jillia, though not very convincingly. She wished for a way out of this -

- and got one."A thousand pardons, my ladies, but I must borrow Her Highness for a while," said Professor Ka-Trae from the doorway.

Jillia needed no second bidding to get up from her chair. "I'm sorry," she said, "I promise to make this up to all of you." She left with her teacher and the other girls simply went back to their gossip as if there had been no interruption at all.

In the hall, Ka-Trae explained as they walked why he had requested her presence. "The army is going over some maneuvers right now that I thought it might be good for you to learn about."

Jillia slowed her pace, "Well, shouldn't Klaus come as well?"

"Uh, I already tried, but he was too busy to get away just now," Ka-Trae answered.

"Oh.." Jillia frowned. It must be something very important that Klaus could not come. His father, General Kiba, seemed to want Klaus to become a strategist very much.

She noticed that they were in a hallway that led away from the training field. "Professor? I think we took a wrong turn a minute ago. We are going to the training field, aren't we?"

"Oh, quite right," Ka-Trae said, turning around, "I suppose this isn't the way to the training field at all."

Without warning, she was gripped at the throat from behind. She was aware of being lifted a little and thrust into a large canvas bag before fainting.

Klaus began to run, to where he did not know, it didn't really seem to matter. What am I going to do? He asked himself, I need to find someone before Ka-Trae does as he was ordered. Father is away at weapons training with his men, by the time he get's back it could be too late. Klaus paused for a moment as he tried to think of someone who could help. Of course! I must find Lord Seed.

"Tell me Erik, do you remember what it is I told you I would do if I caught you wondering around the palace again?"

"I swear Lord Seed, I wasn't wondering around," he protested.

"Then what were you doing? And with these no less?" Seed asked as he reached into Erik's sack and pulled out a loaf of bread and some assorted fruits."Stealing again were we?"

"N- n-no. I swear it! I just came to show my respects to the royal family. Please believe me."

"Are you really being honest to me Erik? Because I wouldn't expect anything less from you. And that reminds me, a loaf of bread and some fruit just recently had gone missing from the palace kitchen. You wouldn't know anything about that would you?

"Eh? Er.. I mean no! Of course not! I would never dream of stealing from the mouths of the family!"

"I see," Seed stood up from the cool stone floor and Erik's cowering body and snapped his fingers. A man with a Chef's hat walked up to him and stood beside Seed. "Is this the--"

The palace chef immediately cut him off, "yes! Zat iz ze cuplrit!" He spat as he started waving a dull butcher knife at the sweating and now saliva covered theif.

Seed nodded slightly as he waved to two accompanying soldiers. "Take him to a cell" he ordered.

The two soldiers briefly saluted and began to drag Erik down the poorly lit, stone hallway. Seed let out a deep sigh. Why must I be stuck doing this dribble? Oh well, it comes with the territory I suppose it just comes with the job. Seed sat down on the cold stone hallway and took a deep breath. He slowly scanned the dark hallway, no light except the candle light on the wall. He sighed again wishing for a job more exciting then providing palace security. There were people more suited for it then him.

Suddenly Seed was jerked out of his silent thoughts as he heard footsteps running towards him. He got to his feet and looked towards the dark, small, running figure. After a moment of watching he stepped into the candlelight. Seed immediately recognized him. "Is something wrong Klaus? You look as pale as a ghost. Did someone die or something?"

Klaus placed his back to the wall and leaned on it taking deep breaths. "No, at least not yet. But someone might."

"Huh? What have you heard Klaus?" Seed replied.

Klaus' breathing returned to normal as he started to just shout out words. "Jillia.. The princess.. Huff.. Puff.."

Seed's expression changed rapidly at the sound of Jillia's name. "Klaus, is something wrong with Jillia? Tell me!"

"I heard everything.. Ka-Trae, he.. He's planning on killing Jillia. I saw him take her towards the back end of the castle, in the dead area that's not used. Please Seed, you're the only one I can trust to help her."

Seed was angered at this information, someone had the nerve to betray the princess. He tilted his head and firmly gripped his sword. "Take me to where you saw him."

"Here Captain Seed." Klaus said as he took position under a stone archway. "This is where I saw Ka-Trae and Jillia before he threw her in the bag. "But that was some time ago. They are probably long gone by now." Klaus pointed out.

Seed's head raised as he heard a small scream down the hallway. "... Or not. Come Klaus." Seed offered as he unsheathed his weapon and followed the voice.

Ka-Trae held up the large sack to his mouth, "Just a little while longer Jillia. Then I will present you to my employer. I don't know why, but I expected more from one of my students. Oh well, no bother. Klaus shows more promise then you, you pathetic little girl, princesses shouldn't be studying strategy y'know? They should be studying more things like.." Ka-Trae continued on, Jillia wasn't really listening anyway. Meanwhile Seed and Klaus were around the corner.

"Shh! What are you trying to do Klaus? He's right there, he might here you." Seed whispered.

"S-Sorry Captain Seed. But seriously.. What are we going to about this?"

Jillia was dumped uncerimoniously onto the carpeted floor, breathing hard and lightly dusted with flour that had been in the bag sometime before her. She quickly took in her surroundings. The room was small, somewhere in the castle that probably wasn't used much anymore. Ka-Trae was looking down at her coldly, with a long knife at his side. He was the only other person in the room, so he must have been the one to carry her the entire way. He certainly looked tired, but Jillia doubted she could escape from an armed man almost twice her size. But nobody could possibly know what had happened yet, could they?

A thought to her mind. Call me pathetic, will you? It's high time I prove just how pathetic and useless a princess can be! She got to her feet and began to dust herself off. "This was a very expensive dress, you know?" she said, "I shall be very upset if it's ruined because of this."

"Sit down," said Ka-Trae, pointing to the small couch against the wall.

Jillia sighed, "Very well." She sat down and looked about her. "No tea service? Drat, I really could use a cup of tea after all that."

Ka-Trae rolled his eyes and ignored her. While he did that, Jillia put her hands behind her, searching for anything that might have fallen in between the cushions when the room was still in use. The first thing she found, slightly painfully, was a sharp sewing needle. It was too short to be any use that she could think of, but there was always a chance. And she also found a small jeweled comb that had probably cost somebody a lot of money.

She began to comb her hair with the comb she had just found. "My hair must be absolutely a mess by now," she commented.

Ka-Trae glared at her. "Give me that right now," he demanded, holding out his hand. "And sit still or I'll have to kill you right now."

Jillia made a show of reluctantly handing over the comb, and just after giving it to him, she stabbed the sewing needle into his hand as hard as she could. He yelled at the sudden pain, and reached for his dagger.

Uh oh, Jillia though. She hadn't quite thought of what she would do next. If only the door were closer..!

Seed and Klaus flinched as they heard Ka-Trae's scream.

"What was that?" Asked a bewildered Klaus.

"I don't quite know, but now is out chance." Seed waved to Klaus and the two darted in.

"Why you little...!" Yelled Ka-Trea as he unsheathed his dagger.

Jillia screamed and desperately tried to get away by ducking underneath Ka-Trae's legs.

Ka-Trae swung around to see Seed and Klaus standing behind him. "W-How... Did you guys find me?"

"Enough, the penalty for kidnaping royalty is punishable by death, prepare yourself." Seed stated while reaching for his sword.

"Damn... My employer is not going to be pleased."

"Employer? I want to know who dares to kidnap the princess."

"Yeah!" Klaus yelled.

"Not now Klaus.." Seed replied.

"Uhm.. Yes sir." Klaus said as he walked over and tried to comfort Jillia.

"If I told you he would kill me!" Ka-Trae stated.

"Do you think what I'm going to do is any more pleasant? Give me one good reason why I shouldn't let it take ten days for you to die."

"I cannot..."

Seed turned to Klaus and Jillia, "Klaus, I want you to call my deputies here and tell them to take Ka-Trae to the dungeon."

As Seed's back was turned, Ka-Trae took his long dagger and ran at Seed. Seed heard his footfalls and tried to turn around to face his attacker, however at that moment Ka-Trae's hand slipped and stabbed the dagger into Seed's shoulder. As Seed cringed he threw Ka-Trae away. Seed grabbed his shoulder with his left hand, as he turned to face him again. Ka-Trae's eyes looked desperate, he was going to do anything he could to get out of there alive.. But even if he did, his employer would most surely kill him. So why was he trying to escape?

"Argh!" Ka-Trae spat as Seed's right fist came down on him. Ka-Trae stumbled to his feet, arms flying desperately, most of the blows were clean misses, but the last one caught Seed's stomach. Seed countered it by delivering a swift kick to his head, knocking him to the floor.

Seed turned around and began to follow Jillia and Klaus, near the entry way he kneeled down and collected his blade. Outside in the poorly lit hall, he heard the sound of rubbing metal. As he turned around he found Ka-Trae taking the sword from a knight statue and come charging towards him. Seed raised his own sword to counter Ka-Trae's poorly followed through blows. The two began to exchange equal blows until Ka-Trae attempted to make a high blow towards Seed's head, as soon as he realized what he was doing, Seed ducked and brought his blade to bare on Ka-Trae's lower stomach, slicing the blade along his midsection.

The sudden loss of blood made Ka-Trae feel instantly week as he toppled over and landed hard on the marble floor. Seed glanced down at his dead body. Suddenly he felt weak and dropped to his knees, using his sword to keep him up straight. The battle must have aggravated his wound. Seed looked up as he heard two sets of feet come running up to him, it was Klaus and Jillia.

"Seed!" Jillia screamed as she ran up to Seed and sat beside him. "Are you okay?"

Seed looked down at the young girl, "yes, I am fine. Are you alright Jill?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. I can take care of myself you know?" Jillia sobbed.

Seed smiled, "of course I do."

Jillia leaned forward against Seed's chest. He looked down at her and saw a beam of light reflect off of a tear rolling down her cheek, he removed his glove and whipped it away and placed his hand on the top of her head.

Jillia sat quietly in her quarters the next day, reading over an old scroll describing the history of the true runes. She was suddenly startled as she heard two large knocks on her door. "Enter," she asked.

The door slowly swung open as Seed walked in and closed the door behind him.

"Seed, how nice of you to come by. Would you like some tea?"

Seed waved his hand negatively. "No, that's alright princess. I just came to tell you something."

Jillia stood up and faced him. "Oh?"

"Yes, because of yesterday's.. Incident, your fa-" Seed suddenly went silent as he remembered ever since her mother's death, she never considered Agares her father. "That is the king, has promoted me to general. I finally got the promotion I have been working a long time for."

Jillia's expression suddenly dropped as she looked towards the floor. "Oh.. I see. That's great... Seed."

Seed suddenly looked concerned as he walked over to Jillia's side. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no. I'm very happy for you." She replied.

"But..?"

Jillia sighed and walked over to her desk. "I guess this means I won't see you much anymore, huh?"

"Well, probably not. With my new duties I'll be required to stay out of the city more often... But I will still live here. And I'll come to see you as often as I can. But really, you are growing up now. You don't really need me to be your guardian anymore right?"

Jillia turned around facing him. "Of course I do! Between the king and Ruka you are the only one who really cares about me! Heck, you are more of a brother now then Ruka ever will be."

Seed felt as if he had been smacked in the face. "I.. I had no idea I meant so much to you." Seed said modestly.

"Oh!... Come on! You must have!"

Seed walked over to Jillia and her throw her arms around him. He kneeled down in front of her. "It's alright Jillia, I'll always be here. If you ever need anything. I'll do whatever I possibly can. You can count on that."