'HE WAS SO YOUNG!' Loushka chuckled and it rumbled through me. 'Well, the youngest of the group. He did everything the older boys did, determined not to weaken the team. They didn't know he cried himself to sleep the first few nights, he was so sore from the training.''Brave boy,' I thought while watching Loushka's memories and shifted closer, burrowing into her thick mane that shielded me from the biting wind.The lanky, scrawny youth in the griffon's memories was instantly recognizable; his mop of black hair constantly falling into the overlarge navy eyes which were dwarfed by thick black brows. Such a gawky looking thing, I thought and couldn't help giggling, tears flowing.The contradicting emotions, joy of seeing him so real and alive, and so young! Then grief at knowing what became of this determined teen I watched via Loushka's memories, felt exhausting, but I loved to watch him.'Oh god, Loushka. I don't know how I'm going to live without him.'Loushka stayed silent,

IN THE KITCHEN THE COOK, flushed from the heat of the massive ovens, frowned at Ignatius. 'She should be eating something!''Can't you add an egg to it?'The low smooth tones of Leseach's voice set Ignatius' teeth on edge. He refused to turn and acknowledge her but nodded to the cook. 'Yes! That'll make it better.'The cook grumbled, not fully satisfied but set to making the drink while he and the Northerner watched. Knowing she stood just behind him caused a knot of muscles between his shoulder blades to tighten and he twisted to glare at the blonde alien, hating the way she could nearly look him in the eyes with her extreme height. 'I don't believe I require your assistance.'Her queerly striped eyes regarded him flatly. 'Rashid suggested we discuss the sleeping arrangements with guarding the Princess. I understand you have specific orders from the Archduchess to watch over her?'Relief at not having to demand the right or create an explanation for sleeping in Catherine'

THE LOOK OF CONFUSION ON Catherine's face made Ignatius aware of what he'd said.Fuck.'No! I meant, ahh, are you feeling okay, physically?' He cringed inwardly. That didn't clear it up at all. 'I mean, you've slept for twelve hours straight.'She blinked in surprise and shoved her hair out of her face staring at him. 'Twelve hours!'Ignatius nodded.'God,' she croaked. 'No wonder I'm so thirsty.' She staggered off the bed, swaying, and trying to straighten her shirt, twisted around her waist.Ignatius stepped forward and helped her to the table, hurriedly filling a glass with water and set it before her. 'Drink that, I'll go fill this up.'When the door closed behind him Ignatius leaned against it, and breathed a sigh of relief, his head pounding. The longest night of my life, he thought when the pounding in his head lessened; even compared to being stuck in the baolwylf's den. Waking to find her still sleeping, not responding no matter how much he shook her, had scared the hel

THE FIRST FEW DAYS ABOARD seemed to both drag and fly by. Waking each morning brought an instant of ridiculous hope with Ignatius watching me from the table and looking, to my sleep blurred eyes, just like Alek. It didn't help that my dreams were a mess of memories of Al and Yakov. After the brutally clear truth registered again in my mind I ate breakfast with Ignatius, and occasionally Kassie. I spent the days with Loushka, often joined by Kassie and Kerak. We watched the allies and soldiers practice. Occasionally the Lieutenants or Leseach would join us and dissect the performance of whoever sparred on the large main deck. With so many things to distract me, I managed to keep the really bad moments to a minimum; just the mornings and evenings in the cabin, when Ignatius would kindly leave me alone for a quarter hour.I sat with my back to the base of the bed, watching the morning sun create patterns on the floor. Ignatius had gone to collect breakfast. It gave me fifteen minutes at

NOT LONG AFTER DINNER THE Princess feigned tiredness and excused herself, but Ignatius knew better. The days of practicing and conversing with those aboard wore her down. Waiting for another quarter hour he caught Leseach's eye and excused himself, heading to the kitchen where the cook had the mug of nellor waiting. Ignatius took his time walking to the Northerner's room. Their spat the other evening went unmentioned by either of them the next day and they managed to reach a sort of equilibrium. She appeared to respect him for his devotion to the task and he, well, he could appreciate some of her skills if not her personality. A yawn hit when he rounded the corner, in time to see Rashid walking away from the room.You better have not annoyed her, he thought too tired to be really irritated. I can't be bothered with that this evening.Leseach appeared at the door with a calm expression and gestured for him to enter. Ignatius shook his head and motioned for her to go first. The courtly