"I will agree to you being involved...providing you remain safe...If something does happen to me...the throne and our people must be protected...Understood?"  Hector says firmly has he takes the water offered by Kenzie...

Rommie looks at her twin...

Kenzie looks at Rommie then back at Hector "If she knows we are alive and threaten her claim to the throne, she is going to come after us. No matter where we are and she has already proven she is willing to kill anyone who gets in her way" a flash of pain crosses her face quickly. She clears her throat and looks back at Hector "You have made sure we were taken care of and trained. We can handle ourselves and I can protect Rommie and Kalli if they can't"

"And you know what training I have had...plus we have our magic..."

"And so does she...Your magic doesn't come from your royal blood...it comes from her line..."

Rommie looks at her twin...

"she hasn't seen us since she tried to kill us, so she has an idea of what we can do magically but she doesn't know for sure. Is there any way for her to have guessed where you would have placed us?" Kenzie asked

"No...as far as we have been able to tell...She never suspected where I hide the two of you.  I changed both your birthdays to make it appear as if you were either younger or older that your real birthdate.  I made Rommie older...you...Kenzie...younger...You were hidden with different families...different class structures.  Also I picked couples that already had daughters your new ages...The Duke's daughter was still born...Lily's daughter died from a heart defect weeks after birth."

"And the fact that she went after the Brooks?"

"Justin and Lily were known to be extremely loyal to the Royal House.  Justin had been a loyal friend to me since we toddlers.  He had grown up as my companion...my squire when I first joined the army as a Knight...Lily...had been your mother's handmaiden from her time as the daughter of an Earl...like Justin...Lily had grown up with your birthmother as her companion."

"She destroyed an entire village, killed everyone, just because my parents were associated with the palace at one time" Kenzie tried to remain calm, the only hint of the turmoil boiling inside of her was a small tendril of smoke coming from the unlit fireplace 

Hector gets up and goes over to Kenzie...gently taking her hands into his..."She killed them because they turned away from her...because they couldn't stand by and allow her cruelty to enslave the whole kingdom.  They had seen her order the murders of her infant daughters...the murder of her husband...They volunteered to raise you because they wanted to protect you from her..."

"Why does she want mom in her court?"

Hector looks over at Rommie..."Revenge..."

Kenzie takes her hands out of Hector's "the bitch needs to be removed" she says firmly

"I don't disagree...however...the Resistance isn't strong enough yet to launch an attack.  We attack her and loose...a lot of good people are going to die...We have to be smart about it..."

Rommie's face goes a bit pale..."That's why Mom accepted the Handmaiden post...you are going to use her to get an insider perspective of her court..."

"And the Duchess agreed.  The alternative was you...and you are not ready to face the queen on a daily basis...not with your temper..."

Kenzie moved to the window "Good people are dying daily, I am afraid the resistance may never be strong enough."

"They are stronger than you may think..."

"Then we need to buy them time to become stronger."  Rommie said..."So...here's what we are going to do...You keep doing what you do best...While Kenzi and I will do what was originally planned for us...attend Academy..."

Kenzie stares silently out the window, torn with wanting to do something more but knowing it would futile. Finally she turns back toward Hector and her sister "I agree. We all need more time" 

Hector nods...Rommie gets on her feet and takes Kenzi by the hand...leading her back upstairs to their suite of rooms.  

Kenzie follows Rommie silently, her mind refusing to still

Once they make it back upstairs to their private sitting area...Rommie stops...taking a few deep breaths...before turning to her twin..."Are you ok?"

Kenzie looks at Rommie and shakes her head "No, but I haven't been ok since my parents died so" she shrugs "at least now we have some information. You?"

"No...Information overload...I knew he was my father...I have known for years...but...her...that is an entirely other matter..."

Kenzie shook her head, walked over to the couch and sat down putting her face in her hands

They are never going to let us participate in the Rebellion...

Kenzie shook her head "I dont know. I dont think we should make any hasty decisions. I think we need to process everything before we decide anything"

"I agree..."

There is a quiet knock on the door...Rommie goes to answer it...finding a shaken looking Kallisto on the other side...Rommie gently takes the younger girl into her arms...hugging her tight...before letting go of her and ushering her into the room...shutting the door behind her...Kalli goes over to the bed and sits beside Kenzie...

Kenzie is quiet as Kallie sits on the bed next to her, she doesn't say anything, just takes the girls hand in hers and holds it

Rommie sits down on the opposite of Kallie...putting her arm around the teen's shoulders...

"Don't let them send me away...this is my fight too."

"No one is getting sent away..."  

Kenzie squeezes Kallie's hand "Have your parents been training you in self defense?" she asks softly

Kallie nods...

"He trained all of us in self-defense."  Rommie says softly.  "As well as being the "butler"...he is Dad's head of security.  " 

Kenzie nodded "Good, I think we are going to need it sooner rather than later" she said and stood "There is not much else we can do right now."