Wufei moved a step closer to the bars of the cell.  The brief flash of pain and despair he’d seen on the battered, yet beautiful face had made him feel a pang of sympathy for the wild magic creature.  He could find much to admire in the slim, black-clad figure before him.  Not many people he’d encountered had been able to stand the amount of pain Duo had to be experiencing, and even fewer would decline a fast way of relieving that pain though it was offered by the enemy.  It was because of the sudden and strange respect he felt that he voiced an alternative, “What if we asked a commoner to help you?  She has no magic, but she does understand and use herbal medicine in an expert fashion.”
     His breath was stolen from him as dark violet-nearly black eyes locked on his own as if searching for an alternative motive to his suggestion, and as if it were a challenge he lifted his chin a little and squared his shoulders, not willing to let anyone question his honor.
     Duo tilted his head to the side, peering at him quizzically, “What is her name?”
     Wufei felt himself relax slightly.  “She is called Salipo.”
     The Shadow tribesman stepped forward, into the light, with the grace he’d exhibited earlier.  “How do you know of her?”
     Behind him, Wufei heard Heero growl deep in his throat and heard his friend and bodyguard slip his sword halfway out of it’s scabbard.  Slowly he raised his hand, stilling Heero’s actions while not once taking his gaze from Duo’s, “She saved my life.”
     The tribesman’s face remained frighteningly empty and unrevealing.  “Then why, when you are the Unseelie court’s Warrior Prince, is she still just a ‘commoner’?”
     Somehow Wufei had found the question, though just an inquiry, to hold more to it but strangely no contempt.  “I offered her much but she declined, preferring to stay and help her village.  She asked but one thing, and that was that she always have a steady stream of medicinal supplies for her village.”
     The braided young man nodded thoughtfully, “Then I’ll let her help me if she’ll see me.”
…………………………
     Duo leaned back against the marble wall.  They’d brought him up to the main level to prevent the gentle healer from seeing the less than hospitable dungeon.  NO one had removed his chains, which was a pity because Queen Relena had them enchanted with a spell that in effect put an end to nearly all his magic.  He had a feeling none of the four with him knew that though.
     When he’d volunteered himself to take this mission to learn more of their enemies he had never thought he’d come to like any of them.  As it was he thought rather fondly of the little blond and the Lumiaria, though he couldn’t say the same for the silent, imposing figure of the Catron who had glared at him stoically for nearly all the time since they’d come to his cell.  But it was the darker elf, Wufei, who had caught and held his attention.  There was a mystery around him, something involving the summoned healer and the near loss of his life… course, he had to admit to himself that he had felt a certain attraction towards the elf that had been reputed to be the best swordsman in existence.
     Now he watched them all from beneath lowered eyelashes.  No one had said a word since they’d come up to the windowless, brightly lit room.  He hated the silence and normally tried his hardest to avoid it at all costs but he was a prisoner for these people, not a guest, and to speak freely would only make a bad situation worse so with no little strength on his part, he remained quiet and alert.
     After a few more moments of the suffocating stillness, Quatre let out a heart-felt sigh, “Duo.  It would be so much easier if you just let me help you.”
     He chuckled softly, giving the Prince a very rare, genuine smile.  “You ARE helping me.  Why?  I don’t know.  Your kind and my own are sworn enemies, but though I’ll owe you a favor for requesting this healer, I won’t have to give you my life completely.  Besides, as I said, I’m used to pain.  This…”  He indicated his injuries with a slight wave of his hand.  “This is nothing.”
     Out of the corner of his eye he saw Heero nod in approval and carefully hid his surprise.  A quick glance at Trowa, Quatre’s bodyguard and friend, showed a similar reaction.
     The door to the room swung open and a tall woman, of about 20 years of age entered, her blond hair braided into two braids on either side of her face and stubborn, green eyes.  She wore what a farmer might, minus the straw hat and with the addition of a dark green apron that was the constant symbol of any practicing herbal healer.  Duo could see that the pockets were filled to the top and nearly overflowing.  The woman held a strength that was rare, but despite that she also had a softer side to her because though her face didn’t change, her green eyes softened slightly as she took in his injuries.
     “Greetings Salipo.”
     She looked up at the Warrior Prince and smiled a mocking, yet good-humored smile.  “I thought I told you, after that last time, not to mess with the Shadow tribe again.  And what do I find out when I get here, but that you want me to heal one.”
     Duo didn’t miss the tightening of Wufei’s lips as she spoke and certain things fell into place like a puzzle, softly he spoke, eyes still on the Dark Prince.  “You were fighting a shadow tribesman and were mortally injured.  This kind woman saved your life that day… It explains much, especially about your dislike of my kind.  Tell me, do you know the name of the one that you were fighting?”
     The Prince seemed to pale and Duo didn’t move as he saw Heero’s fist coming at his face.  He let it connect but didn’t fall.  Remaining conscious and standing from pure will alone.  Slowly he looked back at Wufei, his lip was cracked and bleeding, but he had a sudden grin on his face that he couldn’t keep off.  “You have no idea what you have in your possession, nor do you truly know how I came to be here.  If you did you might change your strategies in dealing with me.  Or you could make them worse.”
     Quatre moved forward, in between Heero and himself.  “What do you mean Duo?  Please…”
     A quick intake of breath came from where the healer stood and Duo looked up to see her eyes narrowed her flesh pale, but her gaze steady as she walked up to him.  “He called you Duo.”
     Duo didn’t look away but nodded slowly.  All at once she slapped him.  Her lip quivering slightly as she did.  He eyed her in uncertainty, having never seen her before, and waited until she spoke.
     “I owe that to your brother Solo for ordering the death of my parents.  Since I am unable to get to his majesty I was hoping the Crown Prince would be so kind as to deliver it to his King in person.”
     Duo felt his cheeks go red but he didn’t look away.  “My brother didn’t order their deaths… The Revered Magus did.  My brother is… his mind has been… the plague destroyed his mind, he’s nothing but a shell that still breathe and so the Magus interprets his wishes, giving out orders in his place.  And as to delivering that to who’s responsible… I would gladly do so to the Revered Magus… or much worse.”
     Salipo blinked at him.  “You’re lying.”
     Duo felt his anger swell inside him and he knew that his eyes had become entirely black with red irises when she took a hurried step away from him.  “If there is ONE thing I can claim to never have done it is to have intentionally told a lie.  Think it over healer.  Did this war start when my brother took over after my Father’s unfortunate accident?”  He knew that the way he said accident meant that in he didn’t think it was an accident but he didn’t care.  The Revered Magus could have spies anywhere and he wouldn’t know because of the magiked cuffs, but he didn’t care.  He wouldn’t have anyone, including this woman think badly of his brother.
     Only seconds later he wondered why he had dared to think that way, when he was his peoples' only hope.  And as the dark laughter rolled through the room he knew he was in terrible trouble, as were the people with him.
     No form appeared but the voice sounded out in the room anyway as if he were there in the flesh.  “Ah, Prince of Shadows, I see you aren’t telling these good people the entire truth.  You have neglected to tell them of your own involvement with the war.  Have you neglected to tell them that you are the wielder of the Deathscythe?  From their reactions I believe you have.  Shame on you.”
     Duo squeezed his eyes tight.  “I had no choice, if I hadn’t all of my people, would have…”  His voice trailed off.
     “Your people love you.  Unfortunately.   But though that presents somewhat of a problem I have my own loyal forces.  The Calimari.  They have already been instructed to seek you out and destroy you.  Pity that they are so mindless but at least I can be sure they will not fail.  Have a good death your highness.”
     Duo’s eyes had returned to normal at the mention of the Calimari.  No one in the room stood any chance of destroying them, and they would kill anyone and everyone to complete their mission.  Quatre was watching him, as were the others.  They had no idea what the Calimari were or how much danger they were in.  Licking his lips Duo turned to look at Quatre.  “You have to listen to me.  I can’t explain everything right now but I screwed up and the Revered Magus heard me.  You have to unlock these chains and let me go or a lot of people, innocent or guilty are about to die.  Please?”
     Quatre seemed to watch him, looking at him intently.  “Will you let me read your mind to see what your true intentions are?”
     Duo swallowed hard, there were things in his mind he didn’t want anyone to know about but he didn’t have the time to argue.  He needed Quatre to belief him and belief him right away.  Looking at the blond he steeled himself.  “Brace yourself.  There’s a lot in my head people should never be subjected to.  But go ahead.”
     Duo felt a slight tingle, like a caress and then a sudden jolt and he was on his knees looking blankly at Quatre who was being supported by Wufei.  The blond looked incredibly pale but he turned to Trowa, voice strong.  “Free him and hurry.”
     Duo held his arms up and breathed easier as they slid away from his wrists.  After his ankles were free he stood and this time let his mind expand to the shadows, become one with them.  Not only in the room they were in but over the entire countryside, an ability only possessed by members of the Royal Family.  Using his mind he sent his power out, forbidding any of the Calimari to use them.  Should any try they would die immediately.  Unfortunately, that didn’t prevent those who’d already been in travel from continuing their journey to their destination.  As forms started to emerge from the darkness and solidify, Duo did the only thing he had left to do.  He called the Deathscythe to him.