Ciradyl walked in and sank immediately to her knees, her hand over her heart, leaving Dain blinking in surprise. She searched his face, then took a deep breath. "My name is on the roster, and my waking mind remembers nothing of what happened that day, your highness," she said. "But you know the gift I have, do you not?"

"I do," he said, his voice pitched low and his tails swaying behind him.

"Then you know that you may have every memory I possess, even those I cannot call to mind. Your answers may lie there, your highness." She swallowed. "I will give them to you if you ask it of me, and begin life anew. Do you want me to do this thing?"

He looked at her for a long moment. "Part of me does, but the greater part does not," Dain said, holding out his hand.

She took it, letting Dain help her to her feet. "Will you tell me what I did, then, if you will not have me give you my memories of this life?"

"You took Leah to a lord to be fed heartflower, given a murder weapon, and instructed on how to seduce and kill me," he said, his voice flat and with the rage curling behind it.

Ciradyl went ashen beneath her tawny skin. "Why am I still alive, then?"

His cheek twitched, and he turned away. "Because I believe someone put a command geas on you," Dain said with a snarl. "Because I am not as bloody-minded as people imagine. Because there is no purpose in killing a friend who was abused alongside my soulmate."

"My prince," she said, her voice soft.

Dain stilled, then turned towards her again.

My guard sank to one knee, and held her hands up, as a knight might have proffered her sword to a king. "I meant no offense to you, Prince Dain," Ciradyl said, looking up into his eyes with a calm face. "You have had my loyalty for these eighty-two years. What I meant was: why would I be left alive, instead of killed before I could offer this life's memories to you?"

He paused at that, tilting his head. "Perhaps because they assumed I would be dead or that I would kill you before learning more," Dain said, the words sounding carefully chosen. "Or perhaps only because they care little for the armies, and don't know that you're a phoenix." He placed his hands on hers. "My loyal soldier. It is a pleasure to know that my soulmate is guarded by someone like you." His jaw tensed and he closed his eyes, tension lining his forehead. Dain lashed his tails once, a sharp motion. "Yet until I can be certain that no danger remains hidden under your skin, I would prefer that you stay far away from her."

"As would I, your highness," she said, her voice sad. "Will you break the chains when the moon rises?"