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"Why don't we ally with Earth, then? They're the ones with the most food at the moment, and with the most Adepts to help produce enormous crops. If nothing else, we can barter with them for their extra supplies. We don't have to worry that much."

He smiled. "Don't worry so much."

Luke shook his head firmly. "No. You should stay here a while and rest. Too much has happened recently. Stay here, and think. Let your mind clear out for a while."

He gave her a brief hug, careful with her wings, and then stepped back and gave a crisp salute. "Sorry, Majesty, but I'm supposed to protect you, and at the moment, you need protecting from the Capital."

He smiled and went to the door. "I'll inform the Guild of my arrival, then be back as soon as possible. Want me to get us dinner as well? Never mind, I'll get us something. Don't miss me too much, Majesty~"

He tipped her a sly wink and slipped through the door and vanished.

When Lucas left the guild hall, a loud crashing sound seemed to echo through his mind. The wind howled abruptly, then died, only to be replaced by the sound of a ghostly chorus. Even though he knew it was just a result of the architecture of the place, it was unnerving.

"There's no place like home..." he muttered, shivering, and turned to find out if the kitchens were up for some service.

A quarter hour later, he stepped back into Illusion's room, looked around it briefly, and then started to slam his head lightly against her wall. "Whyyyyy? Why do you always wander off...?" He sighed loudly and shed his armor before taking off to find her.

Lukas flopped back on the air and let it carry him along, high above the crowds below. He crossed his arms behind his head and looked up at the sky, toward the gryphons' aeries and the cloudmen peaks. He smiled faintly, wondering to himself what it would be like to fly that high, and then rolled over onto his stomach to watch for her wings.

"Where'd you go, Majesty? Naughty naughty, wandering off..." he murmured, eyes flickering back and forth over the world below.

Luke drifted over the parks, mostly having given up on finding her, and floated down to the fountains. He landed on the surface of the water and held, looking out at the giant windmills out on the other plateaus and cliffs. "I take it back..." he sang, smiling. "It really IS good to be home."

He spun around and ran his fingers through the water, then saw her, writhing on a bench. "Lus?" His eyebrows vanished into his bangs. "What the Hel?" He skated over to her on the air and grabbed a thread of wind, pulling it over and across her face. He swept her hair out of her face and shook her shoulders gently. "Wake up, you. No sleeping in the park!"

His mouth twitched into a grimacing smile. "And yet here I stand, and there's no dress upon you. Come. Let's go eat. Then, the baths. Then rest. Hopefully that will help your mind out, yes?"

He smiled and lifted her up, then sat back on the air and flexed his fingertips. The wind started to carry them both toward her chamber, flowing smoothly though the natural currents crafted by their craftsmen. Luke started to sing softly, a melody he'd heard before but couldn't remember. Birdsong, he called it, because it was full of meaning but empty of emotion, like the songs of the avians he mimicked. He sang on as they flew, blending the notes together smoothly with his fluid tenor tones.

Luke watched her sadly from the window seat as she lay on the bed. His mind was racing with ideas, trying to come up with something good to bring her out of her depressed mood and wake her up, but nothing he thought of seemed good enough.

He sighed with relief when the food finally arrived, and let the servants in graciously. They set up trays of delicious-looking meats and jellies and vegetables, and platters of freshest fruits and extravagant desserts. Luke couldn't help feeling exasperated, since he'd told the chefs he only needed enough for two people. What were they, behemoths? He frowned, amused, and sent the boys on their way.