Princess Estina stood in the middle of the dirt road. Long grass surrounded either side of her for before the forest began in both directions. It was the only main road that Prince Yernal could use to reach Cardon where he could access the barge that would take his carriages and entourage to the other side of the river to the Keglar Kingdom. It was late afternoon, and if Menelt's man was right, they would intercept Prince Yernal shortly.

Her heart hammered in her chest, and her mouth was dry. Princess Estina had not seen anyone from her family since she had decided to band with Menelt so she wouldn't be sent off to Old Tehlea Lake to be betrothed. It had been a daring and dangerous decision but fortunately the right one.

To risk everything, her future, her life, to this group of mountain clansmen. It was hard to believe she had the courage to do so, and she couldn't believe what she had proposed only two hours earlier. She owed it to them though to give them a chance to get the mountains back. Not only had Prince Alain and herself been hunted to be returned to the Kingdom capital, but Menelt and his men had all received prices on their heads for 'kidnapping'.

Kidnapping! She scoffed.

Princess Estina turned slowly and swung her arms, trying to keep her nerves at bay. She was not alone. Only a short distance away, the grass was filled with Menelt and his men along with her old personal guard, Clagen who had transformed himself as much as her. Prince Alain and Ardena had stayed behind. The Prince’s health was deteriorating and by any means, not fit to fight. She still hadn't discussed her plan with him, but she was sure he would see it as beneficial.

Around the corner, Princess Estina saw the first of Prince Yernal's guards emerge. With one last deep breath, she braced herself and stood strongly in the middle of the path.

"Eh, eh, eh, what do we have here?" one of the guards asked with a loud chuckle. "Are you planning to rob us or planning to offer your services?" The men around the soldier laughed.

"I know what I'd want," another guard heckled.

Princess Estina ignored their lewd comments and instead, held up her hand to show her royal signet, the first time she had worn it since running away two years ago.

"Neither," she said authoritatively. "Inform my brother, Prince Yernal, that his sister, Princess Estina demands his immediate presence. He'll recognise me to know that I speak the truth."

The group of guards fell quiet, their rude attitudes disappearing. The leading guard who had heckled her, signalled to a man behind him. With his eyes still on Princess Estina he said, "Inform Prince Yernal now."

"I don't know if Prince Yernal will have the time to meet with you at present," the lead soldier informed her once the man had left to find Prince Yernal. "He is in a bit of a rush."

Princess Estina kept her face neutral, but she was puzzled by the sudden worried looks on the soldiers' faces.

"He returns for my father's funeral?" she asked.

"Yes," another soldier replied, although there was a hint in his tone that there was more to that comment.

They both heard a horse cantering to the front of the line, and Princess Estina's eyes fell on her brother. In the past two years, nothing had changed. He was only thirty-two, still strong and good looking. Yet, he still held that arrogant stance and sinister look in the corner of his eye. He gazed at her with contempt and impatience. She knew he wouldn't be pleased to see her, but she was confused by his true motivations as to why.

"So, you've appeared, have you? Been hiding in the squalor pit that is this Empire," Prince Yernal asked scornfully. "What do you want?"

"I think it is timely that we have an important conversation. Our father's death is sure to lead to much disruption in the court," Princess Estina began.

Prince Yernal looked over his shoulder impatiently. "What do you care about what is happening in the court? You disappeared two years ago, clearly showing your disrespect and loyalty to the Kingdom."

"My disappearance had everything to do with my decision to not be betrothed to that vile old man and had nothing to do with my loyalty to the Kingdom," Princess Estina argued. "And while we are on that topic, I wish for you to pass on to the court that I am formally announcing my pending betrothal to Clan Leader Menelt. Upon our engagement, we will be taking Old Man Tehlea's residence as our own with Prince Alain's residing with us."

Prince Yernal simply stared, opened mouthed and quite astonished by this sudden news. It was obvious his thoughts had been completely on other things.

"As you are aware," Princess Estina continued, "there has been much unrest along the borders and this..."

"Whatever," Prince Yernal interrupted with an impatient wave. "Take it if you want, I don't care."

Princess Estina stopped. She had been prepared to have to argue her position, to have to fight to get what she wanted. Suspicion filled her. Why was he taking this news so easily? Prince Yernal had been the one to take away Menelt's leadership of the mountains, starving them out instead of fighting them. Surely, he wouldn't want to give up that victory so easily.

Prince Yernal waved to his men. "We keep moving. We are running out of time."

Princess Estina moved to stand in front of his horse, suddenly believing his response had merely been his disbelief. "I'm serious brother. Inform the rest of the Royal Family. This is where I will live with my betrothed, and no one will remove us."

Prince Yernal scoffed at her last remark, and she squared her shoulders and lifted her chin high in response. "We will fight to defend it. We only work to preserve the Keglan borders where you have only diminished them."

She paused at the sudden sound of a commotion coming down the line of men. A scream and then, shouts of rage reached their ears. Princess Estina looked back at Prince Yernal, confused. "What's going on?" she asked.

A soldier trotted his horse up to Prince Yernal. "He's woken," the soldier said worriedly.

Prince Yernal wiped brow. "Get an Ashkin dart into him," he ordered.

Princess Estina took a step back, and in the process, gave a low warning whistle to Menelt and his men in the long grass. Ashkin darts? Were they holding someone against their will? "Who do you have?" she asked, her voice low. "A prisoner? A traitor? Did something happen in the Talbecan Empire while you were there?"

"None of your business," Prince Yernal snapped. "Get out of the way."

Princess Estina looked down the line of soldiers again, and this time, spied one of Prince Yernal's caravans rocking on the spot. It shook violently and more screams of rage came from within its wooden walls.

Finally losing his patience, Prince Yernal waved to his men. "We move on," he ordered. "If my sister tries to stop us, kill her."

Princess Estina fell back as Prince Yernal shoved his horse past her to ride back down to the caravan. She tried to hide her shock at his last words. There was little love between them that much was true, but she had never expected such open hostility towards her. If that was the case, the feeling was mutual.

The soldiers glared. "Move Princess or I'll be putting you on the back of this horse to enjoy you later. Pretty sure Prince Yernal won't mind."

Seething with rage, Princess Estina moved out of the way, but her attention focused back to the carriage.

"Who does Prince Yernal have?" she asked the lead soldier.

He only laughed. "He's taken a souvenir from the Talbecan Empire."

Prince Estina frowned. Whoever was in that caravan did not want to be there. Had they kidnapped someone?

"Just say the words Princess Estina," Menelt said quietly from behind her. Distracted by the noise of the caravan, she had not heard him approach, but his sudden presence brought a sense of calm. His appearance had Prince Yernal's guards retrieve their swords.

"I don't know who they have," she told Menelt without taking her eyes off the soldier before her. "But they have someone who doesn't want to be there."

"Traitor!" one soldier suddenly shouted at the sight of Menelt.

There was no more time to explain to Menelt or attempt to negotiate with the soldiers. Princess Estina retrieved her short sword and axe from her sides. "Attack!" she screamed.

Just as Princess Estina and Menelt were about to surge forward, another loud scream of rage came from the rocking caravan. Princess Estina and the men around her stopped at the loud crash of breaking wooden planks. All of a sudden, a figure leapt out of the side of the caravan. The men surrounding the caravan ran and stumbled back, but not before the escaping figure lashed out and murdered two of Yernal's men in the blink of an eye.

Menelt, Princess Estina and Prince Yernal's soldiers staggered back a step as they saw a soldier's head fly through the air. What had they just seen? Who they had just seen?

And then, chaos reigned.