Jack and Landon were both by side as we climbed up the tall force of Mount Deltlara. Thirty knights followed in suit behind us, we were taking the lead and were almost to our destination.

"I know I shouldn't be asking this- but do you think Annalise is really here?" Jack's constricted breathing was evident, the armor we wore was very heavy for such a hike. I could see the anxiety getting to him as he fumbled with his sword.

Landon seemed to keep a level head, per usual. He gripped his bow confidently and looked forward every step he took, never glancing back. I could tell that Hazalen's sadness upset him greatly, and he was going to do anything to get her best friend back.

"I know she's here," I answered, viewing the trees ahead. We were going to make it before it turned light, the sun was about to rise and the birds started chirping.

A few minutes later, Landon held up his hand in a fist, halting all of the knights behind us. We were about to walk past the entrance of the cave, but he spotted it just in time. I came up behind him, patting him on the back for his good work. We had to be completely silent, we were close to the enemy.

I explained my plan to the knights using a stick in the dirt. There were three guards in front of the cave, and Landon, Jack and I were to dispose of them before the knights came rushing in.

We wanted to stay on the attacking front, and the surprise of our attack is what would keep Annalise alive. Once we were inside the cave, groups of five would split up in any direction. Our espionage had to explore the base completely before they could get ready for the attack.

I nodded to Landon and Jack, holding up three fingers.

Three...

Two...

One.

Landon shot an arrow right through the first guard's head and he dropped like a fly. The two other guards panicked, pulling out their swords-but Jack and I were already on the run.

The Bendlar clan member blocked my first attack, surprise in his eyes at the force of my blow. I reared the sword up behind me, slicing his torso with ease. Jack easily defeated the smaller guard, overpowering him immediately.

I held up my sword,"ATTACK!!!" The knights pounced out of the bushes, swords drawn, and sprinted into the cave.

"It's time for you to take your place on the throne, Princess." I felt a dreadful feeling in my stomach at his oblivious statement. As almost as if an untuned cord struck in my head, ringing out unpleasantly.

"What do you mean?" I questioned in a soft tone, shrinking against the stone. Cole grabbed a piece of my hair with a smile, his hand twitching profoundly as he twirled it.

He pushed the ratty piece of hair behind my ear,"You are a projection of him."

I flipped my head away from him. He laughed at my actions, his foul-smelling breath fanning across my skin making me want to gag. His eyes were bloodshot; I realized he had taken mesgra before he visited me.

"Who?" I demanded, tired of the games.

"I don't know how to put this lightly. King Demotis, your highness. You are the lost Princess of Descuvi." He didn't look as if he was lying, but something didn't sit right with his words. I felt panic engulf me, trickling into my mind in waves.

"No... no, your wrong. My mother-"

"-is Queen Lillian of Descuvi. Your guardian was there during your birth and the Queen's death. You are the reason for Demotis' War," his smile was sickening. I was confused, angry, and malnourished- a mixture that caused me to cry.

"You're lying!"

He tisked, pacing the floor,"Have you ever wondered why you don't resemble your 'mother'? Perhaps there was no father figure, and you were always on the run."

His assumptions were correct so I stayed silent, wondering if he had any real evidence,"You capture an audience's attention and people are naturally drawn to you. It's the royal blood you possess, princess. It's why Damien-"

"Darius." I glared at him through my tears, correcting him.

He backhanded me again, but this time I couldn't feel it. The conflicting rage in my heart numbed his attack, almost feeling good. He grimaced as he glanced at his hand, my tears transferred from his slap. He wiped his hand on my shorts in disgust.

"Do not interrupt me. Once we bargain with King Demotis for your life, Daruis won't have such title anymore. We will have an army like no other- a force that will continue to tear kingdoms down, one by one."

"I am not the lost Princess!" I screamed in his face, tired of his lies and deception. "It seems the mesgra has gotten to your brain."

Something seemed to click in his mind at my remark. My defiance to his statements plus my side comments led him to the brink. Obviously the drug was very dear to him, as was the cave, and this offended him greatly.

His eye twitched, and he yelled down the long cave,"Bring her out." I immediately tensed, and a theory popped in my head. I hated assuming the worse, but in this case I was right.

A clan member was dragging my mother by the hair, straight toward us. I was only able to watch as she whimpered in pain, scratching the man's hands in defiance. I noticed a cloth was tied around her mouth as the guard sat her next to Cole.

"Here's your dearest 'mother'. After our first meeting, I realized the news of your royal lineage would be difficult for you to understand," Cole removed the cloth from my mother's face, and I could finally see all of her features.

For the first time ever, my mother was scared. She had always kept a clear mind- one step ahead, ready for any circumstance. Even when she had fifty gowns due by the end of the week, she never faltered.

Cole spoke in her ear,"You know why you're here, seamstress. What family does Annalise belong to?"

"I'm sorry," she whispered to me, tears spilling out of her eyes. I had never seen my mother so defeated; the woman before me had reached her breaking point.

"Answer the question." Cole demanded.

She seemed desperate trying to get her words out," I wish I could've told you-"

"Answer the question!" Cole yelled furiously, grabbing the knife from the guard's pocket. I held my breath as he placed it against my mother's neck, almost breaking the skin.

"You are the daughter of King Demotis and Queen Lillian." She breathed out, taking everything in her to admit the truth.

I should've caused a scene- scream, cry, anything- but I only nodded to her. My life was a complete lie; I was living in a fantasy world. We were always going to have to be on the run, and we probably weren't going to stay in Deltora for long anyway.

It all made sense now, the mysterious man I kept having occurrences with was my father. The drawings I drew, the cabin I was led to, the woman bowing to me at the festival- I truly was Princess Annalise of Descuvi.

I am the lost Princess.

Yet this woman took me in and raised me with nothing, on the run from a kingdom and mad king for her best friend. Though I was born from royal blood, I still considered the seamstress my mother.

Giving birth to a child is not what makes you a mother: it's making the sacrifices for the child. Guiding them, leading them through life and putting them before you- that's what makes you a mother.

"I love you, Annalise. You will still always be my daughter, no matter what." She choked on her words, and sad smile formed on her face. Even with her frizzy red hair and tear-stained face, she still managed to look like a beautiful painting.

"I love you too, mother." She smiled even harder as I called her such a noun. I smiled back, wanting to reach out and thank her for all she's done for me.

Cole then held the knife down on her neck completely, slicing it in one go. I watched as her eyes rolled to the back of her head, falling backward and choking on her own blood. Now, not the only substance on the ground was the cave's water; her blood formed a puddle around her.

I couldn't watch the scene before me, so instead I silently watched the shadows on the cave's walls. Her chocking and thrashing was seen from the soft light, and I felt the puddle of blood reach my foot.

It seemed as if hours went by as I watched the cave's walls, which I had done for so long in the time spent here. The only difference was this time, I was viewing and listening to my mother's death. Her twitches came to a halt, and I knew she had finally taken her last breath- put out of her misery.

"Well, now your only family left is your father! Once I bring him the head of your kidnapper, I will be rewarded handsomely," Cole chuckled, twirling the red stained knife around. I turned my head back to view him, a fire building in my heart.

He was going to cut off her head, right in front of me.

"You will pay." I darkly whispered out. He turned around, not expecting such words and tone from me. My voice held such power that even the guard seemed cautious.

"What?"

"You will pay. I swear by the gods, you shall pay for your misdoings."