Elizabeth woke up with a mild headache, like her head was packed with cotton. She was resting in the Landraider's sleeping compartment when she smelled something foul. She sniffed and realized it was her.

Annie and Willow slept on the floor next to her. The cub was the first to wake up, and he leapt up to Elizabeth and started kissing her. Annie was also startled awake, and when Elizabeth greeted her, she exhaled a sigh of relief.

“Hi Annie.”

Annie patted her head. She took a piece of paper, wrote something on it, and then showed it to her.

Feeling better?

Elizabeth smiled at her and nodded.

Annie then wrote

You hungry? Thirsty? Want to eat?

“Yes please, Annie.” Elizabeth said to her. She gently took her hand and the two of them made their way outside.

It was late at night, and they were camped somewhere in the woods. Elizabeth heard Luna, Baldric, and another adult. She smelled the foul odor again as they made their way to the campfire, but this time it came from Luna.

“I don’t know how long this smell will last.” Luna said as the three grownups sat around the fire, unaware that they were coming right behind them. “I tried scrubbing with soap and it still won’t come off.”

“Maybe we could try that tomato soup thing.” Baldric said.

“It’s tomato juice. Also, that is just a myth.” The third adult said. He had long hair like Baldric, but his was far shinier and straighter. “Besides, it won’t work on Luna. Pour tomato juice all over her and she will add alcohol and start drinking her own juices.”

“So you think you’re funny now, Max? You piece of-”

“Hey there they are!” Baldric was the first to realize the three of them. “Hey there, sunny. Feeling better?” They made way so Annie and Elizabeth could sit beside them.

“What happened?” Elizabeth asked as Luna handed her and Annie some bowls of stew.

“Well, the lunch was pretty uneventful, so you kind of dozed off. Then we figured it was better to just let you sleep, so we carried you back, and then we left.”

Elizabeth saw that Luna's sleeve was ripped, and her arm up to her neck were covered in heavy black, red, and blue bruises.

“Oh this?” Luna caught her staring. “I just took a bad fall, nothing serious.”

“I could use my-”

“Don't. It’s alright, I promise. I have been through much more serious stuff than this. Now both of you eat up before the stew gets cold, Baldric added some rosemary, so it tastes better than normal.”

As Annie and Elizabeth ate, Max stood up.

“So I am in the presence of her highness Princess Elizabeth Balder Van Stahlblut II. I greet the third sun of the Braenarim Republic and the second princess of Aspana. Let me introduce myself, your majesty. I am Maxene Le Milleur, a former Cancellarius chevalier and the guild master of the Golden Hand Company at your service.” He knelt before her with his hand on his chest.

Elizabeth, unsure of what to do, simply nodded.

“I am originally from Aspana, your majesty, and I have actually saved you twice now. So, please remember me when you are telling your family who helped rescue you when we get you back to them. My approved forms of payment are in gold bars, a supermodel wife, an honorary knighthood, or a castle.”

“Get in line, Max.” Baldric said to him.

“Well, I am just making sure that the princess remembers me. After all, I risked a lot by joining you all in this mess.” They continued to have their dinner, and they watched as Willow ate out of Elizabeth’s bowl.

“So what now, almighty leader?” Max referred to Luna. “I followed you idiots because I know you would not do this without a plan and that you have a massive reward due.”

“How did you even know where we were, Max?”

“Are you two dense? Your insane stunt is spreading like wildfire in Silvus! A bounty hunter attacks and steals from the crown prince himself! The newspapers and the projections almost had a field day if they weren’t silenced.”

“How? No one saw us. I made sure of that.”

“Well, you’re obviously getting sloppy there, boss. I had some informants in Solomon’s information web and they said that Treese Batts was the one who told the prince that you two were the ones who snatched the princess literally right under his nose.”

“So wait.” Baldric spoke. “So everyone knows now that Elizabeth is the princess?”

Elizabeth looked at Max curiously as well.

“Actually, that is where it gets fun. Asterion is spending serious amounts of money and his influence to prevent the news from escaping Silvus borders. It’s stupid, but he’s trying.” Max took a drink from his flask. “He is also offering a massive reward, fifty million Silvi dollars, to whoever can bring you two dead or bring the princess in alive and unharmed. He also shut everything up north and west of Silvus, from communications, borders, trade, travel, you name it, so that word would not spread to Aspana and Braenarim.”

“That’s insanity. How long can he keep that up?” Luna said, dumbfounded.

“It did not last long, actually. But here is where you two gave him a scapegoat. Before, all he did was denied that Princess Alicia and Elizabeth were in Silvus, but now he is using all his resources to say that it was you two.” Max pointed to Luna and Baldric. “You two were the ones who hijacked the Theris Rose and abducted the Princesses.”

“What?!” Both of them said it in unison.

“The worst part is that they bought it! The separatists are going south after the failed fall offensive, so the Coalition of Nations are forming a defense on the northern frontier, with Aspana committing the most, so they can’t afford a conflict with anyone right now. The iron chancellor has no choice but to believe that you two abducted the princesses, but word on the ground is that he is attempting to send delegates, soldiers, and spies into Silvus to investigate the matter.”

“What idiot would believe those lies?!” Luna stood up as she yelled out at Max. “And why would the chancellor believe Asterion?! I thought he and Demophon hated each other?!”

“Well he still does.” Max got her to sit back down. “But as I said he is not in any position to deny it as well. He can’t afford to fight Silvus especially since they are fighting the separatists going down.”

“Then isn’t this good for us?” Baldric said, and everyone looked at him. “I mean, if Aspana is sending spies and soldiers down here, then we could just find them and meet them. Makes it easier, right?”

“Wrong. You have to go far up to the north for that to happen. But the Border States are siding with Silvus as they are scared of them as well. They guaranteed to help in bringing you two down as well. Plus, I’m sure you have seen by now the wanted posters for her majesty, and it is starting to spread. Also, let’s not forget that Luna is a bounty in Silvus.

I’m honestly surprised the posters or the projections weren’t up in Zicaster, but being the last city on the edge of Silvus, it’s lucky we got out of there when we did. Also, I think his plan to reduce communications all over his own country gave us a lucky break. His slow communication channels backfired on him.

But now every citizen, in every town going north will now be taking a shot to bring in the princess as it’s a one-way ticket to the good life. Also, bounty hunters will not hesitate to take up the offer to put a bullet in your faces, especially to you almighty leader.”

“What about Braenarim? Or the Sentinels? Shouldn’t they be sending someone? Anyone down here?!”

“Braenarim don’t count on it. All forms of communication have been cut, and the Silvus blockade made it worse. Not even Solomon’s information network can get an accurate report on what is happening over there and that is a massive red flag. But all the rumors from Filias merchants are only saying one thing, The whole country is in chaos. Sadly, your majesty, that’s all I can share. I have no other information regarding your grandparents, your aunts or your mother.”

When he mentioned her family, they could all see Elizabeth's face darken.

“Same for the sentinels, Either Jargyr is blind or all their attention is completely turned on something else.”

“Wait.” Baldric looked at Luna. “What about the syndicate? We can use them to hide around.”

“We have a problem with them as well.” Luna rubbed her face with both hands. “Oichi got kidnapped.”

“What?!”

“And the ransom is...” Luna did not continue as Elizabeth looked at her. “So yeah, the syndicate is not on our side anymore. Solomon will no doubt try his luck against me as well.”

“What?! He's against us too?!” Baldric looked at Luna. “He should be on our side!”

“Oichi…got hurt already.” Annie, Baldric and Max reacted with fear, anger and frustration. “I don’t blame him for going against us. But still it does not make this any easier.”

“Damn it! I think I knew what happened.” Everyone looked at Max. “This is just a hunch, but I guess this has something to do with Maurius and Eric. They have been surrounding Solomon ever since they got back to Ilkor, and I can guarantee you that they have been acting very shifty.”

“I hate to say this but we will deal with that later.” Luna stared into the fire. “Right now we have the syndicate coming after us as well.”

Baldric whistled. “So just so we are all clear. We have Silvus soldiers, local enforcers, bounty hunters, armed organized criminals, even the local populace of every state going north coming after all of us and wanting us dead?!”

No one replied for a while.

Luna was the first to speak. “Yeah. We’re screwed aren’t we?”

The only sounds in the camp were the chirps of crickets and the crackling of burning wood.

“Well, we have been through far worse.” Baldric took a drink from his bowl of stew. “I say bring them all on.” He looked at Elizabeth, who stared into the fire. Even in the pale light, he could see the child was completely frightened.

“Don’t worry, sunny. We’ve faced far worse than that. We’ll get you home, we promise.” The child looked at Annie, Luna, and Max who also smiled at her.

“My thoughts exactly.” Luna said.

“Well, I hate to ruin the heart-warming mood, but without any supplies, we aren’t going anywhere, and I’m not sure the people in towns will give us a discount when they see your faces.” Max told Baldric.

“True.” Luna replied. “Where are we then? Anyone got an idea?”

Annie was the one who answered, {We are near the Brakal mountains and the Thorn forest. A few kilometers away, but it is close.}

“Hmmmm. Then I think I know who we can ask for help from. Let’s just hope we can find him in there. Baldric, you did remember to pay him the last time, right?”

He suddenly choked on his stew and looked away.