Chapter 25

IT had been days. Weeks, nearly. Apparently, Terran knew a shortcut, so it wasn't as long of a journey as it might have been. I didn't begrudge the long travel, though.

It was rather fascinating, going through the Forest. Seeing the different trees, the different ways elves lived...I'd always wanted to. Now I really was experiencing it.

Killing that soldier — I hadn't even known his name — had weighed on me, but he'd have killed me had I not done that. It was self-defense.

We'd left the bodies — I only hoped that other soldiers found them and gave them a proper burial. They were acting on Ivy's orders, after all.

Maple was getting much better — she'd nearly defeated Pecan once. It was mostly luck, and even she knew that, but she'd done it.

Then we reached a Territory Guard.

There were no underground tunnels this time, so all we could do was disguise ourselves and hope they would let us pass. If anything untoward happened...we could always fight.

We'd go in groups. I would go with Terran, Pecan and Arden went to the south side of the Forest, while Aster, Aiden and Maple were to the north. We would create a large distance between us before crossing, so they wouldn't suspect anything.

Also, Aster, Aiden and Maple would cross in the late night, while we would wait an entire two days before crossing in the night, once more.

I wouldn't know for three days if they'd crossed — and knowing how ruthless the Guard were...it might have been the last time I'd see them.

We ate our afternoon meal in silence. I knew that the others, like myself, were feeling the anxiety of our situation. The twins were being separated — I couldn't imagine what it was lie for them.

They sat together, talking quietly, while I was with Maple. We exchanged nervous looks, but I felt too nauseous to talk.

Finally, we were done eating. I'd tried to delay finishing, but of course, I couldn't hold it off forever. I stood up, glancing around, before turning to Maple.

Before I could say anything, she enveloped me in a tight embrace. "Be careful," she murmured.

"I will. And you will, too," I said, hugging her back. I pulled back, staring deep into her eyes. "And we will see each other again. I swear on Nalvia."

Maple nodded, wiping at her eyes. "We will." I squeezed her hand once more before turning to the others.

Aster was talking to Terran. She looked at me as I approached. "Princess, may Nalvia be with you."

"May Nalvia be with you," I murmured. She hugged me once, briefly but firmly, before pulling away.

Finally, I went to the twins. Arden walked away as I approached. I faced Aiden.

"I'll see you in three days."

I gave him a faint smile, nodding firmly. "Three days. Nalvia be with you."

"Nalvia be with you," he echoed. He shifted on his feet, looking down before glancing back up at me. Then he did the unexpected.

He hugged me.

His arms came around me, squeezing tight. He was warm and strong. I rested my hands on his back, pressing my cheek to his chest, listening to his rapid heartbeat.

He only put on a brave façade.

I didn't want to break away, but I did, pulling away just enough to let his arms still rest around me. His eyes were bright now — with tears or hope, I wasn't certain. Maybe both.

"We will see each other again," I said firmly.

He nodded sharply. "We will."

I gave him a smile and pulled away fully. I turned to the others — they were packing up, getting ready to go. I exchanged one last look with Aiden before walking away.

I lifted up my pack, hugging Maple once more. "Goodbye," she whispered.

"Goodbye," I said, pursing my lips tightly. I wasn't going to let any tears fall until they were gone.

I glanced at the three one last time, before Terran gave the order to go.

Then I turned my back on them and walked away, giving a silent prayer to Nalvia.

Please let them live.

***

It had been over two days since they'd left.

Two long, agonizingly slow days. We had no news from them — we spent our time in watching the Territory Guard, in rehearsing what we'd say, how we'd act.

I was Lily Stone, a girl with raven locks and brown eyes — utterly plain. My clothes were dirty enough, but I pulled on a dress of rags, to suit my role further. My sword was concealed under it, strapped to my thigh.

Finally, night had fallen, the moon and stars blinking into life above. I exchanged a glance with Arden. He nodded.

We walked out of the Forest, and I put on my most tired face. I stumbled, even, letting Arden put an arm around me to steady me.

The Territory Guard were watching.

I could see their faces finally, gleaming in the orange firelight from their torches. They were facing us fully, their entire attention on us.

I hoped this was a good group.

"Halt!" One of them called.

We stopped, only a bit away from them. I glanced at their faces, scanning them briefly, before looking down again.

They looked suspicious already.

"Why are you here?" The soldier asked harshly, his sword held upright, its silver tip shining.

"We are but poor villagers, milord," Terran said, his face pleading. Only not Terran — a broad-shouldered man with dark hair and dark eyes, hopeless and poor.

"Who are you?" The soldier pressed, his face unmoved.

"I am Birk Stone, milord. These are my children — Jasper, Heath, and my youngest — Lily. Our village was destroyed in a rebel attack, milord. We are travelling to the palace in search of work."

"Which village?" The man asked sharply, his eyes skimming over us, our clothes.

Terran gave him the name of a village that had indeed been destroyed in an attack — but the elves had been evacuated and taken to different places.

Terran cried out as another pushed him aside and yanked the pack from his shoulders.

We'd kept only one pack, leaving all others in the trees.

"Clothes, food..." the soldier murmured, rummaging through the pack. He glanced up at the first one, who looked to be the leader. "Nothing in here, sir."

The leader pursed his lips, glancing over us once more. "You," he said harshly. Arden nudged me, and I looked up to see his eyes fixed on me. "What's your name?"

"Lily Stone, milord," I replied, keeping my voice trembling and weak.

"Where are you from?"

I told him.

"I see," he said, eyes narrowing. "But no elf is allowed to cross the border. You must turn back."

"Please, milord. The rest of our family works at the palace," Terran pleaded.

"No means no. Now leave, before we have you skinned."

They bared their swords at us, something dark glinting in their eyes.

I exchanged a glance with Arden. This wasn't going as we'd hoped. The Guard never took bribes. If they outright refused...

"Please, milord."

The soldier leaned back on his sword, pursing his lips. He turned and said something to the soldier at his side, to quiet for us to hear. The other soldier ran off into the darkness behind them. He turned back to us.

"Well, then, we'll have to search you."

The men nodded and I looked away as they pulled off their jackets and belts, dropping them to the ground. Three soldiers stepped forward, patting them down.

"Your remaining clothes as well."

I looked down, focusing on only the grass as the shirts dropped to the ground and then the pants, leaving them only in undershorts. They weren't asked to strip those, thankfully.

"You as well, girl," said another guard.

I looked up sharply to see him leering at me.

I glanced at Terran, my heart seizing up. He pursed his lips, staring ahead. "Please, milord, have mercy. She is but a girl."

The leader didn't say anything as the other soldier stepped forwards, his eyes gleaming. "I've been standing here all night with no entertainment. Now come, girl."

"Please, milord," I whispered, taking a step back. I felt Arden and Pecan stepping on either side of me.

The soldier took a step closer, but he was interrupted when the soldier who'd run off came back. He looked at the leader and shook his head.

The leader nodded, turning to us.

"You see, we keep records of each person in each village."

Dread slithered into my stomach, coiling into a hard pit. I couldn't look at the others.

"Strangely, the Stone family was not anywhere on the list," the leader said. "I wonder why."

They pointed their swords at us in a fluid motion, their faces at once hard.

We only had one weapon — mine. And these were highly trained elves. Even if they couldn't use the Forest like us, they were powerful.

They surrounded us slowly, making a circle around us. There were too many of them — and if they called for the rest of Guard...

Arden raised his hands, and vines shot up from the trees, lashing on to some of them. Terran did the same. Pecan made a wall of rock around us. I glanced at them. Their appearances had changed back.

"What do we do?" Pecan asked.

Terran's face was grim. "Fight our way out. Princess." I nodded and bent over, yanking out my sword. I straightened just in time to see the wall around us splinter to pieces, the soldiers free for the vines — disheveled but angry.

The leader waved his sword and they charged at us. We went back to back in a small circle, the four of us. I lifted my sword to meet one soldier, the others rushing at me.

My jaw tightened, and wind shot up, blocking them from reaching me. I met the soldier with a hard blade. But he was trained better than me. He jabbed and ducked and slashed, so fast I could hardly see.

He pushed me back. I tripped over my own feet, on the defensive, doing anything to prevent his blows from reaching me while keeping up the wall of wind.

He slashed at my arm, blood immediately soaking my clothes. I gasped, stumbling back as he lifted his sword once more.

A large stone hit him square in the face. He collapsed, and I glanced at Pecan gratefully.

A yell from my back sounded. I turned to see the soldier who'd asked me to strip, bearing down at me, eyes glinting. He was even faster, even stronger, even harsher —

My feet caught in the hem of my gown and I fell, rolling onto my back. His sword was high and then it was rushing down as I felt a nearby pond and called its waters —

The waves wrapped around me just as his sword came down. It glanced away in the swirling mass and he stumbled back, eyes wide. I stood up slowly, letting the water pulsate around me.

I raised my hand and branches wrapped around him, binding him to the grassy floor, squeezing. I waited until his eyes fluttered shut and I could feel the consciousness winking out of him before loosening the branches and turning away.

We were losing.

Terran and Pecan and Arden were fighting hard, but the Guard was too large. Everywhere I turned, there were more of them, each skillful and strong.

My barrier of wind broke, and the soldiers rushed at me again. I thrust out my hand quickly. The water swept away from me to form a barrier again — but it wouldn't last. Not with the blood seeping out of my arm, the wound making me dizzy.

I sent my plea down into the ground, into the heart of the trees and the grass.

Branches soared from above. They wrapped around the men, holding them tight. Terran, Pecan and Arden took care of the rest, and I thought we could escape —

Until more came rushing in.

Other soldiers of the Guard, unwounded and thirsting for blood. I exchanged a look with the boys, all of them bleeding and tired.

Still, I raised my sword, and felt the Forest once more. And then — three shapes, racing onto the plain. Nearing us. Closer and closer —

Aiden. Aster. Maple.

How did you like it? I love most of the new scenes — I hope you like them as much! So sorry for the late update, something came up. Also, 2K! Awesome! Don't forget to:

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