Kiana's hands were shaking as she held the reins. As the wagon bumped along the streetm she forced herself to calm down and think things over.

She'd pulled every string she had and there would be no hiding who was responsible for Fiona's escape. She'd used the queen's name, her name, her knife, and even gold to make sure the halls were empty for Fiona and the king. That no one would spot their descent or the wagon waiting below. Kiana carefully unfolded the letter with one hand and handed it to the guard who approached as she pulled up to the dock of The Adalia.

"More weapons for the navy's stop at Snærheim," Kiana said wearily, like she too was as tired as the guard, not a hard sell considering.

The guard inspected the letter the king had written for her the night before. It was impressive he was still able to write clearly even blind. The letter had the king's seal clearly at the bottom so the guard nodded Kiana through.

Two dock workers were commandeered to carry two crates of shields and the heavy long box of 'spears'. As Kiana moved to follow the cargo, the guard stepped in front of her.

"Woah there, I didn't see anything about little girl passengers."

Kiana did her best to mimic the queen's cold stare before dashing forward, her knife appeared with a snap in her hand and pressing against the man's throat.

"The queen personally ordered me to see those weapons to the Duskar ships. They aren't ordinary weapons, they're enchanted and this little girl will gut anyone who even breathes on them before delivery."

Her bluff worked and the guard muttered some apology allowing Kiana to stalk up the boarding ramp and follow the precious cargo down into the hold which was already stuffed with supplies. She ordered the workers to put the crates down and when they were out of sight quickly whispered to the ‘spears’, "Stay down until I come back."

She didn't wait for a response, moving quickly to the entrance so she was far from the crate when the captain arrived.

The Adalia’s captain was a Valhym woman with two thick braids and even thicker arms. It took more threatening and another letter from the king before Captain Corinth was satisfied and left Kiana with her ‘supplies’.

Kiana waited for the inevitable curious eyes and gave one man a bad stab in the leg before she was satisfied she'd be left alone.

After checking for the fifth time that any traces of blood were gone, Kiana put her knife away and heaved open the lid.

Fiona flinched before smiling up at her and Kiana reached to pull her out. They stared at each other for a moment and Kiana was glad the blush she felt wouldn't show. Fiona turned and helped her father out of the box.

Kiana carefully closed the lid again as Fiona led the king farther into the hold and away from any possible prying eyes. King Eirik was shaking and looked ready to be sick. Fiona took off her gloves and retrieved a handkerchief to wipe her father's forehead.

"Father, are you alright?"

Eirik set his jaw and nodded, no doubt not trusting himself to speak. Kiana added soothingly, "So far everything is going to plan. There is only a few hours until the ship disembarks and no other ship will leave until dawn."

The king nodded again. He knew much more than his daughter what had happened without incident. Kiana turned to Fiona. "I told them the crates had special magic weapons and I was supposed to guard them. I'll probably have to stay up front, but it'll let me warn you if anyone has to come back here."

Her eyes still looking at her father with concern, Fiona nodded. Kiana prayed the king could keep it together.

When the ship began to rock in earnest, the shouting of the sailors announcing their departure, Kiana returned to the front of the hold. She sat on the crate of practice shields she'd stolen from the barracks and held her knife in her pocket, staring into the darkness above deck.

She'd done it. She'd really done it. A king and a princess kidnapped from the palace. Now she just had to deliver them to their mortal enemy or to an aptly named Hidden Valley.

Stolen story; please report.

Kiana sighed. The king wanted her to get them off at Snærheim, confident he could get a mage to contact Matius. While Kiana was willing to believe the king could find a willing mage, a capable one was another matter.

Scrying wasn't easy magic and Valhym mages with their stolen sparks weren't exactly comparable to the Third Apprentice. Corvin, the mage at the castle probably could barely scry. Besides, preventing scrying was so much easier and Matius was likely protecting himself.

So that meant two options: to move as cargo onto the Duskar navy and follow the queen's own ships into Aziron or hope that when word of the royal escape spread, Fiona's friends found her before her mother did.

Kiana fiddled with her necklace. It was the one Hizar had hung on her neck when he’d gotten her out of Aziron. A magical charm to prevent the Arch Mage from scrying and finding her. The castle was warded against scrying anyway but now Kiana's necklace could be protecting not only her but Fiona from being scryed. Kiana really had no idea how the thing worked. Other than that it prevented the Arch Mage from finding her and forcing her to face her crime.

Maybe he was still looking. Maybe if she got rid of the necklace he would find her and, in turn, the princess. Of course if the Arch Mage could find her, so could Hickory. Kiana didn't understand the queen's mysterious new mage's magic the way she’d studied Azir magic, but she was sure the minute the queen knew they were gone, she'd be looking.

The clock was ticking. Kiana needed to talk to the king, she couldn't make this decision, too frightened of choosing wrong. The king knew everything, he could help her.

She grabbed a lantern and stumbled back behind the crates. Fiona and her father were talking quietly and for a moment Kiana considered going back as to not interrupt the moment, but there wasn't time to waste so she stepped out of the shadows.

"Fiona, I'll stay with your father, would go farther back and see if you can find some food supplies? I can't go far from the entrance."

"Sure thing. I'll be right back." She kissed the king on the cheek and walked back around the boxes, looking for ones that didn't have weapons sticking out of them.

Kiana sat next to the king, letting her shoulder brush against his arm so he'd know where she was. "I need your help," she whispered.

Eirik stiffened and turned to face her, he'd replaced the golden silk band around his eyes from where it'd slipped during their descent from the palace.

"I don't think we'll be able to find a mage who can help us in Snærheim. Scrying in difficult magic," Kiana explained.

"There are at least a few there that can do it, I know the queen has used them before. Besides we only need to send a quick message."

"And if the Third Apprentice is protected or doesn't give some random mage with stolen magic a chance to give the message?"

The king frowned. "So we've failed already."

"Maybe not. We could still sneak into the Duskar navy and follow the queen to Aziron."

"That's insane,” the king started. “She'd find us long before we reached Aziron."

"Maybe not." Kiana held her pendant. "I have a charm, a necklace given to prevent the Arch Mage from finding me. It might prevent the queen from finding us, at least by magical means."

"Hickory you mean," the king said slowly, "regardless, Lyra doesn't need magic to find what's hers. There is no chance of passing her without her notice."

"I was afraid of that. There's only one more option, but it's dangerous and I'll need you to promise me something."

"If I didn't think you'd find a way, I wouldn't have come."

Kiana started at the vote of confidence. Her throat choked up and with trembling fingers she realized she was crying. Carefully, the king found her hand and gave it a squeeze. "What do you need me to promise?"

Wiping her eyes quickly with the back of her other hand she took a deep breath. "If I get rid of the necklace then when word of your disappearance gets out, it'll be a race. There's even a chance the Arch Mage is still looking for me and if that's true then he'll definitely find us first."

"I see."

The king waited and Kiana was able to add, "I want you to promise that no matter what happens...that you'll tell Fiona that I didn't mean to hurt her. Even if you have to wait until she's safe, even if she hates me, just tell her I'm sorry."

"I promise."

Eirik hesitantly put an arm around Kiana but feeling her shaking, pulled her in closer. Kiana cried into the king's chest and he murmured to her gently as she shook, all her bottled up fears and anxieties pouring out. She couldn't stop even when Fiona came running back.

"Kiana! What's wrong?"

Her father kept his daughter at bay for a few more moments as Kiana did her best to compose herself. Fiona took her face, wiping away the tears, her eyebrows furrowed with worry.

"What is it? Tell me, please."

Kiana smiled and shook her head. "Just a bit overwhelmed. I'm alright. Sometimes you just need a good cry."

It was something she'd said before when Fiona had been unable to stop her own tears and the princess gave a little laugh, her blue eyes already watering sympathetically.

"I know it's been a lot, but it'll be okay, Kiana. I promise I won't let anything happen to you."

Fiona hugged her and for a moment they clung to each other. Kiana held tightly to her princess, trying to burn this moment into her brain. Fiona smelled warm and Kiana felt safe in her arms.

She pulled away. "I'm going above deck for a bit. Clear my head. I'll be right back."

Those blue eyes were still concerned but Eirik put a hand on his daughter's arm to stop her from following. Kiana took the lantern and carefully made her way back to the front of the hold, leaving Fiona in the dark.