Preparations took the whole day. Fortunately, Pan and Aren were planning with Marn for most of it. So they were able to gather supplies freely. Finally, when darkness began to fall, they made their final preparations. Despite Ronald's objections, Estela somehow got her hands on another sword. She'd also called Relma a dagger.

"Shouldn't we leave a note for your aunt?" asked Ronald.

"No," said Relma. "Why should I?"

"She'll be worried," said Ronald.

"She can be worried for all I care," said Relma. She had not gotten any less angry. Relma was supposed to be just one more link in a chain of nameless people.

People who would never achieve anything or be remembered at all.

People like her Father and Mother were only necessary because of how they related to Relma. And if Relma didn't act now, she'd only be known by what she said to her son. She'd be some pathetic Mother who died or was incorruptible and kindhearted. She never did anything extraordinary.

Relma could see it now. Some curly-haired blue-eyed brat asking stupid questions of Aunt Pandora. Doing exactly as he was told and fulfilling his role.

Never.

Relma was chosen by Anoa.

She was the Heir of Kings. Whether Pandora wanted it or not.

"Relma, if she thinks you've been kidnapped again, she might try and invade," said Ronald. "People could get killed. So we need to leave a note."

It was a good point.

"Fine," said Relma. "Estela, can I dictate to you?"

"Yes," said Estela.

"I could do it," said Ronald.

"You could, but I asked Estela," said Relma.

Estela took out a quill and paper that Ronald had bought earlier, probably for this purpose. She set out some ink and dipped a quill, then looked up.

"Dear Aunt Pan,

"I am not your brood mother. I am going to be King. When you read this, I will be halfway to Lightning Trail.

"Go to hell.

"Love,

"Relma."

Estela wrote it out quickly. Ronald stared. "...You sure you don't want to try it again."

"Not really. I'd like to see the look on her face," said Relma. "Let's go."

They slipped out of the inn. As they walked, they found a house in which Marn had placed command. They could see through an upper window Aunt Pan speaking with Aren.

"What do you suppose they're talking about?" asked Ronald.

"Something about destiny," said Relma. "I don't really care."

Soon, they reached the gate and found it guarded. As they approached, they found Tanith leaning beneath the gatehouse. She was smiling, speaking with another guard. Then she glanced up as they came.

"Hold where you are. Where are you going?" asked Tanith.

"We're going out for a walk," said Relma. "That's all."

"Sure, you are." scoffed Tanith. "Carrying equipment for a week-long journey. "I'm on the watch to make sure the werewolves-"

"Man wolves," said Estela.

"-werewolves don't go hunting people," said Tanith. "No one is supposed to be out at night. It's suicide.

"We're only taking a short walk," said Relma. "And we'll be-"

"Tanith," said Estela, "get out of our way."

"I have," said Tanith. Not moving an inch. "The way back is behind you. Marn wants to keep a leash on you three."

"Leash?" said Estela, hand going for her sword.

"Or a chain. Whichever you prefer," said Tanith.

Estela drew her sword. But even as she did so, Tanith's two blades came out and knocked it from her hand. One of them was at her throat.

"You don't really think your rank makes you anywhere near me, do you?" asked Tanith. "Get out of here." She kicked the sword to Estela.

"Estela, come on," said Relma. "We can't start a fight here."

Estela grabbed the sword, and they retreated. As they walked, Ronald led them forward. It seemed that things were over already. Still, no one was following them. Tanith seemed entirely satisfied to remain behind.

She probably wouldn't care at all if they got eaten by werewolves. Just so long as she didn't get the blame for it. Tanith was such a horrible person.

"We'll go over the wall. Okay?" said Relma.

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

"Do you know anything about climbing?" asked Estela.

"Well, not really," admitted Relma. "But I'm sure it can't be that hard."

"Not to worry. I have a rope and grapple for just such an occasion," said Ronald. He drew them out of his pack as they made for the staircase leading up the wall. "Father always says, "'Son, if you ever go adventuring, always bring a rope and grapple. You'll never know when you have to climb something.'"

Lord Fulsof was a veritable fountain of knowledge about adventuring, wasn't he? "Right," said Relma. "Well, I'll thank him when next we see him."

They halted within sight of the wall. There, they saw guards patrolling on top of it. Relma waited until he passed, only to be halted by Estela. "Wait a moment longer. Now. Follow my lead."

They slipped quietly up the wall with Estela as their guide. Then, when they reached the top, Ronald quickly set up the rope. When it was tied, he tested it.

"Now quick, we've got to go down," said Ronald. "Shame, we'll have to leave the rope."

Climbing was more challenging than it looked. Estela had a great time of it, effortlessly slipping down it without any effort. However, Ronald banged his knee on the way down, and then his grip slipped. He slid the rest of the way down and almost howled in pain.

Estela covered his mouth to muffle the noise. Ronald breathed out and calmed down. His hands had gone red from the friction.

"Don't you know anything about scaling ropes?" asked Estela.

"I know it's a lot harder than it looks," said Ronald.

Estela looked up to Relma, who was starting down. "Plant your feet on the wall and walk your way down. Do what I did; now come on."

As Relma began to scale her way down, her body ached with exertion. As she gradually walked downward, she looked up. Then she heard the sounds of a struggle.

"To arms!!" she heard Estela yell. "Man wolves on the wall!"

Looking down, she saw a chaotic mess of fur. There was a howl, and then something darted off into the night. Horns were blown as Relma reached the bottom to see Estela's sword bloodied.

"To arms!" went the call. "To arms!"

"Into the hills, quickly!" said Estela.

They ran as the garrison was roused. Relma looked to Estela. "It was lucky we were there. Otherwise, they could have attacked."

"That wasn't an attack. If it were, they'd have cut our throats and launched it anyway. All while they had the advantage of surprise," said Estela. "And anyway, there were too few of them.

"No, that was a scouting party checking for weaknesses.

"With any luck, the guards will think they tied the rope."

"Tied a rope to the top of a wall from thirty feet?" asked Ronald. "They must have long arms."

"Oh right," said Estela.

They sprinted in silence for a time, heading toward the hills. As they drew near Adrian's domain, it began to get colder. The grass faded to brown. Bushes and trees became scraggly. Finally, they stopped behind a hillock.

"Now that I think of it, they'll probably tell Telix that a small party was trying to slip away from the walls," said Ronald. "We should go back."

"We've come this far. We won't give up now," said Relma.

"Ajax may know we're leaving soon!" said Ronald.

"Then we have to hurry ahead," said Relma. "I'm not giving up. This is important."

"Do you even know what kind of dangers we can expect in the hills?" asked Ronald.

"Ogres, if the stories are true," said Relma. "Though they don't dare venture into civilized territory."

"Well, we're about to venture into theirs," said Estela. "Come on, let's pick up the pace. Ronald, you halflings can see better in the dark, can't you?"

"No," said Ronald. "What made you think that."

"Well, I mean, you've got the blessings of the Sun Spirit," said Estela.

"That just means we can channel its energies more easily," said Ronald. "We still have to create lights to see by. We're not goblins."

"Right. Right," said Estela. "So, can you see anything?"

"No, Estela. I don't have better vision than you," said Ronald. "I just said that."

"No, you said halflings don't have better vision than humans," noted Estela. "That doesn't mean you don't have better vision than me-"

"Can we keep moving?" asked Ronald.

They made their way on and up the slopes of the black mountain. The trees had gone away entirely, and the wind was kicking up. The heavy cloaks Ronald had had Estela buy were of excellent service here.

They walked slowly but surely upwards.

"So how do you think your Aunt Pan will react?" asked Ronald.

"Ask me if I care," said Relma.

Then, there was a cry of unfathomable rage from far below. Was it Relma, or had the sun darkened slightly? It's probably her imagination.

"That certainly is a reaction," said Estela.

"Run!" said Relma.

They ran as quickly as they could up the slopes. Fortunately, the black mountain gradually ascended, making it more accessible. Even so, the footing was treacherous, and Relma nearly slipped once or twice.

"Do you think she'll follow us?" asked Ronald.

"Only if we're close," said Relma. "She can't afford to drop everything just to follow us."

"Are you sure?" asked Estela.

"If we run very fast, yes," said Relma.

"Let's look for a cave," said Estela. "Legends say that the sorceress Pandora can transform into a bird. Unfortunately, we might not see her coming until it's too late."

Suddenly, Relma halted.

She saw Anoa. The Bright King was standing at the top of a rise with a hand upstretched. Relma blinked, and then suddenly, he was gone. She made for him. "...This way."

"What makes you so sure?" asked Estela.

"I've just seen an old friend," said Relma.

"Which one?" asked Ronald. "I've known you since you were a baby."

"Someone you never met," said Relma.

"Who?" asked Ronald.

Why was Relma bothering to conceal this? It didn't make any sense. "Anoa the Bright, all right. I met him once a couple of months ago. He just appeared to me."

"Why would he appear to you?" asked Estela.

Relma looked at her in irritation. "Because I'm the Heir of Kings."

"Of course you are," said Estela. "Never let anyone tell you otherwise, kid."

"If you don't believe me, why are you following me?" asked Relma.

"Well, none of us know where we're going except up," said Estela. "We're still going up. So we may as well follow you."

"Look there, a cave," said Ronald.

Sure enough, there was a cave. It was huge but delved into the rock so that one could not see it unless they were above it. But it was next to a rock face that leaned a little forward. So only by standing where they were could they see it.

"...That doesn't prove anything," said Estela.

"Look, if I'm not the Heir of Kings, why would Pandora and Gail Arengeth go to all the trouble of raising me?" asked Relma.

"Well, the real heirs died out years ago. They could be planning to put a puppet on the throne of Harlenor Reunited," said Estela. "That's what I'd do."

"Well, if I was nobody special, why would they want me to bear a child to put on the throne?" asked Relma as they walked down. "Tell me that?"

"They are making the plan needlessly complicated," said Estela as they entered the cave. "Sorcerers do that sometimes."

"Oh, please do talk about Harlenor Reunited while trespassing in my domain." said an unfathomably evil voice. "It amuses me to no end to hear you babble." They froze. Then, the cave door closed shut with a snap. They were trapped.