When Gain and Anne were given a single horse for their return, Anne protested,

"I know how to ride! Please give me my own horse!"

Valentina took a cruel pleasure in seeing the lovely Anne seated behind her little brother on the white charger.

If one were judging by looks alone—they should have appeared as something out of a storybook—a tall dark handsome prince with a beautiful maiden on a white horse—a cliché really. But the couple's expressions betrayed the scene—they honestly looked more like a couple of awkward middle-schoolers on a first date— no fairy tale ending here!

"I am sorry Anne, I really am, but the problem is— seeing the two of you sharing a horse together is just too damn cute! I grew up with that little monster—you've got to give me this!"

Anne looked as if she were on the edge of tears, "You are not a very nice person Queen Artemis!"

Valentina chuckled. "Now hold on tight! We can't have you falling off—you are much too valuable!"

Anne sulked, "No, not a nice person at all."

But, Anne did hold on a little tighter, and Gain's face turned a little pinker. Gain silently turned the horse around, and they were on their way.

After about ten minutes of riding, Gain finally spoke, "I am sorry about the horse."

"Oh, it's not your fault."

"Yeah, it's just her idea of fun."

"She has a pretty twisted idea of what fun is."

"Well, she's always been a little strange."

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"A little strange? She said we looked cute! Well, I guess I do look cute, but you..."

"I think she meant we looked cute together..."

"I know what she meant," Anne snapped, "I am not stupid!"

"I know you are not stupid—remember I am the one that said you were smart!"

"Ha! I think you said I was smarter than the Great Sage and a thousand times prettier, so I guess you are the stupid one!"

"Well, I say a lot of stupid things, but not about that. Every word is true."

That was not the response Anne expected. She had no answer to Gain's defense. Where is the argument, the denial... this is not right. He's so close. And now, now it's quiet, so... so... those words are just floating there. He thinks I am beautiful. He thinks that I am smart. He begged for my life. It's so warm. Why do I have to be so close? I need to change the subject NOW!

"Do you think she will do it? Will she go to war for your sister and your mother?"

"I have no doubt. She has a lot more of our father in her than she would ever admit. Maybe we all do." Gain sighed,"Well, I guess in me it is pretty obvious."

"Well, you have a bit of your mother in you, too."

"Ha! Where?"

"Oh, places..."

No, not again. I am thinking about his good parts. He begged for my life. He cried. No. No. No! Okay, so maybe he's not a terrible person, but that does not mean he is a good person.

So, Anne decided that it was better to stop talking—talking was getting her into trouble. But, not talking was even more dangerous. She had never been so close to a man before—not like this. And, with Gain no longer a threat to Mia, she could just think of him as a regular person.

He's just a person. Anne's mind began to wander—He's Abel's brother. Just like Abel... but taller, and with more muscles, and so warm. Anne found herself holding onto Gain even tighter, her cheek resting on his back. She could feel her own heart beating in her chest. She was losing track of time, just content to hold on to him, as golden hills of the countryside made way for the green of the forest, and then hills again.

"Anne! Anne!"

Hearing Mia's voice brought Anne back to the rest of the world. She released Gain, as she began to search for the source of Mia's voice.

Anne did not have to search for long. She saw Mia sprinting towards her, tears in her eyes.

Anne jumped off the horse and caught Mia in her arms, and then shed tears of her own.

As the friends embraced, Mia spoke through her tears, "We didn't know where you were...the horses were still here...not the real Muzic."

Moments later Abel approached on his horse. Gain had already dismounted and walked in his brother's direction. Abel was the first to speak. "We know it was a trap. Were you hurt? Who—"

Gain looked to Abel, "Valentina—she's alive."