It was another oddly sunny day in Querencia. The phoenix was hard at work yet again, and the same could be said for Jesika and Rowan.

Jesika felt her body stinging even more-so today. Her head ached, begging her to rest. She felt her mind losing focus and her body sway. She tried her best to keep herself going, fighting to keep control. Finally, her body gave out on her and she fell back into the ground. Rowan ran to her side, asking her if she was okay. She panted from the heat, her body burning like it had the day she was burnt. One of the knights noticed what was going on and came to yell at her to get back to work.

Rowan stood with his fists clenched as he got in the man's face. "She has third degree burns all over her!! She can't work out here!"

The knight glared at her, but sighed, reaching out his hand. "Come with me. I'll take you to the fountain in the castle to heal the burns. But then it's right back to work."

Jesika nodded, but didn't take the man's hand, instead grabbing Rowan's, letting him pull her up. She began to follow after him, stopping beside Rowan to whisper in his ear:

"I'm going to see if I can hear or see something about Darryn and Aquila."

Rowan looked at her and nodded. "Be careful," he said.

Jesika gave him a small, pained smile before following the knight into the castle.

Jesika looked around the castle as the knight kept a tight grip on her arm. Pain struck her heart at the familiarity of the castle and the inability to roam around it freely as she used to. She had the strongest urge to go lay in her parents' bed and breathe in the familiar smell of their room. Now the castle seemed so foreign, so invaded. It was an odd feeling to say the least.

As they neared the fountain, Jesika's heart lurched when she saw Darryn walking through the halls by himself, clutching his side tightly. She glanced at the knight gripping her, then back at Darryn. She quickly yanked her arm free with her all might, swinging at the knight's head, efficiently knocking him to the ground. Before he could get back to his feet, she brought the bottom of her boot down on his head, knocking him unconscious. Darryn noticed the commotion, his eyes catching hers, watching the scene go down.

He quickly made his way to her, taking her by the arm and pulling her into a hidden nook in the hallway.

"What the hell are you doing?!" Darryn shouted in a whisper. He paused, looking at her, seeing her irritated burns and her red face. "Jesika, you look like you're about to pass out."

She nodded, gripping his shoulder tightly. "That's because I am about to pass out. They have Rowan and I working in the farmlands. I've been working under the sun and a phoenix all day. They made us work 'til sunset last night. It took my body giving out on me for one of the knights to bring me to the healing fountain. That's where I was heading when I saw you."

Darryn nodded in understanding. "I'm glad Rowan and you are okay. Aquila and I are alright too. We have been forced into Audric's army, patrolling the streets and the castle."

She gripped his shoulder even tighter. "Tell Aquila her parents are okay. We saw them working alongside us in the farmlands."

"I will," he assured her. He started to pull away, but Jesika tugged him back.

"We have to set things right, Darryn. Tonight, find us in one of the peasant homes near the farmlands. Alright?"

He nodded yet again. "I'll see what I can do," he paused, pulling her close, but holding her gently in fear of rubbing her burns.

Jesika sighed as she hugged him back, wishing she could relax in his arms longer. Instead, she pulled away as the knight she knocked out regained consciousness. Darryn disappeared through the halls as Jesika allowed the knight to take hold of her once again.

***

Darryn didn't fall asleep at all that night. When it was five o'clock, he rose from the bed quietly, being careful not to wake the Grumor knight in his room. He then dressed in the Grumor apparel, then snuck out the door. He wandered through the castle halls until he found Aquila's room. Quietly, he opened the door. Once again, there was a knight sitting in the room with her, his eyes closed in sleep.

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He made his way over to the bed where Aquila laid asleep. He gazed down at her and felt his heart twist. She's so beautiful, he thought to himself as he caressed her cheek. Oddly enough, she seemed to lean into his touch. Though that might've been just his imagination. He leaned down and softly kissed her forehead, before whispering in her ear for her to get up. Yet, she didn't respond. He had forgotten how heavy a sleeper she was.

He sighed heavily, grabbing the pillow out from under her head, and whacking her hard on the face. Before he knew it, he was on the ground, with Aquila on top of him, glaring down at him, a dagger to his throat.

"How...did...you...manage to...keep a dagger on you?" he struggled to say as the dagger poked his throat.

Her eyes widened at his familiar voice, and she got off him. "I have my ways," she whispered back. Darryn took her outstretched hand, standing. She arched one brow. "How did you manage to get into my room?"

Darryn grinned, glancing back at the sleeping knight behind her. "Grumor's knights are lazy asses."

She grinned back, stifling a giggle. "What now?"

"We go get Rowan and Jesika. Follow me." Darryn turned to leave but Aquila stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"Wait. I need to change too."

Darryn felt his face redden and he glanced at the knight. He didn't want to leave her in case something happened, but he couldn't very well wait in the room with her while she changed. She seemed to notice his dilemma and she smiled, tilting her head. "I'll be alright. I can take care of myself if the knight wakes up. Just wait in the hallway."

He nodded, going in the hall. Soon Aquila joined him, in the enemy apparel that had been set out for her, a sword in her hand. He quirked a brow at her. She giggled quietly.

"Stole it off the knight," she said, answering his silent question.

He furrowed his brows, narrowing his eyes. "I'm beginning to get concerned at the skill you have at stealing and hiding things."

She only shrugged in reply.

They made their way through the castle, stopping when they saw the door was guarded by two very awake knights. Darryn and Aquila shared a look. It was time to create a distraction. Aquila approached one of the suits of armor in the hallway, kicking it, and knocking it to the ground with a loud clatter. The knights quickly made their way over there, but by then Aquila was already gone, meeting Darryn at the door.

He opened it and they ran through, running over the bridge. The knights at the top of the spires connected to the gate fired arrows at them and they narrowly dodged each one. They separated and climbed up the two spires, quickly knocking the two knights unconscious. They then lowered the gate and climbed back down the spires, walking through.

Darryn grinned and swung his arm around Aquila. "We make an awfully good team, you know."

She sighed in a somewhat sad tone. "Yeah... I know..."

***

Jesika woke up easily when Darryn shook her. She rose to see they had already gotten Rowan up and dressed. The three waited in the living room while she changed, once she was done, she joined them. Jesika eyed the sword Aquila was holding.

She grinned. "Stole it off a knight?"

Aquila grinned back, fist-bumping her. "You know it," she said proudly.

Jesika laughed quietly as Rowan and Darryn rolled their eyes.

The four left the house, making the short way to the farmlands. With the night sky looming over the golden wheat, it created an ominous look. They found the nearest barn and went to the back of the large building, sitting around each other.

"So, what's the plan?" Aquila said.

Jesika chuckled. "The plan is to drive out Grumor and kill Audric," she said sharply.

Darryn grunted. "And how do you suppose we do that? They're an army, we're four people. We don't even have our beasts," Darryn said.

Aquila tilted her head. "Haven't any of you wondered what Audric's beast is?" she asked.

Jesika shrugged. "What does that have to do with anything?" she asked.

"Well, obviously we have to know what we're up against," Rowan said.

Jesika considered his response and nodded. "So, what do you think his beast is?" Jesika said.

Rowan sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "He set fire to the castle, Jes."

Her eyes steeled. "What makes you think that?"

"It's clear as day now. This was all his plan. Set fire to the castle, kill your parents (and hopefully you), then blame it on a dragon everyone's too terrified of to do anything about. Stir up an anger in you at the dragon and either let you convince Querencia's army to get themselves killed, or let the princess go get herself killed, overthrowing the kingdom once she's gone."

Jesika, Aquila and Darryn's mouths dropped at Rowan's spiel.

"How in the world did you think of all of that?" Jesika asked incredulously.

Rowan shrugged. "Haven't been getting any sleep, so it's been time spent thinking."

Jesika nodded in understanding, then frowned. "But how would he have set fire to the castle like that? That fire was huge and spread incredibly fast."

Rowan frowned. "And that's why I mentioned his plan. There was definitely a dragon involved that night. But it wasn't Aethelinda. My theory, and I don't say this loosely, is that Audric has a dragon of his own he's been hiding in Grumor. I would bet that if we try and fight Audric, that he'll have his dragon with him."

Understanding dawned on the three. It made sense. Why didn't we see this? they thought to themselves. Jesika raked a hand through her hair, letting out a haggard breath.

"If you're right... Then how do we go about fighting him? Our beasts are great, but they're no dragon," Jesika said with exasperation.

Rowan tilted his head, looking straight at Jesika. "We get a dragon of our own."