Aneira and Bellaire looked at the sad little two wheeled cart in the shed.

“Do you think this’ll work?” Aneira asked hesitantly.

“It’s…” Bellaire said slowly. “Not ideal. But we can make it work.” Aneira stepped into the shed and took the random burlap sacks out of the cart. Bellaire went around the other side to help. Her hand neared Aneira’s. Though it didn’t seem to bother her in any way, it made Aneira’s hands tremble and the air around them drop several degrees.

“Whew, it’s getting cold. Think fall’s coming early?” Bellaire said, trying to make conversation.

“It’s too early for fall.” Aneira said quickly, turning away. “We’ll need a cloth or tarpaulin to cover you and chest for the journey.”

“Oh, I think I saw something like that over here.” Bellaire said, shuffling some things over and around until she pulled a large canvas cloth up from a pile.

“Good, I’ll bring out the chest and the horse.” Aneira said, taking the leather straps and leads from the wall to hitch up the horse to the cart. “You can wait in the shed, I’m sure there’s someone still watching us. Since the captain of the wolves was told you were here.”

“Do you know by who?” Bellaire asked, throwing the canvas in the cart.

“I know it wasn’t the Midgley’s. They’re gone to town right now.” Aneira said, attaching the hitching to the cart. “I’ll be back.”

“How do I know you won’t just bring the guards here and try to rescind our deal?” Bellaire asked quickly.

“Because we made a promise.” Aneira said simply. Leaving the shed without another word. They walked as fast as they could toward the house to grab the chest. Looking at every fence for a nosy neighbor. Not that Aneira could even see their houses from their little farmland, and someone being a little too nosy would be very conspicuous.

They brought the trunk to the cart and put it down for Bellaire to settle into the cart. Then she went into the horse stable. Stopping for a second to think of the other animals in the farm, who would feed them? Care for them? Aneira took the horse over to the shed and backed him up to hitch him up to the cart.

“I guess I’ll have to stop by a neighbor’s to have them watch the animals while we’re gone.” Aneira said with a sigh. Mostly to Bellaire without giving away that she was hiding. Not that it wasn’t already obvious to anyone paying attention.

“Must we?” Whispered the canvas in the cart.

“Yes.” Aneira snapped back under their breath.They saddled up the horse as the cart had no seat for the driver. “We’ll have to make stops anyway since we aren’t bringing supplies.” Aneira swung into the saddle, ignoring the grumbling from under the canvas. They gave a click of their tongue and pulled the reins to the side to direct the horse toward the road.

Once they were on the road the realization of meeting Roskva on her way back hit them like a brick wall. What would they say? How would they avoid revealing Lady Callafon? Anxiety came over them and they stiffened. The horse reacted and started shaking his head becoming more unruly as Aneira’s anxiety grew.

“What are you doing out there?!” Bellaire whispered harshly. Aneira didn’t respond as they tried to get control over the horse again. But the more they tried to control the horse, the more out of control he got. Until he bucked up with a startled cry and bolted into a run. Aneira didn’t have time to scream before their horse went wild. Running down the path with reckless abandon.

The cart behind them rocked wildly, Aneira tried to keep a hold of the reins and stop the rampaging animal but they’d never been good with animals. Every regret flashed through their mind.

“Whoah!” Yelled a deep voice, Aneira looked over at the chief of the royal guard. He seized the reins from Aneira and stopped the horse in it’s tracks.

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“Oh thank the river.” Aneira said breathlessly. “Thank you so much.”

“Where are you off to in such a hurry?” He asked, again smug.

“I wasn’t trying to be in a hurry.” Aneira said firmly. “I’m not a very good rider, it’s something my sister prefers rather than me. And I’m going to see her for her birthday.”

“I guess you won’t mind if we check your cargo?” He asked, eying the cart.

“Dare I ask why?” Aneira sighed. Hoping their anxiety wasn’t obvious to see.

“Just a bit of suspicious behavior, let’s say.” The captain said. He yanked off the canvas tarp and revealed the trunk, and Bellaire. Who immediately looked at Aneira betrayed.

“I knew it.” The Captain said with a smug look toward Aneira. “You both are under arrest to be taken straight to the Crowned Heir to be sentenced.”

“May I ask you to humor me?” Aneira asked. The captain stared uneasily at the eerily calm Aneira.

“Maybe…” He said.

“Please inspect the contents of the chest.” Aneira said. The captain approached, with Bellaire frantically shaking her head no at Aneira. But the captain opened the trunk, the contents giving him pause.

“What is all this?” He asked.

“The objects belonging to the lost prince. Their father.” Bellaire snapped aggressively.

“Is that so?” The captain laughed, he started rummaging through the trunk and Bellaire’s mouth dropped.

“Do something!” She hissed at Aneira.

“Shut up,” The captain snapped.

“Be careful,” Aneira said, trying to hold themself from reaching out to stop the captain from rummaging. He looked up to snap something at them but his expression clouded and he went back down to the chest. This time a bit gentler.

“Okay, so you got a lot of nice things. What in here do you think is-” The captain stopped cold in the middle of his sentence. He picked up a bundle of old letters with broken royal seals.

“How did you come to possess these?” He stood up and held them up to Aneira.

“I don’t know, they were my fathers!” They said, raging building as they saw the boot print on of the letters. “And one of YOUR men ruined it!” The captain ignored the outburst and turned to his men.

“Take these two into custody for now. Until we know what to do with them.” The captain put the letters back into the chest. “And take this chest to my tent for investigation.” Aneira slid off the horse clumsily. Calmly putting their hands out for the guards surrounding them.

“Keep your hands off them!” Bellaire yelled, she jumped out of the cart and ran to Aneira’s defense.

“Lady Callafon, please.” Aneira said calmly as their hands were linked together behind them.

“No!” Bellaire said as the guards surrounded her. “Why aren’t you doing something?”

“Because not every problem has to be solved with violence.” Aneira snapped as the guards tackled Bellaire into the dirt.

“You’re just a coward!” Bellaire screamed. Her face shoved in the dirt as she was forcibly restrained. “You better remember our bargain! If that evidence gets destroyed I’ll-”

“Gag her.” The captain commanded. “I’m tired of hearing her.” A length of cloth pulled across Bellaire’s face. The cloth entered her mouth and stopped her tongue from forming real words. Only angry noises as she was fully bound and dragged alongside the peacefully walking Aneira.

“I’ve forgotten nothing.” Aneira said sternly. They were taken to a large camp decorated with not only the royal crests of Tyrsande but also the decorated flags of the wolves as a company. Large bonfires burned around the encampment with plenty of attendants to keep the place running. Their horse and cart were taken alongside the other horses of the wolves and the trunk and the captain both disappeared in the largest and most decorated tent. Covered in flags of different kingdoms as well as their own.

A little tent was emptied for Aneira and Bellaire. Where they were tied on opposite sides to thick posts. Two guards stayed outside to watch them and Aneira settled and got themselves comfortable. They looked up and saw the burning glare Bellaire was leveling at them.

“I understand your annoyance,” Aneira said diplomatically. “But you can’t just throw things around without a care. That won’t help anyone. It’s unfair to not give the captain a chance to come to his own conclusions. How can you hope to change the minds of a kingdom if you won’t try changing the mind of those protecting it?” Bellaire grumbled through her binds, fighting against the binds angrily.

“Well, to each their own then.” Aneira sighed, “I don’t want to be known as a tyrant, and I don’t plan on making the transition harder than it needs to be.” Aneira got comfortable and waited, and it didn’t take long before a page came to the tent. One of the guards entered the tent.

“The Captain wants to see you,” they said, unbinding Aneira entirely. Aneira felt their wrists and followed the guards out of the tent and to see the captain.