Bellaire stewed in her rage. But the longer Aneira was gone, the more she began to worry. Her mind began to race, Flashes of Aneira dead in a shallow grave with the evidence all thrown into the bonfire so that no one could ever find it. Everything she’d ever worked for.

It lit a new fire inside Bellaire. She wriggled and fought against her bindings until she found the smallest give. Rubbing the skin off her wrists until it was possible for her to slip out of the binds. With a yank, she ripped her hands free of the binds and got to her feet. Yanking the gag off her face and looking around the tent for anything that could be used as a weapon. But they were in an empty tent with nothing but the posts they had been tied to. Bellaire growled and crouched to assess the two guards and if she could take them. Probably one at a time but not at the same time. Instead she turned to the back of the tent, prying up the back stakes and sneaking out.

Bellaire snuck behind the trees and hid. Creeping along the tents and avoiding sight. The biggest tent was easy to see but also surrounded by other tents. Bellaire slid between the tents. Watching the guards and the attendants, All the attention seemed on just the daily chores, not worried at all about anything. Which Bellaire took as a terrible omen. She crawled to the back of the captain’s tent and pulled up the stakes, crawling under the tent and into the crowded living and plotting quarters of the captain of the wolves.

Aneira and the captain were sitting inside calmly sharing a pot of tea as if they were passing a lazy evening.

“What’s going on here!” Bellaire stood up angrily. The captain stood up alarmed but Aneira only sipped their tea.

“I was wondering when you would be joining us.” Aneira said, “relax, we’re just making plans for our arrival to the palace.”

“OUR?” Bellaire’s jaw dropped. “We shouldn’t be working WITH these people! We should be trying to get away!”

“Why? This very reasonable gentleman is loyal to the throne. Which, as he has concluded, is me.” Aneira said, still calmly sipping the tea. “You’ve been pardoned and are no longer legally at odds.” Bellaire could only stare in wild disbelief.

“You. You have sworn your allegiance to Aneira?” Bellaire tried to regain her composure and stand fully against the captain.

“My men and myself are loyal to Aneira as long as they are upon the throne.” The Captain said sternly. Clearly some animosity still lingered between the two.

“And what if the council decides they aren’t?” Bellaire asked, still distrusting.

“I suppose we’ll wait and see, but from what I can tell. This is impossible to refute.” The captain said equally distrustfully. Aneira shook their head.

“Enough, both of you. A compromise is still a solution.” Aneira said. They put the cup down and stood up. “Captain, how quickly can you be ready to escort us to the palace?”

“We can be torn down and ready to move in an hour.” The Captain stood and politely bowed to Aneira.

“Good, let’s get everyone moving.” Aneira took control of the situation. Stepping into the role of a leader as easily as slipping into a pair of boots. “Lady Callafon, you and I will wait with the chest. Guard it with your life if you must.”

“Yes, your majesty.” Bellaire bowed, the look of distaste over Aneira’s face didn’t escape her.

“Dismissed, then.” Aneira said to the captain and with another bow, he left the tent. His voice blasted across the encampment. Spurring a rush of noise from the camp as they began tearing down.

“What are you doing?” Aneira asked, now that they and Bellaire were alone.

“I am paying respects to the new Queen.” Bellaire said sternly. “And what are YOU doing?!”

“What are you talking about?” Aneira took the cups of tea and went to the tent opening to dump them. Trying to focus on something to keep themself together. “I’m acting like myself. What more do you want?”

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“I want you to take precaution! Those bastards out there hunted me across these mountains like an animal! You think that they aren’t trying to trick you?” Bellaire opened the chest, just to double check everything was still there.

“Is everything still in there?” Aneira asked, their voice betraying their concern.

“Yeah, I think so.” Bellaire nodded with a relieved sigh.

“Then there’s only the council to worry about.” Aneira said, beginning to pace as the thought of facing the council came to their mind. Causing anxiety to bubble in their mind.

“Only?” Bellaire scoffed. Shutting the chest lid.

“If the captain wanted to harm us in any way, he’d have done so already.” Aneira said. “We’re in the middle of nowhere surrounded by his followers sworn to him. It would be all too easy to bury us in a shallow grave and forget about it. But he didn’t. Instead he’s agreed to take us to the palace under his protection. I’m happy that you’re being so protective but please hold the hostility for just a bit longer.” Bellaire huffed but sighed in defeat.

“You’re right. I’m not happy about it but you are.” She said, “It’s just so hard.” Aneira slowly approached, standing before her.

“It’s okay. You did what you set out to do.” Aneira said. “You went looking for the true heir to the throne and you found me. You did it.”

“I guess so.” Bellaire sighed and held her head in her hands. Aneira held their arms, wishing they knew what to say.

“The guards didn’t hurt you when they restrained you, did they?” Aneira asked, finally breaking the silence.

“No, I’m okay.” Bellaire said she looked up to Aneira who offered her a tiny smile.

“I didn’t think you were capable of smiling.” Bellaire said, attempting to make a joke. Aneira stopped smiling instantly.

“What gave you that idea?” Aneira asked.

“You’re just always so cold. Mean. Like you’re more phantom than you are flesh and blood.” Bellaire said sheepishly. Sticking her finger into her mouth and using her teeth to cut her nails. Aneira stared in disbelief.

“Don’t do that, it’s disgusting.” Aneira chastised, shaking their head at the sight.

“What?” Bellaire paused, then she looked down at her hand. “Oh. Sorry, nervous habit I picked up.”

“And you used to be nobility?” Aneira asked, “I thought nobles weren’t allowed to have dirty habits.”

“I didn’t have it back when my family was still alive.” Bellaire snapped. Aneira held up their hands in defence.

“Sorry, you’re right, that was insensitive. I’m sorry.” Aneira shook their head. “You… I don’t socialize very much.”

“What? After you took tea with a mercenary leader and got him to swear loyalty to you?” Bellaire scoffed, mouth dropping open. “What do you think socializing is?”

“Nevermind. Forget it.” Aneira shook their head and turned to the tent entrance. They looked out to inspect the progress of tearing down the camp. Bellaire stared at Aneira confused. She shook her head,

“You’re something else.” Bellaire said with a sigh. Aneira turned and let the tent opening fall back closed. Bellaire caught Aneira’s eye, not expecting Aneira’s suspicious stare.

“Care to elaborate?” They asked.

“I. No. Sorry. Just forget about it.” Bellaire shook her head, smiling as she did it. “How close are they to being ready to head off?”

“A while yet, I’m afraid.” Aneira said, “I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they start breaking down this tent.”

“Then let’s start getting the important cargo onto a cart safely. And this time, I’m driving.” Bellaire stood up and pointed at Aneira playfully. Aneira slowly smiled and quickly wiped it off their face and looked back out the tent.

In an hour the camp was completely broken down. The parade of guards and the staff accompanying them all packed into large covered wagons. Aneira and Bellaire weren’t riding with the rest of the guards. Instead they rode together on Aneira’s cart and horse. Aneira riding in the cart and Bellaire riding the horse, her riding was much more practiced and graceful than Aneira’s. Riding alongside them, was the captain. Leading the rest of the entourage.

“We’ll be seeing the city soon.” The captain said. “Though we might need to stop for the night before we get there.”

“No good,” Bellaire said. “We need to get there as soon as is possible, We’ll ride through the night.”

“Is that a good idea?” Aneira asked, “We need to sleep.”

“We can sleep when you’re on the throne, your majesty.” Bellaire said, Aneira rolled their eyes and looked at the captain.

“Is such a thing possible?” They asked. The captain sighed heavily.

“Yes, I suppose it would be.” He grumbled.

“Then we’ll go until we have to stop to avoid injury.” Aneira said definitively.

“Yes, your majesty.” The captain said unhappily. Which was the last word on the matter.