A/N I hope you all enjoy this chapter! :) As always, vote if you like it and comment your opinions below.

          The thick wooden door swung open to reveal Charlie, who I was relieved to find alone and unharmed. I wasn't sure who he was more surprised to see, Elizabeth or myself, especially since we were wearing almost identical clothing.

"What's going on?" he asked. Unsure of what to say I thrust the poster into his hands. Charlie's expression grew sombre as he read, his hands trembling slightly. When he was finished reading he screwed the poster into a ball and lobbed it into the distance.

"You're in danger," said Elizabeth, "If that drawing is accurate enough for me to recognise you, it won't take long for those who see you on a day-to-day basis to realise." I nodded my head in agreement with Elizabeth's words and murmured,

"I'm heading after my uncle and his captor, you need to come with me. If you stay here, you'll be killed." Charlie paused for a moment, before looking over his shoulder into his home.

"I'm sure my father will be furious with me, wherever he is now, for leaving the forge... But I'll go with you." I sighed with relief and dashed passed him into the house and began to pack for him.

          When we had finished packing I opened the back door and peered around cautiously, afraid there were townspeople lying in wait for us. When I was certain the coast was clear I motioned for Elizabeth and Charlie to follow me out into the stables. I had only meant to use the stables as a safer route to the east road that led to the Otkir mountains, but when I saw another horse beside Valiant, I stopped. If I hadn't been so certain she was dead, I would have thought it was Moon in front of me. From the silver mane to the soft brown eyes, she was almost identical to my beloved horse.

"You bought another horse?" I whispered, turning to Charlie who was already saddling Valiant, aided by an apprehensive-looking Elizabeth.

"I bought her for you actually," he began, clearing his throat nervously, "I just didn't know how to broach the subject of a new horse without reminding you of Moon." I beamed from ear-to-ear at his words, feeling gratitude wash over me, as I wrapped my arms around the horse's neck and said,

"I love her, she's perfect." Charlie returned my grin and replied,

"I'm glad. What are you going to call her?" I pondered over a few different names for a moment before I settled on one.

"I think I'll call her Orchid," I said, brushing my fingers through the mare's mane as I crooned the name to her.

"Sorry to interrupt the happy occasion," said Elizabeth, her voice dripping with sarcasm, "but we're running out of time."

"Right." I responded, embarrassed that I had been so distracted by my gift.

          Once the two horses were ready and laden with our supply-filled saddlebags, I climbed into Orchid's saddle and reached down to help Elizabeth up. She had been too afraid to ride Valiant again, so Charlie rode alone, with more of the supplies so as not to overburden Orchid. I nudged Orchid's belly with my heels and we set off toward the east road, her fluid movement almost lulling me to sleep after having such a long, stressful day. The guards stationed at the eastern entrance of the town did not notice, or did not care when we rode past them and into the night. Our cloaks billowed out behind us as we put as much distance as we could between the town I had not left in over ten years. My heart was conflicted. On the one hand I was worried for my uncle, Tia and Charlie; but on the other hand, I was finally achieving my wish. I was going on an adventure, and I felt freer than I ever had before.

The three of us rode until the moon was high in the sky, before we decided it was time to make camp for the night and rest the horses. We slowed the horses to a trot as we began to search for a suitable place to sleep for the night. It was then that a faint noise captured my attention, coming from somewhere ahead of us.

"Do you hear that," I said, turning my head slightly to speak to Elizabeth, who had begun to doze in the saddle behind. She blinked sleepily at me before she cocked her head to the side and replied,

"Yes. I can hear music of some sort." Relieved I wasn't hallucinating due to my lack of sleep I called out to Charlie,

"There's music up ahead, perhaps it's a merchant caravan. It would be a good place to sleep tonight."

"Sounds good to me," he responded, spurring Valiant onward in the direction of the music.

           As we drew closer to the camp the music became louder, intermingled with the sound of laughter and the scent of cooking meat. My stomach rumbled at the idea of food and I realised I had not eaten all day. The campsite was made up by a circle of six large, horse-drawn caravans painted with different colours and symbols.

"They're not just merchants. They're gypsies," said Charlie, as he dismounted Valiant and began to tie him up at a nearby tree. I followed suit and soon the horses were whinnying happily as they nipped at the long grass beneath their feet.

"Keep your eyes on your possessions," muttered Charlie as we entered the camp, "Gypsies are known for their sleight of hand." When we emerged in the firelight all music and chatter paused.

"Greetings friends," began Charlie, "We are simple travellers seeking safety and company for the night. Will we find it here?" I eyed the gypsies cautiously, ready to spring into action if they responded with aggression.

"All are welcome by Barin's fire," said a tall, wiry man who had a greying beard, adorned with various beads.

"Thank you," replied Charlie, ducking his head slightly. Barin gestured for us to sit in an empty space beside him and soon the music and conversations began once more.

          Barin was a friendly man who'd been travelling with most of his companions for over two decades, trading their wares throughout the Kingdom of Galaan. I liked him but knew better than to trust a gypsy with anything more than a good conversation. Elizabeth was sitting close to my side, staring at our companions with wide eyes, filled with both fear and wonder. I doubted she had interacted with many people who weren't of noble birth, so the rough-and-tumble lifestyle of the gypsies was most likely making her uncomfortable. The women wore furs and silks that exposed their abdomens and legs, their hair loose and adorned with beads and feathers. The men were loud and boisterous dressed in apparel similar to the women's, although many had bare chests. Thankfully, none had approached her or myself in their drunken state, saving us from the much cruder aspects of male and female interaction.

          It was then that I noticed a man who was sitting on a fallen tree, playing a round, stringed instrument with a long neck. He was accompanied by a large, rosy-cheeked woman playing a flute and a young boy who jingled a small set of bells in time with the music. The man appeared to be around the same age as myself, with shoulder length brown hair and unusual amber eyes. He also had skin the colour of caramel, as if he had never spent a day out of the sun, and his gaze had been fixed on Elizabeth since we had arrived. When he had finished his song he got to his feet and strode over to where Elizabeth and I sat. Charlie looked up from the game he was playing with Barin and eyed the bard suspiciously. The man did not notice Charlie's gaze, or did not care, and sat down across from Elizabeth, who shifted as close to my side as she could.

"Greetings friends. My name is Merek and I don't believe we have met." Merek's voice was warm and cheerful but I did not trust the playful look in his eyes.

"I'm Skylar and this is..." I froze. I had not thought to give Elizabeth a fake name until now.

          "I'm Eris," Elizabeth interjected quickly, flashing me a warning look. Relieved I laughed and added,

"Sorry! It's been a very long day and Eris and I are new acquaintances." I smiled at Merek and hoped it seemed genuine. He chuckled and said,

"Skylar and Eris hmm? What are two beauties like yourself doing in a place like this?" Despite his playful expression and demeanour, I was still wary of him. He may not have possessed any ill-will toward us but I was fairly certain he had more than friendship in mind for Elizabeth.

"We're travelling to the mountains," replied Elizabeth, still blushing at the bard's words.

"Ah... An adventure!" Merek exclaimed as he looked up, opening both arms above his head as if he were reaching for the stars. Elizabeth let out a giggle and I looked her in surprise, I had not heard genuine laughter from the younger girl before. He started to play a melody on his instrument, which he said was called a lute, and began to sing. There was no denying that he had a pleasant voice and I grew tired as his honeyed tones filled the air. Elizabeth was entirely under his spell, her eyes wide as she rested her head on her knees and watched Merek.

Before long, the camp was filled with yawns as the gypsies began to retire to their caravans. The campfire had receded to embers and I was exhausted. I nudged Elizabeth who had fallen asleep during one of Merek's many songs and helped her to her feet. Noticing our movement, Merek got to his feet and retreated to a shadowy area on the edge of the camp. Charlie thanked Barin for his hospitality and led Elizabeth and I back to the horses. I retrieved my bedroll from Orchid's flank and spread it out between them, grateful that I would at last get to sleep. Still conscious of the company we were in, I lay with my hand on my dagger, and fell into a deep, much-needed slumber.

          I awoke to the sound of music and saw that Charlie's face was inches away from my own in his attempt to rouse me. I pulled back in surprise and he too pulled away with a laugh.

"Sorry for startling you," he snorted, but I figured you would want to leave at first light." I nodded and got my feet, checking that all my weapons were still in their proper places. I looked over and saw that Merek had already begun to play his lute, while Elizabeth watched on. I scowled when I realised that the gypsy caravan had moved on, but the bard had not. I couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about Merek. He was polite enough. So far he had done nothing but flirt with Elizabeth, which I concluded was the source of my irritation. He stopped playing and stood up when he saw that I was awake, a large grin plastered across his face.

"Are we leaving now?" he asked. I stared at him in shock.

"We?" I replied.