A lone strip of sunlight across the desert horizon kept the creeping plumes of darkness at bay as it spread its wings across the wide sky. It was beautiful sight to behold with rock spires reaching dizzying heights and stars slowly glittering to life above, but Mimika didn't give a damn about the rocks or stars or any other scenic nonsense.

Only one thing mattered. Her sight focused beyond the dusty, narrow road beneath the hooves of her horse. Her violet eyes hungrily stared at the city outlined in the distance. 

Morid.

She did not mind the horse as much as its lack of speed, but a barian was out of the question. It would draw unwanted attention. For now, she was a simple traveler like any other. Mimika did not ride alone.

Mimika's gaze shifted to the cloaked rider beside her and the one in plain leathers before her. Being unable to ride alone annoyed her more than the ceaseless chatter of the Murmurwoods they had left behind hours ago. Two Mithorian guards rode with her sent by Lord Fennaris for her protection. She scoffed at the idea of her needing guards and sneered at their presence.

They were not guards. She knew it and they knew it. They were spies meant to report on her. On her. Mimika's grip tightened on the reins as she glanced sideways at Captain Kyandor.

She knew very well he did not trust her, just as she did not trust him. But she also knew he was ambitious and therefore easy to manipulate. Her gaze returned to the city's silhouette.

Lord Fennaris had sent her away after the little mishap with the human girl at Ilsurni Castle and ordered her not to be in his presence until she produced the Key. How dared he? After all she'd done for him! After he'd been about to cast her aside for that wretched human girl, he'd had the gall to be insulted?! To treat her like his inferior?!

She'd left in anger to her home, Movien Tower, but not without taking something that she now hid within her bodice. The cool, smooth surface of the crystal shard pressed against her chest, and its presence reassured her.

All was already in motion. She'd planned for weeks.

Let Lord Fennaris believe she was on the hunt for the Key. It was only a matter of time before he realized he did not need the Key to conquer the Eastern Elvin Kingdoms. All he needed was her and only her. Soon he'd appreciate her true power.

But by then, once her plan was completed, she might not need him. She had learned much the day he tried to seduce the human. The day he left for the borders of Armindia. The day she learned the truth from Nim.

A small ghost of a smile appeared across her face as the city of Morid loomed closer and closer. 

A/N: What could dear Mimka be up to?