Jed's POV

I leave Lyra early in the morning, after being certain that Lance was alert enough to watch over her sufficiently. He had slept a bit last night while I stayed with her, so even though he may not be refreshed he at least won't collapse with exhaustion.

I carried Lyra over to her bed and gently laid her down there, careful not to disrupt her. She had only woken once through the night, and she did so with a start, tears staining her cheeks. I stilled her by pulling her close, and she snuggled up to me, laying her head in my lap the rest of the night. I know what it's like to have night terrors after watching someone die.

Lyra spoke in her sleep sometimes, mumbling in distress the names of her Guards, especially Hana's, the man whom I am going to help retrieve. This only makes me want to go even more.

Lance informs me that I should go out of the hallway and continue to the seventh door to my left, as that room is occupied by Sam and to go out from there. He said there would be less Guards there than here- There are now five of them below Lyra's window, too many for me to sneak past.

"Sam's Guards are having their shift now. He made certain that they won't see you." He says from his place near Lyra's bedside.
By "see me," he means that the guards will look the other way and ignore me, not telling a soul of my passing. That's good news.

I nod a goodbye to Lance before going to the door and following instructions. The Guards posted outside are Prince Sam's men as expected, and they don't even glance at me as I exit.

I have to admit, the boy thinks ahead well. If it weren't for his quick mind, I'd have been stuck in Lyra's chambers for hours more until the guard changed. Not that I would have minded: I would have loved to be there when she wakes up, but I cannot afford to miss Sam when he sets out.

There is no one in the hallway and I find the door guarded by more of Sam's men. The Prince must have told them I would be coming, and to allow me to enter, because they too ignore me. I wonder what story he gave them, if he gave them any at all.

Inside of the room, I see the layout is similar to Lyra's: a large bed against the left wall, a tall wardrobe in the corner, and an adjoining room to what I assume is the bath. There are all sorts of furs and expensive things that I don't care for, but can't help but admire as I cross the thick, luxurious carpet. I notice that the bed is still made, the red satin sheets pulled and creased to perfection. There is no Sam present, leading me to believe that he must have not come to bed at all throughout the night.

I go to the window nearest the bed, opening it and peering down silently.

There are only two Guards on this side of the wall, one of which is sleeping and the other who is nearly there as well. I pull a black cloth from my pocket and tie it in front of my mouth, so no wisps of foggy breath escape to be seen by anyone. I use the cover of the still dark morning to creep down the wall silently, grateful for the skills that Kaladin taught me.

The dark cloak that I have tied and pulled around me blends with the still shadows of the wall, and I find it easier to climb down without the bow around me. My feet stand true and carry me down without slipping in the cold, finding each stone to take me safely to the ground.

Once I near the dust below, I stand still in the shadow of the castle. I cling to the wall silently for what must have been a half an hour, until the second Guard's chin touches his chest and deep breath follows. Using his sleep, I toe my way to the dirt several feet below, careful not to disrupt the stone with my boots. I creep away, flexing my frozen and cramping fingers, silently thanking God that I made it down so easily without sighting.

The Guards are doubled, so I have to be extremely careful getting out of the kingdom, and it takes me twice as long as before. I have to resort to using the roofs of buildings at more than one point to avoid Guards, praying that my morning stiff muscles will function well enough without cramping up painfully. I avoid the tops of thatch roofed houses so not to fall through, and have to rely on my quiet feet to sneak pasted ground Guards. Luckily for me, most of them are drunk with sleep in need of a rest, and wouldn't notice an ox if it barreled passed them.

The wall is the trickiest part, because there are Knights and watchmen posted at every corner. Then there is the large space of barren land before the tree line that I must cross in order to make it back to camp. I've found that the trees are closest at the back of the kingdom walls, but that spot is the most heavily guarded for the same reason. I'll have to find a different way back.

I am forced to linger until civilians rise and start going about their chores to avoid any suspicion. I blend in as one of them to make it out of the walls, joining a group leaving this town for the next. There is a long line of men who are being escorted out of the kingdom by Guards on horseback, eyes watchful for strange faces.

I stick close to a group my own age who talk and laugh as friends, blending into the hoard easily. They all ignore me until we finally reach the paths in the woods that lead to the neighboring town, and the Guards leave us to ride back to their gate posts.

I then slip into the woods surrounding us and vanish into the shadowed places, no one realizing I am ever missing. I am glad to say now, that I am the most stealthy of the group aside from Kaladin, having learned it all from him.

He taught me the art of blending into crowds at a young age, and my feet have always been more quiet than Adolin or even Syl's. Kaladin used to say that I would make an excellent thief, but I wouldn't ever steal. He also said that was a talent well wasted, but I didn't care. He could send one of the other two to do it. Syl is usually the one to go, as she has no morals whatsoever, and I am surprised she kept Lyra's secret when she found out. She probably wanted to see how it would play out, as she's always loved drama. One could define her as selfish, for certain, but she is family and I love her still.

It takes me a few hours to reach our camp, as it is even further in than when Kaladin left for Lyra. We routinely change our sleeping site to avoid Guards or other travelers stumbling upon us, as we are staying precariously near the tree line.

I know I am near when the crunching of my boots gives my position, and I am met with an arrow loosed inches from my face. "Syl," I say patiently. "Its Jed."

"Oops." She peeks out from the trees ahead, red hair standing stark against the brown. I turn to retrieve the arrow from where it is embedded into the trunk beside me, all too used to her greeting me in this way to be startled by it. I hand it to her as she nears and we turn to walk together.

"So," she says, replacing the arrow into her quiver. "How's our little princess? Still alive? "

I glance at her, fighting the urge to glare at her uncaring tone. "She is fine. Where is Kaladin? I need to speak with him."

"I am right here." Comes the deep voice from behind us. I hadn't even heard his steps in the leaves.

I turn to face him, suddenly not feeling as strong as I had before. He is carrying a load of harvested wood for a fire in his arms, and raises a dark eyebrow at me.

"I have- I'm leaving for a while."

"What? "Where are you going, why?" Syl asks, staring at me, but I ignore her.

Kaladin regards me with his always calm gaze, and hushes Syl's questioning with his own. "When will you be returning?"

I hold his eyes, trying to keep my head up. "I am not sure, no more than a week."

"We will not stay here much longer. I cannot say where we will be by the time of your return." He states what I already know.

I nod. "I am aware. I will find you when I return."

He tilts his head slightly, blue eyes softening. "Does she have something to do with this? I pray you aren't putting yourself in harms way, Jed. We need you here. " I am not surprised that he easily figured it has something to do with Lyra.

"Its a personal matter, " I explain briefly. "And I need to take care of it. Please, brother, give me your blessing with this." I plead, not wanting to leave any of my family bitter.

Kaladin keeps his intense cerulean eyes on me a moment more before nodding, features becoming more gentle. "I can respect it. You've got your own matters to tend to, as I've had, and they must be dealt with. But do be certain you come back to us, Jed. We need you here, brother." I know he is implying what we both know to be true, but does not want to say it in front of Syl. Kaladin trusts me more than the other two, and I am his second in command. Someone has to keep the siblings from harm when he is away, less they kill each other over who ate some of the others portion of rabbit.

I lower my head in a steep nod, striding to him. "Of course, I will always return to you, my family. Thank you, Kaladin."

We grasp each other behind the neck, and touch our foreheads in a trusting goodbye. Kaladin gently slaps my cheek affectionately before pulling away, and I his shoulder.

Syl clears her throat from behind, and I turn to look at her. She stands with her arms folded, and she holds my gaze defiantly. "I don't have to like you going," I know there will be more to this, so I wait patiently, praying it will be in my favor. "But I can give you my blessing as well. So take this." She says, reaching to her belt and holds up one of her beloved knives. "Don't you dare lose it, or I will stab you." She turns to stomp away, but pauses to toss more over her shoulder. "And don't go getting yourself killed over this girl... please."

I retrieve Hamais, my gelding and saddle a few things onto his back, then take my leave. I say goodbye to Adolin in a similar manner to Kaladin, and walk my gelding through the trees, hoping that I will catch Sam. I've wasted a lot of time, but I lift a plea to God, praying I can find his party before I miss it.

They can't have gone far yet, so when we finally get to the trails I kick Hamais into a swift gallop, grateful for the smoother footing.
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Lyra's POV

I dreamed of Jensen being shot down at my side multiple times, and many terrors of Hana plagued my sleep. I hope they find him soon.

Standing in from of them now, all of the strength I worked up fails as I tell Janine what had happened to her husband.

She's a small woman, very pretty with long brunette hair, and she has an apron tied around her waist, and a smudge of flour on her cheek. She runs a bakery with Jensen's sister, and they have the best bread in town.
But I don't think about any of that as her eyes fill with tears, mind racing to comprehend what I've said.

"W-what? He can't- can't be gone!" Her words are broken with sobs, and she slowly sinks to her knees.

I had reached forward to try and support her, but my own sorrow has made me weak as well and we both go to the dusty stone together.

I hold a hand up to stop Jasla from attempting to help us up from his post in the doorway. I let Janine cry, and I cry with her: a princess sobbing with a commoner over the death of her subject. My father would certainly say that I am overreacting, but this is coming from a man who would make the family come to him and expect them to be able to walk back out of the castle, as if nothing had happened.

The king attempted to keep me from coming into the city, but I insisted I go personally to tell Jensen's family. I feel obligated to, and I would not let him keep me from it. He sent three of his men, plus Jasla, Merlin, and Nikeil with me, leaving Camisêal to train the two new recruits from yesterday. Mashkíl is off duty for now, until shifts change again. He'd been up Guarding my chamber doors all night with three of my father's Guardsmen, until they changed out with Sam's men. More of my Father's men would have taken over instead while the rest of my men rested a few hours, but they have to sleep at some point too. They cannot protect anyone well if they are passed out with exhaustion.

The missing three from my Guard leaves me feeling barren and exposed, and I pray that I won't have to make any more visits like this to either Castiel's, Michael's or especially Hana's families. Castiel has a little girl and a wife, Michael has a brother, a mother a wife and a son. Hana only has Hener left, and has always been so head first into his job as the Captain of the princess' Guard, that he never found a wife to have a child with. He takes his orders with a grave seriousness and pride that none of my father's men have for him. I'd say it's because the king treats all of his men like chess pieces, rather than human beings.

The little boy clings to the skirts of his heart broken mother, trying to understand why she is so upset.

"Don't worry mommy, daddy will be home soon." He says in attempts to comfort her.

Jasla's fair face is bleak as he holds his emotion in at the words of the four year old, posture ridged as if with physical pain.

Janine pulls away from me to take her son into her arms, kissing his black curly hair, the same as his father's. "No-" she says, breaking to sob and pull her son into a crushing hug. "He won't. Daddy isn't ever coming back home."

I stand with the assistance of Jasla, and dry my tears on the handkerchief that he offers me. "I am so very sorry for your loss." I say, voice weak and quiet.

Through her suffering, Janine manages to look at me and say a few coherent words. "Thank you for coming, your majesty."

"Of course," I say genuinely. "If you need anything at all, please come to the castle and request my counsel. I would be pleased to help in any way I can."

She only manages to nod as she sobs again, turning back to her young son.

He seems to have began to understood, and buries his face into his mother's chest, a small cry coming from his lips.

I leave the two before I can begin to be over taken by the lump in my throat.

Lasrel and the rest of my Guards are waiting out side on the street, and I got to them with Jasla at my side.

Las hangs his head at my sorrow, pricking his ears in my direction as if to ask if I am alright. He greets me with a warm, almost normal sounding wicker as I near.

I dash through the crowd of people who part for me, making for my Vann Hest with tears in my eyes. The look on my Guardsmen's faces is of understanding as I embrace my beast's neck, something that I usually am not reckless enough to do.

Please, don't bite me. I ask silently, and I feel him comply willingly.

I pull away from his salt smelling skin to stroke his long, slender ears, taking a moment to speak softly to him before mounting, telling him my worries. I start to feel a little bit better with his trust, and climb into my saddle, taking comfort in the familiarity.

I wear my trousers to ride comfortably, and have also a loose fitting men's shirt and cloak around me. My face is bare of that horrendous makeup, and my dark hair hangs naturally at my shoulders. It is safe to say that my mother didn't have a chance to glimpse me before I left, otherwise I would have had to change my appearance.

"Are you alright, Princess?" Nikeil asks softly from beside me, atop his mount like the other Guards around us.

I wipe my nose on my sleeve and smile weakly over at him. "I will be fine, thank you."

Nikeil is a man in his late twenties, with wheat colored hair, soft brown eyes and a caring personality. He fought his was to his current position from a blacksmiths son, making his family very proud. I know that he shares most of his earnings with his parents and his four siblings to keep them afloat, and I respect him for it.

"We should get moving, you are expected at the noon meal with the king and queen. They have guests for you to meet, I hear. " Merlin says, shooting me a wry grin. "Perhaps a new suitor for my Lady?"

I scoff, asking Lasreal forward mentally. "I pray not. I do have a matter that I would like to address while we are here, if you don't mind. It will only be a moment. "

Merlin nods. "Of course, my Lady."

We ride to the center of the kingdom, where it is the most crowded. People have been watching me since we rode from the castle, curious as to what has brought me about.

I keep Lasreal's head in check to avoid anyone getting bitten, but they all seem mindful of his pinned ears and keep a wide birth. He has a bit of a reputation, you see, and people tend to wisely keep away from the black Vann Hest.

Seeing that I wish to speak, the Guards fan out their horses to make a type of circle around Lasreal, so no one can become close enough to harm me. Not that they would dare, with Las beneath me.

I halt our company, and clear my throat. "Pardon!" I call, ceasing the commotion of the busy day. Once all is quiet, I smile. "Thank you. It has come to my attention that you have not been getting good communication from your king, and I am here to clear any confusion for you. If you have any questions or concerns, voice them now in an orderly fashion, without breaching the comfort of my Guards. I do not wish any harm to come upon any of you."

All hands go to the air, and Jasla looks to me in exasperation.
This will take quite a while, and my father will not be very happy with me after this.

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A/N

I hope I updated before any of you could die from neglect! Loving all of your comments, I smile at a lot of them, so thanks for that... I always look forward to notifications of a comment, I like hearing from you guys. Many of you are so kind, and I really appreciate y'all. Oh, and I'm not sure I mentioned this previously, but I am trying to go back through from the first chapter to begin editing, but wattpad isn't letting me save any added stuff on already published things. So, it may take a while before I make the rest of the book better and less irksome for you grammar Nazis out there... I hope it's getting better as I go.

Love always,

-A.