It was the early morning hours in pure silence hung over the land as Munich buttoned the last button on his uniform. Attaching his crossbow to his belt he turned to his desk and picked up a thin folder. He didn't know why it had taken him so long to do this but he alas brought himself to it. In the event he didn't come back he wanted her to be safe.

                Collecting a flag from his desk and making his way through the house he went into Ortensia's room and woke her up. The groggy little leopard sat up in the darkness as the zebra asked her to follow him. They went up the stairs to the attic then out a door in the ceiling then up to the roof top.

                Ortensia was awake enough by then and she looked around the quiet morning. "Why are we up here?"

                Munich looked across the rooftops as a wind blew across the land. "They end is coming, Ortensia." He spoke slowly. "Soon everything will be changed for you and me. Either for better or for worse."

                "I don't understand," Ortensia said.

                "When you see the blue army coming over the hills you must come up here and raise this flag." He handed her the blue cloth. "Raise it in victory for the both of us for I will not be here when they come...if they come."

                "But I'll be alone," Ortensia said.

                "But you are brave," Munich said. "and All Father is on your side. You will do fine without me. I have faith in you, Ortensia." He then opened the folder and handed her the papers. "These here say you are free. You belong to no one. No matter what happens next, you will be free."

                Ortensia took the papers in her paws and looked down at them. They were only words. "You already set me free," she said. "When you became my friend." She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tightly, savoring his sent for what may be the last time.

                Munich hugged her back tightly. She was the soul that made him believe more firmly in what he was doing. She had set him free. A little girl come in chains as a slave had set him free.

/

It was in the middle of the night that Kiva woke suddenly. Pushing off his thin blanket he reached over and lit a candle. The glow woke Lahar who groaned and rubbed her eyes.

                "What is it, Kiva?"

                "Dragons," Kiva said.

                Lahar sat up and pulled the blanket around her. "Dragons? What are you talking about?"

                "Keeve!" Kiva said getting up from the mat. "The Mounts are afraid to go near Keeve because of old legends of dragons. I remember now. Back in camp someone mentioned that was how the Eshkopean royals may have escaped. The Mounts are superstitious and they believe in dragons!"

                Lahar couldn't believe her husband was excited over something so silly. "But there aren't any dragons in Keeve."

                "Ah, try telling that to a Mount." Kiva said putting on a hat to keep his head dry in case of rain.

                "Where are you going?" Lahar asked from the mat."

                "I need to see Druid."

                "Kiva."

                "I haven't gone mad, Lahar," Kiva said. "This may be the start of a new idea."

                "I'm coming with you." Lahar said getting up.

                Kiva looked at her for a long time then nodded his head.

/

                Corinth led the way through the soft snow. Everything looked the same in the Glimmer Mountains and it was a wonder anyone could find their way. Druid was sitting on an icy throne when, Kiva, Hero, Lahar and Hyxoes arrived before him.

                "Crown Prince Kiva." He shook his head as he hopped down from the thrown and approached them. "What brings you out?"

                "Druid you know the Mounts are coming." Kiva said. "Your father the Emperor has evacuated the nobles of Recomine but many of your people and mine as well remain behind."

                "Yes," Druid said. "Very unfortunate."

                "We aim to stop the Mounts," Kiva said and Druid raised a brow.

                "You and what army?"

                "Your army."

                "My army?" Druid scoffed. "My army is strong but my camp is not enough to fight the Mounts. It would take every soldier in Recomine to the equal the playing field."

                "We are aware," Hyxoes said, "but we have an alternate plan. If you are willing to help us we may be successful."

                "You have my interest," Druid said.

                Kiva nodded to Hyxoes. "What can you tell us about Keeve dragons?" The prince asked.

                Druid smirked. "Those old stories? I admit you've lost me now. Dragons flanked the old legends but there aren't really any of them in Keeve."

                "I know." Kiva said, "but the Mounts fear them. We plan to use their own fears to defeat them."

                Druid sighed. "I see." He said. "And if you frighten them they'll become disoriented and if they are disoriented then we can easily defeat them."

                "That's the plan." Kiva said.

                "Well there isn't much to say about such legends," Druid said. "I only remember my nanny standing over my cradle telling me a terrible story about a frightening red beast that ate up bad children." He laughed. "I miss my nanny."

Hero sighed and looked around the mountains. It didn't seem like the journey was doing any good. He watched Lahar's scarf blowing in the wind as Prince Druid rambled on about the little he remembered of the stories. The wind blew his bandanna up and he pushed it down out of his face. He held the red fabric down as he looked up into the wide sky, he looked down at his bandanna then again into the sky then at his bandanna.

"The wind."

"What did he just say?" Druid asked and Kiva and Hyxoes turned to face Hero.

"What was that you said, Hero?" Kiva asked.

"The wind!" Hero said grabbing his bandanna. "The sun fights on their side. Mr. Quebec told me, he said the sun fights for the Mounts but the wind fights for us."

"Has he gone mad?" Druid asked.

"Remember, Kiva when the Mounts first launched an attack on Nagoray, they used the sun at their back to blind father and his entourage? The sun fought on their side!" He looked around at the confused faces. "We shall use the wind. Look, feel it's all around us."

"I think I'm beginning to understand," Hyxoes said. "Dragons aren't real, but the Mounts don't know that."

Hero nodded his head. "We can build a dragon!" He exclaimed. "I spent so much time in Nagoray studying the wind. I know how it works and I know what we can do. We'll build a dragon and we'll frighten the Mounts clean out of the mountains."

"You'll frighten them." Druid said. "But my army will be there on that day too and we will smite the Mounts in the White Pass." He laughed. "I'm impressed with your brother, Kiva. May the wind be at your side as the ice and snow is ever at mine."

/

Upon their return to camp Hero found it very quiet. It wasn't until someone told them that the princess had just arrived by royal carriage that Hero began to suspect something. They went into their mother's camp ready to spread the good news but were met with Uhua's sour face.

                "What happened?" Hero asked looking from his mother and cousins.

                "I'm going to marry the Grand Duke," Uhua declared.

                "How dare you!" Kiva exploded.

                "It's too late, Kiva," Uhua said. "And frankly I don't care what you say or what anyone else says!" She glanced at her mother. "I'm going to marry him."

                "So that's what they meant by you arriving by royal carriage," Kiva said. "Here we are, Hero trying to save a nation while our little sister is staying out late with a Recomine grand duke. If you marry him you will bring shame on this family."

                "I can't shame it anymore than you already have, Kiva!" Uhua shouted. "What honor have you brought it? You, or Hero...or Lahar?"

                Kiva lost control. "Shut up you spoiled rotten little brat. You should have been taken by the Mounts then-"

                Naogora put herself between her fighting children. "That is enough!"

                "How dare you speak so wicked, Kiva?" Uhua demanded. "If papa were here you would have never."

                "If pa were here, nor would you!" He pushed past everyone and stormed from the tent.

                Uhua held her cheek but allowed no tears to come to her face. When her mother tried to comfort her she pushed her away. "You can't change my mind. I'm going to marry him, Mother. I don't care what anyone says."

                Naogora stepped away from her daughter. After she had gained one child back she felt as if she had lost another.

/

Kiva sat in the windmill to clear his head. He hadn't meant to allow himself to get so angry but it felt he had lost his sister to these heartless people. He didn't think she had the confidence to marry the Grand Duke without their mother's blessing but it still angered him that she would make such claims.

"Kiva?"

Hero's voice made him look over his shoulder as the younger prince came up the stairs. "Hi, Hero," he sighed.

Hero sat next to him and looked out the window. "Lahar is wondering when you'll come down."

"In a few more minutes," Kiva said. "I didn't mean to explode like that with Uhua. Mother must be angry with me."

"I think she's too hurt to be angry," Hero said. "Uhua will forgive you, Kiva and in time she will understand why she can't marry the Grand Duke."

                Kiva sighed. "Do you think you can really make a dragon out of kites?" he asked to change the subject.

                Hero smiled.  "I'm sure we can. We'll need everyone's help. I'm only afraid we won't have it ready in time."

                Kiva grinned at his brother. "I'm proud of you, Hero. All of that day dreaming is finally paying off. I wish I could say the same about my stubbornness."

                Hero laughed. "Thank you. Anyways, Kiva you're the best brother a boy could have."

                Kiva rolled his eyes. "You're just saying that."

               "I mean it." Hero said as they started down the stairs back for the camp.

/

Back at the tents, Kiva stopped by his mother's before turning in. The queen and his cousins were sleeping so he made his way to Uhua's room to apologize. He had to swallow his pride in order to do so. He believed that he was right in his decision to not allow her to marry the grand duke and that Uhua was wrong and being strung along by someone more experienced than she was.

                "Uhua," he said as he peeked his head in. When she didn't answer he stepped inside the little room. The candle was out but her mat was empty. It took him a small moment to realize that she was gone and a new anger rose inside of him. Not for his pride but for his mother's feelings. "Why?" he asked himself. Hanging his head he sat in the room unable to wrap his mind around her decision.