"You can't leave now," Noelle said, eyes wide. "You don't have any supplies, and we haven't figured out if this place has horses or not yet."

"We'll get supplies - Youlden," Phoenix turned to the giant standing in the doorway. "Find the nearest servant - or whatever you call them here - and ask them to go fetch a baker named Gwen; she's in her mid to late twenties with reddish brown hair - I don't remember her last name. Have them tell her to come up here at once." 

Youlden obeyed as the others stared at her in question.

"She's someone I met earlier - she'll help. As for the horses," Phoenix sighed. "Roman, go find Finny. She'll be able to answer any questions she have, and she's less likely to stop me." 

Within moments Roman returned with Finny, who looked cranky having been dragged from her bed. Despite her younger appearances these days, Phoenix could still see the crotchety old woman glaring out from her fourtiesh eyes.

"Ponytail says you're leaving," Finny said, eyeing Phoenix and then the unconscious man on the floor.

"Trey's not safe here. Helena told us she'd be able to keep him from being harmed, but this man proved that false tonight."

Finny assessed Trey with a shrewd gaze. "So they found you out, eh? Too bad." 

Phoenix stopped bustling around the room, a bundle of Abigail and Trey's things in her arms. "You knew?"

"Of course I knew - he controlled the weather, after all. That's not a gift given to a mere mortal."

The others' mouths dropped open. "That was him?" Noelle said, staring at Trey with awe. "He made the blizzard stop?"

"He made the blizzard start," Finny amended. 

"How could you not have told us?" Phoenix asked.

Finny rolled her eyes. "I'm an Ancient, young lady. I'm not required to tell you anything. In fact, most the time it's considered bad taste to tell you anything at all. We're here for advice when you ask for it - not to just tell you everything willy nilly. I'm a Watcher, not a Guider."

"That makes zero sense," Maverick said, frowning at her. "If you know something and it's going to make it easier on us -"

"Easier doesn't mean right. Sometimes you have to do things the hard way to learn. You wouldn't be who you are today if someone always told you which move to make. Besides, I'm not infallible. I'm not Adonai. I just have a bit more insight than you do."

Youlden entered the room, a smile forming at the sight of Finny. "Good evening, Miss-"

"No time," Finny said, waving his greeting away. "I want to go back to sleep." She eyed Gwen, who entered behind Youlden, with interest. "And this isn't a member of the guard, so obviously you're not planning on reporting this just yet."

"Not until we're long gone," Phoenix said. "I don't want anyone to stop us." She turned to Gwen. "Thank you for coming - I need your help."

"Anything." Gwen nodded, her eyes eager even as her face was drawn with fatigue.

"We have to leave sooner - much sooner - than I thought. I'd still love to take a letter for you, if I can, but also I was hoping you could help us get some supplies for the road. There will be three of us." She gestured to Abigail and Trey. "We have to make it all the way to Osha."

Finny snorted. "Oh, 'all the way' do you? It's a few days' ride maximum."

"So they do have horses?" Noelle asked.

"Of course they do. Not in here, obviously - couldn't get them through that crack in the mountain. They're on the outside, hidden away. I'll show you to them when you're ready."

Gwen, Phoenix noticed, was staring at Maverick, whose brows scrunched low at her acute study of him.

"You're him, then. The heir?" she asked, looking him up and down. Once more, Phoenix had the strangest sense that she knew Gwen from somewhere, but couldn't place it.

"I am," Maverick replied, straightening. "Who are you?"

Gwen's lips twitched. "Just a baker. Nothing to be afraid of. We're all rooting for you, you know."

Maverick deflated, eyes wide as she left him speechless. 

"Do you need any help getting supplies?" Noelle asked Gwen, stepping up beside her. "Maybe we could help you with them?" She gestured the three young men currently doing nothing to help. 

"Let's do that, yes." Gwen pointed to Roman. "With me, if you please - you two, miss - "

"Noelle," she stuck out her arm. "It's a pleasure."

"Indeed."

The three of them disappeared, and Phoenix, Maverick, and Finny returned to Phoenix's room to gather her things.

"Does Gwen look familiar to you?" Maverick asked, resting against Phoenix's fourposter bed. 

"She did, but I don't remember ever seeing her in Treywick?"

Maverick shook his head. "Me neither. Finny?"

"She's never been to Treywick. I'd know." The older woman bustled about. "You'll need to be careful once you reach Osha - you'll be in Bainon's playground once there. Don't give Narissa a reason to notice you."

"Finny?" Phoenix paused, half of her stuff already back into her satchel. "Do you think the Militia is the good guy?"

Finny pursed her lips.  "There's not an all good or bad side when it comes to war. There's good and bad in both - some are just a bit worse than others."

"And Narissa is worse than the slaughter that will come from war?" Maverick frowned. "Is it really any different if I go and kill thousands just to force them under my rule?"

Finny put her hands on her hips, considering the two of them. "If we showed up and Bainon agreed for you to be heir, I wouldn't see any reason to go forward with any battle. The military forces could mix and Braskey would be all the stronger."

"But..." Phoenix said, knowing there was more.

"But, Narissa will never accept you as heir," Finny  said to Mav. "Not while she's still convinced she can pass Eric off as Bainon's son. And Helena will never bend to Bainon's rule - not with Tarvril's blood on his hands."

"But Tarvril was evil," Phoenix said.

Finny shook her head. "No, Tarvril lost his mind. He wasn't always a horrible man. What happened to him - it's a tragedy much as what happened to Bainon and Narissa. Power corrupts."

"But Helena - "

"Helena remembers the man she loved. Humans are very fickle things. It's difficult to get them to see big picture." Finny sighed and went back to bustling about the room, muttering about mortals.

#

Less than an hour later, Phoenix had said goodbye to all of them.

"I'll be back as soon as they're settled," she said, hugging Maverick. "And if I get stuck there - know that I'm safe."

"I'll be keeping tabs on you," Finny said, more for Mav than her. "We'll know if you can't come back." 

"If you run into Eric..." Mav said, trailing off.

"If I do, I'll be sure to tell him the truth about who he is," Phoenix said with a smirk. "He's not avoiding that forever."

"You're sure I can't go with you?" Noelle asked, eyes shining with unshed tears. "You're my only family now."

"Not true." Roman ruffled her hair. "We're just as much your family. Besides, we need you here to keep us safe." He jerked his thumb at Maverick. "This guy would be lost without some female guidance in his life."

Noelle blushed and mumbled something Phoenix couldn't hear, and Roman enveloped her in a hug. 

"Stay safe. Kill Eric for me." Phoenix slugged him as hard as she could in the arm and he groaned in pain. "It was mostly a joke. I plan to kill him myself."

"And I plan to stop you," Phoenix said with a wink, knowing he didn't mean it anymore. At least, she hoped.

Youlden stood with hands clasped, waiting his turn. "You're leaving me in the middle of my identity crisis?" he asked, grinning down at her. "What's a guy to do?"

"Part of me wants to take you with," she said, unable to stop herself. "I know I can handle most things, but you always seem to show up right when I need you - I'm going to miss that on the road. Keep training, all right? Hone your craft. For me."

He nodded and Phoenix turned to Finny, Trey, and Abigail. "I guess now we go?"

"Phoenix?" Gwen stepped forward, a piece of paper in her hand. "Will you try - I don't even know where my mother is right now, but maybe..." she trailed off, holding out the letter. Phoenix accepted it, noting the name on the front with a nod. "I'll take care of this." 

#

It took over a half an hour to cross all the way back across the open field, out through the crack in the hills, and then even further north to where the horses were stabled.

"Mygel has her fog going, but you won't have trouble there I bet." Finny winked at Trey as she helped him onto his horse. "You stay safe. Keep those gloves on - and don't draw attention to yourself. Abigail's family can provide you with a reason for being there."

"What if - what if they come for me?" Trey asked, speaking for the first time in what seemed like days. "The men who took me before?"

"We won't let them," Abigail said, sitting straighter.

"But they took you, too," Trey replied, casting her a skeptical look. 

"I won't let them," Phoenix said with a grin. "We'll keep you safe, Trey." 

Finny pulled Phoenix aside, her expression grave. "You must keep him safe. I can't explain why I feel this way - but I think Trey will play a bigger part in all of this than we realize."

"What do you mean?"

"There's a reason Narissa would have him taken away to be executed as opposed to indoctrinated into the Army. She must fear him." Finny glanced over Phoenix's shoulder to where Trey sat on his horse, looking uncomfortable as he held tight to the reins. 

"You think his gift might - might be a danger to her?" Phoenix asked, following Finny's gaze.

"Perhaps, or perhaps it is to Bainon or Eric. There's no way of knowing what she's thinking when she does these things. Oh, and one other thing." Finny grimaced. "You're going to get into Osha just as things start up."

"What things?"

"Every year, the nobles of Braskey descend on the castle in Osha for a month of celebration. It's going to be packed full of people from all across the country. More people means better for you to hide, but there's no telling what kind of people will be there - what gifts they'll have. And the Army will be out in full force to protect them all. You'll get there on the second or third night I expect. It's a dreary thing - constant balls and feasts. Waste of time and tax money." 

"Stay hidden," Phoenix said with an eye roll. "Got it."

"Do you? You've never been good at it. Not to mention that one there is practically chomping at the bit to see Eric again. Not that you aren't. Is it wise?"

Phoenix pressed her lips together. "We'll be safe. I'll ask Castor or Altair for advice along the way."

Finny narrowed her gaze. "See that you do. Ask Castor - he's far more willing to tell you more than he should."

As Phoenix mounted her horse and set off with the other two, her heart skipped a beat. She was headed to Osha, the capital, for the first time in her life. She'd be in the same place as Eric, hopefully, and maybe even - she felt stupid for wanting it - maybe even Samson.

She bit her lip to keep from grinning as Trey parted the fog for them. Plus, I have a few questions for Castor along the way.

Here we go! One or two more chapters for Phoenix and Abigail will get them to Eric BUT we'll also need to see what he's up to - his master plan - before anyone runs into each other. AND we'll need to keep updated on what's happening at the Militia with Maverick and the remaining players.

EEK!
Guys, serious secrets are going to be revealed.

Like man...some stuff...gang...are you ready? I'm not sure you are. What do YOU think is bound to happen to our heroes? What do you most want to see? Let me know in the comments!