"What the hell were you thinking?"

With a heavy sigh, Mynera leaned against a tree, grateful for the shade if provided. After that tense situation, she was hot and bothered. "I was going to allow you two to attempt this alone, that's what I was thinking. And we got the horses, so I don't understand what the problem is here."

Her calm tone was not enough for Saenar. He was seething, the veins in his temples throbbing under the force of his anger. Even so, he kept his voice low as he spoke, cold enough to send a chill down her spine. "The problem is, Mynera, that I told you to stay put and keep the horses, only to come back and hear that you had run off like a disobedient child."

Mynera's lips twitched, her own breed of anger pricking her. "I'll admit that I did not listen to you, but don't you ever call me a child again."

"Then act as if you aren't, Mynera!" Saenar whirled away from her, leaving her blinking in shock. He marched over to the horses, which were stomping back and forth on the uneven ground beneath them. He began tightening the saddles, his body rigid with such cold anger that he almost tore the saddle in half.

Mynera didn't move. Another time, another place, he would have gotten an earful. But given where they were and that those red enemies weren't far, she held her tongue in cheek and instead settled for glaring a hole into his back.

He was right. That angered her even more. If she hadn't moved away in time, had she gotten caught by the bushy-bearded man, things would have gotten really bad. But she didn't regret her actions. Saenar would have been caught had she not done something. And Saenar knew that too. She hadn't even been in any danger--at least not for long.

"Here's your horse," Mynera heard someone say before her.

She looked up and Hale was holding the reins out to her. She took it. "There is enough for us all, correct?" she asked.

"Yes, there was more than enough." Mynera didn't want to look at him, not wanting to see his tender look. He was far too kind and she was far too angry to want to deal with it right now. "The other horses we just let loose. That should occupy their time long enough for us to leave undetected."

Mynera nodded, absently running her fingers through her horse's mane. Madeline was unusually quiet, separating herself from the rest of them, by her own horse. Mynera knew she should at least inquire about her wellbeing, but she couldn't bring herself to focus on the queen right now. Not when the prince was still stomping around angrily. "Aren't you worried we might happen upon those patrolling red enemies those guys were talking about?" she asked Hale, remembering that he was still standing by her.

"Red enemies?" he echoed.

"That's what I call them."

Hale nodded slowly in understanding, then shook his head. "If what they said was true, then no. Those patrolling enemies would be closer to the city making sure to keep anyone trying to run away inside. All we have to do is make sure that we are walking away from the city and we should be out of their way. That is unless they decide to come back before they are away."

"Let us not think about that," Saenar interjected. He was shuffling around with a few of the things he had carried back from the camp, strapping them to his horse. Mynera knew his statement was more directed at Hale than it was at her. "Right now, we should focus on making our way to Lord Ingstad's manor." 

When he was done sorting through the satchels, he faced them all. His eyes landed on Mynera for a few seconds. She caught sight of the glimmer of anger that flashed behind his brown eyes before he looked away.

"I managed to steal some more supplies," he went on. "I didn't find any food but I did find a bag of gold coins. It's always good to have money on us for whatever reason may arise in the future. I've also managed to grab these clothes. They aren't the armor of Lord Gavin's men but it looks like simple traveler's clothes so it'll do." He gathered a burlap sack from the ground, tossing clothes out of its opening without looking where it was going. Hale caught it all and began distributing them. "I also grabbed some water," Saenar continued, "so we won't die of thirst before we reach the manor."

"This looks no better than these horrible commoner's clothing," Madeline grumbled as she studied the rag-like clothes in her hands. Mynera wasn't surprised. It was a matter of time before she made her comment.

"We still have no choice," Mynera said simply.

"There is always another choice. You just haven't found it yet."

"When you have, don't hesitate to tell us." Without waiting for a response, she turned and headed farther amongst the trees, hoping it would be enough coverage. There she quickly changed out of her clothes and put on the clothes Saenar gave her.

It was brown leather breeches and a fitted leather jerkin. The jerkin she tugged on over a white woolen shirt. On her feet were black boots. Mynera quickly discarded the wimple and other clothes, by putting it under a rock.

When she returned the others were already changed. Even Madeline, though she still wore that scowl. Hale and Saenar were dressed similarly to her, but could not be more different at the same time. Saenar with his broad shoulders and his sculpted arms, and Hale with his slender, lithe, physique. Both too handsome for their good, Mynera was taken aback for a second.

Both men looked up as she approached, but Saenar averted his eyes a second later. Hale, however, made his way to Mynera, his sky blue eyes wide with awe. "Like fire ..." he mumbled.

Mynera frowned slightly. "Pardon me?"

Hale shook his head, blinking rapidly. He swallowed. "Your hair is simply beautiful, Mynera. But, it might just be the death of us."

Mynera's hand instantly went to her hair. "What do you mean?"

"The way it lights red when it's in the sun. It might not be much of a problem while we are covered by the trees, but once we are out amongst others you'll draw attention to us."

"Not to worry." Mynera's heart jumped at Saenar's sudden approach, his voice cutting through the air. "We'll all be wearing these traveling cloaks. They have hoods."

Mynera caught the cloak he handed to her as he passed by. She quickly secured it around her neck. She would be damned if her hair was the reason they were caught. If anything, she was going to make sure that she was instrumental in their escape and safety, not their downfall.

Saenar went back to his horse, the steed stomping impatiently behind him. The movement commanded the attention of them all, even Madeline who was still securing the cloak at her neck in silence. "Is everyone ready to go?" he asked.

Before Mynera could respond, Hale turned to her and asked, "Are you ready, Mynera?"

"I'll take that as a yes," Saenar interrupted.

He was staring at the two, his eyes dark. His jaw was set in stone, his lips drawn into a tight line. He must still be upset that she had disobeyed him, Mynera mused. That was his issue. She wasn't feeling very apologetic at the moment.

She resisted the urge to sigh, looking away as Saenar mounted his horse. "I don't think I'll ever be ready for this," she said to Hale. "But what choice do I have?"

"Well," Hale lifted his shoulders in an easy shrug, "we could always go back to all that fighting."

"And have my head lorded over the city like a prized kill before I got my revenge?" With a shudder, Mynera swung her leg over the horse and held on tightly to the reins.

Hale was right by her side as they set off. "Ah," he sang, "but what a beautiful head it would be. It might be a sight for sore eyes."

She chuckled. It was low, gruff, and barely lasted a second but it was a laugh nonetheless. One that shocked her beyond belief. In a place like this, at a time like this, she didn't think she could ever laugh again. Hale really had something about him. "You kid so easily that I cannot help but envy you," she murmured under her breath. 

She didn't think Hale heard her because he said nothing. Silence fell over them once again and nothing could be heard but the clipping heels of the horses trudging forward. Mynera looked down at the horse she rode. It was a dark brown with a lighter shade of brown spots dotting its skin. She ran a gentle hand over its neck and it whinnied in response.

Oh, Bolt. She prayed she wasn't dead. She prayed with all the hope she could muster that those ruffians had enough common sense to know the worth of such a horse and would hesitate to kill her. If they did, it meant she could come back for her when they retook the throne.

Tears pricked her eyes suddenly and she blinked them away. There was no use thinking about that anymore right now. Her father, her horse, those people, the king; she gathered all her thoughts on them together, tying it on a mental string and dangled it in front of her. Like a carrot hung between the eyes of a horse, those thoughts pushed her, fueled her.

Mynera couldn't afford to falter. She had to be strong so that when the time came, she would be able to rule with justice. Tears would do nothing but console her, something she could always do in private.

"Those patrol guards might still be around," Mynera spoke up from behind. Saenar kept the lead, Madeline sitting daintily on her horse beside him. Hale had remained by Mynera's side at the back. She preferred this position right now. Despite her conviction, she couldn't be entirely sure when her tears would come again.

"I know," Saenar said after a long moment and that was it. No plan, no reassurance. He must still be angry.

Mynera sighed, going against her better judgment, she trotted up beside him. Because of the closeness of the forest trees and the uneven path they'd taken, it was a tight fit. "You must be aware of the fact that had I not followed you and Hale, one of those men would have caught you, and who knew what would have happened."

He didn't look at her, didn't even blink. "You want me to praise you for that?"

"I want you to give a little recognition, at least. At least thank me for getting you two out of what could have been a very sticky situation."

"You still disobeyed what I said. What if it hadn't went as you planned?" Even though he held his composure, she heard the twinge of frustration. "What if he had caught you? Do you know what risk you put not only yourself but the rest of us in?"

"You are making this much more serious than it actually was, Saenar." She struggled to keep her voice under control. The more he berated her, the more she wondered if she might have truly jeopardized their plan rather than help it. Mynera looked over to see that, though his head was still trained forward, his jaw was clenched tightly, his grip on the reins was so strong that his knuckles became white.

Mynera blew a frustrated breath out her nose. "First of all," she continued. "You decided that everything was going to be done by you and Hale. You didn't even attempt to include me."

"Why do you need to be included?" he snapped, his voice low but harsh. "What use would you have been back there?"

Keep calm, Mynera, she chanted to herself. Keep calm. Still, he was testing her patience. How typical of him to think that she was completely useless.

After a few calming breaths, Mynera answered in a low voice, "As I said before, if it had not been for me, you would have been caught."

"Can you two stop arguing about it?" Madeline interjected. Mynera turned around just in time to see the queen give them an annoyed look. "There is no use continuing that argument when the situation is already over and done with. We've got what we wanted."

"I'm not the one with the problem," Mynera sniffed.

"Mynera." Saenar's slow growl had her stiffening. "I'd advise you to remain at the back, unless you really want to see me act on my anger."

Mynera's eyes widened at Saenar. Did he mean that? Judging by the controlled, barely held in way he said it, she thought so. But he wasn't going to make her cower. She was Mynera Antarian, for heaven's sake. 

"Is that so?" She lifted her chin, pulling her confidence forward. If he truly wanted a fight, she would give it to him. It would not be any different from how they'd been before this ordeal. "I like it just fine at the front, but thank you for thinking of me."

"Mynera."

"If you want me to say that I won't interfere again. then fine. I will not interfere with any plan you may have in the future. If you tell me to stay put then, I'll stay put. But you have to admit that me heading out behind you two did save us a lot of trouble."

Saenar was silent.

Mynera leaned over, trying to get a glimpse of expression on his face. "Saenar? Are you not going to say anything?" His lips remained closed, but she saw a quick jerk in his jaw. She leaned back on her horse with a shrug. "Well, don't hold me back when--"

"Fine, Mynera. You're right. You did save us a lot of trouble and for that I'm grateful. I still don't think you should be doing something so dangerous, however. I cannot protect you that way."

The air in her lungs whooshed out in surprise. She gripped her reins in an attempt to calm the thundering beat of her traitorous heart. He was thinking of protecting me?

Mynera's cheeks flushed, but she struggled to keep a straight face. "There is no need to protect me, Saenar. I can protect myself on my own."

He looked over at her but said nothing. So they descended into silence once more. Mynera found her mind lingering on the last thing he'd said, the words playing over and over again. Surely he was just being a gentleman. Yes, that had to be it. He'd tasked himself with protecting both the queen and her. He, no doubt, thought that they were helpless maidens who needed constant male supervision or they would surely get themselves killed.

Perhaps that was the correct line of thinking regarding the queen, but Mynera was an entirely different story. But, he wouldn't know that. He wasn't aware of the fact that she could do the same things as him. That thought settled her and her heartbeat slowed to a normal pace.

But she'd made a promise to him. She would leave the dangerous activities to him and Hale. Though every independent bone in her body ached at the thought, a promise was a promise.

But, since when did her promises ever mean anything? She remembered promising her father to be a good little lady when she came back to the castle all those years ago. She also remembered breaking that promise the very same day she'd snuck out and had spent the night in the woods before she sneaking back early the next morning. Promises to her were just words she said to give someone else solace.

They trotted along, keeping their eyes and ears peeled for anything suspicious. The sun went down slowly and it wasn't before long that the forest was shrouded in semi-darkness. It was getting harder and harder for her horse to see, judging by the way it stumbled.

"How much longer until we get out of this forest?" Hale asked, trotting up beside Mynera.

"Not long but, at the rate we're going, it will be too dark to move before we get out," Saenar answered. "We should probably stop and set up camp right here."

"We can't set up camp right here," Mynera said immediately.

He looked over at her, his eyes unreadable. "Why not?"

She pointed to the ground. "There is no grass right there. Judging from the fact that it's only this patch, it probably means that people pass by here often. If those guards are making sure no one has escaped the city, it's likely that they'll check the areas people would normally pass through. We'll practically be in plain sight." She looked up at Saenar to see his eyes narrowed, surprise hidden within. Hale and Madeline were also staring at her. Mynera shrugged. "I'm guessing."

"No, no, you're right," Hale said with a nod. "We can't set up camp here. If we make a fire here or near here then the smoke will alert them of our presence. They'll think we're runaways. We need to find a covered area that no one goes."

"Like that cave over there." Saenar pointed to a dark hole to their left. A cave. It was hard to see the entrance outline of the cave but Mynera could clearly identify where the hole was.

"Isn't that too small?" she asked with a frown. "If we do manage to get a fire going in there, the smoke will only stifle us."

"I've played in this forest many times as a child. That cave may look small on the outside but the inside is quite large. The smoke won't be able to stifle us and we'll be hidden from the patrol guards until morning."

"Heavens, no." Madeline shook her head firmly. "I will not be going in there. Just the idea of getting close to that cave is giving me shivers."

Mynera looked over at her. "Again, Your Grace, we do not have much of a choice. It appears to be the best solution."

When Madeline's eyes landed on Mynera, there was a glimmer of fear. "There aren't any bats in there, right?"

Ah, so the queen is afraid of bats, is she? Somehow the description was fitting, even though Madeline she'd been unexpectedly brave throughout this entire ordeal, despite her snooty and whiny nature. Mynera looked over at Saenar for the answer.

"Yes," he said in a gentle tone, "but as long as we refrain from making too much noise, they will not bother us. We'll just have to make sure we stay away from where they normally leave their droppings."

"Droppings?" Madeline gasped. The fright on Madeline's face was enough to have laughter bubbling up Mynera's throat, but it was not enough for it to pass. She simply sighed.

"Let's go already," Mynera stated.

They made their way to the entrance of the cave and dismounted. Saenar took the reins from them and tied them on a nearby tree. The position wasn't perfect but it would allow the horses to graze while being mostly hidden from sight.

"I'll go in first," Hale announced. He approached the cave's opening and went down on all fours. He crawled backwards into the cave and soon after Mynera heard his muffled landing. "Who's next?" he called.

"I think our dear queen should do the honours," Mynera nudged. She couldn't help herself.

Madeline shot her a burning look. "I've already stated that I will not be going inside there."

"Will you remain out here then?"

"Yes, if I have to."

"Very well." Mynera shrugged in nonchalance. She started forward but didn't get very far when Madeline held her arm to stop her.

"Wait!" she muttered. "I'll go."

Mynera watched as Madeline shuffled forward he,r staring at the entrance of the cave as if it was the pathway to hell. She went down on all fours, grimacing, then mimicked Hale by crawling backwards into the hole.

"Don't worry," Hale said from beneath her. "You'll land right in my arms."

Madeline closed her eyes, bit her lip, and let herself fall. She released a short scream that echoed throughout the cave, but Mynera heard when Hale caught her.

Then, she looked at Saenar. "After you."

"What kind of man would I be if the lady were to go in last?" His brown eyes glittered harshly in the little moonlight that filtered in between the leaves.

"How predictable of you to say," Mynera replied, cocking her head to the side. 

"What else am I to say? That I'll go first?"

She shrugged. "It would be a wonderful change."

Saenar shrugged along with her. "Whatever you wish, Mynera. I'll go first. It really doesn't matter."

This time, her eyebrows rose in surprise. "You will go?"

"You were the one who said you could take care of yourself." He looked at her, his face devoid of any emotion, and she choked back a shocked gasp. "I'll see you inside, yes?"

Saenar didn't even wait for an answer. He plopped down on his knees and quickly disappeared through the entrance, leaving Mynera staring after him. As soon as he was gone, the darkness grew daunting, seeming to close in on her with each intimidating second.

"Mynera?"

The sound of his voice gave her instant comfort, even as her heart jumped. "Yes!"

Trying to ignore her odd reaction, she disappeared through the cave entrance.