Amara stood on the edge of the tree line staring sullenly up at the city of Taiman. She wanted to shout and scream. She wanted to throw fire and sob. How could they have been so foolish? Why had they not warned Earwen of their plan before they set out that night? Maybe she would not have been caught unawares.

"Stupid, stupid," she muttered under her breath.

"Finally something we agree on," said a voice behind her.

She looked over her shoulder at the elf soldier. Thorindir looked like he had slept about as much as she had. Which was to say, not at all.

"As if you had nothing to do with it."

The elf man's scar on his cheek whitened as his jaw clenched.

"If you hadn't exposed me..."

"You shouldn't have lied in the first place," Amara shot back not letting him finish.

"If you are quite through," Faleon said, walking up to join the bickering duo, Eramire was not far behind.

The elf queen looked pale and more disheveled than Amara had ever seen her. In fact, she hadn't looked nearly so terrible even when they had been covered in mud in the Aramgan.

"We have to decide what our next move is," Eramire murmured stifling a yawn.

Faleon chuckled.

"Well, I hope it isn't to try and rescue your sister."

Silence fell so abruptly over the group it seemed the whole world had stopped to hold its breath after Faleon's statement. The dark man looked at each company member in turn, taking in their grim expressions.

"You can't be serious." He said incredulously. "Why we just barely escaped with our lives only due to the little redhead, and now you want to go charging in after her?"

Amara rolled her eyes.

"We could hardly go charging into a city set halfway up a mountain."

The others turned on her with this sarcastic remark.

"We will not be leaving Earwen behind. She is invaluable to our quest." Eramire stated matter a factly, and Amara couldn't help but feel confused by the conviction in her voice. Faleon appeared just as perplexed but shrugged.

"I don't know if you truly grasp, the situation we are in. Alistair has agreed not to declare war upon your people in exchange for your sister's imprisonment. If we in any way help her escape, even if she does so on her own will be an open declaration of war. And as you've seen, Alistair is more than prepared."

Silence again settled as they digested Faleon's words. Amara knew he was right and that reentering the city was tantamount to suicide. But she could not leave Earwen there to be treated as a prisoner. Especially after leaving her on such poor terms. She could not even fathom the pain she would feel at the elf princess's complete absence from her life. And as she looked over at the fire where her grandfather's tome lay in the grass, useless and unable to be opened, she felt more betrayed than ever before. Not only by her father, but it seemed that the entire universe was against her. Impeding any attempt at progress she made in both her destiny and happiness. Every time she thought she had reached a milestone, another was placed twice as far away.

"We don't leave anyone behind," Thorindir said softly. "We will find a way to free Earwen, or die trying."

"The latter is more likely than you think," Faleon scoffed.

Shooting him an irritated look Thorindir replied.

"Then help us. Surely with all your spies and connections, you can find us a discreet way back into the city."

Faleon looked irritated, but his eyes soon cooled, and Amara recognized the sly look in his eye.

"Very well, but I am afraid my good man, that armor just won't do."

Thorindir looked down at himself, then back at Faleon. He grimaced and said.

"Just what do you have in mind to replace it with?"

Faleon laughed darkly.

"Something just a little more appropriate for the occasion. After all, in the lower rings of Taiman, the people rarely bathe. Come on, let's get you looking a tad more, rough and tumble."

The two men turned to walk away, and Amara made to follow. Faleon turned back.

"You aren't coming."

Amara was indignant.

"Like hell, I'm not."

Faleon rolled his eyes.

"Be sensible, Amara. There is no possible way to disguise you properly. You are far too short to pass as a citizen, even with a hood pulled over your head to conceal your eyes."

Amara pressed her lips together to hold back the shout of frustration building in her chest.

"Just leave the reconnaissance to me and the elf general. We will figure out where they are keeping the little redhead and perhaps a way to undo this deal we've made with Alistair."

The lost princess ground her teeth together as she watched the men leave. Fire burned in her belly, burned on every inch of her skin. She smoldered with it. She felt stupid and powerless. And worst of all, she felt ashamed. It cooled her anger and settled like a stone in her belly. Earwen was lost to them, and she feared that Thorindir was right. It was her fault. She thought of the look on Earwen's face as they took to the skies on Tokka. The soft anger and disappointment. Did her one and only friend blame her too? How could she ever make it right?

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