The goddesses understood true power and unlike the gods, they were not afraid to use it. The gods were weak and obsessed with creating a perfection that did not exist. They tried everything to limit the power of the goddesses. Much like the males in this society now. But like the goddesses, women are much superior to males. We will make it our mission to overthrow any male leadership. All men must know their place in this world. They are beneath us. We were shaped after the great goddesses. Women so powerful that the only way the gods could weaken them, was to cowardly flee from their responsibilities over this world. The goddesses were not perfect and they never pretended to be. Neither are all of their creations. We are all tainted. The gods were so scared of their imperfections and powers over what went against them, that they painted the goddesses as villains. But we should all worship them. They are the true power and we are their daughters. Worship us because we are your saviours. We will lead you into a prosperous future and protect you when the goddesses return. For they shall be angry at the gods' cowardice. If they return and see that the males still have control over Vivelle, then they shall spread their wrath across this world. They shall clear it of all those not worthy. Only the Daughters of the Tainted shall remain. Protected and given a prosperous future. A future where we never have to bow to men again. Where instead, we will rule over them and they shall worship us for the greater beings we are.

~The Daughters of the Tainted Holy Text.

The camp is finished. Tents are erected around the trees and shelters built. On the small patch of stones that make up the little beach in front of the lake, a few large logs have been placed around a fire. Myself and the Red Guard all sit around it. There are a few centaurs standing around it too along with us, Adam included. There are also the few Mer and Sirens who came up to the surface with us. I can hardly keep my eyes off the Mer or the Sirens and neither can most of the other people here. They are so enchantingly beautiful with their glittering scale-covered bodies. They are like nothing anyone of us has seen before.

"It has been so long since we looked upon the world of the Landfolk," one of the Siren's say as she sits down slowly. Like the others, she isn't very confident on her two legs yet. I smile as I look around the camp, seeing everyone together.

"What's your name?" I ask.

"Lavanna," she replies. Her voice is so soft and delicate. Every word and sentence is like a song.

"It's nice to meet you," I smile at her. She beams back at me but doesn't say anything else. Wyatt sits next to me and throws his arm around my shoulder, pulling my body into his. I lean against him.

"You have your three armies," he says to me. I nod my head.

"Yeah," I reply with a long sigh.

"I know, there's more work to be done," he replies. "The Centaurs have told me about the deal. You know just the eight of us could easily sneak into one of the mines and do what needs to be done," he tells me as he points at the seven Red Guard members who now gather around us.

"I have no doubt about it," I say. Merissa sits down next to me and pulls me away from Wyatt and into her arms.

"Oi," Wyatt complains.

"You've already had your hug," she replies. I laugh.

"Now now, no need to fight over me," I joke as I give Merissa a hug. Merissa is one of the strongest women I know and the only women ever to be allowed into the Red Guard. She isn't particularly tall or muscular but she is fast. Very fast. Both with weapons and when it comes to running. She is a blur who even Fallon struggles to keep up with. Though that wasn't the only reason she managed to get a place in the Red Guard. They are more than just a military force. They are spies when they need to be. No one can weave, lie and manipulate as she can. She just has a way of reading people and getting close to them. They are naturally drawn to her.

"I would love to slice up a few slave masters," Harlan says with a dark grin. I look over at the oldest member of our small group.

"I think everyone here would," I reply with a frown.

"Then what's the matter?" he asks.

"I am worried about what my father will do when he finds out." There is silence as we all think about it.

"What would he do?" Zoran asks as everyone begins to gather around the camp. I guess we are sorting out our next steps now then. Adam appears behind me and I smile up at him softly.

"We have to be so careful," I say and stand up to try and address everyone. "I will free a mine. I promised to do so and I am not about to make excuses to try and go back on it. But just understand the risks that come with it. I am in no doubt that myself and a small team would be able to free many centaur slaves. That isn't what I worry about. I worry about the aftermath. When father finds out that one of his mines has been closed down. He is smart. If he knows it is me then he'll know that the Centaurs are with me. If he suspects that then he will slaughter all of the centaurs in all the other mines," I tell them. There is silence.

"That is certainly a possibility," Harlan says. "But your father is also greedy. Without the centaurs, who will mine all those precious stones he loves so much?" he asks.

"He can get human slaves easier than centaur ones. Though they aren't as strong, it would still keep the mines flowing. Plus, it would teach the centaurs a lesson and make me look like I brought about the mass slaughter of centaur young," I tell everyone.

"We just have to make sure he doesn't suspect you then," Zoran replies. "I am out of touch with the land, but surely not everyone in this kingdom agrees with slavery?" he asks. I nod. "Well aren't there any people actively fighting it?" he asks. I nod again. "So can't you just pin it on one of these groups?" he asks.

"That's a good idea," I say as the ideas run around in my head.

"There is a group the king was having me look into," Merissa tells me.

"Okay..." I nod.

We spent many hours talking and planning into the night. We eventually came up with various plans. When Nianzu returns, we will all be going our separate ways. Most of the Mer and Sirens will be returning into the waters. There will be four groups. Each group will have a different group commander. Me, Adam, Harlan and Lexa will be leaders of one of the teams. Lexa is Adam's second. The two centaur groups will travel across Vivelle "trying to find me". Fox and Karson, who are two Red Guard members, will be going with each of them. Together, the teams each with a red guard member to liaise with their command will lay false trails of my travels and convince my father and other councilmen that nothing has changed. Harlan is staying behind with another group of centaurs to keep the Mer and Sirens safe. They will also be training them to fight in human form as any fighting that may need to happen in the future will be on land. That left me and four other members of the Red Guard. Along with Nianzu and Zoran who had decided that it was his responsibility as the Mer royal to represent the Water folk in helping with my mission. We had tried to talk him out of it, but we had no such luck. The seven of us will be travelling across Vivelle toward the Lupine territory. On our way there, we will be hitting Flon mine. It is the one closest to our path toward the North. If that is successful, then from there I will have full centaur support. When Merissa gets closer to civilisation, she will send a message to some of her contacts. She is hoping they will help us in and out of the mine and take credit for the attack so no blame can fall on the centaurs or me. Not allowing father a chance to take it out on the other centaurs slaves he has caught. After that, then the mission is to get across the Lupine deserts safely and manage to get a meeting with the Solavar. I just hope it is still the same Solavar who visited the castle a few years ago... Though even if it is, it is going to be harder than freeing those in the mine.

With the basic plan in place, everyone goes to bed for the night. I find my tent, which I am sharing with some other Red Guard members.

"This is cosy, I can't wait to snuggle," Wyatt remarks as he slings his arm over my shoulders. I roll my eyes and remove his arm.

"You aren't interested in snuggling with me," I tell him.

"What, you're my favourite girl," he remarks as I walk further into the tent and claim my bed for the night. I sit down on the layers of blankets and look up at him with a raised eyebrow. I take off my boots and begin to pull the blankets over me. I am shattered. Wyatt and Merissa come and lie on either side of me. The other members of the Red Guard soon begin to fill the tent and get ready for bed.

"Harlan, you take the first stint. Then Fox. Tomorrow, it will be a different team," Wyatt orders.

"I don't think we have to keep watch," I tell him. "I made a promise," I say as I point at the marks over my arm.

"Princess," Fox says. "We may consider you a friend and hope you feel the same. However, we cannot forget that you are our future Queen and we are your guards. We need to have some sort of security in place. Just in case." I smile.

"Of course I see you all as my friends, we grew up together. Thank you," I tell them. Their faces light up with smiles.

"I hope you remember what we are sacrificing for this..." Wyatt tells me. "I definitely think that the High Councilman of Military will be a suitable thank you present." Everyone in the tent groans.

"Shut up Wyatt," Merissa says and slaps him. I laugh.

"Don't get ahead of yourself Wyatt, we have a lot to do before I can even start thinking about my High Council," I remind him. He just snorts and lies down.

"It's nice to see you all again," I say to the group as I lie down.

"You too," Fox replies as everyone else agrees.

"What made you decide to join me?" I ask, sitting up again.

"It's not like we actually have anything to risk, unlike what Wyatt wants you to believe," Harlan replies. I look over to him.

"All of us were orphans. Councilman Drake picked us up off the streets and brought us back to the castle to train as soldiers. So it's not like we risk losing any family to this. All we have is each other and that includes you and your sisters. We were brought up together. We were raised together and we have survived together. This is our family. Some in this room. Others navigating the politics back home. We aren't the merciless assassins they thought they trained us to be. Just following the King's or Lord Kristoff's orders because they are above us. We know right from wrong and we know that following you is right. Not only is it our duty as your friends to ensure your safety and success in this Trial, but it is also our responsibility as Knights to protect the Kingdom of Vivelle. If that means treason against one false King to support a True Queen, then that is how it has to be." The tent is silent as Harlen speaks and I feel a lump form in my throat.

"Thank you," I whisper.

"Now, Princess. Get some sleep. Let us look after you. Your nights of being hunted are over." I lie down again and wrap myself up in the blankets. Really feeling safe for the first time since I left the castle.

"Night!" I say.

"Night Princess," everyone replies at the same time, making me laugh.

"The rest of you, get to sleep as well. As we aren't on the road for the next few days, it means we will be training," Wyatt says to the group. We all let out long groans as he lets out an evil chuckle. "Don't think you can get out of it either, princess," he grins at me.

"Wouldn't even dream of it," I reply and smile.