Fable's war tent was small. The sides closed in on the large group and as soon as the door fell shut, the only light came from the lanterns hanging from the ceiling. In the darkness, Jon Alche's eyes seemed to be pools of silver, swirling and moving around. Madeline looked at her feet and pressed herself close to the large round table that sat in the centre of the tent. 

"Welcome my friends," Fable said. "I know this is happening earlier than expected but Jon has told me the court moves faster than expected. We fear they will discover we have the crown." 

The one Alonzo had called Bastian stepped forward, his long dark hair hanging loose, covering his face. "Where will we set up the Scrimm?" 

Fable dragged his blue finger across the table and pounded it on a spot just across from Madeline. "Here," Fable said, "close enough to infiltrate but far enough away they won't find us." 

All the men in the room nodded, but Fox leaned forward, his hood casting shadows over his face and the table. "You're taking the entire camp to the edge of Angor territory." There was a dangerous edge to his voice that made Madeline's lips tip in confusion, but no man offered an explanation to who or what an Angor was. 

"It's the perfect spot for the Scrimm," Fable said, his pointed finger still on the table, "no one will suspect a thing, no one's gone near the Angor for years." 

"There's a reason for that," said another man- Madeline thought he might have been Ode. "The Angor are devilishly small and hate Valerians. The last group of folk who stopped there was never seen again. According to whispers, the Angor ripped them apart until there was nothing left." 

Fable waved his hand, brushing off all other worries. "We're camping there and it's final. If you're worried about whispers, Ode, then maybe you should rethink your position here at this table, in my camp." 

The blonde nodded slowly and pulled away from the Table slightly, his knuckles strained white. 

"The Scrimm will attack at first light of the twentieth day," said Fable- his finger dragging over the map carved into the table and landing on another spot, close to where the Angor's territory began. "The time in between will be sufficient enough for chaos to gain traction and then they will not be able to retaliate when our true forces attack." 

The men in the tent murmured and Madeline saw grins form on their faces. It was evident they already thought they'd won whatever war they had yet to fight. 

"I don't mean the interrupt," Madeline said, stepping close to the table. The light from the lanterns cast devious shadows on her face, casting darkness across her forehead. "But why am I here? The only words I understand even slightly is war and attack, and even then, I don't think I wish to understand." 

Fable glanced across the table, his lips quirked into a smile. "You are an integral part of the plan, dear Madeline. We will use you as an offer of peace." 

"What?" 

Fable waved his hand and swung his cloak on. "I shall explain on the journey to the Angor's border. It is getting late, and we are all becoming hungry." 

 Tivious strode forward and exited the tent, exclaiming, "Food! Stars, I thought this meeting would never end." 

The rest of the men chuckled and began exiting the tent. It was still light outside, but the sun was low in the sky, casting shades of pink across the horizon like ribbons. 

As the generals were leaving Fable's tent, Jon Alche stilled and his face contorted. Fable's eyes snapped to Jon and he rushed over to his side. Fable grasped Jon tightly as if he was stopping Jon from falling and indeed, Jon Alche was swaying precariously. His eyes glowed a strange silver. 

"What is he seeing?" Exclaimed a general that had not yet left the war tent. 

Fable just shushed the man and continued watching Jon carefully. 

Madeline's heart thudded in her chest, the air seemed to constrict and become thick with anticipation and confusion. She watched Jon, worry knawed at her chest. 

Moments passed and then Jon blinked, the glow from his eyes vanishing like stars popping out of existence. He slumped against Fable, exhausted. His eyes locked onto Madeline, wide and fearful. Then as he wrapped a large arm around Fable's shoulders for support, he said- "we leave now." 

Fable just nodded and the pair left the tent, the watchful eyes of the remaining three generals on them until the flap door of the tent fell shut. 

Madeline bit her lip in confusion, unsure of what she had just witnessed. Jon Alche had a sort of power, that enough was made obvious by the glowing eyes. However, she had no idea as to what his powers could possibly be. Seeing the future? Sensing danger? Whatever it was, Fable trusted and believed him immediately. 

Without saying anything to anyone, Madeline rushed from the tent and came face-to-face with a horde of people, rushing about, knocking down wooden poles, bringing down tents. The horses that Fable kept were creating a loud ruckus as a few women attached them to wooden carts that were being piled with crates and supplies. 

Before her very eyes, as the sun went down, an entire camp was being brought down. Madeline turned tail and sprinted back to her own tent, to see as three women loaded the rest of her things onto a carriage. The older woman of the three saw Madeline and walked over. "Your things are safe," she said and gestured to the carriage as it was pulled away. "Your tent will be the same when we set up permanent camp." 

Madeline could only nod and turn in a circle, watching as the camp vanished as if it was never there. Fires were stamped out and wells were filled back in. As all the carriages left the clearing, Lyra stood and raised her arms, her eyes glowing brightly. "Everyone, follow the carriages!" Those who still ambled behind quickly ran ahead and joined the rest of the men and women. A stranger grabbed Madeline by her arms and pulled her out of the clearing and into a wide path that was not there the day before. Madeline felt a sudden tug in the pit of her stomach and then a green light exploded from Lyra's entire person. It swallowed the entire clearing. Madeline threw her arm over her face, shielding her eyes from the bright magic. When her arm fell away, Madeline's mouth fell open. Where the entire clearing once stood, thick bush and trees now took its place. The trees appeared to have been over thousands of years old, undisturbed and unfailing. Lyra stood, hunched over and heaving, the glow still awake and fighting in her eyes. 

Quickly, however, Lyra was up and walking towards Madeline. "Keep walking," Lyra said breathily, "and don't let the woods swallow you. Don't fall behind." 

Madeline let out a small gasp as she saw the woods closing in behind Lyra as she walked, wiping the path from existence. Madeline turned around and allowed her arm to be taken by a younger woman who at atop trunks on a carriage. Madeline was lifted up and stumbled onto the carriage then gave the woman a small smile. She turned back to watch Lyra who walked quickly, keeping up with the rest of Fable's people. 

"Can't she sit with us?" Madeline asked, noting the sweat that was building on Lyra's skin. "I'm sure there's room."

The woman shook her head. "I only wish she could. It's exhausting work, keeping her magic working for this long, but she has to be touching the ground for her magic to work."

Madeline faced the woman with a new sort of admiration, "wow." 

For hours, in the darkness, Fable's group made their way through the Whistling Woods. By the time they finally reached the edge of the woods, the sun was peeking out from behind the darkness, preparing to set alight the landscape for a new day. Madeline had fallen asleep against the shoulder of the woman at some point during the night- worry about Lyra had almost kept her awake. 

Many others rested on the carriages, but some had to walk, and almost seemed to be dead men walking. Their eyes were tired and dark, yet still alert, seemingly waiting for something. 

Tivious sat atop a carriage near the front of the pack, looking back at Madeline. He watched her carefully and threw an orange from hand-to-hand carefully. He knew the severity of his mission, but he wasn't sure how he would manage to get her alone- she was too precious to Fable. 

There was a sudden cold breeze and it chilled Madeline to her core, so much she stirred awake, clutching a blanket tight around her shoulders. Carefully, without waking the woman next to her, Madeline sat up and immediately caught the eye of Tivious, his red hair catching the light of the lanterns. 

She quickly looked away. 

A few moments later, there was a thud as a small fruit landed on the carriage and rolled next to her lap. Madeline cautiously picked it up and dared a glance at Tivious who was still staring at her intently. As much as she didn't know about the warrior, he sure had good aim. Instead of throwing the fruit away as she did the last time she found herself with one of the fruits, Madeline dug her nails into the skin and peeled it. She gouged into the fruit, surprisingly hungry. As she did so, she looked around. The woods were fading into the distance and the people and the carts were traveling over the uncertain ground with only the lanterns to guide 

Madeline knew they were avoiding the road to avoid being seen. Whatever Fable was doing, it was certainly against whatever law they had in the North of the Vale. 

Madeline let the fruit peeling fall onto the ground and noticed Lyra sleeping on a cart behind her own one. Madeline sighed and relaxed, knowing that Lyra was finally sleeping. 

Madeline snuck one last glance and sunk back onto the bed of blankets with relief- Tivious had fallen asleep. 

Madeline closed her eyes and let sleep take her once again.