The next morning, Zia woke early with the rest of her traveling companions. It was still dark, but a rosy light started to peak over the horizon. The rest of the camp seemed to wake also; everyone was dressed and eating when Zia helped saddle twelve of the twenty horses that the Thieves had at the camp. Some of these horses had been stolen, others rescued from fires. Some had been donated by a very generous widow whose husband had been in their ranks. Ten of the horses would be the means of transportation for the Thieves; the other two would be pack horses.

Ryker was boasting loudly to anyone who would listen how he had only been in the camp for a few days and he was already selected for the expedition. His brother Hamish was standing off to the side, packing their few belongings. As near as Zia could figure, Hamish was the younger of the two. That explained why his voice wasn't as gruff. Hamish was also the kinder and gentler of them.

Those going on the King's quest still did not know the details of the mission. King Donathan and Arch had agreed that it would be best to inform the party of the details just before they left, and Zia was sure it had something to do with the King's mistrust of the Thieves.

Zia connected the last of the food and supplies to the horse's saddle when Arch appeared out of his tent with the King and called for those going on the quest to gather 'round. "Listen here!" he said when the entire group had gathered. "As you all know, the Westfell Mountains go into the Skilae's territory, as well as the edge of Otar's northwestern borders. There is a large force of Skilae troops invading from the southwest. Your mission is to stop this force before they ever get out of the Pass. Any questions?"

"Exactly how big is this 'force'?" one man asked.

It was the King that answered. "About three hundred, maybe more."

"A how are only a dozen people supposed to wipe out three hundred trained soldiers?" Ryker demanded.

"We have a plan," the King said coldly, staring Ryker down.

"Oh, and would you like to share it with the people who will be going out there and risking their necks for this so-called plan?"

"No."

"The King's Captain and I have mapped out a route for you to take to intercept them before they can cross into the Otarian borders," Arch said before Ryker could make a comeback. "They have taken a hidden pass through the mountains that will protect them from the eyes of our armies until it is too late. The Pass ends a few miles inside the borders, which is behind the lines of where His Majesty has his troops. They plan to surround the army and block any retreat. If this happens, there will not be one Otarian spared; we will all be slaughtered and hunted down."

All was quiet until Jay strode out of Arch's tent and joined them. He didn't speak, but he sent a polite nod in Zia's direction.

Arch reached a hand towards the King, and His Majesty held out a rolled up piece of parchment. Arch took it from him and unrolled it, holding it out for all to see. It was a map. It had lines that showed the Otar and Skilae borders, but also the borders of the countries surrounding them. Zia noticed Archibald's home country, Scullin, and a few others: the islands of Nordia in the far north; Mithia to the high northwest; the island of Astril to the southeast; Draeloch to the east across the ocean.

Arch pointed out the sharp, pointed tips of the Westfell Mountains that started a few inches from the Skilae border in Otar and then continued south into Skilae itself until it reached the bottom of the page.

"The Pass is hidden and only known to a few, but the Skilae scouts have found it and their General has sent a large party through there," Arch continued. "Your job is to stop them before they cross through the borders."

"Where are they now?" Hamish called out.

Arch looked to the King for an explanation, but His Majesty was looking at Jay. The Captain answered, "Last our scouts saw they were still well in the borders of their own land. They have a large group and lots of supplies, which will make them slow. My best guess is that they are about three days' time away from the border. According to our sources, they were supposed to leave their capitol yesterday, and it takes four days to get to the boarder for there."

"Now," Arch said, "the Captain and two of his men will be accompanying you on this mission, as they are some of the few who know the exact location of the hidden Pass."

Zia was a little crestfallen that Arch would not be coming. She may have felt he didn't need to protect her anymore, but his company would have been better than that of Hamish and Ryker, and despite what she told him last night, she would feel safer with him near. The thought of traveling with Jay unsettled her for some reason.

"How will the King return without his men?" Heath called out.

Donathan smiled slightly, as if touched by the young boy's concern for his safety. "I thank you for your kindness, young man, but I am not helpless. Besides, I still have Kris."

"Kris?" Ike asked.

The King smiled. "One of my men," he clarified. "But I assure you, I am very capable of taking care of myself."

"Are there any more questions?" Arch asked. No one offered any inquiries, so Arch ordered them to finish packing and head out.

The air was cold, to say it simply. The wind tore at Zia's skin, making her shiver. It was plain that winter was quickly approaching. The leaves of the trees shed them had long since fallen from their branches and they littered the earth, crunching loudly when the horses tread upon them.

Zia shivered fiercely and pulled her wool cloak more tightly around her shoulders. She saw many of the men doing the same.

Jay was in the lead of their party along with Archibald and a Thief whose name Zia did not know. He was short, stocky, and, according to Ike, the best navigator in their present company.

The mountains loomed ever nearer as their journey progressed. The snow-capped tops were becoming more distinct, and Zia could make out more trees than she had thought possible at such towering heights.

Zia pulled the reins on her horse so that she came even with Ike and Heath who were riding side-by-side. "What do you make of this mission?" she asked them over the yowling wind.

"Seems fairly straight-forward to me," Heath said confidently. "Find the Skilaens, attack, go back home. What could go wrong?"

Zia wanted to point out that things rarely went as planned in the world, but Ike beat her to it.

"What could go wrong?" he asked incredulously. "Heath, I thought you were smarter than that. Everything could go wrong! We could be too late; our force might not be enough men- and women- to make the Skilaes retreat; they could make it through our ranks and kill us all!"

Zia agreed fully with each word he spoke. She had long since stopped believing things would ever go according to any plan. She had taken up the philosophy to always expect things to go awry. If they haven't, they will soon. Always prepare for the worst, Arch had once advised her. Then if you're wrong, you won't be disappointed. But if you're right, you'll be prepared.

Heath looked at Ike like he had suggested he run through twelve feet of snow with his shoes removed. "Well, aren't you cheery this morning."

Zia snorted, earning her a glare from Ike and a pleased look from Heath. "What?" asked Zia innocently.

"You're not supposed to agree with him!" Ike said angrily.

This made another snort burst from her. "Oh? And why ever not?" she asked with a sly grin.

"Because you're practically my sister!" Ike said loudly. "You're supposed to side with me!"

This brought out a full laugh from both Zia and Heath, and Ike's scowl deepened. He grumbled something incoherent, which roused another fit of giggles from his friends.

Zia and Heath's laughter reached Jay's ears and he turned on his horse, halting his conversation with Will Hutt, the Thief navigator. He saw Zia, the little girl that he had so long ago met on a cold autumn day much like today, laughing alongside two young men. He did not know the men, but he knew that Zia must be close to both of them.

He had not had the opportunity to talk to Zia during his stay at the camp, but now that they were on the quest together, he hoped to have a word with her in private. He had so many questions that had been ringing in the back of his head ever since she had pointed her sword at his chest.

Not wanting to be caught observing the group, Jay quickly turned back to face the front of his horse just as Will said, "According to the maps you allowed me to observe, we should be able to reach the entrance of the pass by nightfall."

"That soon?" Jay asked, the look of surprise evident on his face. "I think you're much mistaken. The ride would last at least until midday tomorrow, surely?"

Will gave him a toothy grin. He was an older man, at least twice Jay's own age, and his face was wrinkled and worn. His hair was white, but he was strong and so was his voice when he said, "That would be the case if we were to take the main roads. But, seeing as how this is supposed to be a mission of stealth, I've altered the rout Arch and yerself have mapped out, and if we take my way, we'll cut half a day's ride from our journey."

Jay looked at him with no small amount of shock. He thought the rout he and the Thieves' leader had chosen was a safe one. The last bits of trading goods from other countries were coming in, so a party of thirteen traveling along the traders' road would not have been suspicious. Most sellers cleverly hid their things among their other possessions to protect them from bandits, so most would not even bat an eye at the fact that their party had no merchandise to sell. But when the old man put it like that, Jay had to admit that he would very much like to get to the Pass as soon as they could. The sooner they took care of this threat, the sooner they could deal with the rest of the Skilae army and put an end to this war.

The conditions of the war were grim, in short. The Skilaen army had grown strong over the years. They had made many alliances with the large and powerful country of Draeloch to the east and they supplied Skilae food, weapons, and men to their quest to destroy the kingdom of Otar. If the Skilaen succeeded in their mission through the Pass, all would be lost and the kingdom would be destroyed.

Not if Jay could help it. Otar was his home, and he would not see it go down in flames; at least, not without a fight.

"Alright," he replied to Will. "You're the navigator. I know where the Pass is, but I've been there once before, and only briefly. I will rely on you to guide us there."

Will gave him another grin. "Can do, Cap'n." He spurred his horse from a trot to a steady canter, and the others did likewise, eager to begin their perilous journey.