Britta and Diana spent every moment of that last, precious day with friends. Britta felt a prick in her chest when she realised she might never see them again. She debated telling them all the truth, but she wanted to leave on a good note.

That morning, they all ate breakfast together. Thom had been picked as a commander, Clyde had been highly commended as a swordsman. There were no hard feelings for those that got noticed and those who didn't.

"I wish that we knew for certain we could see each other again." Said Diana over her food.

Clyde nodded. "We could have a meeting place or something." He said, "And on our time off we can all meet by it."

Ed turned to Britta suddenly. "How about you use that pigeon of yours to carry messages?" he asked.

Britta whacked him on the arm as Quicksilver screeched angrily.

"Quicksilver is a falcon, and she will only carry messages if she wants to."

"That bird will do anything for you though." Said Neal.

"Within reason, and she might not see it that way. Maybe one day I'll get a message through though, we will see each other again when this is over."

Everyone nodded and Britta grinned, they would look to the ideal future while they could.

At odd moments in that day, Diana disappeared off with Ed. Britta only rolled her eyes each time that happened, but she knew the feeling. She was stuck between wanting to spend time with them all, or having those special moments with just a few of them.

Thom found her practicing a pattern dance that evening, creeping up behind her.

"You know there's a good chance I might never see you again, right?" He asked.

Britta nodded, finishing the dance crouched and barely panting.

"I know I will hate it if I don't clear this up, but Bren, what is your real name?"

Britta smiled at him, and raised an eye brow. She trusted Thom a lot.

Gesturing for his to follow, she led him to her and Diana's almost empty cabin. Grabbing out the dress she slipped it on and removed the shroud, stepping out from behind the door she had used to change. Shaking her hair free from its tie, she faced him, almost nervously.

"Hello, my name is Britta and as you can see, I am most certainly a girl." She smiled at him, and then quickly slipped her own clothes back on when she was out of sight.

He led her into the woods and then looked her over seriously.

"So how come you're here?" He asked.

"I suppose you didn't guess that part." Said Britta with a smile, explaining to him.

She remembered everything with a detached fondness. She laughed as she recounted how Mistress Core's mouth was so tightly bunched up all the time, and how the abbey was more holes than building. She felt so far away from her old life now she was here and had changed so much.

Afterwards Thom just stared at her.

"That's.... unusual." He said, slowly.

Britta rolled her eyes, "You think?" She asked.

Thom shrugged, "That's, really, brave." He said quietly.

"Because I'm a girl?" Britta asked.

"Well, because you've come such a long way and done so much, and yet if everyone knew, they'd never believe it." He said.

Britta smiled, and hugged him. Thom stiffened and she pulled away, shrugging.

"Because I'm a girl." She whispered. "So," she raised her voice a little. "Your turn." She said.

"What?" Thom was a little red, and now looked at her, confused.

"It's strange not to see you self-assured." Britta told him. "I meant why are you here – The rest of us have no where else. Ed's family died in a raid, Neal left a woman – too much of a disgrace for him, Clyde's an orphan too, what about you?" The other men had told her their stories at quiet intervals around the fire, but Thom had avoided the question.

"What makes you think I'm any different?" Thom said, shadows in his eyes.

"You talk strangely, and the ring." Britta nodded to her finger.

Thom sighed but did not answer her question. "You really are brave, you know." He said instead.

Britta shook her head. Insane, but maybe a little brave as well.

***

That morning, she and Diana left to see everyone. They exchanged last words, one armed hugs and slaps on the back until they had to go. The whole thing reminded her a bit of leaving the abbey except here things were joyful, if a little sad. She never did find out about Thom's past, but she was just as happy to say goodbye to him.

Micah had all their gear waiting for them in his office. Britta was happy with the well-made packs and gear it contained. She thanked him and they were given until noon to pack.

They had gotten another, better fitted, better quality set of combat clothing and two other pairs of casual clothes. Britta kept their newest set of clothes from that year, especially the shirt, to tie around her waist. She and Diana both left the dresses and all they didn't need, stored in the woods.

"We might need it one day." Diana had said.

Another goodbye was said to their friends, and then they left to see Micah. He was standing in a set of riding clothes.

"Your horse has been tacked up with better gear, Britta, you'll have to do Thunder, the tacks in his stall." Then, he leaned down and pulled out a long narrow box.

"Yours," He said, gesturing at Diana.

Diana opened it carefully, and was faced with a well-made bow and quiver of arrows.

"You have had practice shooting with these," Micah said, "You should be fine with using them."

He then gave Britta another box. Britta carefully prised the wooden lid open. Inside were two daggers, and a belt, decorated with tribal designs, like Diana's bow.

They were made out of a rippling blue tinged meatal. When she tilted it, she could see her reflection in it. They were stronger than her old ones, and slightly heavier, but the weight was comfortable in her hands. She slipped on the belt and bowed her head in gratitude; they were some of the nicest things she owned.

"You'll need all the help you can get to succeed." He said.

That's a little grim. Diana said to her twin.

No, that's Micah. We'll go?

Yes.

Britta saddled up Thunder and said goodbye to Hoshi. She left enough space in her saddle bags for Faithful to creep in when Micah wasn't looking. Quicksilver circled overhead. She sat comfortably in the saddle as they left camp, waving at her friends on the way out.

"We have a very important mission, yet it should only last a few days. Have either of you heard of the Aurea Filum?"

Britta mumbled something about seeing it a while ago.

"It is powerful, but the one thing it cannot do it bring back the dead. As it is now the sixteenth anniversary of the Empress-to-be's death, we fear the Emperor may try to use the Aurea to bring people back. This could destroy the empire." He said, quietly.

"So we need to get it off him to prevent that happening?" Asked Britta. It didn't sound that hard.

"It's kept under top security" Said Micah. "It will be difficult, but doable."

Behind her, Faithful spoke, mind to mind.

He's lying. Not everyone will get away.

Why would he lie, we're working with him?

Are you? He speaks in a language of lies and riddles, never trust him.

So we aren't getting the Aurea for what we think we're getting it for? Britta asked.

If you do, he will trust you and you will find out all the information you need. Besides, you hardly have a choice, you won't have money until this is over.

Britta sighed and relied this to Diana, who looked worried.

Micah payed for them to stay at an inn for the night, so the twins were able to keep their secret safe. There were three beds in a row, Britta slept in the middle, facing Diana. Through the night, she thought she could feel Micahs eyes on the back of her neck. He was thinking, strategizing.

Britta worried for what was to come, stroked Faithful anxiously. But she slept eventually, and dreamed of her mother, faintly calling her name.

That day they poured over maps of the castle, Micah establishing where the aurea was.

"There are guards here-" he indicated points on the plan, "-so it would be best if one of us scaled the wall up to it, there's only a short distance to go from there. Britta that would be you. Diana, you would hold them off until Britta throws the aurea down. I can take it away from there."

Suspicions lurked at the back of Britta's mind, and she left them to think about later.

Another day of careful planning followed. Then, the next night, Britta slipped on her combat armour and her dagger sheath, ready to go.

She left Thunder with her saddle bags, as did Diana, and the three of them crept to the castle.

At even spaces along the wall, guards paced up and down. Torches lit the area nearby. Britta bit her lip as she scanned the area, all of them counting the beat of footsteps.

They followed the tree line to a point where the trees had crept up right against the wall. Still men patrolled the wall, waiting for anyone to try climb over. With a slight nod, Micah began to climb.

Britta felt each foot step like a drumbeat as they neared her, but not stopping as she reached the top, she rolled behind one of the barrels. Another set of footsteps passed, and Diana was crouching down beside her.

Letting out a shaky breath of air, Britta kept her eyes on Micahs black hair. He beckoned her, seconds before he disappeared down a set of stairs. They followed close behind.

Hugging the jagged line of the wall, they made their way around again, leaving Diana up a tree, ready to cover.

We'll keep in touch, I'll warn you if I see anyone coming. She said.

As Britta began to leave, she heard the whizz of one of her sisters arrows, and then the thunk of it hitting its mark in the wood of the window sill.

Licking her dry lips, she looked up to the window. She tested the rope, and using a few of the chinks in the wall, the darted up, wasting no time in throwing herself over the other side. She landed in a catlike crouch and looked around.

She was in a room – a bedroom. There was a four poster bed in one corner, and she could hear someone breathing. Quickly, she threw herself behind the wardrobe door and stood still. But the sounds were those of a heavy sleep, and Britta sighed, relieved. Peering out from behind her hiding spot, she saw gold hair falling over the gap in the curtains. The room was well decorated, and Britta saw the quality that had been weaved in to everything. She muttered a curse at her luck.

There would probably be guards outside the door. Tiptoeing towards it, she peered through the keyhole. She saw movement outside. Eyes darting around the room she saw a simple white dress laid out on a dresser. Slipping it on, she freed herself from the shroud and kept a dagger in her hand.

When she opened the door, she found a spear pointed at her throat.

"Oh, good evening." She giggled, "Mable's just sleeping now, she wanted help with things." Considering it was the middle of the night, the two men glanced at her sceptically. "Oh, it was before your shift of course, we both fell asleep, terribly inappropriate of me, I must say." She said. Again, her voice was persuasive – she supposed afterwards that it was The Voice as they offered no objection when she left.

She smiled at them as she flounced past, and then, the moment she was out of sight, she ran. Stopping in a gap in the wall, she took a moment to regain her bearings. She shed her dress and left it in a heap as she carried on.

All eyes out for guards, she made it to the tapestry and listened intently for any signs of movement. Then, as footsteps advanced up the corridor, she barrelled inside the hidden door. Now she was encased in a different world. The walls were covered in elaborate art, some woven, some expertly painted. Walking along the walls, she looked for any trace of the aurea.

She checked behind each hanging for another door, and could find none. Panicking now she felt around, feeling sure someone would come in soon. She couldn't even see properly in the dark.

Then, a light appeared in her eyes. Everything became still and she was calm.

She could see particles floating in the air. Drifting about around her. Each time she exhaled, she was caught up in how they moved. Then, slowly, she walked to one corner of the room. Kneeling down, she looked to where the floating lights were brightest. She reached out to the tassels at the bottom of one tapestry, and saw the strings were pure gold. She unravelled it from the tapestry and clutched it in her hands.

This was what she had been looking for.

Tying the aurea around her wrist, Britta made her way out again. She darted up behind the guards and knocked them out, cringing at the thump they made as they hit the ground. Pushing through the door she ran to the window and found Micah waiting below. She threw him the aurea and watched, relieved, as he disappeared out of the area. She threw a leg over the windowsill, but as she did, she felt a pair of hands clutch at her arm.

Spinning around, she was met with a pair of bright blue eyes and that same blond hair. Glancing over at the now unoccupied bed, she eased herself back. The girl held on tighter, nails digging into her skin.

"What are doing here?" She asked softly.

Diana, there's a girl, I'm coming down now, but she might alert people and then we'll have to run.

Britta wrenched herself out of the girls grip and slid down the rope so fast, she felt it burn into her hand. Wincing, she pulled out a dagger, and began to run, but not before she heard the grinding of a door opening at the foot of the tower. She caught a flash of gold hair before she began to run again.

Finding Diana, both of them moved away to the nearest part of the wall, but someone at the top saw them and shouted out. They turned and ran again, Britta felt an arrow whispering past and ran harder. But now everyone knew where they were. They made another turn as more people faced them, and the moment they were out of sight, hands grabbed her and Diana and the blond girl was pulling them in.

Hearing the advancing voices, Britta took her chances and followed her inside. A moment later, the gap behind them had disappeared and they were thrown into darkness. Then, came the strike of a match, and the girls face was illuminated.

She was pretty in the traditional way, with long blond hair and big blue eyes. Britta was wary of their innocence.

"Who are you?" The girl asked.

"Bren, and Duane." Diana answered.

"Those are funny names for girls." She commented, squinting at them. "You are a girl too, right Duane?"

Britta's hands shot up to her face, and she realised she had forgotten to replace the shroud.

"Yes." Diana whispered. Maybe they would be easier on them if they were girls.

"That's strange." She said, "So what are your real names?"

"Britta and Diana."

"What did you take?" She asked.

"We don't even know your name." Britta said.

"Oh, my name's Mable." The girl said.

"Are you... helping us?" Asked Diana.

"Yes, I guess so." She said, as if the thought had only just occurred to her. "There are many hiding places around here, that's how I got down so fast, you are a fast climber Britta."

The twins exchanged glances.

"So what did you take?" Mable asked.

"Nothing." Britta whispered. But as innocent as Mable seemed, her eyes hardened.

"It really isn't a good idea to lie." She said. The only sign that she was at all nervous was that she was fiddling with her necklace; a claw or fang attached to a silver chain.

Interesting choice of jewellery. Britta said to her sister. Aloud she snorted, "We've been lying for a long time, it works just fine." She said.

"So you are lying?" Said Mable, "Because I won't hurt you, maybe you can just come with me to stay with my family until your friend comes back."

"We really shouldn't" Said Diana, in a slightly kinder tone than Britta.

"Where else is there to go really? They're searching the whole place now."

Britta narrowed her eyes. "So if we come with you, you will keep us safe until Micah returns?" She asked.

He's not coming back. Diana told her sister.

We'll figure out what to do in a moment. Britta said.

"Micah? You're friend? Yes, I will keep you safe, you just need to follow me through these passage ways."

With Mable leading, the twins followed along behind. She seemed to know the way through the passage ways relatively well, and didn't hesitate, though they branched off in several different directions.

A little strange, don't you think? Asked Diana.

We don't exactly have a choice. Britta reminded her.

Finally she led them to a small room.

"I hid my friend here once, no one has ever come to look. Perhaps you can stay here until I bring you to my father."

"Who was this friend of yours?" Britta asked.

"Oh, his name is Lucky, I named him because no one else had."

The twins exchanged glances.

"Was this friend a dog by any chance?" Britta asked.

"Oh yes, a very big grey dog."

"Will you be staying here?" asked Britta.

"Of course not, I have to go back up to my room so no one comes looking for me. They all get very worried when I disappear." She unhooked a stone from the wall and walked through the hole it made, gold hair swishing along behind her.

Weirdo. Britta said to Diana.

"Put the shroud back on." Diana answered, "And be nice to her."

Britta shivered and the feeling of the shroud descended over her face. Together, they piled the blankets together on the floor and curled up to sleep.

When they woke up, Britta had no idea what time it was, and her back was stiff from her sleep. Stretching, she realized there was some light in the room, coming from a small crack between the wall and ceiling. Waking Diana, both of them stood waiting for Mable to come back.

Eventually, a section of the wall opened and Mable slipped through, shutting it behind her.

"Do you know there was another woman in my room last night?" She asked. "I told them she was protecting me from a monster though, so whoever she is, she'll be okay."

"They believed you?" Britta asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Of course." Said Mable, not offering an explanation.

She gestured for them to follow and led them back out the door and through some more passageways.

"My father will help you." She said softly. "He's very kind really, but you will have to return what you took. And why do you look like a boy today Britta?"

"It changes daily, and today you have to call me Bren." She said sarcastically, to her surprise, Mable just nodded, bringing them to a halt.

"Father will be alone in here." She said.

Leading them through an entrance which seemed to appear from nowhere, they were led out into a large room. One man sat at the table, holding himself up straight and regal as her turned his head.

"Mable, who have you brought with you this time?" He asked, eyes narrowing.

"Bow." Mable whispered to them.

"Why do we have to-" Britta began, but Diana pulled her down into a bow.

Quiet, just do what Mable says.

"Some friends father, This is Bren and Duane."

"And were they, by any chance, the ones that had a part in robbing my castle last night?"

Britta drew in a breath sharply. "This is your father?" She hissed.

"Yes." She whispered, and then louder. "They will give it back, but I thought you could give them a place to stay, it's only polite after all."

"They will do more then give it back." He growled. "Guards, transport Princess Mable to her quarters, there should be breakfast waiting there." Whipping his head around, he glared at the twins. "We will hold an official meeting now, there will be no need for you to stay anywhere."

They found themselves being dragged off through a maze of corridors.

She did this on purpose. Britta told Diana angrily.

She seemed nice, maybe it was a mistake?

Yeah, just forgetting to mention that, oh, her fathers the emperor for example?

Maybe she just expected us to know who she is. Diana shot back. There are more important things happening right now.

Like certain death?

Between brief eye contact from Diana, and avoiding that of the guards, she did her best to remember the way they had come, so if they could escape the guards they could find their way out of the castle.

They were then brought into another room, with a high ceiling and arching windows. The centre piece was a throne. The Emperor settled himself there and looked them over again.

"Last night, the Aurea Filum was stolen between five and ten minutes past midnight. Do you have it?" He asked calmly, yet his eyes gave away the urgency of this question.

"No." Said Diana.

"Search them." The Emperor demanded.

Though they were thoroughly searched, and nothing was found, they were still eyed suspiciously. Britta's dagger was safely hidden in the shirt at her waist, disguised as she stretched the shroud to hide it.

"They must have passed it on to someone, Your Highness." Said one of the guards briskly.

"Ah." He said, "Of course. Who was this person." He demanded fiercely.

Exchanging glances, Diana once again spoke, "It was a job given to us, we don't know who it was for, they threatened our families if we didn't." She said.

"You are young men, you should be old enough to be strong against this." Said one of the guards scornfully.

"Quiet." Said the Emperor. "Clearly these men have made their decision. Put them in a holding cell, they will tell us the answers eventually, after a few days of nothing to eat has softened them. I must see to Mable, she needs to be taught not to disobey. And search for the woman that has been reported to be in Mable's room." He dismissed them with a wave of his hand.

Dragged down more corridors, with Britta's protests that she could walk perfectly fine, they were thrown into a small cell, only just tall enough for the twins to stand. There was a small window up the top, but barred and too small to get through. The door was slammed shut and locked, someone standing outside and guarding.

They were completely trapped.