Caleb bent down, low in the bushes, dotted around were several other rebels all hiding in the greenery. He could hear the rhythmic clacking of the turning wheels on the approaching cart. The beastly rinókeros téras' snorted ad their heavy footsteps neared the wood. By sound alone Caleb estimated three, maybe four of the rhinoceros-like animals. There wasn't enough noise for more than one cart, so Phobos was finally taking precautions. It was almost a shame that the Prince's efforts would go to waste. Caleb was ready. Oh boy was he ready. "NOW!"

Caleb watched the rebels, slicing with their daggers. The snap could've been that of a twig as the ropes became limp, trees attached to them falling before the cart and it's protection. Snap. A log flew toward the riding guards. Snap. Another from the opposite direction. Caleb's eyes darted to each rope as it was due to be cut, making sure it slackened on cue. Any mistakes and the logs would turn back on the rebels behind them. But everything had gone to plan and Caleb led his group toward the cart, Guards on the ground, logs hanging, swaying in the light breeze.

...

Another cart had taken another route through the Meridian village. Aldarn counted the clacks of the wheel to keep his calm. Caleb would be much better at this. He shook the thought from his mind and leapt down from a bridge overhead of the cart.

"Down with Phobos and with tyranny!" He cursed Caleb's plan as he sprinted away, glancing behind to see that two of the soldiers gave chase. The third that was guarding the caravan was to be dragged into a nearby alley and hogtied. Aldarn turned into a nearby alley, where some other rebels waited holding a thick rectangle of glass. He swallowed nervously, watching the approaching rinókeros téras', "You're sure this is your thickest glass?" The guards' mounts stopped, throwing them off into the glass. Aldarn exhaled with relief when the glass held between him and them.

...

"Not yet." Caleb held back a particular rebel boy who had unveiled the foodstuffs in the cart. He climbed onto the front and let the others climb aboard before leaving the guards, tied to one another, as a sign for Phobos. Caleb smirked at the thought, a joke perhaps. Certainly he knew Phobos seemed to think that they were playing war, at life scale. Caleb figured that he might aswell find the humor in beating the foolish man. In his mind he figure it was almost as he and Will played. A game of tact. Player one moved and player two would kick the first player two steps back. The only difference between the Keeper and Phobos was that with Phobos he'd feel like he could win. With Will he either lost the game or he felt intangible guilt when she did. He supposed it was just how she played. She clearly had the upper hand on strategy.

...

"FOOD FOR EVERYONE!" The rebels looked up as Aketon revealed the large baskets of food.

Caleb stood, behind. "This was one victory. We need many more if we're to turn the tide against our oppressor." They all cheered, but Aldarn knew that the applause was for the food and perhaps Aketon. Caleb got nothing more than the attentiveness of the rebellion. The only reasons he had that were for fear of Phobos and the Mage's words.

Aldarn caught up with Caleb as he left the room. It would be a shocking sight to actually see Caleb in the midst of the rebels during a celebration. It was a shock enough that on his return Caleb had secluded with Aldarn only for him to find that the boy had wanted to inquire about hallucinations. After a rather awkward description of exactly what had occurred, Aldarn had finally deducted that Caleb had had a dream. His first. About the Keeper. "Hey Caleb, you have any more of that, uh, chocolate? From Earth? You know, for the little ones?"

Caleb nodded, not looking at Aldarn as a sober smile played on his lips, "I'll return tomorrow."

...

Cedric snarled as the guards returned with no food or cart. "Double the guards on every delivery into the castle, and on every lookout!"

"But Lord!" Cedric hissed, despite his human form, and the protesting guard bowed his head.