Morning.

Cal jerked with the warm touch of someone at his side... Mare was still holding him and someone else was... Slowly his eyes focused on her "Sara?"

She just pressed her finger to his lips.

"She needs you to be still. It will be easier for her to work that way."

He knew that voice. Steady but it sounded tired. "Julian?"

"Hmmm. It would seem that helping my little lighting girl wasn't my first time helping the red guard."

Slowly Cal sat up after Sara nodded with approval, "We were told that..."

"He has always chose to believe whatever he was said without proof. Now personally I would like not to speak about him unless there is a very good reason."

Taking in the look in his uncle's eyes he shrugged. Something had happen... something terrible he could almost bet on it ... and whatever it was he would deal with at the proper time. "None that I can think of right now." Slowly he let his eyes take in he what he wasn't able to take in last night. Cement walls. Small holes near the ceiling letting in bits of day light and allowing the smoke of the fire to leave freely. Dirt floor. And nothing else. With the four of them in the room it felt much too crowed. "Mare?"

"Hmm?"

"Where are we?"

"As for this room? I think was a root cellar or something. As for the name of the village that we are in ... I don't know. Shade and I came up with an agreement. I would not be told anything that is useful and that you shouldn't know. That way I don't have to decide what to keep from you and what you really can't know."

He took a deep breath. "Sounds reasonable. At least until He and I discuss whatever it is that he wanted to."

Slowly Mare got to her feet. "In that case, why don't I go find something for you to wear and we can go find some breakfast."

He watched her leave. Not in the uniform that they had had in the arena but in trousers and a heavy jacket. Not new but he would worry about that later.


Cal looked down at his garb. Baggy shirt. Clean but stained trousers. Nothing that he hadn't wore before ... but... And a coat that was warm but also itched something fierce "So I'm guessing I'm supposed to blend in?"

"Well... Sade didn't want to risk going to the capital just for something to wear right now."

Uh Ha.

Walking in silence he tried to take in everything. Small fires with pots cooking. Children huddled together for warmth. And something else. It was downright cold here. It didn't bother him not when he could pull some of the heat from the fires to him ... but... the children. The adults... no one had anything that said they were prepared for colder temperatures... "Mare?"

"Many of the families have a blanket or two for the nights and a small fire. Right now it's the best that we can do."

Like hell it was. If there was a regiment near here... Some supplies could be acquired... If Shade were willing. If Shade was able to go that far. After all these were the people who were going to help him... so he might as well help them in return. Or at least make sure they didn't freeze to death. "Where are we going?"

"There is a building... or what's left of a building. Food is being held there. And it has a roof. Or more roof then the other buildings. "

Now he saw what was wrong with this village. Most of the buildings were crumbling from years of decay... not from war. "We're in the north."

"Well, I can assume that we are. Unless the south has mountains."

He let out a snort, "You really weren't kidding were you."

"I won't lie to you nor keep things from you. I tried that once ... It didn't turn out so well."

He grabbed her arm and pulled her into what might have been an ally at one time. Holding her against the wall, he let his lips touch hers. This time it wasn't a short lapse of judgment but the need to figure out his feelings and figure some things out for himself. Slowly he pulled back. "I don't want to discuss that past. Unless it helps us now."

Slowly she licked her lips, "You could have said that without."

"So you don't ..." His answer was her grabbing a fist full of his shirt and kissing him. A few minutes more and she pulled back.

"We need to speak to Shade."

"Very well. First we talk to Shade then later we can continue our other discussion."

"Is that what we were doing?"

He gave her a small smile. After everything just to have a moment that was his. No grief. No worry about what was to come... just a moment to indulge in something that he wanted... "Of course. We can't very well tell your older brother anything else now can we?"

"You're probably right. He might want to set aside everything and have a brawl or some such nonsense."

"It's not nonsense when a brother needs to protect a younger sister. Even if the sister in question could electrocute me."

"For the record I have never tired to electrocute you."

"No, only shock me."

She gave in for a moment longer to kiss him then smiled, "It did stop you from taking."


Shade crossed his arms as they reached him, "It took the two of you long enough to walk a few blocks."

Cal shrugged, "We had some things to discuss."

"I see."

"Cal, didn't want me shocking him for no reason. I agreed I would only do so when he's talking when he should be listing."

The worry that had been in Shad's eyes slowly dissolved into laughter. "Oh that kind of discussion. In that case I agree with Mare."

"Of course you do."

"Meaning?'

"You're her brother... why would you side with anyone else?" Finding a seat at what appeared to be a table he sat down, "Now what did you want to discuss?"

"You want food first?"

Food sounded good and smelled even better but, "I think having some idea about what is going to happen would help settle my nerves right now."

Shade took a seat across from Cal. Mare in between them. "As you probably guessed, we are about two days north of the capitol and about three days to the west. Across the border actually."

"Across..."

"Did you really think the Red Guard was only in Norta?"

"Since the Guard isn't widely known... how could I?" If they were across the border then no one would be looking here... and would give them a day or two to decide what was going to happen and when... Then again what border did they cross? Montfort? Or one of the smaller countries that stayed to themselves... or at least mostly to themselves.

"True." Shade Paused. "We have allies in all countries on this continent."

Stunned he tried to jump up... and was mildly shocked... "Ow."

"Sit."

"I should have never agreed to let you shock me."

"Probably not. Now listen. Shade please continue."

Shade smiled, "You really shouldn't have told her that she could shock you... at least until she can fully control her ability."

"Which is why I would like to work with her on that sometime before we return to the capitol."

"I think that would be an excellent Idea. There's a large field just outside the village. No one will see smoke or anything from there." Waiting for Cal's nod of approval He continued, "Now back to the reason you are here. The false king will be crowned in one week. Seems that the Queen wants you found first. And his boasting about being King at the arena was just that."

Both Cal and Mare snorted. "So what can the red guard do now?"

It took a long moment for him to answer and when he did he didn't look at either his sister or Cal, "Well, we have control of a piece of video footage that proves what really happen to the King. A friend is holding that footage for the moment."

"You have ..." Hearing the surprise in his own voice Cal paused then very calmly added, "How?"

"All technology is created by reds... we have our ways."

Cal closed his eyes. If they had the footage... no they would need an army... one that would was loyal to him that could get into the city... One that could keep the queen busy till the footage was made public. "How far can you teleport?"

"Why?"

There was nothing in that one word that said he was going to get an answer. "Do you have a map of Norta?"

"Of course." A blink and he was gone and back the map laid out on their make shift table. "Why do you need a map?"

Slowly he moved looking at the smoke stains. Weighing his options, he pointed to a place near the Choke. "There is a general here." He tapped the map. "He despises Maven with everything he is. It's the reason he rarely comes to the capitol."

Mare looked at both her brother and Cal before asking, "You think he will help?"

"News from outside the front lines travels slow. He may not have seen the footage." yet was left unsaid. "Even if he had He knows where my ambitions lay. He's been prepping me to lead his men for years. Actually I know his men better then I know the ones that work the palace."

Shade leaned back in his chair, "Mare what do you think?"

She looked between the two. Cal knew something. Whatever it was he knew something. "I think it's worth a calculated risk."

"Meaning."

"Meaning, Cal writing a letter. A formal letter. And the general being given some place that can be watched for other activates."

"Agreed. General write the letter. I have a few things that I have to double check on then we can see if we have an army." A breath more and Shade was gone.

"Is he going to keep calling me general?"

"What do you want him to call you?"

"Never mind." Taking a deep breath he looked again. "Your brother didn't leave..." the map moved slightly and several pieces of paper was under the corner. Paper that look like something that belonged on the desk of a high official. "... I'm not even going to ask where he got this from."

"Good cause I doubt you would get an answer."


Finding the empty field hadn't been a problem. Melting the snow on the other hand… Cal paused, "How long do you think it will take Shade to get an answer?"

"Long enough to get in some more training that you both seem to think that I need." Mare reached into her jacket pocket. "Here."

He looked down at his bracelet that was in her hand, "Are you sure it's worth the risk?"

"I think you're going to need it." She smiled as a bolt of lightning barely missed his feet.

Smiling her took the bracelet "Very good little lightning girl, but I know you can do better."


Something in the distance exploded. Smoke and embers filled the night sky. He hated being here. Hated asking anything from the Silver general... But the prince... had a point. And an army would be needed. Not just volunteers that had never seen battle. Stepping to the entrance to a tent he gave a slight cough to get the General's attention. "General?"

The older man turned. Cold eyes locked on the intruder, "Who are you?"

"Message for you. Marked urgent."

"Well hand it over I don't have all day."

Handing the letter over and paused. "There's a video with it."

"Look around boy. Do you see anything that can play a video?"

He dug in his bag and pulled out a portable screen that could be used to play the video in question.

"Well I'll be. So are you going to play it or is it private as well?"

"I have seen it sir." fiddling with the buttons he let it play. Every word from the moment that Cal, Maven and Mare had been taken to the king until their escape... He watched the Older General eyes go from bored to enraged nearly jumped when he grabbed his barrowed coat.

"Where is he? Where is The Crown Prince?"

"The letter sir."

It took less time for the general to read the letter then it did him to put the video player away. "Tell the prince he will have the men he requested. If Maven thinks he can get away with this let's see what he does when he loses the Choke."

"Loose... the Choke?" He couldn't be serious... then again it wouldn't really matter if things worked out like they should.

"The King can't have the army if they are here fighting now can he? Your dismissed. And tell The King I know a few others that would rather fight for him than any other. They will be at the meeting place in two days."

"Yes sir." It wasn't until he was away until he smiled.