The princess sighed as she looked out over the forest from her perch on the window sill. The wind lifted her hair and she closed her eyes, inhaling the sweet, cool evening air deeply. She turned to the young woman who was preparing her bed for the night.

'It's so cruel of my father to make me stay inside on such a beautiful evening,' she pouted, her pretty features twisting into a grimace.

'It's not really my place to say, my lady, but that may be because of the numerous times you have tried to run away,' the woman said, smiling gently.

The princess frowned, 'the castle is just so boring. I want to go on an adventure and meet a handsome young man to fall in love with so we can live happily ever after. I don't want to stay here and marry some fat old man that my father decides I should wed.'

'Maybe the king will find a handsome young prince for you,' the woman said, soothingly moving to the window to brush the princess's hair.

'Unlikely. I don't know if there even are any! Esther,' the princess turned to face her, 'do you believe in love at first sight?'

'Not exactly. I believe in attraction at first sight, that can turn into love on further acquaintance.'

'That's so unromantic! Someday I'm going to meet the man of my dreams, our eyes will meet across a crowded room and we'll know...'

'Know what, my lady?'

'That we're Meant To Be! It will be so romantic. I can just imagine us dancing, talking...' the princess said dreamily, twirling around the room. Esther laughed as she was caught up in the dance and they both spun around the room. Eventually the princess stopped, flopping down on the bed.

'Goodnight, Princess Silver. Sleep well. Dream of your Prince Charming,' Esther whispered as the princess's eyes began to close. She gently tucked her in and tiptoed out of the door.

Silver woke in the middle of the night with a terrible thirst. She sleepily got out of bed, her questing feet kicking the chair as she made her way to the table where she knew a jug of water sat. She sat on the window sill as she quenched her thirst. A movement by the gate caught her eye. She stared down. A group of soldiers were leaving, attempting to make no sound and so were making more noise than usual.

'Why do we have to leave at night?'

'Yeah, can't we go tomorrow morning? I haven't had nearly enough sleep.' Another soldier turned and hissed at them, 'shut up! Captain told us we're leaving now so we're leaving now. Does anyone want to take it up with him?'

They looked at their leader, impassive on his horse and immediately were quiet. As they clanked through the gates he turned to look up at the castle, at the princess at her window. Silver watched them make their way into the forest, shrugged, and went back to bed.

'No, no, no! Kari, you can't volunteer!' an enraged Tai shouted.

'Why not? You're letting Yolei go. I'm the same age as her, I'm as good with a bow. So what's the problem?' Kari asked indignantly. The other outlaws looked on, torn between amusement and worry. Matt and Mimi were even betting on the outcome of the argument.

'Because... ohh.... You're my sister! And I don't want you in danger,' Tai stuttered. If Kari had been angry before, she was livid now.

'I'm not a baby any more, Tai. I'm a big girl, I can take care of myself!'

So far, T.K., Yolei, Davis and Ken had volunteered to go on the mission to find the crystal spoken of by the prophecy. Kari was trying to join them, to the dismay of her older brother, who wanted her safe. However, he didn't have a very good argument and it was only a matter of time before he would have to give in.

'Fine. You can go. Five is a good number, anyway,' he muttered, trying to hide the fact that he'd just been beaten by his younger sister in front of all his men.

'Woohoo! Pay up,' everyone turned to the sound. Mimi was handing over a few coins to Matt. They at least had the decency to look a little embarrassed.

'Don't you guys have something to do?' Tai said angrily, stalking off to his hut. The outlaws started to drift to their various jobs except for the five volunteers and Izzy. Izzy had not been idle the earlier evening. He had filled packs with items necessary for the journey and had plotted a route on a map he was now showing the group.

'I suggest taking the path along the foot of the mountains before cutting through the forests here, over this hill, along the river...' Davis looked in dismay at the long trek ahead of them.

'Wow, that's a long way,' he gulped.

'Not really. If you make a good 15 miles a day, I estimate you will only take two weeks to reach the valley,' Izzy told him. Kari laughed,' I don't think Davis has walked 15 miles in his life.'

'Do we have any idea of where the crystal is in the valley?' T.K. asked interrupting the murderous glare of Davis.

'I'm afraid not. There is a village just outside the valley though. I would suggest visiting there to ask for old legends that might give you clues as to were to look.'

Tai had cooled down by the time the searchers were ready to leave. He hugged his sister goodbye and wished the others good luck. He and Matt watched them disappear from view.

'What are we going to do now?' Matt asked his friend.

'Build up an army I guess, if we want to be ready when they get back,' Tai suggested.

'Do you think they'll be ok?' Matt wondered, thinking of his younger brother.

'I hope so...' Tai went back into the cave. It was quite emptier now its younger members were gone. It would take a lot of work to build up even a half decent army.

'Matt?'

'Yes, Tai?'

'Do you have any friends in the city? Any that might have access to the caste?'

'I may know of one...'

'We might need an inside man.'

'She'll be an inside woman.'

'Trustworthy?'

'I'd trust her with my life.'

'With the outlaws lives?'

'Definitely! She hates the king. She would be on our side.'

'Good. Could you get in touch with her?'

'I'll go tomorrow.'