The next week passed in relative peace. Athos and I wandered in the woods around the camp, supposedly continuing our honeymoon. Although we did take advantage of the privacy, I also used it to talk to a number of my camp spies. Birds, field mice, even foxes and squirrels would meet us and report about various conversations they heard. Some of them would bring dispatches, reports and maps showing troop deployments. The Spanish army was the enemy of all these animals and they were willing to work together to get us information that would help get rid of them.

Unfortunately, although we had been asked not to walk through the camp itself without an escort, the general still "requested" we dine with him. We managed to avoid all but a couple evenings. The first night, he had Juan and several of his officers there, with most of the conversation revolving around the men and their families.

"And what about you two? Are you Looking forward to having a houseful of ninos of your own? Would you prefer boys or girls?" the general finally asked us.

Athos responded quicker than I expected, "I'd be thrilled with a little girl just like her mother."

"But with her father's beautiful green eyes and smile." I added. "Although a handsome son would be fine with me as well."

Athos picked up my hand and kissed the palm, with a quick dash of his tongue tip thrown in as a tease. "Maybe one of each, at least?"

"We can talk." I laughed.

The second time, it was just us, Juan and the general, who got to the point fairly quickly. "So, Senora, how is Onyx's hoof?"

I took a sip of my wine and sighed as I told him, "Although the initial irritation and infection are gone, I'm afraid it wasn't without leaving lasting damage. Onyx will be able to walk, but he will have the slightest of limps the remainder of his life. And when he is ridden at faster gaits, it will be even worse."

Athos narrowed his eyes as he listened to my lies, but didn't say anything. Juan wisely kept quiet and even managed a somber face when the general looked at him. I waited a few beats, then continued with my plan.

"General, I know the thought of not having Onyx as your mount saddens you. What if I could offer you a steed just as magnificent, and that would make you the center of attention even more than Onyx did?"

All three men openly stared at me.

The general laughed. "If there were such an animal,I would already have him."

"I'm not talking about from a ranch or a breeder with overbred bloodlines. I'm talking about a wild stallion, white as snow. You appear on him, you will capture everyone's attention."

"And you know where this stallion is? And can capture him for me?"

"Yes, in a valley not two days from here. With only ten of your best men I can capture him."

"Magnifico. We leave at first light tomorrow. What else do you require?"

"Personally, just the support of my loving husband." I smiled at Athos, who I could tell was furious with me. "But maybe Dr. Cardoza should come with in case there are any injuries. And bring Onyx, so you can compare them right there."

We said our good nights after that and the general called for his aide. They started making preparations for the next morning and selecting the men to go with. Juan headed for his tent, while Athos stalked to our sleeping area without saying a word. I started to walk by, but he grabbed my arm and pulled me in.

I yanked free. "Don't ever do that again."

"What the hell do you think you're doing? Telling the general about this valley and stallion without checking with me. This is your plan? I know which valley you mean, Kay. There's no stallion there, only death. You said so yourself."

"I have a plan." I told him calmly. "I didn't tell you sooner because I knew you'd react like this."

"Of course I am," he growled. "Kay - "

I put my arms around his neck. "Trust me. Just a couple more days. Please."

A sighed and resigned, "Do I have a choice?" was my answer.

"Good. Now, let's enjoy this last night of privacy before we have to sleep in the open with company for who knows how long again."

We left camp the next morning and reached the edge of the valley by mid-afternoon the next day. There hadn't been much joking or light-hearted banter as Athos and I were each caught in our own thoughts and it wasn't allowed among the general's men. While the soldiers erected shelters for all of us, General Ortiz, Juan, Athos and I discussed how I would capture the general's stallion.

"The soldiers and I will go into the valley and slowly box him in. Once we have the rope on him, we bring him back out for you to take back and start training." I explained.

"You make it sound so easy." the general commented. "And the three of us will just wait here for you? You don't need our help?"

"Sometimes, the fewer people involved, the easier something is," I said, with a glance at Athos. "It's just a matter of knowing what you're doing and putting it into action."

"A military mind."

"Please, General, no insults. Now, if you gentlemen will excuse me, I'm going to check on the horses, then turn in for the night."

I made my way to the small holding area for the horses and told Roger, Kim and Jaime what I would need them to do the next day, because I was sure that Athos would at some point hesitate, despite what he said.

Back at the shelter, Athos was waiting for me. I slid in next to and he held me in his arms. "Okay, time to tell me the whole plan. What are you thinking, Kay? Going into that valley is suicide."

The break in his voice almost made me change my mind. I laid there with my head on his chest for a minute before replying. "I'm taking a gamble that I've been bitten enough over the years that I've built up a tolerance. And I've been injecting myself with more venom this past week just in case. I might get really sick, but I should be okay."

And while you're gambling on the maybe's, what am I doing?"

I braced myself so I could look at him. "You seriously did not pick up on the whole plan when I was explaining it to the general? While I'm in the valley, getting rid of ten of Spain's best, you are taking the general to the border, like the original mission calls for ."

"No. I'm not leaving you."

"Again, this is why I waited. Yes. It's the perfect time. You get to the border with the general, wait there two days for me. If I don't meet you by then - " I left the sentence unfinished.

"Don't even go there. You just said you should only get sick."

"We need to think of all possibilities. If I'm not there after two days, take the general and finish the mission. Promise me."

"Fine, I promise." he huffed.

"Good. Now, I want another promise as well. That if something goes wrong, you won't shut yourself off like before. I want you to keep living."

"Do you know something I don't?" he asked suspiciously.

I ran a hand through his hair. "No, I just want to be prepared for everything. My main plan is to be around for years to annoy you with my crazy plans."

"Good." He kissed me. "Now that we've got all that semi-settled, let's try to get a little sleep."

Early the next morning, before the sun was even touching the horizon, I had the soldiers stripping off anything that might make noise. Belts, swords, weapons of any kind, all their metal came off. As they were doing that, I had a few last moments with Athos.

He cupped my face, kissing me. "I love you. Hurry back."

"I love you. Never forget. Two days."

I led the soldiers into the valley, following clear paths to a certain point deep in the center. There I had them each go 100 paces in different directions and wait quietly for my signal. As I waited, I thought about the past few years and what changes had happened in my life. I hoped Athos and Juan were well on their way to the border with the general and Jaime. I was hoping to meet them soon so Athos and I could have the life we had just started talking about.

As mid-morning came and the heat with it, I detected the vipers starting to come out to find rocks to start sunning themselves on. When I felt there were enough out that the soldiers had no way of escaping, I took out my small pistol and fired it into the air. This wasn't the signal the soldiers were expecting, so it startled them as well as the vipers. The men started yelling and running, and the vipers started striking blindly at anything that moved. As they fell, the soldiers screamed in pain and thrashed about even more, causing the vipers to strike more.

I started to slowly make my way back up the path toward the entrance, but my way was quickly blocked by vipers. Looking around, I saw more coming to surround me. I attempted to speak with them, apologizing for upsetting their day and routine, trying to explain the circumstances, but they would have none of it. All that mattered was that their territory had been invaded.

I stood motionless for a few minutes, then suddenly took off running for the entrance, jumping and dodging as best I could. I felt fangs hitting my feet, ankles and lower legs, but kept going. I knew I wouldn't make it out before the venom hit, but if I could get close enough -

I fell well short of where I hoped and the vipers swarmed over me, biting anywhere they could in pure fury. As I felt blackness come over me, my final thoughts were that I hadn't planned for this many vipers and that Athos was going to be mad at me. I wasn't going to make the border.

-FIN-