A/N: "Creativity is intelligence having fun." -Albert Einstein

Raider: There was actually a psych study on using coins to make choices. I've seen it brought up in a lot of mainstream media...mainly TV shows. I think it works until you read the reports as to how it works. After that we just try to manipulate ourselves and it becomes a total failure.

Disclaimer: Not John Flanagan.

They had a relatively silent dinner of beans and bread and then, one by one, began slipping to sleep. Scout, however, couldn't sleep. She lay on her bedroll fidgeting for what seemed like hours before finally giving up. She sat up and pulled her cloak so that it slumped over her shoulders like a blanket. She poked at the fire with a stick for a while and then rested her chin on her knees. It always seemed so peaceful on nights like this.

"It's alright to miss them, you know," Kineta whispered. Scout started and instinctively reached for her bow. She relaxed and rearranged her cloak when she realized it was just her cousin.

"Miss who?" Scout asked.

"Your parents."

Scout bit her lip. Tears stung her eyes though she fought them. Crying wasn't exactly an option she valued anymore. Usually, she could keep that particular reflex in check but Kineta had caught her off guard. Kineta crawled closer to her as she wrapped up in her own cloak.

"When I was at the Academy, people who had parents were rare and having parents who actually cared were even rarer. The orphans at least had the notion that their parents were good people to cling to, and trust me when I say we did."

"I was taught that the old Academy had a system where orphans were lower than students with parents?"

"We were, but that's not the point."

Scout turned her eyes back up to the sky. "Were you ever put down for being an orphan?"

Kineta nodded. "Many times. See Scout, that system wasn't just among the students. Those who knew their parents were treated better than everyone by even the teachers. There was this boy who I was always at odds with who had parents in the Academy. His name was Tao. At the Trials every year he'd find some reason to disqualify me should I do better than him."

"What happened to Tao?"

Kineta pursed her lips. "Well, during the split he chose his side. When your father took off Tao was made a captain and put in charge of a special mission to kill Princess Cassandra."

That was a mission Scout had heard plenty of times. She straightened up at Kineta's mention of it.

Kineta went on. "Your mother protected Cassandra, William, and Rosalina by putting her life between them and Tao. He's the man who gave her so many of those scars you remember."

Scout shook her head. "You all made such hard choices."

"It was all we knew."

"How do you think Mama got through all that?"

Kineta shrugged. "I think a lot of it had to do with her time in Nihon-Ja. Finley, your grandmother, wasn't exactly the best parent. She neglected Lina but, ironically, had such high expectations nobody could hope to meet them. Lina always seemed to be able to take any kind of torture thrown at her. Until that emperor and your father came into the picture she had next to no regard for her own life…like a lot of us. The Academy leaders made us feel as though we had no choice or freedom other than what they allowed. It was a dark place to be."

"What changed all that?"

Kineta smiled. "Your parents mostly. Your mother faked her death and ran to warn Araluen. Your father and I were both put into a unit to advance Araluen and upset the Rangers. Liam talked me into helping him form a rebellion that would in turn defend Araluen. It was messy but Liam and I had our reasons and so did everyone who joined us."

Scout nodded. "What was Papa's?"

"He always cared for Lina. I was his best friend and confidant throughout our training but she was the one he loved. At first he just wanted to be close to our future leader but when he saw how much pain she was in he wanted to be her own personal hero. He decided and convinced me that she was just as stricken as the orphans were if not more. She was a leader he would die to follow. When she was gone he was desperate for that type of leader again. Your father has this tendency to fill in holes himself. He longed to have Lina back as a companion, but as a leader? He stepped up and filled the role. Luckily he ended up with both."

Scout smiled. "So sometimes it does work out."

"Sometimes," Kineta repeated with a grin. "But things never go exactly as you'd expect. Living in Araluen was a decision your parents made to free themselves from the Academy once and for all."

Scout hugged herself tighter. "Mama never wanted to be queen of anything."

"No, she didn't."

"Did you?"

Kineta just shrugged. "Every little girl fantasizes about being a princess, but no. Never queen."

"How did Mama decide to protect Cassandra and go against her home?"

"Only Lina knows the answer to that question. It's been asked many times but she would only give vague answers. Choices define who we are, Scout. I think you've realized you have one to make in the near future."

Scout sighed. "Yeah…I have."

Kane and William set out that very day to meet Will. Gabby agreed to stay with Anamaria while their husbands were gone and quietly promised William she'd make sure his wife's depression was kept in check. William had donned a Royal Scout's uniform for this particular mission. Luckily there was more than one William among the ranks of Royal Scouts so he didn't take on an alias. Officially, Horace and Cassandra, along with Anamaria, announced William was traveling to Hibernia to for a public affairs trip. They made enough legitimate trips back and forth between Araluen and Hibernia that each country now made the other its 'go to' for when they needed to hide true travel itineraries.

"Strange, isn't it?" William asked. "I never expected Caitlyn to be mixed up in trouble."

Kane shrugged. "Well, I'd heard they were using her for something. Carissa used some of your sister's clothes to outfit her. I'd thought it was simple though. I'd never expected traitors to be involved."

William sighed. "I really hope Gabby can break Anamaria out of whatever it is she's in."

"You two have plenty of time to have a baby. I don't know why you feel so pressured. Araluen is about as ready for you two to have a child as it is for Rosalina to get married and we all see how well that's going."

William shook his head. "She's actually taking a leave in a few months to visit Toscana for a diplomatic trip. She'll be there a year and I think Carissa is actually going along. Don't mention that to Uncle Will when we see him. I don't know if she's told him yet."

"Rosalina and Carissa surrounded by wine and romantics. I think the entire family's got reason to be concerned about that."

"My parents are preparing to be told of an engagement when they return. Rosalina's always had a soft spot for the diplomats from that region. She's never been but she's studied every aspect of the culture."

"Well, you married from Iberion. I guess if she marries from Toscana it will be up to Ace to find an Araluen sweetheart."

"Ace is so caught up in his work I think he forgets women exist. It's noble work, but still."

Kane laughed. "I suppose."

Several hours later they saw a shaggy gray horse mounted by a Ranger wearing a mottled cloak. The horses gave one another greetings before the men were close enough to do the same. Will put down his hood and shook his head.

"So, which of you dimwits let Caitlyn slip away?"

He was angry. Kane and William had learned at an early age that their uncle was slow to anger but once there it was in their best interests to give him honest and direct answers.

"It was Gilan's idea," William replied.

"You understand when Liam gets back he won't be happy about this? One girl. One teenage girl and we couldn't keep her safe."

"In our defense, that one teenager girl is a Leaf."

Will shook his head. "Still."

"Do you really think that he'll come back, Will?" Kane asked. It was a question that had weighed heavily on everyone's mind. There was a subtle theory that Liam had in fact heard news of his wife's death and slipped away into the shadows. Araluen had never been a real home for him. He cared only about his wife and daughters. With one dead and one grown some thought that perhaps he'd decided Caitlyn would be cared for and he could leave. If that was the case Kane couldn't help despising Liam. He saw how badly Caitlyn yearned for her father to return and how much she needed him before she could fully get past her mother's death.

Will shrugged. "I don't know, but I'm going to go on as though he will return."

"Why?" William asked.

"Because Caitlyn needs him but right now, that's not the point. The point right now is we need to get her back safe and sound and then make sure she stays that way."

Caitlyn wept as the sun set. Still bound to the chair, she couldn't wipe her tears away. The fear had gotten to her and she couldn't stand it anymore. She wanted someone to rescue her. Scout could handle things like this as could her parents but she wasn't the same as them. She wanted the 'adventure' to end and return to Redmont to the cabin in which she grew up. She wanted Aunt Alyss to comfort her like she did when her own mother was traveling and her father was tending Ranger duties. For just a moment Caitlyn wanted to pretend everything was fine and that things were perfectly safe but that wasn't the case. She'd been bound for three days now. Sometimes they brought her water and bread. Once they brought her milk that was close to turning sour. Nobody spoke to her unless they were calling her derogatory names or roughing her up. She wanted the whole ordeal to be over.

The door opened. Caitlyn couldn't help flinching every time that happened. She didn't bother turning her head to see which captor it was. No one was kinder than another and all had a particular hate for her family she couldn't place. Caitlyn did try to stifle her sobs. It just didn't seem right to cry in front of them though the evidence was clear on her cheeks.

"Kate, look at me."

Caitlyn kept her eyes down. She blinked a few times but couldn't bring herself to meet his gaze until his hand cupped her chin and tilted her head up.

"Caitlyn, look."

Being the first time she had been treated gently in weeks, Caitlyn couldn't help complying. Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped. The sobs started again without her control. "W…what?" she stammered. He began untying her wrists.

"This was never supposed to happen to you, Kate. I'm so sorry."

Caitlyn couldn't help herself. As he finished untying her she wept uncontrollably. She leaned into his chest the moment she was free and he wrapped his arms around her.

"They were supposed to take the traitor, Kate. Not you. I'm so sorry. I came as soon as they said they said it was you. I know you didn't betray anyone."

Caitlyn just kept sobbing. "I want to go home," she managed to choke out.

Liam wiped her cheeks with his thumbs and stroked her hair. "We will, but first there's something I have to do."