Three days had passed, three days which rushed by in an unnecessary fast pace. It seemed that it was but two hours ago when Shira had told me the two fatal words: 'It's time'. That sentence triggered a series of packing, planning, instructing and no resting. I couldn't remember having slept at all; the slumber they allowed me to fall into each night couldn't have lasted a few seconds altogether.

Then, there stood I at incomprehensive early hours of the morning, glancing at the house I called mine for the past few months. Behind me, chatting next to the horse assigned to me stood Adrian, Kaveh and Kyra. I turned around to them and heaved a sigh; I was not prepared to leave, as much as Uncle Desdiro told me otherwise. Adrian took in my movement and his eyes found mine, drawing a reassuring smile to appease me. As if on cue, the other two stopped talking and set their gazes on me.

I considered showing them the blue I felt, but decided against it. Instead, I put all my lessons with Delano into practice and attempted a small smile.

'You're ready?' Adrian scrutinized me, his sharp honey-shaded irises full of scepticism, as he handed me a piece of paper – I didn't fool him one bit.

I took a moment, answering right away would lead to their suspecting according to Delano, and grabbed what seemed to be a letter off his hands. 'Yes.'

Since I added no more, my former instructor raised an eyebrow. 'You're not asking what is in that paper?'

After considering his question, I shrugged. 'Maybe I know what it contains.'

He grunted faintly, cursing with some disdain, before affirming, 'You're just like Delano: an annoying, arrogant know-it-all.'

'I don't see what it's so wrong about it,' Delano's voice came from behind me and I turned to meet it. Next to him were Uncle Desdiro, who looked extremely older that day –perhaps the reason had something to do with the motive why Shira wasn't and wouldn't be present – and Gwen, who held a small bag in her hands. I smiled at her presence, she had confided herself to her rooms the last few days, not being present at breakfast or any other meal.

'Of course you don't; your nose's so high up, you can only see the sky.' Their bickering was always distracting, and I mentally thanked the two for caring for me, even if it was only because Shira did so.

'How else could I avoid seeing your face?' Delano replied in the same manner.

Before Adrian could throw in a comeback, Uncle Desdiro intervened, his pupils shining with wit. 'Moments like these make me realise that I never really lost a second of their childhood.'

The half-brothers eyed each other, Adrian slightly poking his tongue out. I didn't miss out on the unspoken words, the buried sadness. What the New Rules did to them, how they separated father and children was still present in them, a veil of sorrow over their hearts.

Gwen took the opportunity to step forward. 'I collected some herbs that you might need. The instructions are all there.' She told me with a broken smile, her eyes not able to meet mine.

Not caring that we had met only a few months ago, I took her in my arms. At first, she stood there frozen, but then she returned the hug.

After a while I stepped away, taking the bag in my hands, and told her sincerely, 'Thank you.'

The ghost of a grin that met her face was honest.

I proceeded to say goodbye to everyone, thanking all of them for their kindness. I couldn't believe that in such short time these people have managed to sweep into my heart and were in no way abandoning it.

Kaveh helped me up onto Freynd, the beauty of a chocolate-hued mare I was given, while Kyra attached Gwen's bag onto the saddle, next to my other provisions.

Already on my mount, I faced the house's façade. There, at the door, were Cora and Dark Fur, the latter the picture of hurt. The servant I gave my friendship to waved goodbye, too aware of her place to approach me. All I did was smile back, holding back lying words such as "I'll be back", "You won't even notice I was away".

My gaze fell onto Dark Fur. Oh, Dark Fur, my little fox. We had argued the day before; she wanted to go with me, because, and I quote, "if I can't be with Diam, at least I can be next to you". I tried to reason her that the mission was dangerous enough without her; she wouldn't hear it. Shira had to intervene, albeit her shaky state.

Dark Fur hadn't slept beside me that night, leaving me in the company of a cold void.

I attempted a smile at and thought to her, *oh, Dark Fur, I wish you can forgive me…*

*Be safe, Desde,* she replied simply.

*I'll try my best,* I compromised, as I looked at the mane of my mount.

'This is it, Desdemona,' Adrian said, inching closer to me. 'Don't forget the moves I taught you.'

I nodded too conscious of the importance of the task to speak.

Delano came right behind him and it was his turn to give a last bit of advice. 'Before you go, I want you to know this: sometimes the best place to hide something is to let it at plain sight.'

'Thank you for everything,' I bowed to him, taking his words in. I wasn't sure if I'd ever get the opportunity to actually realize what it means, but I wasn't wasting them.

'Desdemona,' the father of the two stepped aside me.

'Uncle Desdiro,' I smiled. 'How can I thank you for everything that you've done?'

I saw as he came up with a smile, as ghost of wrinkles shaped his forehead. 'I should be the one thanking you. You are about to go in great danger, all for a cause you didn't know about until a few months ago.' He bowed. 'If it counts for anything, it was an honour meeting someone like you. I wish you all the best, dear, and may we see each other at the end.'

Little teardrops left the corners of my eyes at his words. Once a small one got out, many followed and I couldn't control myself. My heart broke, a sense of goodbye looming over the shatters.

I breathed in – and out; in – and out, gaining a little governance over my emotions.

'Thank you,' I whispered, my gaze set on the horse's head.

I pulled the hood of my cape over my head, setting my posture upright to feign a confidence I didn't even feel. Bidding farewell to everyone, I urged the mare into an easy strut.

Whether I liked it or not – whether I was ready or not, I had a mission to complete.

As soon as I passed the grand iron gate, I commanded the horse into a fast gallop and rode into the dark horizon, the sun rising in my back.