Sakura and Ryo flew silently side by side, following the pack of cloudrunners ahead of them. Right after Marcus had brought news of the soon to be attack on Misty City, King Tallas had called every available cloudrunner warrior and took off immediately for Misty City. They were nearing their destination, long before Broadways expected time of attack. Once they landed, they gathered around the king.
"We will make camp here." He said. "Everyone be on the lookout for any sign of attack." The group nodded as they dispersed. The Ronins had found a place off to the side when they heard a sound.
"Psst!"
"What was that?" Sakura asked.
"What was what?" Ryo said looking at her confused.
"Pssst!"
"That!" She said as she turned around.
"Over here!" a familiar voice said.
"Wait! I know who that is." Rowen said. "Lecie! Is that you?" he asked. Alecie stepped out of the shadows of a nearby building.
"Not so loud! My father might hear you!" she said urgently.
"What the heck are you doing here!" Rowen said. "Your father told you to stay in the hideout."
Alecie crossed her arms. "Yeah! I know." She said pouting. King Tallas had made Alecie stay, saying it was too dangerous. So after they left, Alecie followed them from behind.
"It isn't safe here!" Rowen protested. "You should go back to the hideout right now!"
"No! I want to help." She said.
"You can't." Sage butted in. "You could seriously get hurt."
"I'm not afraid." Alecie said stubbornly.
"We are going to your father right now!" Rowen said as he grabbed her arm. Alecie looked at Rowen.
"No, Rowen. Please let me stay! I won't get in the way. I promise. I just can't sit back at the hideout wondering if everyone is ok. Please Rowen, Let me stay!" She looked at him, her sky blue eyes pleading with him to allow her to stay. Rowen's heart melted at the look as he gave a sigh.
"All right." He said.
"Are you serious?!" Ryo asked him. "She could really get hurt."
"Lecie, just promise me that you will stay close to me when the fighting starts and that you will do exactly as I say." Rowen said as he looked at her.
Alecie nodded fervently. "I promise." She said. Sakura shook her head.
"I have a bad feeling about this guys." She said.
"I'm not going to be a burden, Sakura. I just want to be here in case my help is needed." Alecie said. Sakura nodded slowly.
"Yeah, I know how you feel. But if your dad ever finds out we're in big trouble." She said.
"Then we'll just have to make sure he doesn't know." She said as a shadow covered her. Alecie turned around to find her father giving her a stern look, Marcus grinning behind him.
"Make sure he doesn't know what?" he said as Alecie shrank back.
"I'm sorry." She mumbled as King Tallas shook his head.
"I want you to go back, right now." He said sternly. Alecie shook her head. "No, dad, please."
"Alecie Lynette Ryder, it is too dangerous." He said.
"Dad, I could help. Please, I'll stay close to Rowen. Please."
King Tallas looked at her then to Rowen who had a protective glint in his eye. King Tallas gave a sigh. He might as well let her stay, even if he told her go back he knew she would have stayed anyway and at least this way he knew that Rowen was looking out for her. And while he wasn't sure how much he trusted the earthwalker with his daughter's safety at least someone was looking out for her beside him. And he may be mistaken but he thought that Rowen's eyes softened when he looked at her.
"Fine. But Alecie, be careful." Alecie nodded. King Tallas moved away with Marcus following behind.
"Father, that earthwalker, Rowen. His wings, they have the golden outline, that means royalty." Marcus said in an undertone.
"I noticed." King Tallas said evenly.
"What do you think that means?" Marcus asked.
"I do not know for sure, but my daughter will not marry an earthwalker. No matter what kind of wings he has."
