2 months later

"We're going to get in trouble" Aedion told his young cousin.

"Possibly" Aelin whispered back, "but I'll get in trouble if I have to tell Uncle that I left the book he let me borrow in the field"

"He won't be upset"

"He won't. But my mother will" Aelin parried. "And stop complaining. It's your fault I left it and you didn't have to come."

"It was not my fault. And I did have to come with you because if you get hurt or lost no one would believe that I didn't know that you planned to sneak out" Aedion murmured back. The young princess left rolled her eyes at her cousin.

The two cousins continued to slip through the pathways within the walls. They had discovered the secret passages a few months ago after Aelin read one of her ancestor's old journals. The past king had mentioned them when there was an attack on the palace and he used them to slip out of the castle and come up behind the assailants with them being none the wiser.

Aelin had left another one of those journals that day in a field they often visited on picnics. It was within a few miles of the palace in the forest, so it was considered safe to be there. After she finished eating, Aelin had taken out the journal and began to read. Aedion had eventually grown bored watching her and began throwing pieces of grass at her trying to get her attention. Her temper was eventually provoked and she grabbed one of the left over rolls and threw it at him. And thus, the battle had begun. When they finally were finished the book lay forgotten by the tree she was leaning on and she failed to pick it up when she left. It wasn't until she had seen her uncle at the evening meal and he asked what she had thought of it so far that she remembered.

She had told Aedion her plan to sneak out of the castle after lights out, if only because she wouldn't of been surprised if he snuck in her room tonight to check on her. He was four years older, but often acted like he was eighty the way he always worried about her. Honestly, she could survive through the night without his help.

They reached the end of the passage and Aelin felt for the latch that allowed a section of the wall to slide up. They then ascended a stair way, which at the end of was a wooden board. Aelin stood back while Aedion pushed on the board. Dirt rained down on him and Aelin couldn't help but laugh as it coated his clothes. He tossed her a dark look and she smirked back at him.

They climbed out of the hole and put the latch down. They would worry about covering it up later.

They were only about twenty yards away from the field where the book was left. As they started walking, Aelin couldn't help but notice how different this part of the woods was at night. The trees that always seemed to welcome her to climb on or lean against now look… foreboding. As they came upon the clearing, Aelin ran to the tree and grabbed the book that was resting on its roots,

"There. You have your book. Now let's go before your parents realize that they can't hear you snoring" Aedion said.

"I do not snore!"

"Yes, you do"

"Do not".

"Do too".

"Do not".

"Do…" Suddenly, the two cousins heard a scream that was more animalistic than human.

"What do you suppose that was?" Aelin asked.

"I have no idea. Let's go back before we do know…" but it was too late. Aelin had taken off toward the sound. Aedion cast his eyes heavenward, whistled to the men that had been following them without the princesses' knowledge, and then ran after her.

As the princess ran she began to see the shape of something lying on the ground. As she came upon it she that it was a bear with its stomach…torn open. And… she felt breath on the back of her neck.

She slowly turned around to see the beast standing over her. First, there was then an intense pain throughout her whole body. Second, a flash of blinding blue light. Then, nothing….

Hey,

Yeah, I did just leave that with a cliff hanger… kind of. If anyone has anything they practically want to see, please comment and I'll take the suggestions to heart. To anyone who has read Heir of Fire, you should be able to get that Aelin just had her first experience with magic. I realized that I never said anything about her having magic, and I assumed her parents didn't automatically know she had magic.

Kellerella