On their way back to the sleeping chambers Alexa and Luna decided to make a quick stop somewhere else.
"You do know if you are caught, my father will not take pride in punishing you.", Anya said to the two little Nightbloods. Anya is Commander Kon's daughter. When she was just a couple of months old both her parents had died; so Kon took her in as his daughter and raised her ever since. She is about ten years old now and on her way to be Indra's, one of Kon's generals, second in command. Once she is a second for a few years she can take a second of her own to train, her father would like her to take Alexa under her wing. But to Anya, Alexa is like an annoying little sister.
"Heda will not know.", Luna said to Anya as she crossed her arms and had a smirk on her face. Knowing all to well that Anya wouldn't say a word to her father about what they are going to do. If anything Anya will join them and sneak them out of the tower since she knows the tower inside and out.
"True, where are you two going?", Anya said then asked the two Nightbloods with a smirk of her own.
"We want snacks, we are headed to the dinning chambers.", Luna spoke for the two of them.
"Well actually I was into the forest.", Alexa said as Luna elbowed her in the stomach. "Ouch.", Alexa said back to her as she punched her in the arm.
"Okay either way I will help you sneak out to wherever you want to go. Just stop hitting each other.", Anya said annoyed as she rolled her eyes at the two young Nightbloods. "What are we going to do in the forest anyway?", Anya asked the two Nightbloods as she was sneaking them out the back entrance of the tower.
"Do not know, I just hate being inside.", Alexa said with a smirk on her face as they entered a very now quiet market place. You could see everyone was packing up their stands and headed home for the night.
"You are going to get us in so much trouble if we are caught.", Anya said as she grabbed the girls and hid behind an empty stand as one of the Guards turned their way.
"Heda likes me, he will not punish us.", Alexa said with a smirk on her face as she noticed the guard turning away so she darted out and headed to the gates of Polis.
"You Natblidas', are going to kill me.", Anya said as she ran behind Luna and Alexa going towards the front gates to Polis. "Do we have an actual plan or are we just going to run out of Polis?", Anya asked once she caught up to Luna and Lexa.
"Do you have a plan?", Luna challenged Anya with her eyebrows raised.
"No you two were the ones that wanted to explore, I was merely following.", Anya said to the girls.
"You are training to be a second you make a plan.", Lexa challenged Anya as they hide behind a cart as to not be seen by the guards.
"There is a part of the gate that has a way out. No guards are posted there; I used to leave that way when I was younger. Follow me.", Anya said to the girls as she ran south of the gates to where she was talking about. Once out of the gate the girls hide behind a tree to catch their breaths before they moved along.
"Where too now?", Alexa asked as they were sitting down behind the tree.
"There is a village north of here that has a lake. Lets go there.", Anya suggested as they followed her to the village.
"Is anyone there going to know who we are?", Luna asked Anya worried that they were going to get caught as soon as they get to the village.
"Not unless one of my father's guards are there.", Anya said as she continued to head to the village.
"It is not fun unless there is a challenge.", Alexa said with a smirk on her face as they followed behind Anya.
"I agree with Alexa, if we get caught we get caught. Either way we will have some enjoyment.", Anya said to Luna as they reached the village that still had candle's lit.
"They have not gone to sleep yet. This might be harder then I anticipated.", Anya said as they got close to the village. As they got closer there was a little girl about Luna and Alexa's age that was helping her mother hang up clothes.
"Alexa?", the little girl asked as she stepped closer to the group and Alexa could tell that it was Costia.
"Costia, you live here?", Alexa said then asked Costia.
"Sha. What are you doing here?", Costia asked the group as she was trying to be quiet so her mother couldn't hear what they were saying.
"Anya said there is a lake, she was taking us to it. Do you know of it?", Alexa said then asked Costia.
"Sha, just north of healer's hut. I will take you.", Costia said as one of Commander Kon's noticed the three girls.
"I think we have been spotted. Costia go back home, you cannot get caught.", Anya said to Costia who turned to Alexa and gave her a hug.
"What do we do?", Luna asked Anya.
"Run.", Anya said as they started to run back to Polis. As they were running Alexa stopped and dumped a pail of water near the guard to stall him as they giggled and then ran faster.
"I think you have angered him.", Anya said while laughing as they were running back to Polis.
"I think so.", Alexa said as they got closer to the gates of Polis.
"Anya, Alexa, and Luna stop right there.", they heard the Commanders voice booming as the gates opened and he was standing behind them.
"Well this is not good.", Anya said as they stopped dead in their tracks and slowly walked up to their Commander.
"In the throne room now.", is all Commander Kon said as he looked at them with disappointment in his eyes.
Once everyone was in the throne room waiting for their Commander to arrive. Alexa and Luna were getting a lecture from Titus while Anya was getting a lecture from Indra.
"Em Pleni, I will punish my daughter as I see fit and my Nightbloods as well.", Commander Kon said as he entered the throne room and heard all the yelling. "Alexa and Luna you are first.", Kon said to Lexa and Luna as they stepped forward with Titus behind them. "Care to tell me what you two were doing out of bed after hours? Most importantly outside of the gates of Polis?", Kon asked his Nightbloods.
"We wanted to explore. We do not like being stuck in Polis all the time.", Luna spoke up for the two of them.
"You can explore during the day with guards. You two are Nightbloods you are inside Polis's walls for protection. You know there are plenty of clans out there that want Nightbloods dead. That was very dangerous for you to be out there at night and without guards no less. You will have extra training sessions for the next week. If I find you both outside of the gates at night without guards again there will be worse consequences. Now Anya.", Kon said to the girls then to his daughter as she stepped forward with Indra behind her.
"I am sorry father, I saw them running out the throne room and thought I would follow them. I should have gone to you.", Anya said to her father.
"You should have done a number of things Anya. You know the dangers out there you know you are a target because you are my daughter. You are old enough to know what not to do when night falls. We are constantly at war with the other clans if any other guard from a different clan we would not be speaking right now, if they caught the three of you. Anya you are going to train with Indra earlier then I wanted to, maybe having the responsibility of a Second will teach you a lesson. Starting tomorrow your punishments are starting for a week. Now go to sleep. Titus, Indra stay.", Kon said to the three girls as they left and to Titus and Indra as well.
"Heda I do apologize for not having guards on the Nightbloods.", Titus said to Kon.
"You know better Titus. Before you go to sleep you will make sure a guard is at every Nightbloods door. If this happens again there will be consequences not just for the Nightbloods but for you as well. Now leave.", the Commander said to Titus who bowed his head and headed out the door. "As for you Indra, I expected more from you. Keep a better eye on my daughter and your Second. This will not happen again.", Kon said to Indra who bowed her head and left as well.
"Guards make sure there is someone standing outside of my daughter's chamber door.", Kon ordered his guards as he headed to his bed chambers himself.