Tiana POV

As I rode on the grey dappled mare, I pondered the stone that I'd found earlier. After Evan had left me I'd cleaned it off and found a smooth, pure white stone buried under the mud.

It was rather large, but light none the less. The stone seemed so delicate and fragile that it was impossible to believe that it was as hard as a diamond. But after a few minutes of observing it, I thought I saw eyes gaze out at me. Was that even possible?

Julian rode up next to me and whispered, "You're right, you know. Staying up and reading isn't that big of a deal." He looked like he wanted to say more, but I scowled at him, remembering what Evan had told me about the way people looked at me.

I hissed, "I don't need advice from you on what's right or wrong and now I know it was wrong for me to hide that information. Now leave my sight before I decide to make you walk to Barloveer." He dropped back toward Eva and started to whisper to her.

Before I could eavesdrop on them, I turned my attention back to the road ahead. The air began to become cooler as we rode further north. It was strange, this quest. What were we supposed to do in the end? What did the story of the child of light, the child of dark and the prince of darkness have to do with this?

"Where are we going, wise leader?" Eva called to me from her spot next to Julian. I gritted my teeth as I replied, "You already know." How long could I hold it in me? All my doubt, confusion and fear, how long until it overwhelmed me?

Did they know I was just as clueless as they were? I hoped not because I'm supposed to be the leader and a leader knows exactly what will happen, right? At least thats what happened in all the books I read in my mother's stronghold.

Since I don't know what will happen, I must not be the right leader for the job.

Evan POV

After talking to Eva, Tiana hadn't said a word. She just guided us and everyone once in awhile she seemed to shake her head as if she was talking to herself.

Nobody else seemed to notice, except maybe Eva who wore a smug smile that grew larger every minute. What was she thinking about?

Then I looked back at Tiana and her shoulders sank a little. I wanted to go and comfort her, but something told me that I should let her deal with it herself. To keep myself from going against instinct, I pulled back to Sam and started a conversation about magic.

Eva POV

Oh, these people were fools. When Tiana had left to get the horses, I hooked up with my Auntie Evanora and we set up a little surprise for the others.

I just needed Tiana to go into a deep enough train of thought and then I could suggest a way to go for the horse. Animals were so easy to manipulate.

Come on, how long does it take to become oblivious to everything around you? Wait. There. There she goes, now's the time to strike.

Julian POV

Tiana took the left fork which made Sam frown. I looked at Eva and saw her smile smugly. Did she have something to do with this?

I pulled up next to her and whispered, "What's made you so happy?" She gave a trusting look and asked, "Can you keep a secret."

When her answer recieved a nod from me she smiled, "If you don't tell anyone about this, we'll both make it out of what's ahead alive." Then she began explaining.

Sam POV

Eva's horse staggered a little behind me and Tiana turned around calling a company halt. Her half-sister dismounted and began looking at the horses legs, "She's bleeding a little, but Julian and I can get it wrapped in no time. Why don't you guys go on ahead? We'll catch up."

Tiana frowned and was about to dismount when Eva called, "Really, we don't need to waste time anymore than we already have! You guys can go on ahead, Julian and I can catch up when we're done." Theodora's daughter nodded and began to have us move again.

Something told me that this wasn't right, but I ignored it like a fool. We rode a bit further and were entering a meadow when a voice whispered in my mind, Duck! I obeyed and looked as an arrow buried itself in a nearby tree.

"We're under attack," I shouted drawing my spear from my back and turned it into a cavalry blade. Shadow and I turned to look behind us and saw archers appear from the trees and bushes. Tiana faced in front of her where a few swordsmen began running toward us.

Evan and Trevor took the sides, we were boxed in. "Lady Vanis, guide me," I prayed silently as I charged toward the archers. My Lady must have heard my prayer for my blade was finding its mark before the archers could release their nocked arrows.

Blood began pounding in my ears as I slashed through the enemy trying to ignore the arrows that found their marks as well. Each time one enemy fell two more took their place like a hydra. One man drew a rapier and began charging at me from the left while another charged in from the right.

Shadow reared and bolted forward causing the two men to hit each other, but also sending us into the enemy. I was knocked off my horse and he ran through the enemy that was no longer concerned with him. They pinned me to the ground as I tried to escape to work a spell, but more just piled on.

It was getting harder to breath until the weight began clearing and I saw Rain come out of no where hurling fireballs left and right like it was going out of style. What remained of the archers ran into the woods screaming in fear.

"Up on your feet, priest. We have more foes to defeat," Rain offered me a hand as I was trying to catch my breath.

"My thanks, friend," I said between gasps. "Lady Vanis showed favor on me when you arrived." Rain frowned and took off to join the fight. I ran to catch up to her, "And where were you when this started?"

She laughed, "Getting help." Rain pointed to a girl in purple that was hitting the foe with balls of water that formed into ice.

"Holy Vanis! Evan really does have dreamsight," I exclaimed. Rain laughed again as she split from me and joined the girl in purple in the fight.

As soon as I joined the fight again a voice called, "Hold or the daughter of Oz dies." Everyone spun to see a man holding a dagger to Eva's throat. "Drop your weapons." The dagger nicked Eva's throat causing a little bit of blood to trickle down her neck.

We looked to Tiana as she bit her lip. She looked to Eva again and sighed. Our leader threw down her daggers. Evan tossed down his bow and arrows and Trevor threw his maces down onto a man's leg. The man whimpered in pain as he backed away. I sighed and threw down the sword as it turned back into a spear.

Then the man holding Eva nodded his head and some of his men tackled us as he said, "Thank Eva here for your capture." Tiana began screaming in rage and cursing as everything went dark.