Hinoka was not certain which was more unnerving, her walk through the barren city the night before or the one in this moldy smelling catacomb. At least she wasn't alone and Britta was not about to let anyone forget that. It was a valiant effort. Despite Hinoka providing her with the briefest and most impersonal responses, Britta persisted with her attempts at conversation.

"And when my niece noticed the spider crawling along the handle of the apple basket, she shrieked louder than a banshee, and flung it clear across the orchid." Britta prattled on with her tale from her hometown. "My brother was not pleased with her, we really couldn't afford to lose any of the crop and I had to go out after dark helping her gather every last apple that had fallen." She looked to her left at Hinoka. "Tell me, Helena, what was the harvest like where you come from?"

Hoshido was breathtaking in the fall, but Hinoka would not tell Britta about that. She thought it best not to answer at all, but Britta silently waited for her reply leaving the only sound the occasional water dripping onto stones and the following echo. "I did not grow up on a farm." Hinoka finally said.

"Oh?" Britta's curiosity was still not satisfied. "So you are from the city then?"

Hinoka shook her head, "My family were mercenaries, we went where the work was."

"That sounds like such an exciting life! You have been all over the continent, no?" Britta asked and then added without giving Hinoka a chance to reply. "If you are a mercenary, are you here for the annual fighting tournament?"

Fighting Tournament! This was the second time a denizen of Windmire had mentioned it. "That was my intention," she replied and then quickly added, "Do you also plan on competing?"

Britta's eyes grew even wider than they were. "Goodness, no," she said. "I have never held a sword before, much less swung one at another person. I couldn't tell you who to see to get permission to watch it, much less register to participate."

This was one event she could not pass up on. When else would she have the opportunity to enter the palace without breaking in? "Would there be anyone at the market who might know?"

"Ask them and find out for yourself," Britta answered, pointing forward with her free hand.

The cramp tunnel merged into a larger one with significantly better lighting. Instead of complete darkness it was like being out during the full moon on a clear summer night. Glass orbs, likely kept lit through fire magic, mounted on the curving walls filled the space with an orange glow. Hinoka looked above her. These underground markets were like being in the great halls of a palace in desperate needs of repair. With no natural light, Hinoka realized one could quickly lose their sense of time. Perhaps that did not bother any of the locals. Nohr was the kingdom of dusk.

Britta stopped underneath one of the orbs as she doused her lantern, "I am much better at putting things out than lighting them." she said as she tied the lantern to her belt and then reached into her basket to pull out a list. "It's only the basics we really need," she said. "The grain is normally delivered, potatoes and carrots are not," she tucked the paper under her arm and gripped her large basket tightly with both hands. "If I have any spare change, I hope to get some fabric for a new apron," she added much less cheerily.

Against the large curved wall were rows upon rows of stalls, some simply a mat on the ground with the wares spread out around it while others were a tablecloth spread at top an overturned crate. Most of them had off white, indigo and gray tarps hanging over the displays. For the first time, Hinoka could see Windmire as an enormous city on par with Shirakazki.

This is what a capitol city should feel like.

One of the stalls had a fire pit with several spits of meat roasting over it. The smell was beefy, but Hinoka was not certain what sort of animal.

"Only buy meat if it's from someone you trust," Britta said. Noting Hinoka's focus had drifted towards them. Hinoka looked back at her companion. Noting Hinoka's confusion, Britta added, "I have heard of people mixing paper with the meat to stretch it out."

Hinoka swallowed hard. So meat was also rare also? Had Haru been stolen for another purposes besides being a pretty ornament for a wealthy Nohrian? "Do they ever sell horsemeat?" Hinoka asked.

"It's not bad," Britta said. "But people only butcher an old horse that cannot work anymore so it's only really cooked in stews." She looked over to Hinoka and raised her eyebrow, "I don't think anyone would put your fairy horse into a pot," she added after realizing what Hinoka had meant by her question. "I promise I will keep an eye out for him."

"Thank you," Hinoka said, surprised by Britta's bright smile.

"Well, then," Britta said, "The sooner we get everything we need, the sooner we can leave. I don't think it would be a bad idea at all if we were to divide and conquer." She pulled the list from her pocket again and quickly skimmed it. "While I run for some lye for soap making could you fetch some root vegetables?"

"I can," Hinoka replied. "But,"

"Perfect," Britta interrupted as she folded the list. "Come and find me once you have them." She turned past Hinoka and took several steps.

"But I don't have anything to purchase them with," Hinoka finished.

Britta froze and quickly whirled around on her heels. "Well then," she said sheepishly. "I suppose some money would go a long way, wouldn't it?" she dropped two copper colored coins into Hinoka's hands. Before Hinoka had a chance to thank her, Britta had quickly turned around and had pushed her way into the crowd.

Shaking her head, Hinoka looked around herself trying not to think about how she was going to find Britta again in a place like this. She was just asked to pick up ingredients for stew, but she was trying to find someone who might have just obtained a pegasus from a completely honest and legal source and was seeking to gain profit. None of the merchants and farmers had any sort of wares that appeared to be alive.

Instead, Hinoka approached a stall that was more of two overturned crates with a frayed table cloth tossed over it. However, the middle-aged woman with graying green hair, was placing large, yellow squash atop it. Hinoka might as well get what Britta had asked her too while there.

Hinoka looked over the squash and ran her hand's over the hard skin and then gently tapped against it with her knuckles. It didn't sound hallow as she picked up a few of those. She really was not used to selecting vegtebles and felt the cooks from the palace would probably laugh at her choices.

"Is that everything?" the seller asked.

Hinoka swallowed before answering, "Yes, thank you."

The woman's brow furrowed as she stared at Hinoka who resisted the urge to squirm. Unlikely as it was, did this down-on-her-luck stall keeper recognize her as a princess of Hoshido? "That accent," the seller finally said. "You are not from this part of the country, are you?"

"I am not," Hinoka replied.

"Not very many travelers know about this place," the stall's owner added. "Are you here for the bond festival?"

"That is why I came," Hinoka answered. As the stall keeper turned away and began to silently count the coins, Hinoka realized she needed to say more to get more information. "I am hopeful to compete at the tournament at Windmire. I hear it is one of the most prestigious events in the country."

"That it is," the stall keeper nodded as she passed Hinoka her change. "Normally the entire royal family is in attendance," she explained and then lowered her voice, "Well, except for that one princess that never comes out." Shaking her head she added. "People wonder if that princess is mad or severely deformed."

So there were rumors of an isolated Nohrian princess, Corrin? However, given Garon's reputation with women, it could also very likely not be Hoshido's lost princess. Why would Garon treat a political hostage as one of his own children? Then again, he probably didn't keep his heirs locked away, at least Hinoka's own father would never do that to his children. Garon was not at all like Sumaragi and it was not fair of her to even consider comparing the two.

The seller continued her explanation. "My brother fancied himself a master swordsman, he must have participated over ten times."

"I am sure he did well," Hinoka commented.

Lips pressed tightly together, the seller firmly shook her head as she tucked her hands into her apron pocket, "He never even placed," she said. "But, his hubris did not end until an injury not even the most talented healer could fix and put an end to his fantasy.

Hinoka had hoped to rescue Corrin by spring. Something that Hoshidos best ninjas could not. It was hubris, but she also felt she had a small advantage by being alone. Unfortunately, this was also the biggest weakness in her original plan.

"I am sorry to hear that," Hinoka said politely.

"Sorry won't make him walk again," the woman replied.

Clearly this tournament did not bring fond memories of this tournament. However, she also knew more than Hinoka. "Um, if you don't mind me asking, you would not happen to know the best way to enter."

The woman looked at Hinoka as if she had grown wings. "Just show up at the gates of Krakenburg before dawn, there should be staff there directing visitors to whatever events they are involved in."

That seemed easy enough. "Thank you," Hinoka said as she took a step back from the stall. Surely it would not be too difficult for her to sneak off during a break in the fighting and poke around some. Find a hint to Corrin's whereabouts. Maybe confirm who this mystery princess is and if they are not Corrin, at least it won't be something she has to worry about.

"Do be careful," the woman said. "It's okay to drop out if you're not doing good, better to lose a fight than your leg." She paused and added. "Or your life."

After, pushed and weaving through the other shoppers, Hinoka found Britta speaking to a young man standing near a barrel full of potatoes. Hinoka placed the squashes in Britta's basket who thanked Hinoka before insisting she needed some fabric and floating away. Hinoka followed after her and kept up with the shorter woman easily. However, her attention landed on a stall where the seller had wooden cages with birds and other small animals inside. They looked far to exotic to be from Nohr. "I have to check something out," Hinoka said as she approached the seller. He noticed her immediately and waved.

"Come over miss," he said, lifting a cage where a small bird with dramatic red feathers resided, it wasn't sining and fidgeted behind the bars. "Might I offer you a bird with plumage as vibrant as your own tresses?"

"Actually," Hinoka began, if she was not so focused on her missing friend, Hinoka might have laughed at the seller's theatrics. "Do you know where someone interested in purchasing a horse might find one?" Hinoka asked.

"I suppose you should contact a breeder," the seller replied.

"Well," Hinoka said. "I was thinking about a horse that was a bit more special."

The seller wrinkled her nose at Hinoka as if the young woman had two faces. "Then you would most certainly have to contact the breeder if you are in search of rare horses," he shook her head and waved her hand eager to be rid of the troublesome customer.

Seeing that she was not going to get any helpful information from this stall Hinoka stepped aside so that the next customer could take her place. She let out a heavy breath and looked widely around herself. Surely if someone had a pegasus to sell on the black market people would be talking about it. Or perhaps not.

Maybe Haru was being sold miles away from where she stood, to some Nohrian noble who only wanted him for something elegant to be put on display. What if they were to clip his wings?

"Thank you for your recommendation," Hinoka said as she backed away. She bumped into whoever was standing behind her. She quickly turned around to apologize, "I am so,"

However, another patron several yards away caught her attention. A shorter, but bulky man stepped away from a stall selling animal pelts. His arms crossed over his chest he turned and looked into the crowd. Bald, the skin of his head oddly reflecting the torch light, and his face scarred.

Hinoka's heart clenched on itself. It was the man who had led the crew who had robbed her the night before! Red veins grew in the corners of her vision as Hinoka clenched her fist. She hurried her steps and sprinted after the man.

"Helena?!" Britta shouted as Hinoka flew past her. Hinoka would have turned around to explain, but she only had one goal at the moment.

The man glanced over his shoulder as he walked, attempting to appear natural. At the distance, Hinoka could not quite make out his expression, however, the man's eyes suddenly widened. He recognized her! She faintly heard him curse under his breath before breaking into a run. She could not blame him, it was not often that one realized they were being tailed by a person they left for dead the night before.

Hinoka plowed after him, dancing on the tip of her toes to keep from crashing into other patrons. Most of them saw she was in a hurry and quickly stepped aside, However, she soon heard hooves against the stones behind her. She looked over her shoulder to see two Nohrian Knights one in plated armor, the other in gambeson charging towards her. She leapt aside as they passed, the crowd packing against the walls for them. The people turned to look at one another with wide faces just as surprised as Hinoka had been.

She did not stay and gossip. So the man was running from the knights and not from her. Still, she needed to catch him before the knights cut him down, otherwise she would lose perhaps the only lead she had on Haru. It was not long before she heard shouting and sputtering many curses that she would never dare repeat in her head coming from a side tunnel. Hinoka turned towards the commotion. Only one orb was embedded in the wall by the entrance. Everything else in the tunnel had only the slightest of orange glows from it.

However, this light bounced off easily from the knight's armor and a purple glow came from the taller of the knight's sword that he held pointed against the back of the bald man as the shorter knight worked on tying him to a lead rope attached to one of the saddles. The taller man lifted his head and turned towards Hinoka. Pressed into his hair was an obsidian circlet that reminded Hinoka of the jagged branches of a fallen tree. It brought out the paleness of his skin and added to his rather hard, humorless expression.

"You should go, miss," he said every word clearly. Hinoka's eyes went back to his sword. This was no ordinary weapon. Its aura reminded her of the Ranjinto sword Ryoma carried. She had heard of the Norhian equivalent of her brother's weapon Siegfried being passed down through Nohrian kings. That sword was probably at the side of King Garon deep in the walls of Castle Krakenburg. Hinoka hoped she never had a chance to see such a wretched weapon during her stay in this cold country. However, carrying a weapon such as that, Hinoka doubted that this man was only a knight. Perhaps an heir to a vast estate. Some sort of baron or lord?

Regardless of how much land he owned, the knight was still staring at Hinoka waiting for her to leave. It would not hurt for her to provide him with some sort of explanation. "That man stole my pegasus," Hinoka explained.

The knight paused and turned towards the Bald man. "Is this true?"

The bald man jerked his head up and snarled as he turned his head towards Hinoka. He clearly recognized her, his anger mixed with shock. However, he snarled and spat towards her the yellowish glob of saliva splattering several feet away from her. Hinoka stifled a gag and lifted her head back to the two knights, both not at all amused by the man's lack of cooperation. "This is fine," the blond one said. "You may answer our question at prison."

"Fear not," the shorter knight said to Hinoka, looking at her as if she were the first woman he had ever looked upon. "I shall see to it that your stolen companion is returned to you." From the way he spoke to her, Hinoka doubted he had never held a conversation with a woman before either.

"Come Laslow," the "knight called." Likely used to his companion's antics.

"Until we meet again," the gray-haired knight said to Hinoka with a wink. She rolled her eyes and leaned more heavily against the wall.

Struggling to catch her breath, she watched the Nohrian men until they were also swallowed by the crowd, the people returning to their usual shopping as if the chase and the arrest of the man had never happened. Why on earth did that man see the arrest of a murderer as the appropriate atmosphere to flirt?

Murder, that was what the more responsible knight had said the man's crime was. Hinoka swallowed, but all this did was burn her throat even more. At least she was not one of his victims, although she nearly had been. The bald man would be hanged for his crimes. The whereabouts of Haru would be executed with him.

"Helena?" A voice becoming more and more familiar. Hinoka lifted her head to the young woman, quickly closing the distance between them. "What had you off in such a rush?" Britta asked, her own face flushed from moving so quickly to catch up with Hinoka.

Hinoka shook her head, "I saw one of the men who stole my pegasus." she explained as she peeled herself away from the wall and took a few unsteady steps. Her legs felt as if she had spent months at sea, or the way after she hit the ground again following a long flight.

Britta reached into her bag and pulled out a drinking gourd. She always seemed to think of everything, "Are you certain it was him?" she asked as she handed the water to Hinoka which she took graciously.

Hinoka took several gulps of the water, it was lukewarm and tasted of stone and a bit of metal, but it soothed her throat and slowed her breathing some. She returned the gourd to Britta before answering. "I am absolutely certain," her voice was still gravely and breathless.

"That man must have done much worse than horse theft," Britta said as she shuddered and then her voice became a bit lighter. "If Prince Xander came to arrest him that is."

"Prince?" Hinoka could not help but nod in agreement. So that was some big cheese in Nohr then? As soon as she saw his sword, Hinoka knew he was no ordinary knight. A chill bloomed throughout her body. That young man was the son of King Garon.

"Kristin is never going to believe us, that we ran into the crowned prince," Britta continued much more quickly. If only that prince had arrested the bald man sooner, then she would not be out of breath in a repurposed sewer. What sort of due process for the accused did they have in Nohr? Was there any way Hinoka could sue the man for damages and try to get him to either pay for Haru or return him. Although she would prefer the latter option. Unaware of Hinoka's musing, Britta babbled on, "I have heard people say he was a handsome man, but I feel no one would dare say something bad about our future king, but he's not hard to look at is he?"

Hinoka had strong opinions about the prince, but she didn't dare voice it to Britta. The Crown Prince was not Hinoka's ally no matter how fair his face was.

His father had killed hers.

She clenched her fist remembering when the remainder of Sumarargi's entourage limped back to Shirakazi with the news that their king was dead - that Hinoka and her siblings were now orphans. Mikoto was there, but at the time she had only been a part of Hinoka's life for a few years.

Hinoka realized that Britta was still staring at her waiting for an answer. "I was too angry at the thief to notice," she finally replied. Hinoka sighed heavily as she handed her back the drinking gourd. "Did you get everything you came for?" she asked, her voice cracking.

Britta nodded, tucking the drinking gourd away. "What about you?"

Silently Hinoka shook her head as she slid her hands into her pockets. Britta did not say anymore, perhaps reading that Hinonka, who she had only known for less than a day, was in no mood to talk. She had been at this market for hours and the only important information she learned was how to enter the tournament. Show up and register the morning before, instructions she could have figured out on her own.

"We do need to get back to the inn," she said. "Get started on the stew for the guest spending the evening. We should get more now that it is the season for the Bond festival."

How would that Nohrian Prince have treated Hinoka if he knew her real identity? She would have been the one led away instead of the bald man. Her thoughts went to Corrin spending the majority of her childhood in bondage. If caught, would the Nohrians take her to the same prison as her sister? She doubted the two of them would be able to break out together if they were in the same cell.

At least she learned there was a way to reach the palace through the tunnels. Her little excursion had not been completely pointless. Perhaps she would gain more from her investigation in a week, during the tournament? Until then, she would have to wait. In the meantime, she could look into where that man had taken Haru.