The armory was a completely new area of the palace to explore. The scent of leather and herbaceous oils was heavy on the dry air. The stone floor and walls were dark and rough indicating that we were in an older part of the palace. Inside the walls and shelves were lined with every type of blade and weapon imaginable.

Ulric grabbed a sword in his hand and hefted it up to look at in the dim light. "Whatever we find today, make sure you hide it well. No one can find during the ceremonies."

"I know Ulric, we've been over this hundreds of times. Just because it's the day before the ceremony doesn't mean I suddenly forgot everything."

He sighed and set the sword back down with a gentle clank. "I'm sorry, I know. I just don't want to see something bad happen and for you to get hurt."

"You don't have to worry about me anymore, I can handle my own."

"Amberleigh, you only just learned to use a sword."

I sensed him turning towards me and grabbed one of the smaller blades to quickly point at his chest. "And I think I've picked up on it pretty quickly, don't you think?"

Shaking his head slightly he pushed the tip of the sword away from his chest. "Yes, you have, but none of us, not even me or Soren, has actively run away from a palace to then attempt to take down their corrupt rule. Unless you have before, in which case I'd love to hear all your experiences."

"You know sarcastic Ulric needs to work on his jokes. He's not funny at all."

"You wound me princess, I thought I was hilarious," he said dryly and returned his attention back to the blades. His hand trailed over the hilts of a few different swords before picking one up, the blade was much thinner and a little shorter than the one he held earlier. "Hold this, see how it feels."

I took the stiff leather wrapped hilt in my hand and felt the way the tip pulled my hand down. It was much harder to hold than the sword I was used to practicing with. "It's too heavy."

Ulric took it back from me and replaced it with another, "Try this."

I tried holding this one out again and felt that it was a much better fit, not perfect, just better. "I think this will do."

"For a premade sword I think it will work as well. Eventually you can get your own blade smithed for you and you only."

"Were your swords made custom?"

"Yes, I made them myself."

"Really?"

"Yes." He picked up a metal helmet. "Try this."

I set the metal helmet on my head and it immediately tipped forward and covered my eyes. "Yup, I think this is exactly what I need."

"I've always hated helmets."

"Why, because they cover your gorgeous hair?"

"You think my hair is gorgeous?"

A small blush tinged my cheeks. "Answer the original questions Ulric."

"I don't like helmets because I always felt like they cut off part of my senses. It's harder to see and limits your peripheral vision."

I took the helmet off and looked at the shiny metal distastefully. "Do I have to wear one? I'd prefer to have all my senses if I have to fight."

"On second thought this bag is quite small, I'm sure the resistance will have extras for you to use." Ulric set the helmet back at its original spot and tossed me a worn leather bag. The leather was stained and discolored in a few spots, but otherwise seemed sturdy enough for the journey.

"This we will need." He held up some sort of leather chest armor. "Try this on as well."

And that's how the next hour went. Ulric pointed out all the elements I would need such as a chain mail tunic, shoulder and neck armor, leather arm and hand protection, a leather sheath and belt for the sword, and armored shin and knee protectors.

It took a while to find the variations that fit considering I wasn't very big and there weren't many people fighting with my height or stature. Even so we were able to piece together enough pieces of armor to make a complete set fit for battle.

We carefully packed it all away in the leather backpack leaving little room for much else. I nervously rubbed a hand across my stressed forehead. I was packing for a very long journey and I didn't know what I would need. I was just sure that the room I had left was not enough to pack all that was important to me.

Ulric's hand gently slid over my own hand that was clutching the bag open. I realized I had been staring at it for quite some time. His other hand reached up and he pressed his thumb against the crease between my eyebrows; the mark of my stress.

"What's on your mind?"

"I'm just thinking about the fact that I will be leaving my second home and I don't know what else to pack." I let out a quiet chuckle. "It seems stupid to say it out loud."

"It's not stupid. I know there is probably many things you would like to bring, but you must travel light. The armor will already weigh you down greatly."

"You're right."

"Just think, by the end of this, you will come back here and everything in this palace will be yours."

"That's assuming everything works out."

"It has to. I will accept nothing less."

I cracked a small smile. "Of course, nothing can overcome Ulric's stubbornness."

He rolled his eyes pretending to be annoyed, but I noticed amusement within his own smile. "Stubbornness can get you many things in life." He paused and his hand moved to tilt my chin up towards him. His gaze was now very serious; those pale blue eyes held mine conveying some type of emotion I don't think I had ever seen on Ulric's face before. A small tendril of his white hair hung in front of his face and swung in an invisible wind. "Amberleigh, I want to give you something."

"Ulric, please, you didn't have to get me anything."

"I did not, it's something of mine. I want you to have it. No, I need you to have it."

I felt my brows furrow in confusion. "Oh, well, okay."

He reached to his side where he unfastened a small leather sheath that hugged the body of a dagger. The leather was well worn and I was almost positive I could pick out blood spatter on it.

The blade itself was hidden away, but I could see the expensive hilt blazing in the dim light. The handle was made of some cloudy, white clear stone with oxidized gold detailing. The pommel was large and round and sported some sort of engraving that was nearly warn away as if someone had spent countless hours rubbing at it.

"This dagger I have carried with me for many years. It was a gift from my father. He said that it was the mark of a distinguished warrior and also a sign of his protection over me. Now I want you to have it."

"Ulric, I can't take this. I simply can't." I knew his father had passed tragically when he was young, but he rarely talked about it.

"Please Amberleigh. I need to know that you have it. I need to know that he is looking our for you, keeping you safe."

"Ulric, I don't know if it works like that."

"Please Amberleigh, even if you don't believe in the magic. I will have greater peace of mind knowing that you carry it in your possession."

"If you truly insist Ulric," I said slowly. I wasn't keen on the idea. This dagger was clearly very important to him. I began to put the dagger in the backpack but he stopped me.

"No, please. I'd like to keep it on you at all times. Things are about to get much more dangerous, especially during or after the coronation. I need you to keep it on you so I know that you will always have a way to protect yourself."

"How do I do that? I can't exactly have a dagger strapped to my hip over my coronation dress."

He paused, thinking and then walked to a section of the armory filled with leather sheaths and belts. I pulled out a few warn pieces of leather strapped together with brassy buckles. "Here, you strap it to your thigh and attack the dagger sheath to it."

"You're suggesting I wear a knife strapped to my thigh during my coronation?" My tone portrayed my dismay.

"Please Amberleigh," he nearly begged.

I closed my eyes for a quick moment. "Fine, okay. I'll do it. Thank you, Ulric."

"No, thank you Amberleigh. I need you to stay safe during all of this." His large hand wrapped around mine and he thread our fingers together. Small sparks emanated through my palm and arm and I tried to stamp down the blush growing on my chest and cheeks.

"Only if you stay safe too."

"As you wish." He raised our conjoined hands to his mouth, and he pressed a gentle yet scathing kiss to the back of my hand. For a hot moment I wondered what those lips would feel like on my own.

As soon as his lips touched my skin they were gone again and he was packing the dagger into the backpack so that we could haul all the gear back to my room. Ulric slung the shoulder strap onto his arm and began to lug the heavy pack back to my room while I carried the sword. With Ulric holding the bag we hoped no one would become suspicious of what it was or why I may have had it.

Once inside my room and with Ulric gone, I set to work packing the rest of my belongings. Soren said I wouldn't have to worry about the necessities such as food, tent gear, or blankets since the rebels already planned extras for me. What I did need more of was clothes. I grabbed my combat training pants and shirt to tuck into the pack and tied the laces of the leather boots to one of the backpack straps. I rolled up one of my cloaks and stuffed it in as well knowing it would be a chilly journey as winter completed its transition into spring.

I had room for only one or two more things, and I wracked my brain trying to think of what else I would need or would want to take. My eyes made a slow circle around the room and paused over my desk of art supplies. I suddenly knew the perfect thing to add. The sketchbook and the charcoal sticks I had been using as pencils.

With the bag completed I tucked it into the farthest corner of my closet along with the sword. I covered it all with a large dress and hopes that no one would find it before I needed it next.