We'd been waiting in these tree branches for what seemed like days before we finally found Briar. I didn't know how long it had been since we'd been put onto this mission. Maybe whoever it was who gave the king the information had been lying?

King Basil had been given an anonymous tip about where his daughter had been for the last five months, claiming that a prison wagon would roll close to our border soon. Knowing it was too good to be true, he called us in- Briar's inner circle of close friends.

The throne room had to be one of the fanciest places I had ever been allowed into. Polished white marble lined the walls in shining pillars, as well as made up the floor under the intricately weaved rugs. At the very end sat two thrones, both occupied: King Basil and his latest wife, Queen Lympia.

"So the weary travellers finally arrive." The king announced, amusement shining in his eyes. They were the same pale green as the accents in the castle, along with Briar's eyes. "We've been expecting you."

"Your Majesty," I called, sweeping into a bow, "You sent for us?"

He nodded, leaning forward. "You do recall that my eldest and heir has been abducted by Amira and her lackeys, correct?" I nodded, and he continued on. "I have received word that she's going to be transported to Exestow before the next full moon."

The battle where Briar had been captured was still fresh in my mind. For days we'd been in the same mountain passage, being pushed further and further back by the oncoming army. The need to surrender passed through us like a wave on the ocean. And yet we pressed on, slicing and stabbing our way through the enemy lines.

"We can't hold them off much longer!" Briar called, her spear crossed against a broadsword.

"I know, but we have to try!"

When I turned my back- it was for a moment, only for a moment- she was gone. Swept away with the retreating tide of enemy soldiers. It was clear that they got what they came for.

"Does that mean you want us to travel to Exestow?" Dante asked quietly, regarding the king with the same suspicion other fae reserved for him. Being a dragon wasn't easy when you were allied with the fae, even with the reassurance you wouldn't turn tail and betray them.

Basil nodded. "Yes, exactly. I need you three to travel to retrieve her. You're my daughter's closest friends, and when you find her it'd be better for her to see some faces she trusts.

"We'll do our best, your majesty."

"Foxglove!" Vivienne hissed from across the road, "How can you be sure about this!" Her annoyed tone quickly drew my thoughts back to the present.

"Just wait a little longer! Someone'll show up, I'm sure of it." I could practically hear her roll her eyes, but Vivienne remained silent, still perched on the branch of a nearby tree.

From quite far away, the rumbling sound of a carriage began down the rough dirt road. Could the unnamed source be right? Was Briar being taken back to Amira's castle right this minute?

Soon the glorified prison wagon ran into our paths of vision. An igroc led the silver and green monstrosity down the patch, snapping at the morsel of meat a guard held up to lure it into movement. Prison bars were secured onto every window, and several padlocks were placed on the door. This was definitely it.

"Can you believe we're stuck guarding this one?" One of the guards grumbled. The other one didn't get the opportunity to reply.

"Three, two, one..."

We jumped down from the trees simultaneously, the three of us landing on different places. Vivienne's job was to land on the igroc and distract it from the path. Dante would dispose of the guards, which left me. My task was to free Briar. At my signal, everyone took their positions. Vivi viciously began sawing at the dog's harness, attempting to free it and ride away safely. Dante had the guards taken care of in just a minute, tossing me the keys to the locks.

The carriage ground to a halt in the middle of the road. Since there were only two guards (a foolish choice) we had plenty of time to spare, but there was no telling what shape the princess was in. I couldn't afford to make any mistakes.

With shaking hands and somehow a quick efficiency I stuck the keys through the locks, twisting them to the left. A sharp clicking sound answered me in return, and I was able to swing the door open with ease.

There was no light in the carriage at all. Peering in, I could barely see a thin figure curled up against the nearest wall. From what I could see were tattered and faded clothes, their color of an unknown origin, and hair so grimy I could barely tell if it was supposed to be such a dark color.

"Briar?"

The figure lifted their head up and turned towards me, almost unrecognizable. Dark shadows lay underneath her luminous green eyes, the only part of her that still seemed normal. Chains encircled most of her body- hands, ankles, waist, collar. She was more subdued than I had ever seen her. So unlike the Briar I knew, the fiery princess I was used to fighting alongside. She appeared ill, for lack of a better term. Torn cloth stained with what seemed to be dried blood was wrapped around her shoulder, but despite all this, defiance shone bright and clear in her expression.

"Hello, Foxhands. What took you so long?"