"Raila!" I turned towards the voice as someone jabbed me in the ribs. "Raila get up. Now!" The voice sounded awfully like someone I knew. Slender lock-pick hands wrapped around my waist as I groaned. The person cursed and slapped me on the arm. Hard.

I cursed as I bolted upright. Only two people would dare to do that, I guessed the first person that came to mind, "Kal, this better be for a good reason."

A snort, "The rebel leader just called an emergency meeting. Everyone's already there. The little Princeling is actually being quite helpful."

I didn't bother processing everything he was saying. I narrowed my eyes as my vision became accustomed to the dark, although a faint glow emanated from an open room further down, "They're in the battle-strategy room aren't they?"

Kalinier's bright green eyes seemed to act like a flashlight in the dark with the way the light was reflecting off of them, "Yeah. It's pretty bad, you should come see for yourself."

That struck a cord. I flew up from the comfort of my pile of animal pelts, "Why didn't anyone come and get me, I can hear their arguing from here!" It was true. I assumed all the rebels were present if the situation was that serious.

Kalinier merely shrugged, "You needed your beauty rest." I whirled on him and gave him a look that took less time to communicate than words and rushed out the door at top speed.

As I slowed my steps, Kalinier a mere centimeter behind me, I could begin to understand what all the assembled rebels were shouting so loudly about. As I neared the archway to the room, I realized they weren't shouting in anger, they were shouting in concern and worry. For whom?

"We should never have continued sending out more rebels to that location! It's a death trap!'" Nods and grumbles of agreement. I stepped into the room full of maps and various weapons as I took up a spot near the side, close to the doorway, and crossed my arms. I felt Kalinier sidle up beside me and watch the exchange of conversation with narrowed, emotionless eyes, scanning each person present slowly.

"No word from all four teams in weeks," an older rebel growled, shaking his head in dismay as he placed a hand atop his sword pommel. He had a short grey beard that was tangled in places that helped to make his ancient grey eyes seem harsh with years of experience in battle. A brutal scar running diagonally down his face moved as he spoke, received in a protest or an early-day battle no doubt, "Who knows what is up there in those parts of the Silver Mountains."

"As I said before, we have a lead!" I jerked my head up as the rebel leader pounded his fist on the old oak table to silence everyone.

"Those are just rumours, Senetric," the old rebel said again, more calmly this time, "Would you risk yet another team to find out if those whispered stories are true? Let us all face it, the twenty three rebels that we sent up there to investigate the rumours have become lost to us. Let us move onto more pressing matters."

"Have you already lost hope in this war, old friend?" the Rebel Leader questioned.

"No, but I know some rebels here have, Senetric. We must give the younger generation something to hold onto. A glimmer of hope is better than nothing, and wasting time trying to figure out what happened to these rebels is not going to help the cause."

The leader of the Ithyneian Rebellion cursed quietly as he gazed at the map spread before him. I managed to glimpse over at the table for a few seconds. The Silver Mountains were located at the southwestern part of the Ithyneian border, right between Ithyneia and Arnain.

I noticed Clane swiftly parting the crowd before him to get to his father. The rebels did so hurriedly, probably because of his muscular size, "Father," Clane started, showing his hands in a harmless gesture, "let me go and investigate these disappearances. Surely they are related to what is happening in Ithyneia."

At this, the rebel leader blinked as if seeming to come back to reality. He turned sharply to face his son, who happened to be taller than him by half a foot, "No Clane, I will not lose you too."

"Father, you once told me that even one rebel could make all the difference in this war. Let me be that one rebel."

"And what will you do once you find the answer to our questions? Burn them to ash like you do with our enemies?"

Clane narrowed his eyes as he straightened to his full height. Stubborn, was written plainly on his face. Before the two Brokiveres' could continue their debate, Kanin was suddenly in front of me, tugging me and Kalinier forward where I saw Nikolei, Kyra, and Xylin were already standing at the front.

"Sir," Kanin cut in smoothly. Both men turned their gazes towards him. Us. "We'll go. We'll find the other rebels. My team can handle it, we're quite the powerhouse despite what you might believe."

"Which is why, Mister Hylenius, I need you and your team here."

"To do what?" Kalinier countered, "Stay hidden in this underground network of caves until another group of more brave rebels come out of hiding and stop the war? You tried that already, look where it got you."

Clane shot Kalinier a warning look, flames starting to come into existence in his eyes. The rebel leader stared at Kanin and the rest of his team for what felt like a full minute before loosing a reluctant sigh, "Very well, I give you permission to go...but, if you or anyone on your team gets captured like you were Mister Hylenius, do not expect another rescue team to come to your aid."

"I know. We'll leave immediately. We'll meet you back at base as soon as we can, Sir."

"Good luck." That was really all he could offer them. Them. Not us, because I wasn't really on their team yet.

As all the rebels were dismissed with a flick of the rebel leader's hand, Kanin, his team, Xylin and I, made our way back to our quarters to immediately start packing for the dangerous trip; in which, they might never return from.

I suddenly whirled around and stubbornly crossed my arms as soon as everyone but Kanin had walked through the doorway, "I'm coming with you."

Kanin's gaze turned annoyed, "No, you're not." He shoved me aside. I trailed angrily after him.

"Yes I am. I can wield weapons now, Kanin."

"Yes you can, but will you have the nerve to kill someone if it came down to it?"

"I already killed a guard on our way out of prison, I injured a handful before they finally managed to slap chains on me, I was that close to killing Captain Sandrien if it weren't for Xylin."

He stopped and whirled on me, "So? What does that prove? You have nerves, you have skill, you can defend yourself. So what?"

I blinked in confusion, "I don't see your point."

"Me neither," Nikolei piped in. Kanin scowled at him, and it was the pure arrogance and entitlement of captain of this team that finally got to me.

"I'm a thief, Kanin! Not some petty girl you picked up along the way!"

"I know that! It's just--"

"Just what? You think I can't handle my own in a fight to the death?"

"Oh I know you can. It's just, I don't want you to become used to killing!"

I froze. Why did he always have to say things like that? Him and Xylin both. I had no response, thank the moons Kyra existed, "Kanin, where we're going, we're probably not going to be attacked for a while judging by how long it will take for us to get there. I'll train her on our way there."

Kanin turned his glare on her. She glared right back. Kalinier snorted by the back of the room. I took that as a good sign if neither of them were tearing into each other. I walked over and placed a comforting hand on Kanin's shoulder, "Kanin Hylenius, let me be a part of this team that you have done a wonderful job of building. Let me join you on this mission so I don't have to sit here and constantly worry about all of your well being."

Silence filled the room.

At last, he sighed deeply, "Fine. Consider it a test of sorts. But if you even--"

I was too thrilled to hear the rest. I threw my arms around him and squeezed tightly. He laughed in what seemed to be relief, though I wasn't sure why, and hugged me back even tighter. And this time, without chains restricting him, he was able to wrap his arms fully around me.