"Search the cabin!"

    Cassius pressed the cloth he had been given by Aila to his wound and pressed himself further into the shadows of a corner. There was a window nearby where he could see a soldier getting off his horse. He waited for the front door of the cabin to creak open before moving toward the window.

    It wasn't a long drop to the ground, but he had to stifle a yell in the landing. By the time he recovered, he looked up to see Ingrid eyeing the horse from the tree line. Acting fast, he grabbed the reins of the horse and smiled.

    Ingrid hurried forward and tried to yank them away from him but Cassius held tight. Finally, she gave up and held up her hand. "I don't have time for this. Move, or you burn."

    "I'm afraid not, Miss Briar."

    The woman's face changed drastically. Caught off guard, Cassius pushed her hand in another direction and painfully lifted himself onto the horse. Briar pulled herself up with him, "Just go!"

    Behind him, Cassius could hear the yell of the man in charge of searching for them, and then the blaze of fire cut through. If she was good for anything, it was that.

    He flicked the reins and they flew off into the wood, opposite the direction of Evander and his men. Cassius expected Briar to say something, but she didn't. She let him guide the horse back into the woods, deeper and deeper until the horse could barely make its way through the undergrowth.

    "This is far enough. I can walk from here."

    "Walk where?" Ingrid asked.

    "Anywhere. My goal is to get outside the Jynwood and from there, avoid Evander. I assume you have a similar goal. You let me ride this far away from all of the action." Cassius looked the woman up and down. Now that he had realized the connection, he couldn't seem to unsee the similarities between the three people. He couldn't seem to wrap his mind around the fact that he stumbled across the one thing Evander never talked about.

    "I'm not running away like you are, coward."

    "I'm not sure about that. It kind of seems your forte from what I can tell."

    Briar pursed her lips and moved closer to him. "You know nothing about me."

    "I know you and Emory look a lot alike. And I know Evander was very angry when he found out that she had been harmed. What I don't know is why you aren't running back to save your daughter."

    Briar sighed and poked his chest. "My daughter is out of my hands now. She has Rosalind to protect her. I know she won't be hurt." Then she spun around and grabbed the reins of the horse again.

    "I'm afraid Rosalind's eyes are going to be focused on the Daughter."

    "Like I said, you know nothing."

    Cassius rolled his eyes but watched as Ingrid pulled herself onto the horse again. As she was trying to turn around, Cassius called out. "I have wondered, though, who it was in the castle that made the poor decision of sleeping with Evander's daughter behind his back. I'm sure he paid a dear price." Briar shot daggers at the young man. "Come on, who was it? Stable hand? Servant? It wouldn't have been so hush hush if he weren't deplorable."

    Briar broke and shouted. "He was a great man!"

    "Still attached I see."

    "You're a terrible commander. Blind, just like the rest of them." Briar began turning the horse around to leave. "You had the Daughter of Rosalind tied up and in your grasp and you never even realized."

    Cassius froze, but walked toward Briar's horse as it pushed through the weeds and bushes. "What do you mean?"

    "I mean nothing. Shouldn't you be walking that way, still? I thought I'd at least have peace and quiet out in a place like this."

    It meant everything. It meant this whole time he had had the Prophet of Rosalind tied up, had her treat his wound, threatened her life. He had her this whole time, and never knew. "Emory..." he muttered, continuing his walk along. It made sense. She showed him mercy. She was not quite tender in touch or words, but she was hidden in plain sight. Where no one thought to look. She was the one who let him live. And she would do it again.

    "I'm going to the castle.."

    "You're not." Briar looked down at him. "What changed?"

    "Emory was kind to me. Perhaps I could return the favor."

    "And perhaps earn Rosalind's favor while in the process as well? You really do only care for yourself."

    "Isn't that why everyone shows the Prophet love? Give me the horse."

    "You're not getting the horse. If you want redemption, walk for it, boy."

    "You're really going to give up on your daughter because you're scared of your father? You're going to give up on having a peaceful mind?"

    "I had one just a few seconds ago when we were done talking. I'll give you a ride to the edge of the forest, but after that you're on your own."

    Cassius thought it through, and eventually said, "Deal."

The edge of the forest came sooner than he expected, though. The horse seemed to be happy to be out of the Jynwood, but Briar looked in the shadows, waiting for Cassius to grab all of his things. Ahead, the castle stood at the top of the cliff, the road before it set with stone and markers along the way before being covered by more trees further ahead. "I have another deal to make."

    "I'm done making deals with you."

    "If I can get us inside the castle through the dungeon, will you guard me?"

    "That doesn't sound helpful to me in the slightest."

    "You'll have Emory back. Shouldn't that warm your heart?"

    Briar sighed and looked down to him. "Fine, then. I already know where to go, though."

    And she did. She took Cassius to one of the secret tunnels he himself used quite often. It wasn't his favorite, but she seemed sure of it. "If we get lost in here forever, I blame you."

    "We won't."

    The tunnel was dark, and didn't even connect to the castle. They were underground for quite some time before they reached the stone walls he was familiar with. Briar didn't say much, but held a floating ball of light in her hand as they walked, strategically stepping on certain blocks and telling Cassius to follow suit. They started ascending, moving upwards toward the entrance. "Do you think there will be many guards?"

    "No, this section hasn't been used in a while. Not a ton, anyway." Cassius cut in front of Briar and grabbed the handle that would swing the door open. Let me know when you're ready."

    Briar snuffed the light and whispered a light "Ready." Cassius opened the door ever slightly to listen for footsteps, but all they heard was the light muttering of someone praying. It meant nothing to Cassius, who moved toward the stairs that would lead them out of the dungeon, but Briar pushed past him and hurried toward the voice.

    Cassius followed silently, watching out for any approaching guards or torches. Briar stopped in front of a door, and reached her hand through it. "Emory, come here."

    The muttering ceased. "What are you doing here?"

    "I can't believe he put you in a cell."

    "Well I was in a normal room but I tried to escape and the guard brought me here. Have you found Shay yet?"

    Briar paused as she realized Emory would never come with them if she thought the Daughter of Rosalind was still here. Cassius, on the other hand, had depended on it. "Do you know where she might be? We can go get her as soon as we get you out."

    Emory's mother looked up at him with anger, but Emory spoke quickly. "I think they're in the throne room. Ingrid, can you just get me out of here already? I think a rat is somewhere in here."

    "Of course."

    The lock busted after Briar pressed her palm to it for a few seconds and the door swung open to reveal Emory. Cassius couldn't take his eyes off of her, and felt suddenly very little. She was not the usual Prophet. She fought. It was as if Rosalind had sent down a warrior rather than a prophet.

    "I'm ready."