"What can we expect in Rahasia?" Benedict asked as we sat around the fire the night of our first day.

The three Nivietarian's exchanged looks. Rowen and Emree quickly looked away. Morr-El shook his head glaring at the two. "Thanks guys," he mumbled before turning to Benedict. "Mayhem, destruction, chaos... take the docks of Sayven, multiple it by a hundred and you have a glimpse of what we are heading into," he said.

"Why hasn't this town just been shut down?" Norick, the head of my guards spoke up.

"King Tathrow has tried. He sends his armies every few years to discourage and spread out groups that call Rahasia home. However, as soon as the guards leave the rats come back," Morr-El said. "I've only been there once. My father took me there as a warning. I rebelled after my sister's disappearance and father said if I didn't shape up, that's what would become of me," he said.

"Your father sounds like a lovely man," Alakay said.

Morr-El shook his head. "Mother tries to tell me he was different once, power goes quickly to one's head," he said.

"Hear that Sam. Power goes to one's head, then you become a royal pain in the..." Nate said, but was cut off as he was pushed off his tree stump by Emree who was passing by.

"Oops! Did I run into you?" she asked mockingly.

Nate glared at her as he righted himself. "As I was saying. Wha..." he started again but a cup of water was dumped on him. He sprung to his feet and spun on Emree. "Could you be any more annoying?" he asked.

Emree grinned at him, batting her eyelashes innocently. "I could try," she said, walking back to her seat.

"Your statement of not everyone returning may be true. Although, I don't think it will have anything to do with what we are going after," Morr-El said, laughing as Emree and Nate got into another argument.

"I will gladly gag them for you, your highness," Norick said.

I laughed and shook my head. "By the end of our travels I might have to take you up on that," I said, watching as Emree let out a string of Nivetarian which Nate responded with a string of Moshadian.

The following day we started our ride through the forest. "Have I mentioned how much I hate forests?" Alakay asked as he rode beside me.

"Only every five minutes since we entered the forest," I said, smirking at him.

"Pretty sure he started when we first spotted the forest two hours ago," Rowen said, laughing as Alakay glared at him. "It's just a forest. It's not like it's full of goblins. Those only live in Moshad," he joked.

"Oh thank you for that encouragement, Rowen," Alakay mocked.

"Row's right. We don't have any goblins. However, this forest is said to be home to both echidna and harpies," Emree grinned.

Alakay's face whitened. "Oh yes, so much better. The half woman half snake and the half woman half bird creatures... so much better than goblins," he said, glaring as the two laughed.

"At least we don't have to face the chimera, I mean I could handle a lion, goat, or serpent by itself, but mix 'em all together and I'm out of here," Nate said, earning a nod from Emree and Rowen.

"Quiet," I snapped.

Alakay waved his hand at me. "Thank you, Sam! At least someone cares."

I waved his comment away. "No, I mean shut up," I said. Everyone fell quiet and looked at me. "Do you hear that?" I questioned.

Everybody listened then shook their heads. "No, I don't hear anything," Benedict said, letting his hand fall to his sword, the rest following suit.

"And that's what concerns me," I said, glancing around the forest. "There should be birds, rabbits... something," I said.

"Maybe all the arguing scared them away," Morr-El said, shrugging his shoulders.

I slowly shook my head. "I heard birds earlier... when Nate and Emree were arguing. It's not us," I said, feeling a shiver run down my spine.

"Everyone stay on high alert. I want Sam to move to the middle," Norick said nodding for me to move to the center of our group. I wanted to argue, but knew that this was his job. I nudged my horse to the center and we continued on. The silence caused us all to move together. Each of us with one hand on the reins and one hand on our sword.

"We need to head south. We are approaching the ledge. It runs ten miles along Pu'uwai'ole River. If we ride south the ground slopes down and we can cross," Morr-El explained.

"Heartless river?" I asked, recognizing the word.

"The water runs off of Hau Paa'a Mountain, the water is always freezing, especially this close to the source," Emree explained. Nudging her horse towards the south. "Every year we lose many people who fall from the ledge and freeze in the water below," she added.

"I love forests," Alakay said, shaking his head.

We rode silently for a while longer before the horses started to act up. Not long after a smell started to rise. "It's smoke..." Norick said looking around.

"Why are the horses acting up? Shouldn't they be used to smoke," Alakay said, trying to bring his mount under control.

Morr-El nodded. "They should. There is something off about this though," he said glancing around. He looked up to the sky. "Is it darker then it was?" he asked.

"Well yes, Morr-El, that is what happens as the day continues," Alakay quipped.

"No, I mean darker then it should be," he said, glancing at Emree.

"Yeah, I'm not liking this," she responded looking around. Something caught her eyes. "Dismount, now!" she called sliding off her horse. We all did so without questioning and seconds later a volley of arrows came falling down. The horses spooked and within moments had taken off.

My guards quickly pulled their shields and circled around us. The arrows pelting the shields. Without having to be told each of us had our swords out of their sheaths and were preparing for the battle that was upon us.

"Get the girl!" a rough voice called as the arrows stopped and swords crashed against our shields.

"Rowen, Alakay, stay with Sam. The rest of you, let's end this!" Benedict said pushing his way out of the shields, the sound of metal on metal echoing in my ears.

Soon the circle of shields around was gone and in its place a battle waged on. There were at least twenty men attacking. "Move forward, they can't do this on their own," I said, pushing Rowen and Alakay forward.

"We have to keep you safe," Alakay argued.

"I am a Dragon. I will not let my brothers be on their own. Now come with me or stay behind," I said charging forward, swiping at the legs of one of the three men that had come down on Benedict. "If it's me you're after, here I am!" I cried.

The battle continued. The smell of smoke grew stronger. My breath caught in my throat as I looked to where we had come from to see flames flickering and growing larger. That moment was my downfall. I felt a hand grab my shirt and my sword be ripped from my grasp. My heart dropped as I watched my father's sword be tossed to the ground. "You may not know me but know this, you killed my brother at your coronation and I will enjoy this moment of revenge," he said walking towards the ledge.

I struggled in his grasp, but he was too strong. "Is it worth it? Is it worth it giving your life for someone you don't even know!" I cried. Looking behind him I hoped that one of my brothers would rescue me, but each was entangled in their own battle.

"May your death be long and painful," he said, tossing me over the ledge.

Time froze as he released his hold on me. My eyes locked with Benedict's. The pain in his eyes broke my heart. Quickly he knocked out his opponent and raced towards me, but I knew it would be too late. "Goodbye, brother," I mouthed, unable to find breath. The wind was knocked from me as I hit the icy water. Then I felt a hand grab my shirt and pull me from the river's grasp. Although, if given a choice the water would have been kinder then the eyes that bore down on me. "La Fray."

La Fray's wicked grin made me shiver more than the water. "It's so nice of you to drop in. Glad I was here to save you or you may have died in that river," he said, tossing me to the ground in front of his feet.

I quickly jumped to my feet drawing my dagger. "I would have rather faced the river," I spat.

La Fray laughed, his hand flying to his heart. "Your words cut me, my dearest. We are family. I couldn't let you fall into a river a second time," he said moving in.

Memories of my fourteen birthday flashed through my mind. "Why are you doing this? Like you said we are family," I said, ducking as he swung his sword at my neck.

"Because we are family! You couldn't handle the power of ruling! I'm doing you and Auroja a favor. They will be better off without you on the throne," he said, sending an uppercut and as my dagger went to deflect it, he switched it around and slid his sword into my side.

"Not again," I thought as the sword found the same area from our last encounter. I stumbled back. Letting my right hand drop to my wound. "You will destroy Auroja, you will be the downfall of our people," I said.

"I will make her into a great nation! She will not cower under treaties; she will crush her enemies!" he roared lunging at me. His hand grasping my shirt. He let out a yowl of pain as I sliced his cheek with my dagger. Then my dagger flew from my grasp. His own dagger at my throat.

"Do it. You think you are powerful, yet in reality you are the weakest form of man there is," I spat in his face.

"Oh no, I could not kill you. We are family after all," he said, an evil look flickering in his eye. He then grabbed my left arm and with one swift action snapped it. The pain was too intense to even scream. Hot tears stung my face. La Fray shook his head. "And I thought you were stronger than this," he said, tossing me to the ground. As I went to stand, he stabbed his sword through my leg pinning it to the ground. "Now, you are injured, you really shouldn't be moving," he said crouching down beside me. He slowly reached out and wiped the tears off my face. "Now my dear niece, I know that you are cold. I have asked my friends to light a fire to warm you," he said glancing to where the flames were at the edge of the ledge. He then looked behind him where more flames were coming towards us. "May the warmth of the fire comfort you as you journey onto your parents, tell them I said hello," he brushed my hair from my face. "Good by, my queen," he said before disappearing into the smoke.

I struggled to stand, to move, but the pain was too much. Looking up at the ledge I desperately looked for signs of my brothers, there were none. The smoke started choking me as it entered my lungs."Papa, help," I cried looking to the sky. Sobs wrecked my body as the flames drew closer. "I tried," I whispered as the pain took over my body and the world turned black.