I was a stuttering mess. I was completely dumbfound! Flabbergasted! Speechless!! My parents were missing. That hadn't happened in 8 years! Was this all that he had to tell me?

"When did this happen?" I asked hoarsely, nearly unable to find my voice. My throat had gone dry in an instant.

"About three days ago," he replied solemnly.  I could see the pain in his eyes, the same pain that was there when our cousins disappeared.  

With barely enough voice for even me to hear, I asked "So do you have a plan?"

Even without asking I would have known the answer.  My brother wouldn't go anywhere unless there was a reason.

"I do have a reason, but I can't tell you yet," he said, quiet enough that only I could hear.  I didn't have any idea why, but if he couldn't let the guards know then it must have even something important.

"Okay, so what do you need me to do?" I asked.

"I need you to come with me, but we get to play ditch the guards on the way."

I chucked at the thought.  For the short time that I was at the castle, we used to play games with each other, and our favorite was Ditch the Guard.  It was exactly what it sounded like, you try your hardest to make your guard leave.  While I was there we were mostly unsuccessful, but from the letters we sent I know that he had played after I left and had gotten better at it.  

"Got it," I said with a slight smirk. "What's the plan?"

"Follow me," Charles replied. He turned to his guards next. "Okay, I am not in requirement of your protection now, so I would appreciate it if I could go the rest of this journey alone," he said in a kingly manner, although I knew he was just warming them up.

"I'm sorry sir, but there is now ay we can so that," one of the guards in front, presumably the head of the group, announced.  "We are under strict orders to stay with you at all times."

"But you see, I am getting older and there will be certain chan..." and with that all of the guards fled the scene.

"Works like a charm," Charles said triumphantly.

"Okay, what just happened?" I asked, completely confused as to why that had worked.

"They are newbies, and completely scared of puberty.  Now lets go, they left their horses here!"

"Okay okay, just give me a second.  I have to do something about the horses we don't take!" I said, but I knew exactly what I was going to do.  

The father of the household, Edward, was a simple man.  Well, simple and very cheap.  If there was something that was free or on sale, there was no doubt he would be the first one there.  All that I had to do was write a note that said:

Here are some horses.  They are free.

Edward wouldn't question it.  If it was free it was free, and he would take advantage of that.  And there was no doubt he wouldn't take steeds as fine as ones meant for the Royal Guards, even if he didn't know where they came from.  They were just so magnificent in general.

Once I had written the note and secured it to one of the horses, I turned back to my twin once again. "Okay, so you lead the way?" I asked.

"Yep, hop onto a horse and lets go!" He said, climbing up on his as he said it.  I turned to the crowd of horses and my eyes immediately fell on the horse near the back of the group.  She was a fair sized horse with a glossy black hide and big round eyes.  It looked so innocent.  Just like me.

I walked over to the horse and climbed up.  Charles rode over to me.  "That was the youngest horse born from Night, did you know that?" he asked.

Night was my first horse from back at the palace.  While she was great for companionship, she was never a riding horse.  Night was used for breeding.  She was also one of my only friends at the palace.

"I know just what I am going to call her." I said.

"What might that be?"

"Ember.  From my flame comes her ember, and Night was my flame," I said, looking triumphant.  Charles gave me a questioning look, but didn't press further.

"Okay then, lets get going," Charles said, riding off, me following behind.

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This chapter was really fun to write, but it may have been kind of boring.  Sorry if it was.  It took me a really long time to write so yeah.

Anyway, what do you think happens next? Ten points to whoever comes close (although volcarxna you can't talk because I have discussed my plans with you!!! XD)

How do you like this story so far? Any suggestions or comments? I love to hear what you guys think! Until next time my dear Musicarians!