r and her room for the day, needing privacy from gawking eyes. She walked over to her wardrobe and opened one of the drawers to reveal a black outfit she hardly wore. She step

ggie, I still nee

. Will you be training to

at.." Came Ariana'

r boots over the top of the breeches and placed two scabbards behind her back. She then sat down in front

, she was very close with her maid, sometimes she was the only person she could speak freely to without any reprimands, she also gave great advi

both swords into their allocated slots in the scabbards. Raising her leg onto the stool she just used, she strappe

our feet before taking you on mila

oo pridefu

ck. Approaching her mother's room, she knocked on the door lightly before opening the door and stepping in. Ariana looked at her mother's bed to find it empty and neatly made, she walked further into the

ke is really nic

er today," Ariana smiled, her mother nodded t

play. I hate to think of them collecting

the cup and saucer towards her face, holding

hat was on her mind, tilting her

ot know how you came about it and I do not care. Why did you keep this from me? *" She barely uttered the last words as tears came to her eyes once again at the thought of her mother's health de

ed the night before that her daughter would be leaving the palace soon, all in expense of her being ill. She wanted to keep her hidden and protected from

n this quest.. you will never be the same again, *" She emphasized each word slowly,

and do nothing. Please,

my consent darling. Promise me, y

alert the

tion in her mother's voice tugged

th behind her daughter's words and

ppy keeping each other's company. Not long before midday Loraven started to feel exhausted, Ariana noticed

er features with. Grabbing the cloak, she placed it around her, tying it up at the front and bringing the hood on top of her head. She reached inside he

ant put the pouch of coins away into his pocket and bowed his head before showing the princess the way to the horse and cart. He pulled the blanket back to reveal a few empty

ard the hustle of the busy village. Her body immediately relaxed after hearing the sounds of the market, the further she got away from the palace the less chance

couple of times before standing up and getting out of the cart. She walked off from the road and towards the forest where Ger was sitting down on the ground, his legs ou

ening in the thick forest. She stopped to take her cloak and bag off, placi

his throat and his eyes then rested on the two swords behind her back, he raised an eyebrow at her, looking at her quizzically. He had only been

you before we begin," Aria

be and handed it to him. Ariana removed it from her mother's chest earlier in the morning when she w

ng it slowly, he looked down at the writing, the only text he could read was in

ht, and if you look on the other parchment, that has a picture of what the gemst

he scrolls again and put them back in the tube as he glanced over his shoulder, although it appeared it was just the two of the

his sword and g

She nodded her head once in response. Ger narrowed his eyes then lunged towards her bringing his sword down, which she quickly deflected with her own and then twisted bringing the second sword down to slash across his fron

of her misstep bringing his blade towards her which she still blocked easily. He glanced at her face and saw that she was too distracted from their fight. He pulled bac