Fiona held onto her mother's waist, the heavy cloak rubbing against her braids, no doubt frizzing them as she bounced up and down in the saddle. It wasn't often she was this close to Lyra. She closed her eyes and focused on the queen's breathing. Steady and calm even though they were riding through enemy territory.

The queen's armor was touch-worn leather, smooth under Fiona's fingertips. Her mother smelled of leather and sweat. There was also the faintest scent of blood and Fiona could feel the hilts of her mother's infamous daggers by her elbows.

The ride continued for what seemed to Fiona like hours. She shifted slightly, her bladder beginning to complain. She yelped as the horse reared and stopped, squeezing her mother's waist and blinking in the sunlight as the cloak was whipped aside. They were at the base of a mountain.

Fiona looked up at the craggy slope with awe and then her eyes drifted to the back of her mother's head. Pale blonde hair in a tight braid hanging over her shoulder, she wasn’t wearing her usual metal crown. Glancing to the side, Fiona saw Vai also watching the queen intently. He was stiff and looked a bit grumpy.

"Best walk from here. Tie up the horses by those bushes, we shouldn't be gone too long," Lyra ordered.

Fiona's hands were taken and pulled away. They were a bit numb from holding on. As soon as her waist was free, the High Queen of Valhym slipped off her horse and reached up, easily hefting her ten-year-old daughter off the high horse. Fiona opened her mouth to say something but Lyra asked first, "Can you walk?"

The princess took a tentative step and balked as she wobbled, her legs sore from the hard ride. After a stumble, her face twisted up with determination and she took a few more steps confidently.

"Yes, I can," Fiona said proudly and beamed when Lyra gave her an approving nod. Lyra pulled a satchel off the horse and shoved it at Fiona.

"Carry your bag, it's going to be a long climb."

Fiona slipped her arms into the straps and staggered a bit under the weight. Vai stepped up from behind, a much larger bag on his back.

Lyra turned to him. "No doubt they'll spot us before we reach the entrance. If we're lucky they'll come out and meet us—if not be ready to make a quick escape. This should help."

She took a bow from her horse’s saddle and nocked an arrow. Fiona watched as Lyra tied a small parchment to the arrow head and aimed up the mountain firing it high and far.

"Alright, let's move. Keep up."

"I will!" Fiona said brightly and Lyra gave her a quick glance before turning away and beginning to pick a path up the rocky slope.

Vai had to help Fiona a few times, the climb was hard and often boulders were bigger than the princess. She was huffing and puffing her stray hairs stuck to her sweaty face, but still she bit her lip and climbed, determined not to disappoint. Everytime Lyra had to pause, she gave her daughter a look of annoyance.

"We're nearly there, keep a sharp eye," Lyra hissed as Fiona heaved over an overhang. The princess glanced around frowning.

"What am I keeping an eye out for, Mother? Soli soldiers?"

Lyra flashed her an irritated look. "I was speaking to Vai. Soli know better than to come up here."

Unable to reist, Fiona asked, "Why?"

"Because of the wolves." The voice came from behind Fiona and she yelped spinning around. It was male but nothing like Vai's soft tones.

Seemingly out of nowhere, a man materialized from the stone. His grey clothes and dark hair, tied back by a headband, camouflaged against the rock. In his hand was a longsword, drawn and readied. His face and arms were covered in ugly scars. Fiona froze as the man’s grey eyes fell on her. He glanced at her hungrily and then at her mother, his mouth grinning.

"Fenrin. You look like hell." Her mother's calm commanding voice gave Fiona the courage to glance back at her for guidance.

A dagger was held loosely in each hand and Lyra’s stance was calm but there was tension in the air. Fiona turned back and caught a glimpse at Vai. The man was frozen, halfway up the overhang, he looked pale and his eyes were locked on the strange man. His expression was so afraid, Fiona shivered and took a step back.

"And you look disgustingly well. Although apparently you've grown stupid." The man raised his sword a bit higher. "Did you honestly think a little letter would convince me to let you into my valley? If you explain yourself, maybe we'll let you leave."

We.

Fiona looked around for more people and sure enough there was a shifting noise and an auburn haired woman, aiming a drawn bow at the queen, stepped into view. Another man was at her side, his hands raised, palms open but empty. He muttered something and Fiona's jaw dropped as his eyes glowed silver and he glanced around. He closed them and they returned to a normal blue.

"It's just them, Fenrin. Unless they've got a significantly powerful mage," the man with the glowing eyes said.

Fenrin nodded. Fiona blinked.

It was the second time the name had been mentioned, but now that her brain was starting to unfreeze she realized the scary man was her uncle. Her mother's twin. The man she was supposed to stay with from the brief plan Vai had given her. She'd expected a nobleman or someone like General Arvid. Not this...

"I told you in my letter it was just me, Vai, and a child. No need to get so jumpy. I wrote I'd come to ask a favor and I have," Lyra said casually.

Fenrin snorted and took a step closer. "You don't ask for favors."

He circled to the side and Fiona turned to watch him. Soon he was only a few paces from her mother who shrugged. "True, I suppose it is more of a bargain."

For a moment, Fenrin glanced at Fiona, a bit of confusion on his face before he growled, "You have nothing I want. I'm getting tired of this conversation and trying to remember why I didn't kill you the moment you stepped on the mountain."

Fiona gasped. She'd never heard anyone talk to her mother like that. Lyra sheathed her daggers and strode up to Fiona who froze, wide-eyed. Her mother took her by the shoulders and shoved her at her uncle.

"Surely it was because you wanted to meet your niece."

Fiona's arms wheeled as she tried to stop herself from ramming into Fenrin and his naked blade. She yelped and squeezed her eyes shut, but there was no pain. Instead an arm had caught her and she was steadied by Fenrin.

Lyra laughed. "Fenrin, meet Princess Fiona of Valhym. I see I was right about you going soft. To see you miss an opening like that."

She shook her head and then covered her mouth sheepishly. "Ah. But I shouldn't mock. After all, that reaction is exactly why I'm here. As I'm sure you've noticed, I've managed to carve myself quite a chunk out of the Solis Empire, just about up to your little valley. This would make an excellent base for my forces or the Soli's. Since I'm switching my focus to the islands, it's almost impossible to resist such an ideal defensive point. However, I'll make you a deal."

Fenrin gripped Fiona's shoulder hard holding her against him. She wiggled to pull away and ended up falling on her butt at his feet. Slowly, his sword swung and rested on her chest although his gaze never left the queen who continued, "You keep my daughter safe and I'll keep you safe. My men will stay on your border, keeping the Soli away and I will leave your valley untouched by the war. What do you say, Fen? Up for some family time?"

Fenrin growled and his sword shook an inch from Fiona's neck. "Your promises are meaningless and you know it. As soon as it conveniences you, we'll be at each other's throats. How about I take this opportunity to end you and your line right now?!"

His voice grew louder and more angry. Lyra's smirk didn't falter but Fiona began to tremble, her eyes burning with frightened tears.

"Fenrin!" It was the woman with the bow. She relaxed her weapon and slung it over her shoulder, jumping off the small cliff and rolling at the bottom before standing up and stepping near the volatile siblings. "That's not your call."

Lyra raised an eyebrow, barely glancing at the newcomer before her gaze returned to her brother. "Who's this?"

Fenrin's sword stopped shaking and he said calmer, "This is Jayln. Leader of the valley."

Frowning, Lyra turned back to the woman eyeing her up and down unimpressed. "I didn't take you for the marrying sort, Fen."

The woman reddened and Fenrin grunted. "She's not my wife. She's his."

He nodded at the mage on the rock and Lyra's frown deepened. Fenrin leaned over and grabbed Fiona yanking her up.

"Let go of me! Mother!"

Fenrin spun Fiona around, holding the sword up to her neck. Fiona started to cry. Lyra barely glanced at her.

Jayln marched up to the queen and nodded. "I've heard a lot about you Bryndotter. Your cruelty and manipulation proceed you, but regardless of your past, you are our neighbor's queen and as such I will make a treaty with you."

Lyra's eyes grew cold and dangerous. "My deal was for my brother not some bitch with delusions of importance."

The women seemed unperturbed. "Regardless, Fenrin is one of my people and he follows my rules. Any deal with him is a deal with me."

For a moment everyone waited, ready for Lyra to strike, but the queen instead turned back to Fenrin, mocking, "You truly have fallen, brother, what would our father think of his son taking orders?"

Fenrin growled, "Since when did you care what he thought anyway. If he is writhing in his grave, all the better." He glanced over. "Jayln, it's your call, but I promise you any words of peace with this snake are hollow and bound to break."

Jayln nodded. "I accept your deal, Your Highness. We will keep your daughter safe if you protect our borders." She held out a hand and Lyra took it. The two women stared each other down.

As Lyra began to pull away, Jayln leaned in. "Although I would think twice about underestimating my people, Bryndotter. The princess will meet with no harm, but if I so much as smell you on my mountain again, there will be no parlay."

Lyra gave her a smile that could kill a man and the two women stepped away from each other. Fenrin lowered his sword and gave Fiona a gentle shove forward. She ran across to her mother, hiding behind her. Lyra placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Let me have a private word with Vai and my daughter and we'll part ways."

Fiona was about to protest, but one look at her mother's face and she bit her tongue. They walked over to where Vai had slowly made his way over the overhang and was standing in the shadows of a boulder.

As soon as they were out of immediate earshot, Lyra hissed, "I'll kill her. I swear I will."

Fiona couldn't hold it any longer she burst into sobs. "Don't leave me, Mother! Don't make me stay with them. Please! I-I'll do anything!"

She yelped as her mother struck her across the cheek. Trembling, Fiona held a hand to the hot and reddened flesh.

"Stop sniveling, child. You must never beg or plead. I will not have a daughter who is a dog." Fiona bit her lip and swallowed. Lyra reached over and tucked a stray hair behind her daughter's ear. "You will stay here and stay safe. Vai, the book."

Vai, desperate to make up for his previously uselessness, quickly pulled a small leatherbound book out of his pack. Lyra handed it to her daughter who took it carefully. "This is a journal. I want you to write down everything you see and hear in the valley. Do you understand?"

"Y-yes, Mother."

"Make good use of this time, Fiona. Ask your uncle to teach you to use a sword. I'll expect a daughter who can defend herself when I return."

Fiona balked at the thought of asking her uncle anything but dutifully nodded. She hiccuped and threw her arms around her mother's neck and held tight to the stiff woman who after a moment patted her back. After only a second or two, Lyra detangled her daughter and stood, turning to Vai who was letting his misery show by this point.

"Vai, keep an eye out. Something changed my brother and I don't like it. I want to be prepared when we burn this valley."

Vai nodded and Lyra walked back towards Jayln and Fenrin who had been joined by Jayln's husband. Fiona hesitated but then grabbed Vai's hand as they walked back out.

Fenrin, spotting Vai, grinned again. "It really is you. I'll admit I'm impressed you're still alive. Those near my sister don't usually have a high life expectancy."

Lyra rolled her eyes. "Vai goes with my daughter. I need someone I can trust completely to watch her."

"And be your spy no doubt." Fenrin's eyes narrowed.

Jayln frowned. "We have nothing I would keep from the queen, but I did not agree to let any threat in my valley. Only a child."

With a barking laugh Fenrin sneered. "Oh I'm sure any spawn of Lyra's is much more dangerous than him." Fenrin moved suddenly and Vai flinched. He laughed again. "It's fine, Jayln, he's not a threat."

Giving Fenrin a disapproving stare, Jayln nodded. "Very well. We will take our leave, Your Highness. If you have no further terms to add, then I request you leave the mountain immediately."

Lyra nodded. "Until next time then, brother."

The two exchanged a long look and then Fenrin returned the nod. "Until next time."