***** circled back to Mornic and quietly told him what the plan was before joining the rest of the group. Everyone gathered around when Mornic gestured them to.

"Okay," he whispered, "we know that there are two guards on duty and probably a bunch more in the pub judging by the horses. Now she,” he grasped *****, “is going to sneak around the back and into the wagon to confirm that the Crystals are there and see what kind of protection is inside. Half of us will stay here and keep a look out to make sure she gets in and out safely. If we see anything suspicious, I will whistle twice, she will come back, and we split. The other half will go a ways down the road and cross over onto the hill opposite of us. Once she confirms the presence of the Crystals, go in."

Everyone was nodding their heads in agreement until they heard Carnie whisper, "Go in? What do you mean 'go in?' I thought we were getting the Crystals tomorrow!"

"No, tonight, now." Mornic smirked and clapped Carnie on the shoulder.

"Why," Carnie insisted, ignoring the glare Mornic shot him. ***** sensed magic gathering around him and frowned. If he was trying to use magic on Mornic, he would hit a similar wall- not because Mornic had a great amount of magic but because ***** had crafted him a very strong protection amulet.

"The 'why' doesn’t, concern you, Carnie." Mornic started to turn away but Carnie grasped his shoulder, almost desperately.

"Wait, I deserve to know-," he didn’t get to finish as Mornic pushed him up against the nearest tree. ***** could still feel the magic building but she couldn't figure out why he didn’t give up ye. He must've known by now that he wouldn’t be able to get into Mornic's head and the second in command looked dangerously close to knocking Carnie's lights out.

"See here," Mornic began, angrily, "you arrogant little-"

"Shut up," ***** hissed, glancing nervously through the trees. "This is not the time nor the place. Now, men, get into formation and Carnie stay here and keep your mouth shut." Finally, Carnie's magic disappeared. It was all at once, like he had forcefully dispelled it from his body. ***** stared at him and thought she saw something like relief wash over him.

It must have been difficult, wasting all that power on someone with such a powerful protection amulet, ***** thought, smirking to herself. With a final glare at all the men, and an extra one for Carnie who had an odd expression on his face, she hurried away from them into the forest.

As she was leaving, she heard Carnie whisper, "But why is she going? Can you at least tell me that?"

"Because she has seen Fire Crystals before. Now shut up," came a hissed reply from Mornic. ***** shuddered as she remembered the last time she had seen Fire Crystals. Half of her hoped they were really there so the rebellion could have a chance, but the other half wished they weren't so she would never have to see one again.

She kept going until she was far enough away from the pub to not be seen as she carefully picked her way down the hill, darted across the road, and up the other hill. She circled back to where see could see the wagon, just as someone in a dark cloak walked swiftly from the pub into the wagon.

She cursed as she crept down the hill toward the entrance of wagon. She would have to knock out both him and the guards if they noticed her. She hoped that since one was positioned at the front and one at the side, she could just sneak in. She was good at that, it was the first skilled she picked up on the streets. As she got closer, keeping low, careful to avoid being sighted by anyone inside the pub, she noticed something felt odd. It felt as if magic was being used somewhere close. It wasn’t aimed at her but at the environment around her in general. Someone must be messing with the weather, she thought. Maybe to keep the temperature nice. It wasn't uncommon for the higher ranked Fae to mess with the weather when they were out for a drink or two- especially the royal guard. She rolled her eyes at the frivolity and kept moving forward.

She paused to see if anyone from the rowdy establishment had noticed her when she had gotten a few feet from the wagon but heard no movement inside different than what she had been hearing for the last three minutes. Which- was weird. She felt as if she had heard the same series of noises again and again from the pub for the last few minutes. She took a step closer to the window, putting her right in front of the wagon's rear entrance. She would just have to turn around, walk in, and deal with the man inside before looking for the stones but first she wanted a look inside where the various other guards were. She squinted trying to make out the shadowy shapes within through the grimy windows. She sucked in a quick breath when she saw it.

Everything was still. Nothing moved inside the pub.

She took a step back as she realized the raucous sounds from inside were being played on a loop by magic. There was no one there. The guards were gone. Someone was using very, very powerful Glamour to make all this.

***** turned to run back up the hill, opening her mouth to yell a warning to the men, when two hands shot out of the wagon and dragged her inside.