About 50 men and women gathered in the courtyard of the abandoned fort. Only two remained on top of the wall to check on the progress of the queen's soldiers.

- Revolutionary companions - began the Minstrel on her improvised podium. - Today we had another victory against this regime that oppresses us and all thanks to you!

She paused to hear the whoops of confirmation from her audience.

- I know that stealing like this helps us fund our cause and feed our families, but we can't go on with small things like this forever.

The rest fell silent as the Minstrel's commanding voice continued.

- The gods have presented us with a challenge. For the first time since taking on this role, such a dilemma had not been imposed on me - Cali paused, walking relaxed on the podium. She imagined that her team was not happy with the way the speech was going. - The queen of Sunstone was at the retinue we attacked.

A general turmoil began. Some looked excited, others worried. The Minstrel raised her open hand and closed it in the air, immediately everyone fell silent.

- What reached my ears was that this particular queen is not a bad ruler. But destiny gave us a unique opportunity: kidnap a queen and get a huge ransom. Unfortunately, however, along the way something that shouldn't have happened. She has seen the Minstrel's face, so I cannot return her to her realm. But I would also be going against my word if I killed her, just for this unfortunate accident. So, my friends, you understand when I say that I was faced with a dilemma.

New anxious rumbles followed. Some bolder ones started to say "kill the queen" loudly. Before the situation escalated, the elf continued.

- My decision is made. I will not kill the queen, but I will take her away from this kingdom, to a place where no one knows her, where she will have to work for her livelihood, like the rest of us.

Whistles and claps of approval followed, but others still didn't look satisfied.

- Fortunately, despite some injuries, we had no casualties tonight. And I hope it stays that way. We caught the royal guard off guard, but I assure you, it won't happen twice in a row, especially if we hand them over the body of their ruller. My deal with the militia was a robbery to fund local independence efforts, I don't want to turn something simple into a slaughter. We know that the monarchy will not end overnight, one fight at a time, my comrades. Today we will sleep peacefully.

Most seemed content not to take any chances, only one or two still seemed to want a battle. The militia had been training those who wanted democracy, but still, they were ordinary people, they didn't have the experience of a real soldier.

- Leave in small groups, in the opposite direction to the way we saw the lights. Even so, be careful, there may be soldiers and scouts without torches in the forest - turning to Domenic, she added - I want to speak with the leader of the militia.

The man bat nodded and went in search of the leader as the Minstrel descended from the wooden podium. He returned a short time later with a man in his 50s, dark skin and gray-haired. His muscles showed that he had worked his whole life with strength activities.

- Hugo - began the elf.

- My lord, thank you very much - the man advanced - Despite this fort and the desire to fight of mine, I'm sure we wouldn't have the strength to defeat the royal guard, much less if an army came.

  - There's no need to thank me, I keep my promises. Sunstone's resistance is still very small, use what we can to grow, but be quick and discreet. This kidnapping will distract the nobles for a while, but soon a new king will take over. This is a perfect opportunity.

- In fact. We don't know if the next monarch will be as compliant as the current queen, if it weren't for her situation, my lord, I would suggest that she come back while we organize for longer.

- The people need motivation, Hugo. Nothing better than a power struggle of the nobility to awaken people from their self-indulgence.

- Forgive my boldness, I shouldn't question your decision.

- Our cause is the same, your opinion is important to me. And please stop calling me “my lord”, we are trying to build a democracy here.

- It's a force of habit - He said between laughs.

The Minstrel put a hand on the man's shoulder.

- It is time to break certain habits. You are a good man, I am sure you will succeed.

- Thank you, Minstrel.

- I only have one more favor to ask you, before we leave.

- Anything.

- I need three messengers who are quick and discreet.

***

Rosa could smell earth, plants and horses. Mainly horses. It was the first thing she smelled as she came back from her strange sleep.

- Boss, I don't understand, why did you say that we kidnapped the queen? - Someone asked in a really low, but gentle voice.

- We entered the fort with her, I think it's unlikely that someone hasn't seen her. Soon the news would spread that the queen was missing, the locals would condemn us, as Domenic said before - replied the strange voice that Rosa recognized as being from Cali. She kept her eyes closed, listening to the conversation. - Also, I wanted to let them know that the queen is fine. For the next part of our plan it is essential that this information reaches the royal guard.

- Do you think the militia would denounce us? - spoke a female soft voice.

- Not on purpose, but gossip spreads and royalty must have their own informants. The mercenaries were also present, and I trust them the least.

- Be careful of what you say, the queen's breathing changed a while ago - spoke a male voice sharper than the first.

- Are you enjoying the smell of the horse's ass, Your Majesty? - laughed a third male voice.

Rosa opened her eyes. Due to the pain and shortness of breath she had been feeling and especially the smell, she already imagined what position she was in. Belly down on the back of a horse, as if she was hunted, she felt her hands and legs wrapped in ropes.

- I'm loving it - she replied. At least she wasn't gagged. - Much better than the perfume of roses they put in my bath.

- Hahaha! You are witty! I love it when they talk back - said the last voice.

Someone growled from the horse Rosa was on. She managed to strain her body a little to see who was transporting her. From the narrow silhouette she could see in the dim lantern light, she thought it was Calandiel. To the horse's right, opposite to Rosa, was a short, broad figure, mounted on a smaller horse, from whom the last voice had come.

- You know, I could be a lot more fun if I was in a position where I could breathe.

- Sorry, sweetie, that's up to Hobin. For me, you could come hugging me.

- Norori, by the gods - complained the man with the high-pitched voice.

- Dude, she's going to travel with us now. I'm just trying to keep a relaxing mood.

- It would be relaxing if she was one of us and had a crush on you!

- Guys, stop, please. My head feels like it's going to explode - interrupted Calandiel.

Immediately the entourage fell silent. The female voice from before spoke in a softer tone:

- Hobin, we should stop to rest. You've lost a lot of blood and haven't slept well in days.

- We are not far from Stone Valley. It will be safer for us to rest there.

- That's a straight day of horse ridding! - complained the first voice that Rosa recognized as that of her captor.

- We are not going to be safe in this forest - continued Calandiel.

- She's right - said the high-pitched male voice.

- But the horses are tired too - continued the other man. - At this rate it will take longer than usual to arrive and if we encounter enemies we will be exhausted.

- I agree with Roc and Val. Since the majority won, let's find a place to stop - said the one who was called Norori.

Calandiel pouted but didn't protest.

The journey continued in silence. The first rays of morning could be seen through the few spaces of the forest branches, but Rosa could not admire the beauty of this phenomenon for a long time.

- Wait - said the man with the high-pitched voice. - I hear the wind passing through gaps.

Not too long after they found a cave and began to occupy it. The hiding place they found was a burrow deep inside a rock, covered by vegetation. The queen would never notice it.

- Very good, Dom! - Norori said. - This hole is so big that it will hide the horses.

- No problem, my friend. I just wish there was water nearby, I need a bath.

Meanwhile, Calandiel had dismounted and entered the cave leading the horse with Rosa still on the pillion. Without even looking at her, the elf walked away, being immediately followed by a young woman with long ears and blonde hair. Time passed in which the queen watched - from her limited position - as the others set up camp.

- Can we take off the masks, boss? - Rosa's captor spoke loudly, his strong voice could be heard throughout the cave.

- Do what you think is best - Cali's voice answered in the distance, this time a little more similar to the one Rosa knew - Sooner or later we'd have to take them out to blend in with the population.

The queen's heart began to leap when she heard her voice, even if it wasn't exactly what she remembered, it was still a vestige of the old Cali. She heard footsteps approaching her and was finally lifted off the back. Someone was already making fire and, as soon as it lit up the space, she could see the flock better.

The man in front of her was very tall, about six feet tall, muscular and dark-skinned. He untied Rosa and, when he was done, removed his mask, revealing a striking face and a mouth full of fangs. Still, he wasn't nearly as frightening as the orcs Rosa had seen on her travels, his features were almost human, and his fangs didn't extend far beyond the confines of his mouth.

- Are you hungry? - he asked gently.

- A-a little.

- You can sit by the fire, I'll help Norori with the food.

"He talks to me as if I were a guest in his house" thought the queen, surprised.

She walked with him to the fire and sat down, feeling that her legs weren't hers anymore. As much as she hadn't suffered any harm so far, she feared the actions of that bunch of strangers. She looked around, looking for the only familiar figure. She spotted her in a far corner, sitting on a rock being cared for by the girl who followed her. They had a lamp, but she couldn't see much, besides the red of the bandages that the healer threw away. A knot formed in the pit of her stomach.

She looked away and focused her attention on the group in front of her. Norori gave orders to the other two. He was a strong dwarf with red hair and fair skin. He appeared to be the oldest, around 40 years old, in the queen's perception.

The third man, named Dom, was of medium height, purplish skin, black and curly hair and, to Rosa's surprise, his eyes were blindfolded. Analyzing his image, she concluded that he had used his people's special ability to find the cave. Trying to push away her fear, and confident with the treatment she received from Norori and Rocco, she tried to strike up a conversation.

- You're from the bat clan, aren't you? I've always found your echolocation ability fascinating.

Dom screwed up his face as if he were dealing with a disgusting insect and ignored her question.

- Don't mind him, Your Majesty - Norori said. - He doesn't like types like you.

- I thought none of you liked it.

- Indeed, but we have different levels of aversion, so to speak.

He chuckled and turned to cooking. Rosa clasped her hands together, trying to think of something to talk about with Norori, when she saw Dom pulling Rocco to one side.

- Why did you bring her to sit here? - He spoke in a not so low tone, so that the queen could hear.

- If she's going to travel with us, what's the use of leaving her tied up all the time?

- My angel, you are too kind. At least when we are out of sight of people she should tied up in a corner.

- Baby, I don't want to diminish what you went through, but people are different. Hobin knows her, let's give her the benefit of the doubt, shall we?

- I don't know how a person who almost blinded our leader and even threatened her, can be worthy of some pity, much less trust. Anyway, I'll check on Hobin.

Domenic marched irritably towards Calandiel and the other woman. Rocco sighed and turned towards Rosa and Norori.

- Trouble in paradise? - Asked the dwarf.

- The usual.

Rosa realized that if she wanted to have the slightest bit of comfort in that pack, she would probably have to start by approaching those two.

- Sorry if I caused any disagreement between you and your, shall I assume, partner?

- It's not your fault.

- It's kinda her fault - Norori interjected. - If she hadn't slashed Hobin's face, we wouldn't be in this mess.

- I-I didn't know it was her!

- And you weren't supposed to know, sweetie. But we're already deep in this shit anyway, so let's enjoy it. Do you like cilantro?

***

- Why do you push yourself so hard? - Valorie asked, after a long silence, as she closed the corners of Hobin's bandage.

The elf looked at the young woman's worried face, feeling guilty. She was well aware of the agile fingers that occasionally grazed her face, that touch soothed her and made her forget her surroundings. Val had a strange effect on her. Without thinking, she held her hand against her face and stroked the ache.

- Sorry… and thank you for always taking care of me.

- I-I… it's my j-job! - Valorie pulled her hand away from Hobin's caresses and pretended to reach for something in her bag of supplies.

The deer was so red, she couldn't have been less obvious. That whole situation was illogical. She still didn't understand why Val was pushing her away.

- Val, I know this is not the time, but I wanted to talk to you about the party.

- What did I do to you that we had to drag that whore with us? - Interrupted the bat man approaching the two.

Hobin stared at Dom in disbelief, it seemed no one wanted her to talk to Val that day.

- Domenic, if you keep bothering Hobin, I'll kick your ass.

- Sorry, I just couldn't be around her anymore. - Dom continued sitting down and lowering his voice. - It's much cooler when we capture a noble and they are shaking with fear.

- I'm not comfortable with that either -  Hobin replied. - But it's temporary.

- What's the plan? - Valorie asked. - Is it really what you said to the militia?

- Yes. Since we can't go to Celegorm the easy way anymore, I thought we'd go around the No Man's Lands and drop her off at the Duck Bay. There she can take a ship to another continent.

Domenic began to inflate.

- THAT'S MONTHS! YOU-

- DOM!

Valorie lunged forward and with her hand, shut her companion's mouth, she looped her arm around, putting herself behind him so he couldn't reach her.

- I'll release you when you calm down. Hobin can't stress herself out in this state.

- Thanks, Val, but I'm already stressed. If you're done with the bandages, I'd like to lie down for a while. And Dom, we'll talk further about what to do with Rosa when we get to the Vale.

- Yes of course. Let 's go angry boy.

Valorie pulled Domenic out, who was complaining that he didn't want to be near the queen.