I've already got the pot on the fire and the meat precooking by the time they finish. I stand and leave again to go collect some herbs while Kalan adds water to the pot. I come back with an armful of herbs and vegetables I found. I cut them up and add them to the soup before wiping clean the blade of the short sword, and sheathing it.

We continue down the mountain for a week, before we reach a village. I can hear the boys sigh in relief at the thought of a bed and chuckle as we approach the gates.

"Travelers entering the city, please prepare to be checked for illegal substances." calls a guard at the gate. The crowd waiting to enter, groans and lines up. We enter the back of the line and I turn to the boys.

"Illegal substances?" I ask and Khidell nods.

"Opium has become really popular in the black market lately and it has some serious health effects." he explains and I nod in understanding, before silently dropping my bag into my shadow. If they think opium is bad, they probably wouldn't approve of my poisons. When we make it to the front of the line, the boys are pulled to the side and I follow.

"Have my brothers and I done something wrong?" I look up at the guard looking at a scroll with concern. He reads the scroll again and then shakes his head and motions us through.

"Brothers?" Kuro asks.

"The palace has every city looking for you by description, but the castle doesn't have a princess, so we didn't match." I smirk and they chuckle.

"Alright, princess." Ryuu says. "What now?" They all look at me expectantly.

I pull my bag, back out of my shadow, once we are out of sight and pull out the coin purse. "Now, we eat and sleep in beds." I say and I can see the excitement in their eyes.

I find the cheapest looking motel, and it has a tavern as a first floor. The hustle and bustle of the pub reminds me of when my parents would take me out to dinner and listen to the town gossip for laughs.

We walk up to the bar where a sturdy looking woman is wiping the counter. When she sees us, her eyebrow raises in question?

"What can I do for you?" she says, leaning against the counter.

"My brothers and I would like to rent a room with two beds please." I answer and I can see curiosity flight across her face. I'm sure the boys look shocked, and shrug in response to her silence. "We have to make what we have last until we make it to Grannie's." I answer her unasked question and she nods, moving much faster to see what room's available.

"You guys can take room 207," she hands me a key and makes me sign a book. "Up the stairs at the end of the hall. It has a couch as well so you guys have enough room." she smiles at us and I slide her a gold piece. She takes it and hands me three silvers in change. I nod and lead the princes to the room so they can blow up on me like they want to.