Roma woke up in the middle of the night to see that Vincent wasn't sleeping.
"Hey, Vincent, are you alright? You seem tense."
"Yeah. I'm okay. I was just having trouble sleeping so I relit the fire."
"Are you thinking about them? Your family? I'm sure they're okay. Don't worry. Since we will be in Nimway anyway how about we stop by the estate and check on them? It might be ni-" Vincent's sudden outburst cuts off Roma.
"No. Not happening. Ever! I'm never going back there even if I lived a hundred lifetimes. That's the last place I'd want to be."
"Uh, okay. Have you received a letter from Kara and Marco?"
"No. Go back to sleep, Roma. I'm gonna keep a lookout."
"Okay." Roma rolled over and went to sleep. Vincent walked around the quiet camp a few times then he sat down by the fire. He stoked the fire, and as the red-orange glow cast shadows across his face he thought back to his childhood. Amongst the quiet animal noises, Vincent heard the crunching of leaves and breaking twigs. He stood, alert, as the crunching drew closer. "What is that," he wondered aloud. He squinted into the darkness, trying to make out any movement in the dark. "Damn. I can't tell what it is. Who goes there," he shouted. A dagger flew out of the tree line narrowly missing Vincent's head and slamming into one of the logs by the fire. The noise woke Roma. "What the hell?! Vincent, what's going on?!' Roma demanded as she jumped up. Roma's shouting woke everyone else.
"How would I know I can't even see them?! It's too dark to make anything out," Vincent shouted back to Roma, "Step into the light! I know you're out there!"
Two figures slowly emerged from the tree line, making their way into the dim flickering of the fire. A girl and a boy who looked remarkably similar to Vincent. The girl had shoulder-length dark blue hair, wearing a turquoise cotton shirt, brown pants, and boots. The boy had short blue hair, with a gold cotton shirt black pants, and boots on. Both of them had on black cloaks.
"What are you two doing here?"
"We have been looking for you, Vincent," the girls said quietly, " for the last year."
"Why? I've been gone for years! No one even cared when I ran away after what Father did to me. I was a two-day walk from home. One day ride away from home and no one has come looking for me for 11 years! So why now?" Vincent yelled at the strangers.
"We couldn't until now Vincent. Father forbade us from even leaving the estate when he found out you didn't die from exposure. He even went so far as to forbid everyone from speaking about you," the boy tried to reason with him.
"Since when did you ever listen to a word that bastard has said, Marco, even as a six-year-old you were defiant. And you seriously expect me to believe Mother put up with him after what he did to me?! He hit me so hard I lost the ability to see!"
"Vincent she had to she-," the girl was cut off.
"Don't make excuses for them Kara! You've done it your whole life and for what?! I know he didn't stop beating you or Marco or Mother after I left! And I know that he won't stop beating her or us until he's dead," Vincent shouted at her, "I'll only ask once more. Why did you come here?"
"Because Father is dead. He died of the Plague Curse. Mother did it as soon as she found out you were alive and safe somewhere he couldn't get to you. She had to stay with him until he died so that the curse would work. She used herself as the catalyst for the curse. She's sick and all she wants is to see you again. Will you please come home with us," Marco asked. Vincent was quiet for a while just staring in the direction of his siblings. His eyes never met theirs.
When he spoke all he said was, "I will decide in the morning. Good night. "
Vincent turned away from them, walked to his bedroll, and laid down.
"Well Marco, Kara you are welcome to join us until morning when Vincent comes to a decision," Roma offered.
"Thank you," they replied in unison. The rest of the group went back to sleep as Marco and Kara set up a place for them to sleep.
When they woke up in the morning, the tension was so thick you could cut it into pieces. Roma introduces Kara and Marco to Lucy, Leviticus, Lorane, and Avangelina. "While outside of their palace Avangelina and Leviticus would like to be called Ava, and Levi," Roima explained finishing up the introductions.
"Hey. Vincent, we need your answer before we leave. From here, the journey to our home is only three weeks. It should only be about three weeks to wherever you're going." Kara was the first one to speak to Vincent.
"I've given it much thought, and I have decided that if and only if Princess Lucy doesn't mind," Vincent replied to Kara with as much patience as possible.
"Well, we have three months to get back to Nimway. A six-week journey will only take a month and a half. We will have a month and a half to spare when we get there. It's up to you, Vincent. Don't feel pressured to do this if it makes you uncomfortable." Lucy told him.
"Well, then, I guess we will go."
As they left, there was something off in the air. Vincent couldn't quite put his finger on it, but it made the hairs on the back of his neck stand on end.
"Marco you and Kara lead the way since you know where we are going," Vincent ordered trying to quell the feeling of despair slowly growing inside him.
"Ok," Marco said urging his horse forward.
"Hang on! Won't the guards recognize the royal seal on your horses," Kara questioned looking back at Lorane's horse.
"Couldn't we just take them off?" Lucy asked.
"No, we can't. The seals are permanently affixed to the tack used. And we don't have to take them off anyway because the guards know we are coming and are going to report to our Father as we make our way through." Ava explained.
"Oh, sorry I sorta thought that you guys had just taken off in the middle of the night and didn't tell anyone," Kara admitted sheepishly.
"It's alright. But it looks like the guard's shift change is happening right now anyway so we will have to wait a bit anyway. Does anybody have an idea of what we should do in the meantime, " Ava asked the group.
"Let's eat while we wait," Levi said, dismounting from his horse. After a second of thought, everyone followed suit and dismounted. Lucy laid out the canvas for her tent for everyone to sit on. Vincent brought out some of the dried meat and bread he had packed for their journey. Kara shared her fruits and berries with the group. Ten minutes later, Roma walked over. He gave her a portion of everything that he had saved for her. "Thanks, Vin," Roma said gratefully.
"So, are we ready to move out?"
"Yeah. It looks like the guards are just getting set up for the day right now so let's wait for just a little longer."
"Ok, how long do you think we should wait," Marco inquired.
"We could probably go now if you're in a hurry," Roma said, looking towards the checkpoint. The group mounted their horses and started their journey to the Beauchamp home. Vincent made his way from beside Roma to behind her as they traveled down the hill. As they neared the gate, they were all in a single file line with Marco in the front and Vincent in the back. As they got closer they could see two guards one older and one younger. The older one's face was round and red from the heat, his beady black eyes leveling on the group as they rode up. The younger one was lean and stood almost a foot taller his ebony hair sticking out from under his helmet slightly. His jade eyes shone with boredom with whatever the older one had been telling him.
"Single file, please, oh? Hello Monsieur Beauchamp. Did you and Mademoiselle Beauchamp find your brother?" The first guard asked Marco with a sneer.
"First of all, our last name may be French, but we are still citizens of Nakatae, so please cut it with the French crap. Secondly, we did even though it is none of your business," Marco replied coolly.
"Who are all of the rest of these people, then Lord Beauchamp?" The younger guard. He seemed to be genuinely curious.
"It's Prince Leviticus, and the Princesses Avangelina and Lorane. My brother and his partner and a friend of theirs.," Marco responded respectfully to the second guard.
"Alright, we've held you up for long enough. Please continue forward," the young man called to the group.
"Next," The older man said, and Lucy rode up. "Well, hello there, pretty lady; what's your name?"
"Lucy Lavelle," Lucy responds kindly remembering that Roma told her not to introduce herself as a princess unless someone in the group knew the person.
"Well, that's a pretty name for a pretty girl. How did you come to be traveling with the Prince and Princesses?"
"I'm sorry but that is none of your business. But if you really must know you'll have to ask the Prince," Lucy used the excuse Leviticus had told her on the way down the hill. Her answer only seemed to anger the guard.
"Well, I'm asking you not him. So you have to tell me how it is you came to be traveling with them if you want to get through this gate."
"No, she doesn't Lieutenant Richard. You're holding up the line," The younger man said clearly uncomfortable with how Richard was treating Lucy.
"And what are you going to do to stop me, Spencer?" Richard asked, "After all, I am your superior. Now then Miss Lavelle how did you come to be traveling with the Prince and Princesses?"
"I was instructed that only the Prince is allowed to disclose that information," Lucy said looking increasingly distressed. After Lucy said that Richard lost his temper and threw Lucy from her horse. She let out a terrible scream as she hit the ground. "Lucy!" Marco yelled
"Someone ought to teach you some manners, Miss Lavelle. You are talking to the king's guard, and that demands respect. You should answer any and all questions posed to you," Richard yelled in her face. Other guards started to come out of the guard house to see what the commotion was. Richard grabbed Lucy by the arm and started dragging her towards the guardhouse.
"You won't lay a finger on the girl, Richard was it?" Leviticus said coldly walking up behind him. "You," He said pointing at another guard, "inform my Father, King Benedict Riordan Lawrence that we have passed through the first checkpoint between Nakatae and Nimway and… What is your full name, Lieutenant? And your partner's full name?"
"Lieutenant R-Richard L-Laurent O'shae and the boy is Spencer Skye Lennox," Richard stuttered out looking up at Leviticus who towered over him. Leviticus smiled still pointing at the other guard.
"And a guest of his son and daughters has come to harm by the hands of Lieutenant Richard Laurent O'Shae. Also, tell him that the guard named Spencer Skye Lennox will be coming with us. That is all," Leviticus finished his dictation and dismissed the guards.
"Um, I'm Flattered and all your Highness, but why are you taking me with you," Spencer asked as the commander of the post came out to talk with Leviticus.
"My father told Leviticus to take one guard from the first post. He said it didn't matter what rank they were just whoever Leviticus thought would be a beneficial addition to our group," Lorane answered him.
"Your Highness. I apologize for the disgraceful conduct of Lieutenant O'Shae. He will be reprimanded and demoted accordingly. O'shae!"
"Yes, Commander!"
"Help the lady back onto her horse."
"Yes, sir."
Richard helped Lucy back on her horse; the rest of the group followed through without much of a problem. "I hear that you want to take Spencer with you. He's a good soldier and will do well with whatever tasks you need him to do. Have a safe journey, Your Highnesses," with one last bow to Lawrence siblings the commander chained Richard up and dragged him inside the Guardhouse.