There wasn't much to see inside. Thalror led Rynere through a few narrow, gray halls into a small, gray room that held a chair and table. She tried asking the soldier what the matter was, but didn't get an answer.

Rynere sat down and looked out the one, narrow window in the room. Trees.

Then something broke through them -the commander on a borrowed horse and another soldier. The commander slipped out of the saddle and tossed the reins to his companion, striding towards the building without another look back.

A few minutes later he was in the room with Rynere. He motioned for Thalror to leave the room.

"My apologies, but I didn't have time for explanation," the commander said once the door had shut. "That man -the one who was with you -do you know why he's taking you away from your home?"

"I'm to be married to someone I don't know," Rynere said dryly.

"A man by the name of Danid, by any chance?"

Rynere's eyes widened suddenly and her jaw slowly dropped. She nodded.

"You might be on your way were it not for him."

"What do you mean?"

"Someone from the palace mistook him for his father. Upon further investigation it was revealed that he was a prince. The information isn't widely spread, but we know his country enough to know what he wanted here. And we've been patrolling the back roads, because your ...escort is well-known as a friend to that line. And he's a troublemaker. We're going to hunt him down."

"What has he done? And why weren't you acting like this before?"

"I just realized who he is. What has he done -it would be better if you didn't know."

"Why?"

"Suffice it to say -it was enough to make the king sentence him to death."

Rynere stared at him.

"Tass -I can believe him getting into mischief. But something that the king would execute him for? And what does the prince have to do with this?"

 "The prince and his bodyguard have been taken captive. They're charged with starting a riot.  They're going to appear before the king and you will be there."

"What -how -"

 The commander held up his hand.

"All three of you are to be released immediately afterward. We're just hoping to bait this escort of yours so we can finally catch him."

"But he can disappear -how are you planning -"

"We have our ways," the commander said flatly. "All I'm going to tell you is what you need to do when you appear before the king."