Leyah's day had been long. Her journey from the warehouse where she hid her rebels hadn't been far from where she had intended to go, but the journey had been tiring. She suspected because she had woken up before dawn again today. But the nightmares were making it hard to combat.

They had started not long ago, coming almost as badly as they had three years ago. It was terrifying and Leyah supposed she should mention it to someone. But who?

Lexie would worry about her and lose concentration on the tasks that Leyah needed her for. Gupta would be the same except with more of the speculating glances that spoke wonders without ever making a sound. It hit her then that they were the only two people she could tell. She had no one else after all.

But it hadn't always been like that.

"Stop it," she hissed to herself, "We're not going there."

But it was hard not to. Her nightmares, however similar in strength to the last ones, were different in content. The fire and the fighting no longer haunted her. Now it was the men. Their hands and their breath...it made Leyah shiver. She had actually flinched away from Gupta the other day, hearing his breathing and tensing up for it. He had given her space ever since, catching on that something was up. But he hadn't asked after it yet. Perhaps he was waiting for her to open up.

"You'll be waiting a while," Leyah scoffed to herself.

Leyah had dismounted her horse and was now shifting through the saddle bags when her sharp ears detected a noise.

She had ridden out to the forest that made up the northern border of the capital, straying off the wide road that had been cut through it and taking one of the narrower tracks. She was now far from any other travellers but she wasn't stupid enough to think that her and her steed were alone.

"Vho Tvava?"

Leyah didn't even look up from her saddle bag until she pulled out the item she had been looking for. She faced a man. He was lanky and tall with jet black hair that hadn't been cut or groomed since he had been born. So it hung in stiff dreads around his face which was marred by scars showing his rank. He wore scrappy clothing only around his waist, leaving his chest bare. Leyah knew that if he hadn't had been caked in dry mud, his skin would have matched his dark almond-shaped eyes.

"Y Arvve spak Hehpe Tavvy," Leyah said to him, her knowledge of the language rivalling her combat skills.

But the man was not impressed by her ability to speak his language and instead repeated himself, "Vho Tvava!"

Leyah sighed, "Y Naav Cataleyah Charamain."

The man stiffened, "Cataleyah? Ty Naav Cataleyah?"

Leyah grew impatient, "Yes. My name is Cataleyah and I asked to speak with Hehpe Tavvy."

"Oh that's not fair," Leyah's head snapped around as another man stepped out from the cover of the trees, "He doesn't understand your language, Princess."

This man was older, with a completely shaven head. He, like his warrior, was coated in dark brown mud, but his face was left clean to show his unique markings that labelled him as boss. That labelled him as Hehpe. That had been the first word Leyah had been taught in the language of the Tribesmen. Hehpe, meaning boss or leader. She had liked it so much that when she had established the rebellion, she had asked to be called that. It served as a cover as well, keeping her true identity unknown to most of her rebels.

"Hehpe," Leyah gave a curt nod, "Fay obtrvve Ty."

Hehpe Tavvy chuckled, "It is nice to see you too. What brings you to my territory, young Cataleyah?"

"Goodwill," Leyah said and pointed to her saddle bags, "I've bought you gifts, Hehpe."

Tavvy clapped his hands together and Leyah's eyes flicked to the small group of men that appeared out of the trees. The Tribesmen were remarkable in their ability to hide in the foliage. They were able to disappear almost completely, being able to tread on the leaf litter and not make a sound. Few travellers knew that every presence in the forest's territory was watched by unseen eyes.

"Gifts?" Tavvy remarked, as the men strode over to her horse and all but tore away her saddlebags, "You really shouldn't have!"

"Oh, it is my pleasure, Hehpe," And Leyah pulled her hand from the concealing folds of her cloak and extended the brown-wrapped parcel she held, "And, as always, I bring you another favour."

Tavvy strode forward and took the parcel from her, "There is always a place for you to hide your treasures, Princess, as long as you bring us ours."

Leyah gave him one of her most dazzling smiles. Hehpe Tavvy had always fancied her, she knew that, and playing that card to her advantage came in handy. It had scared her at first, knowing that if she were a part of his tribe, he would have taken her as one of his brides by now. But Leyah had comforted herself with the knowledge that if the old bastard ever made a malicious move against her, she would cut off his hands and attach them to his ears. That would definitely fracture the deal she had with the Tribesmen but Leyah had been very forthright about her own safety when she had first made it and if they didn't abide by that then it served them right.

"Are you coming to join us for the feast today, Princess?" Tavvy asked her.

"If you would so permit? I'd love to, Hehpe."

"Yaktaa!" Tavvy clapped his hands in delight, "Well then, allow me to escort you to our village where you shall dine with us tonight."

*****

Lexie was half asleep as she trotted her horse into the capital. She stubbed her toe as she dismounted her speckled mare.

"Crap!" she swore, wincing at the pain.

"Didn't Hehpe tell you to mind the foul language, Lexie?"

Gupta stood in the concealed doorway to the warehouse, his arms crossed over his wide chest and his stony face cracked in a small smile, more of amusement than joy.

"Oh piss off, Gupta," Lexie told him, "Help me grab my stuff."

Gupta pushed himself off the wall he was leaning against and waltzed over to help Lexie untie her saddlebags.

"Did you enjoy those fighting pits?" Gupta asked.

"I didn't—,"

"Don't lie to me, Alexa. Hehpe knows you were there as well."

"Well shit. Is she mad?" Lexie asked, bundling one of the bags up into her arms.

"She told me to lecture you on it. Now I hate to disobey orders but the pits do interest me as well. How were they?"

"They were stinking rotten heaps of sin and wine with an aftertaste of blood, Gupta."

"So good then?"

Lexie lulled her head heavenwards, "Yes good! You wouldn't think it'd be so entertaining to watch some cocky amateur get beaten up but by the High King it is!"

"Who was it this time? A peasant boy or a nobleman's son?"

"A peasant boy by the looks of it. Handsome though. Such a shame to see a face like that get all bloodied up. I left after the start of that one. Figured Kitty would leave without me if I didn't."

Gupta bit his lip to suppress a knowing smile. But Lexie had eyes like a hawk.

"She's gone?!" She threw the saddlebag into the dirt, "Gupta!"

"What? Like I could stop her? She won't even get to close to me at the moment and you know that something's up too. You've sensed it, I know you have."

"What am I? Blind? Of course I have!" Lexie's voice had risen an octave, "But you bloody well know I need to see her before she goes off to meet with the Tribesmen!"

Gupta picked up the discarded saddlebag and hauled it up on top of the one he was already carrying, "Lexie, calm down. I told her that and she left in spite of it. Her way of saying you should stay away from those fighting pits in Cennt."

"And what we run here is so different to the Cages?" Lexie questioned, "She's so hypocritical!"

"No," Gupta turned his back on the smaller girl, "She's cautious and you of all people should have an idea why."

Lexie did have an idea. In fact, she had more than that. She had been the first person Cataleyah Charamain had opened up to since her world had fallen at her feet as little more than a pile of ashes. Lexie knew everything, more than Gupta did and more than the bastards of her old life would ever know. Leyah had been so broken and bruised when Lexie had found her that she had spilled all her secrets as if scared they would all die with her then and there. Lexie had let her heal and they had been closer than friends. They had been lovers for little more than a month before Leyah had put a stop to it all. It had been her idea to fight back. She had needed the rebellion like those Bardern soldiers needed their smokes. Lexie still remembered her words.

"We can't do this, Lex," Leyah had said, "If I'm starting this fight again...I won't let you become another Micah."

Lexie remembered those vividly for how she had reacted to them. She had sworn and yelled at Leyah then, feeling betrayed that Leyah would even suggest that Lexie would leave her like the young Heir had. Micah Baudille was probably dead anyway, or would remain in hiding for the rest of his pathetic life. So Lexie vowed to stand by her in her dream for a revolution and, privately, she promised that if she ever laid eyes on the Baudille Heir, she'd give him something to think about.

*****

Cataleyah sat at the head of a long, expertly carved wooden table, opposite her sat the leader of the Tribesmen who thought he was being subtle every time he glanced at her when he thought she wasn't looking.

Hehpe Tavvy was a creep and with Leyah on edge about any man anyway, she was surprised she hadn't yet hit him.

The women of the tribe had spent weeks preparing for this night as it had some sort of religious meaning that Leyah suspected was the equivalent of the Festivale Lune; the celebration they used to have in Quel-yania every year. Leyah's home country had been very dependant on the moon, so much so that the four neighbouring nations had even adopted a watered down version of the Fesitvale Lune.

By the High King, she missed that above it all. She had known what she had been giving up when she had gone and entered the Competition for the Creatian Heir. But that hadn't been her wish.

The Quel-yanian King; King Anton Charamain had ordered his first born daughter to be raised a fighter. Leyah had been raised a vicious patriot and when King Anton had entered her to become the Creation Heir, she had made sense of it all.

Quel-yania had had good relations with Creatia for centuries. Creatia was so rich in natural resources that all of El Kana, Delajenca, Quel-yania, and even Terra Barder had traded happily with them. Terra Barder had slowly begun to withdraw trading orders and that had been the first sign of their hostility. King Anton had seemingly learnt from that. He had wanted to make Quel-yania less dependable on Creatia, but it was a difficult task since Quel-yania was a land of salty waters and high mountains. So Anton had done the next best thing. He had sent Leyah to win the crown and claim Creatia as a state of Quel-yania.

Then Leyah had met Micah and all her plans had changed. She had wanted the crown for different reasons and when it came down to it, Leyah had realised that she hadn't wanted the crown at all. She had seen the type of king Micah could be and she had wanted that for him. So he had won and the very next day, Leyah had received a letter from her father, telling her to never return to her home country. Micah hadn't even seen that letter and he had still chosen to ask her to stay in his castle.

It hadn't been long after that when he asked her if she would someday marry him.

What a life that had been. One attack from Terra Barder and her whole world had come crumbling down. And here she was, sitting amongst Tribesmen being looked at by the Hehpe as though she was some fine piece of meat.

"Yaam!" Tavvy ordered. That was the command to eat and along the table, the whole village grabbed for the food. Leyah, as special guest, had already been served some of the wild boar and pigskin and she knew that Tavvy was watching her when she instead reached for the cup of water that she had fetched herself.

Tavvy himself rose from the table, his plate in hand, and moved his subjects along so that there was a free space next to Leyah.

"So tell me, Cataleyah," Tavvy said, sitting down next to her, "Any secrets you are willing to share?"

"What secrets would I have that would interest you, Hehpe? I am but a disgraced Princess who is thought dead by everyone in the land."

"There are unlimited actions one can take when one is supposed dead," Tavvy said, "And you are smart enough to realise this."

Leyah grinned, "You flatter me, Hehpe."

"Why did you choose to enlighten me anyway?" Tavvy asked, "You might have been able to convince me to hide your treasures without offering me that knowledge."

Leyah shrugged, "Perhaps it was another gift, Hehpe. A peace offering; a show that I am willing to be loyal to you and in turn that you might be loyal to me, if anything was ever to happen."

Tavvy's grey eyes brightened, "You wouldn't be planning anything, would you, Princess?"

"Perhaps. One day soon, you might get a request to...I don't know...set some snares along the main trading route through the forest. Of course there would be a reward for an action like that, Hehpe."

"You are quite devious, Cataleyah Charamain," Tavvy grinned, "And this reminds me that my previous offer still stands."

Last time Leyah had visited the Tribesmen, a couple of weeks ago, Hehpe Tavvy had asked her to stay with them for a while. He had gone on about how, with her position and everything, it might do her some good to hide in the forest guarded by his men for a while. Tavvy had offered this as a favour, saying he would wish for nothing in return but even as he had been suggesting it, Leyah's insides had been twisting and squirming. She had politely declined three times, one for every time he had asked. She had ridden home shaken after that and her nightmares had started up that very night.

Leyah had told her second, Lexie about Tavvy's offer and now Lexie would hardly let Leyah leave anywhere before asking her if she wanted to be accompanied.

"It is quite a gracious offer, Hehpe, thank you, but I have no need to take you up on it just yet. They are many things to be done."

"Of course, my dear, of course."

"I'll thank you for your loyalty, Hehpe," Leyah said, bowing her head slightly, "It is a bad time not to have friends."

"Letvy sovvl faand maany Sttraag sovvl." Tavvy said, smiling.

"A weak soul cannot be lost amongst strong ones." Leyah translated, "One of my favourite sayings in your language, Hehpe."

"One we share a liking to, Princess. Perhaps for its frequent relevance."

A/N

Another chapter! Sorry I'm a day late! Next week Micah returns to the Creatian capital, his former home and we meet Ella Dias, a girl with more responsibility than she knows how to handle.

I hope you're enjoying it and please don't forget to vote if you like it!

Xx