Okay, I had a blast writing this chapter! I really hope you enjoy, I certainly did. As always, please comment on what you liked or any suggestions you have.

Enjoy! "You don't see us, and so we are everywhere. And we will rise up, Red as the Dawn."

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Mare

Today's the day we depart from Rift, to travel to Archeon. I walked at a dreadfully slow pace, towards the plane we're flying in. It's a Blackrun, like the one we used to have, but possibly a tad larger. Looking at the plane brings back memories, terrible memories, hence the dreadfully slow pace.

I refuse to let anyone die on this mission. I tell myself this isn't deja vu of Corros prison. This is a much more dangerous mission. But on the bright side, we have more numbers, we have had more training and we've been living in much better conditions.

After eternity, I've finally gotten to the steps of the aircraft, taking my place near the back, next to the window. I'm going back to the lion's den, the place I swore I would never go back to. If Maven finds out about my plan, or if he already knows, I don't want to know what will happen. I can assume he'll execute Ella immediately, maybe kill some innocent reds, and set a room or two of Whitefire on fire.

I feel like a selfish person for even suggesting my idea. I should have put on the dress and mask and faced Maven like a hero. But now I feel like the coward, who's trying to take the easy route out. But yet I cannot call off the plan, telling myself this is strategically correct. But deep down, I don't care about strategy. I refuse to go back to the wretched king's cage, I'd choose death over spending another second with that thing that the queen turned him into.

I gaze out the window, forgetting to blink, staring out at the gigantic palace many call an estate. Hopefully, I'll see it again.

I continue to stare, as the plane begins to move, gradually gaining momentum. After a while, I decide to blink, not opening my eyes, as I fall into the first dreamless sleep I've had in months.

*****

I awake to a gently tap on my shoulders. I turn my head to find Kilorn hovering over me.

"We're here," he said softly, apparently more somber than I was about being back.

"Thank you," I said, getting up from my seat, and exciting the aircraft. Slick, black vehicles lied in front of us. They reminded me of the vehicles Maven and his entourage had driven in, on our way to the Lakelands. But these vehicles, cars Kilorn told me they were called, were not armored, and looked much more pleasant.

There was a total of fives cars, each able to fit five people. There were about twenty-five of us on the plane, give or take, so car conditions would be spacious enough.

Farley, after putting apparently several minutes of thought into this, assigned us to our cars. I would be riding with Ella and Harrick, so he could change both of our appearances if need be, and Farley and Cal.

I slid into the car, taking in my surroundings. I had never been in a car before my time with the king, and that car did not compare to this one. The car had black leather seats, that could be adjusted to one's leg length and windows that could roll up and down with a press of a button.

I continued to glance around at the car's features as Farley, Ella and Harrick climbed in the back.

"Barrow, take this," Farley said, tossing an overly large sunhat at my head. "and make sure to wear it at an angle so cameras can't see you." I carefully positioned my sunhat, before looking back out the window, at our surroundings. Based on our plan, I'd guess we're tens of miles off the outskirts of the city, based on the fact that we landed in a large field, surrounded by trees.

After what seems like hours, Cal comes to take his place in the driver's seat, across from me. I inwardly scold myself for choosing my seat. After our last conversation, we haven't talked much, although I've certainly tried, knocking on his door last night and this morning. But I'm losing hope, he seems to be distancing himself from me as if his secret could cause complete uproar.

But perhaps it could, I hadn't got any idea on what the prince could be hiding from me.

On our ride, no one talks very much, all of us I imagine are scared- coming back here, where everyone has risked death before. Nearly at city limits, Cal begins to speed up, to a dangerously fast speed.

"Uh, Calore, don't you think you're going a bit fast for being inside of Norta's capital city?"

Cal merely scoffs. " No, not at all. When entering the city, many tourists enjoy driving at dangerously fast speeds for sport."

I scowl to myself. Another example of the garish things the silvers call needs. I never had a bicycle, but yet they parade around in cars, that can run a hundred miles an hour.

"Interesting. May I ask you when you learned to drive?" Farley asked, almost as disgusted as I was.

"All silvers learn at sixteen or seventeen, many common silvers as well as high silver's own cars,-"

"Of course they do," I muttered cutting him off. After that, no one continued to speak, all of us gazing off into the distance, or looking around in the car. After many more minutes of silence, we seemed to be in the city, noting several structures, such as the giant ten foot WANTED sign, awarding anyone 25,000 crowns, to anyone who could bring Mare Barrow to the King alive. Across the street, another sign appeared, with Cal's face across it, but only offering 2,000 crowns, still offering a large amount. But 25,000 crowns, after my lessons with Lady Blonos, I knew was an outrageous amount, not even a high silver had that much wealth.

But I personally believed the worst part of the sign, was the part that read "alive." He still wanted me for something, and I really would rather not find out. We continued down the highway, now slowing down, approaching a street. We appeared to be in an area of the grand city I hadn't seen before; but of course, I hadn't had many opportunities to sightsee. Every wide block held large emporiums, banks, and restaurants. Every block also had large electronic pictures of my face, holding the same message, not to mention there was a five to one ratio for signs of me to Cal.

"He really is obsessed with you," Ella said, breaking the silence. " I had no idea it was this bad."

"I didn't either. I didn't know he was hanging these screens around every block. If I were a silver, I'd get sick of looking at my face every time I came to a new block."

"Mare, please do not turn off the electronic screens, it'll be an immediate sign you're here," Farley commanded.

"You read my mind," I said, having come up with the idea a few seconds before she told me to not.

"So, what's the plan," Ella said, apparently eager to know what would be happening next.

"We can either go straight to the nicest hotel we can find, our to the nicest restaurant we can find," Cal answered.

I gasped, shocked at what Cal had just spoken of. "Restaurant? Hotel? I'm wanted for 25,000 crowns, and we're going to waltz into a restaurant, with only Harrick's mind to protect us? If he loses his focus for a split second, we're dead."

"We've already driven into Archeon, and not to mention performed several other tasks with and without Harrick. I think we can manage an hour at a restaurant. And anyways everyone here is starving."

"The only part that I wouldn't disagree with you is the last sentence. But fine. If you believe we won't die, let's go." I said, shocked at the words spilling from my own mouth.

*****

As Cal assured, Harrick had become a master of disguise and could change our appearances for up to three hours. We exited the car, all noting each other's appearances.

We walked into the restaurant, casually as anyone else would; Cal had said this was a common silver restaurant and it wasn't necessary to know which type of fork to use for food. We entered, immediately I could tell why it was semi-formal. While still very nice looking in appearance, the tables and chairs weren't nearly as fancy as the ones at the palace and to Ella's disappointment, there were no grand chandeliers; she had been hoping to use her lightning to shatter one if we got into any sort of trouble, which Cal repeatedly told her that would not happen.

The eatery was crowded, with common silvers chatting excitedly about their plans for their weekend, and what they should order off the large menu. We followed the waiter to a large, half-circle booth, and were all handed menus, to look before our server would come back. I gazed for a very long time at the menu, carefully looking at all the options. Ella, Harrick, and Farley were doing the same, while Cal glanced over the menu, who seemed to already know what he wanted.

The waiter came a few minutes later, "Hello, my name is Carl, how are you doing tonight?"

We all quietly said we were fine, then returned the gesture, Carl saying "marvelous."

He asked us what we'd like to drink, and we all replied with water, not wanting one drop of alcohol in our bodies, and then ordering our dinners.

We had luckily been placed in a corner booth, away from a majority of the restaurant, able to discuss the coming days.

"So, after we leave here, we're going straight to the Adroma's Hotel, to get a very good night's rest," Farley said, going over plans.

"You want to stay at the Adroma's Hotel?" Cal whispered- screamed. "There's a difference between eating at a middle-class restaurant and staying at the most popular hotel in all of Archeon,"

Farley sighed, exasperated. " I don't want to stay there, we are staying there. I had an operative book us twelve rooms for our entire crew, there were only twelve left. Apparently, it's a very busy hotel."

It was Cal's turn to be exasperated, "Yes, it is a very busy hotel. It's the busiest hotel in the country."

"Look at that as a good thing. I'm sure Maven would be expecting us to stay at a small hotel on the outskirts of town, or sleep in the car. This way it will be easier to hide from him. What are there, a hundred rooms?"

"More like a thousand," muttered Cal.

But Cal and Farley were never able to finish arguing, a news announcement came up on the electronic screen.

A reporter began talker frantically, he was in Caesar's Square and looked very stressed.

"We don't know exactly how it happened, but the King alerted the guards stationed outside of his room early this morning, after waking up to find her cold body laying right next to him. More details to come, citizens. Long live the King and bless Queen Iris Cygnet."