The moon was at its highest when there was a knock on the door. Mora groaned and stalked across the foyer, opening the door. To her surprise, it was Averin. The boy smiled and walked in, not bothering to ask permission to enter. She glowered at him and followed him onto the balcony. A cool breeze swept her hair to her left, brushing it against Averin's shoulder.

"What are you doing here, if I may ask?" The captain turned enough to give her a sidelong glance before responding.

"I just wanted to know how your day went." Mora raised an eyebrow at him. "I mean, I want to know if my future traveling partner would rather stay here?" She grinned and patted his shoulder.

"As handsome as your cousin is, I think I'd take the option of getting as far away from my father a possible." Her throat tightened when she finished her sentence. Really, she wanted her father here more than ever. Her pursuer was not him at all. She held back a tear and walked back into her rooms, Averin following.

"Good, because we leave tomorrow night." Mora whirled and glowered at him.

"So soon? Why?" Averin shrugged and opened his mouth.

"So I can get away from this haughty-assed court as soon as I can." Mora choked back laugh and schooled her fingers, pretending to be inspecting her nails.

"Alright then. Now, would you please get out? I need sleep." Averin nodded his head and slowly walked to the door and left the room.

**********

The sun irritated Averin's eyes as he went on his daily morning run. Mora had demanded to run with him, so he let her. Why not anger the court ladies that enjoyed seeing him? The lord sprinted through the game park, his destination in sight. Mora practically glided as she ran, never slowing down and keeping her pace at his speed.

He stared out into the large field that made up most of the park. Per usual, there were hoards of court ladies waiting at the entrance he always used after running. Mora came into his peripheral vision. The girls was a natural runner, and her strides were graceful, like a deer's.

After their run, Averin peeled off his shirt to reveal a white undershirt that clung to his body like shrink wrap. He heard a tiny squeak escape Mora, but was quick to smother it with a cough. He smiled as they walked by the women. Some turned to giggling messes while others glared at Mora. The lord supposed she was good luck.

The walk back to their rooms was utterly silent, save for the sound of their feet clipping against the marble floors. Averin stopped at his door and turned to Mora. She was a few feet behind, showing a timid side that wasn't there the day before.

"I want to go spend the day with the queen before we go, if that's okay with you." She said it like a demand, not a question. Averin shooed her off.

"By all means, go. I have several meeting today." It was a lie, but the girl bought it. She dipped her head and scurried down the hall, looking back only once to mouth a thank you. He batted her attention away and walking into his rooms.

The sun was shining through the windows, illuminating the floor to a bright white. The young lord pushed his shoes off and pulled his shirt off, stalking into the bathing room. He scrubbed himself until his skin burned. After the bath, he pulled on a fresh black tunic and black pants.

He walked over to the balcony. A small mezzanine lay between his rooms and a lower level. Memories with Casen of jumping off the balcony and onto the stone platform and seeing who could do it the most without getting hurt clouded his mind. He hated leaving his cousin and his sweet aunt, but he couldn't handle the sniveling court any longer.

The sun was already down once he was at Mora's door. The girl exited , wearing black breeches, a black tunic, and black boots that went up to her thighs. He himself was dressed just like her. She slung a bag over her shoulder and stalked out the door and down the hall. Averin pulled his bag over his shoulder and caught up to her, leading the way through the castle.

They silently crossed the expanse from the castle to the back gate. Averin scaled the wall, Mora right behind him. He jumped down with barely a thud. The young lord looked up to see his companion. She was warily sizing the distance from the top of the wall to the ground. Averin growled and motioned for her to jump down.

"Jump. It's not that far." She glared at him with fierce turquoise eyes. "Seriously. Just jump down. I'll catch you." He heard her mutter to herself before she came falling down. Averin caught her with barely a grunt. He sat her down and began sprinting for the game park.

"So," Mora panted, easily keeping pace with him. "What is our route to Terrin?" Averin rolled his eyes at her, nearing the outer edge of the park.

"Go strait North. it won't be easy. We might have to stop in Perna." Mora nodded her head and continued running. Averin had to admit, he admired how much she could run in one day. And her speed! Not once did he have to slow down for her.

They rounded a corner of the game park and ran straight into the woods. He ignored the howling of wolves as kept going until they reached a meadow. Averin cursed under his breath as he beheld the Andrian Mountains in the distance. Mora stopped beside him, her jaw hanging open.

"Tell me we're going around that," she growled. Averin shook his head at her.

"I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because we are." He emphasized the final word of his sentence. The girl tossed her golden hair over her shoulder and glowered at him. The man shrugged and walked over to a dip in the ground that was surrounded by hedges. He grinned madly as he listened to Mora complaining and cursing as they picked their way through the foliage.

He sat on a mossy patch and rested his elbows on his knees, putting his face in his hands. Mora chose a patch opposite from him. He looked up and watched as she pulled a blanket from her bag and laid down, pulling the cloth over herself. Averin did the same and soon fell asleep.

Cold air blew up Averin's shirt as he woke form a deep sleep. He rubbed his eyes and looked across the hollow. Mora was sitting up, braiding her hair and speaking in a language he didn't understand. She looked up and smiled at him. He smiled back and stood, making his way toward the top of the hollow.

A cool breeze kissed his skin as he emerged from the bushes. He sighed and sat on a tree stump, staring out at the mountains ahead of them. That was the most dangerous mountain range on the East coast of Erilist. It would be a miracle of they crossed without any major injuries. He sighed and turned back to the hollow. Mora came out and began walking toward him.

"I thought it would be nice to tell each other any major secrets, since we should know who we're traveling with." Averin stared at her for what seemed like centuries until he finally opened his mouth.

"Alright then. You go first." The glare contest between them was one for history, until she finally nodded and sat on a log beside him.

"My name is Mora Ytgriss. My mother and father were slaughtered when I was a little girl, nearly ten years ago. I was taken to Caboset, and was given "special treatment". It was for being the princess of Elder." Averin blinked at her and sighed, running a hand through his short black hair. Mora turned away for what seemed like forever, until he began speaking.

"My name is Averin Soltrid. My father is the High Lord of Orit and the highest ranking lord in Selene's court. My mother is the Lady of Andia. I am the heir to both their territories." He stopped to allow a minute of silence before going on.

"I know that, according to the rules of every country, I am the rightful heir to the throne of Adrid. But, according to Adrid, I'm not. My father was born before Brennon and Caitlyn got married, meaning that he is illegitimate.

"But, to all the other countries, my father was the heir. He was the firstborn child of the previous king and queen. My father was liked only by his mother's side of the family. When he was just a boy, he was taken to Terrin and grew up in Orit, at his aunt's court.

"Selene favored him and made him the first High Lord of Orit, and the highest lord in her court. Now that Selene is nearing her deathbed, she has to pick an heir, since she never had children, and never remarried after her husband died." Averin looked at Mora. Her eyes glimmered with an ancient hope that hadn't been seen for hundreds of years. She placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Since Selene favors me over her whole court, and my father has nearly abdicated his position to me, I will most likely be chosen as the heir. But I don't want that. I never have." He sighed and put his face in his hands. Mora began speaking in a hushed tone.

"You could free Elder. You have two kingdoms behind you, and they are both far bigger than my conquerors. Please, help me free my people, or, atleast what's left of them." There was no humor in her voice when she finished her sentence. Averin looked up and blinked at her.

"I'm not risking people's lives that are governed by others."

"What if I won your favor?" The lord grimaced at her.

"I'll never marry you." He was surprised to see hurt in her eyes, but she was quick to disguise it with the anger and determination of a mighty queen.

"I didn't mean it like that. I meant, what if I became your friend? Would consider it then?" Averin looked her up and down and grinned.

"It takes years to for people to win my trust."