The Masked General

Latibule

Ivelle was alive, but how?

Avira finally released herself from the group hug, "I thought you were dead!"

"I thought you were dead too!" Ivelle laughed and wiped the tears from her face.

"If you are here and well, then is Samuel with you also?" Avira looked for any signs of hope.

"No. I don't know what happened to him. The last I saw of him was at the palace, he told me to run. I'm sorry, I'm such a coward," Ivelle looked down and stepped back.

Avira could not find the words to respond, Eleanor put her hand on Avira's shoulder, in an attempt to be a comfort. Avira couldn't believe what had happened. But she would not break now, her brother could still be alive.

"It's not your fault Ivelle. None of this makes any sense!" Avira groaned, "Would Marc truly not listen to us, if we all went together, and tried talking to him again?"

"You know that won't work," Ivelle whispered.

"We don't know unless we try. I wasn't prepared the last time I talked to him, but if I know what I am going to say, if Samuel is alive, if we can just-"

"If, if, if!! Do you hear yourself, Avira?." Ivelle shouted, " Prince Marc has lost his senses, we can't reason with him. I know, I know that you just want things to go back to normal. I do too. But we have come too far to turn back. If we do decide to return home, we need more than a bunch of eloquent words thrown together to convince him to stop his madness."

Avira bit her lip, and looked down. She didn't respond.

"I'm sorry, I should not have raised my voice, but we need help." Ivelle sighed and covered her face with her hands, "I-"

"No, I know. We are all tired and stressed. We will find help, but from what or whom?" Avira stopped her pacing, as she began to question her sister.

"If I may," Eleanor stepped forward, "I suggest we continue this discussion, further away from the inn."

They looked around as more people began coming out of their homes. Doors opened, children laughed, the smell of fresh bread wafted through windows. It was almost as if things were all right in the world.

"Yes, let's head further into the countryside for now." Ivelle stated.

They walked on for what seemed an eternity. The hot afternoon sun beat down harshly, so they found a traveler who was willing to let them sit in the back of their wagon.

Avira had been lost in thought, but when she looked at her surroundings, she signaled the wagon to stop. She had Ivelle and Eleanor get off, and they thanked the kind man for letting them ride with him.

"We are not heading towards the countryside of Harwen. We are nearly to Wayollen! I hadn't noticed before, but this is most definitely the border. Ivelle?" Avira looked at her sister, her eyebrows furrowed.

"In my defense, had I mentioned this earlier, you would've refused," Ivelle chuckled wryly, avoiding Avira's gaze.

"Also, Princess. You are wrong, we are already past the border, we passed it a little while ago," Eleanor spoke up.

Avira turned her glare towards Eleanor, "You plotted with my sister against me, did you not?"

"Forgive me, Princess," Eleanor bowed her head.

Avira raised her eyebrows, "Never."

"You wound me Princess." Eleanor sighed, placing a hand over her heart.

Avira chuckled, "Oh fine, you're forgiven." She smiled gently, but her eyes were serious, "Don't worry, I was not angry, but Ivelle, please tell me next time something like this happens. We shouldn't be hiding things from each other."