Les Hors-la-loi || Outlaws

11

1182, present day

They all sat around a table in the tavern.

"Drinks on me!" Chloé shouted, raising her tankard, "stolen wine from the palace cellar. The best you will ever taste!"

Luka laughed and gently forced her back into her seat.

"I just want to say," Chloé began, standing up again, causing Luka to sigh, "that tonight was a success because everyone did their part. Our lookouts were sharp, our archers were on point, and those of us that carried the loot out were quicker than anything. I say we get down to planning our next raid already. Let's make the king go insane before he even reaches Christmas!"

Luka got Chloé to sit down. "Christmas isn't for nearly a month, calm down."

Chloé stood up again. "I want to say thank you to Lila for not stabbing us in the back yet."

Lila raised her eyebrows, then her glass. "I appreciate the ackowldgement."

"I also want to say thank you to . . . to myself for being such a genius!"

"Ah," Sabrina said, "there it is."

Max grinned smugly as Kim was seen handing over a gold coin from his share to the genius.

Juleka snorted. "You bet on how long it would take for the princess to appreciate herself?"

"A bet involves chance and the possibility of losing money," Max said, "I made an investment."

Kim rolled his eyes at Max's smug grin.

"Here's a bet for you," Chloé said, "a match in the ring says we break my father before Christmas."

Max frowned for a moment as he thought. "A spot in the council says you're wrong."

"Done." Chloé nearly laid down on the table to reach Max and shake his hand.

"Someone needs to get home for some sleep," Nino teased when Manon yawned, causing a chain reaction until Nino himself was yawning. "Yeah, I was right, someone needs to get back to bed."

Alix stood up and stretched. "As fun as that was, I say we take two days break before we do another night-raid."

Chloé glanced at Jalil and Sabrina. "You guys will let us know when you have something?"

Sabrina nodded.

And so they continued like that. They all played their part, each of them preparing for the day when Chloé would stand up against her father, and when he stood up against her, they would be there to back her up.

●○●○●○●○●

1182, nearly a month later

Marinette sat at the window, talking to the three birds.

"You've made a friend? A starling? Oh, forgive me, Pollen. A violet-backed starling."

"You know you sound insane, right?"

"Says the man who is sleeping with his bride's handmaiden."

"Touché, Fairy-nette."

Marinette turned to look at Adrien, who was spinning her pink ribbon in the air as he lay on the bed. "Where did you hear that?"

"Nora mentioned it to Chloé. Why? Is it something personal?"

Marinette shrugged. "I'm not quite sure myself."

The bluebird chirped loudly.

"What is it, Duusu?"

Tikki chirped as well.