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RYLEY

I turned over the charm bracelet in my hands for what must have been the thousandth time. Every time the same question came up: What was I going to do? Was I going to destroy the piece to see what secrets it held? Or was I going to leave it as it was and continue my search?

It wasn’t an easy decision to make.

The girls were becoming more and more indignant as the days went by, particularly the older one. If it came down to it, I could probably get rid of HER without much consequence. The little one was far more valuable.

Though, deep down, I didn’t really want to. I had children of my own after all.

…And it was useless feelings like these welling up every now and then that bothered me as well. Some might call them guilt among other things, me? I called them distractions.

“You’re better off just wrecking the thing then, if you’ll get what you want.” Sophie grumbled, sitting in her place and holding her sister.

“Be quiet.” I hissed back. I turned the bracelet over one last time. My eyes examined the amber gems slowly. I could see something in there…just faintly. I wanted to know so badly what it was.

What if it turned out to be nothing? What if it was merely an imperfection in the amber? What if it was the light? Or the shadows playing tricks on me?

Yet…if I was correct in thinking there was something there…the rewards would be far greater than I could ever imagine…

Carefully I put the piece back onto the rock I had been sitting on, stood up, stretched and looked outside the mouth of the cave. I had moved my ‘headquarters’ to a spot on the northern coast just nestled up by the mountain. Stranburg was still a ways away, as well as North Post. I could see anyone coming a mile away, and the ocean was right there. And, the ridge just below the cave was steep enough that the girls couldn’t simply walk out.

Sure, the weather was warming up lately; I expected it with the coming of spring. But they couldn’t leave.

Slowly I looked back at the bracelet, eventually moving back to retrieve it.

“Enough of this,” I muttered to myself. I reached into my pocket and pulled out a chisel. It was crude at best, but it’d have to do. “…Damn…” The silver would be damaged and bent by the time I was done with it, but…
It was worth it.

The older sister snorted and glared at me. “Great, you’ll have all the proof you need and THEN can we go?”

“No.” I answered. That was always my answer.

“Why NOT? You have what you WANT. That’s all you NEED, you don’t need US!” She spat back at me.

I had my back turned to her, but I was too busy with the chisel. “I thought I made myself clear. Or do you need another reminder?”

The motions behind me stopped. A smirk crept up my face as I pried the gemstones out of the silver. They came out easily enough, but just as I had thought, I had to bend and smash the silver a lot before they did.

There were five of them, and I held each one up to the sunlight to try to look through them.

Nothing.

“…I was so sure…” Already my heart felt like it was starting to sink. I looked back at the silver, almost reluctantly.

On the inside of one of the sockets was an engraving of some sort. “Not on the gem but on… I see now…” I mumbled to myself.

I could barely make it out, but there engravings were old runes. Ones I had seen before many, many times.

Immediately I dove for my notes, shoving the gems into my pocket, ignoring their strange humming. Yes, these runes… They were the proof I needed.

It took a few minutes but I had a vague translation.

“For my daughter, Caitlan Broer.”

The name of the First King’s daughter was clear.

A smile pulled at my lips. “This is it…This is IT…” I could hardly keep my hands from trembling. I couldn’t believe it.

All along my family had kept this priceless heirloom locked up; never knowing what had waited for them inside it, just underneath its amber jewels.

This was the key.

This was our birthright.

Our family should have had the throne in their possession. And yet… We did not.

“It’s about time I put things right.” I clutched the bracelet tightly before looking back at the girls. “Stay here, I’ll be back.

Neither of them said anything. They only stared (or glared rather on the older one’s part.)

I put the bracelet into my pocket, grabbed my pack and walked out of the cave. It was a bit of a climb down and around, but I knew how to get back to the beach. I wouldn’t be gone very long anyway.

As I moved down the ridge, my thoughts wandered here and there. I couldn’t focus. Occasionally I did wonder if they were letting that old buffoon wander through the woods again in search of his two ‘prisoners.’

Judging from the barking in the distance, it would have seemed so.
______________________________________
WYATT

It had taken a few days to get to Goldpine, but with everyone pulling their weight, we managed easily enough.

Out in the woods there were a lot of places to hide. About twice a week we’d find a new cave or some thicket to take shelter in. We were always on the move. Then again, most of us were used to it.

Well I was… Don’t know about the rest of the crew, being locked up for twenty years and all.

“Quitcher flauntin’ about Evans. None’a us are new ta this n’ you know it.” Shaw spat, sitting and smoking a pipe.

“Oh ah’ll do what ah please.” We were camping along the river for now. It wasn’t so cold, and the snow had stopped falling. It had been almost a month since we had busted everyone out of prison. “Say now, where’d Atti get off ter?” I looked around. It had been quiet all morning long.

“Said he knew where t’ get somethin’ t’ eat. Took Finn with’m.” Shaw continued to mutter to himself. “Better not be off scarin’ th’ livin’ daylights outta th’ boy or I’m gonna kill’m m’self.”

I rolled my eyes. “I thought Fenton went with’m.”

“Aye, he did. Don’ mean Atti WON’T get inter trouble y’know.”

“True.” I scratched at my chin. “Come t’ think’f it. I haven’ seen Morrison all mornin’ either, OR the lil’ tuna-fish with’m.”

Ivan looked up from prodding at our small campfire with a crooked branch. “I catch’m wandrin’ off early in th’ mornin’, like he’s sneakin’ off t’ someplace. Seen that redhead follow’m several times at that.”

“Oh…?” I cleared my throat and eyed the woods around us. There wasn’t anyone in sight, and it was quieter than ever.

“Aye… Not like I’m gonna go snoopin’ though.”

For all I knew, it was probably for the better. “Eh, leave’m be.”

Shaw grunted and shifted in his place. “Hmph… He’s ALWAYS been runnin’ off. Who’s t’ say he won’ do it again eh?”

I frowned, “He won’t. He hasn’t run off.”

“Right, n’ I’m th’ king.”

Ivan and I looked at each other, neither of us saying a word. He went back to poking the fire while I sighed and ran my hands down my face. “Look, say whatever yeh like…Just keep an eye out fer everyone. I’m gonna go fer a walk.”

“Ya don’t need t’ go hikin’ a hundred miles ta take a piss.”

“I’ll consider it, thank ya.” So I left.
______________________________________
HARLON

“How much farther?” Rev asked for probably what was the thousandth time.

I was practically hobbling behind him, unable to catch up. My ankle was hurting. “Not much farther now…” I breathed, “Slow the hell down will ya? Not like th’ place is gonna git up n’ walk away.”

He stopped a few yards ahead of me. “Well yeah but you’re moving so slowly. So slow, even I could pass you.”

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah well ya best enjoy it b’fore I start t’ feel better n’ catch up to ya. An’ pummel ya fer bein’ sucha big mouth.”

“I think I’ll take my chances.”

We continued along and through the woods. The trees were starting to sprout new leaves and branches, and every now and then we’d see a few flowers peeking out from the dirt.

Spring was pushing the winter out once again, which was fine by me. I had had enough of freezing my rear end off, especially with the little one here.

“When’d ya get so hyper? Eh?” I asked, looking over at him. He was still a bit far from me. Luckily he was slowing down so that I could catch up.

“Well… I’m not freezing to death am I? That kind of accounts for something I’d think,” He answered, picking up a branch and waving it around.

I paused to catch a breath or two, and looked around. Over by a tree were a few black feathers floating around on the breeze, sliding across the dirt. They weren’t very big, but I moved over there quickly and caught them, shoving them into my pocket. Rev didn’t notice a thing. “Ah suppose so… Well that’s good then. Don’ need t’ be haulin’ around a block ‘f ice with YOU in it.”

“I’m not sure if that’s supposed to be a compliment or not,”

“Think of it as ya will. Yer probably right.”

He turned and faced me, sucking his teeth. I had finally caught up. “I guess I won’t tell you what I think it is then.”

I raised a brow, “No? Well, fine. Ah don’ care.” I shrugged it off and moved ahead.

“Yes you do.” He followed, just like a puppy.

“No ah don’t.”

“I bet you do.”

“Oh? Bet what now?”

The southerner paused, “…Don’t know…but if I find anything worth something, I’ll bet that.”

I just laughed. “Aye, fair enough… Th’ river’s up ahead. We’ll be there soon…let’s jus’ stop fer a break.”

I’d have said it was more of a stream than a river, but it was too large for that. There were several of these running throughout Goldpine. That’s why the trees grew so well.

“You still haven’t told me where we’re going.” Rev complained again, pushing a few rocks into the cold water with his shoe.

“It ain’ called a surprise fer nothin’. Jus’ be patient.” While he moved around as fast as a chipmunk, I sat heavily on an old stump. It felt good to get off my feet, even if it were just for five minutes, maybe even less considering Rev was around.

He sighed and put his hands on his hips, “Well…I don’t wanna be out here after dark, just so you know.”

“I think you’ll change yer mind by th’ time we get there.”

He raised a brow and tilted his head, “Oh?”

“Mmm.” I nodded. “…Ya know I heard sometimes th’ trees have big ol’ pine cones leftover from th’ winter. Heard they can be about as huge as yer head some’a them. Why don’cha go take a look? Jes’ over there where I can see ya.”

Rev frowned briefly but his curiosity got the better of him. “I doubt it,” Despite his words, he moved over towards some taller pine trees, looking around and underneath them.

I chuckled and kept watch from where I was, slowly pulling out my latest project.

It was a crude gift… and overdue by this point, but…It would do. Besides, it wasn’t the only thing.

I took out a piece of twine, along with the feathers and tied them together. It had taken a bit of scavenging to find all the pieces I had wanted, but sure enough, I managed. I held the thing and looked it over. I was no artist, but I had done the best I could.

Hopefully Rev would appreciate it.

“I don’t see any here! Are you lying to me??” He called out.

“No! They’re there jus’…keep lookin’!” I yelled back, finishing the piece and almost shoving it back into my pocket.

Not yet… Then again, I had been saying ‘not yet’ all month long.

Eventually Rev wandered back to me, looking very disappointed. “There weren’t any big pine cones.” He pouted.

I snorted and ruffled his hair before getting up. “They’re hidin’ from ya. Ya gotta be quieter. They knew ya were comin’.”

“Ok, now I know you’re CLEARLY lying.”

“Hey, ya never been ta th’ north, how would you know?”

He tossed his head back with a sharp ‘HMPH’ and walked ahead of me. “This way right?”

“Aye.” I followed behind him again, watching his back the entire time.

My eyes wandered every now and then, sure… and I had little butterflies in my stomach, but…

Well…

Rev turned to look at me again, “Hey…You’re slowing down again. What’s the matter?”

I snapped out of it and looked back up towards him. “Hm? Oh, nothin’. Jus’ thinkin’.”

“You can think and walk at the same time, you know.”

“…Heh… Sometimes.”