Aeron and Nyella set out at dawn, riding on horses through the back gate of the city. They wore no armor, only plain clothes, so no one would recognize them. They moved quietly through the forests and bushes, keeping to the paths that people traveled less. After a long ride, they finally reached Ivarion.
The first gate of the kingdom was heavily guarded, yet they passed through without much trouble. But as soon as Nyella looked closer, her heart sank. The soldiers' uniforms were no longer the same. Each guard wore the crest of the Vanyr house, stitched boldly on their chest.
Nyella stared hard at one particular guard, and he noticed her. With a mocking smile, he said, "Want to eat me up, pretty lady?"
Before Nyella could react, Aeron whispered, "Let it go."
Her fists tightened. "It has not even been ten days," she muttered angrily, "and already his flags are flying everywhere, his men wearing his colors. He must have been planning this for a long time, right under our noses."
