On this chapter is the official Books of Lessaenes series poster, which I finally finished editing!

Characters from left to right:

Viviana
Saralee
Amanda
Aron

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After changing into my new Rhenan clothes- a loose, scratchy tunic that I was sure would rub my skin raw before nightfall and a pair of brown jeans- I made sure all of the Glitches were accounted for before beginning to follow Ervyn and Thorel through the dense thicket of trees. It was obvious that the young Rhenan knew the forest well; he navigated through the woods with ease while the rest of us stumbled along, often snagging our feet in shallow pits and piles of twigs.

"If you weren't a princess, I'd make a not-so-polite comment about your clumsiness," Ervyn smirked. "Although, I shouldn't blame you. I heard that in Glaisse, you Lessaenites walk around on piles of rose petals."

"That's not entirely true," I interjected, silently cursing my Greater Glaisse accent. It seemed to be getting stronger every minute, and made me sound like a total snob.

"Then what's it really like?" He asked, his eyes widening with curiosity.

"Oh, it's exactly like they show it on Auraview," Thorel grumbled. "The universe's most beautiful city filled with the universe's worst people."

"You guys aren't like all those people though," Ervyn beamed. "You guys are awesome."

"Well, we're glad you think so," I laughed.

"Here we are." Ervyn pulled aside a loose vine, revealing what appeared to be nothing more than a large clearing in the middle of the dense foliage. A closer look unmasked circles of thatched huts and women sitting on their porches, sifting through flour, rolling tortillas, sewing patterned shawls, or performing other such tasks. It almost looked like a painting of colonial America.

"I thought the Lessaenite Empire was super advanced," Kelly frowned, poking me in the arm.

"Lessaenes is," Ervyn sighed. "Us? Not so much."

"Where are all the guys?" I asked, gesturing to the women who surrounded us.

"They're out hunting. They'll be back in a few hours. When I turn sixteen, I'll have to go too." Ervyn made a sour face. "But I shouldn't be complaining. It's the only way we can feed our village with all of the Queen's ridiculous laws. Did you know she's going to start taxing beads from next year?"

"Wow..." I trailed off.

"Hey!" Ervyn waved to a young woman sitting alone in front of one of the larger huts, kneading dough in a wicker basket with her long, spindly fingers.

"Oh, thank goodness, you're back," she beamed, rising to greet him. "What took you so long?"

"I found some Linaberries in the woods!" Ervyn smiled excitedly, opening the cloth bag at his waist to reveal a pile of delicious looking red fruit. "We can make Linaberry tart!"

"Linaberry tart is not worth risking your life. What if an Ice Guard had found you? It's the middle of warmatch season! And who are they?" She gestured to us. "I admire your charitable ways, but if you think we have enough room for them to stay with us, you are sorely mistaken."

"Uh...can I talk to you inside?" Ervyn whispered.

"What? They're poor travelers who haven't had any food for days? Well, neither have we! And I'd rather use the last of the wheat to feed you than anyone else."

"Eira, please."

"Alright," she rolled her eyes. "But no promises."

"You can come too," Ervyn grinned, looking at me.

We ducked to fit through the hut's narrow entrance, our heads scraping against the straw roof as we walked inside. The interior of the dwelling was surprisingly spacious, with enough room for a stove, a stool, and two small straw mattresses.

Ervyn cupped his hand over his mouth, whispering something in Eira's ear. She burst out laughing as he pulled away.

"So, this girl told you she was the lost princess, and you believed her?" She guffawed. "How can one who was born and raised in the Empire's most crime-ridden province be so gullible?"

Something about the derisive look she gave me really ticked my Gift off. My purple eyes began to glow a brilliant shade of blue and my Aura shone through my clenched fists.

"Sweet Lumys..." Eira gasped, slowly backing away and falling to her knees, staring at me with a mix of shock and fervent admiration. "A daughter of the Arystenn Dynasty in my home..." She shook her head. "Am I dreaming?"

"Ignore my sister," Ervyn laughed. "She likes to take things a bit too far."

"Shush! You're being disrespectful!" Eira hissed.

"As if you know what to do in the presence of royalty."

"I know that what you're doing certainly isn't it."

"It's alright," I put my hands up assuringly. "You don't have to do anything special for me. Having us here is already a huge burden for you."

"No, it's no problem at all," Eira said cheerily. "Pass me those Linaberries, Ervyn. We're not just making tart, we're making cake! I don't care if we use up all of our sugar rations! Today is a day the Empire should celebrate!"

"Is there room for the rest of them?" Ervyn asked.

"Well..."

"They're the Warrior Chief and the last eleven humans in existence," I added.

"Of course!" Eira nodded, tossing Ervyn's berries in a pot, placing it on the stove, and adding a cup of water. "They can sleep behind the hut. I know that our eminent guests deserve so much more, but this is truly the best we can offer."

"I understand," I smiled. "I'm sure we are all extremely grateful."

"Guys!" I called. Thorel and the Glitches sidestepped awkwardly through the doorway, crowding into the hut. "Ervyn and his sister said we can spend the night with them!"

"And we're having sweet potatoes and Linaberry cake for dinner! I might even be able to get my hands on a chicken!" Eira grinned.

"But meat is insanely expensive," Ervyn protested.

"Princess Viviana is here!" Eira exclaimed. "Soon, we'll be able to afford as much food as we need."

My stomach twisted into knots as the two Rhenans prepared what was probably the biggest meal they had eaten in years. They really thought I could save them...As if the guilt I was already feeling wasn't enough, I almost immediately received a CT from my mother.

Saralee Relasay Arystenn: Wow, Vivi, you're already so good at lying! Just add dirty politics, greed, and corruption and you'll be a real member of the family ;)

Me: Get out of my Aura. And I'm not lying.

Saralee Relasay Arystenn: Sorry, I don't take orders from anyone. Especially not from you. Your new Rhenan friends keep saying you'll save them, and you aren't correcting them. Not telling the truth is just the same as giving a false statement.

Me: It's not my fault they think what they think. Stop wasting your time messing with me. I can't defeat you. Stop believing these...peasants.

I hated to refer to Ervyn and Eira like a typical aristocrat would, but I hoped it would please the Queen enough to make her leave.

Saralee Relasay Arystenn: Good point. Bye!

<Saralee Relasay Arystenn left the server>

Only after she was gone did I realize what her messages meant. Your new Rhenan friends keep saying you'll save them...

She knew we were at Kyanah Creek. Thorel hadn't disabled her trackers on us after all.

We were in trouble.