Declan was reliving the events of the day in his room. He could not believe that people were willing to stand behind him. The memory of Duster singing his praises brought a smile to his face. He was thinking about how to be the person that would be worthy to stand behind when he heard a small knock at the door.

  “Declan?” he heard.

  He opened the door and his cheeks became warm at the sight of Morganse.

  “I was hoping to talk to you if you have a moment?” she said.

  “Of course come in!” Declan said a little too excitedly.

  Morganse stepped into the room and Declan motioned for her to sit. “I just wanted to congratulate you on your new alliance today and ask if you had given any thought in what you will do next?”

  Declan had been thinking about this since the yesterday and had some small idea of what he wanted to do. “Yes,” he said “I would like to travel to Whitehaven. I could try to speak with my brother.” “I thought about that too.” She admitted.

  “If I can go there, I can find out what really happened to my father and I am sure that they will fight for me.” Declan said.

  “Declan” Morganse said softly.

  “Yes?” he answered

  “I think that we will need to separate to be the most effective.” She said.

  Declan turned his face to hide his displeasure. He did not want to separate but he knew she was right. “Where will you go?” he asked.

  “I think it would be best for Finn and I to head back to Hollowcoast. We will stop at each village on our way and look for supporters.” Morganse reasoned.

  “Yes, as Marwynn said, we need as many allies as we can find” he answered.

  “I will let Finn know and we will leave at first light tomorrow.” She got up to leave but stopped halfway to the door. She turned back to face Declan, “I have enjoyed my time with you Declan and I look forward to meeting again.” Declan’s flushed and she turned and walked out. When the door clicked shut, Declan put his face down in his hands.

  He heard the door swing open again and he called out “Morganse!” Duster walked in followed by Finn. Both looked serious and he knew that Morganse had just told Finn they would be leaving.

  “Duster, I am glad that we have met again, and I am sorry to have to ask you to part so soon.” Declan said.

  “I know what I must do.” Duster said with confidence. “I will find as many supporters as I can and spread the word.” Finn did not say a word he just looked down at his feet and began to shuffle them across the floor. Declan thought that he almost looked sad. “Finn, I need you to go with your sister.” Declan said.

  “I know, I’m going.” Finn snapped.

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  “Finn, it is not Prince Declan’s fault, don’t take it out on him.” Duster scolded his new friend.

  “I know I just hate traveling.” Finn sighed. “all the walking and sleeping on the ground. I’m just getting too old for this.”

  Declan chuckled, “You are but fourteen, you will be fine.”

  Finn leaned his head back and his mouth hung open. He breathed in deep and let it out slowly. Declan felt the same, he knew that this journey was going to be long and difficult.

  The sun set and the morning arrived with the birds chirping on the windowsill. Inside, Declan was asleep on the bed Finn was hanging in a net from the rafters, and Duster was curled up on the chair. A light tapping at the door made Declan stir. He rolled out of bed and swung Finn’s hammock “wake up, it is time.”

  Finn shook his hand at Declan and said “Five more minutes.”

  Declan shook his head and smiled then opened the door for Morganse. Muriel followed her into the room. Morganse was about to poke Finn again and Muriel stopped her, “allow me she said with a smile.” Then she spun the net upside down and Finn fell to the ground.

  “Ow! What was that for?” Finn exclaimed and rubbed his head.

  “Since this is the goodbye for now, I thought I would send you off with my good wishes” Muriel smirked.

  Finn was at a loss for anything to say since he still was not fully awake. He looked ridiculous sitting there with his hair sticking up in different directions and his mouth hanging open. He was still in shock that he was on the ground.

  “I packed your breakfast, you can eat it on the way” Morganse tossed him a pouch.

  Morganse followed Muriel outside to wait for Finn to finish getting dressed. “Muriel, I am going to miss you.” she said.

  Surprised, Muriel hugged Morganse “Me too” she said.

  Muriel released her and tears welled up in her eyes. “You are my first real female friend.” She admitted.

  Morganse began to cry too, “I will see you after Whitehaven. I think we will be heading back here.”

  Finn flung the door open “Oh Muriel I know you will miss me but there is no need for tears.” Declan followed him outside.

  Muriel glared at Finn “Aww pup don’t flatter yourself. I will miss you like I would miss a boil.”

  “But you will miss me, I knew it” Finn winked. “You have been flirting with me since the day we met.” Muriel looked absolutely disgusted. “No.”

  Finn startled Muriel and grabbed her by the waist and attempted to kiss her. Muriel stomped on his foot and pushed him away.

  “Finn!” Morganse yelled, “that is enough now apologize!”

  “Sorry” he said feebly.

  Muriel fumed and shot daggers at Finn, Declan could have sworn that he saw smoke emitting from her ears. He smiled apologetically at her. Then he said “we will wait here for a bit longer for Marwynn to arrive before setting off for Whitehaven.”

  “You get to go to Whitehaven with Declan?” Finn protested. “I have never been there, do I really have to go with you Morganse?”

  “You are coming with me. Mother and father will want to see you and you are too young to travel alone.” She said.

  “Unbelievable” Finn muttered under his breath.

  Morganse adjusted her bag and signaled to Fin “Let’s go, we are wasting daylight.”

  Declan watched them walk to the stump and disappear below the trees. Muriel stood by him and said “I am going to miss them too.”

  Declan smirked “Even Finn?”

  “Bite your tongue!” she jested.

  They continued to watch the place where Morganse and Finn disappeared for several minutes. Then they saw the stump come back into view with two passengers that could not be Finn and Morganse. A rather tall figure and a shorter one emerged from the trees as the stump settled onto the platform.

  “Marwynn” Muriel gasped. Her face drained of color and she ran towards the spot they were standing.