{"id":2685,"date":"2019-09-15T07:39:12","date_gmt":"2019-09-15T12:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2685"},"modified":"2020-06-19T09:52:44","modified_gmt":"2020-06-19T14:52:44","slug":"luck-lucky-part-13","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajscifistories.com\/?p=2685","title":{"rendered":"Luck Lucky – Part 13"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luck Lucky<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

by AJ Marks<\/span><\/p>\n

Part 13: A Lucky Kidnapping<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Gwen looked around in the tent, they had moved and set up in a new spot.\u00a0 Messengers sent out to various people in the Shadowlands for support, or fighters.\u00a0 Jack, Kerros, Betsy and a few others were out in towns close to the Shadowlands waiting for any newcomers.\u00a0 Surprisingly she heard back from John rather quickly as two mercenaries came in from his employment,<\/p>\n

\u201cSven, Otto,\u201d Gwen said as they walked into the camp.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeard from our employer that you needed some help,\u201d Sven said, slapping her on the back.\u00a0 \u201cWe always wanted to work with you again.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, where\u2019s Zoe?\u201d Otto asked, looking around for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe king kidnapped her,\u201d Gwen said, watching their attitudes change slightly.\u00a0 They would not be bought by anyone, and could help out tremendously.\u00a0 \u201cI have a job for you two,\u201d she said suddenly.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, what?\u201d Sven said, ready to go.<\/p>\n

\u201cGo to the capital, look around, you can go to the local bounty office for jobs in the Shadowlands as a cover,\u201d Gwen said.\u00a0 \u201cI need information about where they might be holding Zoe, and his forces, how they are doing.\u00a0 Two low fighting power bounty hunters looking for jobs shouldn\u2019t attract much attention.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we can do that,\u201d Sven said.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Gwen said.\u00a0 \u201cWhen you finish, head back to Sinthal, meet up with a man named Jack, he\u2019ll get the information back to me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t come straight back?\u201d Otto asked, confused.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t lead them back to the camp,\u201d Sven said, smacking Otto on the back of the head.<\/p>\n

\u201cI guess,\u201d Otto said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe head back to the Shadowlands and then over to the camp after checking to make sure no one is following us,\u201d Sven said.<\/p>\n

\u201cBe careful, and if you run into Zetran, inform him as well of what happened, he might join up with you,\u201d Gwen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeard of him, famous,\u201d Sven said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, we can do this,\u201d Otto said.<\/p>\n

Gwen wished them luck watching as they walked out of the camp, and Celia quickly walked up to her.\u00a0 Her body language made it apparent she was not happy about something.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere are they going?\u00a0 Did you already frighten them off? \u00a0We need soldiers,\u201d Celia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, we need information, and they are perfect,\u201d Gwen said, seeing Celia frown.\u00a0 \u201cThey are from the Shadowlands, bounty hunters, mercenaries, low level fighters, and if they go looking for jobs in the Shadowlands, it won\u2019t attract much attention.\u00a0 They can look around and bring us information back of what\u2019s going on, and they are skilled.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen noticed that Celia was not convinced about it at all, even as another message came in from a runner.\u00a0 He walked right up catching his breath from the fast run.<\/p>\n

\u201cMa\u2019am,\u201d he said to Celia, handing her a note.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Celia said, reading it.\u00a0 \u201cIt seems like your friends Valerie will support us, along with her father.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Gwen said, knowing that financial support would be all but assured with those two, along with John.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe said that some others have pledged support as well, someone called Lessar, Hectar and Cornius?\u201d Celia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore friends,\u201d Gwen said, not even realizing they might help out a bit.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, I don\u2019t understand it, but we\u2019ve gathered more support in the past couple of days than a year of trying,\u201d Celia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou were counting on support from Stephos, he was only working for himself,\u201d Gwen said.\u00a0 \u201cThese are people who we\u2019ve helped, Zoe and I.\u201d<\/p>\n

She watched Celia think about that for a few seconds.\u00a0 She moved on looking at the note seeing that she would also work on Hans to get some additional people.\u00a0 A whole support system was in the works.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow about something to eat?\u201d Gwen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Celia said, as they walked off to the mess tent, which was now up and full running again.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Gwen watched as the men and women ran through several drills.\u00a0 So far the group seemed to be coming together, they needed a true leader.\u00a0 She taught them a lot, having been a commander in the army due to her position in the royal family and her own power.<\/p>\n

\u201cGwen, someone here to see you,\u201d Jess called out, one of the new lieutenants in the rebellion, a young man with short brown hair, and ready to please.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right,\u201d Gwen said, walking over to the tent and stepping inside.\u00a0 She saw Celia, and another figure who seemed familiar before recognizing him, Ottis.\u00a0 His tall figure made an imposing sight.<\/p>\n

\u201cHeard what happened, came as soon as I could,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ll defiantly welcome you,\u201d Gwen said, knowing they could use his power.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was in the army,\u201d Ottis said, \u201cbut not the Realm.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen looked at him, but said nothing.\u00a0 They all had secrets.\u00a0 \u201cAnd are you comfortable with this?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Zoe is a nice person,\u201d Ottis said, not saying much more.\u00a0 \u201cYou are going after her?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, think I\u2019d allow my lover to be kidnapped?\u201d Gwen said, \u201ccome on, I\u2019ll show you the set up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay,\u201d he replied, walking out of the tent with her.\u00a0 She showed him the training area, and he jumped right in, his training apparent.\u00a0 She figured him to have been an instructor of some sort.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou made some unusual friends in the Shadowlands,\u201d Celia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cZoe did most of it, I kept to myself out of fear they might know who I was,\u201d Gwen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe infamous Ruth,\u201d Celia said.<\/p>\n

Gwen said nothing about that.\u00a0 Her past she wanted to bury, and this seemed like a good way to bury it.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, I did have another note for you, forgot about it because the messenger tripped and broke his ankle,\u201d Celia said.<\/p>\n

Gwen looked at her for a second before reaching for the note and reading it through.\u00a0 It suggest they meet, and signed \u2019your unlucky latgic\u2019.\u00a0 Gwen frowned slightly before recalling someone who was unlucky, who they had met.\u00a0 Gwen hesitated a second, looking at the location, realizing it was not far away, and not very populated.\u00a0 Meeting the woman might be dangerous, yet there was a tone in the note, and she wanted to meet Zoe for some reason.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to meet this person, don\u2019t have anyone follow me,\u201d Gwen said, seeing Celia frown at that.<\/p>\n

\u201cDo you think that\u2019s wise?\u201d Celia said.\u00a0 \u201cPeople might think you\u2019re working with the Realm.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThe person is a latgic, her magic isn\u2019t that great to people, we\u2019ve already had an encounter and I don\u2019t want to endanger anyone else, like the messenger,\u201d Gwen told her, waiting a second for her to think about it.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo he broke his leg because he was close to this person?\u201d Celia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, and if I go, thing will be much quicker,\u201d Gwen replied, heading out to her horse.\u00a0 Despite Celia\u2019s objections Gwen continued on, riding out of the camp.<\/p>\n

Much quicker than she expected she found herself at the meeting point, seeing a small camp set up, and the woman sitting near the fire.\u00a0 Gwen dismounted tying her horse to a tree before approaching.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere is your partner?\u201d the woman asked, looking around.<\/p>\n

\u201cKidnapped by the Realm,\u201d Gwen replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, the rumor is true,\u201d she said.\u00a0 \u201cI should have asked back in the village.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what question is that?\u201d Gwen asked, unsure what might be coming.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat she might be my daughter,\u201d the woman said.\u00a0 \u201cI knew she had luck, they told me so, and that there was a rumor they did not want me to hear, she had escaped.\u00a0 You\u2019re partner\u2019s name is Zoe, isn\u2019t it?\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen froze, wondering what the situation might be now.\u00a0 She had not expected to hear this.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is, I can tell by your face,\u201d the woman said.\u00a0 \u201cI am Fran.\u00a0 It\u2019s nice to meet my daughter\u2019s lover.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, yeah,\u201d Gwen replied, caught unaware.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo another bastard has my daughter, perhaps this can work in our favor then,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

\u201cHow?\u201d Gwen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimple, I\u2019m bad luck, and a latgics abilities are closely tied with emotions, I need to give her that message.\u00a0 And if she believes in you, that bond will strengthen, a reason why I gave up my daughter,\u201d Fran said, looking around her camp.<\/p>\n

Gwen listened silently before finally speaking.\u00a0 \u201cHow did you know we\u2019re lovers?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cA mother knows,\u201d she replied.\u00a0 \u201cNow you better leave me, don\u2019t want to be with me too long, and I have work to do at the capital.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDo I want to know?\u201d Gwen asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m going to see my daughter,\u201d Fran said with a smile.<\/p>\n

Gwen thought about saying something to keep her there, but stopped.\u00a0 \u201cWell, I wish you luck.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think you mean bad luck,\u201d Fran replied, smiling a genuine smile, and scaring Gwen slightly.\u00a0 \u201cI am going to your enemy\u2019s territory.\u00a0 If I can get Zoe to concentrate on you, and I use my emotion on them, it can turn the tide of war.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, if you see her, tell her I\u2019m coming, have to get my forces together,\u201d Gwen said finally.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course, can\u2019t go marching in there without a plan, you are as the rumors say,\u201d Fran said.\u00a0 \u201cNow, get going before my magic effect you too.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen did not have to be told twice and headed back to her horse and back to camp.\u00a0 All this talk of luck and bad luck made her head spin.\u00a0 Riding back into camp she was met by Jess, who seemed to be waiting for her.<\/p>\n

\u201cAny news?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, we have several people from the Hunter\u2019s Guild here they want to see you,\u201d Jess said.\u00a0 \u201cCelia\u2019s a bit miffed about it though.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen understood why.\u00a0 The leaders had been trying to get the Hunter\u2019s Guild on their side for a year with no luck.\u00a0 Gregory had tried several times according to Celia.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, be right there,\u201d Gwen said, dismounting and handing the reigns to a handler.\u00a0 Walking towards the command tent she saw Celia standing outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet your little business settled?\u201d she asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, another person who will help,\u201d Gwen said, not revealing much information about Fran.\u00a0 The less people who knew about her the better.\u00a0 Heading inside she was surprised to see Zeltran along with four others waiting inside.\u00a0 She looked at them warily knowing that she had a large price on her head and they could be here to collect.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, very trusting,\u201d the largest said, he had thick black hair and a beard.\u00a0 \u201cZeltran says good things about you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen looked over at the bald man who did not move.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou have quite a camp here,\u201d the man said.\u00a0 \u201cAllow me to introduce myself, I\u2019m Brice, head of the Hunter\u2019s Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, why are you here?\u201d Gwen asked, getting down to business.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust like a bounty hunter,\u201d Brice said with a laugh.\u00a0 \u201cWell, we\u2019ve seen how things are going under King Rick, and his son, Derek, and we don\u2019t like being lied to.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen frowned as Brice\u2019s tone hardened.\u00a0 She wondered what lie had caused that but waited patiently.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe bring gifts of information,\u201d Brice said.\u00a0 \u201cLet\u2019s sit down and get comfortable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen agreed and sat down as they did as well.\u00a0 An odd feeling sitting down with a group of bounty hunters, yet she felt more comfortable now than anywhere else in the camp.\u00a0 Perhaps she had been a bounty hunter for too long now.\u00a0 This mix of trust and distrust that was open and not hidden among them.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, what did you find out?\u201d Celia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, we had a couple of new guys show up, unusual if you ask me, especially from the Shadowlands.\u00a0 Now we had a problem you see, we usually only deal with local groups, but the situation recently with the rebellion had changed, or so we thought,\u201d Brice said.\u00a0 \u201cThe king stated the rebellion was dead, gone and they were moving forward with the next phase of their plans.\u00a0 And then these two show up, so we did some checking.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd you found the rebellion not as dead as you thought,\u201d Gwen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cNope, in fact, better than ever it seems,\u201d Brice said.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo why are you here,\u201d Cellia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s simple, we want you to win,\u201d Brice said.<\/p>\n

So matter of fact is almost seemed too good for Gwen to believe.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew your parents, good people, and a damn shame what happened to them.\u00a0 Rode with your father, his brother was a spoiled brat, and he passed that on to his son.\u00a0 With them as rulers the Realm won\u2019t last much longer, and my sources say that one of the other nations could invade us real soon.\u00a0 The king doesn\u2019t seem to care,\u201d Brice stated<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I can prevent an invasion how?\u201d Gwen asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cSimple, you know how to lead, the rebellion is an example of that.\u00a0 You can take charge of the armies like no one else can, with a strong leader the other nations will back off.\u00a0 The information is they view Rick as weak, and his son even weaker,\u201d Brice told them.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the Realm won\u2019t be treated kindly by any of the other kingdoms,\u201d Celia said, nodding her head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, they want revenge on us,\u201d Brice said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe last war, thought they took back their territory,\u201d Gwen stated.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey did,\u201d Brice said.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe also have other news,\u201d Zeltran said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Brice said.\u00a0 \u201cWe know about a person who the king kidnapped, she must be something because once they took her they now give off a feeling of being invincible.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cZoe,\u201d Gwen said, knowing of no one else they had taken. It also presented a slight advantage to her.\u00a0 If they felt invincible, that\u2019s when you made mistakes.\u00a0 They probably counted on any mistakes being covered by Zoe\u2019s luck<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s her name,\u201d Brice said, looking at the others. \u00a0\u201cAnd,\u201d he hesitated for a second before continuing, \u201cPrince Derek is to marry her next week.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOur information says they are going to invade the Imperials shortly after that, led by Derek himself,\u201d another bounty hunter said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen the choice is simple for me, I have to get her back before next week,\u201d Gwen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd the rebellion?\u201d Celia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cDeal with that after I get Zoe back,\u201d Gwen replied.\u00a0 She really did not care much for the rebellion, only that Zoe had been kidnapped.\u00a0 She would do just about anything to get her back.\u00a0 She left no option off the table.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo you\u2019d risk the entire rebellion over some girl?\u201d Celia said, sounding a bit outraged of the idea.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor my lover, yes, right now she is the only thing I give a damn about,\u201d Gwen replied honestly, glaring at Celia.\u00a0 They exchanged glares for several seconds neither one backing down until Brice spoke up again.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, by kidnapping her we might cause trouble for the king and the prince,\u201d he said, looking back and forth between them.\u00a0 Gwen looked over at him feeling a bit of unexpected support.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what will the retaliation be?\u201d Celia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell,\u201d Gwen said thinking about it.\u00a0 \u201cRight now they don\u2019t even know the rebellion is still around.\u00a0 We can use it to announce to the citizens of the Realm that you\u2019re still around, and not nearly as dead as they thought.\u00a0 Besides, you also wanted Zoe if I recall.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201dWell that was different,\u201d Celia said, suddenly sounding caught.\u00a0 The woman huffed a bit before leaving the tent in a rush.<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, don\u2019t know whether to trust that one or run her through,\u201d Brice said.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s up to something, that much is for sure,\u201d Gwen said, wondering what her reasons and end results were.\u00a0 It seemed like she had an agenda, and reminded her of a typical noble.\u00a0 \u201cYou know anything about her past?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cHmm, nope, want us to look?\u201d Brice said.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you want, she\u2019s up to something, possibly noble in blood,\u201d Gwen said, musing to herself, before turning her thoughts back to getting Zoe back.\u00a0 She had until next week to do it, not a lot of time.\u00a0 However she felt lucky that Derek had not forced the marriage right away.<\/p>\n

She felt charging in would not do anything, except get people hurt.\u00a0 But if she waited until the wedding, security would probably be extremely tight.\u00a0 There had to be a way to get into the city and get Zoe out.\u00a0 She needed to find the solution.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u201dI can look into it,\u201d one of the bounty hunters said.\u00a0 \u201cI have connections with some of the nobles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen had to shift gears back to Celia for a second, having been caught with her mind wondering.\u00a0 \u201cOkay, might help.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re trying to decide when to go after Zoe,\u201d Zeltran said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Gwen replied logically.<\/p>\n

\u201cThen we can provide some intel,\u201d Zeltran said leaning back in his chair.\u00a0 \u201cI think the winds are changing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat they are Zeltran,\u201d Brice said, the rest of the group nodded.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Gwen paced around the tent, so far the information had been coming in quite a bit.\u00a0 More than either she or Celia had expected.\u00a0 The army had been assembled further away, a clear sign Derek and the king thought only of a conquest, and not of the rebellion.\u00a0 They also seemed to concentrate on the marriage, which from sources showed the people were in favor for, and they seemed to like Zoe, yet a current of tension was in the town.\u00a0 People were also confused by the sudden announcement and the fact Zoe appeared nervous.<\/p>\n

Gwen could not blame her, being forced to marry.\u00a0 Of course there were other things that were going on, seemed like some guards had been found sleeping and the king personally executed them.\u00a0 And a general sense of even greater repression by the government about to come.<\/p>\n

\u201cWell, what do you think?\u201d Zeltran said, causing Gwen to look up at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cMight not have much of a choice, it\u2019s time to go,\u201d Gwen said.\u00a0 \u201cThe army had been moved far away, and the town seems more relaxed than ever before, add in people will be coming in for the wedding, a perfect time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThought so, but what are your goals?\u201d Zeltran asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet Zoe back,\u201d Gwen said, she had no other goal at the moment.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems like a good time to do other things,\u201d Zeltran said.\u00a0 \u201cLike find out the truth about some things.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLike what?\u201d Gwen asked, not sure where he was going with this.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe queen\u2019s murder,\u201d Zeltran said, causing Gwen to freeze.\u00a0 Had he thought her version of the story was correct?\u00a0 That she had walked in finding the body of the queen already dead.<\/p>\n

\u201cSeems fishy to me, never heard your version until recently,\u201d he said back to her.\u00a0 \u201cEven Brice is suspicious about what really happened, and who did it.\u00a0 That rumor is spreading throughout the taverns and back alleys.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGreat,\u201d Gwen mumbled, what she did not need, a bunch of people talking about her.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s better than you know, with people talking they are questioning the official version, which makes them question the king and the prince,\u201d he said, leaning back in his chair and rubbing his bald head.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot sure if that\u2019s great,\u201d Gwen finally said.\u00a0 It might be for the rebellion, but she did not see where it might help her.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople still think your dead, there are rumors going around about why they framed you, what did they have to hide, what did you know,\u201d Zeltran said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI didn\u2019t know anything,\u201d Gwen replied.\u00a0 All she had going for her was her strength, which was stronger than Derek\u2019s.<\/p>\n

\u201cPerhaps its not that you know something, but you might have found out,\u201d Zeltran said, causing Gwen to think back.\u00a0 She could recall nothing in her past.\u00a0 She thought about what her father might say, but he was only loyal to the king.\u00a0 He never questions the rule of the land, or told her to.\u00a0 The only thing he ever did was told her not to out shine her cousin.\u00a0 That had been hard to do, as she was far stronger.<\/p>\n

The tent flap swayed as Ottis walked in, his massive frame taking up a good part of the area.<\/p>\n

\u201cWanted to let you know, the troops are as ready as can be made in such a short time,\u201d he told her.\u00a0 \u201cThey are a bit rough, but willing to do what they can.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThanks,\u201d Gwen said, having learned a bit about the man over the last couple of days.\u00a0 He said nothing about his time before the Shadowlands, aside from it had nothing to do with the government.\u00a0 Gwen did not press it either, allowing the man some room.\u00a0 He turned out to be surprisingly gentle, and had the balance of speed that surprised someone.<\/p>\n

Gwen also learned his lover was one who worked in the smithy for a living.\u00a0 He was still there, keeping an eye out for anything that might come out from the town rumors about the rebellion or the Realm.<\/p>\n

Gwen could only shake her head at the number of people who were helping out.\u00a0 But now she knew the time to strike had come.\u00a0 They would make their way into the town under the guise of being there for the wedding.\u00a0 The next phase would be getting to Zoe.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re all packed?\u201d Ottis said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah,\u201d Gwen said, not that she had much to pack.\u00a0 She wanted to travel light, and needed to hide her weapons.\u00a0 She did not want to be seen as a mercenary, but a citizen who posed no threat.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood, your escort is here,\u201d he said, causing her to frown.\u00a0 Walking outside she looked around before spotting Valerie and two her of slaves, Lori and one she did not recognize.<\/p>\n

\u201cAh, Gwen, glad to see you,\u201d Valerie said, walking towards her.<\/p>\n

\u201cUm, why are you here?\u201d Gwen asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor the royal wedding, and you are my business partner,\u201d Valerie said.\u00a0 \u201cWhat better way to get in, as my guard.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen blinked, having not thought about it before now.\u00a0 It made a lot of sense though.\u00a0 Valerie a respected business person in the Shadowlands, two of her slaves, and what business person travels without a guard.\u00a0 She could take her weapons in plain sight and no one would care.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s dangerous,\u201d Gwen said.\u00a0 \u201cThings could go wrong and you or your slaves might be harmed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s why Denyse is here, she is a recent purchase, a guard,\u201d Valerie said.\u00a0 \u201cThe whole fiasco with Leo convinced me to get one.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen thought about it for a few more seconds.\u00a0 She might need her weapons, and decided to agree, against her better wishes, but something about it seemed so Zoe-like lucky.\u00a0 She put some trust in that gut feeling now, hoping she was right.<\/p>\n

\u201cGood,\u201d Valerie said.\u00a0 \u201cNow we can get going.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gwen walked over, picking up a few more things in her tent, and dressing more like a guard would.\u00a0 She felt glad her armor and weapons were of high quality which would give her the desired look.\u00a0 When she returned her horse was waiting and Valerie and the other two were mounted and ready.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo, you\u2019re off,\u201d Celia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can\u2019t wait for her to be married, and I don\u2019t want her to feel as if I have abandoned her,\u201d Gwen said.\u00a0 \u201cWe have too much for me to do that to her.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd what do I do? Celia asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cGet ready, the army will probably march back here, we need to be ready to move again, change locations,\u201d Gwen replied.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll right, we can do that, but I still don\u2019t like this,\u201d Celia said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know, you\u2019ve protested every time we\u2019ve talked about this,\u201d Gwen said, wondering what the real objection was.\u00a0\u00a0 She seemed too focused on it, almost losing sight of the rebellion at times.<\/p>\n

\u201cAre you ready?\u201d Valerie said.<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, let\u2019s get going,\u201d Gwen said.<\/p>\n

\u201cRemember, Brice is expecting you, he\u2019ll contact you through a man named Tim, small man, actually a thief, but he knows who not to steal from,\u201d Zeltran said, looking at all of them.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe better,\u201d Valerie said.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay, hopefully he\u2019ll have the information I requested about the guards,\u201d Gwen said, as they moved out headed to the capital.<\/p>\n

End part 13<\/p>\n

continued in part 14<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Luck Lucky by AJ Marks Part 13: A Lucky Kidnapping   Gwen looked around in the tent, they had moved and set up in a new spot.\u00a0 Messengers sent out to various people in the Shadowlands for support, or fighters.\u00a0 Jack, Kerros, Betsy and a few others were out in towns close to the Shadowlands […]
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