The men mounted up and rode off into the wilderness, the horses seeming to feed off the excitement for the men upon their backs. Their steps were higher livelier and filled with an unspoken energy that helped to cover the general sentiment of resentment that many felt. The men that were “loyal” to Ivor kept an eye on the ranger who led the way. Instructions already given to them by Ioan that they were to be on guard around the man and should it even seem like for a moment he was up to no good in regards to their prince then he was to be struck down instantly.<br/><br/>Not a chance was to be taken, no hesitation. Brad would die so that their prince could live.<br/><br/>This sentiment in mind were what made Brad look over his shoulder occasionally, of course it was under the pretense that he wanted to make sure that they followed him close enough the main reason was to ensure there was not an arrow waiting to be shot into his back. Initially, when he had come up with this plan there had been the thought to just use it as a means to cause harm to the prince in some fashion. To remove him in a way that he could claim as an accident and then he and Maria would be free, to some degree. At the very least she would no longer have to suffer through the moments when she had to touch him and allow him to touch her. It would also take care of the thought of Ivor having any kind of an influence on the upbringing of his child.<br/><br/>That had been the plan. Yet, that night when he had snuck into her room and comforted her, he made a promise to her and even if it went against every fiber of his being he would do as he promised to her. He would not do anything that would lead to either of them falling to harm.<br/><br/><br/>The forest around them thickened the further they went, what bit of the country side that they could once see was gone, lost in the thick growth of the woods that one got worse until such a time that the gallop the rode at was slowed to a trot and finally they had to demount and walk the animals; deeper still he led them into the woods, until at last a clear appeared before them, “Here is where we will make camp.”<br/><br/><div><hr style="height:2px; width:100%; border:0; color: black;background:black;"/></div><br/><br/><br/>“Oh, yes my dear,” Abby said with as much fake concern that she could muster. “You get your rest and in a few hours I will be up with some nice tea and biscuits to break your fast. We can sit and talk a spell about the going ons in the kingdom and the baby,” she smiled. “Just like two sisters catching up on some gossip.”<br/><br/>Chipper would be the word to describe her demeanor as she waved Maria off, a nice show for all those around them. Such was the sincerity of her performance that even her mother, a woman who was known for being skeptical of the doings of her wayward daughter bought the act. Pleased that finally, her eldest child had managed to come to terms with the marriage of her brother to Maria and that she herself no longer had a chance at the throne. How this played out over the next few days she would be interested in but thus far it all appeared to be very promising.<br/><br/><br/>The time ticked away and as promised, the Princess arrived at Maria’s door with a tray of hot tea and warm biscuits. Her mother, the Queen stood beside her, for the thought of talk about the baby had intrigued her and being the future grandmother of the child she wanted to spend more time with Maria and impart whatever wisdom that she could to the soon to be mother.