Violet turned another page in her book and held up her hander with a her pointer finger, as if to say one moment. She kept reading on, extremely focused on her book. As she read her thoughts were wondering through the events that the book was taking her on. It was a high adventure romance novel. The woman being a thief and a scoundrel finding her love to be the one man she feared most, whom she had always hid from for his and her own safety.<br/><br/>She took a sip from her mocha, a very long sip, and then she put the book down as well as her hand. â€œCan I help yâ€¦â€ she broke off as she looked up at him and her eyes went as wide and bright as the headlights of an oncoming train. She looked a bit startled and she went to get up, spilling her mocha on the brand new book, as well as the man standing in front of her. â€œShit!â€ she looked down at the mess all over â€œI am so sorry, oh my God I canâ€™t believe I just did that. Umâ€¦â€ she looked back up at him. She didnâ€™t really know what to say, she had never seen him around this area so it was obvious he didnâ€™t live there. Should she invite him over to change or point him in the nearest direction of a laundramat or clothing department store. She picked up the book and tried to shake off the liquids but it was a bit too late so she gave up and finally decided to break the silence. â€œWould you like a change of clothes?â€ she asked mildly, â€œBecause, I donâ€™t live too far and Iâ€™ve got some that would fit, though, they may not be your style.â€ She gestured to her own gothic appearance and smiled a bit weakly.<br/><br/>----------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Vanessa watched her scout go up the hill, not moments later she watched as she slid off her horse and writhed in pain on the ground. â€œHalt.â€ She said to the rest of the caravan. â€œAmbush ahead, be cautious and risk your own lives to save the empress if it comes down to that, her daughter is not yet ready to rule, she is our only hope.â€<br/><br/>The empresses daughter had been hidden away at the time she was born, no one knew where, except Vanessa. The emperor had died only months after the child was born and the sweet girl was only twelve years of age. No one outside their city knew of the child, and most people within the town hadnâ€™t even known that there was one, it was for her own safety that she had been kept a secret.<br/><br/>Vanessa motioned for one of the soldiers to signal the city, doing so with a mirror, the rest of Vanessaâ€™s guard would join them soon and with that she motioned for the caravan to carry on. â€œWe all must be aware of our surroundings, any sign of movement you make sure we know, if you have a bow it would be wise to shoot.â€ They traveled onward up the hill, keeping a close watch on all of their surroundings and moving very slowly, as they moved Vanessa couldnâ€™t help but worry about her scout, Beatrice. The poor girl had a small child at home and not father to sustain it either. She was disowned by her entire family for having that child out of wedlock, but Vanessa hadnâ€™t cared, she was a good fighter and a better friend. â€œI swear I will kill the soul who is responsible.â€ She said under her breath as the anger began to well up more and more within.