The sprawling mass of carts, horses, and foot soldiers that made up the royal train stretched out around the small town of Canarfon, roughly halfway between Loscar and Phalion. Two weeks had passed since Velasca and her retinue had taken their leave of Adare and his people, and as yet, the Usurper Queen was unaware that, with her departure from the north, wheels had been set in motion. No sooner had she left the citadel, than the rebels in the mountains to the west had begun their march, turning their eyes to Phalion and the young prince therein, determined to reach him before the day of the hidden sun, and the promised revelation before them. At the same time, two rebels had cut away on their own, traveling faster than either of the two sprawling, crawling masses of men and women, inexorably catching up to Velasca the day before she and her train made camp for the night in Canarfon.

They crouched now in the cover of the trees and brush several hundred yards from the first edge of that wide camp, watching the to and fro of soldiers and servants, waiting for the night to come and give them opportunity for what they intended. Liayna sighed softly, laying her hand gently against Conall's shoulder. "We can do nothing until the sunlight is truly gone, eniro," she reminded him gently. "Come back to our own camp, rest a while."

Conall quietly studied the Queen's entourage as they made camp for the night, looking for weaknesses, vulnerabilities in the security they had set in place. Stealing the Sword of Arctra and swapping it with a fake wouldn't be easy. Their plan had to be perfect; they could not afford any mistakes. Conall caught sight of the Usurper Queen as she moved about the camp, doling out orders, no doubt, and he grit his teeth. There was no one in all the world he hated more than Velasca. "We should just kill her now while we have the chance," he whispered back, though he knew that was not part of the plan.

"If we kill her now, we die, and the Sword goes to her daughter," Liayna said softly, her lips close by his ear to minimize the risk of her words being caught by the slight breeze. "That is not the plan here, Conall. If you do not feel you can keep your anger under control tonight, then perhaps I should enter the village alone."

"I said should," he whispered back, putting an emphasis on the key word. It galled him to get this close and not be able to finish the job, but he knew Liayna was right. The rebel's plans depended on their success, as did Shaye's freedom. As much as it galled him, he would stick with the plan. "You're not going alone. I'll be fine," he told her, taking a last glance at Velasca and the soldiers that surrounded her before turning to quietly make their way back to their own encampment, not far away.

Liayna took her own last look before creeping away with him, ducking through the undergrowth to where they had left his horse and their few belongings. "It will not be easy," she sighed, thumping down onto her backside. "There are no women bearing arms in Velasca's ranks. I'll have to leave my bow behind and hope no one sees my knife."

Or try to look like a man, Conall thought, but that would be next to impossible for someone as pretty as Liayna. If it were cooler, she might be able to get away with wearing a cloak, but the weather had been warm, and a cloak would stand out like a sore thumb - even more so than a strange woman in camp. "I can carry your bow for you, in case we run into trouble." Though he was hoping they wouldn't. If all went well, it should be a quick in and out.

She smiled, shaking her head. "I can fight as well without it," she assured him. "Remember, you will be bearing an extra sword. I do not want you hindered, eniro. I do not want you hurt." The tenderness in her dark eyes was achingly intimate as she held his gaze, truly pained at the thought of harm coming to him.

"I don't want you hurt either, aera," he echoed her words, calloused fingers touching her cheek with surprising gentleness, that tenderness mirrored in his own eyes. He'd rather she didn't have to be part of this, but he also knew he couldn't do it alone. "She's not going to let it out of her sight," he continued with a worried frown. "We're going to have to wait until she's asleep."

Her cheek turned into his touch with a soft smile to light up her face as she edged a little closer to him. "After sixteen years, she will be complacent," she murmured thoughtfully. "I would be willing to bet that she keeps the Sword with her armor, and her armor will not be where she is sleeping. It will be in one of the luggage carts. We may not have to enter the village proper at all."

"Do you really think she'd be that foolish?" he asked, arching a brow, but he already knew she was right. If Velasca was anything, it was arrogant. She wouldn't be expecting the sword to be stolen from right under her nose, and that was exactly what they were counting on. A smile appeared on his face, tinged with hatred and just a little arrogance of his own. "I'd like to see the look on her face when she realizes she's got the wrong sword." But then, he'd made such a convincing copy that, with any luck, Velasca wouldn't notice it at all, until it was too late.

Pride lit up Liayna's expression in answer, warmth and solidarity in one grin as she nudged his shoulder with her own. "You might just get to see that," she told him cheerfully. "She won't know until she comes face to face with Shaye and is disobeyed."

He grunted softly at her remark. "I want to be the one to finish her," he admitted, not for the first or most likely, the last time, though he knew he might have to get in line behind Liam and Shaye for that. "So, what do we do now?" he asked, feeling more than a little anxious to get on with the plan.

"The only thing we can do, eniro," the nomad woman told him gently, her expression at once apologetic and amused. "We wait."

Thankfully, he wasn't as stubborn or obtuse as Liam and wasn't afraid to take orders from a woman. "Have I ever told you how annoyingly practical you are, aera?" he asked, with a teasing smirk on his face despite his nerves. He leaned close and brushed a soft kiss against her lips, refusing to believe things might go wrong. "You should get some rest, while I keep watch."

"I have plans for you later," Conall teased softly back, abruptly pulled close into an unexpected kiss that took him off guard, realizing with a start that she had somehow sensed a guard on patrol. He didn't have to work too hard at convincing the guard before he was shuffling away. Though so far they had managed to fool that guard, it made him nervous. "Let's get this over with. Check the lock while I stand guard," he told her as he let go of her and turned to watch for intruders.

She nodded, as on edge as he was. These carts weren't as unguarded as they had first seemed, lending fresh urgency to their search. Hoisting herself up onto the cart, she checked the lock on the chest, finding it secure. She swore in the old speech, though curses aren't that hard to identify, even in a language most didn't understand. "I cannot pick locks," she murmured to Conall. "Can you?"

He grumbled a little, knowing it had been too easy so far. "I haven't come all this way to be defeated by a locksmith," he declared quietly. "Stand guard," he told her as he swapped places with her in the cart. "I need a little time." And time was the one thing they had very little of.

"Goddess guide you, eniro," she whispered to him as they switched places, her hand falling to the stone knife concealed at her waist as she took her turn keeping watch while he worked.

He didn't want to break the lock because if he did, it would be obvious to someone sooner or later than someone had been tampering with the chest. He crouched over the chest and took a look around before drawing something metallic from a pouch at his belt and fitting it into the slot that was made for a key, whispering a prayer to the Goddess to help him and taking a deep breath to steady his hand.

It had been a long time since he'd done this, but it seemed he had not lost his touch. Explaining to Liayna how he knew how to break into a locked chest might take a bit of doing, but there would be time for that later. It took a little longer than he liked, sweat breaking out on his forehead as he fumbled with the contraption. He thought he heard voices nearby and froze in a momentary panic before the voices faded away. At last, he heard a click and pushed the chest open.

Behind him, his Wild One was on high alert, reacting to any sound, suggested or otherwise, with anxious, edgy movement. He knew her well enough to know that the first person who came upon them would die within seconds, despite the huge flaw that would plant in the overall plan. Liayna wasn't one for trying to talk her way out of a difficult situation, after all.

"I've got it," he whispered, just loud enough for her to hear him, as he peered inside the chest for the thing that they had come for, and there it was, carefully wrapped in cloth, as if that would protect it or hide it from prying eyes. He wondered how many others knew it was kept here, how many others lusted after it. He only needed a few minutes more, just enough time to switch the swords and re-close the chest, as if they'd never been there.

And yet now was the nerve-wracking bit. Now was the moment when they had to go their separate ways to ensure that they would be able to leave the camp without being challenged. After all, they couldn't be seen leaving together after they had entered together so recently. Liayna's face was pale in the darkness as she looked up at him, one hand rising to grip his neck and pull him down to her. "Be wise, and be safe, eniro," she whispered to him fiercely. "I will meet you at the river, as we planned."

"Be safe, aera," he replied back, pulling her against him and pressing a hard kiss to her lips. "I will see you soon," he told her, needing to believe it. Sneaking in was easy; they both knew sneaking out would be the real trick.

"You will," she promised him, gently easing herself from his arms to slip away, seeking out the best place where she might be able to fool the guards and get out of the camp without arousing suspicion. It was easier for him - a man in armor could go anywhere if he walked with enough confidence these days. No one challenged him.

Instead of choosing a different way out, he decided to follow her, going with his gut and needing to be sure she got out safely. If she got into trouble, he'd be right there to get her out of it somehow. He took an easy stride through the camp, as if he belonged there, as if he was one of the soldiers in Velasca's camp.

If he was watching her closely, he might have wondered just what she thought she was doing. Sometimes she crept, sometimes she strode out boldly, other times she picked up some heavy something at random and walked with her head bowed over it. Whatever seemed to give her the easiest time of it as she passed cooking fires, tents, groups of armed men and downtrodden women, until finally she reached the far edge of the camp. This was where the watchfires couldn't penetrate the shadow cast by the wall of the town, where the cover was thickest and darkest - a longer route back to their camp, yes, but a safer one. One small stone was flicked toward the soldier on guard, hitting him in the back of the head, and as he cursed and looked around, she sprinted for the trees, diving headlong beneath the shrub just as the soldier looked back at the darkness.

Conall almost audibly sighed in relief when he saw her dart away toward the trees and disappear into the darkness. What had seemed easy for her might not be so easy for him. He was hiding in plain sight, with the Sword of Arctra on his back. If he was caught, there was no question he'd be killed on sight, but he wasn't too worried about that. The Sword would serve him just as well as it had served Velasca. What worried him was what he'd tell the sentry if he was asked where he was going and why. After a little inward debate, he decided to take the direct approach, making his way straight toward the guard and looking a little put out. "Have you seen a brown-haired wench come by here?"

The soldier laughed at his expression. "Lost your bit of pretty, have ya?" he declared, his voice loud enough to reach Liayna, already some distance into the trees. "Should keep hold of 'em, never know who might decide to taste what you've had." He leered unpleasantly. "Can't say as I've seen anyone, but if I do, I'll be tasting before you hear about it, mate."

"If you find her, you're welcome to her. More trouble than she's worth," Conall replied with a fake grin and slapped the soldier on the shoulder. "I'm gonna take a walk, get some air. If I find her, I'll bring her back and we can take turns."

"I'll keep me eyes peeled then," the guard laughed his filthy laugh once again. "Brown hair, you say' Pretty' She'll stand out." He coughed and spat, straightening his back once again. "Pass, friend, and all that."

Liayna narrowed her eyes for a moment, and stuck her tongue out at him, moving past to drop his bedroll onto the cool ground. As much as she appreciated Conall's increasing comfort with the ways of her people, she wasn't going to let him sleep directly on the ground today. He would be stiff and bruised when he woke up, in no state to continue the ride. "The horse and I understand each other perfectly, thank you," she informed her lover with a smirk of her own. "Perhaps you are simply not listening properly."

"Oh, I listen fine. I think you just can't sit still long enough. You have to be constantly moving. You like being free, not feeling confined. I understand that, I do, but there's a certain kind of freedom that comes with riding a horse you'll never know if you don't try, aera. That's all I'm saying." He drew the sword off his back and turned his gaze to it, now that it was daylight and they were well away from Velasca's camp. "We really did it, Lia," he breathed, a little in awe of the thing he held in his hands.

"If you are concerned with my strength, you need not be," she assured him quietly. "I can run for two days and a night without needing to rest." She paused as the sunlight glinted off the exquisite lines of the Sword of Arctra, drawing in a sharp breath at the incredible craftsmanship. Conall was good, but this Sword had been made hundreds of years ago and still maintained its wonder. "The Twins truly did bless its maker," she murmured in awe.

"Do you think she'll notice the difference?" he asked, worriedly. Though it was unlikely Velasca would even ask for the sword or draw it from its scabbard unless she was going into battle, Conall worried she would find the forgery too soon and yet, what if she did" There was nothing she could do about it now, unless her thugs came after them, which was even more reason for them to ride horseback. Conall drew the sword from the scabbard and held it up to the sun, feeling the weight of it in his hands, admiring the fine craftsmanship. "If only I could make a sword such as this," he murmured in admiration and a little envy of its maker.

"I do not think anyone will notice the difference until it is far too late for them to do anything about it," Liayna chuckled softly, leaning around his arm to watch the admiration on his face as he examined the ages old Sword. In its presence, it was easier to understand just why the First Blade could not disobey a command spoken by the one who held this sword. The Queen was the heart of Arctra, but this sword was its strength.

"Whoever holds this sword commands the First Blade," Conall murmured further, in a little bit of wonder of the sword and the magic behind it. "So long as we have the sword, Shaye is free of Velasca." He already knew this in theory, but to actually hold the sword in his own hands and now it was true was another thing altogether, and yet, he had seen many wonders in his day, not the least of which was the woman standing beside him. They had not won, not yet, but without the sword, much of Velasca's power would be diminished. "She's going to be even more dangerous after the blood moon," Conall remarked grimly. There was no telling what Velasca would do to protect her position of power, and he was worried for the people of Loscar.

"I would not be so sure," Liayna mused. "I think, eniro, you are a little confused by the timeline of our actions." She smiled, drawing him to sit beside her while he admired the sword. "The blood moon is important, yes, but no one will know that anything has happened but the vipsana and those close to her. But eight days following, there is the day of the hidden sun, and there must be witnesses when she is revealed. That is why we must take Phalion before then."

"I'm not confused," Conall argued. He knew the plan well enough, and while it was true that no one would know what had happened until it was revealed, as far as he was concerned, the blood moon signaled the start of Velasca's downfall. Or perhaps it was the stealing of the sword. No matter. Whatever it was, Liayna had just proven his point for him. "Which is why we should ride, aera. The sooner we reach Phalion, the better."

"You seem very eager for the fight," she commented softly, unsure if this was something she wanted for him. "It is a dangerous time, this in-between moments of magic. When it becomes known that the rebels are moving on Phalion, what do you think Velasca's spies planted in the city will do' The death of Adare will become their priority - without him, there is no rebellion. Why do you wish to leap ahead and put the Sword in the hands of a boy who does not yet know all that he is?"

"He is the true heir, whether he believes it or not, and the sooner we reach Phalion, the sooner we can protect him. It's not just about the sword, Liayna. Without the boy, the sword means nothing. Without the boy, Arlan's bloodline will be no more. The boy is the key, and the sword belongs to him." Conall slid the sword back into the scabbard, feeling suddenly like a thief in the night. As finely wrought as the sword was, it didn't belong to him and was not his to wield or command. Whatever they decided, they needed to reach Liam first or he'd worry they'd failed, which only made Conall more anxious for speed.

"We know the route Liam O'Connor planned to take," Liayna said in her soothing voice. "It is a simple matter of meeting him on the road, and we will be there in three days or less. I think it is wiser to keep the Sword from Adare until we have him safe within our grasp. Any spy or assassin of Velasca would take the opportunity to steal it, as we have done."

Conall considered a moment, realizing she was right, but in a way, so was he. "You're right," he admitted. "But I would still feel better if we were there to protect him." Whatever his own thoughts were on the matter, he wouldn't argue with Liam's decisions. He was the commander, after all. "You should eat and get some rest, aera. We have a long night ahead of us."

"So should you," she pointed out, grinning as she leaned close to kiss him. "Put it away, eniro. There are far more enticing things to look at than the most famous sword in the lands." She smirked impishly, popping a berry into her mouth. "Unless you would rather sleep with it, than with me."

"Hmm," he murmured, sliding a finger against the blade in an almost loving caress. "It is tempting," he teased. "Can you think of something more enticing than this?" he asked with a teasing smirk, turning his head away from the blade toward the temptation that was her. He had thought stealing the blade would make him feel different, but the responsibility of keeping it safe seemed to weigh heavily on his shoulders, and he'd be happy to be done with it.

She laughed, drawing him to her as the sun rose high above them in the summer azure sky. It had been a long night, promised to be a longer few days until they could call themselves safe, but the risk had been worth it. The reward far outweighed any loss they had courted with their daring plot. Now all that remained was to get themselves and the Sword safely to the rebels. The first stage of the true rebellion had begun, in the dead of night, so softly no one realized that the first blow had been struck. It was a quiet victory, but a victory, nonetheless. The first of many.

((And the rebels finally do more than sit around and poke at a bear! Woohoo!))