He said the truth.

After the excruciating ride of three days, the wagon finally stopped at its destination. The port of Lethoris.

Merilyn stepped out first, getting away from her companion, the cow who loves to moo in her ear. We helped Gemma down and then I stepped down as well.

"What now, your highness?" A couple walked beside me as is glanced at me.

I turned to my friend, "You cannot call me that here. Call me by my name."

She shook her head in fright. "I must not. That is a crime." She whispered as the staff my our Kingdom who hear and behead her.

I looked around once more before saying, "People will be suspicious of us." I warn, "You must."

Gemma, like the elder her, intervened, "How about you call her Highness from a different name? Something that you familiar with."

"Call me Layla," I suggested with a smile. I have always liked her name.

"Alright, Layla," But then her smile dimmed, "Now what?" She asked looking around and I followed.

We were standing at the corner of the area where the wagons stood some went and some came.

it had taken a journey of two days for us to reach the kingdom and now the only thing that I could think of was a good night's sleep.

"We find an inn." They nodded.

Gemma turned to me, "Shall I ask around? an elderly woman won't be fooled by them but young girls would be told the routes to brothels."

I nodded and so did Merilyn. We stepped away from Gemma when she tried to ask a family where the nearest inn was. She came and led us away.

it was now that I realise how dangerous we were together. The three of us were women, one old and two young at the age of being in our prime. We were practically asking for someone to either abduct or rob.

We reached a decent looking in, not too shabby and not a place that screamed luxuries.

We all took one room. It was safer that way and the keeper did not object to it. Perhaps women with today's abductions tended to stay together.

We freshened up for the night and moved to the dining hall. There were not many people staying here and they were here at the dining hall too.

"Pri-Layla," Merilyn winced as she apologized for her slip," What do we do tomorrow?"

I sipped the soup. It was compared to nothing to the ones I had had growing up but it was alright. Something I could have for a long time. Tomorrow. . ." Tomorrow, we go to the markets around the castle. We would shop too and because of which we would have the opportunity to examine the military force."

Gemma nodded, agreeing with me. "That might work but we need to be careful. There is a merchant that has seen you, Your Highness. Rarely, but they have heard of us."

Well, they should have. It was beautiful. In fact, in the three kingdoms which attended the coronations and coming of age, I was the one had was said to be the most beautiful.

"Hmm," I hummed. Should I shy away?

"But what next?" Merilyn asked again and that put me thinking again.

"Perhaps," I sighed and thought carefully. "We could ask around about the . . . . Abductions. If possible, look in their royal library."

They both nodded and for the rest of the dinner, we ate in silence. 

The library would have the sketches of the girls. 

Retiring to our rooms we changed for the night. Gemma wanted to bathe and we waited for her. I was looking out of the windows. 

Something was missing. It was my first night in Lethoris and—

Merilyn gasped loudly as it rang out and I smiled. The howls. I heard it. 

He was saying the truth.