2 The meeting in the cabin

Ilona runs till the village is left behind. The forest welcomes the creature that roams in the night with the lamp. It was dangerous to venture into the forest because recently wolves and bears were seen in the daytime.

Ilona knows that will be no use being scared by them as long as she had her sword tilting on her hip as she enters the deep forest path. Her skills were not to be taken as a joke. She used to fight with her father. She never won against him but she protected herself from his powerful swings that destroyed even his soldiers that wanted to fight with him. Her technique is even better than back then.

Ilona breathes and exhales as she steps towards a stable. She lights before herself so that she can open the stable's door. Inside she hangs the lamp and looks around.

No animal is inside. Just saddles and reins sited neatly on the supports. Ilona gets out and whistles.

Galloping sounds are heard in the dark night. A shadow approaches the girl and she opens the door more.

A black horse greets the girl with a neigh. Ilona smiles and pats the beautiful horse. He is the gift she received from her father on her fourteen anniversary. Her father knew that she loved horses a lot so he paid a lot for the stallion. She loved the horse a lot. As the warriors wanted to take him once, she managed to teach the horse to come back when she whistled and to stay in the woods if she wasn't around. He was a smart horse as he let just Ilona touch him.

She puts the rains in a hurry and the saddle is next. Ilona didn't want to lose him at all. Even though the girl knew that he could be caught or hurt himself in the forest. Not to forget the predatory animals he fought with, leaving scars on his black coat.

Ilona brushes the biggest scar that is on his wide neck as she finishes preparing him. She frowns. Still remembering when he came with blood flowing all over his body, and she didn't know what to do, makes her feel the same remorse she felt back then. Thankfully the young boy that was in the forest that day healed him using his medicine. She will never forget the boy with curly hair that had a beautiful smile. Ilona wished to have said thank you for that time, but the boy left without her noticing. She was too panicked to realize that he disappeared.

She mounts the horse and nudges him to start moving. They will gallop for a few hours to arrive at their destination.

"Let's go, Nyx! We have a long way to go …" She moves along with his moves and gets closer to his mane so that she will not hit any branches. The path is narrow and few branches are bolting the way. His mane hits her face as she grips the reins and tenses her tighter fresh smell and the cold makes her feel free. The way he drives sprinting is making her feel like she can do anything as long he is on top of him. Ilona loves this feeling.

An owl is heard as they pass by. One more hill and they will arrive at the cabin.

Her mind wonders at the plan she left half done as she fell asleep after the bath. Her team trusts her a lot and they do exactly how she says no matter the consequences. That's how much they trusted her.

Although they knew they were no more than a team in her eyes. She never managed to connect with people after the tragedy. Just her sister and the curly boy were the only people she felt connected with. Ilona would never hesitate to die for the two. That was her only flaw. Giving too much to those she cares about.

Ilona wonders how can her teammates trust her when she is so indifferent to them.

Well, she better ask them.

The cabin is visible looking like a beacon of light on the edge of the sea.

The girl dismounts and lets the horse graze under the moonlight.

"How long were you planning to keep us waiting for you?" A girl with blond curly hair caught in a bun frowns. The other three youngsters are sitting at the table along with the blondie.

A short-haired boy having a hat on opens his mouth as he observes Ilona pulling the chair.

"Have you fallen asleep again?" He smiles and gazes at her.

Ilona frowns and waits to hear all the complaints. It was her fault so she is admitting her mistake.

"Well, she works a lot …" A short-haired girl with brown hair puts her arm on Ilona and pats her back. She was the clingiest person Ilona knew.

"Take your hand off, Aisha. Let's start!" Ilona glares at the girl and she takes her hand off mumbling her frustrations to the boy next to her. He is a serious boy, probably one year older than Ilona. He wears a long coat and his long hair is bound in a ponytail.

"How you say, boss!" The boy with the hat, Theo, smiles at her like always. Ilona wonders if the boy is not too obvious about his crush on her. She turned him down multiple times, but no use. His passion is like a phoenix.

"Have you come up with the plan? We have some ideas too." The coat boy named Quinn looks at Ilona and then at the teenagers that are around the table.

"We are going to strike when the carnival starts. That's in one week. "Ilona crosses her hands and leans back on her chair staring at an invisible point. She knows that the last time they stole they were almost caught by the guards.

"Why can't we just barge in when we want?" The blond girl hits the table with her fist and scowls. Her patience is not her strongest point.

"Florence, the guards are three hundred and we are just five. They will catch us if we just barge in. We need to be sneaky." Quinn looks calm at the blondie and explains the 'don't know how many times' why they can't just barge in the castle.

Florence frowns and settles as Ilona clears her throat.

"I want to know your ideas, not your unreasonable complaints. Tomorrow I have work, so better hurry." Everyone is used to her cold approach, but Florence still glares at her like a cat.

"The carnival will be. I agree with you. One idea is that we should go undercover this time not like some rats under the castle. That method will not work anymore. My sources told me that they put more guards underground." Leo stands up and puts his ass on the table. His green eyes are excited as he looks at the girl leader who looks absently.

Ilona frowns and stands up. The idea isn't so bad. He is an intelligent guy and he can be a proper guy if it weren't for his play-boyish attitude and bad manners.

"Come closer." She looks at him and he leans over the table closing the distance. His hat touches her hair.

With a swing, she hits the top of his head. As his head goes down, he pouts. Another hit…..

"Get off the table. Your ass should sit only on a chair. Sit properly! "He withdraws as the others giggle at the usual encounter between him and Ilona. The girl never lets him off if he misbehaves.

"Well, his idea should do. "The clingy girl stands up and approves.

"I agree. Rise your hands if you agree with me." Ilona concludes the meeting and gazes at the hands that rise one by one.

"Let's do it! "Aisha approves again as she looks at Ilona.

"I am in." Quinn's hand rises being supported by Aisha's.

Florence is frowning but in the end, she rises her hand.

"If you make me were a dress, I will kill you!" Ilona smiles.

"So that's what we will do. The next meeting is in two days. Bring what disguise we will find and more ideas about how we will infiltrate. I will also think about it."

The team is satisfied with the meeting and everyone is prepared to leave. Leo approaches Ilona as she is preparing to mount on Nyx.

"How is your body?" He knows that it is a sensitive topic for her but he can't help to ask. This way he can show the girl that he cared about her.

Her leg suffered a hit in one of their mission. As Ilona fought with a soldier, he kicked her knee giving her a pretty bad entorse. Even now, sometime the sharp pain can give her a hard time doing her daily jobs.

"You don't need to ask me this. I am fine. I can manage myself pretty well….. I am going. "She knows what he tries to do but if she responded to him, she will just give him false hope. It was better to be as cold as usual.

Leo laughs and pats Nyx. He is used but his heart still hurts every time she rejects him. He can't help but try and try. Maybe one time she will open up.

"Take care!" He smiles and looks at the girl with love.

"Nix!" She nudges the horse and vanishes in the dark.

Quinn and Aisha look with pity at the boy who didn't even get a 'You too.' from the girl. On the other hand, Florence comes and slaps his head.

"Just let it go! Don't pester her! "She glares at the boy and mounts on her horse.

Leo takes his hat from the ground and mounts on his horse too.

The moon shines on the cabin that is now empty.