Plots

You think you know what he's about to say. You've felt it for a long time, too. After a few seconds, you find your voice. "I... I agree."

He grasps your hand with his uninjured arm and looks deeply in your eyes. "Karen, I..."

Your heart is racing. "Yes?"

"I don't think we should have told the New Amazons about the rebellion. I realize that they were once your friends, but we can't have an army going to Daria. If we're to succeed at overthrowing Samuel, we need total secrecy. The New Amazons could ruin any chance we have of going into this stealthily."

What? But... he... you try to regain your composure. "You're.. you're right... uh... um... wh-what... what was it you were going to say? What did we... what did we learn from the camp?"

"Well," Aaron explains, "we know the soldiers are working for Samuel, and definitely not my father. In fact, it almost sounds like they're trying to capture me as well as the New Amazons."

"What? Why?"

"I'm not sure, but I have a feeling that Samuel's trying to extend his hand into Zendara. He has control of Daria's throne already, and now he wants more. From the soldiers' story, he may have already..." he stumbles "...<font size="2">my father might already be out of the way... and he sister...</font>... and if he were to capture me, there would be no one to stop him."

"But even if your entire family were gone, he still has no claim to power in Zendara..."

Aaron sighs. "He does, though. His father and my father were cousins. With my sister dead and me disposed of, he would be my father's closest relative..."

"...and the heir to Zendara's throne." You shiver. "So... why would Samuel send soldiers here to capture the New Amazons?"

"I'm not sure," he says. "Samuel's never liked the New Amazons, but I doubt he would have heard that there were survivors of my father's attack. Besides, I don't he would have expended the energy to capture a few Zendaran rebels. He might have been trying to capture me, and just used the Amazons as a cover story, though from what the soldiers said it sounded like I was a secondary target."

"What if Samuel sees them as opposition?" you offer.

"What?"

"What if he sees the New Amazons as opposition? If his plan succeeds, and he inherits the thrones of both Daria and Zendara, he'll have control over both kingdoms' armies, and they won't rebel against him. The people could revolt, but they don't make a very effective fighting force. The Amazons are the only other powerful, armed opposition to him."

Aaron is silent for a moment. Then he nods. "Maybe. Either way, though, we have to move quickly."

"Right," you say. "If we hurry, we can probably catch up with the New Amazons by tomorrow."

"Wait," he says. "I'm not sure if we should continue toward the pass. The New Amazons are already heading toward Daria; we probably won't be of much help to them. Meanwhile, Zendara is in danger as long as Samuel has soldiers within its borders. My father may be in danger, too. It might be better if we try to take care of Zendara's problems and let the Amazons take care of Daria."

"But you said that the Amazons might be a problem if they went into Daria. Besides, they probably don't know as much about Darian politics as you. Maybe it would be best if we caught up with them and told them to take care of Zendara's problems, while we go to Daria."

1. Before you can decide, Sarah comes running into the clearing.

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