“Those uniforms are red and black, not the green and yellow of Landria,” I whispered. “It’s got to be a different army.”

  We were hiding in the trees looking out over the large number of soldiers spread out over the valley. Luckily, they weren’t anywhere near our house. We had to travel half a day to get close enough to see them clearly.

  “What did those merchants say about the war?” Fin quietly asked. “Who were we fighting?”

  “I don’t remember, exactly. It was an empire, I think.”

  A large, angry man was yelling at a group of soldiers. “Oinii, sbang akikbdesu, cili ilu! Sbang ikuiksia i esoaia ryt ialu ihaai od yski xki ikikidri ate ailaili sbang oeilihsi lal tel ceilaoiy xuwe.” He was far away, but he was loud enough to make out the words, if not the meaning.

  After that it looked like everyone paired up and started practicing hand-to-hand combat. Some were more serious than others. A few were just standing around talking, at least until the big man came around and yelled at them.

  We grew bored after a while, and decided to leave to go somewhere we could talk.

  “So, there’s an army camped in our valley. They’ve been here for a few days, at least. And it doesn’t look like they are going to be leaving soon.”

  “What should we do?” Lil asked.

  “I don’t know. We can’t ask them to leave. And, who knows if they won’t look around and find our house while they are here.”

  We hadn’t even dared to make a fire ever since we got back from the hunt, in case they might see the smoke and come looking.

  “What are they waiting for?” Fin asked.

  “Who knows. Maybe they are waiting for reinforcements.”

  “You know. They have food and supplies,” Lil suggested.

  Fin and I both just stared at her.

  “Okay, but how would we get them?”

  “Well, if I can speed up time, maybe I could run in and get some before they would notice.”

  “No. Absolutely not!” I had to keep this family safe. There was no way I was going to let either Lil or Fin try to sneak into their camp. “If anyone is going to sneak in, it has to be me.”

  They both looked at me.

  I had never tried to sneak in anywhere or steal anything before. That just wasn’t me. Yes, we all had some magic, but mine was the least understood. And it really didn’t apply here. I didn’t have strength or speed. I didn’t have illusion or any mental abilities.

  “How?” Lil asked.

  “Well, I think I need a plan first.” Thinking about this some more, I said, “How about we circle around and watch their camp from a few different places? We may need to try for a day or two, until we find their supplies and figure out a way to get to them.”

  So that’s what we decided to do.

  The next day we watched their camp. Every couple of hours we moved to a different spot. When we found a good tree we climbed it so we could get a better view.

  They had camped near a larger river, so they could wash things and bathe when they needed. There were multiple camps along the river. Within each camp there were large groups of tents, most small with a few larger ones. Each camp had several fire pits where food was prepared.

  We saw a few guards around keeping watch, but they seemed mostly relaxed and bored, often just talking and ignoring the surroundings.

  That was good for us. But also, I would especially have to avoid them.

  Around meal times, everyone came in from their activities to eat, and sit around talking, even some of the guards. This went on for several hours, since there were so many people to feed. We learned that they liked to drink beer. There were several kegs tapped for each meal. Some of them even got a little drunk, talking loudly and singing songs.

  By that evening I had the beginnings of my plan. I would wait until people were eating their evening supper to sneak over to one of the supply areas. Each camp had several supply wagons parked near a larger tent where they had unloaded some of the goods.

  The main thing I needed to worry about was to do it when no one was around to catch me.

  The next day we spent half of the day away from the camp. Fin shot a couple of squirrels for lunch, but we were really getting desperate for better food. But as supper time approached we were back. The sky was darker early because thick clouds covered the sky, though it wasn’t raining. I picked a camp with fewer people, hoping I would have less of a chance of being seen.

  As I waited for their suppertime to begin, my anxiety grew stronger and doubts clouded my thoughts.

  Can I do this? What will happen if I get caught? What about Fin and Lil? No! I can’t allow myself to get distracted. I have to succeed. There is no other option. We have to find a way to survive.

  Stolen novel; please report.

  I was waiting in a clump of bushes. Their supper was beginning to be served, but the whole camp hadn’t arrived yet when I heard a buzzing sound. It came from behind but quickly passed over me, heading for the camp. Then I heard another, and another. Whatever these were, there were a bunch of them. And they were moving fast. I desperately looked around trying to see them, but it was too dark.

  Then I started hearing yelling and some screaming. Someone started ringing the camp alarm. Then I saw one of the tents on fire, then another. I kept hearing more of whatever these were flying overhead. It didn’t sound like they were big, but not small either. If I had to guess, I would say they were maybe the size of a raven. But they buzzed like large insects.

  Maybe they were some of the waspids? Dad had never heard of the large wasps when we told him what attacked us in the mine, so he told me to name them myself. So I gave them the name ‘waspid’. But I don’t think these were waspids. It sounded like they were smaller than what we fought.

  Everyone in camp was running around now, trying to either escape or fight off these things.

  Wouldn’t this be a great time to go, while everyone is distracted?

  With that thought I took off running toward the supply tent and wagons. I made it there in less than a minute and hid underneath one of the wagons, trying to catch my breath.

  There were still a lot of people running around and yelling. I watched as one of the flyers slowed to hover and shot what looked like a small fireball out of its mouth, hitting one of the people running around.

  Now that I got a better look at one, it appeared to be a dark snake or lizard, but with wings. The wings flapped so quickly I couldn’t make them out, just a hazy blur of movement.

  That must be the buzzing sound.

  It was too far away and didn’t stick around long to tell if they had limbs or not. There were tales of ancient dragons in some of the books Mom had read to us. But if these were dragons, they were awfully small. On the other hand, they did shoot what looked like fire out of their mouths.

  So, maybe they were baby dragons? Dragonettes?

  Looking around the camp more, I could see many of them zipping around. More tents were on fire, and some people too. Some of the soldiers were able to strike them down using their swords. They were too fast and small of the archers, though.

  If I am going to get supplies, I need to do it now.

  So I scrambled out from under the wagon and went to the tent. Inside it was dark so I couldn’t see much. I had my pack with me, empty and ready to fill so I started feeling around for what I could find. I found both crates and kegs. For the crates, I quickly tried to open them. But if they were sealed I moved on to the next. I found a bunch that were open but empty. In one crate I found some potatoes, so I quickly added some to my pack. I found another with some smaller boxes. I hoped these were seasonings or spices, so I added a few of them. I found one with some other vegetables, so I added these also.

  My pack was getting heavy and my heart was beating out of my chest, so I decided I needed to leave soon. I went through a few more crates, but couldn't find one that would open easily, so I decided to give up for now.

  As I was exiting the tent, however, one of the dragonettes saw me and flew straight for me. I tried to dodge behind the wagon as it launched a fireball at me. The fire missed me but hit the supply tent behind me. I stayed behind the wagon for a bit, then peeked out to be sure the dragon had flown off.

  What I hadn’t noticed, however, was that it had flown up and over the wagon and was now coming up on me from behind. That’s when I heard it buzzing and turned just in time for it to fire at me again. There was no time to dodge, so I pulled on my magic, hoping to cancel its fire magic.

  That worked, sort of.

  The fireball still launched but quickly disappeared as it flew toward me. I only felt a wash of warm air, rather than a fireball to the face.

  As I turned to run, however, two soldiers were rushing over to attack the dragon, one tall and blond, the other one more stout and bald. The tall one slashed it with his sword and killed it. So the bald one turned to me.

  “Gku sbang oinii?”

  “What?” I said, then gasped and covered my mouth as I realized my mistake.

  “Sbang yski ate ailaili ate ouie, pka tel uwsdesu,” he said.

  Then the tall one frowned, pointed his sword at me, and said, “Arco gku sbang?”

  I had no idea what to say, so I just stared at them wide eyed, the blood rushing from my head.

  The bald one also pointed his sword at me and narrowed his eyes. In a heavy accent, he said, “Hands up.“

  That I understood, so I slowly raised my hands.

  Another big mistake.

  The blond soldier grabbed my pack from me and looked inside, shook his head then looked at his partner.

  I knew this was my last chance to escape. If they captured me, Fin and Lil would be on their own. I couldn’t let that happen. So, just before the bald one could grab me, I spun around and started running, not toward Fin and Lil but in a different direction.

  I only made it a few strides, however, before a dagger pierced my leg, and I collapsed on the ground in horrible pain. It must not have gone in deep since it fell out as I hit and rolled over. I tried not to scream, though, so I just gritted my teeth and grimaced.

  I knew that Fin and Lil had been watching, so they would hopefully know I had gotten caught. I needed them to stay hidden, but I didn’t dare to warn them. I didn’t want these soldiers to know there were others out there.

  We really should have made a plan for what to do if I got caught. But we hadn’t. It was such a horrible outcome that I hadn’t allowed myself to even think about it. Now, what were they going to do? I hoped they would get away. But how would they even survive?

  They’re not old enough to take care of themselves. For that matter, I’m not even old enough to do that.

  Dad, we really need you right now!

  The two soldiers carried me to a tent where someone wrapped a bandage around my leg to stop the bleeding. After I had been taken care of I was taken by another soldier to an open area with chains attached to large stakes in the ground. He chained my leg to a stake then left me alone.

  I cursed and fumed silently, so disappointed in myself.

  How could I let myself get caught? What will happen now? Oh, Fin and Lil! What will you do to survive?

  In spite of my effort to remain strong, tears were pouring from my eyes. That made me more angry at myself.

  Men shouldn’t cry. They should be strong. I never saw Dad cry, not even when Mom died. What is wrong with me? Why can’t I be strong like him?

  Time passed. I don’t know how long. I just lay there feeling sorry for myself. No, for my whole family!

  There was still yelling and fighting going on around the camp, but it seemed to be diminishing a little. Since I was out in the open, I also had to keep a constant lookout in case any of the dragonettes decided to attack me again. I ended up laying on the ground trying to look as small and non-threatening as possible. Whenever soldiers came near, however, they just laughed at me and mocked. At least that’s what it sounded like.

  Needless to say, I didn’t sleep that entire night.