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Boothe didn't reply, nor did he even bother to look at Selia. "You don't," Valik answered for him through his teeth. Boothe still didn't reply. Valik shook his head. He mumbled curses in Russian under his breath. Boothe didn't even pop him on the head, even though he heard every word Valik muttered. Boothe was trying to read Valerie's lips, then gave up and focused on her and Ryan's thoughts. It was becoming difficult to attempt to enter Ryan's.

Boothe shook his head. For some reason he couldn't find the will to believe Ryan. After half an hour or so of silent riding, Boothe slowed down. "Don't make too much noise. We're near the guards." he said, just above a whisper.
Valik rolled his eyes. He was growing irritated with his brother. Valik's steps became more smoother and graceful, silencing the squishing of the mud pressing onto his paws. Valik's ear twitched as a rain drop came falling down. A light drizzle was coming down, but the sky said it would end soon.

Boothe looked down, watching where the horse stepped, controlling him with the reigns. He would glance up at the guards once in awhile to stay connected with their thoughts. One guard continued to complain in his head about his job as a guard, and begged time to go quicker. The other's mind was blank.
Eventually, Boothe and Valik made it out of earshot from the guards. They turned and waited for Valerie and Ryan, who were a few yards behind by now. The drizzle of rain had now turned into one or two drops falling every few seconds.

Boothe cleared his throat as he began walking, Valik next to him. "Believe me, they already know." he still looked forward, his body slightly moving left to right as the horse switched feet. Valik nodded in agreement.
"We have an advanced messenger system." he looked at Selia. "It's hard to explain."
"If you're wondering why they haven't evacuated, don't be fooled. Most probably have." he almost said this in a mimicking tone. "Others, though, decide to fight. Group with the other villages," he explained, "at least, that's what happened the last war." Boothe's thoughts trailed off to Sebastian. He wondered where he was and why he had left. Quickly, he shook the thoughts off.
"What even started this all." he said plainly.
Boothe shrugged. "Mad scientists," he suggested with out confidence.

Boothe wiped his cold nose with his shoulder. "Well, yes," he began, "but the symbols are fraud." A cool breeze was now coming in, sending slight chills up Boothe's neck. "It is most likely from the rebels. A large percentage of them are engineers, mechanics, and scientists. Others are just followers. Then there's the leader." He cleared his throat before continuing. "They have been starting up wars and conundrum for many years, but always fail. Now they've finally found something that can actually tear down our kingdom, and all of the elven realm." Boothe shook his head solemnly.
Valik sighed. He noticed that his breath was becoming visible, and the air was slowly cooling. "Blast the elven weather," he scowled, "I've always hated how it changes so suddenly." The only thing chilled on his body was his wet nose.
Boothe smirked. "Of course it happens now, when most of us are in rags." adjusting himself on his horse, he again wiped at his nose.

Valik gave a concerned look to Selia. He pushed his body against hers to give her warmth. He forced a hopeful smile.
Boothe tilted his head to the side then up, taking in the observation. "It's rather easy. You can make a fraud symbol, though the paint will never be the same. But you could never tell the difference unless you took tests on the sample of the paint," he began shivering. "Since the royals use *special* paint." he rolled his eyes. "It's always been a debatable topic, if the royals and caliphs are in on the whole thing. There's no proof." he shrugged. "Though, the only benefit of the royals would be plundering and other profits. But two years ago they reached a limit of treasure and wealth. It's weird there's a limit, even for them. That's why we barely even have taxes now. Anyway, if the royals are involved with the rebels, the rebels will only be imprisoned after the royals get what they want, whatever that may be."
Valik raised an eyebrow. "But why would the royals want to demolish their prospering kingdom?" he asked, confused.
"See, that's the big question that makes it so debatable. The kingdom was perfection. That is, besides the rebels upbringing all these issues." Boothe bit his lip as he went into deeper thought about what he has tried to figure out for so many years.

Sebastian lay curled in a ball as the snow fell onto his soft, chilled skin. His horse lay next to him with a wounded leg in which he had bandaged. Sebastian violently shivered and went to his horse for warmth. He was still coughing up blood, and his throat was on fire. His lungs burned for more oxygen. They were out in the open. If any attack were to happen he would have no chance. His eyes hung low as death slowly made it's way into his body. He refused to leave his horse here to die, and she could not walk until nightfall. His teeth chattered as he raised his head to look around him. He let his head drop to the ground for a moment. Suddenly he forced himself up, and he began to move his horse as he continued on, half dragging the poor thing.
Boothe coughed against the wind. "The royals will always be targeted," he began in a harsh voice, his throat sore already from the cold air, "they'll just have one less enemy." he looked deeper into the forest, as if expecting a surprise attack. Now he knew he could never let his guard down if he wanted to protect his brother. Though, Valik is the one protecting him now.

Boothe slid carefully off of his horse, still being cautious with his leg. "It's too cold and dangerous to go on your own." he bent over as a forced cough escaped his throat. "Lord." he said as he stood back up.
Valik breathed out, his breath looking like smoke escaping from his nostrils. "We need all we can get," he said in his demonic tone, "I'll go with her." he looked at Selia. "You will have to stay on my back. We need to make a quick trip, and you need to stay warm."
Boothe looked through the tree tops to what he could see of the sky. "We may get snow. Down west, judging by the clouds, has snow. It may get heavy tonight."
"Then we should get going," he winked at Selia.