~Chapter One~

Nyla was once again heading right for a public beating, and she knew it. And once again her friends had managed to get her to do a stupid trick in the king???s backyard. They always got into silly fights over what they should do to get him to step down. She hated King Lyle the third, and so did the rest of the gang.
???Hey, let???s set his pants on fire!???
???No, we should totally destroy his carriage.???
???Let???s paint the whole town red!???
She didn???t really get that last one. Red must be his least favorite color or something. Nyla, Dane, Rhose, and Toad had pulled all those stunts, and many more. But today, Nyla thought, we are totally crossing the line.
???We can???t just kidnap the princess!??? Nyla said ???Especially during Lylith Moon!???
Lylith Moon was the only two weeks of the year when people in Nycoen, the small country she lived in, were allowed to celebrate anything. A ball followed a week or so of parties and feats, celebrating the planting they had that year. This was the last time she could go to the party for the younger children, which she found more fun than going to a stuffy old ball. She was fifteen, so by this time next year she would most likely be being courted, and she would have to go to the ball.
???Getting cold feet, Ny???? Dane smirked. Oh, how she hated that smirk. Nyla felt like slapping off his face. That would feel good.
???No, of course not. Why???d you think so, Dane???? she retorted.
???You just looked a little pale. Do you want King Lyle off his stupid throne or not???? This was always how he and Toad got her to do their stunts. Rhose was just a trouble-maker.
Of course she wanted him to get his royal butt off that throne. He had killed her family in a raid. He had burned her entire village to the ground. King Lyle was an evil, manipulative man. But Nyla still thought that kidnapping his daughter was excessive.
???Yes, I do,??? she said, exasperated.
???Then you need to stop worrying and get going! Rhose, you stick with me. Toad, head to the garden with Nyla. Remember the plan, and stick with it! Got it? Good. Head out!??? Good old Dane, always dishing out orders. His ripped off robe sleeves were a little worn, making him look disheveled. Even if his black locks shined in the rising sun, looking perfect for his sea foam green eyes, tan muscular arms, the stubble on his face giving him a slightly rugg