"There's no one up there."
"Doesn't need to be. No one wants to get into the Capital right now, and the barrier wouldn't let anyone go in or out, anyway."
It had been a hard three day travel, but they were finally here, standing in front of the city's front gates. Vica had never come this way before, and it was a far cry from sneaking in through a secret entrance in the stone walls to get inside. The enormous wooden doors that sealed up the entrance were far more intimidating even without guards standing by.
"This is creepy."
His hand came up to tangle in her hair, and he turned her head so he could lay a soft kiss on her forehead. "I can't change your mind?"
"You know it's got to be this way. Besides, isn't your mother on her way here already with the others? You said you could feel
