The farther they traveled into Begnion, the more the army had to shield their eyes. The glowing façade of the Tower of Guidance literally blinded them—soldiers felt for the person in front of them for a sense of direction. It wasn't until they sought shelter, camping in the alleyways of the mighty theocracy, that they were offered some relief. The surrounding buildings blocked the direct light, though the Tower's brilliance illuminated the night sky like the midday sun.
Stefan set up camp against a brick wall, lucky enough to find a spot amongst the hoards of soldiers. There was no room to lie down, but he was satisfied enough to sit as he slept. But the Tower's light was hard to ignore as it illuminated the insides of his eyelids.
He was startled to feel a small hand on his shoulder. He opened one eye to see a child standing beside him, their faces nearly eye-level.
She was a cute one. Her large eyes were dark and pleading, her magenta hair pulled into two pigtails. Despite his fatigue, Stefan grinned. His ease seemed to relax her, too; she broke into a wide smile.
"Are you lost?" Stefan asked, putting his big hand over hers.
She shook her head. "I'm staying with kitty-cat man. But he has a war meeting now."
Kitty-cat man?
"You shouldn't be out here all by yourself," he said.
She pulled her hand out from beneath his, picking at the hem of her shirt. "I know. But . . ." She sniffled. "I can't find mommy, and daddy can't move, and I thought you . . ."
"Hey now." Stefan slipped an arm around her waist, which immediately brought back that smile. "You stay with me. Can you let kitty-cat man know? I don't want him to worry."
"Okay!" She wiggled out of his grasp. "I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere!"
Her pigtails bounced as she ran back to camp. Watching her go, Stefan wondered why he hadn't felt their connection sooner—it had been a long time since he found a fellow Branded so young. But why hadn't he sensed her, and how did she come to find him? Could she, though inexplicitly, sense her own kind as well?
When the girl returned—he soon learned her name was Amy—she burrowed in his lap, quickly falling into a steady sleep. Slowly, as to not wake her, Stefan peeled off his outer coat to tuck in around her. He ran a finger down one of her pigtails, feeling the coils of her soft, braided hair. The girl seemed to know her parents, though he wondered if they were biological. How much could she know? Did she understand what the mark on her body meant?
With Amy safely tangled within his coat, Stefan finally fell asleep.