196

M. looked around the auditorium and sighed. Either she got home before he did, or she got caught up with her family. Most likely the latter, which made him sigh. It wasn't that he was mad; Amber never really got to see her family. In fact, he should have expected this. He didn't think she had seen them since they left after the trial. But time was limited; summer was fast approaching.

"M?"

He glanced up to see his father standing in the doorway of the auditorium.

"There you are; someone said they had seen you in here. What are you doing?"

M. wasn't sure if he should tell his father the full truth, though he didn't think a headmaster could really punish an ambassador for official ambassador business. "Amber was supposed to meet me; seems she got wrapped up in more ambassador stuff." He pushed himself to his feet; at this rate, she wouldn't be home till late. No use sitting around an empty theater all Saturday.

"Ah." His father was studying him, and M. felt uncomfortable under the scrutiny. "So you're free for dinner?"

M. thought about it. "I guess. Did you…want me to have dinner with you?"

Marty IV nodded. M. shrugged in reply and went to follow his father to his office. But then the Headmaster turned the opposite direction. The younger Openheimer frowned. "Where are you going?"

Marty IV was fishing his car keys from his pocket. "I thought we could go out."

"Out? Out where?"

The Headmaster gestured vaguely. "You know…out. On the town. Out to eat."

"Oh."

The keys jangled awkwardly.

"Are…you opposed? We could stay here and order something from the cafeteria."

"No! I mean, I'm down. If you are." M. turned to follow his father, and Marty cleared his throat. They walked to the car in silence, and the teen finally ventured to make more conversation as he buckled his seatbelt. "So…where were you thinking?"

"What?"

"To eat? Where were you thinking?" M pressed. His father frowned.

"Oh. Um…how about that…burger place downtown?"

M studied his father closely. "Which one?"

Marty muttered under his breath. "There's more than one burger place downtown?"

M. cracked a smile. "Yeah."

Another pause. It had started drizzling, and Marty turned on the windshield wipers. "Anywhere you'd like to go?"

That took M. by surprise again. Going out to eat was odd, but choosing where to eat was even rarer.

"Uh…well, there's always Chen's Restaurant. They've got good food."

Marty nodded to himself. There was silence for a few minutes besides the pattering of rain and the shushing of wipers on glass. It was actually pretty relaxing, and M. found himself close to dozing off.

"Have you thought about your Grandfather's proposition?"

That woke him right up. M. shifted in his seat, staring down at his hands. His father was trying to sound positive, but it sounded so strained. Honestly, it was worse than if he had just been angry.

"I'm still thinking about it," M. admitted. He decided a change of topic was in order, so he cleared his throat. "So, I met a friend of yours today."

That peaked his father's interest. "A friend of mine?"

"Yeah…or at least, he said he was. I was with Amber at one of her ambassador meetings…"

"…hence your suit…"

"…and met the Ambassador that they're sending to the first realm. His name is Tobias something."

His father blinked. "Bentworth?"

"Tobias Bentworth…yeah, that sounds right. Crazy mustache, mousy hair…loud…"

His father laughed, which shocked M. When was the last time he had heard his father laugh? He couldn't help but chuckle nervously at the sound of it.

"So you do know him?"

"Tobias and I grew up in the same neighborhood. He's the wandering adventurer sort…which is why I never really understood how he landed a job with the government. Though to be fair, they do tend to send him to the far corners of the realm. Not that he minds; the older he got, the more eccentric he became."

"Well, he must be ancient now, because eccentric doesn't even cover it."

"The First Realm…with all the Oni. I can't decide if that's a promotion or proof of how expendable they think he is."

Marty actually sounded kind of sad about it. When M. glanced over at him, his father's expression was far away.

"How long has it been since you've seen him?" M. asked. Marty harrumphed.

"Years. I think the last time I saw Tobias was when you were very young…before Matilda ever left."

A shadow flickered across both of their faces at the mention of M's mother, and M. cut in to try to lighten the mood.

"Back when you called me tater-tot?"

Marty slammed on his brakes as someone cut him off. M. grunted as his seatbelt locked.

"Sorry," his father murmured. He cleared his throat, and M. was surprised when his father chuckled again. "Tater-tot…he told you that?"

"Um…yeah. Did you really call me that?"

The car eased forward with traffic and Marty's eyes flicked across the street as he drove. "I suppose it is a little undignified."

"No, I…uh…I just couldn't really picture you calling anyone that."

Marty was silent as he turned on his blinker. "It seems Chen's is bustling tonight," he pointed out softly. "But there does appear to be a burger joint across the street, if you would like."

M. looked over. "Sound's perfect, Dad."


"Why wouldn't you tell me any of this?!"

Amber glared at her brother, and Theo sighed.

"It wasn't really something you needed to be worried about."

"Don't even give me that. Hershel was trapped on the Island…Imgloss going nuts? He kidnapped Pip, Theo—you should have called me! I could have come and helped!"

Theo sighed. "We didn't want you to come, Amber. That's why we didn't tell you."

"Why?"

He looked up, giving her a long look. "Imgloss was in a position that he could have done whatever he wanted…taken whatever he wanted. He didn't want anything with me or Dad or Mom…but don't you remember when he asked for your horns? We didn't want you to be a target."

Amber's blood ran cold as she realized what her brother meant, but she scowled on principle. "I could have taken him," she pointed out.

"He's an Ancient, Ams…"

"I sent one Ancient to the Departed realm," she sniffed. "And she was a Xinta."

"She was also already dead."

Theo's reply was dry, but she was happy to see that he was smiling a little. She had worried as soon as she had said it that it would bring back bad memories.

"Still."

He shook his head, but his smile faded as he sighed. "It's been weird, Amber. I guess I could have filled you in once Hershel got back and set everything in order…but it's been kinda hectic."

She leaned forward, resting her hands on her chin. "So, Hershel's ok?"

"He's ok. I mean, he's alive. But he's not…the same?" He looked over at her, an idea forming on his face. "You could probably tell, right? If something was really off with him…you know, inside."

She immediately frowned."You mean…you want me to look into his head?"

"No! I mean, only if he wants…and if you're ok with that. I actually meant that you could sense his emotions, right? He's even harder to read now. You should have seen him in that meeting; he almost bit Jaqah's head off several times."

Amber tried to picture it. Hershel could get snappy at times, but she had no idea what his beef with their Captain of the Guard would be. But then again, could she really claim to have any idea about anything anymore.

"Maybe you could go see him…" Theo was saying

"I actually have to get back," Amber realized with a wince. "I was just waiting to see if Mom and Dad would get back soon from showing Tobias his new home. Er…tent. Or whatever."

"Seems it's taking a little longer than they thought," Theo said, glancing at the door. "If you really have to go home, I'll tell them you said bye. They'll be sad they missed you, but to be fair, I have no idea how long they'll be with that crazy dude."

Amber smiled sadly. She would have waited around, but she remembered guiltily that M. was probably waiting for her. Though it had been a few hours…he probably wasn't even waiting for her anymore. But Dani would be getting back soon from her concert. Amber sighed heavily. "I'll go find them and say goodbye. Then I'll head back."

"Alright. But try to make it back one of these days; we miss you around here, Ams."

Theo pulled her into a hug and Amber sighed. She was glad it was finally working out to be part of two different crazy realms…but that didn't mean it was always easy.

"Love ya, Tay. Maybe I can come back next week, or the week after. And then school's out so I could probably visit a lot more often."

"School out already, huh? Are they even letting you count this semester?"

Amber made a face and he laughed.

"See ya, Ams."

197

"It's just a strange feeling really. To know that I could really do anything I wanted…and no one could stop me."

Hershel stared at the ground of the tent. He could feel Phos's concern and he sighed.

"I know how troubling that sounded," he admitted as he looked up at his old master. "But that is what it feels like. And everyday the power keeps reminding me."

The Ancient studied him with a calm expression. "Has it still been out of control?"

Hershel shrugged. "I haven't really had any more major incidents. But I don't know if it's because I have more control or because I haven't had any reason to get angry."

"Mmm." Phos stirred his tea. "Syn and her family have moved, then? And you didn't react?"

Hershel's expression fell as he looked down. "I didn't react," he affirmed. "But that doesn't mean it didn't hurt."

Phos's expression softened. "They still aren't talking to you?"

"Syn did come say goodbye. I had to sneak into the fortress to say goodbye to Pippa. The parting was as amicable as I could hope for, I guess. But…it's become so lonely in the tent again."

Phos nodded, and Hershel bit his lip as he looked up at his old Master.

"I'm moving your tent."

Phos looked surprise. "You're…"

"To the West. Near the Western Fortress…but not too near. Myrah's the only one who will talk to me lately, and it seemed silly to stay stranded out in the middle of nowhere…"

The Ancient seemed surprised, and Hershel felt himself rambling defensively. Phos finally put a hand up. "It's alright, Hershel. I purposely chose that location because it is the middle of nowhere. But it's not my tent any longer; honestly, you could do whatever you wanted with it."

Hershel sagged in relief. "Alright."

Phos took another sip of tea. "So…you're moving closer to the Western Leader. Things must be going well?"

Hershel didn't miss his Master's tone, and he gave the departed Oni a withering look. "Well enough. We aren't…moving forward. I don't feel like I can, until I obtain dependable control."

"Hmmmm…wise. But I would warn that the closer one is to temptation, the harder it becomes to avoid it."

"I'm not avoiding Myrah. We just aren't going to get bound any time soon."

"Bound…so, you've brought up binding?"

Hershel fiddled, uncomfortable under his Master's scrutiny. "No. Not yet…"

"But it's…"

"Phos. I still don't even know who I am right now. I'm not really ready for that…but that doesn't mean I don't want it to happen eventually."

Phos was silent as he took a long drink of his tea.

"I've finally talked to the other Healers."

"Hmmm?"

Hershel cleared his throat. "The others who were part of the organization. I finally tracked them down and told them what to expect."

Phos looked surprised. "And what exactly are they expecting?"

Hershel rubbed his neck. "That they can't do whatever they want just because there's no organization anymore. I'm going to be enforcing a new kind of law…"

"What kind of law?"

Hershel glanced up. "They're free to live their lives…but they can't use their powers as a way to overpower others, or force them to do their will. The line is drawn at hurting others."

"Mmm…"Phos's expression became distant. "What about in self-defense?"

Hershel blinked. "Well…obviously…"

"Is it so obvious? What if they would be able to help people if they forced them to be a certain way? What if it would solve problems?"

"I don't know what you're getting at," Hershel countered, his expression darkening.

"The world is not black and white, Hershel. I'm trying to warn you that life is incredibly complicated—as are people and their decisions. It's…very tricky to set yourself up as the judge of everyone."

The pale man's eyes flashed. "I'm not trying to be their judge. I just have to keep them in line…"

"In what line? The line you envision for the world?"

"The line between right and wrong!" Hershel argued. "Surely it's easy enough to recognize!"

"No. It's not." Phos gave him a pointed look. "The First Ancients thought they had cracked the code of right and wrong, Hershel. They also thought it completely justified to blind someone based on who they loved. The line is far hazier than any of us could ever hope to understand…"

"I'm not trying to decide right and wrong for every little decision!" Hershel cut in, glowering. "Phos…I just can't let anyone get out of control. I can't have any more Imglosses. I can't have any more Evynns..."

He stopped as soon as he said it, and he could feel Phos's sudden hurt and anger as he looked away. The Pale oni sagged, rubbing his face with one hand.

"I'm sorry, Phos."

"I just want you to be careful, my boy. It can be a slippery slope, deciding fates."

Hershel bit his lip.

"I promise I'll be careful. I just want to keep the realm safe."

"I nearly murdered an eight year old in cold blood in the name of keeping the realm safe," Phos reminded quietly. "If you hadn't stopped me. When our morals and ideologies get mixed with real people's lives…things can become very messy."

Hershel ducked his head meekly. "I understand."

Phos scanned his old pupil and finally sat back in his chair. "Any other news?" he asked, seemingly eager to change the subject now. Hershel thought of the question he had been wanting to ask. He just wasn't sure how Phos would react to it.

"Were you…acquainted with traveling healers Phos? Decades ago, before Keyda became Ruler."

"Not many. I tended to avoid most people," Phos replied, studying him carefully. "Why do you ask? Having trouble with them now as well?"

"No. The opposite, actually; I've been trying to choose people to train for the job. But that's not what I was trying to get at."

The Ancient leaned forward now, his eyes flickering with light from the dream fire. "Then what are you getting at?"

"Did you ever know of a traveling healer named Hugo?"

Phos didn't move for a few moments, thinking it over. He finally shook his head."Can't say that I have…"

Hershel's heart sank. "Oh. I didn't think so, I just wondered." He picked at a string in his sleeve, and Phos's frown deepened.

"Why do you ask? Did he say he knew me?"

"Oh…no. He's dead. I just…he was…" Hershel cleared his throat, his voice becoming soft. "He was my father."

There was silence apart from the crackling of the fire. After a few minutes, Hershel spoke again in an attempt to fill the silence.

"I never knew him. At least, not at an age that I would remember him. The Island brought him up. A way to manipulate me, I suppose…but now I've been trying to find out more about him…"

"Why?" Phos cut in finally. His voice was aloof as he leaned back, almost too nonchalant about the entire thing. "If he's dead and you never even knew him."

"I guess I just wanted to know more about where I came from. My powers…they have to come from him. His line. They can't come from my mother because Syn is one of the unpowered. Maybe a few generations back, Hugo's heritage was a real healer line complete with powers, but as time went on…"

"You have a real Healer's line. Why look for another?"

Phos was being defensive, Hershel realized. He had probably been right in thinking this was a bad idea altogether.

"I just wanted to know."

Something flickered across the Ancient's face, but then it was gone. Despite his new ability to read emotions clearly, Hershel found himself walled out. It seemed Phos had plenty of practice blocking his feelings from prying minds.

"Well, I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help."

Hershel leaned forward. "It's alright. He…wasn't the brightest, from what I gathered. But I don't think he abused me, and he did seem to care in his own way. I just wish I knew why he left…and why he was found dead."

"Found dead…in the wilderness?"

Hershel nodded, and Phos traced the rim of his teacup with a finger, seemingly lost in thought. "In the days of Shazier."

"Yes. The war was still occurring, and our village was right on the border with the dragons. I always assumed that they had killed him, actually. Or that he had gotten sick or something. But the woman I spoke with from my home village said there wasn't a scratch on him when they found him. No sickness either. He had just…died."

"As if he had just dropped dead." Phos's words had become soft, and Hershel's brow furrowed.

"Is there something you aren't telling me? Do you know how he died?"

"Same way many good men and women died back in those days, Hershel," Phos pointed out softly, turning to stare into the fire. "Shazier didn't appreciate healers, remember. He hunted them. One of his sick sports, really…"

"He didn't hunt you."

Phos scoffed bitterly. "He didn't dare try to mess with us Ancients. No, he knew better than that; he would bribe us for knowledge, and we were very careful to hide the fact that we had powers. Thus, we really left each other alone. But traveling Healers didn't stand a chance against him."

It hit hard. Hershel knew that Shazier had hunted Healers…had slaughtered many of them. But the connection had never formed in his mind…and suddenly he wondered if Hugo's wandering and haunted looks had less to do with idiocy, as it did with the knowledge that he was being tracked and targeted.

"Did the Healers know?" he asked, his voice hushed.

"Most did. But what could they do? By the time Shazier started hunting, most of them were already well known. That's why they were called the traveling healers—they had to stay on the move. Those who stayed in one place soon found themselves faced with the Baron himself, or one of his bounty hunters."

The world seemed to be tilting, and Hershel wasn't sure if he was waking up or because he was that sick about the realization that hit him.

"Stayed in one place…"

You bet you will. No more of this flitting in and out…being gone for months just to come wandering back like some half-witted hoofer. You leave and I'm leaving that thing out for the Sniffers…

I ain't leaving.

He was suddenly on the verge of throwing up. Could he even vomit in his dream?

"Hershel…" Phos said, his voice full of concern. He sounded so far away.

"It was my fault," Hershel finally managed. "I'm the reason he stayed in one place. I'm the reason that Shazier found him."

Phos went silent, and Hershel buried his face in his hands. "Dooming those who dare care about me from a young age," he muttered.

Phos scoffed. "No, Hershel. You cannot blame yourself for the way the world was, or the decisions people made. It didn't matter in the end; Shazier found most all of them. He would have found this Hugo regardless…"

"Is that supposed to make me feel better?!" Hershel's eyes were blazing and he squeezed his eyes shut. Phos had stood, and Hershel felt a hand on his shoulder. "How did he kill him without making a mark, Phos?" he finally asked when he had reigned the power back in.

Phos was silent, and Hershel knew his master wasn't eager to tell him anything else.

"Phos! Please."

"Shazier had a few other artifacts at his disposal, though the rage staff was by far his favored one. I don't know how he killed your father, exactly…but there are a few things he could have used for that effect."

Hershel had thought that knowing would bring him closure. Instead, it just made him feel more lost. Phos squeezed his shoulder.

"We cannot change the past, Hershel. All we can do is work for a better future."

Hershel clenched his jaw as he stared at the ground. "I intend to."

198

"I give him a week." Keyda rubbed her temple to ward off the headache that was forming. Next to her, Cole squeezed her knee. Theo looked a little disturbed by her prediction from his seat on the other side of the desk.

"Really? I would say he won't last more than two or three days. And that's being optimistic." Jaqah joined in now, her tone dry and icy. She stood at the ready along the wall, but her eyes narrowed as if she was remembering back to something unpleasant. Theo cut in.

"C'mon, guys…I get he's a little eccentric, but I don't think he means any real harm…"

"Oni don't really care about intentions, Theodynn. If he continues like he did today, he's going to get run through, blasted, or at very least, beaten. He's nosy, pretentious, and disrespectful, just to start." The Captain of the Guard seemed to be in a no-mercy sort of mood, and Cole sighed heavily.

"The problem is, he's the ambassador. If anything happens to Tobias Bentworth, relations with Ninjago will go to pot…"

"I still say they sent him as a punishment rather than as a peace offering," Keyda growled. Theo blinked.

"You think they're punishing him by sending him here?"

"I think they're punishing us."

"Look. We just have to show him the ropes, is all," Cole offered. "He doesn't understand what he's gotten into. Something tells me he wasn't exactly an ambassador before now. Tobias needs to know the protocol."

"Or he can learn the hard way when someone buries a knife in his stomach," Jaqah murmured. "Life has a way of teaching us the lessons we need."

Cole sighed. "Jaqah…"

"I'm not sure why we're trying to please Ninjago anyways; they are the ones who took the Oni Heir hostage for weeks at a time. I hardly think it worth our time to guard their fiendish ambassador."

"That's what I've been saying!" Keyda agreed, but she sighed when Cole shot her a withering look. "I mean, I'm all for peace. But why should we have to try so hard when they didn't?"

"We literally just have to keep the guy from dying," Theo pointed out. "That's not really 'trying so hard'…"

"Have you met him?" his mother countered, and Cole chuckled a little.

"I still think he just needs someone to…show him how things are done."

"Like who? Me? You? As if we don't have enough on our plates," Keyda complained.

"I was actually thinking maybe Theo could do it."

Theo looked up at his father's words, and Keyda could tell from his face that he didn't really want to be saddled with the insane Ninjagoan.

"Umm…"

"Sure, make our son an added target," she muttered. "Though I suppose Ret could guard them both. Two birds with one stone."

"But I have things I have to do," Theo tried hesitantly. "I can't really just take him around with me…"

"Why not? Learning on the go. I think that would be ideal for both of you."

Cole smiled, and Theo gave him a grimace in reply.

"I guess."

"It's not forever, Theo. Just until Tobias isn't offending everyone he comes into contact with…and until we can find you a suitable bodyguard that we can trust so you don't have to share Ret. Let's just plan for the next week."

Everyone was silent as they turned to see what Theo would say. He stared at his father a few minutes longer and finally sighed.

"Alright. One week."


"There are a few coveted spots near the ocean…there's a cove not far from the next village over, and it's out of the way."

Hershel gave Myrah a smile, but she could tell that he didn't like the idea.

"Or not," she offered easily, sliding the last few scrolls into a cubby. She sighed in relief; the library was finally back to her standard. It had taken a little longer to get a few of the damaged scrolls transcribed onto new parchment, but now that it was done, she finally had her safe place back.

"I'd rather not live by the ocean," Hershel said softly, and Myrah frowned.

"The Island," she realized quietly, turning towards him again. "But I thought Archtivus said it couldn't reach you."

"It can't…in theory."

He stretched as he stood, having finished straightening the candles on a bottom shelf. Myrah came over closer.

"How are the nightmares?"

"Better. Having the tea every night helps, actually…then I at least know who I'm talking to when I go to sleep."

"Makes sense."

She fiddled with the hair dangling in front of his eyes.

"That's it; you've been needing to cut this for a while."

Hershel blinked as she pulled out a knife, and Myrah hesitated.

"Can I…"

"Go ahead."

He smiled, and she returned it. She lifted the dagger, and he held still as she carefully cropped the hair back out of his eyes.

"You seem to have many talents," he murmured as she worked, and she smiled, though she didn't look away from her task.

"I've always been the kind of person who likes to do things for myself."

"You cut your own hair?"

Her smile became grim. "I don't trust other people near my face with sharp objects."

A few minutes later, Hershel was brushing through the shortened hair with one hand.

"Thank you," he said, and she sheathed the dagger.

"Much better," she critiqued. Hershel moved to finger the long locks on his shoulder.

"Do you want to cut it all off?"

Myrah paused; she could tell he was serious, and she frowned as she tried to picture him with short hair.

"No," she finally decided. She moved behind him, raking his hair back gently with her fingers. "You wouldn't…look like yourself."

"I don't really look like myself anyway," he pointed out quietly, and she shook her head even though he couldn't see it.

"Don't say that. You look fine." She tied a string around his hair deftly at the nape of his neck, and then turned him around. Myrah scanned him and finally nodded. "Perfect."

"If you say so."

She wrapped her arms around his neck so she could reach his hair. He blinked as she gave it two firm tugs.

"I do."

Here his smile reached up to his eyes as he leaned forward to kiss her. She shivered happily as she felt his hands come to rest on her back, but then the kiss was over and he was pulling away.

"You look pretty good yourself," he offered, and she quirked an eyebrow.

"Is that why you fell in love with me?"

He seemed surprised at the question, but it had been something that Myrah had wondered for a while. Looking back on all their interactions, she was only too aware of how she had treated him. What was it he had seen in her?

Hershel stroked her chin with his thumb, scanning her face. "Not the only reason," he finally admitted.

"What are the others?" she pressed, and he chuckled.

"You have a meeting," he reminded. "Ten minutes…that's all the longer we were supposed to have together. We've already doubled it or more…"

"You're supposed to be telling me all your secrets," she reminded, not releasing him as her fingers wove through his pale hair.

"Your advisors are going to be angry…"

"Hershel!" she complained, her curiosity now stoked. "At least tell me something."

He studied her closely, his gaze becoming distant as if he was remembering back. "You know the first thing I noticed?"

"What?" she murmured.

"You're eyes. I've never seen eyes like yours."

"Mmm…" Myrah traced a pattern on the back of his neck with one finger. "I've always been told they make me more intimidating," she pointed out, and Hershel shook his head.

"No. They look like the sunrise."

Myrah's brows raised at that. But before she could say anything else, Hershel had leaned in to kiss her again. She shut her eyes, enjoying the moment and the way he made her feel. Sunrise eyes; she had never heard that before.

The door opened, cutting them off far earlier than Myrah would have liked.

"Myrah…"

Bula trailed off as she caught sight of them, her mouth becoming a thin line. Her eyes lingered on Hershel, and Myrah willed him not to turn around and see her advisor's expression. But it seemed he was already picking up on Bula's emotions. She saw something flicker across his expression—something angry—but then he was back to his normal soft-spoken self. He kissed her once more and finally dropped his arms.

"Seems that I've overstayed my welcome once again."

"Never," she chided. "You should stay; I'll catch up with you after the meeting."

"I need to keep packing," he apologized, and she sighed.

"Alright. See you tomorrow, then?"

"Possibly."

One last kiss, and then she forced herself to pull away as well. She grudgingly turned to follow Bula out of the library. She turned one last time, but Hershel had already looked away to clean up the hair on the ground.


"I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO THINK."

Amber winced at her friend's yelling, and she couldn't help but chuckle a little. "Dani…calm down! People are going to think someone's dying…"

"PURPLE! REGGIE BLUE DIED HIS HAIR PURPLE!"

"So?"

Dani whirled on Amber so fast, she triggered the Oni's defensive stance. "So?! It's his whole persona! Reggie Blue cannot have purple hair!"

Amber just blinked. "So…you didn't like the concert?"

"Are you kidding?! IT WAS BETTER THAN I COULD HAVE EVER HOPED!"

Amber laughed out loud then. "I'm glad!"

"And Colby was such a little gentleman. He knew enough to bring an umbrella so when they started launching colored dye into the crowd, we didn't get too drenched. I mean, I would have loved to…but I don't know if my family would have appreciated me coming home for the weekend glowing Neon yellow.

"Mmmm…" Amber said. "How is Colby?"

"He's good. He's done with his community service at the police station, you know…but he still goes on Tuesdays and Thursdays just to volunteer. They actually let him do a mural on one of the station walls."

"Let me guess….lots of dark colors…maybe some abstract lines that echo prison bars?"

Dani shook her head. "Actually, it's a really detailed Skyscape of Ninjago city at night. He's not that bad at realism, you know. I think he just didn't like being defined…but now that he's a little more confident in himself, he's branching out."

Amber let that sink in. "Confidence is an amazing thing," she finally realized, and Dani smiled.

"I'll say. I learned that lesson when I switched schools, you know. And the craziest part is at first, I decided I was just going to act confident but then all of a sudden I just was more confident. Fake it till you make it, and all that."

She bounced slightly on her bed, and Amber wondered if her roommate had been wearing the Crazy-Z concert shirt for the last three days straight…and how long she would have continued wearing it if she didn't have to change into a uniform tomorrow morning.

"Colby says hi, by the way. And his sisters wanted to know if you were ever going to stop by for dinner with their family…have you been getting their father's invites?"

Amber winced."I mean, I got the invites. I'm just…not used to dinners without my family."

"I could come with you, if you want."

Dani's tone was too nonchalant, and Amber couldn't help but smirk.

"So…Colby's invited you to family dinner, huh?"

Dani immediately turned beet red. "He just said that if you ever came, I should tag along!" she snapped, flustered. Amber laughed.

"Mmm…you have been spending a lot of free time with him…it seems pretty serious…"

The laughs echoed in the room as Dani launched her pillow at Amber's face. It hid solidly, but didn't do much to muffle the giggles.

"How dare!" Dani accused, gasping for breath. "We're just friends…"

"Sure…"

"Just like you and M! You spend just as much time with Openheimer as Colbes and I spend together…"

"Colbes?" Amber teased, but then she shook her head. "M and I are nothing like you two. We don't go to concerts…or dinner…"

"No, just fancy ambassador gatherings…"

"Shut up!"

They were still giggling ten minutes later when a supervisor pounded on their door and reminded them that it was lights out.


"Don't eat that."

Theo had tried to be chipper, the first day. But his patience had already been spent…and it was only the morning of day two. Retrevan sat guarding the entrance to Tobias's tent, as if expecting someone to come charging in and end the ambassador's insanity once and for all.

"Are you sure that it's not edible?" The Ambassador in question was poking the squishy caterpillar-like bug on his plate for emphasis. "Have you ever…"

"No. I have never eaten one. Because it's a bug…and we don't eat bugs."

Theo's tone was dry and bordering annoyance, but Tobias didn't seem to mind.

"I'm absolutely shocked that Oni are not more equipped to living off the land. There is plenty of good protein to be gleaned from little insects, such as this one. Why…when I lived out in the great Marshes on the lower east end of the Ninjagoan wilderness, bugs were the only things I ate for three months…"

Theo felt nauseous after hearing that, and sicker still as Tobias picked up the poor little black and red worm. It squirmed in alarm, and Theo moaned; it was still alive? The man was about to put the whole thing in his mouth when Retrevan spoke up.

"You realize that is poisonous…right?"

The bug froze just before entering Tobias's mouth, and it groped desperately at the handlebar mustache with its sticky little legs.

"Poisonous?"

Retrevan met his gaze gravely, and Tobias immediately put the caterpillar very far from his mouth. He cleared his throat, and Theo watched him carefully.

"If you'll excuse me…" the ambassador finally said. "There's a bucket of little vermin that I should probably set free now."

He pushed himself up from his chair and brushed past Retrevan and out into the sunshine. The Oni watched him go in disbelief. After the door fluttered closed, Theo glanced over.

"Those are poisonous? Really?"

"No idea," the bodyguard mused softly. "But I wasn't about to watch him eat it."

Theo cracked a smile, grateful that he wasn't stuck babysitting alone. Speaking of which…

"We better go find him before he falls into a well…or dumps a bunch of plant eating caterpillars into somebody's garden."

Ret sighed and pushed himself to his feet. "Five more days…" he muttered, and Theo gave the man a pat on the back.

"I don't know how we're supposed to keep him alive once he starts visiting villages and other provinces."

"Other provinces?" Ret asked, surprised. Theo nodded miserably as he pushed the door-flap open.

"That's his goal; all four provinces by the end of the week."

Ret blinked and shook his head grimly. "Ancients help us all."


Pippa bent to pick up the rock, examining it closely before slipping it into her pocket. The rocks were cooler up north; in the central province they were mainly the same sandy color as the dirt or the formations. But up here there were gigantic grey mountains and grey rocks with little shiny bits everywhere. Her father told her that the shiny bits were just mineral build up and they didn't make the rocks any more valuable, but they definitely added some variation to her sandy-colored rock collection.

Even so, it just wasn't the same.

"Come on, Baffa!" she called, and the sniffer pulled up from where he had been snuffling a hole in the ground. He barked once and then loped over, and she slipped onto his back. A glance at the sun told her that she was going to be a little late getting back home. She hoped that her dad wouldn't be mad; he had been really tense and quiet since the move, and she didn't really know why. She thought he would be happier now that they had moved—it was his idea, after all. But he got mad at her more now, and it was always about being late getting home or not being where she was "supposed" to be. What did that even mean? She had never had to be in specific places before, as long as she was home before dark every day. Her mom was really quiet too, and it bothered Pippa.

She made it home just after high noon, and she went into the tent quickly.

"I'm back!" she called out, just so they would know not to send out a search party.

"You're late, Pip," her mother reminded from her place mixing various herbs at the table. She had started healing again, and Pippa came over to see what her mother was working on.

"I was collecting rocks," she explained, as if that was an obvious reason for being late. "See? This one looks like it has stars in it!"

She pulled out the stone and showed her mother, and Syn glanced up briefly.

"Pretty," she agreed with a quick smile, but then she was looking back down at the herbs. She had those forehead wrinkles that she got when she was stressed about something, and Pippa frowned.

"Watcha doing?"

"Trying to find a good substitute for willow weed," her mother explained. "They grow in the West and in the Central area, but not up here as much. And I found this herb today, but I don't recognize it. I'm going to have to find a healer up here who could tell me…"

"Why don't you just ask Uncle Hershel?"

Syn paused, and Pippa frowned when she saw her mother's expression. Why didn't they even want to talk about Hershel anymore?

"It's a long trip to make," Syn finally said, smiling tightly. "Besides, he doesn't know much about the North either, Pip."

Pippa just shrugged. "He might know."

Syn didn't answer, and Pippa went to press more, but just then the tent door opened and her father came in. She turned and quickly pulled her sword from her hip and charged him with a yell. She was relieved when she caught sight of his small smile as he drew his own weapon, blocking her attempts to attack him. She sprung back from an attack too slow, and soon found herself disarmed.

"You've gotten sloppy," her father tsked as he sheathed his katana. "We're going to have to practice more."

Pippa sighed, disappointed in herself as well, but she picked up her sword without any more complaint.

"Where are we going? You said we were going somewhere and that's why I had to be back by high noon…"

"Found a forge that'll let me do some work," Tolan explained, and Syn looked up from where she was carefully dissecting the flowers on the work table.

"Really?" she asked, and Tolan shot her a smile.

"Told you it would just take a few days."

Syn's smile was full of relief and she nodded. "I'm glad you found somewhere. They're going to let you make weapons, then?"

Tolan snorted. "They will once they see me in action. C'mon, Pip. I want you to come watch."

She didn't question it; she wanted to see what her father had been so excited about. She had seen him fight with weapons plenty of times, but had yet to see him make anything. She jumped up and went to grab her herb satchel, but her father grabbed her arm.

"You don't need to bring anything, Pip. C'mon, we're gonna be late."

"You were later than I was!" she complained, but she obliged and left her satchel as she followed him outside. Soon he was on his hoofer and she was on her sniffer as they headed towards the villages nearer the fortress. They had more forges there, but Syn hadn't wanted to set up their tents there because the constant clanging made it hard to sleep.

It didn't take long before they reached the village, and Tolan gestured for Pippa to get off of Baffa as he dismounted as well.

"Keep a hold on him," her father reminded. "People up here are used to killing Sniffers that come down from the mountains. If you want people to know that he's not worth killing, you have to show them that he belongs to you."

Pippa kept a dutiful hand on Baffa's mane, and she held her head high as the others in the village turned to give her quizzical looks. Baffa for his part seemed calm and content, his tongue lolling out as he trotted through the cramped pathways built between the homes. People didn't have as many tents here. There were still some, but the forges were made of stone. Probably so they didn't catch on fire, Pippa mused.

"This is it."

Tolan came to a stop outside a forge, and Pippa stopped dutifully behind him. Her father turned and studied Baffa for a moment.

"Tell him to wait out here; we may have to tie him up with a rope just so people can tell that someone owns him."

"I don't own him; he likes staying with me," Pippa argued, her heart immediately pounding at the thought of tying Baffa up. They rarely did it, and she knew he hated it.

"It's for his own protection, Fluff…"

"No!" Pippa's arms went around Baffa's neck, and she looked up pleadingly at her father as she hugged her sniffer. "He hasn't done anything wrong! Don't make me tie him up!"

Tolan sighed heavily. "Fluff…"

But all Pippa could remember was how horrible it felt to be tethered down…to not be able to go anywhere else. To not be able to just leave if you wanted, or wander off. She pouted, and Tolan folded his arms the way he did when he was being deadly serious.

"I'll stay out with him," Pippa offered. "No one will think he's dangerous if I'm with him…"

"I want you in there, watching," he reminded sternly. "Baffa's not going to mind being tied up for a few hours; he's lazy enough that he'll sleep here that whole time. He won't even notice."

Pippa's eyes filled with tears, and her father finally sighed, dropping his arms.

"Fine…leave him here without the rope. But don't come crying to me when one of the villagers runs him through."

Pippa turned and immediately addressed the Oni staring at them with a loud voice.

"Don't kill Baffa! He's a good Sniffer!" She yelled, and they just blinked. Baffa yawned. As Pip scratched behind his ears, he settled his large head on his front paws.

"You good, Fluff?" Tolan asked dryly, and Pip turned to nod.

"They know now," she said sagely. She gave Baffa one last pat and then followed her father inside the stone forge building. There wasn't anyone in the forge, and Pippa watched in interest as her father lit a fire and used the bellows to get it really hot. He gestured for her to come over, and for the next few hours Tolan worked on something. It didn't look like much at first; he stretched the metal over and over, then pounded it back together again. The metal would get hot and he would pound it so it was long…but then he would get it hotter and fold it all up like it was a cloth shirt rather than metal. Pippa couldn't help but stare with wide eyes, entranced by the whole process. She had thought that it would be quick; pound out the metal and then pound it until it was in a sword shape. But it took so much longer—her father pounded it again and again and again. Every time that she thought it was done, he would reheat it and pound it into a new shape.

Pippa had started dozing off at the small work counter and didn't even notice it was evening until she heard Baffa howling. She shook herself awake and then moved to poke her head out of the door.

"Baffa, shhh!" she warned; a howling sniffer would bring people with swords or spears. Baffa turned and whined at her, no doubt hurt that he wasn't able to sing his nightly song to his good friend the moon. Pippa sighed heavily.

"I'm sorry…but if you wanna sing, you have to leave the village. Go far away, out there," she hissed. Baffa just tilted his head.

"Fluff."

She turned at her father's voice. Tolan had long since removed his tunic from the heat of the forge, and he was wiping his face with a rag now. Pippa gave Baffa one last warning look before coming in.

"Is it done?"

Tolan snorted. "Not even close. But phase one is complete, at least."

Pippa hopped back up on her stool. "Phase one?"

"General formation. Still have a few hours with sharpening and such."

Pippa leaned forward as her father brought it over to show her on a thick hoofer hide to protect his hands. She beamed.

"I thought you were making a sword!" she said. "This looks like a dagger."

"It is a dagger," Tolan commented. Pippa reached out to touch it, but Tolan jerked it away.

"Still hot, Fluff. I just wanted you to look."

"It's kinda curved," she pointed out. "I haven't seen a dagger like that."

Tolan smiled a little and moved to take the dagger back over to the shelf. "This is how we used to make them, in my village."

"Your village?"

Pippa didn't remember her father talking about that before, and Tolan paused.

"Where I grew up. We used to make weapons."

"Really?" Pippa hopped off her stool to come over. "Is that why you wanted to do it again now? Are you gonna do this forever?"

He turned and ruffled her hair. "I dunno, Fluff. It's what I'm doing right now, and that's enough for me."

22