34

Tolan carried the bowls deftly as he headed back to their rooms in the far wing of the Western Fortress. He dodged servants and guards, muttering to himself. The sooner he could move back into his tent, the better. Bad enough all the days he had to spend at the Central Fortress lately. He hated that all his time was spent behind stone walls.

The door to the sitting room was slightly ajar, and Tolan used his back to push it open all the way. However, as he caught sight of the empty bowls sitting on the table, he scowled. "Did you already eat?"

Syn looked up from where she was reading a scroll in a corner chair. "Oh, sorry Tol. We ate about an hour ago. I didn't see you this morning so I assumed you had left early for the Central Fortress."

"I'm off duty at the Central Fortress for a few days," Tolan explained, coming into the room. "This morning I was at the forge."

"Thought you didn't have time these days to do anything at the forge," Syn pointed out, going back to her scroll.

"Needed to pound something in, and better a hunk of metal than the Freak's head." Tolan put two of the bowls on the low table before sitting with his own on a floor cushion. "Did Fluff already eat, too?"

"She's out with Hershel again—they left at sunup. What's Theo done this time to incur your wrath?" Syn asked dryly, her eyes still scanning the parchment she was holding.

"Kid's crawling with secrets. Somehow, he's managed to get the attention of some southern-trash gold-digger, and he's at odds with his parents again so he's basically under house arrest..."

"I'm surprised you're not there watching his every move, then."

Tolan gave his wife a withering look. "What's with the tone?" he demanded. "I'm his bodyguard—being his constant companion is literally the job description."

"So why are you home?"

"Cole thought it would be better if Ret took over for a few days...something about him being more mild-mannered, or something like that." Tolan stabbed at the potatoes in his morning stew. "What the Rulers don't realize is that Theo's not the same, innocent little Freak he used to be. He's going to wiggle out from under Retrevan's watch like a Sniffer raiding a hoofer-pen."

"Well...it's nice to have you here," Syn pointed out. "We hardly see you anymore."

Tolan scowled. "You'd see more of me if we were still in our tent, and I didn't have to travel so far to get between fortresses. It's an irritating daily commute...you know that's why I spend so much of the week at the Central one."

"I guess."

"What's going on?" Tolan demanded, setting his breakfast down to give his wife a hard look. "What's with the attitude?"

"Attitude?"

"You get like this when you're mad at me," he pointed out.

Syn smiled sweetly. "Get like what?"

"That." Tolan made a waving motion in her direction. "The clipped sentences, the fake smiling..."

"I'm not mad at you, Tolan," his wife countered, unraveling more of the scroll. "I'm just disappointed."

He snorted. "Great. Even worse." He reached for his food. "What'd I do this time? If it's about how I'm never around, you'll have to take your complaints to the Rulers. And Theodynn, for being such a—"

"Was Teag at the forge this morning?" Syn cut in, and Tolan looked up in confusion.

"What?"

"When you were pounding metal in, was he there?"

"I had to go in before starting hours—there wasn't anybody there."

"You probably could have found him. At that early in the morning, he was probably still in the servant's quarters."

"Why would I want to find him? I don't teach him anymore. I gave Hot Stuff his last lesson over a week ago—I told him as much."

"Because you said you didn't have the time to teach him," Syn said, still not looking up from her scroll. "Because you were never home, and you never had time to go to the forge. Yet here you are, at home, visiting the forge..."

"This is about Hot-Stuff?" Tolan demanded, his irritation growing. "He's Hershel's ward, not mine."

"He looks up to you, Tolan." Syn lowered the scroll as she finally turned to face him. The passive aggression had passed as she gave him a look that mirrored her disapproval. "Can't you see that? Would it kill you to—"

"I have nothing to do with him!" Tolan snapped defensively. "I told him I would give him a few lessons, and I did. That's above and beyond what I needed to do."

"He's got a lot against him..."

"That's not my problem!" he huffed. "Look, if Hershel wants to go out and adopt every orphan and waif he finds, that's on him. He can't expect me to babysit them."

"Hershel isn't expecting you to do anything," Syn corrected, her gaze icy. "This is coming from me, Tol."

"What do you want me to do? Drop everything else I have going on to help some delinquent?"

"He's not a delinquent!"

"Did you forget he's the little criminal who took our daughter halfway across the realm and brought her back with tattoos?" Tolan demanded. He tossed his bowl back on the table, giving up on finishing. "If I wasn't done with the idiot before then, that would have been reason enough to be."

"So you told him he's to have nothing to do with our family?"

"He's a bad influence!"

"He just needs some support, Tol!"

"He gave our daughter tattoos! You cried when you saw what Pippa had done, and—"

"Exactly. What Pippa had done. Ancient knows she has never needed help getting into mischief before. If anything, she's the one I worry about being a bad influence."

"There's nothing wrong with Pip," Tolan growled. "And what's more, she's my kid. Hot-Stuff isn't."

Syn scoffed. "I'm not asking you to adopt him."

"Really? Because right now it sounds like you're mad at me for not being his father!"

"You're not Theodynn's father, and yet you spend all your time thinking and worrying about him," Syn countered.

"It's literally my job to worry about Theo."

"It's your job to guard Theo. Yet here you are, stewing about every life choice he makes and how people aren't controlling him enough. Theo's over two-decades old, Tol...he can take care of himself. If you want to make a difference..."

"Where is this even coming from?" Tolan demanded as he stood. "Has Hot-stuff been coming around again?"

"I invited him to, but he said you banned him from seeing any of us."

"I told him to keep his distance...I don't want him around Pippa anymore."

"He's not a bad kid, Tolan."

"What makes you so sure?" he snapped. "Because everything I've seen..."

"You barely interact with him! And when you do, you're awful to him."

"Then maybe it would be better if I didn't see him anymore, if I'm so awful."

"He needs someone to believe in him, Tolan."

"Why does that someone have to be me?"

"Because you're the one he looks up to! And by dismissing him..."

"I'm not like you and your brother, Syn," Tolan told her flatly. "You guys go around taking everybody in whether or not you should. You can't save everybody."

"Maybe we take people in because we know what it's like to not have anyone in the world to turn to," Syn snapped. The scroll she had been reading slid back together as she set it aside.

"I don't even know what you see in the kid. He's nothing but trouble."

"Are you kidding me?" Syn demanded. "Tolan...he's you! I can't even talk with him without thinking about you when you were that age!"

"Hot-stuff is nothing like me," Tolan corrected. "Besides, you didn't even know me when I was his age."

"He's exactly like you!" Syn argued, pushing herself to her feet. "In fact, there's only one or two differences between the two of you."

"Like what?"

"For one thing, he's politer than you ever were."

Tolan snorted. "Goes to show you don't know the real him, then."

"Or maybe you don't know the real him," Syn snapped. "Did you know he has an older brother?"

Tolan scoffed. "Why would I know that?"

"That's the other thing that's so different between the two of you," Syn said as she moved to the door of the room. "Your brother looked after and protected you when you lost everything. Teag's kicked him to the curb and left him for dead." She yanked on the handle of the door, pulling it open. "He's had it rough. Can you really blame him for a having a few issues?"

Tolan was quiet, not voicing an opinion one way or another as he stood with his arms crossed. Syn sighed, grabbing her scroll.

"I've got to take this back to the library," she muttered before leaving.

"You eat like this every day?" the young woman demanded, looking down at her food skeptically before looking around the rest of the room. Theo leaned on the table, all too aware of Retrevan's presence nearby.

"What do you mean?"

"I would have thought there was some fancy, important room where fancy, important people ate."

"You'd have to ask someone fancy and important," Theo pointed out dryly as he looked around at the various guards and castle workers. "It's easier for everyone to eat in a main area."

"Easier for who?"

Theo shrugged, picking at his salad. "If my family wants to eat in our rooms, we can. Most times, we stop here before heading off to wherever we're going that day."

Rook didn't answer as she looked around the room, her eyes darting from table to table. Was she looking for someone? Or just counting how many people were in here with them? At last, she looked back at him, ripping at her warm loaf as she lowered her voice. "So, about the mountain."

Ret was nearby, though he had turned to chat with a guard at the adjacent table. Theo shrugged, not turning to look at his guard. "What about him?"

"Can we talk freely in front of him?"

"We can't talk freely in front of anyone," Theo answered easily, trying to keep his answer soft without making himself conspicuous by whispering. Rook's expression flickered with irritation.

"So, how are we gonna ditch the colossus?"

It was something Theo hadn't figured out yet, so he shrugged. He wasn't sure if Ret would leave the two of them alone, even if Theo asked for privacy. "How's the food?" he asked conversationally as Retrevan returned to his side. Rook shrugged, biting another large chunk of loaf and talking around it as she chewed.

"Fine, if you're into the whole 'fortress cuisine prepared by an army of servants' thing."

Theo couldn't help but smile. "I promise it's better than anything I could cook up."

"Ah...so, the Heir deigns to eat with the lay people, and cooks his own food as well. You're not really good at this whole 'being nobility' gig."

"I've only attempted cooking a few times, and it always ends in horrible failure, if that helps my aristocratic image," Theo offered.

"What you need is someone who can show you how to make the most of your title," Rook decided, kicking her boots up onto the table as she leaned back on her chair and grabbed her goblet. "Follow my lead, and I'll have you lazing like the best of them."

"You're obviously from the South," Theo commented, rolling his eyes. "What a perfect interpretation of Ottan."

Rook snorted. "Mock all you want. At least he knows how to let loose sometimes." Rook grabbed a handful of berries off her plate and popped them into her mouth one at a time.

"If by let loose, you mean ignoring everything that happens in his province unless it's happening in his stupid Pit."

"Oh, Ottan knows what's going on in the south. You can take my word for that, Princey."

Theo raised an eyebrow at her tone, and Rook met his eye to communicate the unsaid message. "I knew it," he muttered, but he forced himself to change the subject, as much as he wanted to continue it. "Do you know Ottan well?"

"Seen him a couple of times, I guess. Mainly at pit fights."

"Have you been in a pit fight, then?"

Rook snorted. "Do I look like I was built for hand-to-hand combat?" she asked. "I just go to watch at times. Nothing like watching two brutes beat the snot out of each other for no good reason."

"What is it that you do in the south?" Theo asked. He was genuinely curious about Rook's background, though he wasn't sure he could trust whatever her answer would be.

"What do you think?" Rook challenged.

"Scavenger?" Theo guessed. Her expression darkened.

"Wow...laying on the charm. You think I'm some pickpocket?"

"No, or I would have said thief. Every time I go to the south, there are people that drift between villages, foraging and rummaging for things to trade for resources."

"You call them Scavengers?" Rook asked. "I call them Skippers."

"Skippers?"

"Cuz they're always skipping town and never settle down anywhere." She smirked. "Why'd you think I'm a skipper?"

"You seem like you carry as much on you as possible," he pointed out, gesturing to her various belts laden with weapons, pouches, and satchels. "Ready to go at any given moment, and always having just what you need."

Rook glanced down at herself before shrugging. "Maybe I just like to be prepared for everything," she sniffed. She reached out, and Theo blinked in surprise as she grabbed his plate and dragged it over to herself. He didn't stop her, but she must have seen his expression because she rolled her eyes. "You weren't eating it."

"So what do you do? If you're not a scav—skipper?"

"I'm just a hand to hire, really," Rook offered around another mouthful. Her goblet was empty, so she reached out to claim Theo's to wash the food down. "I've done all sorts...worked in fields, did a little mining. Do not recommend that, by the way. Mines are dark, claustrophobic." She shuddered. "I preferred working for a little shoemaker near the fortress, but that didn't last long."

"What do you do currently?"

"I've got a few jobs in the works," Rook offered. "I can't take too much on, though, or it gets in the way of my projects."

"Ah." Theo watched as she finished the last of both meals, wiping her face on her sleeve with gusto. "Are you done, or should we go rob someone else of their breakfast?"

"Hmmm... that should satisfy me till lunch." Rook pat her midriff happily before standing to stretch. "What about you, Handsome? What do you like to do besides boss people around and attend boring meetings?"

"Oh...just try to stay busy, I guess." Theo stood as well. "Go riding, travel around the realm, talk to people. Not to mention filing reports, reading and answering correspondences, weapons training, making visits to the school I've set up, teach the occasional class, take donations to the orphanages my father started here in the Central Province...and I dance a little."

Rook snorted. "My, how do you fit it all in?"

"I combine my 'bossing people around' with my 'attending boring meetings.' Frees up all kinds of time," Theo said dryly. He could feel Ret watching him, and he kept his tone casual as he continued. "Did you bring your Hoofer? Maybe we could go for a ride."

"Theodynn." Ret's tone was apologetic, and the Heir sighed.

"Right. Seems I'm still not allowed out."

"Aw, it's all right," Rook smirked. "I don't even own a hoofer."

"You walked here? From the south?"

"Don't be so concerned," Rook teased. "I'm a big girl. Speaking of which..." The woman stepped closer, her voice becoming quieter as she trailed a finger down his chest. "Where do we have to go to get some privacy, Princey?"

Theo flushed against his will, then cursed himself for letting her get to him. He could practically feel Ret's concern from behind him, and the Heir sighed as he turned to his massive bodyguard. "Ret, are my parents around?"

"I believe they're both out for the day," Ret said, his expression making it clear he was worried why Theo was asking. Rather than respond to Retrevan, Theo turned his attention back to the irritating woman still messing with his shirt.

"We'll head to the family quarters, then."

Pippa stormed into the fortress, Hershel not far behind her. "It's not fair!" she shouted. "Just teach me something useful already!"

"Until you can manage aura perception, there's no point in moving forward," Hershel said calmly from behind.

Pippa whirled around. "You're making me practice it on purpose, because you know that I won't be able to do it!" she accused. "So then you don't have to teach me anything ever again!"

"That's not true—"

"It is true! Every time we train, you make me do stupid, useless 'feeling practice' for hours instead of actual training!"

"Aura perception is actual training," Hershel countered. His tone was cool—almost apathetic. Pippa bristled, irritated that he was being so dismissive. She was used to him getting onto her level and explaining things gently and warmly, but lately her uncle had been more aloof toward her complaints. It infuriated her.

"Getting tattoos was supposed to make you treat me more like an apprentice!" she added angrily.

"Apprentices do what their Masters tell them." Hershel raised an eyebrow. "Even if they don't understand the reasoning behind the commands."

"That's not—"

"That is what you signed up for," Hershel cut in, giving her a long look. "And Aura Perception is a necessary exercise. I don't bother making every student master both manipulation and perception, but I fully expect it from someone bearing healing tattoos."

Pippa stared in shock. For a moment, Hershel's firm expression wavered, but then he turned and headed off toward his quarters, leaving Pippa behind. She watched him go, not sure what to call the feeling twisting inside. After Hershel disappeared, she glanced down at the dark bands wringing her arms. "This is stupid," she muttered at last, though there was no one left in the hallway to hear her. The girl kicked the nearest wall before trudging toward her room, set on moping for the rest of the day about how unfair her situation was. However, a familiar voice coming from another hallway caused her to take a detour.

Sure enough, as soon as she turned a few corners, she found her father talking to one of the Western Guards. "Dad?" she called, and Tolan turned.

"Heya, Fluff."

"What are you doing here?" she demanded as she marched closer. "I thought you had to stay with Prince Theodynn."

"I have a few days off," he offered. He looked her up and down and then raised an eyebrow. "Done training for the day?"

Pippa's expression darkened. "I wasn't training."

"Where were you? Your mother thought you've been with Hershel this whole time."

"I was with Hershel, but he isn't training me." Pippa leaned up against the wall, folding her arms angrily. "He's just making me do stupid exercises that don't do anything."

She waited for her father to comment on Hershel being a stick in the mud, or something else derogatory, but Tolan shrugged instead. "Aura training is like that. He made me do lots of weird stuff when I was learning, too."

"But I shouldn't have to do baby things anymore!" Pippa snapped. "I'm his apprentice, and he needs to start teaching me the bigger stuff!"

"You have to get good at the little stuff first," Tolan pointed out, fingering his katana hilts. "You can't learn how to disarm an enemy before you figure out how to swing a sword."

"I am good at the little stuff!" Pippa shrieked. "Just not stupid, useless Aura Perception! Who cares what people's feelings smell like? I need to be learning how to transport between realms, or how to make an overdrive..."

"Fluff." Tolan turned to frown. "Hershel's not teaching you that stuff, is he?"

"No! That's the point!"

"Good. Overdrives are dangerous, and transporting—"

"Why does no one get it?" Pippa demanded, pushing herself away from the wall. "I'm old enough to know how to do more. I'm not a baby like Raiyn!"

"Pip..."

"I thought you would be on my side," she growled, looking at him. "I'm too good to be stuck learning the boring stuff anymore!"

Her father's brow furrowed, but she marched away before he could say anything else. Seemed she had no choice but to mope in her room after all.

35

Rook watched as the Heir talked his guard down. "We'll be in the sitting room the whole time," he promised. "It's just a little awkward having someone breathing down my neck for something like this."

"I understand, but my orders were to stay right by you, Theo," the large guard was saying, and Rook scanned the room as she waited to see if he would leave them alone.

"I'm not going anywhere," the prince pointed out, exasperatedly. "Can I just get an hour of privacy? It's bad enough my parents are making me stay in the fortress...am I really never going to have a moment to myself again?" The colossus was hesitating, and the prince continued. "You're my father's bodyguard, and were all while they were courting. You didn't sit in on them every day and night, did you?"

The guard finally sighed. "All right...but be careful, Theodynn."

Rook scoffed at the warning in his voice. Please. If I wanted to hurt him, he'd already be dead, Mr. Giant. She fingered the weapons hidden in her vest unconsciously as she continued to take in the cushy furniture, large fireplace, and cozy decorations.

"Thanks, Ret," the Heir said, his relief evident in his tone. Rook kept her back turned to them while she heard the door close and heard the lock click. She smirked.

"Don't want anyone walking in on us?" she asked coyly.

"My parents have a key, but getting it unlocked will give us enough time to change our conversation," he replied, ignoring her teasing. Or maybe he didn't even realize what she was trying to insinuate. Rook rolled her eyes before looking around at the room.

"Nice digs. Still smaller than I was expecting, but far nicer than most people have it." She wandered over to a strange marble square sitting on a table. It was patterned in black and white, with little statues dotting it. She raised an eyebrow as she took in the oni and dragon likenesses. "What's this? Secret war plans? And here I thought there was a truce..."

"Focus, Rook. We don't have much time."

She ignored him as she picked up a little Oni warrior wielding double blades. "Tell me the truth—are you planning some kind of raid on the dragons?"

"That's a game," the prince said, sounding unamused as he took the piece back from her and put it back on its stone square.

"A game? Is real war too scary for you, so you've got to pretend?"

"It's called Chess, and it's about strategy, not war. Now, stop stalling—you're the one who insisted that time is of the essence."

"I did?" Rook frowned thoughtfully as she finally wandered away from the marble figures to lounge on the couch.

"Sure, when you broke into my room in the dead of night and insisted we needed to get started." The Heir sat on another couch, watching her closely. "What's your intel?"

"Why don't you tell me what you already know, so it's not a repeat."

"I don't mind the repeat." Theodynn's expression was stony as he watched her, and Rook turned to the fireplace.

"It's chilly in here, don't you think?" she said.

"You don't know anything, do you?" The Heir sounded resigned, but not necessarily surprised. Rook immediately flushed, turning to glare daggers.

"I'll get to the intel, your highness. But for being one of the richest people in the realm, I'd have thought you could afford to set that firewood ablaze."

He stared at her a little longer, and Rook jumped as he sent an unexpected blast of aura toward the fireplace. The violet attack lasted long enough to set the wood inside on fire, and then the prince extinguished his hand.

"Better?" he asked dryly, and Rook looked over at the fire. Warmth leaked out of the fireplace to warm the stone room, and she whistled low.

"Neat trick."

"What do you know about Ottan's role in the slave trade?" Theodynn pressed. "You mentioned him in the dining hall. Is he the ringleader? The reason the market still exists?"

Rook was tempted to say yes, but she had to be careful who she incriminated. "He reaps the reward of keeping his mouth shut," she offered with a yawn. "He knows better than to buy and sell slaves himself, but he's definitely a supporter of the trade."

The Heir nodded, his eyes flashing purple as he glowered at the ground. "Do you have proof?"

"Look, if I had proof that could soundly land Ottan in the blame bin, I would have used it myself long ago. He keeps himself at a safe distance from the actual trade. You can't really pin him for anything other than ignoring something going on under his nose—but something tells me you already knew he'd been doing that."

"How do you know he's been getting paid off? That could help the case against him."

"Whispers, rumors. Things people will say to a fellow Southerner that they would never dare tell the ruling family. Even if I remembered my exact sources, they'd deny they'd said anything."

"So...all your intel is just word of mouth?"

"Doesn't make it false."

"Just makes it hard to prove," he muttered, clearly thinking hard. Rook pushed herself to her feet, wandering over to the chair he was sitting in. "What else do you know?"

"The traders are getting their wares from all over the realm, not just the South." She walked behind Theodynn, and felt him stiffen as she put her hands on his shoulders. "Geez, you're stiff," she commented as she rubbed his neck and shoulders. "What exactly is it that made you want to take all this stress on, when everyone else in the realm seems happy enough to turn a blind eye?"

"It's a trade that should have died long ago, when my parents first banned it," he explained, pushing her hands off his shoulders. Rook smirked, moving into his hair instead. "What are you doing?" the Heir demanded, turning to glower at her.

"Giving us an alibi," she offered, reaching out to pull another tuft of hair out of place.

"By messing up my hair?"

She raised an eyebrow, and when he reddened, she knew he finally understood. The Heir pushed himself upright, moving out of her reach. "Leave the alibis to me," he snapped. "We're wasting time. Where exactly are the traders getting the slaves? Other leaders? Or are they just raiding villages? I've been asking around, but either villagers are too afraid to mention it, or they are in on the trade as well."

"I don't know...but from what I've seen, the slaves aren't all southern, so the traders have to have deals with someone else."

"Where have you seen slaves?"

"I intercepted a caravan of them travelling from the North."

"You freed a caravan of slaves?"

"I told you, I'm trying to put an end to it," she offered as she pushed her braid off her shoulder.

"Where are those slaves now?" Theodynn pressed. "If we could talk to them, then we could figure out where they came from, and how they were taken in the first place. They might even know where they were headed..."

"I..." Rook trailed off, and she huffed. "I don't know where they went, all right? I took out the traders, broke their chains, and they scattered into the night. I didn't bother following the slaves—I was too busy tracking down the traders that got away and putting an end to their miserable lives.

"You killed them? Better to capture them, so you can question them about their plans."

"Or kill them so they never have the chance to take another innocent oni from their homes again," Rook said with a shrug.

"Where exactly did you intercept the caravan?"

Rook bit back her irritation, thinking on her feet. "About halfway between the North and the Central provinces."

"They were heading South, then? I knew the hub had to be down there somewhere."

Rook felt a flash of panic, and she gave her best baffled expression. "That's the strange thing, though. They weren't heading away from the North. They were heading toward the North."

The Heir frowned. "I thought you said they were coming from the North?"

"Try to keep up, Princey," Rook said dryly. "The trade is alive and well, and I've no doubt there are large pockets in the south, but I'm not sure it's some grand scheme headed by a single crook. I think it's existing in the shadows in all the provinces, like pockets of vermin that we're going to have to take down one at a time."

"But where's the market?" he demanded. "That's the part that doesn't make sense—if people are rounding up slaves, who are they selling them to? Where is the demand coming from in the chain?"

"I suspect the leaders, myself...especially that Ymil character," Rook huffed as she studied her nails. "He's trying to supply those mines of his...I personally think the trade is hiding out in abandoned shafts, but I can't explore them myself." She shuddered. "Unwanted memories...and all that."

The Heir frowned as he thought about it, and Rook tried to seem unbothered as she waited to see if he would take the bait. "We cleared out the slave trade happening in the crevices of the North years ago," he said at last. "But it's probably due time for a check in."

"Atta boy," Rook said, giving him a smile. "When do we leave?"

"I can't check it out with you," he pointed out. "I'll have to go with Tolan."

"Tolan? What, now you're seeing someone behind my back?"

"Very funny," he said dryly. "Tolan's my bodyguard."

"The mountain?"

"That's Ret," he corrected. "He's technically my father's bodyguard, but they sicced him on me this week because Tolan and I haven't been playing nice with each other."

"Ancients, you've been getting in a lot of trouble," Rook taunted. "Are you sure it's worth all this effort? Maybe I'll team up with this Tolan of yours, and we can take down the slave trade while you sit in your heavily guarded fortress, safe and sound."

"I'm not taking Tolan because I need protection...I'm taking him because I'll be on house arrest even longer if I dare go without him. And as far as you're concerned, it's going to be suspicious if you're coming on realm visits with me—better keep our correspondence centered at the fortress, far away from trader-related work."

"I don't know...would people really suspect a prince touring the realm with his fiancé?"

The Heir physically flinched, and she was surprised by the anger that appeared in his expression. "First of all, I won't even pretend that you're anywhere near that...and for another, no one else would believe it, either."

"It was a joke," Rook pointed out, but his expression didn't change.

"Do you want to get put on trial? Because that's where you'll end up if anyone realizes what we're doing."

"Okay, wow," Rook held up her hands angrily. "Are the threats really necessary?"

"I'm not threatening you...I'm telling you what's on the line. If my parents or Tolan catch wind that you're here for any other reason besides courting me, we could both end up with some heavy consequences." He fixed her with a long look. "I decided a long time ago that I was going to wipe out every trace of slavery in this realm...are you sure you're up to the challenge?"

Rook scowled. "I'm ready. I guess if you're going to insist on doing your own missions, we'll have to see if you can keep up with me on mine."

"Just get as much intel as you can, and report back," he said.

"Intel?"

"Yeah, from the south. You're right about people not trusting me. They are going to open up more to a Skipper than to the Ahkasar-eyed Heir to the throne."

"I'm not a Skipper, first of all, and—"

"But you could pass for one," he studied her. "You see what you can dig up in the south—I know that's where the majority of this is going down, I just can't find their blasted hideout. Meanwhile, I'll travel north."

Rook sighed, biting back her annoyance again. She didn't appreciate being bossed around, but if he was chasing false leads in the North, then she was doing her job. "All right, fine. I assume we'll rendezvous here?"

"It's the only place I'll be able to. We'll have to figure some kind of system out that doesn't involve you breaking into my room in the middle of the night."

"Did I scare you?" she asked, smiling.

"No...it's more that if someone ever catches you scaling the wall, you'll be dead. If the wall guard doesn't shoot you down, Tolan will track you himself."

"How cheery. I suppose I'll come through the front door from now on, like civilized people do," she sighed.

He nodded his agreement before glancing over at the door. "We better wrap up. I'm not sure how long Ret will be willing to stay there, and my parents could be back any moment. We'll plan on meeting in a few days..." He trailed off as Rook came closer and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Seriously...stop touching me," he snapped, trying to push her off.

"You need to calm down a little," Rook accused, not releasing him as she fixed him with a firm look. "I'm just as committed to taking down the trade as you...but no one is going to believe we're seeing each other romantically if you're so stiff and jumpy around me."

"There's no one in here to see us!" he pointed out, trying to remove her arms. She merely replaced them around his waist instead, raising an eyebrow.

"But if you walk out of that door scowling and muttering to yourself, it's not going to make a very good impression, is it?" she said. "Would it kill you to at least smile?" His look was withering, and she reached up to tug at one of his wavy curls. "Let's practice, shall we?"

"You're being difficult on purpose," he told her.

"I'm trying to keep our cover from going belly-up before we've even started," she snapped. "You're making it sound like we're both going to be behind bars if we can't convince people, but you're not going to convince anyone with that sour look." She leaned closer, dropping her voice to a whisper. "And I would rather not go to prison."

He rolled his eyes. "I promise I won't let you go to prison," he muttered, though his expression was still sour. Rook poked at his cheek.

"Come on...one little smile. You've got to have one in there somewhere—people call you Prince Smiley in the south...there's gotta be a reason for it."

"No one calls me that."

"Not to your face." She tilted her head. "Come on...I'm not letting you out that door until you at least look happy."

The Heir sighed, and she watched as he gave her a sardonic smile. "Satisfied?"

"Too forced. Come on...think of something that makes you happy, you dolt. Or can you really only manage grimaces and scowls these days?"

"It's hard to feel happy with you this close to me."

"Lover of the year, right here," Rook said sarcastically, releasing him at last. "Fine, but if I get executed because of you, I will haunt you from the grave. You'll never rest easy again."

"You wouldn't be the only one," he said grimly, and Rook blinked in surprise as he wandered over to the door. She followed suit and watched as he collected himself before unlocking the door. As soon as it opened, the Heir transformed from a sullen conspirator to a chuckling, blushing Heir. He ran a hand through his hair sheepishly as he caught sight of his guard, and Rook raised an eyebrow at the goofy smile Theodynn managed to pull off. I knew you had it in you, she thought dryly.

"Thanks, Ret," he offered with a shy smile. "Um...you won't tell my parents about this, will you?"

"I'm required to fill them in on your day," the guard offered apologetically. Theo frowned, but then he shrugged.

"I guess they'll find out sooner or later. I suppose you'll want to accompany us to the stables, then."

"The stables? Theo..."

"I'm not going anywhere," he assured. "But we need to get Rook a better mode of transportation. After all..." he turned to face the young woman. "She's going to be coming around a lot more often."

36

"You need to sit, Raiyn," Myrah told him firmly. "I can't play with you right now."

Raiyn pouted, holding out the hoofer models Tolan had carved for him several years ago. "Please, Mama?"

"You go play. I can come over when I finish," she told him. Raiyn sighed, but he listened as he headed over to his corner of her office. Pillows, toys, and books littered the area, and he plopped down to play with his wooden toys.

A knock sounded at the door, and Myrah looked up as the door opened. She opened her mouth to send whoever it was away, but when she saw who it was, she smiled instead.

"I brought lunch," Hershel offered, and Raiyn perked up at his father's voice.

"Daddy!" he squealed, running over to hug Hershel's legs. The Healer smiled as Raiyn attached himself to him. "Pick me up!"

"Let me put the food down first," his father scolded light-heartedly, dragging his son across the room so he could put the dishes onto Myrah's desk.

"You're back earlier than usual. I thought you were going to spend the day with Pippa."

Hershel's smile faded. "She didn't last more than a few hours today, so we finished early."

"Lasted?" Myrah frowned. "What is it that you're doing?"

"Aura Perception," Hershel explained as he lifted his son. Raiyn giggled and wrapped his arms around his father's neck. "Sensing the emotions in others, or perceiving things through aura. It's a tricky skill, and Pippa isn't even trying to learn it. Any time she doesn't see the importance in something, she refuses to do it."

Myrah began eating. "We have students like that here at the school," she sighed. "They're fine learning combat skills or reading or whatever it is they're good at, but the subjects that are hard for them they try to blow off as unimportant."

"If Pippa just wanted to be a healer, I wouldn't push her as much...and I haven't been. But she went and got herself healer tattoos. She needs to follow through with the consequences of that." Hershel sank into an empty chair, putting Raiyn on his lap as he reached for his own plate. "I've tried to be the gentle teacher, but I'm not breaking through to her. She's left me with the tough-love route...and it isn't any fun for either of us." His expression clouded as he began to eat.

"I think it's good you're being firm with her," Myrah offered. "Her independent nature is getting to the point of headstrong recklessness."

"I don't know if there's really a way to curb that," Hershel sighed. "I wish that she hadn't gone and gotten those tattoos."

"Do they really even mean anything, if there aren't any healers left?"

"There are healers left, just not any Ancients. Except Imgloss, I suppose...but I haven't the foggiest idea where he ended up." Hershel shuddered, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Apprentice tattoos are a historic tradition...one that I was hoping would end now that the official order of Healers has been more or less disbanded. But if the other healers in the realm continue it, and if even I'm continuing it..."

"Why can't you just change the tradition?" Myrah asked. "If you don't like the old way, reinvent it."

"That's what I tried to do, by not giving Pippa the tattoos! I told her she was my apprentice, and I trained her like she was...but not as rigorously." Hershel sighed. "Just in case she decided that she wanted to do something else someday after all. But now she carries the permanent mark of the healing order on her for everyone to see. Whether or not the Healing Order is technically disbanded, Oni know what those markings mean. Tradition carries a weight of expectation, even if the actual order isn't still around to enforce the traditions."

"Daddy, Raiyn helped Mama," Raiyn cut in around a mouthful of food.

"Did you?" Hershel asked, smiling down at his son.

"He tidied up his room before we came to the school," Myrah agreed dryly, giving her son a wry look. "But now he's decimated my office."

"Raiyn helped so good," Raiyn said proudly.

"How about you tell your father how you snuck out this morning," Myrah said, and Raiyn giggled. Hershel's brow furrowed.

"Snuck out where?"

"I couldn't find him when I woke up. Syn brought him back after we spent the morning scouring the fortress for him. I guess Teag found him outside—Raiyn must have followed you out when you left to take Pippa out training. I know you went early."

"But he was asleep when I left," Hershel said, looking down at his son. Raiyn's giggling increased, and Hershel shook his head. "If he followed me, he's gotten better at sneaking out. I didn't hear or see a thing."

"Teag was sad," Raiyn explained. "Raiyn helped him."

"You can't go wandering off, son," Hershel scolded. "What if we couldn't find you?"

"We had a very long talk about it this morning," Myrah assured. "Right, Raiyn?"

"No go outside wifout Mama," Raiyn recited.

"Or Daddy," she finished for him, and he nodded.

"Or Daddy. Daddy, down?" the child reached for the floor, and Hershel helped him slide off his lap now that he was finished eating.

"He's getting more independent all the time," Hershel realized wistfully, watching his son head back over to his corner to play.

"Yes...but sometimes I wonder if he's independent enough," Myrah mused.

"What do you mean?"

Myrah didn't answer right away, watching her son fling himself against the large pillows again and again as he giggled. "I don't know. This year we have some rather young students, only a few years older than Raiyn. They just seem so much older than just a few years. Raiyn still seems almost infantile."

"Children grow a lot in the span of a few years," Hershel offered, though he turned to watch his son as well.

"I'm trying to remember what I was like at his age...but I suppose it's too long ago to remember. Though, he's certainly clingier than I ever remember being."

Hershel smiled a little. "He's had a far more loving upbringing than either of us had. You and I had to grow up quickly because of our circumstances. We couldn't afford to be clingy." His expression became distant. "When I was Raiyn's age, my birth father was still around...and I wasn't even old enough to remember him after he vanished, let alone remember who I was at that age."

Myrah looked back down at the scrolls she was reading, her chest suddenly feeling tight. "I suppose I'm worried over nothing."

"He'll progress," Hershel agreed. "He's just young." Myrah nodded, and her husband turned to look at her. "You seem a little stressed. Are things going all right here at the school?"

"Things are going as smooth as can be expected," the Leader offered. "It's my impending meeting with Tala in a few days that I'm trying to figure out."

"I told you I would go," Hershel reminded, reaching out to take her hand. "Teag is my responsibility...I'm the one who brought him here. I don't want to put more on your plate."

"Tala wouldn't respect you since you don't carry a title," Myrah sighed. "It's better for me to go, I'm just trying to figure out the best approach. If I go in demanding she releases one of her own people who broke one of her laws, it could get messy. It doesn't help that the whole situation doesn't make any sense."

"What do you mean?"

"I just mean that I've known Tala's style of leadership since I first became the Western Leader, and I've never known her to lock up pickpockets."

Hershel was quiet. "Do you...do you think it's because they know he's connected to Teag? She wasn't happy when she heard we took him. Not that she knows his name or anything about him...just that we stole a powered easterner and smuggled them away to the Hidden Village without permission."

"I don't know. Something just tells me there is more to the picture than I know."

Hershel squeezed her hand. "I'll come with you. Explain the situation..."

"I'd feel better if I knew you and Raiyn were here at the fortress, safe," Myrah cut in. Hershel blinked in surprise.

"Safe? Are you expecting something dangerous to happen?"

"I don't know. There's just a feeling I can't shake. If I go into this as a leader visiting a leader, I'm hoping it won't bring up unwanted attention."

Hershel studied her closely. "You do think this has something to do with Teag being powered, don't you? And possibly tied to the thugs who attacked me?"

"All I know is that things keep happening...things I can't explain, or don't see coming. I just don't like it."

"Promise me you'll be safe when you go, then," Hershel said with a little smile. "You're no more indestructible than the rest of us."

"I'll bring my guards," she assured with a smile.

"I can watch Raiyn here when you go," Hershel promised. They turned to look at where their son was playing, but then realized that he had somehow vanished from the room once again. Hershel sighed as they both got to their feet, eyeing the door that he had forgotten to latch closed when he came in. "But if this disappearing act keeps up...my job may end up being as difficult as yours."

Theo wasn't at all surprised by his father's visit, so as Cole poked his head into his son's office, the Heir barely looked up from the reports he was finishing.

"Were you looking into the dragons, at least?" Theo asked dryly as his father came in.

"Wu hasn't heard of any dragons being taken by Oni—he says things have been quiet on the dragon side of things for a while."

"Did you tell him about my dream?"

"Yes." Cole's tone was cautious, and Theo finally looked up.

"What did he say?"

The ninja sighed. "He was surprised that Jarule was able to connect with you, just like we all were."

"He thinks Jarule was lying," Theo guessed. "Well...he wasn't. Something is going on."

"We're going to make rounds, and see if we can find anything else," Cole promised as he took a seat. "But I think it's worth noting that when he was alive, Jarule was bent on wiping out the Oni from existence. He tried to kill me, your mother, and Wu."

"Yeah, he mentioned how he felt about you guys," Theo muttered as he signed his name at the bottom of another report.

"How are you doing, Theo?"

"My hand hurts and I've got a headache from reading reports for two straight days," Theo said flatly, signing the last report before adding it to a pile.

"Have you been able to get any sleep? You look a little better than you did two days ago."

"I sleep fine." Theo looked up to meet his father's eye.

"Is the elemental power giving you any more trouble?" Cole asked. "I remember Garmadon saying it was going to be touch and go for a bit when they first transferred. Maybe...maybe we can train together sometime?"

Theo felt a flash of longing, but then he pushed it aside. "I don't know. That might require me to go outside, and I know how you guys feel about that."

"Theo, we just want you to be responsible, and take necessary precautions."

"You grounded me," Theo replied coldly, leaning back in his chair. "At twenty-two years old."

"We needed to make sure you're taking care of yourself," his father countered.

"Where's Mom?" Theo muttered. "The Ruler didn't feel like reprimanding me herself tonight?"

Cole dry-washed his face, obviously becoming frustrated. "I didn't come in here to have a fight, Theo. I'm just trying to talk."

"And I'm just talking," Theodynn countered. "What is it you wanted to discuss?"

Cole sighed. "I just wanted to check on you." He hesitated before continuing. "Ret mentioned you had a visitor today."

"Rook came up from the south," Theo agreed, moving to stack his reports.

"That's the girl Ottan introduced you to?"

Theo hesitated. "Well, I thought she was the one Ottan had wanted me to court, the way she launched herself at me while I was down there. Turns out southern women are just extremely forward."

"Ret mentioned that the two of you seem...friendly."

Theo smirked. He could imagine what Ret had told his father, and he tried not to be embarrassed. This subterfuge was going to be a real blow to his reputation, but he didn't really have any other choice. As problematic as Rook was, this was the only way Theo could see to continue his research here in the first realm without letting his parents catch on. "It was a good visit," Theo admitted with a shrug. Cole nodded, though Theo could tell his father looked concerned.

"So...you like her?"

"Yeah, I guess."

"Are you...going to be seeing her on a more permanent basis?"

Theo frowned. "I thought you said you were happy I was 'getting back on the hoofer.'"

"I am. After Haiven, we were a little worried that you'd shut romance out of your life completely," Cole admitted. Theo didn't answer, sorting through the reports he had stacked. His father continued. "It's just...from what we've seen of this particular girl..."

"You can't tell me to get back into dating and then pick apart the people I decide to date."

"I'm not trying to pick her apart." Cole was obviously uncomfortable, and Theo raised an eyebrow. "She just doesn't seem like your type, I guess."

"What's my type?" Theo asked softly. "Nice girls who decide I'm not worth the effort?"

Cole studied his son, obviously trying to figure out what to say. "Just...be careful."

"Ancients, Dad...we've had a few dates, is all."

"Things can escalate..."

"I have control of the situation," Theo promised, meeting his father's eye. "Look...I'm just trying to let loose a little. Get involved in something that doesn't feel so life or death." He eyed the stack of reports. "Rook may not be the most upstanding citizen...but she doesn't take anything seriously. It's just...it's a nice change of pace."

"All right." Cole smiled at last. "Well...I guess if she's going to be coming around more, your mother and I can get to know her a little better."

"Yeah, I guess." Theo fell quiet, as did his father. After a minute or two with neither of them knowing what else to say, Cole stood up and gave his son another smile.

"Don't stay up too late with those reports, Theo."

"I finished them," he promised. "Headed to bed now. Will I be allowed to leave the fortress tomorrow?"

"Tolan will be back tomorrow," Cole offered carefully. "Where is it you need to go?"

"Thought I'd go check on the state of the things in the North."

"The North?"

Theo shrugged. "It's been a while. Might stop by the mines and check on the state of the workers' village. Make sure Ymil isn't turning a blind eye to brutality again."

"I was in the North a few weeks ago. Things seemed fine."

"Then there shouldn't be any problem with me going," Theo pointed out. "After all, you only want me going to the safest possible places."

"Maybe I'll come too," Cole said, ignoring his son's bitter tone. "It's been a while since we did any visits together. We could ride the Guardian...after all, you should be able to talk with him now."

Theo paused at the door, his stomach twisting. "I don't know that I'm ready for that," he said at last. "I prefer riding Dragon."

"Are you sure? Growing up, all you ever talked about was riding the Guardian someday."

"I don't think Tolan enjoys dragon flying, for one, and for another, I just want to have a casual visit. No bells and whistles."

"Well, I have a hoofer. I could still—"

"Dad." Theo turned to give his father a pleading look. "Can't you just let me do things myself?"

Cole's expression fell, making Theo feel horrible. However, he couldn't afford for his father to come with him, not if Rook's intel was correct. The ninja finally nodded. "All right. I'll let Tolan know to expect a trip to the North when he gets back."

The echoes of a hammer on metal rang out around the forge as Tolan approached it. The closer he got, he could make out snippets of conversation.

"Cut the lip, or I swear I'll beam ya," Veniek was saying as Tolan entered. The guard glanced around the cluttered space, and he made out the figure by the fire, wearing his familiar scowl as he stoked. His dreadlocks were wrapped with a bandana, and sweat was dripping off both the figures, who had no doubt been working in here for hours. At first, neither of them noticed the lanky man in the doorway, but eventually, Teag's gaze drifted over. Tolan waited for the boy to make some cheeky comment, but Teag's expression darkened and the boy glanced away as if he hadn't seen him at all. Tolan frowned and came further into the forge, which finally caught Veneik's attention.

"Oi...I have the forge today," he panted, pausing in his banging to address the lanky guard.

"I'm not coming for the forge," Tolan said. He made his way over to the fire where the boy was still stoking. It was clear Teag was making it a point not to look at the approaching figure. As Tolan reached him, he realized that one of the boy's hands was wrapped in bandages. "What'd you do to your hand, Hot-stuff?" The boy didn't answer, and Tolan raised his voice a little. "Talking to you, kid."

"Burned it." The confession came through clenched teeth, Teag's eyes still trained on the fire in the forge.

"Doing what?"

Teag shrugged, and Tolan rolled his eyes.

"Did you have Hershel look at it?"

"I know how to treat a burn." Teag pumped down angrily, and the fire sputtered, sending out sparks and ash. "What do you want?"

"Have you been talking to Syn?"

Teag's expression darkened further. "I just took Raiyn back inside. I didn't do or say anything except to take him back." He pumped again, the roaring flames reflecting in his green eyes. "You don't have to worry about me ruining your stupid family, anyway. As soon as Hershel gets Dee out of jail, I'm out of here."

"Dee? What are you even talking about?"

"I'm trying to do my job, here," Teag growled. "So if you're here to yell at me, get it over with already so I can get back to it."

"I'm not here to yell at you."

"Then what are you doing here?"

Tolan hesitated since it was a question he was asking himself as well. He glanced back at the other blacksmith, who had resumed pounding. "Just making sure you're pulling your own weight here. You giving Veneik any trouble?"

"No more than he deserves," Teag muttered. "You satisfied I'm working? Or are you going to sit there and watch me stoke the fire for an hour to make sure?"

"You can ditch the attitude, Hot-Stuff."

"Don't tell me what to do." Teag's eyes flashed with anger, though the boy was still refusing to look at him. "You're not my master. You made that clear enough."

"Oi, Central Guard!" Veneik called. "I've got to stick this back in the furnace and you're in the way. If it's all the same to you, keep your chin-wagging for after work hours."

Tolan scoffed, studying Teag one last time. "Don't worry...I was just leaving," he said as he turned to leave. As he passed Veneik, he glanced at the sword the blacksmith was attempting to make. Tolan's eyes flicked across it and he tsked. "You're quenching it too quickly," he offered. Veneik reddened, and Tolan left the forge.