"Is that it?" Zelgadis looked to the horizon.

After getting lost more than once, Zelgadis had finally purchased a map. Currently, he was confirming the far-off city.

"What do you see, Mr. Zelgadis?" Amelia asked.

Zelgadis rolled up the map. "We've finally made it to Sairaag."

"Really? Let's go!" Amelia made to dash off, sight or not!

"Calm down, Amelia. I know you're eager, but it's still half a day's journey."

"Then let's go! ...at a generous pace?" Amelia grinned.

Zelgadis smiled. Amelia would have gone to Sairaag in a day if she were able to.

"All right, Amelia, I hear you. Come, Hiro."

The trio continued down the road, albeit at a slightly faster pace than before.

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Zelgadis was impressed. It was amazing what a twice-decimated city could become after ten years of peace! Sairaag was more grand than he had ever seen it. Even Old Sairaag had been restored! Zelgadis, however, wasn't here to site-see. Instead, he headed to the main shrine.

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Amelia heaved a sigh. So far she and Zelgadis had covered most of the city with no success. Amelia had finally convinced Zelgadis to take a break, so she was sitting by a fountain. Zelgadis had only one shrine left, so he had left Amelia behind. She wasn't about to complain! All of that walking on the hard street had left her tired and achy. It was nice to just sit and relax, listening to the cascading water.

Soon after, Amelia heard a horse approaching. The horse was moving at a rather slow pace though, so Amelia wasn't sure if it was Zelgadis returning or not. As the horse drew near, Amelia heard the rider dismount and approach her.

"Come Amelia, we should get going." a glum Zelgadis said.

"What's the matter, Mr. Zelgadis? You sound so down."

"Nobody here can help, and what's more, none of Rezo's library was ever recovered."

Amelia's face fell. She had been certain that they would succeed! But now... No! It's best to stay positive! Surely they'll prevail if they don't give up!

"That's all right, Mr. Zelgadis. I just know we'll find what we're looking for if we keep trying!" Amelia pumped her fists in the air to emphasize her point.

"You really are something else." Zelgadis smiled at Amelia's antics. "Let's go get some food and an inn to stay in for the night. We'll start off fresh tomorrow."

"Right! Justice will-"

Zelgadis clapped his hand over Amelia's mouth. "Don't blow your cover! Remember what your father said!" he whispered.

"Mphy. Phi o augt u i eh mphmnt." Amelia responded, Zelgadis' hand still over her mouth.

"Let's just go, people are starting to stare."

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Night passed, as did the morning, as Zelgadis and Amelia continued down the road.

"You know, Mr. Zelgadis, there just aren't any good songs to sing while traveling."

"Songs?" Zelgadis glanced over at Amelia. "Don't tell me you're thinking of becoming a bard, Amelia."

Amelia shook her head. "Of course not! I just thought it would be nice to have something to do to break up the monotony."

"I think I have just the thing for you, Amelia. I'm not good with lyrics though."

"You wrote a song, Mr. Zelgadis?"

"It's nothing special, just something I thought up during my travels. It's called "Wandering". If I had a guitar, I'd play it for you."

"I'd like to hear it. You can hum, can't you?" Amelia questioned.

Zelgadis waved his hands around in denial. "No way, I can't carry a tune!"

"That's not true, you sing quite well." Amelia smiled at the memory. "Please?"

"All right, but you'd better not tell anyone!"

"Of course, not, Mr. Zelgadis."

So, as they walked, Zelgadis hummed out his song to Amelia. As he finished, Amelia wiped a tear from her eye.

"That was so sad, but so beautiful! You have a wonderful gift, Mr. Zelgadis."

"Yes, well, thank you. Just don't tell anyone."

"Oh, all right." Amelia mock pouted. "Do you mind if I think up some lyrics?"

"If it will keep you happy." Zelgadis sighed.

"Yay! All right! Hmm..." Amelia got lost in thought.

Zelgadis walked on, listening to Amelia's composition.

"Long, Long is the road that I travel down for e-ter-ni-ty! ...and that's all I can think of at the moment."

"You just might have something there, Amelia, although I'm no longer a wanderer."

Amelia wrapped her arms through one of Zelgadis'. "No, you're my guardian angel. I want to thank you for what you've done for me."

"Amelia...you know I would do anything for you."

"I know, Mr. Zelgadis. I just wish I could return the favor."

"You've done more than you realize, Amelia."

Amelia hugged Zelgadis' arm tightly as they continued on.

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As they continued on, they came to another forest. Nothing seemed amiss so they continued onward. About an hour in, Zelgadis noticed a house in a clearing.

"Well that's odd." Zelgadis remarked.

"What is it, Mr. Zelgadis?"

"It looks like somebody lives out here. Whoever it is is very bold, or very stupid."

"Hopefully it isn't another bandit gang." Amelia cringed.

"I doubt it. The place is well-kept. Let's continue on, I would like to be out of here before nightfall."

As they neared the house, Zelgadis noticed a young boy peering at them from behind some bushes. The boy kept looking, specifically at Amelia. Just as they were passing by, the boy stepped out in front of them.

"Where are you going?" the boy asked.

Amelia nearly jumped at the unexpected intrusion, but didn't forget her manners. "We're just out on a stroll. Isn't that right, Mr. Zelgadis?"

"You weren't supposed to say anything." Zelgadis sighed.

Amelia turned to Zelgadis. "He's just a child. I didn't see any harm in it."

Zelgadis looked up. The boy was following them.

"Shouldn't you be staying home?" Zelgadis demanded.

"Nope, not if I don't trust you. For all I know you could be holding that lady hostage so you can sacrifice her to some demon!" the boy responded.

"What?! Where would you get an idea like that?" Zelgadis gaped.

Suddenly, a voice came from inside the house.

"Philip, who are you talking to?"

Philip, as that was the boy's name, jumped in surprise but responded, "Just some people, Mama!"

A tall woman came storming out of house towards the trio. Zelgadis groaned, while Amelia clung closer to him.

"What have I told you about talking to strangers?" the woman demanded, totally ignoring Zelgadis and Amelia.

Philip looked ashamed. "I know, but that lady," Philip pointed to Amelia, "looked just like you. She didn't look like a stranger to me."

The woman looked at Zelgadis and Amelia, as if she had just realized their existence. She stared at them a moment before continuing.

"Where do you come from, travelers?"

Zelgadis knew better than to reveal anything, so he only responded with, "We've just come from Sairaag."

The woman looked at him crossly. "Any simpleton can figure that out. What land do you originate from?"

"I'm sorry, but I cannot reveal that to you." Zelgadis replied cooly.

The woman crossed her arms in disgust, but then thought of another approach.

"You must be tired. You can stay here for the night if you wish."

Amelia was confused. That woman sounded familiar, but she couldn't quite figure out why. Also, what Philip had said puzzled her. Just who was this twin'?

"I'm sorry, but we should really be going." Zelgadis replied.

Amelia tugged on Zelgadis' shoulder then whispered in his ear, "But Mr. Zelgadis, I am getting tired, and it would be rude of us to be disrespectful."

Zelgadis whispered back, "Amelia, we don't even know this woman!"

"I know, but I feel that we can trust her."

"All right, but if she does any funny stuff, we're leaving."

"Okay, Mr. Zelgadis."

The whispering session over, Amelia tuned to the woman. "We would be honored to stay the night."

"But of course you are!" The woman threw back her head and laughed.

Zelgadis glared at Amelia. You had better be right about this!'

Well, this certainly took much longer than I thought, but that's mostly because I had to leave for a whole week, but I'm trying to catch up on lost time. Also, I forgot to mention it in the last chapter, but Amelia was singing to "A Young Maiden's Prayer", and as said in the text for this chapter she's singing to "Sasurai" (which transates as "Wandering".) Also, if you couldn't tell, I myself can be horrible at remembering song lyrics, so I often do make them up on the whim (as you've already seen.)

Also, this is the chapter that took a turn in a different direction that I first had thought. I already planned on the two finding somebody who could help, but I didn't know who (and I had planned on making up a character) when the obvious struck! The end of this chapter should be a dead giveaway as to who they've encountered, but if you can't figure it out, you'll know soon enough. (About as soon as I finish typing this all up!)

Also, about the wolves, it's funny you should bring that up. I don't plan on there being any wolves in this fic, but there's another one I've been thinking up for some time which will focus on wolves. If I ever get around to starting it, that is