Takuya had never in his life come to sudden wakefulness from restful sleep, so it took a while for his sleep-addled brain to remember the vision he had seen the previous night. When he did he sat up sharply, then looked at himself. She came to me. My Lady Goddess came to me. His hand automatically clutched at his token. It's by her will I'm like this, that I have this fire burning in me. He paused as another remembrance came to him. "Warrior…?" He shook his head, then looked around for the twins. After all, I trust them, and they should hear about this. Where are they? He got up and looked outside the shelter. Curse them, why is it that they always wake first? "Hey Kouichi! Kouji!"

They looked up from their own conversation, and Kouichi smiled. "Good morning, Takuya. I thought you'd never wake."

"Oh ha ha," sarcasmed Takuya, moving to sit with them. "Look, I need to tell you about something that happened to me last night."

Kouji snorted. "You slept like a log and kicked me in the shin is what."

Takuya blinked. "I did?" He shook his head to clear it. "Sorry, Kouji, but this is way more important than that." He took a deep breath. "Last night, while I was sleeping, I had, I dunno, a vision I guess. Of the Goddess. She spoke to me."

Both Kouji and Kouichi had stiffened as soon as Takuya had said the word 'vision', and they leant in close.

"Speak softly," cautioned Kouichi. "My magic is still bound, so I cannot tell if we're alone."

Takuya nodded, then began to speak in a low voice. "I saw her in my family's farm. She talked about how I was her chosen, about how I was given my magic as a gift, and how it is that flames don't burn me. She said I was a warrior for the gods," he put a hand to his forehead, "And she touched me here and told me that she'd given me another gift. But I don't feel any stronger or wiser for that. Just terrified."

Both Kouichi and Kouji looked to each other worriedly before Kouichi spoke.

"Your Goddess did something to you, to make you as you are now? She's responsible for your magic?"

Takuya shrugged a little. "I guess. She gave me something else last night, I felt it. But I've no idea what it is." He looked at his hands. "I told her that I wasn't strong enough, or wise enough just before… Do you think she did something like that?"

Kouji tilted his head. "I don't know your Gods, Takuya. I just know that ours would never change what we are or our path, just make our journey easier." He looked worried. "Did she say anything about what Kouichi saw?"

Kouichi nodded. "We are out of luck for now, Takuya. We've been told that our magic will be bound for the next three days as the court celebrates Midsummer."

Takuya shook his head. "I wasn't told about the fire that's coming, if it's still coming." He sighed. "At least it won't happen for the next three days. I'm sure it was my fault, just like all the other fires."

Kouji looked angry at that comment. "Stop blaming yourself, Takuya. Not every fire that happens is your fault, and can you be held responsible for something you didn't know about?"

Takuya hung his head. "I feel responsible."

"Then don't! You had no control, no say, and no knowledge of what you could do!" Kouji got up and started pacing. "If you keep believing it was you to blame, and only you to blame it'll bury you a bit at a time until who you are is gone and all that's left is a cold numbness." He sighed and looked skywards. "Self-pity and blame will destroy the beautiful part of you."

Takuya blinked. "Kouji…"

Kouji stormed off, not looking back at Takuya.

Kouichi shook his head. "Just leave him be, Takuya. Sometimes it does him good to vent. He keeps his feelings too hidden."

Takuya nodded, then smiled a little. "Didn't know he could talk like, more than a few words at a time. That was practically a speech."

Kouichi smiled too. "It was, to him." He sighed. "But he is right. You need to stop blaming yourself for what's happened in the past. Otherwise you'll be stuck there as the world moves on."

Takuya shook his head. "I want to, but somehow I can't. I just can't think who else's responsibility it would be."

"How about no ones responsibility?" asked Kouichi. "What if you'd just stayed at your farm your entire life, ignorant of who you are?"

Takuya sighed. "Then I'd be happy and safe and loved, instead of hated and feared. I'd be normal."

**************************************

Junpei had ceased thinking a while ago, letting his hands go through the motions of nail making without interference from his brain. Thinking too much meant that he'd slow down, and with every part of the castle calling for more nails to use in decorating, he was kept quite busy. Also, good practice for letting Master Jonus know that I'm a responsible lad. He tapped out another nail into the bucket of water at his feet. What was he said? 'Swords and shields are mighty impressive, but the world runs on nails, Junpei.' Feh. He fished the nail out of the water and threw it into a second bucket, half full from the morning work. Not going to impress anyone as a smith until I do more than make nails and buckles. Can't even make buckles unsupervised. He stuck the remaining metal back into the fire and pulled out a second, hot bar from the burning charcoal. Two years study, and what can I do? Make nails. That'll impress everybody. His thoughts drifted off to the girl who had shoved him aside in the prince's courtyard. She was pretty… He replayed his memory of her in slow motion. Really pretty. Wonder who she is? Haven't seen her about before. He sighed and finished another nail. Wonder if she'd dance with me tomorrow? He imagined himself dressed in his finest, with her on his arm as he led her out to the dance floor. They'd dance, getting closer and closer, so close he could see the lashes surrounding her beautiful green eyes. So close he could see her whisper his name. So close that he could see her lips tremble. He leaned in closer, and closed his eyes, waiting for the sweet taste of her on his lips…

"Hey Junpei, why are you making that face?"

Junpei opened his eyes to see Tomoki watching him curiously. "Uwa!" He fell off his stool, dropping the iron bar on the floor.

Tomoki watched him worriedly. "My mother used to tell me off for making faces like that. Said the wind would change, and I'd get stuck."

Junpei picked the bar off the floor, looked at it, and sighed. Cold. He shoved it back in the fire. "Was just day-dreaming, Tomoki. About what I was going to do tomorrow."

"I'm going to get to see my family tomorrow," chirped Tomoki. "They came today, but I can't go see them." He scuffed the ground with his foot. "Got too many punishments to do."

Junpei sighed and gave up on working for a while. "Got into another fight then?"

"They started it."

Junpei shook his head. "Tomoki, you need to do something. It's not fair that they pick on you. You should be friends with the other pages, not an apprentice smith four years older, and certainly not a demon and two elves that you only met because you were punished with kitchen duty."

Tomoki looked miserable. "But I like being your friend."

Junpei shook his head. "You've got to stop coming to me when you want a friend Tomoki."

"Oh, I didn't!" Tomoki grinned, his fears, and the mild scolding Junpei had given him forgotten. He picked up a small pot that he'd obviously set down before trying to get Junpei's attention. "We need more nails in the great courtyard and hall for the banners. We've run out."

Junpei could swear he could hear his master's laughter.

The world runs on nails. Right. Got that.

*************************

Joshua had always preferred the castle at night. Less snooping servants about, pages and squires too tired out to notice anything and too tired to pry. And no girls trying to drape themselves over me. He stalked the halls, confident that by having always faked insomnia, the guards would just assume he was suffering the same again tonight, and allow his passing by to remain unremarked about. Of course, if they knew what I was really up to, they'd stop me. He shuddered as he remembered the threat in his private courtyard. That creature could ruin everything if he foresaw this before that fool wizard bound his powers tighter than a drumskin. With luck, my poor brother's demise at the hands of that demon will dispose of that problem too. He moved a hand to his pocket, and fingered the vial. He had already placed the larger jar just outside Prince Raoul's room on an ornament shelf, alongside vases brought from Emeritile. Let those foreigners take the blame. Let that tomboy from their court take it, just as long as it's not me that's blamed.

He neared his brother's apartments, turned a corner, and was face to face with the vase. I'll miss you brother. He strode forwards purposefully, and threw the vial from his pocket into the jar. But you're in my way.

He withdrew from the corridor as silently as he came, and returned to his own apartments. Soon, brother, you and the whole castle will burn. He checked the second vial he had kept hidden in his room. This essence of poppy seeds will keep him asleep until he is done for. He dressed for bed and blew out the candles.

Only then, in complete darkness and silence did he allow himself a small smile.