Applefields was just as Takuya remembered it as he led his pony, which he had named Chestnut, or Chess for its colour, into the farm yard. Both he and the twins kept the hoods of their cloaks well up, afraid that the workers would think them out for revenge for just appearing. Takuya brushed a hand against his sword, again wishing he had some knowledge to let him use it correctly. Both Kouji and Kouichi had tried to help, but apparently they were unfamiliar with the short swords that humans favoured. He looked over at Kouji, who now carried his staff as a makeshift weapon, and tried to smile.

"At least they haven't tried to kill us yet."

Kouji shifted his head, and Takuya imagined that Kouji was raising an eyebrow and smirking in the shadows of the hood. "Yet, Takuya."

Kouichi looked around, keeping his hands on his and his brother's ponies' reins. "No one is watching us, but there are people near, in the barn and in the house."

Takuya shrugged, then removed his hood. "Then maybe we should try the house. It's probably Master Farrow in there."

Kouji nodded, and looked back at Kouichi. "Will you stay here with Starfire and Moonstone, and Chess?"

Kouichi nodded. "You be careful. Don't insult or scare him. You know he's never heard you speak Common."

Takuya passed Chess's rein to Kouichi, having guessed the discussion, then walked up the veranda and knocked on the door. "Hello? Anyone in?"

There was a shuffling noise, and then Farrow opened the door. His eyes widened, then he made to shut the door.

Kouji's hand darted out to keep the door open.

Farrow kept tugging at the door. "Go 'way, go 'way, we don't want your kind here. Demons and elves, and the King's men turning this place upside down again." He shook his head. "Jus go away and leave us in peace. Burn something else down, lad."

Takuya reached into his shirt slowly, and pulled out a weather-proof envelope, which he opened, and showed Farrow the letter, which included the heavy king's seal. "I'm not a demon. The king as let us all free, we aren't escaping from anywhere."

Farrow's eyes widened even further, and then he shook his head. "No, no, no. I'll not be employing ye again. You boys are more trouble than you're worth, and those accursed twins made the men nervous even before we found out what they were."

"You weren't exactly welcoming either," said Kouji.

Farrow looked at him, trying to peer beneath the hood. "You're one of them? But you talk! We all figured you for struck on the head or something."

Kouji pushed his hood down, seeing no more point in hiding his face. He kept his face impassive as Farrow reacted to his ears. "We came because we had possessions and money here when we were taken. We want them back."

Farrow shook his head. "Your things? I've never seen them. Sent Tony to check and they were all gone. Nothing left in that rats net you slept in." He snorted. "So be on your way."

Kouji shook his head. "Something in that was important to us. We're not leaving until someone either gives it back, or tells us where it's gone."

"Then I don't know," spat Farrow, "So stop bothering me!"

Kouji released the door, and Farrow slammed it shut.

Takuya sighed and started folding the letter back up, stowing it back in his shirt. "Thank you for your time," he said sarcastically to the door, and then turned to Kouji. "Guess we wait until the men come back, then ask them."

Kouji shrugged and started walking. "We could at least try the barn and the mill. Those are close enough and secluded enough that the workers in general won't see us." He took the reins back from Kouichi and led the pony towards the barn. "If nothing else, the ponies will get some rest and some hay while we search." He rubbed the pony's mane gently. "Isn't that right, Starfire?"

Takuya made a face. "Couldn't you at least of given them names that I could pronounce?"

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

The walk to the mill was made in silence as memories came to the three friends. Much of their friendship had been built along this path, and the memories were with them still.

As they neared the mill, Kouichi broke the silence.

"Do we have a plan?"

Kouji shrugged, changing his grip on the staff slightly. "We ask. If they start to be threatening, we draw on our magic to scare them away."

Takuya shook his head. "Not me. You still have to douse the fire every night before we sleep. I don't know why we've not been attacked by wild animals yet."

Kouichi laughed. "It's because we're not seen as threats. Elves and the creatures of the forest get on together, they see us as the same as them." He stopped and looked at the barn. "They know we're here, but not who we are. Mathew is there."

Kouji looked at him.

Kouichi shrugged. "Picked up his signature when he tried to hurt me that time. Figured I should know if he was coming or not."

Kouji nodded, then entered the barn. "Mathew Miller! We want to talk to you!"

"What?" yelled back Mathew over the sound of the grindstone. "I'm busy!"

Kouji looked at Takuya and Kouichi. "Think I should stop the stone?"

Takuya grinned and nodded.

White fire bloomed around Kouji's hands, and spilled upwards through the floorboards to wrap around the flywheel. Kouji closed his fingers into a fist and the wheel stopped.

"You're not busy now!" called out Takuya. "Come and talk to us!"

Mathew came down the stairs cautiously. "What…? How did you…" His eyes widened as he recognised them. "What are you doing here? You should be under that mage's lock and key."

Kouichi stepped forwards. "We want our things back, that's all. Not trouble if we can help it."

Mathew shook his head. "I don't know what you're talking about."

Kouichi smiled a little. "Oh? You don't know about the silvers you found under our bed which you took?"

Mathew blanched. "All right, I took the silver. But there wasn't anything else and you ain't getting the silver back, creature. It's gone anyway."

Kouichi looked at him, then nodded. "He's telling the truth. There wasn't anything else when he was there."

Kouji nodded, and opened his hand again. The grindstone restarted. "So who does have our stuff?"

Takuya frowned. "I don't know. The only person who talked to us really was Tony and Jeb. Maybe we should find them?"

Mathew snorted. "Don't bother. Jeb!"

Jeb appeared a moment later, making his way carefully down the stairs. "Stop, start, stop, start, what's with you today Mathew?" He noticed Takuya, Kouji and Kouichi, and smiled a little. "Thank the Goddess that you boys are safe. I was so worried that those men were going to hurt you."

Takuya grinned back. "Hey Jeb. Do you know what happened to our things when we were taken?"

"Know?" Jeb snorted and folded his arms. "Course I know. I've got them. Always knew you'd find your way back here one day. Me and Tony kept them things safe until you came back." He turned to Mathew. "I'll go see to this, then come back. You can manage without me for a bit, right?" He turned away before Mathew had time to answer, and led them out of the barn. "Always knew you'd come back. Knew there was something special to you, Takuya, even if you didn't. And then when those men said that you'd burned that place down, I figured you to be the warrior from my tales."

Takuya's eyes widened. "I'm not… How…" He shook his head. "I can't be a great, long-foretold warrior. I'm just a child, with no real knowledge of the ways of fighting."

"Aye," said Jeb, "But you wear a sword even now, and you are a master of fire magic, so maybe you are, you just haven't grown into your destiny yet." He led them into the bunk house and started tugging at a floorboard at the foot of his bed. "Mind I don't know if I got everything. I just scooped it all up quick and hid it before less honest people came searching for riches." He tugged the floorboard free, and then pulled out two bundles wrapped in cloth, with rods sticking out. "Here they are."

Kouji and Kouichi took them swiftly, Kouji holding the one with the light wood rod, Kouichi with the dark rod. Takuya watched as they each unwrapped the material, revealing quivers full of arrows mounted on belts, with a handle coming out from inside the quiver that Takuya guessed were the long curved swords the twins had described to him. Clipped to the belts were also a pouch and a short dagger.

Kouji started fastening the belt around his waist instantly, while Kouichi slowly rubbed a careful hand over the carvings on the shaft that had been placed low enough to be hidden by the cloth. Takuya realised that the long wooden shafts were the unstrung bows that Kouichi and Kouji had wanted back so badly, a last gift from their father. He watched them in silence as the two of them reacquainted themselves with their property. Occasionally one of them would mutter something in Elvish, and the other would reply, but Takuya made no move to hurry them as he realised that this was a homecoming of their own of sorts. Finally they both stood, now wearing their weaponry.

"I guess we should leave," said Kouichi. "The other workers would not be happy to find us here again."

Takuya nodded. "You're right. There's been enough confrontation today, and we're still a week by horse from Greenfields. We should be on our way." He turned to Jeb. "Thank you, for everything, sir. We probably won't see you again."

"Aye," said Jeb. "But you think about what I said, Takuya. A warrior is supposed to be coming, and I'd rather he was kind like ye, than some incredible fighter. The art of war can be learned, but the act of caring about your fellow man, and even for all living things can't be taught. It has to come from within." He clapped a hand on Takuya's shoulder. "And maybe we'll meet again down life's road, who can tell? Just, please boy, go to the Great Temple in the south. If ye are what I believe you to be, then the instrument that the Gods made for ye is there. If not, then the journey will be worth while for something. They hold many truths at Selk's temple."

Takuya nodded, then impulsively darted forwards and hugged Jeb. "Thank you, for everything."

Jeb patted Takuya's back, hugging him. "Now then, now then." He let Takuya go and smiled. "I'm too soft for my own good. Now go with your friends and find your destiny, Takuya. I'm sure it will be great."

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

The fire crackled gently, warming the groups' small campsite. Kouichi and Kouji sat together, Kouji using a whetstone to sharpen his dagger, Kouichi sat hunched over a cup of water, the black tendrils of his magic flickering around the lip of the cup. Takuya guessed that he was doing what Kouichi had called scrying, using his magic to look at things distant.

Takuya just watched the fire, letting his magic play gently, tugging it back if it got too frisky. More and more it reminded him of a puppy, one he wad training to recognise his commands. The flames danced to his will, but his mind was truly elsewhere, thinking on what Jeb had said, and remembering all the times he'd heard the story of Selk's last prophesy.

Could it be true? wondered Takuya. The Goddess called me a warrior for the gods, but am I really the Warrior of Flames? And where am I supposed to bring peace to? He sighed, and the fire rose and fell with his breath. And who are the generals I'm to meet? I can't be some long-waited-for warrior, I'm just me. A small boy with no great destiny. He sighed again, watching the fire rise and fall. Maybe once I've carried out the mission the king asked of me, I could journey to find out. If I can lift the weapon left for the warrior, then… The flame surged along with his fears, causing the twins to look up from their tasks.

"Takuya? Are you okay?" asked Kouji.

Kouichi sighed and his magic withdrew from the water. "I can tell something is worrying you. Do you want to talk about it?"

Takuya shook his head. "I don't think I can yet. It's not something I can put into words yet."

Kouichi nodded. "Then you do not have to tell us. We'll listen whenever you feel ready, and you've found the words."

Takuya nodded, and went back to staring at the fire.