The rest of the journey went smoothly compared to the first half. Diane and Lily learned how to meditate, but Diane was very much against doing it. She had whispered to Lily late at night that it made her feel too much like the time in the cave. The dark times.

The times that scared Diane more than anything else.

The villain that had locked up Numair up had managed to escape on a flying chair of stormwings of all things. Four days later, Onua and the group topped a rise, and the two girls felt as if their eyes would fall from their head. Before them a river halved a valley that cupped a walled city and more houses than either of them could count. At the heart of the valley three bridges linked the northern and southern banks, and roads entered the city from every angle. In the west, the city broke through its wall to climb a long slope dotted with estates and temples.

At the top of everything stood a huge castle shielded by high walls. Its towers, flying bright-colored flags, shone in the early sun. A small dome placed among them glowed silver like a giant pearl. Black dots like ants climbed a broad, white-paved road from the city below, to scatter before the walls and stream in through several gates.

"That's the palace," Numair said. "Home of the most unusual royal couple in all history and their peculiar court."

"I don't think "unusual" and "particular" are the right words," protested Onua, and Tahoi barked agreement.

"Do you live there?" Daine asked the man.

He shook his head. "I live south, along the coast. They have rooms for me here, though." He looked at Onua. "Press on?" She nodded.

Their road took them around the city until they reached a bridge over a deep moat. Here the palace wall was only ten feet high; the gate was simple affair of wood and iron. Inside lay a small town, its air scented with molten copper pine, cows, and baking. All this, Numair said, supported the palace. Daine shook her head in awe. Lily thought it felt too contained.

The smells of everything were almost too much to handle. Her senses were going crazy. Her skin itched, her nose burned, and her nerves seemed to be on fire. She was glad her sister was at least enjoying herself.

Guards in maroon and beige waved them across the bridge. Inside the gate, Numair pointed at the palace. "I go that way; I need to report in."

Daine seemed to be upset that the man she had helped care for would be leaving them. He placed his big hands-on Daine's shoulders. "Just for now," the man said quietly. "I'll see you again soon."

Onua grinned when he kissed her cheek. "You just can't wait to lay hands on your books again. I know that look in your eye."

"She does too," Numair admitted. "Take care of our girls." He winked at Lily before he waved and headed toward the palace, hands in his pockets.

"Come on," Onua told the girls. "It's this way."

Following her out of the gate's inner yard, Daine saw more wonders. Around them soared the levels of the palace, with wings and turrets in many styles telling of additions over time. The girls saw more glass in that moment than they had in their entire lives put together.

Onua led them downhill. Chief among the buildings they passed were large stables, rich with horse smells and sounds. Before them lay meadows dotted with grazing animals. Behind the herds were masses of trees; the Royal Forest, said the K'mir.

The road ended at the meadows, where two long, wooden buildings had been built. One was a stable, a neat and quiet one. The other, connected to a stable by a covered walk, was a two-story barracks. Before it was tall pole, a flag waving in the wind. As if showing the banner off, the wind lifted it up with a whipping sound. A red horse reared on a goal brown field.

"The Queen's Riders," said Onua. "Home, or at least as much of one I need. Let's put the ponies in the meadow, and then we'll talk."

After unloading the packs, they shooed the ponies into the meadow. The girls followed behind Onua as she led them through a door painted a bright red. Inside was a big room with two rows of beds, six in each row.

Taking a key from her belt-purse, the K'mir unlocked a room near the door to reveal a single bed, several chests, a desk, and a shelf of books. In the corner was a pile of rags that looked like a dog bed for Tahoi. With a sigh, Onua dropped her packs on the floor and motioned for the girls to do the same. "I'm not here often, but I'm always glad to see it." She opened the shutters and flopped onto the bed. "Pull up a chair." The girls obeyed.

Onua smiled at them. "As to your futures. I'd like you to stay with me Daine, you're the best assistant I've ever had. If you don't want that, you have other opportunities. Alanna would give you work, here or at Pirate's Swoop. Numair could do the same. Both of them say they'll mention you to the king.

Lily, as much help as you were with getting the ponies here, I think you would be more suited for something within the Castle. Alanna has said she wants to spend some time with you to discuss your interests before offering you a place. You're so young, I'd hesitate to put you anywhere near men just to be on the safe side."

Onua drew a leather bag out of her purse and gave it to Daine. "There's your pay, your sister's and the bonus. You can sleep here till you girls decide what you want."

"Don't be silly," Daine informed her instantly. "I'll work for you. I can't leave my sister though."

Onua's face lit, and she grinned. "Don't you want to know the terms?"

Daine had opened the bag and was gaping at the contents: a handful of silver coins, and four gold ones. "Did you overpay us?"

Onua laughed. "You girls earned every penny." She ticked off points with her fingers. "You fought Stormwings and spider monsters. You found Numair and nursed him. That's besides what I said I'd pay you girls for. No, don't argue. Listen. The job's two coppers a day, plus room and board with bonuses for unusual duty. You girls help me with the trainees-selecting mounts, handling 'em, grooming 'em, and so on. They get two so they always have a spare ready. If one's a handful for most people, think what two are like!"

Daine giggled while Lily smirked. "I feel sorry for your trainees."

"Don't. They learn or they wash out. We will take care of the rest of the herd. In a few weeks we all go to the field training camp, and we make sure the recruits don't abuse their ponies. You have lots of free time. Socially, you're as good as a trainee-better, 'cause you're rusted to know what to do with a horse, and they aren't. Don't let them order you around. Most of the bad apples will go home crying after a week or so, anyway." Onua grinned. "What d'you think?"

Lily could tell her sister's head was spinning. Se turned towards her sister and locked eyes. They spoke without words what they knew they should do. Daine turned back to Onua before nodding. "We'll stay." They shook hands.

The door slammed open, startling Lily. "You're back!" someone shouted happily before two people stepped into the small space. One was a shirt K'mir, her face broader, less friendly, than Onua's, her eyes black instead of gray green. The other was a big man, taller even than Numair and powerfully built. His skin was dark brown; his close-cut hair looked like black wire. Pink, shiny skin like old scars wrapped around his wrists.

Onua hugged the visitors. "Girls, this is Buriram Tourakom-Buri, the commander of the Riders. And this is Sarge." To the adults she said, "Daine is my assistant, and the tiny fae girl is her little sister. They're young, but Daine is worth her weight in gold."

Blushing, Daine looked at the floor. "Onua!"

"She isn't free with praise," Buri told her. A smile lit her face and made her less forbidding. "If Onua says good things about you, then they're true. Welcome." She offered a hand for Daine to shake, and Sarge did the same. Lily followed suit, but she had a feeling she would be better at blending into the background than being in the spotlight.

After all, her big sister needed some positive attention.

The adults started to catch up, so the girls excused themselves with the excuse of needing to check on the ponies.

Daine went to do what they had claimed, while Lily decided to wonder around in the woods briefly. They had been calling to her louder the more time passed. She knew she would need to greet the Wood before she did much else. She followed a clearly made path until it deviated, leading her to a small pond. At the pond, it seemed peaceful.

She decided to sit down on the lush green carpet of moss with her back against a mighty tree. She could feel the energy of the old life surrounding her. Closing her eyes, she tried to do some of the meditation Numair had taught them. Unlike Daine, Lily found that it helped quiet her ever raging storm within her mind.

Breathing in and out, in through her nose and out through her mouth, she felt her muscles become less tense, the knot that had curled up within her stomach had lessened, and she had the pinpricks of something else just on the edge of her consciousness. Curious, she tried to follow it but felt heavy. She tried a few more times to follow the train of thought that felt like something other than herself but continued to be trapped somehow. But then the oddest thing happened.

The feeling of otherness started to come closer to her.

Realizing she may have accidentally called something or someone to her, she quickly tried to disconnect herself from the connected feeling but found that she was trapped. Physically and mentally. Physically she was wrapped in vines she hadn't realized had climbed over her, pinning her to her spot gently. There were no thorns, but she had a feeling they would form if she fought her containment.

Sighing, she waited. She knew she wouldn't be able to break free. She had done nothing wrong, knew nobody really, and was just a child. Who would hurt a child?

A man with coal black hair and deep blue eyes wearing what appeared to be nicer plain clothes appeared. He looked confused after seeing what it was, he had caught, or rather who it was. "And what might you be? A troublesome Pixie come to cause mischief. No? How about some immortal bent on causing chaos?

Lily just sat against her tree, staring at the man as vines continued to trap her to her spot.

The man smirked before releasing her from the vines slightly. "Cat got your tongue?"

Huffing, Lily decided she would have to talk to this man. "I came with Onua and my sister Daine. Would you please let me go?"

The name Onua caused the man's playful smirk to turn into a real smile, all warm and kind. "Oh! You're one of her new assistants. Word travels fast. My wife is busy talking to your sister I believe."

Lily just staired at the man before looking down at the vines wrapped around her and back up at the man. She arched one of her blonde eyebrows at the man, silently requesting he release her.

"Oh, I haven't forgotten. Why did you pull me here?" He asked.

"I did no such thing!" Lily snapped, getting frustrated at the man's teasing. "Now let me go before I scream."

"Girl, I have children of my own," the man said in return, raising his own eyebrow challengingly. "You think I'm not used to the moodiness of daughters? Now, why did you pull me here. It was very hard to ignore."

Lily huffed. "I didn't intend to do anything like that. I was just relaxing here and trying to meditate."

The stranger made a non-committal sound but continued to look at Lily as if waiting for more of an answer.

Lily stared at him, waiting for another question or to be released.

"Are you going to cause havoc if I release you?"

"No, but I have half a mind to throw something at you for being annoying."

The stranger laughed and released her from her vines. He offered her a hand getting up, but she scowled at him before straightening out her clothes. "Well, little sprite, I do think you owe me at least your name" the man joked.

"As if you have told me yours, you horrible oaf" Lily replied without thinking.

The man simply laughed once more at the crankiness of someone so small and young. "My name is Jon, now please tell me your name."

"Amaryllis, or Lily if its too hard for you."

"Well, Lady Lily, let me bring you to where Onua is. I'm sure your sister and my wife are with her grabbing some lunch."

Lily turned her nose up at Jon before heading back the way she initially came. As if she would manage to get lost in the woods. "Thank you, Mr. John, but I will be fine on my own."

"Suit yourself, but I think I'll come just the same."

Lily shrugged but continued to walk towards the castle.

After all, she had experienced enough teasing for one day.