I walked through the temple doors, inhaling the scent of sweat and fresh mountain pine. It was good to be back, if only for the summer.

As soon as the pages had left the palace, Randall and I had traveled southeast to collect new children for training. I had been eager to return to the temple, but it had been interesting to learn how children were selected for the Shang. Randall had even valued my input on some of them, though I'm not sure how much my opinion should have counted.

The young ones followed me now, eyes wide and heads whipping every which way. I smiled, wondering if I had reacted in the same manner when I first arrived at the temple.

One of the smallest boys moved into place behind me and grabbed my tunic, sucking his thumb. I had said I thought he should stay with his mama, but Randall insisted on taking the tiny Bazhir boy. He believed that he'd become one of the most talented Shang ever seen, but right now little Hamal was hardly more than a toddler.

Randall paused outside the shrine. "Take them to their room. Pass over their care, then take until the noon hour for yourself."

I bowed, palms to my thighs, and gestured for the children to follow me.

They huddled close together when we passed a group of older children in the hallway. The uniformed older children pretended not to notice the new trainees, though a few of them glanced down curiously. After they passed, my children tried to assemble themselves in the same disciplined line.

Their room was the first on the left at the top of the west staircase. I stopped outside the door. "Bow before you enter."

They bowed clumsily, then walked through the doorless entrance.

"Choose a bed." I ordered. I looked down and realized that Hamal was still attached to my tunic. "Hamal, you need to pick a bed to sleep in."

"Wanna sleep with you." Hamal raised his arms to be picked up.

"No, Hamal." I shook my head and nudged him towards an empty cot. "You've got to be a big boy. Here, this bed's as good as any other. Put your pack under it, alright?"

Hamal hesitantly stepped towards it.

"Emma!" The loud shout startled me and I whipped around, my fists rising into a block.

"It's us, Emma." I did not recognize the deep voice, but when I looked closer, I recognized Darin's sandy blond hair. He was a much, much taller Darin than I'd ever known. He was solid too, with a man's strong build.

And Maira...Maira was the most beautiful young woman I'd ever seen.

I smiled at them, just in time for Maira to squeeze me around my neck in the tightest hug I'd ever had.

"These are the new ones?" Darin looked over the timid children eagerly. "I'm to help train them."

I nodded. "They're fresh off the farm. I'm to pass their training to you?"

"I'm to accept in behalf of the others." Darin stepped into the room, counting the trainees. I could've jsut told him that there were seventeen.

"Consider it passed." I bowed rapidly. "How was bandit fighting?"

Maira and Darin exchanged a knowing glance that left me excluded.

"It was what you'd expect." Maira shrugged.

I nodded, knowing I probably wouldn't understand what they'd been through anyway. Training pages and gathering children was just not as dangerous or exciting as defending Tortall.

"They're to take a nap." Darin told me, gesturing towards the children. "After supper, they're going to have their first lesson."

I nodded, forgetting that I'd passed over their training. "Into bed, kids! I want you asleep before I take another breath!"

"Kids?" Maira giggled, wrinkling her nose.

I smiled. "Like, baby goats. The pages at the palace started using it before the summer break."

The children were climbing into their beds, pulling the blankets up to their chins. It had been a long journey and I had no doubt that they would fall asleep easily. I looked around, making sure all was in order, then quietly left the room. Maira and Darin followed and we sat on the stone floor just outside the room.

I couldn't stop staring at my friends. I had thought that we were all around the same age, but Darin looked like a grown man already.

"He's handsome, isn't he?" Maira teased, elbowing me.

I raised my eyebrows. "A bit."

Darin laughed. He was good-lucking, I suppose, but he didn't make my heart leap or give me any funny feelings.

"We've missed you." Maira squeezed my shoulder once more. "Look how big and strong you've gotten."

"Emma!" Hamal wailed. I knelt just in time for him to come racing from the room into my arms. He cried into my shoulder, dirtying my tunic with who knows what.

"What's the matter?" I stroked his soft hair. "Don't cry."

"Isn't he too young?" Darin frowned.

"Yes, he is." I swayed slightly to calm him. "But he's going to try real hard to be a big boy, isn't that so?"

Hamal nodded miserably, snot running down his face.

I sighed and wiped his face with my sleeve. Maira and Darin simultaneously made a face.

"Stay with you, please, Emma." Hamal looked at me with his sad brown eyes.

"No, Hamal." I stood, setting him on my hip. "It's back to bed with you."

"We'll wait for you." Darin leaned his head back against the wall.

"I'll be right back." I walked lightly into the bedroom and laid the little boy back on his cot. I tugged the blanket up over him. "Good sleep."

As I turned to leave, Hamal threw off his covers again. I shook my head and sat on his bed, gathering him into my arms. "This is the last time, alright? Then you have to be big."

Hamal nodded and nestled into the crook of my elbow. I closed my eyes.

It seemed like they'd only been closed for a moment, but I woke to Maira tapping my cheek. I yawned, carefully transferring the sleeping child from my arms to his bed. I tucked him in and followed Maira from the room. Darin had already gone.

"You're to be in my room, if you'd like." Maira told me. "I shared with Ange, but she left for the north. I'll show you to it."

I nodded tiredly. "Thanks."

"I'm glad you're back." Maira smiled down at me, wrapping her arm around my shoulders.

"Me too." I smiled back.