It's been two years since I've worked on this, but I have to finish Emma's story. Hopefully I can tie up the loose ends of the others, but Emma's story has been stuck with me for quite some time. Enjoy!

Emma

I'd been all out of sorts since my argument with Maira. If Randall hadn't been training me harder than ever, I probably would have worked it out with her already. But since I'd hardly seen her and was still halfheartedly avoiding her, I hadn't yet apologized for being rude.

"Concentration," Randall reminded me.

I blinked the hair away from my eyes. I was doing a handstand, showing Randall I'd practiced enough to do it for longer than he could.

"I don't need to concentrate," I boasted, balancing on only one arm. I lowered myself halfway to the ground and pushed myself back up. It strained my arm muscles, but I didn't even shake.

Randall laughed. "I suppose you deserve to have a bit of pride. Get up, you've already beat me."

I let my legs fall gently to the ground and righted myself. I cupped my hands over my mouth and blew air to warm them.

"Why don't you go south?" Randall asked.

I raised an eyebrow.

"The desert is quite tolerable this time of year," He informed me. "Or you could go back up north. They could use your help, I'm sure."

"I get to choose where we go?" I questioned, more than a little confused.

"You get to choose where you go," Randall corrected. "I'm done with you."

"I'm done with training?"

"There's nothing more I can do for you," He sat on a snow covered rock. "You need experience, but that will come with time."

I sat beside him. This was quite a lot to process. I hadn't been on my own, ever. I was still young, probably only seventeen. Usually, Shang weren't let loose from their trainers before they turned twenty.

"I can go anywhere?" I clarified. "And do whatever I want?"

"Well, the laws of the realm still apply," Randall joked. "And I suggest you continue to fear the gods."

"But I could go to Carthak or the Yamani Islands?" I imagined the possibilities.

"You'll need travel money, if you choose that. Some Shang hire on as caravan guards, some as bodyguards, some as soldiers for the Crown. Your decision doesn't have to be permanent. If I were you, I wouldn't choose anything that will bind you for a long span of time."

I nodded, frowning a bit. "What are you going to do?"

Randall threw back his hand and laughed. "Given freedom, you'd choose to follow your old master around?"

I made a face.

He grew more serious. "It's a little intimidating, I know. But it's important for Shang to travel, to gain experience, and you will learn more if you're on your own."

"So I just start walking?" I asked.

"Go to Corus," Randall pointed towards the mountain pass. "You'll find plenty of opportunities there. Wait until the next passing caravan and join them."

"Alright," I nodded. "That sounds like a good plan."

Randall smiled down at me. "You'll do fine, as long as you remember what I taught you. Safety in numbers..."

I rolled my eyes and continued. "Safety in numbers, bow over sword, drink upstream of the village, don't bother learning languages but always know how to order the ale-"

"I don't remember teaching you that one," Randall growled and lazily swiped at me. "Get out of here!"

I leaned out of reach as I stood, walking down the path with a new spring in my step.

Riley

"Your letter, milady," I carefully picked up the scroll and returned it to the stool next to Lady Kaderyn's cot.

She opened her tired eyes, cheeks flushed with fever and her damp hair plastered to her face. "Read it again, please."

I hesitated. "Milady, I can't."

"Please," She whimpered. I doubted that she knew me, or knew the place she was in. "I just want to hear."

I'd heard it read often enough. I gently opened the scroll. "My dearest Kaderyn. I hope this finds you well. The war lingers on, but I find hope in remembering the faces of..."

"Of my dear family," Luci finished for me, stifling a cough. She smiled weakly.

I tucked the blanket up under the little girl's chin. "Of course. And your father will be home soon as he can, I remember that bit."

Her lip trembled briefly, but she'd grown up as the daughter of a grand lord and knew well the expectations of a noble family.

"Tam," Lady Kaderyn murmured, tossing restlessly. "Where's Tam?"

Her toddler was safe in the nursery, with my own son. The nursemaids were tending them and the other young children. Luckily, they'd all seemed to escape the worst of the sickness. The poor lady had been struck the hardest.

"Shhh," I soothed, glancing over at the healer.

The healer saw my glance, and fetched some of his herbs. They would soothe Lady Kaderyn's cough and perhaps help her sleep. As he mashed up the plants, he surveyed my own dismal appearance. "Riley, you should get some rest."

"I've already had the fever," I pointed out. "You said I'd not get it again."

"True," He nodded. "But you won't be of use to anyone if you drop dead of exhaustion. Healer's orders. Get out and get rest."

Healer Yron knew how to be firm.

It was cold outside, but the infirmary hearth had been burning for days. The waves of heat mixed with the sweat from feverish bodies and the smells of sick. I needed some fresh air.

I was not ready for the mud when I stepped from the door. My boots slipped and a surprised laugh escaped my mouth. I caught myself before I landed in the spring slush, though the hem of my skirt was brown with mud.

"Oh, drat," I murmured.

A strong hand grabbed my arm, steadying me. I turned to thank the man, and my blood ran cold.

It was Hirum.

He smiled at me, sending a chill of fear down my spine.

"Please," I tried to tug out of his grasp.

"Please what, love?" He firmly wrapped his arm around me. "What have you done, girl?"

"I don't know what you mean," I tried to look behind me, but I knew all the other servants were in the neighboring village or in the infirmary. No one would hear me even if I shouted.

Hirum grabbed my chin and forced me to look up at him. "Etan's dead, you bitch. He went after his wife and they hung him."

I winced as his fingernails dug into my skin. "I'm sorry, Hirum. I didn't want that to happen, I swear to you."

"Then what?" Hirum raised his voice and his hand. I flinched. He shook his head, dropping his hand and guiding me further from the manor.

"Please," I begged, desperation creeping into my voice. "Just let me go, Hirum, please. I didn't tell them anything about you, I promise. I swear it."

Hirum slipped in the mud, just as I had, and I broke away from him. I ran, for a quick moment, before he wrenched my arm back and swung me around. He stared into my face, his eyes narrowing. "I will kill you if you try that again. We're going home. Go get my son."

I jerked away from his gaze. The tears flowed, streaking down my face. I did not have to force them. "The fever...Tuck," My voice cracked, "He was such a little lad." I sobbed, out of fear that my husband would see through my lie and force me to bring my son from the safety of the manor.

A look crossed Hirum's face and he stared off into the distance. After a moment, he grabbed my shoulder once more. "We're going home."

I meekly nodded, trembling, and let him lead me off.

Tucker would think I'd left him.