Fibeas' home sat at the edge of the village near one of the canopy walkways. It wasn't exactly isolated, but it was as least far enough away from any neighbors who might poke their nose where it wasn't wanted. After parting ways with Briddle, the trio was ushered inside, the door and windows closed tight and the fireplace lit.

Ferris was briefly distracted by the flames. While it didn't look much different from an ordinary fire, it certainly felt different: Even if she drew too close to it, it stayed a soft, welcoming heat. She'd only seen fire magic one other time, but she heard there was a type that didn't burn. It was amazing that something this gentle could be so destructive. Maybe Monsters used a specific spell or needed a certain material to make it this way…

Bother Fibeas and Castellar lingered by the exits a little longer before saying another word, listening carefully to the world outside on the off-chance that the troll or someone else stuck around the cottage. The relative silence was filled only by the sound of the distant faire drawing to an end and the night's creatures gradually stirring. Even after confirming that they were truly alone, the elder didn't seem any more relaxed. He sighed, "There's never a good day when guests come under the cover of shadows. Castellar, if this is about what I think it is…"

Fibeas' gaze drifted over to the two girls, carrying the look of someone who knew more than he wanted to and wished for any other truth. Folding his arms and leaning back against the wall, the skeleton gave an affirming nod their way, "Show him."

As Ciara ducked even further behind her sister at the order, Ferris pulled back the hold of her cloak and removed her mask—ignoring the amphibian's early curse at the sight of her recognizable hands alone. His reaction to her eyes was the most severe, now that they could no longer be explained simply as another one of the myriad of Monster traits. The striking variance in color that was normal to them typically meant just one thing for Humans. His nerves gave way to an obvious fear.

She didn't know what reaction she would've expected, but she hadn't prepared for anything anyway. Besides that, she felt he was still the bigger danger between them. Magic aside, a trained guard vs. a malnourished, twelve year-old girl? The odds favored him. So, Ferris didn't know how to ease the man's nerves or if she should. All she could manage was to shift her own gaze elsewhere and give him an awkward shrug.

"I need to take these Humans west, Fibeas," Castellar explained, "before other mages can track us down. It would be ideal if you or someone you trust to stay quiet helped us reach the next village. If not that, then even directing us to any safe areas you can think of would be enough."

The guard's stare didn't leave the sisters for the longest time, even as he sidestepped over to a table and carefully sat down. He watched Ferris as she distanced herself and Ciara from him—not out of panic, but rather concern that he'd stay on-edge if she didn't show that she was harmless. Then he leaned forward against the wooden surface, his head in his hands and another curse slipping out from under his breath.

"Why did you have to come to me, of all people…?"

"You weren't the first choice," was Castellar's flat answer, "You were just the closest."

Ferris noted that he didn't bother telling Fibeas that they'd already run into trouble once. For all his anxiety, Fibeas didn't mention if he'd himself seen their pursuers either—maybe not even the owl-like Monster they'd spotted on the way there. In the very least, it was unlikely that he was helping Avalbanshee's group lie in wait since, if that was the case, the ice elemental and her allies would've ambushed them by now. That was good, because it was one less chance of scaring him off.

It was hard to say what made him so reluctant to help if not fear of Avalbanshee's retaliation or the girl as a potentially deadly mage. Because the Arnaud Mages' Guild was neutral, they'd surely favor anyone—Human or Monster—who safety returned one of their own. Of course, there was always the possibility that Fibeas just hated mages or Humans in general, but he didn't really show it if he did.

When the elder didn't reply, Castellar stepped toward him, "We can compensate you."

Immediately, the amphibian's expression changed from confliction to anger. Leaning back up and dropping his hands on the table with a loud thud, he shot the skeleton a fierce look, "You know damn well you couldn't change my mind with money!" He then paused, glanced at the girls again, and forcibly reigned himself in. He swallowed, "What happened to you, boy? You were such a nice kid: You'd never pull these kinds of stunts…"

"It's just a job."

"So, someone put you up to it," Fibeas concluded with a shake of his head, a clear disgust still registered at the adolescent as much as at the person he served. "I don't care about your orders. I asked to be stationed here in Heartwood to get away from all the nonsense with mages—though, clearly, a lot of good that did me!"

Castellar maintained a stone-face as the other continued to snap at him with a pointed wave of his arm. Ferris chose not to speak up herself, given that the two obviously knew each other well and she doubted that there was anything she could personally say to persuade the guard. It irked her, not being able to do anything for what so dramatically affected her life. She tried to focus on anything but what she couldn't change, stroking Ciara's head and looking around the room.

Beyond the use of fire magic, the cottage interior wasn't much different than the houses in Mollendale. The only things that really stood out were an impressive weapons rack and a small tapestry with the Monster Kingdom's emblem. It was a simple home for a single warrior. If Fibeas had family, he must've left them wherever he came from.

"I assure you that the village isn't in any danger," said Castellar.

"You say that after insisting I travel with you! It only takes once for someone to remember a face. And who do you expect I send you with otherwise? The bards and minstrels? Even if there was anyone here willing to journey with Humans—nevermind a mage—they'd only be a liability. But that's still beside the point, isn't it? You shouldn't be doing this and instead left those girls alone!"

"To be enslaved by other mages?" he asked, giving Fibeas pause, "Those two were already penned like livestock when I found them. Who do you think they're in better hands of: A group of hunters, who would sell them to anyone, or ours?"

Although the words were directed at Fibeas, the skeleton's attention briefly went to the sisters. It was a question meant to convince all parties; a reminder of what they'd suffered thus far, knowing that he still didn't have their full trust either.

It worked to his advantage. Ferris couldn't hide her frown as her mind temporarily drifted back to that cell—and well before that, all the times she'd had to die evading previous kidnappings. He was once more driving a nail into the fact that, even if the gamble of following him wasn't ideal, her circumstances never had been. To Fibeas—who already had his own judgement on the boy—letting him see that bitterness was meant to strike a different cord. The nervousness in his eyes were sprinkled with pity.

Scraping the wood as he drew his hands into fists, the guard looked own with a tightly knitted brow. A sudden tiredness seemed to fall over him. Again, he shook his head, "I can't… I won't hinder you, but I won't help you either. And I'm not about to drag anyone else in this. You can stay the night—not here, but at the inn—and I'll stay silent if anyone comes asking. That's all I can give you."

At that moment, Ferris saw something in Castellar's own face that she hadn't yet: Anger. Not the usually childish vitriol the two of them threw at each other; true, disquieting anger. The intensity behind it was so brutal that it unnerved her in a way few things had ever since she got her powers. It was almost as if the world outside of their small circle had crumbled away and they were now standing precariously on the edge of what remained.

What was even more disturbing was that Castellar didn't unleash that anger. Instead, he gave Fibeas a small, formal bow and kept his voice even, "If that is your choice, then I won't pester you further." Walking toward the door, he called to the girls over his shoulder—thankfully without leveling that dangerous glare their way. "Let's go."

Donning her mask and cloak once more, Ferris placed a hand on Ciara's back to usher her forward. No sooner had they stepped outside, however, were they abruptly called back. The elder rose from the table to meet them at the doorway, drawing a cloth pouch from his side. Awkwardly, he opened his mouth to say something, thought against it, and placed the tiny bag in Ferris' hands.

There were several round candies inside. It might've been something he'd purchased earlier at the faire, but sweets were such a luxury. Aside from fruits or maybe honey, they weren't something the girls had ever had the chance to enjoy. He may as well have given her jewels, and they were so brightly-colored that, to them, that's just what they looked like. Being given something so precious from a stranger who wanted nothing with them… Ferris didn't know how to respond…

"It's not poisoned," Castellar's voice broke her out of her trance. He seemed to mistake her hesitation for paranoia. Rather than criticize her, however, he shot one final glare at Fibeas, "He wouldn't have the spine…"

Then kept marching, expecting them to follow. Still half-confused, Ferris glanced down at the candies once more before resealing them and hiding them under her cloak. She muttered a quick thanks and turned to go, the man's sad smile that she left him with burning in her mind until they reached the inn.