Disclaimer: Don't own, except for the parts I do.

:}

The party made their way into the inn, and found the innkeeper "Conroy, we're back." Kraven called out. "We'll need rooms. One for me, one for Ryder and his sister. And of course, if they have the coin, you'll want to find rooms for the delegation from Clan Vega."

"Of course." The innkeeper called out. "Lord Vic, Lord Beck, would you two have the coin for the night?"

"We do." Tori told him, using her man voice. "Robbie, meet us here the day after tomorrow, for when we head out."

"Yes my lord." The woodsman said, turning on his heels and marching into the tavern.

Beck pulled out his purse, now noticeably lighter, and produced the coins to pay for the rooms. They then went to the tavern and waited to get food. All of them wanted to rest, enjoy a night in a warm building, and a hot meal. Beck knew they'd need to meet up with someone who carried their credit if they were heading too far away from where the nobles held sway.

"Don't worry." Tori assured her cousin. "We're not that far from allied lands. We can get supplies, money, even weapons at the home of our ancient friends, the lords of Thornmire. Mason may not like us, but he'll honor the old treaties. That means we can and will get what we need."

"I'd hoped to avoid asking him for anything." Beck said, looking uncomfortable. "That treaty is more one of tradition then anything else. He's a stingy man who's always out for his own best interests. I swear, he robs us every time he asks for the old horse trading agreement to remain as it always has been. Our horses are worth a lot more then what he pays for them."

"We're buying his friendship." Tori stated. "And now that I said it, it sounds a lot worse. But think on this. He has as much interest in us solving our flying beast problem as anyone."

Ryder, meanwhile, was sitting next to Jade. "So, how long until father comes in to see if I really did bring you back?" He asked.

"He won't come." One of the serving wenches said. "No man wants to face his own shame. Ryder, my love, you're a success, showing how special his sons are, and putting pressure on Jasper to achieve as much as you did. But Jade, she's the child he sold, and so he no longer wants to have anything to do with her."

The wench was half right. The Berger of Travmort made no attempt to see his son. But Jasper made an excuse to come by the inn, and see the girl that was supposed to be his sister with his own eyes. Soon after, he and his guards left, and Ryder realized that if he wanted their father to acknowledge Jade, he'd have to force the issue.

Midday the next day, Master West was going over the previous days business, from all his many enterprises, while showing Jasper how to make sure the accounting was right, when one of his men begged an audience. "What?" The Berger asked.

"Someone wants to make a rather large purchase." The man said, showing the Berger the list.

Master West studied the list. "This seems reasonable." He told his man. "Now Jasper, take a look at the list, and tell me why they needed my approval?"

The boy looked the list over. It contained supplies, horses, a couple of wagons, and other things needed for a long journey. "Um, because this represents a lot of money?" The boy guessed.

"No." Ryder said, having snuck in behind the lower merchant to speak with his father. "It's because some of those supplies aren't easy to replace. While the money is always appreciated, as leader of your people, sometimes you have to weight in the possibility that you'll need something before you can replace it."

"Ryder, you're the one making this purchase?" The master asked, trying to sound authoritarian.

"We have Jade, and she's going to help Clan Vega and the Barony of Vordnar." The young knight told his father. "I just needed the supplies to help her, and a few wounded men, make the journey. I hope this won't be too much of a strain on your supplies."

"Oh no, I can have most of this replaced withing a month." Master West told his eldest. "But it's oddly comforting to think you have the money to spend this much on your sister."

"Jade's a witch." Ryder told his father.

"Oh…." His eyes shifted to his other son. "Jasper, would you give us a moment?"

"Why?" The boy asked. On the verge of manhood, he felt he could handle whatever they were going to discuss.

"Jade doesn't hate you." Ryder told his dad. "She's still deeply hurt, but..." His eyes seemed, for the first time, to drift. "I've seen magic in battle. Battle mages command a high price, and work miracles on the battlefield. But, while the Vega's may have dismissed everything she did, the kinds of magics she commanded..." His voice hitched.

"You do understand, when I sold her, I gave up all claim to being her father." The merchant said. "The wizard of the mountain is her father now."

"And he sent her into the world, to build on her powers and become stronger." Ryder found his balance. "I know how vulnerable a mage can be, wielding otherworldly powers, but not able to really defend themselves once their limited supply of power runs out. Jade proved she could strike a unit, cause massive damage, and still have other tricks up her sleeve."

"And you say she doesn't hate me?" The Berger asked.

"She should." Ryder said. "By all accounts, she should hate you to the ends of time. But she just feels like she somehow let you down."

"She was my daughter." Master West said, explaining to both his sons. "She had uses, to secure alliances, to give as a reward, but not much else. I had no desire to waste money on her dowry, so she had slim choices for a husband. No, when I sold her, it made sense, gave me the best options for my sons." He regarded Ryder. "And you, Ryder, you achieved so much, just to spite me. If nothing else, that proves I made the right choice. Now, I know you'll go out into the world, make a name for yourself, and I can help Jasper be ready to run this town for me."

"Maybe, but that name will be Daniels." The knight said, still feeling anger at his father.

"I understand." The master said. "Now, please pay the merchant, and well have your supplies ready by morning."

"Wait..." Jasper called out. Ryder halted, while their father looked on disapprovingly. "How could Jade have any problems finding someone. She's beautiful."

"You saw her?" Ryder asked.

"He made an excuse to head over to the inn, last night, when he thought I wouldn't notice." Master West said. "But of course, his guards told me everything. He looked, made sure she seemed okay, then headed home. I approved, because he didn't bother to engage. Jade may pass through, like any potential client. But as I said, she's no longer part of this family."

"And neither am I." Ryder stated. "I'm sir Ryder Daniels, Knight and journeyman merchant." His eyes drifted to Jasper. "Sorry, but I'm afraid the shame that lies on this name will have to be carried by you, little brother."

"A position I was born to." The younger man assured his brother. "Now go. I have lessons to attend, and dad has complete his business with you." His attempt to sound like their father was almost amusing.

The Berger of Travmort watched as his first born walked out of the building, not sure what to do about his fragmenting family. He'd made his deal over his daughter years ago, and had no place in his heart for regret. But the pride he felt, for his eldest, and in a dark corner of his soul, for his daughter, was causing rifts to form in his carefully constructed cynicism. He wondered, would this be the last time he ever saw either of them. But he was a merchant, and had achieved everything he had by being ruthless. Turning his attention back to what was now his legacy, he pushed forward in his lessons for his second son. 'The boys coming along nicely...' He decided.

Ryder, for his part, realized the true price he'd paid for leaving his father, and it wasn't measured in gold, risk to life and limb, or even in opportunities. He' given up his chance to be just like his father, instead embracing his compassion to guide him through his quest. He'd never be a merchant lord, because he just couldn't sacrifice everything to succeed. Instead, he was going to be a more traditional lord, probably with lands in Vordnar. It didn't upset him in the least. 'I can be practical, sacrifice what I have to, but not just make a sacrifice for my own advancement. No, I'm the type who puts other things ahead of my own personal enrichment. It's the only way I could keep making sacrifices for Jade. I just hope she's the same. I want her to have a heart.'

Meanwhile, at the inn, Jade found herself once again alone. "Not alone, just not with anyone around you." Cat reminded her.

"Okay, they have things to do." Jade said, not worrying about how people would think of her. Beside, she wanted to hear something other then the foreign sounds of the inn downstairs. "The real question is, when do I introduce them to you?"

"I thought we were going to wait until you were away from this place." Cat said. "You don't wanna freak them out, and I kinda like being able to spy on them for you. Did you know that your brother sleeps with at least two weapons near by? He has a dagger for emergencies, and a sword in bed with him. Sheathed, of course, cause no one liked waking up to one less limb. But I get the feeling he's slept in his share of battle encampments."

"I suspect your right about that." Jade said. "But we need to make introductions. I don't like hiding you from them. It's crazy making to have to think at you when your talking to me."

"You should still do that." Cat instructed her. "My value as a scout is lessened if they know I exist. The enemy, that is. As for the others, I just want to make sure your in a good place before you spoil things. I… I'm afraid they might not take well to a fairy being around you."

"So, what do I do now?" Jade asked. 'That combat was a mess. I did well, but I feel like I needed to be protected. What would have happened if I wasn't shielded, didn't have someone guarding me? No, I have to find a way to store energy for battle, so I don't exhaust myself with just a couple of big moves." Inside, she was marshaling her will, because she was still hurting from the remnants of the fallen she'd experienced.

"Then you need to pick up some quartz." Cat said. "I'll teach you how to store energy in it, to use later. There is a bit of loss, going each way, but that's okay if your charging them when you have time, then using them as batteries later, when you need the energy."

"Can we start now, or do I need the quartz?" Jade asked.

"Let me find out if they have any nearby, and how much it'll cost..." Cat said, before flittering off.

Jade realized her familious was already out of earshot. 'Just remember, we pay for what we take.' She sent.

"Spoilsport." Came Cats reply.

Jade was, after confirming that the town had what she wanted, able to convince Beck to take her shopping for spell components. The quartz was, and is, one of the more common crystals, so it wasn't as expensive as it could have been. However, any type of gem or crystal was going to cost something.

She soon found herself holding several choice pieces, all bigger then she'd expected. The young mystic had expected the pieces to be small, weighing maybe ounces. However, Beckett was able to find and was negotiating the purchase of four pieces, each over three inches long and one inch in diameter. Four pieces that would carry an immense amount of power. Jade, even with her nascent but growing senses, was able to feel that massive potential in those pieces. But the shock was how little she paid for the four quarts crystals.

"My compliments, for keeping me safe out there." Kraven said.

"You really shouldn't have..." Beck started.

"But I can." The merchant explained. "And it's better this way. My girl, this merchant is from my house, so if we give these to you as a gift it costs us far less then if we sell it too you, because we don't have to give West his cut. I like to think of it as a two fold gift. My appreciation for what you've done for me and mine, by keeping me safe. And, sticking it to your father, who owes you more then he will ever pay."

"Also, this will help protect Ryder." The lower merchant added.

"Yes, it will help Ryder, and our deal with Clan Vega." Kraven said. "So, take this however you wish, and use it to protect the Barony of Vordnar. I expect us to make quite a bit of profit from those lands. But for us to earn that, we need to protect the entire kingdom of Ardun. Whichever motivation you ascribe to me, know that I am helping, regardless of my motivation. In fact, take these smaller ones as well." He handed Jade two small quartz crystals, maybe an inch long as the most, with a smaller diameter, feeling more like a raw stone and less like a worked point.

"I think we should go, before this gem merchant is wiped out of stock and any profit they may have hoped to make." Beck joked.

"Thanks." Jade murmured before she was dragged out of the small shop and back to the inn.

"Never expected him to give so much as a single coin..." Jade commented.

"He's investing in future profits." Beck replied as he guided her through the streets. "I just hope those will help you cast whatever spells you need them for. Also, how often will we need to replace them?"

"Not often." Jade told him. "These are to focus energy, help me make the most of what power I have. With theses, I can do a lot, assuming I can prepare them properly..." She let her thoughts drift.

"Get prepared, and anything you might need, let us know." Beck instructed her. "We leave in the morning."

"Let me see..." Cat pushed in her mind, begging Jade to get back so the faerie might be able to determine how useful those pieces of quartz really were.

'Patience.' Jade thought at the small figure, knowing her familious would hear how frustrated she felt at the overly excited display.

"Jade?" Beck asked.

"Yes?" She replied.

"I just wanted you to know, me, Vic, those of us born to power in our land, we're all promised to someone." He tried to explain.

"Meaning?" The pale girl asked.

"Meaning that, should you and my cousin find some form of connection, it won't last. Vic has been promised to marry since..." Beck hesitated, because he knew Jade knew Tori's secret, but didn't want to give it away to anyone who might be listening. His momentary search for pronouns was quickly solved by his companion.

"I get it." She said. "You've been engaged since you were what, four? I'd imagine that your cousin is in a similar situation."

"Exactly." Beck agreed. "But they let me dream up until I was almost seven." He flashed that smile that had won the hearts of so many women, across the lands, and for a moment, the world felt off.

"Yea, I'm more into your cousin." Jade grumped.

Beck laughed. "Yea, I remember that warning." He said. "Which is why I'm giving you this one. Vic has been engaged for years, and even if that engagement broke, the clan would just find another. I know, the wizard said you might wind up with Vic, but I'm not mired so much in the mystic worlds, the ideas of possibilities. I'm focused on the realities, and we need marriages to secure alliances. You've been warned."

Jade rolled her eyes. "Aleister is no Seer." She told Beck. "And believe it or not, I appreciate the warning. I'm about the job, not worrying what may yet come of my adventures. But, while my master isn't a Seer, that doesn't make his prediction is wrong. Fate is more about the possibilities then we think, but it's also about he realities. We make our fate happen, up until it decides we don't. Then, for whatever reason, we find ourselves whisked along, unable to resist the pull of the stream, until we reach the ocean." Teal eyes looked off to the side. "Sorry, my metaphor was getting away from me."

"It's okay, I understand." Beck assured her. "And I get what you were trying to say. So, lets make a deal. You do the job, and if, by the will of fate or some ill tempered faerie, you wind up with Vic, and I mean the Baron is free to make that arrangement, and everyone accepts that it's a possibility, then I'll throw my weight behind the coupling."

"Deal." Jade agreed. "To the job at hand, and to fate."

'You realize, I'm a faerie, and I can be damn ill tempered when things I want are kept from me, right?' Cat queried through her link with Jade's mind.

'Ahh, but you, my dear familious, lack the power to make this happen.' Jade thought back. 'So lets leave this in the hands of fate, and see how things happen. Who knows, we may not even live to worry about who loves whom.'

Cat smiled from her perch near by. 'Now I have to make this happen.' She thought, but knew enough to keep such thoughts to herself.

Jade didn't have much time to think about what plots her sometimes ditsy familious might be hatching, busy focusing on her lessons, her travels, and charging her new crystals. 'These things hold a lot more power then I thought…' She focused, pouring what energy she could into the first, and making sure that the others were cleansed for future use.

The party left in the morning, traveling by road towards the city of the Holly Woods. Said city wasn't exactly on the way to the dale of Vordnar, but it wasn't that much of a detour either. The biggest reason to go was it was reasonably close to the dale, and as such, was a popular place for traders and bards to frequent. They'd hoped to find Andre Harris, who represents Clan Azur, and more covertly, Azurban. The rumored Seer, Sikowitz, was a decent second reason, even if only Beck felt they needed his input. "Information is king in any battle." He repeated to his cousin. "The more we know, the better our odds we'll destroy this beast."

"Except, we're on a time limit, and we're pushing it already." Multiple men replied. "The beast, the dragon, how long until it attacks the keep, does more then strike out livestock? Or the attempt on our lady Katrina?"

"But if we walk into a trap?" Beck asked back.

"Guys, we're in no shape to fight anything." Vic jumped in. "Our witch, with all her power, is going to be of limited value against a magic resistant beast. Best to talk to someone who might be able to discern weaknesses we can exploit, or we're just riding to our deaths. As is, we're not moving very quickly…"

"Our goal is the Cenan river." Beck informed them. "We can catch a boat there, and ride into The Holly Woods. That should give us a chance to fully heal, or at least feel stronger before we confront the beast."

"So, this whole trip to find a witch was a waste?" One of the men complained.

"Even if she doesn't help beyond a few minor contributions, it was far from a waste." Ryder explained, claiming his part of the conversation. "You had no idea what you were fighting before you spoke to Aliester. You were thinking the mage could just magic the threat away, or perhaps give you a tool, like a sword, right? Well, it's obvious to me that all he could do was tell you the realities of the threat, and send you to where you could get more help. However, that's more then you had, more then you were likely to have had without his insights. AND he gave you Jade, a witch of some power, to help in the quest. Yes, her magics may be of limited value against the beast, but there will be plenty of situations where you'd be grateful for her power."

Robbie felt like contributing. "We have leads." He said. "We have leads on a dragon, on a Seer, and on what we can do to stop your threat. Past time we let go of the negatives on this trip, and focused on the positives. Now, stop worrying and stay alert. This may be a very well traveled road, but that doesn't eliminate the possibilities of threats along the path. So focus, and we can talk more when we're in camp, or on the river."

:}

So, that's where we are. Hoping you're enjoying this story. So we're on the road again.

A warning, this story was written in stages, literally months to years apart. The feel of the story will change…

Review.