George offered his arm to her and Arie looked back to her friend. SandStorm snorted and threw his head as much as the small window would allow. His way of telling her to go. Arie placed her hand on his arm.

"So, where'd you like to go?"

Arie opened her mouth and then her stomach rumbled. He looked at her with amusement and she ducked her head hiding her face.

"Kitchen it is then." He led the way across the grounds to a servants entrance. The kitchen was filled with mouthwatering smells. Arie's stomach growled louder. "Wait here a moment." In moments George had let go of her and was weaving his way between people.

Arie listened to everyone who was speaking. At first no one noticed her, which suited her just fine. An old cook was listing off ingredients she'd need to an apprentice. A servant was asking a woman by the ovens if she had extra bread. One lady was talking about a man who had been harassing her. Arie listened especially close to that conversation. The lady's friend advised her to keep her head down. She also promised not to send her anywhere near the man. Not that that would stop him, Arie thought bitterly. She had seen one woman come to her mother after she had been attacked by a man. Her mother had been furious. Arie hadn't understood fully what had happened to the woman until later when her mother explained. She had promised then and there she wouldn't let something like that happen while she was there. Not to anyone.

It took her a moment to realize that the conversation around her had slowed to a trickle. Those that were speaking were talking in much quieter whispers. When she glanced around at the women, they all turned back to their work away from her. But she saw one woman making a sign against evil in her direction. It was like a slap in the face. She looked down at the floor and fought against the anger and hurt. She couldn't help her hair color. A small voice in her head whispered, at least they don't know what kind of magic you use. She sucked in a deep calming breath.

"Arie?" George was leading an older woman over to her. "This is Feema."

The woman's wrinkled face smiled at her. It nearly broke her heart to see the woman smile at her so genuinely. Feema must have seen the look on her face or noticed how unnaturally quiet it was. She turned and barked,

"You have better things to do than your jobs?"

Everyone around them went back to their work and conversation picked up again. Arie opened her mouth to say that she didn't need to do that when her stomach growled. Feema laughed, a sound that shook her whole body.

"Let's get you some food." Feema took them out to a small table that was away from the kitchen staff. Away from prying eyes. Arie could have kissed the older woman. A plate loaded with food was set out on a table for Arie. She fell on the food devouring it like a starving animal. Feema chuckled, "Slow down, you'll choke."

Arie had to make an honest effort to slow down, but she ate just about everything except the thick slice of ham. That she wrapped in a napkin.

"Thank you."

Feema waved her thanks off.

"It's my job to make sure everyone is well fed." Feema glanced at George of her shoulder. The man a smile on his face, but Arie wasn't sure why. "Anyhow, if you need anything, you just come ask me. Okay?"

Arie bobbed her head up and down. Trying to slip the napkin wrapped ham into her pocket without the other woman noticing. A smile pulled at the corner of the older woman's lips and the wrinkles around her eyes crinkled in amusement.

"Don't horde food, there's plenty here for you."

Arie blushed, but before she could deny it the woman got up and went back to work.

"Where to now?"

Arie looked at George. She bit her lip, maybe it would be alright. He might not even understand what she did. What harm could there be? Arie stood.

"I'm not sure the where, just the direction."

George looked at her curiously then offered his arm again. This time she took it without hesitation.

"Then lead the way."

Arie reached for her Gift. It would act like a compass. Then she felt the itching tingly feeling in the direction of the stables. She followed the feeling; no, it drew her feet like someone pulling her very soul. As they approached the stables, she realized it wasn't coming from there, it was coming from past it. Her heart sank. The kennels. That's why she didn't want to eat the ham. The kennels were full to the brim with the sound of dogs barking. She walked down the line of doors and stopped at the third from the end. The feeling had risen from itch to roar in her blood that wouldn't be denied.

"Can I help you?"

Arie turned as a woman dropped down from the loft. Arie saw lines of copper magic coming off the woman and connecting to all the dogs in the kennel. Wild magic. The line of coppery magic that connected the woman to the dog behind the door Arie now stood in front of was weak and fading. The reason she was here.

"Would be alright if I took him out for a while?"

The woman looked her over with a keen eye. No doubt she was good at her job.

"Not sure you can." She walked over and opened the gate. Inside was a once beautiful animal. He was a wiry hound. The kind used to chase and hunt bigger game. Mostly black with brown patches across his face and down his belly. Now his body was dusted in white. He laid in pile of straw; couldn't even lift his head he was so tired. "He's on his last leg. He stopped eating yesterday so we're pretty sure the Dark God will be coming soon."

"If he will come, would be alright if I took him out? His last days shouldn't be stuck in here."

The woman sighed.

"If you can that would be nice."

Arie smiled her thanks and crouched down in front of the dog.

"You don't really want to stay here, do you?"

The dog lifted its ear. She laid a hand on the top of the dog's head and transferred a small portion of her Gift.

"I think you'd rather be running free outside. How about it?"

The dog barked his affirmation.

*That does sound nice.* Shakily at first the dog rose. He stretched and looked up at Arie. Lead the way.

Arie pulled the ham from her pocket. "I brought this for you."

The dog sniffed and his tail started wagging as soon as she started unwrapping the food. Arie could feel George and the woman's stare. She offered the food to the dog who took it with great care not to bite her. Then he gobbled it down in a blink of an eye. The dog jumped up and planted his front paws on Arie's shoulders. Before Arie could do anything, a long wet tongue slapped against her face. Then he dropped down and walked out of the stall. Arie wiped her face before following.

Once they were out the dog took off over the grass. Arie smiled and raced after him. He barked his joy and Arie whooped. Together they played for hours, alternating between hunting in the forest around the palace and the dog chasing a stick that she threw for him. Then sun was starting to set when the dog finally laid down in the grass panting. Arie sat down beside him and he flopped his head into her lap with a contented sign.

"How was that?" she asked as scratched behind his furry ears.

*Thank you, I didn't want to end it in there.*

Arie blinked back tears. Of course, he knew he was dying. Her Gift was basically keeping him alive and moving.

"It doesn't have to end." Even as she said the words, she knew it wasn't the truth. She couldn't perpetually feed him her magic to keep him alive. The dog sighed and woofed.

*No, it is time. You were a pretty good pack mate, he licked her face again, For a two legger.*

Arie tried to hold back her tears. The dog, Bear, laid his head back down in her lap, sighed deeply, and then breathed his last as her Gift faded from him. Arie's Gift colored the air and she caught a glimpse of Bear running through lush fields with other dogs that had passed. His sire greeted him. Her Gift flared brightly leaving her feeling stronger if not soothed. Then it was gone and she sobbed helplessly hugging the dog. A hand was on her shoulder. Turning she saw George; his own eyes were full of tears. He probably got caught in it.

"That is a beautiful Gift you have."

Arie snorted in disgust, then gathered up Bear in her arms. Her Gift wasn't beautiful, it was sad. She always knew when people were going to die. She wiped her face on her upper sleeve, trying to be careful with Bear.

"It's not, who wants to know when people are going to die. Who wants to know that they are going to die?"

George shrugged.

"I didn't see Bear complaining. I think he's much happier with the way things ended than the alternative."

"Maybe."

"Would you like me to take him back?"

Arie shook her head no, a fresh wave of tears threatening to spill over.

"I think I should do this." With her shoulders back Arie carried Bear back to the kennels. The woman from earlier saw her and smiled sadly. She came over and took Bear.

"No worries. I'll see to him."