Conrad’s mother had found the clothes he’d worn during his last stay in the village, and it felt nice to wear the heavier linen pants and the longer tunic. The boots were more comfortable and sturdier than the flat footwear worn in the city.Kanisa had been to one council meeting during his year at Knights Village. It was interesting. Council meetings at the castle in the city were held behind closed doors with only the king, his scribe, and his most trusted advisors in attendance. In Knights Village, the council was held in the town square, with the Lord , Fisherman, Hunter, and Farmer presiding over the meeting and keeping everything in order. All of the villagers were welcome, and most showed up.The entire scrutiny of the town turned to Kanisa when he stepped into the bright summer sunlight, blinking stupidly until he could see. Fortunately, the distrustful looks from his first council meeting were gone, and most of the villagers looked anxious but determined.“Sorry,” Conrad said

The sun had yet to rise over the Eastern Mountains when the four of them packed up their belongings and headed out of the city. They had a hearty breakfast and real coffee, and stopped at the markets to replenish their supplies. The innkeeper did not say how far up the mountain the village was and they had no idea if they’d be able to find food. Kanisa also bought extra cloaks and blankets because Western shores were warm and the others did not understand just how far the temperature could drop in the mountains.Near the edge of the market, Kanisa grew distracted by hanging parchments covered in artwork. The sunlight danced on one image in particular, making the flame look alive.“You like ink?” a voice asked next to her.Kanisa turned and smiled at the proprietor of the tent. He was barefoot and bare-chested, showing off the scrolls of tattoos that covered his body.“You’re very talented,” Kanisa said.“Do you have some?”Kanisa nodded and took off her tunic to show the man.“Very go

Kanisa was only vaguely aware of people stopping to watch Miyavi work. She concentrated on the touch of the needles, the swipe of cloth, the caress of talented fingers.“That’s enough for today,” Miyavi said.Kanisa moaned in disappointment.Laughing, Miyavi cleaned up her skin, and then moved around his tent. Kanisa lay on the table, noting how low in the sky the sun was and how sore her muscles were.“You know the steps in protecting what I have done?”Kanisa nodded. “I need some healing oils though. I left mine at the cas-the last place I lived.”Miyavi grinned at the slip but did not question him. “Come back in three days. We’ll either finish it, or we’ll get some more work done on it.”===========Conrad called her crazy when he saw the new ink. Kindle Dee and Kindle Lou laughed. Especially when she tried to sit on anything or anywhere. She did not sleep much, and spent late and early morning hours down at the hall of the inn, drinking to dull the sting.“Lover not putting out?”

Kanisa pulled her horse level with Dawn’s. The young man looked exhausted, but he smiled at Kanisa anyway.“You are a little sneaky,” Kanisa said, “knowing who I was at the castle and saying nothing.”“Sora told me not to. He has always said that the less I know and the less other people know then the less they can be hurt or taken advantage of.”“Which is why he was so cryptic with me.”“Partly. And because he said you were smart enough to figure it out on your own.”“Figure out what?” Kanisa mumbled.Dawn shrugged. “I do not know. I do know that Sora suspected that King Horgwart was not as pure and just as we all thought, but he did not elaborate. All he told me was that if he did not come to the stables for a ride--”“--what kind of a ride?” Falcon asked with a grin.Dawn ignored him. “--every week then something happened to him. I waited two weeks and Sora did not come. He said to go to the Garden Village and meet up with my brother and you, if you were there.”“I hope Sora is oka

There was silence and then Kindle Lou asked, “What do we do then? We cannot leave Sora at the capitol. Especially if the king knows of his power.”Kanisa nodded. “There is no choice. We have to continue and deal with the consequences as they come. And hope that Sora has not been captured.”“He probably has,” Conrad said.Kanisa frowned, but nodded. “I do hope he is all right.”“Let’s try something else,” Kindle Lou said in the silence. “Conrad!” She flung her hand up and a ball of water shot into the sky.Conrad smiled and followed it with his eyes before flinging flame at it. The water dried up with a hiss of steam.Kindle Lou smirked. “But now ...” She moved over to Falcon and put her arm around his bare waist, fingers trailing over skin. Falcon smiled and then shivered. “Falcon is on my team.” Kindle Lou turned around and flung the water high again.Again, Conrad waited, but when he threw a flame at it, the blob of water twisted in a burst of air and fell toward the ground.Kindle