Book 1: Chapter Seventeen

Six days after meeting Treya—and fighting the red-eyed men—the group reached Four Roads, a town of thirty-thousand people in the middle of the free lands, halfway between Tyrsall and Telfort.

They’d met Jak’s caravan along the way, which was heading back east carrying wheat from the beginning of the harvest season. The caravan had been accompanied by dozens of farmers hauling their own, hoping for better prices in Dalewood or Tyrsall than they could get in Four Roads. As Corec had expected, Jak hadn’t been happy with him. He’d been even less happy when Corec had explained that he wasn’t sure how long it would be before he returned.

If Corec missed a few more runs, would Jak even let him continue working the caravan? Four Roads was home, of a sort, and Jak’s caravan was the best option for getting back there regularly. If Corec lost that run, he’d either have to leave Four Roads or work his way up through another trading house, perhaps one operating out of Larso.

That would be a problem for another day.

Bringing everyone to a halt, he said, “The boarding house I stay at won’t have enough rooms for everyone. We’ll need to find an inn.”

“I’ll be at the Three Orders chapter house,” Treya said. “Are you still planning to leave tomorrow?”

“Yes, if I can do everything I need to do today. I know where the chapter house is. We can meet you there tomorrow morning, or if something changes our plans, I’ll stop by and leave a message for you tonight. If you need to reach us, I’ll try to find rooms at the Eagle’s Roost. If we’re not there, check the other inns nearby.”

She nodded at him expressionlessly. While she was friendly with the others, she never spoke to Corec unless she had to. Her rune hadn’t appeared yet, but as the itching continued, she’d made it clear that she resented him for what was happening, so he gave her the space she wanted. He still hoped to find a solution to their problem, and in the meantime, he’d asked Bobo to handle most of their interactions with other people, in case that would keep it from happening again.

Treya exchanged a quick smile with Katrin before turning her new horse to the north. For the first couple days after she’d joined them, they’d had to rig up a way for her to ride the pack mule, after they’d distributed the supplies among the other mounts. On the third day, they’d come across a farmer willing to part with a horse. Cricket was a bay gelding, even older than Rose, and had spent more time pulling a plow than being ridden, but with help from Shavala, the horse was slowly getting used to life on the road.

#

Treya finished grooming Cricket in the chapter house’s stable, trying not to scratch at her forehead while she worked—and trying to ignore what her traveling companions had told her.

In a different situation, she would have been glad to meet the group. Katrin was already becoming a friend, and Bobo, as pompous as he sometimes was, was still fun to talk to. It always took him by surprise when Treya knew more about a topic than he did. Shavala was harder to read since she didn’t speak much, but she’d been helpful with Cricket.

Corec was the problem. Looking at him through a concubine’s eyes, he was a catch—the third son of a baron, young, and somewhat attractive. Ignoring the fact that he didn’t have enough money to hire a concubine, if he’d come in for a Presentation ceremony, most of the girls in the lineup would have been hoping to be picked.

But if he was responsible for placing some sort of spell on her against her will, she didn’t think she could forgive him. And he believed he was the person responsible, though he claimed to not know how it was happening. Katrin was resigned to the situation, and Shavala didn’t seem to care one way or another, but Treya didn’t think she could be so accepting.

She could tolerate him long enough to find out what was going on, though. She was supposed to be journeying, and Four Roads had been the only destination she’d had in mind. Once she was done there, any direction was as good as another, so she’d accompany them to see if there was any way to undo the binding spell. Her own magic couldn’t help, but perhaps her friends back in Tyrsall would have a solution.

When Treya entered the front hall of the chapter house, a young girl came over and glanced at her clothing with an uncertain look.

“Can I help you…Sister?”

“Sister Treya, and yes, I’d like to speak to Mother Yewen if she’s available.”

“I’ll go ask,” the girl said, and scampered off.

“Treya?” a young woman asked as she passed through the hall. “Is that you?”

Treya looked at her closely—the plain face, the brown hair pulled back in a tight braid, the curves that were a little too generous. “Nallee?”

“Yes!”

The two girls hugged tightly. Treya hadn’t seen her friend in six years, though they’d sent letters back and forth in the beginning.

“Why are you dressed like that?” Nallee asked. “Where are your shoes?”

“Don’t you remember Shana?”

“No, but I know who she is. You’re a mystic? I always thought you’d be a concubine.”

“I’m a mystic,” Treya confirmed. “I graduated, so they set me loose. What about you?”

“Oh, gee, so I have to call you Sister Treya now?” Nallee said with a grin.

“No, don’t be silly.”

“That’s the bad thing about the Order of Concubines. I won’t be a Sister until I’m chosen, or if I give up on the Presentation ceremonies and become a teacher instead.”

Treya wasn’t sure how to respond. Nallee was a couple years older than her, probably twenty now, which was later than most concubines were chosen.

“Oh, don’t give me that look,” Nallee said. “I get it enough from the other girls.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to.”

“Besides, I’ve been talking to a nice young man. Patrig; he works at the smithy down the street. He’s finished his apprenticeship, and he’s been saving up enough money to open his own place in the village he was born, a little south of here. There isn’t any blacksmith there yet, and he’s going to take me with him when he goes. I’ll help him keep his books. He can’t afford to pay very much for me, but nobody else is interested. I’ve just always wanted to be a concubine.”

It was a problem endemic to the Three Orders. All the girls were taught from a young age how glamorous it was to be a concubine, and most considered the Order of Scholars to be a step down. Not all the girls made good concubine candidates, though, and it was sometimes hard to give up the dream. Privately, Treya thought the early lessons should place more emphasis on the mystics and the Sisters who belonged to no order at all—midwives and herbalists and others.

“I’m happy for you and your blacksmith,” Treya said with a smile. “Is he married?”

“No, but there’s a girl back home he’s been talking to.” Then Nallee grinned and added, “I think I’ll probably be with him first, so she’ll have to get used to me.”

Treya laughed. Usually men were married before they sought out a concubine, so the girls were given classes on how to adapt to living in another woman’s household. It was rare for the order to be reversed, and it sounded like Nallee intended to take advantage of it. Most blacksmiths couldn’t afford concubines, and didn’t have the prestige to attract one, but Treya wasn’t going to say anything to dampen Nallee’s enthusiasm.

The girl from earlier returned and pointed in the direction of Mother Yewen’s office. She didn’t speak, probably not wanting to interrupt a Sister and a senior student.

Treya held up a finger to indicate she’d be along shortly. “Is anyone else here that I’d know?” she asked Nallee.

“Uh, the younger girls, of course, if you remember any of them. From the ones you were friends with, I think the concubines have been chosen already, except me, and the scholars have all been given assignments elsewhere—mostly teachers in the villages. Well, Liese stayed here to take over the bookkeeping.”

“I’ll have to talk to her before I leave. And I’ll look for you again, but I should go speak with Mother Yewen now.”

They said their farewells, and Treya let the girl lead her to Mother Yewen’s office, though she remembered the way.

The gray-haired woman had always seemed ancient to Treya, but she didn’t look any older now than she had eight years ago, when they’d last met.

Mother Yewen said, “Cara, go find one of the older girls and ask her to prepare a room for Sister Treya.” She turned to Treya. “That is, if you’re staying?”

“Yes, at least for tonight. Thank you.”

After Cara had left, Yewen spoke again. “Treya, dear, it’s good to see you. Ola’s kept me apprised of your progress. She was quite annoyed when you chose the mystics—I take it from your clothing, you’ve completed the training?”

“Yes, Mother Yewen.”

“I’m proud of you, child. I was a mystic, too, for a few years, but then I broke my hip. Promise me you’ll be careful. It can be a dangerous life.”

“I’ll be careful, Mother Yewen. Is that…why you sent me to Tyrsall?” Treya had never quite forgiven Yewen for sending her away from her friends at Four Roads.

Yewen sighed. “Regardless of what you wanted to do, Tyrsall offered more options. Four Roads is the smallest chapter house in the Orders, and we had too many orphans from those raiders. Those were some bad years, until Sister Shana took care of the group here, and the knights crossed the border and eliminated the rest. There simply aren’t that many men around here looking for concubines, and I wasn’t sure that was the life you wanted for yourself. You aren’t the only one I sent away, but I sent you to Tyrsall because it offered the most opportunities. You could be a concubine to rival any other in the city, or you could choose a different path.”

Treya nodded, setting aside some of the anger from her younger years. She’d known, intellectually, that Yewen had thought she’d had Treya’s best interests at heart, but hearing the reasoning helped. “Thank you.”

“What brings you back to Four Roads?”

“I’ve started my journeying, but I didn’t have anywhere particular I needed to be, so I thought I’d come home first.”

“You’ve been to see the farm, then?” Yewen asked gently.

“I’m not sure I could find it,” Treya said, looking down at the floor, “and if I did, I’m not sure I’d recognize it. It’s been twelve years, and the cabin burned down.”

“We can look through the records to locate it, if you want. I’ve heard that all the farms that…suffered in the raids have new owners now. It might do you some good to see new life there.”

Treya shook her head. “I think it’s at least three days away. It always took Papa a long time to come back home when he had to go to town. Perhaps if I ever need to head west I could stop by, since it wouldn’t be as far out of my way, but for now, I’m traveling with a group that’s heading back east tomorrow.”

“You’ve found some friends, then?”

“Traveling companions, at least.”

Yewen smiled. “My journeying years, as few and as difficult as they were, are some of my fondest memories. The mystics remind us that our world is larger than our chapter house. Are you going to stay with the Order permanently? Ola is quite certain you could be chosen by a duke or a prince, even now. As long as you put on some shoes before the Presentation ceremony.”

Treya laughed. “You were right earlier. I don’t think a concubine’s life is the life for me.”

“I can understand that. While I’ve got you here, do you know where I can find Shana? A drake has been nesting north of town, killing sheep. It’s still young, but the mayor wants it taken care of before it learns to breathe fire. He’s planning to offer twenty-five gold to some of the mercenaries that have been coming through town if they can kill it, but I’m worried they’ll get themselves killed instead. If you know where she is, I can send a message through the pigeon service.”

“No, I’m sorry,” Treya said. “I could try to find the drake.”

“Absolutely not!” Yewen said. “Shana’s killed a drake before. I’m not sending a brand new graduate after one.”

“I didn’t mean by myself. I’m traveling with some people who could help.”

That was overstating things, since Katrin and Bobo weren’t fighters, but as far as Treya knew, if the drake was young enough, Corec with his plate armor would be well protected. Twenty-five gold would go a long way toward hiring the other wizard he’d mentioned, in case Treya’s priest friends weren’t able to help with the binding runes.

#

“You want all of it?” Daffyd asked.

“Yes,” Corec told the moneylender. “Some things have come up and I need the coin.”

Daffyd blew his breath out through his pursed lips. “That much in one day is going to put me in a tough spot. Are you sure you need it all?”

“It can’t be that bad, Daff. I’m sure the shopkeepers’ and innkeepers’ accounts are bigger than mine.”

“True, true, but I’ve got most of the deposits loaned out, and the rest is stored somewhere safe. Withdrawing your entire account will take most of what I keep on hand.”

“I can return tomorrow.”

“No, no. You’re here now. Let’s check the books.” Daffyd looked behind the counter and pulled up the ledgers he used to track deposits and withdrawals. “Let’s see…your last visit, you deposited one gold exactly, and then we have last quarter’s interest earnings of fifteen silver, three copper, bringing your total to thirty-eight gold, four silver, seven copper.”

The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

“Really?” It was more than Corec had expected, bringing him to forty-five gold total if he included the coin in his belt pouches.

“It adds up,” Daffyd replied. “I don’t think you checked the balance the last few times you dropped by.” Then, he warned, “I’ll have to give you half of that in platinum.”

Some shops didn’t take platinum, since it was hard for them to make change.

“That’s fine.”

“I hope you’ll bring your business back to me when you can. All deposits are now stored under mage locks—I bought a couple spells from a wizard who passed through, so I’m the only one who can open the safes.”

“I’ll be away from Four Roads for a while, but I’ll be back when I can,” Corec said.

After leaving the moneylender, his next stop was at the boarding house.

“Corec, dear!” Mama Wenna exclaimed. She was a portly woman in her fifties who’d opened her house to lodgers after her children had moved out and her husband had passed away. “You didn’t come with the caravan!”

“Sorry, Mama Wenna. I got delayed. How have you been?”

“Karl visited with his wife, and they brought the baby. It’s a boy!”

“Congratulations. Should I call you Grandmama Wenna now?”

“Don’t you dare! Supper tonight is stew and fresh bread. It’ll just be you and Adar. Lanz decided to move in with his lady friend, so he gave up his lodgings here.”

Corec was conflicted. Wenna made a good stew, but he hadn’t intended to be away from the inn for that long. Deciding his companions didn’t need his help to eat, he said, “That sounds good, but I’ll have to leave afterward. I’m traveling with some friends—more than you have room for—so we’re staying at an inn.”

“Friends?” Wenna asked. “That’s good to hear. You’ve never mentioned any friends before.”

“I’m still getting used to the idea,” Corec admitted. “We’re heading to Circle Bay for a while, so I don’t know when I’ll back again.”

She sighed. “Are you sure you want to keep your room? You’re hardly ever here anymore. I could put your things in storage. It’d be much cheaper.”

“I’ll keep my room, at least for now. If the caravans stop running this winter, I’ll need somewhere to live.”

Wenna nodded. “Oh, that reminds me, a letter arrived from your father a few weeks ago. I left it on your bed.”

“Thanks. I suppose I should go see what he has to say.”

In his small room, Corec looked over his belongings. His tent and extra blankets were already laid out on the bed, ready to go for when the weather turned, so he decided to take them back to the inn with him. They would need tents for everyone soon, but the prices would be better in Tyrsall.

There was a chest at the foot of the bed which held documents and extra clothing, but nothing he’d need to bring with him. A spare greatsword was propped up in the corner of the room, wrapped in cloth, and there was an extra chain shirt rolled up and stored under the bed, but he decided not to bring those, either.

After he’d delayed as long as he could, he turned to the letter that was resting on the foot of the bed. He never knew what to expect from his family. Only Branth treated him like before. Toman had done his best to ignore Corec for the past six years, and Isabel always urged him to give up magic and return home. In letters, Ansel was polite, pretending that nothing was wrong, but his politeness only extended as far as the written word.

Corec picked up the letter and broke the wax seal.

Son,

How are you? As I write this, it is early summer. The crops have been sown, and the growing season is promising so far.

Toman is a proud father again, this time a girl. Vena chose the name Adri. They are splitting their time between our home and Tammerly’s. Lord Tammerly broke his ankle falling from a horse, so Toman has taken over some of his duties.

Branth sends his regards. He continues to refuse all suggestions of marriage, and has instead found comfort with a concubine, Merisa. She was trained by the Highfell chapter house of the Three Orders, just as your mother was. She’s a delightful girl, and at her suggestion, your brother has purchased land and milch cows to start a dairy for making cheeses. It must be small, by necessity, but it’ll be the first of its kind in the valley.

It has been three years since you last visited, and Isabel misses you dearly. Priest Calwell, whom you dislike so much, is no longer in the village. I do not believe the new priest knows of your proclivities. Perhaps your next visit will be more peaceful than the last.

I assume you are still spending your time outside the kingdom. In Larso, Prince Rusol has started taking a more active role. He is hiring mercenaries, though no one seems to know why. Some of the hillfolk have answered the call, and it makes our people uncomfortable to have these strange armed men coming through the valley on their way to Telfort.

I hope your fortunes have prospered, and that you have had luck in finding work more fitting to your station. Please consider visiting home. If not for me, then for Isabel.

Your father,

Ansel, Baron of Tarwen

The letter was more conciliatory in tone than the previous one, though it was obvious that Ansel had written it at Isa’s behest. Corec knew he’d have to send a reply before he left Four Roads, and possibly a letter to Branth as well. He couldn’t go to Larso anytime soon, but perhaps he could promise a visit in the future.

#

“A drake?” Corec asked. When he’d returned to the inn, he’d found Treya there waiting for him, and the group had met up in the girls’ room to talk.

“Yes. Mother Yewen says it’s still young, but the mayor is offering twenty-five gold for someone to kill it before it’s old enough to breathe fire. That would help pay for that other wizard you told me about. Have you fought a drake before?”

“I’ve never even seen a drake.” Corec looked around the room. Shavala and Bobo were listening curiously, but Katrin looked worried.

While drakes weren’t quite as rare as their larger dragon cousins, they were still uncommon. Armsmaster Javin had killed a young one once, and he’d told a story about a squad of knights taking down an adult drake with massive, mounted crossbows, so they could remain out of range of its breath.

Javin had fought the young one by himself, and had come out of it without a scratch, so Corec was willing to consider Treya’s suggestion.

“I haven’t seen one either, but I think they’re in my book,” Shavala said. She stood and went over to her saddlebags, which were propped up against the wall. Pulling the book out, she thumbed through it until she found the page she wanted, then brought it to Bobo. “Can you read it?”

He looked it over. “Yes, this is just Old Matan. It’s still used in some places in Matagor that haven’t switched to Western. I grew up speaking both. And this is a drake.” He passed the book around so everyone could see the page.

The picture looked much like Corec had expected, a skinnier version of a dragon. Not that he’d seen a dragon, but he’d seen plenty of paintings and drawings of them. The ink in the book was smudged, but the picture was clear enough to see the scaled skin. The drake was sitting back on its thicker rear legs, with its wings spread and one of its forelegs extended to show its talons.

“What does it say about it?” Corec asked. “How big is it?”

Bobo read through the page before replying. “It says an adult can reach up to twelve feet from the nose to the base of the tail, and then another eight feet for the tail. The wingspan can reach up to fifteen feet, with the wings fully extended.”

“Twelve feet? That’s taller than an ogre. How big does it get before it learns to breathe fire?”

“It just says they get their fire when they’re nearly full grown, so I imagine it could be anywhere almost up to that size. They reach their full size at twenty years.”

“Mother Yewen said it was still small,” Treya said. “Does the book say how to fight them?”

“No,” Bobo said, “but it does say their scales harden over time. The older they are, the harder it is to hurt them, just like dragons.” He turned to Shavala. “I like this book. Can I borrow it?”

“Will you read it to me? Or teach me to read it?”

“Of course.”

Corec said, “I know a bit about fighting drakes, but I’ve never done it before. Their claws are sharp, especially when they’re young, so I’ll have to do this alone.” Facing Bobo, he added, “Unless you want to buy some armor and join me.”

“I’ve never learned how to fight. I’d just get in your way.”

“I don’t think you should do it,” Katrin said. “It sounds too dangerous.”

“If it’s young, it’s not that bad,” Corec said. “I trained with people who’ve done it. And if it lets us hire Rallus, it would be worth it.”

She frowned at him, but nodded.

“Can I help?” Shavala asked.

“I don’t know,” Corec said. “I guess it depends how hard its scales are. And you’d have to be as far away as possible. The young ones can still fly, and it might decide to come after you.”

“What if we disable its wings somehow?” Treya asked.

“How?”

“Maybe if I throw a chain around it and hold it down long enough for you to cut it?”

Corec frowned. “You’d have to get close enough for it to reach you, and if you’re holding onto the chain, it’ll knock you off your feet. Were you planning to buy some armor?”

“No. I can’t fight like that.”

“I don’t like it then,” Corec said. “I think I should go alone. I’ll buy a heavy crossbow and hit it from a distance, and if that doesn’t kill it, I’ll use my sword.”

“What about a net?” Treya suggested. “If I could get that around one of its wings, I wouldn’t have to hold on to it.”

“That might work. We’d need to find a place where you could hide out of sight until I have it distracted. And then you’d need to hide again as soon as you’re done.”

Treya looked like she was about to protest, but then nodded reluctantly.

“Would bear traps help?” Bobo asked. “If you’re trying to bring it to you, you could place them before you fire the crossbow.”

“With the talons spread out, I don’t think its feet would fit in a bear trap,” Corec said. “And if Treya and I are out there, there’s too much chance of us stepping on one.”

“True, I suppose. If I think of anything else, I’ll let you know.”

“Can you talk to it?” Corec asked Shavala. “Convince it to move somewhere without people?”

She shook her head. “I can speak to the beasts of the natural world, but drakes and dragons are different.”

“Treya, do you know where we can buy a net?” Corec asked.

“No,” she said. “I left Four Roads eight years ago, and I was too young then to be allowed around town.”

He nodded. “We’ll come find you tomorrow morning, then, and look for a net and a crossbow. Can you ask around to find out where it’s been nesting?”

“Yes.”

He took a deep breath. “All right, then. I guess we’ll try to do this tomorrow.”

After Treya had taken her leave and Bobo had returned to the other room, Corec looked at Katrin. “Would you like to go for a walk?” Mama Wenna had given him some relationship advice.

She bit her lip and glanced at Shavala, but when the elf girl shrugged, she said, “Yes, but it’s dark out.”

“Four Roads is safe, and I’ll keep my chainmail on. I usually wouldn’t bother with a sword here in town, but with those red-eyed fellows, I’ll go ahead and keep it with me, just in case.”

She nodded.

They were quiet as they left the inn and took a right on the street. It was late enough that the shops were closed, but the taverns and inns were still doing lively business. Light came through their windows and from the lamps hanging from the fronts of the buildings. The sounds of laughter, shouting, and music could be heard up and down the street.

Corec spoke first. “You don’t have to worry about the drake. We’ll scout it out first. If it looks too large or too dangerous, we just won’t do it.”

“Are you sure?” she said.

“Yes. I have no intention of getting killed by an overgrown lizard. The money will be helpful if we’re going to hire a wizard, but if we don’t get it, then we’ll keep looking.”

As he spoke, he reached for her hand. It felt warm and dry, and she curled her fingers around his.

“What do you want me to do?” she asked. “And Bobo?”

“I don’t want you anywhere near it. You can stay here.”

“But what if something happens?”

“Then I’d rather have you away from the danger. Honestly, I’d rather go alone, but if Shavala and Treya think they can help, without getting too close…”

“Are you just going after the drake because Treya wants you to?” she asked.

Corec sighed. “I owe it to her, and to you and Shavala. That doesn’t mean I’m going to do something stupid.”

“I don’t think she’ll stay this angry at you forever. She just needs time to get used to the idea.”

“She shouldn’t have to get used to the idea,” he said. As he spoke, the itch on his right arm grew worse, but he couldn’t scratch it while wearing his chainmail. “Neither should you. If I have Bobo do the talking with anyone new we run across, hopefully we can keep it from happening again.”

“Do you really think that will work? You and I didn’t talk that first night.”

“I know, but I can’t think of what else to do. I can’t stay locked up for the rest of my life.”

“We could try my blindfold idea.”

Corec laughed. “If an appropriate occasion comes up, sure.”

The street they were heading down was darker ahead of them, so they turned right to stay in the area that was better lit. They walked in companionable silence before Katrin spoke again. “What are the four roads?”

“Hmm?”

“Four Roads. You said there’s the Trade Road and the Farm Road, but what are the other two?”

“There are only the two. That’s the big joke around here, and they never get tired of telling it. The Trade Road goes east and west and the Farm Road goes north and south. The town was built on the crossroads, so from the point of view of the residents, there are major roads heading in four directions out of town. Well, three now—you don’t want to go too far south down the Farm Road anymore. There’s a dragon that way.”

“A dragon?” she asked. “Why doesn’t someone do something about it?”

“Because it’s full grown and it’s a real dragon, not a drake. There’s nobody in the free lands who could stop it. It took over a keep at a toll road crossing, and everyone who lived there had to abandon the area. The older folks say Four Roads doubled in size when all the refugees showed up. That was decades ago.”

“Couldn’t someone else kill it or drive it off? Larso?”

“I don’t know. Maybe if all the knights assembled and brought their siege equipment, but I’m not sure that would be enough. Besides, Larso has no reason to help the free lands. People live here because they don’t want to be beholden to any of the kingdoms. The only reason I can think of that would interest the king is that it’s a more convenient trade route to southern Larso, but they’re more likely to build a new road than fight a dragon.”

“Oh.”

Corec took a deep breath. “There are some things I should tell you. I was a knight once. A trainee, anyway, with the Knights of Pallisur. They kicked me out when they found out about the magic.”

“Oh,” she said again. “I’d wondered how you knew so much about them. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Well, I don’t like to talk about being kicked out. And…I don’t talk about my family, either. I lied that first night when you asked about the crest on my armor. My father’s a baron. It’s not a big deal, because I’m illegitimate and I have two older brothers, but I’m sorry for lying.”

“I figured it was something like that,” Katrin admitted, “and Treya mentioned your family, too. I can understand not wanting to talk about it.”

They turned right again and were quiet for a moment before Corec said, “Have you thought any more about staying here?”

“If I can find a teacher, maybe, but you’re still planning to work as a caravan guard, right? How often are you gone?”

He hadn’t considered that. “A lot. They sometimes shut the caravans down in the winter, or if the roads get too muddy, but other than that, I’m traveling most of the time. I was thinking of switching to courier work, so I wouldn’t have to be gone as much, but to get enough jobs, I’d have to move to Tyrsall. And if I have to live in Tyrsall anyway, maybe I could do something that doesn’t require traveling. I’m sure I could get work as a bodyguard, or maybe with the constabulary.” He laughed. “Or Deshin suggested I could spend ten years as a wizard’s apprentice.”

Katrin stopped walking and tugged on his hand. He turned to face her.

“If you’re really thinking of living in Tyrsall,” she said, “it would be a lot easier for me to find a teacher there. The bardic school won’t take me—I already asked—but maybe there’s a bard who’d be willing to teach me outside the school.”

Corec stared into her green eyes as he thought. His resistance to living in Tyrsall had been mostly due to its size, but over the years, he’d grown used to it. And constantly traveling back and forth was growing tedious. It might not be a bad thing to stay in one place for a while. Perhaps he could ask Varsin Senshall if anyone in the family needed a bodyguard.

He smiled at her. “Tyrsall, then, after we figure out the runes and get your brother out of prison?”

“Tyrsall. After Circle Bay, I’ll come back with you.”

He cupped her cheek with one hand and bent down to kiss her, her lips meeting his as she tilted her head back.

#

After her walk with Corec, Katrin returned to her room. They hadn’t spoken much after the kiss, simply enjoying the time to themselves.

Shavala looked up from where she’d been mending one of her tunics. “Are you going to stay in his bed tonight?”

“What? No! Why would I do that?”

The elf girl cocked her head to the side. “You’ve never…?”

“Yes, I have, but…” Katrin knew she was blushing as red as her hair. “I just…we’re still getting to know each other.”

“You’ve known him for over a month.”

“I know, but I spent a lot of that time hating him, so I’m still getting used to the idea.” Katrin had only been to bed with two other men in her life, and both had been mistakes. She’d decided to be more cautious this time. “I’m sorry—I know you like him, too.”

“Why are you sorry about that? Though if I’d known you were going to take this long, I wouldn’t have waited for you to go first.”

“Go…first?”

“You’ve known him longer, so it’s only right.”

“But what do you mean, first? I’m planning to come back with him after Circle Bay, not to end things between us.”

Shavala looked at her curiously. “Humans don’t share their lovers with others?”

“No! I mean, not usually. Sometimes a man has a wife and a concubine.”

“A concubine like Treya?”

“Treya’s not a concubine. She’s just trained by them, I guess. I don’t really understand it, either.”

Shavala said, “When I found a lover I liked, I shared him with a friend back in Terrillia. He shared me with one of his friends, too.”

Katrin felt her jaw dropping. “You slept with his friend?”

“No, we didn’t sleep. I just had sex with him. How do humans find the right partner if they don’t try others?”

“We do, just…not all at the same time. What happened with your…your lover?”

“He was fun to play with, but we weren’t looking to settle down. There’s too much I want to do still.”

“Are you going to go back to him after you’re done with your travels?”

“No, I don’t think so. Besides, my friend shared him with another friend, who’s still with him.”

Katrin shook her head, laughing. “So, you share lovers until, what, you get married?”

“Sometimes after. My parents are still close with some of their friends. My brother and his wife decided not to share, though.”

“Humans usually only see one person at a time. If things don’t work out, then they might seek another. And they don’t always sleep together right away—I mean, have sex.”

Shavala nodded. “So, if you stay with him after Circle Bay, the two of you won’t share each other with anyone else?”

She didn’t sound particularly disappointed, but Katrin had seen the looks she gave Corec, and the looks he gave her.

“I…I don’t know. Let me think about that, all right?”