Black Steel: A Tale of Fire and Mind

"I still think we should wait a few days. Your knee needs the rest." Reggie said as he helped her up the horse.

"I don’t have a single day to spare." Seraphina repeated. While she had been unconscious after he’d set her knee, he took the initiative to make a sort of leather sleeve for her leg for riding. He tied to the side of the saddle he’d provided so she needn’t make any effort to keep herself straight.

"I know the land. We’ll advance faster than your friends. We won’t be that far behind." He came on her left and strapped the makeshift supporter in place. "Steady?"

She nodded and took the reins. "Don't you think that's a little presumptuous? I'm telling you, they know the land as well."

"If you don’t know where Embersummit is, you’re not from here, so all they know are maps. I’ve walked these paths. I’m sure you can understand the difference." Once again his words rang true, much to Seraphina’s dismay.

Even after the first couple of jobs she, Emmery and Maxwell accepted and completed, their trips around the south imprinted the landscape in her mind. They didn’t need the maps to move about after a couple of cycles. The landmarks were enough to navigate, but also find the shortest route to their destination.

She would’ve liked to have a choice on the matter, but it was a good thing she had to let him tag along. "Still. We only have one horse. That’ll slow us down."

"We can get mine. It’s not too far from here.” He said and fixed the last straps on their provisions. “Either I ride with you or walk beside you till an old friend. If we ride, we can make it there by the end of the day." He replied and stood back to give her space. He never got close to her unless necessary. "What’s it going to be?"

"Get on. We need to hurry." Seraphina practically ordered and he followed through. They heard a howl and she turned to see the curious stare of Raine as she sat on her hind legs. "What about the wolf?"

"I’ve already told her I’m gonna be gone for a while. Depends on her, I guess." He replied and put his arms around her. "Shall we?"

They were off and the wolfess followed close behind. Seraphina didn’t push the mare to her limits, keeping a steady average pace. She was lucky the horse she’d stolen was at its prime and could endure the speed for a long distance. Like he’d predicted, they reached a small farm before nightfall, a few hundred paces after they crossed the main road.

The old friend of Reggie’s was actually a former soldier of the empire, something Reggie withheld until they were entering his farm. He obviously expected some sort of horrified reaction to come from her, but all Seraphina did was plan ways to kill both of them, should the need arise.

"They let Tom go when they had to cut off his leg. He loves the empire and its ways, so I’d suggest you don’t say anything that might spark conflict." Reggie said and though he couldn’t see it, Seraphina rolled her eyes.

"You forget who I am. I’ve been inside numerous cities under the very nose of your empire and haven’t been made. I think I can handle one man." She said full of pride. "Just so you know, if you want me to trust you, bringing me to a former officer does anything but help."

"We’re only here for my horse. After I withdrew from society, I let him have it till I had need of it. Now’s that time." He said while she was leading them to the house. Raine didn’t follow them out in the open, but Seraphina thought she could feel the wolf’s eyes on them.

As they crossed the farm fields, the workers all waved at Reggie, who returned the gesture. Seraphina kept on a fake smile and let him take the reins, keeping her hands on top of his. He didn’t question it and she didn’t have the time to explain since they fast approached the porch where a man, must’ve been her father’s age, sat on a rocking chair. His lower half was covered by blanket, an obvious attempt to hide the missing limb.

"Thomas, my friend, hello!" Reggie said and used the standard clenched fist to the heart greeting when he got off the horse carefully.

"Twice in one season, Reginald? And the second time with lavishing company no less. Isn’t that something?" Tom asked eyeing Seraphina. She thought she saw his tongue, dart out and wet his lips. It didn’t take her more than mere seconds to make the connection between that man and the commander she’d taken incredible pleasure dealing with. Both were disgusting.

"It’s the dire need, Tom." Reggie replied helping Seraphina dismount as well. She leaned into him a lot more than she needed to, but he seemed to take the hint and held her close, never allowing her to step on her left foot. "Let me make the introductions. Leila, this is my former lieutenant I told you about. Thomas, this is Leila."

“At least he didn’t say my name...”

"Very pleased to meet you, milady. I would bow to your beauty, but my legs fail me, I’m afraid." Tom said respectfully, whatever advance he had in mind, cut by Reggie’s arm around her.

"If only my own legs weren’t failing me, lieutenant…" She thought behind the smile. "Pleased to make your acquaintance, sir."

Reggie helped her into one of the chairs and kissed her head, playing along. "I’ll go inside to greet the family. Won’t be long."

"Take your time, we’ll be fine here, won’t we, my dear?" He asked and she nodded sweetly. Reggie went in and Tom returned his gaze to her. "So my best marksman’s finally hooked?"

"I would hope so. I have a big problem otherwise." She knew perfectly well how to play the infatuated damsel. She hated it, but knew how to do it.

"Don’t worry, lass. This one’s as loyal as they go." He said with an easy smile. It made her sick. "What happened to your leg, if I may ask?"

"She fell off the horse." Reggie said, reappearing with a toddler on his shoulders. Upon seeing Seraphina, the child wanted to hide in Tom’s arms. "That mare’s a wild one, haven't had the chance to break her in. I need to have mine back until then. We’re on our way to Seraphina’s family in Yoville."

"Going to ask her hand in marriage in full custom?" Tom asked surprised. The little girl in his arms squirmed and he let down. Moments later she’d darted back inside in a hurry.

"I wouldn’t be a man of honour if I didn’t." Reggie replied.

"Why are you so surprised, Tom?" Seraphina asked, her curiosity getting the best of her.

Reggie glared at Tom, who sat completely unaffected. "I’ll have you know, my dear, that your betrothed here, in our time of service, always told us he would never settle down. That family life wasn’t for him."

"I also said I’d serve till the day I die. Things change." Reggie said and it was the first time she’d seen him fidget uncomfortably.

"Of course. Life and its circumstances… No matter, the horse is yours obviously. We keep it in the stables with ours.” Reggie stepped closer to Seraphina, ready to leave, until Tom touched his arm. “It’s getting late. How about I offer you a plate of food to fill your stomachs and a warm bed to rest your tired bodies? We have tender streaks tonight." Tom suggested.

Reggie looked to Seraphina, giving her the option. It would seem suspicious if they rejected the offer, but Tom’s past as a lieutenant of the Emperor’s army created a dire possibility. The army might’ve stopped by. What if the lustful look in his eyes hadn’t been caused by Seraphina’s appearance, but by the prospect of serving his beloved empire once more?

It took her mind only moments to make all those connections. "Are you really asking me to choose between a bed and the cold, hard ground?" She asked with a giggle.

"The lady has spoken." Reggie replied shaking his head.

"Excellent." Tom said and clapped.

◊◊◊

During dinner, Tom introduced Seraphina to his entire family. Unlike she falsely deducted, the toddler Reggie had carried outside wasn’t Tom’s daughter, but rather his niece. He had no wife or children of his own, but his good salary had allowed him to provide the farm to his sister and her family. After his compulsory discharge, he'd come to stay with them.

She could recollect no names, nor did she try to learn them. The dinner was an annoying distraction. She tried to watch for any wrong movements on their side, but had thankfully come up empty.

After the meal, like one of Tom’s older nieces requested, Reggie carried Seraphina to their appointed room in his arms as she held on his neck. When he laid her on the bed, he bid the girl goodnight before turning to find a menacing assassin looking at him.

"Before you say anything, let me explain." He whispered. He held his hands up in front of him as he approached the bed.

Seraphina only followed him with her eyes. Her temper was stretched to her limits. While she made serious effort to neither pounce on him, no matter how futile, nor call fire to herself, the candle in the room did flicker slightly. A trained eye would catch the pure sign of a Fire Elemental being around, but Reggie obviously wasn’t one of those.

"I’d suggest you start doing that immediately…" She whispered back calmly. Or that was how it seemed, because inside she was boiling.

"We needed the horse. I can’t afford a horse and provisions for both of us on this journey, so I made a calculated move." He explained and before he realized what was happening, she punched him with her left fist right in the ribcage. She couldn’t leave visible marks. His breath caught at the blow.

She grabbed his chin so she could tilt it up. "That was a calculated move. I had all the information, I’m left-handed, I knew how to strike, where to strike, what the effect would be, and I acted. You just assumed.” She said and took a deep breath. “If you’d talked to me, you’d know my tattoo can get us what we need free of charge. But no, you chose to bring us to a loyal imperial. What if while passing through, the army sent someone to him so he can keep an eye out for a woman of my description? The scar on my face is hardly missable! And the leg, your friend was so so interested in the leg. Think he can forget something like that?"

His eyes went wide, even as he tried to regain his breath. "I didn’t… think… of that." He said between coughs.

"Of course not. That’s why we evade you. We calculate every possibility before we act and yes, sometimes our gambles bring our death, but that's only because we can't be perfect every single time. You just count on numbers. Ugh!" She said and pushed him back. "Take many short breaths and you’ll be fine. I didn’t hit you that hard."

He did for several minutes and then sat back up. "I don’t think they came by. He seemed normal to me."

"Either he’s a good liar or you’re right. Whatever the case, I’m not taking chances. Get some sleep and I’ll watch." She offered and scooted over to side.

"That’s hardly fair. I screwed up, I should stay up." Reggie said quickly.

"I can knock you out if you’d prefer." She suggested with a shrug and made a fist as he moved away from her slowly, but lied down on the floor nonetheless.

He rubbed his ribcage with a grunt. "Are you always like that?"

"Pretty much, Reginald." She confirmed. "Get up on the bed. These people don’t seem like the type to stay out of the room and we’re supposed to be a couple. You can’t sleep on the floor."

Once again she got her way.

Morning came with no intrusions from the imperials. After a short breakfast, Reggie and Seraphina got on their horses and continued their journey. Every now and then, she checked behind them for pursuers, but when none came even after they’d met up with Raine deep in the forest, she finally relaxed.

"See the opening? When we get out of the woods, we’ll be in the land that stood Talonpass. You can see for yourself there’s nothing." He told her as they rode close together.

"Already? That was quick." Seraphina commented. "Then again, I don’t know how long I was in that wagon…"

"Where did you get caught anyway?" He asked curiously.

"West of lake Cloverdale." She answered, clenching her fists at the memory of her failure. "I let my hatred get the best of me."

Reggie didn’t add anything else. He’d seen her reaction and decided to respect her privacy. But as they trotted along the small pathway, the low hanging branches making it impossible to ride swiftly, Raine stopped them with a growl. Both Seraphina’s and Reggie’s hands went to their weapons, sword and bow respectively. Raine walked ahead of them, her fur standing up in alarm, her entire body crouched low, ready to pounce.

And pounce, she did. Without too much effort, she pinned down an old man gathering berries. The man screamed and thrashed in terror while the grey wolfess was growling over him.

"Rollie..?" Reggie called surprised. "Raine, get off him." He whistled and as she followed the command, he slid off the horse, sheathing his bow and helping up the old man. "Rollie, how…? How are you alive?"

"Reggie!? Oh good spirits, thank you. I thought I’d die, yes I did." Rollie uttered between deep breaths.

"I’m sorry about that. We thought you were a soldier." Reggie apologized. Seraphina decided to stay out of that conversation. The beggar and his gibberish were hard to follow. Especially when she wasn’t that interested.

"Soldier, me? No, no. Rollie would never do that. Never serve him." Rollie said scrunching his face.

"Yeah, I know. Rollie hates the empire.” Reggie said and brushed the dirt off the beggar’s ragged clothes.

“Yes, yes, Rollie hates the empire.” The beggar confirmed nodding uncontrollably.

“How are you alive, my good man?" Reggie asked once more. “I didn’t see you when I came in the spring.”

It seemed to focus the beggar. "I was in the woods when they came, like now, berries I wanted and gathered. Then I saw them and hid. Oh, Reggie, it was terrible, yes. So much screaming."

Seraphina figured what he heard was the army wiping off the entire population of the village. Terrible sound indeed. But another thought came to her. "Rollie, hi. Can I ask you a question?"

Only then did he acknowledge her presence as his eyes shifted to her. Her tone was sweet so she didn’t scare him. No such luck when he saw her sword. "Question? Answers, answers, that’s all he wants. No, no. I answer not his questions."

"The sword doesn’t mean she’s with them, Rollie. I had one too remember?". Reggie told him, making him seize the trembling.

He still shook his head though. "But Reggie got rid of his mark. She keeps it, yes, she does."

"For protection, Rollie. She escaped the army with it. She’s not his pawn. In fact, anything you tell her will help against him. I promise." Reggie tried to reassure him, even though he didn’t know what she had in mind.

"Not with him? You’re sure?" Rollie asked Reggie, who nodded. "I trust Reggie, yes I do, what do you want of me?"

"A simple answer. Has anyone been here the past few weeks?" She asked, her heart racing as she waited for the answer.

But it didn’t come. Instead, his eyes narrowed at her and he turned to Reggie. "Liar! She’s a liar. He sent her, I’m telling you."

She was beyond offended. The thought someone considered an agent for the empire was disturbing, but before she could say anything, Reggie spoke. "Rollie, she’s really not. Do you see her leg? They broke it. Why would they do it to one of their own?"

He looked troubled at that. "Schemes. Sly schemes, yes. His specialty." He nodded to himself. "She’s asking what he desperately wants."

Seraphina had enough. In an attempt to calm herself, she took a deep breath, her hands sweating with the effort. That old man knew something and was holding back. "I’ve been through enough already, beggar. It’s a simple question. Who has been in these paths? Simple question, simple answer. Tell me now!"

Both men looked at her with wide eyes. Reggie was the one to speak, while Rollie observed her in awe. "Um… Seraphina, you…"

"She’s a fiery spirit!" He exclaimed and jumped up and down excitedly. Only then did she notice that trying calm herself down she called on small bits of fire in her hand. She extinguished it immediately, but the damage had already been done. "You’d never serve him. No, not you. Your kind hates him. Yes, you can help the gifted. Protect her."

"Answer my question, old man." She said, ignoring the rest of his comments.

"Yes, fiery one, of course. A pair came on their horses. A gifted and her mate. You need to help them, yes. She needs your skills." Rollie continued with his nonsense.

"A pair? Do you know their names?" Seraphina asked, her hopes redoubled.

"Yes, yes, Rollie doesn’t forget. Vivienne was the gifted. Fitting name for Life. Maxwell was the mate. I thought he was his messenger at first, but the gifted said he was hers. He protected her." Rollie answered.

A sense of relief overcame her. So Maxwell didn’t act out as she feared. "When was that?"

"Days ago, maybe ten? They listened and left for Briohall like I said. She’ll kill him, yes, she will." He stated dancing around excitedly.

Seraphina returned her gaze to Reggie. "Ten days. Do you think we can catch up to them?"

"If they’ve changed course…I’m not sure. I don’t know where that is." He replied sadly.

Rollie rolled back into their conversation. "West in the Wastes, of course. Quick, go, you need to help them. First north to avoid the capital, then west, west, west. Go, go."

He rushed them on, eager to see them go after the "gifted", not that Seraphina minded in the least. The suspicions surrounding Talonpass and Vivienne’s unique abilities had proved correct. Along with Seraphina’s theory of the Emperor fearing those abilities. If that lunatic knew about Vivienne’s power, it had been observed in this land before, but it had also reached the ruler’s ears.

While out in the open, Reggie left Seraphina to her thoughts, but when they were back under the protection of the trees later in the day, he couldn’t hold out any longer. "You’re an Elemental…"

"You’re a man." Seraphina replied in a similar manner.

"I suspected it last night, but I’m still surprised." He continued. "The candles flickered when you punched me. It... wasn’t normal."

"How many have you murdered?" She asked calmly. With him knowing, she could once again play with fire, an act that had always been stress relieving from the moment she manifested an affiliation to her element.

"None I know of. I swear. My servitude isn’t the reason I know of your kind." He said bringing his fist to his heart.

"You should stop with that gesture. It only pisses me off." She warned with a glare. "How do you know about us then?"

He considered his words for a while. The topic seemed to make him as uncomfortable as their talk with Tom the previous day. "My brother. He fell for one. Water."

That took her by surprise. "She got made, I presume?"

"Not exactly. She was also one of you, a rebel. Sent to Sabaria on a mission, where she met my brother. He was a blacksmith in the city, one of the best. But he followed her whenever she changed stations. Ten winters, two children and many moves later, your people needed her assistance in the capital. Frederick built them the cabin so their family could be away from danger yet within reasonable distance, but it did little to help. They caught Deina. The officers somehow found out about the cabin and went to kill Frederick and their children. That’s when I quit the army." Reggie recalled as he rubbed his hands together.

“Did you see their bodies?” She asked. If he hadn’t, there was hope. Like with her parents.

“Yes. They... called me in to see them.”

"I’m sorry for your loss." She said genuinely. But something didn’t add up. "When they find our kind… they wipe out all family members. How are you still here? Alive, well and free?"

"I got questioned. When they saw I knew nothing about Deina’s double life, they let me go. I was one of them. They had no reason not to believe me. Despite my grief." Reggie replied.

But Seraphina knew better than that. She knew about the power someone in the capital held, the same Vivienne had. "You just gave me all this background information. How were you able to convince them of the lie?"

"It was no lie. I knew nothing about it. Frederick and Deina kept me out of that secret. After my interrogation, the officers told me of her dealings, in an attempt to make me understand their decision to eliminate her. A rebel, threatening our Emperor in his own home. They told me she used my brother, their children, and killed them before trying to infiltrate the Keep. When I was leaving the capital, one of your agents approached me and explained the true reason behind her murder. The part of being an Elemental. Told everything my superior said were lies. Deina was only there to aid an innocent's escape" Reggie explained further.

"So they don’t teach you of our kind? At all?" Seraphina asked intrigued.

He got mad then. "I just told you I lost my family and all you do is ask what interests you?"

She gawked at him. "I know from personal experience no words, no matter how comforting, can be of any help. So I won’t waste my breath. Instead, I tried to make you focus on something else. It usually helps me."

Whatever retort he prepared, her answer stopped him. With a sigh, he responded. "Maybe they tell high ranked men, but no, not the soldiers."

She nodded, but didn’t inquire anything further. "I think we should make camp for the night. My muscles can’t handle any more riding for a while."

"As you wish. Think this is a good spot?" Reggie sought her advice.

"As good as any. There doesn’t seem to be anything other than trees for a long while." She replied. “What do you think?”

“There’s forest both ways. We’re good.”

They stopped their horses and he helped her off hers. He helped her limp to a fallen log where she could sit, while he unloaded some things, rolls for them to sleep on, some provisions Tom had given them and cooking supplies from his cabin. He gathered wood to make a campfire, but when he had trouble lighting it, a flick of Seraphina’s wrist, though the gesture was unnecessary, gave them a warm fire to comfort them.

As Reggie made their dinner, Seraphina tried to imagine how she’d manage to reach Maxwell and Vivienne without his help. If he hadn’t insisted to tag along, even though he made certain mistakes, she wouldn’t catch up to them on her own. He had his uses.

"Any idea how we get to this Briohall?" Reggie asked handing her a tray of cooked meat and vegetables.

"We’re not going there." Seraphina replied taking a bite.

"Rollie said that’s where they were headed." He said confused.

"Rollie’s mad. I know them. If they did listen to him and want to go there, first they’ll stop by Embersummit. They need to." Seraphina explained.

"How can you be sure? Do you know them that well?" Reggie asked.

Seraphina rolled her eyes at his disbelief. "Maxwell is my baby brother, my twin. Vivienne is his girlfriend. What do you think?"

He opened and closed his mouth a couple of times before finally speaking out. "Okay. So family. Assuming you’re right and they follow the best course according to their maps, with ten days ahead of us, I think we can reach Norfolk at the same time or earlier.” He made a circle on the dirt with his foot.

"What’s the catch?" She asked immediately catching on the oddity of his tone.

"We’ll have to cross a pass the locals say is full of thieves." He answered. “From here they’d have to go around, they wouldn’t risk it."

Seraphina considered the information. "Well, it’s destroyed anyway, so I suppose it doesn’t matter if I tell you. Our home base, Bandville, was supposed to be deep within a woodland full of scum. Murderers, thieves, you name it. At least to the public. Are you sure this dangerous pass is the real deal and not one of those things?"

"I don’t know, Seraphina. I honestly don’t. If I was alone, I wouldn’t hesitate to cross it, but with you hurt and Raine following, I’m not sure." He replied uncertain.

"How long is this pass?" Seraphina asked, gathering more information. "And how long till we get there?"

"We can cross the pass a day, I believe, maybe less if we don’t stop. To reach it we need about four days. Going around it, as your brother and his girlfriend probably did, would add two fortnights to the journey." He told her seriously. "Then we can be in Norfolk before summer is out, if we hurry."

"Assuming they don’t rely on Vivienne’s reading to pass through…" She thought troubled. She yawned wide, her body telling her it needed rest. "Wake me up in a few hours so you can sleep too."

He didn’t bother arguing with her. He seemed to have learned by then that she would get her way. "Yes, ma’am. As you wish."

Seraphina settled down to sleep, more yawns coming in the process, she didn’t stiffle them. As she was lying down, about to fall asleep, she felt the wolfess sprawl out next to her, right up against her. Instead of turning and pushing the animal away, she reached back and lightly rubbed Raine’s belly before she hugged herself and fell asleep.

◊◊◊

When he woke her up, she found that Reggie had made her a crutch so she could move about, say to relieve herself or bathe in any river they’d find, and wouldn’t feel completely useless. He seemed to know how hurt her pride had been due to her serious injury.

They continued with their journey to Lotham Narrows, the pass Reggie had mentioned, their conversations limited, mainly on her part. She didn’t trust him to avoid making mistakes again. It’d taken her a long time to bring her mind in a position where there was a filter on all information about the League, though rarely stored as a whole. She could consider, calculate and then act accordingly. She didn’t expect him to master such control overnight.

When they reached the narrows, Seraphina understood why Reggie was reluctant to take that road. The pass, as its name indicated, was narrow, so much so that two horses couldn’t ride side by side with ease.

Reggie’s estimate would bring them on the other side in less than a day if they didn’t stop, so they made their last camp close to the mouth of the pass, obscured by the trees. As the sun started rising over the mountains to the east, so did they, approaching the entrance to the narrows.

There, Seraphina stopped them. "What’s wrong?" Reggie asked worried.

"How good are you with the sword?" She asked him.

He was puzzled. "Pretty good, I believe."

"You don’t sound too confident, but it’ll have to do. Give me the bow and take the sword." She ordered.

But he was hesitant. "Can’t you handle the blade? Need two hands for the bow and your shoulder’s still weak."

"I told you before. I’m left-handed. I can draw the string easily. I only need my right to aim and stabilize, somethings my muscles are good for." She explained, annoyed he took so long to comply.

"What about your aim? I’m excellent." He said proudly.

But Seraphina wasn’t amazed and it didn’t affect her in any way he would’ve liked. She didn’t even deem him worthy of answering. "Just give me the bow, Reginald."

With a sigh, he conceded, handing over his bow and quiver, and she put them over her shoulder. She drew the string a couple of times to get a feel of the bow and when she was ready, Reggie sent Raine in first riding swiftly a short distance behind her. Seraphina was in the rear.

For hours they rode behind the wolfess, who stopped them a few times to sniff the air, with no trouble. The pass started to widen, though Seraphina could see the touch of man had something to do with it rather than nature.

She whistled and both her companions cut down on their speed, letting her catch up. Raine, who’d spent all night sleeping against Seraphina, went to sit next to her horse. "People widened the path."

"I can see that too. I told you there were thieves in here." Reggie replied looking around anxiously.

"Not your regular thieves…" Seraphina trailed off and sniffed the air. It had to be there, the petrichor. Those marks…

Suddenly Reggie was thrown off his horse by a rock crashing against his left side. Immediately a woman went over him and headlocked him, holding a knife to his throat. Raine would’ve pounced, but Seraphina’s whistle stopped her. An arrow was locked on the attacker.

"Drop it or I slit his throat." The woman said through gritted teeth.

"Drop the knife or you’ll be seeing through one eye. Don’t make me hurt you." Seraphina replied impassively.

"I will bow to no imperial scum!" The woman yelled back, tightening her grip on Reggie’s neck.

"Don’t insult me, basher. Do I look like an imperial to you?" She asked as fire crept up along her bare arms and nestling on the steel tip of the knocked arrow.

The attacker didn’t falter, despite Seraphina’s show. A staring contest began between the two women, which soon became tiresome for Seraphina, who also had more to lose in that case. Just before she unleashed her arrow, a loud roar echoed, and the appearance of another woman followed, behind moving boulders. That woman was calm, calculated. She’d been around the land.

"Pebble, stay your blade." The older woman, maybe in her forties, ordered and their attacker relaxed her grip on Reggie’s neck. They all waited unmoving, till Pebble sheathed her knife. Then the older woman turned to Seraphina. "Welcome, scorcher. I am Slate, the matriarch of my family within the crevices of this gorge."

Despite the cordial tone, Seraphina didn’t stop aiming at the girl behind Reggie. "Tell her to step away from him." In her peripheral vision, she noticed a gesture from the matriarch before Pebble let Reggie go. He rushed to his horse which had stormed off backwards a yard or two.

"I complied to your request, will you lower your weapon now?" Slate asked politely.

Pebble scoffed then and uttered, barely audibly. "As if she could hit me."

Had she not spoken, Seraphina would’ve lowered the bow, but as it was, she didn’t. Instead she aimed and let it fly. The arrow grazed the girl’s neck, also burning her, causing her to gasp, clutching her neck in surprise. "Assumptions get you killed. Learn the facts first." Seraphina simply stated and sheathed the bow.

"Excellent display of your skills. Though you hardly needed to make your point, the juvenile will be dealt with accordingly." Slate remarked with a nod.

"It’s of no interest to me, but I don’t accept such behavior from younglings with high aspirations." Seraphina looking at the girl. "Act like this among imperials and you'll die. Be humble and appear small, and they'll never take interest in you." She said checking at Reggie over her shoulder and turned to Slate. "We only need to pass through. Let us and we won’t bother you."

"I’m afraid I can’t do that. We stay here to monitor Lotham Narrows. We won’t hurt a fellow Elemental, but we cannot let you go either." Slate said showing her true colours. “You’ll... have to remain here until we learn of your allegiance.”

"Then we’re at a predicament. We have business to attend to." Seraphina said as Reggie brought his horse level with hers. "Would this help change your mind?" She asked and wiped her hair back, turning her head so Slate could check behind her ear. She needed a haircut badly.

Slate walked along the slopes with the ease of a basher and observed the tattoo. "A Shepherd? Why do I not know you then? All roamers get brought here by their mentors so we know to let them be."

"That is a very complicated and confidential matter. Bandville is my home." Seraphina slyly said to gauge the older woman’s reaction.

Recognition was not what she expected. "Get inside everyone. Now!" She waited, till the vibrations from the moving boulders stopped. Even Seraphina could feel them. "What are you doing here, I ask again? You’re too young to be in the council or retired."

"The Emperor sent his army to destroy our base in the south. My partner and I were told of Embersummit by a veteran we went to warn. Perhaps the name of Elliot rings a bell?" Seraphina answered truthfully, even in Reggie’s presence.

"I see. Why does your partner wield an imperial’s sword?" Slate interrogated her.

Reggie went to talk, but Seraphina held up her hand. "It’s not his. I stole it along with this mare when I escaped the army. They thought a broken knee could incapacitate me. They were wrong."

"Impressive." The matriarch commented clapping. "I see that it is of great importance you get back to your task. The mountain must know at once. You can camp in the pass if you will, but unfortunately I can spare no provisions."

"You have our gratitude nonetheless." Seraphina said and inclined her head at Slate in resect. She tapped Nightlight’s stomach with her foot and she was off. Reggie and Raine followed after her.

"May the Elements guard and guide you." Slate wished after them.

They didn’t camp in the pass. They were in too much hurry to put a distance between them and the Elementals of the Narrows. Seraphina knew very well that their words were not safe surrounded by stone.

"I guess they weren’t thieves…" Reggie breathed when they were far away enough that Seraphina relaxed.

"Hiding in plain sight is our specialty." She simply said fidgeting in her saddle.

"Maybe we should stop for a while." Reggie suggested and she nodded. "You didn’t tell her about your brother and his girlfriend. And you lied to her."

"Everything I said was true. I didn’t lie. I hid some details in the truth I spoke." She corrected.

His eyebrows shot up at that. "Have you ever done that with me?"

"Maybe." She answered with a wink.

In Dawnfield, in the top of the tower that held his chambers, Damien was enjoying the young women he’d summoned to his bed, when he heard the echoes of an army man’s mind, not his commander, as he requested an audience with the Emperor from the servants.

It was a rare occurrence, since it was usually Damien to ask for his subjects over the years, not the other way around, and so he threw back the covers before putting on a robe and leaving the room. The women, used to their role after a long time living that way, neither left his bed nor put their clothes on. Their complete surrender always made him sigh.

His naked feet moved across the marble floors soundlessly, but his presence filled the rooms he passed. His every servant stopped with their chores and bowed after him. Halfway to the throne room, he met his steward, who wasn’t surprised to find his master already knew someone needed to speak to him. Instead, with a quick bow of his own, he walked ahead of Damien, opening the doors.

The Emperor’s silver, silk robes flowed leisurely behind him as he walked to his throne, his army man of yet unknown rank already knelt in front of it, awaiting his master. "My liege, you have my sincere apologies for…"

Damien cut the man off by raising his hand. No need for trifle words. "What is it? Where is your commander?"

"Dead, my liege.” He said never rising from his knees.

“Hmm... go on then, commander. Report.” Damien said acknowledging his new rank.

The new commander nodded and lifted his head. “Your armies returned during the night. I have all reports and I believe you would like to know."

"And...?" The Emperor said. He was far more interested in his minion’s mind than words, but listened nonetheless.

"I am glad to inform you we were successful in what you asked. We eliminated both targets. The village of Talonpass and its people, we executed them as instructed. None remain alive.” He paused with trembling hands and straightened a piece of paper he was holding. “You were right, of course, about the woodland in the south, my liege. After surrounding it with our numbers, we burned it from outside in, reaching the resistance’s hideout. None lives."

Damien looked closely, knowing there was more to it. His steward spoke then. "I doubt you requested an audience with his Imperial Majesty only to confirm you followed his orders. Speak, commander."

The man at the bottom of the throne’s steps trembled. "There were two discrepancies…" He trailed off gulping. His mind filled with terrible ways of his death.

Unknowingly, the more he stalled, the closer he got to those ways. "I’m losing my patience, commander."

"My apologies. The first problem comes with your orders on the rebel hideout. The commander took a couple of women hostage, against your orders. For his own pleasure. Once he was done with them, he gifted away to the Viscounts of Oremart. The Viscounts, of course, hung the women upon hearing your orders." The commander revealed and it was the steward’s turn to tremble. The steward had appointed the old commander. He knew he was in trouble then.

"Finish your tale." Damien said simply. The glint in his eyes scared both men then.

"After leaving Oremart, there was an infiltration. No one can date back when it happened and we only know because the infiltrator managed to assassinate our commander, but ended up getting caught." The commander resumed.

"I would like to see him. Bring him to me." Damien said. He didn’t feel like taking a chance like last time with the boy. He needed to know the dust had settled.

"It was a woman, your Imperial Majesty, and… she escaped." The commander replied frightened. Damien gritted his teeth, felt his veins appear on his forehead from the pressure, as he got up and moved down the steps. "The next in the chain of command ordered her knee shattered so she wouldn’t be able to walk, but somehow she still managed to escape."

Damien reached the man and right in front of everyone, he grabbed him by the throat, lifting him up, but didn’t choke him. Yet. "Only one knee? She only needed a mouth, you could shatter everything else!" The commander shook his head repeatedly. He didn’t give the order, wasn't the next in chain of command. That man killed himself when he realized the girl had escaped. "What did she look like?" His mind blank. He didn’t know.

Useless. Damien didn’t bother using his hands. He snuffed the life of him in a blink of an eye and then he pushed him away like a sack of meat.

With a slow pivot, the seemingly calm menace turned his gaze to the steward, who had already called in servants to dispose of the commander. "My liege, we’ll clean the floor right away."

"Who was he?" Damien asked never averting his eyes from the imbecile.

"My liege?" He asked feigning ignorance.

Damien didn’t change his stance. He lowered his voice and spoke through gritted teeth. "I said… who was he?"

The steward did his best to stand up straight. "My cousin, your Imperial Majesty. He was a great tactician, a great man. I believed he was well-suited to implement your orders."

"Yet he disobeyed me. He’s lucky the assassin got to him first." The Emperor said going up the steps. "Unlike you."

Faster than the plump steward could possibly react came a shattering punch in the jaw. The victim fell to the ground screaming, his mandible dislodged. Then came a kick across the head and he became one with the ground, alive, for the time being, but unconscious. Damien was furious. He bent down to set his toes straight, stretching them out once he healed them.

He looked to one of his eunuch servants. "You’re the new steward. I want this simpleton sent to the torturers. Tell them I want a slow, painful death for him. They can be as creative as they wish. And bring me the fool who saw her clearly. He'll be the new commander of my armies."

"Yes, your Excellency." The new steward rushed forward to abide to his orders.

Damien then turned to the rest of his servants present. "Remember this in case you get any ideas. Whether you spend twenty cycles in my service or one day, it matters little. You’re all simple flashes of light to me and I can snuff you out with a thought." He said and waited for his words to sink in. "That will be all. Return to your work."

A woman. An infiltrator. An escapee. Among numerous armed men. Despite their breaking her knee. Could it be another?

“I need her head."

What Elliot had failed to mention, whether he forgot or wasn’t aware of it didn’t matter, was that Norfolk, the hive closest to Embersummit, was one of the most hostile communities across their land. When Maxwell and Vivienne reached its outskirts, they were met with long glares from the farmers. They watched, suspicion filling their minds, the couple ride in front of their homes, ready for action if either did anything threatening.

But as they went in deeper in the village, the hostility decreased. Not because they were entering the village, but because they recognized them. Children even smiled at them as they rode by. Maxwell was troubled. "Viv, any idea what’s going on? This isn’t normal…"

"They’re all over the place. I can’t get anything solid." Vivienne answered. Saying she couldn’t make sense of what she got was closer to the truth, but she opted not to mention it. "But I can’t keep it up. I’m too exhausted and my head hurts."

They had pushed through the night before because according to the map, they could reach the village by early morning, as they did. That had repercussions on her though. They knew the village to be a hive, knew they wouldn’t need her gift too much.

When they got the chance, they stopped a woman on the main street. "Excuse me, ma’am, can you tell us where we can find the inn or tavern?" Vivienne asked politely.

The woman stared at her for a short while, her eyes running over her features, starting with her crimson hair. "Vivienne and Maxwell?" She asked startling the couple.

"Yes, but how would you know that?" Vivienne inquired puzzled. It was one thing to recognize them and another to know their names.

"We’ve been expecting you. You’ll find the inn down the street. Next to the stables. You’ve kept them waiting long enough. Good day." She answered and went on after her children.

Perplexed, Maxwell and Vivienne rode on quickly, determined to figure out what the woman meant. At the stables, they were met again with smiling faces when Vivienne’s hair was seen, no need to show their tattoos. The stablemates reassured them they’d have someone bring over their things to the inn. Offering them their gratitude, Maxwell and Vivienne walked to the inn.

As it often happened, all eyes turned to the newcomers, but unlike other times, there was no hostility. On the contrary, they were welcomed. A man approached them almost immediately upon seeing them. "You must be Maxwell and Vivienne."

"This is starting to get weird. Why do you all know our names?" Maxwell asked not shaking the man’s extended hand.

Despite her headache, Vivienne attempted a read on him. "When she said baby brother, I was expecting an ox..." Where she was expecting understanding, more bafflement came. "My name’s Reggie. Take a seat at my table and I’ll show you right away."

Before they could say anything, he left them climbing up the stairs. Vivienne wrapped an arm around Maxwell’s waist to pull him to the table. "Come on, Max. Nothing we can do but wait."

With a huff, he let her drag him to the table where he sat and observed the crowd, as Vivienne let her hurting head rest on his shoulder, eyes closed. "When we find out what’s going on, you’re going straight to bed. We shouldn’t have pushed through."

"I’m fine. I just need some rest." She tried to reassure him.

They heard loud thumps from upstairs, as if someone fell on the floor. Then came heavy steps, moving closer and closer to the stairs, before they started going down the steps. Maxwell’s and Vivienne’s eyes were trained on them. First came the feet of the guy who welcomed them, then another pair of feet accompanied by a crutch. Last came the face of an angry Seraphina.

The disbelief kept them standing frozen in place. When she touched the ground, Seraphina pushed her helper away and rushed the last few paces to them on her own. "Took you long enough. I was starting to think you changed course thanks to a madman, you idiots."

She wrapped her arms around both of them, her crutch forgotten. Vivienne and Maxwell both clanged on her for dear life, tears running down their cheeks. "I’m never letting either of you out of my sight." Maxwell whispered between deep breaths.

"Don’t be a fool, Max. Of course you will, but you’re not getting rid of us that easily, right, Viv?" Seraphina asked her.

"Definitely not." She answered pulling back to check over the scorcher. "You’re hurt. What did they do to you?" Maxwell did so as well and his brown eyes darkened even more.

"Long story. I’ll tell you when you get some rest." She looked back to Reggie, who approached helping her to sit. "We’ve asked the hivespeople to prepare a room for you two. Reggie, could you show Max to it and help with their stuff?"

"As you wish." He replied and waited for Maxwell.

He was reluctant to follow though. "I’m not going anywhere, kid. Go." With an added nod from Vivienne, he got up and followed Reggie upstairs. "Has he done anything stupid?"

"Not yet. After Embersummit we were going to come after you." Vivienne replied grabbing Seraphina’s hand. "Your knee’s bad…"

"I know. If it wasn’t for it, I wouldn’t have escaped though, so my pain doesn’t matter. I’m here." Seraphina said dismissively and pulled her hands out of Vivienne’s gently. "Don’t even think about making this better. You know, like Maxwell and the poisoned arrow…"

"I wasn’t…" Vivienne started.

"You weren’t trying it then either." She checked Vivienne over as well. "You weren’t tired and in pain either. Have you been pushing through a lot?" Seraphina asked concerned.

"No. We’ve been in a hurry, but only last night kept riding. Since we were close." Vivienne reassured her. A wolf came then to sit right next to Seraphina. Vivienne looked quizzically at the scorcher.

"This is Raine, Reggie’s wolf." Came the answer.

"She looks a lot more like she’s yours." Vivienne commented eyeing Seraphina’s strokes on the wolf’s head. "Reggie looks like a nice guy."

"Apparently, he’s an honorable man. There’s a but, though. He’s a former imperial soldier. So be careful." Seraphina replied easily.

"That’s not what I meant. He seems to like you." Vivienne said further.

Seraphina scoffed. "Of course, he likes me. I can get him what he wants. I’m a means to an end. Through me, he gets a chance to avenge his family. Hush, now." She spoke too quickly and she was sweating.

The men came back down, Maxwell scowling and Reggie’s shirt looked ruffled. "I can definitely believe you are twins." The latter said rubbing his ribs as he sat next to Seraphina, who laughed. "Maxwell said you haven’t eaten, so I ordered four trays of breakfast. I hope you’ll like it."

"If it’s edible, it’s good. Thank you." Vivienne replied with a smile. She elbowed Maxwell in the stomach when she saw him still scowl. "Drop it, Max. He didn't do this to her, he must’ve helped her."

Maxwell groaned, but otherwise followed her order. "Sera, can’t you tell us already? How did you manage to escape? On that leg, no less."

Seraphina seemed to want to let them rest first, but she must’ve realized neither would do so without her story. She abided to her brother’s request, recounting everything that happened to her since they left her at the foot of the Dark Highlands.

Her meeting with Calder, their teaming up, their success in infiltrating the army, all in detail. When she got to the part about how she got captured, Vivienne felt the familiar heatwave which accompanied the scorcher’s temper. Only then did she realize how much she’d missed even the little things that made Seraphina.

Much to Vivienne’s surprise, Reggie not only seemed to acknowledge the sudden change in temperature, but also its origin since his hand went to Seraphina’s shoulder, rubbing it slightly. A fact Seraphina was oblivious to, but not her brother, whose fist clenched atop Vivienne’s waist.

Seraphina resumed with her account of how she escaped, but omitted her suffering, how she came upon Reggie and Raine, teased him for naming wild animals. She moved on to their journey, meeting Rollie, how their attempt to catch up to Maxwell and Vivienne brought them to Lotham Narrows, home to Elementals. When she spoke the word, she confirmed what they had already deducted. Reggie knew about them.

Maxwell and Vivienne listened intently, but their exhaustion didn’t allow them to ask any questions, though Maxwell, especially, seemed to have a lot about the Elementals in the pass. Vivienne wasn’t sure Seraphina would have the answers to his questions as she wasn’t interested in the details he probably wondered about.

They didn’t ask about anything concerning Reggie, not his background, not his reasons, not his intentions, nothing. He simply sat silent next to Seraphina. Seraphina didn’t offer anything on him either. In fact, it seemed like she wanted to avert attention from him with Maxwell around and not mention Reggie’s imperial past like she had to Vivienne.

With the story telling on Seraphina’s part done, she made them go upstairs to get some much-needed rest. Before Maxwell would object, Vivienne dragged him upstairs. If he wouldn’t care for his wellbeing, they would.

Once in their room, their things had been brought up as promised, they changed and lied down for a few hours of sleep. But before Vivienne surrendered herself to dreamland, she turned over to Maxwell. "You’re too hard on the guy."

He groaned in annoyance. "He’s interested in her."

"So?” She asked yawning. “She’s a grown woman, she can make her own decisions.”

“I know.” He said and wrapped his arms around her.

“Since when are you defending your sister’s honour? Oris came onto her way more than this." Vivienne asked turning his arms to look at him. "You think he has a chance...!"

"I just don’t want to see her violated. Is that so wrong?" Maxwell questioned.

"She’s more than capable of handling herself. You heard what she went through and you know her." Vivienne told him rubbing his chest. "Let them be. The worst case is we find him burned to crisps after all."

◊◊◊

Hours later she woke up only to find Maxwell missing from beside her. It was still daytime. When she was changed and sorted, she descended to the hall where there were only the twins, the wolf and the inn’s staff. She approached the siblings’ table, taking her usual seat next to Maxwell.

"You look a lot better." Seraphina commented as Vivienne yawned widely.

"The headache’s gone." She answered rubbing her eyes. "Where’s everyone?"

"The hivespeople are out on the fields, working." Maxwell replied taking a sip from whatever his tankard held. Vivienne could smell the alcohol, but it wasn’t his usual order.

Vivienne looked at Seraphina, clearly asking about Reggie’s whereabouts without speaking. She took the hint. "He’s helping out."

Vivienne nodded and observed the twins and their reactions. There was a peculiar tension between them. "Okay, what’s wrong?"

It was like her words were the spark to ignite a battle among the siblings. "Yes, kid, tell us. What is wrong here?" Seraphina practically ordered crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"Sera wants to bring him along." Maxwell responded.

"Actually, I didn’t ask for your permission." Seraphina corrected him. "He wants to come along and he will, whether we let him or not. You should just accept that."

"I don’t like him." Maxwell shot back. "And I sure don’t trust him."

Seraphina leaned in and lowered her voice. "Your girlfriend can get into our heads and I’ve come to trust her."

"Vivienne has proven herself worthy." Maxwell retorted.

"He has too. To me. Many times over. Think I'd make it here without him?” She said nodding to herself. “Vivienne can confirm what I’m telling you now and then we should tell him about all of us. Vivienne, too. It'll save time.”

“Ohhh, now you want to tell him our secrets? That’s perfect, Sera.” Maxwell said and started clapping. “While we’re at it, why don’t we tell everyone here?”

“You’re pushing it, kid. Or is it you don’t have faith in my judgment anymore?" Seraphina challenged with a sneer.

"I have faith in the cold assassin's judgement, you're not that now. Last time your feelings were in the way, you got caught." Maxwell said rather bitterly.

Vivienne was reading them both at the time, so she saw that like her, Seraphina also knew Maxwell’s reaction was a result of his concern, building up inside him since she got caught. Yet, Seraphina was all in for an argument, but Vivienne got in the middle. "That’s enough."

"You’re taking her side again?" Maxwell asked annoyed.

"I’m taking neither’s. I just want you to stop arguing. We just got her back, Max, and that man is one of the reasons she’s here now, so back off." She replied looking him in the eye. She turned to Seraphina. "And you, you must know your capture shook us. We’ve been plotting ways to come to your rescue since the moment Calder told us, so excuse us, if we’re not that apprehensive to an addition. Or another variable, as you often say."

Both lowered their heads in shame and murmured apologies. Just in time too, because few minutes later, the inn started filling up with the hivespeople coming in for their lunch. Reggie was among them and soon approached their table.

"Had a good sleep?" He directed his question at Maxwell and Vivienne.

"Knowing Sera’s okay, the best in a long time." Vivienne answered and Maxwell nodded in agreement. "You were helping the villagers?"

"Saying her boyfriend scares me isn’t a good answer, huh?" He thought and Vivienne couldn’t help but chuckle. The twins raised their eyebrows, while he seemed confused. "Um, well I noticed some men are sick this week, so I thought I could lend a hand…"

"He gets those thoughts a lot." Seraphina remarked rolling her eyes.

Finally able to use her ability without the headache bothering her, she didn’t waste the opportunity to look into Reggie’s mind. They’d need to see what his intentions were. Not for Seraphina, though that was of Vivienne’s interest as well, but for coming along with them. The twins got into a conversation to give her the chance to do her thing.

The first thing she saw, and missed earlier due to the headache, was that Reggie noticed her prying. He didn’t know what he felt was, but he realized something was up. His thoughts didn’t deviate after the realization came, but a reader had sure gone over his mind before.

Moving on from that, she saw their group from his mind’s eye. He was indeed afraid of Maxwell, a memory of him getting pinned against the wall from the brute earlier coming forth whenever Reggie had to glance his way. He found Vivienne the exact opposite of Maxwell, sweet and welcoming, and wondered why Rollie called her "gifted" or "life". She wondered about the second part herself.

Then, there was Seraphina. There was a whirlwind of thoughts and feelings about her. He admired and liked her. He was wary and afraid of her, her kind. He was annoyed by her attitude, yet he found it justified and right. He wanted to know everything about her, but he also wasn’t sure he should.

But what even he didn’t notice, but Vivienne as an observer did, was that when Seraphina talked, all of his attention was on her. When Maxwell opposed her words, Reggie ignored his fear of the brute and wanted to come to Seraphina’s aid. The only reason he didn’t was that he knew she wouldn’t hesitate to punch him. Again, it seemed.

Vivienne decided to pull back. There was nothing more to help them in that moment. The man’s thoughts were trained on Seraphina in that moment. Without really noticing what the twins had been talking about, she cut them off. "Sorry, guys. Um, Reggie, would you excuse us, please?"

He was startled by the sudden interruption, but composed himself, getting up. "Sure. I’ll go order us something?"

"Good idea. Thanks." Seraphina said as he left, not before he brushed her shoulder with his hand, of course. "What is it?"

Vivienne leaned in, the twins followed. "Okay, when you said, he’s a former imperial, what rank are we talking about? Where was he stationed? ‘Cause he noticed me prying. Even if he didn’t know what it was. He’s felt it before."

"He’s an imperial!?" Maxwell whispered-yelled.

"Former." Seraphina answered her brother. "As for his station, I don’t know. But I figured someone’s pried his mind. They interrogated him in the capital after his natural sister-in-law was made. They killed her family. His brother and two nieces."

"He was a soldier, so his family didn’t tell him. Smart. His ignorance saved his life." Vivienne commented.

Seraphina nodded. “No blood relation to the natural, must’ve helped.”

"Another confirmation of what we already know. The capital has someone like Viv on their side." Maxwell added and the women nodded. "What about his intentions?"

Vivienne didn’t want to be clear on that. "He’s on our side. I can tell you that much."

Seraphina smiled in triumph. "Good enough for you, kid?"

Maxwell scowled again and didn’t want to answer. Vivienne tapped her elbow to his stomach. "Fine. I guess there’s four of us now."

Raine growled. "Five." Seraphina corrected rubbing the wolf’s head.

◊◊◊

They stayed in Norfolk the rest of that day and night so Maxwell and Vivienne could get proper rest for the last part of their journey. According to the hivespeople, who gave them more detailed directions than Elliot’s journals held, the closest entrance to Embersummit was only a few days away. It had been the same with the hive closest to Bandville, or so the twins said.

Although they didn’t really ask for them, the villagers also filled them with provisions to last them a lot longer. They reasoned that whatever was surplus they could leave at Embersummit. The travelers couldn’t object.

The men helped Seraphina up to her imperial horse, sliding her bandaged leg into a makeshift sleeve Reggie had made. Fifty days after Reggie’s tending, Seraphina’s bones had healed, but not the nerves. Not when the man who snapped her knee intended to keep her from walking. So, she still kept it immobile and bandaged. They all knew the possibility of her never recovering was great, but none spoke of it.

With everyone mounted, they began their ride with Raine running along with them. Since the path allowed it, they were moving in a horizontal line, the women at the centre and the men on either side, as far away from each other as possible.

The men didn’t really talk. Maxwell reread Elliot’s journals for the hundredth time and Reggie sat silent on his saddle. With a quick read, Vivienne could see he didn’t want to interfere in the trio’s ways.

Vivienne and Seraphina filled the silence that first day. Vivienne told them of her and Maxwell’s dealings since they’d parted. Seraphina laughed when she heard Maxwell had gotten them lost at one point, but otherwise listened carefully. Even to their plans of getting the scorcher back once they’d inform Embersummit about Bandville.

When night came the men and Vivienne made camp, while Seraphina handled the fire. Vivienne cooked, something Seraphina couldn’t help but say she’d missed, even urging Reggie to try, something he would anyway. When he tasted her cooking, he complimented her. Seraphina said a "told you so". How she loved being right.

Then Maxwell started yawning and before they knew it, he’d fallen asleep with his head on Vivienne’s lap. "Didn’t you at least sleep afterwards?" Seraphina asked rolling her eyes.

Vivienne glared, her cheeks flashing red. "I fell asleep shortly after we went upstairs." She ran her fingers through his hair lightly, just like she knew he liked and calmed him. "He’s been a wreck without you."

"I know…" Seraphina trailed off toying with her mother’s necklace. Vivienne had kept it safe for her while she was away and given it back the night they reunited, along with ther favourite black daggers. "I wasn’t in a good place either. The only difference is I knew you were probably safe."

"It’s a big difference, Sera. The things that went through our minds…" Vivienne trailed off shaking her head. "Get some sleep. I’ll keep watch." Seraphina didn’t argue. Neither did Reggie, but he didn’t follow Seraphina’s example to lie down and sleep. He poked at the fire every now and then, obviously waiting for the scorcher to fall asleep. Vivienne decided to make it easy for him after a while. "She’s been asleep for a little while now. What do you want to ask?"

He was startled. Not by her voice, but that she knew what went through his mind. "I’m not sure. Everything?"

"We both know that’s not true." She responded vaguely.

He considered his words. "You make me feel weird."

"Part of my charm." Vivienne replied with a smile.

He scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "What did Rollie mean? About you being gifted?"

But Vivienne wouldn’t answer that question so easily. "Seraphina keeps saying that Max and I should trust you. That I should give you this answer. I’m wary though.” She said pushing back Maxwell’s bangs. “What are you going to do when we reach the base?"

Images of a family, parents and two daughters, appeared in his mind, accompanied by hatred towards his former superiors. The family Seraphina had mentioned, his family, killed by those bosses. "Offer my services. I want to destroy the empire. If there’s a plan to overthrow it, I want in."

She believed him. Just before she went on to tell him about herself, a thought passed through his mind, so swiftly that if she hadn’t been paying full attention on him, she would’ve missed it. He had family in the capital. His mother. A noble? "What happens if you need to kill him? The Emperor? Will you?"

He didn’t hesitate. "Yes. Without a second thought."

“What if...” she paused, trying to word her question right. “...we have to kill the court’s nobility too?”

It gave him pause. “You...you know? I... what? How?”

She ignored his question. “Would you kill her?”

“I don’t know her. She’s nothing to me.”

“She gave birth to you.”

He nodded. “And chose the empire over her child. She robbed me of my mother and then her empire robbed me of the family I had.” He said and smiled. “The only good thing she ever did for me was giving me to my father. I cursed her for that many times in my youth, but now that I know how sick the empire is, I’m glad I’m not part of it.”

Vivienne considered his words and kept a close eye on his thoughts. What he came out of his mouth, also reflected in his mind. He had better reasons to be a Shepherd than herself. He belonged with them. She sighed. "Well, if Rollie is right, I’ll be the one to kill the Emperor apparently." Vivienne said, further confusing him.

"Rollie said the Emperor’s reign could end because of you, a gifted. What can you do? Are you like Seraphina?" He asked nervously.

"The twins both think Rollie a mad man. You don’t?" She asked instead, still stalling.

"No. I really don’t." Reggie replied seriously. "I’ve known him a long time. He has a unique point of view and the way he talks seems absurd, but he’s not senile. Not exactly. He’s a better observer than most. You just have to know how to talk to him."

"That’s what I got from him too. He wouldn’t have survived so long otherwise." She added lying down just as Maxwell rolled over in his sleep. Reggie and Vivienne sat silent for a few minutes, in case he woke up, but it never happened. She decided to give Reggie the answer he’d been looking for. "I can read minds."

Such a simple phrase, so many repercussions. At first, she could see he wanted to laugh, but following the crumbs back to the start, he connected the dots. But he was still reluctant to believe. "It can’t be."

"Actually, it can." She answered his mind’s awe. "That’s what Rollie meant. Well, he associates that way I make you feel when I pry your mind with what he calls the gift, since he…"

He cut her off. "Woah, slow down. How is that possible?"

It had taken him a long time to accept the existence of Elementals, people who could manipulate the elements. Had it not touched him personally, with his family dying because of it, he wouldn’t have believed.

In theory, he’d come to terms with their existence. Seraphina’s display, along with the Earth Elementals of Lotham Narrows, had shaken him and he had yet to find out about Maxwell. But Vivienne’s admission shattered his worldview. "Not even my mind’s safe?"

"Sorry, but no. And I don’t know how it's possible." She said as he got up and started pacing.

"So when you asked me about the Emperor, that’s when you heard about her?" He didn’t finish the sentence.

Vivienne nodded. "I won’t tell them, it doesn’t concern them, but I’d suggest you tell her. She values honesty, even if she’s not that forthcoming herself."

He nodded too in appreciation. "It can’t be just you. There must be others." He walked back and forth rubbing his forehead, desperate to face up to the new information. "If the empire has some in their ranks… It makes sense. I knew Deina would never rat out her family. They pulled it out of her!"

"Also explains why you’re alive apparently. You’ve felt this kind of power before, haven't you?" She asked making him stop.

"I have. When they were questioning me, though not every time…" he trailed off struggling to remember. "It was the last time. When they took me to the Keep."

"Keep? What keep?" She asked intrigued.

"Threne Keep. The Emperor’s home. Which coincides with Rollie’s claims…" He looked at her in a new light.

"I’m not alone to think that he’s like me then." Vivienne said sighing. "Only with four hundred years worth of experience more than me, however that’s possible, plus whatever forgotten knowledge."

"Rollie mentioned a master. If you go to him?" Reggie suggested unsure.

Vivienne snorted. "Try telling them to follow a lunatic. When they’re not at each other’s throats, they unite against my suggestions. It’s two to one and we do things their way."

"There’s four of us now." He corrected sitting back down.

Vivienne glanced at him amused. "Awwh, how cute, someone’s getting ahead of themselves."

◊◊◊

After a plain breakfast of fruit and the previous night’s leftovers, they resumed their adventure. Vivienne told the twins Reggie then knew of her little secret, something Maxwell wasn’t really appreciative about, but thankfully didn’t cause a scene for.

Reggie confirmed to them he’d felt such an invasion in his mind, realizing how what he’d previously thought as mistrust on behalf of his brother was actually a safety valve and the only reason he was still alive. He also cunningly added he was sure his superiors wanted to bring him before the Emperor, which wasn’t that far outside the realm of possibility. Why else bring a soldier to his own home?

Both Reggie and Vivienne avoided speaking about their common belief in Rollie’s words, but he kept making little comments in that direction. Maxwell was still too negatively predisposed against him to consider his words. But Seraphina, in a surprisingly good mood after the reunion, took them with a laugh, even embellishing the "farfetched scenarios". It served to prove Reggie was good with words.

It took them three cloudy and windy days to reach the base of the mountain. It was where the villagers’ directions and Elliot’s accounts ended. Right beneath the crescent moon shaped landmark. There was no obvious path up the slopes nor were there any signs of Elemental influence.

"Now what?" Reggie asked getting off his horse. He knelt and examined the ground. Raine went to his side sniffing the ground next to his fingers before moving around following her nose.

"It’s supposed to be here. The journals lead us straight to this point." Maxwell replied taking in the scenery and trying to find a crack.

"Well, I doubt they’d come out to play with four complete strangers." Seraphina reasoned calmly. "Personally, I’d shoot us." She added shrugging. "Viv? Anything?"

"We’re lucky it’s not you up there, then." Vivienne said and swept the area. She was hit by a wave of numerous minds, something she didn’t expect, and was taken aback. "We’re here alright. They’re watching us."

"Do you think they know about Elementals? Or it's like Bandville?" Seraphina’s question was mostly directed at Vivienne.

But Reggie was the one to answer. "You heard Slate. The new roamers go in the Lotham Narrows with their mentors. They’re bound to see the moving rocks… They’re hard to miss."

Everyone looked around thoughtful as the nebulous sky started dripping on them. A smile spread on Maxwell’s face when he felt the first drops. "Only one way to find out." With that, he pointed up in the air.

It was a beautiful sight. Due to his influence, numerous raindrops came together, unified and became a stream. A stream which seemed to end at Maxwell’s finger. It magnetized the little midday light coming through the holes in the clouds and the deflection created small rainbows. He gently blew on his fingers and the steady stream transformed into a waterball suspended in the air above his palm.

"That…is pretty cool." Reggie said mesmerized mounting his horse. They hadn’t told him of Maxwell’s affiliation since Maxwell wasn’t forthcoming, so Vivienne had been curious to see his reaction. He took it well.

"Of course it is." Maxwell replied smiling further. Without turning he spoke again. "Sweetheart?"

"Straight ahead, just above the crescent." Vivienne told him, figuring out what he wanted.

With a flick of his hand, he pushed the water ball at great velocity straight to the spot Vivienne had indicated. They waited. For a while nothing happened. The men pushed their steads forward, but Vivienne stopped them. The watchmen of Embersummit had just decided to come out.