Mina slid the pie, its top crust finally decorated to her satisfaction with vines and leaves of pastry and carefully cut vents, onto the hot stone plate of the oven to bake as Traven left out the side door of the house. She closed the oven door and cleaned her hands once more, drying them on the linen cloth near the water basin. She took the basin with her to the side door, checked around, and threw the water out onto the grass across from the walkway. The basin was returned to its place before Mina went to change for their journey.

Although the rain had stopped, the threat still loomed overhead. Mina kicked off her kidskin house slippers and removed her socks, laying them atop her bedside table to await her return. She dug around her wardrobe drawer and fished out thick-knit over-the-knee socks—crafted herself last winter—and slid them onto her slender legs. Pulling open a second drawer, she retrieved pants of thick cotton and a simple leather belt. The pants belonged to Traven just over a year ago, but he grew out of their length. Most girls preferred to wear woolen stockings when riding for their warmth and mobility; Mina disliked how they tended to slip.

She closed the drawer and took off her skirt, putting on the pants, lacing and snugly cinching the belt about her waist. Knowing the bodice and undershirt would serve, she sifted through her clothes-basket for a skirt she wore the previous day. It was already lightly soiled from her hunt for flowers and perfect for a day’s ride. It went on easily over the pants.

Mina leaned down toward the corner of her mattress, lifted it, and took hold of her sheathed dagger. She grabbed its leather strap as well, sliding it through the belt loop of the sheath. She put her left foot on the bed and hiked her skirt, buckling the dagger tightly around her lower thigh. She heard Horace tittering on the other side of a wall, singing to the scraps of meat Traven fed him. Mina glanced at the bedding chest at the foot of her bed, wishing she could bring even one piece of armor.

…We’ll be fine. The road is sound and well-traveled.

She steeled herself and grabbed the heavy hooded cloak from her wardrobe, resigning to armor only against inclement weather. She pulled the cloak over her shoulders and buttoned it in place. A quick check in the mirror to be certain the scarf hadn’t been disturbed, and she left her room for the side door near the kitchen. She sat on the bench there and reached for her tall boots, tugging one on as Belros entered.

“Traven informed me you’re going to Alys for meat,” he proclaimed with disproportionately grand fanfare.

“We are,” Mina confirmed, pulling on the second boot.

Belros leaned in toward her to speak less boisterously. “He forgot his mother’s birthday again, didn’t he?”

Mina snickered, “He did, indeed.”

“Did you keep her gift in your wardrobe for me?”

“Yes. Feel free to take it, or I can bring it out for you when we return.” Mina tightened the laces on one of her boots. “I also need you to do something while we’re gone, since I wasn’t anticipating leaving today.”

“Sure, girl. Happy to help.” Belros grinned and puffed up his chest to make him appear even stronger than he already was.

“Let Rhea know I have housework covered, and I just put a pie for her celebration in the oven. Can you take care of it for me? Take it out when it’s a little past golden and set it on the windowsill with a cloth over it to cool.”

“Aye, I can handle that.”

Mina shot him a scolding glare. “Just remember: no sampling until tonight.”

Belros boomed with laughter as he walked past her into the living area, “Afraid I can’t promise that! A man demands fair pay for fair work.”

Mina chuckled and shook her head, calling “Thanks!” as she grabbed her leather cross-body bag and rushed out the door, suddenly frozen mid-stride by the scene before her:

Cathlyn was speaking to Traven as he stood with the saddled horses, her arm briefly, delicately touching his as she filled his ears with her venom. Mina could not hear the words, only their lilting tone. She slowly walked toward the two as her mood sank, hoping to catch a word or two before being noticed. Cathlyn turned and saw Mina approaching, quickly returning her gaze to Traven and lowering her voice to just above a whisper. The only bit Mina heard was “upon your return.”

Traven looked from Cathlyn to Mina, Cathlyn turning to greet her. “Ah, there she is,” Cathlyn announced with artificial pleasure and an ivory grin. “I suppose you will be on your way.”

“I believe so,” Traven confirmed, “unless Mina needs more time for the pie.”

Mina looked at Cathlyn, then back at Traven, and subtly shook her head left-to-right. She felt the ache of the dagger wrapped around her thigh. “Belros has it handled.”

She took the reins of her horse from Traven’s hand, flipped them back behind the horse’s neck, gripped the saddlehorn with her left hand, put her left foot in the stirrup, and lithely sprang into the saddle in a single fluid motion. Mina smoothed her skirts and cloak around her and tugged the left rein to maneuver around Cathlyn and Traven, gently kicking her horse with her heels to walk toward the road.

“Off we go, then,” Traven called from behind Mina, mounting his own horse and catching up to her. They spotted Rhea in the garden on the other side of the house and she waved at the pair as they passed.

“You’ll be back before sundown?”

Traven called back to her, “Of course! Want anything else while we’re in town?”

“Not a thing,” Rhea answered. “Just be safe.”

Mina smiled brightly and kicked her horse again into a medium trot. Immediately she became acutely aware of the wound on her torso. Traven rode alongside her, matching her horse’s gait.

“We can go a bit faster, if you’d like,” Traven called to her over the pounding hooves.

“When we clear town,” Mina replied. If I can bear it. “I feel less well than I did a bit ago.”

They rode past the few homes between them and the end of town and into the clearing. Years ago all the trees surrounding Ginleux were cut down to make homes, fences, and furniture for its residents. The clearing also provided a level of defense around the village, allowing patrols, like Belros’ own, to survey quite a distance by eyesight alone.

Traven broke the brief silence. He clearly had something weighing heavy on his mind. “She is only being a good friend, Mina. Cathlyn mentioned wanting to talk to Mother, and she may be there when we return.”

When you return, Mina thought, annoyed. “That isn’t normal friend behavior, Traven. I try to ignore it, but I don’t see your other friends doting on Rhea or Belros.”

“And you’re suddenly the authority on friendship, Mina? Remind me how many good friends you’ve had in your lifetime?”

Mina shot a look of disdain at Traven, and his expression immediately softened.

“I’m…” Traven slightly slowed his horse, and Mina matched his pace. “I’m sorry. That was cruel of me to say.”

Mina shook her head. “You know you’re all I’ve got in this world.”

“You’ve had other friends. Other times.” Traven did his best to be encouraging.

“Everyone is a friend when you’re young and carefree, Traven.” She looked ahead with muted feelings. “You’re the one I chose to keep, and I would be lost without you.”

Traven smirked. “Are those words of friendship? Or something more?”

Mina felt her face warm. “I-I don’t know what you mean.”

Traven steered his horse close to hers and grabbed one of her reins, pulling it back and slowing both their horses to a stop. “Mina.”

Her eyes lowered.

“Mina, look at me.”

She slowly turned her gaze to him.

He released her rein and pulled off one of his gloves. “So this is why you’re worried about Cathlyn.”

Mina was too stunned to respond. She was unsure if she should even blink.

“I’ve wondered about this for a while, and now I’m certain. Of course you would never say it.” He reached out and tucked a tuft of hair back behind her ear, his hand lingering on the side of her neck. “For once in your life, don’t worry. Just…tell me if I’m wrong.”

Mina felt the warmth of his hand, his elevated pulse against her own. She closed her eyes and felt her flesh melt into his delicate touch. Is this…is this real?

His hand moved slowly, his fingers giving pause against her fresh scars, then back and up into her hairline.

She opened her eyes and looked first to his forearm, then to his face. He seemed…afraid, but he smiled gently.

“All right. I have my answer.”

Mina immediately panicked, acutely aware of her silence. “Traven, I—I…”

He pulled his hand away and chuckled at her embarrassment. This did not put her at ease. “I know better than to put you on the spot, but I can ask you directly if you prefer.”

Mina’s breathing hastened. “Ask me what?” Of course I know what. Why am I like this? Why now?

He smiled wider. “How you feel about me.”

There it is. 

“Traven…”

This may be your only chance. Make it count.

“I want to be closer…to you.”

Is that all?

“Just you.”

Am I wrong?

Is it enough?

Is it too much?

Are we—

“You’re worried, aren’t you?” Traven put his glove back on. “I told you not to worry about this.”

Mina’s head was pounding as hard as her heart. “Is that your reply to me?”

Traven reached over with his gloved hand and slipped his fingers into her own, gripping her hand as gently as she had ever felt. “I vowed to protect you, and that vow was not solely made out of honor. I don’t plan to ever leave your side again.”

He gently squeezed her hand. And she squeezed back, too shocked to respond in any other way.

“Let’s hurry to Alys. We’ll take care of our errands and talk more tonight.” Traven released her hand, rested his on top of hers for a moment, then took up his reins again. “We’ll go at your pace. I’m not sure about yours, but that trot wasn’t very kind to my injury.”

“Let’s go faster. Smoother ride.” Mina patted her horse’s neck, aware of the strain this ride would place on all of them.

Traven nodded in agreement. “I think you just want to get back home as soon as possible.”

Mina smirked and kicked her horse off to a gallop, Traven a beat behind her. Her mind was racing faster than her horse, incoherently trying to piece together what just happened and what it could mean for them both.

Avoiding wheel ruts in the road.

Why did he choose today to explore this?

Ducking under low branches.

Is it because of his injury?

Dashing through puddles of rainwater.

He thought he was going to die…

Pounding through thick mud.

Always different with me…always caring and kind…

Feeling the treeline close in around them.

I thought it was because his family took me in, and I never once imagined…

Stabbing pain.

…I never thought he could feel the same about me as I feel for him.

Searing.

Is this real?

The trees opened to a broad clearing, the road leading into town a fair distance ahead, and Mina slowed her horse.

Did I…make this happen?

Fear struck her. The realization shattered her brief happiness, casting her down into a mild panic.

Traven caught up to her, looking no different from his usual assuring self. “If that was you taking it easy on us, I wonder what brutish determination looks like.”

Mina smiled softly, suddenly aware that they had been traveling for nearly an hour. “I didn’t realize we’d been riding so hard for so long ’til the end. I must have been lost in my thoughts.”

“Hopefully not too lost.” Traven heavily tilted his head toward the town’s entrance. “There’s a checkpoint today.”

Mina looked ahead and saw a small row of footmen along the side of the road, their horses tied to nearby fencing.

“Oh.”

“We’re fine,” Traven reassured her. “It’s a market day, after all.”

Mina adjusted herself in the saddle, the dagger strap around her leg aching. “Right.”

They rode easily up to the lightly armored men, slowing on approach. One of the men walked into the street and held his palm out to gesture them to stop, and they did.

“We’re from Ginleux, just south,” Traven called out to the man, “for the market.”

“Any weapons on you?” the man brusquely yelled back.

“Just my dagger. In case of bandits.” Traven pointed to the belt on his waist.

The man turned to Mina. “And the girl?”

Mina’s leg tingled. She calmly replied, “No weapons.”

He slowly approached Mina’s horse. “That bag.” He pointed at the satchel on her hip, “What’s in it?”

She clutched the strap across her chest, shifting her bag slightly, leg burning. “Only money.”

“Give it here, lass.”

Mina pulled the strap over her head and held it out to the man. He grabbed the satchel and unbuckled the closure on it, then dug around inside. He seized a small pouch and opened it, pulling out a piece of silver.

“A tip for my hard work, I think!” The man grinned and palmed the coin.

Mina’s eyes narrowed in worry and she looked over to Traven, who looked to her and then back to the man.

The man had a good laugh and put the coin back into the pouch. “I’m just playing with you, just a little. It’s been a long day of long faces.” He returned the bag and its contents to Mina. “Don’t get into too much trouble, you hear?”

Mina’s hand quaked as she replaced the satchel strap around her. “Only a reasonable amount of trouble today, soldier.”

The man laughed again. “That’s the spirit.”

He moved to the side of the road and gestured for Mina and Traven to pass into town, and so they did. Mina’s head swam from the stress of the day, and the day was not nearly close to an end. Hopefully tonight will help settle my mind.

They rode in to the front of a few buildings placed side-by-side with a sturdy wooden railing in front of them. A few horses were tethered there near a long water trough. Mina dismounted and led her horse over to the trough where it gladly drank fresh water, and she securely tied her rein straps to the railing. Traven did the same, tying his horse next to hers.

He turned to Mina and smiled warmly. “I’ll check on the butcher’s stock first. Meet you at the tables?”

Mina couldn’t resist smiling back. “All right. Don’t be too long.”

Traven nodded, “Of course.”

She unsteadily walked toward the aisles of tables and tents assembled between clusters of buildings, the dagger weighing heavy on her leg. Knowing she needed to make good use of her trip to Alys, she scanned the vendor tables to see what was offered. Perfume bottles caught her eye. Mina urged herself toward the table as calmly and hastily as possible. Her hope grew as she spotted many small glass pots of assorted peach, alabaster, and rose contents.

The vendor was dressed in a colorful tunic and cap, the dyes still vibrant from lack of washing. He had a few belts around his waist, one bearing a dagger not unlike her own, another holding a few pouches and a larger bag. The gold bands on his fingers glistened as he moved his hand from his waist to wave and greet her. “Looking for anything special today, miss? An alluring scent to catch a husband, perhaps?”

Mina shook her head. “I’m hoping to find a tinted cream to help cover some scars from the hearth.”

“Ah,” he began moving a few smaller glass pots around, “I believe I can help you. You will need to mix two of these creams to get the correct color, and they are not cheap.”

Mina winced, expecting the cost to be high before she even asked. Only courtesans wore such a thing. “How much?”

“Ten silver each.”

She stood aghast. “And I need two of them?”

“For a good match, yes. You can use one if the scarring isn’t anywhere apparent, or if it’s light enough to need only modest cover. Are you able to show me some?”

Mina nodded and looked around. No one was paying attention to her. She leaned over the table and moved her scarf aside to show him a bit of her neck.

The vendor audibly gasped.

Mina shot him a cold look and stood straight up again, adjusting her scarf.

“S-sorry, I just—that’s some fire you work with, girl.”

“Can you help me or not?” Mina’s patience was gone.

He picked up a jar and shuffled a few more before picking up a second one. “These will be thick enough to cover that. Do not add water, just mix a bit of each together with a brush.” The vendor reached off to the side and pulled a short-handled brush with black bristles from a basket. “With this brush. You can mix them on the back of your hand to match your skin and then brush the cream onto the scars.”

“How much for everything, then?”

He smiled sympathetically. “Fifteen silver for the set. Same price next time. I’ll remember you, and I know you’ll need it.”

I don’t know whether to be offended or appreciative. “Thank you. I’ll be sure to return.” Mina retrieved the coins from her bag while the vendor placed her items in a simple linen sack.

The vendor traded her silver coins for the sack of goods, quickly counting them at a glance before wishing her happy shopping.

Tucking the goods into her leather bag, Mina continued browsing the tables of various wares. The market brightened, the sparse clouds finally clearing overhead. Some vendors had only one type of item to offer, like the candle-maker, while others had a seemingly random assortment of things thrown together. She made her way down the bustling aisle, pausing at a table, picking up a delicately carved wooden hair decoration and turning it around in her hands. Great care was given to the tiny vines that twisted around the blunt end of the hair stick. The carving hollowed out at the end, where a wooden cage held a round green stone. It sparkled brilliantly as she slowly turned the stick, wondering what sort of magic it took to trap a stone in a single solid carved piece.

“You! Girl!”

Mina jumped slightly, startled by the sudden outburst. She turned to her left. Two stalls down, another vendor was waving at her. She instantly recognized the elderly tea-maker and waved back, setting the carving back down on the table and walking to the woman’s tent and tables.

The tea-maker was simply dressed but adorned with hand-crafted beads and bangles. Mysterious carved figures were laced throughout her beaded necklaces, some wrapped in sinew and tied to the strands. The old woman was probably always smiling, her wrinkled face deeply molded into a rippling grin, the mounds of flesh squeezing her eyes so tightly that Mina couldn’t recall ever seeing them at all. “It has been some time since I’ve seen you here. You’re from Ginleux, right?”

Mina nodded. “I am. Our lord doesn’t like young women to travel more often than necessary these days.”

“He does well to see to your safety, as is his duty.” The woman took up Mina’s hand and held it between both of hers. “Oh my, you have grown since the last.”

“It hasn’t been that long,” Mina disagreed, “and I doubt I’ve grown much. My clothing hasn’t changed.”

The tea-maker grunted with certainty. “There are other ways to grow, child.”

Mina blinked in silence. She can’t possibly know anything.

The old woman released her hand and shuffled into the tent. “Now, I have something here for one of your girls. She ordered this from me a few weeks ago and I’ve yet to see her. Would you mind delivering it for me? I can offer you something for the trouble, but the timing is important else it will expire.”

“Sure, I won’t mind.” Mina followed her into the tent. “What is it and who is it for?”

“Oh, it’s just a little something to help things along. I can make a batch for you as well, if you’d like. I’m certain you could benefit from it.” She turned to Mina for a response, receiving none. “It can help catch the special attentions of a special someone.”

Shaking her head, Mina replied, “I don’t believe I need something like that today.”

“Oh no?”

Mina answered firmly, “No.”

The woman murmured and turned back into the tent, opening a chest and moving things around. “Very good that you have no requirement of it, dear. Very good! You must have your own luck. Ah, now here it is.”

She passed a fabric bundle to Mina. Attached to it by a cord was parchment with a name neatly written: “Cathlyn.”

“The directions are on a slip inside there,” the tea-maker remarked, pointing at the bundle. “Make sure Cathlyn knows that she is to drink it, and not her intended. And the spent tea leaves are to be buried under his window, not hers, and only after drinking the tea. I’m telling you this because she seems the type to rush into something, and these details are important. Do tell her.”

Mina added the bundle to her bag. “I’ll tell her.”

“Good. Now, if I can’t tempt you with temptation, how may I reward you for your services?” The woman clasped her leathery hands together, eagerly awaiting Mina’s request.

Mina thought a moment. “Well, it’s not very exciting. And it’s not for me.”

“Oh?”

“A certain someone in my household has a fondness for cheeses.”

“Oh.”

Mina nodded. “Do you have anything to, you know, help them along?”

“A digestive issue,” the woman instinctively reached for a small bundle on the table nearest her. “Senna tea. Just a spoon of this in a cup of steaming water, let it steep ten minutes or so. One cup usually does it, but give it a day to work. Take when needed, not often or it’ll lose its touch.”

Mina smiled and placed the bundle in her bag. “Thank you for your help.”

“The thanks is mine. Come see me again soon.”

“I’ll do my best.” Mina turned to leave the stall.

“And dear?” The woman tugged on Mina’s cloak, causing her to turn back around. “May the Sacred Eyes always find you well.”

A true healer, old faith unwavering. “And you.”

Mina walked down the rest of the aisle, eyes passing over the wares, nothing particularly appealing to her. She crossed the street and skimmed through the first few tables before crossing back to the table she was at before, the one with the hair stick. She looked at the other items in the stall, the vendor busy with another customer. She picked up a different ornament, a forked wooden hairpin to keep a bun style in place. Noticing a polished metal mirror propped up on the table, she twisted her hair up and wove the hairpin into the mess, turning her head left and right to see how the ornament looked.

“It suits you.” Mina hadn’t noticed Traven’s approach, and he spoke softly and close to her side. “Get it.”

“I’m looking for Rhea,” Mina explained, removing the pin from her hair.

“Do you like it, though? For yourself?” He came a little closer and examined the ornament. “You don’t have many things like this.”

Mina looked up at him and smiled slightly, then looked back down at the hairpin. “Hmm.”

“Did you see anything else for Rhea?” Traven walked around behind Mina and looked at the table full of ornaments. “These all look very nice.”

“There is this one,” Mina picked up the carved wooden piece with the imprisoned green stone. “It’s a bit on the fancy side, though.”

“My mother does enjoy getting dressed up on her trips with Father. I think she would like it quite a lot.” Traven took both pieces from Mina’s hands and showed them to the vendor, then set them down on the table. “We’ll take these, please.”

Mina reached into her leather bag and Traven put his hand over it, noticing his hand was carrying a dark fabric bag by its straps. She looked to him and he shook his head at her, pulling out his own coins to make the purchase. Mina’s face grew warm. She never thought much of it when he covered her expenses before. This time was different.

“Thank you,” she whispered as he handed her the ornaments. “Did you find anything?”

“A few things. I’ll show you later.”

They returned to the horses, one saddlebag already loaded with wrapped meat from the butcher. Traven loaded his dark fabric bag into a smaller saddlebag. They untied their horses, mounted them, and rode back home at a gentler pace than before. Along the way, Mina pulled the bundle for Cathlyn out of her satchel. She yanked out the pouch of herbs inside, taking care to preserve the rest of the package. 

She tore the herbs open and offered them to the breeze.

It took twice as long to return as it did to reach Alys. Mina immediately spotted Cathlyn walking the garden with Rhea as she and Traven rode into the stables. They dismounted and Mina crammed the senna bundle into the small bag labelled for Cathlyn, and she walked it to Traven.

“Here,” she handed the pouch to him, and he took her hands into his to receive it. “The tea-maker wanted this delivered and she’s too kind for me to turn down.”

His hands hesitated and stayed around hers. Traven checked the tag on the bag. “Oh. Sure, I’ll give this to her.” He took the pouch and returned to his saddlebags.

“Directions are written inside, so be sure to tell her about them.”

Traven nodded and took his goods from the saddlebags, then walked out of the stables toward the garden and house. Mina routinely removed the saddles and tack from the horses, placed the horses in their gated section of the stable, and gave them each a heaping feeding of alfalfa. She quickly brushed them down while they ate. Finally she rinsed her hands in the tack storage area, drying them on a cloth hanging nearby, and turned to head toward the house when she was slammed against a wooden divider.

Cathlyn.

“I saw all that.”

Mina winced. “All what, exactly?”

“I can’t believe you. You’re disgusting. Aren’t you basically his sister?” Cathlyn’s face was in Mina’s while she spat out her venomous speech.

Mina shook her head. “Nothing of the sort. I’m a ward.”

“I know that. It’s still so—unnatural.” Cathlyn narrowed her eyes. “You two were raised together under the same roof. You’re trusted to be alone together, and you, you both—I don’t even want to think of it.”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Mina writhed against the wood, leg tingling, refusing to flee or fight back but struggling against her discomfort.

Cathlyn took a single step back. “Just tell me you’ll keep your distance with him. Such a relationship would be ungodly.”

“I’ll do nothing of the sort,” Mina spat, purposely keeping a dual meaning to her statement. “What even brought this on?” Mina questioned, leaning slightly forward and causing Cathlyn to sway a bit backward.

“I saw how close you were when you just arrived.”

“We were quietly discussing Rhea’s birthday celebration. That is all.”

Cathlyn took another step back. “It’s her birthday?”

“Yes.”

“Today?”

“Of course.”

“Oh no.” Cathlyn took a few steps back, the expression on her face plainly showing her shock at having forgotten the birthday of her beloved’s mother. “I didn’t know. I don’t have anything prepared. Is it really today?”

“Yes. I made her favorite pie and all. That’s why we had to go to town for meat and other preparations.”

Cathlyn was completely flustered. “I will figure something out. Just—keep away from him. I’m sure those inspectors don’t know you’re their ward.”

Cathlyn rushed out of the stables, leaving Mina to collapse back against the wooden divider.

The panic gripped her. The inspectors. Would she really raise issue with them?

Mina shuddered. She would. To be rid of me.

She sank down to the ground and sat there. The darkness overtook her thoughts. She saw it all play out. Her carried away in chains. Him held back by his family. Cathlyn comforting him afterward.

No.

Him fighting back.

The darkness grew. I don’t know which is worse.

She struggled to recollect herself, eventually standing again and brushing off the dust from her skirt and cloak. “I need to tell him about this. He needs to know.”

Mina closed the stable doors behind her and walked into the house, taking the door near the kitchen. She could hear everyone talking farther inside. She sat on the bench and removed her boots and cloak, returning them to their proper places, and walked into the kitchen.

Her eyes fell on the covered pie on the windowsil, exactly where she asked Belros to leave it.

The cloth over it was sunken in.

Mina slowly approached the pie. She remembered the little leaves she carefully crafted for the top crust. The peaches Traven helped prepare. Rolling out the dough. Wondering if Traven would get proper rest after nearly dying mere hours before.

And she removed the cloth.

Pieces of crust clinging to it.

The pie smashed in by the fist of a wrathful beast.

The strap around her leg burned into her skin.

Dagger heavy.

Cathlyn.