Riding along the mighty Tanchun River, Letius made his way back home. Each mile they covered brought him closer to a place he had sworn he would never see again. Nervous energy crawled through his body, but as he glanced at the wide, still waters of the Tanchun, he was able to gather a momentary calm.

  Taking the moment to compose himself, he noticed Aspemo pulling alongside him. The young man was riding on the old horse provided by his grandfather, the animal struggling to keep up with Midnight.

  “My lord, when will we reach our destination?” he asked. He said the title awkwardly, the words coming out choppy and stiff.

  I didn’t miss being called that, Letius thought, leaning back in his saddle and slowing Midnight’s pace.

  “I told you; there’s no need to address me like that,” he grunted. “I’ve watched you grow up since you were a boy. You’ve even taught me how to shoot a bow and track deer. You can keep calling me Uncle.”

  “No, my lord. I’m your squire now. I must address you as such.”

  Alias giggled at the seriousness in Aspemo’s words. She turned her head to look up at her father. “Father, are you really a noble? Do I need to start calling you Lord as well?”

  Letius reached down and playfully rubbed her head, messing up her hair. “I was a lord before I renounced it. If our family takes us back, we will both be nobility—but as my daughter, you will always have to call me Father.”

  Turning to Aspemo, he pointed to a mountain range rising in the distance. “That’s Aligheiri’s Rest. Once we cross it, we will see Castle Leora.”

  “How long will that take, my lord?”

  Letius squinted at the mountain and rubbed his chin where a beard was starting to grow. It had been days since he had shaved, and it was longer than he was used to.

  I need a shave, he thought, judging the distance.

  “If the pass is clear, we’ll arrive just before dusk tomorrow. If not, it will take some time. We’ll make camp at the foot of the mountain tonight.”

  “Yes, my lord. Should we stop for lunch soon?”

  Realizing his nervousness had stolen his appetite, Letius nodded. “Let’s make camp by those trees. The one with the large tree near the river.”

  “Yes, My lord.”

  Alias straightened her hair with her fingers and leaned back against Letius’ chest. “Father, tell me more about my aunts,” she pleaded.

  “Later,” Letius said, squeezing his legs, causing Midnight to pick up his pace. “I’ll tell you all about your aunts during lunch.”

  “Promise?”

  “Promise.”

  Reaching the trees in short order, Letius dismounted Midnight and lifted Alias down. Patting the horse’s neck, he unstrapped a small pot and a leather-wrapped bar of pemmican from the saddle bags.

  “Sorry, old friend, I can’t take off your saddle yet,” he whispered, patting the horse’s neck. If something were to happen while they were eating, they wouldn’t have time to saddle the horses. “We’re just going to have a quick meal.”

  Whinnying softly in understanding, Midnight bent down and started to graze. Patting Midnight one more time, Letius looked over his shoulder at Aspemo, who was getting off his own horse.

  “Gather some wood and start a fire. I’ll get water from the river. Alias, help Aspemo.”

  “Yes, Father!”

  Letius walked quickly to the river and dipped the pot into the stream. The Tanchun River, known for its strong current, pulled the pot back a little as water filled it, causing some of its clear water to splash on his face. Wiping the water off his face with his sleeve, he poured some of the excess water out and carefully made his way back.

  By the time he returned, Aspemo had already started the fire, using dry kindling he had brought from the village to speed up the process. Grabbing a couple of rocks and one large flat one, Aspemo put them over the fire, creating a makeshift stove.

  As he worked, Alias ran over holding an armful of branches. “I brought wood!” she shouted proudly, grinning as she dropped them by Aspemo’s feet.

  “Thank you, my lady,” Aspemo said, grabbing some of the thinner pieces and shoving them under the flat rock.

  “I’m not a Lady,” Alias said, reaching down and helping him feed the fire.

  “But you are. You are Lord Letius’s daughter, which makes you a Lady,” Aspemo insisted.

  “Oh,” A frown formed on Alias’s face. “But I like my name. Mother chose it for me.”

  A bitter-sweet pang struck Letius in the heart. His wife had spent days thinking of a name for her.

  “Then I will call you Lady Alias,” Aspemo said with a grin.

  “Well, I guess that’s fine,” Alias nodded.

  As the fire grew, Letius placed the pot of water on the flat rock and tossed in the bar of pemmican. As the tallow melted, releasing the dried meat and berries, he sat back and gestured toward the stove.

  “Alias, do you remember what I told you about using rocks in a campfire? Especially when making one near a river?”

  “Never use rocks that have been in the river!” Alias said excitedly.

  “Do you remember why?”

  “Because the rocks blow up!”

  “That’s right. That’s why Aspemo took the time to find rocks from farther away. Now, pass me the wooden spoon from Aspemo’s bag. The stew needs stirring.”

  “I want to do it.”

  “Alright, but be careful.”

  As Alias stirred, Aspemo brought over wooden bowls.“How does it look?” he asked, peering over Alias’s shoulder.

  “I think it’s done,” she said, looking at Letius. “Father, can I pour?”

  “That’s fine, but let Aspemo help you.”

  Nodding in understanding, Alias carefully ladled the stew into the bowls Aspemo was holding. Sitting around the fire, the three of them took in the scent of the rich, meaty stew before digging in. Warm steam danced around their faces as they brought their spoons to their mouths. The taste was rich, savory, and salty—a little bland in Letius’s opinion—but the small pieces of berries added a sweetness he enjoyed.

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  As they ate, Alias looked up. “Father, tell me about my aunts.”

  Taking another spoonful of stew, Letius chewed. Truth be told, he was a little worried about his sister, Tricia. Like their father, she valued family reputation, and Alias was born from a marriage that House Leora did not approve of.

  She wouldn't take her anger out on Alias. Would she?

  “Well, you have two aunts,” he began. “Aunt Tricia and Aunt Edium. Tricia is strong and fierce, like a beautiful sword. To her, our family reputation is the most important thing. But like a sword, she will not bend. She is someone who would rather snap rather than dishonor her code.”

  “And Aunt Edium?”

  “Edium… well, honestly, I don't really know. She was so young when I left home that her personality was still developing. But if I had to say something, she is pragmatic.”

  “Pragmatic? What does that mean?”

  “Pragmatic means that someone is more concerned about what is happening than what could be happening,” Letius explained. “She was the one who wrote to us about your grandfather and uncle. From what I remember, she always allowed people to help her without fuss.”

  “She doesn’t do things herself?”

  “No, it’s not that,” Letius said, scratching his head. “I once asked her if she needed help putting on a coat. She said no, but she would accept the help because it would be easier and faster that way. She’s the kind of person who looks for help instead of trying to carry the burden alone. It’s a skill most people lack.”

  “Well, I would do it myself!” Alias announced, waving her arm in the air like she was swinging a sword.

  Letius smiled. “I know you would. Just like Tricia. But remember. I’ll always be there for you.”

  “I know, Father,” Alias giggled.

  As they talked, Aspemo rose and ladled himself another bowl. “My Lord, Lady Alias, would you like seconds?” he asked.

  “Just a little bit more,” Alias answered, standing up and bringing her bowl over. “I want more berries than last time. No, let me do it.”

  “Alright, but let me hold the bowl for you. My Lord, would you like some more?”

  Putting his empty bowl down, Letius shook his head. “I’m full. You can have the rest.”

  “Thank you, my lord.”

  Once Alias had ladled what she wanted into her bowl, Aspemo dumped the remainder of the pot into his own bowl. The boy was growing fast and ate everything he could get his hands on.

  There was a time I used to eat like that, Letius thought, tilting his head back and forth in a stretch.

  Judging by how fast Aspemo grew in the last six months, Letius predicted he would be a formidable warrior in just a couple of years.

  “Aspemo, make sure you continue training your Aether manipulation,” he said. He pulled out a napkin to wipe a smear of stew from his daughter’s chin. “You need to keep rotating it in the pattern I taught you. The more you practice, the more natural it will be.”

  “Yes, my lord. I’ve been practicing while we ride, but it’s harder than the pattern my grandpa taught me. I keep getting lost. It feels as if the road home suddenly leads elsewhere. I keep stumbling across the pattern grandfather taught me.”

  “It will come with time. Don’t worry,” Letius said.

  Aspemo had begun drawing Aether two years ago, taught by his grandfather. The Village Chief had taught him what he knew, but it was inadequate. When Letius took Aspemo as a squire, he asked how he practiced. What he learned was expected, yet disappointing. Aspemo was learning to rotate Aether using a basic pattern commonly used by low-level guards and mercenaries in the northern part of Vanura—primarily in the lands of Apra and Nazau. It was a method passed down from Silkbug mercenaries who once guarded merchant caravans. This method was nowhere near the level expected of a squire of House Leora.

  Since then, Letius had been drilling Aspemo on an edited version of House Leora’s system, the same used by elite warriors and Pillars of their House.

  “Father, when can I use Aether?” Alias asked, staring at the back of her hand.

  On the back of her hand was a tiny black lion. Black was an unusual color for Leora’s lion, one Letius had never seen before. Most people from their House had a golden one, or on rare occasion, white like his. But Alias had a black one. Whether this was a good thing or not, Letius didn’t know.

  “You’re still too young,” he said, reaching over and wiping her mouth again. “Aspemo only started two years ago. Most Great Houses don’t even begin training their children until fifteen.”

  “But I want to learn now! I don’t want to wait nine years!”

  “Nine years is very long,” Letius agreed. “How about four? I was ten when I started. Father made an exception because of how good I was at the sword.”

  Alias looked down at her nearly empty bowl, frowning. She finally nodded. “I can wait four years.”

  “That’s my girl. Now, finish your meal. We have to clean up and be on our way.”

  “Yes, Father.”

  After finishing their meal, the three of them quickly rinsed their bowls, spoons, and pot in the Tanchun River and broke camp.

  Lifting Alias onto Midnight, Letius quickly checked that the saddle straps were secure before mounting behind her. He turned to Aspemo and nodded.

  “Ready?”

  “Yes, My lord.”

  Letius set a slower pace than he had that morning, allowing the old horse Aspemo rode on to keep up. If he had been riding Midnight alone, he could have run, but leaving Aspemo and Alias behind was out of the question.

  I would have liked to reach Castle Leora by tonight, he thought, scanning the horizon. But besides Aspemo’s horse, neither he nor Alias is used to riding all day. I need to slow the pace for their health.

  Besides, even if I reach the castle a few days earlier, I won’t be able to do much. Tricia has a good head for keeping a castle safe. My main goal is to boost the soldiers’ morale and challenge Lord Bovera and Lord Para to a duel. If I can convince them, even one verse two, I’m confident I can beat them.

  This confidence was not unfounded. Even before leaving home, he was known for his Auctoritas, only a half-step away from becoming an Arcane Master. He had taken that step in the years to come, becoming the second Arcane Master in Vanura after Hector.

  But what truly strengthened his confidence was the sword forms seared into his mind by the shadow warrior. Although he was unable to truly understand their essence, simply copying them had made him stronger.

  Tricia, Edium… hold on a little longer. I’ll be there soon.

  After following the Tanchun River inland for several hours, Letius turned west, leaving the river and heading towards Aligheiri’s Rest. As they rode on, the trees that had been plentiful near the river thinned until they were surrounded by a vast grassland. These plains stretched northwest all the way into Arioria, where they eventually became a massive desert.

  “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Aspemo breathed, staring at the swaying grass that touched his feet. “This is the first time I haven’t been surrounded by trees.”

  A strong breeze ruffled his hair, sending the grass dancing wildly.

  “Whoa! This is amazing!”

  Alias followed the breeze with her eyes as it moved the grass across the endless field. Reaching down, she grabbed a tall blade of grass, yanking it free and marveling at its length.

  “Father! Look how long it is!” she exclaimed, swinging it above Midnight’s neck.

  “Make sure you don’t hit Midnight,” Letius cautioned, smiling down at her. “You don’t want to startle him.”

  “I won’t. I’ll be careful.”

  Midnight’s whinny made Letius tense.

  That’s his warning noise, and it's not because of the grass.

  Scanning the horizon, Letius picked up movement in the distance. Drawing a small amount of Aether, he rotated it to his eyes, sharpening his vision.

  In the distance, five soldiers on horseback came into vision—one carrying the banner of House Leora. Judging from their head movements, they were searching for something—most likely him.

  Edium must have told them she sent me a message, he thought.

  He gestured to Aspemo. “There’s a group of soldiers looking for us. Fire a screaming arrow so they can locate us.”

  “Which direction, my lord?”

  “That way,” Letius said, pointing in the direction of the riders.

  “Yes, my lord.”

  A shrill whistle tore through the air as Aspemo released the arrow, the small holes at the tip of the arrow producing the piercing sound. In the distance, the soldier halted and turned their horses toward the noise.

  “They heard it,” Letius said. “Let’s move towards that small hill.”

  He pointed toward a gentile rise about a third of the way between them and the soldiers. Squeezing his legs, he urged Midnight forward.

  By the time they reached the hill, the galloping soldiers had arrived, the banner of Leora billowing behind them.

  “Lord Letius!”

  The leader of the group hurled himself from his horse and dropped to one knee, fist pressed to his chest. Tears streamed down his face.

  “Lady Edium told us to search for you, but I feared you hadn’t received the message.”

  By then, the rest of the soldiers were on the ground, tears in their eyes.

  Letius slid down from Midnight and walked towards the man, stopping in recognition.

  Aric Moore.

  He was a few years past retirement age, his short white hair neatly kept. In his youth, he had suffered a devastating injury to his shoulder. Though mostly healed, it still seized in bad weather or after heavy use, preventing him from wielding a sword for long periods.

  Most Lords would have let him go, but Letius’s father had chosen to keep him.

  Instead, he had kept Aric on as a weapons instructor. Though unable to fight in battle, he remained a skilled swordsman. A perfect teacher.

  He had been Letius’s first sword instructor.

  “Aric—no, Pillar Moore,” Letius corrected himself, recognizing the insignia of a Pillar on his chest.

  He stepped forward and helped the man rise.

  “I received Edium’s message. How’s the situation?”

  “It was dire, Lord Letius—no, Lord Leora,” Aric said, wiping the tears from his eyes. “But now that you’ve returned, everything will be better.”

  He bowed deeply.

  “Welcome back, Lord Leora. We have been waiting.”