Kammon’s odd behavior continued as they rode. Five days to the village the players were supposed to be heading, then another two because they’d moved on before Kammon and Ezo arrived. As much as Kammon said he wanted to reach the players though, he stopped every night at a village and got a room at an inn for the night, instead of sleeping under the stars. They’d eat in the common room, listening to stories from other travelers, but retire quickly when they were done. Kammon pulled him into bed then, alternating between bruising kisses and the gentlest touches.

They started out again early each morning and Kammon watched the countryside like he expected an attack at any minute.

Ezo hadn’t forgotten about Vash and the Imperium. Or Eques Lestan, but the further they got from Riverkeep, the less real all that seemed. He was looking forward to seeing the players again, though he worried about his reception. He’d left Alvrey on rocky terms. He hoped to remedy that now. He missed the actors, and especially the two boys that had joined them in Nivet. Mathis and Tamis were good kids, and he needed to see how they were doing as well.

Ezo was tired from eight days of travel, but he was renewed as the outline of the wagons finally came into view beside the road before them.

He rode on ahead of Kammon and reached the wagons. A shout went up around him as the men and women of Jaroh’s Traveling Players recognized him.

“I heard you’re always looking for skilled hands?” he asked as he rode straight up to Jaroh.

“Get off that horse!” Jaroh called out to him.

As soon as he did, Jaroh enfolded him into his embrace. “I told Alvrey you would find us. Eventually.”

“It’s been a long journey,” Ezo said as Jaroh released him.

“Ezo!” Tamis threw himself at Ezo while Mathis ran up and stopped short of him. “You came back!”

“Of course I did. I had to take a bit of a trip, but I wasn’t done with you two just yet,” he teased. He reached out and clasped Mathis’s shoulder. The boy crashed into him then, nearly knocking him and Tamis to the ground.

“Let him breathe!” Jaroh yelled at the boys. A small crowd had gathered around them, but a soft cough drew his attention away from the rest of them. Alvrey stepped up beside Jaroh.

“Alvrey.” He didn’t know what to say to her now that she was right in front of him. As much as he’d worried about her, seeing her in person brought up too much that he still hadn’t sorted through. He didn’t know how to forgive her for trying to keep him from Kammon. The pain and fear from the morning Kammon had been attacked while he was alone, the anger Ezo had felt when she explained why he should stay away from the War-Sworn, all came boiling to the top again.

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She looked as torn as he felt.

Her eyes widened, though, and she took a step back. He looked back and watched as Kammon rode through the crowd. Mathis and Tamis were as excited to see Kammon as they had been to see Ezo. The rest of the players were more reserved around him, and most returned to work to get their wagons ready for the next day.

Kammon dismounted his horse and turned the reigns over to the brothers. “Alvrey,” he addressed the healer with a small smile. “I hope the time since our departure has treated you well.”

She nodded. “We’ve heard you had some trouble.”

“I’m afraid it comes with the name.”

She smiled and stepped closer to him. When she gently embraced him, Kammon whispered in her ear. Ezo didn’t know what he said, but she stiffened. She pulled back to look at him, and he nodded once.

“Ezo’s been worried about you.”

“We worried about the both of you,” Jaroh cut in. “Word is the Imperium is looking for you two.”

“They found us,” Ezo said. “They didn’t like what they found.”

“Ezo!” Alvrey gasped.

He shrugged. “I’ve got more important things to worry about than the Imperium.”

“Ezo!” It was Kammon’s turn to admonish him.

They hadn’t talked about whether they would reveal the libraries to Alvrey or anyone else. Ezo had thought it would be obvious they should tell her. She was a healer and some of those books might be of more use to her than to them. He should have spoken to Kammon about it, though. He was as much a Truthkeeper now as Ezo was.

“The question is, are they still looking for us, or was it just Vash?” he asked Kammon. “The news could be from when they originally sent men.”

“They aren’t likely to advertise our fight by asking around after the fact,” Kammon admitted.

“It sounds like you have some stories to tell us,” Jaroh said. “Why don’t we find a place for these beasts of yours and beds for the two of you.”

“One bed will be enough,” Kammon told the man.

Jaroh raised a brow at that but didn’t say anything as Mathis and Tamis took the horses away.

Kammon stepped up behind Ezo. “Talk. I’ll get everything else settled,” he said to Ezo. As much tension as there was in the air, Kammon seemed to have finally relaxed a little. He pressed a kiss to Ezo’s temple, then walked off with Jaroh.

Ezo had become used to Kammon’s small shows of affection, but Alvrey’s mouth opened in surprise. Ezo turned to watch Kammon disappear between the wagons with Jaroh.

“Looks like some things have changed,” Alvrey said.

Ezo sighed. “And some haven’t. I can feel your disapproval from here.”

“That’s not it, Ezo. I don’t disapprove of Kammon. In truth, I’m rather fond of him. I worry for you.”

Ezo nodded. It wasn’t a fresh wound, but it wasn’t so old that he was willing to rip it open just yet. “I should see if anyone needs help. I remember how hard it was to get all the wagons set for show day.”

“Ezo, please-”

“We’ll talk later,” he offered. “I was worried about you. It’s nice to see you. I just…didn’t realize this would still hurt so much. I don’t know what you think Kammon will do to me, but whatever it is, you can’t make me leave him.”

“Stop by later. Let me check you over,” she offered.

He nodded, but didn’t say anything as he turned and walked away. He told himself that at least she was safe. He had time to right whatever had gone wrong between them, but so long as she believed Kammon was the wrong, there was no way to heal the gap.

Ezo felt the pull of magic from Kammon, but a shout rang out on the other side of the wagons. Ezo followed until he found Kammon in the middle of it all, helping to set up a new tent they’d added since Ezo had left.

“What are you doing with that?” he asked as he entered the crowd.

Jaroh smiled and wrapped an arm around Ezo’s shoulder. “Let me tell you what we’ve been up to while you were gone.”