Alvrey reached out to steady Ezo as he stumbled, nearly falling into the water.

“I don’t need your help!” Ezo yelled as he jumped from stone to stone across the river.

Alvrey’s hands clenched into fists as she turned away, but the elementalist’s words stung her once again.

It was only mid-day on their first day of travel, and Kammon just might strangle Ezo. This was worse than he thought it would be. Every time Alvrey did anything, Ezo complained about it, or he ignored her completely.

It verged on the line of childish, except Kammon understood exactly why Ezo was upset with her. He didn’t blame either of them; he just hoped he survived this trip.

“I’m going to run ahead, and scout,” Ezo called to him as Kammon began crossing the river.

Kammon might argue that he needed to stay close, but the skies were clear, and Ember flew overhead. He already knew there was nothing of concern in the vicinity. So did Ezo.

Kammon crossed the water and gave Alvrey a small smile where she stood, waiting for him.

“If I could draw a map for you, I would,” she said softly.

Kammon couldn’t help the startled laugh that escaped his lips at her dejected voice. “I imagine you would.”

They walked together in silence for a few minutes before they crested a hill. Ezo was already on the other side of it, and he didn’t seem to be slowing anytime soon.

Kammon broke the companionable silence. “I know Ezo is being difficult right now, but thank you for traveling with us. He’s too proud to admit that he’s wrong.”

“Does he believe he’s wrong?” Alvery asked.

Kammon looked at Ezo and sighed. He wished that was the problem. “No, I’m afraid he doesn’t.”

Alvrey touched his arm and pulled him to a stop. “Do you?”

Kammon tilted his head slightly, trying to answer her. “No matter that Ezo has been traveling the world these past few years, he still sees this world as something that can be fixed. I don’t want him to lose that, but I never saw it that way. He can even see the good in the Calamity,” Kammon said with a sad smile. “If I could let him go, I would have. I have nothing but ash and flames to give him. He deserves more. But the bond pulled us together, and I can’t undo that.”

“I believe you,” Alvrey said.

“You believe that I don’t want to hurt him?”

She nodded. “But you have, and you will. No matter what you want. The Imperium came for him because of you. The fight in Pramas. The man chasing you. The Vow. These are all because of his bond with you.”

Kammon nodded. “I don’t disagree. I don’t blame you for thinking I’m no good for him, Alvrey.”

“You don’t?”

Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

He shook his head. “Everything you said is true. I…” he took a deep breath and said the words he never intended to say in front of anyone. “I love him. And I’m terrified of what that means for him. Because I can’t change my past, and even though I’ve tried to do good since I became Disavowed, I am still Kammon the Calamity. And the Imperium wants me back on the front lines,” he admitted.

“What?”

He nodded. “That’s why they were looking for us. They tried to force me back into the fight.”

“And you refused?”

“It was a particularly memorable refusal. They threatened to imprison me if I didn’t go. We left anyway.”

“I heard there was trouble at the University, but no one seems to know what happened.”

“We haven’t talked about it to anyone. We found…other things that needed tending to. And while we were lying low and trying to stay away from the Imperium’s notice, I felt the Vow on him. I would have kept him hidden there as long as I could, but we have to get the Vow off him.”

“If anyone can do it, it will be the woman I’m taking you to meet.”

Kammon reached out to the bond and felt Ezo waiting impatiently for them ahead. He started walking again, but he opened himself to Ember and sent his wishes to her. The hawk flew down to Ezo and began herding him back toward Kammon.

He heard Ezo’s laughter and he was grateful the display had caused joy rather than adding to his dark mood.

“Nothing ahead?” Kammon asked as they met again.

“All clear,” Ezo confirmed.

They walked a few minutes longer before Kammon spoke again. “Tell us about this healer, Alvrey.”

Alvrey looked at him and nodded. “Healers train differently than elementals. Too few are born with the ability to heal, so we are pushed into the field much earlier. There are no years of training at the University. We are gathered there and given minimal study as an apprentice. Once a master arrives who can train us, we become their acolyte. Maggie was my master. I had barely been at the University before she took me away.”

“I remember. It caused a stir,” Kammon said.

“You were there?” Alvrey asked.

“I know little of the healers, but Maggie oversaw my Vow. So when there was talk, I listened. They expected Master Marisong to take an acolyte among the many who had been waiting and pass on her experience with the Vow. There was quite the uproar when she took you, who had not properly learned the ways of the Imperium yet. Even more so when she moved away from the study of the War-Sworn’s words.”

“Why did she do it?” Ezo asked.

At least Ezo’s sense of curiosity wasn’t hindered by his anger with Alvrey.

“She would never speak of it,” Alvrey said. “In all the years I trained with her, she never told me why she broke in that way with the Imperium. And she refused to teach me even the most basic understanding of the Vow. I had to learn about it when I returned as a master healer.”

“You were lucky to be trained by her.” Kammon smiled softly at the memory of her. “I remember her kindness when I said the words. She came to check on me, after. Everything else was a blur to me, but there was concern in her eyes, and her hands were warm when she touched my forehead. I had little enough kindness in those days.”

“Some people see goodness in others. Sounds like she saw through your glares and bad moods,” Ezo teased from his other side. “Too bad that’s not a skill that can be taught, too.”

Alvrey looked at her feet, and Kammon wanted to yell at Ezo for berating her again. Kammon needed to help them bridge this gap before Ezo did something that would drive a wedge between them forever.

“You think she’ll help us?” Kammon asked.

Alvrey took a deep breath. “She is the only one I know of who could. We have to try.”

A village appeared ahead of them on the horizon, and Kammon was grateful. “We should make it there before dark. It would be nice to have a bed. I’m sure we’ll be missing it before long.”

“A week to get to her?” Ezo asked.

“Yes. Five days to the border and another two days into Mailan, if she hasn’t moved since we last corresponded,” Alvrey confirmed.

“Could we send Ember ahead to see if she’s there?” Ezo asked him.

Ember had disappeared, but she was still on the edge of his consciousness, to be called at need. “I don’t know the way and I don’t know that she could follow the instructions like that. You’re stuck on the road with us.”

“It could be worse. At least we get a bed tonight,” Ezo said with a wink.

Kammon let out a small laugh at that. At least in the village, he could get a brief reprieve from Ezo lashing out at Alvrey. For the night, at least, he could steal him away without fear of being too far from the healer.