“So,” I asked them. “Are you sending someone to kill me? Or are you going to try and put me on a throne?”

Jina and Shorin both looked uncomfortable. They were the representatives of the council of Elders now in charge here in Atal. The city name had been kept, people were just used to it at this point.

“Neither,” Shorin said. “We know you saved us. Everyone knows what would have happened if Cino had taken the city, and nobody would dare to harm you for that. The thing is...”

“Your terrifying, those things you used against his army, that's scary, too scary. You're also too young to rule. There's not a single pale hair on your head child, nobody would respect it. The other Ancients wouldn't accept it either. One or more of them would decide you were a joke and come to do something about it.” Jina really had a way with words.

“So what then?” I asked.

“Well, we spoke, and there are a few options. There is one thing though we'd like to... request of you. You see two Ancients have died, and that's not a small thing. Tradition dictates that we should send a messenger out to let the others know. If you went... it would give plenty of time to let things calm down, and you've already demonstrated you're skilled enough.” Shorin looked nervous as he spoke, stuttering a bit as he requested something he really shouldn't.

“You're exiling me,” I amended.

“No, you'll be able to come back,” Jina said lazily. “We're giving time for you to grow and people to lose some of the edge of fear.”

“Fine,” I told them.

“Just, just like that?” Shorin asked, confused.

“Just like that. This isn't the first time I've been exiled, and to be honest I don't like seeing people cringe every time they see me. We'll add to that the fact that I'd really like to get away for awhile, see something new. Just to be clear though, I do plan on returning.”

The author's tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

That evening I gathered my people together.

“I'm going to go for awhile. There's a message that needs to be taken to the other Ancients and I'm taking it, for a lot of reasons. Of course I want you to know that I love you all, and I'll be back when I can.”

“Not alone,” Isha said. “I'm going too.”

“Isha...” I began.

“Do I need to go get something to shut you up with?” she asked sweetly.

“Fine,” I accepted, her coming along would make the trip better at least.

“Yeah, I'm coming too boss. Never gone wrong sticking with you, and you can't get rid of me this easy,” Chien said with a shrug and a laugh.

“Alright, anyone else?”

“Ian and I are... together now,” Auntie Atie demurred. “I'd offer but...”

“Stay then, mind keeping an eye on the house for me?” I'd already cleaned out my lab this afternoon, purging it of anything dangerous.

“Of course!” she said with a smile.

“Do you mind if I stay too?” Ida asked.

“Ida you've always been free to stay or leave as you wish. Just try not to cause Atie problems okay?”

She nodded, before going back to being silent. I guess old habits died hard.

Chien

I was leaving, something I had no compunctions about, but there was one thing I had to do first. So I made my way into the back streets, into the Street of Flowers, ignoring the girls as they flirted, picking my way along until I found what I was looking for, the place where I'd been born.

Walking in none of the girls bothered, for they all knew better. I strode up to the owner where she sat in the main area.

“Is she here?” I asked.

“Yes, in her room, and alone for now,” she told me, polite, but cold. After all I'd left her employ so many years ago.

I tossed her something for her troubles and made my way into the brothel proper, deep into one of the innermost rooms.

“Hello mother,” I said as I entered.

“Oh, it's you,” she returned, looking me up and down. She was sober, that was good, meant she might remember what I told her. “Did you bring me anything?”

She always did that, always asked for more, more to feed her habit. The fermented berry wine she liked so much wasn't easy to come by, and she had it far too much. I could even see it in her face, the rose color that never went away.

“No, I came to tell you I'm leaving, leaving the city, for a long time. You'll have to take care of yourself from now on.”

She rose, angry that I'd said that and stomped over to me. “I don't need you to take care of myself Chien, I've been doing it longer than you know.”

“Good,” I agreed, and turned to leave.

“You rude brat!” she roared, and moved to slap me.

I let her, just making a wall of force between myself and her hand. It did nothing, at least to me, she fell back cradling her fingers.

“I'm leaving,” I informed her again, this time quite coldly. “Try to be safe while I'm gone.”

“Your little 'boss' isn't your father boy,” she spat, trying to hurt me.

“Maybe not, but he's been more of a father to me than you've ever been a mother.” I left her to think on that then, uncaring about anything else she had to say.