As Kira was walking out of the cobbler’s shop when she felt a tug at the corner of her mind. She knew she’d felt it before but couldn’t remember where.

As the three of them continued through the market heading back to the Guild Hall, she realized where she recognized it from. Memories of alleyways and shaggy fur came to her as she ran towards the aura.

Elation mixed with fear and sadness the closer she came to her destination. She wanted to laugh and cry hysterically as soon as she saw the large black figure standing at the end of the alley.

She fell to her knees, her body losing its ability to stand as adrenaline continued to flood her veins.

The black shepherd that she had fed and played with back in Northmoor slowly approached her, head lowered as it sniffed the air.

Kira saw its ears perk up as it recognized her. She got to her feet and started inching towards the shaggy dog. Reaching her hand out as the shepherd closed the last few feet between them, pushing its head into her open palm.

She rubbed his neck, black and grey soot falling free as she did. Kira remembered the fires that were burning during their escape.

Liam and Eric rounded the corner and stopped.

They watched as she petted and whispered to the animal.

“Is she gonna be alright? That mutt’s almost as big as she is” Eric said.

“It’s one of the stray dogs she used to take care of back in our village. She’ll be alright.” Liam replied.

He knew how much those dogs had meant to her and was glad at least one of them survived.

“If yuh say so. I’m still not convinced” Eric said, eyeing the creature suspiciously.

Kira turned around to face them.

“He’s not going to hurt me. And he’s a lot less scary than you are” she said, scowling at Eric.

“I suppose you’re right little one” he chuckled as he ruffled her hair. “We need to be getting back though. It’ll be dinner soon and Allen’ll have my head if I don’t have you back before then.”

Kira turned back to her old friend.

“I’ll come see you again soon so stay out of trouble” she said as she scratched his head.

The three of them left the alley, Kira glancing back at the dog one last time.

The streets were easier to navigate now that they were out of the crowd, and they quickly made it back to the plaza where the Guild Hall was.

The smell of fresh bread and meat filled their noses as they entered the building. There were a lot more people than the day before. A dozen other members sat at various tables throughout the tavern, all turning to look at the group as they walked in.

Kira could feel their eyes on her as she moved closer to Liam. She didn’t like being the center of attention, and the atmosphere was making her uncomfortable.

As they approached the bar, she saw Amy sitting where she had before and clambered onto a stool next to her. Liam sat on the stool to her right as Eric headed to let Allen know they had returned.

Jefferey handed them plates of bread, lamb, and some sort of leafy green she couldn’t identify. He poured each of them a mug of juice and then turned back to clean the dishes that were piling up behind him.

“Did Eric help you get everything you need?” Amy asked them.

“I think so, at least for now” Liam replied.

“Good. He’s a smart man but he can be a bit dense sometimes. So, you might have to ask for it if you want or need something” she said, a smile playing at the corner of her mouth.

Once they finished eating, they took their stuff to their room and then followed Eric to the other side of the building.

The hallway to the right of the bar lead to the administrative floor of the Guild Hall. It looked almost identical to the dormitory, apart from most rooms not having doors.

The two at the end of the hall were for the Commandant and the Vice Commandant, to the left and right respectively.

They entered the room on the right and saw Allen buried in a pile of paperwork, rubbing his temples.

He looked up as he noticed them standing there.

“Ah, my apologies. There’s so much to do and not enough hours in the day to do it. I wanted to talk to you about a few things regarding your stay, but it’s getting late and probably better to discuss them with the Baron when he returns” he said.

“Do you know when he’s expected to return?” Liam asked him.

“Unfortunately, no. My best guess would be within the next few days at best.” Allen replied. “I see you have a sword now.”

Liam's hand brushed the hilt of the weapon still strapped to his hip.

“Eric bought it for me earlier today” he said.

“Hmm, perhaps we can find someone for you to train with until John gets back” Allen said, thinking out loud.

“I would appreciate the opportunity” Liam replied gratefully.

“He can train with me” Eric said abruptly.

“That’s fine by me. Are you alright with it Liam?” Allen asked.

When Liam nodded, he turned to Kira.

“We should find something for you as well. Have you started training your magic yet?”

“I’ve taught her a little. She learns quickly and enjoys a challenge” Liam said, placing his arm around her shoulder.

“Excellent, I’ll have Amy teach her then. How about you two begin tomorrow morning? I think it’ll be good for you to get your minds off recent events,” said Allen.

Kira was wondering what she would be learning as Liam and the others continued to talk. Before long they headed back to their room, Liam waiting outside the door while she changed.

It felt good to sleep in a bed again, she thought. Thoughts of her bed, her home, and her family kept her awake, staring at the ceiling well into the night.

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Liam woke up early the next morning, eager to start training again.

He got dressed quickly, making sure that his sword was secure at his hip, and woke Kira before heading down for breakfast.

The morning meals were simple, consisting of eggs, bread, and alternating kinds of fruit and meat.

Liam finished quickly and went to look for Eric in the training yard behind the Hall. He found him running laps around a dirt track that had been worn into the ground.

He surveyed the training grounds. A tall wooden plank fence wrapped around the yard, separating them from the street and providing privacy. Bars with metal weights were stacked to his right against the building. Several guild members were doing various exercises off to his left, they were watching him as he approached Eric.

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“Good morning” he said to his new instructor.

Eric stopped running, not even slightly out of breath.

“Good morning, Liam. Ready to get started?” he replied.

“Yup” Liam said nodding.

“Great, we’re gonna start with thirty laps around the training grounds” Eric said.

Liam looked at the track. It was shaped like a rectangle about fifty yards long and twenty wide. He quickly did some rough math in his head and sighed.

“That’s two and a half miles” he said, suddenly exhausted.

“A little less than two and a half but yeah” Eric said grinning widely. “We’re gonna run thirty laps in the morning and another thirty in the evenin’ every day.”

“Five miles a day!”

Liam suddenly regretted accepting Eric’s offer to train him.

“There’s a lot to do today so better get started” the big man said, patting the boy on the shoulder as he jogged off again.

Liam followed after him, trailing a few feet behind. After the first fifteen laps, he dropped back, unable to keep pace with Eric any longer.

“How can such a large man run so fast for so long” Liam muttered as Eric lapped him for the third time.

“What was that?” Eric said turning to jog backwards.

“Nothing! Nothing at all” Liam growled as he pushed himself harder.

He collapsed to the ground wheezing when he finally passed the finish line, shielding his eyes from the sun with his hand. Suddenly there was shade and Liam looked up to see Eric leaning over him chuckling to himself.

“I though you said you liked to train?” he said, clearly enjoying himself.

“With a sword. I meant I like to train with a sword” Liam said forcing the words out between ragged breaths.

“Well, we’ve got a long way to go before we start that. First, we gotta whip you into shape,” said Eric. “C’mon, time to split and haul the firewood.”

Liam slowly got to his feet, his legs throbbing.

They walked to the front of the Guild Hall through a gate in the fence.

“See that pile of wood over there? Your next task is to quarter those logs and stack them in the lean-to by the front door” Eric instructed as he indicated a pile of wood nearly as tall as Liam was to the right of the building.

“All of it?” he asked.

“Just enough to fill the rack. No point cutting more than necessary” Eric replied.

“Why does it feel like you’re using me to do your chores now?” Liam said as he glanced suspiciously at Eric.

“No, they were my chores, now they’re your chores. And besides, this’ll build your endurance and strength!” the man chuckled.

Liam glared at him as he went to lean his sword against the building.

He picked up a maul that was resting against a large flat log and inspected it before he began splitting the logs into quarters. When he got tired of swinging the axe, he would stack what was cut and then repeat the process.

It was early afternoon by the time Liam had filled the lean-to. The two of them went inside to quickly eat lunch before going back to the training grounds.

“Now that you’re warmed up, it’s time for some weight training” Eric said as he picked up a set of dumbbells.

Liam groaned. His arms were sore, and his legs felt like jelly.

He found a set he could manage and followed Eric off to the side of the yard.

Eric led him through the routine, working every muscle he had in his upper body.

He was exhausted, both mentally and physically. They stopped just before Liam was about to collapse.

Replacing their weights they went inside to rest. Liam sat at the bar as Jefferey poured him a glass of water.

“He trains pretty hard, doesn’t he.” the bartender chuckled as Liam drained the glass.

“He can’t be human! It’s like I’m trying to keep up with a machine!” he panted, slumping on the counter.

Eric sat down beside him and clapped a massive hand on his shoulder.

“I thought yuh said you’ve trained before?” he asked the boy.

Liam turned a withering glare on him before resting his head on the bar again.

After resting for a while, they went to run again.

Liam couldn’t keep up with Eric at all. It was taking everything he had just to stay on his feet.

Eric was sitting on the ground reading a book when Liam finally crossed the finish line.

“About time” he said standing up. “Dinner started forty minutes ago.”

Liam collapsed and rolled to his back while taking in gulps of air.

“Please tell me we’re finished for the day” he wheezed.

“Yes, now c’mon, I’m hungry.”

Liam ate in silence, Kira joining him at the table.

“You smell” she said wrinkling her nose.

He glared at her, not bothering to reply. After they finished, he went to bathe and then fell into bed. He was asleep by the time his head hit the pillow.

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Kira watched as her brother left the table after breakfast the following morning. She didn’t envy him, she hated running. Fortunately, she thought, she was going to be starting her own training today.

Amy walked up to her as she handed her plate to the bartender.

“Ready to go?” she said.

“Yes” Kira replied.

They headed out of the Guild Hall and walked towards the mansion that sat on the other side of the plaza.

“The Guild has a decent library, but the Baron’s study has more of the materials you’ll need” Amy explained.

As they walked around the fountain that sat at the center, a familiar shaggy black dog trotted up alongside Kira.

She scratched its head as they walked.

“A friend of yours?” Amy asked.

Kira nodded.

Amy kneeled to take a closer look.

“He appears to be mostly healthy if not a little dirty. Why don’t you bring him along, you can bathe him when we return to the Guild Hall.”

Kira’s eyes lit up, excited to have her furry friend staying with her.

“I’ll discuss it with Allen later. He won’t have a problem with it though so don’t worry” Amy said, returning to her feet.

“How can you know for sure?” Kira asked her.

“Because I’m going to tell him it’s not a problem.”

“But doesn’t he outrank you?” Kira said tilting her head slightly.

Amy tried hard not to laugh as she realized the dog was mimicking her new apprentice.

“Allen owes me a favor for agreeing to teach you, so don’t worry about it” she replied, ruffling Kira’s hair.

The three of them continued walking towards the manor. As they approached the porch, a woman with greying hair wearing a maid’s uniform opened the door to greet them.

“Welcome, my name is Sarah. The Vice Commandant informed us you would be using Lord Hunt’s study starting today” she said with a slight bow.

Kira followed Amy inside, glancing around as they walked.

The main hall of the mansion was much less fancy than Kira had anticipated. There were only a few paintings adorning the walls, all of them depicting either a man or a woman dressed in the same colors the Hunter’s Guild members wore.

“They’re the former Barons and Baronesses of Midwood Hollow” Sarah explained when she noticed the girl looking at them. “When the Guild elects a new leader that person is also granted the noble title. Our town is one of the few places where the title isn’t hereditary.”

“But what about the Queen? Doesn’t she have a say in the decision?” Kira asked.

She liked the older woman, her kind voice and graceful movements reminded Kira of her mother.

“She does. The candidates are first submitted to her for approval before the vote takes place” Sarah replied.

“What if she doesn’t like any of the candidates?”

“That’s a good question. It hasn’t happened in nearly two hundred years, but if they are all declined then the previous Lord would have to remain in office until a new candidate can be appointed. If there is no one to hold the title, the royal family would appoint one of their heirs to the position while a suitable person is found.”

Kira thought she understood. From what she could remember there were two baronies in Valenterra, Midwood Hollow to the north and Eastwick to the south. She wondered if Eastwick had a similar system.

The mansion had a homely feel to it which put Kira at ease. She liked how the polished wood shined in the light of the mage lamps, and the simple décor reminded her of home.

She turned to ask Sarah another question and realized they had arrived at the study.

The wooden door was engraved with ornate carvings inlaid with silver.

“Here we are. You two will have access to this room whenever you need it” the maid said, opening the door and ushering them inside.

As she walked into the study, Kira was stunned by the rows of bookshelves that took up the back half of the room.

She went to take a closer look as Amy talked with Sarah.

The dark walnut shelves were nearly twice her height, and she found books on nearly every subject imaginable.

She looked around at the rest of the study. To the left of the entrance stood a massive desk piled high with books and rolls of parchment. The right had a low table with several armchairs around it.

“I’m here to learn, so they won’t mind me borrowing one. Right?” She thought to herself as she looked at the dog sitting next to her.

Kira patted his head and then found a book on basic magic theory. Sitting down on one of the chairs, she began searching for where Liam had left off.

“I’m glad to see you’re eager to start” Amy said as she joined Kira.

“I’ve already read part of this one” Kira replied.

“Good, because that’s what we are going to be studying for the foreseeable future” Amy said, grinning at the deflated look on her apprentice’s face.

She had really hoped to start learning something interesting today.

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It was getting dark when Kira found an exhausted Liam sitting at the bar.

“I’m not sure how much more of this I can take…” Liam said as she sat down next to him.

He glanced down at her feet when he noticed the dog laying down beside her.

“Isn’t that the same dog from the other day?” He asked.

“Yeah. Amy said I could keep him with me.”

Liam nodded absently, happy that his sister seemed to be doing better now that she had something to occupy her time with.

“What’s his name?”

“Uhh… I haven’t thought about it” she said, suddenly realizing that she’d just been referring to him as “Dog”.

“Well, you’ll have to come up with one for him. Take some time to think about it while you give him a bath tonight.”

They ate in relative silence, both too tired to continue their conversation.

She led the dog upstairs to bathe him once she had finished eating.

With the help of her blessing, he followed her command to get in the tub.

As soon as he hopped in, the water nearly turned black with the ash and dirt that had accumulated in his fur.

“Phew. You’re filthy!” She giggled.

She used some of the soap to wash the grim out and then used her comb to detangle his matted coat.

Kira thought long and hard about what his name should be while she dried and brushed him.

Once she finished, she stepped back to look at her handiwork. His black fur, which was normally tinged with various shades of browns and greys, was now as dark as night and glossy. She thought he looked even more menacing now that he was clean.

His intelligent brown eyes were looking right into hers, twinkling in the lantern light, and Kira decided then what she was going to call him.