The next time he saw her, he was wearing a different face.

Three days' walk from Kesmet lay the city of Aspen, the last large settlement of the northern lands. Quinn knew Aspen well—he liked the feeling of walking into a place and not being spared a second glance, and the people who lived there were accustomed to travellers passing through. Food, supplies and places to rest were in abundance, as well as drink and entertainment, for those seeking to unwind. A hub, where the traveller might continue on the main road to the Holy Village of Kesmet and the northern frontier, eventually the End of Lands, or turn to the east or west to Aspen's branch settlements. Villagers came here to meet to trade for supplies that weren't easy to come by in their own towns, to meet new people, and connect with old friends.

Quinn knew he'd find Jian here, if he waited long enough. Only one road linked the northern and southern lands.

Aspen boasted a lodging house run by a woman named Ersdal, old enough to qualify as an Elder, an impressive sight for those visiting a city for the first time in their lives—not only the woman who ran it, but the structure itself. She and her carpenter husband had expanded their own home piece by piece over decades, until it became a sprawling complex of rooms, stacked three high. Her calling in life, Ersdal explained, was to provide rest for the weary. She'd accept no bartering for a bunk in her home, and should she run out of rooms, she'd bunk them in her own kitchen, on borrowed linens.

Jian would end up at the lodging house eventually, Quinn felt certain, and so he asked Ersdal to watch for her. The landlady knocked firmly on his door late one evening, bringing news. "A girl and her companion arrived from the north a few moments ago," she informed him. "Red-haired, with braids. Probably the one you've been waiting for. I sent them down to the kitchen for a bite."

"Thank you." He took one of Ersdal's hands in both of his and gripped it firmly.

The ancient woman visibly relaxed at his touch. "Your hand feels so soft," she said. "Ah, to be young again!"

Quinn chuckled, loosened his grip. Then he steeled his nerves, smoothed his ponytail and headed to the kitchen.

First impressions, Quinn knew, would make or break any relationship. Would his appearance catch Jian's eye? Should he try to be aloof, at first, or more friendly? How much information should he offer?

He also worried about her companion, the swordsman. The Elders back in Elsinoor seemed wary of Madrigal, to the point where one, Elder Veila, drew Quinn close and whispered, "If he decides to strike out on his own, let him go, and keep the trinket. Nim always did give her trust a little too freely."

Quinn wasn't too concerned with the scruples of a Kesmettan man, but any situation where a young man and a young woman camped together alone under the stars, on a long journey, could be trouble. He would make certain Jian kept Madrigal at arm's length.

The two of them were sitting together in Ersdal's kitchen, side by side, but silently, to Quinn's relief. Empty stew bowls had been pushed toward the centre of the table. Quinn slid onto the bench opposite Jian and waited until she looked up before he smiled. "Hello there."

He'd fantastized about this moment for a long time, but it still hadn't prepared him for the moment she actually looked him in the face. He'd wanted to gauge her reaction, watch for any inkling of what she thought of him, but the sight of her overwhelmed him. Quinn felt the breath leave his lungs in a rush.

"Hello," Jian replied, her braids pooling on the table as she nodded in greeting.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

"I've been waiting for you, Jian of Elsinoor, and Madrigal of Kesmet," he said. "I've come from Elsinoor as well, and I hoped to overtake you on the road, but we must have missed each other. I am Quinn Erson."

He held his head high, watching their reactions. He'd imagined this moment happening a hundred different ways, and in most Jian's face would blossom into a smile, but there were nearly as many where her brow would furrow and a slight frown pull at the corners of her lips.

Reality turned out to be a little of both. Madrigal, the unknown factor, scowled. Jian's eyebrows rose, but she looked interested, her rosy lips parting. "From Elsinoor? Waiting for us? But this is the first time we're met."

"In a matter of speaking." In more ways than one, Quinn thought. "This is the first time for you to see me like this, it's true. But I know you well indeed, or I will soon, I hope. I saw you in my Pathfinding."

Madrigal groaned. "Pathfinding. Of course."

Jian's eyes sparkled. "You saw me? Your partner Path involved me?"

"It did. I set out for Elsinoor as soon as I could, but your Elders told me you'd left for the southern lands."

Quinn was heartened by Jian's positive reaction, but also troubled by the rush of emotions that crossed her face. She looked worried, her initial elation snuffed out by some sort of realization.

He didn't have time to overthink it, though, as Madrigal lifted his chin. "How wonderful for you, Princess Jian. Now you have something to return to your village for."

"Princess?" Quinn shot her a questioning look.

Jian's shoulders squared. "No, I'm no princess. He's trying to be funny because the Elders wouldn't let me come this far alone."

"Ah." Quinn smiled amiably, careful to appear cordial. "I actually came to accompany you. As I saw in my Pathfinding."

"No thanks," Madrigal replied, his tone cool. "I was hired to take one person to the southlands, not two."

Quinn drew himself up, momentarily forgetting his plan to win them over with kindness. "I require neither your guidance nor your protection."

Madrigal let out a burst of laughter as he looked Quinn up and down. "You look more like a monk than a warrior to me—Quinn, was it? But have it your way, as I haven't been paid to take you anywhere. Do whatever you want."

Quinn's face burned as he ran one hand over his long ponytail. A monk? He wasn't the one who hailed from the Holy Village! Besides that, Madrigal's build was slighter than Quinn's own, and the set of his shoulders narrower. The sword at his side must have made the man overconfident. "I will, thank you," Quinn said through gritted teeth.

Jian seemed to be quietly processing everything that had happened. "I'm sorry that you've been forced to join us on such a long pilgrimage," she said at last, "when I would rather have met you in a better state of mind. I never expected to hear Maere had chosen a partner for me."

She was unmistakably disappointed. Lead settled into Quinn's stomach. Was it the way he looked? Or Madrigal's influence? Doubt made his head swim. Whatever he had expected, he'd at least been certain she'd be thrilled to hear Maere had sent someone to her. He'd prepared himself for hesitance, shyness perhaps, at the thought of them getting to know each other. Regret hadn't been on his radar at all.

"That's exactly what I've been talking about," Madrigal said, shooting Jian a pointed glance. "That's what happens when She handles the matchmaking."

Jian looked back at him, and offered Madrigal a tiny smile.

Quinn's blood turned to ice in his veins.

"Nevertheless, if you saw yourself on a Path with us, we welcome you," she said, in a bright tone that was obviously forced. "We're leaving in the morning, assuming we can replenish our supplies tonight. We lost some of our fresh food to scavengers a few nights ago."

"I've brought some as well," Quinn said. "I arrived in Elsinoor not expecting to find you gone, so I didn't bring anything, but your mother and your Elders kindly gave me as much as I could carry."

"How far did you come from?" Jian asked. "Not Kesmet, surely."

"Brill, to the southeast."

Madrigal's face closed up. "Brill. You walked far for one without supplies."

A shiver ran through Quinn. He hadn't expected Madrigal to know a small village like Brill, two days' journey from Elsinoor, so far on the edge of the settled world it might as well be at the End of Lands. "Yes. I can take care of myself, as I said."

"Good." Madrigal stood up so suddenly the bench scraped backwards, carrying Jian with it. "I think we should barter for supplies and then rest, as we don't know when we'll next see proper beds. If you seriously mean to join us, be there at first light. I won't be waiting around."

"I understand," he said faintly.

Jian followed Madrigal to the door and looked back just once, that fake smile still pasted on. "See you tomorrow," she said. "It's nice to meet you, Quinn."

Quinn nodded, afraid of what he might say if he spoke aloud. This hadn't at all gone according to plan.