Thea looked back and forth between the arriving elders and Maethius. She felt a fool. They had leaned on each other a lot since Rai’s death, confided in each other, cried on each other’s shoulders. She didn’t intend anything more than that. She didn’t expect anything more than that. She didn’t know why that feeling had washed over her when she had landed on his broad chest. She had made a fool of herself, and worse. The very thought was insulting to Rai’s memory.

She lifted her gaze from Math’s wide shoulders to see the tall elder looking at her. Khel had called her the Master. She could see why. There was a power in that gaze. Thea felt stripped in front of her look. She knew the Master had seen her watching Math. She knew the Master knew her thoughts. She felt shamed. She could feel the heat of a blush rise up her neck and engulf her cheeks. The Master smiled kindly at her. She averted her gaze, dropping her eyes to her shoes.

She looked up again as the pair passed in front of her. This time her eyes met those of the older woman, who also smiled compassionately. Then her view was blocked by the crowd of tall Sidhe following the horses and escorting them into the small village.

Once inside the village borders the two women dismounted. The older of the two waved away the hands outstretched to assist her and swung her leg over the saddle. She dropped to the ground with a surprising amount of grace and stretched for a moment, apparently working out the kinks that had hunched her over in the saddle. When she straightened back up she stood tall, a majestic grey warrior queen complete with regal sword.

The Master was no different. None of the Sidhe even thought to extend a hand, nor did she need the assistance. She vaulted from her saddle in one fluid motion and hit the ground already walking, jeweled sword hilt flashing as she moved.

The elders headed first to Catrain and Favian’s tent. The couple stepped out of the tent well before the elders arrived. They waited outside the flaps for the women to approach, then extended hands to greet them.

“Aleida, Ellyn, so good to see you,” Catrain said.

Aleida, the Master, brushed the hand aside, stepped forward and embraced Catrain.

“Good to see you again too, Catrain,” she said.

Ellyn gave Favian a similar greeting, then switched places with Aleida and repeated the process.

“Please, come in,” Favian said, holding the tent fabric open for them.

“Thank you,” Ellyn said as she ducked inside.

Aleida paused before she stepped inside and turned, scanning those gathered around. Her eyes found Thea and Math.

“We are not your only guests, Catrain. Your new friends should join us as well,” Aleida said.

Catrain looked over the crowd until she found the three of them, then waved them forward with a smile. Thea, Math and Khel stepped forward and entered the tent behind Aleida and Catrain. Favian let the flap fall behind him as he stepped inside.

The inside of the tent was lit well by lanterns and the small fire in the middle. The two elders were already sitting down in wood-framed canvas chairs near the fire, their swords unstrapped and laid behind them. Catrain had found thick pillows to set between the arms as cushions. Favian was setting more seats in front of the hearth. He motioned to the three to join them. Catrain was passing out cups of warm mulled wine. Thea took one and chose a seat near Math. She was uncomfortably conscious of his presence beside her, but still wanted an ally close by.

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“You are Khel?” Aleida looked at their unofficial guide and trainer. He nodded, though Thea decided that it hadn’t really been a question. “You represent your bloodline well,” she said. Khel nodded again in thanks at the compliment.

“And Maethius. It’s a pleasure to meet you. Your father always spoke highly of you and your brother.” Math’s eyes widened in shock. Aleida continued, “I am truly sorry to hear of your brother’s passing.”

Finally, she turned to Thea. “And Theodora! I have heard a great many wonderful things about you as well. You are always welcome among the Sidhe.”

“Thank you,” she replied softly.

“And how is you father? Well, I hope?”

It was Thea’s turn to be shocked into silence. She nodded mutely.

Aleida smiled. “Good,” she said.

They sat and exchanged pleasant conversation while they sipped at their wine. Thea couldn’t help but feel almost spellbound by the women. They talked about nothing of importance, but she hung on every word. She was dying to ask how the woman knew her father and she knew that Math was even more eager. But somehow the woman kept steering the conversation elsewhere.

As Thea finished the last of her wine, Aleida looked over at her and Math.

“We will all meet tomorrow with the other elders. We’ll decide what path would be best to take, though it will be up to the three of you to choose to take it or not.”

So Khel would be going with them, Thea thought.

“In the meantime, we would like to discuss some minor matters with our hosts here that have nothing to do with you. You are welcome to stay, but I’m sure it will be boring for you.”

Thea took the hint and rose, thanking their hosts. Math and Khel followed her lead and did the same. The three of them exited the tent together.

They started heading back to their practice spot but stopped when they realized Khel wasn’t following. Turning, they saw he had stopped behind them.

“No more training for today. Take the rest of the afternoon to rest and relax. Tomorrow will be an important day,” he said.

Thea looked at Math. Then, at an unspoken signal, they broke into a dash for the river to rinse off the dust and sweat. This was typically their last contest of the day, and they played dirty. Math stopped abruptly in front of her, ducking his shoulder towards her as her momentum took her past in an effort to send her flying into the bushes. It had worked yesterday, but today she was ready for it. She ducked and twisted, avoiding the blow, and took the lead, laughing. She heard him laugh in return as she sprinted forward. For the first time in days, she was truly having fun.

Her lead wasn’t enough. The trail opened up, flat and wide with no obstacles. Math’s longer legs carried him faster than she could run, and with the river in sight she felt a hand grab the back of her shirt, yanking her backwards. Her feet kept moving forward as he pulled, and he passed her, still laughing, as she landed on her behind in the dirt.

“Ass!” she yelled with a smile as she picked herself up. She brushed what dirt she could off her leggings and trotted down the trail, knowing she couldn’t catch him now. She caught up to him at the river bank as he was hanging his shirt over a tree branch. His back and shoulders were as chiseled as his brother’s. She found herself staring as he turned to face her. He looked just as solid from the front, the muscles seemingly carved out of his chest and stomach. She shook her head and looked away.

“Hey, no peeking!” he kidded. “I won, you wait over there, out of sight.”

She turned towards the small clearing where they waited while they took turns. Luckily, it was in the opposite direction from him so he couldn’t see her face glowing red. She reached the clearing and leaned up against a tree, pulling up a long blade of grass and toying with it between her fingers. A fly buzzed around her head, and she waved it away absently. It returned with a comrade and swooped around her hair. Annoyed, she swatted at them and left her tree to take a walk.

As she moved across the small glade she noticed a pile of rags in the shade of a large maple. Curious, she moved closer to examine them. As she drew near, she saw that they weren’t rags at all but cloth of what seemed like somewhat good quality, though she was no tailor or seamstress. Dozens of flies buzzed on and around the pile. It was only when she got much closer that she realized the fabric still contained a shriveled, misshapen body.