"The burrows, it's the eleventh way out. And the sixth way in," Sela said.

Freya wondered how the ranger bond felt. A permanent fix between creatures felt like an oddity. That and River had bonded three otters.

Freya paused. They’d offered to do a patrol around the supply base. Sela wanted to teach her some of the undertones of their conversation. Several of his hand signals, the so-called ranger speak, meant the exact opposite. She’d learned about ten of them and according to Sela there were about four hundred words that an experienced ranger could use this way.

"I can't open a portal to the burrows, but you and she can. You know that distance is different there?"

"I know… some things. Time and distance are not always the same there, yes."

Freya was astride a chicken for the first time since they'd arrived. The calm movements of the chicken helped her think about the druid's crazy plan.

It could work. She could also still quit and hurry back home with one of the supply trains.

Those supply trains seemed like an excellent option, but Freya considered if she’d at any point in time taken a sensible option.

Only two days away from home and she was already considering becoming a secret spy for the druids and when she thought about that, her heart began to race a bit. How did her urge to not do what was expected of her play into her decisions? She began to feel like a slave to her urges for a short while as she mulled it over.

Taking the job meant that she’d chosen her identity, her secret identity as a druid who lived and worked in the dark. She might not surface for months or weeks. Tulip, who’d done the same job without all of her talents, had seemed to love it. River expected her to say yes, carry on the druids' traditions, and join the circle.

Her mother expected her to carry on the old family line and re-establish her family as part of the aristocracy. The idea of having enough money to field a private Army, or at least a private Army company, like Muk had… it sounded powerful.

She would be hounded by the druids until the end of her days if she didn’t join them.

Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

She would never hear the end of it from her mother if she did. But she’d gone to the circle and had used her skills to do the things she did for the coalition. Fortunately, she’d met Freya's father but still. It would be the height of folly to think that she wouldn’t become a full druid. River had remarked at her abilities enough to think that they were not only unusual but strong in comparison to her peers.

River expected her to say yes, with her gentle pushes. Her mother expected her to do her duty for the clan.

Freya decided that it really wasn’t up to them at all. She’d known the entire time but as a blue jay? Flying freely on her own? She could make her own path. Perhaps, the druids would let her do the same. She certainly wouldn’t have that option as a married lady.

“What are you thinking about?” Sela asked.

She realizes that she’d been quietly not paying attention as the large otter walked them on their second, wider lap around the base.

“I don’t know if this is silly, but do you ever miss home? I mean the otters you grew up with?”

Sela’s eyes crinkled.

“I was doing something boring, when I met my raft. They whisked me away. Sometimes I feel like I’m on a wild ride…”

The otter was silent for a bit, plodding forward as he did so.

“I found creatures that I can trust, a family and that’s really all we have in this world,” he said, “This sword could rust, my cloak could burn, but the only real thing is them and what we do for each other. Not to get too philosophical on you Miss. Plus, I can protect the ones I love and at the end of the day, that is a bit like I was doing as a guard.”

Freya smiled.

“Thank you. I’m just working through my decision now. Did you speak to River about your other concern?”

Sela’s tail stiffened, alarming Freya, but just as quick it resumed its pace.

“There are restrictions on what druids can and cannot do. As well, rangers have to swear an oath that they will not kill a creature except in self defense or where it is clear that their intent goes beyond certain forbidden areas. You could not, for instance as a druid, use your powers to bring to bear a beast in a war between mundane creatures.”

Freya looked at him for a long time.

“Are you saying?”

“Miru…” Sela said, “I’ve said too much already.”

“Thank you for being direct with me, I won’t betray your confidence.”

“I appreciate that. The link between a druid and her rangers is a bit of odd confidence. You’ll learn more when you come to the valley and train.”

Freya cocked her head.

“Oh? And what makes you think that I will?”

Sela looked back at her.

“You’re more relaxed now than when we started. You’ve made a decision. I’m betting it’s the right one.”

“You’re a cheeky otter. Are all of your kind the same way as you?”

Freya laughed.

“Only the good ones.”

Sela let her down when they returned to the gate. They waited a long time for the mice and rabbits to open it.

When Freya walked in, she felt far lighter than she’d been when they’d started.