Three years ago.

I watched with an impassive gaze as the man tussled with my target.

The target was skilled for his age. I’d give him that. He wrestled a man twice his size, almost besting him until the large man sat on his head. Despite myself, I winced in sympathy. I allowed myself that little emotion when under the cover of darkness.

The ox of a man got up a few seconds before I would’ve been without a target.

The kid sucked in a hacking breath, trying to crawl away from the pot-bellied thug.

“Teach you to mess with Gutso, Rat.” He spit on the kid's face. “Next you betta bow before ya’re true better.” He laughed, kicking the kid in the side again before adjusting his gut back into his oversized pants that still couldn't contain his bulk. He hacked up another glob of spit, walking out of the alley head and into the market.

My target groaned on the ground, and the wheezing gasp he was emitting made my own ribs twinge in empathy. Not a good thing for an assassin. But hey, if they hadn’t managed to give me a cold heart yet, I’m unsure if they could ever achieve such a goal.

The Masters and the remembrance of the many times I had to put a pet or friend down to keep them from torturing it—it made my blood roil and a darkness emerge from my soul.

But despite that, I was their property. They could do with me as they saw fit.

The kid got up with a grimace, then tottered to the alleyway. I scaled down from the roof, following behind him.

His path wound through this desert city. The large awnings spawning from the center of the oasis and the sandy red buildings along the sides provided shelter from the sweltering sun blazing above.

I adjusted the tan billowing robe, snapping it to ease the ability to draw my knives, should I have need.

The kid entered a candlemaker's shop, and my ears picked up the concerned gasp of his mother.

Later, I took my plan to the next level, waiting until I could track down Gutso to take the blame, then cornered the kid in the same alley as it all began. And that’s where it ended.

I placed the setting as I had many times before. Gutso was passed out in the corner, snoring. It didn’t take much to put a sleeping agent in his drink. Poof. Out like a light.

He snored loud enough to wake the dead... and draw attention to my alley. So I kicked him, and he face planted into the dirt.

Then continued snoring.

It was muffled. Good enough.

I heard a scuffle at the mouth of our little decrepit alley. Showtime.

I swung up, edging along the rooftops to loop behind the kid.

I slapped the side of his neck, catching him under the armpits, and placed him beside Fatso.

I lifted Fatso, grunting under his weight, then slapped his jowls a few times to wake him. He grunted, then I got out of his way, letting him stumble around.

Once I was satisfied, I pounced. He flailed and tried to defend himself, but as a sloppy fighter hindered by my little agent in his bloodstream, eh, nothing I couldn’t handle.

It was as I was placing the final effects, hidden within myself and the job I had to finish otherwise the entire city would pay the price, that the unexpected happened.

That was when it all changed for me. When I was given a choice. A choice of two bad choices, but only one which I knew was better. That I knew was the path I had to take, even if I died upon the less beaten path. Which was very likely, I knew.

A woman came looking for her son. Half of a royal pixie family, she had talents for tracking her wayward son that I didn’t count on. A love that surpassed fear and exploded against my anger and grief, blasting it to shrapnel that forced me to face what I had become.

And it changed my life forever.

~~~

Present day.

My heart aches in my chest as the small estate that I called home comes into view. It’s such a bitter-sweet melody on my mind that She-Dragon looks up at me and trills in question. I pat her flank. “I’m fine.”

She grunts out a sigh that I feel as a vibration through her body, but she doesn’t press further.

Barry lets out a whoop that warms my heart. I have the little guy wrapped up like a present, all soft furs tightly packed around him until he and his brother are as round as a draft horse’s barrel. He clings to my back when She-Dragon climbs, and Jed chuckles behind him. I glance back. The only things I can see of Jed are his eyes, but they're creased at the corners in happiness.

I think I’ve scarred the kid for life… but maybe he can recover. I hope. His dad’s wisdom will surely help. Pa… I’m not sure I can call him that anymore. Best to prepare for the worse. Dan always had a way with words and the healing of internal wounds. He brought me from my shell of darkness, something I would’ve called impossible.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

She-Dragon circles the estate a few times at my bidding, and I look for anything out of the ordinary. I see smoke curling up from the chimney and a few hands tending the garden. They point up and squint at the big black shape in the sky. We’re high enough up I’m hoping they will take us as a bird.

My dragon then heads out, diving to trail low in a valley on the other side of a mountain, out of view from Whitecastle's inhabitants. She’s huge and not stealthy enough for what I will need, so I will go the rest of the way on foot.

She head butts me hard enough to knock me over. I land and roll, coming up with a glare. “What was that for?”

She sticks her nose in my chest, and I feel her worry. I sigh and rub her chin. “Sorry. I know. I’ll be back whenever possible. You just stay out of sight and take care of Barry and Jed. And if I’m not back soon, take Barry and Jed back and take care of your little ones, living a long and happy life.”

She butts me hard enough to send me toppling. Again. And I get from her emotions that she’s not going anywhere. I throw my hands up in surrender and dodge her snout. “Ok! Ok! Fine. I’ll be back as soon as possible and find you here. And I’ll be extra careful. Happy?”

She grunts in agreement and sticks her nose in my chest so that I can rub her ears. I laugh as she rumbles a purr. “I’m not sure who is in charge here.”

She purrs again and I have the feeling we both know exactly who is in charge.

Barry and Jed watch, Barry with a huge smile and Jed with those intelligent eyes that capture every detail.

I bend down on a knee, eye level with Barry. "Take care of each other. If something happens, if someone finds you, or if either of you get hurt or can't find food, get the dragon to take you back to the village. Zephora and Flash will look out for you if something happens to me."

I give Jed a note with many of my safe houses and places where I've stashed resources. "If I don't return, this will ensure you are well cared for. Give this only to Flash, The Imperial, or David, a human in Videlia. Do you understand?"

Jed nods, but Barry tugs on my ear until I look at him. "Why can't we just come with you? With you with us, nobody can hurt us!"

Jed rolls his eyes. "Bear, he's gotta c-check it out f-first. If we were w-with him, it'd be harder."

Barry frowns at his brother, crossing his arms. "Why would it be harder? He's a Kursk. He can protect us."

Jed opens his mouth, but I stall him by raising my hand. I give him a smile, and he gives a little tip of his lips and his eyes lighten just a bit.

"Little kinko, if you came now, I couldn't do what I need to. There may be those there who are watching for us to return. There are things I may need to do I couldn't do if I was worried about you."

Barry's frown grows deeper. "I want to come."

I ruffle his hair. "I know, kinko. Stay here this time. We'll plan another adventure later, alright?"

He nods slowly, still not looking convinced. I trade a look with his brother. Jed understands and will keep Barry from being a numbskull and following me.

I stand, but before I can go, Barry crashes into me, almost knocking me over. I breathe out, unclenching my hand from the knife at the small of my back. "Be careful, kino."

I smile, patting his back. "I'll be back. Take care of your brother, alright? Make sure he stays out of trouble?"

I share a grin with Jed, knowing which one is more likely to get in trouble.

I wipe the grin from my face as I smell scents wafting from him. Bittersweet concern and terrible fear that smells sour. His body shakes.

"Hey hey hey, it's alright, little man. I'll be back. I promise." He nods jerkily into my shirt, his forehead hitting the hilt of one of my knives.

"Ow!" he says, pulling back to rub his forehead.

I try not to laugh, but I can't help it.

Barry glares at me, going back over to his brother who wraps an arm over his little brother's shoulders.

Barry still sniffles, so I draw out the things I wanted to give them. "Barry, you are growing from a boy into a man. It's time you start being treated like one." I hand him an oblong object.

He reverently accepts it, then tears into the package like a hyena with a deer. He uncovers the mini slingshot, reverently drawing it back and testing the strings, then grins, showing both top and bottom teeth.

"There are exploding gases within the black orbs. They have a knockout gas. Strike hard and strike fast, then run. But don't knock yourself out by dropping one. You got me?"

He nods, not even looking at me, too absorbed with the slingshot.

I hand Jed a longer object. He unwraps it with more reverence than his brother, slowly uncovering the dark sheath.

He snaps his head up at me when he uncovers the hilt. It's a simple leather, but the blade is fine quality and was about the right length and weight for him. I nod and he draws the blade slowly, reverently. He makes a few experimental slashes, and I nod in approval. He gets braver, going through a few forms I taught him. Barry claps and Jed shoots a huge grin at his brother.

I trained him with a wooden dagger for years, wood that was heavier than this blade. And he survived the pits. That means he's no longer a boy. I can see it in his eyes. He's a man now. He needs a man's weapon.

"I'll be back in a few days. You both know what to do if something happens?"

They nod, this time with glowing faces, and I grin. Good.

I leave them with She-Dragon watching as their nursemaid.

She glares at me as I walk off, disgruntled with their gifts. But they needed them.

She huffs out a breath, her overprotective mother instincts flaring when Jed gets braver with the dagger and moves to a more intricate dance with kicks.

She twitches forward, but catches herself and sits back, her eyes cataloging their every move.

They will be safe with her. Probably safer with her than they are with me.

I wish I had more time to train them with the weapons, but Jed knows his way around a blade enough that I trust him with it. Barry made and shot his own slingshots until he could hit a bird in a tree.

The three of us spent many hours in these woods, and we know it like the back of our hands. Which is the only reason I trust them to stay alone. That, and they have a dragon. If something gets past her, I would be very surprised.

I considered asking Flash along... but he is terrified of heights and I would worry more about the trouble the boys would get in with Flash than by themselves. Zephora and the Imperial have too many responsibilities, and I trust no one else.

And if everything goes right, I'll only be gone a half day and come back to bring them to Pa.

Call me impatient, but I couldn't ask the boys to wait at the mountain oasis when I would be so close to their home.

I take a deep breath, and look back and wave. Jed salutes me with his sword and Barry pulls back his slingshot, hitting me dead in the chest with a rock. I grin and shake my head at the little guy, who laughs.

I turn out of sight, and watch them for a bit to ensure they're safe and don't kill themselves with the weapons. Jed does a good job gathering wood and the dragon lights it for them. Barry shoots a squirrel from a tree, and they skin it like I taught them and cook it over the fire.

They'll be perfectly fine.

I've stalled long enough. I'm coming home.

I’m just not sure I’m ready.