We trot into the Were village just before the sun reaches its peak. Healer Morgana bustles out of a round, earthen hut, her cane clacking with each wobbling step as I get down from the pony.

She thwacks me in the side with her cane, then taps my shoulder.

I step back before she can rap my head with the hard wood. I’ve no need of more bruises.

"Humph. Seems you’ve healed well ‘nough. Ain’t half-dead no more. Found your soul healing at long last, eh, boy?” she says, cackling. A grin shows off her rotting teeth and crinkles her face, even as her eyes burn more amber than a human’s normal brown.

“Yes, Morgana, I found peace. Would you quit testing me?” I ask, jumping away once again as she tries to rap my ankle.

She puts it down, leaning on the cane even though she did just fine without it a moment ago as she chased me around with the thing that hurts worse than a dragon's tail. And trust me, Nova likes to thwack me whenever I do something that displeases her.

That dragon is cranky. About as cranky as Morgana. Those two are either going to hate each other or make my life terrifying if they actually get along. I don't need further mothering that would exponentially increase should they conspire.

Speaking of, I wonder when the dragon will come. She wanted to stay with her dragonlings until I needed her. She wished to show them something about a hunt. I didn't ask as it seemed personal. I believe one of her little ones is close to flying, and somehow that seems like something Nova is extremely excited over.

“Hmm. I suppose. What ya doin’ here?”

“I am here to help. What else?” I ask, exasperated and just wanting a place to sit down and have a hot drink to warm my insides after the frigid and brisk travel.

Heather steps out from the hut behind Morgana, and her silver eyes light up when she sees me.

“Roland!” she cries, and Cynic abruptly shoves to the front and catches her when she throws herself at us.

He laughs in glee, joy pounding through him, and in turn, me.

“I wasn’t sure we’d ever see you again. Glad you made it back in one piece,” she teases, her eyes sparkling as she grins.

Cynic takes control of my hands and pushes a black strand of hair behind her ear as hope thrums through us and I try to control him.

Would you STOP?

“No,” he says out loud, with my voice.

I am going to kill you, I seethe.

“Hmm?” Heather asks, tilting her head as her brow furrows in confusion.

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“Nothing at all. Is there somewhere we can eat and catch up?”

She tilts her head the other way. “You’re acting strange. Are you sure you didn’t hit your head?”

“Only if it means you’ll be my nurse.”

I moan in my head as she gives an awkward, high-pitched laugh and takes a few steps back, rubbing her arms with her hands.

That’s it. I’m taking back the reins. You’re done.

“Good seeing you, Roland. Dad wanted me to tell you he looks forward to seeing you in Videlia when you get the chance to visit. I must go help... with food preparation.”

She exits, and I shove Cynic back.

“Down boy,” I mutter, even as cold disappointment and shame floods through me from him. I abhor secondhand emotion.

I botched that, did I not?

… I don’t think you want the answer to that question, I reply.

I thought as much, Cynic sighs. Do you think… could she ever love me?

We’ll just have to find you a body and find out. But no more whatever… that… was. You’ll have a much better chance of not creeping her out if you flirt with her in your own body… and not the body of her blood brother.

For once, idiot, what you said makes sense. Find my body and I won’t take the reins again.

Good.

That was highly uncomfortable. No one tells you the headache you get living with another entity in your brain and sharing a body.

I… kinda know how he feels now, though. It sure as all heck is highly annoying when you can’t do a thing when the one in charge is doing something stupid.

Right?!?

Shut up. And quit listening to my thoughts.

One brain, remember?

Then why can’t I hear your thoughts?

…

Ahh, thought so, I say, more smug than I should be.

----------------------------------------

“Your highness—“

“How many times must I—“ my voice cuts off when I glance up.

Sir Rey’s face is white as a sheet, even as he grips his sword with steely determination.

“They have conquered the mages, sire. They are coming for Videlia—they are coming for us.”

My mind takes a moment to race all the implications through my head. My cousin and the Emperor have control of the mages and are coming for Videlia.

No way can the small city hold. Not without help.

We’re going to need an army. I hope you have something up your sleeve to help us through this, Father.

A grim frown tugs at my face as I look over at the Imperial who’s eyebrows look to be a part of his hairline. The large bear behind him in armor watches us with its beady eyes. His office has been in greater disarray since the last time I saw it. There are maps spread all over the floor held with little rocks or figurines in the corners and the armor that was on his walls are in the hands of his people… making the walls look quite bare compared to when I first saw them when I stumbled in here half-dead and trying to get my family back.

A lot has changed since then. A lot happened I couldn't have imagined.

And I have a feeling a lot more is going to change.

“We’ll fight, but what can we do about the mages?” the Imperial asks.

Sir Rey shakes his head. “Only the Emperor's jingoist army is breaking off to quail the uprising in Videlia. The Shifters and mages had no reason to come for such a small town.”

“That’s one thing in our favor, at least. What can we do about the mages in the jingoist army?”

“I have them taken care of,” I say. “We’ll need to prepare the city. Imperial—“

He nods, a glint in his eye. “I’ll prepare the men to accept the fugitives. If you’ll excuse me.”

“You have the mages taken care of?” Sir Rey asks, a smirk on his face that combats the whiteness. It reminds me of the mischief we used to get into as boys, and a small smile tips my lips despite the situation at hand.

I open my mouth to reply. Shouts rise from outside the Imperial’s hut.

Flash ducks through the door, almost breaking it off its hinges when it rebounds off the wall.

That is one sturdy door, Cynic says, as I, too, remember past times that door was battered by Were and Shifter alike.

Flash’s eyes are wild, slit and darting. “They’re here.”