Saul woke up at sunrise, looking for Anna, and spotted her sitting in a nearby tree, facing away from the fire.

He called out to her. "Couldn't wake your old man for breakfast?"

Anna turned from her perch and shook her head. "In my village, it was go hunt, or go hungry. Ħadar made the rule, so he lived by it."

"This ħadar says little girls should cook for their elders."

"This little girl doesn't listen." Anna's eyes twinkled in the morning light. She pointed to the fire, where a rabbit sat on a spit. "There's a gift, though, from a kind little girl."

Saul chuckled, getting out of his bedroll. "Very kind." Saul paused, turning the rabbit. "What were you called, back then? Before me I mean."

Anna looked out at the hills, thinking. Saul couldn't see her face. "I was many things. I was ʡal to the hunters, ʡäbab to my... young-care-givers?"

"...Parents." Saul felt very old in that moment. "ʡal? ʡäbab?"

"Ah," Anna smiled sheepishly, and turned to him. "ʡal is a mouse. ʡäbab is like... one whose ears don't work."

Saul laughed. "I understand where that comes from, ʡäbab."

Anna laughed, brushing a tear away. She looked back out over the hills. "I miss them, Saul... Do you think they're out there?" The lisp on his name was still there, the soft rasping on the s.

Saul paused a long moment. "I think they're watching over you right now. They can see you're safe. I'm sure they miss you too."

Anna looked back at Saul. "I'm afraid, Ħadar. I have you, and I have no one. I'm in a land of warm winds where snow is a memory and loud, angry men live."

"That's the thing, Anna; you aren't alone. You're forgetting that you have memories." Saul pulled out the glass marble again, handing it to her. "Hold it tightly in your hand, and think of your parents. Think of your old ħadar, or your ʕarčaban. Your mana will do the rest."

Anna took the marble in her hand, and closed her eyes. Her small pool of mana moved slowly toward her hand, like a finger moving through a puddle of paint. Throughout her mana was her intent to remember, to feel her parents' embrace and the warmth of her friends. Her mana touched the glass orb, and a memory rose to the surface: a memory of violet eyes, thick horns, curled like a ram's, and a warm mutter of her name.

She gasped, feeling strong arms surround her at once in the memory and outside it. Tears flowed freely, and she clung to Saul, weeping loudly. Saul tried his best to comfort her, muttering soft nothings, patting her back, and it seemed to do the trick.

He was probably never getting that marble back. He didn't mind.

They broke camp after a breakfast of rabbit and dried fruit, sipping water from their waterskins. The mood was a somber one, and Saul's mind was on the day ahead. Foulden was close by, not more than a half-day's travel by foot, and they could see a road in the distance leading to it from the top of a hill.

Anna was quiet, hand holding the glass marble. Saul decided to let that go, for now. Memories had a strong pull, but any source of comfort in an unkind world was a welcome one.

Disguising her for the town was another issue entirely. Saul pondered it for a moment, while they walked, and decided on a simple disguise. her horns pressed against the hood of her cloak, so he tied a piece of string between them. For her tail, Saul asked her to wrap it around her leg, while he lightly covered it with a bandage. Simply looking down and affecting a limp would make her effectively invisible, once inside.

"So much work, ħadar." Anna didn't appreciate the disguise at all, grumbling about it the whole way there. "Can I not walk tall? These angry men look on me in fear, do they not?"

"But there are many more angry men than angry Annas." Saul gave her a look, not unkindly. "I ask that you bear it for a day. Tomorrow we'll be out of this place, and on our way home."

Anna raised her head to look at him from her cloak. "That's not true, is it?"

Saul sighed. "It is my hope. If the man is as he was, though, that hope is wasted breath."

Anna bumped into him, smiling a bit. "No breath is wasted, ħadar."

Saul nudged her back. "Let this old man worry. One of us needs to be responsible."

Anna shrugged, and they lapsed into a comfortable silence as they stepped foot onto the road. The cobblestones were rough beneath her feet, but her feet were calloused and tough. Anna put the marble in one of her pockets, and her hand brushed a wooden carving. Her eyes brightened, and when Saul gave her a curious look, she hid a smile.

"It's nothing, I just have something to show you before we sleep."

"Well, I look forward to it." Saul smiled softly, then sobered up. "Now, we have to keep to the disguise, ok? Remember what I told you. You must not speak, nor react to what they say."

Anna nodded, serious for once. "I understand. I will be a ʡäbab."

The final walk up to the town felt longer than the entire way there. They received curious looks from other travelers, but Anna -barefoot, looking down, favoring one leg, wearing undersized clothes- was entirely ignored. Saul was given a glance, then a dismissal, for he didn't appear much better.

The two guards at the gate stopped them, the smaller one giving them a look of pity. "What's your reason for entering the city?" The taller guard asked.

Saul paused. Who would believe him if he told the truth? "We come seeking to buy food and clothes." That much was true.

He could see the guards glance over both of them, the tall one shaking his head, before the shorter one waved them on. "Get moving, then. The vendor selling kebabs can help, if you need it."

"Many blessings on you." Saul gave the shorter guard a warm smile and took Anna's hand, guiding them through. Anna played her part to perfection, to Saul's relief.

Inside the town, the roads were smoother, and Saul kept to the side of the street, heading to where he remembered the market was. The throng of people avoided both of them like the plague, yet took pains to ignore them, and he appreciated that. He noticed, too, that there were others who looked worse than them, laying in alleys, or sitting down on the side of the street, eyes listless.

The market square was bustling in the middle of the day, but Saul kept an eye out for the street vendor the guard mentioned. All he had to do was look for the other homeless, and he spotted the vendor in no time. It was hardly more than a stand and a stove, with a sign beside it reading "KEBABS!" and a painted picture of two copper coins. The woman running the stand looked as old as he felt.

The woman noticed them as they approached. She gave them a once-over, and handed them two. "Pay me back when you can." She smiled at Anna, who huddled closer to Saul in response, her hand tightly clasping his. The vendor's face pinched, noticing her lack of shoes.

Saul smiled apologetically, but bowed low. "Thank you for your kindness. I'll pay you back as soon as I'm able." A soft pull, and Saul walked away with Anna, toward the center of town.

The roads smoothed out, people became more sparse, and the guards began to take more notice of them. Saul tried to pay them no mind, eyes looking at the signs they passed, until he finally found what he was looking for in a small building with the name Reignard's Raiment. A bell rang as they walked in, and a voice from inside called, "Just a moment!"

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Saul pulled Anna inside, letting her take a seat. She perched on the edge of the cushion, eyes moving around, taking it in. Saul gave her a look and she looked down quickly, cheeks heating up. Saul patted her hand, chuckling.

Footsteps approached from the back of the building, revealing a tall man, impeccably dressed. He took one look at them and said, "Out! Can't you see there's no food here, or shall I have the guards carry you out?"

Saul stood tall, almost matching the man in height. "We're here for your services, of course. I'll pretend to ignore the slight, if you permit us the pleasure of your work." Saul gave him a sharp look, then pulled out a small pouch from his person, opening it to reveal the glint of silver. "Payment up front."

The man saw the silver, and relaxed, changing before their very eyes into a welcoming salesman. "Now, isn't that something? Down on your luck? You came to the right place. For ten silver, I'll even give the little one shoes!"

Saul smiled. "Eight silver, and I'll forget about that whole business. Maybe I'll even recommend your services."

The man didn't wait a heartbeat. "Done."

The money exchanged hands, and the man -named Reignard, of course- took Saul's measurements. "You're here from that nastiness to the north?" Reignard prompted, fluidly moving around him with a tape measure like he was dancing.

"Yes, terrible bit of business, that." Saul had no idea what he was talking about.

Reignard leaned in. "I heard it was demons." He gave Saul a significant look.

Saul's breath caught. "You don't say? I wasn't aware of any demons so far south."

The man continued without pause. "Heard it from a messenger himself. Said the roads were choked with refugees from here to Linwood, all heading south." He gave Saul a sad look. "You best look elsewhere if you're looking for work. Why are you getting the change of clothes, anyways?"

Saul relaxed. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Oh? Try me."

"I was summoned to see the Viscount."

The man stopped, flabbergasted. "Well! I never- no offense, of course, it's just-"

Saul smiled. "I understand. I didn't believe it either."

"What did you do to get a summons from Langley himself?"

Saul looked away. "I'm merely providing a service that only I can do."

The man looked at him closely, slightly put out. "...Well, be like that." He finished taking measurements of Saul, and as he approached Anna, she shrank back nervously. Saul stepped slightly in front of him, almost protectively.

"Please, don't worry about her measurements. Just, a little longer clothes? She's a growing girl."

The man nodded, eyeing the bandage on her leg, before nodding and stepping back. Saul sighed inwardly.

"Alright then. Clothes for an audience with the Viscount, I presume?"

"Clothes for travel, actually. I anticipate my audience will be... succinct."

"...indeed." Reignard sighed. "You aren't making my job easy. I have clothes for travel; let me adjust them for your sizes, and I'll have them ready in an hour. Is that acceptable?"

Saul smiled. "Very much so. Thank you."

As he walked into the back, Reignard called over his shoulder, "And I better see a viscount's maid in my store by next week or I will be cross!"

Saul laughed and called out, "It's all up to you then!" He walked over to Anna and squatted in front of her chair. "How are you doing?"

Brave Anna gave him a small smile, still holding her glass bead. "So many smells. What's the trail here made of? Those four-legged animals that pull the carry-tables look like bison, but nicer."

Saul chuckled. "Still as curious as ever. The carry-tables are carts, and the four-legged animals are oxen. The trail is called a road, and humans make it with rocks and a powder."

They carried on in this way, quietly chatting while their clothes were adjusted. In almost exactly an hour, Reignard came out, holding two stacks of folded clothes, one of which with a pair of shoes on top.

Reignard smiled apologetically. "This is the best I can do. Your clothes will fit like a glove, whereas hers will be a hand longer, as requested." He glanced at Anna. "Are you sure I can't take her measurements?"

Saul nodded. "Quite sure. She has problems with other people approaching her, after..." Saul gestured to his own leg, and gave him a significant look.

Reignard's eyes widened, and he stared at the bandage. He looked most apologetic. "Why- I didn't mean-"

"it's alright. I didn't want to mention it outright; you know how some people can be with things of that nature, especially with our state of dress."

"Of course, of course." Reignard paused, his eyes softening. "Well, then best of luck...?"

"Saul. Saul Tremonti."

"Best of luck, Mr. Tremonti. Don't hesitate to come again, for all your clothing needs!"

Saul and Anna left the store in much better spirits, putting the clothes in their pack, to Reignard's chagrin. Waving goodbye, they followed the road to a much too fancy place called The Swan's Rest, where Saul bought a room for a night.

The attendant looked ready to question them, but Saul was too tired to bother. He firmly handed over a large portion of his funds, and they trudged up the stairs to the second room on the right, Anna close behind him. After they closed the door and locked it, they could relax.

Saul dropped the pack to the floor, and Anna immediately went for the pack, her tail sliding out of the bandage in a moment. "My clothes!"

Saul chuckled, letting her dive in while he sat on the bed, watching her pull each piece out individually.

The shoes were the first out and Anna immediately tossed them to the side (how can you feel the floor in a pair of shoes, anyways!). Next was a full dress in Anna's size, made of a white, sturdy fabric. Anna lost interest quickly, but Saul protested.

"Think! Your tail is easy to hide under it, and you can wear your cloak over it. Simple enough, no?"

"But it's so much... What is this? Dress-part?" She held it out by length.

"Fabric?"

Anna nodded. "Fabric! Too much! How am I supposed to run?"

Saul laughed. "That's the thing about how humans dress: they don't dress to move, but to impress." Seeing her confused look, he quickly explained, "To show-tell how strong and big and powerful they are."

"...Humans are foolish." Anna still folded the dress carefully, though, before setting it to the side, and pulling out a pair of dark gray pants and a matching shirt, with leather covers for the knees and elbows. Anna was much more excited about these, and threw them on over her child's clothes (she begged Saul to cut a tail-hole in the pants, and he did so with a grin). She gave a spin to an audience of one, who clapped and laughed.

Anna scratched the elbow patch idly. "These are good! Soft on the inside, but hard on the outside."

Next came Saul's clothes, which were simple things: a blue tailcoat, a white button-down shirt, and a pair of brown riding pants. Saul decided to wait before trying them on; he trusted Reignard to do good work, as a man of principle.

Anna fell asleep on the bed before Saul had finished straightening his clothes, laying on top of the covers. Saul chuckled and tucked her in, before turning in for the night.

Tomorrow would be a better day, he hoped.