Exiting the tavern, Ethyn was full of questions. Silver, on the other hand, was in a dark and pensive mood.

"What did Sage say to you?" the boy begged to know as they moved into the street. He ignored the greetings in the street, trying to keep up with his mentor.

Silver would not look at Ethyn as he made a determined march toward the training ground. "Sage, of course, denied being a princess. Her lack of wealth and servants seems to agree with her assertion. Anyway, she is from Lakyle, which as I recall has no princesses, only a dozen princes."

Ethyn scoffed, kicking at the dirt. "What did she say about the man at her house?"

"Nothing."

"Of course she didn't. I bet she redirected you with some sweet nothing or a question to make you doubt yourself," the boy mocked the woman. "I have never seen someone so manipulative," he mumbled. Balling his fists, he tried to calm down. "What about the man at the tavern? The one you tried to approach."

Ethyn had seen the display, but was unsure of what to make of it.

"He was probably just a customer who liked how Sage looked. She deals with those on a regular basis." The Guardian remembered the man who had been tossed out of the tavern just last week for trying to make a move on the woman. She would not accept unwanted attention.

The boy grunted and gave a negative gesture. "Or he was the man from her house. We should go back and investigate!" He turned on his heels to go back to the tavern when Silver grabbed his collar.

"I am not going back to spy on Sage." Lifting Ethyn by the back of his tunic, Silver turned him back toward the training ground.

The boy squirmed until his feet touched the ground. "Someone should spy on her. Sage is up to no good. You don't believe me when I see things, so you have to come too." Ethyn peeled off the Guardian's fingers from his collar and then yanked on his arm. "Come on!"

With his free hand, Silver rubbed his forehead, his palm disappearing beneath his inscrutable hood. "I know you and Sage are not friends, but I do wish you did not always make me chose sides."

"She is the one making you choose sides because she is evil! Can't you see she is lying?" Ethyn asked defiantly.

"Enough! What happens between Sage and me is not your concern," the Guardian countered. His eyes flashed silver as he swallowed hard.

"You are so wrapped up in your feelings, that she gets away with anything and everything," the child continued, ignoring his warning. "Sage leads you along by the nose and gives you nothing in return but confusion and heartache. Her food always comes with strings attached."

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The man shook his head. "You make things sound so simple. It is more complicated than that..."

"It is? Silver, she's using you!"

The Guardian rounded on the boy. "And you aren't? You live under my roof and eat my food for free. Who is getting the better end of that deal? Hm?" Silver knew his words were harsh, but he was tired of Ethyn's accusations.

The man's heart felt a tug, because he knew the answer to his question. 'I am getting the better end of the deal, but I'm too stubborn to admit it.'

Ethyn staggered as if he had been struck. His knees trembled, threatening to give way. Tear pricks formed in the corners of his eyes. "But Silver…I'm your friend," he pleaded.

The Guardian nodded. "So is Sage."

Entering the makeshift arena, the boy finally decided to drop the matter entirely. It was no use. Silver would not be swayed by his words. Silently the ten-year-old promised himself he'd never fall for a girl if it made him abandon all sense and reason.

With more than a hint of frustration, Ethyn made his way to the far end of the field to practice alone. He pulled his small sword and began battling with an imaginary enemy. The Guardian did not have to guess whom it might be. Silver turned away with a sigh.

Once everyone was assembled, Aiden ran the troops through drills of self-defense and offense. The group was improving, but it would take years before they had any real skills. However, a little knowledge was better than none at all. Without practice, the ragtag band would never improve at all.

"Again!" Aiden called for what felt like the hundredth time. Though exhausted and sore, the trainees did not give up and obediently complied.

Looking on absentmindedly, the Guardian had lost count of their repetitions as well. His mind had inevitably drifted to Sage. 'Why won't she let me help her? Who was that man at the inn? I I hate to admit it, but Ethyn may have been right that he was more than just a customer. But then why wouldn't she tell me? Ugh! Sage makes me crazy with all her secrets. Not that I don't keep secrets from her. What a pair we are! We deserve each other…'

The Guardian looked up suddenly. Someone from the training ground had asked him a question. His mind came back from the dark cave of brooding and focused on the present. Everyone was staring at him. An uncomfortable feeling settled in his gut. 'Say something!'

"Yes, yes, much better," he responded vaguely, giving an affirmative gesture.

Aiden, who was in the front of the group, pointed his sword to the ground and placed his hands on the hilt. Beside him Conall stood with a long staff in his grasp. He had been using it to keep time for the drill. He would have been practicing too but his leg injury from the battle at the river was still tender, or so he claimed.

The two men exchanged a worried glance. They had been pretty sure that the Guardian was not focused, but his hood had masked his far off countenance. Silver's inappropriate answer to if he wanted to teach some of the group archery only confirmed their suspicions.

"I think we will dismiss training early today," Conall announced. "We could all use some rest."

The men and women picked up their gear and ambled back to Rynnlee, gathering into packs of two or three for ease of conversation. It was obvious most of the chatting would be about their out-of-sorts Guardian.

Ethyn, who was offset from the group practicing his own swordsmanship, noticed the dismissal. He sheathed his weapon and joined Conall, Aiden and Silver in the middle of the clearing.

"What happened?" Ethyn asked. He placed his hands behind his back mimicking Aiden's warrior stance. The large man smiled briefly then cleared his throat.

"Something is wrong with Silver. He's off in La-la land." Aiden pointed to his temple and shook his head.

Conall touched the guardian's sleeve gently. It was a strange motion for the rotund mayor, which only punctuated the depth of his concern. "I've never seen you this distracted. You are usually exceedingly focused, sometimes frustratingly so." A moment of recognition came across the mayor's face. "Is it, uh, lady troubles, my friend?"

Ethyn slapped his hand to his face. "Not this again."

"Which lady, may I ask?" Aiden gave a sly grin. Drama was always more enjoyable when it was happening to someone else.

"You know very well who," Ethyn scoffed. "Sage is a menace, muddling up his perfectly good brain!" He stamped his foot angrily, which only made Aiden and Conall chuckle.

Conall cupped his hand on Silver's shoulder. "Well, I hate to tell you, but it does not get any easier. I can't even count the times Katherine has left me baffled. She always manages to show up when I least expect it and turn my world upside down."

"Conall! Silver!" a shrill voice broke the conversation. On cue, Katherine burst into the clearing, panting, having run all the way to find them. She fell into her husband's arms, ready to faint.

"Come to turn my world once again, my love?" the mayor joked. Then he saw the paleness of her face and panic took root. "What is it?"

Gilbert, who had missed training to do chores around the house, had come in right on the heels of his mother. The mayor looked to his son for answers. "It's Sage," the young man told them.

Recovering, Kathrine spoke quickly, her voice overpowering her son's. "Yes, Sage! The soldiers have her. Come quick!"