The sun is bright overhead. Hans leads a mule who drags a cart filled with food, clothes, and bedding. He and Jenny wished to ensure we made it to our new home safe and sound with plenty to make it comfortable.

Jenny cried when we left, and I about cried with her. But she blew her nose on her handkerchief, muttered about blasted hormones, and gave me a hug before waddling inside to rest before I could give into the urge to let the tingling behind my eyes join hers.

The estate comes into view and something within me unwinds. It's a little log cabin that seems out of place in the white stucco homes with pillars and fancy decorative things around the little cabin. It’s a light brown with lots of windows and a small porch. The surrounding wall is about chest high and also made of logs with a swinging gate leading into an overgrown garden that has a wild feel as the purple flowers on vines sneak onto the cobblestone pathway and the few hedges look more like burly men than shaped bushes. A single fountain lay in front of the porch with one rusty wrought iron bench with weeds grown up around it and a vine trailing up its legs and half-way across its seat.

Behind it is towering trees and there are evergreens which help maintain privacy between the mountainous white stucco homes on either side of the quant little cabin.

Hans comes up beside me, patting Blue’s shoulder. “I’m sorry I couldn’t find anything better.”

I grin. “No, sir. This is perfect!”

I hop down from Blue, giving him the apple he begs from me, and follow Jack and Jill into the yard. The gate squeaks when they open it, but Jack doesn’t care, darting from place to place and finding worms and frogs beneath rocks and in puddles.

Jill follows a bit more placidly behind, and squeals when Jack turns up with a grasshopper grinning from ear to ear. The hopper jumps into her hair and she runs with more energy than I’ve seen in a long time. I grin… but the smile drops when I watch the grasshopper wither into a dried husk where it was caught in her hair.

Jack’s eyes meet mine, and he shakes his head with pursed lips, begging me with his eyes to stay quiet. I nod and go chasing after Jill, forcing laughter until I catch her and strip the grasshopper from her head and throw it in the rather green water in the fountain. A fish sucks it down, and Jack tickles the back of her neck, sending her screaming again.

He looks over his shoulder, his eyes so serious in that moment with his lips pursed and shoulders heavy that my heart hurts. He looks so much like Father, with too much weight on such small shoulders.

Jill didn’t want me to tell Jenny about her Gifts, but I told her where we often spoke while Jenny gave me lessons and a certain place she could hide and listen. Hopefully she learned something.

And now Jack is doing all he can to help his twin. It breaks and mends my heart all at once. At least we can journey this trial together, as a family. That is the most important part.

Mom walks through the door, shaking her head with a wry grin at Jack and Jill’s antics.

I follow, and am surprised. The inside is… beautiful. It has the rustic barn theme with paintings of dragons and rolling hills and meadows along the left log wall while the other holds old rusted farm equipment and some mirrors. In the center of the left wall is a large fireplace and before it is a bearskin, table, and a cushioned couch in a warm brown. The tables and mantles are dusty, but it’s nothing a little time and care won’t take care of. I can see the potential beneath the dust.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Stairs head up to the second story on the far wall and as I explore I find a door leading into a kitchen equipped with a great wooden stove and a sink with running water.

I run upstairs hoping… and there it is. A tub just like the one at Hans’. I sigh, and Hans chuckles from behind me. “You like it, minx?”

I turn around and throw my arms around his waist. “This is the best ever, Uncle. Thank you so much. It’s so perfect with the rustic appearance and it’s not super big—”

“Whoa whoa whoa, I get it,” he says with a chuckle. He squeezes me then steps back, clearing his throat. “I knew I’d better make sure there was a tub or I’d deal with a miscreant in my house again, hiding under a bed.”

I groan, but can’t help a smile teasing at my lips. Underneath those icy blue eyes and gruff exterior is a softy. “That was one time Hans!”

“One you won’t ever forget,” he winks, sauntering out the door, whistling.

“Yeah, cause you won’t let me,” I grumble.

But a smile quickly returns to my face as I look around this house… feeling like it may actually become home.

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

No.

Ran’s mulish voice and pinned ears make me sigh.

We spoke of this. I need to get out, let the city know I’m still around. And since I couldn't sleep, I needed something other than sitting around twiddling my thumbs. And I needed to ask Mistress Red about the orb.

No.

Don’t give me that.

No.

Grandma… quit it.

No.

You’ve spent too much time with Jack. You sound like a toddler.

I walk out the door, shutting it and the snarling white wolf behind in a stall.

I have Father’s old cloak wrapped up in my arms. The full moon welcomes me into its silver embrace as I step out into the streets. I shimmy out between two hedges, nod to the pale-skinned redhead, Sir Rowen, who watches both outside and inside with a clear gaze, then climb over the chest-high wall of my new home.

Hans left me with four guards, the four who introduced themselves and know my secrets. I asked him to bring my squire here. I grin, thinking of the little man who wanted to be my squire and now is in truth.

I sent him with the others in the household when everything was going down, but now I plan to make good on my promise to him when I saved him from that large, burly blacksmith. I will train him and Jack… and Jill, if she would like that.

And… he brought his goat. But the thing is expecting, so it will produce milk for the household, so I can’t exactly complain.

I look around, darting down some back alleys, feeling the loosening in my shoulders as the city cocoons me in her embrace. My ribs give a twinge when I climb to a second story and race the moonlight across the shingles, but overall, the day of rest really helped.

Not that I’ll ever admit such a thing to Hans. He's got a big enough head as is.

Ran is right… I shouldn't go out with the reason still unknown as to why the other world and Darshius wants Ran and I, but I need to get out and see why the orb is so important and the Red Mistress may be the only one with answers… at least the only one I dare approach.

Besides, the city needs to know I’m still around to protect her. The people need me.

This city has never needed you, rider. You’ve always needed it.

The words cut deep, and I slam down a wall between me and my bond, barely hearing the whine she gives as I shut her out.

Of course this city needs me. Does she not realize how many I’ve saved? Does she not realize how hard I’m working to help this city and the people here safe?

I slide into an alley in Lower, not watching where I’m going, and the hairs on the back of my neck prickle when eyes watch me slide through the alleyways. They don’t know me with my short hair and without a hood and mask. Sir Ri doesn’t belong in these alleys.

The Guardian does.