The next night, I don my cloak for old time’s sake. Tomorrow begins the second phase of the tournament. I look out at Mid, seeing gleaming white buildings, fluttering flags, and people. It makes me smile.

These folk have no idea what happened, of what could have befallen our kingdom. What still could. But they travel on about their business, their own worries and fears and happiness ever changing with the tide of life. And I know I will never take the little things for granted ever again. Big things come once in a dragon moon, but the little things that make up the day to day life… that is where the true magic happens. It’s the kind word of a stranger, the smile of a friend, the hug from your mother. I’ve learned not to take those things for granted, for we never know when the tides of change might just bring something different. Something big.

For now, I will enjoy this time of little things and healing, blessed to do so with those I love.

Is that? Ran sniffs the air, spinning back and forth. Then her eyes pin on the prince and his entourage walking down the street, his tunic a blue so bright in the moonlight it almost burns my retinas. The guards following him are cloaked in the usual chain-mail armor and carry an armory on each. The prince shakes hands with the common folk of Mid, who watch him with wide eyes and all-encompassing awe.

What’s he doing in Mid at night? Granted, it’s not too late as I need to get back and sleep before tomorrow, but still. Don’t nobles have parties and things to do in the evenings?

Oh no he didn’t, Ran says.

I can’t quite tell if that’s amusement, horror, anger, or bemusement coming over the bond. Perhaps all of it.

What? I ask, quirking a brow at my bond. Her tail wags in a circle and tongue hangs out the side of her mouth in a wolf grin.

Wouldn’t you like to know?

RAN!

She plops her hind-end on the roof we’re currently inhabiting, licking a paw then scratching behind her ear. A need to know basis.

You sound like Hans. I huff out a breath. Then pause, looking back with wide eyes. ”Hang on… you know?”

She goes back to licking her paw, ignoring me.

I put my hands on my hips, brows lowered in a glower. RAN!

She flicks her brown eyes up, and they sparkle in laughter. She licks my cheek, leaving gooey slobber from the side of my mouth to my hairline, then darts over and down into a nearby alley head.

I'm sure you'll figure it out... eventually. She disappears from view.

I roll my eyes skyward, wondering what in the world I’m going to do with my crazy bond.

I jog after her, knowing where she’s going, scaling down the side of the wall to reach ground level and stinky back alleys.

I chase after the waving white tail. We duck and jump past leaning buildings stacked right on top of each other in these back alleys, two bodies of one mind, racing toward the center of the city.

We reach the back end of the tavern, where folk sing terribly out of tune, the sound grinding against my ears. Ran whines, trying to hide her ears under her paws.

I look up at the towering spire that is the library with a small, bittersweet smile.

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My family is safe. The assassin who was after the prince was sent packing by The King… for now. Hans and Jenny, those two are angels. They are still trying to ensure everyone who knows who I am is gone, but I need to be extra careful until Wolfsbane is found. When Darshius retreated, Wolfsbane went into hiding.

I feel I haven’t seen the last of either of them, and the depth of which they are embedded into our world is frightening. But for now… we have time.

Time to heal. Recover. Enjoy life with our loved ones.

Ran butts her head into my chest, forcing me to take a step back or fall over.

I chuckle, hugging her head.

We made it, girl.

A content grumble begins in her chest and vibrates through her and into me. We did.

For old times’ sake? I ask.

She wags her tail, bowing so I can hop on.

I grab her luscious white mane, pulling myself on her back. I am grateful she’s back to her wolf form.

Me and you both, rider.

But I’m gonna miss your cute pony-ness! I sing.

She growls and I can’t help my breathy laugh.

I clench my legs around her barrel and grab her harness to keep myself on.

I look up, and the blood drains from my face as she launches herself up, gripping the side of the library with large claws digging into the pure white stone.

Is it too late to change my mind?

She makes an odd barking mixed with a purr-like sound, darting ever quicker up the side. I hold on tighter as I dangle upside down when she goes beneath the balcony.

Why did I do this?

‘Cause it’s fun.

No it is not.

Yes, it is.

She drops over the balcony rail, and I throw myself off, landing on my hands and knees.

Never again.

You have a habit of saying that for things you most assuredly will do again.

Never. Again.

Repeating that will not make it true.

Fleas.

She scratches her ear at the thought of the little boogers, and I let an evil grin cross my face.

She stands and shakes with a huff, throwing white hair on me.

I shake my head, a smile pulling at my lips.

She sticks her wet nose in my ear, and I bat her off with a mock glare while I bite my lip to keep from smiling.

I love that girl.

I walk to the balcony rail, leaning my forearms against the beautiful silver filigree.

Before me stands Risia. Much has happened these last few weeks. I’m not the same person who stood here with worries about my sister and how I was going to afford to feed my family.

Now Jill has answers. Her Gift is even more of a curse than my own… or I suppose I should say her Gifts. Jenny was beyond surprised. Two Gifts are apparently quite rare, and most babies die shortly after birth since more than one is too much for a body to handle.

Jill is a living miracle.

Jack is thankful to know, but they both… they’ve changed. And Jill is keeping something from me. She’s morose and not her peppy self. She cried when I handed her one of her favorite romance novels. She hugged it to her chest as if someone had died… then didn’t speak to anyone for hours.

I don’t know what to do with her.

But such is life, I suppose. I have always waited for life to be perfect, for everything to calm down so I can find happiness and peace. But what I’ve learned?

There is no perfect. There is no time without hardship or time when everything lines up just right.

We need to take each broken moment of this life and enjoy it to the fullest… right now. Because with how my life goes, there may not be tomorrow.

Ran leans her huge head on my shoulder, looking out at the city with me.

The stars twinkle above us, the waterlights shimmer beneath us and the folk scurrying in the night are safer than they were. My heart is full.

My entire world is in danger of a madman, but… that is next week's problem when I get back to the tournament. Today, today I get to enjoy being alive.

You’re going back as Ri, then?

I won the first part… why not?

Because you hate it. She rubs my shoulder with her cheek. I smile.

I did, but… I joined it to protect the prince. Now, I need to get close to the nobles. There are others, Ran. Others who are trying to topple Irisia from the top.

Plus, it was fun to win, she says with a content grumble, knowing me all too well.

I grin, watching the people scurrying around the streets of Risia like ants. The white buildings of Mid glimmer in the moonlight and the flags denoting the wares of the shops snap in the wind of a storm I see coming from the West. I can barely make out the prince’s entourage as people part for him, creating a large, dark gap smack in the middle of the street.

It was fun, I admit.

So what now?

If you keep sticking your nose in my ear, I’m putting peppermint in my bed so you can't sleep on the nice, plush mattress.

She snorts in my ear.

RAN!