Shifra inspected Revin’s knee, it was bruised and perhaps had a hairline fracture, but it wasn’t broken. The soldiers stepped out of Revin’s tent.

“What happened?” Shifra said, sensing the anger in the soldiers.

“A Koyejian spy showed up,” Revin said, wincing, “Kaiato saved me. The guy was trying to turn Kaiato on us, ordered him to murder Omrai and me.”

Shifra’s heart jumped. Kaiato? A double agent?

“Is everyone all right?”

Revin nodded, “They’re fine. He killed the spy instead.”

Shifra wrapped up Revin’s knee with some medicated cloth, pulling tightly. Revin winced.

“Sorry,” Shifra nodded, “We’ve got to keep this firmly in place. You’re lucky this was just a crack. Still, no running or heavy exercise for you.”

“What do we do when we get to the walking fortress?” Revin said.

Shifra cast Revin a firm look. “Honestly, I don’t think you should go in.”

Revin frowned, “And I’m useless again.”

“Useless?” Shifra said, “You saved a lot of people back in that canyon, I would say you’re far from useless.”

“You’re too nice to me.”

Shifra finished wrapping and looked at Revin. She knelt next to him as he lay on the floor of his tent. Their eyes met and she felt attraction, anxiety, and excitement in a conflux of emotions. She looked at Revin, he looked like he was trying to stay calm.

The feelings came stronger, and she leaned in toward him. He sat up a little bit. The feelings rushed.

They kissed.

It lasted a long moment, it was nice. But something felt odd. Under the surface, she felt confusion, frustration. She pushed Revin away, feeling everything simultaneously.

What am I doing? she thought.

“I…” she said, “I can’t.”

She stood up and got out of the tent. Leaving Revin sitting on the floor, jaw dropped and speechless. Omrai stood outside.

“Is he going to be alright?” he said. After a moment, he cocked his head. “What’s wrong?”

Shifra opened her mouth but said nothing.

“What is it?” Omrai said, looking more and more concerned, “What happened?”

“Nothing,” Shifra said, “I’m… I’m just confused.”

Omrai looked at her firmly, “You can tell me.”

Shifra’s confused feelings increased, buzzing in her mind, she tried to ignore them. She rubbed her forehead.

“I’m tired,” Shifra said, she turned to walk away, but paused, turning to her father. “Were you confused all the time, when you were courting mother?”

Omrai’s eyes widened. “Shifra. What happened?”

Her anger surged at his accusatory tone.

“Nothing!” she shouted, “nothing happened! I was just asking you a question!”

She pushed past Omrai and headed to the fire.

“He’s all wrapped up and set to go,” she shouted without looking, “but he can’t do anything physically demanding for a week!”

✦✦✦

Revin was confused. First, she kissed him, then she left in a frustrated huff.

She was beautiful. But… he’d gotten the impression before that she wasn’t really all that interested. What was-

Revin felt a bending in his mind. He looked around, but it continued, a great tension. With a snap, he lost mental contact with two of his three ceratops.

“Whoa!” he shouted, trying to hold on, but they were gone, he would have to master them again.

The tent door flapped open, and Omrai stepped in.

“What did you do?” Omrai said.

“I didn’t do anything!”

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“Why is Shifra so upset?”

“I don’t know, she kissed me!”

Revin felt his connection sever with another ceratop.

“What is wrong?” Revin said, “She did it! I didn’t even say anything!”

Omrai’s face was contorted in anger and confusion. “Revin,” Omrai said, “I want you to stay away from her.”

“I already told you it wasn’t me,” Revin said, growing angry.

“You are not the kind of person I want her courting,” Omrai said, ignoring him.

Revin’s jaw dropped. “Now wait just a second, what’s wrong with me?”

Omrai raised an eyebrow, “What’s wrong with you? You’re cocky, prideful, self-righteous, brash-”

“Alright!” Revin snapped, “So that’s what’s been wrong this whole time… You don’t want me dating your daughter?”

Omrai nodded, “Very astute.”

There was a long silence.

Revin frowned. “She’d made it clear she wasn’t interested. So, I have no clue what that was all about.”

“Was that about you overreaching your bounds?”

Revin clenched his fist and shook his head. “No wonder Shifra stresses out around you! I mean, I crossed a freakin’ ocean to help you fight this war. I’ve fought, I’ve bled, I’ve felt a hundred deaths, and it’s like it’s nothing to you!”

Omrai stared at Revin, “You, Revin Henrir, did those things for your pride alone. You place yourself on a pedestal because you think you’re holier than everyone else. But your façade doesn’t fool me. You’re insecure, you doubt your faith, and you’re afraid. Afraid of facing Jebuthar and Narazoth. I see you . And above all, after seeing who you are, I know you’re not good enough for my daughter.”

There was another long silence as Revin tried to push away his anger. He took a trembling breath.

“You’re right,” Revin snapped, standing up with a wince and a grunt. He growled at the pain but continued. “Maybe I am those things. But, despite my flaws, I am trying to be better. And if that’s not enough for you, then I might as well go home and leave you to deal with Jebuthar yourself.”

Omrai was silent.

Revin took a deep, calming breath. “The closer our wills are aligned, the more beasts I can control. How do we expect to be able to beat an evil monk and his Lord, when we can’t work together? We’re on the good side! Why can’t we do it? When all success is based on our ability to work together, why can’t we do it ?”

Omrai didn’t say a word, his face like stone. Revin thought he saw sadness in his eyes.

Revin’s strength gave out and he fell. He trembled with rage. His chin trembled and his eyes watered. He looked up to the roof of his tent and shook his head.

“What can I do…” Revin said.

He looked to the side of the tent, to his satchel. He crawled over and pulled out the Sephitaron.

He opened to a random page, hoping to find some semblance of hope. He found a random verse about farming. Then another a verse about attending to your ceremonies. Then he opened to another, and another, and another, and another.

And another.

No verses offered him solace. No words offered him peace.

He slammed the book shut and looked up to the sky again.

“What am I doing here?”

✦✦✦

She looked at the fire, feeling confused. Why had she kissed him? It didn’t make any sense.

What was she doing out here? Trying to convince her father that she deserved respect? He was occupied with a lot . And Qadi… Shifra had come to support the mission of Qadi and her father, to get Shifra’s own father to come to their side. And what was she doing instead? Kissing boys and getting confused. It was stupid. Her friend, her best friend , could be dead for all she knew. And here was Shifra, worrying about her interactions with men?

Kaiato approached, his footsteps tentative. Cautious. Shifra didn’t look directly at him. She didn’t know what to say.

“Shifra,” Kaiato said “I just heard Revin and Omrai shouting. They said your name. What’s going on?”

She saw it again. The bleeding wound in her best friends eye. Which pulled her into Revin’s wound. Then back to Kaiato. She looked up at him, and he bore a look of deep concern.

“Are you a spy?” she said.

He shook his head. “No, I’m not.”

He was telling the truth. She knew he was.

Why did she still feel so awful?

“What happened?”

There was a war going on, and she was worried about men? But why had she done it? Looking back, it made no sense, she didn’t even understand where the inkling had come from.

“I… I don’t want to talk about it!” she snapped. She wanted him to push further. To ask her again.

Defeat appeared in his eyes, and he bowed his head in surrender.

“Then I will let you be. If ever you want to speak, just ask.”

She wanted him to stay but couldn’t say a word. He stepped away from the fire.

Leaving her alone.