Sakura went back into the house to tell everyone she was leaving.

“And don’t worry,” Tomii said. “I’ll look out for her. And we have three men from the circle here to keep a watch on things as well.”

Sakura nodded. She embraced her brother and then glanced toward the mage. He was evidentially on his way out. She had something for him. “Wait,” she said, catching up to him on the road outside. “You’re not going to stay?”

The dancer couldn’t help but want him to. She didn’t know him, but she was thankful to him for helping her brother and father save Yoko. He had even almost died again.

“No,” he said. “I’ll probably go find a guild that will want to have me. I’ll be fine.”

“I see,” she said. “Well then, please take this.” She proffered the little coin purse. “It’s not much, but if you fail to find a guild, it will buy you a good bed and meal.”

The man hesitated. “You’ve already saved my life. I’m not certain I can take your money as well.”

If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

“It’s all right,” she said, nudging the coin purse. “My family has no lack of coin to spare. As you’ve seen.”

He nodded and reached out for the purse. He didn’t open it, simply put it in his tunic. “Thank you.”

“Perhaps we should hire you on as a guard for a time,” she suggested. It was a joke, but she found herself actually wanting that. He was scruffy and needed to bathe, which was certainly repulsive, but even though he was a mercenary, she could sense something in him.

Honor…

He sniffed with amusement. “I think you have someone waiting for you.”

She turned, annoyed at the distraction to see Kaiya standing next to the coach, her hands outspread with an exasperated look on her face.

“Coming.” She turned to the mage once more. “With everything that has happened, I still don’t know your name. What is it?”

He looked at her for a moment, then tiredly, he said, “My name is Lawrence… Cazwick.”

“Well, Ro-ren-su,” she said, his name thickly accented. “I hope I see you again. Goodbye.”

He nodded politely. “Goodbye, Nakamura-san.”

At his use of the formal honorific, she smiled, then went back to the coach where Kaiya was waiting, annoying as ever, though Sakura deserved the negative attention she thought as she was herded into the coach.

“Quickly.”

She was still tired after expending so much energy to heal Lawrence. Dancing would be difficult tonight.

She found herself contemplating quietly as the others chitchatted about the coming performance.

Lawrence Cazwick…

“Sakura, are you even listening to me? And what are you smiling about?”

“Sorry, nothing. You were saying?”