I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to see Cornelius.

"It will be alright, my dear, you will see. I know that there is a great destiny ahead of you."

I glanced back up at him and forced a smile. "I hope so. . . . Thank you, Cornelius, for everything." Before emotion could overtake me, I turned around to face the forest.

Out of the corner of my eye I could see Jaden approaching with two horses. The smaller one was from the day before. The other was different, speckled with grey and silver. When they were close enough, Thoran hopped onto the latter.

Part of me didn't know why I was giving in so easily. Maybe because I didn't think I stood a chance with Thoran. Maybe after arguing with Jaden I felt that everything was just too much. . . .

I walked over to the horse. Jaden offered a hand up. I took it, flipped onto the saddle, and grabbed the reigns. Thoran was talking quietly ahead with Cornelius.

"Well, it looks like you got what you wanted." I glanced back at Jaden after I said this, but his face was expressionless, he wasn't even looking at me.

I heard Thoran clap his heels and, in that moment, was all the happy to follow.

I shouldn't have said that . . . I think I was being too hard on him.

We moved briskly into the forest. I didn't look back once, I just concentrated on keeping pace with Thoran.

Of course I was being too hard on him! I only said that to protect myself. I still couldn't believe he came today to tell me he thought I could use magic. . . .

Forget it. It doesn't matter now.

For the next couple of hours I tried to keep my mind clear, concentrating solely on following Thoran. But my thoughts started up again when Tiver came into view.

We were on a hill high above the little city, about half a mile away. The sun had set just moments ago and the warm lights of Tiver appeared welcoming against the cool blue landscape.

Thoran slowed his pace to a stop on the hilltop. I came up beside him.

"You know, there is a lot of good to be done down there, a lot of people that need help."

I stared down absently as the wind blew my hair. "Maybe there are . . . but no one in Tiver wants help . . . especially not from me."

Normally I would not be so honest with my feelings, but there was nothing to lose. I doubted I'd ever see this man again.

Thoran sighed heavily. "There just isn't a place for you in our world. I could never guarantee your safety."

I looked back at him. "I don't want safety. I want a reason to live. Do you know what it's like not to have one? "

There was a pause. The man turned down. "You'd better get going before it gets dark. I'll watch from here."

That's it. No more arguing, Evelyn. I leaned to get off the horse.

"No, you can take it. Just leave it in the stables."

I nodded once then began the descent towards Tiver. It wasn't until I was lying in my own bed that I realized I never said goodbye.

Chapter 4.

Tiver I WOKE UP TO the sound of clanging dishes. Instantly I knew where I was. Partly because of the way I slept. Restless. Disturbed. But mostly due to how I felt now. Completely passionless about the upcoming day.

I knew everything that was going to happen.

Of course, it would be slightly different than usual. Everyone would be melodramatic about my return. Especially my mother. She probably had a list of things she wanted me to participate in by now. I put a pillow over my head and groaned.

After a few minutes, I rolled off the bed and moved over to my dresser. I picked out a loose white skirt and a leather corset-like top. It was a bit dressy for me, but the last thing I needed today was wardrobe critique and my sister had dubbed this outfit suitable once before.

I went over to the mirror and rolled my hair into a twist, when a thought came to my mind.

Sil! She's still at the stables. . . . I should check on her.

There was really no reason to, I had set her up in the best stall and, as it stood, she would be watched until someone picked her up. But I just wanted to see anything from the world I'd been the last three days . . . maybe so I knew for sure that it was real . . . that it had happened.

With a little more enthusiasm, I walked into the hall and closed the door behind me quickly. I could still hear the dishes clanging downstairs in the kitchen. I knew my mother would be in there, and I knew I was about to get an earful.

I crept down the hall, hoping that no one would catch me on the way down. When I got to the bottom of the stairs heard my mother talking.

"I understand Josephine's problem with the new road potentially bringing in a bad crowd, but I'm just so tired of being disconnected from the other towns. I haven't had any decent material in weeks."

I'd been gone for days and somehow they'd managed to talk about the same thing the entire time.

I slid into the doorway of the familiar room and spared a skeptic look around. It was a drearily regular kitchen consisting of wood and stone counters, but far less rugged than the kitchen in the woods. My mother was facing the counter rolling out dough, so she had yet to notice me. Her friend, Leanne, was sitting at the table with a cup of coffee and her usual gargantuan pile of muffins, giving a bad name to real pastry lovers everywhere.

"Obviously Josephine doesn't care about the material. I mean, did you see what she was wearing to the harvest social the other night?"

I slapped my hand against my head. The party, I missed the party. Now I'm really gonna be dead.

"Well, look who it is," sang Leanne.

I spared her a patronizing smile, then turned to my mother who was slowing starting to turn around.

"What? Who?-" As soon as she saw me her eyes began to water. Oh God, here it comes. Next her lips started quivering. She brought her hands up to them before losing it completely, bursting into tears.

"Oh, Evelyn!" A few more stifled gasps. "Where on earth have you been? I've been worried sick about you."

I put my hands out. "Mom, it's fine. I just twisted my ankle. I had to wait it out in the north cave. I wasn't farther than a few miles the whole time."

"Evelyn, that cave is twelve miles from here. I've told you I don't want you wandering off that far."

Yeah, you tell me, then I leave for five hours and you don't even notice I'm gone. . . .

I took a heavy breath.

All I have to do is wait this out, by tonight she'll be talking about something else. Oh, and hope to God that she doesn't realize I missed the- Suddenly another sob emerged from my mother, a look of anguish covering her face. "And, Evelyn, the harvest social, how could you miss it?!" More crying. "How are you ever going to get a husband if you never go to any of the town parties?"

I sighed again, I think it might have been the fifth time since I woke up.

"Look, mom, I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do about it now. I promise I'll go next time."

She took in an excessive breath and started to perk up. "Well, alright. But in the meantime I want you to start working at the bakery shop again. In fact why don't you head over there this afternoon. I know Lina could use the help "

I was going to object, until my mother gave me a 'don't-even-think-about-arguing' face.

At least it will give me an excuse to pass the stables. . . . I smiled wide. "Great, I think I'll just go now, grab some breakfast." I started inching my way towards the doorway.

"Wha?- Evelyn, why don't you eat here? You just got back."

This was a bad track. Once my mother got it into her head that she wanted something, she usually got it. Normally, I could take the random breakfast with the family. But at this moment my body was being all-but magnetically pulled to the stables.

"Well, I ah . . . I thought this would give me a chance to talk to some people about the party. You know, be social."

I had made it to the doorway, I spared a glance down the hallway at the front door.

"Oh," she said, somewhat surprised, "Okay then."

"Great!" I exclaimed much too excitedly as I turned to make my escape.

"Just promise you'll say hello to Garret if you see him. He just got back yesterday and I heard he was asking about you."

Yeah right. I held a smiling face. "Will do. Later mom, Leanne."

They nodded and I practically flew down the hall and through the front door.

When I was safely outside I leaned against the wall and blew out a breath.

I can't believe it. I've been home for less than a day and they're already trying to pull me into their world of trivial drama.

I shook my head, absently kicked a rock across the grass, and started walking towards town.

And on top of that she's trying to hook me up with Garret again. He had never been interested in me and I was glad for it, because I didn't like him much either.

I continued walking until I reached a cobble path. Our house was on the outskirts of Tiver, but the whole city was pretty condensed, so we weren't more than a few hundred yards away from the heart of town. The path I was following now connected most of the homes to Tiver.

The city itself was nestled into a valley amidst monstrous green hills. Like me, most of the people lived in scattered houses towards the back of Tiver. But there were some that lived in the middle of the city which I was approaching now. It was a two story maze of plain, stone, buildings that was already bustling with morning activity. For such a small city we had a ridiculous variety of shops and cafes, which was the reason for all the early morning activity.

As I walked through, everyone acknowledged me with a nod or a wave . . . just like always. A few times in the past I'd watched the residents of the city start their morning ritual, I'd soon realized that it was always the same. Enough to drive a person crazy really, but I guess there was some comfort in the fact that things would never change.

By the time I made it through town my cheeks were sore from smiling. My destination, the Fallstone Inn, stood just outside the city. A beacon to a wandering traveler, though there never were any.

Forgoing the winding road that led towards the building, I cut across the dewy grass, heading straight for the stables. After my morning thus far, I had half a mind to hop on the horse and ride away to . . . anywhere really. Unfortunately when I got on my tippy-toes to peer into Sil's stall there was no horse to be found.

I sunk back down for a moment then shook my head and leaned up to look through the window again. No Sil.

What the heck?

It wasn't long before my surprise turned into irritation. It didn't help that I wouldn't allow my mind to consider the obvious.

I walked quickly to the other side of the barn where I found Trendon, the innkeeper's son, throwing feed out into a pile of chickens. The young boy acknowledged me with a smile and I returned it with a slight wave.

"Hello, Trendon."

When I got closer he responded. "Good morning, Evelyn. Fine day, isn't it?" I managed a smile and a nod before he continued. "You missed quite the party the other night. And I, myself, was only able to stay out till ten." He chucked a handful of kernels as he shook his head. "Still too young to be awake for the real fun."

I smiled again and opened my mouth to speak until he continued on.

Trendon was twelve, but had a mind and mouth well beyond his years. I was used to being outmatched in conversational confidence, and Trendon was no exception. I nodded and listened to him talk about his views on underage curfew until his curiosity afforded me an opportunity.

"Hey, why are you out here this early anyways?"

I gestured my thumb towards the barn. "Actually, I was coming to check on a horse I dropped off yesterday. I didn't see him in there though, do you know if your dad moved him?"

He walked a couple of feet to feed another group of chickens.

"Let me guess: small, chocolate brown, and silky as all get out." I nodded enthusiastically. "It wasn't a hard guess considering that he's the first we've had here in week. Oh, except for Garret's horse. He just got back you know. My sister was swooning over him earlier . . . I can't say that I blame her though, he is rather-"

"Trendon," I interrupted, momentarily too distraught to be polite, "about the horse?"

He waved a hand. "Oh, right, right. A guy came and got it earlier this morning. I know, 'cause I handed her off myself."

Already? The final shred of hope in me dropped, and as it did the emptiness I'd learned to live with for years returned. I leaned back against the log.

"Evelyn? You okay?" came Trendon's voice. "My dad said that a guy was supposed to come pick it up, was that wrong?"

I shook my head, loosening some of my hair from its twist. "No . . . that's what I told him." I looked up at Trendon and smiled. "Thanks for the help, I'd better get going now."

"Okay then," I started walking away as he continued. "Hope everything works out. See you around!"

I lifted a hand in acknowledgment, but kept walking.

"Evelyn, we need a dozen more crumb cakes and two batches of cocoa buns."

"Got it." I shouted back.

After my encounter with Trendon I'd headed straight for the pastry shop, grabbed a cup of coffee, and started work. When I arrived Lina, the shop's owner, put me to work right away in the back. She was the first person that didn't make a mention of my three day disappearance, and I was glad for it.

Lina was a straightforward woman. She cared little for anything besides pastries. She had started teaching me her business when I was just fourteen. For a year or two there I did little besides baking for Lina, and the experience had turned me into quite a master dessert chef.