Greven felt a nervous energy ripple through him. He threw the morsel of bread left in his hand to some inquisitive birds nearby. "So you could understand what they were saying around you?"

"I suppose."

Greven tried not to lose his patience. "Piven, help me. I'm trying to understand you."

"There's nothing much to understand, Greven. I didn't use my magic because I wasn't sure about it. That's all." Piven flicked the knife around in his hand, angrily.

"If you didn't use it, how did you know you possessed it?"

"I knew, that's all," Piven said, and Greven could tell that his young companion would not be drawn on this.

"Do you know the extent of your powers?"

Piven shook his head, hacking at the grasses between his ankles with the knife, his head lowered.

"Forgive me all these questions, child, but you're all I have. I love you. I want to understand so I can always help, always protect you."

"I know."

"How do you explain that you have this magic?"

Piven shrugged. "I'm Vested, I suppose."

"In which case you can understand why I'm worried, why I feel the need to protect you from those who would want to make use of that magic."

"If I have to use it, then I want to use it for the good of others."

"Exactly!" Greven exclaimed. "Exactly," he repeated, relief flooding his body. "My fears, child, are that people might want to use it for reasons that do not help others."

"No one could make me do anything I don't want to."

"You'd be surprised what people will do to avoid being hurt, or to prevent those they love from being hurt."

Piven tossed away the apple core and wiped the knife blade clean on his trousers. "So you would agree that there are occasions when we must hurt others to protect ourselves...or those we love?"

Greven balked at the question but he could see Piven wanted a direct answer. "I would do anything to protect you...or Lily. I would probably have killed or certainly harmed some soldiers once-if I'd been able-when your adopted brother, Leo, came into my life. That was a terrifying moment. Yes, I would have done anything to stop them hurting Lily-or him, come to that."

Piven nodded as though an important admission had been made. "What do you think the man Clovis is after?"

It was a straight question; Greven could hardly answer it indirectly. "I believe he has been trying to hunt you down for many anni and was sure he had stumbled upon the right path at last. I think he wanted to see that it truly was you first and then I believe he would have tried to persuade you to join him."

"Why?"

"That I can't answer. He is Vested. Perhaps he is in touch with other Vested and can sense you, or perhaps-"

"I think I can guess," Piven said, sounding as if he had wearied of the conversation.

"Really?"

"Rebellion," Piven stated, his tone bald and unimpressed.

Greven was shocked. He rocked back against the tree he was leaning against and regarded Piven. He'd underestimated his charge. For anni he'd just been delighted that something had unlocked the child from his prison of silence. But Greven was beginning to think he'd entirely misjudged Piven, accepting his quietness for lack of thought and his simple outlook for a lack of depth. "Rebellion?" he repeated dimly.

"Do you really think the entire population of Penraven-let alone the masses of the Set proper-were going to just lay down arms entirely and accept a barbarian ruler?"

Greven looked at his child, astonished. "But they have."

Piven held a finger in the air. "Most. Not all."

Greven shook his head in bewilderment. "How would you know?"

"I can sense it. But my skills aside, any rational person would have to allow that there would always be potential for rebellion, as long as a Valisar remained alive."

"But you're not Valisar, Piven!"

Piven gave him such a look of disdain that Greven actually flinched. "I was referring to Leo."

"We have no idea if he's ali-"

"He is. I feel it," Piven said casually, raising the water skin to his mouth. He swallowed. "And as long as he is, there will be people who will rally for the Valisars. And I'm extremely useful, I'm sure, as a symbol for the Valisar Crown until he reveals himself."

Greven cleared his throat. "Piven, you sound so much older than you are."

Piven turned and there was his beautiful uncomplicated smile again. "Is that a bad thing?"

"No. No, not at all," Greven said, gathering his wits. "Refreshing, in fact...but unnerving all the same."

Piven's smile widened. "Sorry. But forcing me to leave my home has brought this all out of me. We've lived in a very protected, remote manner, haven't we, Greven? And now, suddenly, I'm being forced to confront the real world. Real dangers."

"Indeed. I would save you from it if I could."

"I know. You may have to yet."

Again, there it was; knowledge of something...a cryptic comment in a response as though Greven had given some form of admission. He was baffled by it. The truth was, he realized, he was baffled by Piven this day. He could hardly recognize him as the same quietly spoken, generally remote youth he'd shared a home with only a day or so earlier. Now he felt as though he was talking with an equal-an outspoken, well-informed one at that. "One more question, if I may?" he asked.

Piven looked up through his straggly dark hair. "Yes?"

"When do you remember first making sense of what was being said around you?"

The boy nodded. "I've asked myself that same question many times. I always return to the same answer."

"Which is?"

"When my father, the king, died."

Greven didn't have the heart to correct Piven. Besides, the boy would likely leap down his throat anyway. He didn't need any further reminding of his lineage. "Can you describe that time? Not the horror of it but what was happening to you, I mean."

"I can't, really. I just think I became more aware of everyone around me then. Real thoughts were impacting, people's comments made a little more sense, I could focus a little bit. But only a bit. My main anchor, I suppose you could call him, was Vyk. When he was around I could concentrate and all the noises and confusion that usually filled my head would lessen a lot."

"Is the bird magical?" Greven asked.

Piven shrugged. "He was to me."

That was an evasive answer but Greven let it go. "Where has he gone?"

"He'll find us."

"Why are you so sure?"

"I just am. He hasn't finished with me."

Greven knew he should leave it alone, but he couldn't. "So you think it was the death of King Brennus that allowed you to...to..."

"To enter the world properly, yes," Piven replied. "But not immediately. It took time. You know how I was in the beginning."

"I do. But now look at you. I feel as though you've changed since we sat down!"

Piven smiled, a true sunny smile. "I think being on the run like this has made me accept that I can't keep hiding from who I am. Like you said, there will be people who would use my presence as a rally cry for those still loyal to the Valisars. And then there are those who would make use of my magics for their own gain. I'm not sure I would permit either."

He sounded so grown up it was astonishing. Greven tried not to show his surprise. "But we are loyal to the Valisars, surely?"

"Of course, but I won't be a pawn for someone else's rebellion, Greven. I think I must find Leo."

"No, Piven. I had no intention of embarking on a crusade. I want us to escape attention, not go looking for it."

"You were hoping we could blend into another invisible life-Jon Lark and his son Petor?"

Greven frowned. "Yes."

"Then you're being naive." Greven felt a spike of fresh anxiety as Piven continued. "If this man Clovis can find me now he can find me again. And if he can find me so can Loethar or anyone else who wants me dead, or alive, or as a symbol, or as a Vested, or as a-"

"Stop. Piven, what's happening to you?"

Greven watched the boy he loved take a long slow breath before he spoke. He watched as the dark eyes lifted to regard his. "What's happening is that I'm being realistic. I am accepting that I cannot have the quiet life in the hut in the forest and that I can no longer be Piven in disguise as Petor Lark and I am discovering that my magic will not be still."

Greven stared at him, awe and anxiety battling within.

"This magic I have," Piven continued. "Wild or divine or what ever in Lo's name this skill I possess is, it claws at me. It has for a long time. And I have resisted it for all that time. I'm beginning to think that those first five anni were protection granted by the heavens. Now I fear something dangerous is lurking."

Greven didn't know what to say. He watched the youngster weigh the blade in his hand, and then, as if having made a decision, he handed it back to Greven. "Put this back in your sack. We'd better clear up and be on our way again."

Greven nodded dumbly, not understanding why he felt suddenly intensely frightened.

Eight.

Freath looked expectantly at Kirin. "Well?"

Kirin dragged his kerchief from a pocket and wiped his mouth. "I'm not sure I'll ever eat anything again without comparing it to this evening's fare."

Freath smiled. "I knew you'd enjoy it." He sipped at an ale he wasn't interested in. "You were gone long enough. Did you make sure your horse is docile? They can be unscrupulous up in the north with unsuspecting travelers."

"She's gentle enough. I'll be fine," Kirin assured. "In fact"-he bent to gaze out of the window-"it's past dusk. I should go."

"What a rotten time of the day to be setting out on a journey. You could be set upon by bandits."

Kirin smiled. "I've taken precautions. I met up with some merchants at the stables. A group of them are leaving at twilight and I'll accompany them. We'll likely travel through most of the night back toward the city. There's plenty of them and they have a couple of armed men besides. Don't worry."

"But I do," Freath said, scowling.

"Then the sooner I go, the easier on your troubled mind."

"Kirin, I-"

"Don't. There's nothing more to say. We both know what we have to do and you know why I have to leave. I will make contact again and I won't leave it too long, either-that's a promise."

"Find him for me, Kirin."

"And you find his brother," Kirin replied.

Freath nodded. "An aegis would be helpful."

Kirin grinned. "I'll see what I can rustle up."

"How will you take care of yourself? You know..." Freath didn't want to be obvious but he could see Kirin understood all the same.

"I've been lucky this past decade; you haven't asked much of me. We both know it will get worse if I practice. But that's my decision on when and how to use my skills and you're not to worry over my health."

Freath sighed. "Well, I'll just sit here and comfort myself with that thought," he replied, unable to fully disguise his bitterness. "Be safe. I shall miss you."

Kirin stood, then surprised Freath by leaning down and hugging his old friend. "I'll see you soon enough, I promise."

All Freath could do was nod. He wasn't used to being touched in such an intimate way; in fact, the last person who had hugged him had been his lovely Genrie. And she was dead within hours. He felt the familiar bile rise but forced it back as he lifted a hand in farewell to Kirin, who had turned at the inn's doorway for one last sad smile in his direction. Freath watched a huge man step across the inn's threshold, pushing past Kirin, his size forcing one of the Vested's shoulders to swing backward. Freath saw his friend shake his head at the poor manners and then he was gone. The big man moved deeper into the inn and although Freath's gaze absently followed him, he was more focused on how the inn had filled since he and Kirin had come downstairs. Suddenly he was aware of the noise of men drinking, the voices of serving girls laughing and teasing their patrons gently as they set down food. He heard the clatter and bustle from the kitchen and the clank of pitchers of ale and mugs of spiced dinch. He decided to free up his table, now that the debris of his meal was being cleared. He watched as the woman worked with quiet dexterity, piling up plates and mugs on a large tray.

"Thank you," he said and she looked up at him with surprise. She must not be used to such politeness, Freath thought, removing himself from the dining area to a corner of the main part of the inn. A shelf was set at chest height right around the room's main chamber, accompanied by high stools for anyone who wanted to perch with a drink, though most men just leaned their elbows against the shelf. It was still relatively early so no one was rowdy. The patrons looked to be mainly travelers on their way through the town so none of these people would be looking for trouble. Instead, they seemed keen on swapping tales of the pass, or conditions in the mountains or news from the other cities and provinces.

Compasses! That's what Loethar called Barronel, Garamond, Cremond and all the other once proud realms of the Set. He scowled into his ale and as he settled back into the dark nook his eyes fell on the huge man who had entered as Kirin was leaving. What an enormous specimen he was. He had to be a bodyguard at that size and yet he seemed very relaxed, not at all unfamiliar with the surrounds. Freath watched how the man took in everyone with his loud remarks and equally loud jests. No one seemed to mind his brashness. Freath noticed how the man's brightly burning personality seemed to attract other men like moths to a flame. Soon enough a large group of them were clanking mugs of ale and laughing uproariously together.

The man sitting next to Freath, also alone, ordered an ale and as the girl arrived with his mug, she glanced at Freath inquiringly. "Another, please," Freath agreed. He didn't want more ale but he needed an excuse to remain a bit longer. He knew if he went upstairs he'd feel Kirin's absence too keenly and besides, it had been a very long time since he'd shared life among ordinary people. He was enjoying the anonymity and the relief of not having to watch his every move, every word, as he did in and around the palace. But, he reminded himself, he needed to stay alert. His reason for being here remained clandestine and with a very real purpose-he must not slip into the mindset that he was on some sort of holiday.

The girl arrived with a pitcher of ale and a mug. "I thought yours looked a bit stale, sir."