The following two days were mostly uneventful. A long dusty dirt road stretched out ahead of us into the forest-covered hills. Far to our left were a series of jagged peaks that marked the area near Galden. To the right, I got the occasional whiff of fresh water carried by a cool, lazy breeze. From my studies, I knew there was a large freshwater inland sea in the region. That sea, called the Solara Sea, was similar to one of the Great Lakes back on Earth, but it was much bigger and quite deep. Thousands of small islands filled the sea, forming an expansive archipelago that stretched from Istaera in the west, Volkash in the north, and Deneir in the east.

  However, despite being filled with fresh water and endless fish, due to the presence of monsters and magic, the sea wasn't as well traveled as someone from Earth would expect. In fact, most residents avoided going out into it and typically stayed within sight of the shoreline if they did go out on boats. Crossing was rare. To cross it, you'd either need several strong adventurers or one or more members of a guild whose name I couldn't remember that was dedicated to crossing. Or, you'd have to be desperate. Either way, we weren't planning on crossing, and I heard it was beautiful. I was looking forward to seeing it.

  After her ordeal, Tristan slept the entire first day and most of the second. Each morning, she looked slightly better, the color returning to her pale and sunken cheeks, and she even managed a bite of lunch on the second day of the trip, but she stayed exhausted and spent most of her time snoring in the back of the wagon. Everyone let her be, only waking her to make sure she ate. During dinner the second evening, after helping set up camp and sitting to dinner with everyone, Borun told us we'd arrive at Fairview sometime the next morning.

  As we traveled, I talked on and off with the merchants. They were good people. Borun was calm and confident, Eadrun was young and eager, and Vassa was an old friend of the pair. She was about as old as Eadrun, but while he was barely an adult, she was well into her middle years. It was striking to see how differently the races aged. It made me sad. Being a member of a long-lived race guaranteed you'd watch your friends die. I didn't know how I'd handle something like that.

  When I talked with the others, Sophia often joined me. Like the merchants, the almost duchess was good company. While prone to fits of sadness, which was fully expected given her circumstances, she was deeply curious about everyone's lives and spent most of her time asking us a variety of questions. Every answer we gave was like a treat she enjoyed. I got the impression that she hadn't been allowed to mingle with the common folk much since she seemed to know very little about us. She seemed to enjoy learning about us quite a bit.

  When she wasn't probing us about our lives, she spent time with Vral. Despite the goblin's occasional antagonism toward Sophia, Vral seemed to have taken our earlier conversation to heart. After a few false starts on the first day, Vral quickly took to her old acquaintance. By the second day, it became clear that the two had been and were once again friends. When she wasn't pretending to be mad at Sophia, something that seemed to be part of their dynamic, Vral's demeanor changed completely. Rather than brusque and aggressive, she was sarcastic and silly. It was a welcome change.

  At one point, Vral sat on Sophia's lap, and the two of them played some game where they pressed their hands together and sang a song. It was like Patty Cake or one of those children's games, but their version involved slapping one another's hands if they messed up the song. Whether that was how the game was played or a version the two had made up in their youth was anyone's guess, but they seemed to enjoy the game immensely, even if Vral won nearly every exchange.

  Each night, I fell asleep with Tristan on my chest and Vral against my side. It reminded me of the first night we slept in the forest when we fled from Galden. While it wasn't exactly the most comfortable sleeping arrangement, it was surprisingly comforting. My dreams were filled with visions of the Luminara and her blue motes. Sometimes, Fluffy was on my shoulder. Other times, I could hear a voice. It always sounded soft and kind, and it was familiar, but I couldn't place where I'd heard it before. But it was there every time the guardian appeared in my dreams. If anything, it was comforting.

  By the third morning, Eadrun's words were proven true. Shortly after breakfast, I was sitting at the front of the wagon when we rolled over a large hill. Far to the north, I could just make out a town. I could immediately see why it was named Fairview. The town sat at the edge of a tall cliff. To the west, there were endless rolling fields and thin forests stretched out as far as the eye could see. To the east, the earth gave out, and to the horizon was nothing but endless rolling waves. It was absolutely breathtaking.

  Sophia was sitting behind me in the back and looking in the direction we came. Without turning, she asked. "Isn't it gorgeous?"

  "It is."

  A long sigh escaped her lips. "I used to come here often with Father. It was his favorite town in our borders. Something about the sight of the sea always put him, and me, at ease." She turned to me. Her eyes shimmered, but she blinked the tears away. "One day, I'm sure It'll feel that way again."

  Crawling over some crates, I moved to the back and sat beside her. As I did, I kicked a foot. Across from me, Vral grumbled. She wrapped her arms around Tristan, who pulled her close. A minute later, the two fell back into a deep sleep.

  "You don't have to worry about me, you know." Sophia's voice was soft. "I'll be okay." Reaching her hand out, she wrapped her fingers around mine. "Though I do appreciate the gesture. You two have been most kind, and even Vral seems to have found some of her former fondness for me." She smiled. "I believe I have you to thank for that. Of any gift I could have been given these past few days, that one is most dear to me."

  "What happened between you two?" I wondered if hand-holding was more common in noble culture here. She nearly always took our hands when she talked to us. I'd have to ask Arden about the custom when I returned to the temple.

  She looked at Vral and sighed. "She and I were close, once. I thought of her as a sister. There was never a day that I stopped missing her after she was removed from my chambers."

  "Why was she sent away?"

  "My uncle." Her grip tightened around my fingers. "He thought it wise to send her away. He believed having a goblin companion would hurt my chances of being married and sully my name in the court." She rolled her eyes. "Now I know what he was truly thinking."

  "That's terrible."

  "Indeed. I think that was the moment I knew who he was. I think I began to see the monster hiding beneath the smile of my favorite uncle." She smiled a sad smile. "When Father was still alive, I should have spoken my mind. I should have told him what I felt. But, like a fool, I kept silent and did what was expected." She hung her head. "And now, I am here."

  I squeezed her hand. "It's not easy. Sometimes, it's hard to speak up. Especially with family."

  "It is." She met my eyes again. "Thank you. For understanding."

  Sensing the topic had come to a close, I changed directions. "What will you do now?"

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  "I'm not certain. Thadrian gave me several options." She looked back down at her feet. "The first was to travel to my cousins in Lorvaine. While of little power or status, I know that my second cousin, Baron Eldin el Lorvaine, would take me in. Unfortunately, that would likely require me to marry him. He's sought my hand for many years, both for my body and my status."

  "That's a lot of pressure." I could tell she didn't like that plan. "Is that something you'd want?"

  She shook her head. "No, but it's expected. I am already old for an unmarried daughter of a duke, so my prospects are fewer than if I'd married some years ago. If I married him, we'd retain some measure of status, and I'd be insulated from Uncle's wrath. For all his faults, Eldin is very well-liked. More importantly, I know he wouldn't hesitate to marry me."

  "How are you so sure?"

  She shrugged. "I'm beautiful. Men have always desired me, and Eldin especially so. It would be done within the month."

  "You're confident."

  "I'm honest." There was no hint of pride in her voice. "Do you disagree?"

  I shook my head. No one could ever claim she wasn't beautiful. "But what do you want? Is that something you'd be okay with? Marrying a man for status and not love."

  "Love is not necessary."

  She was frowning deeply. I asked, "Are you sure?"

  "My expected role is to marry and breed the next generation. Love is not a part of that role, not for my parents and not for me." She sighed. "But, to be honest, of course I've dreamed of marrying someone I was fond of. Of being in love. How could I not? I'm human. I've only ever wanted to be seen. Not as a thing or a possession or an heir. As a person. Alas, that's something only my father ever gave me. He saw me as his headstrong, passionate, loving daughter." She shook her head. "But he was the only one. Even Thadrian and his boys looked at me as if I were the title and not the person."

  I nodded.

  "Do you understand?"

  "No. At least, not in the way that I've experienced what you have. But I do understand the struggle. It's hard to be seen by others the way we want to be seen. There's always that... gap between us and other people. It's frustrating."

  "You are very kind. Most people would find my thoughts fanciful and weak."

  "They're not. And, I'd guess other people out here would understand too. You're not in the court anymore. People out in the real world just want to live their lives."

  "Perhaps that is why I feel so free." She looked down. "It's strange."

  "How so?"

  She chuckled. "For so long, I have lived a life of restraint. Wear this. Eat that. Talk this way. Laugh at the right time. Say the right things to the right people. But now..." She squeezed my hand. "None of you expect anything of me. Out here, I'm just Elowen." She smiled as she said her cover name.

  "Well, that's not entirely true. I have an expectation for you."

  Her brows rose. "Which is?"

  "I want you to try to be happy. As horrible as that might sound to a highborn gold spoon like yourself." I tried to channel Vral's words as best I could.

  She chuckled. "Oh, the horror."

  I pretended to shiver. "Terrifying, right?"

  She laughed a melodic, hearty laugh. When her laughter faded, she pointed at Vral and Tristan. "Enough about me. What of them? They both care for you. It is as clear as day."

  "I think so."

  "They do. And you?"

  "I do." I sighed.

  "Is it complicated?"

  I snorted. "A bit."

  "Tell me."

  "It's... Well, they're great, but..."

  "Yes?"

  "I don't know how to navigate it, and I don't want to mess it up."

  "Then don't."

  I laughed. "If only it were so easy."

  "It is. Don't let your worries hold you back. Love is scarce in this world. Embrace it."

  Her words reminded me of Arden's. Was I overcomplicating things? "Maybe you're right."

  "I am." No hint of doubt. She was raw confidence. I could see where Vral got it from.

  I looked away, my eyes landing on the two sleeping girls. I couldn't keep dragging out the half-relationship with Tristan that I'd been tending for so long. And the whole thing with Vral was getting messy. I needed to figure myself out, and then I needed to be more assertive.

  "You're lucky, you know."

  "Am I?"

  "You have love, and you've been blessed by the Goddess. The three of you will accomplish great things together. Of this, I have no doubt."

  I chuckled. "I sure hope not."

  "Why?"

  I shrugged. "I'm good for the small stuff, but I always choke when things get serious. I'd like my life to stay low stakes, like it is right now."

  She looked me up and down and smirked.

  "What?"

  "It seems you've done a fine job so far. And I wouldn't say fighting a cult and destroying an ancient place of evil are low stakes. Quite the opposite." She visibly sized me up. "You're hardly powerful enough to count yourself among the strong, yet you've done what none could do for hundreds of years."

  "Ouch."

  "I meant that as a compliment. You do what those stronger than you cannot or will not."

  "Well, when you put it that way, maybe. Still, I just want to enjoy myself."

  "You don't want to be powerful? Famous? Important?"

  I laughed. "Not at all."

  "I've never heard of a man who rejects those things. Why? You were chosen by the Goddess to come to Reial. You could shape the world."

  "Because those words don't mean anything."

  "Explain."

  "What does power mean? The ability to kill? The ability to rule? To be loved? Sure, I'm strong, at least compared to people from where I'm from, but power means too many things to too many people. I want the power to do what I want and protect people. That's it."

  She cocked her head. "And fame?"

  "Fame? I could take it or leave it. People get famous for all kinds of reasons, but the worst people get remembered the longest. I couldn't tell you a single name of historical figures here, but I know the Dark Lord. He's the most famous person in Reial, and he was an evil bastard. If I end up famous, I want it to be for the right reasons. If not, then I want nothing to do with it."

  She shook her head. "What about importance?"

  "Important? What does that even mean? Tristan and Vral are important to me, even if they're not important to everyone. The temple is important to me. Hell, even you're important to me now. Who decides who's important? Plus, I never wanted to be some big hero or anything. I just want to travel around with my friends and see the world. And if there's people to help on the way, then that's what I'm going to do."

  She shook her head. "Those with the best temperament for rule seldom want it. If only all nobles thought as you do." She sighed again. "I understand your thoughts, at least in the final thing. I never wanted to rule. In that way, we are the same." She sighed again.

  I wished people would stop telling me I had some big fate lined up for me. "What are your other options? If you weren't to go to Lorvaine?"

  She smiled. "The second option, given to me by Dainar, was my favorite. I would disguise myself as I have and find a small village to hide in. There, I would grow old and die forgotten."

  "The third?"

  "Retreat to a temple." When I opened my mouth to say Light's Hope, she added, "Not in Istaera. Far from here. That was Lucan's hope for me." Tears welled in her eyes. She let go of my hand and wiped her face. Composing herself, she said, "The fourth is to return to my uncle and take his hand." She grimaced.

  "Yeah, I don't mean to presume, but that's not happening."

  "You would dare stop me?"

  "I promised your men I'd take care of you. Yes, I would stop you."

  "Good." She smiled. "They chose my guardian well." She looked down again and wrung her hands.

  "Something tells me you don't like those options."

  "I don't."

  "Why?"

  "None of them are what I want."

  "What do you want?"

  A small smile turned the corners of her lips. "Far too few have ever asked me that question. I like it." Her smile faded. "I have no idea. I've never been free enough to ask myself the question."

  I reached my hand back out to her. When I did, her eyes met mine, and she took it. "Then take your time and figure out what the answer is."

  "Is that something I'm allowed to do? To... choose?"

  "Yeah. I think so."

  She smiled, brightly this time. "That sounds nice." She looked out the back of the wagon. "I think that's what I'll do. Then, maybe, when I find the answer, I'll be happy again."

  Something bubbled up in me. I wanted her to have that future. Without thinking, I spoke. "I don't know how or when, but I promise you. One day, you'll have what you want. You'll be happy again."

  "Will I?" Her blue eyes settled on mine. "Are you certain?"

  "I am."

  She blinked. "How?"

  "Because I'll do whatever I can to make it happen."

  Her eyes softened. A soft smile crept on her face. "Thank you. I will take you up on that promise."

  The second the words left her lips, words appeared in my head.

  You receive the quest [A Duchess in Need]

  [A Duchess in Need]

  Her eyes moved as if she were reading. "It is sealed, then."

  Smiling, I answered, "I guess it is."

  "A person's word is of the highest worth. Yours has proven to be true. I'm beginning to believe you are as worthy a knight as any I've known. Thank you, Alex." She smiled squeezed my hand, then turned back toward the road, her eyes never leaving where Embermist Keep once stood.