Will and Maya left Ilimar, crossing the Queen’s Bridge over the Great River and continuing along the road heading south towards Midena. It would be a long ride, and the horses could only sustain high speeds for short durations. They must vary the pace to keep the horses fresh, planning their stops at known water sources. This was not their first time. They knew the route well.

  They would only stop for water and, if necessary, use that time to care for personal needs. Riding along the main road would give them a better chance of finding the pair of travelers in the unlikely event they had moved beyond Midena and were already heading for Ilimar.

  Given that anything was possible, they would need luck. Information was the best chance for a lead on their whereabouts. Given the time frames, the two were probably in Midena or nearby. Based on Rugr's information, they knew that others might also be looking.

  Will’s main problem, at the moment, was that he had too much time to think and very little to think about other than Maya. His estranged wife and this night’s riding companion. They had mounted the horses in silence, and that silence remained unbroken.

  He hadn't expected more—that would only lead to disappointment. Three years had passed since he walked away. Three long, regretful years. Though he felt pushed away at the time, it had been what he wanted. Walking away was his choice. Walking away was easier. When everything else was so hard, he had needed something—anything—easy.

  Their first stop lay fifteen miles west of the bridge. They made good time, covering the distance in about over two hours. Though the horses were strong, they would need to slow their pace as they neared the city. This slower tempo would work to their advantage—more travelers meant more chances to gather intelligence. They would remain vigilant and, when worth the risk, make careful inquiries.

  At the stream, they let the horses drink while taking water themselves. After sharing a quick nod, they resumed their journey at the same brisk pace. Their next stop would be fifteen to twenty miles ahead at a familiar pond, where clear, cold water awaited them. Under the night sky, the horses would have a chance to graze if they wished.

  At the pond, Will crouched, running long strands of grass through his fingers. Maya stood, arms crossed, looking out over the water, where the reflection of the world above painted itself across its surface. He watched her closely, and she knew he watched. They had been together a long time, and there was very little that either would or could do to surprise the other. He would walk to stand beside her, but she already knew that. He would desperately try to find any words, but they wouldn't come. She knew that, too. Then, he would sigh, gather the horses, and they would ride again, easier this time, at least on the horses.

  After another fifteen miles, they spotted a campfire burning on the shore of Lake Aberon. The sun was rising, and a low mist hung over the water. Though they hadn't planned to stop there anyway, the sight of the campfire would have convinced them to press on.

  There was never a plan to stop at the lake. The lake was known to take people—from time to time, someone would vanish without rhyme or reason. Whether they chose to walk into the lake of their own volition, were lured by a sad siren's song, drawn in by a dryad's haunting whispers, or fell prey to some other creature whose nature was to guide souls to watery deaths remained unknown.

  Their bodies would surface ten, twenty, or even thirty years later. They would emerge from the water fresh and luminous, their warmth fading as if they had just died in your arms.

  They always avoided the lake, continuing another ten miles to their next stop. This rest would place them near the halfway point between Ilimar and Midena, beside a river smaller than the one at Ilimar. Though the river was good for fishing—and Will longed to cast a line—they had brought enough food. He promised himself he would find time to fish once they located the pair they sought. The activity would do him good.

  Several structures provided simple shelter from sun and rain at this common rest stop for merchants and travelers. Visitors could rest, eat, or cool off in the shore's slow-rolling waters and shallow pools. A designated grazing area accommodated horses and pack animals, while a water well offered a convenient alternative to hauling water from the river.

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  Given the early morning hour, Will hadn't expected to see anyone. Yet there was a man with his son, fishing near the bridge. They studied Will and Maya before returning to the task at hand.

  "Looks like the fish are biting," Will said.

  "Missed opportunity."

  Maya, weary from the journey, rested on a log overlooking the river to the northwest. The sun crept higher, its light catching the vibrant greens of the forest across the water. He sat beside her, and they were silent for a while, lost in their thoughts.

  "Do you think it's true?" Maya finally spoke. "The girl can use the ancient magic?"

  "Aye. Rugr said it, so it feels certain. If it were anyone else…"

  She nodded. This was the answer she had expected. She felt the same.

  “It's daunting," she said after a pause. "I've studied Kull magic for years, yet now I realize how little I know. I've always felt prepared in theory, but to share my knowledge with someone who can actually use it? It feels...inadequate."

  There was nothing to say to this, so Will remained quiet. He watched her, and even after all these years, her beauty still entranced him.

  "I suppose this is the Fates' way of pulling me from my isolation—from the safety and security of my study. I was happy there for a time. With my books."

  “You always had your nose buried in those books. It made you happy, and your happiness made me happy. Though I'll admit, sometimes I felt jealous."

  "Yes. And you are always eager to swing that sword of yours. It brought you such joy. Though I confess, at times I felt jealous too."

  Will sighed. He knew this conversation well—and didn't mind having it. What filled him with dread was the conversation that would follow. Like a familiar dance between them, the first exchange had no winners or losers; it was verbal foreplay that eased them into the actual discussion they needed to have. Though the topic might vary, it was always difficult for Will, and for Maya, it was always essential. There was no avoiding it. Nothing would move forward until they had seen it through.

  Maya remained quiet, and he found it unsettling.

  Will broke the silence. "I'm just trying to find my footing with you—some solid ground between us."

  "My advice is that you take it slow. Something that goes against your nature. What's the expression? Fools rush in where demons fear to tread?"

  "Well, I am a bit of a fool."

  "Truth."

  "Ouch."

  "You know what they say."

  Will nodded. "The truth hurts."

  Will's thoughts shifted back to their mission. Finding Kleo would be dangerous, and though he knew Maya was capable in combat, he needed to ensure she was ready.

  "What are you wearing under the robe?"

  She turned to him with a suspicious look. "Why, William, that's quite a forward question."

  Will shook his head. "I only meant to check if you're wearing protective gear in case we encounter trouble."

  "I see, always on the job. Well, I'm sorry to disappoint you, William. It was bedtime when you called, so only a bra and panties. Matching. Pink. Like the roses that grow along the Avon. You know the ones?"

  "I do." Will took a moment to remember past moments they had shared.

  "How long will you keep calling me William? Quite a while, I imagine."

  "Quite," she said curtly, though a hint of playfulness showed through. She knew the formality annoyed him—even more so coming from her.

  "What was your middle name again? Alice? Agalia? Agatha?" He paused. "Ah yes—Agatha. Lovely name."

  She gave him a withering glare. "You wouldn't."

  He sighed. "Probably not. The wound would be far too deep."

  "Yes, probably fatal. That name carries my mother's venom—nasty stuff. You should bury that thought and accept 'William' for now."

  They sat in silence for a few more minutes, savoring the stillness broken only by the gentle sounds of the rolling river.

  "And William, as for being prepared, I'm sure Sylvia packed my leathers in the bag. I can change into them when we reach Midena. Meanwhile, try not to dwell on my luxurious pink panties. You won't be sheathing your sword inside me anytime soon."

  He wanted to respond but held his tongue. Her barbed words were encouraging—she was deliberately seeding these thoughts in his mind. She wanted them there, and they both knew they would take root.

  As they gathered the horses and prepared to ride, Maya adjusted the strap of her robe with deliberate grace, and Will caught the brief flash of skin beneath. She glanced at him sidelong, her expression unreadable, until a knowing smirk crossed her face—as if she'd caught him precisely where she'd intended.

  "You're quiet," she said. "Planning a clever retort or taking it all in?"

  "Both," he admitted with a faint smile. "I'm also wondering how many layers of meaning you've woven into my thoughts."

  Her smirk softened into something gentler, though she turned away. "Good. You can untangle those while I decide whether you've earned back the right to be called Will."

  They lapsed into silence as he steadied her horse. Will watched her adjust in the saddle, feeling the familiar ache in his chest—not only for their lost past but also for the future he hoped they might share.

  Maya turned, catching his gaze. "Eyes on the road, William."

  He chuckled, shifting his focus forward. Yet the thought she had planted, pink roses and all, remained firmly rooted in his mind—precisely as she intended.