I was surprised to wake up in our wagon. We did not seem to be moving at the moment and I could feel the familiar magic of a Seeming around us, though larger and much more powerful than the one that my grandmother usually cast for our troupe’s caravan. Looking around, I saw that the wagon was empty save for Vesha, and me. The Dragonkin was currently sitting on a stool beside my bed and feeding Zaiya for me.

It was a moment before she looked up from feeding the owlet and noticed my gaze upon her. A smile touched her lips and she looked relieved as she let out a sigh. “It’s good to see you awake, Kaelyn. You had us all worried when you collapsed. Wilden said that you weren’t hurt though, only exhausted.”

-You exhausted your mana reserves,- Sharai explained. -You used a large portion of your mana while using your gift to protect those Fae from arrows, and when removing the cold iron arrowheads from them. You did not take the time to properly replenish your reserves from the mana around you before using Joarra’s glyph. The attack may draw on the mana around you, but it still requires a large portion of your own mana to focus the attack. It can be tiring even when your mana reserves are full, which is why I only used it rarely, and only as a last resort. You must always remember to draw on mana from the Weave to replace what you have used from your reserves, Kaelyn. If you were not Fae, that could have killed you.-

“I guess that killing that Demon drained my mana reserves,” I explained to Vesha with a blush. It was not the first time that Sharai had lectured me on properly replenishing my mana reserves. Usually, it was while I was training my gift in what little spare time that I had available since joining the troupe and becoming Master Nirlyn’s apprentice. I let out a sigh and apologized to my spirit guide. “I am sorry, Sharai. I am still trying to get used to consciously drawing on the mana around me. I will practice more.”

-It is I who should apologize, Kaelyn.- Sharai countered, her voice in my mind heavy with guilt. -When you sensed the clash between Demons and Fae, I feared for Thaeria, the Fae village in these woods. I could not let another village fall victim to the church, as mine did. My fear pushed you to act rashly. Had Vesha not stopped you from jumping into battle without thinking, you could have been hurt, or worse. I apologize, and I shall strive to not allow it to happen again in the future.-

“It was not just you, I was worried too. It is something that we can both work on,” I offered and was pleased to feel the guilt that I sensed from her lessen slightly.

Vesha was watching me with concern in her eyes as she placed Zaiya carefully back in her box-nest. “Wilden figured that it was something like that after we told him about that attack that you used. What was that exactly?”

I shrugged as I decided that I had had enough rest and moved into a sitting position so I was not looking up at the Dragonkin, well, not as much anyway. “It was one of the abilities of Neva’kul. There are four that I can use once a day, each representing the gifts of the past users who have been bonded to the blade. That one is the only one that is offensive in nature though,” I replied as I settled into a more comfortable position. Then I asked a question of my own. “Are you okay? You took on that other Demon and the soldiers practically by yourself.”

“I’m fine,” she assured me. “A couple of them managed to get a lucky cut or two in where I don’t have scales protecting me, but Wilden was able to heal those easily. My scales and wings protected me from everything else, and that Demon’s flames barely tickled me. I was more worried about you.”

My breath caught in my throat, my heart skipped a beat, and I found myself flushing as I looked down at my lap. I had to tell myself that she was only worried as a friend and fellow apprentice. There was no way that she could feel about me the same way that I felt about her. Once I felt that I could speak without embarrassing both of us, I nodded. “Yes, you mentioned that everyone was worried before. I am sorry for flying off like that, and for worrying all of you again by letting my mana get so low. I guess that I am still not used to having a family to worry about me.”

“Kaelyn, I wasn’t worried about you like the others. I... you…” Vesha blushed and looked away for a moment and then took a deep breath before suddenly closing the distance between us. Before I even realized what was happening, her arms were around me, she was holding me close, and her lips were on mine.

A jolt went through me as our lips met. Her lips were warm and soft, but they pressed firmly and insistently into my own. For an instant, I was too stunned to do anything, but once I realized that she was kissing me, I quickly reciprocated, my lips mashing as eagerly against hers as hers seemed to be against mine as I realized that this might be my only chance. I wanted to make the most of it before she came to her senses, so I channeled the feelings for her that were growing inside me through my lips and put my arms around her, letting my hands caress her wings and the powerful muscles in her back.

It seemed both an instant and an eternity later that we parted, both gasping for air. Vesha caught her breath first and pulled away with a horrified look on her face. Had I misread her intentions just now? Of course, there was no way that she could feel for me as I did for her. “I’m sorry! I shouldn’t have done that! You probably aren’t… I couldn’t help myself… I… I’ve wanted to do that since we met, and I had to do it now, before I lost my courage. I’m sorry, I took advantage of you. I’ll understand if you don’t wish to…”

I silenced her by pulling her down to my level and kissing her again. When I broke it off again, I looked her straight in the eyes and I was mildly surprised that I did not lose my voice or stammer from nerves as I spoke. “Vesha, if I had minded, I would not have kissed you back. I have wanted to do that for a while too, but I did not think that you would be interested in me in that way.”

Vesha gaped at me and I was not sure if she was shocked because I was interested in her, because I took charge, or because of what I said. Her expression turned to one of confusion as she asked. “Why wouldn’t I be interested? Voyagers have no taboos about attraction to or having relationships with people of the same gender or different races, and you are beautiful, brave, and we have many similar interests, such as music. I feared that you might not be ready for such a thing though since you have not been with us long.”

“I have been trying to keep an open mind and I… like you,” I admitted, my cheeks burning. “I think that I have been attracted to you since we first met. You have been making me feel things that I have never felt before. I… just… where does this leave us?”

“Well, since we both seem to be attracted to and interested in one another, I guess that it leaves us courting one another. We should try to get to know one another better, and spend more time together to see if we are truly compatible and…” Instead of saying anything more, Vesha cupped my face in her hands, pulling me toward her to kiss me once again as she wrapped me up in her arms and wings.

The kiss was even better than before now that I knew that she seemed to be as interested in me as I was in her. It was like flying, only we did not leave the ground. I felt so warm and safe in her arms too, safer than I had felt since before my parents died. When we finally broke our embrace and I could breathe well enough to speak once more, I smiled and said breathily, “That is good, because I find myself wanting to spend more time with you and learn more about you. When you fought all of those men and the Demon earlier… I… you were beautiful and amazing. Can all Dragonkin fight and use magic like that?”

“I wouldn’t know,” Vesha replied with a distant expression that made me worry for a moment that I had brought up a bad memory or something. “I’ve never met any others of my kind, and there was nobody around that Master Nirlyn could ask when she found me abandoned and half-starving. From what they found nearby, they think I hatched from an egg, but that is as much as we know about my kind. Everything else, I’ve had to discover for myself by following my instincts. I can’t actually use magic like the Fae or some other races can though.”

“But that fire that you were throwing around…” I began to counter before realizing that I hadn’t actually sensed her using any magic when she was doing it.

The Dragonkin’s brow furrowed and she let out a sigh before saying, “The fire, it’s always there inside me, wanting to get out. It’s been like that since I started to become a woman. I burned down a few wagons when I was first trying to learn to control it and keep it inside. What I used in the forest, it was barely scratching the surface. I think that I can go much hotter, and that there are things that I can do that I still haven’t discovered yet. I have to keep it inside though, or be very careful when I do use it. If I don’t, then the people that I care about could get hurt.”

“Does it hurt?” I asked in concern. “Keeping the fire inside of you, I mean.”

She shook her head. “No, it’s a part of me, but it’s nice when I can let loose and do something good with it. Speaking of that, I should get going. The Fae that we rescued asked if I could gather up the cold iron since it won’t hurt me, and provide a fire hot enough to smelt it until it is no longer harmful.” She leaned in to kiss me again but did not hold it for long before she pulled away. “I should go do that soon, before it gets dark. You were out for a couple of hours, and we will likely be having the evening meal soon with our hosts.”

“Hosts? Are we in the Fae village?” I asked. “I can sense a Seeming around us, and it is powerful.”

“Aye,” she replied with a nod and smile that I thought might make my heart melt. “After Wilden used his healing gift on those Woodwardens that we rescued, and they figured out that our kirgen reinforcements were all Changelings, we were invited to stay the night here while you recovered. Master Nirlyn and your grandparents are with the Woodwardens right now, warning the village leaders about the Church of One and the Demons. They’re also going to try to barter for supplies that we are running low on.”

It was not long after Vesha left to take care of her task that Master Nirlyn returned to the wagon. She was happy to see me up and about, but chastised me for worrying everyone as I did when I flew off, and again when I passed out. She did not seem truly upset with me though, in fact, she seemed very pleased about something as she put away some supplies that she had gotten.

“We warned the village elders ‘ere ‘bout the dangers on their doorstep,” she offered conversationally as she looked through pouches and small wooden boxes and put them away. “You may ‘ave killed both o’ those Demons, but when they an’ those soldiers don’t report in, someone is goin’ t’ send someone t’ check out this forest. The Fae ‘ere are goin’ t’ move further south, t’ the Kalidar side o’ the border. They’ll be gettin’ ready t’ move in the mornin’, but tonight, they’ve asked us fer a wee bit o’ entertainment after the evenin’ meal. We’ll all be playin’, along wi’ Daivin an’ Korine, so ya best prepare yerself.”

My heart thrummed in a nervous excitement. I had never played before an actual audience before, and these were Fae. I had not played accompaniment to more than one person at a time either though, and had never played alongside Korine or her father before. “W-what instrument should I play?” I asked uncertainly.

“Let’s ‘ave ya play the ‘arp tonight, yer probably the best o’ us on tha’ instrument,” my Master replied thoughtfully. “Yer Ma taught ya well on the ‘arp, yer even better than I am. No’ the lap ‘arp, but the grand one.”

I let out a small squeal of happiness. I had of course seen the Grand Harp; but it seldom came out of the large leather case that protected it from the elements. I hadn’t even seen the harp itself yet, only the covering. It was nearly as tall as Master Nirlyn, and Vesha had told me that it was beautifully crafted and meant for performing for nobles. I had been wanting to play it since I saw the case. “Shall I check the tuning, Master?”

“Aye, lass, ya can check it shortly. First, there’s another instrument, tha’ I want t’ show ya. When those Woodwardens tha’ you an’ Vehsa saved ‘eard tha’ ya were my apprentices, the Faerie among them asked tha’ I give ya a gift, t’ show ‘er appreciation.” With that, Master Nirlyn placed something on the floor in front of me. “It’s about time tha’ ya started t’ learn a fifth instrument anyway.”

At first, I looked dubiously down at the box and its contents. What I was looking at looked more like the jewelry box of some highborn lady than a case for an instrument, and the contents made it even harder to believe otherwise. “This is the instrument that you want me to learn?” I asked my Master as I tried to determine how exactly I was supposed to play jewelry.

Inside the box was a set of what looked like rings, numerous bracelets, and perhaps necklaces made from what looked like silver with a bit of a bluish tint and pretty little blue crystals embedded. There was a lot of jewelry in there, some of which I couldn’t identify the purpose of. More concerning was that I had been able to sense the magic slumbering inside as soon as Master Nirlyn opened the silk-lined box.

I was still trying to figure out what I was supposed to do with it when Master Nirlyn smiled and responded to my question. “Aye, lass. ‘Tis an instrument once favored by the Fae in olden times. Aishlin, the Faerie ya saved, said tha’ this has been in ‘er family since the Ancient Ones still ‘ad a thrivin’ society. Ya don’t see ‘em aroun’ much anymore. The Fae call ‘em Tien’jin, but they’re more commonly known as the dancer’s chorus. I’d heard about them, but I wasn’t able t’ get my ‘ands on a set ‘til now.”

-Tien’jin? I have never heard them played myself, but they are not really a common instrument these days, even among our people. I have heard that it is an instrument that is difficult to master though, and many give up long before doing so,- Sharai provided.

“It’s no’ yer standard musical instrument,” my master admitted as she continued speaking, oblivious to Sharai’s comment. “Ya don’t play this wit’ yer hands, at leas’ no’ directly. Ya wear ‘em, an’ the crystals are enchanted t’ respond to the movements o’ the wearer. When ya wear the ‘ole set, the crystals will link an’ respond t’ yer movements by lightin’ up an’ playin’ a note. An’ each crystal plays a diff’rent note.”

“That sounds like it could get very unharmonious whenever I move,” I told her with a frown.

The Master Bard laughed and shook her head. “Nay, they won’t be goin’ off willy nilly, lass. Aishlin tol’ me tha’ the main crystal can activate or deactivate the enchantment fer normal motion, an’ the movements needed t’ set them off need t’ be quick an’ precise. It’s a dance y’see. It’s no’ about learnin’ t’ play the music an’ dancin’ along though, it’s learnin’ the dance tha’ will play the song.”

That sounded hard and I had no idea where to start, or even how to dance, unless you counted my sword practice with Sharai. “Why me? Why can’t you or Vesha learn to play this?”

“Vesha tried dancin’ once. Let’s jus’ say tha’ she’s no’ a dancer an’ leave it at that.” The Ravieri gave a shudder before adding, “Besides, Aishlin wanted you to ‘ave this, an’ this set was made fer a Faerie. We’re also no’ the ones who need t’ learn this, Kaelyn. Aye, this will allow us t’ ge’ some attention an’ mebbe give us a unique sound, but it’s no’ why ya need t’ learn t’ play this. Swordswomen an’ dancers ‘ave one common need, lass. They need t’ be aware o’ their bodies. No, strike tha’, they need t’ move beyond awareness o’ their bodies an’ learn t’ move wi’out wasted movement an’ wi’out thinkin’ about it. It has t’ be natural, flowin’ from one movement t’ the next, each precise an’ deliberate, but comin’ as easily as breathin’.”

My eyes widened as I realized what she was planning, even as Sharai’s voice said, -That’s brilliant!-

My master saw the realization bloom on my face and grinned, showing her overly large canines. “Oh, aye, lass. I tol’ ya tha’ my duty as yer Master was to help ya reach yer goals. An’ ya need t’ become a natural with tha’ sword as quick as possible. Sharai is doin’ a fine job teachin’ ya, but I figure this will ‘elp things along. You’ll be wearin’ these all o’ the time tha’ yer awake from now on, an’ we’ll be addin’ dance lessons wi’ Selice to yer daily routine afore bed each night.”

I looked at the ‘instrument’ in a new light. It all looked so delicate, but my Master assured me that they were plenty durable since they were made from moonsilver. That accounted for the bluish silver hue of the metal, and moonsilver was supposed to be stronger than steel. It was also worth more than gold, especially to the Fae. I did not even want to think about how much this gift was worth. “Why give me such a thing, Master? This is a rare antique, enchanted and made from moonsilver, it must be worth a fortune.”

Master Nirlyn shrugged, meaning that she was probably as in the dark as I was about it. “You’ll ‘ave t’ ask Aishlin ‘bout tha’, lass. She’s waitin’ fer ya by the main fire to ‘elp ya put it all on. Don’t keep ‘er waitin’, ya can tune the ‘arp when ya get back.”