It was late. The sun dipped below the horizon, and the four stars shone brightly in the sky. The jovial daughters began their nightly dance around their stalwart sister as the lonely son trekked across the night sky. The moon was full and bright, giving the world below a soft glow. Indenuel sat on the edge of a large bed, in a room the size of his old house, staring at the floor as his mind shut down not to sleep, but from overexertion. He forced himself to do some quiet breathing.

Nothing happened. They were fine. They treated me well. I’m fine.

He repeated it over and over until he convinced his mind of it. The crowd not only treated him with the upmost respect, but he managed to do some good in return. The woman’s healing was the most extreme case, but he and Martin healed countless others in the group.

Indenuel started to shiver, trying not to think. He spent the entire evening surrounded by people. They loved and adored him, and he did his best to smile and redirect their praise as Martin suggested, but he felt drained. Almost too drained to sleep. This was his future. At least for the next month, people would come to him, ask him questions, request healings or other gift related questions, and he needed to do his best not to shrink and look terrified. So far, the first day went well enough. He didn’t break down in front of anyone. And, as a bonus, doing this kept him from seeing Adosina. Maybe he actually could avoid her all month.

Someone knocked on the door, and Indenuel did not want to get up to answer. He stared at the door, letting it see his agony before he stuffed it down and walked over. It was Martin, smiling at him. He held some papers and a package in his hands.

“Good evening, Indenuel,” Martin said. Indenuel just stared at him before standing to one side and letting him in. “Are you alright, my boy?”

“Just… tired,” Indenuel said.

Martin gave a short laugh. “I understand the feeling.”

“Do you? You always handle this so much better.”

“And it has taken me years to learn. My suggestion is you find ways to feel refreshed again. Meditation always helps me, or a good book on doctrine.” Martin handed him the package. “A new set of clothes from this town.”

“A new set? Why?” Indenuel asked.

“I always try to buy something in every town I come to. We’re at war, and each town needs financial help. It strengthens morale.”

Indenuel undid the package to see another set of clothes. It was strange, considering the one from Tavi fit perfectly fine, though a little dirty. He went from wearing out his old set of clothes to having three brand new sets in three days. Martin handed him another paper. “From the children at Mountain Pass.” Indenuel took it, feeling his heart lighten as he saw the neat scrawl. “Derio has a connection now with Filipe in Tavi, so you do not need to use the towns postmen. Simply write a letter and give it to Derio. He will happily send the message along.”

The smile grew on Indenuel’s face. “Thank you, Martin.”

“I shall retire to my own room. We leave at dawn.”

Martin left, and Indenuel closed the door. He lit a candle and sat down at a desk, squinting in the candlelight at the letter. The smile continued to grow as he read about Emilia scraped her knee while skipping. She went into detail about how it happened, the injustice of the tree root for growing there. Isla explained about the cloud she saw the other day, and how she and Emilia did their best to make it look like a dog, but it kept looking like a cow. Indenuel didn’t realize he was crying until he let out a tiny laugh, imagining exactly how those two girls were standing, frustrated at the cloud, trying to get it to look like a dog.

Matteo talked about the opportunities Andre got him in the farmlands. It seemed like more people were talking to him, taking an interest. As a nine-year-old, he may not have a power, but he would be a good help for harvest season. Despite being afraid of the farmlands, as that was where his father spent most of his time, Matteo was happy to help where he could.

Hugo ended the letter, assuring Indenuel he visited every day to deliver the letters, and found the twins laughing and playing, with Matteo watching them or reading a book.

Indenuel let out a breath, finally feeling relaxed. The children were fine. Hugo was true to his promise. Indenuel got into his nightclothes and folded the letter, putting it beside his pillow. He smiled as he looked at it. It helped him relax. Already he made a plan to keep every single letter the children wrote him, reread them in hard times, and try hard not to get homesick for them.

***

Indenuel woke early. The sky lightened as the jovial sisters began to disappear from the sky. He got dressed in his new clothes and slipped the letter in his pocket. He packed his few belongings and took them with him. Most of the world was still asleep when Indenuel walked outside. He handed his bag to one of the servants by the carriages.

He took a deep, steadying breath, then started to walk around town. This was not a farming town. Very few people were up this early, and if they were, they were still inside their houses. It was almost rebellious to his mind. Being among them while they didn’t know it.

Once the stalwart sister and the lonely son disappeared from the sky, Indenuel looped back toward the inn. Indenuel sensed Derio keeping an eye on him through the trees, and Indenuel had the trees acknowledge he was fine. To be able to walk in the morning air was exactly what he needed.

He stepped into the inn for a moment, his connection to the trees blocked off by the building. He ate a hasty breakfast before turning and practically slamming into Adosina.

“Good morning Indenuel,” Adosina said.

“Adosina!” Indenuel sounded far more frightened than he should.

Adosina seemed to notice this tone. “Is everything alright?”

“Fine,” Indenuel said way too quickly. He gave a smile, one he’d been practicing all last night. “Absolutely fine. Beautiful morning. Lovely sleep. It’s wonderful. Everything is wonderful.” Indenuel scooted around Adosina, and Adosina followed him curiously with her eyes.

“Indenuel?” Adosina asked.

“I’ll go see if they need any help loading the carriages,” Indenuel said before sprinting out of the inn. He didn’t dare look behind him.

The carriages thankfully were ready to go, and Indenuel hid in one of them, closing his eyes and leaning against the back to keep people from noticing him. Thankfully it wasn’t much longer before Nathaniel joined him in the carriage and began their little lesson.

They went through the technical aspects of swordplay and basic self-defense as the carriages moved through the road and the morning sun began to brighten. They practiced it at lunch, though this time they didn’t face each other. Indenuel did the lunges and the blocks with an imaginary foe, which was better for now. Then Nathaniel and he did some workouts in the shadow of the carriage. He used every excuse he could to stay away from Adosina. He saw the crowd greeting him at the next town and felt relieved. Another busy night to keep him from talking with her. He might manage to pull this off.

***

Indenuel woke up the next morning sore. He was flat on his bed, staring at the ceiling, doing his best to move. He hadn’t been sore like this before in his life. Not even when he spent an entire day helping with harvest season.

He stretched both spiritual muscles as well as physical muscles. He wanted to go on another morning walk today, but he could barely get out of bed. He did some stretches, trying to loosen his muscles, but they remained stiff.

Indenuel walked around his room. Through his window he saw Adosina waiting by the inn door. Indenuel paused, watching her from a distance. Adosina was beautiful, there was no denying that. It wasn’t just her being a clean, upper classman. She smiled a lot, and from the time he spent with her, she had a lovely, caring soul. Her green eyes sparkled when she laughed, and Indenuel enjoyed being around her. But the thought of courtship with her, it seemed strange. He couldn’t wrap his mind around it. He didn’t feel like he belonged in this social class. In Mountain Pass he never thought of courtship and marriage as a possibility and resigned himself to the fact that he would never marry. He pushed all thoughts of love, relationships, kissing, and intimacy in a box meant for other people and not him, no matter how much he craved it. Now the box was open, now the possibility was there, it was practically thrust upon by Martin, but the thought of doing any of that with Adosina seemed wrong. It would take him years to get used to the idea of love with someone in an upper class, let alone the daughter of a High Elder. He didn’t want to do any of it unless he wanted to, and right now he wanted to be friends with Adosina.

Adosina turned. As though sensing Indenuel’s gaze, she looked up at his window and spied him. Indenuel dropped to the floor, his heart pounding in his chest, his nose inches from the floorboards. He was an idiot.

There was a knock at the door. “Indenuel?” It was Martin.

“Yes?” Indenuel asked.

Martin took that as an invitation to come in, which meant seeing Indenuel flat on his belly near the window. Martin appeared, giving him a curious look.

“Exercising,” Indenuel said, moving his feet shoulder length apart as he pushed his body up. He then moved his back snake like to the ground before bringing it back up again. “Nathaniel taught me. Builds muscles.”

“Ah,” Martin said, giving a small smile. “Of course. Breakfast is below when you are ready. We are about to leave for the next town.”

“Thank you, Martin,” Indenuel said, doing a few more of the exercises until the door closed. He collapsed again on the floor, taking a few deep breaths. His muscles burned as he crept toward the window to see Adosina had left for one of the carriages. Indenuel let out a sigh of relief before heading to breakfast.

In the carriage, Nathaniel went over more techniques.

“Thank you for doing this, Nathaniel,” Indenuel said.

“It is an honor,” Nathaniel said.

“I mean, I know you were here because you wanted to spend more time with your family, but I appreciate your help with getting me prepared,” Indenuel said.

Nathaniel smiled. “Think nothing of it. Besides, the better prepared you are, the sooner I can come home to my family permanently.”

Indenuel grunted. “I guess I hadn’t thought of it that way before.”

The carriage came to a stop. “Lunch time. I’ll go help set up the campsite, then I want to practice with swords today.”

“Swords?” Indenuel asked.

“Not at each other yet,” Nathaniel said. “Sticks are nice, but you need to get used to the weight of a sword. I’ll be back.”

Indenuel nodded as Nathaniel slipped out of the carriage. Diego and Aaron picked up some flimsy sticks and started sword fighting themselves. Indenuel watched with interest. Now that Indenuel knew what to look for, he saw them practicing the stances, and Diego was pretty good at it.

“Indenuel?” Adosina asked.

Indenuel gasped, almost falling out of his seat. Adosina stood by the window, a rare occasion where a frown tugged at her lips, though she did give him a humorous look.

“Oh. Hello,” Indenuel said.

Adosina could not enter the carriage with Indenuel, as they were both unwed, but she still peered inside. Indenuel could have opened the other door and run away, but what was the point?

“I can’t help but think you are trying to avoid me,” Adosina said.

Indenuel stared at her, feeling the anxiousness threatening to overwhelm him. “Am I?” His voice was a little higher than usual. Adosina gave him another look. Indenuel sighed before getting out of the carriage in front of Adosina. Part of him knew he couldn’t last all month. It seemed easier than confronting her about it, though.

“I’m…” His mind began to panic, going back to all the times someone kicked him for looking at a woman in the wrong way. “I just…”

Adosina waited, looking confused. “Indenuel, you can tell me. What is it?”

Indenuel looked at her, biting his bottom lip. “I think you’re great. I think your wonderful. Growing up where I did, how I did, I-” he started to trip up on his words. “I didn’t have many friends. And… and you are… pretty. Very pretty.” His eyes had wandered to her breasts, which made his mind panic. He couldn’t look there. He shut his eyes. “Pretty in a way that would not… I’m not tempted to… you’re not that pretty.” His mind panicked again. “I mean, yes you are. Absolutely. But I’m not interested in you in that way. Not in a way for pleasure.” His mind screamed at his mouth to stop, but his mouth tried way too hard to put out the fire. “No, no sorry, wrong word. Wrong meaning. I-”

“Indenuel.” Danger weaved through Adosina’s voice. Indenuel cracked an eye open to see her struggling to keep the anger from her face. Indenuel gave an intake of breath, preparing for whatever she had to say. He made an absolute ass of himself, he deserved whatever slap headed his way. “Did my father…” she cleared her throat, her eyes turning hard. “As I said before. My class, especially my own parents, have this notion I should be wed.” Every word was stretched out so Indenuel couldn’t help but understand her. “To make my intentions perfectly clear, I see our relationship as one of friendship, nothing more.”

Every muscle in Indenuel’s body relaxed. “Yes,” he said. “Absolutely. Just friends.” Why didn’t he say that instead?

Adosina gave a curt nod and a pained smile. “Forgive my father, Indenuel. He is under the impression that he must find a man for me since I am taking so long.” The barely contained rage surprised Indenuel. Adosina turned, and he almost didn’t catch her last words. “He does this every time.” She entered her own carriage, and Indenuel lost sight of her. His face should have been slapped, but it wasn’t. Honestly, looking back at exactly what he said, he deserved a lot more than a slap, but miraculously, Martin was the prime target for Adosina’s anger.

Nathaniel appeared giving Indenuel a sword.

“Ready?” Nathaniel asked.

Indenuel partially unsheathed the sword to see it gleaming. He was terrified, but he knew he needed all the practice he could get. “Ready.”