There are four established circuits for those seeking to engage in the summer touring season.

Verdis, by far the most popular, follows a progressive tournament through a rotating bracket hosted each week by a different house. Ryshglide, also known as Reverse, follows a similar tournament structure but with a schedule arranged not to overlap with those progressing along the Verdis route to avoid overcrowding any one territory.

Third is known as Rotation or Sequential, moving around the continent, starting at a different territory capital each year and progressing from there. Finally, Abridged selects only a single city for each territory and remains there for several days, to more fully explore that one space with events scheduled throughout the host city.

-A Newcomer’s Guide to Touring

“Hello, Eirn-tay Varon, welcome,” said yet another young Sarosan woman, smiling. “I’m Athyn, may I know your name?”

“I am Astesh, Eirn-second Athyn. Nice to meet you.”

Every few minutes I was stopped for another introduction, to the point where I’d already begun mixing up people’s names and faces. Nearly all were Sarosa, all very friendly, all curious to know who I was. Apparently, newcomers to the circuit were something of a rarity.

Even Desten was surrounded by people trying to welcome him, which suited him just fine as he engaged them all in discussion. I personally didn’t know how to feel about his attempts to rally the houses together. I had a vague notion that the further he spread his ‘we’re going to fall apart for these reasons’ speech, the more chance there was of him becoming the catalyst that caused said collapse. I really didn’t want to see what would happen to the world if the houses abandoned their ancient ceasefire and started fighting in earnest.

“A group of friends and I are planning to slip out early to catch the verdis game tonight," Athyn said. "I don’t suppose you’d care to join us?”

I sighed. It seemed half the city would be going to the verdis tournament. I’d already turned down a half dozen invitations, preferring to focus on trying to find a way to get information on Fylen or his family. But from all I could tell, none of them were in attendance today.

“Do you happen to know if the Reirn or any of the high family will be around this week?”

Athyn’s smile slipped a bit. “The Reirn and his family are in seclusion.” She lowered her voice. “Have you not heard? There were complications with his granddaughter’s birth, and they are desperately trying to ensure her survival.”

The shard of power in my chest pulsed calmly against my instinctive panic. This was my fault. If I’d just walked away, if I’d never been stupid enough to grab the shiny sparkle, Fylen’s childstone could have gone to its rightful owner.

Now, the entire family struggled to save the life of the new heir. I wished there were some way to tear this power free, to give it back to its rightful owner. I would gladly give up all the trappings of nobility, all my stolen prestige and effortless lifestyle, simply to return things to the way they used to be. The way they ought to be.

“I see you didn’t know,” Athyn said softly. She touched my shoulder gently. “If you decide you want to go to the game, the offer stands.”

“Thanks,” I answered reflexively, my mind far from the present moment. I unconsciously drifted upward, lost in thought. Mostly guilty self-recriminations.

What was I doing? How was this supposed to help anything? If Fylen’s death was legal, if the duel was binding; if the only real crime was my theft of his childstone, however accidental, then this whole attempted investigation was one giant exercise in futility.

I had to get out.

A nearby balcony door allowed me to slip outside, leaving the party behind. I wasn’t in the mood any longer. Three minutes later, I flew high over the blue city, completely lost. I had no idea where the house Desten had arranged for was from here, and I wouldn’t recognize it from the air anyway.

So I kept going, out past the city boundaries, through the fog, and down to where reality didn’t include any thought of power or rulership or anything but living.

It took two minutes to reach my old shop. The scribe sign had been taken down, but the building itself hadn’t changed. So why did it look so alien? A tiny building crammed in next to other tiny buildings, all illuminated by the pink light surrounding me.

Drifting down the once-familiar streets, trying to outrun the feeling of alienation, everything felt different. Not just because I could outrace a horse now without even trying. Even if I wanted to, I couldn’t come back. I wished I’d never left.

But had there ever been any other choice? Everything I did now was an act of desperation. I had somehow forgotten that, distracted by the softness of the facade, but how long could I go on pretending I belonged among the nobility without beginning to believe it myself? I didn’t belong there; I never would.

Did I belong anywhere, now?

I flew faster, out of the city, toward the little town by the edge of the forest. Woodedge lay quiet, small firelight visible through some windows, providing a beacon to aim for. Wind stung my face as I flew faster and faster. Within minutes, I floated down to the little cottage set apart by the very edge of the forest, then dropped to the ground. Helpless tears traced familiar tracks down my cheeks. I couldn’t do this.

So I didn’t. I walked into the forest, letting the fuscia glow light my way, and spent the next several hours searching out plants and herbs that could be useful to my mother, until the evening cold and familiar work numbed the hopelessness.

As the moon began to rise, I dropped the bundles on her porch, then started back toward the city.

Only then did my power falter, dropping me from the sky less than halfway to Midpeak. Thankfully, I’d been flying low to follow the road so I escaped any major injuries, but it left me shaken and unsteady. I was so tired. I couldn’t keep the power focused any longer.

I trudged on until I reached the town that marked the rough midpoint between Midpeak and Woodedge, intending to find an inn to rest for the night until my power recovered and I could return upcity. No other way out. I knew that. I needed to see this through, one way or the other.

… I had no money.

I stood outside the inn in my Varon formalwear, trying to reconcile the absurdity. I could simply walk in and demand space, no one would deny me. But that felt wrong, like a betrayal. I didn’t know this town well, but it was still a familiar waypoint I’d traveled through countless times.

“Astesh? What’s wrong?” someone asked, startling me. I spun, to find Desten 3 hovering in a globe of yellow light.

“How did you—”

He laughed, sounding a bit forced. “You made quite a stir, actually, flying off like that. I didn’t realize you cared so deeply about the Sarosa reirn.”

“I spent a lot of time around here when I was younger,” I answered faintly. “I heard about Fylen, and now to hear that his daughter might not survive … and there’s nothing I can do to help …”

Desten held out his hand. “It’s freezing out here. Come on, let’s get you home.”

I shivered, only now realizing how thoroughly chilled I’d become. I hadn't felt this cold since before I found my power shard. I took his hand and let his fiery yellow power carry us away. His flawless shell of light blocked the wind, leaving us in a bubble of calm warm air that disregarded the speed at which we moved.

“I was never part of Fylen’s circles,” I said carefully. “I never saw him in person until shortly before his death, but I’d like to know more about who he really was. Do you know anyone who I could talk to?”

Desten shook his head. “I’ve never been outside of Varonhold on my own before. This is all very new to me.” He gave a short laugh. “Here I was feeling neglected with you off chatting with everyone, and you were worrying about Fylen’s family. I feel like I should apologize. I was all set to give you a hard time for abandoning me, but then you weren’t at home and no one had seen you since you flew off downcity.”

“I had to get away. I don’t— I’m not sure how much you’ve heard about my background, but I never—” I shook my head. “Events like that, they’re so big and bright, I’m still not used to it.”

“And I’ve signed you up for a full season of them,” Desten said, shaking his head. “If you want to go back, I won’t hold you to it. I didn’t realize—”

“No, it’s fine. I want to. It’s a perfect chance to visit people all across the world, and I’m not ungrateful. I’ll try not to neglect you in future.”

We came in for a graceful landing to the balcony outside my suite and Desten’s power flickered off to let me out.

“See you in the morning,” Desten said, somewhat awkwardly. He stood for a moment, then nodded and flew off.

I let myself in. The warm air hit me like a smog, feeling close and stifling, so I left the balcony door open to let a breeze in as I sluggishly undressed and crawled into bed. Even my deepest concerns couldn't keep me from falling soundly asleep practically the moment I lay down.