Sir Hans and some others rush up to me, and Hans grasps my arm before I fall flat on my face.

He takes one look at me and the fairy in my arms and his eyes grow flinty and his face resembles a rock. He gestures his men into the home to search it, scooping me into his arms and taking me into the woods.

Ran meets me there, her eyes glowing red and the hair on her hackles raised.

Hans sits me on her back, and I bury my nose into her mane, shivering uncontrollably. I keep hearing my sister. Her cries, her pain. My heart hurts with every broken beat.

"Tell me what happened, Guardian." The title brings me back to myself and I pull the tattered pieces of myself together for a moment to tell Hans what he needs to know.

But the shaking won't stop.

"They t-t-took them."

"Who?" His voice is hard, interrogative, but there's a concerned light in his eyes and he rubs his hand down his beard in quick, harsh strokes.

"Monsters." I shiver at the memory of black eyes, but I open my eyes and focus on a blurry Hans, knowing I'm in shock but unable to do anything about it.

I shove all emotion in a hole, and numbness overcomes me. "They took my family. Had a portal. The commander was a m-mage, darkness and healing and pain."

That's all I can say before my teeth begin chattering too much for me to continue.

Sir Hans squeezes my shoulder.

Footsteps crunch over the leaves and dry grass of the forest. "Sir, we have one dead man and much blood."

My shivering increases, but I raise my head to watch the man give his report. The man, the one I met long ago in the city when I rescued little Robin and her wolf-dog, looks at me with concern wrinkling his brow and a frown tugging his lips. "Do you want me to continue, sir?" he asks, running a hand over his red hair.

"Y-y-yes," I say before Hans can shake his head. Hans looks at me dubiously, but I sit straighter, the little fairy cocooned in my cloak so no one else can see her.

"Signs of a struggle. Weird scorch marks and a chair with rope around it. Otherwise, the house is empty."

Sir Hans nods at him, and the man salutes with a fist to his chest before returning to the house.

"Is there anything else you can remember? Anything at all?"

I almost shake my head, but... "The mage could c-c-control things. Paralyzed me. He had black eyes and scaly skin. One of the men had a blonde beard, flinty green eyes, and a scar in his right brow."

Hans nods. His eyes grow soft. "You did very well, Aria. You are not to blame for this."

I shake my head, knowing the lie. "I am th-the only r-reason. If I'd only never taken the cloak. Never become the Guardian," I spit the word like a curse, and Hans only shakes his head and squeezes my shoulder.

"You need to see a healer while we search. Where would you like to go?"

"The library."

He shakes his head. "No. You are going to a healer and then bed."

"Do you think I can rest at a time like this?" I hiss, leaning forward, anger making my face flush and sending adrenaline through my system to combat the fear. "I am going to the library. You can come along or you can stay. It makes no difference to me if an old timer can't keep up."

I nudge Ran to the dark woods, and she hesitates. Rider—

"No, Ran. Take me to the library. Now." My voice is hard and flinty. I don't think I have ever spoken to her in such a way.

I can almost feel her recoil from the anger lashing out at anyone and everyone in sight. She howls, racing into the night at an easy, rolling gait.

A few turns later, and hoof beats come behind us, Sir Han's pulls up even with Ran and keeps his face straight ahead.

The little one in my hands trembles, and I try to connect to her, searching for her heart. It’s harder this time, as if I’m shuffling through rock and slime to uncover her.

"Can I do anything for you?" I ask her softly over the pounding of hooves.

"No, just take care of her."

I pause. "You speak of it as if it's alive."

She slightly chuckles. "She is. You’ll start to realize this the longer you know her. It’s made to want the best for the bearer that receives it with grace and love. It will do its best to support you in all you do. But be weary of using it for your own gain. Should you do such a thing... the Gift becomes a Curse." The soft words are filled with pain.

“Thank you,” I whisper.

At last we reach the tall corkscrew library. Sir Hans stops, looking to me for what we are doing here. Ran's tail flicks back and forth in agitation and her ears are pinned to her head.

My throat clogs as I feel her own pain and compassion, and I feel awful for how I spoke with her.

Rider. The compassion in her voice almost breaks me in two.

I shake my head, throat tight. “Not now, Ran. Let’s get safe first.”

I can’t remember where the little orb from the library dropped us from the passageway when that assassin threatened the prince and this all began... that seems like a lifetime ago. Ran trots over, remembering what I don't.

She pushes her snout against what seems to be pure rock. She bangs her saber tooth against the hard stone, and I can't help feeling a slight trace of what could almost be amusement. That's one use for those large teeth that's not blood and death. She does it again, and I hope he’s not asleep.

At last the rock parts, the rocks falling over themselves like tumblers in a lock before finally straightening to reveal the passage. The orb bobbing before us is a bright, happy orange until it sees what is in my hands. It dims to a deep red. I need an emotional light catalogue to keep up with all these colors.

He bobs quickly, then turns to the passage.

“I can carry her,” Hans' quiet voice offers, and he gestures at the little fairy in my arms.

“Thank you, but I’ve got her,” I whisper.

He nods, leaving me to wonder what he thinks. I cannot read anything on his stoic face.

I shrug it off. Ran pads quickly after the darting light. He takes a couple turns I know lead away from the library itself and my typical haunts. He pulls the antler of a great wilerbeast with white skin and tusks along the snout. We pass from the hallway of the library into a great conference room. As soon as we enter, I feel jittery and nervous. I look up to meet many small eyes that glow in the bright waterlights from sconces all along the walls.

Most pop into orbs, wings and bodies disappearing in a flash of light. One remains as is. His eyes are as deep a golden as his hair, tunic and trousers, all seemingly spun of pure gold. I almost miss the silver crown among all that gold.

“Why have you brought them here, son of mine?”

The orb that I always thought was just a round ball pops into a little being in front of my eyes, looking like a boy about the age of Jack. He drops his eyes, but I see only determination in his shoulders and rigid posture. His hair and clothes glow the amber he typically was for me as he lighted my books for hours on end.

“Father, I know it is forbidden, but you must see what the Guardian has brought.” He gestures to me, his bright eyes pleading. I smile slightly at him, hoping to reassure. Even if I know nothing of what’s happening.

I look to Sir Hans. He helps me hop down from Ran. I stumble before who I take to be the king of these creatures. My knees give out when I reach him, holding the little one in my hands. “Please, help her.” It’s the only thing I know to do, or to say.

I keep my head bowed as the king flies down from what I take is his golden throne. His hand traces the cheek of the one in my hands. “Natasha?” he breathes.

Her breath catches in her slumber and she opens her eyes. “Father?”

The room has multiple pops as the little beings change forms all around us. Excited babble arises from every corner of the room.

The king gathers her up in his arms, squeezing harder than I would ever dare. “Rianne, send for your mother and a shifar,” the king addresses a little floating girl of purple. She has tears in her eyes as she bows to the king, then flits away, her wings buzzing like a hummingbird.

I don’t know what to do. I go to stand, to leave. My job is done here. She’s safe. My legs won’t respond. Jill’s scream reverberates again and again and a tear spills down my cheek. A small hand catches the tear that glows golden and blue in the twinkling waterlight. The tear takes up his entire palm as he holds it before me.

“What do you cry for, Guardian?” the king asks.

I shake my head. I can’t.

“Father, we must help her. They have her family,” the little one, Natasha, says.

He looks at me with growing compassion in those eyes. “We will do what we can.”

I bow my head to him. “Thank you, your majesty.”

“Oh, no, I am nothing like that here. This crown was born on my head as a babe. More of a hindrance than a gift, if you ask me.”

“But…” I look between him and the throne. My brain isn’t sharp enough to catch up at the moment.

A giggle has me looking down at Natasha. I smile at her. At least one good thing has come of this.

“Jifter, she’s a Mind Empath.” With her words, the room is blanketed in abrupt silence. The king looks at me with shock.

I glance around at hostile faces. I’m too numb to do anything should they attack. Ran comes up beside me, teeth bared in a silent snarl. I set my hand on her shoulder and pull myself up and holding my crooked ankle up off the ground as it starts to hurt again.

“Seems we have outstayed our welcome.” Sir Hans grips my arm in one hand, holding me steady even as his eyes scan the room.

“I gave her my Spark.”

Gasps of outrage and shock surround us. “You did WHAT?” the king bellows to his daughter.

The beings move to block our escape.

“My dear, how do you always end up in these types of situation?” Sir Hans asks as he twirls his sword.

“Lucky, I suppose,” I reply dryly.

“Jifter, NO! I gave it of my own free will!”

“Hush. It will all be alright soon.”

“Stop at once, you crazy baboons!” Everyone freezes. “What is going on here?” A regal lady with the bearing of a lion stalks in, her long dress fluttering in the wake of her wings.

“Honey, this Mind Empath stole our daughter's inheritance.”

Her flaming gaze finds me. I just return it with an even stare. She will either believe me or she won’t. Sad thing is I have no idea what I’m being accused of.

“Shalther!” The little sprite jumps from her father's embrace and almost tackles her mother from the air.

“Natasha? My dear Natasha, is it really you?” Tears clog her voice, and I feel a stab in my heart as I realize I won’t be coming home to that. Not tonight. Maybe not ever again.

“Shalther, the Guardian didn’t do anything wrong. My Spark likes her a lot. I gave it to her in order to help her in the fight against the Masters.”

“Is this true?” Her ruby gaze finds me once more.

“It is. Is there any way to give the Spark back?” It’s causing more harm than help.

That's for sure, Ran agrees, her lips pulled up in a silent snarl and her claws bared.

Shocked silence surrounds me once again. Then the queen sputters a laugh. “She does not know what she holds, does she?”

Natasha nods, her eyes sparkling as she holds onto her mother for dear life. “She’s innocent. I gave it of my own free will. If you don’t believe me, ask her to demonstrate.”

The king crosses his arms. “I still don’t trust her.”

“Psshaw. You’re just mad that you don’t get to see the Guardian fight.” The queen turns to me. “Darling, can you demonstrate for us?”

I let out a breath through my nose and offer her a shy smile. “What, exactly, am I demonstrating?

She gives me a gentle smile in return. “Imagine a warm breeze blowing in your heart. There’s a sunshine there that wishes to make itself known. Let it envelope you in a warm cocoon of honey.”

I envision the warmth, but nothing happens. I try again and again, I even ask the thing to come out and show itself. But nothing.

“It’s not working.” Ran nudges my hand, and I rub her muzzle, trying to touch the little ball of good deeds and kind actions. I imagine the warm glow around the orbs that I have met. That must be what they are asking for.

I send a little tendril of my spirit down to confer with the magic. I probe its depths, asking it to show itself to its own kind. Please, I beg. I don’t want to be killed because they think I’m something I’m not.

And with that, I feel the foreign yet strangely beautiful feeling of the Spark. It settles like a soft blanket on my shoulders, then eases itself out.

I open my eyes to see every eye on me. The room is devoid of sound.

A bubble of light surrounds me. It pulses a deep amber, then changes to blue.

To say I’m shocked is an understatement. Ran sticks her nose through the bubble and rubs her chin against my own. Everything from her shoulders back is bathed in the blue of my orb. We’ll get them back, Rider.

Her mane is a perfect place to hide my tears. I know, Beaut. I know.

I turn to the queen. “How do I get out of here?”

“Just imagine it going back to where it belongs. Simple.” She shrugs an elegant shoulder.