"I don't get it. If Fenrin gave up his title, why'd you stay with him. He basically broke your bargain," Matius asked, setting some books aside and laying out the tea set.

Jayln plopped herself into her usual seat near the fire. "I don't know. At the time I was a bit shocked at what he'd done. It was so contrary to what I expected, I was thrown. Also it was the bargaining chip between us and a ship full of angry pirates so I wasn't going to say anything then."

Matius poured two cups, handing her one. "Ok, fair. But when you got to sea, shouldn't you have renegotiated?"

Jayln sipped the tea. Chamomile. "Probably. I guess I was fascinated and a bit distracted. Between the drama with the slaves and then having the children there, I guess I went into protection mode. All I wanted was for Fenrin to stop and settle himself."

She put the cup down, waving her hands in an attempt to articulate. "It's like when you see something special, like a bird hatching or a child walking for the first time. You don't want to move or breathe or do anything, just want to watch the little miracle unfold. Fenrin was on the cusp of something, defying everything I or anyone else ever expected. I just wanted to see his dream become reality."

"So...you're comparing Fenrin the Wolf to a baby bird?"

Jayln laughed, rubbing her forehead. "Okay, strange analogy."

She glanced at Matius who was giving her that look again. Those soft blue eyes had a way of cutting through any front, but not in an intrusive way. More like someone coming in for a hug before you can stop them. He never seemed to grow bored of hearing about her and those eyes seemed so curious to know what she herself couldn't figure out.

He leaned forward. "It still doesn't make sense. You're a very driven woman and you risked so much for this mission to save your village. Why abandon it for so long?" Jayln recoiled a bit and Matius held up a hand. "Sorry, abandon was the wrong word. It just doesn't seem like you to set something so important aside."

Jayln sighed. This had been bothering her as well for the two weeks she'd been tarrying in Aziron. If she'd taken one of Matius's various options home, she could have been there by now. Instead she continued to spend her days here. Learning more about Aziron...and Matius.

"Maybe it was because I was beginning to doubt this could be," she murmured.

"I'm sorry?" He picked up his cup again, giving her a quizzical look and she blushed. She hadn't meant to say that out loud.

"This. Aziron is a peaceful place with kind people. After what I saw with Fenrin, the more I learned about the threats and state of the world. I think I began to lose hope that a peaceful future was possible."

"And seeing Fenrin changed your mind?"

Jayln started. That was it.

"Yes," she said surprised. "After being shown all the dishonestly, the horrible things he could do, he was the one who took the first step. He wanted to change, something I had come to think was impossible. And I suppose I thought, if he could do it. If Fenrin the Wolf could really find a place in the world I was becoming more and more scared of, maybe there was hope. And he wasn't doing it through force or pride, he was doing it out of his own desire to have peace—despite what he might have said out loud."

"And that's what you taught him," Matius commented.

"You think so?" Jayln wondered, that was indeed what she had told him her people strove for. Perhaps she really had gotten to him.

"I know so." Matius smiled and she drank some tea to hide her face.

The pleasant thoughts were broken by her last memory of Fenrin, writhing in pain. She put the cup down with trembling hands. "But then..."

Matius moved and took her cup. "I know."

They sat in silence for a moment. Jayln sighed, "I shouldn't be here. I should go home, figure out another plan."

"You're probably right and I'm running out of ideas on how to convince you otherwise," Matius said and Jayln looked at him surprised. He gave a sheepish grin. "I admit it. I don't want you to go. If I could fit your entire village in this room I would."

Jayln smiled, amused. It was a tight fit. Matius had converted his study into a living quarters for Jayln. That meant his incredible collection of books and other academic equipment was piled through the remaining three rooms of his suite in the tower. But as he had said at the time, the study had been the only other room with a door and he wasn't going to have her sent to some random inn on the mainland.

She was beginning to realize that Matius's pride at being Third Apprentice was well earned. Very few people were permitted on the island, fewer still lived there. Matius was well respected, even if he was a yuji. Others came to him for advice, both academic and personal.

He was kind and intelligent but Jayln thought he also seemed a little sad. Although in most aspects he was the complete opposite of Fenrin, in one way they were similar. Both seemed unhappy with where they were, both incredibly conscious that they shouldn't be given the positions they held.

She reached over and held Matius's hand. The words were in her throat but she didn't have the courage to say them. She didn't want to leave...she wanted...

There was a sharp knock on the door. Matius turned, his eyes flashing with magic and the door swung open. It was one of the lower apprentices, assistants in white robes. "Matius, sir, the Arch Mage wants to see you at once. He sent this."

The young boy held out a letter and it flew to Matius who opened it. His face grew ashen and Jayln stood up. "What is it?"

Matius looked up. "Fredrick and Loquin are dead."