Helnion's cough started not long after the levitating carriage left the inn. It was not a bad cough, so she thought nothing of it and continued her practice despite Lioh's concern.

In spite of her cough her training went rather well. To Lioh's dismay, the carriage had eventually become filled with fog. She was still having trouble turning the fog into water, but she was happy with just this. She was also proud because she had also been able to enjoy the view outside of the window the entire time. She wondered if she could master any kind of magic like this if she practiced enough.

By the time the carriage arrived at the Temple of Sorris in Stutra, Lioh looked like he was relieved he could finally get out of the thick fog that Helnion had made. Even after Helnion had given him a few laughs after she had made weird shapes in the fog, he eventually had enough.

As soon as Helnion stepped out of the carriage, letting the fog out with her, her cough became worse. She also realized she felt hot. Was she becoming sick?

"Are you sure you are fine?" Lioh put his hand on her forehead.

Helnion did not like people touching her but she had to admit that she was not feeling the greatest so she let him check.

"You feel hot. I think it would be a good idea to let you get some rest." Lioh said and then spoke to one of the armored men. "I will take you to one of the guest rooms. Your brother and fiance will meet you there."

Helnion nodded and followed Lioh and as she did she made a special effort to take in the entire building. This was where one of Salis' adventures had taken place and she wanted to take in as much as she could.

* * *

Helnion lay on the bed in the room Lioh took her to. The ride from the inn to Stutra had taken nearly the entire day and on top of it her headache had become even worse after that. Her throat also hurt now, especially after she had left the fog. She almost made more fog if that would help her feel better, but her headache was much worse than her throat and she did not want to make it worse.

Helnion heard a knock on her door, "Helny, are you awake?"

Helnion immediately recognized the voice of her second oldest brother, Nie.

"NiNi?" She said, using the nickname she had used for him for as long as she could remember.

The door opened and Nie entered, followed by another man. Nie was holding a plate of food.

They both walked up to her bed. Nie sat down while the other stayed standing.

"I am glad to see you have arrived safely," The other man, her fiance Etam, said.

"You do not know how worried everyone has been for the last year," Nie said.

"The Defenders of Sorris said you would not tell them where you have been," Etam said. "Could you tell us why?"

"I promised," Helnion said.

"You promised someone not to tell?" Nie said. "Can you at least tell us why?"

Helnion thought. Why had she promised? Helnion was just helping Melche so she would get her help to find Salis.

"Did you promise without knowing why?" Etam said with a sigh. "Could you at least tell us who that woman you were found with was and if you have been safe?"

"Her name is Triosa," Helnion thought it would not hurt to give a name. "Before I met her Salis kept me safe."

"Did this Triosa hurt you in any way?" Nie said.

Helnion rubbed her arms. Nie saw this and pulled back the long sleeves Triosa had made her wear to soften the blows of the stick when Helnion ran out of arm space.

Nie nearly gasped when he saw Helnion's arms and looked angry. Etam looked less concerned but was angry as well.

"Were you being tortured?" Nie said.

Helnion shook her head.

"If she was not torturing you then why would she do this?"

Helnion was not sure if she should answer when a voice came to her. Tell them. It will save us trouble, but be vague and do not mention Melche. It was Triosa.

Helnion nodded.

"Why did you nod?" Nie said when he noticed.

"Triosa just said I could tell you NiNi."

The two men jumped up, Etam heading to the small window and Nie to the door.

"Telepathy!?" Etam said. "If it is this Triosa must be close."

"I will let the Defenders know," Nie said.

Nie came back to the bed after speaking with someone outside. "What does this Triosa want with you?"

"Triosa is training me so I can help her," Helnion said.

"Help her with what?"

"Some bad people are stealing some things and I will help find them."

"Why would she ask for your help?" Etam said, returning to the bedside. "You have yet to even become a woman."

Helnion shrugged. She was still not sure why Melche had asked her. Even though she was good at magic despite not being Melche born, there were plenty of people that were stronger than her. All she knew was that it was to find Salis, and that was all that mattered.

Helnion began coughing again. The two men said nothing until she stopped.

"I think we should let her rest," Etam said.

Nie nodded and stood up. "Before I go." He said. "I wanted to know what happened to the other girl, Salis. You said she protected you but mentioned nothing else."

Helnion shook her head. "Salis saved me from some scary men, but they took her. Triosa said she would help find her if I helped her."

The two men looked at each other.

"Get some rest Helny, now that you are back we will have plenty of time to catch up," Nie said.

"We will also find this Triosa. She has no business taking you into a potentially dangerous situation as young as you are." Etam said. "I am not letting my wife die before we even have been married."

Helnion sighed. If only they had known what she had already been through.

Helnion rubbed her temples. All of this talking and thinking had only made her headache worse. She wanted to go to sleep but the meal that Nie had left was too tempting so she stayed awake just long enough to satisfy her stomach.

The next morning Helnion awoke to a knock on the door.

"Helny? Are you awake?" It was Nie.

"NiNi," Helnion replied.

Nie opened the door. He was followed in by Etam, Lioh, and a woman Helnion had not seen before.

"Creese is one of our doctors," Lioh said, gesturing to the woman. "We wanted her to look at you last night but she was out delivering a baby."

"Greetings Lady Helnion." The woman said. She then turned to the men. "If you would not mind."

The men nodded and left the room.

"How are you feeling?" Creese said.

"My head and throat hurt."

Creese sat on the edge of Helnion's bed and reached for Helnion's forehead.

"Did you wash your hands?" Helnion said. Salis had told her she should insist on her doctors washing their hands because they could give her things they had gotten from other sick people.

"Of course," Creese said, "Sometime last year it became mandatory to wash hands between visits."

Creese once again reached for Helnion's forehead.

"You seem to have a fever, but it is not terrible," Creese said before beginning to check other parts of her body.

Helnion did not feel comfortable having a stranger touch her like this, but she did not like being sick either so she did her best to endure it.

"What happened to your leg?" Creese said as soon as she saw the bruise around her ankle.

Helnion was not sure how much Triosa would let her say about the scary man that had broken her ankle.

"I fell," Helnion said. Grabbed and thrown was what had happened, but she did not want to have to explain that.

"You fell?"

"Off of a tall rock."

"What were you doing on this rock?"

"Practicing levitating rocks." More like attacking with rocks… Helnion hated lying like this.

"Why would you practice in such a dangerous place?"

"To get a good view."

"I see."

Creese checked Helnion over one more time quickly.

"Other than your fever, headache, and bruises you are fine. I will send some herbs to help with your headache and fever with your breakfast. Make sure to drink them." Creese said and left the room.

A few minutes later Nie knocked on her door and brought Helnion her breakfast.

"Creese said we can leave as soon as you finish breakfast," Nie said, placing the plate of food on the bed and the cup of milk on the small nightstand next to the bed. "I will be outside the door so call me when you finish."

Nie left the room.

Helnion looked at her meal. Aside from the normal stuff peasants ate, there were two small bowls filled with powder. This was the medicine. She had had it plenty of times before growing up so she knew how bitter it would be and that she should eat it first so the food would cover up the taste.

Helnion gagged down the medicine by mixing it in her milk.

"NiNi," Helnion said as soon as she had finished.

"A quick eater as always Helny," Nie said, entering the room with Etam and Lioh.

"Are you ready to go?" Etam said. "Getting you home will make me much more at ease."

"I am still worried about this Triosa," Lioh said.

"Yes, but the Defenders should be more than enough protection," Etam said.

"Perhaps, but she appeared to be a capable mage," Lioh said and turned to Helnion. "Are you sure you will not tell us anything?"

Helnion shook her head.

"It is pointless to keep asking," Nie said. "If she was going to say anything she would have."

"Yes," said Etam. "She always has been like that."

"Can we go?" Helnion said. The conversation was only making her headache worse.

"We can discuss this at the Kein Patricius Estate," Etam said. "Maybe Lord Kein Patricius will be able to change her mind."

The men nodded in agreement.

"Come Helny," Nie said. "Can you stand?"

Helnion got out of bed. While she was not feeling well, she had no problem standing or walking. The only thing she worried about was what her father would do. He was not a mean man and Helnion loved him, but he was intimidating.

After a long ride by levitating carriage, the group finally arrived at the Kein Patricius Estate, her home. Helnion had never been attached to the place, but she had many enjoyable memories here from before they sent her off to school.

The estate, being the home to the man that owned much of the land in and around Kein, was large. Since the place was located A fair way away from Kein itself it was quiet. The distance also made riding from here to the school too long to be worthwhile, hence her boarding a| the school.

Seeing her home, Helnion remembered playing in the small forest that surrounded the sprawling house. She also had spent lots of time in the courtyard in the center of the main house playing with dogs or watching the birds. She hoped she would get to spend more time in these two places while she was here.

"Wow," Lioh said. "I knew the Estate was large but I never expected it to be larger than Stutra's Temple of Sorris."

Nobody said anything in reply to Lioh and got out of the carriage when it settled down on the ground in front of the main house.

"Lady Helnion." Said a maid standing outside the carriage. The maid bowed and then offered her hand to Helnion. Helnion took the maid's hand and stepped out of the carriage.

Something caught Helnion's attention as soon as she was out of the carriage. Off to her left and right were two of the Defenders that had accompanied her group. Since they had been riding on the outside of the carriage the whole time, she had not yet gotten a good look at them but now that she could they piqued her curiosity. What interested her was their shields and weapons. They were crystal forged.

"There she goes again," Nie said when he saw Helnion fixated on the Defender.

Lioh laughed.

Helnion soon stood in front of the man she had seen to her right. She bent down and looked at the shield and sword and as she looked it reminded her of Salis. The sword was not as well made nor as beautiful as Salis' but that was all it took to remind her of her friend and she started crying.

"What is wrong, Helny?" Nie said, coming up behind Helnion and hugging her.

"I miss Salis."

"Do not worry Helny we found you so we can find her."

"But someone took her."

"Who?"

Helnion shook her head. "I was asleep when they took her."

"And you have no idea where he might have taken her?"

Helnion shook her head again.

"Where were you when she was taken?"

Helnion shook her head.

"You do not know or cannot say?"

Helnion shook her head. She had promised not to talk about the last year.

"Lady Helnion." Said one maid that greeted the group. It was Karsa, the maid that had taken care of her since she was a baby. "You look exhausted and dirty. Let us take you to the bath and then get you rested. You can talk to your father tomorrow."

Helnion nodded and then stood up. She hadn't bathed since she had been at Usui's and was happy for the chance.

"I will see you again tomorrow, Helny," Nie said.

"Rest well," Lioh said.

Etam merely nodded at her.

"This way," Karsa said and she and Helnion headed into the house.

The next day Helnion finally found herself on the way to see her father.

"The Lady Helnion Usui Kein is here to see you Lord Kein Patricius." The aide of Helnion's father said, announcing her arrival.

"Send her in," Her father, the Lord Kein Patricius, said.

Helnion entered her father's study. It was a large room filled with books, scrolls and many other manuscripts he needed for the running of his vast lands and his government of the city of Kein itself.

Her mother was standing behind him.

"Sit, Daughter." Her father said, gesturing to a chair near his writing table. "I understand you are still ill. I would not be happy if your visit with me made your condition any worse."

"Let us know if you begin to feel worse." Her mother said. "Your health is much more important to us than anything."

"I am better than I was, Mother, Father," Helnion said. "Karsa gave me some things that helped."

"Good." Her father said. "I am certain Karsa will do everything she can to bring you back to health."

Her father's expression grew more serious. "In consideration of your health, I will only ask the most important questions for now."

Helnion thought about the best way to tell her father and mother about the past year. Unlike Nie and Etam she did not want to test her father's patience so she decided just to omit the names of the places and people that she thought would get her in trouble with Triosa and tell everything else.

"Is it all right if I start from the beginning Father?" Her father nodded. "I cannot give you all the names but I will give you what I can."

Helnion's father nodded again. "Go ahead. If I have questions, I will ask them later. For now, knowing what happened to you will be enough."

Helnion began with the day Salis had gotten attacked and with the chase down the river. She then told how they were taken in by some of Usui's followers and that one of their leaders had taken an interest in Salis. When Salis declined that she had been forced to do a favor for the leader before he would release them. They had then been taken to a penal colony of sorts.

"Why would someone send children to such a dangerous place?" Her mother said angrily.

"Hush dearest. Let her finish." Her father said. Although Helnion could see the concern on his face too.

Helnion continued with how another group had shown up and captured Salis. The group then attacked her group and had injured Helnion. She then explained that Salis had been taken and they had killed the other girl in their group.

She finally came to the part where she had been approached by Triosa and her master after having rested for a month at the house of the leader that had sent them to the penal colony. She had then been training with Triosa for the week and a half before they had found her.

"If what you have said is true, then I will have to find this man that took advantage of you." Her father said. "I will not allow such a man to live free."

"Calm down Husband. I also wish to see this man punished but we must…"

Helnion began coughing. Her throat had become dry during her explanation and it had been all she could do to hold it off.

"We will discuss this later Dearest." Her father said to her mother.

Her mother nodded. "Please get some rest Helnion."

Helnion stood up and began to turn to leave.

"Take this." Her father said, handing her some sheets of paper he had been writing on as she had spoken. "These are some questions I have. I want you to look at them and have some answers ready for the next time we meet."

Helnion took the papers and left the room.

Later that night as Helnion lay in her bed, Triosa came. Helnion had been having difficulty falling asleep, but the woman's sudden appearance at the foot of her bed startled any tiredness she had had out of her.

"Helnion," Triosa said in a whisper after she had walked to Helnion's bedside. "I have some things to discuss with you."

Helnion sat up in her bed and looked at the woman.

"The men we are looking for have been nearly found," Triosa said. "But with your training incomplete and your poor health you are in no condition to help right now."

Helnion thought she never had been in any condition to help. Killing those things on Korron would probably be nothing compared to fighting men that could steal from Melche's followers.

"Because of this I think it prudent that we enlist some help from those around you."

Helnion thought for a minute when a thought passed through her mind.

"Did you want this the whole time?" Helnion said. Had Melche come to her knowing she could get some help from trained fighters because of her family's wealth and position?

"Want to use your family's influence to help find the thieves? Yes, and no. While part of the reason we came to you was because of this, it is not the main reason."

Helnion thought. If her family was not the reason, what was? She still found it hard to believe that there were no others that were more qualified than she was.

"Lady Melche is interested in how far a non-Melche born can be taken with their magic training and, considering your young age, it will be easier to train you even with your handicap."

Triosa looked as if she were ready to leave but said one more thing. "I want you to think of two or three others that could help us retrieve the stolen items. I would prefer women."

Triosa vanished leaving Helnion slightly confused and unsure of what to take of the visit. In any case she hoped that this task she had agreed to would be over and she would get a clue to where Salis was. Now all she had to do was get over this fever.