Helnion marveled at the surrounding city. Even though this was not her first time here, everything excited her. Not only were the streets crowded with people of all sorts, but she also saw shops filled with various items and statues of famous people.

It was the small gardens that dotted the city followers of Usui and followers of Vellis kept that that she got the most excited about. Many of the gardens even had a follower of Vellis or two that would play music on various instruments. More often than not one of her male companions or a harsh word from Triosa would have to bring her back to the group.

"I remember the last time I came here with you, Helny," Nie said, smiling. "The servants almost went mad keeping track of you."

"I can see that!" Lioh said with a laugh. "Lady Helnion certainly travels through life at her own pace." Loih turned to Etam. "You have your work cut out for you if you marry this one." He laughed again.

"She will grow out of it in time," Etam said, uncertainty in his voice.

"Nonsense!" Loih said. "A wife like her will make your life that much more interesting."

"She certainly will!" Nie said, laughing with Loih. "I would not want Helny any other way."

Helnion saw a shop with a carpenter's sign above the door and began to walk over to it, curious about what things they made.

"There she goes again!" Loih said, watching Helnion head for a shop to probably peer inside at the goods.

"Sometimes I wonder if she is not both Usui and Vellis born," Nie said.

"No, if she were Vellis born she would talk more," Loih said. "I would say maybe Melche and Usui born but…"

Helnion could not hear the rest of what Loih said.

Helnion soon felt a grip on her arm. She glanced up and saw that Etam had come after her this time. She tried to resist his grip and get a better look into the store; the shopkeeper looking back at her expectantly, but she was no match for Etam and was pulled out of the shop.

"How much farther?" Etam said to Triosa as soon as he came back with Helnion.

Triosa didn't answer.

Etam put his hand on his forehead and sighed.

"I know it is not my place to say this." One of the Knights said to Etam. "But might I recommend keeping calm. If we are in for a hard fight, I want all of my comrades to be clear-minded." The guard looked at Helnion. "At least as many as are able." He added.

Loih snickered.

Helnion looked at the men for a second but soon turned back to her viewing of the city.

"You are right," Etam said and breathed in deeply. "I can worry about that woman later."

The rest of the journey through Flae was uneventful. Specifically, because Etam and Nie had each taken one of Helnion's arms and had not let go.

"I have a feeling we are close," Nie said as he looked at the surrounding buildings.

Helnion had noticed that they had entered one of the older, but more wealthy parts of Flae. All around them were large homes the more wealthy merchant families and some lesser families of the court would inhabit. They made many of them of wood instead of the mud and rock of the more poor folk or those that had a respect for nature and looked down on the use of wood.

"We best not be attacking someone of importance," Etam said as he surveyed the houses.

"Perhaps we are just passing through," Nie said hopefully.

"I doubt that," Etam added.

Loih pulled Etam and Nie close to him. "We might be able to alert some guards. We might overtake her if we have help." Loih said in a whisper, avoiding a look at Triosa.

"I do not know…" Nie said. "I think we would need some extremely skilled magic users if we want to have a chance."

"I agree. She could easily break your shields, who knows what else she is capable of." Etam said.

"She can hear you," Helnion said, poking her face into the group.

The men pulled away from their huddle and eyed Triosa. The women showed no sign that she knew what they were doing.

"Are you sure," Loih said to Helnion.

Helnion nodded.

Etam bent over and picked up a rock. He threw it at Triosa.

The rock flew straight for Triosa's head, but just shy of her head the rock changed direction suddenly and flew off into the air above her head. She did not show any sign that anything happened.

Etam clicked his tongue. "Does the woman have eyes on her backside?"

"And have the ears of a hound?" Loih added.

"Cursed woman." One of the Knights said, spitting.

"Triosa," Nie said.

The other men looked at Nie, wondering what he would ask. Helnion was curious as well.

"Can you tell us who these people are and what they stole?"

"Defeating the thieves and retrieving the stolen items will make it obvious who I work for." Helnion relayed. "The thieves themselves, they are disciples of Kel and are working with a few Toa Mirr magic users to do something here in Flae. What that is I do not know, nor care to."

"Toa Mirr agents in Flae!" Etam said, nearly yelling. "If you had said earlier, I would have gladly lent you my sword!"

"As would I!" The Knights said in turn.

"Yes. There was no need to bring an innocent child into this. Many would have been eager to help if you had asked." Loih said.

"This is not a matter of needing help." Helnion relayed. "My master has many servants that could easily handle this."

"Then why?" Nie said. "Why Helny?"

"The girl is a rare non-Melche born strong in magic. This is her test to see how well her training has come along."

"Against disciples of Kel and Toa Mir magic users!?" Etam said angrily.

"Which is why I allowed you all to come along."

"Even with all of us here, it is still ridiculous thinking of bringing her along. She may be skilled in magic, but she is years away from being a match to a skilled Toa Mirr magic user." Etam said, on the verge of yelling.

"I will ensure her safety."

"You will, will you? I thought you said you were not going to fight?"

Triosa sighed. It was the first time Helnion had seen her show any emotion.

"Enough. We are nearly to our destination and your yelling will bring attention to us."

"Fine," Etam said.

Everyone else looked around to see if they could tell where Triosa was taking them.

Helnion's stomach rumbled. They had only eaten a light meal that morning, and they had been walking for a while.

"Can we get something to eat?" Helnion asked.

Loih and Nie started to laugh.

"Silence," Helnion said, trying to look stern.

The two only started laughing harder.

"Thanks for suggesting a meal, Helny," Nie said to Helnion.

"Here here." One of the Knights said, rubbing his belly and smiling and Helnion.

"Come, we must not take any more time," Helnion said and then yawned. She did not feel like mimicking Triosa's stern feelings at the moment.

"I do not think she is even trying anymore." The second Knight said.

Loih laughed. "Would you not get bored too?"

The two Knights laughed.

"Come. Let us get this over with." Etam said, getting up from the rock he had been sitting on.

"Yes," Nie said, standing up as well.

Loih and Helnion sighed. The two Knights stood up.

"Yes, let us get this over with," Loih said finally.

"Come on, Helny," Nie said, grabbing Helnion by the arm and pulling her up.

"Yes, NiNi." She said as she stood up.

"Lead the way, Woman," Etam said as soon as he saw everyone was ready to go.

Triosa looked back at Etam. Helnion was sure she saw disgust in the woman's eyes but was not sure.

It only took them a few minutes before Triosa signaled them to stop just before they rounded a bend in the road.

"There, two houses down on the right." Helnion relayed.

Everyone looked around the bend and at their destination.

Helnion saw it was one of the larger estates in the area, though nothing compared to her's and Nie's. The property surrounding the estate was lined with hedges and it was impossible to see the grounds from where they were at but she could easily see the single guard at the entrance.

"How many guards?" Loih asked Triosa.

"Only the one," Helnion relayed. "But it is those inside that are the threat."

"Are you certain?" Loih said.

"Yes."

"This would be easier at night. Should we not wait?"

"No. They will be more active at night. If we are lucky several of them will be sleeping."

"I see." Loih turned to the Knights.

Helnion looked to Triosa. The woman gave her a command. Helnion nodded but was not sure what she should do.

"Helny, where are you going!" Nie said when he noticed she had walked towards the guard.

Nie and Etam went to chase after her but were immediately pushed to the ground.

"Were you the one who told her to go!" Etam said angrily to Triosa.

As usual, Triosa ignored him.

Helnion decided the best thing to do was continue her practice on the guard. She felt more confident in her skills but was still extremely slow and was worried that he would look up and see the small cloud that had formed over his head. Not much later the cloud had condensed and a ball of water had taken its place.

"Away child! This is no place for you!" The guard said when he noticed her staring at him.

Helnion looked at the estate behind the guard and then at the other estates in the area. She wondered what they were like on the inside. How many people lived in them and what were they like?

"Shoo! If you are hungry, you will have to go somewhere else." The guard said, pulling her attention back to her task.

The ball of water she had floating behind the guard was now about the right size. She was surprised and proud at the same time. This had been the fastest she had done this.

"Bye-bye," Helnion said. She tried to add a friendly smile, but the knowledge of what she was about to do would not let her.

"Finally…" The guard said.

After a little hesitation Helnion moved her ball of water quickly, covering the guard's head. The guard gasped in surprise, sucking water into his lungs.

Helnion felt a pain in her chest as she began to freeze the water. Unlike the men on Korron, this man was still alive and would not come back after a trip from a pool of black stuff.

In moments the water around the man's head had frozen solid. He was still very much alive and was trying his hardest to break the ice but she had only frozen the water just around his head and the rest of it cushioned his blows just enough to keep the ice from shattering.

"Helny!" Came Nie's voice.

Helnion looked up from the man and to her brother.

"Never do that again! Let us handle this."

"Yes, Lady Helnion," Loih said. "You could have gotten yourself killed going out like that by yourself."

"It was her!" Etam said, pointing angrily at Triosa. "She told her to do this."

"The girl will do what she can. You can only help if she is incapable of doing it herself." Helnion said.

Etam spat at Triosa's feet.

"Stop it Etam!" Nie said, grabbing the man by the shoulders.

Etam glared at Triosa but then turned to watch the Knights finish off the still struggling guard.

"I guess we go inside now," Loih said.

"Yes…" Nie said, turning to look at the estate.

The two Knights were the first through the gate, followed closely by Loih.

Helnion watched them move around carefully, their crystal forged shields at the ready. She wanted one too. They looked so pretty, sparkling in the sunshine, though the Knights had covered these shields with large pieces of cheap brown cloth so she couldn't see their beauty at the moment.

Loih nodded at everyone else after he looked around for a bit before bending over and rushing to the house. He made it over quickly and he and the Knights had done it quietly despite the armor they were wearing. Helnion was amazed and wondered if Salis could do that if she were wearing armor.

Helnion was pushed into the same position that Loih had taken by Nie and did the same himself. She immediately remembered doing this a few times with Salis when they were sneaking around school.

"Get over there as fast as you can, Helny," Nie said. "We do not want to be seen for as long as possible."

"Yes, NiNi," Helnion said.

"Ready?" Etam said.

Nie nodded and Etam ran through the gate towards Loih and the Knights. He was even faster, but he was not wearing armor like they were.

"Now, Helny!" Nie said, pulling on her as he started through the gate.

Helnion nearly fell, but Nie held her up.

Ever since she had come back from Korron, she had felt weaker. She was not sure why, as she had trained a lot. She hoped Salis had not been affected as well.

By the time Nie and Helnion reached the house, she was nearly out of breath. She had never gotten tired this easily, and it worried her.

"We need to get you some more exercise," Loih said, looking slightly amused but also a bit worried.

"I agree," Nie said. "If I had not been pulling on her, it would have taken ages for her to get across."

"We should hurry," Etam said.

"Where is that woman?" One of the Knights said.

Helnion looked around and saw that Triosa had not followed them through the gate. She knew Triosa would be watching, but why the woman was testing her she did not know. This was the only time she was going to help Triosa, was it not?

"Watching us somewhere, I would assume," Loih said after scanning the yard for Triosa.

"We should hurry," Etam said again.

Helnion saw his impatience, and he was fidgeting.

"Yes, master…" Nie said with a smirk.

Helnion giggled.

Etam ignored Nie's statement and turned to the house.