Fenrin grunted as Fiona's sword smacked him in the shoulder. She grinned and he moved to parry, flipping the padded sword out of her hand.

"Don't get cocky," he lectured.

His niece picked up the sword. "Well that's not fair, you'd not have been able to do that if that move had I actually chopped your arm off."

"She's right," Libby chimed in from the sidelines and Fiona curtseyed gracefully at her supporter in thanks.

"Maybe, but don't assume someone will stop attacking just because of an injury. Many people are more dangerous when hurt," Fenrin continued and Fiona nodded, accepting the lesson. He turned to Libby. "Why don't you stop standing useless on the sidelines and join us."

Gaptoothed grin flashing, Libby stepped forward, weaponless against the two swords. At Fenrin's move, they launched forward, each facing their two opponents.

Libby dodged Fiona's sword and Fiona, thrown off rhythm, took a smack from Fenrin, who followed the thrust neatly with a sharp turn. Libby caught his blade between two hands and deflected it to the side. She tried to slip under Fenrin's guard and kick him in the chin but his hilt came baring down on her, knocking her on the head.

"Ow!" she complained, rubbing the forming bump.

"Your hands would hurt a lot more being sliced to ribbons," Fenrin growled.

"Hey! Jayln taught me that move, it'd work on a real sword."

Fenrin grunted doubtfully and Fiona helped her friend up. "Really, you can stop a sword with your hands?"

"Yeah! Jayln says you just have to time it perfectly. I've been practicing."

There was a shrill bird call and Fenrin turned, head cocked. Fiona began unwrapping her sword. "Let's—"

Fenrin snapped back to the girls. "Don't even think about it! One wrong move and you're down five fingers and good luck explaining that to your parents."

Fiona guiltily wrapped the sword back up and Libby pouted.

"Fenrin, attack southwest," the wind whispered to Fenrin and he ripped the cloth off his sword, startling the seventeen-year-old girls.

"Vai!" Fenrin shouted and the man appeared from the house. "There's been an attack, take the girls to the center of town now!"

"But—" Fiona started, but one look from her uncle and she nodded, taking Libby's hand and following Vai towards the village.

Fenrin took the forest route, it wasn't long before he heard the battle. Matius's magic exploded into flame and a few men screamed. He stalked forward, sneaking behind another fighter and plunging his sword through his chest. He tossed the body aside, glancing at it for a moment. No insignia. Bandits?

The fight was over quickly with only minor injuries from the town guard. Matius landed next to Fenrin.

"Bandits?" he guessed as well and Fenrin kicked a dead body over examining it more closely.

"I don't know. Something's off." He found what he was looking for, a darker patch of leather, a place where an insignia had been removed. He picked up the dead man's fallen weapon. It was well kept and well made. "How many?"

Matius glanced around, but his wife stepped up with the answer, "Seven."

Fenrin shook his head. "Not bandits. They are wearing stripped military armor. Seven wouldn't be enough to take out a battalion and steal their armor and weapons."

"Maybe they're the only survivors?" Matius suggested.

"No, if that's the case why would they attack someone else before replenishing their numbers. Especially if they had a battalion worth of armor and weapons to use."

"Then..." Jayln began and Fenrin nodded.

"These are Lyra's men."

Matius's head jerked up. "Parameter breach. All the way up at the entrance. I'll check."

He vanished into the wind. Jayln looked at Fenrin who was staring at the dead man, jaw clenched. "You think she's come for Fiona."

"Of course she has, but what makes me nervous is why the theatrics. Is she just testing our defenses?"

"Maybe she was throwing these men away to test if we had magical wards."

"That does sound like her," Fenrin said but his instincts weren't satisfied. "What matters now is that she's here."

"And Fiona?"

Fenrin turned to her, his face pained. "I don't know. She thought she was forgotten and I hoped she was. Whatever Lyra plans for her won't be good but I'd be lying if I said Fiona truly understood that."

Jayln placed a hand on his shoulder. "We won't let her hurt anyone. Including Fiona. Let's just see what she has to say before jumping to any conclusions."

Fenrin nodded and Matius reappeared, "It's her alright. Her and about fifty soldiers right at our door."

Jayln nodded. "We can take fifty."

"Not without cost," Fenrin said darkly. "Lead the way."

When Jayln, Matius, and Fenrin appeared from the treeline, a dozen of the valley's own warriors hanging back just out of sight, Lyra stepped forward.

"There you are! I thought you'd keep me waiting forever." She looked around dramatically. "But where's my daughter? Don't tell me you've betrayed me and killed her?"

Fenrin pulled forward. "She's alive and safe. We came to see what you wanted."

Lyra made her way down the rocky cliff and Fenrin waited, his grey eyes fixed on her. She dropped onto the ground in front of him. "I came to collect my daughter, of course. Was that not our arrangement?"

Fenrin couldn't deny it but Jayln stepped forward. "You attacked us, that was not part of the agreement."

"I do believe you attacked me. It was Matius there that struck the first blow," Lyra said slyly, her eyes never leaving Fenrin's.

Jayln paused, it was true. At the sight of armed men breaching the valley, they had attacked first. Matius bit his lip guilty. It had been a hard month for him. With the Arch Mage forced to take the Azir throne, Matius had spent most of the time helping guard Aziron. It wasn't surprising he attacked first now his other home was threatened.

Lyra placed a hand on Fenrin's chest. He didn't move. "Where's my daughter, Fen?"

"Safe and she's going to stay that way."

"Oh?" Lyra stepped back and glanced at Jayln. "You really are going to sacrifice your little home to keep a daughter away from her mother. Why, Jayln, I didn't know you were that ready to throw everything away?”

Fenrin looked at Jayln guiltily. He'd spoken out of line and he knew it. Putting Jayln in a tight spot. The woman met Lyra's gaze. "You've not exactly given us reason to trust you."

"Have I not kept my promise? The Soli who threatened you are conquered and I have left your valley untouched. I am losing patience. I took you for a woman of your word."

Jayln's heart pounded. If she started a war here, they'd lose. Everyone knew it.

Lyra stepped back and sighed disappointedly. "Unfortunate, but not unexpected, maybe I can help you make up your mind." She snapped her fingers and there was motion from atop the cliff. A man held a small squirming figure over the edge. "You kidnap my daughter, it seemed fitting to do the same. What do you say—child for a child?"

"Matius," Jayln hissed.

The Third Apprentice muttered a spell and gasped, "It's Julia."

A cry came echoing down the cliff. The three year old girl, terrified. Tryst burst from the treeline, sword drawn. "Julia!" he cried out for his granddaughter.

Tryst's voice made Fenrin step forward. "You win this one, Lyra. I'll bring Fiona, but when I come back that girl better be in her family's arms."

“That’s what I came for.”

Fenrin turned and ran back into the forest. He cursed himself. The bird cry, it was a signal and he knew it. He was rusty and he'd missed the obvious. Of course, she'd known that. She always was steps ahead.

He nodded at the line of guards surrounding the village, most only teenagers readied as a last defense. Libby stepped forward to ask something, but moved aside when he waved her away.

Fiona was in the line with her sword, although surrounded by the few adults left behind. Not many knew who she was. When she spotted him she ran forward, behind her Vai watched suspiciously.

"Uncle Fenrin, is it over?"

"The battle’s over yes, but..." He glanced at the curious ears and pulled her into the trees. Unbidden, Vai followed closely.

"What is it, Uncle?" she asked, now nervous.

"It's your mother. She's at the valley entrance."

"Oh." Fiona stopped short. For a moment she just stared dumbly before asking in a small voice, "She's really here?"

Feeling like he was breaking, Fenrin nodded. "She's come to take you back."

Fiona glanced about, confused. "I've got to get my things, my journal."

"I have it here," Vai said, stepping forward. His normally impassive face was struggling to hide its emotion. Fenrin's heart sank even more. Vai still felt the same toward Lyra. Despite everything they'd been though, he would run back.

Still looking a bit dazed, Fiona took the small book. "Oh, thank you."

Vai put a hand on her shoulder and turned to Fenrin. "Lead the way."

Having no excuse, Fenirn numbly led them through the forest. Fiona was quiet the whole trip as Vai steered her forward and Fenrin felt something cracking inside. A dangerously familiar feeling of being trapped and angry growing. He needed a plan.

When they broke free of the trees and Lyra subtly nodded to the side where Tryst was walking away with his granddaughter, Fenrin made up his mind.

He'd leave the valley, follow them. He'd convince Fiona to run away with him and they'd find a different place. Somewhere Lyra wouldn't find them and Jayln wouldn't be held responsible. His family had hurt them enough...he'd hurt them enough.

Lyra's eyes filled with crocodile tears as Fiona came closer. "Fiona! How good to see you so well!"

Vai stepped forward and fell to the ground at Lyra's feet. Fiona watching him bow, mechanically curtseyed, "Hello, Mother."

"Come here so I can have a look at you!"

Fiona wanted to look back at Fenrin but her mother's commanding glance forbad her and she stepped forward. Lyra's finger curled around her shoulders and she smiled. "You've grown so much! And look at you, sword at your side. I hope you've been attending your uncle's lessons?"

Fiona blinked. "Oh, yes. I have!"

"Good girl." She slid her arm around Fiona. "Let's go, Vai."

Vai stood up and followed but Fiona tried to look behind her. "Can't I say goodbye?"

"There isn't time, your father needs you."

Fiona flinched. "Father?"

Lyra held her closer. "There was an attack, your father lost his sight. He needs you to help him run the kingdom."

Thoughts of goodbyes flying away, Fiona gasped as Lyra helped her up the cliffside where two men pulled her to the top. She waited impatiently for Lyra to reappear to ask, "Is he alright?"

Lyra waved a hand and the soldiers tied a rope around her and Fiona's waists to pull them up the rest of the cliff. "He's shaken, but holding on. I knew nothing would heal him like you being by his side."

For a moment Fiona caught a glimpse at the figures down below, growing smaller with each tug of the rope. Matius and Jayln were close, Fenrin off to the side, his face upturned. She was too far away to make out his expression. Fiona wiggled an arm free and waved. She didn't catch the satisfied smirk on her mother's face as Fenrin was forced to give a small wave back.