The wind filled her dreams.

Every thought and breath she took. She felt was it on her skin and her hair. Roaring and whirling until to the point chanting could save her. She was powerless and alone. It bore down on her, swirling, tearing, and ripping appear everything around her. Grass, wood, rock was gone. Just the wind cutting a path around her.

And then she woke up to a wooden beams and slats wondering what it all meant.

One of Kiao’s other phrases was the phrase of insight. She couldn’t see in the moment, past, of future. However, she could see dreams. Something she only did on occasion. Not everyone had nightmares when they slept in the infirmary. It was common enough with the badly wounded wardens haunted by what happened to them or others around them. Yet she never experienced something like that herself. Haunted by the wind. Clearly, it had to mean something because it occurred again and again. Then again, it could have been just the weight of the situation she was in. She wondered if she could walk in her own dreams to get an answer and find meaning to it. She probably couldn’t. Again, thoughts of home entered her mind. She wanted Brother. In fact, she just wanted to hug the order’s counsellor and her guardian badly. They would sit in his living quarters in the chapel as he fed some of Saffron’s cooking while listening as she described the horrors of the trip. And he would convince her, that not all of it was bad. That maybe she had done some good. She wished she had done some good.

She wished were home. The first time in the near year she had been out travelling. Tears leaked from her eyes.

She was glad she was alone in the bedroom. Xylia had been occupying the other half, and she had already woken up. The priest didn’t want to explain why she was wiping her face.

“I can't do this. Focus on the present,” she told herself, but the present didn’t look good. At least the outpost gave her the opportunity for a nice warm rest.

From what Kiao could tell, it was late in the morning. There was the sound of wood striking wood outside the window met someone sparing, she didn’t follow it. Instead, she drew her legs up to her chest and wished for someone to tell her everything was going to be okay. She wanted Mien.

It wasn’t often she wanted Mien's presence. She understood his reasonings for doing what he was doing and was quite proud of him. Someone of his mind and intelligence need to hone his skill. He was home for the summer. Just a month or two. Never at the monastery, though. Usually at his family's estate in Arbortown. He would come to the monastery for about a week and then was off again. In that week, they would catch up. He would hold her hand, filling her hear with stories, play his flute or sing her some tawdry song he heard. She mostly liked the quiet moment where he would wrap his arms around her and hold her to his chest. She would listen to his hear and he would nuzzle her head and kiss it. He wouldn’t say anything. He knew better than to throw platitudes at her. His caring silence was worth more than words. Though that didn't mean he would never have real words for her.

In her mind, she imagined what he would say in that soft voice of his. "Come on, you need to move. If you don't, someone is going to find you to help solve the crisis for the day."

She sighed and stood up and dressed for the day. She followed the sounds of sparing and found all the huntresses gathered outside to the side of the outpost that faced the town. There was a flat spot carved out from where clearly Donaven practiced. The oldest of Lobelia’s boys had a staff in his hands and was paired up against Briar.

His youthful face was tight with concentration and determination. His movements were clumsy and unpracticed. Briar swung at him with graceful ease.

“You’re leaving yourself open, Lad,” stated Soletus from where he was sitting on the ground.

Donaven was standing beside him, watching with interest. Soletus spotted her and waved her over.

Kiao's attention was mostly on her friend and she frowned. Not that he needed constant bed rest. It was just the temptation of testing someone new to fighting was in front of him.

The young man caught her displeasure. “I'm just observing,” he promised with a teasing wicked grin.

“Don't worry, Sister,” said Donaven. “I've kept him here so he could tell me about the girls. I wanted to see them fight, given Xylia is good. Undertrained but good.”

Soletus' attention went back on the fight in front of him. “Watch your arms or she’s going to get you in hip.”

Kiao then watched Briar’s arm curve downward and struck the tod in the hip.

He let out a cry and hopped away smarting. His face puckered. “This isn’t fair. You’re giving her ways to beat me!”

“Then block already,” stated Soletus firmly. “Defend. You can't fight offensive all the time. And you definitely don't keep swinging wildly at an opponent that’s more skilled than you to out skill them.”

The older tod pouted in disagreement.

“He’s right,” said Donaven. “I’ve told you that many times, and now another teacher has told you the same.”

“I didn’t think masters got beat up,” cut the tod.

Soletus chuckled. “I’m far from a master. And anyone can get beaten if surprise just right. However, I was trained by some of the best. Master Marth, Master Tyr, and my father. They say the same thing: protect yourself so you can strike again.”

“Then why don’t you show me,” said the tod surly.

Soletus chuckled. “I’m protecting myself. A wise monk is one that learns the art of offense, defense, and rest.”

Kiao put her hands on her hips and stated, “He’s only saying that because I’m here. If I wasn’t, he would be testing you.”

Donaven snickered from behind his hand.

“That part of being a wise monk too,” said Soletus. “Don’t fight injured near a healer.”

The older tod looked dubious at that fact.

“He is correct about that,” said Donaven. “I’ve been chained to a bed because my mother didn’t want me so much as to walk to the bedroom door. And she’s just a wisewoman. A healing chanter is much worse.”

“The brotherhood just like making fighting complicated,” said the boy. “I bet none of them could even fight in a blood match.”

Soletus leaned forward. “I’ll have you know one of those men I listed is a former cur. A very well-known one at that. He moves like water, hits like a landslide. You’ll be drowned and beaten before you can take a full breath. He's learned all about fighting another day from bloodsports. Getting himself beaten to a pulp didn't win matches. Being able to fight smarter than everyone else was what made him superior.”

"Sounds like a real legend," returned the tod.

“Maybe to all the former bloodsport fighters. However, I call him Papa,” said Soletus. “He also trained Briar. It’s why she hit you on the hip when I told you she was going to hit you there. You leave yourself open, you get hit. And he would've hit you and told you do it again until you get it right so you survive."

The boy’s shoulders sagged. “I’m done. I have chores to do,” he said, and walked out of the makeshift arena taking his staff with him towards the small stable there.

“I warned you,” said Donaven to Soletus. “He likes the thought of learning how to fight. But he's spent too long as a boy hearing glory tales from curs. Using rage and anger backed by fear to fuel fighting. Trying to show him other ways mixed in with lack of drive makes him not worth your time sadly."

Briar then sighed dramatically from the ring. “That was unsatisfying. I wouldn’t even call that a warm-up." She then pointed her club to Donaven. "Why don’t we do a round?"

“I’m handicapped,” he said to her as a warning and plucked his cane from where it was lying in the grass. “I can really just use one arm. Aside from my missing fingers.” He picked up his weapon and turned his wrist. The motion stopped halfway. He didn’t have the full motion of his wrist.

“Quit trying to make me underestimate you. I’ve seen you fight. You’re as dangerous as any monk,” dismissed Briar.

Donaven smiled. “Pretty and smart.”

“Thank you,” she said, curtsying. “Now get in here. Charm me with your cane work.”

“I will be honored, Lady Briar.”

He flourished his cane in his good hand. Instead of a stance one would take with even using whip cane, he took a stance one would use a rapier.

“Briar,” said Soletus from the side in a warning voice.

“Shut up, I don’t need your coaching,” she told him.

Soletus raised his palms forward. Kiao watched them with mild interest. She wanted to see if whatever happened to him extended past his left hand and wrist.

It didn’t. He was a fast fighter. She couldn’t say that she enjoyed watching others fight. However, she enjoyed seeing Donaven’s flowing movements. She always thought that Oeric’s movements were dancer like. However, there was so much power in his movements and Soletus was the same. However, Donaven was much lighter on his feet. He wasn’t going for sheet power as a fighter, from what Kiao could tell. And it baffled Briar as he was like liquid. He just flowed.

When they clashed together and parted. Donaven circled around her, shaking his head in disappointment. “So aggressive. Stop trying to prove to your strong and be strong.”

Briar wore a smirk. “I fight aggressive to be taken seriously.”

“You won’t beat me like that then.”

Kiao focused on her friend for his opinion. He watched with intensely.

The fight renewed and Briar, over the years, had wised up. She learned from Soletus the hard way that a fighter needed to change style depending on the attacker. She did what the boy didn’t do and started defending more than attacking. Her attention was on his dancing arm.

“Why are you so far away? Afraid of something,” taunted Donaven with a knowing grin.

“If I get too close I know you’ll do something to me with that hooked end,” she told him.

“No fun in being afraid,” he told her.

And their fighting renewed again in intensity, with Briar laughing the entire time. Soletus became perplexed.

“What is it,” whispered Kiao.

“He’s using a completely different style of fighting than I’ve seen. Granted, I don’t know anyone who uses a bone cane.”

“That’s not just wood,” she asked, inspecting the weapon. She could see lashing around it where the hook met the wood. She didn’t think anything of when she first saw it.

“Nope, that hooked end is bone. Well, actually, if you want to be specific, it’s like some kind of antler or horn given the way it is curved. If I had to guess, given he's not held that end, the inside of that hook is sharp.”

“Sounds painful.”

“Which, I suppose Briar got a good look at it,” he said, watching them. “There is just something different about his movements. The way he’s balanced. He's an interesting monk. I can tell he was a scout.”

“I guess you heard him talk about his life a little in your room?”

“A bit. A priest changing to a monk. Odd. Not unusual. Usually it’s the other way around,” he said, still fixated on them.

“I talked to him later when I checked up on and saw a camp outside your window. He was watching them. Then he told a little more about himself. He was a spy for the order.”

“A spy,” said Soletus and swung his head to her. He brow creases with thought before he became owl-eyed. “Oh, is he really…” And then Soletus watched Donaven dive to the ground and roll back up right in such a fluid motion that Kiao wondered if he was an acrobat as well. “My Papa told me the story how the order trained a spy for a specific purpose. It was called Operation Cowbird. Basically, raiders took residence in a grotto. They started pillaging and insulted the order. The Arch Monk took it personally, so he destroyed them. He did so with a single monk. And that's him?"

"So he says. I mean, he doesn't exactly scream Brotherhood. He’s the flirtiest monk that I ever met his age"

"I mean, he's a scout. They've all a personality type. Confidence to the point of recklessness. But being a spy, well, that takes some stones to fool a bunch of raiders."

"Did he tell you the details of the role," asked Kiao watched Donaven’s and Briar sparing session devolve into something that didn’t look all too serious. He pivoted out of the way of her strikes, using one foot at a time with his hands behind his back. She stopped fighting, and he continued shuffling around the make-shift arena. Briar just watched him and then started doing the same.

Soletus chuckled. “Well, I see he has a special sense of humor. And no, he didn't. Said the story is only worth telling if I ever met the monk."

"Of course," she said. That sounded like something his father would say. Never wanting to tell anyone's story without them there.

It was then Kiao saw a horse and rider coming from down and climbing up the knoll towards them. Lobelia who was tending the hillside step garden, stopped and rose with her youngest son. She stopped the rider before he come up there. He relayed something to her, and she nodded walking towards him and Briar. When she was close, she shouted:

“Donnie, you're wanted in town.”

He stopped and spun the cane in his fingers. “Why, I went down there yesterday,” he complained.

“He is concerned over the current situation between you and Hawke,” she said.

Soon, the amusement dropped from the fields.

He let out a moan. “Is Hawke there?”

“I don't know. He could be. He might not. However, the Mayor Junco wants you to talk to him as soon as you can."

The warden crossed his arms and looked down at the rider on the horse, waiting. "I wish I meditated instead this morning," he muttered and jogged down to meet the rider. Kiao stood on her toes to get a better view. The warden talked to the rider a moment before he rode off back up.

"Sister, how would like to visit town a moment," Donaven asked as the crested the knoll.

"Is it safe?"

"Yes," he said. "I made certain Hawke wasn't. Though you may wish to keep an escort."

"I'll go," said Briar. "I feel if we send the mighty second warden here, he'll get hurt again.

Soletus tightened his eyes at her.

"Don't worry. I'll take good care of her," stated Donaven. "Pick someone to come with us, Lady Briar."

The young woman motioned for Helene. "Keep Sol out of trouble, Laurel," she instructed.

Kiao touched his shoulder. The cords in his neck were tense.

"I don't like this," he hissed to her.

"Gut feeling," she asked. She wanted no more of his gut feelings.

He chuckled. "At this point, I'm going to end up with an ulcer. I feel safer, but I keep feeling like there is something there. Something stalking you in the woods. A coming storm. Mostly, though, I don't like being injured. It's harder to do anything if something happens."

"Then do what you can. Trust Briar and watch Lobelia and the others."

He then grabbed her wrist. "I promised Mien I would look after you."

That only confirmed what she knew when Mien went to leave for Eroden. Their last evening together, they went out as a large group of friends. However, when things were winding down, he took Soletus to the side. They strayed too far for her to hear the conversation. However, on her friend's lips she read. "I will. Don't worry."

"It'll be okay," she told him.

"Take your staff with you," he said. "You still haven't used Mien's stone yet."

She hadn't. And she didn't want to use it.

"When I come back, I want you to rest some more. You look glassy eyed again."

He nodded.

Kiao then went inside of the house took the magical staff that she had found it in a some room in a ancient temple. She wondered why it was made. There were spots for other staves. The one she plucked was the last. She didn't know where the others were. She tried to research more about them, but didn't find anything about the temple in the north. The white wood of the staff felt smooth under her fingers. It was somehow married with tao stone. The process of how to make it lost through the ages. She joined the small group walking down the path and made their way to the town that rested below the knoll. It was a longer walk than she would have liked. However, the view going down made it clear there weren't ambushers waiting in the brush. She could see all around them. Donaven was alert as any good warden should be.

His head not moving too much, be she could see his gaze watching around him. From the trees to the now overcast sky. It would likely rain again. She could feel the increasing moisture in the air. Maybe it would storm and keep them safe. For now, they walked towards town and were sufficiently sweaty by the time they walked through the gates. Which were nothing more than two pillars and a low wall going around the perimeter of the town. It was oddly not that well protected. She wondered if they only occasionally had drass beast. There was a watch tower there. However, it was unoccupied. The town itself had some traders and showed life with children running around rolling a hoop through the streets. Elves watched them as they walked. Most probably watching her as she was clearly in priestess attire.

She waved to them. And they waved back. A typical Elven town.

They reached the center of the town and there stood a not so modest sized mayor house. Mayor homes usually had multiple purpose. Sometimes it was also a schoolhouse, meeting hall, or a place to settle disputes. She assumed it was all that, but it was too large for just a small town.

They walked in. There was no doorman or anyone to greet them and Donaven led them from the foyer to a sitting room and then to a door. There he knocked and a male voice told them to come in. They entered a bright room. The walls had been whitewashed so the room was bright. There, siting at a beautiful redwood desk, was an elf she took as the mayor as his dress that screamed elven aristo. There was no white shirt and trousers for him. No, he wore a form fitting robe of black and silver. Clearly someone who came into money, either by inheritance or a rich supporting family member. They weren't from a minor house, and certainly not a ruling house. Kiao was out of those circles, but the name Junco didn't ring a bell to her.

He eyed them like a collection of unwanted vagabonds and said. "Is this the supposed priest that is disrupting everything?"

"I wasn't disrupting anything. The only thing I'm guilty of is visiting a chapel on Brotherhood land," she said. "I assume you are Mayor Junco?"

He nodded.

"My name is Sister Kiao'Medowlark. I'm a chanter priestess for the order. And despite what Mayor Hawke has told you, I did not summon a whirlwind to destroy their town?"

The Mayor's eyebrow rose. "Is that why Elder Hawke come in here screaming about you being murderer?"

"Yes," she said. "The is Briar'Gryfalcon. She is in charge of my escort. She'll vouch for the fact we were leaving town right before it hit."

"True," said Briar. "We were leaving to continue our journey, and it nearly took us with it too."

The Mayor's brow pulled together. "Gyrfalcon? You aren't Master First Warden Tyr's daughter?"

A smirk lifted Briar's face. "Oh know, he's a bit of a distant cousin. I'm Patriarch Lord Kharis'Gryfalcon daughter."

The elf's face washed of all critical expression.

"Oh yes, it gets worse," said Donaven speaking up. "That buffoon needs to be arrested for attempted murder. From what I understand, he had men attack the young second warden intending to kill him. That young second warden is the Arch Monk's grandson."

"He was stabbed and beaten," clarified Kiao. "He's very much alive, but he's unable to perform his duties as he would like."

Mayor Junco leaned back in his chair and his attention looked right at Donaven. "You bastard."

"That might be accurate," Donaven exclaimed. “But no need for name calling.”

"Because you are trying to force me to get involved with Hawke. I've made this town a nice town. People are finally comfortable. We’ve managed to find middle ground with that crazed nut and his family, and here you are trying to get me in opposition between them."

"No, Junco," said Donaven amicably, walking forward. "The order has allowed you to keep your town comfortable. Are there drass beasts in this area? No. Efforts have kept them further west, and it improves every year. All we ask from you and your people is to pay taxes, watch out for your fellow elf, and if the order needs anything, you help," said and planted his palms on the man's desk, leaning over him. "We are asking for help."

Mayor Junco stood and leaned forward in Donaven's face. "There are farmers who are tired of their bullying. I made it so they would not get bullied. And you're saying their town is destroyed! How long before they come knocking and taking thing that don't belong to them?"

"They've plenty of pickles and peat," said Kiao. "Their storage house was left untouched. What they need is proper shelter again and to clean up. You could send some towns folk to aid them."

"Hawke didn't ask for aid, he asked for justice," said Mayor Junco.

"Chanters can't do that. Besides that, I'm a healing chanter. I don't have any destructive abilities."

"It’s clear what they did. They practically turned on them after those who were going to survive, were treated. They just wanted to use the order," said Donaven. “I’m not fond of that sort of thing.”

"Yet, they accused her of murder. First Warden, if anything, I have all right to throw her in a cell," said Junco.

"It would be better off if you can offer protection until the order arrives. We need a few days," argued Donaven. "I need time. The order won't get here quick enough. They do something drastic when you deny them."

Kiao then thought about it. They needed time. She needed everyone safe. She shut her eyes, knowing Soletus would likely march down and yell at her. However, she could handle one of his verbal beatings.

"Mayor Junco. If we were to set-up a proper trial. How long would it take," she asked.

"To announce charges and to gather proof. It could take up to a week,” he told her.

She heard Donaven inhale to argue.

"No, it makes perfect sense. We need about a week," she said.

Briar then took her by the shoulders and spun her to face her. "You are putting yourself in jail! That is a stupid idea!"

"We need time. If they want justice, then they can have justice," she said, forcing Briar's hands down.

"But you didn't call down a storm," she exclaimed.

"Well, the burden of proof is on them," she told her and then the mayor. "If you want to arrest me. Then do so. Put me in a cell. Let justice prevail."

The mayor looked at Donaven, then her. "Are you allowing this?"

She turned to see Donaven's silver eyes looking impressed. "Is this the game you are willing to play?"

"I have all the faith in the world that this is the best way to handle it. I can't run. There is no place to go," she said, feeling angry suddenly. "If they cannot understand with my words and actions alone, then they are going to have to hear it with the law. And if they need to hear it from whomever is coming too, then so be it."

"But Ko-ko," pleaded Briar.

"We need time. The monastery is days away. They can get here in about a week. The Silver Ridge will be here in a few days and that’s a lot of time for them to do something. We just need to hinder them. Tell Soletus not to be upset."

"Upset," snorted Briar. "Oh, Lady of understatement. When he starts bellowing at me, I send him right here."

"This is a terrible mad idea," said Helene. "Kiao, there has to be another way."

"No, my mind is made up. Arrest me," she said.

Mayor Junco jaw became unhinged.

"They accused me of murder. Not even a little murder. A mass murder. I didn't count the dead, because there were so many of them. Whole families died; children are without parents. People who have been mutilated."

The mayor blinked at her. "You're a priestess."

"Yes, and one who is being accused of murder. I need to be held until a trial according to the law."

He worked his jaw. "Y-y-yes. Are you pleading guilty?"

"No, I'm pleading, not guilty. But the Seat declares I be given a fair trial. I want a fair trial. I want them to prove that I wronged their town," she said with her head held high and gripping her staff. She pounded it on the floor. "Arrest me."

"Fine. You are under arrest. I will get Trent here, and we can clean out a cell and toss you in it."

Donaven then took her hand and kissed the top of it. His eyes sparkled with glee. "You are a mad lady. I can see why the order keeps you."