Theo laughed at the expression on Alanna’s face, her eyes bulged and she coughed while she fanned her face with her hands. “Water…” She croaked.

He rolled his eyes while handing her a waterskin that she promptly guzzled to the last drop. “How can you eat that?” She watched him warily as if he’d sprouted antlers or some other monstrosity.

“It’s not so bad.” He shrugged with a wry grin and plopped another blackened fireshroom stuffed with bits of meat and melted cheese into his mouth. Heat scoured his throat and tongue as he chewed then swallowed it.

Alanna’s mouth dropped open in a silent O, her eyes wide in a gorgeous stare. Heat flushed through his face in a blush, but that had nothing to do with the fireshroom. His heart pounded as their gazes crossed. Her eyes sparkled like glittering dew dappled leaves.

Or maybe emeralds, not that he’d ever seen jewels other than the baubles some women wore on his trips to Aethel.

“Ahem,” Alanna cleared her throat and hastily looked down. For a moment it felt like there were two beats in his chest, one a caged bird beating its wings and the other a galloping horse. “How are your wounds?”

Theo winced, both at the memory of his ambush and then the fact they hadn’t spoken about his… announcement. Alanna had dressed the worst of his wounds, then scoffed at his insistence that his nose was broken or that the mere scratch on his back was a gash that needed stitches.

Just a bumped nose and a scratch. Nothing more. His motley of bruises on his side ached, but they looked as if they’d been bruised for days. A swath of sickly yellow skin. No cause for concern at all apparently.

“I’m fine,” he mumbled. Maybe he was going insane. Why else would two bloodthirsty bandits intent on ransoming him for all the chips and horses he was worth… then just change their mind to fawn over Isidora?

“Theo…” Alanna started then stopped. Her fingers plucked at a loose thread on the hem of her shirt. “About what you…ah,” she winced then asked in a firmer tone, “Did you really hurt yourself in a fall?”

“Yes.” He said tersely, guilt bit at him at the lie, but technically he had fallen when he’d had his ribs supposedly kicked in. Shame inflamed him at the thought of spending months training with Alanna only to lose to an elderly woman and her companion old enough to be his mother.

“What in the wastes did you fall on?” She raised an eyebrow at his acerbic tone. “Your clothes were all torn and messy with blood and filth.”

“A particularly stubborn patch of bramble, if you must know.” Aleyr knows the bandits were more than prickly enough. “It took Isidora no effort at all to get me out.”

“Oh?” Alanna’s smile was dazzling. “She sometimes has a generous spirit when the mood strikes her. I can’t imagine where else she would have picked up her newest… servants.”

Theo shifted uncomfortably at the mention of them.

“Aha!” Alanna’s finger jabbed towards him. “What happened?”

He sighed as he looked down at the basket and blanket that had the rest of their picnic food. “They ambushed me. Came at me with that spear. There was nothing I could do, even with all the training we went through. I was less than useless.”

He glanced up and winced at the cloud of sadness on her face. She opened her mouth to speak, but he continued. Resentment had built like a dam and it had to rush free.

“They had me talking and got me to admit my intentions to try for horsePage and that I surely must have a horse and that my family must have more.” Bitterness scathed his tongue as anger flushed down his cheeks. “Next thing I know I started bawling for help like a helpless toddler.”

Fists curled tight, he beat his frustrations out on the ground.

“That sent them into a rage. Or it scared them. I don’t know, but they wanted to kill me for it. Out of nowhere, Isidora comes riding in on that horse of hers and acts like they’re outstanding citizens or even Lordships. Then! Isidora acted like I was a cart with a thrown axle and rode off with her new escort leaving me to scramble behind them!”

“I’m sorry.” Alanna’s words caught in her throat like broken glass. “I can’t believe you went through that. Father said the bandits have been a growing menace…”

“It’s not your fault.” Theo blinked in surprise and went to reach for her hand then stopped. Would she think he was trying to take advantage if he just took her hand like that? Did she even feel the same way about him? After all, they hadn’t discussed what he said… but why else were they having a picnic?

“Did you… did you… feel anything odd?” Alanna didn’t look at him. Her hands now clawed at the ground as she blade after blade of grass by the handfuls.

“Odd?” His brow furrowed. Like what? The whole thing had been bizarre. “I mean, it definitely wasn’t normal being ambushed—”

“No.” Alanna’s voice cooled to the sharp bite of winter. “When Isidora came. Did you feel anything odd?”

“What do you mean?”

She sagged and shook her head.

“Alanna?” He scooted forward and cradled her limp hands in his. “What’s wrong? It wasn’t that bad. I was just blowing off some smoke and sparks,” he stopped as she shook her head vehemently.

“Obviously I’m upset about that. I want to march into town or all of the way home if I have to and knock that scum to their knees before I have them hanged.” If he thought her voice had been cold as winter before, then surely his ears would burn from frostbite now.

“So do I…” He said slowly, his mind raced at a breakneck gallop trying to understand. His thumbs crept across the back of her hands in strokes as he thought.

“How about that for your offering? I’ll bring you their heads.” She craned her head to look at him. Firelight seemed to crackle around her then she shifted and it vanished. A few tears wet her face, but her jaw was set fast. Her brows drew shadows over her now otherworldly green eyes.

“Both of them?”

“Maybe Isidora’s too.”

“Why hers? She didn’t really do anything wrong, plus she’s your sister.”

“Didn’t she? I wouldn’t be so sure. Isidora has a way or two about her.” Alanna chuckled darkly, but he didn’t get the joke. “Just watch yourself around her, please?”

“You know me, I’m always careful…” he trailed off at the firm shake of her head.

“You don’t understand, I’m not making a joke. Think constantly around her. Don’t be rash or anything. Be cold when you’re around her.”

Alanna threw herself into a hug that squeezed the breath in a whoosh out of his lungs. All he could do was wrap his arms around her in turn and ponder on what she meant. Isidora was a child of sixteen, barely old enough to marry or even pledge herself to become a Page. How could she be dangerous?

Sure, she was a snake that would scam anyone on hard times out of their last earned chips with the promise of a better tomorrow. But so was Tyren for that matter. Far as Theo could tell her whole family was a nest of treachery.

By the damned unholy wastes, so was Alanna in her own way. She was sweet out of a duel or any kind of contest, but when inside of one she would do anything to win. He truly pitied any fool who thought to keep their title as a duelBaron.

Blood would be spilled and he wouldn’t bet it on being hers, and not just because he’d be pretty dumb to bet on anyone but her if he wanted a nice future.

“Less thinking and more hugging.” Alanna’s breath whispered against his neck in a sulk. He gladly complied, but couldn’t stop the gradual turn of his thoughts. Another way to think of it was that if Alanna would put her body and life on the line for what she wanted and she was so worried…

Then what would Isidora do to win?

Lip chewed in thought, Theo wondered how much his recklessness had already ruined him.

Nightfire was as fine as a horse that Theo had ever seen. Quick as the wind, able to turn like a falling leaf. Braver than most with how the mare almost flew over any leaps once she had her head. Not even to mention her gorgeous midnight black coloring and that mane like fire.

But… Silverwind, Isidora’s horse, was her match if he’d ever seen one. Now that was a stallion that if his father could get his hands on he’d hum tunelessly for hours. Barrel-chested and long legged? That beast would have cartloads of stamina to gallop for an age, and the speed to do it in half the time as any other horse.

Laughter burst from Alanna like the breathless twinkling of a flute. She shook with it, her arms somehow squeezed him even more until he fell flat on his back. Alanna reared up so they were nose to nose.

“I appreciate the horse commentary, but I don’t think it’s the time for that… Do you?” Her mouth curled into that devious smile that flushed the blood from his body in a wave, on top of his embarrassment at rambling his thoughts out loud.

There was only one answer to a question like that. So, Theo kissed her. His right hand nestled at the nape of her neck, his fingers snared in her hair as she snuggled closer into his embrace.

Heat crackled around them like a fire’s haze. Sparks seemed to sizzle his skin everywhere they touched. He rolled her over so he was on top and buried his face in the crook of her neck.

Twigs snapped and they startled, knocking their foreheads together as they untangled to look around.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to interrupt, but…” Theo whirled around to see a tall woman regarding them with open amusement as she crossed her arms around her middle.

“Mother!” Alanna wailed in a shrill tone as she leapt to her feet, her hands straightened her shirt then combed through the mess he’d made of her hair, which had her glaring at him until it was almost presentable.

“So. This is the boy then?” Sevra stepped into their little clearing, her eyes flitted from the blanket taken from under Nightfire’s saddle to the picnic baskets they’d gathered food and bottles of ale.

Alanna said nothing, but instead she shifted from one foot to the other while she studied her shoes.

“Let me have a look at you.” Sevra’s eyes gleamed almost wickedly in the uneven flickering of their fire.

Arms crossed still, she swept her searching gaze from the tips of his hair, down his shoulders, his arms, all the way down to his mud washed boots. “Hm, I see. I see. Give me your hands.”

“My hands?” Theo offered them with a surprised glance at Alanna, who was ignoring them profusely… never mind that her face was beet red. Sevra tore at his wrist, flexing it down as far as it went, then up. She bent each and every finger, closed his hands into fists, and ran her fingertips across the calluses on his palms.

“You certainly don’t spend all of your time inside. That’s good.” Sevra nodded with half an approving eye at Alanna who wobbled as if the world had been ripped out from underneath her. “Mouth.”

“Huh?” He asked then squealed as she gripped his jaw with one hand then pried his mouth open as she turned his head closer to the light so she could see the gleam of his teeth.

“Mother…”

“Very good, yes.” Sevra released him as quickly as she’d snared him in her bizarre inspection. Theo gaped at her as she paced thoughtfully, her head turning to peer around at their location, the gathered belongings once again, and even over where he’d hobbled Nightfire and cinched her saddles on a branch.

Heat broiled in his throat as he moved closer to demand what she was doing, but stopped when Alanna grabbed his wrist and shook her head like a dog drying its fur.

“Easy to temper, but just as easily tamed.” Sevra noted thoughtfully, her long, slender pointer finger tapped at her chin. “Why horsePage, boy? Why any of this? You clearly come from a well managed household. Those blankets are stitched exquisitely, you have leather saddlebags that are used, true, but not ratty by any means. Why do this to ask for my daughter’s hand? Glory or something else?”

“I…” Theo stopped to clear his throat, his mouth was bone dry. “I figured it’d make me look better, and well, you see, my family raises horses and wanted to sell or gift Nightfire to either a horsePage, or hopeful horseBaron… but well, I need a horse to ride, don’t I?”

“Ah, so you’re a gambler?” Sevra chuckled then stopped mid-laugh. “No. A fool?”

“What?” Theo asked then tensed as anger uncoiled in his gut at the memory of being kicked for asking questions. “I want to do something more with my life than I have been, and I know how Tyren is. He wouldn’t allow me or anyone else to even approach her unless they were worthy.”

“Interesting,” Sevra sighed, but her tone made it seem like she’d grown weary of the subject. “You truly are young. Forget about that for now. You and your sister both seem very set on leaving. What is happening on Odara Farm, I wonder?”

She stepped closer to him but he jumped back, eyes wide and his hands up wardingly.

“Your talents must be something if you’re so desperate to leave.” Theo’s throat gurgled in protest, but she continued. “This far from Aethel the Order’s influence is so little many families don’t even notice when talents manifest.”

“I haven’t manifested a talent.” He cut in harshly, irritation rankled his hackles at her all-knowing tone and her poking her nose into his sister’s talent. Nobody could know what that was.

“No? But you’re close. I can feel it..”

“That’s preposterous, nobody can sense other talents. Everyone knows that.” Theo lifted his chin to meet her eyes pointedly.

“I’m a tutor. It’s my business to do so.” She met his glare evenly then turned to Alanna. “He’s a little rough around the edges, but, well so was your father.”

Tyren was rough around the edges? The man was more bristle than a boar.

Alanna nodded, her face pale now instead of inflamed in mortification. Sevra continued, “Strong, not too much of a pushover, but not brash. Yes. Good stock for our line. I approve, but too bad he tied that fate to a pledge.”

“Excuse me?” Theo sputtered.

“Maybe a little dull, though.” Sevra sighed. “In the future, your success will be ours, and your failures ours. I’d like to give you an offering.”

“Thank you?” Theo felt like a fisherman’s skiff buffeted by sudden winds and rapids.

“Mother…” Alanna started, then quieted once Sevra held a hand up.

“You’re welcome. How would you like a little lesson in talent tutoring? Sit down.” She pointed to the blanket and dropped to a squat, perched half on her feet.

What in the wastes was happening? By Aleyr, Alanna’s mother was a bizarre woman with a demanding way about her. She didn’t expect any less than the very letter of her demands.

“Good. Now sit comfortably. Don’t be tense.” She chided at the rigidness of his posture, his legs crossed tight beneath him. He frowned, but slowly relaxed his muscles and his spine gradually eased.

“Alanna, have you ever seen the nimbus or noticed anything about what his talent might be?”

“I haven’t seen the nimbus, but…” Alanna’s bright eyes glanced at him then she bent down to murmur in her mother’s ear. Theo scowled. If she’d noticed anything why couldn’t she just say it aloud? Or why hadn’t she told him earlier?

Well. He supposed he already had a guess as to what his talent was. Theo glanced over his shoulder at Nightfire’s placid grazing with a smirk. Hopefully it’d be something related with horses.

“Very well then.” Sevra clapped her hands to get his attention, Nightfire and Fleet both straightened at the sound, their ears perked. “Now, I want you to close your eyes and clear your mind.”

“Clear my mind?” Theo raised an eyebrow at her, but did as she said when she nodded. How in the wastes was he supposed to do that?

“Focus on the crown of your head and visualize all of the tension draining from it.” Her voice turned soft, its cadence blurred to a monotone. Theo frowned at the thought, but squirmed. It felt like his scalp needed to be itched, his neck ached with the burden of holding his head upright.

He could only imagine Alanna’s wry grin at watching him do this. How many times had Sevra made her do this particular exercise?

“Take control of your breathing. One… two. One… two. That’s it.”

Air whistled from his nose as he inhaled deeply, held it, then exhaled out of his mouth. Inhale, hold, exhale. His head lolled as he bore all of his concentration on his slowed breathing. It seemed like he had to remember to breathe at this point or he’d just keep holding it.

“Your heart pounds. Do you feel it? Try to ease its breakneck speed.”

Theo jolted at the sound of her voice and nearly opened his eyes, but managed to keep them scrunched tight. Rough edges? He’d show her how compilable he was. Sevra was right. His heart shuddered in his chest like Nightfire’s thunderous gallop down the road.

How had she known? Was it that loud?

“Focus!”

He yelped as he scrunched his eyes tighter. Just as he had marshaled his attention earlier, he poured it on the beating of his heart. Blood sang as it buzzed through his veins. Tap, tap. His breast quivered from the force of it.

Tap, tap.

Its song reached a crescendo at several points on his body. On either side of his throat, a bit below the underside of his wrists, the crook of his elbows…

“We don’t think about these things normally. We think and feel without conscious decision. Breathe without a care. Our hearts pound our lifeblood day and night. Talents are the same. Since you were born yours has done its own vital duty, silent and unknown like everyone else’s.”

But how would he—

“You should feel a… resonance, somewhere. Tell me.” He almost smiled at how they both must be leaning forward to study him intently like some kind of specimen.

“It’s… it feels like there’s something at the center of my skull. Deep inside. A gentle lull like a stream, or the splashing of a well.” Theo’s voice was all breathless, he’d forgotten to breathe in time. He’d been so caught up in the timing of his heart.

“Good. I feel mine behind my eyes.” Sevra nodded, or at least he thought she did. It sounded like she might have, but how would we know with his eyes still shut? Grass crunched as someone moved. Was it her or Alanna? His inner thigh itched.

“Mine is at the nape of my neck.” Alanna said just as cooly, her voice just as smooth. Their responses had the feel of some sort of ritual. Curiosity piqued as he wondered what Alanna’s was.

Theo gasped in startelement, bolting upright to his feet as something jabbed at him. Sevra and Alanna sat right beside each other with their attention a needlepoint on him.

“Your talent is close, but not quite there.” Sevra sighed and leaned her weight back on her hands. “Sometimes people get it right away and others it takes a few times for them to be able to accurately tell what it is and draw it out.”

“So what does that mean?” He knelt again, the skin of his arms felt chilled, hair standing on end all throughout his body.

“You have to practice at it until it either makes itself known or events force it out.” Alanna chimed in.

“Now. What did you notice and feel during that exercise?” Sevra asked abruptly.

“I think… there were chills. I felt my pulse here, here and here.” He rattled everything he could think of one by one. This is foolish, but they did ask… “Oh. Alanna? Were you smiling at me earlier once this began?”

“Maybe.” She shifted, taken aback. “I hadn’t really thought about it.”

Ugh, his inner thigh still itched, he scratched at it irritably but only winced at the sudden stab of pain. “Wait… Did one of you scratch right here earlier? Just a few minutes ago?” He asked, pointing right there.

“I did…” Alanna narrowed her eyes at him then beamed with her most dazzling smile at Sevra. “Told you it was sensory or awareness!”

“Fine.” Sevra rolled her eyes and pulled a blue chip from somewhere inside of her vest and set it in Alanna’s waiting hand. “You might right, but it could be a lot of other things.”

“Well what is it? What’s my talent?” Theo practically bounced with excitement, his nerves seemed to vibrate with it.

“Oh, we haven’t got the slightest clue.” Sevra chuckled. “Talents are very specific, but encompass a wide area of effects. If we told you one thing we thought we could take you further away from discovering it. A lot of people get blocked that way, if they don’t just manifest theirs right out.”

Alanna yawned so wide her jaw popped. She grinned unabashedly at him, then rose in a stretch. “I think we all better head home. Father will want us to leave for Aethel early tomorrow so he can arrive with us.”

“Good idea. I’ll leave you alone for a moment.” Sevra stood and stretched with a series of loud cracks. He winced at the grotesque cacophony. “It was nice meeting you. Practice those exercises and pay attention to what you feel inside of yourself when you feel something like that. Good luck, Theo.” She strode out of their clearing back through the trees the way she’d come.

“Well, I guess this is it then.” Alanna took his hands in between both of hers. “I’d wish you good luck, but I don’t think you’ll need it.”

“Thank you, but I might need every bit of it I can get.”

“Have a good night.” She darted in to kiss him on the cheek then rushed off to climb on Fleet then was off like the wind. She hadn’t answered his sort of, indirect proposal, but that was alright.

Theo tidied up the clearing, piling up all of their wrappings of food and bottles of ale. Smoke geysered from the fire as he kicked dirt over it. Elation had him floating through the clouds. All throughout, his mind spun on everything that happened that day.

But what stood out the most was that his talent wasn’t death like his sister. had a talent and it wasn’t death.