Ranvir initially intended to return to the capital and wait out the week there, but his parents convinced him to stick around. If he really wanted to meet with the others, he could easily bring them to Rime’s Shadow.

So that’s what he did. Transporting himself to Elusria city took moments. Ranvir scoured the city with his tether-sense, searching for Sansir, Grevor, Dovar, and Master Ayvir.

“I can’t leave,” Grevor said, sounding annoyed. “Baug’s ascension is in two days. Maybe stop by after?”

“I’ll come for a few days,” Sansir said. It was still odd seeing him colored so dark. He would’ve called him Ankirian if not for them growing up in the same village. His green eyes glittered with subdued light.

“It’s been a year-and-a-half since you last went,” Grev said, clapping his not-quite-boyfriend on the shoulder. “It’ll do you good.”

The tall bald tethered didn’t look enthusiastic, but nodded in agreement. Next, Ranvir found Master Ayvir. He was hanging around with a bunch of other old veterans in a bar.

“Ah,” Ayvir said, slurring his words. “You’re back! It’s good to see you again, Ranvir! Come meet my friends. These three lovely old nags all fought on the front lines as well.”

Ranvir nodded at them and returned his attention to Ayvir. “I’m taking the others to my village. Want to come?”

Ayvir raised his mug high in salute. “I’ll drink to that! Take me with you, young boy.”

Ranvir nodded and slipped away. Unless Dovar was similarly difficult, Ranvir would grab him last.

Dovar looked little better than the last time Ranvir’d seen him, but he seemed to have taken a bath somewhat recently. “Ranvir,” Dovar said, scurrying towards him. Sallow face lighting up. “I wasn’t sure you were coming back.”

Ranvir forced a smile and let Dovar hug him. “I’ve come to invite the crew back to my village.”

Dovar winced and pulled back. His demeanor was far different from what Ranvir was used to. At the academy, Dovar had seemed, if not confident, then indifferent to the opinions of the others. He’d cared little for sycophants and their attempts at social maneuvering. Now, he stood bent and turned away, fidgeting with the hem of his clothes.

“The country air will do you good,” Ranvir said.

Dovar grimaced, still looking away. “I don’t know. You don’t know what it was like. They left me. They didn’t care about what happened.”

Sighing, Ranvir stepped closer and turned to Dovar to look at the pile of letters still slumped next to the wall of the entryway. “I hardly think that suggests they don’t care. If you let them, they will show you how much they care.”

Dovar worried at his lower lip, but eventually nodded.

“Good, let’s grab a few changes of clothes,” Ranvir said.

Once finished, he returned to Grevor’s home, where Sansir was waiting. Dovar barely greeted him, offering a shallow nod. Sansir, only slightly more socially inclined than Ranvir, returned the gesture with a slightly strained smile. “It’s good to see you again.”

It took Dovar two attempts to speak properly. “Likewise.”

Sansir exchanged a subtle glance with Grev, who said his goodbyes without entering the pocket-space. Then they shifted to Ayvir’s position. He was exactly where Ranvir’d left him. Deciding that he didn’t want to deal with the drunk master more than necessary, he went directly for Rime’s Shadow. Ayvir could get his cloth in the morning.

Pashar appeared in the doorway before Ranvir could leave. “I’m going to make this quick,” she said, glancing at Dovar and Ayvir behind Ranvir in the space.

“Dovar!” Ayvir said, sounding alarmed through his slurred speech. “What’s happened to you? My boy,” he pulled the resisting young man into a powerful hug. While they’d both changed significantly, Ayvir hadn’t lost near as much of his weight and muscle as Dovar had. The half-wasted young man couldn’t resist the drunk’s intent embrace.

“The Queen wants to meet you. When’s best for you?”

Ranvir blinked in surprise. “I’ll be back in a week.”

She nodded, grimacing. “She won’t be happy at having to wait,” she said, though it seemed she wasn’t expecting a reply as she blurred into smoke and left. Ranvir exchanged a glance with Sansir and sealed the space.

###

Ayvir hugged Dovar tight the entire trip to Rime’s Shadow. Ranvir did his best to give them space. During the trip, Dovar began shivering and crying against the older man, hugging him just as tightly.

Ranvir deposited them on the hill next to Isgerd’s mansion as that was where they’d be staying. It only took a moment before Obsidian, Ranvir still hadn’t learned her name, showed up and guided the newcomers to their guest rooms.

“Are you going to be my teacher?” Isgerd’s daughter asked. She looked to be growing into many of her mother’s softer features, though with a stronger jawline and a harsher nose.

“I am.”

Her face screwed up, and she scowled. “But you beat her.”

“During the match, yes. I believe that’s why she wanted me to teach you, at least partially.”

She frowned, as if considering. “She said you will be a better teacher, but I don’t like it. Make her take me back.”

Ranvir looked at her for a long time. It was tempting. He didn’t really want to hang himself up with an apprentice. But he’d promised the Lord. Also, he would need experience teaching and adapting basic techniques before either Vasso or Frija got old enough to begin themselves.

“I will,” Ranvir said. The young woman’s brows rose in surprise. “If that is what you truly want. Your mother cannot guarantee you powers. I can. You will become a tethered if I teach you.” Not strictly true, but if his exercises failed, he’d just take her to Korfyi, and she’d become a braced. Or to Belnavir and make her a fused. Point was, he had options, Isgerd did not.

She took a long time to consider before finally nodding. “Fine, you can train me.”

“Excellent, let’s go meet my family.”

“Okay,” she said brightly. She prodded him about training all the way to his family’s home, though he kept things vague. He didn’t get the feeling she noticed. She’d definitely grown up sheltered.

Meeting his family went relatively smoothly, except for two hitches. Gunnor and Frey were a little awkward greeting their Lord’s child, but they didn’t show any problems. Vasso immediately flushed red on seeing her. She offered him a hand. He shook it, though whether by sheer nerves or on purpose, Ranvir wasn’t certain. He also uttered something that even the most generous and noble person couldn’t recognize as a greeting.

Laila, the girl’s name, just smiled at him and twirled a lock of wavy blond hair. Ranvir’d recognized that her features were striking, but not to the degree that it would knock the brains of similarly aged boys to the next village over.

The real issue came when she greeted Frija. She and her grandfather had been finishing the rough carving of the pattern. So she’d been without socks to avoid ruining them with the soot as she walked on the table to examine his efforts.

“Aren’t you just adorable,” Laila said, hugging Frija. When she pulled back, she seizing his daughter’s tiny hands in hers. “And look at your hair. Just as fiery as Shiri’s. How remarkable.”

Frija cocked, pulled at the lock of her hair, red and slightly frizzy. She pursed her lips. “Who’s Shiri?” Ranvir stifled any reaction, forcing himself to look and remain calm. Even as anger lunged forward. Was this intentional?

“Oh,” Laila said. “I’m sure you’ll meet her. She’s my chaperone.”

“She is?” Frey said, putting a hand over her mouth at the outburst.

“Yes,” Laila smiled at her. “She seemed quite excited to go. In fact, she was insistent when mother was arranging who would and wouldn’t travel with me.”

Ranvir and his parents exchanged a look. “Well,” Ranvir said. “Let’s go back to the mansion. Then you can meet the others. They might train you as well, depending on your element.”

“Okay,” Laila nodded agreeably. On the road back to the mansion, she said, “You know the resemblance to Shiri is quite striking.”

“It should be.”

“What do you mean?”

Ranvir stopped and looked at her. Laila returned it with a glare. “What?” she asked challengingly. Ranvir didn’t respond and slowly she frowned in confusion. Then startled realization. “No! She…” Laila stretched her fingers out oddly, her eyes intent on Ranvir. “Shiri is the mother? I’d heard mentions, but I never realized…” her fingers were going white with effort as she forcibly spread them.

“What’s that about?” Ranvir asked, gesturing to her hands.

“Shiri is her mother? Frija is so adorable!” she squealed, completely ignoring Ranvir’s question. Her hands remained locked straight out, even as she brought them to her cheeks. “She must be so happy. To have such an adorable daughter… but Frija didn’t recog—“ her cheeks and neck turned red and finally her fingers relaxed. “Frija doesn’t know her mother! You’re keeping them apart!”

“Frija doesn’t know her mother, because Shiri didn’t want to raise her,” Ranvir gestured to her now relaxed hands. “What was that about? With the fingers?”

“What do you mean? ‘Didn’t want to raise her?’”

Ranvir sighed. He’d have to defuse this situation first. “Come.” he gestured to the grass and took a seat.

Laila followed, standing awkwardly over him. At his questioning look, she finally answered, “I can’t. I’ll get grass marks on my dress.”

“This is your first lesson. Sit.”

Laila hesitated, looking towards the mansion, but did as told.

“We were caught in a tough situation,” Ranvir explained. “I was training in the academy, getting ready for the front lines.” Laila grimaced at that, drawing her legs up to her chin. “Shiri was left with a pregnancy she hadn’t planned for, responsibility beyond her means. Emotionally, if not physically.”

“So she gave her up?” Laila asked, tears in her eyes. “Couldn’t she have gotten help? Something? There must’ve been a way…”

Ranvir shrugged. “Your mother decided that I needed to have the choice as well. Now, Frija has the opportunity to meet her mother, but she’s young and vulnerable. It’s my job to protect her and if I don’t think Shiri wants or can give what is best for Frija, then I will keep her away. That’s why she insisted on becoming your chaperone.”

Laila’s face sagged, and she stared out at the village. “Oh.”

“But this insistence is a show of willingness,” Ranvir said. “She’s showing that she will give up her cozy life and job to stay with Frija. I do recognize that. That’s what life is often about. What comfort will you give away for something you want more? That’s what I want you to think about until tomorrow. What are you prepared to give away to become a tethered?”

The answer would be that she didn’t know. She was the heir, raised in comfort. From what Ranvir’d seen, she seemed sheltered and was only now beginning to understand the world around her. Though that might be the job of teenagers.