“So, tell me about yourself?” I ask as we ride.

“I grew up in Alkania,” Amelia shrugs, “pretty nice place.”

“The nicest,” I laugh, “is it really as great a city as they say?”

“It’s everything they say and more,” She smiles fondly, “but the truth is I don’t do too well in one place. I like to explore. Unfortunately growing up in the royal family isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining. It’s certainly better than what most people get, but the politics are…” She falls quiet and shakes her head, “It’s not good.”

Fennel snorts so I ruffle his mane. “Is that why you became a magician?”

“That’s right, Alkania has some of the best magicians and magical scientists in the world. Growing up I saw them coming and going, and it’s funny, cause one day I pestered my mom until she let me sit with them during dinner. They told me story after story of all the places they’d been to, and all the things they’d done and inside I just felt… I don’t know, I felt then… what I do now.”

“That sick feeling that makes you think you’re going to vomit?” I ask putting a hand to my stomach. Amelia laughs and shakes her head.

“No… Not quite that. I just think that you’ve got something here.”

I swallow, because what I’ve got is a death wish. I can’t help but think my mission won’t be as simple as traveling to the North and letting them know about the secret resistance. I keep glancing behind me, expecting someone to be following me, maybe even the rebel army itself.

“Oh look, we’re almost there,” Amelia points, and following her direction I can see the pillars of smoke rising from chimneys into a pastel pink and navy sky. The moons and stars beginning to appear. After traveling for an entire day, my butt is ready to be done.

We ride for a little longer, until finally I hear the familiar clack of horseshoes on cobblestone. The town seems to be busy this time of the evening with people finishing up their work for the day and heading to taverns for a drink.

I look around, my mouth opening a little with a gasp as I take it all in. This town is so much bigger than my own village back home, the buildings are taller, a lot of them two, even three stories tall. In the center is what appears to be a tall tower, a church perhaps?

As big as the village was, it seems they were still expanding, a large corner of the town was under construction, more and more buildings being built.

My awe is interrupted a little bit by a look from some guards. They sit on either side of the road on their horses, waiting for us. They seem to sneer at me a little, then their eyes widen as they notice my companion.

Suddenly their heads are bowing, arms outstretched in a gesturing motion.

“Miss Amelia!” One says, his voice sounding a little higher than it should have, “Welcome back to Valentown, so… so glad to see you again.” His voice quivers on that last part.

My brows furrow as I look to Amelia who’s got a creepy smile of satisfaction on her face. “Oh, my dear guards it has been quite some time since our last… encounter…”

“Yes… Yes ma’am!” The other said, avoiding eye contact.

“Where is he?” She asks as we slow our horses just in front of them. The two guards glance back and forth to one another, and then back to Amelia.

“He’s in the tavern ma’am, the Happy Duck, ma’am.” They manage to stutter out, and they give us a point towards the direction of the building.

“Cyrus hasn’t been causing you any trouble has he?” She asks with a raised eyebrow.

“Certainly not ma’am, certainly not!” They shake their heads in unison. “Not after you… handled the situation.”

“Good,” She smiles, “very good. Thank you, gentlemen, I hope you have a good evening.”

Amelia nudges her horse on, and as we push past the guards, they and their horses give us a wide space to get through.

“So, can I ask what they fayr happened to those guys?” I ask glancing back at them, they catch me watching them and quickly turn away, hunching over their horses in what I can only assume is fear.

“Bit of a long story,” Amelia giggles, “Cyrus and I got into a bit of a… how do I put it? Scuffle, yes, scuffle is a good word.”

“Cyrus… as in the writer you wanted me to meet?”

“Yes, that’s him.”

I swallow, wondering what you would have to do to get into a fight with the sister of the queen of Alkania, who is also a magician of the highest rank. “So, what happened?”

Amelia blushes a little in the fading sun and pointed me towards the portion of the town that was under construction. “We got a little carried away.”

My mouth falls open, it’s not a new part of town being built, it was being repaired. Holy fayr.

“What kind of fight did you get into?” I ask, and Amelia just laughs again, “I’m serious, that’s… that is a LOT of damage. Who is this guy? How strong is he??”

“He’s not,” She answers.

“Excuse me?” I ask, as we pass by some of the construction work being done. I can see it now, the charred wood, shattered windows. Those two had destroyed a part of the village. “Is he a magician?”

“Wrong again,” Amelia smiles, “Cyrus is by every account, a week, useless human being. However, for whatever reason he is able to amaze people.”

“That makes no sense at all…” I grumble as we pass by the wreckage and come to a stop in front of the Happy Duck tavern. I can’t help but feel a little nervous about meeting this guy, and I can’t help but look at Amelia in a different way either.

She seems so nice, and so kind, but also so very, very dangerous.