Ansel rode his horse towards the village. How dare she take Max ahead without him. She left too quickly, without giving him a chance to object. Then there was Desmona, to run into her of all folk out in the forest. He hadn’t seen her for over a year, and then she reappears when he doesn’t need any more distractions. He knew Griffa didn’t care for Desma, but she didn’t need to be rude. Surely, she couldn’t expect him to be rude as well. Yes, Desma was a little condescending to Griffa, but Griffa shouldn’t take offense. Enchantresses were just that way, and it’s not like Griffa was openly welcoming to Desma either.

Ansel didn’t like to burn bridges with anyone, especially powerful enchantresses from powerful families. They would need the Delis family behind them when Max took his place as king. Desma was an important ally even if he didn’t fully trust her. Desma had told him things today. He didn’t know if they were true or just a way to stall him from going after Max and Griffa. He thought back on their conversation.

After some friendly chit-chat, he had tried to excuse himself when she said,

“There are those on Ring who aren’t sure about this boy you are bringing back. They have their own plans. They won’t say this officially, but just know there are a few members of the Ring you shouldn’t trust,” she had said.

“Like your father?” he had asked her.

“No, father is loyal to the cause. He won’t go against the diviner or the true heir of Adalwen. That doesn’t mean someone hasn’t tried to convince him otherwise.”

“If you know who this member or members of the Ring are who will oppose the new king, tell me.”

“In a hurry, are we? Do you not trust young Griffa with the boy, or are you running after her? I know she used to be in your charge, but she can take care of herself now. Wait, it's something different isn’t it. Oh, Ansel, she is almost still a child. Surely you don’t see her as anything but that? She is practically your sister.”

“No, she isn’t,” Ansel shot back without thinking.

He hated how well she could read him. He hated that he had revealed even that to her.

“Oh, dear. What would Renweard think? He trusted you to care for his daughter.”

“I have nothing to break that trust. Desmona, tell me what information you have about the Ring or leave me be.”

She eyed him with a twisted smile on her face.

“I don’t have any names. My father has said nothing. What I know comes from others around my father, men who like to tell me secrets. Surely you remember what it's like. You used to tell me secrets.”

She had moved close to him. He could feel her breath against his neck.

Ansel stepped away, “I thank you for the information, but I must be going. The young king is my responsibility. I wish you safe travels wherever you are going.”

“I’ll see you soon, Ansel. I am going home for a while. I trust I will see you in Abscon in a few days’ time. I hope we can spend some more time together.”

She flashed her eyes. Ansel could feel her pull, her allure. He stepped back further.

“Don’t waste your energy or charms on me, Desma. My own experience is quite a talisman for them.”

“We will see, Ansel, good day.” She turned and she was gone.

It had taken him too long to shake Desma away. In the distant past he might have fallen for her charms. There had been a time when he would have been happy to be distracted by her. It was true he and Desma had spent some nights together in his younger days, but it had been a long time since he thought of Desma as any viable option for a wife. He supposed he always knew she was never an option as a wife, but he was young and foolish once.

His thoughts now shifted to Griffa. That woman would be the actual death of him some day. His conversation with Desma had conjured up memories of his shared kiss with Griffa. That was something he tried to tuck away. Desma had mentioned Griffa’s father. What would he think of Ansel kissing Griffa? Ansel wasn’t sure. Renweard had always trusted Ansel with his only child. Was kissing Griffa, seeing her as a woman he desired a betrayal of Reneweard’s trust? Ansel shook his head. This was a distraction; he did not need it.

Why was Griffa so infuriating to him? She could have waited a bit for him to get rid of Desma. Maybe if she had stayed, he could have gotten rid of Desma quicker. As it was, he was sure they had reached the village by now. He wanted to find Max and Griffa quickly and if they were in town, it would be harder. The village wasn’t big, just two rings, but large enough it could take some time to locate them.

Ansel rode into the village. He pulled up to a small stable on the edge of the town. He looked and saw Max’s large mare tied up as well. At least he knew they had gotten to the village safe. A boy came out to meet him. Ansel gave him a few coins and asked him to water his horse and keep an eye on his things. He was a little nervous leaving Griffa’s staff there unattended. He took it. He might look a little out of place carrying the staff, but it had been in her family for ages. She would be devastated to lose it.

Ansel walked into the city. He knew Griffa would be visiting an apothecary to deliver her medicine. That meant he would have to walk into the first ring of the village. As he got to the entrance to the inner ring, he noticed soldiers standing guard. These weren’t usual village guards, but soldiers dressed in the uniform of Aurumist. Why were they here in this small village?

Ansel pulled his hat down low and held Griffa’s staff close by the top, trying to disguise it the best he could. He waved his hand, casting a spell. He hoped it made him appear less conspicuous. He walked up to the entrance and the guards eyed him. One made a motion as if he were going to move towards Ansel, but he let Ansel pass without incident. Ansel released his breath he didn’t realize he was holding.

Ansel walked into the market of the inner ring. The village was small and there weren’t many shops. There weren’t many folk out and about which Ansel found odd. It was getting late in the afternoon, but it wasn’t dark yet. The streets should have been filled with folk conducting business and traveling to and from shops. He walked up the street a bit further trying to find an apothecary when he heard a commotion around a corner.

He walked quickly around the corner and saw a small crowd had gathered around some horses and a wagon. The wagon had a large iron cage over it. Near the wagon were a half dozen Aurumist soldiers. A woman was near the soldiers crying and pleading with them. In the locked cage of the wagon were ten children varying in age. Two of the soldiers had swords drawn and pointed them at the wagon as though the children were going to jump out and run any moment. Ansel noticed someone next to the woman. It was Griffa. Her face was red, and she was yelling at the soldiers.

“Let these children go. Why have you taken them?”

“It’s none of your concern, miss. Go on about your day if you don’t want trouble,” said the soldier closest to Griffa.

The soldiers all had the golden uniform of Aurumist, but this one was wearing a helmet with a large black feather signaling him as the leader of this group.

“No, I will not just go. Tell me why these children are locked up. Where are you taking them?” demanded Griffa. She was angry. Her hands were at her side in tight fists.

“They are for Aurumist. The lessons here have been deemed inadequate. These children need to go for re-education. If they are deemed useful, they will stay in the city to work. They will be better off there than growing up in this hovel.”

“What do you mean if they prove useful? What happens if you don’t deem them useful?” asked Griffa.

“I don’t have to explain anything to you. Go on. The man pushed Griffa away.”

Ansel felt an angry growl in his throat, and he walked purposefully towards the group. Before he got there, Griffa got in the soldier’s face. She was in a full out rage. Ansel could see her face was very red. Her hair was escaping her braid. She was barely in control of herself.

“You will not dismiss me. You will let these children go now!”

Other soldiers gathered around Griffa; their swords drawn. A couple soldiers took a hold of her. Ansel walked faster, but before he got there, Max forced his way in front of Griffa, pushing down the hands that held her. Griffa quickly pushed Max behind her. One of the soldiers raised his hand to hit Griffa but Ansel was there in time to catch the man’s arm.

“You wouldn’t dare hit this woman, would you?” he asked loudly.

Ansel pushed Griffa back lightly with her staff behind his back. She took it from his hands and stepped slightly back.

“Back off or you will find yourself in trouble as well. We have direct orders to take these children. This woman is impeding these orders. She’ll need to come with us too.”

“If I back off, I think it’s you who will find trouble. Take my advice and let her be,” said Ansel not taking his hand off the soldier.

The soldier wrenched his hand free. “We don’t have time for this. Leave or we will have to use force.”

“We will not leave until these children are free,” said Griffa stepping to Ansel’s side. “Let them go now.”

“Griffa,” whispered Ansel under his breath. “Don’t do this, think about Max. We have to keep him safe.”

Max was right behind Griffa. He had a hard look on his face, his eyes narrowed.

“Don’t worry, he will be safe,” said Griffa calmly raising the hood on her cloak. “Ansel raise your hood and grab Max, meet me at the entrance of town with the horses.”

“Griffa, what are you going to…” Ansel started to say but before he finished, Griffa raised her staff and slammed it down. A huge wind came from nowhere stirring up the dusty streets. Quickly dust filled the air. Ansel quickly put up his hood.

“Grab, Max. Go!” Griffa yelled over the chaos that had erupted on the street.

Ansel didn’t want to leave her, but his priority was Max. He grabbed the boy and put his hood up for him. He dragged him towards the ring’s exit. As they walked, he noticed the two guards passed them on their way to see what was happening.

“What about Griffa. We can’t leave her!” yelled Max.

“She can take care of herself. Come on, we have to get the horses to meet her and get out of here.”

Max didn’t argue, he let Ansel lead him out of the first ring. They ran through the exit of the ring. The dirt was much less thick in the outer ring. They quickly went to the stable to fetch their horses. The young stable boy was outside.

“What is going on in there?” he asked wide-eyed.

“Sudden dust storm blew up, very strange. I don’t think it will last long,” said Ansel quickly as he mounted his horse.

He looked over and Max was already on his mare. He nodded, and they both made for the edge of town by the forest. They hid in the trees, dismounted, and waited. The minutes seem to go by agonizingly slow. Before long, Ansel wondered what he should do. Should he go back and look for Griffa or continue on without her. Max was his priority, but could he just leave her behind, not knowing if she was safe? Ansel started to pace.

“Should we go back and look for her?” asked Max.

“No, we can’t go back. She’ll be fine.” Ansel tried to sound convincing.

More time went by.

“Max, I think maybe we might have to go on without her,” said Ansel finally.

“I’m not leaving without her. We can’t just leave her there, Ansel. What if they caught her or worse?”

“Trust me they are in much more danger from her than she is from them. Come on, Max “

“No, Ansel. I’m not leaving her. We have to go back.”

“Max..,” started Ansel but was cut off by Griffa walking up to them.

“Well it's good to know who my real friend is,” she said smiling at Max.

“Griffa, gods, what took so long?” answered Ansel. He felt relief fill his body, but it was quickly replaced by agitation. “What was that, getting into trouble in the town? You could have gotten Max captured, hurt or worse.”

“I was in control of the situation the whole time. Max was completely safe,” said Griffa.

She conjured up a wind around them, blowing off the dust and dirt that had collected on them.

Ansel shook his head to get his hair out of his face. He took his hat off and pushed his hair back from his face with his hands. He replaced his hat and looked angrily at Griffa.

“Griffa, what good did any of that do? Even if you let those children go, and I assume you did, they will just be recaptured.”

Griffa smiled and said. “I think we need to get going if we are going to find a place to rest tonight. Max do you still have the pack of supplies we bought?”

Max nodded. Griffa walked over to the mare and motioned for Max to help her. He boosted Griffa up and swung himself up in front of her on the horse.

“Well, Ansel, are you coming?” asked Griffa beaming.

Ansel walked over to his horse and mounted. He urged his horse forward. Max followed with his own horse. They rode side by side.

“Griffa what did you do to those soldiers?” asked Ansel.

“Nothing permanent though they probably deserve it. They will be on their way back to Aurumist by now, forgetting why they had come to the East Village to begin with. It might come back to them eventually, but by then hopefully the village will be more prepared.”

Ansel looked at Griffa with raised eyebrows. “You used persuasion magic against non-magical folk?”

“I know it’s not the most honorable thing, but children, Ansel? Was what they were doing honorable? There is no telling what fate awaited those children.”

“I know,” said Ansel. At this point he didn’t know if he was mad or proud of Griffa, but he did know he was glad she and Max were safe.