I paled visibly and scooted backwards, twisting so I could get to my feet. “Keep it,” I muttered, the words like daggers embedded into my soul. The danger in admitting he was right, however, was too great. I couldn’t let anyone know who I was. Not with an imposter out there with more power than me saying otherwise. 

“Wait!” Finnley whispered, trying not to raise his voice loud enough for his family to hear. His boots scuffed the cobblestone as he scrambled after me. I didn’t even make it to the next stall before the older boy tackled me to the ground again, knocking the breath out of me. 

“Will you get off me!” I snapped, throwing my elbow back and catching Finnley high in the cheek. He made an oof sound but didn’t get off. Instead, he tried to pin me down, but already having plenty of practice with the bullies back in my village, I would not have it. We wrestled, me throwing every punch and kick I could, hardly letting him get more than a couple of grunts in trying to talk. It wasn’t until Finnley shoved the comb into my chest, bruising my sternum, that he jerked back and glared at me, panting. 

“Nasty little rat,” he huffed, wiping at his bleeding lip. “The tiss was a bit unnecessary. I was goin’ ta give it to ya.”

I sat up, my mouth open, trying to get in enough air to yell at this kid. “Tiss?” I asked, unfamiliar with the word. Then my eyes fell on the comb and I clutched at it, weirding myself out with how comforting it was to hold it. “What the heck is your problem?” I demanded.

“Shhhh…” Finnley hissed, flapping his hands in the air at me while he looked around to make sure no one heard me. “You’re goin’ to get us caught.”

“Do you realize how valuable this is?” I asked, holding up the comb. “And you just gave it away.”

“Do ya not want it?” Finnley asked, reaching for it. “I can take it back.”

“That’s not what I said,” I backpedaled, hiding it behind my back, out of his reach. There was no way I was giving this up now that I had it. 

“I’m not stupid,” Finnley declared. “I know who that belonged to and I know what a recall looks like. My family holds the whole memory relic market.”

“But—” I started, but he interrupted me.

“Ya’re the real reincarnation of the empress, aren’t ya?”

I shook my head, denying it, despite my inability to keep the guilty look off my face. “That’s impossible. She was reincarnated. It’s been everywhere for years.”

“I know who ya are,” he insisted, leaning towards me. “That comb’s been in my family fer decades. Why are ya denying it? I can see the connection between ya and the comb. There’s no hidin’ it.”

“See it?” I asked, confused. What was this kid talking about? He was a mess, whoever he was. 

“Magic,” Finnley scoffed. “I have the magic sight. It runs in my family. That’s how I saw ya the other day when ya were lookin around the market. I saw ya pick up the comb and fall. I snatched it after you dropped it and the lady took off with ya.”

“Lady? What lady?”

“A stranger. I don’ know. Nevermind. She’s not important. We don’t have a lot of time ta chat. I gave ya the comb now ya got to go before ya get me caug—” There was a crash behind him and Finnley’s aunt appeared, having nearly tripped over an empty crate. 

“Finnely! There ya are!”

Finnley’s eyes widened, and he darted to his feet and grabbed me by my front, dragging me with him. “Run!” he screamed, and bolted out of the stall. Instinct took over, driving adrenaline through my limbs, and I raced after him, barely avoiding his aunt’s reaching hand as she called after us. We darted out of the relic market and into the open city markets, crashing through people and anything else that got in our way. We didn’t stop until both of us somehow made it to the city central portal. 

Bent over and dizzy trying to catch my breath, I looked up to see Finnley turning in a circle, his hands in his mess of black curls. “Oh, no… Oh, no… She caught me… What am I goin’ ta do? What am I goin’ ta do?” He muttered, looking around. 

“What are you talking about?” I asked, my legs wanting to fold under me so I could sit. Instead, I straightened and walked over to the older boy. 

“I broke the family code,” Finnley admitted, glancing at me guiltily. “I helped you, a stranger. I gave ya a priceless treasure. I had to. The sight never lies, and it’s been all around ya.”

I didn’t really understand what he was talking about with the sight, but I had heard enough about magic that it didn’t always make the most sense to the people who didn’t possess it. There were rules the user had that only made sense to them, sometimes. I would either understand or I wouldn’t, and seeing Finnley’s expression, he wasn’t in a state to explain. “What does it mean to break the family code?” I asked.

“I can’t go back,” he said, fear seeping into his voice. The loss in the sound was too close to how I felt when I thought I wouldn’t see my family again. “I can’t ever go back. They’ll kill me for breakin’ the family code. I’m a traitor now.”

I stared at him, open-mouthed like a fish. “You’re just a kid! They’re family, they wouldn’t do that!”

“Ya don’ know how important my clan puts loyalty. If yer out, yer out. There’s only one way to prove yourself ta them after this and it’s a death sentence. No one’s ever returned from it.”

I just shook my head, unable to believe it. I wished Aleah was with me. She would know what to do. Maybe… there is something I can do. I held out my hand to him and grabbed his wrist. “Come on.”

“Where are we goin’?” Finnley asked, but he followed without resisting. What else could he do? It was clear his family wasn’t from this city, and if what he said was true, then they wouldn’t have any reason to wait for him anymore. He was on his own, but that didn’t mean he didn’t have anywhere to go. 

“You’ll see,” I said, hoping I was doing the right thing. 

I led Finnley through the city, having to circle a few times when I got turned around, but I managed to find the inn. It would be a lie to say I didn’t impress myself that I found it at all. Together, we slipped inside and ran up the stairs, pushing open the door to the room Master rented. “We’re staying here for now, but—”

“Where have you been?” came a sharp voice. I froze and looked up with wide eyes to see Master Esra standing in front of us with her hands on her hips. I had never seen her look so displeased with me in the week I’d known her. 

“Master I was—” I started, only to stumble over my tongue when I tried to think up a believable excuse. 

“He was helpin’ me, Miss,” Finnley butted in, pushing me a little out of his way.

“And who are you?” Master Esra asked him, raising an eyebrow.

“You have to help him, Master,” I blurted, almost begging, but I didn’t care. I knew in my gut that I needed to convince her to accept Finnley, too. “He’s exiled from his clan. Take him as your apprentice, too! I’m sure he’ll be good!”

“Take him—” Master Esra stopped, blinking at me in surprise. Whatever she had been expecting me to say, it sure hadn’t been that. “I can’t take a member of the Mori on as my apprentice, boy. Don’t be ridiculous. His entire clan would turn on me and my guild if I didn’t get his parents' permission.”

“I don’t have parents,” Finnley said, his jaw set even with his eyes downcast. “They're dead and he’s right. I’m exiled. I don’t have a clan to return to.”

“Surely,” Master started, clearly wanting to argue, but seeing Finnley’s expression, she grew quiet. Pressing her lips together, she finally nodded, although reluctantly. “Alright. I’ve heard how the Mori clan can be with those they’ve cast out. I don’t agree with it, but their traditions are their own.” Master Esra went silent pacing the room for a moment before she turned and stared at us. I could see her fighting with herself, mulling the decision over in her head before she closed her eyes. I waited. “I suppose I can afford another apprentice.” She sighed. “But it won’t be easy work, and I expect you to learn everything well. I won’t stand for a lazy freeloader, do you understand?”

Finnley’s head jerked up, shock written across his face. “You mean it?” It was almost a whisper.

Master studied him a moment longer before she nodded. “I mean it. Now, tell me your name.”

“Finnley, Miss.”

“It’s Master or Master Esra from now on.” We turned to look at each other, grins lighting up our faces, but before we had time to even let the words settle in, Master pointed behind her. “Now, to start, you can help Rueln bring this downstairs. We’ll load up the horses and head out.”

“We’re leaving?” I stammered, thinking we would still leave in the morning.

“Of course,” she snapped. “If you have the energy to turn an entire clan on your heels, then you have the energy to travel. Now, off with you. I want to be out of this city within the hour.”

We hurried to do as we were told. I introduced Finnley to Peach, curious to find a second horse tied to her, then we got to work. Finnley was very adept at loading the supplies onto the packhorse, working far quicker than I could. It was only because of him we made it out of the city before Master Esra’s deadline and were well on our way down the road. 

About a mile out of the city, my footsteps slowed as I dug in the front of my tunic for the small blue comb and pulled it out. It glittered in the sun like the precious jewel it was. I couldn’t help staring at it, amazed that it was mine again. It felt like an old cherished treasure, even without it ever being mine before today, at least not in this lifetime. 

Staring down at my precious treasure, I smiled, a small thread of excitement filling my chest. I wanted to know who the imposter girl was who’d been telling everyone she’s Vhal. It was difficult to say how she’d been getting away with it for so long, but I wasn’t interested enough to reveal myself and put any claim to the throne just to get answers. She could have it. I—Vhal held it before and it was too much work. I liked not having to worry about things. With Master, I didn’t have to anymore.

“Rueln, hurry it up,” Finnley called, stopping to look back at me. “Ya can gawk at the sparkler later.”

“Coming,” I yelled back, slipping the comb back into my tunic and jogging after them.