I was silent for a moment, thinking hard.  Of course I didn’t like what Trenwyn had said but my situation hadn’t quite sunk in.  “Well, I suppose I’ll have to do what I must,” I said eventually.

Trenwyn nodded grave agreement.  “I will inform my circle members and we will have the renaming tomorrow night.  Between now and then you must decide on another name.  Hopefully we’ll be able to keep you safe and away from any of the Seti until then.”

I nodded my acquiescence. 

“You must be terribly tired.”

In this he was correct.  I was exhausted.

“I will go back to my circle and leave you to your rest now.  Stay here until I come for you tomorrow morning.”  Trenwyn rose, taking his leather bag and preceding Lucian out into the street.  After they left, I stared at the door for a moment before pushing back my chair and making my way to the bed, leaving my clothes on, just in case.  The bed was covered with a wool blanket and I lay down on the straw mattress.  As I began to relax, I felt all the aches and pains in my body.  My throbbing hand dominated these, of course, but the rest of me was not in much better shape.  If I had not been so utterly exhausted, the pain would have kept me up.  As it was, I thought about the crazy day for a while, then found myself drifting into blackness.  

The next thing I knew, someone was talking.  Opening my eyes and sitting up I saw Trenwyn speaking with someone at the door for a moment before he turned, shutting it.  “I’m sorry,” he said by way of greeting, “I didn’t mean to wake you.” 

“Oh.  What time is it?”

Trenwyn laughed.  “Maybe half-past nine by your reckoning.  As soon as you’re ready, we can go get some breakfast at the tavern.”

I nodded.  “Trenwyn, would it be better if I wore these pants or the skirt here?”

“The skirt,” Trenwyn replied without hesitation.  “Wearing the breeches within the village would only serve to highlight you for any Seti agents.”

Nodding, I headed for the primitive bathroom.  In making myself presentable, I discovered how difficult it was to braid my hair with only one functional hand as strands kept escaping my fingers and my other hand was next to useless to help.  Very frustrating.  When I finally emerged, Trenwyn was sitting at the table, back to me, staring at the wall. 

“Is it maj policy to keep one’s hood up?”  I still hadn’t gotten an answer out of him about this.

Trenwyn chuckled.  “No, just a habit.”

The local tavern was a short walk away.  It was one of the larger buildings with a second level and a large, arched doorway with the double door and a covered porch that ran along the front of the building.  Lucian followed us through the doors as if he owned the place.  Inside, the first thing I noticed was the large moose head mounted on the wall opposite the entrance.  It was only one of many heads and tanned hides used to decorate the common room. 

We were the only patrons at the moment and the only other person in the place was the woman behind the counter.

            “Meggie, we’ll take whatever you have,” Trenwyn told the woman.

            “We have the usual pea soup, master Trenwyn.”  The woman was younger than I’d initially thought, perhaps late twenties.  Her clothes were similar in make and style to the blouse and skirt I wore and her brown hair hung around her face in ringlets.

            “That’s fine,” Trenwyn was telling the woman.  “Can you bring some water and bread with it?  And do you happen to have any bones lying around for Lucian?”  Reaching down, he scratched Lucian’s ears and I swore I saw the wolf smile back at him.

            “But of course.” Meggie left off polishing glassware and disappeared into the back. 

            Trenwyn motioned that we should sit at one of the smaller round tables in the darkest corner of the already-dim room.  “Meggie has been working here at The Bane for as long as I’ve known her,” he commented.

            I nodded politely and absent-mindedly, my concentration on the medallion I still wore.  I had only promised Masad that I would keep the thing on until I met up with Trenwyn.  Why hadn’t I taken it off after Trenwyn left last night?  Now I was stuck wearing it, at least for the time being. 

            “…married the owner’s son about eight years ago, now,” Trenwyn was saying.  I assumed he was still talking about Meggie who was, at that moment, emerging from the kitchen with a large tray.

            “Here you are, master Trenwyn.”  Meggie set a bowl of a steaming green liquid before him.  “And here’s yours, my lady.”  I tried not to look askance.  “And here’s the bread you asked for and a large meaty bone for master Lucian.”  Meggie finished unburdening the tray.  “Is there anything else I can get you, master?”  

Trenwyn shook his head.  “No, thank you.  This is fine.”  Meggie smiled broadly and bobbed a curtsy in a country fashion and I decided I liked the woman.  “Thank you, Meggie.”  Trenwyn smiled and the woman resumed her work behind the counter. 

            “What’s in here?” I asked Trenwyn suspiciously, stirring the soup.

            His smile turned to one of amusement. “No one really knows,” he said in a conspiratorial whisper.  “But no one has turned into a salamander from eating it.”

            I was not impressed with his attempt at humor.  Trenwyn had no reservations about the soup and had torn off a hunk of bread, dipping pieces of it in the soup and then popping them in his mouth.  I copied him.

            “I’m thinking we should get you a horse to borrow,” Trenwyn announced suddenly.  “Can you ride one of those better than you did the elk?”

I frowned at his jab, not sure if he was being intentionally rude or not.  “Of course I can ride. What will I need the horse for?”

“After we handle your problems, if everything goes well, we’ll need to get you back home and riding will be much faster than walking.  We’re nearly twenty miles from where I first crossed with you.  You may need a day or so to recover after the ceremony,” he looked at me cautiously.  “Have you decided on a new name?”

I shook my head, becoming grave.  I hadn’t really thought about it, but I supposed I should.

“Might want to start,” Trenwyn said flatly.  “While you do, we can pay a visit to the stables.”

            I smelled the stables before we reached them.  There was a very large structure jutting straight out from the sandstone cliffs.  Looking in through a doorway I saw an open arena.

            “Wait here a minute.”  Trenwyn returned speaking with a large, balding man in a farrier’s leather apron.  The man looked rather Italian with his dark features and mustache.

            “Gherard, I’d like to introduce you to my lady, Ethereal,” he announced.  So they did do introductions here, if false ones.

            “I know your trust, my lady,” The large man said, bowing a bit awkwardly. 

            I glanced questioningly at Trenwyn.  How was I supposed to respond to such a salutation?  Trenwyn was not at all helpful.  “Um, thank you, Gherard.”  I hoped this was an adequate reply. 

            Gherard grinned, his two front teeth gold and glinting in the sunlight.  “I hear you’re looking for a good horse for a lady,” he began in a good humor.

            I shot Trenwyn an annoyed look.  “If by that, you mean a strong and fast horse, then yes.”

            “Something that will not take too much effort to control,” Trenwyn cut in.  

I glared at him.

“Your hand, my lady,” he protested defensively.

            Grudgingly, I backed down.  I would need a horse that could be managed with only one hand.  “I suppose Trenwyn is right, unfortunately, master Gherard,” I allowed.  I was afraid that he might find me some old nag.

            “I think I have just the thing for you, my lady,” he winked.  

            I shot Trenwyn a dubious glance, but Trenwyn was speaking to his wolf again, apparently telling him to stay put at the entrance.  Gherard led us to a stall where I saw a dark nose peeking out.

            “This is Dusk,” Gherard informed us.

            I stepped up to the stall, peered in, and was met by nibbling lips.  The horse was a dark brown, nearly a bay, and tall, perhaps seventeen hands.  I felt my heart leap a little and I didn’t even try to hide my smile.  

“He’s a good steady horse, but still with plenty of speed if he knows that’s what you want,” Gherard assured me.

            Trenwyn was looking doubtful.  “Are you sure you can handle something that big with one hand, my lady?”

            “I was raised on big horses, Trenwyn.” I put him in his place. 

            “You could test him out and see how you like him,” Gherard suggested.

            I nodded eagerly.  “Yes, please.”

            The stable workers jumped to ready the horse for me while Trenwyn and Gherard moved a little further down the line of stalls.  Apparently Trenwyn kept his own horse here and I was surprised to see his was a smaller gray mare.  I hadn’t really pictured Trenwyn on that kind of horse.  

            “Would you like me to assist you, my lady?” Gherard asked, leading the saddled bay up to me.  I looked at him flatly and he went on, “I was thinking you might need assistance with your hurt hand and all.”

            “Thank you for your offer, master Gherard, but I believe I can manage if you’ll just hold the horse.”

            He was grinning again.  “I can do that, my lady.”

            Mounting was awkward, but I managed with minimal discomfort.  Turning my attention to the horse beneath me, I tapped lightly with my heels and he started forward.  His movements were smooth, and his healthy coat gleamed in the sunlight.

            I pulled even with Trenwyn and his horse.  “What’s her name?” I asked.

            “Cutter.  She has a good head on her shoulders.  Do you like him?” He gestured at Dusk.  

            I nodded, almost fiercely.

            “Then I can’t talk you into a smaller horse?”

            I laughed.  “Not easily, but it’s really your choice.  I am entirely at your mercy.”

            “Somehow it doesn’t seem like it,” Trenwyn smiled wryly.  “If you like him and feel comfortable on him, he’s yours.”

            Was he teasing?  It was hard to tell with him.  I certainly hadn’t figured out his sense of humor yet.  We dismounted and Trenwyn went to speak business with Gherard while I did my best to unsaddle Dusk until the stable hands insisted on me stepping aside. 

            By this time, it seemed Trenwyn had worked a deal with Gherard and was ready to leave.  We headed back into the street where Lucian rejoined us.  “I need to go and meet with my circle to work out the renaming ceremony and removal of the sign tonight.”  Trenwyn’s voice was low, though no one was around to hear.  “Would you like me to escort you back to the house?  Lucian could go with you too.”

            I shook my head, frowning at the wolf.  “I can find it.  If nothing else, I’ll be able to find that tavern and I know my way back from there.”

            “You’re sure you’re comfortable by yourself?” Trenwyn seemed doubtful, and I was quick to nod.  His frown told me he didn’t like leaving me alone.  “Well, be careful, my lady. I’ll meet you there at the house in a few hours.  Is there anything else you need?”

            I shook my head. 

I was surprised at the ease of finding the house.  It seemed that my subconscious had been paying more attention than I’d realized.  Turning down the street that Trenwyn’s house fronted, I became aware that, of the few people in the streets, one of them was dressed in nearly all black—strange when the villagers wore mainly earth tones.  I had already passed the man and I didn’t dare turn back to look, calling attention to myself.  Should I keep walking past the house, or assume I was not being watched and duck in quickly?  I decided to make the block.  Walking past the house and down to the next street, I turned left.  For a split second, I saw the man in black in my peripheral vision.  He was walking the same direction as I was.  Coincidence?  I had a few seconds before he would round the corner, if he really was following me, so I sprinted a few steps to gain distance.  I was then forced to slow down, lest he see me running.  At the next street, I turned left again to see that the black figure was still behind me.  Not good.  I sped up once more and was able to reach the next street and turn the corner before my pursuer rounded the last corner.  I could feel my heartbeat and my breath coming quickly—not from exertion, but from fear.  Daring to look behind me, I saw no one and slowed to a walk.   Maybe I’d lost him.  But what if he could feel me?  At this thought, I clutched at the medallion.  Turning forward again, I let out a yelp and nearly bumped into a figure in all black.  Throwing up my hands defensively, I prepared for an attack.  I thought the man would strike me, but he merely raised a finger to his lips and then I really saw him for the first time.  He was tall and, though his face was unfamiliar, I would know those eyes anywhere.

            “Masad?”