Asha wandered around the fair searching for Shilo. He usually was pretty good about doubling back after giving his pursuer the slip. Hours had passed and she tried not to worry, but the feeling of unease only grew stronger. She glanced over her shoulder and pulled the hood of her coat up over her head. A shiver ran down her spine and she pulled the hood down even lower. She took a deep breath and plunged deeper into the crowd.

She felt someone grab her hood, tugging her back. A deep, velvety male voice uttered, “Bacon b—” 

Her hood was pulled down and she let out a startled yelp. 

“Uh, not boy…” 

She bit her lip and inhaled deeply through her nose, she could scream if she had to. She turned her head up to see the disappointed look on the face of a handsome, dark grey man. She deflated her cheeks, blowing out her breath. He didn’t appear harmful, even though she had no clue what he wanted or who he was. She never met this guy before. At least, she didn’t think she did? 

She took another step back to get a better look. There was a squareness to his chin, an angular set of his jaw, his nose was straight, and his eyes… His eyes were odd, each one a different shade of blue—one the color of the sky on a cloudless day and the other dark blue with splashes of turquoise dancing through it. No, she would certainly remember someone with his interesting and pretty eyes.

“Sorry, you smelled… Seriously, do all of you kids clean rancid grease traps? Aw hell, never mind.” He gave her a charming little smile as he ran his hand through his shoulder-length hair. “Anyway, kid, sorry I frightened you.” 

She was about to leave until he held up a finger, silently asking her to wait. 

“Here…” He knelt down in front of her and reached into his boot, pulling out a small pouch. He removed two silver pieces from it and held them out for her. 

Asha pressed her lips together and glanced around. They were in the middle of the market with plenty of people around. If he tried anything funny, her scream would certainly be heard.

At her hesitation, he explained, “For troubling you, little one.”

Saying her thanks, she slid her hand over his and snatched up the coins, her fingers slapping hard on his in her haste.

Asha then turned and disappeared into the crowd, hurrying to their meeting spot before any more weirdos snuck up on her. However, her uneasiness just wouldn’t leave.

More hours passed, the sun was setting low on the horizon and crickets were now beginning to sing in the shadows of the tall grass. A gentle breeze blew through the wooden slats of the wall, but Asha’s chill had nothing to do with the wind. She sat there, in the burrow they made of straw at the back of an uninhabited goat shed, (the goats having been moved to another field) and stared down at the pouches on her lap, waiting for Shilo. One pouch filled with ash and grease that smelled of old bacon, the other filled with coins that would feed her for over a score of days. Both pouches were now useless to her since they cost her too much. Her best friend was worth more than any coin. 

Tears blurred her eyes and rolled down her cheeks. Shilo put too much trust in the ash mixture to conceal himself. He trusted too much in luck to conceal his thievery, now that trust had betrayed him.

She wept until her eyes hurt, but that wasn’t going to bring him back. Drying her eyes, she shoved everything back in the satchels and buried them under a little pile of straw. Then tentatively made her why out of the shed. It was well past dusk, but with her hybryd eyes, she could see far better than any human. Her eyes caught the silvery light of the waning moon peeking through the clouds and reflected it back as reddish orange eyeshine, increasing her night vision. She scanned the area, moving slowly as she listened for any movement. But the only sounds she heard were the crickets chirping, the occasional bleat of a distant goat, and an owl hooting from the fence post. She didn’t move too far from the shed. The goats may be a field over, but if she moved too much, they would notice, and if the goats noticed then so too would the dog guarding them.

With a sob, she gave up and headed back to the shed.

Once inside, she laid her head down on the musty smelling straw and shed her tears. Come morning she vowed to continue her search. She could do nothing now, her roaming around at night would only cause more problems.

The crickets stopped chirping and she heard the gentle whoosh of someone trudging through grass. She stilled, hoping it was her friend but too afraid to peek. Fear kept one from making rash decisions that could alert the wrong person. She used her fear to keep her safe, not to make her stupid. She remained hidden and waited. Shilo would let her know if it’s him.

The knock of two sharp raps followed by a finger tap on the side of the shed calmed her nerves. Shilo knew the secret knock, after all it was him who insisted on a code. She quickly gathered their things, three raps and a tap meant stay, but two meant leave. Whatever caused him to be late must have unnerved him enough to feel they were no longer safe here.

She hurried out, only to find it wasn’t Shilo standing by the small shed in the cool night air. 

How’d she know the secret knock? Something wasn’t right. She adjusted the packs around her shoulders, clutching the straps of the bags tight as she glanced around for Shilo. But he was nowhere to be found. Fear gripped her heart, something must’ve happened! What if this person was one of those orphan wranglers?! Run, she needed to run! 

But before Asha could get her legs to move, the woman called out a greeting by mentioning Shilo’s name and questioning hers. 

Oddly, the woman knew her name, and there was only one person who could’ve told her that.

Her heart was in her throat, she had to swallow to get voice to work. “Y-yes, I’m her.”

“Hello, Asha,” the woman’s rich voice was calm and gentle as she spoke. “I’m Yeisha Naiheer. Shilo sent me to find you. I can take you in while he answers the Mage Council’s questions, if you like.” 

The woman held her lantern a little higher, illuminating her face in a soft glow. Her skin was a darkish grey, but her frame was nowhere near muscular enough to account for it, meaning she was a mage herself. 

“Is that alright with you?”

Asha took a couple steps backwards, her eyes searching in the darkness. “Why are mages upset with him? Did something happen?”

“No, nothing really. They just have a few concerns that need answered. Everything will be fine, you’ll see. But for now, please, come with me. I can offer you a warm bed, a nice hot bath, and a good meal. Not necessarily in that order, but you get the idea,” the woman said with a warm smile as she extended her hand towards the skittish girl. “I’m sure it would be much better than a bed of straw and mice.”

“But is he alright? He’s safe, yes?”

“Yes, and I promise you, you’ll be able to see him again soon.”

“Tomorrow?”

The woman nodded with a smile, her hand still outstretched in invitation. 

Asha hesitated, and pressed her lips into a tight line. Shilo always said mages were hateful and zapped people for no reason. The woman may be pretty with a ruckus of springy curls similar to hers, though the lady’s had more under control, but that didn’t mean she was nice. She was a mage after all, and Shilo said to avoid magic users like the plague. However, this mage’s smile seemed genuine and her voice was kind. 

Gingerly, Asha reached for the woman’s hand. She closed her eyes tight, waiting for the pain to hit her as the mage touched her skin. 

The woman’s hand was warm and smooth as it closed over hers. She let out her breath and opened her eyes, there was no zap. The mage didn’t hate her. 

“Would you like me to carry those satchels for you?”

Returning the smile, Asha handed her one of the packs and then walked with her under the starlit sky. She kept repeating to herself that Shilo was safe and she’ll see him tomorrow in an effort to keep her conscience at bay. She still felt guilty though. Because as worried as she was for Shilo, the thought of a warm bath and sleeping in an actual bed was a dream she just couldn’t pass up.