The next day started with a loud knock on the door, and Tannix's grumbling voice beside me.

"Goddess damn it, I didn't think they'd be this early. Finn, get up." He shook my shoulder. "Go to the couch."

Still half-asleep, I climbed out of bed and stumbled across the room. Tannix tossed a blanket at me as I sat down. I pulled it around my shoulders and watched Tannix answer the door. Two burly servants started to maneuver a bed frame through the doorway.

"Under the window should be fine," Tannix said. He went to step behind his changing screen, and emerged a moment later in a fresh tunic and new pants. He sat on his bed to pull on his boots.

The servants tucked the bedframe against the wall under one of the windows. Another servant dropped a mattress on the bed, and then another one started to neatly arrange sheets on it. The burly men left and returned a moment later with a small dresser, which they pushed against the wall beside the bed. Then they were all gone as abruptly as they had arrived.

"It's a formality," Tannix broke the silence as he finished the lacing on his left boot. "It isn't too odd for servants to sleep in their master's room, in case they're needed at night. Maybe a little old fashioned, but not strange enough that anyone will think anything of it. I thought if we had a bed brought in, it would help with the whole facade. Well, I mean... that said, you can use it for real, if you want to. I just thought you would rather stay with me. In my bed."

I looked over the little bed, and the dresser. "I'll ruffle up the sheets every morning to make it look convincing." The blanket slid off of my shoulders as I got up, and I walked over to the new furniture.

"Oh, also, there should be clothing in the dresser."

There was. Drawers of new clothes. Better quality clothing than I had ever had in my life. I pulled out a dark blue tunic and lay it on top of the dresser to really inspect it. It was soft, and so fine I almost didn't want to wear it in case I ruined it.

"They might be a bit big," Tannix admitted, leaning against the side of the dresser. "But I thought you'd grow into them once you start eating properly."

"I don't think I'm ever going to get any taller," I pointed out.

Tannix shrugged. "You're the same height as Tairia, so you aren't exactly unusually short. Besides, that isn't what I meant." He reached out to take my arm, and gently tugged me closer. He rested his hands on my waist as he looked me over. "I just meant that whatever they were feeding you in prison wasn't the best quality food, and even before that you were always hungry. I just think you'll fill out a bit more. You'll be healthier."

It sounded like he was trying to kindly imply that I looked like a skeleton. I didn't pull away but I crossed my arms and fixed him with what I hoped was a convincing look of displeasure. "Are you saying you don't like the way I look?"

He raised an eyebrow, apparently not fooled in the slightest. "I actually quite like the way you look. I like that when I hug you, you completely fit in my arms. I like watching your expression. The way your eyes will lock on something, usually something shiny," he chuckled. "But sometimes you do it when you're thinking. And I like the way you think. I already told you that, but that's really where it started with me. I started feeling this way because when you were twelve years old, you treated me like an equal and aside from my knights I'd never really experienced that. And last year, you kept doing it. You called me out if I said something rude, you made me think about my life, and this kingdom, in a new way. I have had the best education available in this kingdom, and still, you taught me so much. So your mind caught my attention, and drew me in, and was the reason I've thought about you almost every day since we met, even when we were apart."

I wasn't sure what to say, faced with an emotional speech like that. Being speechless made me nervous, and I looked away without really meaning too.

"I hope we never have to be apart again," Tannix continued softly. "I want to lavish you with good food and nice clothes. I want to give you everything circumstance gave me, but neglected to give you. But... Finn? If you ever want to leave, I won't stop you."

"I don't... why would I ever want to..." I trailed off. I hated not knowing what to say. I thought a quick prayer to Lovi, hoping she would give me some inspiration. I was usually so good at talking. "Tannix. I'm... not good at this."

"You don't have to be. Now..." he picked up the blue tunic I had draped over the dresser. "Get changed."

It was almost a relief to take the tunic from him and step back. I rummaged through the drawers to find what else I needed, and slipped behind his screen to change. When I stepped back out, he was still leaning against the dresser.

He slowly looked me up and down. "Those suit you."

"Do they?" I glanced down at the tunic. As I did, my hair fell into my eyes and I reached up to brush it away.

"Do you want me to cut it?"

It took me a moment to realize what he was talking about. "Oh, would you? Yes. Not as short as yours, though. Like I used to have it."

Tannix gestured at his desk, and I went over to sit on it. He got a pair of scissors from one of the desk drawers and got to work cutting my hair. I stayed perfectly still and silent as he worked. No one had ever cut my hair with scissors before. My mother had always used a knife, and when I lived with the other thieves I usually did it myself unless Stria offered to help. It was really no wonder Telts always had such nice hair if they all used scissors.

Tannix ruffled my hair when he was done. "There, that should be better."

"Thanks." I hopped off of the desk and ran my hand through my hair to make sure he had cut it to the right length. "So now what? Are we going to go eat? I'm starving."

Tannix laughed. "Of course you are. Put your boots on and we'll go down."

Jalor was standing in the hall stoically. He insisted on staying with Tannix, so Tannix had a servant take me down to the kitchen. The friendly cook, Lalina, beamed when she saw me and piled food on a plate for me. I ate everything, even when she served me a second helping of eggs.

Everyone in the kitchen was surprised when Tannix arrived himself to collect me. We made our way through hallways I was starting to memorize, through the castle barracks, and finally back to the courtyard from the day before.

The knights were all doing maintenance on their equipment. Evrik was sitting on the half-wall, sharpening his axe with a stone. The twins were carefully looking over a bundle of arrows. Mandell had a large flail laying on the cobblestones in front of him. Nearby, Acen was polishing the bit of armour that went on his left shoulder.

He glanced over when we stepped in. "Good morning. I thought you had a meeting today."

"I do, later," Tannix said.

One of the twins wandered over. "Morning. Jalor, mate, maybe we could show Tannix Fiar's new trick."

"Fiar has a new trick?" Tannix asked.

"Who's Fiar?" I asked at the same time.

"My hunting bird," Jalor said. "I'll get him. By your leave, Tannix. Acen."

They both nodded and he went back the way we had come. I watched the exchange curiously, wondering when Tannix's authority over these men ended and Acen's started. If it was even that simple. Then I looked at the twin standing with us. I thought I could make out the scar, just where the collar of his shirt ended.

"Sir Kor?" I asked tentatively.

He shook his head. "No, mate. Ender."

I frowned. "No, but... you have the scar."

The knight sighed. "Ender!"

"Aye?" the other twin called back lazily.

"You told him about my scar?" Kor asked, spinning around. "I told you not to tell that story anymore."

Ender laughed as he continued to stare at an arrow. "Take it up with Tannix. He told Finn to ask me."

Jalor returned to my side suddenly. I gave a start, not because of him, but because of the bird sitting on his arm. Its sharp talons were digging into a thick leather bracer on his right arm, and it was wearing a blue hood that covered its eyes. It ruffled its wings and stepped from foot to foot until Jalor gently stroked its back.

"Shh Fiar," he said gently. He moved into the middle of the courtyard, and we followed. Kor went to grab his bow and an arrow. Tannix and I watched, equally confused, as Jalor took a little piece of meat from a pouch he had slung over his shoulder and impaled it on the end of the arrow. He slipped off Fiar's hood and lifted his arm. Fiar fluttered his wings again before jumping into the air.

"When you're ready, Kor," Jalor said, his eyes watching the bird.

Kor nocked the arrow. He aimed up, drew back on the string, and let go. The arrow flew straight into the air, until Fiar swooped in and plucked it from the sky. Carrying the arrow, he circled over us once more before dropping the arrow to the ground at Jalor's feet. Jalor picked it up, pulled the bit of meat off, and tossed towards Fiar. The bird caught it easily and landed on the wall to eat his prize.

Jalor grinned at us while handing the arrow back to Kor. "And that is how we spent the last five years."

"Time well spent," Tannix said. "That was amazing." I agreed, but didn't say anything. I was too busy wondering how exactly Jalor would have trained the bird. Tannix's next words caught my attention. "I have something to show you, as well. Kor, please shoot at that wooden beam."

He pointed to the left side of the courtyard. The building that made up its wall had a bit of balcony, with a wooden railing. At the very end of the courtyard a thin staircase led up to the balcony. Kor looked confused, but did as he was asked. The arrow thudded into the wood.

The knights had all watched Jalor's show, but it was something they had seen before. Whatever Tannix was about to show them was different, and they all gathered a little closer.

"Kor," Tannix said. "I bet you fifty siyas that Finn can get that arrow back for me faster than you can."

I gaped at him. Fifty siyas was a lot of money to just throw away on a bet.

Kor glanced at me, then across the courtyard to the staircase. "Make it a hundred."

Tannix hesitated thoughtfully. He looked at the wall, then at me. "Finn? Feeling up to it?"

"I think so. But if I win, I get to keep the money."

Tannix smiled. "I agree. All right, a hundred siyas."

"Deal," Kor said, handing his bow off to Ender.

"On my mark, then," Tannix said. "Three, two, one, go!"

Kor immediately started running towards the stairs. I ran for the wall. Despite not having climbed in a year, it quickly came back to me. The higher I got, the better I climbed. The overhang of the balcony only stalled me for a moment, and then I was up. I yanked the arrow from the wood a moment before Kor reached for it, and tucked it under my belt. It was easier to get down. I simply let myself hang from the balcony and then dropped, landing lightly on my feet.

I walked back to Tannix and the other knights, who all looked amazed. Tannix grinned as he held out his hand and I dropped the arrow into it.

"I think that was cheating!" Kor called. He was still on the balcony, leaning on the wooden railing. "You didn't tell us he could do that."

"Pay up, mate," Ender replied, chuckling. He clapped me on the back. "That was very impressive."

I smiled tentatively. "Thanks."

"I don't have any money," Kor said. "You pay him! I'll owe you a drink later."

"For a hundred siyas you'll owe me more than one drink, mate," Ender replied. He reached into a pouch tied to his belt and pulled out a silver coin. "Here you are, lad. Well earned." He dropped the coin into my hand.

I clenched my hand around it. A hundred siyas that I had earned. That was a new feeling.

The other knights gathered around us, all trying to ask questions at once. Climbing was such a natural part of my life. All of the thieves could do it, if not as quickly as I could. Even Tannix had sort of learned. The knights' awe surprised me. Even Kor, when he returned, complimented me with a friendly smile.

Tannix just grinned the whole time, looking very pleased with himself. My conversation with the younger knights the day before came back to me. Tannix wanted his knights to respect his abilities. It made sense that he would give me a chance to show off mine.

I didn't really have any answers to their questions, which mainly revolved around how I had learned to climb. But after I thought I had answered them all as best as I could, Evrik asked one more.

"Can you show us again, Finn?"

My shoulders ached, but I wasn't about to let that stop me. "All right."