I begrudgingly left the bath, but savored the feel of the fresh linens on my body. I combed and braided my hair, ensuring my ears were hidden once again. I couldn't find a drain to the tub. Did they even drain a tub this big or did everyone take a turn bathing first? I gathered my travel stained clothes and poked my head out the door.

Something smelled amazing. Stew gurgled from the kettle on the fire. Eberon was seasoning it while Thain and Schula sat at the table in hushed conversation. Thain turned his head to me, right before the other two did. A fresh bruise blossomed over his eye, barely darker than his skin but definitely swollen.

"Your eye, what happened?" I asked.

"Oh," Thain touched it, a small smile across his lips. "That was for going against a direct order from our king. Nothing to worry about, Eberon got his in the yard."

My eyes shot to Schula who's mouth twitched at the corners, pleased. "Thain knew full well what he was doing, and it's my job to keep us on task."Eberon rolled his eyes and grabbed a handful of dried green sprigs from a bowl.

"Was everything satisfactory?" Thain threw a half smile at me, pulling my gaze from the beautiful fae.

"Very." I admitted. "Um, but the bath water..."

Realization clicked in Schula's eyes and she sauntered over to me. Taking me back inside the bathing room she showed me where the hot running water was turned on and off. A pipe that was nearly disguised by the grain of the tub. Under that spigot she showed me how to drain the whole thing if the water was dirty. She told me to leave it though, she needed a bath right now and she shooed me out.

I padded up the stairs and tucked my old clothes in the room I would be using. I shoved my boots back on and listened for the others. I could hear them murmuring through the door. I thought about staying in the room until dinner was called, but if I was going to make an effort to get to know the fae, I might as well start now. Taking a deep breath, I crept out my door and downstairs to join them.

"You look refreshed, little bird." Eberon smiled. "I can just picture you in the fashions of Thanantholl. We should take you straight to Pearl street when we get there, I know all of the best tailors."

"She can do what she wants." Thain growled. I took a seat at the table as the golden fae still stirred dinner over the fire.

"Of course, of course." He sang. "But can you blame me for wanting to show her the best our city has to offer?"

"Um," I spoke up, both of them looked at me with those wild eyes. "Exactly how much does lodging cost in the city? I have a little savings, and I can work after that."

"Nonsense." Eberon dismissed my words with a wave of his hand. "You are a guest and it would not put any of us out one bit to host you. Your radiance is payment enough."

My radiance? Was he serious?

"If the King himself doesn't offer her hospitality the moment he sees her, she is under my protection." Thain snapped. "I've got more than enough empty rooms for her to choose from. I don't trust you alone with any females, let alone one who doesn't know our ways yet."

"Easy, Thain," Eberon hissed, the air in the room growing warm. "You do her no favors keeping her hidden from the court. I at least could prepare her for that."

Thain stared daggers at Eberon. A breeze ruffled through the room, flickering the cook fire.

"Enough." The door to the bath slammed open. A dripping wet Schula wearing only a thin white tunic with no pants stalked across the floor and took a seat. I flushed and whirled away from her naked legs, thanking the gods that her tunic was at least long enough to cover her privates. It shocked me to see that neither of the males seemed to notice anything other than their own simmering feud. Eberon had the decency to turn back to his task, though Thain still looked ready to punch him.

"You can stay wherever you wish of course." Schula told me, sitting at the table. "The offer for my own home stands too. You don't have to decide now; you can wait until we reach the city."

A long, awkward moment of silence stretched through the room. I debated on taking my axe and looking for wood, exploring the area, anything but sitting in the uncomfortable silence. Before I could make up my mind, Eberon turned and announced that he was done.

A steaming bowl was placed in front of me, along with a glass of a sweet pink wine. It wasn't strong, and I drank deeply from it. The stew was laced with herbs I had never encountered, as well as carrots, potatoes, some kind of tangy root vegetable, and tomatoes.

"Decent." Schula announced and Thain snorted.

"I'll take that as a compliment, not that you barbarians know anything about good food." Eberon turned to me as he sat down with his own bowl. "I'm more interested in what Wren thinks."

I turned to my own meal, and lifted a spoonful to my mouth. I almost choked. We never had flavors this rich in the woods. Not even on the rare occasion when we went to a city for specific goods did we eat this well.

"It's wonderful." I moaned and immediately took another spoonful. Eberon smirked and Thain rolled his eyes.

"You'll give him a bigger head than he already has." The dark fae grumbled, but took a bite of his own food. "Anyone can cook with the spices available in Thanantholl."

"Could I?" I asked between mouthfuls of the savory meat. Ruby eyes snapped to me.

"You cook?" Eberon asked. "I'd love to try that. A lady that can please the heart and stomach."

"Oh lay off it." Schula growled.

"I'm happy to show you the markets sometime. It's quite a sight to see." Thain offered. I nodded. We ate quietly for a moment and I savored it. Dinner with three other people was almost as much as I could handle. What I would do in a large city I wasn't sure yet.

"Any word from the fresh guards?"Thain asked, breaking the silence.

"They should be here in the next two days." Schula said. "It's Galavan's turn."Eberon grinned, baring his full set of teeth. "Is it now? I'd love to show that Spring Court bastard what I thought of his remarks at the equinox."

"Then it's too bad I'm sending you ahead with Wren." She glanced at him. "I don't need you starting a fight between courts right now. Set up a camp in the usual place and stay there."

His red eyes seethed into her but he kept quiet. Whatever leadership she held over these other two seemed to to unquestioned. I'd have to ask about that, but later perhaps. Thain narrowed his eyes at the golden fae, but didn't provoke him further. This wasn't the first mention of courts I had heard from them. Mila had told me once that the fae were ruled by factions of the seasons. I realized now that I had never bothered to ask.

"So you all aren't Spring Court? Which court are you with?" I asked, trying to break the tension.

"We serve the Autumn Court's King Baeleon." Thain said. "The courts take turns watching the borders, it just so happens we were the lucky ones to be here to meet you."

"How big of an area do you watch? Is it alright to be all here eating dinner?" I had wondered since our arrival why all three of the border watch were gathered at the same time. Shouldn't they be patrolling?

"Well, it's more of a formality now. Centuries ago wards were put in place to alert us of anything crossing into or out of the Wyldes that shouldn't be." Eberon explained. "A few of us are always at this post to quickly respond to alerts from those wards, but we really don't need to walk the borders anymore. The four courts agreed to take equal responsibility to stay at this outpost, just in case."

"So what happens to the fae that aren't with one of the courts?" I wondered where I would have to fit in and watched the bottom of my bowl rather than look any of them in the eye.

"Almost none of the fae live outside the courts." Schula said. "The ones that do are powerful, or foolish. To live in one of the realms you must be of that court. Otherwise you live in the unprotected lands of the Wyldes."

"Oh." My heart sank, I was no court fae.

"You are welcome to stay with us until you find the right place." Eberon added. "I can take you o all the courts of course, and you can decide for yourself."For creatures from the Wyldes these fae seemed very concerned with my choices in everything.

"I... I can join a court?" I mumbled. "In that case I'm surprised you don't simply want me to join your court."

"While that would make us quite happy, it doesn't work that way. When you are among your court you will feel it. It will all click into place." Thain smiled. "Though with your smokey eyes and chestnut hair, I have hope that you will fall in with us after all."

"Hells, half of the southern lords have that smear of freckles." Eberon added, looking at my speckled cheeks.

"Do looks matter that much?" I could see how Eberon seemed the part of autumn, red and golden and smelling of bonfires and leaves. And maybe Thain could be an autumn night sky, a wind through the trees and smelling of maple. But Schula was ice and cold and winter incarnate.

"I am a special case." Schula seemed to read my mind and I reddened. "You will find most of the court does evoke the sensations of autumn, though some like me have become misplaced over the years."

"Well, none of this is a matter for tonight." Eberon said finally. "Don't let it worry you, little bird. No matter what you will have friends in Thanantholl."

Thain and Schula agreed and began cleaning up after dinner. An act I was politely refused of helping with. They talked for a while about little things, probably to distract me. I let them. I didn't feel any ill will from them, it was nearly as comfortable as an evening with Bryn and Mila. The fire crackled, the fae chatted, and a warm tea was passed around. At some point I realized I was falling asleep at the table and excused myself.

The bed was soft, the sheets cool to the touch. I took off my boots and pants and slid between the layers. As I lay on the down pillow it smelled of maple. I cried again for Bryn. I knew he would want me moving on, but I couldn't help it. Dry of tears and exhausted, I slept deeper than I had in days.

~

I woke in a panic. The wraith still haunted my nights, and another nightmar. Tonight it hunted me down and killed all the people I knew in slow and horrible ways. Even the men of the mountains that had been cruel didn't deserve the fates I dreamed about.

I sat up in the bed and wiped the sweat from my face. My stomach churned. I swung my legs over the edge of the bed and ran for the door. Keeping my steps light, I opened my door and was down the stairs in a heartbeat. I ran out outside to throw up at the edge of the yard, still wearing nothing but a tunic and stockings.

Panting, I wiped my mouth and slumped to the ground. Sweat glued my shirt to my back. Dew had gathered on what grass was brave enough to grow in the yard, turning to frost and poking my bare legs. My stomach continued to heave long after it was empty. When I had cooled down I pulled myself off the ground and stumbled back to the warmth of the stone outpost.

I shut the door and bolted it. The fire was low. I put another log on it so it wouldn't go out before morning. I climbed the stairs towards my bed, but something stopped me. My ears twitched. Mila did say to make use of them. I paused at the top of step with my head tilted.

"...probably connected to the wraith we saw then." Thain's voice crept from under the door to Eberon's room.

"Who would be undoing the barriers like that? Who could undo them?" Eberon sounded tired, and not because of the late hour.

"I'm going to walk the parameter. Something doesn't feel right tonight." The floor creaked and I slipped to my open door just as a shirtless Thain emerged. The swelling from his black eye was already gone. His shaggy hair was left loose, and his silver eyes shone in the night. I shivered like a rabbit. That feral musk of the hunt dripped off of him and sent my body into a shaking frenzy.

"What are you doing up?" His brows knitted as he spotted me. "Is everything alright?"

"Couldn't sleep." I said, not a lie. His shoulders lowered a fraction as his tension slipped.

"Do you need anything?" His eyes slid to my bare thighs and immediately back up to my face. "Is it too warm tonight? Do you need a thinner blanket?"

"No, I'll be fine." Distress edged my voice as I tugged the hem of my tunic down farther. "I think I'll be alright now, I just needed air."

Before he could say more I slid into my doorway and closed it tight. I covered myself with the bedding as soon as I could, and buried my red face in the pillow. Then I scowled at myself. I threw any embarrassment I had to the back of my mind. I played naked in streams as a child, I danced in only a night shirt with Mila and the witches on the solstice. Hells, these fae hadn't even batted an eye at Schula's thin attire at dinner. It was just a body, everyone had one and there were bigger things to worry about right now than Thain seeing my legs.

I rolled over in bed and contemplated what I had overheard instead.

What horrible thing had Thain getting up in the middle of the night? The wraith flashed in my head for a moment and I pushed it away. If someone was destroying some kind of barriers it was none of my concern. If that sort of thing couldn't be left to these fae soldiers who could it be left to? I rolled over and tried to no avail to return to sleep . The grey pre-dawn light was the last thing I saw before finally drifting again.