With a sigh, the dark haired young man spread his hands before him. "My name is Roman. Roman Treck."

Phoenix crossed her arms and narrowed her gaze. "Your name is worthless to me. Who are you and why did you stop me?"

"I'm no one. Not really. An orphan who's lived here my entire life. And I stopped you because you were going to get yourself killed."

"Those people deserve a proper burial!" Phoenix gestured back the way he'd brought them.

"You think I don't know that? It doesn't matter. Here, you do what the mayor says or you pay with your life. Those people were executed on the Army Commander's orders."

Phoenix jerked back away from him. "Eric Lee did this?"

Roman shrugged. "Commander Lee ordered their deaths. The mayor is the one who put them up like scarecrows to remind everyone not to cross the crown."

Phoenix shivered, but the slightest sliver of hope remained. Eric wasn't the one who ordered such a heinous act.

There's still good in him somewhere. Find it.

"You two obviously aren't from Achal." Roman pointed at each of them. "What are you doing here?"

Phoenix opened her mouth to answer honestly and Noelle stamped on her foot.

"Ow!"

"Why we're here is none of your business," Noelle said, lifting her chin to make herself almost appear five foot one. "We're passing through and Phoenix saw those poor people."

"Why'd you step on her foot?"

"Because she's brilliant," Phoenix said through gritted teeth, massaging her foot. She had to remember she wasn't in Treywick anymore, and most people she met would not be her friends. Noelle shot her a smirk before turning her glower back to Roman.

"Why are you an orphan."

"Because my parents are dead?"

Noelle rolled her eyes. "Wow, literal are we? I mean what killed your parents. Traitors to the crown? Plague? What?"

Roman's dark brows knit together. "My father died before I was born, fighting with the Militia. My mother -" His jaw worked for a moment as he collected himself. "My mother died doing what was right." 

Phoenix's eyes narrowed. She couldn't tell where the lie was, and she couldn't even be sure there was a lie. She straightened, suddenly on high alert. 

She couldn't sense anything from him.

No signature, no lie, no emotion - none of the things she'd grown so accustomed to sensing from others. She could tell Noelle didn't trust him, and her anxiety came off in waves. She could also feel Noelle's signature. If the room were pitch black, she wouldn't need any other senses to know Noelle was there. 

But Roman?

She could see him, smell him, and if she reached out she could touch him. But if all her other senses were blocked off...

Nothing.

"We're leaving now." Phoenix clasped Noelle's wrist and turned on her heel, dragging the smaller girl with her.

"Wait, why?" Roman moved so quickly Phoenix didn't even see it, but he stood in front of them at once. 

Phoenix glared at him. They were about the same height, and though he might be quick, she had a feeling she was stronger. "Because. You stopped me from doing something that would get me killed, thank you, but we are tired and would like to rest."

"You can stay here." He gestured to his cramped and damp hovel. Noelle snorted. Phoenix bit back a smile - there's no way the daughter of Treywick's mayor would stay in a place like this, even if she was abused.

"No thank you." Phoenix stepped forward and Roman shifted to block their path. Speedy he may be, but he didn't have the gift of foresight. Phoenix punched him square in the nose the moment his gaze shifted from her to Noelle. The force of the blow knocked him to the ground. Noelle didn't need any prodding to start running right along with Phoenix.

"What a creep!" Noelle whispered. "Are all handsome men like that?"

Phoenix quirked an eyebrow. "You thought he was handsome? Are you crazy?"

"You didn't?"

Phoenix thought about Roman's square face and lean build. His hair was nice, she'd admit, but did that make him handsome? The image of Samson filled her mind's eye and she shook her head.

"No. I didn't."

Roman didn't follow them, and they managed to find an inn after only getting lost twice. When they were secluded in their room, Phoenix moved to the window and peered out at the street below.

"What are you looking for?" Noelle asked, already resting on her half of the full sized bed.

"I'm seeing if he's down there."

"Who? Roman?" Phoenix nodded and Noelle snorted. "Why would he follow us? That'd be so creepy."

"I couldn't get any read on him."

"So?"

"So I can get a read on everyone. I couldn't even sense him. It was like he was dead." 

Noelle shuddered. "Now that you mention it, I don't remember sensing his signature. But I can hardly sense yours, and I would have thought yours would be strong."

Phoenix placed a hand against her leather bodice. She tucked the necklace in the moment she left Treywick. It was far too valuable for anyone else to see. 

"That's because of my necklace."

Noelle sucked in a loud breath, sitting upright. "What if he's like you?"

"What?"

"What if he's a Guardian? Maybe he has a necklace, too!"

"Or maybe he's just a creepy orphan who doesn't have friends and doesn't know how to interact with people."

"I like my idea better," Noelle muttered, lying back down.

###

Phoenix sighed happily the moment she realized she was dreaming. Just as before, everything came back to her. It was the only place where she could remember clearly.

"I know you're there," she said, looking around. "It's Castor, isn't it?" 

He didn't so much appear as she realized he'd always been there, just a few feet away, standing with his back to her.

"Will you ever show me your face?"

"Not likely." He turned, the light shrouding his face from her. "You're on your way to your brother."

Phoenix nodded. "I need to find him. He left without me."

"Pesky how they do that, isn't it?"  She could hear the smile in his voice. "But don't worry. I know you'll find him."

"Why are you here? More pleading on Eric's behalf?"

"Not exactly." Castor clasped his hands behind his back. "I more wanted to check on you and see how you were doing."

Phoenix frowned, cocking her head to the side. "Altair's my Watcher, isn't he? Not you."

"Finny has taught you well."

"She does that."

Castor let out a soft laugh, and Phoenix grinned. Being near him felt easy, comfortable.

"Altair is your Watcher, yes, but that doesn't mean I can't check in on you, too. Unless you don't want me to, of course."

The thought of him leaving quickened her pulse, and she reached out and placed a hand on his arm. "No, please, don't go."

"I'm worried about you, Phoenix."

"Why?"

"Because everything is coming together, and yet it could all fall apart."

Pheonix let out a long sigh. "Why must everything be so cryptic?"

"You always say that." Castor's voice warmed again. "But it's just how things have to be. I want you to be on your guard."

"You're odd, Castor. You know that?"

"I do."

Phoenix bit down on her lip to keep from smiling. "Well, if you know." Something sparked in her memory and her smile faded. "Eric's still having people executed." Castor said nothing. "Are you his Watcher? Does he have a Watcher? If so, what does that make him? Normal people don't have Watchers, do they? Only royals and Guardians."

"You're going to wake up now, Phoenix. Remember to stay safe. Stay safe, and save Eric."

###

They left at first light the next morning, trekking back into wilds outside of Achal's cityscape. Still yawning, Noelle didn't have much to say, but Phoenix didn't mind. Her thoughts were whirring, fixated on the internal struggle she seemed to fight every minute.

Find Maverick.

Save Eric. 

She couldn't get the feeling that she was forgetting something or someone important.

"This map isn't very good," Noelle said, peering down at the one Phoenix had removed from her bag that morning. "But apparently we're going to have to cross a river here pretty soon."

"Yeah, I hear it. It's just up ahead a ways."

"Well then." Noelle sniffed and rubbed her eyes. "I guess that will wake me up. You all right? You've been quiet all morning."

"Something feels off."

They stepped through the trees ten minutes later to reach the river bank. Someone already stood in the middle of the river, shirtless, a bundle of items held up above his head as he forded across. 

"You have got to be kidding me," Phoenix said through gritted teeth. Noelle gaped.

"It's Roman!"

"I see that it's Roman."

"Is he following us? No, he can't be. He got here first."

"Doesn't mean much for someone gifted with speed." Phoenix crossed her arms, glaring at his back, the lean muscles line tight cords, bunched up as he moved through the water. "Oi! You!"

Roman jerked in surprise, dropping his satchel into the water. He dove for it, slipped, and went full under, his feet popping up above the surface. Noelle giggled and Phoenix rolled her eyes. 

"Should we help him?" Noelle asked when Roman sputtered back up. 

"No, but we should definitely give him some privacy." She turned her gaze away, having just realized he'd gone into the water in the nude.

What was wrong with this young man?

"Oh my." Noelle blushed crimson and aimed her gaze skyward. "He's made it to the other side. Just so you know."

Phoenix snorted with laughter. "Get an eyeful? Still think he's handsome?"

"We aren't crossing like that, are we?"

"Hells no." Phoenix relieved Noelle of her satchel. "I'll carry these as I'm taller. Think you can make it across with the current?

"I think so. I'll hold on to your top just in case though."

They waded across. Noelle nearly floated away a few times, but with her firm grip, she managed to keep up with Phoenix. By the time they reached the other side, Roman, fully clothed, waited for them.

"What are you doing out here?" he asked, not meeting their eyes as they exited the river. "Are you following me?"

"Us? Follow you?" Phoenix made a sucking sound against her teeth. "Why on earth would we follow you?"

"Are you following us?" Noelle asked.

"Following--you realize I was ahead of you, right?"

"You're speedy. You could have easily been following us, only to run ahead to trick us." Noelle pointed at him.

Roman frowned at her. "That would have been clever. Unfortunately I'm not one to think of such a devious plan."

"What are you doing out here, then?" Phoenix put a hand on her hip.

"I don't have to tell you."

"No, I guess you don't. Come on, Noelle. Let's go."

"Wait!" Roman called out to them as they moved on. "I-I'm not really sure where I'm going. I just know I needed to get out of Achal. I figured if I headed for Tranchet's Pass, I might be able to get through to the other side."

"Why?"

"It's miserable in Achal. If you don't agree with the mayor and what he says the King wants, you are the dregs of society. How do you think I ended up living where I lived? I would be better off in Osha than I am in Achal. Beside I figured...I figured maybe I could find people like me."

"The Militia, you mean," Phoenix guessed, brow rising.

"I will neither confirm nor deny that," Roman said, glaring at her. "I don't know you well enough to tell you anything, but after what I saw yesterday, I figured you weren't exactly one hundred percent with the current royal family."

"Family, yes. King, no." At Roman's bemused look, Phoenix shrugged. "It's complicated."

They all stood there, awkwardly not looking at each other for a moment.

"If you're going the same way I am," Roman said, "maybe we could all sort of travel together. Until we part ways, I mean." He shrugged. "After all, two women traveling alone isn't safe. I'd be remiss if  I didn't offer you my protection."

Phoenix snorted and looked away, but Noelle answered.

"If you're traveling the same way, you can walk with us and maybe we'll protect you, but one false move and we kill you."

Phoenix's eyes widened and she glanced down at Noelle in surprise at the deadliness of her terms. Roman squinted down at her, but nodded.

"Uh, deal. I'd rather not die, so you don't have to worry about me."

Noelle glanced up at Phoenix. "Aundreya is my sister, after all." 

Phoenix sighed and gestured between them. "This is Noelle. I'm Phoenix. Let's go."

Oh Noelle. She's a spitfire...and maybe not as sweet as we originally thought?

So what do you guys have to say about Roman? He's part of the team...tentatively. We'll see if Noelle follows through with her promise to kill him if he goes rogue. Think he'll make a good addition? Think he's trouble? Sound off below.

To my fellow Americans, Happy Thanksgiving!