Sage of the Shuilhou River Tribe couldn't believe she was a free woman. The Potentate had stolen her from her people on her fifteenth birthday. Now she was awoken from the complete and utter haze that was the last five years of her life. She'd lost so much time, and she still wasn't sure she was safe since her rescuer was the Sorcerer of Trabir.

But he'd mentioned her brother. If there was one person she trusted in the entire world, it was Atohi Dario. She still remembered when his public name was bestowed when he was ten and she was five. Her grandmother, the elder sage, said he was as strong as the Zandarian forests and that Atohi, the clan's word for 'tree bark,' fit her grandson as a public name.

Her own naming ceremony hadn't been like the others in her clan. Her white hair had decided her destiny the moment she was born. Sage was more of a title than a name. It gave her importance to her clan and promised she would lead them to understand the will of the land.

Her family name was Bianca. Only her immediate family called her that and she hated how the Potentate had coaxed it from her lips and used it perversely and freely in his court once she was his prisoner. Now her family name felt wrong and rotten. At least the Sorcerer had shown respect by only calling her by her public name.

The Sorcerer had amazing accommodations. They were even more splendid than the Potentate's tower. Still, Sage would have felt more at home with the with the wind on her face in a woven hut at the edge of the river. She wondered if the Potentate had left the Shuilhou River Tribe to wander after he took her. Sage doubted it. The Potentate had been rounding up tribes and forcing them to be a part of his empire by settling them in one place and building walls rather than letting the tribes keep their ancient huts.

She hadn't seen the Sorcerer since she arrived at his castle four days before. So far, she'd respected his wishes to say away from the top floor. There'd been no reason to go up there except to find him. The table had food that appeared each hour. There were bedrooms and even a library, though the books were mostly in Elemental. She could read the language a little, but she wasn't fluent.

Sage would have been bored out of her mind if it weren't for Purvi. The Sorcerer's assistant... no—servant... no—Friend? Well, Sage wasn't sure what Purvi's relation to the man was, but she'd shown up to keep Sage company. Purvi was a light brown-skinned girl who looked like she belonged in the mountain kingdom with sweeping dark hair a little younger than Sage. The only thing odd about her was her silver eyes, which seemed unnaturally metallic.

Today Purvi had swept into Sage's new bed chamber with smiles and excitement. They'd eaten fresh berries and warmed bread for breakfast together. Then Purvi dragged her to her sewing room to work on the new dresses she was making for Sage.

"You really don't need to do this," Sage reminded her.

Her closets in her room were magically filled with clothes that somehow fit her. The Sorcerer's castle provided her with anything she needed. She didn't know how, but it sometimes seemed to know her needs before she did.

"It's really no problem," Purvi said. "Everyone needs a hobby. I'm so glad you're here, Sage. Sometimes it's so lonesome when the Sorcerer retreats into himself."

"Oh, is it?" came a voice from behind them.

Sage froze and slowly turned around to see the Sorcerer of Trabir himself. The first time she'd seen him when he walked into the Potentate's court, she'd thought him strange. He had a strange birthmark like a red wine stain that spread across the right side of his face over his tan skin. Then, on the other side of his face, he had a massive scar that looked like someone had carved a path down his skin from above his eyebrow to his chin. On top of it all, he had more freckles than there were stars in the sky. His dark hair was thick and messy, and he wore a black tunic made of fine fabric.

"You're back," Purvi smiled. "How are you, Dalton?"

Sage frowned. She hadn't heard that name to refer to the Sorcerer before. She briefly wondered if it was his family name or one he preferred everyone to use. He certainly hadn't told her what to call him.

Before she could take care of anything else, she had to tell him one thing, though. "Thank you, Sorcerer-Jor."

He frowned at the word of respect. "Exactly what are you thanking me for? I've done nothing for you."

"You saved me from the Potentate," Sage said. "Purvi said that going back to my clan would put everyone in danger, but you stood up to the most powerful man in the plains, and you broke his hold over me. I am forever in your debt."

The Sorcerer shook his head. "No, you don't want to be in my debt. I was simply doing your brother a favor. Atohi came here begging for my help. The spirit simply allowed me to fulfill his request. There's no need for favors or titles, Sage. Here I am Sorcerer to all and Dalton to the few who choose me as family, like Purvi."

She nodded. He was his title, like she was. That made sense to her. She didn't even know her third and true private name. People in her tribe went off for three days by themselves when they reached their majority to learn their purpose from the land. She'd missed her chance since she was the Potentate's pretty little wall decoration. Only the closest people in your life might earn a chance to learn your true private name.

"Is there any way to visit my tribe?" Sage asked. "I wouldn't want to put them in danger, but I desperately want to see them. Please, they need me."

"I've been looking into it," the Sorcerer said. "And I may have a way for you to visit for a short time. It will take some doing, so I will need your patience."

Sage could wait. That was something she understood intimately. She'd watched her life flash around her as the Potentate's slave. The man might have considered his lovely little collection of hostages his family and himself a benevolent father, but she knew that her place was only on a shelf until he desired her. She was one of his favorite toys because of her intimate connection with nature and magic. Her power never felt the same under his control and she'd grown to dread calling on the air.

She hadn't tried here yet. It was another thing the Potentate destroyed. She wasn't sure she could ever feel happy using her powers again. He'd cut her off from nature and the wind. She wasn't sure it would feel the same now that she had it back.

"Atohi said you were a curious thing," the Sorcerer said. "He mentioned you liked to ride the wind, a power that hasn't been seen in centuries."

It was like he could read her mind. Maybe he could, she thought. The Sorcerer of Trabir was the only person who could do almost anything with magic because he had collected so much power. He was immortal too but supposedly cruel, though she'd seen no sign of that. The Sorcerer was so far kind and generous.

"I have some power," she said. "But the Potentate—I can't—I shouldn't..."

"No one is asking you to use your magic, love," the Sorcerer said. "You are free to do what you desire here. We can travel too if you are weary of these walls. I like to take day trips, but I warn you I should not leave these walls when the sun sets, so there is always a limit."

Sage smiled. He was offering her the world in short bursts. It was a truly fantastic offer beyond her wildest dreams. She was just waiting for him to tell her about the catch.

"Thank you, Sorcerer," she said. "I'd love to take a trip."

"I'll need to prepare for a journey to the Khan's records," he said. "Perhaps we can go tomorrow if the spirit is willing."

"I'll make sure she's ready." Purvi set her hands on Sage's shoulders. "Get some rest Dalton-Aer."

Sage watched the Sorcerer go. When he was gone, Purvi immediately bustled about measuring cloth and furs. Sage excused herself and left the girl to her work. She walked down the hall alone and out on to the castle balcony.

It was the closest she could get to the sky and the land without leaving the castle. She's been warned by Purvi not to do that alone. The wind whistled around her off the mountains and if she closed her eyes, she could see the grassy plains of her homeland and the rolling, endless skies.

The mountain air made her shiver. It wasn't like home. She wasn't even sure where the Sorcerer's castle was. Purvi said the mountain was enchanted so no one could find it. Still, she was safe here and even if she couldn't return home, she could stay here as long as she needed.

The wind recognized her even here. The very air around her sparked with magic. For the first time, she felt tempted to reach out and touch the element. The wind hummed and sang in approval, as if begging her to play.

It whipped around her white hair and filled her body. She exhaled and let the wind pick her up off the ground to float. The element seemed to rejoice as she soared higher than she had originally intended. It was soft and welcomed her like an old friend.

Her stomach churned, and she commanded the wind to set her back on the ground. She wasn't ready. Not yet, anyway. She thought of what the Sorcerer had said.

He didn't need her for her magic. She was free to do what she pleased here. Her magic would still be here when she was ready. 

"Both Sides Now" by Joni Mitchell really helps me get inside Sage's head at this point in her journey. She's a little lost, and she's trying to find herself again. I've linked it at the top, but here are the lyrics that connect with Sage the most. 

"I've looked at life from both sides now

From win and lose and still somehow

It's life's illusions I recall

I really don't know life at all"

Be sure to keep reading. Your support means the world to me-- Eliana Hale