The dream had not returned for a few nights, which made it all the more surprising when it once again presented itself. The slender golden haired youths still looked down at Anya with a wordless dislike and she still unsuccessfully looked for an unknown saviour. The youths with their long white robes and flawless formed a cage, trapping her. She closed her eyes and dropped to a crouch. Her fingers daggered through her hair and her head tucked into her chest. 

Go away! Leave me alone! 

She willed them to leave her, to disappear. She wished the nightmare would end; she would wake back in Tjorin Vale. A hand rested gently on her shoulder. Her eyes fluttered open and her chin rose. The scene had changed. The identical youths no longer seemed alike; there were differences: Freckles splashed on a slender nose, scars slashed across what was otherwise smooth skin, dimples, beauty marks, shapes, colours. Some fidgeted, some scratched, others muttered under their breaths or laughed. Their expressions ranged from relaxed and anxious to happy or preoccupied. They no longer looked at her with dislike, but rather with an interest—an interest she returned. It was Irien's hand upon Anya's shoulder. A warm, open smile comforted her. The dream faded into nothingness and Anya had spent the rest of the night in a dreamless slumber.

Irien complained that so many people traveling together would take months rather than days to arrive in Arazia, The morning they were scheduled to leave was overcast with a soft westerly wind. 

Anya was not looking forward to traveling again, especially with so many people. They would move slower than before, she was sure. Additionally, there were coaches for guardians who thought themselves too good to travel on horseback. The snobs would sit in their cushioned seats whilst the rest of the company had to endure a long road in the saddle. She did not know who those individuals were but once she did she would gladly tell them what she thought of their traveling arrangements.

Anya awoke extra early so she could fit in her last bath. As soon as every part of her was scrubbed clean, she dressed, donning her scratchy, well-worn traveling clothes. The mornings were gradually becoming colder as winter approached and the summer sun began to cool. Irien predicted a cold winter—seeing the early chill following the blistering heat as an omen. 

Breakfast was brought up to Anya's room. The food was delicious and she savoured every smell and every taste. She would not have a meal like this for a week— longer— she intended to make every last scrap on her plate count. 

The entrance hall was alive with activity. Anya scanned the small group of guardians, looking for Irien. Outside the novices eyed her as she passed, met her gaze and smiled, others looked away. Gina stood with a group of girls on the stairs and lifted her nose in the air as Anya approached.

"Good morning, Anya," she said brightly.

"Morning," Anya mumbled through lazy lips.

"I see you are not an early riser." Gina pointed out. "You must have slept dreadfully! Just look at those dark rings. You look like some dead thing risen from a century of sleep."

Anya forced a smile, biting her tongue.

"I will see you later, yes?" Gina laughed.

Anya nodded and walked on, grinding her teeth as she went. 

Stupid little cow! She probably meant that as an insult and I have not even done anything to the little wrench! I should pull every last one of those golden locks out before we get to Arazia.

In the street a long procession of horses and two coaches were lined up. The horses were saddled and eager to begin the journey—some were already mounted by their riders. 

Irien was by one of the coaches, stowing her pack away. Summoned with a wave of a hand once noticed, Anya trudged towards her, analyzing the coach with a hint of envy. It was beautiful: Ornate, white wood with the guardians' emblem painted neatly on either side. Heavy, red curtain could be seen through the windows, covering what was probably a luxurious interior made for one purpose—comfort.

"Anya pass me anything you won't be needing on the road." Irien said as Anya drew level. "One useful thing about traveling with these lumps of wood is we don't need to carry our heavy saddlebags."

Anya extracted her water pouch and some food from her sack before handing it over. Irien leaned her weight on the carriage; wiping a drop of perspiration from her brow.

"Our horses are near the front, if you wish to stand by them." Irien pointed before another guardian arrived with her sack.

"Are you not coming?" Anya asked once Irien had stored the bag successfully and the guardian had moved on.

"I am in charge of loading the coaches, so I shall not be moving from this spot until it is full, I will see you in a few moments. Be gone with you, go stand by the horses."

Anya nodded and made her way to the front of the procession. Thorn and Hana were standing in front of the other carriage. Gill was holding their reins patiently, rubbing their foreheads.

"Mornin Miss."

"Good morning Gill."

"So ye off travelin agen eh?"

"Apparently so."

"Well, I wish ye de best of luck."

Anya smiled and rubbed Thorn's neck in greeting.

"I best be off now that ye here. These are gud beasts if ye ask me, a pleasure to luk after."

Anya watched the young boy walk off to his other duties. She took both horses reins and waited for Irien. She spent a good fifteen minutes watching the activities of the people around her. She tried her best to remember their names but her memory was just a blur, the only names she could remember were the last four. 

She spotted Lady Dhanna a couple of times, Gina too. The red head smiled sweetly every time she caught Anya's gaze. Lord Derrick seemed to remain inside, for she saw him once or twice appear at the door and then disappear again. Alec, however, remained unaccounted for. She realised she was looking forward to seeing him again and her stomach fluttered at the thought. An image of him by the stables appeared in her mind and sub-consciously she began to smile but removed it immediately. 

He was a spoiled brat as far as she knew and she could not understand why she felt so eager to see him. He was attractive but that was it. She felt her cheeks warm and quickly covered them with her hands.

"All is set," Anya jumped at Irien's sudden appearance. "We should be leaving any moment now." 

Guardian's were mounting their horses all around her. She spotted Lady Dhanna and Alec walking in their direction. Alec gave her a friendly smile and Anya returned it, her hands still covering her cheeks. Irien's sister nodded politely.

 To Anya's surprise, they climbed into the carriage behind them and not long after Lord Derick and Gina followed. Gina waved. The gesture was far less charming than was probably intended and Anya's answering wave was ripped from her like a healthy tooth. It was for Irien's sake that Anya was making the effort to be polite. A thought that Gina was making that same effort. 

Anya mounted Thorn and looked at Irien. Clearly she had seen who was behind them since her back was straight as a pillar and her face like a stone statue. 

A few minutes later they were moving down the streets of Largon. Most of the inns were silent, except for the inn that supposedly housed pyree. As Anya passed a man with a dark cloak stepped out of the door and walked briskly to the street. He kept his gaze lowered and his face half covered as he passed the line of guardians. At first Anya thought he would attack them but then he stopped just short of the inn's front garden and looked up. His gaze was inquiring but not aggressive. He frowned at them but when he noticed Anya looking at him a smile appeared and he lowered his head. Anya gave a rushed smile in return and then looked away.

"Most probably a pyra," Irien muttered softly.

Anya knew she was talking about the stranger and nodded. "Why did he stop in the street?"

"Because he knew any normal civilian would do the same and he did not want us to think him being anything but normal."

"Well then he should practice not stalking so," Anya grumbled, looking back in her saddle. The man was no longer there. "But surely everyone must know what he is?"

"We assume," Irien corrected. "We do not know anything for sure. As far as we know, all pyree are in hiding because life for them is too hard at the moment. People are losing trust in them and they have good reason to."

"Do guardians have something to do with that?"

Irien turned in her saddle and smiled. "We do not deliberately make their lives difficult, as far as I know. You must see it from the people's eyes though. Who would you trust? The Keeper and her followers or a band of misfits? Pyree do not believe in the guardians role in society. They fight our leadership and governing skills and refuse to abide to anything we say. They are a law onto themselves and do not listen to anyone but the gods. And as you know the gods very seldom get involved with Hanarian affairs. The only individual they contact is the Keeper; and even then it is out of absolute necessity. We, therefore, look to the Keeper for guidance and protection because she is the next closest thing to the gods themselves."

"What of the Servants?"

"We stopped searching for them centuries ago. One can only place faith in legend for so long. The people instead turned to their royalty, who in turn looked to the Keeper and her guardians. The Pyree did not approve of this. The gods know why." Irien shook her head and muttered something before continuing. "This all happened years ago and is another reason why guardians and pyree are not on the best of terms."

Anya did not reply. The relationship between the two people seemed too complicated. "Do all the kings and queens have a guardian adviser?"

"Yes, and not just one or two; the elfin king, Zanden, has twelve."

"Twelve! What does he need twelve for?" Anya scrunched up her face and Irien laughed at her, which made Anya laugh in turn.

"Even I don't have the answers to everything."