Once the spinning subsided, Suthe found herself in a familiar living room, with wooden floors and pale cream walls. She was facing an open window that looked out over the cliffs to the water below, and the air smelled like a mixture of salt and jasmine incense.

Suthe breathed a sigh of relief. She was back in Alaera's apartment, away from the dangerous rogue spy who wanted her for whatever devious plan he had in mind. Even better, she had managed to transport herself somewhere safe, out of sight of anyone who would get suspicious of a Montesian woman suddenly appearing out of thin air.

"Ack!"

Suthe jumped in alarm at the sound, only to freeze when she saw Alaera standing behind her. So much for not being seen.

"You, um...startled me," Alaera said after a moment. For having witnessed someone just materialize in her living room, she seemed rather calm about the matter. Or maybe it was just shock.

Suthe could only stare at her, feeling a nervous sweat begin to break out on her forehead. Alaera knew about her secret. She had to leave, now. But where would she go this time?

"I was wondering when you were going to tell me," Alaera continued slowly. The Sylterran leaned against her walking stick. "But I figured you had a lot going on, so I didn't want to press it."

"Tell you?" Suthe echoed, blinking rapidly. Maybe this was all just some sort of bad dream.

Alaera nodded. "Yeah. About being a druith."

Suthe felt her jaw drop open. "You knew?" Things just seemed to go from bad to worse. How long had she known?

Alaera gave a light laugh and headed to the sofa to sit down. "There were lots of clues," she said. "First of all, I find you wandering the streets of Choraport with only a recipe book, just hours after the International Office received the wire about the druith arrests in Montmyth. You don't have an I.D., and after a week your luggage mysteriously still hasn't been found. You kept asking me to translate books from the library about druiths, and you were always really nervous when I asked you to tell me anything about yourself." Suthe was a bit taken aback when Alaera suddenly let out a loud snort of laughter. "But the most obvious hint was when you told me that your ship was called the Firebird!"

"What's so funny about that?" Suthe defended. It seemed like a perfectly good name for a ship.

Alaera snickered. "The Sinderflynn is a flying ship from Ellerian fairy tales," she explained. "You couldn't possibly have traveled on it."

Oh. Suthe bit her lip. "If you knew, why didn't you tell me? Or report me?"

Alaera shrugged. "You were good at cooking. I haven't eaten this well in years." When she smiled, Suthe knew she was joking. "Okay, maybe that was only part of the reason. Mainly, you seemed alone and frightened, and I didn't want to make you feel any more uncomfortable. I..." Alaera trailed off for a moment, and shook her head as if she was having trouble focusing. "I know how that feels," she said finally. Her voice softened. "I didn't want you to go through that."

Alaera's explanation had quieted Suthe's fears a little bit, but she was still too nervous to sit down just yet.

"You haven't told anyone?" Suthe asked hesitantly. "About me being a druith?"

Alaera shook her head. "Not even Theshtl." Suthe frowned, before Alaera clarified. "The moon, I mean."

"Oh." So she was still safe. The realization of the fact made Suthe suddenly feel very tired, and she dropped into a cushioned blue armchair that had seen better days. As long as Ulsper Speroware didn't find out where she was living, everything was okay.

Suthe's eyes widened. But he had known her name! There was no guarantee that he didn't also know where she lived. Wouldn't he eventually come here to look for her after her sudden disappearance?

Suthe looked over at Alaera, who had picked up a book about Andilirish tea ceremonies. Should she warn her about the spy?

Ulsper's threat echoed in her ears. You are not to tell anyone. If you do, the consequences will be worse than you can imagine.

If Suthe wasn't so worried, she would have laughed at the memory of seeing the spy's wanted poster and actually thinking him attractive. No—now she realized just how terrifying he was, especially his eyes. The sketch artist who'd drawn the wanted posters hadn't quite captured how cold and dark Ulsper's eyes really were. Suthe barely repressed a shudder at the recollection, and came to a decision. He knew too much about her.

"Alaera," Suthe began. "There's someone else who's found out about me. About who I am."

Alaera immediately set aside her book, frowning. "Who is it? How did they find out?" she asked.

Suthe hesitated. "I—I can't tell you who it is," she said. "But it's the reason why I suddenly appeared today." She grimaced. "Sorry if I startled you, by the way."

Alaera waved a hand. "Don't worry about it," she said. "It was actually kind of fascinating, once I realized it was you. How do you do that?"

"I can't control it," Suthe admitted regretfully. "But this person—they knew I was a druith even before I disappeared."

Alaera bit her lip. "Do you think they'll report you?" she asked. "I don't think Sylterra has the same stance against druiths that Montmyth does, but you've still entered this country without the right documents, and it looks like Sylterra is going to be involved in this war that's brewing over the Twin Blades."

Suthe shook her head. "No, he wouldn't report me," she said. Not unless he wants to get arrested himself. "I'm certain of that. But I think he'll come looking for me again. And I think it's only a matter of time before he finds out I'm here."

"Well, gee. A Montese foreigner living in a city full of people as white as snow," Alaera laughed. "I'm sure it'll be really tough for him to find you."

Suthe didn't laugh, and Alaera sobered.

"I don't want him to find me," Suthe said. "I think he wants to blackmail me into doing something for him."

Alaera grabbed her walking stick and stood up. "Then we've got to get you out of here," she announced. "We should have at least a few days before he finds you, I think, but we should start making plans now. You could go to Cliffdale on the west coast. Or maybe Spellford—no, that's too close to Choraport. What about Iltspring? I have a friend there who knows some Montese—he could help you out. You don't mind sheep, do you?"

"Iltspring sounds good," Suthe eagerly agreed. Anything was better than being taken hostage by a wanted criminal, although a part of her wondered when she would ever be able to go home.

"Great," Alaera said, nodding firmly. She had begun pacing across the floor, and her walking stick made hollow taps with every-other step she took. For once, the downstairs neighbor was silent about the noise.

"How far is it to Iltspring?" Suthe asked.

"Half a day by rail. I'll wire Nitharn tomorrow when I get to the office and tell him to meet you at the station. Then all we have to worry about are the tickets."

Suthe nodded. "Okay. Nitharn is your friend who speaks Montese?"

"Yes, Nitharn Nothwave. Middle-aged, medium build, brown hair, lots of freckles. He's not completely fluent, but it'll have to do. Maybe he could teach you some more Noth, while you're there!" Alaera gave a hesitant smile, and Suthe smiled back.

"That's okay, Alaera," Suthe said. "Thank you so much for your help."

"Don't worry about it," Alaera reassured her. "Really, I love having guests over. It makes my life a little less boring." She smiled again, but this time it didn't quite reach her eyes. Before Suthe could ask, the expression was gone, and Alaera's cheerful demeanor returned. "Anyway, I'm starving! What do you say to having a farewell feast?"

The blonde woman turned and limped off to the kitchen.

"That sounds good," Suthe said. "If you don't mind, there's a recipe for Haijan star cakes, which I've always wanted to try to make—"

"Oh, yes!" Alaera exclaimed, tying her hair back in a messy braid. "I love Andilirish food, and that's one of my favorite desserts! In fact, I think I have all the ingredients we need..."

The next few hours were spent in a cloud of flour and sugar, and Suthe nearly forgot her worries while immersed in the smell of honey and chocolate. It wasn't as nice as the bakery back home in Crestdune, but it was similar, and helped Suthe ignore the pang of homesickness she had felt ever since arriving in Sylterra.

By the time the two women had finished their meals, the sun was just beginning to set, and the heat was making them both sleepy. Alaera, who was slouched across the sofa, buried her face in a pillow and let out a groan.

"You can bake really well," she told Suthe, "I haven't had Haijan cakes that taste that good since I was a kid in the Sang Bur palace!"

Suthe's eyes widened. "You've been to Andilir?"

Alaera gave a wry smile. "Diplomat's daughter, remember? My parents dragged me and my brother all over the place. You didn't think I could speak four languages for no reason, did you?"

"That must have been a great experience, to visit so many different places and learn about so many different cultures." Suthe said. She promptly ignored the pang of jealousy that arose at her words. While Alaera had been traveling the world, Suthe had stayed close to home, afraid of accidentally letting her secret slip.

Alaera's smile wavered. "Yeah. Anyway, I really admire your baking skills, but don't ever let me eat this much again!" She patted her stomach and leaned back on the sofa.

Suthe nodded, sliding lower in her armchair. "I feel miserable," she added. Perhaps she had tried too hard to put aside her homesickness. "I'm used to baking for more than two people."

Alaera suddenly stood up. "Tea!" she exclaimed. "That's what we need. Tea fixes everything."

"I couldn't possibly eat or drink anything else," Suthe protested. "I'm too full."

Alaera plopped back on the sofa. "Maybe in a few more hours then." She flopped back on her side, but then immediately straightened back up. "Wait. What was that?"

Suthe tensed. "I didn't hear anythi—"

She grew silent when she heard it. Multiple sets of feet were climbing the stairs of Alaera's apartment building, and it sounded like they were heading for the third floor.

Alaera grabbed her walking stick and gave Suthe a stern look. "Are you sure that guy wouldn't have reported you?" she said.

Suthe nodded, jumping to her feet. "There's no way he would have gone to the authorities."

Alaera pursed her lips and stood up. "Then someone—" she raised her walking stick high before pounding it back on the floor, "was a little rat—" bang! "because he has a grudge—" bang! "against his neighbor!" Alaera pounded her stick a final time. "It was you, wasn't it, Therney?" she shouted at the floor. Therney shouted something back in Noth that sounded like a curse.

"What am I going to do?" Suthe worried. Alaera turned to her.

"Can you make yourself appear somewhere else again?" she asked. "I'll distract them."

Suthe scrunched her eyes shut, willing herself to disappear. "Nothing's happening!" she cried, opening her eyes again.

"Keep trying!" Alaera hissed, just as someone knocked on the door and shouted something in Noth.

"What are they saying?" Suthe whispered. Alaera looked grim.

"It's the Imperial Guard," she answered. "They've been informed that I might be harboring a druith in my home. You've got to get out of here."

"I can't!" Suthe protested, drawing in a shaky breath. "I've tried. I don't know how to. I can't control it!" Transporting herself earlier must have taken all her energy.

The Imperial Guard knocked again, and both women sent an anxious glance at the door.

"Hide, then," Alaera said. "And pray that they don't find you."

"I propose an alternative solution," a dark voice said.

~~

Dedicated to CocoNichole--thank you for your support!!

Dear readers, thank you for sticking with me this far.  Please feel free to tear this chapter apart.  Other than that, I hope you enjoy!  I knew I couldn't have such a long break between posting chapters for this story again, so I decided it was best to alternate posts between this and Forever Green, so they always have the same amount of chapters.  Hopefully that'll motivate me to write.  :)

Happy Friday!