I haven't decided on a song for this chapter yet. Any ideas? (Read the chapter first, then tell me if you have suggestions)

"Good evening," a deep voice said loudly from the doorway to my chambers.

I looked up from my desk, giving Derik a cold stare. "You seem to have no qualms over busting into my room without knocking," I observed. "I'd advise you to be careful, or I might reciprocate the favor."

He ignored my comment. "Everyone else is ready. Are you coming, or should we wait while you take your time?"

"You did say 'after sunset', didn't you? Sorry, I just seem to have trouble paying attention when you talk. There always seem to be more interesting things around."

"I'm hurt, truly and deeply," he said, putting a hand over his heart. "Perhaps you can repay me by hurrying up."

We met our two companions just outside the fort's outer wall, near the bottom of the cliff. I introduced myself out of formality, even though they both likely knew who I was, shaking each of their hands.

"I'm Saraviera," the woman said. Her hazel eyes had a golden tint to them, marking her as part Skylish. Her height — she was a bit taller than me — and sturdy build seemed out of place with her sweet, almost childish voice. "You can call me Sara."

I grinned at her. "Nice to meet you, Sara."

"Likewise." She eyed me up and down. "It's fun to finally come face-to-face with Red's wielder. You're... more graceful than I thought you'd be."

"Um... thanks?" I said, more than a little confused.

She laughed, flicking her long red-brown hair over her shoulder, but it seemed to be a habitual movement rather than an arrogant gesture. "I'm just saying, you're supposed to be... fiery."

"Erika is more than capable of being fiery," Derik interrupted when he saw the challenge in my expression. "Far too much so, in fact."

"I apologize," Sara said to me as I sent Derik a death glare. "I only meant that you're the wielder of the Color of fire, you know?"

I shrugged, smiling again. "I guess that makes sense. It was just an odd comment."

"I'm prone to that."

"I can tell." I grinned again to show that I didn't mean any harm behind the comment. Something about the girl was oddly endearing, like what a younger sister might have been like.

The other man cleared his throat, and I turned to regard him. He was more of a boy, with a lanky build and choppy brown hair. It made sense that he and Sara be chosen, maybe to put more experience in the younger generation of soldiers, but I wasn't sure why Derik and I were going.

"And you are?" I asked, holding out my hand.

"Liam." He stared at my hand uncertainly for a second, then shook it once.

"Thank you all for coming," Derik said. "I can't tell you exactly how long we'll be gone, since it depends on what we need to do in the village. But we shouldn't be more than a month."

A month? I cursed. What the hell are we doing for an entire month?

"Why are we leaving at sunset again?" Liam grumbled. "Last time I checked, humanity wasn't one of those fancy nocturnal species."

"The fewer people who know we're gone, the better," Derik said. "If Sivectre gets wind that our Color wielders are gone, they may take the opportunity to attack."

"So you were listening to me, after all," I remarked, still feeling uncomfortable with the length of our trip. Of course, Sivectre will know very soon that we're gone... though I didn't tell them it'd be so long.

"Are we going to get horses?" Sara asked Derik.

He shook his head, then tucked his hair back behind his ear when it flopped out of place. "Too noticeable. We're going on foot."

I raised my eyebrow, irritated. "Too noticeable, when we're going on a mission to check up on a village? Do you think you're funny?"

"Yes." Without further explanation, he motioned for us to follow, then hunched over and started off at a brisk pace. Sighing heavily, I followed, with Sara tailing right behind me and Liam bringing up the rear. To the casual eye, we were a ragged bunch of travelling merchants, scuttling about the city at night. Never mind that one of us is the chief's brother.

After passing the guards at the city entrance, Derik led us on a course to the southeast, following one of the wagon roads. We're not at war with Branchor that I know of, I thought in confusion. I'd expected to head dead south, toward the Storm River and the settlements along the Sivectran border.

We don't want to draw attention, I reasoned. Taking a roundabout route might help reduce suspicion. But that would also add time to the journey, time I didn't like wasting.

I heard a stifled yawn and glanced at Sara. She walked beside me, blinking the sleep out of her eyes. When she saw me looking, she looked down, embarrassed. "Sorry. I'm just not used to being awake this late."

"It's barely past sundown." Then I winced, realizing how insensitive I sounded. "You'll get used to it after a few days, don't worry."

"Have you been skulking about at night, Princess?" Derik called over his shoulder. "That seems uncharacteristically... mobile of you."

"What does that even mean?" I asked.

He winced. "Cut me some slack, will you? I never was trained in the Erika Method of Mildly Entertaining Remarks."

"Shut it, you two," Liam snapped, walking up next to Derik. "Anyone within a mile could hear you whining."

What makes you think you're in charge? "Our party hath such strength, I daresay everyone within a mile has already detected our presence and is fleeing the area," I said dryly. "Honestly, Derik, have you ever bathed?"

Derik turned toward me long enough to give me a rude gesture, then continued down the dirt road.

We hadn't been walking for an hour before I noticed something was wrong. When I glanced into the foliage at the side of the trail, I saw a pair of eyes draw back into cover. Curiously, I paused, motioning to Sara for her to wait on the ready. Derik paused, automatically on the ready when he heard me stop, and a second later, Liam caught on as well.

I moved forward cautiously. A second later, a young boy peeked out. I grabbed his arm before he could move further, pulling him out into the open. "What were you doing?" I demanded, my hand resting on my saber's hilt.

"I didn't mean no harm," the boy stuttered, not struggling against my grip. "I'm so sorry, M'Lady, I didn't mean to disturb you!"

"How long have you been following us?"

"Since you left the city, M'Lady," the boy said, cringing as if waiting for a blow.

"Why?"

"Weren't you talking about Colors, M'Lady? I thought, maybe the wielders of Colors would understand. Since you was chosen by the gods and all."

"I..." I didn't know how to respond to that. Chosen by the gods? What gods?

"We are on an important mission that could help everyone," Derik's voice said in a gentle but authoritative tone. I jumped, realizing I hadn't heard him walk up behind me. "Please, do not continue to follow us."

"But what am I supposed to do?" he asked.

"Why can't you go back to Kaccikar City?" Liam suggested, looking as lost as I felt.

"I can't, M'Lord," the boy said, looking panicked.

Derik stepped forward, laying a hand on the boy's shoulder. "Listen. I understand that you need help, but you have to understand that our territory's needs come before yours."

He hesitated, then turned away nervously and ran down the path, bare feet kicking up the dry dirt.

I turned to the rest of the party. "Why couldn't we give him some food or something? We brought more than plenty."

Derik shook his head. "He'll find something. We need what we brought."

I wanted to protest, but I just shrugged, spinning around without being prompted and starting off again. I knew that I should have anticipated their unwillingness to help the boy. They were Kaccikans, dragon slayers, blind followers of a single Chief. They weren't supposed to be compassionate. This, my friends, is why I'm on the other side.