Jack was not pleased that I had kept the injury on my hand from him. He scolded me for my ignorance and when I tried to explain that I wanted the scar, he grumpily dismissed it as a fad with the "young folk."

When I woke up the next day, the constant hum had faded.

I blinked into the sunlight and saw the shadow of a huge building nearby. We had arrived. I took up, pulling my fingers through my hair as best as I could. I looked around for a ribbon, but, unsurprisingly, there were none available.

I stood up shakily, remembering the shivers that plagued my legs when I stood to take a bath. They were a bit stronger, but I wouldn't be sprinting anytime soon.

As I moved out of my room, I moved down the hall to a larger compartment of the train. My heart pounded as I saw eight or more hired servants pulling bags and equipment from compartments. I stepped to the exit of the train, looking for someone—anyone—I knew. Everyone ignored me—the ring in my nose made me invisible to the naked eye, I knew.

More servants were pulling containers from compartments hidden in the side of the train. I marveled at it, realizing how complicate this machine actually was. Even more marvelous was that our whole journey probably ran on the energy expended from a single magestone.

Incredible.

I glanced down at my brown tunic and at the brown tunics of the servants. I glanced around again and saw no one I knew. Should I help them unpack? My limbs were still weak, but weakness was never an excuse. My face suddenly blushed.

Why had I assumed that because Lord Strapos had talked to me that I wasn't still a dewlos? Roach had...Romina had her ring taken out. Mine was still in. I had just been traded.

I stepped forward and saw that all the servants were pulling crates with padded magestones inside. They gleamed like black diamonds. I shivered, recalling tales of people who had been driven mad by the beauty of the stones.

I opened one of the compartments and yanked on the container there. It was surprisingly light—most of it was padding. As I moved to pull it loose, a hand reached over me and stopped the container where it was.

I glanced up and back and saw Lord Strapos.

"What do you think you're doing?" he asked sharply.

I felt the power radiating off him like the heat of a fire. "Uh...helping?" I asked. He narrowed his eyes suspiciously.

Someone danced up next to him and set a light hand on Lord Strapos's shoulder. "Ember, she wasn't stealing," he said, the green magestone on his chest glowing. I jumped in shock as I realized what Lord Strapos (Ember?) was accusing me of. "She thinks she's still a dewlos and was trying to help the servants."

I blinked, shocked that he had read my intentions so clearly. He gave me a lazy grin and looked up at Lord Strapos expectantly.

"Is Iric right?" Lord Strapos asked.

I nodded nervously. "As long as that," I said pointing to the chipper Sage, "is Iric."

"Ding, dong," Iric said, clapping. "She's smart. I like her. And I've got nothing but smooth Sage truth from her. Relax, Ember."

The tension and pressure released from Ember's shoulders. He reached out toward my face, and I flinched with my eyes closed, anticipating the backhand to come. Dizziness swept over me. Nothing landed on my face.

I opened an eye and saw him staring at me in confusion. After a few seconds, recognitions blinked into his mind. "I'm not going to hit you," he said, a bit hurt.

"Oh," I said plainly. "Why were you...reaching for my face?"

"She is genuinely confused," Iric input, jumping in the silence that continued. "And kind of terrified. Slightly...totally terrified."

Ember sighed. "To do this," he said and reached for my face again. I looked away, but didn't move. Whatever he intended to do, I could hardly stop him. He grabbed the ring in my nose and I tensed as I felt the nerve flair up. His magestone flared and I saw bits of ash float from my nose. I reached up as he pulled back and I found the ring was gone, leaving nothing but a small hole in the skin of my nose.

I was free. "Thank you," I said quietly.

"She is genuinely thankful," Iric butt in.

Ember tried to look annoyed, but a small smile crossed his lips. Then, he looked at me and frowned. "You shouldn't be trying to help. I told you that Amarilla would give you a tour. Until you have your strength back, you need to rest as much as you can. No lifting," he commanded sternly. I nodded smally.

"Where is Amarilla?" I asked.

"She is genuinely con—" Iric began, but Ember silenced him with a swift punch to the arm. Iric exaggerated his wince. "If you want, Ember, I can take her and Romina to Amarilla. I saw her inside, twirling and looking at the ceiling."

Sounds like Beetle.

Ember sighed. "Please." He pulled his other hand up and I realized that Romina had been behind him the entire time. He had a death grip on her hand. He led Romina into my hand, and she gave me a small smile. Ember looked at Iric seriously. "Everyone here is a friend, but do not let her escape your sight," he commanded. There was a pause. "Please."

Iric nodded. "Romina's in good hands."

He nodded and turned to me. "Speaking of, how is the hand?" I lifted my hand to showed Ember. He examined and nodded, content. "No scar."

"No scar," I echoed.

"Good," he said. "Have fun," he said and whirled off.

Iric looked at me. "Sorry about Ember. He's a bit of a...freak?" he said. "But most loyal guy you'll ever know. And how is Romina?" he asked, squatting down next to us. Romina leaned in and pecked him on the cheek, blushing. "I heard you have a very long, extended vacation," Iric said, poking her gently in the side, making her giggle. "But I am very glad that you are back, Ro."

"Me, too," Romina said. Then, she stepped forward and tugged on my arm. "C'mon. I want to show you my room." I followed, a bit surprised by her change in attitude, but overwhelmingly grateful.

Iric laughed and fell in step next to me as Romina dragged.

"Romina, remember that your friend here is a little sleepy, so maybe slow down a bit?" he suggested lightly. Romina looked back at me anxiously and slowed down, still yanking, but not frantically.

"Sorry for the strange introductions. My name is Iric. I'm Ember's second in command at war and the only one who will call him on his crap at home," he said, reaching out a hand. I took it.

"Naomi," I said.

He smiled. "Ember told me what you did for Romina. You're as good as family now. Did you know she was an overlord?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No. She never said anything about it. Nor did Beetle—Amarillia."

"Amarilla," Iric corrected. "Continue."

"They never said anything. I wish I had done more," I confessed. The building was looming in front of us, a huge, imposing structure that looked more like a defensible castle than a family home. Maybe it was. Turret towers poked the sky, and the entire place was made from rough stone.

Iric rolled his eyes. "You were willing to give up your life for them both and you almost did for Romina. I knew Amarilla before she was taken. Loud, courageous, but horribly proud. Just putting up with her for three years would have been enough to deserve a medal," he mused. "Ember told me you're a healer?"

I nodded.

"How did you discover that?"

"The horses," I answered. He stared at me in curiosity. "I healed a horse and discovered that I was a Slate. So, I would sneak out to heal the animals. Once Amarilla," I said the namely slowly to ensure I got it right, "arrived, her sharp tongue put her at the losing end of a sharp switch often, so I would heal her. Apparently, she knew the entire time. I thought I was keeping it a secret."

Romina pulled us into the palace, and I blinked, trying to save every image that passed my eyes. The atrium was large with paintings of the Strapos family lining the walls. I saw one of Ember on the wall and another of a young girl next to him. One next to the young girl was blank. I assumed that they would put Romina there once she finished growing. A staircase ran on either side of the building. Halls lined either side and grand doors led straight.

"Why keep it a secret?" he asked. "Why hide it?"

I took a deep breath and looked at Iric. "I...wanted to become a healer in the army. I had to get really good at it before anyone found out. If I wasn't a good healer, I would have been worth more to sell as a breeder than as a healer."

"Why a healer in the arm—?"

"Cricket!" a voice called.

I whirled to see Amarilla sprinting toward me. Romina let go of my hand as Amarilla plowed into me. If it wasn't for Iric, we would have both gone tumbling.

"Cricket!" Amarilla exclaimed. "You're okay?" she asked, pulling back.

"Yeah," I said. "I'm okay. And you can call me Naomi."

She stepped back beaming and examined me and my brown tunic. She was wearing a bright yellow dress. "I told you there would be a time when we can use our real names forever. Not just in a room."

"It's hard to believe we're free," I said softly.

"I always knew there would be a time," she said. "I knew it!" she shouted toward the ceiling, as if her freedom had loosened her vocal cords. Despite myself, I smiled. "You're welcome," she said. In an instant, a twinge of fear flooded me, and I dropped the smile and grabbed Romina's hand again. She was still here.

Iric glanced at me. "A medal," he mouthed.

"Amarilla, may I show you three my room?" Romina asked properly, curtseying.

"Of course, m'lady," Amarilla returned, curtseying as well. I stared at the two of them, who were looking at me expectantly. Iric came to my rescue.

"She is still recovering, ladies. Not curtseying until she is fully healed. Lady Romina, please show the way. We may have to shorten our trip to accommodate our guest," he said.

Romina began dragging me again and grabbed Amarilla's hand as well.

I glanced at Iric. "Thank you. This is a world where I do not belong," I admitted. He smiled.

"Well, peaceably for you, the family is out managing a few skirmishes at the border just south of here. Else there would be a litany of welcomes and curtsies."

I shivered as dread set over me. "I'd rather be picking carrots," I admitted.

Iric surveyed me. "Would you be interested in working as a healer?" he asked as he started climbing the steps.

"Yes," I answered without hesitation. "I mean, I think I would need training. But, I want to..." find Anthony. That's what I wanted. But I also wanted Amarilla and Romina to be safe. "Yes," I finished lamely, cheeks blushing.

We stopped halfway up the stairs and I paused gratefully. I wanted to sit down, but I refused to do that.

"Why did we stop, Romina?" I asked, heavy breath betraying my exhaustion.

She looked at me. "To avoid overtaxing you," she said confidently.

"That's a big word," I mused.

"That's what Ember said," she admitted. I looked at Iric who just shrugged. Romina began running up the stairs again, hiding a mischievous grin on her face.