The people of Stonebridge milled around their homes, standing on porches or leaning out windows. The heavy murmur of too many people trying to talk quietly swirled around in the air. The occasional snippet of conversations grew loud enough to separate from the background, usually when a young child or old man were involved. They all jumped as one when a sudden high pitched scream tore again through the air.

  A flurry of arms and legs exploded out of an alley in the middle of town. A young man scrambled away from the alley, slipping in puddles and splashing his torn clothes with dark brown mud. His wide white eyes stood starkly out against his dirt stained face and he kept glancing backwards as though he were being pursued by the hounds of hell themselves.

  Several seconds later, his pursuer stormed out of the alley. A young woman with frizzy brown hair stomped heedlessly through the puddles, a brown and blue wand held towards the terrified young man. Bright orange runes hung at the tip as though they were glued to the end. “Are you ready to apologize?” She snarled. The only response was a cry of terror. The young man tripped over his own feet as he tried to run and watch his pursuer at the same time. He collapsed face first into a puddle, then scrambled to his feet and backed away from the young woman. The woman raised the wand high in the air. “Avada Kedavra!” She shouted as she brought the wand down. The runes shrunk to a point and flew forward, expanding into a large white cloud that enveloped the man, hiding his now cowering form from sight.

  Silence, true silence, reigned in the village. No one moved. No one breathed. No one dared draw the wizards attention, lest they be next. The sound of a pain grunt broke the silence as someone collapsed on the ground. The wizard suddenly raised her wand again and a stream of wind burst forth from the tip, blowing the white cloud away in a rush of thin streamers. The young man lay curled up on the ground, arms covering his head. A thin layer of white foam covered almost his entire body. The villagers gasped as one, a woman in the background wailing at the sight. Yet no one stepped forward. No one dared to stop a wizard when they were angry.

  Triss looked up and down the road before seeming to spot something. She turned and began striding purposefully down the road, the villagers parting before her like a flock of chickens before a stalking cat. She strode up to a rain barrel beside one house and grabbed a wooden bucket that was sitting next to it. She filled the bucket and began walking back towards the man on the ground. “Hey.” She said as she reached him. “Wakey wakey. Time to sit up.”

  The young man hesitantly put his arms down and sat up. He noticed the foam covering his body and screamed, rubbing at it furiously. “Witch! What have you done to me? What foul disease have you cursed me with?”

  “One, I’m a wizard. Not a witch.” She replied calmly. Then she heaved the contents of the bucket over the young man. He screamed a high pitched wail and threw his arms up to defend himself as the ice cold water struck his skin. The water sluiced away the foam, carrying it down the muddy road. “Two, it’s soap. Judging by your smell, it’s something unfamiliar to you.” She turned to face the crowd of onlookers, who all quailed as her eyes roamed over them. “Mother Altruna?” She called to the crowd. No one answered. “I need someone to fetch Mother Altruna. Jeon wants her at the council building, or whatever its called. Now.” The crowd continued to stare at her. She raised her wand over her head, and a sudden bolt of red light shot skyward, a whistling scream filling the village as it rose high into the air. It paused briefly at the zenith of its arc, then just before it began to fall it exploded in a shower of red and orange sparks. The sparks drifted slowly down for a few seconds before fading away. “Now. Please?” Triss said. Two younger kids, a boy and a girl, suddenly took off running. “A coin for the one who gets her first!” She called after them, and several more kids took off. She turned and stomped back to the building, ignoring how Cham flinched as she passed.

  “Where’s Mother Altruna?” Jeon asked when she returned.

  “On her way. Probably.” Triss replied, walking past him to the cot. Naiela was laying down with her arms folded, glaring at Reginald sitting on the edge of her bed.

  “Where’s Cham?” Jeon demanded, suddenly noticing the young man’s absence. “He was supposed to be watching you.” His eyes narrowed. “If you hurt him…”

  Triss whirled on Joen, stalking towards him with rage flooding her heart. “If I hurt him?” She hissed, clenching her fists and glaring at the man. “Do you not see my face?” The board hadn’t broken her nose or made her bleed, but she could feel the marks on her face. The ones that would turn into black eyes in a day or so.

  Joen frowned. “What about your face? Did you fall in a puddle or something?”

  Triss grit her teeth to keep from screaming at the man. Of course he couldn’t see it. She was covered head to toe in dirt because that asshole had knocked her down. “Wait. Here.” She bit off each word and then stormed out the door. Jeon made it stop her, but she ducked under his arm without slowing and headed outside. She grabbed some cold water from the rain barrel and scrubbed her face clean, ignoring the stares of the towns folk.

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  “Now do you see?” She asked Jeon when she got back inside.

  “You fell and hurt yourself?”

  “That idiot hit me in the face with a two by four!” She snapped

  “A two..what?”

  “A plank of wood! He hit me in the face with a plank of wood and tried to kill me!”

  “That’s…no. No, Cham is a good lad. He wouldn’t do that.” Jeon protested.

  “Yeah? Who’s his father?” Triss shot back.

  Jeon didn’t answer, but his face fell as he realized the truth of her words. “Where is he?” He asked. Then he frowned. “How did you escape? He’s a decent fighter, and you’re…well.”

  “A girl?” Triss asked, her tone daring him to say yes. Jeon was no fool, and wisely shut his mouth and waited for an explanation. Triss pulled her wand and held it in the air.

  “What did you do to him?” Jeon asked in a quiet tone.

  “I taught him a lesson. One that only hurt his pride, not his body.”

  “He’s lucky it wasn’t me.” Naiela added bitterly. “I wouldn’t have been as kind.”

  Jeon seemed to be lost in thought. “Excuse me a moment.” He said, stepping out. Triss heard his footsteps echo through the hall as he headed out the front door.

  “Are you ok?” Reginald asked Triss, standing up and putting a hand on her shoulder.

  “Yeah, I’m fine.” Triss replied. And strangely, she was. This should have bothered her more, she knew. “You didn’t tell him I was a wizard?” She asked.

  “It wasn’t important at the time.” He replied.

  “Never give out more information than necessary.” Naiela added. “You need to keep your cards hidden until it’s time to make a move.”

  Triss rolled her eyes, but Reginald nodded. “She’s right. If that young man had known you were a wizard he might have done things differently. Maybe a dagger in the back.”

  “Poison in your meals.” Naiela added.

  “An arrow in the dark.”

  “Ok, I get it.” Triss interrupted before they could continue their grim litany. “So am I going to be in trouble?”

  “For what? Defending yourself?” Naiela snorted. “They should thank you for not killing him.”

  “She’s right.” Reginald said. “Using magic to defend yourself is fine. You obviously were attacked, so you’ll be fine.”

  “Then why are they keeping her?” Triss asked, pointing at Naiela. “She defended herself. Shouldn’t they let her go?”

  “Yes, they should.” Naiela said flatly.

  “It’s not as simple.” Reginald said, ignoring the grumpy council wizard. “There were multiple witnesses, and they’re all saying that she started it. It doesn’t matter if you’re a council wizard or not, there are rules.”

  “I didn’t start it.” Naiela protested. “I’m not that stupid. I’m on a mission, and I’m not going to jeopardize it because a couple dumb villagers have some questions. I told them not to grab my horse, and they didn’t listen.”

  “Grabbing your horse is not the same as grabbing you.” Reginald pointed out. “You’re probably going to have to answer to the council on this one.”

  “It is the same as grabbing me if I’m on a council ordered mission. Delaying me from completing my investigation in a timely manner counts in this situation.” Naiela said.

  “I guess we’ll see.” Reginald shrugged. “Triss, we’re leaving as soon as Mother Altruna gets here. Make sure you have everything you need.”

  “You’re going to leave me here?” Naiela asked, shocked.

  “I’d rather leave you in a ditch on the side of the road, but this will have to do.” Reginald replied in a cool tone. “You’re obviously impulsive, and you’ve caused us delays. I didn’t want you along in the first place and this whole thing just solidifies it.”

  “You’re not leaving me behind!” Naiela snapped.

  “And how exactly do you plan to follow?” Reginald asked. “You can barely stand. The villagers here will deal with you.”

  Before Naeila could argue more the sound of the front door swinging open came to them. Heavy footsteps and a shuffling sound announced the arrival of Jeon and Mother Altruna. The old lady slowly made her way into the room and over to the cot. “Let’s see how that wound is doing.” She said, sitting on a stool Jeon brought for her. Naiela glared at Reginald as the old lady pulled the bandage away from the wound and examined it. “Hmm. No heat, no infection. You’ll be a while healing, but you should be fine eventually.” She said. She rummaged around in her bag and pulled out a small glass jar, which she handed to Naiela. “This will take the edge off the pain, but still leave you your wits. Mostly. Don’t take more than a pinch twice a day now, otherwise you’ll scramble your pretty little head.” She said with a mischievous chuckle.

  “No.” Reginald said, shaking his head. “You can’t.”

  “She can’t what?” Triss asked.

  “She’s not coming with us.” Reginald said to Jeon.

  The villager leader had a chagrined look on his face. “I don’t know that we feel safe with her staying here. The council would take far too long to send a representative.”

  “The council wouldn’t send one at all.” Naiela replied. “I am on official business. Here.” She reached into her pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper, handing it over to Jeon.

  “I don’t care. She’s not coming with us.” Reginald said again.

  Jeon read over the paper, then handed it back. “She was on official business.” He said to Reginald, a hint of relief in his voice. “My men shouldn’t have stopped you. I apologize on their behalf.” He said to Naiela, who wore a satisfied smug.

  “She’s not coming with us!” Reginald insisted again.

  “She’s not staying here.” Jeon said firmly. “I have no right to hold her.”

  “She needs medical attention. It’s your duty to assist her.” Reginald argued.

  “I’m fine.” Naiela cut in. “I no longer require assistance.”

  “You see?” Jeon said. “She’s fine. I’m sorry Master Reginald. I am sending her away with you. I need you all to leave as soon as possible.”