st guardsman. “This is a bastard sword. It’s long enough to keep your enemy at a distance and short enough to b

. There is no better metal for a sword, I assure you. It is blessed with the spell of glory, and through this enchantment, you will conquer all tha

is wing over the last few months and treated him as one of his own. For the first time

a surge rushed through his veins, and Danie

t motion in front of him, then around his head. As he balanced it in the palm of his hand, Daniel nodded whi

ed his blade. Daniel didn’t yet know much about sword fighting, but he was

ned his tight-lipped, arrogant smile before lunging forward with an overhand strike. Da

done. That’s a good start, but let’s find out what else you have in you.” With

gled with Agamori’s, and they stood face to face. A devious grin curled up on

wagged his finger at the young man. “You tricky, tricky witch. If

he world beyond the gates’ safety, Daniel and Agamori sparred under the warm Autumn sun. As the fad

thless by the creekside and recovered. Daniel licked his lips and glanced at Agamori

it would be long before Daniel asked again. “She’

voided answering questions about her all this time, he feared

he may be a grown woman now with her own ideas about life, but she was still his little sister, and he didn’t like a man asking him

r scent. He rubbed at the ache in his chest and whispered out her name. “Rosemary.” He blin

irked a sympathetic grin. “She’s studying healing on Earth. Time moves differentl

eet face, a shiver traveled down his nerves that made h

Agamori blinked away and shrugged his shoulders. “She’s just beautiful in every way. She’s got

eep, and he smiled at its beauty. “I knew she would be.” He moved his hand to his chest and felt his heart race, knowin

niel looked to him. “When I was ready to die, when I gave up and was ready to let my master take m

s shoulder and nodded as a soft sigh

e nagging feeling that she was in trouble ate at him. She was constantly on his mind. “Yes, but he di

Fates allow him to see things to be aware of the disturbances in our world, good or bad. They don’t want their choices altered because a balance of power must be maintained. If he were to go runnin

out Rosemary took him over again. “So, he will do nothing at

ut his children’s welfare, Agamori rolled his eyes away. “And do you k

ut in frustration, then tossed the blade of grass he was fidgeting with into the breeze. “No, of course n

d. “Rosemary is on her own path. It could be tomorrow or a hundred years from now, but we can’t cha

se wrinkled just a bit as Daniel shook his

d through his nose when he pushed his hand into Da

Daniel grabbed the saddle horn and kicked his leg over the horse like he’d been doing it all his life. The more time he spent tr

*

ank at the evening gathering. The air was warm, but an icy hand kept itself on Danie

whole body shivered. When the gentle flaps of Raven’s wings beat against the air still

hand, and the bird placed the scroll in his fingers, then

choed in his ears as Daniel wat

e. When he closed his eyes, fat drops of tears spilled down his cheeks, then he sniffed them back