"Which way are we headed?" Ash muttered, defeated. To our side, people still bustled around on the street, their voices cheerful and loud.

"Back home." Mekhi replied.

Ash reluctantly nodded. "Have we got provisions this time?"

"Yeah, I bought some more."

Ash and I had eaten food last night when we got drunk – I hadn't noticed how hungry I was until Wolf had served us that meal. Now, that hunger came back to me, and I frowned at my rumbling stomach.

Mekhi glanced at me and rose his eyebrows. "We'll have some once we get out of here. Come on, let's go."

We left the alleyway, heading back out to the street. I let Mekhi and Ash head out first and glanced up and down the street.

For a moment, I thought I saw some familiar stunning blue eyes amidst the crowd, but I blinked, and they were gone. Shaking the image from my head, I followed Mekhi and Ash towards the gates. The guards opened the gates with a nod at Mekhi, and I wondered how many times he had come here to gain so much trust. Ash kept his head down, hiding his pale skin and vibrant eyes, I suppose in case they were that king's men.

We wandered out onto the track and walked along the wall. Ash fell into step beside me. We let Mekhi lead in front of us. He glanced back for a second, with narrowed eyes, but otherwise ignored us. I glanced at Ash, to meet his gaze. He smiled lightly, brushing the back of his hand against mine as we walked.

"So... who's this King that Mekhi mentioned?" I asked, quieter than I expected.

"King Colm. He is the king of the country called Odrisicia, which is the enemy to my country, Vandalind. Colm is an okirima, like that guy who tried to kill you, and also lots of people in Ganyan are okirima."

"Okay... why does he... want you?"

Ash sighed, glancing down. "My parents are Lanaway and Lyra. They are, or were, the most powerful hendassi in Vandalind, other than my Dad's bodyguard, Corrin. My Dad, and Corrin, died a long time ago, but my mum is still alive." He swallowed. "I... I have inherited my parent's power. And because they were both so powerful, this means I am even more powerful then them. This makes me one of the most wanted... weapons... in the whole of Tabara."

"Oh." For a few steps we were silent. "Wouldn't the king of Vandalind want you too?"

"He does want me to fight. But he won't force me. My father, also, was his close friend. He doesn't want to betray my father. And the Sahaan, my king, knows I am like my mother in some ways." He smiles slightly again. "My mother is always kind, to everyone. She does not know how not to be. But I am not kind to those who threaten those I love. But... I refuse to kill people who are innocent."

"You don't want to fight to keep your country safe?"

Ash sighed again. "I do, and I don't. Like I said, I want to keep those I love safe, and that includes the good people in Vandalind, and even in Odriscia. They may be our enemy but I know many have a good heart." He glances again into my eyes. "But I don't think I am strong enough to kill. And anyway, I have never been taught how to use my powers. My mother refuses to let anyone teach me how to use my chorren to fight, because she doesn't want me to kill or hurt anyone. I disagree with her... but... I am her son."

I nodded slowly. Ahead of us was a wall of green, soon we would be in the forest again. Mekhi was a fair way ahead of us, but he was still easily visible.

"By the way, Isaak... I've been meaning to ask..." Ash looked away from Mekhi's back and tapped the sword that Saga had strapped to me, "where'd you get that?"

"Oh... I-" I glanced up at Mekhi again, and I noticed his head tilt slightly to the side, turning his ear towards us. The same feeling which stopped me from telling Mekhi about Saga before enveloped me again. I swallowed and met Ash's eyes, which surveyed mine carefully, a hint of confusion and curiosity creasing his features. "I don't know. Someone just gave it to me." I said, with a careless tone.

"Oh, that's weird." Ash replied, nodding slightly, but his expression didn't change. He tilted his head at me questioningly, and I shook my head ever so slightly, glancing at Mekhi. Ash still looked confused, but he nodded once and looked back at the ground. "Can I look at it?"

"Yeah, sure."

I let Ash draw it from its sheath. Mekhi faced back towards the green again, and I wondered if he had been listening to us or if I was just being paranoid. What was that feeling? Why didn't I trust him?

"It's so pretty." Ash held it out and took a few curious swings. "Light too." He ran a finger over the engravings on the handle. "This is not something one would normally just give away." He shrugged. "Whoever gave this to you must not have realised it's worth."

I wondered if Ash was just keeping the ruse of if he believed my lie. Though, I suppose it was true, someone did just give it to me. But that someone was not a no one. I wanted to tell Ash about Saga but my instincts were forcing me not to tell him within Mekhi's earshot. Ash handed me the sword.

"Keep good care of it."

I nodded. "I will." I slid the weapon back into it's cover.

"Well." Mekhi's voice made me jump and almost cut my finger on the blade. I looked up and realised we had made it to the edge of the forest. "Gotta stick together now."