We came upon a dead space in the forest where the ground was moist. There was evidence of time rifts being used as well from the displaced rocks and soil. Jonah whistled.

  “This was the epicenter of the battle that drained the trees. I’m pretty sure every element was used in battle here. Look at the ground. It’s muddy and missing in a few places. This was the last stand,” he said.

  “Do you think it was the alliance?” I asked, watching my step as we traversed the dead valley.

  “Most likely, but it could have been Kin tribes, too. Not everything is as peaceful as the council would have you believe. There’s a lot of animosity towards the different Kin tribes. In Saphiros everyone lives united but separated. Outside the big city, Kins live in elemental villages and rarely mix. Most Kins are nomadic.”

  That info obviously came from his still-reforming memories. They were released our first time in Sapherine. “Is that something you recently remembered?” I asked him.

  He pulled on his short hair in a nervous tic he got from Mige. “About two months ago. I didn’t know it would come in handy so damn soon.”

  “Me either,” I said.

  We trekked through the forest for a few hours. With every hour, the shimmering grew closer.

  “I hear a village,” said Jonah, facing east. I had learned how to tell directions by the placement of the sun. Jonah had taught me stuff besides runes and swordplay. Telling directions by the sun was one of them.

  “What do you hear?” I asked, standing still by his shoulder.

  He turned to me and blushed again when our hands bumped slightly. “A lot of movement. I think they are getting ready for Hunter’s Night.”

  “We should help them. We can protect the children, if there are any, at least,” I said.

  He raised an eyebrow. “And how do we do that? The Morgan can break through the protection shield like glass, remember?”

  “We can use my improved barrier,” I said. “You did say it would work on Sapherine.”

  Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.

  “I did. Fine. We’ll help, but I’m not risking your life. You are still powerless right now and as much as I hate to say it, a liability,” he muttered, but I heard him as if he’d shouted. I was a liability, a burden. I’d get in the way. As much as I wanted to be angry at him, he was right, and that made me even more frustrated. Why didn’t my powers return?

  “I promise not to get in the way,” I whispered, and he nodded and began to walk towards the village. I felt torn admitting that, but with my voices and no powers, it was the truth. I was a liability, a big one, to him, especially. I felt very small and even more useless admitting that to myself.

  When we arrived, it was total chaos. Women were running back and forth with pails of water and setting them against a big wooden structure, not unlike a mayor’s tower. Men were arming themselves with whatever they could find.

  We entered through the front gate, which was empty of a guard, and watched a rotund male dressed in purple give directions to several guards.

  He reminded me closely of a pig. He was a Kin dressed in elitist purple robes and shiny silver shoes. On his belt, he wore numbers. Wait…

  “Jonah,” I whispered. “Is it me, or is everyone wearing some type of number somewhere?” I checked from the shadows where we were hiding. Jonah had picked me up. Both of us checked our surroundings again, and yes, all Kin had some kind of number inscribed into their clothes or skins.

  Jonah sighed. “Shit! Damien wanted to do something similar. I guess our visit finally gave them the power to implement the stupid code identification.”

  “Can we copy the effects by runes?” I asked as Jonah got closer to the pig. His short arms waved comically at several Kin guards.

  “You men will make sure the women and children under fifteen are safe in the haven,” he said, and the men nodded before he turned to face them.

  I gasped. The children! They were dividing the children! Was this a ploy to take them to the mines or to save them? I watched as the guards…Thorn’s men went into a side hut. I turned to Jonah. “The children are being protected. They’ll probably get taken in the aftermath.”

  “Or during the confusion.” Jonah kept hold of me, knowing me better after six months. I was more trouble than I seemed.

  We edged out of the shadows only for the porkster to find us.

  “I say! Who are you and where do you come from? We’re about to have Hunter’s Night and can’t afford travelers right now! Be on your way!”

  “I am a rune’s master and can help in your time of need,” said Jonah as I tried and failed to look subservient. I was out of practice.

  “A rune’s master, you say? Where is your identification number, then?” asked the man.

  “I was heading to Saphiros for that reason, but saw that you could use my help,” Jonah shrugged.

  The man smirked. “A likely story. Everyone has to have identification numbers now, not just Rune masters. You are dressed strangely and the girl isn’t subservient to you. You are other worlders! We’ve been warned about your kind and the alliance. Guards, get them!” the man said and we were surrounded. I glared. Now would be a good time for my powers to come rushing back!

  Where were they?

  Purple garbed men and women, I remembered vaguely being from the Ether brigade, pulled out very familiar rings, and I gulped, pressing closer to Jonah was nearly growling at them. They tied us with those rings, and I remembered their sharpness as they cut into my skin.

  “Lock them up with the other prisoners. As soon as Hunter’s Night passes, I’ll summon the council,” he said, and the guards walked us to a metal building with no windows and only one door. It was in the shape of a dome and made of mortar and wood. Wooden beams lined the inside, stabilizing the straw roof. We were led inside and chained to the wall by the rings around our hands.

  “Hey, look, guys, more prisoners,” said a shrill voice.

  Jonah winced. “Still as annoying as always, Ilias.”

  I gasped and turned to look at the other prisoners. It had been a while, but I recognized Atesh’s now extremely long braid and Niran, who was wearing a pure silk battle tunic and pants.

  Boulder’s stiff military stance and adamantine staff from the fight six months ago, and Ruckus’s booming laughter were next. Other than that, Ruckus had a green beard and looked more like the jolly green giant than ever. Nothing had changed for those two.

  Nero, on the other hand, was taller and wider. His chocolate eyes gazed steadily into mine. Pallas was grumbling, and like his brother, had grown a fair deal too. The two wore simple purple tunics and dark blue pants. Around Pallas’s waist was a black harness that held a small gun. Nero also carried weapons.

  Knives strapped to his chest and arms. He also had a strange weapon that resembled an Ether ring but was shaped like a boomerang.

  To the right of Nero was Datha. She was different. Her long silver hair was tied in a braid, and she wore a flowy shirt with a corset and tight pants, and boots. She wore a harness for a gun on her chest, and a few knives strapped to her arms. She had a dagger strapped to her waist and another bigger gun strapped to her left leg.

  Out of everyone, she had changed the most. Her galactic silver eyes carried a hardened look to them. They didn’t soften when they landed on Jonah.

  “Hello brother,” she said, smirking.