I spotted buildings in the distance, and our path from the beach led us toward a city street. I recognised stalls where my mother and I shopped, and the distant tower of the Emperor’s residence. As far as I knew, he’d never even stayed there. He had a mansion dedicated to his presence in every city, so when he travelled, he would always find it waiting for him and the staff ready.
“Astera,” an elderly man called, waving to me. I recognised him as Dunra, the shopkeeper we often spoke to. I urged Karulo to stop and waved back at Dunra. I dismounted, glad to have the solid ground beneath my feet again, and walked over to him.
“Wow, that’s quite a horse you have there. I heard you’ll be taking a step up soon and I wanted to give you a gift,” he said.
I smiled, as it was kind of him. “Thank you, but it’s alright, you don’t have to. I’m just pleased that you’re happy for me.”
He waved his hand away, suggesting it was no bother. “I know, but I want to,” he said and brought out a box, which he opened to show me.
“What is it?” I asked him, intrigued.
“It’s a copper pin in the shape of a hawk,” he told me. “Your friend, that girl with the curly hair—”
“Araena?” I asked, confused but hopeful.
“Yes, that’s right. She’d put it on hold for you for your birthday, but she never came back to pay for it and collect it from me. I held on to it for a long time and completely forgot about it, to be honest, but I found it again the other day. Since you’re leaving, I want you to have it. It was always meant for you.”
I was surprised by the timing. For three years I’d heard nothing from or about Araena. Now this, on the same day I went looking for her again. It was strangely-appropriate timing, but perhaps now was just the right time. I looked at Karulo, but he said nothing, merely snuffling as horses do. I wondered if he might be laughing, but I didn’t know him well enough to say for sure.
The pin glinted in the sunlight as I took it from him, noting the shape of the bird and how intricately it was made. I didn’t think it was carved; it was most likely moulded.
“Are you sure?” I asked him, smiling because I had one last gift to hold on to from Araena. I realised she hadn’t abandoned me; she was thinking of me before she left.
“I’m certain. Take it and wear it often, Astera. Think of Juna and I, and your friend.”
I pinned it to my coat, smiling at him. “Thank you so much. I was only thinking of Araena not half an hour ago, and how much I want to find her again.”
“I wish you luck with that and your new job. We’re all proud of you here and we’re certain you’ll do well.”
“Thank you. I’ll think of you too, and if you ever visit the temple, I’ll do my best to help you,” I promised.
I gave him a smile, and after we said goodbye, I climbed back up on to Karulo’s back and rode on.
While I didn’t notice anything untoward at the time, a lone figure moved from beside a fruit stall where he’d been watching and strode toward his own horse.
By sundown, we were a good distance along the Northern Road that led toward the port of Salfrey. If the circumstances were different, I’d undoubtedly have been nervous that it was growing dark and we didn’t have anywhere safe and warm to stay, but I wasn’t. I was excited to see more of the world than the only home I’d ever known and by the search for my friend.
As my tiredness caught up with me, I urged Karulo to stop at the side of the road, where a fenced-off field stretched out to the west and a sparsely-wooded area lay to the east. After climbing from his back, I walked in between the trees and he followed me, before re-taking his human form. He carried a lantern with him that had materialised in his hands, and it lit the woods with a warming light, as shadows stretched out long around us. I wasn’t sure how he could’ve created it, because fire wasn’t alive, was it? And yet, he had.
“You’ve carried me a long way,” I told him, gratefully.
I wondered if he had a sore back, though if he did, he didn’t complain.
“I’m here to protect you and I want to help you if I can. Why don’t you have something to eat— we’ve been travelling for hours. I’ll rest, and then keep watch while you sleep,” he said.
“You’ll need to sleep too, won’t you?” I asked, not wanting my protector to leave himself tired or vulnerable for my sake. While I was in a hurry to reach Salfrey, it wasn’t so much of one that he should be sleep deprived.
“That’s what I meant by rest,” he said. “I’ll sleep now and you can wake me when you’re going to sleep. If you have some food to spare, I would be grateful for it. Otherwise I can hunt.”
“I’m happy to share the food I have and I brought extra for you,” I replied, finding a comfortable-looking place to sit down on the grass. I opened my bag and lifted out a cloth-wrapped bundle of bread, cheese, and a dish of vegetables. I knew I had some other odds and ends I’d found in the kitchen.
“What would you like?” I asked him. “I brought
