Vivian stood fidgeting nervously outside the cottage door, her hands clasped tightly around the small, wrapped package in her hands. She bit her lip as she raised her hand to open the door… before dropping it and stepping back. She took deep breaths as she paced up down the front porch, steeling herself for the conversation ahead.

  Just like you practised… wait, what did I practise? I just went over it this morning with Beth… Ugh, and now my hands are sweating…

  She plonked herself down on the porch steps, wiping her hands on her pants as she went over her apology.

  Maybe I should do it after lunch… people are usually in a better mood with a full stomach…

  Just as she was about to stand up, the front door swung open behind her. Footsteps marched towards her and someone sat down on the steps next to her.

  ‘Good afternoon,’ he greeted ruffly, yawing as he ran a hand through his unkempt hair. He held a cup of coffee in his hand, one that Vivian suspected he acquired without Reno's permission. It was the middle of the afternoon, but he looked like he’d just rolled out of bed, which was probably the case.

  ‘P-Peri!’ she stuttered. ‘I was just- I was going to- I mean, um, good afternoon.’

  Peri took a long sip of his stolen coffee, looking out straight ahead at the open fields. ‘I could hear you pacing and mumbling to yourself for the past ten minutes. How long were you planning to stay out here?’

  Vivian clutched the package tighter but didn’t answer.

  ‘You stormed out quite late yesterday… where did you go?’

  ‘I didn’t storm-’ Vivian bit her tongue and stopped herself. ‘…I was at Beth’s.’

  Peri frowned in thought. ‘Beth…? Oh, the Blyne.’ He gave her a curious look. ‘I didn’t know you two were that close.’

  ‘Neither did I till I was inside her home.’

  ‘Well, she’s a good one. I remember when I brought her here, she didn’t complain nearly as much as some of the others. Smart child.’

  ‘That’s… high praise coming from you.’

  ‘This stays between us. I don’t want that one finding out about this.’

  ‘That one…? Ah, right.’ Vivian nodded in understanding. ’Felix would never shut up.’

  They sat in silence, watching the small green dots moving about in the fields in the distance, the goblins hard at work watering the crops.

  ‘I’m surprised that you didn’t head straight for Aiden’s or Felix's.'

  ‘I thought about it, but I realized that I needed an objective opinion.’ Vivian gave him a sideways glance. ‘Rayne was the first one that came to mind…’

  Peri didn’t react to the mention of Rayne, except for a slight tightening of his fingers around his cup. ‘Oh,’ was the short answer.

  Vivian looked down at the small package in her hands. ‘…Are you ever going to tell me about him?’

  ‘…Perhaps another time.’

  Perhaps never…Vivian thought. She sighed before handing the small package over to Peri. The scruffy man raised an eyebrow in question.

  ‘What’s this?’

  ‘An apology?’ She pressed the package into Peri’s hands. ‘I’m sorry for losing my temper,’ she mumbled.

  ‘I’m sorry, what was that?’ Peri held a hand to his ear, feigning deafness. ‘I didn’t quite catch that,’ he teased.

  Vivian frowned in irritation. She leaned closer. ‘I SAID I’M SORRY!’ she yelled right in his ear.

  Peri jumped back. ‘Oh Aelos!’ He rubbed his ear in pain. ‘Who taught you how to apologize?’

  ‘Look, I tried to do it the nice way, but you just had to push it.’

  Peri shook the package in his hand. ‘What even is this?’ he asked, snapping his fingers to test his hearing.

  ‘What does it look like? It’s a gift.’ Vivian sighed. ‘Beth said that if I was going to apologize, I should do it with a gift… makes it seem more sincere.’

  ‘Not screaming in my ear would’ve also been nice.'

  ‘Would you just open it?!’

  ‘Fine.’ Peri carelessly tore of the paper to reveal a small box. He popped it open to see a simple gold ring with a band of clear crystal running through its centre.

  Peri stared at it for a moment. ‘… Is this a proposal? I think I might be a little too old for you.’

  ‘What?! No! Gross!’

  ‘Well, you don’t have to say it like that,’ Peri muttered, snapping the box shut.

  ‘It’s an aurium ring,’ Vivian explained.

  ‘Is there a weave in it?’

  ‘Do think I would be able to afford it if there was?’

  ‘So, it’s useless,’ Peri said flippantly. 'Pretty, but useless.’

  ‘You do know you’re not supposed to criticize the gift in front of the gift-giver?’

  ‘Oh, so now you’re suddenly a master of manners and politeness.’

  ‘I’m better than you,’ she retorted. ’And it’s not useless. It may be empty right now, but I was thinking of asking Madame Jeanne to fill it with a weave later. She does owe me a favour.’

  ‘Oh… well that’s thoughtful.’

  ‘I know!’ Vivian stressed. ’That's why I picked it out for you.'

  ‘So, what kind of weave are you planning to put in here?’

  Vivian rubbed her head. ‘I’m not sure. Since your job is dangerous, I was thinking a healing weave. Or perhaps with all the sneaking around you have to do, we could put in an invisibility weave.’

  ‘Maybe a flight weave,’ Peri suggested.

  ‘Wouldn’t that just draw attention?’

  ‘Yep. But it would be fun.’

  ‘Just get a griffin.’

  ‘Oh right.’ Peri rolled his eyes. ‘A half lion-half eagle is so much more inconspicuous.’

  They sat there on the porch throwing ideas back and forth of what weave would suit him best. They didn’t even realize that the sun was setting until they were broken out of their conversation by a throat clearing. The two of them looked back to see Reno towering over them, his eyes fixed on the now empty cup next to Peri.

  ‘…Did you steal my coffee again?’

  ‘…No.’ Peri pointed at Vivian. ‘She did.’

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  ‘What?! No, I didn’t! It was-’

  Vivian was interrupted by Reno pouncing on Peri, his sharp claws missing her by an inch as the two of them tumbled on to the ground. And that’s how Sith found them when she returned; Peri and Reno rolling around in the dirt, trying to get the upper hand, with Vivian skirting along the sides of the brawl trying to separate them but staying far enough to not end up as collateral damage.

  ‘… Do I even want to know?’ Sith asked tiredly.

  ‘Sith! Thank Armoin you’re here!’ Vivian waved desperately at the tussling duo. ‘You have to do something!’

  ‘You’re right… I’m going to go have a nice, long bath and pretend I don’t know these two.’ Sith wrapped an arm around Vivian’s shoulder and guided her towards the house. ‘Why don’t you go get started on your reading and writing?’

  ‘But-’

  ‘They’ll stop fighting once they’re hungry.’ Sith pushed her gently up the porch steps. ‘So, how have you been? I feel like I haven’t seen you around for a while now. Been busy?’

  Vivian glanced back once more at the pair of apparent adults, yelling and pulling each other’s hair. Following Sith’s example she decided to ignore them.

  ‘… I’ve been a bit busy. Actually, I should say we. Recently, we’ve been helping this elf, Tala, and…’

  ………

  ‘I cannot believe that something we’re involved in has gone so smoothly,’ Felix commented.

  A week since they had delivered the aurium to Cyrus, Vivian, Aiden and Felix found themselves standing outside the cottage amid a bustle of activity. A line of wagons sat on the lawn loaded with heavy crates whose contents Cyrus and Dixie were checking and rechecking. Rikan and Sina stood with their arms linked, whispering to each other in their own growling language. Sylf and Vann stood to the side, their arms folded, engaged in their own conversation. Tala stood away from the two elves, her eyes flickering towards the city every once in a while, clearly waiting for someone.

  Vivian could guess who.

  ‘I understand how you feel.’ Aiden nodded in agreement. ‘I keep waiting for something to go horribly wrong.’

  ‘Maybe it won’t,’ Vivian said hopefully. ‘Maybe this time it just works out.’

  ‘And maybe you three should finish loading the wagons,’ Peri’s voice sounded from behind them.

  The three of them didn’t even turn around and just hurried ahead to place the crates they were carrying into one of the wagons.

  ‘He’s not even doing anything,’ Vivian grumbled, glaring at Peri’s turned back. ‘Why can’t he help?’

  ‘Do you really want to start that conversation with him?’ Aiden pushed his crate deeper into the wagon. ‘We know how it ends.’

  ‘Good point.’ Vivian leaned against the wagon. Her eyes wandered back to Tala, who was now standing stock still, her gaze fixed on a point. Vivian followed her gaze but saw nothing on the road leading to the cottage. She nudged Felix and nodded towards Tala.

  ‘What do you think is happening there?’ she asked.

  Felix observed for a moment. ‘… I think Madame Jeanne might be here. She was clearly waiting for her.’

  ‘I don’t see anyone,’ Aiden said.

  ‘Maybe they’re using an invisibility weave,’ Felix suggested. ‘Madame Jeanne can make one, right?’

  ‘But isn’t it risky for them to meet,’ Vivian pointed out. ‘Especially here, right now.’ She nodded towards Sylf and Vann who thankfully still hadn’t noticed Tala’s behaviour.

  ‘Leave it to me.’ Felix straightened his collar and tugged on his sleeves before walking towards Sylf and Vann, holding a hand up in greeting. He soon had them engaged in conversation, drawing their attention away from Tala, though they occasionally glanced towards Tala. While Felix kept them busy, Vivian and Aiden approached Tala calling out a greeting as they approached.

  ‘Tala, how are you?’ Vivian shook her hand, before leaning in to whisper. ‘Do you have the…?’

  Tala discreetly patted her pocket. ‘Right here.’

  Vivian looked around. ‘And is your sister here?’

  Tala nodded. ‘And Adair. They’re invisible.’

  ‘Yes, we figured,’ Aiden said.

  ‘Well then, why don’t we stand right here,’ Vivian moved to position herself right in front of Tala, dragging Aiden with her. ‘And you can pretend to be talking to us.’

  Tala nodded. In a few moments, Vivian could feel the presence of another next to her. She saw Aiden tense up as well for a moment before forcing himself to relax. Tala smiled and mouthed a silent thank you before switching to elvish. It was strange to see, or rather hear, two disembodied voices reply in the same musical language. With each word spoken, Tala looked happier and lighter, as if a burden was being lifted off her shoulder. After a few minutes, the conversation ended and the presence disappeared, leaving the three of them alone again. Aiden looked at Felix and caught hie eye, giving him an imperceptible nod. Felix gave one last laugh before peeling himself away from Sylf and Vann and joining them.

  ‘So, did you have a nice talk?’ Felix asked.

  ‘First nice one in sixty years,’ Tala replied, a small smile on her lips. ‘I finally got to apologize. To both of them… I was just twelve when they left. It’s good to see that they’re are happy and healthy… and that they have each other.’

  ‘Wait, hold on… you said twelve? Sixty years ago?’ Vivian frowned in thought. ‘So that means that you are seventy-two years old?!’

  ‘You’re just realizing this now?’ Aiden asked. ‘That’s quite a delayed reaction. She did mention it that day when we cornered her in the library.’

  ‘How are you not surprised by this?!’ Vivian exclaimed.

  ‘Well, we’ve heard stories of how elves have extremely long lifespans.’ Aiden crossed his arms. ‘I think the bigger question is how is you function with a brain so slow?’

  ‘It’s not slow, it’s selective,’ Vivian defended. ‘I hear what I need to hear.’

  ‘You do realize that you’re starting to sound like Peri,’ Felix pointed out.

  Vivian gasped loudly. ‘You take that back!’

  Felix tapped a finger on his chin. ‘Hmm, no. I don’t feel like it.’

  Vivian aimed a kick at Felix’s shin, but he expertly sidestepped it, twirling on his other foot to do so with an annoying smirk on his face. Vivian stuck out a foot and snagged his other leg, causing Felix to tumble down, but not before he grabbed a fistful of her hair, dragging her down with him.

  ‘You humans are quite… energetic,’ Tala commented.

  ‘Those two do not represent our species,’ Aiden insisted. ‘Please don’t judge us based on them.’

  A sharp whistle sounded, drawing everyone’s attention to Cyrus who stood in front of the wagons. Vivian and Felix untangled themselves and stood, giving each other one last dirty look before turning towards Cyrus as well.

  ‘It’s time for us to depart, so say your goodbyes. Rikan and Sina, you’re with me. Sylf, Vann and Tala, you can ride with Dixie.’

  ‘Well, this is it.’ Vivian sighed. ‘Strange as it sounds, I’m going to miss you.’

  Tala held out a hand. ‘Strange as it sounds, so will I.’

  Vivian shook her hand and then after a thought, pulled her into a hug.

  ‘Try not to slit anyone’s throat on the way.’

  ‘No promises,’ Tala replied. ‘Keep practicing what I taught you. I’d hate for all my effort to go to waste.’

  ‘Your effort?’ Vivian pulled away. ‘You showed me how to do it once, and then told me to figure it out.’

  ‘I believe in learning on the job.’

  Vivian rolled her eyes but didn’t respond, stepping aside so Aiden and Felix could say farewell as well. Felix shook Tala’s hand before his eyes fixed on something behind Vivian, causing a bright smile to split his face. Vivian looked back to see Sylf and Vann approaching, followed closely by Rikan and Sina.

  ‘I suppose this is goodbye,’ Felix said. ‘It was a pleasure.’

  ‘I cannot believe I’m saying this, but I enjoyed our time together as well,’ Sylf admitted. ‘I’d say out of all the humans I’ve met; you’re my favourite.’

  ‘How long is that list?’ Vivian asked.

  ‘Not long,’ Vann said dryly.

  ‘Still, I’m his favourite. You’re probably not even on the list.’ Felix snarked.

  ‘…Anyone want to see Sylf toss Felix again for old times sake?’ Vivian asked loudly.

  Tala raised her hand. ‘I would. See if you can throw him further this time.’

  ‘You two need to tone down the violence,’ Felix said, edging away from Sylf. ‘Is that your answer to everything?’

  ‘Everything involving you, yes.’ Vivian replied without hesitation.

  On the side, Aiden was engaged in a conversation with Rikan and Sina. ‘Take care of yourselves,’ he said.

  ‘You as well,’ Rikan said. ‘I’ll see if I can send back some of those books you wanted with Cyrus.’

  ‘That would be much appreciated.’

  A pair of hands clapped loudly to grab their attention once again. Cyrus smiled as they looked at him.

  ‘I’m sorry, but we really do need to get going.’ He nodded at the sky where the sun had begun its descent. ‘We need to cross the Rift before it gets dark.’

  ‘The Rift?’ Vivian asked.

  ‘That crevice we came through when we entered the city, remember?’ Dixie replied.

  ‘Ah, that one,’ Vivian said. ‘Oh yes, you do not want to stumble around in that place in the dark.’

  ‘Let’s go.’ Cyrus climbed up onto the front seat of one of the wagons, and Dixie the other.

  Vivian approached the older man. ‘You should be careful as well Cyrus,’ she said.

  ‘Aren’t I always?’

  ‘I hope you drive off a cliff!’ Peri called out from his seat on the porch steps.

  Cyrus shook his head. ‘If nothing else, I’ll come back alive just to spite him,’ he muttered.

  ‘And maybe make sure Dixie doesn’t drink and drive,’ Aiden suggested.

  ‘I heard that!’ Dixie called out.

  ‘Good,’ Aiden replied.

  After another round of quick farewells, their guests from foreign lands climbed into the wagons, the excitement of finally returning home clear on their faces. Peri had already tromped off inside the cottage. In fact, it was a miracle he had even stayed that long.

  Perhaps, because Sith isn’t here. Vivian thought.

  Vivian, Aiden and Felix stood watching as the line of wagons started to move, the wheels creaking and groaning as they picked up speed, and soon disappeared into the Druscan woods.

  ‘Well… they’re gone,’ Felix said gloomily. ‘My house is going to be so quiet now.’

  Vivian shot Aiden a look behind Felix’s back. Aiden shook his head in refusal. She glared at him, threatening violence, or at least a major nuisance, and the boy sighed in defeat.

  ‘Why don’t you…’ Aiden seemed to have difficulty getting the words out. ‘… stay with me tonight?’

  Felix frowned. ‘Really?’

  ‘That’s a great idea!’ Vivian exclaimed. ‘I’ll join you. A healthy dose of Bruz will surely set you right. Give me a minute, I’ll go pack a few things.’

  That night, the three of them huddled together in Aiden’s drawing room, talking and snacking, with Vivian occasionally trying to practise what Tala had taught her. School started the next week, and Vivian really wanted to get a good handle on her magic before then. She had a feeling that given how many people had pointed out that her magic was different, she would have to teach herself quite a few things through trial and error. She needed a head start now so that she wouldn’t fall behind later. Aiden eventually retired to his room, followed closely by Felix. Vivian sat for a little while longer before turning in for the night as well. She slept peacefully, glad that she was able to help a friend reconcile with her family and excited for what was to come.