"And what did you find here?" Jareth's hand came to rest on my shoulder as he spoke. I glanced at him then back to the grimoire.
      "I think... it is a grimoire," I said. "Mine if I were to wager."
      "This grimoire is... magnificent," Jareth said. "There are enchantments binding its every page. Incredible. May I see it for a moment?"
      I paused for a heartbeat then turned to face him with a smile. "Of course." But just as Jareth's fingers touched the covers to take it from my hands, the tone slammed shut, the clasp clicking locked a second later.
      "Well now. That's unexpected." Jareth pulled his hands away and the clasp unlatched itself again. "It would seem you have enchanted it to prevent others from using it. Very clever. Such magics are difficult to do." He looked up at me with what may have been the slightest touch of envy. "I'm impressed."
      I folded the grimoire against my chest. While this was certainly something, it didn't get me any closer to resolving my current predicament. And at this moment, I needed to relearn the basic structure of magic and mana manipulation if I was going to get any use out of this grimoire. I looked up at Jareth again and said, "Could you teach me how to read this? I may remember bits and pieces but I believe it would be faster to learn from such a skilled wizard as yourself."
      Jareth tilted his head and lightly touched his chin in thought. Then he looked up at me with a grin. "How about this? You and your companion, Erevan, help Adran take out the forward camp and open the path for the refugees to get to Tassion City. Then I can help you with your lost memories."
      I gazed at him. "Erevan is the only other person who knows about my lost memories. I can ask him to help with your request but I cannot force him to do anything."
      "I understand. Please take tonight to think and discuss then let me know your decision in the morning."

      I landed gracefully, the magic carrying me smoothly to the ground, and looked about for Erevan.
      "Miss me, Rieta?" Erevan's voice whispered in my ear.
      I jolted slightly and looked over my shoulder to see him leaning in, brow arched. "You're surprisingly sneaky."
      "Of course I am," Erevan said. "So what did you discuss with the wizard?"
      "There is a powerful magic obfuscating my mind and memories. He was unable to determine its nature at present but was able to help me recover this." I held up my grimoire. "And he has offered to help me relearn its secrets. In exchange for destroying the forward camp and securing safe passage for the refugees to Tassion City."
      Erevan chuckled. "Not surprising that's what he wants. The refugees and the Enclave members are chaffing. Look over there." Erevan pointed to my right and there I saw a handful of people gathered in a loose circle. Three were dressed in robes similar to Jareth's, though with far less refinement. The other five were an assortment of humans and elves. One of the Enclave members held a child by the wrist and voices were starting to rise.
      "Your brat just tried to steal my wand!" one member said, a broad shouldered elf with dark hair and fair skin. "She's gonna have to pay the price!"
      "Let my daughter go! She tripped and grabbed your robe to catch herself!" One human woman with dark skin and black braids said.
      "She's a thief and a leech, just like her mother," another member said, sneering widely, the human woman's brown hair pulled into a high bun and warm against her olive skin.
      I sighed. "Have these people never heard of civil discourse?" I walked over to the argument, Erevan trailing after me. He paused a few feet back as I approached.
      "Leech?! Our home was destroyed!" the mother shouted.
      "And yours is protected," I said, resting a hand on the mother's arm while looking at the Enclave members. "Though not by your own magic as I understand. By Master Amakiir's."
      "What?! Who are you?!" The man flushed with anger as he looked to me, the woman and the other man exchanging glances. "So what?! Girl still came after my wand!"
      "No! I didn't! I tripped! I said so! Let me go, you're hurting me!" The little girl cried, pulling against his tightening grasp.
      "These people are guests of Master Amakiir's." I stepped forward, meeting his gaze squarely. "You would do well to treat them with respect and hospitality." I grasped his wrist, letting my nails bite into his skin. "So let the poor girl and her family get on about their day."
      He stayed there, frozen in place, as my nails bit in deeper, until he finally flinched and let go of the child. She gasped and fell into her mother's arms. He wrenched his arm away from me as I gave him a serene smile.
      "There we go. That wasn't so hard now, was it?"
      He turned and rushed away, muttering with his compatriots, as I looked to the mother and her daughter.
      "Is she hurt?" I said.
      "No, thank the gods," the mother said. She looked up at me with a smile. "Thank you, for sticking up for us."
      "It is the least I can do." I nodded to the daughter and returned to Erevan.
      "Any particular reason why you involved yourself like that?" Erevan said.
      "They were annoying," I said. "I need some semblance of quiet to think and listening to them shout and scream at each other was only going to make my headache worse."
      "Your head hurts?"
      "It's fading. Jareth triggered it when he was probing the magic." I smoothed my hair back. "Now, did you find a place where we can rest--"
      "Excuse me, ma'am." The small voice cut in and I looked down to see the girl there, shuffling her feet back and forth.
      "Oh, it's you. What do you want?"
      "Thank you for helping me," the child said. Then she held up a small circlet of flowers. I blinked, trying to understand what was happening.
      "You're supposed to kneel down and accept it," Erevan whispered.
      I knelt down before the girl, saying, "Oh, thank you." She placed the circlet on my head and quickly dashed back to her mother, smiling from ear to ear. Something warm bubbled up inside me. It was unfamiliar. I wasn't certain how I felt about it. But I think it felt... good.
      "Aww, it's a flower crown, how cute," Erevan said as I straightened up. He paused for a few moments, then said, "Something wrong? I would have thought you'd have a comeback."
      "I just... I'm not certain how... I feel right now."
      "What's it like?"
      "I feel... warm... what is it?"
      "I think I know what it is."
      I looked over to see Adran approaching, a slight grin on his lips. My brow scrunched as I said, "And? What is it? Should I be worried that something is happening to me?"
      "No, I don't think so," Adran said. "I mean, I could tell you what it is, but I'd rather make a deal with you."
      "Everyone wants to make deals all of a sudden," Erevan said, a tinge of annoyance in his voice.
      "What is this deal?"
      "Help me with the forward camp. Then I'll tell you what that feeling is. Better yet, I can probably get you to feel more of it. What do you say?"
      I gazed at him. "You seem oddly convinced I enjoyed the feeling and would wish to experience it again."
      "I can see it on your face. I know it well. And I know it's enjoyable." Adran cast a grin at Erevan. "Who knows, you might be able to feel it too, Erevan."
      Erevan scoffed. "I know what you're talking about, and I have no interest in it. Now if you're able to offer a reward— and I don't mean the happy feelings type— then I might be convinced."
      "I could offer you a reward." The voice that spoke was deep, strong, resonant. I looked over to see an older half-elven man with dark eyes and dark skin. He wore the closest thing I'd seen to armor amongst the refugees, old half-plate that looked to have seen better years and a sword at his hip.
      "And you are?" Erevan said.
      "Tanis Grimhan," the man said. "I'm the captain of the guard of the village. I lost most of my guard when the Praiteron attacked the first time. Then more when the carrionites started hunting us. I would move against the camp but I can't risk leaving this place unprotected, not while there are children here." He regarded Erevan and I for a moment. "I heard what you did, helping the children, then with Kina and her daughter. It was good of you. But I also know that asking such a thing of strangers can be too much. So I would offer you a reward. Deal with the forward camp and I will give you everything we can spare."
      "Now that's how you make a deal," Erevan said. He looked to me with a quirked brow. "What do you say, Rieta?"
      Regain my knowledge. Understand this feeling. Get resources. Perfect. "Very well. I accept."
      "Thank you, my friend," Tanis said. "I bid you luck in your mission. Now I must go. I have people to settle and families to reunite." Tanis gave me a half bow and departed.
      "Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!" Adran said, grinning broadly. "I just know that you two will make this entire thing possible!" He moved to hug me only to freeze as I Imperceptibly leaned back. His hands curled into fists and he bounced excitedly. "Well. I'll, uhh, leave you to rest for the night. We can talk strategy in the morning." He turned to leave when I held out my hand.
      "I look forward to working with you, Adran."
      Adran's eyes brightened and he eagerly clasped my hand in a gregarious shake. "It really is a pleasure to work with you, Rieta. Good night!" He departed with a grin and I looked over at Erevan.
      His expression was neutral for a moment before breaking into a broad grin. "You planned all of this. Didn't you?"
      "Of course I did. I need knowledge and resources. Finding a wizard willing to help me so soon was luck. While I had positioned myself as altruistic, I knew I could count on you to be the person who would require a reward. These refugees had to have a leader, one who would be desperate to see their people protected. All I needed was desperation great enough."
      "And you figured out all of this when we met Faen?"
      "From the moment I heard the screams of the refugees." I turned to face Erevan squarely, a small smirk on my lips. "An easy deduction and easy luck to arrange."
      Erevan grinned, leaning in close. "Well now. Aren't you a scary one."

       "Rieta, dear, wait."
      "Yes?"
      "I... I will see you again, yes?"
      "Of course. And when I return, we will be even closer to our dream. I promise."
      "Then I'll see you soon, dear." He pauses. His fingers tangle with mine. "I love you."
      I kiss his fingers. "Why wouldn't you?" I wink. "Good bye."

      I blink awake, a tear trailing down my cheek. My chest was tight. Who was... their face... I couldn't remember... but my heart hurt. Did I... miss him?
      I rolled onto my side then sat up, staring at nothing in particular. Of the four memories to return thus far, that was the only one which had provoked such a strong emotional reaction. So why? And who?
      I shook my head and stood all the way up from the cot. Erevan's lodgings proved to be a pair of cots on a small balcony, separate from everyone else. Something which I appreciated. The thought of engaging in needless and frivolous conversation had little interest from me. No, at this moment, I needed to find somewhere I could practice what I'd recalled the day before, both with my rapier and my magic.
      I found an open clearing of moss where walls of crates formed a ring around rough hewn practice dummies. Likely set up by the refugees to learn to fight from the remaining guards. Perfect for my needs. As I considered the swords and sorcery I'd recalled, I found myself moving through a series of stretches, loosening the muscles that were tight from sleep, a habit my body was quick to use. Finishing the last stretch, I lifted myself to my feet and focused on the rapier, willing it to my hand. The beautiful sword appeared and, for the first time, I took a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship. The blade's graceful edges were silver in color while the basket around the hilt was a dark blue metal. Arcane runes were inscribed upon the blade and looked to match the ring on my left pointer finger. Perhaps that was the source of the magic that hid the blade.
      I focused on one of the training dummies and let my body move by its memory. The strikes were fast, ruthless, cutting the dummy in places where veins and arteries would have been devastated. The rhythm of the attacks filled my mind, letting my thoughts fade back, the cut of the blade through the air filling my senses. There was a serenity there, in simply living the motions.
      "Your form is impeccable." Adran's voice cut into my thoughts and threw me off in the middle of a downward slash. The edge of the blade left a deep gash across the chest of the dummy. I looked over to see Adran standing beside the crates, a half smile on his lips. He wore a loose shirt in a casual outfit for relaxation. Around me, I could hear the stirrings of dawn.
      I took a deep breath and turned to face him with a slight smile. "Good morning, Adran."
      "And a good morning to you as well, Rieta." He moved forward to stand beside me, gazing at the dummy. "Quite a nasty gash here." He looked over at me with a lopsided grin. "Wanna have a go at a real opponent?"
      I glanced at the long sword at his hip. "I don't think we would be a match. Your sword is quite... robust."
      Adran chuckled. "Oh, I don't think so. I've seen how fast you are. It seems to me like you could easily get away from everything I throw at you."
      My eyes narrowed for a beat before I raised my rapier with a smirk. "Very well then, Master Adran. Let me see what you can do."
      Adran drew his longsword and gripped the hilt with both hands. Steadying himself, he took a slow step forward, eyes fixed on me and expression focused. I waited for him. He thrust towards me and I tilted away before straightening. Then a cut across my torso. I pass it along with the blade as I twist away. He pursued me with a series of quick slashes. I parried and redirected them, using his own momentum to carry the attacks away from me. Slipping past him, I smacked the flat of my blade against his rump.
      Adran whirled, bringing his sword up into an ox guard. He smirked at me. A fast lunge made my head jerk back and use the base of the rapier blade to catch and push the longsword away. I leaped back and found myself standing atop a crate. Adran looked up at me with a raised brow. I shrugged and raised my guard. He followed me with a stab to the stomach and I stepped back, ascending the pile of crates. When he placed one foot on a crate to reach me, I sprung from the top of the pile and slipped over him, landing in a crouch. Jumping up, I caught the underside of his jaw with the tip of my rapier.
      "And here you were concerned about being able to keep up with me," Adran said, grinning over his shoulder at me.
      "And you weren't even trying," I said. "I saw how fast you were yesterday as you dismantled those carrionites."
      The grin faltered. "You don't want that. Trust me."
      I drew in close and placed a hand over his right hand. "I think you're underestimating my abilities." There were pronounced ridges beneath the glove. Ridges that didn't match any internal structure of humanoid hands.
      "Am I interrupting something?"