“It is amazing,” Kaiyer said to us as we traveled down the side of the road toward the capital city of Brilla. This city was nicknamed Sapphire because of its placement on the water and the myriad shades of blue paint used on all the buildings. They sparkled in the bright coastal light, reflecting a wave pattern that danced on the walls; some were a pale, powdery periwinkle, others bright azure and cobalt, or deep, inky indigo. The range in color and the shimmer of the reflected light gave the buildings the faceted look of a gemstone.

It was a large city, not quite as populated as Nia’s capital, but it certainly possessed a unique style. Record books estimated that over eighty thousand citizens lived within four miles of the capital. We saw plenty of people and animals streaming through the city’s decorative gates, like ants going into their hill.

“It’s huge. Humans built this? We built this?” It was the first time I recalled Kaiyer looking surprised. For the last hour, as soon as we saw the city in the distance, he had asked question after question about it. When he learned that Nia’s city was larger, he grew even more amazed.

“How do they all live so close together? Why is everything blue? How do they get water and food?” I did my best to explain how it all worked, and sometimes we switched to his language so I could get the correct meaning across. He had been especially interested in how water was distributed, and I explained basic plumbing systems to him. This had sparked another conversation that had taken us the last few miles to the gates. It made me happy to share my knowledge with him, to seem an expert to someone so much older and more skilled than I.

Brilla and Nia held a long truce and trade agreements, so we would be relatively safe here. Greykin expected a party of Nia guards to meet and escort us the rest of the way through our journey. He didn’t really want the Brilla Kingdom to know that Jessmei was here, or what had happened. It would draw attention to us, and to the embarrassing fact that Jessmei left Nia without her father’s permission. Also, it would require a royal greeting and banquet if she was to be properly received. Nadea wanted nothing to do with frivolous parties that would keep her from delivering the O’Baarni. She and Greykin were both in agreement. We would get in and out of Sapphire as quickly as possible.

“What is the line for?” Kaiyer asked me in reference to the snaking queue of people waiting at the gates. Everyone heard his questions, but I was the only one with the responsibility of answering them. His eager requests almost reminded me of my small students.

“It’s just to examine the goods people are bringing into the city. The guards make sure no one is smuggling weapons or illegal items.”

“We can’t bring weapons into the city?”

“I believe we can, just not a large quantity without some sort of written form from the government.”

“Oh.” He looked up in the sky and sniffed. His beard was growing back and he absently scratched it as he examined the gates again. “That fortress in the back is called a castle?” I nodded. “The king of Brilla lives there and directs the military?”

“He makes the laws and handles trade agreements and ensures the country is being managed.”

“Seems like a large amount of work for one man.”

“He has advisors and people to whom he delegates responsibility.”

“Why doesn’t Jessmei’s father rule Nia and Brilla, or Vanlourn for that matter?”

“Nia and Brilla have been friendly with each other for the last few dozen years. Vanlourn and Nia aren’t on friendly terms, of course, but the current king of Brilla married one of his sons to a princess from Vanlourn, so they have an alliance." Kaiyer nodded but I wondered if he actually understood. I wasn’t very educated in the politics of the countries but I knew enough to give him a general idea.

We approached the front gates and met with a guard dressed in polished chain mail and a blue tunic. He asked us if we were here for business or traveling. We said traveling and he directed us to a shorter line of inspection. We led our horses to the back of that line.

“What’s wrong?” I asked Kaiyer. His face was almost white.

“I cannot recall ever being in a city. I feel weird. I don’t know what to expect. There are so many people moving.” He moved his head around, trying to look in all directions and at the throng of people who entered and exited the gate.

“It will be okay. Just relax,” Nadea said as she moved her horse back a few steps to talk to us. “There is nothing to be worried about.” She smiled at him reassuringly.

“There are too many heartbeats, too much breathing and talking. It is hard to feel the Earth.” He smiled with his mouth alone, his eyes tight and strained, as beads of sweat rolled down his short cut hairline. Nadea seemed confused at his words but didn’t ask him to clarify.

Greykin spoke to the guard who looked us over briefly before he waved us through the gates. Even though nothing bad was supposed to happen, I still let out a breath of relief once we entered the city and joined the river of people walking the blue streets.

The avenues were made of smooth midnight blue cobblestone and we rode for another quarter of an hour, most of it on the main road, but some on twisty side streets. I lived most of my life outside a village of a few hundred people, but I had been in many larger cities on my travels with Grandfather, and during this mission to recover Kaiyer. Despite my experience, the constant hustle and bustle of the city, paired with the unique design and color of the buildings, kept my interest while we journeyed to our destination.

Kaiyer looked around at everything with extreme interest, his green eyes alight with fascination, in stark contrast to his usual tranquil, serene gaze. He didn’t ask me anymore questions. I was thankful for the rest, even though I liked talking to him about my world.

After half an hour's travel through the twisty streets, we reached the inn where we were supposed to meet the Nia guards. It was called The Blue Pillow, and it looked like there could easily be about thirty rooms in the four-story cerulean building. A stable boy grabbed the reins of Greykin’s horse, and led him to the side building where about a dozen other steeds were in pens.

“It is going to feel so good to take a real bath,” Nadea said to Jessmei as they grabbed their bags from the steeds. Jessmei sighed longingly and nodded in agreement.

“It’s going to feel even better to meet our friends so we know that someone’s ridiculous decision won’t have had life-altering impacts on that person’s family and country,” Greykin said while he glared at Jessmei.

“He really likes horses doesn’t he?” Iarin said as he nodded behind the group. We turned and looked to see Kaiyer petting a pure white stallion on the far side of the stables. The horse seemed to enjoy the attention. He was whispering some words that I couldn’t hear. I walked over to get his attention and noticed that he had taken all the gear off his horse.

“Are you ready to come inside with us?” I asked him. For a second he didn’t seem to notice me, and then he turned to me and nodded. I realized that he had put on a few pounds of weight since we woke him. He still looked painfully thin, but his face no longer resembled a skeleton’s.

There were more people than I expected drinking and enjoying lunch in the tavern area of the inn when we walked inside. There was a brief pause in discussion as the men eyed the newcomers, then the conversation picked up again. A few girls, slightly older than me, were dashing between the tables pouring beer, mead, water, and serving plates of delicious-smelling food from the kitchen.

One of the men at the bar turned off his chair and approached us. He was about as old as Nadea, with sandy blonde hair and a quick, handsome smile. He held his hand out to Greykin and the big man grasped it.

“Good to see you Greykin,” Runir greeted him and looked past Greykin's shoulder to Nadea and Jessmei.

“Same to you Runir. You look well. Glad you could meet us. What’s the situation?”

“These,” Runir said as he looked over his shoulder at the gathered men, “are all mine. We’ve been waiting for a few weeks for you. Didn’t exactly know when you would show up but we had faith in the Spirits that you would.” Greykin nodded and exhaled in obvious relief. “We’ll leave whenever you give the word. If you want me to turn over command to you I can,” Runir continued.

“No, lad. They are your boys. You heard anything in the streets about us?” Greykin asked.

“No sir. No word. But that type of work isn’t in my batch of talents. We’ve asked around a couple different taverns and meeting places in the city. I think we are clear. Do I need to be briefed on your companions?” Runir turned to inspect Iarin and me. I realized that Kaiyer had taken an open seat at the bar and somehow obtained a bowl of stew and a mug of mead behind Runir without him noticing.

“I’ll go over that tonight with you. We are tired and the ladies need to rest and recover. Did you book all the rooms?”

“Yes.”

“Okay. It will be nice to get away from these girls for a night. Can you lead us to the rooms?”

“Yes sir. We have an appropriate room selected for the, girls. Follow me.” Runir stepped toward Jessmei and took her bags. Then they followed him through the hallway. I looked to Kaiyer, the other soldiers in the room were pretending to ignore him, but in the few minutes that Runir and Greykin spoke my friend had eaten three bowls of stew. I touched him on the shoulder as I approached.

“Are you ready to go to the rooms?” I feared leaving him.

“Still hungry. Can I meet you up there?” he said, as he waved to the barmaid with a smile. She looked pleased that he enjoyed the stew so much.

“Your friend needs some food, boy. He looks half-dead!” the soldier sitting next to him said. A few of the other men in the room laughed. Kaiyer smiled at him and nodded as he chewed his mouthful.

“Okay. I’ll come get you once I'm unpacked.” I felt a little sad that he wasn’t coming upstairs with me. I moved back to the hallway and grabbed my bags. His packs sat next to mine and I took a deep breath before I picked those up as well, then I forced myself up the stairs after the group.

The pain of carrying all the travel gear almost distracted me, but before I made it up the stairs I started to think about what would happen in the next few weeks.

Soon we would reach Nia. Nadea would present Kaiyer to the king, who would talk to him about why we awoke him. Then I would go back home. Part of me longed to see Grandfather and the kids again, to smell the ocean and watch the gulls. But another part of me would miss filling the important role I had in this quest. I was supposed to be the only one able to talk to the O’Baarni. I would be the one translating his impeccable battle strategies to Nia’s top generals and explaining his inner thoughts. These were petty feelings, but I didn’t think Kaiyer would learn our language so fast.

I didn’t think I would become useless so soon.

I caught up to the group as Runir finished showing Greykin the room Nadea and Jessmei would be sharing. There was no window in the room and it was sandwiched between his, Greykin’s, and across from a room that housed two of Runir’s men. Greykin seemed satisfied.

“You can bunk together or take separate rooms. We have plenty,” Runir told Greykin and Iarin as they moved to the next room in the hall.

“I’ll room alone if you don’t take offense, Greykin. I’ve heard your snoring for the last month and don’t even know if I can sleep without dreaming of working in a mill,” Iarin said with a chuckle.

“I understand my lad! Take the room across the hall from me. I’ve been a bit of a grump on this trip but now I’m in a much better mood.” Greykin clasped the bowman on his shoulder as they parted.

“I’ll share a room with our companion, if you don’t mind.”

“Your companion?” Runir looked around the hallway.

“There was a skinny guy with us named Kaiyer. He’s alright. Probably in the stable or eating. It’s fine if he rooms with the boy. He’s coming with us.” Greykin told Runir. The younger man nodded and then showed me to my door.

It was a splendid room, with two massive beds stuffed with down feathers rather than the cheap hay filling the small town inn had provided. We also had a plush burgundy couch, a dark wood desk, several oil lamps, and a separate bathroom with a tub, sink, and a toilet with running water. I remembered telling Kaiyer about plumbing and got excited about showing him. Would he rather sleep by the door or the window? He didn't seem to like the light from the moons, so I set his stuff by the bed closest to the door.

I unpacked a few books and then looked at my clothes. Since we were just staying the night I didn’t think I needed to unpack them.

Then I paced the room.

Should I go out to the tavern area? Or study? I was so used to the habits of traveling on the road I couldn't fathom what to do now that the group was split up in rooms. This would be the way of life at the castle, I realized.

That is, until they told me they didn’t need me anymore and I should go back home.

I finally decided to take a bath. I hadn’t experienced a hot one in almost two months. Afterward I would go out into the common room and see how Kaiyer was. Maybe everyone else would be out there and Greykin would tell us another story. I knew they were mostly exaggerations, but now that I knew the big bear of a man a little more I appreciated his tales. Even if I didn't appreciate the hangovers I got after he made me drink with him.

I undressed and turned on the water of the tub. I felt better now that I had a plan.