Sylvester Rayburn sat with a stone cold glare. Drumming his fingers on the desk, surrounded by his ridiculous animals.

"Four o'clock." I called, marching up to his desk. I stopped in front, holding out my hand.

Rayburn didn't budge. "What on earth have you been up too girl."

I gasped, "Me? Nothing at all." Maybe the scary tattoo man was looking for me after all.

Rayburn's snarl, revealing rotten teeth. "Really? Because some redhead's been snooping around the castle, breaking into the dungeon. Now a prisoner's missing and another one's dead."

Someone died? Did Wren kill somebody? My breath was short, palms sweaty. What did I let happen right under my nose?

I rolled my eyes. "There are loads of redheads in this world. I don't know why you're asking me."

“Whatever you think you're doing, I don't like it,” Rayburn hissed.

I held out my hand again. “Just give me the letter and I'll get out of your hair.”

“This drew unnecessary attention to myself, girl. You're lucky I perform well under pressure.” He placed the letter in my hand. The paper slipped safely into my pocket.

“Now was that so hard?”

“You really are the most obnoxious little brat,” Rayburn huffed, slouching back in his seat.

“I know.” I grinned back at him, swinging the door shut. Fighting shivers as I ran down the hall.

I needed to get out of here, especially if Wren's description about the tattooed-man was right. I had been careless, stupid. Showing my face around to too many people. If I wanted to keep breathing, I had to be smarter.

I shut the closet door behind me, breathing in the dusty air. Pushing stuff aside, I imagined my little shack back at the camp. The run-down leaky roof, the rickety porch, I captured it all in my mind.

In an instant the closet vanished from around me. The world built back up around, as I found myself in a familiar place.

I stood outside my house just out of sight from the main path, hidden behind the trees. My stomach jumbled worse than the last jump. I shook it off the urge to throw up. Walking around to the front of the house, grey clouds over the sky. I unrolled my sleeves, shivers running down them. I missed the sun already.

Diggery sat on my porch steps. Head rested in his hands. Bright green eyes, lost in focus. Caught up in his own world.

“Hello stranger.” I dropped my pack on the ground. His head shot up, eyes wide.

“Phyn!” He leaped at me, spinning me around in a hug. The momentum nearly knocked me off my feet.

“Missed you too.” I wheezed out, his arms wrapped around me. “Diggery, I can't breathe.”

“Oh, sorry.” He stepped back, his grin falling.

I elbowed him in the ribs. "You're pretty excited to see me."

He scratched his head. "Well I've been waiting a while. I thought you'd never come."

I had to admit underneath all that goofiness, he was kinda cute. A kind of irresistible boyish charm. Pretty soon he'd have some girl buzzing around and then I'd get inched out of his life. I dreaded the day, I didn't want to lose my friend.

Taking a seat on the steps, I stretched out my tired legs. “What did you do today with Rudolph gone.”

“I still shadowed his crew, they're alright." He flopped next to me, rolling his eyes. "All anyone could talk about was you throwing stew over Rudolph's head." He raised an eyebrow. "I think you caught a few admirers."

"That's ridiculous, Diggery." The only thing my dinner fiasco would inspire was mockery.

"How about you? You sure rushed you off this morning?" He leaned in.

"You know I can't talk about it, we covered this."

"Ya I know, but why?" His eyes searching. "You get all this special treatment and for what? It can't all be for free. Why does it have to be a secret?"

I hesitated, opening my mouth. "It just does."

"You're not a….you know what, are you?" Diggery fidgeted, his face turning scarlet.

"A what?" I frowned, trying to pick up on his meaning. He hesitated to clarify, the look on his face giving it away. "No! Ew no. No, I would never." Heat growing on my cheeks, my face as red as his now.

"Good, I didn't think you were. I don't even know why I asked." He put his face in his hands. "Typical me putting my foot in my mouth."

Growling a sigh, I stared off. I was itching to tell him the truth. I didn't want him to speculate on other possible theories. Malachi would hate this, my gifting was a need to know basis, but I did trust Diggery. He was a bit clueless, but he was a real friend.

"Can I trust you to not repeat this, ever. Even on accident."

Diggery whipped his head around. "Yes! I mean yes, I won't breathe a word."

I hung my head. Hopefully I wouldn’t regret this. "Okay, well, you know that story I told last night? It's not just a true story, it's my story."

Diggery was silent. I refused to look his way, afraid of the look on his face.

"All of it?"

I nodded. "As I mentioned in the story, I can teleport. That's why I'm so valuable to Malachi. I deliver things for him, and really anything else that requires that sort of travel."

I peeked over at him nervously, a half-grin waiting for a punch-line.

"Oh you're serious." He studied my eyes "You can teleport?"

My face went red. "I know it sounds crazy but-"

"Show me."

He hadn't just written me off. "Ok..." I said, taking a quick glance over the yard. "That tree." I pointed to the maple ten feet away. He turned his head just as I reappeared beneath its branches.

His eyes about to pop out of his head. "That's the coolest, most insane thing, I've ever seen in my entire life!" he cheered, running after me. "You've been holding out on me Phyn, this is genius!"

I laughed giving a bow. "Thank you."

He grabbed both my shoulders, shaking me. “Can you imagine what we could do with something like this, the pranks we could pull!”

I let my smile drop. “We can't do anything with it, it's a secret. Malachi would kill me if he knew I told you.”

“Ya but we can have a little fun can't we? What's the harm?” He let go, his voice losing it's enthusiasm.

“No, I can't. We can't. Not with my gifting, if it gets out then I might have to run again or worse.” I scolded. He needed to understand how serious this was.

He sighed, “Fine, I get it, whatever. I'm just saying using it to pull a prank on Lawrence or Benjamin would mean huge laughs.”

I glared at the idea.

“Don't worry I'll get over it.” He shook his head.

“Are they on the same crew as you now?” I asked, tucking my hair behind my ears. I was surprised he would suggest them as targets. The oldest and biggest of all the kids, not the sort of people you wanted to get mad. I stayed out of their way, they stayed out of mine.

“Ya, but I've got them handled. They're bigger idiots than I am,” he joked.

I laughed with him, hiding a stabbing guilt for calling him an idiot to begin with. Even if sometimes it was true, he had moments of brilliance.

"Just don't get too cocky. Stupid dosent mean they won't take you in a fight." I pointed a warning finger at him, my stomach grumbling in response.

"Skipping meals is catching up with you." Diggery laughed, bright green eyes shining at me. "Your stomach sounds like a rabid animal.”

"Ya, whatever." I rolled my eyes at him, stomping off. I was going to get something to eat.

"It was a joke!" he shouted, running to catch me.

Down the dirt path, hands in our pockets, walking side by side. The clouds lazily floated by. A little blue breaking through.

“So you're a Wanderer,” Diggery mused. “The world's a lot crazier than I imagined.”

I frowned, dragging my feet. "Just don't ask me a million questions about it. At least not today." I didn't have the energy to answer them. There were too many things I didn't know, myself. I wouldn't even know where to begin.

He lifted up his hands in defense "I didn't ask you a single one. This is just strange for me."

"I know. It's strange for me too." I tightened my shoulders, locking my eyes ahead. Maybe telling him was a mistake. I didn't want things to change between us.

"Don't look so glum, Phyn. Let's just eat." He pushed onward. The path opening up into the courtyard. Cornered by the dining area, kitchen, and Malachi's office.

My hand stuck around the letter in my pocket. The guilt flooded back, burning a hole in my coat. “I just have to drop something off, save me a seat,” I instructed Diggery. He nodded, running towards the wafting smell of cooked beef.

I stalled at the steps of Malachi's office. I still didn't know what to do. It would be dangerous if Malachi found out I kept the letter, but how could I just hand it over? Wren’s words, stuck, repeating in my mind. He was right, I couldn't stop the inevitable. I also didn't want to dirty my hands with it. Now that I knew what it was, how could I just ignore it?

Although honestly what did I really know? That it was from some secret evil group maybe had a plan, related somehow to Luca's prophecy? I didn't know what would or wouldn't happen if I handed it over. It wasn't worth sacrificing Malachi's trust over an uneasy feeling.

My stomach wasn't going to let me be indecisive. I stomped up the steps, cursing the hands responsible for the letter. I didn't want anything to do with this.

I gave the door a good knock before turning the handle. “I made it back.” I waved at Malachi, walking inside.

“Oh good, pet.” He didn't look up, shuffling papers around on his desk. He held out his palm. “Let's have it. The money and the letter.”

I froze, staring at his hand. I couldn't make myself move.

“Phyn?” he questioned, his head still down.

I scrambled with my pack, pulling seven hundred from the pouch. I placed the coins in his hand. “Seven hundred, it's all there,” I said, hoping he'd forget about the letter.

“And the reply?" Malachi raised an eyebrow. "Seven hundred is enough to cover a return letter.”

Gawking at him, I hesitated. The tap of his foot, sending my hands into motion. I pulled the envelope out of my pocket, Malachi snatching it straight out of my hands. The letter slipped, snug inside the drawer. There was no getting it back now.

“Goodbye pet.” He grumbled, a finger pointed towards the door.

"Alright." I nodded, lifting the medallion off my neck, I placed it down on the desk. Walking back outside, I ignored the nagging voice in my head, telling me I made the wrong decision. For good or harm, it was done.

Other people were beginning to gather, I could see them all from the top of the stairs. I put my hands in my pockets, forming my fingers around the hundred coins I kept for myself.

Malachi never paid me in cash. He'd give me anything else, but never actual money. I knew why, it was his way of keeping me dependent. I hated the idea of being under his thumb so sometimes I charged clients a little more than usual. I got some extra cash and Malachi still got paid, it was a win-win really. As long as he never found out, there was no harm in it.

I made my way down the steps, my stomach, not willing to let me wait. I pushed past the crowds, working my way to the front of the line.

The same tasteless brown stew as yesterday, disguised only by cooking it to death. As unappealing as that sounded, I was too hungry to complain. I gave the cook a smile as he dropped a scoop in my bowl. Taking my supper, I ran off to find Diggery.

Sitting near the back, his eyes met mine. I waved, my smile fading when he didn't wave back. He wasn't alone. Lawrence and Benjamin, sat on either side of him. Stupid grins slapped across their faces, squishing close to Diggery. No doubt they invited themselves.

Lawrence wrapped his arm around Diggery, whispering something in his ear. Diggery stiffened, looking away. A devilish smirk, Lawrence met my eyes. Taunting me, he was looking for trouble.

Setting down my bowl, I found my seat. Taking spoon fills of stew, I ignored the unwanted guests. Lawrence coughed, leaning over the table. His squinty hazel eyes, calling for my attention. Whatever this was I'd have to play it strategically.

"Can I help you?" I put down my spoon, hardening my gaze.

Lawrence brushed back his greasy brown hair. "It's rude, Phynley, not to say hello."

"Ya, rude." Benny repeated, sneaking a glance at Lawrence to see if he had approval.

"I tend not to worry about niceties," I spat back. Diggery sat blank faced, emotionless. What did they say to him?

I crossed my eyes back to the sneering goblin. "What are you doing here Lawrence?"

Lawrence tightened his arm around Diggery, yanking on his neck. "Oh, I'm just here to visit my good pal, here."

Diggery cringed at him. Something was wrong. He was being too passive with these loons. A flash of guilt in his eyes. What was really going on?

"Ya?" I took another slurp of my stew. "Diggery, would you consider these two friends?"

He threw Lawrence's arm off his shoulder. "No, not really. They're kinda invading my personal space."

"Ya, they're not friends of mine either." I narrowed my eyes at the two. "What are you doing here?" I repeated the question. I was going to get to the bottom of this.

Lawrence rolled his eyes. "No need to be so mean, Phynley. We come on friendly terms." He folded his hands on the table.

“We just wanna talk." Benny piped up, a little too excited for his turn to speak.

Lawrence gave his disgusting grin. "That was quite the scene this morning. Not that any one of us hasn't wanted to throw something over Rudolph's head, but you went after him like you wanted to get punched around."

I snorted, "Ya well, I like to live on the edge."

Benjamin laughed, stopping at the look on Lawrence’s face. Eyes glaring, jaw clenched. I had him.

Lawrence took a breath. "Don't think we've forgotten about Diggery crashing into Rudolph before the whole thing went down."

He was rushed, less careful. I could see where this was going.

Lawrence smirked. "Stealing from one of Malachi's captains, not exactly a smiled upon activity."

He was trying to blackmail me. "Get out." I growled, standing up from my seat.

"Relax Phyn, we're not going to tell anyone. We just figured it's time for the four of us to become friends. Let those perks of yours trickle down. Even just a mention to Malachi would be something."

I laughed, loudly, patronizingly. "You guys really haven't thought this through, have you?" I leaned over the table. "I'm sorry but your jump from Rudolph yelling at Diggery to Diggery trying to steal from him, is a big one."

"Ya I'm just really clumsy." Diggery grinned, the light returning in his eyes.

"I don't like it when people yell at my friends, so I settled it. Anyone who messes with my friends will meet a similar fury," I threatened.

Benny's eyes went wide, his face turning pale. Looking over, Lawrence whacked him on the side of the head.

I slowly sat back down in my seat. "Tell me how do you think it will go when you tell someone your ridiculous story? Cause I promise you I'll be there to challenge you. Like you said I got perks and that gives me more power than you."

Lawrence’s frown soured, opening his mouth to speak and shut it.

"I think it's time you two go back to your table." I smiled sweetly, knowing I had won.

Gathering the shreds of his pride, he stood."Come on, Benny, let's go sit with some better company." Benny kept looking back, pulling at Lawrence's arm as they walked off.

"Bye see you guys later!" Diggery called, waving them off. Victory was sweet.

"That was insane," Diggery laughed. His shoulders relaxed. I was happy to see him acting normal.

"Ya it was." I let my grin slip. "But we're not out of the woods yet. I'm sure Lawrence will find some way to retaliate." I kept a close eye on them, the two arguing their way to another table, stumbling over each other. "What did they say to you before I showed up?" I asked him.

He shifted awkwardly, wringing his hands. "Not much, they were just trying to aggravate me."

Eyes dimmed, he obviously didn't want to share the specifics. I wasn't going to interrogate him about it. He was kind enough to wait with his questions, I could do the same.

"I'm so hungry this actually tastes good." I laughed, scraping the last spoonfuls of stew.

Diggery chuckled at my joke, something still bothering him behind his green eyes. I'd get it out of him someday. For now, I would take it easy. I was ready for things to get back to normal. Something nagging at the back of my mind, telling me it never would.