Silver came upon the clearing reluctantly. Ethyn walked by his side, steadily counting his steps to occupy his mind.

"Are you sure Sage wants to see me?" the redhead asked carefully when he could take his mathematics no longer.

"She asked for you specifically." The Guardian answered. "Sage is a smart woman and she knows that you have been avoiding her."

Ethyn's eyes darted to one side. "I figured that she would want me to stay away. It is easier that way."

Three days had passed since the battle with Borit, and things seemed to be finally settling into their regular rhythm. Ethyn had been doing his best to give Silver and Sage all the time they needed. While he did not particularly care for the new Guardian, he could respect that she had attempted to save his friend.

"Sage just wants to talk. She does not bite, I promise." Silver smiled beneath his hood. "And as for staying away, the only one who needs to do that is Borit."

"I do not think that will be a problem," Ethyn tapped his chin as he thought. "Did Hanna tell you if he made it back to the palace?"

"She did. He did." Silver answered. "Though I might have liked to see what erased from existence looks like."

--------------

In the days since the skirmish, the captain had indeed returned to the castle of King Rhodri. His sight returned as promised, but he continued to see the occasional shimmer in the corner of his vision to remind him that it had not all just been a dream.

Borit's report of the events leading to his blindness painted Silver as quite a villain. He reread the words.

"This makes me look like quite the victim. My men will never take me seriously if this gets out...They will call me a fool." the captain muttered to himself. He crumpled the paper in his hand.

He looked at another communication on his desk. It was from Baron Monte.

'Captain,

I am quite aggrieved that our plan did not work. However, please return the mirror at your earliest convenience. My wife is quite beside herself with the fire that our mutual acquaintance caused. She has threatened to leave me if I cannot put everything to right. I shall not make schemes without her approval again. Did I mention that I need the mirror back? Now. PLEASE!

Best regards,

Baron Monte'

"Ah, the mirror..." Borit grumbled. The sharp nosed man also realized that publishing anything about the matter of the mirror would lead to questions that neither he nor the Baron wanted to answer.

And he didn't have the mirror to return anyway. Either one of his men or the Guardian had pilfered it from him.

But...if there was no report of a missing mirror, perhaps the Baron would lose the courage to seek it out. This was the easiest solution. He would wipe his hands of the whole mess. So he threw the report and the Baron's communication in the fireplace and let it burn like the hatred inside of him. Swallowing his anger, Borit tried to focus. He had bigger plans.

With a dangerous calmness, he sought out the king, ready to dutifully serve him.

-----------------

In the clearing, Sage stood next to a brilliant dappled mare talking to the old woman Hanna. Silver could see from their serious faces that Hanna was giving her final instructions. Sage was placing the baron's mirror in her pack and nodding slowly.

'I guess Hanna told her to keep it. I wonder why.'

As Silver waited at the edge of the clearing to be acknowledged, his keen hearing could catch pieces of their conversation.

"Why are you giving it to me?" Sage asked.

"This is an ancient mirror, quite special in fact. It is part of a pair that together can aid you greatly.

"But by itself?" the brunette asked as she closed her pack. Her head was racing with the options that two mirrors could achieve.

"Alone it is just a mirror, but a beautiful one. Enjoy the simple pleasures until it is time for the other to be revealed. Whatever you do, keep it safe." Hanna's voice was firm. "You will need it."

"Yes, ma'am," Sage felt compelled to answer. Even though she did not understand it all, the beautiful woman would respect the Fate's wishes.

The brunette's gaze shifted to the man and the boy and her face brightened. Sage waved. "Come on, boy. She's seen us. Let's go." Silver pushed on his friend's back, but Ethyn dug in his heels.

"You better go on without me," he responded, his fear creeping up inside him. If she were a Guardian and had powers, she might yet have one last trick up her sleeve to be rid of him. It was a silly thought, he knew, yet his feet remained planted. "I will wait for you right here."

Unwilling to give into the boy's game, the silver-eyed man growled softly. "Oh no you won't. I already told you that Sage asked to see you specifically. Now, move!" Silver gave an extra shove, and Ethyn's feet began their nervous trek forward.

The redhead had not spoken to his nemesis since the confrontation at the restaurant. They had reached a détente of sorts, and he was not sure that he was willing to stir up trouble again. Sweat beaded on his brow as he stared anxiously at the ground. If Silver saw his nervousness, he ignored it completely.

"Good morning, ladies," Silver said with a flourish. "Are we late or early?"

The two women regarded him, and Sage responded, "Late I'm afraid. Lily and the rest have already said their goodbyes. I was afraid you might have forgotten." There was a hint of teasing in her voice that tugged at Silver's heart. He shook his head.

"How could I forget the day my heart is ripped from me?" Silver had meant it as a joke, but the feeling behind his words was too palpable.

Ethyn looked determinedly at his feet as he drew circles in the dirt. He tried not to be offended by his friend's words.

Sage eyed the young boy. "Ethyn?" she called gently. He looked up at her warily, hoping they could part ways amicably. However he braced himself for the worst. "Thank you," she said as she smiled down on him.

Ethyn was caught off guard. He raised one eyebrow. "For what?" he asked.

"For taking care of Silver. I could never leave except I know he has you looking after him. I should have seen it sooner. I am so sorry for trying to get rid of you."

Ethyn's eyes widened. She had actually admitted it! "I knew it. Didn't I tell you?!" he shot an accusing glance at Silver, who held up his hands in surrender as he nodded.

Sage continued, "I have never been good at sharing. I thought love had a limit, and I wanted it all to myself. It was selfish and wrong. I have admitted to Silver all the underhanded things I said and did to push you out."

"Even the one where you stuck the honey pot on my chair and blamed me when it was crushed?" Silver had been mad for a week, and nothing the boy could do would convince him that he had been sabotaged.

"Even that one. I'm not proud of myself. You deserve better." Sage said seriously. "I hope you can forgive me."

"I forgive you," he said, and he found that in his soul, he meant it. "I hope you will forgive me too," he said after a time. "I have had quite my share of pranks on you as well."

"The ferret trapped in my cupboard...that was you, wasn't it?" Sage narrowed her gaze, but the corner of her lips lifted.

"Guilty. Also the tea always going missing before your dates. You do make good tea, I must admit." Ethyn waited for her to yell at him, but instead she laughed.

"I thought I was going crazy! I forgive you too. I hope we can call a truce now?" She held out her hand.

"Truce," Ethyn agreed.

The two shook forearms.

Hanna laid her hand on the boy's shoulder. "Let's give them some privacy."

Ethyn nodded, feeling much lighter than when he came. Forgiveness felt good. "Goodbye Sage." he said genuinely. "And good luck."

"Goodbye Ethyn. Take care." Sage wished him well.

Ethyn shot Silver an approving glance. "You could do worse than her, you know."

Silver chuckled as he gazed at the beautiful brunette, "Trust me, I know."