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“No! I didn’t mean—” Stumbling over his words, he glances around him warily, then turns to my horse, rechecking its sides, more to have something to do with his hands than anything else.

“I’m sorry if I gave any offense. I did warn you that I’m an odd weapon.

” He forces a self-deprecating laugh. “You haven’t been with us long enough to know…

it’s just…occasionally things that are permitted while outside the city — a certain level of camaraderie or leniency — that wouldn’t be advisable within the walls.

” This last is clearly a direct message to the girl beside me, who wilts slightly at the words, which in turn causes Teo’s face to tighten in silent apology.

“Ellie and I were raised close to each other — her parents worked on our lands — and our parents were often absent, so we have a history of incautious friendship which…has been…difficult…to outgrow. But please be assured we know our ranking. ”

“I don’t understand…” I respond slowly, feeling stupid. He stands, stretching, avoiding my eyes. The subject is uncomfortable for him.

“I’m sorry, Keeper…I…You said it was the same for the Bone people.”

“We have three Rings, Rider. But the way you are saying things — why would I not be friends with someone from the Third Ring?”

“Are you not divided in things like schooling, or work, or–” His voice stutters to a stop, and he swallows hard to continue, forcing his words to be deceptively calm, only casually curious. “Or marriage?

I laugh, a short, surprised sound. I can’t help it, and offer an immediate apology.

“I’m so sorry. No, of course not! I can’t even imagine.

We have a Third, and Second, and First Ring school, but for practical purposes.

If you are smart, you can move through the Rings; there is nothing to prevent you.

It is more for, oh, I don’t know — distance from the outer Ring to the central school, harvest times…

things like that. Any job is available to any person, though it’s admittedly hard to get the more desirable ones.

If your father was a baker, and you were raised as a baker, the skillset you have would be difficult for an outsider to learn, so it’s not an easy task to take over from one raised in the bakery.

But if you are a talented baker, you bake, First or Third Ring makes no matter. ”

“And your Council?” Ellie sounds astounded. “Surely they are only…First Ring men?” The terms are odd in her accent, and I shake my head slowly.

“No. Any man can be called to Council. Rannoch isn’t even full blooded of the Bone, and he is the youngest Councilman we have. The Village Father is not from the First Ring, and the Bones called for him well before his 21st name day.”

“I’m sorry, Keeper, but…are you telling me that–” Teo’s words are choked.

“For example–” Ellie’s eyes widen in sudden concern, but he pushes forward.

“Let’s say Ellie wanted to marry a Rider.

If she and a Rider were in love. They could just apply to be married, and it would be approved? It would not be a death sentence?”

“Death sentence? Approved?” All their words are so strange. “I don’t…they would just…they’d just marry. What approval? ”

The looks on their faces are incredulous. “You don’t apply to the Council for permission to marry? You would not be sentenced to death for stepping outside your tier?”

“No! That’s…that’s…” Staring down at my bracelets, I try to give them a moment.

They are uncautious around me, perhaps because I am foreign, because I am universally hated, because they think me blind.

“I could never support such a society, Rider. Love is a blessing. Were two people ever to find themselves in such an unfortunate circumstance, then my home would be a haven for them, my lips shuttered windows, my hearth a place for shared meals. There is such little peace in life; I would consider it an honor to help anyone find moments of happiness in this desperate world.”

The silence is filled with staccato breathing. Hope after a lifetime of hopelessness is paralyzing. I know. It seizes your throat, stops your heart.

Possibility is painful.

“And Ellie, I cannot accept you as a servant, but would gladly take your advice and guidance in navigating a new culture. If we need to keep things a certain way for appearances, I understand. But within my tent, perhaps we can…follow the social customs of my people? In all aspects?”

She is trembling, and presses her face against my horse's neck. Teo’s hand glances down her arm, and she turns to him, just slightly, enough to exchange heavy looks.

It is clearly a stolen moment, and I quickly adjust my bones, so when he looks at me, it seems I am simply distracted and did not witness anything.

“Well. What an interesting sort of place you must be from, Keeper,” he finally says, voice falsely light. “It sounds very intriguing.”

I shrug in response. What is golden in one light is brass in another, and there aren’t words enough or time to describe the differences.

A horn blares in the distance, and Ellie turns back to me, face pale, but composed. “That’s the count, Keeper. I’ll go start to sort your things for the night. I’ll get the tent started, and your sleeping roll set up. ”

“Where do you sleep, then, Ellie?” I ask curiously. She shifts awkwardly at the question.

“Most of the Fifth will find a nice patch of moss, don’t you worry. Cold nights and fresh air are good for the soul.”

Pulling Lorcan around to the front of my neck, I grip my necklace for comfort.

Protector? I ask, unsure of what I’m saying, and wait for his advice.

I think…in this situation, perhaps it would actually be wise, Little Keeper. Yes.

Nodding, I address Ellie, who looks confused and slightly discomforted.

“It seems like rain is coming, Ellie,” I begin slowly, and she nods.

“And lovely if it does, Keeper. It will cool things off.”

“I would…I would feel more comfortable if you were to share my space. Rain in our land is not something…it would be a favor to me. Which you are free to decline.”

Ellie and Teo wear twin expressions of astonishment.

“I’m sorry, Wren,” he says. “Are you…inviting Ellie to stay in your tent with you?”

“Will it get her in trouble?” I ask, and he shakes his head.

“Not if it is for your comfort…” he says slowly.

“Is there an extra bedroll for her?”

“They would not give her one.” He is frustrated, but smooths his voice at a gentle, brief touch of her hand on the back of his own.

“You’d have to ask Axton, Keeper, which I couldn’t in good conscience recommend doing…

and it would have to be for your purposes.

” He heavily stresses the words, and I nod in understanding.

“How would one go about doing that?”

“Talking to the BloodLetter? For you?” He and Ellie exchange a quick look that holds an entire conversation. “Go through his sister. Only Kylabet. No one else.”

“I don’t think she cares for me much, Rider.”

The expression on his face lets me know that I’m not far off the mark, but that there’s no other choice, and he doesn’t answer me .

Ellie glances back and forth between us.

“Until I have word, I’ll just work on your things, Keeper.

If you let Teo know what the BloodLetter says, I’ll go from there.

” She moves away, then pauses, looking back.

“You…I hope you don’t mind, and it’s a compliment, but you’re not exactly what I expected, BoneKeeper,” she says, before turning and scurrying off.

Teo stares after her, face inscrutable. “She’s uncautious, Keeper,” he whispers, almost to himself. “It makes it difficult to keep her safe.”

Trying to distract him, I pick up a brush to groom the tired horse in front of me. “Rider, how does my horse get a name? I feel ridiculous continuously calling it ‘horse’.”

He glances down at me, a small smile playing on his full lips.

“Well. Only the owner can give him a name — and it’s a he.

A gelding, too gentle for most purposes.

Too gentle for me, anyway, so I’m not sure what to do with him.

I only brought him along because my usual pack horse pulled up lame right before this adventure. ”

“Oh! He’s yours? He’s magnificent.” I can’t help the longing in my voice.

“He’s almost useless to me, Keeper.”

I scoff, offended for my mount. “Useless!”

Teo grins. “He’s unsteady in the smell of blood, Keeper. And we are the People of Blood. So you can see why, for me, he’s useless. A good horse, yes, but…perhaps, perhaps you would be willing to help me, and take him off my hands. I will sell him to you.”

Happiness, like a spark, singes my heart, but then dies out. “I have nothing of value to give you,” I reply sadly, but Lorcan laughs, catching my attention.

We’re not in the mountains anymore. Open your pouch and offer him a gem. Just one, mind you. The way they value things here, that is fair and more than fair.

I would have thought you’d be against me getting a pet I snark back, and can almost feel him roll his eyes in response.

Not a pet, Little Keeper. Gods above and below. A mount. A way to escape.

Teo clears his throat respectfully. “It’s strange,” he says.

“I can almost see you talking to them. Whichever you are speaking to now is clearly your favorite.” He says the words casually, as though he is making conversation, but a cold shiver goes down my back, and I grab the pouch from my hip, trying to distract his narrowed eyes.

“I’ll offer a single stone in trade.”

He tilts his head. “I don’t deal in stones, Keeper, but I’d take a favor at a later date. Nothing huge, of course.” He cannot hide the hunger in his voice. He wants the promise of a favor from me, but is trying to hide it.

Just pour them into your hand, Wren Lorcan commands, and I follow his direction, suppressing a smile at Teo’s response.

He whistles through his teeth in astonishment, then bends over my hand. “Stones?” he asks, incredulous. “ Stones ?” Laughing, he pokes at them with his finger. “I’d be robbing you to take even one of these for a horse.”

“Then the horse, the saddle and tack–”

“And?” he asks, prompting me, letting me know how much more room I have left.

“And…an extra bedroll, and maybe….an extra ration of food a day.”

His eyes narrow. “You drive a hard bargain, Keeper. I…I cannot do the extra ration. An extra bedroll, though? “

“I get cold?” I almost squeak, trying to keep my intentions quiet.

His grin is the sun rising after the Storms.

“Done,” he says, surprising me when he chooses a small, glittering blue stone from amongst the larger ones. “He’s yours to name and keep. It has been, and I mean this from my blood, a truly unexpected pleasure.” He pauses, grinning down at me. “And I haven’t forgotten I owe you a secret.”

Raising a brow, I tilt my head and smile back.

“Oh, no need, Rider. I have your secret already.” Color drains from his face, real alarm flashing in his eyes at my words, but it fades as I mimic his earlier movement, locking my lips and throwing away the key.

“You’ll find I’m a treasure box, too, Rider,” I murmur, and he nods slowly in reply .

“A truly unexpected pleasure,” he repeats, but this time somber, and much more serious.

As he walks away, I wrap my arms around my horse’s neck, and smile from my soul.