The road to Foot Path was long and hot. The sun beat down on the covered wagon and made the horse breathe heavily in long exhales. Zayden was sure to give the horse water and rest when he could, glad for the shady rocks that dotted the roadside.

  Minori remained in the wagon. With the kitsune not being used to the hotter climates, Zayden tried to help him stay cool by offering a damp cloth now and then.

  Though as they traveled the well-worn road, Zayden couldn’t help but already feel a little homesick. The Stepping Stone Isles were more like high parts of a lush marsh. People usually traveled by boat between the Isles, or by long dock-like brides that stretched from island to island. He smiled as he remembered when he first decided to be a Tea Mage; it was when a Wandering Tea Mage had come to the Isles. He knew it was impolite to listen in on a Tea Mage and Client, but he couldn’t help but marvel at the skill the veiled elf held as he assessed what his client needed and prepped the tea for the ceremony.

  The client had someone who lost his wife recently, and the smell of the tea was so comforting that even Zayden couldn’t help but feel the effects.

  Unsurprising, the Tea Mage had known he was there and told him the roll of a Tea Mage.

  My duty as a Tea Mage is to heal the hurts of the soul. Sometimes, not even a Potion Maker who’s studied all his life can heal a wounded heart or mind. That is where I come in. I find the root of the hurt, show the client, and give them tea to begin the healing; then, it’s up to them to continue that healing. As anyone will know, one who doesn’t wish to get better will not.

  Zayden had hung onto every word, and when the Tea Mage left, he’d started studying. Many in the village had laughed, saying that there was no way an elf from a backwater island would become a Tea Mage. But he persisted, pestering the local potion master on what herbs were best for what, seeking out every book and saving every cut he could for a tea set of his own.

  And when the Tea Mage returned, Zayden had insisted on offering him a tea ceremony. And that little insistance had been the start of Zayden’s journey.

  A roll of thunder had pulled Zayden out of his thoughts, and he looked up at the sky. It was growing thick with dark clouds, occasionally lighting up with lightning hidden in the mists.

  “Well, glad that we’re out of that sun,” Minori grumbled. “But rain?”

  Zayden laughed. “It will help cool the road down.” He said as he looked ahead. “At least we’re almost at the trees. Norman’s already looking anxious.”

  Indeed, the horse had looked up at the sound of thunder and gave a low snort that would have impressed a dragon.

  “Good, the last thing we need is for him to bolt and break everything in here,” Minori answered.

  They made short work of getting to the trees, letting Normal trot most of the way so he could expel some of the anxious energy. Once they found a place to camp, Zayzen unhooked Normal from the wagon and gently rubbed lavender oil around his nostrils before feeding him. That should help him from bolting in the storm. The storm quickly moved upon them as Zayden got to work making food. The sky darkened to almost black, and the wind made making the fire tricky. Soon, a pot began to boil as Zayden made stew.

  “Stew again?” Minori asked as he settled beside his friend. “We just got a bunch of good food.”

  “I know, let’s save that for when we reach the next village,” Zayden answered, stirring the ladel to keep the food from scorching.

  Minori rolled his eyes at Zayden but settled in as the two listened to the rain. Zayden was close to being lost in thought again before Norman lifted his head and looked into the darkening forest with a low snort.

  Minori looked up as well and sniffed the air. This wasn’t out of the normal for a stormy evening, though what wasn’t normal was when Minori’s hackles rose along his spine.

  “Someone’s coming.”

  Zayden looked at the kitsune. “Might just be a traveler.”

  Minori shook his head. “Not one like this.” He answered. “I don’t recognize the scent.”

  That was unexpected. Minori would have recognized if it was an elf, or maybe even a fae in these forests, but not to recognize the scent? Soon the sound of footsteps could be heard, and Zayden looked up at the path ahead to see who was approaching, carefully reaching for his leg where a knife lay hidden.

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  Out of the gloom stepped a sight Zayden least expected.

  A woman.

  Her face was smeared with dirt and dust, but her blue eyes stuck out brightly past the grime. Her hair was tangled and her limbs shook. The clothed she was wearing looked worn and old, and she had no shoes. But the most startling detail was her ears. They were rounded, which made Zayden wonder if she was a tall dwarf. But on closer inspection, she was far too lean to be a dwarf. A half-blood perhaps?

  “Are you alright?” Zayden asked.

  The woman looked at him, and he noted there was a slight distance in her eyes. Lingering remnants of a spell? He wouldn’t be surprised by how close they were to the Fae border.

  “Zayden…” Minori warned, standing as all nine of his tails whipped around defensively.

  Zayden was already on his feet and moving closer to the strange woman. She was maybe a head shorter than him, and she had to tilt her head up to look at him. Now that he was closer, he could see that she was shivering a little, and she was damp from the rain. “Where did you come from?”

  She just stared up at Zayden, and it was uncertain if she understood him or not.

  “Zayden!” Minori barked, getting the elf to look back at him.

  “What? She needs help.”

  “She’s a human.” Minori answered.

  Zayden paused and slowly looked back at the young woman in front of him. The idea of her being a human hadn’t even crossed his mind. But with that fresh perspective, he could see it. The slender frame, dark hair, and small round ears. It made his heart rate speed up a little. How was there a human here? Who was she? Why was she here? Most importantly, why wasn’t she saying anything? Most of the stories he heard growing up were that humans had a tendency to be boisterous. So, why wasn’t she?

  Taking a slow breath, Zayden reached his hand out to her.

  “Zayden!” Minori scolded.

  “I’m not about to leave her in this weather,” Zayden answered, looking back at Minori and tensing a little as he felt her hand slip into his. It was so very cold. Steeling himself, Zayden looked at the Kitsune. “Something isn’t right. And I need the firelight to see better.”

  Gently, he guided the human towards the fire and had her sit. It was like moving a doll. She looked around a little, but she said nothing as Zayden drew out his wand and waved it at the pot, the Ladel stirring the stew on its own as Zayden got water and a cloth. Minori sat near the woman, watching her with flattened ears. It didn’t take Zayden long to come back with the items he needed.

  Minori watched as Zayden gently cleaned away the dirt from her face. She’d need a full bath, but at least now he could see if she was injured and in shock.

  “Care to explain why you just set a human by our fire?” Minori asked, watching the human with distrust gleaming in his gold eyes.

  “Because I want to know why she’s here,” Zayden answered, watching the human’s face. She made no reaction to his touch aside from closing her eyes a little as he cleaned off her face. For a human to be in Myth… It was a strange sight to be certain.

  “Whats your name?”

  The woman’s blue eyes blinked and she looked at Zayden, as if slowly realizing he was there and speaking to her. But she made no answer.

  “Do you have a name?” He tried again.

  Still, nothing.

  “A real chatterbox she is…” Minori grumbled.

  “Nori, stop it,” Zayden scolded. “You could be helpful and see if she’s under a spell of some sort.”

  Minori made a face and straitened a little, a small growl escaping his chest.

  Zayden sighed. “You can have first dibs on whatever treat you like in the next town if you help me with this.”

  Minori looked at Zayden. “Surely you can offer better than that,”

  “Is this really the time for this?”

  “Yes, since there’s a human in our camp. Need I remind you that my kin were once hunted by humans?”

  “No, but can’t you see she’s far from a Hunting Mood?” Zayden asked.

  Minori grumbled again. “I will get one favor without question.” He answered.

  Zayden paused at hearing this. Granting a favor of any kind is a large ask. But then again, this situation did mean asking Minori a large favor. Zayden sighed and nodded. “Fine. One favor.”

  Minori nodded and stood. He shifted to his man form and approached the woman. She looked up at him as he knelt in front of her. The two stared at each other for a long moment before Minori’s ear twitched, and he tilted his head.

  “Huh, well, I can’t say it’s a spell per sey,” Minori reported, his tone softening a little. “But something is definitely wrong.”

  “Can you tell what?” Zayden asked.

  “Well, there’s a couple of options,” Minori commented as he stepped back and grabbed a bowl for the nearly forgotten stew. “She could have been kidnapped, which in either case would explain why she’s here and how. As for her condition, she either ate something she shouldn’t have, or her name was stolen.”

  “Can’t you tell which it is?” Zayden asked, getting a bowl as Minori filled his first, then Zaydens’.

  “No, I’m not Fae,” Minori answered. “If she ate something she shouldn’t, we’ll know soon enough as she starts to get withdrawals and will want more Fae Food. If her name was stolen, then I can’t really be sure if we can help her.”

  Zayden looked at the Kitsune, then at the human.

  “So… what do we do?”

  “You mean, what do you do.” Minori corrected. “You’re the one that brought her into camp. You’re the one who cleaned her up. She’s not your responsibility.”

  Zayden blanched and looked at Minori, but he was right. He’d accepted her as his guest. As part of the Tea Mage code, one doesn’t turn away a client in need once they’ve been sat at the table. Sure, this wasn’t a Tea Table they were sitting at, but he’d still more or less accepted her as his client.

  He sighed, looking at his bowl of stew before passing it to the human, who numbly accepted it. “You should eat.” He told her. Then, he recalled that her name may have been stolen and would need direction; at least until he found a way to help her. “Um, eat until the bowl is empty.” He told her.

  He watched as she slowly ate. This would make his year-and-a-day pilgrimage harder, but the rules were the rules. So for the time being, he and Minori were hosting a human.

  Guardians and Keepers of Myth, I hope folks can enjoy this one as I slowly add to it. If you want to help support this Indi Author, be sure to check out my Kofi. You can get my book there as well!