I stared at the tavern as Charlie tied up the boat. This wasn’t Mum’s scene. Which meant it was the perfect place to look for her.

A figure walked along the roof. But it was too far for me to see who it was. But I’d found Mum in odder places.

Charlie patted my shoulder. “Just get to the room and you’ll be fine.”

It seemed like he hadn’t seen the figure now hidden by leaves. But I nodded anyway following him into the building. I cringed as I stepped through the threshold. The sound was booming as the room was filled to the brim. And so many emotions all swirling around me.

I tried to focus on Charlie. His worry. His interest in the bar tender. A note of amusement.

Then he shoved me into the hall, key in hand. I could finally breathe again as he closed the door to the common room. Each room had to be warded because I couldn’t feel any of the minds now. But it was only one mind that interested me.

Glancing at the key I made my way to the room. The halls were much longer and the rooms much bigger than would seem possible just looking at the place outside. But that’s why I loved this world of magic. And why I thought Mum loved it a little too much. Enough to leave her wife and child for months at a time. Only this time had been a whole year.

Tossing our bags on the bed I opened up the window. It was only then that I could sense the mind on the roof. But it was guarded like Mum’s. Though younger.

I climbed out the window and onto the roof. Only for a squeak to freeze me in my tracks. Carefully, I reached inside my shirt to take out Sparky. The little lizard had the nerve to hiss at me. But he settled down once I placed him on my shoulder.

Standing on the roof, I looked around. The lower hanging branches obscured much of it. But no one had been able to hide from me yet. The leaves rustled and I stepped toward the mind.

I just had time to jump back before a fury creature stood before. It looked like a black panther mixed with a saber tooth. And I hadn’t sensed it at all. No. That wasn’t it. His mind was connected to the other.

The big cat lunged forward. But Sparky hissed, unleashing a bolt of electricity.

“Is that a Fulman?” A young woman asked as she stepped from the leaves.

“Yeah, this is Sparky.” I said as the lizard settled back down on my shoulder. That’s when I noticed her eyes. And I’m Star.”

“Star.” She said the name as if it were familiar to her.

“What’s your name?”

She stared at me a moment. “Missy.”

“Isn’t that a title?”

She shrugged and looked off into the darkening forest. “You should get inside.”

Before I could ask why she jumped on her cat’s back and launched off the roof. I watched her bound towards dark figures in the trees. They were all filled with blood lust and something else. Something that all soldiers of the crown had begun to carry in their minds.

I portalled after her as she begun her attack. The soldiers around us didn’t speak. Nor did they try to capture two magic users for the kings personal use. No these people were sent to kill.

Missy pulled me into the shadows as two more big cats came to join the first. Her blades dripped with as much blood as mine. And yet it seemed as if they felt no pain.

“Can you make a door to the dark forest?” Missy asked watching as the three cats got pushed back.

I nodded. “Just group them up.”

Missy jumped back into the fray as I focused my mind on the place that had the most magic in this world. The dark forest reached for me wanting to make me part of it. I resisted but it wasn’t something I could keep up for long.

Just in time Missy and the cats managed to surround the soldiers. And with a gasp i opened a portal beneath their feet. As the portal closed I collapsed. The last thing I saw was Missy’s blue eyes just before darkness took me. Eyes like the moon.