I slept late the next morning, enjoying the luxury of a comfortable bed after several nights of sleeping on a firm mat on the ground. Xiao brought up a breakfast tray to me after I'd risen, and I dined at my desk, sipping tea and tearing pieces off one of Lin's large, soft rolls. As I ate, I reread the translation work I'd finished so far to remind myself of where I'd left off, then I got to work on the remainder of the text. After the excitement of the past few days, though, I found it difficult to focus on such a quiet activity. So after a while, I set it aside and went to bathe and get some lunch.

At Porcoline's restaurant, I found Dylas waiting on tables. "Hey," he said as I came in. "How are you feeling?"

"Much better, thanks to Avani's healing skills. Speaking of whom, where is she? I haven't seen her around today."

"I'm not sure," he replied with a frown. "I've been working. Last I saw her, she was hurrying down the road on her way to Arthur's, probably for a meeting, but that was a few hours ago. I haven't talked to her since last night." He shrugged, then as he returned to work, he said, "I'm sure she's around. She just has a lot to do right now."

I was surprised, as I'd come to think of them as practically joined at the hip, and said, "Last night? I thought you'd spent the night with her."

He scowled slightly, replying, "No, didn't work out that way. She said she was tired and had a lot to think over and to do and that she needed some time to herself for a few days. So I'm back here in my room for now." Then he abruptly turned away, signaling an end to the conversation.

I didn't see her all that day, nor the next. I began to miss her—miss teasing her, her quick and clever comebacks, the way she'd blush when flustered or embarrassed, her sweet but frank and unabashed nature, her kindness, and most of all, her radiant smile. I wondered what kept her so busy that she couldn't spare a minute to stop by to say hi to me, or even to Dylas.

************

On the third day, I spotted her in the lobby of the hotel, just emerging from the baths as I came down the stairs. I felt myself brightening up at the sight of her, and called a greeting to her. To my surprise, though, she just waved and quickly ran out the door without so much as a word to me. Startled, I stood pondering her strange behavior for a minute, then asked Xiao if she'd noticed Avani acting oddly recently.

She looked surprised, but thought it over before saying that she'd seemed pretty normal, just a little distracted. "But that is to be expected, yes? So much rests on her shoulders." she asked, giving me a curious look.

"Perhaps," I said, staring out the door where she'd disappeared, then looking down at Xiao with a smile. "I just hope she realizes she doesn't have to bear her burden alone."

After lunch, I asked Dylas if he wanted to go do some training that afternoon. "I don't know about you," I said, "But I want to keep in shape, and I haven't done much the past few days."

"Can't today," was the slightly terse reply. "Too busy with work."

"Oh?" I replied. "That's too bad. Guess I'll have to find someone else or go it alone, then—you're busy, and I haven't seen Avani around since we returned to town."

He looked at me sharply, saying, "You haven't?"

"No, why? Is something wrong?" I asked, feeling puzzled. "All I've seen of her was just her running out of the inn as I came downstairs. She didn't even return my greeting, beyond just a quick wave as she disappeared out the door. So I couldn't have said if she looked well or not."

Dylas looked at me sadly, then said, "I haven't seen much of her, either. She's been busy.... And whenever I do see her, she's preoccupied. I guess she really has a lot on her mind right now."

************

I decided to track her down, wanting to be sure she was okay and to see if she wanted to go out to do some training with me. I finally found her in her rooms, working feverishly at her forge. "Honing your blacksmith skills?" I asked, leaning against the doorway watching her. She jumped at the sound of my voice and whirled around to face me. She looked pale, perhaps even unwell. Taking a step forward and feeling more than a little concerned by her appearance, I said, "Hey, are you okay? You aren't overdoing things, are you?"

She quickly looked away and turned back to her work. "I'm fine. Really. There's just so much to do. Dylas keeps pestering me to eat and sleep, though, so I'll be fine," she said tiredly as she lifted the sword she'd been working on to examine it.

I scowled as I watched her. She didn't look or act at all like herself, and I found that worrisome. I walked over to her and gently removed the blade from her hand. "Look," I said. "You're wearing yourself out. You need a break, or you'll make yourself sick. I'm worried about you, and I know Dylas is, too. So take a day off, why don't you?"

To my surprise, she shrank away from me, refusing to look me in the eyes. "Avani? What is it? What's happened? You're not acting at all like yourself," I said, my concern deepening. She just shook her head, opened her mouth as if to say something, then turned and fled the room, leaving me standing there with my mouth hanging open, too startled by her behavior to say anything.

I found her a short while later in Venti's chamber, nestled up to the slumbering dragon, leaning her cheek against the smooth scales of her neck. She looked like she'd been crying—her eyes were closed, but there was a suspicious dampness in her long, dark green lashes. She didn't see or hear me, so I withdrew silently, not wanting to disturb either of them.

However, I returned to her suite and penned a quick note apologizing if I'd inadvertently upset her earlier and reminding her that I was her friend, ready to listen and offer whatever assistance I could should she need me. I placed it on her kitchen table and went out the back door and into her gardens. It had begun to rain, so I ran through the gardens and back to the inn. I tried to focus on my translation work, but I again found myself too restless and distracted to accomplish much. By late afternoon, I had made very little progress.

************

I went to Porcoline's for my supper that evening, hurrying to get out of the cold autumn rain. I enjoyed a leisurely meal, extended by a few cups of coffee afterwards as I delayed my departure, hoping the rain would cease. It didn't, so eventually I gave up and made a run for it. When I reached the inn, I was taken by surprise to find Avani standing in the rain outside the inn's doors. She was soaked to the bone and shivering, and with an exclamation of dismay, I attempted to pull her into the inn. "W-w-wait," she said, her teeth chattering, "I want to t-talk with you. That's why I've b-been waiting here for you. C-can we go somewhere p-p-private?"

"Avani," I replied, firmly dragging her towards the door, "You're soaking wet and half frozen, and you'll get sick if you don't get out of those wet clothes and warmed up. Whatever you want to talk about, it can wait a little longer." Looking crestfallen, she nodded and allowed me to lead her inside. I found Xiao and asked her to take care her—help her out of her wet things and into the hot bath. Then I ran to the castle and found Clorica to ask her to bring a dry change of clothing to the bathhouse for her, and to collect her wet things as well.

After some time, she emerged, looking warmer but still upset—she kept her eyes down and refused to look at me. "What did you want to talk about?" I asked her, wondering what could have her so distraught.

"Not... not here. Can we please go somewhere more private?" she asked, still avoiding my eyes.

I thought for a minute, then said, "Well, with this rain, anywhere outside is out of the question. So I guess that leaves my room or yours. So let's go to your rooms—at least then I can be sure you get back safe and sound." She nodded and turned towards the door. I borrowed an umbrella from Lin and caught up to her, opening the umbrella over her as we stepped out into the rain.

We walked in silence through the palace gardens to her suite of rooms. Once there, I turned to her and asked, "Well? What did you want to talk about?" Instead of answering my question, she walked to her fireplace, threw a couple of logs on the low fire, and sat down in one of the chairs. She looked up at me anxiously and asked me to have a seat, so I sat in the chair opposite her and waited, feeling both curious and slightly impatient at her uncharacteristic refusal to get to the point.

After another few moments of silence, I said, "Well? Is something wrong? Has something happened between you and Dylas?"

Startled, she shook her head vigorously, then said, "No! Or maybe... maybe in a way.... A little bit of both I guess." She sighed, then looked at me miserably.

"Well, you certainly don't look very happy, I must say," I commented, puzzled.

She sighed heavily, then clenching her fists until her knuckles turned white, she looked up into my eyes and said, "Leon... I... I love you."

Thunderstruck by her quiet declaration, I leaned back in my seat, narrowing my eyes at her. "Is... is this some sort of joke? You can't be serious," I said, numbly.

"I know. I didn't intend for it to happen—one doesn't, you know. And when I realized... I tried to deny it. But... but I can't pretend anymore. I'm sorry. I know you don't feel the same way, but I had to tell you... in case maybe somehow I was wrong, and you did, after all." Tears filled her eyes as she looked away and into the crackling fire. "But it seems that was a vain hope. I'm sorry, Leon. I just couldn't help it, no matter how hard I tried...."

I went over and knelt next to her chair, gently wiping the tears from her cheeks. "You just caught me by surprise, that's all," I said slowly. "I... I need a little time. I know what my answer will be, but... I need time to clear my head. Will you meet me here tomorrow at, say, 10:00? I'll have my answer for you by then." Without looking up, she nodded, and I left, forgetting to grab Lin's umbrella in my confusion.

When I reached the inn, I asked Lin to send up a cup of mulled wine—I felt that I needed something a little more fortifying than tea tonight. I sat in my room, sipping the hot, spiced wine and thinking about Avani... and about Maria. And I knew what I had to say, though I felt as though it would tear me to pieces to say it.