The following day proceeded much like the first, but their travel time suffered. Ash started out the journey energetic and ready for whatever the world had, but she hadn't expected the complete monotony of endless walking and drilling by Roan.

Eventually, they compromised to make more stops to practice her magic to break up the trip. It was still needed progress, Roan reasoned, and spirits dropped too low would lead to trudging steps anyway.

At one point, after she protested that she was fine to push on, Roan shot her a dry look and said, "I have traversed these roads once already with nearly triple our current number. I think I have some idea what I am doing."

She didn't argue anymore after that.

The second day ended without incident, and Ash awoke on the third desperately missing a bed. Roan claimed they'd arrive at Volant early the next day, and although Ash wasn't looking forward to that, it did mean only one more day on the hard ground.

It was during their first break, with the sun climbing toward its midpoint, while Ash was practicing her magic, that Roan said, "There. That's perfect."

She jumped. Unlike the prior days, he hadn't been talking while she practiced, and the sudden interjection nearly shocked her into losing her hold. "What?"

They sat in a small clear patch a hundred or so feet away from the path, allowing the trees and rocks to hide them from sight. Once again, she'd been attempting to match herself to Odella's slight differences, using the small brook to provide a reflection.

Roan leaned on a tree directly across from her, that pleased glint back in his eyes. He pointed to her face. "The glamour. You mirror Odella exactly as Volant would have last seen her."

Ash raised a hand to her face, though she knew she wouldn't feel the difference. Her magic was intangible, a trick of the sight rather than a physical change. She glanced back to the brook. It didn't provide as much of a reflection as she wanted, but she could visualize what she'd look like because it would be the same image she held in her mind's eye.

Sharper cheek bones than her own. A beauty mark below her left eye. More freckles smattering across her face gained from her long days in the sun during her travel. A new scar across her right pinky knuckle from a bad Terror encounter. Eyes a darker blue than Ash's. Hair with less wave and less sandy streaks through the blond.

Still, even if the brook couldn't do much, she tried, because this was the closest she had gotten to seeing her sister's lively face in so long. Her heart squeezed painfully in her chest, and a sob tore through her before she could catch it.

Dear gods, she missed her sister.

An arm wrapped around her shoulder and squeezed. "I know," Roan whispered. "I know."

They remained like that for long enough that Ash's legs cramping forced her to place the pain back into its box. Taking a deep breath, she slowly stood, and Roan moved with her. She smiled appreciatively. "Thank you, Roan."

He returned the smile and, with one last squeeze, slid his arm away. "I have good news as well."

Ash paused in readjusting her cloak. "Oh? What is that?"

He nodded toward her face. "Your glamour. Even through that, you held it in place."

Again, her hand instinctively drifted toward her cheek as if she could touch the magic. Pixies twirled in her stomach, and her lips spread even wider. "I did?"

"You did," he affirmed. "You truly are a natural at this magic. Nobody in the village will doubt you with these abilities."

Ash held on to that confidence, hoping that Roan was as right as he sounded. She still had Odella's absence to use to her advantage as well because any small oversight could be explained away with that.

The high of her success made returning to the dreaded trek not so horrible, and their luck only improved. A husband and wife on a cart trundled past an hour after they'd resumed their journey. The couple were traveling to a village shortly past Volant to visit relatives. When Roan explained their own destination, the couple more than happily offered to give them a ride. That, Roan said, would cut their trip down significantly. They would arrive at Volant that evening instead.

Ash didn't realize she had dozed off until she awoke to a sky of deepening oranges and a second cloak thrown around her. A floral scent tickled her nose, both familiar yet unfamiliar, accompanied by the other smells of the forest. It came from the same direction as the soft, warm sack she leaned against. A sack which moved with breath.

She jerked upright, heat shooting to her cheeks. Roan watched her, an amused tilt to his lips. "I'm so sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to fall asleep on you like that!"

"I honestly didn't mind," he said, though he did shift his arm now that she'd moved. "I caught a bit of rest myself, and now we are almost there."

All thoughts of her guilt left her as nerves took its place. She licked her suddenly dry lips. "How close?"

Roan looked over his shoulder. Ash twisted around as well. The trees had thinned considerably, and now that she faced the direction of the wind, she caught the growing tang of salty air. A knoll broke up the flat land a little way past the end of the tree line, and the road branched two separate ways around it. A sign post rose from the split in the path, two wooden plaques pointing each way, likely with words scrawled across them.

"Our friends will drop us off there," Roan said, pointing to the post. "We will walk another thirty minutes from there, and then we will arrive at Volant."

Ash placed a hand to her stomach as her earlier meals threatened to crawl their way back up. She couldn't turn back now. Still, having the destination so close, so real, nearly left her winded.

"I'm right here." Roan squeezed her arm, a gesture that had become so familiar in that single day.

She smiled her gratitude even as she knew her nerves continued to contort her features.

All too soon, the cart slowed to a stop.

"Careful the rest of the way," Mr. Barton said as they both stepped off the cart. "The path to Volant is straight on from here, but night will be on you before you know it, and foot travelers are always first targets for the unpleasant folk."

Ash imagined their destination was full of the type she'd deem unpleasant folk, but as the Barton couple were from these parts, they wouldn't think that way. She forced a smile and nodded along as Roan offered their gratitude and well wishes. With a few more words of farewell, their traveling companions for that final day whipped their cart back into motion.

Once more, Ash and Roan were alone, and Volant lay less than half an hour's walk away.

"Now would likely be your best time to cast the glamour," Roan said after they watched the Bartons drive a small distance. "I can give any small notes, and we are far enough from the town that nobody will see us."

"Oh, yes, right." Ash closed her eyes and pictured the same version of Odella she had seen that morning. The magic washed over her like lukewarm water as the magic rushed to the appropriate places. When she opened her eyes, she found Roan nodding his head.

"Perfect," he said, and something about the way he spoke forced her to look away, blood warm in her cheeks.

"Shall we be on our way, then, before I lose my nerve?"

Roan laughed. "Ash, it is far too late for that, as I am more than sure you know."

She did, but she still felt like she had to keep grasping at her resolve, forcing it to not leave her as they made their way down the sandy road that led to Volant.

The sky had turned a brilliant orange with streaks of purple when the town came into view. Ash's eyes almost instinctively tried to wander past the stone archway that welcomed people into Volant and to the large cliff past the city that overlooked the sea. Continuing on the trail would allow them to reach that cliff, as well as the temple she could barely make out in the distance.

The dwelling of the Tempest Serpent.

Roan, his arm and hers tucked together, directed her off the continuing road, though, and they headed toward the strong salty smell of the sea and the sounds of a town settling for evening.

The sand and grass gave way to cobblestone as they passed under the archway. A few wooden buildings greeted them immediately, and Roan pointed to the third one on their right. "That one," he whispered, "is the Breezy Brew."

She nodded, unable to help holding her breath as they approached. The Breezy Brew had provided lodgings for Roan and the others for months while they stayed in Volant. Apparently, Volant saw few enough travelers that they didn't have an inn and their only tavern could continue to house the group if they continued to pay, which they could because of the odd jobs they did around the town.

Most of Volant was already settling in for the evening. Ash and Roan only passed a group of three men a little older than Ash herself who sent them curious glances. Roan lifted a hand in greeting.

One of the boys stumbled. "Wait, is that—"

Ash didn't get the chance to find out who he recognized because Roan led her up the Breezy Brew's steps and into its doors. Here, life swallowed her like a crashing wave.

Citizens of Volant must have been celebrating a successful end to the day because people filled the tables. Jovial chatter spilled from behind smiling lips. Mugs of ale passed quickly while people merrily ate. The food smelled heavenly, especially after Ash's few days of travel food.

"Well, I'll be! Roan, is that you?"

The boisterous voice belonged to a dark-skinned beanstalk of a man standing behind the bar, cleaning a mug. He beamed in their direction. "We've been harassing your friends to find out where you went," he said.

Roan smiled back. "Well, Dunstan, I was making sure another friend had traveling company." He shifted, and Ash lost what little cover she'd had.

Dunstan froze, hand and rag buried in a wooden mug, and stared at her. After a moment, his smile grew impossibly wider. "Odella! You've had this town worried sick!"

Ash forced out a chuckle, but she couldn't ignore how multiple heads whipped her way. She reached inward. Her breathing came slightly easier when she felt the glamour magic there, unwavering. "Yes, I hear my sudden disappearance caused quite the stir. My mother fell ill, you see, and I had to return to check on her immediately."

She and Roan had rehearsed the lie so many times that it flowed naturally from her tongue. Good. This was what she needed.

"A good recovery if you have returned to us, I take it?" Dunstan asked.

She nodded.

He lifted the newly-cleaned mug into the air as if toasting. "The Seven have given sent blessings your way!"

If Ash didn't hide her cringe, she hoped her glamour at least didn't show it. The Seven. While Caeleria believed the gods blasphemous, many praised seven particularly horrendous Terrors that roam their lands as if they were gods. This included the very Tempest Serpent the townspeople worshipped.

Roan leaned closer to her, voice low enough others couldn't hear but loud enough the booming dining room wouldn't drown him out. "Come along. The others should be here somewhere." Then, to Dunstan he said, "Two of the usual, please."

"Coming right up!"

Arm coiled around his, Ash stayed close to Roan as they weaved through the people and tables. Many stopped her with the same enthusiasm and question as Dunstan. Roan did his best to pull her away with the excuse that their friends were waiting for them. When he couldn't and they paused for slightly longer chats, he was quick about slipping in information Odella would have had subtly, like their names and what connections the person would have with their group.

Finally, though, after what must have been ten minutes, they waded through the throng of people to the very back corner, where a large window gave a beautiful view of the city below and, further beyond, the last of the fading light sparkling off the ocean.

Three individuals sat at the table nestled in the corner. The oldest of the trio noticed them first. He had neat brown hair and a trimmed beard, both streaked with grey, and he wore a loose linen shirt. Neither of these hid his muscled physique befitting a knight. The ex-soldier Sanford, if Ash had to guess.

"Ah, Roan, I was wondering what caused such a commotion. If you have returned, then you must have news—"

Roan shifted, forcing Ash out from behind him, and Sanford cut off. The two others, who had been in a whispered conversation, cut off.

"Odella!" Linden spoke up this time.

He and his sister Willow weren't twins, but they were clearly siblings. They shared the same warm gold complexion with freckles dotting their skin. His hair was cut shorter, but he couldn't hide the fact that he had wavy light brown hair, also like his sister. The shape of their features were similar, if not always exact. Exaggerated on one face but not the other, like brows that were the same if not for the fact they were more pronounced on Linden than they were Willow. Another difference lay in the eyes. Hers were a golden-brown while his had greens mixing with his brown shades.

There was another large difference between the siblings that became very clear as Willow shifted in her seat. Ash forced herself not to react. This was something Odella would have seen thousands of times before.

But Ash hadn't. She'd only ever seen it twice in her life from people passing through the village. Still, she managed not to stare at the space below Willow's right bicep. The empty space.

Even though Roan had braced her for Willow's arm and the fact that the girl tied the cloth of her shirt to hide the end of the stump, Ash still desperately wanted to gape.

Willow sat forward, leaning on the table with her arm. "It's good to see you again, Odella." She smiled, but it was hesitant, both it and her tone full of unvoiced questions.

The other two shared similar smiles. They were clearly glad to see who they assumed was their friend, but 'Odella's' reappearance didn't wipe away her sudden vanishing. None of them seemed to know how to broach the subject, though. Ash didn't, either. No amount of discussion with Roan would change that these were practically strangers to her.

Roan cleared his throat. "I think it would be best if we sat down and have a talk."

They took seats at the table, but at the same time, a barmaid appeared, tray in hand. Smiling, she handed over two bowls and two mugs.

Ash and Roan murmured their thanks, and the woman made her way back to the bar, stopping at a few tables to take orders and exchange a few quips. Ash turned to what Roan had ordered for them. A brown stew with vegetables and beef simmered in the bowl, and a sip of her warm drink revealed it to be cider.

She stirred her stew, fully aware of all eyes on her. Odella. She had to reach within herself and channel the courage and strength of Odella. They were more than sisters; they were twins. Ash stroked the ring on her finger that showed the woven heart split by the gem, the very symbol of twins. Surely if she only dug deep enough, she would find pieces of Odella in herself.

"I cannot apologize enough for my sudden departure," she began. "I would have told you about it if only I'd had time, but, well, the night I went missing, I had gone down to the beach."

This part was true. Roan had told her as much because he'd spotted Odella heading that way as night was falling. They all roamed the city freely, so he'd done nothing to stop her. He told her many times how much he regretted that decision.

"While I was down there, Vlona appeared."

As Roan had told her would happen, the others at the table grinned and happily repeated the familiar name. Vlona had been the Scion who guided the group before Roan appeared.

"Why didn't she come by to say hello?" Willow asked.

Before Ash could answer, Sanford leaned forward, his brows creased. "And why was she here in the first place?"

"Well, I can answer you both the same way." Some of the tension left Ash's muscles as everything continued to play out exactly as Roan predicted, leaving her with all the answers she needed.

For now, a traitorous voice whispered, but she shoved it away.

"Vlona was here to escort me away immediately. The gods needed me to travel with her to the capital to reassure the people. After all, we completely vanished as far as Eloina or even Sternos were concerned. The gods and Scions couldn't have most of their people believing the Dreamwoven had perished without a word. It would cause turmoil and panic."

Ash's chest tightened as the truth of the situation seeped into her words. It had been using the very real unease in Eloina as their idea for a cover-up, but it reminded her of the way her people feared that the Tempest Serpent would suddenly descend upon them. And they would turn that blame on her sister. Perhaps on her family.

It had been the village lord's visit that had sparked so much of this. The notice of her sister's absence. Her broken sister...

Ash smoothed out her dress as an excuse to hide her shaking hand. "I did as they asked, and they also had me slay a few stray Terrors before I returned. Roan found me as Vlona was bringing me back, and we returned together the rest of the way."

As she came to the last part, she raised her gaze, looking each of the three strangers—the ones who had kept her sister alive in more ways than she would ever know—straight in the eyes. "Trust me. I wanted to bring each of you along, but the gods believe our mission here of great importance, and they would not risk jeopardizing it by taking all of us away. I tried to convince Vlona to let me tell you before we left, but she wouldn't let me. She promised I would be back soon. It was more quarter-lunes than anyone expected, but I am back now, and I am glad to be."

Although she wasn't sure if it would work, she turned her focus to a few tears welling in her glamour's eyes, even allowing a single drop to escape.

She would never have a way to know if that trick worked. Regardless, as her eyes finally landed on Roan, he gave the barest nod of approval. At least according to him, she had done well.

A small gasp escaped her when someone grabbed her hand and squeezed it. Willow had leaned over, smiling gently. "And we are glad to have you back with us, alive and well, Odella."

"Thank you." The words were sour on Ash's tongue, but she ignored it the best she could as she reached over with her other hand and gave Willow's a squeeze of her own.

Someday she would tell this trio the truth. That day would wait until after she completed her sister's mission and hopefully mended her mind, though, and she had no way of knowing how far in the future that would be.

*****

And we finally meet Odella's other companions!  It's a brief meeting, but hey, they're here, in Volant.  It's time for Ash to really settle into the part of her twin.  I'm sure two full days was enough to prepare her for everything!

Let me know your thoughts on the chapter down below, and if you enjoyed it, don't forget to vote and comment! I also have a discord open to anyone who wants to join, and we have a section there to discuss the book :D Let me know if you want to join!