Iva leaned against a wall and studied the area. The place wasn't part of Urithiru- that, at least, she knew. But how had she gotten here without the Oathgate? "You've traveled, right Ember?" she asked, looking down at the spren.

Ember wound around her arm in the shape of a vine with pink flowers growing up around her. "Yes," she said. "But I have never been here before."

How will I get back, then? For a brief moment, Iva considered Dalinar and the others. Would they really need her? She dismissed the thought. There was no point in worrying about it now. She could deal with that if she ever got back to Urithiru.

"Hey," someone called. "Who are you?"

She turned, resisting the urge to draw in stormlight, and found a young man standing in front of her, arms crossed.

***

Khen sat down next to the well at the Shinsengumi headquarters and stared down at the waters below. She remembered little of what had happened at Shimabara, but what she could remember was enough to cause her cheeks to burn. She'd attacked someone. It was a miracle they hadn't gone and killed her for it. In fact, they'd done... nothing. As reluctant as she was to let her guard down, she couldn't help starting to believe that maybe they really didn't intend to hurt her.

"Khenbish!"

She jumped back, her hands gripping the edge of the well until her knuckles turned white. Cagan. He found me! Panic swept through her, fear gluing her in place. Even in a different realm, he had sought her out and this time he'd kill her. He'd promised, the last time the ever tried to leave.

"Next time you try to leave, I'll kill you myself, and I'm make sure it's slow and painful. You hear?" Why had she gone?

He marched up to her, brown eyes gleaming. His hand reached for her and she opened her mouth to scream or call for help or... something. But no sound emerged. She couldn't do it. He'd promised to kill her. If he did, it would be the only good thing he ever did for her. She'd be free. Finally.

His hand wrapped around her arm and he leaned in. "Khen. You thought you could escape?" His fist slammed into her side and she gasped, pulling away instinctively. "I thought I taught you better than that."

The rage in his eyes burned like a fire, eager to consume her. She was trapped in that blaze, just as she'd always been. Even when she thought she was free of him, he'd always been behind her, waiting to strike. To make her pay for thinking she could find any way out other than death.

His breath was hot against her neck as he pulled her to him and began dragging her away from the well. Then she heard the quiet hiss of a sword being drawn and a blade sliced across Cagan's hand. He yelled, releasing her, and Naoki stepped between them, a dark look on his face.

"This is none of your business. Get out of the way, boy," Cagan snapped, reaching to push Naoki away and grab Khen again. Naoki lifted his sword to Cagan's throat.

"She's not going with you," Naoki said, holding the blade in place and staring Cagan down.

"Khen is mine," Cagan growled, his fists clenching. He started to step forward, but Naoki's sword pressed against his neck, drawing blood.

Khen watched Naoki, an odd warmth spreading through her. He'd protected her from Cagan. Sheng protected me and it only got him killed. The realization terrified her. Sheng's death had hurt her, but she felt sure that if Naoki died, it would destroy her.

"Nikkō-san is not yours," Naoki snapped. "But since you've claimed her, I assume you are the one who hurt her." He stepped forward. "Is that true?"

"I can do what I want with my property," Cagan answered with a glare.

"In that case, I think I'll enjoy this..."

"Wait!" Khen found her voice, quiet as it was, just in time.

She knew Cagan well enough to know that he would have something up his sleeve and he did. She'd spotted the sun glinting off of his dagger. Naoki couldn't fight this man- he would fight fair and Cagan would use that honor to kill him. Khen had seen it often enough and she couldn't watch it happen to Naoki. "I'll go with him, Master Naoki," she said, stepping out from behind him.

"Nikkō..." Naoki started to protest, but she shook her head.

"Come to your senses, have you?" Cagan reached for her with his bleeding hand, only to have it sterilized by a flame that came out of nowhere.

"I don't know you, but the way I see it, a guy who claims ownership of other people isn't a good guy," a voice said from above. "So get lost."

A guy with spiky pink hair and fists engulfed in fire landed next to Khen. Cagan glanced between the new arrival and Naoki, but still looked like he might fight. That is, until everyone else arrived. He cast her one last look that promised he'd be back, then disappeared.

Naoki watched him go, scowling. His expression softened when he saw her. "Did he hurt you?" he asked.

Khen shook her head. "I'm fine," she told him. But she wasn't. She wouldn't be. Cagan wasn't the type to just give up- he would come back and for all she knew, he'd have an army next time.

"Why did you offer to leave with him?" Naoki demanded. On his face, she saw emotions she didn't recognize.