Oh, the torture! Sorry for the delay...but TRUST me this chapter is worth it. CAN'T wait to start writing the next one. Enjoy!

Our eclectic entourage snaked its way down the mountainside to the valley below. I tucked the scarf I'd borrowed from Jessica around my face, attempting to prevent people from gawking at the swollen purple marks. The chatter of the open market had been loud enough for us to hear long before we'd ever reached the edge of the city.

The narrow streets forced us to travel single file through the crowded market, bustling with people haggling over price. Each of us had an item or two we wanted to buy before we headed to the afternoon council session, and merchants weren't wasting the opportunity to sell their wares to visitors traveling the cobblestone alleyways.

"Rare stones guaranteed to boost even the lowest skill level," a man with a dusty brimmed hat called, as we rode by.

I inhaled the floral notes and spicy aromas filling the air. They reminded me of Gran.

"Spices! Entice your taste buds with a magical flavor that will leave your guests savoring every bite of your cooking." The woman put the bottle of dried leaves down and raised an opaque container. "Find a rare herb to cure even the most unusual ailment. We have dried herbs of every sort."

"Wren?" Sage jumped from the wagon." She pointed to the lady's cart and cupped her mouth. "There are a few things I'm out of. I'll catch up."

Robin hopped down from the equestar and stood next to Sage. "Don't worry. I'll look after her."

Rygar grimaced and rode past the two of them, following behind us. Fabrics of teal, gold, and silver draped one booth, and the next cart had mountains of dry beans and colorful seeds for sale.

"Sir?" A small boy in cuffed pants and a tan tunic tugged on Jax's pant leg. "You go to council, no?"

Jaxon hugged me close. "I plan to."

The boy turned around and jogged backward. "Then you need fresh clothes, yes?" The boy ran in front of Amaress. "You need my father's shop. We have handsome Fire Circle attire for you and dresses for your lady friend."

Jax tensed. "My lady friend?"

"Your pretty lady partner. She needs Fire Circle dress, no?" He jogged further out in front of us and waved. "Come, we have. You see."

I tapped Amaress' side, and she halted. "I can't very well show up wearing a stained shirt and ripped up pants without causing a scene."

Jax chuckled. "Wren, you can't show up anywhere without causing a scene." He sighed and hopped down. I didn't want to let go of you, but I guess we can't ride forever. He held out a hand to help me down.

"Best dresses in Ora. Come, Miss, you see." The boy disappeared into a side street, and Amaress followed him around the corner.

When we turned into the narrow street, the kid stood outside of a shop next to a cart with several bolts of fabric draped on top of it.

"In here." He pointed to the store.

"Amaress?" I patted her nose. "You stay put, okay?" She nudged me with her nose and plunked her rear onto the street.

The boy's eyes widened. "Your woman..." He looked at Jax. "She talks to beasts?"

Jaxon laughed and rubbed the child's head messing up his hair. "That's not even close to Wren's most amazing abilities."

"Wren?" The boy repeated entering the shop. "People talk lots of a Wren today."

"Oh?" I said casually fanning my fingers over a gorgeous turquoise and silver gown.

"Yes, they say she's magic like no other." The child hopped up on the counter and swung his legs underneath it. "But papa say people just make things up, and not true."

Jax lifted a ruby colored dress from the wall. "How much?"

"Five hundred stones, Your Highness." An older man with a neatly trimmed beard stepped through an archway beyond the front counter.

"Your Highness?" The boy's mouth dropped open.

The older man nodded and pulled a Fire Circle scarf from under the counter.

"That's a little steep, isn't it?" Jaxon raised a brow not acknowledging the man's obvious recognition of him.

"You will find no other dress this fine in the market. The gold flowers on the bodice took two seasons to complete by hand." The man unfolded the scarf on the counter.

"What do you think, Wren?" Traditional Fire Circle dress is red, so it's either this one or the plain one over there. He pointed to a gown near the back counter.

Another formal dress? What do you think they'd say if I just showed up in jeans and a T-shirt?

He crossed his arms, crushing the dress in his grasp in the process. You want to live, right?

But five hundred stones? That sounds like a lot.

He shrugged. All that matters is that you like it. "Try it on. If it doesn't fit, it won't matter anyway, right?"

"If you like," the man said in a heavy accent, "for same price, I give matching scarf too." He pointed to an archway to my right draped with long heavy curtains. "Go try. It will fit, you see."

Jax handed me the dress, and I pulled the dusty scarf from my face, kissed his cheek, then headed into the curtained room. I dragged the scarf from my head and peeled my blood-stained shirt and torn pants from my body. Dark, purple bruises marked my arms and legs.

Footsteps approached my tiny, curtained room and I covered my naked chest with my arms.

"Wren?" Jaxon shoved an arm through the curtain slit, holding out fresh undergarments made of stretchy gold lace. He cleared his throat. "Maybe these will fit you?"

I grinned, knowing how awkward this was for him, and gathered them from his outstretched hand. "Thanks."

I slid into the delicate garments and slipped the dress over me. "Jax?"

His feet shuffled just beyond the curtain. "Yeah?"

"Can you fasten the back? I can't reach."

Silence filled the small space separating us.

"Jax?"

He pushed the curtain aside, brushed my hair over my shoulder and started buttoning at the base of my spine. "Two days in a row I get to button your dress, and I have yet to see anything more than your back." He kissed my neck. "You do know how to torture a guy."

"I'm not trying to torture you." I faced him, smoothing out the bodice. "What do you think?"

"Beautiful." But he wasn't looking at the dress.

"Jax, you didn't even look at the gown."

"I don't have to." His fingers swept the side of my face. "It looks like your Gran's cream is working. The swelling has gone down, but—"

"There's still a few nasty bruises." I covered my face with my hand.

He pulled my fingers away and wrapped my arm around him, kissing my ear. "The bruises will fade."

"Wren? Are you two in here?" Sage called out.

Jaxon dropped his forehead to mine. "We're in here." He tipped my chin up and kissed my lips. "Your friends have terrible timing. Like really bad." He pushed back the curtain, and we stepped out.

A huge grin plastered Sage's face. Even if it wasn't the case, I couldn't help feeling like we'd just been caught by an airplane stewardess for attempting to join the mile high club.

Jaxon picked up the scarf and passed it to me. "I'll go change, then pay for our stuff."

The little boy peeked beyond the archway of the changing area. "Miss Wren, the dress is most beautiful on you."

"All right, squirt, how much?" Sage asked.

The child bent down and straightened out the hemline of my skirt. "Dress fit her beautifully."

"How much?" she asked another time.

The boy stood and shoved his hands in his pockets. "The gown took my mama two seasons to finish. Papa charges five hundred stones, for that quality."

Sage coughed. "Did he just say five hundred stones? That dress better be sewn with gold thread for that price."

"Pedri, leave the girls alone," his papa said in a firm tone.

"He's fine. Really." I held out my hand to Pedri and crouched down.

The boy edged forward and took hold of my fingers. "Miss Wren... Your eye. What happened?"

"Some bad men." I lowered my voice. "But Jaxon took care of them."

"Good. If they come back, you let me know." He held up his fists. "I'll help too."

A woman dusted her hands off, exiting the backroom, where she must have been working. The moment she saw me, her sight rested on the water ring peeking out the top of the bodice. "It's true."

"Pedri." She waved for her son to join her, but didn't take her sight from the mark on my chest.

"But Mama, I like Wren."

She reached for her son's hand, and he pulled away. Instead, her fingers grasped my wrist. A stone on her ring flashed aqua and her eyes clouded over a dark gray. "Stay true to promises and love will prevail. Saving us all, from the terror and wail. Break the path and destruction awaits..."

I yanked my arm free of her grasp. A traveler...

The woman snapped out of her creepy prediction, covered her mouth and grabbed hold of her skirts and Pedri's arm. She dragged him behind her into the backroom.

Sage glanced from side to side. "Okay, that was freaky weird."

"Nowadays, I think I've come to expect it." I rubbed my wrist. "I tend to bring out the strange and weird in people."

Jax tossed an arm over my shoulder. "Ready?"

"To leave? Yes." I glance toward the door. "To face the council? Definitely not."

He pulled me closer to him. "Do I understand that. Come on, let's get this over with then."

We stepped through the doorway, and someone whistled. Amaress jumped to her feet and snorted when she saw us.

"Nice dress," Jessica hollered. "I bet that cost a sparkly stone or two."

Sage climbed onto the wagon and relaxed her arms over the railing. "You have no idea."

The girls lurched sideways with the sudden movement forward of the wagon, following the rest of the entourage.

"You're going to need to ride sidesaddle with that dress on. Here, I'll give you a hand up." He tucked his hands under my arms. "All right, jump."

When my feet lifted the ground, he guided me onto Amaress' back, then hopped up behind me, swinging his leg over her side. She padded forward, and I rested my head on Jaxon's chest. The group weaved through the streets and over a wooden bridge, heading up a hill. The flurry of market activity dissipated the closer we got to the stone building at the top.

The circular structure with its copper dome roof was the most modern piece of architecture I'd seen since I arrived in Acklemar, but that wasn't saying much. A few of the group ahead of us had already dismounted. Elena hopped down off the prongmera she rode and handed the reins to a water guard. The scent of manure wafted from the stables, and an equestar snorted behind the closed stall doors.

The guard led Elena's prongmera over and stood next to Amaress. "We'll take care of her, Your Grace." He patted her nose and glanced up at me.

Jaxon glared at the man, then hopped down. "You dare address her as Your Grace? She has my spiral ring wrapping her leg, is clothed in Fire Circle colors and is contracted to partner with me." The man took a step backward. "Mind your protocol and save the Your Grace crap for your own circle."

"My apologies, Second." The guard lowered his head and tightened the reins in his grip.

I slid off. "Jax..." He wasn't trying to insult you.

No? Just using that title implies he believes you'll marry Kellan because that would be your title in the Water Circle. This isn't about being respectful. Jaxon inhaled a deep breath and adjusted the collar of his charcoal-gray shirt. Today, comments like that will cost you your life."This is going to be so much harder than I thought." He raised my hand to his lips and kissed it. "We're in this together."

"Together," I said, wondering just how long that would be, given the gravity of the situation.

He interlaced his fingers with mine and tightened his grasp. We followed the rest of the group through a pair of carved doors into the building. The energy flowing through the space hummed in my veins, making my fingers tingle. That was when I realized the floor had been pieced together from key realm stones. These were the core stones found in each region and guided the basic teachings of each talent. Sunlight shone through colorful glass panes, warming my back, and lighting a rainbow of colors across the lobby.

Rygar, Jessica, Vega and the rest of the group lined up at a table, signing a large official looking book.

The cryer looked at the page, then cupped his mouth. "Rygar Gervess, Traveler's Guild." He didn't bother to glance at the book when Jessica stepped forward. "Jessica Brenner, member of the Fire Circle court.

While he announced each of our friends, Jaxon's hands got clammier. You okay?

I will be when this is all over. He picked up the pen and signed our names to the book, Jaxon Burnell, rank 2 and Wren Delacroix, rank 2.

I peeked over his shoulder. Rank? Why do they need to know that?

The announcer needs to know.

Are you sure you filled the ledger out correctly? All of our friends had written their names on separate lines.

He laid the pen down. Trust me, it's right. I've been studying protocol since I could walk. Jaxon straightened up and took my hand. Couples are announced together.

I felt suddenly flush. Dear God, you're joking.

Joke? When it comes to protocol, I've learned it's best not to.

The announcer nodded to Jaxon, then reviewed the book. He paused and rubbed the page where Jax had noted the rank next to my name. The man's eyes widened, and he jerked his head up, taking me in, then turned to Jaxon. "You are of course aware of the penalty for a false ledger entry?"

"I am," Jaxon answered in a firm tone. Council is about to get very interesting.

Why, because he's announcing us as a couple?

The cryer adjusted his jacket and gave me a warm smile. "Welcome to council, Seconds."

Jax kissed my cheek. That, and—

"Announcing, Their Highnesses Jaxon Burnell and Wren Delacroix, Fire Circle," the man bellowed over the room conversation.

He just told the whole room you're my equal.

HOPE you like it! How interesting to you think the next scene will be? What do you think will happen? Our BOY Kellan is about to take the stand, be sure to cheer him on!  

Thanks for voting and commenting! HUGS all. 

—Amber