They trudged through the tall grasses at a steady pace. The field went on and on as far as the eye could see, dipping into valleys and then up hills before meeting at the horizon with the pale blue sky. Grazing animals dotted most of the plots of land. The wind blew through them occasionally, rustling the trees and tall grasses. The plots of plantation varied in shades of green from honeydew to lime to olive green, depending on what was being grown. Tia's head swivelled in all directions, eyes as round as the moon, drinking in all the sounds and smells of nature and sights outside of Mooncliffe. Birds' songs filled her ears and her heart with joy. It was happiness as she had never experienced.

They took a break when they were deep inside the woods, where the temperature had dropped by several degrees and the sun shone through tiny slits in the overhead canopy. Fern grew at the level of their ankles as the four dismounted. It was much cooler and darker. Little creatures darted through the undergrowth, almost hidden except for the odd flash of tiny feet. Tia turned her head at every sound, eyes brimming with anticipation, hoping to catch a glimpse of these elusive wild creatures that had until that point existed only in her fantasies. They left the carriers beside the stream to drink and sat in a circle; Tia splayed herself on the ground.

"I have always imagined what it is like on the outskirts of Mooncliffe," she said dreamily, lying amongst the grass and tree roots, her hair fanned around her.

She closed her eyes. The trickling of the stream was relaxing, interrupted occasionally by slurping by the carriers, and the air around her moist and chilled. A little gust ruffled her hair and leaves overhead, and the rustling sounded almost like the wind was speaking to her.

"I feel I can Hear the trees," she murmured, sounding half-asleep. Scents of the cheese and raw onion from their sandwiches reached her nostrils, mixing with the mossy smells of nature.

"What do you hear?" Enlil asked from somewhere to her right. Tia was quiet, frowning as she tried to put the sensation into words.

"It's more like... life." Her eyes fluttered open. Light peeped through the leaves overhead. "I hear the living and breathing in this forest. You know when the room is quiet, and you hear people breathing?" She turned to look at Enlil. The boy nodded with a small, humouring smile. "It's like that, but I can hear everything here – the trees, the grass, the flowers, the animals... it's so beautiful."

Mommu was quiet, not joining in any of the chuckles or conversation. He must be tired. She gave the boys a wide grin, hoping to cheer him up as she helped the Master pack up their belongings, preparing to resume their journey.

A few hours into the resumed journey, the leaves had gotten thinner. It was clear they were reaching the end of the forest. Their path, which had been covered with moss and plant debris, began to wear away to show the cobble beneath. The sunshine had grown steadily stronger as midday approached. Little insects darted around the travellers' faces, nosing their cheeks and dancing erratically in front of their eyes. Watered and fed, the carriers trudged on contentedly.

Master had ridden on ahead for a Hearing at the top of the hill. The three youngsters had just stepped out of the forest, blinking in the sudden sunlight, when a raspy voice attracted their attention.

"Young sirs and miss, anything for the poor?"

The three of them jumped and turned quickly on their carriers to face two people covered by a dark cloak, their features hidden by their heavy hoods so that only their noses and a bit of their mouths could be seen, even in the bright sunlight. They were hunched, their cloaks dirty, and a wrinkled, clawed hand was outstretched, trembling, in their direction.

"What do you want?" Enlil demanded, tensing. Tia shot him a look, alarmed by his sharp tone. Her eyes darted from the two beggars to the young slave. Mommu's face was pinched and pale.

"Just spare money, good sir," croaked the speaker, turning his palm upwards. "There are children at home who have not eaten for days... little ones without their mother... please..."

Tia's mouth turned downwards in sympathy, her eyes watering a little. She turned to the other two, an imploration on the tip of her tongue, and was surprised to see Mommu looking more anxious than sympathetic. Enlil's features had hardened and he stared back at the beggars.

"We do not have anything," Enlil replied, his tone suspicious. "We cannot help. Sorry." He didn't sound the least bit apologetic. "Come, Tiamat, Mommu."

Tia stopped; her mouth opened in surprise. Her hand had reached deep into her travel pack where she stored her coin pieces.

"Why–"

Enlil shot her a warning look. The girl shut her mouth, puzzled and offended. She didn't notice the first cloaked man, who had a hungry gaze on Tia's hand as she withdrew from the pouch, clipping it shut again.

"Won't you spare a poor parentless child of the pain of death?" said the second man in a pathetic voice, clasping his hands together. "We have not had a good meal in weeks, good sirs, please..."

Tia hesitated. Mommu and Enlil remained motionless. When the three of them didn't respond, the first man tutted and scowled.

"Guess we should help ourselves!" With that, he lunged forward at Tia, who screamed and pulled hard on her carrier's reins. Enusat screeched, rearing up on its hind legs and turning away, just out of reach of the assailant. At the sound, Mommu's carrier, Kuri, also screeched in distress, and bolted in fear, taking the young trainee with him.

Tia clutched desperately at Enusat's neck as it continued to buck, shrieking. Enlil yelled, rushing forward to put Nutesh and himself in the way of the two men.

"Stay away, bandits!" he shouted, waving his arms. His tanned face was flushed, his shaking hands clenched into fists.

The two men looked at each other, smirking. They reached into their wide sleeves and withdrew sharp knives. The blades glinted at Tia and Enlil like eyes. They swallowed, eyeing the weapons apprehensively.

"Now, be good children," said the first man, his eyes gleaming. The frailty had fallen away and in its place was a cold-blooded meanness that frightened Tia. "And hand me all your valuables or you won't get to see the sun set."

"Enlil..." Tia swallowed as her heart raced. What could they do? They were but children. She didn't stand a chance against the three slaves back in Mooncliffe, and if they stayed and fought the two men here it only guaranteed losing, even if Mommu and Kuri hadn't been scared away. Master was too far away.

"Get off your carriers," ordered the second man. Both of them had lost their stooped, pitiful postures and instead stood up straight, their eyes fixed beadily on them. Tia's blood ran cold. None of Master's training had prepared her for anything remotely confrontational or dangerous. Were they about to die, just like this?

They slid off, not taking their eyes off the two fake beggars.

"Hey, this one's a cute little one," said the first man, grinning and showing decayed, yellowed teeth, eyeing Tia up and down. Tia felt sick and her knees wobbled, threatening to buckle. Her feet were rooted to the spot. Enlil, on the other hand, looked more and more frustrated, knuckles almost white. "Shall we take her with us, eh?"

The other man moved towards Enusat, who whipped its head back and forth in distress. The man growled and elbowed the carrier in the neck, making it squeal, and grabbed the sack attached to its flank. The bad-tempered carrier wasn't having any of that. At the man's touch, it reared on its legs, kicking one accurately in the chin so that the man's head snapped backwards and he collapsed onto the ground. Distracted, the other man turned and Enlil jumped on him with a yell.

The man the carrier had kicked lay on the ground, dazed. Enlil wrestled with the remaining beggar, but despite the skinny slave having filled out in the past weeks, he was no match for a grown man who was used to hard labour and fights. One elbow in the face sent the boy flying. A first punch knocked him straight down again. A second punch caused blood to spurt like a fountain from his nostrils. As Enlil raised his shaking arms to defend himself from a third punch, and he felt big, sausage-like hands grip his skinny wrists. He resisted and his wrist guard was wrenched off.

"Oho – a slave!" said the man with glee, dropping Enlil's wrist guard onto the grass. He was still straddling the boy's stomach, one big hand clasping one skinny wrist and the other twisting the other wrist, admiring the emblem of Dernexes that was burned onto his skin. "This lot can fetch some money! I'll see that your lot – stop struggling!" he commanded, slapping Enlil in the face as he wriggled to no avail. "I said, stop it or I'll break your nose, you little runt!"

Enlil showed no sign of giving up. As the man drew his arm back for a third punch, there was a sudden rush of wind, catching him by surprise so that he was forced off the boy, falling onto his rear. Enlil took the opportunity to roll out of the way, clutching his bleeding nose.

Tia muttered under her breath, channelling her energy through her staff. She focused the force on the man who was assaulting Enlil, pushing him down on the ground with all her might. She had far to go in her training but nevertheless, she was a talented Caster. The Wind came easily to her and her affinity made it easier for her to control it. Gripping her staff tightly, she continued the quiet chant, allowing her to fine-tune her focus, her green eyes narrowed on the bandit. The man, cursing loudly, was struggling hard against it. He was getting onto all fours in a rigid fashion from the ground, and then onto his knees. He was soon standing up, fury in his face. The wind had blown the hood off his head and sun shone onto his harsh features. Small, cruel eyes glared at Tia. He took a small, heavy step forward. And then another.

Tia tried to pour more of her stamina into the wind, but it was difficult. She was nearing her limit and any more the Wind mightn't obey her. She gritted her teeth, pulse racing, sweat dripping down her face. The downed man was stirring, eyes fluttering open. The standing man was getting closer.

"Be gone with you!" a furious voice thundered.

Another gust of wind, much, much stronger than the breeze Tia had conjured, rushed to the two men, blowing the standing one onto his back again. Tia gave a sharp intake of breath, her concentration threatening to break as she took her eyes off the bandits. Her Wind withered away immediately.

Master Anu stood not far away, anger on his face and pale blue eyes blazing as he held his own staff and called the wind to unleash tremendous force on the two assailants. The Wind sang in obedience, following his commands. The two men's faces blanched as they saw the Windcaster's light blue cloak and jewelled staff and turned on their tails at once, stumbling and scrabbling in their haste to flee.

The old man maintained the torrent of wind for a while longer to emphasise his point, not taking his eyes off the two disappearing figures into the woods.

Tia's wobbling knees gave way and she sat down on the hilly grass with a thump, her trainee staff slipping out of her hand.

"Whew!" she breathed, eyes round.

"Are you all right?" the Master asked, turning around and kneeling in front of her. He gripped her shoulders, his eyes scanning her face. Tia opened and shut her mouth a few times, blinking in astonishment, before she found her voice.

"I – oh, Enlil!" she cried, turning around.

"I'm fine," said the boy thickly, still trying to stem the flow of blood from his nose; the flow was staining the front of his tunic.

"Here," Mommu appeared out of nowhere and handed the other boy a thick cloth to stopper the gush, "use this." He watched Enlil mop his face, twisting his hands.

"How did you find us, Master?" Tia said in bewilderment as the old man checked her limbs next for any wounds. Satisfied, he proceeded to examine Enlil. Besides a bruise rising rapidly at his temple and a bleeding nose, which had thankfully ebbed, the slave boy appeared unharmed also. Mommu helped him to his feet and gave him another cloth. Enlil accepted.

"Mommu brought me here," was the answer as pale blue eyes swept over the three youngsters. Tia could feel his displeasure, but she could feel he wasn't blaming them. "I should have expected bandits and warned you of them. You must not have so much faith in strangers you meet; people outside of Mooncliffe are not as pleasant or trustworthy. They have their own backs to look after, their mouths to feed, and their pockets to fill. It can be dangerous out there."

Tia couldn't understand why he seemed to be addressing her specifically.

"I am hoping you three will stay together during this journey and look out for each other."

The three nodded. It was not so safe in Mooncliffe, either, thought Tia, remembering the fleeing slaves. I wonder how this would have ended if...

"I am thankful you were there, Enlil," Master Anu then said to the boy, who had finally stopped the blood flow. "You have my gratitude."

"It was my place to step in, Master," Enlil replied in a nasal voice, blood congealing a dark red at his nostrils.

Master Anu looked to the sky. Tia followed his gaze. The sun was past its highest point; it would be perhaps five hours before it gets dark. Enlil was tidying himself up, wincing every time he accidentally touched his wounded nose or bruise at his temple. Mommu had calmed Kuri, the tense, easily frightened carrier, and was repacking Tia's backpack as she hopped back onto Enusat.

The Master looked unsettled as they started the journey again, but he kept close to the group. They were subdued, but Tia felt safe with the Master's presence, knowing there would be someone looking after them should more greedy people target the three of them again.