A symphony of conversations flooded Estera's ears and wove through her cochleas as soon as she slipped through the Great Hall doors with Magnus. The place was already filled with people mingling in small groups, or hanging around the wine barrels stationed in the corners of the room. A dancefloor took up the center, with some already swaying to the live music band playing on a stage off to the side of the buffet.

Estera tried keeping close to Magnus as he weaved through the haystack of citizens, but in the blink of an eye, his body was swallowed by the sea of merry northerners and she was a needle. She pushed her way through them to catch up, but it only grabbed the attention of a group of men who were already slurring their words. One of them blocked her path and threw his arm around her.

"Well, hey, little lady!"

"Don't touch me." She shrugged him off.

"Ah, come on, I'm just being friendly."

"Back off!" She shoved his chest when he made another move, stirring a roar of laughter from his friends. However, it only encouraged him to try harder, and when she attempted to push past him, he imprisoned her in his arms, squeezing her wounded one.

"Don't you like dancing?" he slurred while lifting her off the ground and twirling.

"Put me down!" She kicked and managed to knee him in the crotch.

His arms gave way, causing her to slam onto the hard concrete floor with a volt of pain zipping up her tailbone. Seeing red, she scrambled to her feet and did a roundhouse kick to his chest, stumbling him over his own boots. The people around them who were busy in conversations turned to see what the commotion was. She flashed her eyes nervously while scanning their curious, crooked brows. Too much attention had been drawn, which meant potential questions could be raised - starting with how someone like her learned to do such an impressive kick.

"Woah, take it easy," the man's friend said. "He was just having a good time."

"Well, then he shouldn't have put his hands on me..." She surveyed for a path of escape and saw a ripple in the crowd. Through the sea of heads, Magnus was shoving his way through.

"What's going on here?"

"She drop-kicked Willy." One of them pointed an accusatory finger.

"Estera, you did what?"

"I was defending myself! He put his hands on me and wouldn't let me pass."

This produced a wrinkle across his forehead as his eyes went from Estera to Willy, and a deep, low growl rippled from his throat. "Don't you ever lay a hand on her again. She's half your size. What the hell were you thinking?"

"We were just having a good time."

"Estera, were you having a good time?"

"No. He hurt my arm." She hugged it to her chest.

"Willy, did you not see that she's injured?"

"I guess I wasn't really paying attention, but I mean, we're all just having a good time, and-"

Magnus held up his hand. "I don't want to hear excuses."

"I'm sorry, man."

"Don't apologize to me, apologize to her."

"I... I'm sorry, Ester."

"It's Estera," she corrected.

"Right." Willy shook his head. "I'm sorry."

"Listen," Magnus addressed the onlookers. "We can all have a good time, just not at the expense of hurting others. Got it?" When the crowd murmured that they agreed, he took Estera's hand. "Come on. I won't lose you this time."

It wasn't often that a gesture so small could stimulate a thump-thump in her chest, but as he held her hand while weaving around the people, she felt it. She was so used to defending herself and her community against rogue members, that she'd never experienced what it was like to have someone protect her. Would Dev have come to her aid if a drunk citizen was disrespecting her? No. At least not in the south where she was once an undefeated warrior.

Except she wasn't a warrior anymore.

Would her new life in the north mean depending on men to fight her battles for her? It was an uncomfortable thought.

But not as uncomfortable as when the sea of bodies parted to reveal where Magnus was guiding her. He let go of her hand, and she swelled with disappointment. There standing by a wine barrel was Rafi, Zemora, and of course, Mira, with her beautiful, smiling face - the wedge to Estera's plans.

"What happened?" Zemora asked.

"Willy - Drunk and being an idiot."

"When is he not?" Mira chuckled.

"Well, forget about all of that, and have some wine!" Rafi offered a glass to Estera. "You'll love this stuff. We make it here ourselves."

"Cheers." Magnus clinked her drink, and as they tipped them back for the first sip, their eyes remained on each other.

"Looks like space cleared up at a table. We should grab it before someone else sits down," Zemora said, breaking their focus.

Leaving the wine barrel for someone else, they pushed their way through the crowd, and Magnus wrapped his hand around Estera's again as if keeping his promise not to lose her. Every few feet, he glanced back at her, and she found herself smiling in return. It wasn't like her to be so transparent, so she made a mental note to keep herself in check and stick to the plan.

Time ticked by as their group sat and drank while chatting about the storms that occurred throughout the week. Meanwhile, Estera sipped quietly while observing, and listening, as they guzzled glass after glass, with their words becoming slurred in the process. A few tables over, Samson was with his friends, doing the same, but every once in a while, his inebriated gaze drifted over to them. Estera stared back, feeling the tiny hairs on her arms electrifying. Was he observing her just as much she was observing everyone else? That thought strangled her stomach. She couldn't afford a watchful eye.

"So, Estera," Jupiter said, appearing out of nowhere and causing her to flinch. "How are you adjusting?"

"I think I'm adjusting ok. I've got fresh bandages." She lifted her arm.

"Good. Also, I've worked out a living arrangement for you, but it's only temporary until we can find you something more permanent."

"Oh, have you decided to stay?" Zemora piped up, causing Magnus to pause his conversation with Rafi, and glance Estera's way.

"Yes, I believe I have. Plus, Magnus said there's work for me here."

"Indeed, there is." Jupiter nodded and turned to his son. "Once this is over, please show Estera to the spare room in our apartment."

"But we don't have a spare bedroom."

"Sure, we do. You spend most of your nights elsewhere, which means your room is often empty. There's no sense in having it go unoccupied, is there?" Jupiter cocked his brow in question, and Estera's mind pulsed with thoughts about where Magnus spent his nights. Was it in bed with Mira? Because that was going to be a problem.

"No. You're right. She can have my room."

"Good. Then it's settled." Turning back to her, he adjusted his lenses. "Also, there's a caravan heading to the northwestern trading post in a few days. I'd like for you to accompany Samson and me."

"Do you think that's a good idea?" Magnus asked. "She ran away from the west after being attacked. What if her assailant is there?"

"If she's staying here, then that makes her one of us, and if she's one of us, then no one will dare lay a hand on her. I'm not putting her in danger, so I do not appreciate the implication that I would."

"That's not what-"

Jupiter cut him short by returning his attention to Estera. "So, will you be joining us when we go?"

Feeling challenged, she straightened her posture. "I'll go."

"Good." He nodded and moved on to chat with another table.

"You don't have to go," Magnus said.

"I want to."

"Then I'll go with you. Make sure you're safe."

"Actually..." Rafi objected, his eyes sleepy from wine. "That's not gonna happen, bud. The latest report from our Storm Trackers shows that we've got a few more big storms approaching. So, we need you."

"I'm sure you guys can handle it in my absence."

"So, who will command the wall with me while your brother is at the trading post?" Zemora folded her arms. "His Second in Command is still recovering from an injury. So, no, we can't handle a storm without you. And by the way, now that the fright from earlier has settled, I'm a bit furious with you."

"For what?"

"For asking me to let go of you, up there."

"He did what?" Mira reeled back, eyes wide.

"Yep. You heard right. He wanted me to let him go."

Magnus closed his eyes. "Your gloves were slipping, Zem. There's no way I was taking you with me."

"How dare you ask her to make that choice!" Mira snipped.

"Here we go..." Rafi murmured into his wine.

"You know, none of this would've even happened if you listened to me," Mira continued. "But no, you had to go play the hero. Like always."

"Yes! Thank you," Zemora slapped the table. "How about trusting that Samson and I can handle the wall? Oh, and let's not forget how you ran out into the middle of a storm without a suit on. It was irresponsible."

"We're not doing this tonight." Magnus stood abruptly. "We've all had a lot to drink, and we're getting too emotional instead of having a good time. So I'm going to leave before I say something I'll regret."

"Ah, come on, man. Don't be mad," Rafi called out, but Magnus disappeared into the crowd. "One of us should go after him."

"I'll go." Mira stood on wobbling legs.

"No, I'll go," Estera said quickly, and they all stared at her as if they'd forgotten she was there. "He's upset with everyone but me, so maybe I can calm him down and bring him back?"

Mira smirked, pressing her knuckles into the table. "You hardly know him."

"Maybe that's a good thing." Zemora shrugged. "She's a neutral party, so he'll probably listen to her more than any of us."

"Just let her go," Rafi added.

"You're supposed to be on my side." Mira glared at them.

"We are, but Magnus is stubborn, and so are you." Zemora shrugged again.

"You'll just end up being two drunk rams butting heads," Rafi chuckled and pointed his finger towards the direction Magnus went. "Go on, Estera. Take one for the team."

Giving a single nod, she left the table with their voices fading into the background. She scanned the crowd while making her way, and through a gap of people, she spotted him exiting from a side door. Dashing for it, she squeezed through before the wall of bodies formed again.

The frigid night air cut into her bones as soon as she stepped out, prompting her to hug herself immediately. Thanks to the glow coming from the lanterns, she saw his silhouette staggering a few feet ahead, and ran to him. He glanced over his shoulder at the scrape of her boots against the street and turned. Puffs of fog curled from her mouth when she shivered, so he brought his hands up to rub her bare arms.

"You shouldn't be out here without a coat."

"Well..." She leaned in, whispering, "All I have are the clothes on my back, remember?"

To her surprise, he removed his coat and wrapped it around her, encouraging another thump in her chest. She studied his face as he smoothed his hands over the thick material, and decided to make her move. Leaning up on her toes, she planted a soft kiss as a test run. At first, his lips seemed hesitant, but then he pressed back, and it grew into an exchange that deepened. Estera knew she finally had him, but she had to play her cards right, so she pulled away.

"We shouldn't." She shook her head. "I don't want you to get in trouble with Mira."

"Why would I?"

"Aren't you and her...?"

The question spread a grin across his face as he chuckled. "With Mira? No. We're just friends. Besides, she's married to Zemora."

"Wait, they're mar-" her words cut short as she reflected on the last couple of hours. The two women did have their arms around each other most of the night. Yet, it never occurred to Estera that they were together. She closed her eyes, feeling embarrassment set her cheeks ablaze. How could she have read the situation so wrong? Mira was never a threat.

He cupped her face, his smile lingering. "Are you surprised?"

"No," she sighed, and looked at him. "I'm just not as observant as I thought."

Taking her hand, he nodded in the direction he'd been walking towards. "Come on."

"Where are we going?"

"To get you settled in your new room."

They walked for about five minutes, and then up a flight of steps to the top floor of a building that bordered the courtyard with a view of the butcher shack. The lights were off when they entered, and Magnus didn't bother turning them on while guiding her down the parquet hardwood of the hallway. As they approached the bedroom, she remembered another lesson her mother taught her: give a man a night he'll remember, and you'll have him eating out of your hand. Perhaps if she had done so with Dev, he wouldn't have turned his back on her?

Right as they were about to push through the bedroom door, he spun and pressed her against the wall. She wasn't prepared for how eager his mouth was as it clamped onto hers with a deep kiss, so she nudged on his chest to take control.

"What's wrong?" he breathed.

"Absolutely nothing." She gathered his collar and tugged him into the room.

They staggered to the bed, their mouths meeting again before shoving him onto the mattress. His lips spread into a goofy, drunk smile, but then his expression turned serious when she climbed on top of him and removed her shirt.

"Are you sure about this?" he asked.

"Yes."

Running her fingers up his chest, he leaned on an elbow, allowing her to slip off his shirt, and discard it aside. He pressed his mouth to hers again and tried rolling her onto her back, but with her mother's words ringing in her head, she wasn't going to let him take control. Pushing on his chest, she forced him back down and began planting a trail of kisses on his neck. By the time she got to his belt, his breathing had gone quiet, which wasn't the effect she was aiming for. When she glanced at him, he was passed out.

"Damn it," Estera whispered and climbed off.