I pressed my back against a tree and took a deep breath. I gripped the Staff of the Land in my right hand. My left hand clenched the rugged bark of the trunk. I stole a look at the meadow ahead of me.

It was empty.

Safe.

Slowly I crept out of my hiding place. A quick look around showed I was quite alone. Plodding softly across the meadow, I made my way to another large tree.

Snap!

A twig broke behind me. I whirled around, Staff ready. A small bird looked back at me, chirped, and flitted off into the late - afternoon sky. I shook my head and turned back around.

Whoosh!

 Quickly I ducked as a heavy staff flew to my head. I scrambled for the Staff of the Land, which I had clumsily dropped, but it was too late. I was kicked to the floor, and the opposer's weapon was pointed to my face.

"That's the twenty - second time I've caught you today, kid," my 'assailant' said.

I looked up and scowled.

"You want a medal, General?" I asked bitterly.

Zano Etheron leaned on his staff, his face serious.

"You're better than this, kid," he said. "If you just put your head to it - "

"What do you think I've been doing?" I retorted.

"And you still haven't been able to beat me," he finished.

Exasperated, I threw my hands up.

"Well maybe if I could use my powers - " I started.

"Soldiers don't have powers," he answered.

"Well I'm not a soldier," I declared.

"Well that's obvious," Zano snapped back.

I put my hands on my hips.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Anyone watching you can tell you're no warrior!"

"Oh yeah? What makes you think you have authority to say that?"

"You're talking to Zano Etheron!" 

"Who cares?"

"You should!"

"Well I don't! I don't know why I come out here with you anyway!"

"Maybe because you know I can help you! And I can if you would stop whining!"

"I'm not!" 

"You are!"

"I wish you'd leave me alone!"

"I wish you'd listen to me once and a while!"

On and on we went, yelling like kids as the hazy summer afternoon wore steadily on. And the more I yelled, the angrier I became.

"You have to learn to fight without a weapon, kid, you have to," Zano said to me now.

"Why should I? The very earth does as I command," I shot back.

"I understand," he answered, kinder now, as if trying to soothe me. "But sometime you might find yourself with no powers at all. Listen, I don't want to argue with you -"

"I don't care what you want!" I screamed at him, stomping my foot.

The ground under Zano's feet shifted violently, catching him off - guard. Unsuccessful in regaining his footing, he fell down hard.

"Calm down, Talia," he said warningly.

"I won't," I snapped, "and the next time you want to play cat - and - mouse, drag someone else out here!"

I turned on my heel and stormed away. Much to my irritation, Zano came after me, blocking my path.

"Move!" I demanded.

"This isn't you," he told me.

And yes, his concern for me was genuinely evident in his expression. I gritted my jaw.

"Listen," he told me. "You're better than this. As a hero you're expected to -"

"What, like you?" I interrupted. "You're one to talk."

Zano's countenance flickered.

"What's that supposed to mean?" he asked.

"Well look at you," I said hotly. "Look at what you've become now that you're important."

"I don't understand - "

"Yes you do. Forget it Zano. You may be a general, but you're no hero."

My words hurt him immensely, and I knew I had gone too far. My anger melted away and  quickly turned to regret as he stepped out of my way.

"You can leave now," he muttered.

I struggled for something to say.

"Zano I - I'm sorry - " I faltered.

"I said leave, Talia!" he yelled.

Reluctantly I obeyed. Dragging my feet through the dry grass, I stole a look back, just in time to see Zano swipe at his eyes. Of course now I was keenly aware of the hot tears building in my own eyes. Frustrated, I wiped them away.

Don't feel sorry for yourself, my mind told me.

I made my way to my horse, Earthbounder. She was patiently nosing the ground, waiting for me. I reached up to stroke her mane. Then I buried my face in her neck and began to cry.

"What's with my temper lately, Earthbounder?" I choked out. "Why can't I seem to control it?"

I cried on, my terrible words to Zano playing in my head over and over. I wanted to take them back.

But of course, I could not.

Eventually the tears stopped coming. I stood still, tired out, gently breathing in Earthbounder's sweet and musty scent.

Then I felt something - strange.

As if something was stirring inside me. Like the dust of the earth.

I shook myself violently, wishing the feeling away. But it persisted. And grew until I felt sick. My head began to spin like a top. My vision went blurry. Faster, faster, faster, the world around me spun...

I can't take this anymore! my mind screamed.

Finally, I heard something. A call, a whisper maybe...

Then, as soon as it started, it was gone. I found myself lying flat on my back in the grass. Earthbounder was nibbling at my hair. Shakily I stood up. I found the Staff about fifteen feet away from me. Strange. I must have thrown it.

I mounted Earthbounder.

"Full speed ahead," I murmured.

My horse took off, undoubtedly beautiful in her stride. But I couldn't enjoy it.

I couldn't enjoy much of anything of late.

*                *                *            *             *           *

FROZENE

"Well I don't know, sir. I don't know anything about festivals."

I was out on the streets of Layrucia Village as great throngs of people milled past me. The day was pleasant I knew, but here it seemed hot at sultry as the Layrucians were preparing for the 'next big event' that would be the turning point for our country.

That's what people said anyway.

I was now speaking to Virgil Tekana, Chancellor of Theros and Talia's father.

"Nonsense, Frozene!" he told me now. "I'm sure you know enough to run this small festival. For the people's sake."

"Well maybe, if it were small I could. But this is going to be huge and I just don't know -"

"But think of the benefits," he interrupted. "Everyone will see what a great leader you are - oh, just imagine how that will improve your image!"

There was a sinking feeling in my gut at these words. Still I felt compelled to ask,

"Well what's wrong with my image now?"

In return I got a strange glance that I couldn't quite interpret. Then he said,

"Honestly, Frozene. Surely you know?"

I shrugged.

He sighed.

"Well, my dear," he continued, his tone lower. "You just haven't proven yourself to the people, as have the others."

His words stung.

"But I helped with the Dragon, same as they did!" I protested.

"Yes but before that," he insisted.

He shook his head and looked at me deeply, as if searching for a way to make me understand. He put a hand on my shoulder.

"Look at them," he said.

I followed his gaze. Together we watched as people continued past us.

"They're what we live for, child," he said softly. "We serve them to the last, whatever it takes. And people have to know that they can trust us. That's what I as a Chancellor have done, that's what the others have done, and that - " he now pointed to me for emphasis - "is what you must do. Do you understand?"

I looked at the people again.

"I understand, Chancellor," I said slowly. "But if I have to prove myself to them, I'd prefer to do it with something I know I can do."

Looking at me hard, he nodded.

"You do realize I represent the entirety of the Chancellors and her Majesty Zipporah when I ask you this, correct?" he asked.

"Yes sir."

He sighed heavily.

"Alright Frozene," he said at last. "But please remember all I've told you. Now excuse me, I must go tell the Chancellors your decision. Indeed, they will be very disappointed that you have refused."

Nothing new there, I thought as Chancellor Virgil got instantly lost in the throng of people. I shook my head and looked at my feet.

"Wow," I heard a familiar voice say behind me. "I've never seen that before."

I turned to meet the eyes of West Aether, or Electro as close friends called him. I wondered how long he had been there.  I wondered if the Chancellor had allowed him to simply listen to our conversation. I pushed the thought aside.

"Seen what?" I asked him.

He smiled.

"I've never seen someone turn the Chancellors down like that," he responded.

I reddened.

"Well I wouldn't know what to do," I said.

Electro shrugged.

"Well, I've seen them offer tasks to people several times," he continued. "Since I go to some of their public meetings, you know. Most are very eager to prove themselves and accept without thinking. But very few have the guts to decline."

"I don't know if they really view that as guts," I replied.

"Maybe not."

He paused for a moment, thinking.

"Although if I'm being honest," he said musingly, "I think you would be able to handle running their festival. And they would probably be running most of it anyway."

He looked at me expectantly.

"Well," I answered slowly. "I just - don't want to have to prove myself. I understand when he says they have to trust us, to trust me. But, well, look at them."

We both took a moment to watch the people around us. Surely they knew who we were, but they paid us no heed.

"They don't seem to be afraid, " I continued. "So what is there to prove?"

Electro said nothing.

"What?" I asked him. "Do you think I have something to prove?"

He didn't answer for a long time. He stood lost in thought. Impatiently I shifted foot to foot.

"No," he answered finally. "No I don't think you do. But if the Chancellors are asking you to, well, you might want to consider it. Even if you're not running the festival."

I sighed heavily.

"I guess you're right," I told him.

He smiled sheepishly.

"Maybe not," he said. "It's  just what I think."

Neither of us said anything for a while. Our silence was filled with chattering people, their footsteps, creaky carts, and laughter.

"Are you ready to go to Adlez?" Electro finally asked.

I groaned.

"Not mentally," I replied. "Things didn't go too well last time we were there."

"It'll be fine, Frozene," he assured me. "You'll enjoy it this time."

"I hope you're right."

"I always am."

We both laughed. It felt good, just me and him, like old times, before the Dragon. Before everything. As if I had a piece of home back.

"Well, I was headed to Pinta's if you'd like to come," Electro invited.

My supposed 'piece of home' shattered as I replied,

"Uh, no. That's okay. You enjoy yourself okay?"

He shrugged.

"Well, okay. Don't get into trouble, alright?"

"Of course not," I said, smiling innocently.

He laughed, then he too was lost in the crowd. I looked after him, but he was gone.

Who am I kidding? I thought suddenly. Home will never be the same.

Even if I went home right then, it would never be the same. Not with Electro building a future with Pinta. Not with Morrow stepping into his role as Chancellor. Not with Kronos, empty, half - burned and smoldering in the mountains just west of here...

I shook my head at the thought. Looking up at the sky, so bright and beautiful, I thought of how perfectly bleak my future looked. There was nothing left for me.

We live to serve them, Chancellor Virgil's words rang in my ears.

Maybe he was right. Maybe I shouldn't wish for home back. Maybe living to serve the people was my future. My purpose.

Maybe there was some truth to it.

But the idea didn't sit well with me.