child

“I never left,” I whispered, my words shaking. “I was never there.”

He trailed his glover fingertips over my cheek. It was the first time he had ever touched me. “Please, don’t. I’m not a mage-hunter anymore.”

“You left the order?”

“There’s a lot that happened after you left. A lot you don’t know.”

But I wanted to.

Knight Corliss would not hurt me or my son.

And it would be better than trying to camp in the woods.

I accompanied him and marveled at the fortress he now manned.

“What is this?” I asked. “A refuge for callificars that suffer from serving the order. That want to leave. Need to. And what I’ve been working on since you left.”

“I… Autumn?” Knight Corliss turned to me.

I hugged my son. “He doesn’t understand,”

“He’s a mage? Like you?”

“No. We must go.”

“At least let me put you up for the night,” Knight Corliss said. “In repayment for your service to the kingdom.”

“I have done nothing.”

Knight Corliss smiled. “You always were a terrible liar.”

“Autumn…” He paused and glanced down at my son. “I… understand.”

Color stained my cheeks, but I only glared at him. “Please excuse us, ser.”

“There are no other inns in the area. Come, I will see that the two of you are safe for the night.”

My son’s eyes clouded a minute, then he stood between Knight Corliss and me. “No. You will not hurt her again.”

“You’re dead. I attended the statue they dedicated to you. To your victory over the dragon.”

“You have me confused. My name is Winter.” My heart beat so fast I could almost hear it.

“Mammae?” my son asked.

I glanced back at the unconscious callificars. “I must go, Ser Knight. You have enough to clean up without me getting in the way.”

But he didn’t move.

As I drew enough magic to blow through anything he could cancel, a familiar voice called out to me, “Autumn?”

No one had called me that in…

“It is you, isn’t it? What happened to your hair?”

“Knight Corliss?”