FIVE YEARS LATER

The cold wind blowing in from the East was a firm reminder that winter was on it's way, and that Amber needed to arrive at her destination before it came. Foreigners might think that Obarsan was a continent made up of a dry desert, but her home was to the North. In the mountainous forests there, snow fell cold enough to discourage even the most intrepid of travelers. Even though she had spent the last five years away from her village, she was not wanting to spend any more time away.

A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she reached up to brush a strand of dark hair back behind her ear. Her leather gloves, suitable for riding and for handling a weapon, were not very suited to tasks such as hair and she fumbled for a moment before the lock actually stayed. She could have simply removed her glove, except that she was still on payroll and it was part of her uniform. She had given up on her ideas of revenge years ago now and had been working as a caravan guard, using her considerable skill with her funny sword to protect merchants and travellers from the slavers that roamed the wilds.

One last run, she promised herself, determined that after escorting this caravan to the crossroads, she would take her leave and her pay there and move on North. A slight smile crossed her thin lips as she thought of Jinhee, the man who had practically raised her since she was thirteen years old. She had not seen him in the time that she had been away and she was looking forward to the coming reunion. She was finally willing to admit what he had known all along and tried to warn her of: her quest for revenge was in folly. She hadn't received the strange weapon she still carried because of some god's will, but by dumb luck. The odd sword was not an omen of great things but instead, an omen of great folly. She was ready to admit that now, and more than ready to return home.

And yet, to get home was to brave the dangerous Obari countryside alone. She had tried to find a caravan to take her all the way to her home, but none were roaming so far North in this time of year. As such, she had to settle for halfway, and when they turned to the West to head through the Needle Gate, she would continue North alone. She wasn't looking forward to that, and yet, it was unavoidable unless she wanted to wait out the winter before trying to go home. That might be the thing to do, but it wasn't what she wanted.

Footsteps and a man's voice caught her attention and pulled her away from her thoughts and back to the here and now. Of average height and with a sharp, square jaw, Jinyoung didn't look like much to the eye, and yet he was a shrewd businessman. Amber had worked for him several times in the past running goods all over Obarsan, and it was only because of their past connections that he was willing to take a guard only halfway. Usually one had to sign a contract that promised they would guard the caravan from one city to another. 

Jinyoung bowed to the woman he had been speaking with, a woman with dark skin that gave Amber a curious look. She dismissed her as what she was - a mere guard - and turned to Jinyoung once more. "Be safe on your travels," she intoned, the formal goodbye for Obari smoothly falling from her tongue in a honey-like tone. It was proper to wish someone safety: the ways were so dangerous that one never knew when they would see a person again.

And yet Jinyoung's face broke into an easy smile. "Her blessing on you," he said in return, giving another bow before hurrying back to Amber. He took the reins of his horse from her and mounted quickly without a word, leaving Amber to swing into her own saddle. He did a least wait until she was atop her horse Stoutheart before he took off, but he set a quick pace through the packed city streets. Jabar was never still, a city that was filled to the brim and overflowing with life and trade. The people moved out of their way easily and without too much bother: they were used to riders coming through without a care for the pedestrians about them. Amber had once seen a man run over by a rider who didn't even glance back even as the man howled in pain.

She was glad when they reached the caravan where it waited just inside the city gates. The morning sun was already high in the sky and climbing, signalling their late start, but Jinyoung had insisted on visiting the woman first. It wasn't Amber's business to know why, it was merely her job to protect him, and so she asked no questions even though she found it odd. Especially his final words to the woman, but that wasn't her concern.

Daesung, a fellow c