We walked out into daylight. Both suns were out, and the light wavered and flexed around us. Although it had been only a day since I’d arrived, it felt much longer. I shaded my eyes; it took me a second to get used to the sunshine. The extra light washed everything out.

The same two guards from the morning loomed outside the door. I hadn’t paid them any mind earlier, but I noted them now. One was tall and lean, with long, dirty blond hair. His posture against the wall screamed cowboy. I envisioned him with a Stetson and a piece of hay at the corner of his mouth. The other was a huge beast of a guy. Paint him green and he could be the Hulk. They both wore the requisite leathers and stood straight, eyes forward when the chief stepped out, but the big guy’s shirt was untucked at the corner. That little bit of fabric called to me. I wanted to tuck it in so bad. They both fell into step behind us when we marched down the path.

The clout of the clan chief cleared the way. People scurried out of our path. We traveled the opposite way of my trek into town, toward the large central courtyard I’d seen last night. We passed more houses like Ute’s in size and shape. One house had a stone path leading up to the door. Another grew a large patch of what looked like zinnias and cosmos that I’m sure were somehow poisonous. One had a little table out front. A play set for a child to have tea parties.

We moved at a fast pace toward the water. Marin said he wanted me seen, but we were booking down to the lake. He dragged me a bit as I craned to look around. Zanth kept pace at our side. Luckily, he didn’t try to hold my hand. The two guards fanned out around us. We passed a lot of people as we walked; they recognized Marin, and I stood out, but nobody greeted us, too afraid of the scary off-worlder.

The Fost came in all shapes and sizes. Their most distinguishing characteristics were their build, their eyes, their hair, and their tattoos. The rest of the differences weren’t as obvious. There wasn’t much color in the environment. A few flowers here and there, some white and yellow, but not much else, at least in the areas I’d seen. The people made up for that lack with their hair color and tattoos.

I passed a little boy walking with his mother; he had bright green eyes, like grass from home, with slit pupils and glowing purple hair. His eyes glittered as he smiled and gummed his thumb. He weaved at his mother’s side. I waved at him as Marin tugged me along, and he waved back, gurgling. His mother shot me a nasty look and dragged him in the opposite direction.

The interaction annoyed me and reminded me I was the stranger here. I was the alien. I looked around again, and things didn’t seem quite so pleasant anymore. My heart squeezed tight and curled up in the corner.

We entered the courtyard. There were some stores. I could see a man squeezing fruit of some sort. Another walked out of a building with what looked like pie. I loved pie. I ached to investigate, but Marin wasn’t to be diverted. He tugged me through the square toward a path between the buildings that led to the water.

We were soon at our destination.

The lake glimmered blue-green in the light. Small waves lapped at the grassy shore. The blue grass felt rough beneath my toes. A gentle breeze caressed me, blowing my hair away from my face. Peace slid through me. Maybe this wasn’t such a bad idea after all.

As soon as we arrived, Marin brought my hand up to his mouth and kissed the knuckles. Tingles shot down my fingers. I jerked away, but he stayed close. His hand brushed mine, and a spark jumped between us, making me shiver. I got a weird sensation of the air moving around me, the faint smell of musk. My hair drifted alongside my face.

Marin smiled, noting my reaction. We strolled to the water. Zanth remained clueless on my other side, looking at the lake. There didn’t seem to be any movement in the water. That reminded me; I hadn’t seen any animals. When I was talking with Ute, he said there were animals. I saw a book about animals, but no actual specimens so far.

I approached the lake with small, careful steps. I half expected the shark from Jaws—I think his name was Bruce, or was that Finding Nemo?—to jump up and try to eat me. That was the kind of day I’d been having.

“Ute told me he explained some of our history to you, yes?” Marin said, interrupting my musings. I nodded, and he continued, “The lakes, they are the lifeblood of our people. We tried to go out into the desert east of here, but we could not find water. What was left of us after the war, our flight, the mountains, and the desert drifted back here. The lakes are beautiful. They sustain us. They sustain nature. What little grows in the mountains, grows here. We are quite high up. That is probably why you are so sleepy.”

Huh. One, how did he know I’d been sleepy? And two, I had been feeling sluggish. I thought it was the air.

“The water is restorative. You should taste it. Experience it.”

I bent down at the water’s edge for a closer look. My reflection glimmered up at me, and my world rocked.

I looked different. No, I didn’t look like the Fost. I was saying I looked different—prettier. Don’t get me wrong, I was cute. In fact, the word cute was used to describe me so often that I’d come to loathe it. But I wasn’t cute now, I was beautiful.

My curly hair had grown a couple of inches and framed my face, then cascaded down to mid-back. The color was richer, fuller, a deep titian with blonde highlights to catch the suns. My face was warm ivory with just a dusting of freckles across my nose, not the confluence I’d had prior. I remembered three faint scratches on my cheek from a random encounter as a child with a pissed-off cat. I felt my cheek and watched my reflection mirror my actions. Nothing. My eyes were rounder, wider, and deeper than they’d ever been; their color, a clear crystal blue. I used to have a little bump along the bridge of my nose; gone now. My lips were full and red, my cheekbones sharper and stained a faint rose.

The land had been good to me.

I bit my lip; the pain sharpened my focus, but my reflection didn’t change. A stray gust blew a strand of hair across my face. I smelled the water in the wind.

My fingers rested on my lips, trembling. No matter what happened, I’d staved off fear. I needed to figure out what to do and do it. I reacted calmly like my daddy taught me. Control in all things. I could handle anything.

But what was this? Because a different girl peered back at me. A new and improved model. This was not me. I swallowed hard, my world spinning as I continued to gaze into the water. My fingers drifted over my face. I hadn’t let myself panic in the face of an unknown world, an unknown place, but an unknown me was going a little too far. It was so stupid that it took my reflection to make me break down. Spots formed in my vision, and my breath grew ragged.

Marin’s reflection came up behind mine. I saw his hand reach out.

“Are you well?”

“No, I’m not well!” My voice quavered. Damn it. I was not weak. I continued to look down. Tears slipped down my cheeks and fell into the water, distorting my likeness. The tip of my nose turned red.

Marin’s hand hovered over my shoulder, then dropped in a hesitant touch. He inclined his head to Zanth, who moved back and took the two guards with him. Goody, fewer people to watch me break down.

“What is wrong?” he asked as he ran his hand down my hair. We both watched the reflected progress of his hand down my back.

I pointed at my reflection. “This isn’t me! I mean, it’s me, but not how I was, not how I remember me. What’s going on here?” I sank to my knees in the cool grass.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean.” I waved my hands down my body. “This is a much prettier me.”

He grinned. “You are quite…attractive.”

I smacked his shin. “Go away.” This wasn’t the time to hit on me, dude.

“Sorry. I am sorry. I do not know what is going on here. The Imani are involved, and that means it could be anything, but I will help you,” he offered.

“Why, why would you want to help me, because I’m ‘attractive’?” I asked. Nobody was that eager to help me when I was just plain cute as a button.

He ran his hand down my hair again; his gaze met mine in the water. His eyes were clear, that same sharp intelligence shining through and something more I couldn’t read. “Because it is the right thing to do, for you, for my people, and for the land; I know it.”

Lightning spread in the wake of his touch. The feeling cleared my head a bit. I believed him, and I couldn’t freak out now; panic would get me nowhere fast. Control in all things. My daddy had taught me that for so long, I had to believe it. One day I would shatter and start screaming, but not today.

I rubbed my nose on my sleeve, then splashed my face, shattering the image.

“I’m okay now. Sorry.” I cupped my hands and tasted the water. Clean and fresh, as advertised. “That’s good, thanks.”

He helped me stand. He lifted a corner of his shirt and wiped my face. His abs rippled, and what nice abs they were. What a thing to notice. I turned my eyes away. But wait. I didn’t think he had a belly button. Did he? How did that work? Geez. Now I wanted to look again.

He held my hands and watched me. Tingles coursed down my arms and shortened my breath; my stomach tensed. When I looked back up, he stared at me, eyes intent. I knew what he saw. He leaned closer. This wasn’t me.

I tucked my head into my shoulder, and I felt his lips brush my ear, sending me spinning. My breath huffed out. Marin’s lips hovered next to my temple. My stomach tightened, the moment stretching.

Zanth spoke from behind us. “I am sorry for hitting you, Elizabeth,” he said. “I thought you were running. My orders were to keep you in the building, but I feel shame for laying hands on you.”

He inclined his head in a bow.

I stepped away from Marin and nodded back, nose in the air. “You hit like a girl anyway. A big, beefy girl.”

Zanth smirked and looked at my cheek, my lips. I scratched my nose, covering my lower face. I still didn’t like him. Jerk.

Our little interlude was definitely over. Marin stood up straight, looking remote. He started to walk around the lake.

“The Fost are a dying race. More of us die keeping this area safe than are born. Within a dozen or so more generations, we will die out. Ute thinks I do not see this, but I do. And our powers—the candrana—they are getting weaker, the longer we stay in the mountains.

“Ute is one of our historians, weaving tales of mighty battles, amazing magic, and intense connections to the land. What has he told you?” As he talked, he crooked his finger at me to follow, and we strolled on a trampled path around the lake. He took my hand while we walked, bringing my fingers up to kiss. He couldn’t seem to help himself.

I yanked my hand away, then wiped the back of it down my leg, disconcerted. “He told me about your history, and he told me about your political structure.”

“Good. So you will understand some of this. This valley and these lakes keep us alive. They are all that sustain us. We grow what we need, and what we grow only just keeps us all fed. After a few generations here, our population is stagnant. The same lines live and breathe, and everyone is related to everyone else. As we walked, I could have told you many stories about everyone we passed, and introduced you, but to talk to one would have invited a crowd, and it is better not to do that right now.

“We all know each other. We are breeding less and fighting more. Many people have possible solutions, but none of them are feasible. Ute wants to see us go back to where we came from, where we would face the same problems we had before, and now we cannot use magic…” He paused. “Something will have to change if the Fost are to survive.”

He stopped and waved his finger at me. “You, you represent change. You are different, which is notable. You found us here, and either you escaped from the Imani or they placed you here. It does not matter, not really. In either case, the Imani could be right behind you. There are people here eager for change and others who will fight it. Do you know what this means?”

“Some will love me, and some will hate me.” I shrugged. I already got that.

“That is one way of putting it. You are something new. We have not seen anyone like you. You do not look Imani; they are distinctive. Few think you represent them. Their arrogance would prohibit the subterfuge required. Most believe you do know something of how you got here consciously or not. There is no threat to you…right now. There is no welcome, either. Keep that in mind. I came here from Midday to meet you. Finn has been keeping a tight lid on any information about you, but rumors are spreading. I would protect you.”

His eyes met mine again, and he stepped closer, jerking his chin at Zanth.

I looked around; the guards all drifted away from us. Marin was quite close when I glanced back at him; a small smile played at his lips. There was just something about him that took my breath away.

“I would protect you,” he repeated. His eyelashes dropped as his face moved closer. I could taste lightning in the wind. My tongue ran along my bottom lip. His eyes heated.

“Hold on, Ace, I just met you.” I blurted out, nervous. My hands fluttered about his chest.

Marin blinked; a wall crashed down.

“Ace.” He laughed. “Ace.” There was a bitter edge in his voice. He backed up and inclined his head.

Again, moment over. I breathed easier, but at the same time, my tummy rolled. That wasn’t disappointment, no sirree.

We’d circled the lake. Marin nodded at Zanth behind me.

“Escort her back to Ute’s. I did not realize the time. I am late or I would escort you back myself.” He bowed over my hand and kissed the knuckles with a half-hearted wink. He took his leave, heading back to the marketplace, running away.

Zanth laughed behind me.

“I can see the idea of me as escort is not that pleasing. I promise I will not hit you,” he mocked. He held his hand out.

Yeah, right. I skirted around him and started walking back to Ute’s. He snickered and jogged to catch up.

“‘Ace.’ What made you say that?” He’d been eavesdropping, of course.

“What’s wrong with Ace?” I wanted to know. Marin had looked like I’d slapped him.

Zanth shrugged. “Our father’s name was Accia. His nickname was Ace. I am certain you could not have insulted him more. He hated our father.”

Now I just felt bad. I had my own daddy issues.

“I didn’t mean it in a bad way or to bring up bad memories.”

Zanth raised his brow and kept walking.

Earlier, when we passed through, few people questioned us, few looked our way, and everyone went about their business. That wasn’t true on the trip back. A few sibilant whispers reached my ears, like in the clearing. This time, though, a few brave souls reached out. I felt random touches on the sleeves and sides of my uniform. Some touches gentle, others not so much. I really had to get new clothes.

Zanth moved closer to me, stepping to my side and taking my arm. He glared at the people crowding close, discouraging them. “Faster, they are getting bolder.”

He didn’t seem scared, but there was a definite edge of concern in his voice. The two guards had fanned out, also trying to intercept any other interactions. I heard Imani scum muttered more than once. The mother and her green-eyed child were nearby. She spat in my direction. What a great role model.

We were damn near running when we approached Ute’s. I saw Finn at the door, and his eyes practically shot laser beams. He grabbed my arm, pulled me against him, and whirled on the crowd behind us.

“Leave,” Finn bellowed and that quick, the crowd scattered. He turned back toward me. “What were you thinking?”

I didn’t know if he meant that for me or for Zanth, who was right behind me.

“Marin wanted to talk to her,” Zanth answered shortly, then reversed course, inclined his head in a brief nod, and walked off.

“I told you to stay inside!” This was definitely addressed to me.

“What did you want me to do, refuse to go chat with the clan chief?” I darted inside to avoid his answer. The whole experience left me with more questions. I was tired of questions and a little unnerved.

I knew why Marin wanted to meet me; he had to check me out. But he didn’t even ask me anything. Why the lecture and the warning, why the offer of protection?

The scent of food hit me as I entered. My mouth watered. This mountain air was doing a number on me. I was hungrier, hornier, and sleepier than I’d ever been.

“That smells great, Ute. What is it?”

“Gurda again. You will get used to it,” he added with a snort. He motioned to the table.

“We are not done talking,” Finn hissed. He grasped my arm and swung me against the wall. “Anything could have happened. Why did you go?”

“I didn’t have a choice!” I exclaimed and attempted to shove him. He stood strong this time. His arms boxed me in, and he leaned forward so his mouth was right next to my ear. I saw Ute over his shoulder, and he didn’t look pleased as he moved over to us, wooden spoon in hand.

“Have a care what you are pushing against,” Finn whispered. I flushed. He grinned at me and backed away, much perkier. Hassling me seemed to amuse him.

Ute called out, “Time to eat,” and smacked Finn on the head with the spoon as he passed. Finn ignored him and rubbed his noggin.

Between bites, Ute watched me, and then asked in a careful manner, “What did he ask you?”

“That was the weird thing. He didn’t ask me anything. He seemed to know all about me. About me not knowing how I got here. He just warned me like you did. He said he would protect me.” I paused. “He knows about my magic.”

“What did you do?” Finn erupted. “Why would you tell him? We told you not to tell anyone!”

“He took my hand! He felt the power, like you did. He didn’t mention it at all, but it was obvious. There were sparks, not flames, this time.” I rubbed my hand, remembering.

Finn ground his teeth. He got up and left without a word, slamming the door behind him. I glanced at Ute, who just lifted his shoulders in a shrug.

“I think you’d be surprised as how similar your two views are, yours and Marin’s, I mean, at least from my limited interaction with him,” I told him.

Ute inclined his head.

“That is good. We need the Chief on our side, for your sake.”