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[Ember Cawood]

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Monday had finally arrived. Ember could hardly contain her excitement as she knelt next to a clear, bubbling fountain and washed her hands and face in the cold water until her skin burned pink. She gave a sidelong glance around her foreign surroundings while the sandal-footed merchants went about their daily chores. When no eyes noticed her searching gaze, she slipped her short pants off under her kilt and lay them aside to keep them dry. She lifted her kilt slightly and slid her feet into the water, standing knee-deep in the frigid fountain. She washed away the grime that had accumulated on her travels to this unfamiliar land. When her splashing was done, she shimmied out of the fountain and paused to loose her long auburn hair and run her fingers through it. Ember studied her reflection in the water as she smoothed her hair back again into a much neater ponytail. As she watched her reflection, a long, chestnut face appeared next to her own.

"'Enry!" Ember exclaimed as the horse plopped one of its forelegs into the water. "Ah jes' brushed ye in Minoc, wot's all this?!" Henry dunked his head in the water, then briskly lifted it high again, shaking out his mane and spraying Ember with icy water. Ember squealed and shielded herself the best she could with her hands and arms. But the damage was done. Her hair was wet and stringy, clothes spotted with water. And the foot traffic was already picking up outside the city gates.

"Great goin' Pal, ye done gone an' wrecked me a'fore ah could charm some fancy fella outta a pear fer ye." Henry's lips wiggled and flapped, showing his teeth in what could only seem to be a demented grin. Ember stifled a cackle and smoothed her hair again. She slipped her short pants back on under her faded grey kilt and trotted out of the city gate to follow the others. Henry ceased his clowning and loped after her.

Along the path, a brilliant blue bird with long legs stopped to cock its head and give Ember a one-eyed glare. Ember's eyes widened, but Henry was quick to lower his head and feint toward the bird, sending it into a fluttering, gibbering hysteria. Ember giggled, but clicked her tongue, calling Henry back to her side. For as much talk she had heard of this tavern, she had no idea how to get there. They would have to keep up with the others if they ever hoped to find it.

At last they had arrived. Ember thought back to what she'd heard of ninjas...They could have a parade through town and no one would ever know. They were just that stealthy. She narrowed her eyes, determined that she would see a ninja if it took her all night. She scrutinized the flowers and grass in front of the tavern, but saw nothing apart from a kind man, dressed in black, his face covered except for his eyes. He held aloft a torch, lighting the stairs for other patrons. The man greeted Ember warmly and ushered her up the stairs. As she reached the arched doorway, the ladies in front of her paused to slip their sandals off and place them inside the door. Ember chuckled, wiggled her toes, and leaned to whisper in Henry's ear. "Ah'm way ahead o'em."

[Ember Cawood]

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A dark shadow arched up the far wall. Ember stared wide-eyed as Henry side-stepped to stand directly behind her and peek around her shoulder. Could it be...? A woman in a brilliant aqua-coloured kimono leaned down to stoke a small fire pit in the center of the room. The dark mass retreated, and Ember realized that it was only the fire casting the woman's shadow on the far wall.

"T'weren't no ninja 'tall, 'Enry. Jes' that pretty lady's shadder." Henry looked at the woman in the bright kimono and pulled his head back behind Ember, still wary. Ember took a few more confident steps into the tavern and stopped beside the tavern's fountain. Henry seemed more at ease, sauntering over to drink from the clear water.

"Ye kin drink it, but jes' don' put it on anybody," Ember scolded. She glanced around the room, looking for someone who might have a pear. Earlier in the day, she'd snared a mongbat who'd carried enough gold coins that she might even be able to afford two, if she could come by them.

Frickin' ninjas, Ember thought to herself. Pro'lly 'ave all th' pears an' ah'll ne'er find 'em. Mebbe ah 'ave teh relax me eyes, an' stare through the crowd. Ember let her eyes go fuzzy and unfocused in hopes of popping a ninja out of the surrounding patrons, but to no avail. An accusatory voice shattered her concentration.

"Whose horse is this?" the woman in the aqua kimono asked. Henry raised his head with a slack-jawed innocent expression. Water dripped from his lips as he wriggled them slightly, in time with the woman's words. She repeated herself, louder this time. "Whose horse is this?!" A few chuckles erupted from surrounding tables as Henry again bared his teeth, lips flapping, seeming to mimick the woman's demands.

"'Enry!" Ember elbowed the horse's ribs and scolded in a harsh whisper, then she turned to the woman. "'E be mine, Miss. 'E's a good 'orse, ne'er causes any 'arm."

"He'll have to go outside," the woman stated flatly.

Ember's face fell. "Ah'll put 'im o'er by the wall, ah promise 'e won't do nothin' wrong...'E gits skeerd wifout me, y'see..."

The woman's expression was unyielding. Ember thought up many excuses and pleas, but her resolve was broken, and her shoulders slumped. Henry sensed defeat and lowered his head, following Ember toward the arched doorway. A few tavern-goers pleaded with the woman as she ushered Ember outside, but the woman would not hear reason.

A man she knew as Andreas, dressed in radiant orange, rose and sidled up alongside Ember, slipping her an enchanted apple. "For Henry," he whispered, then he fell back to talk with the woman in the aqua kimono as she followed Ember and Henry outside. Ember heard a hushed argument behind her, but could not make out the words. Ember shivered as she stopped at the bottom of the stairs. She sat beside Henry in the grass and handed him the apple. He nibbled at it eagerly, eventually taking it from her hand.

The woman in the kimono returned, a slightly pained look on her face. "You may return, and the horse too."

Ember arched a brow, glowering incredulously at the woman. "Ah'm fine. Ah dinnae wan' teh start a ruckus. We'll be fine oot 'ere, Miss."

The woman sighed and looked to the dark masked man with the torch. "Orlando, please keep her company." Then the woman retreated into the warmth of the tavern.

The man she called Orlando strode up to Ember and held out his hand. "For you and your horse." He held two more apples.

"Oh than' ye, yer sech a kind gent eren't ye?" Ember handed one apple to Henry, who took it enthusiastically. She took a big, juicy bite of the other. The mysterious man watched protectively as Ember finished her apple and gave Henry the core.

"Well, Ah guess we'll be off, then." Ember studied the masked man carefully for a moment. "Than' ye agin, Sah. Yer verrah....well...ye gots kind eyes, ye do," Ember finally offered, and smiled brightly.

"C'mon 'Enry, l'essgo." Henry followed Ember as she searched the twilight for the dimly-lit path back to the city.

As soon as they were out of range of the tavern, Ember looked at Henry thoughtfully. "Y'know, ah'm glad we got some apples, but one o' these days ah'm goin' teh git ye a pear, ah promise." Henry snorted, but Ember continued pensively. "Ah on'y wish ah'd got teh see a ninja."