He swept a hand out, gesturing to the entrance to the cave. “After you, your majesty.” He bowed.

I punched his arm. “Don’t start. I’ll take the ribbing from the boys, but not from you.”

“Who said I was teasing?”

Now it was my turn to stare at him.

“Hey, what’s taking you so long?” Quain called. “Can’t Avry find the entrance?”

Laughter erupted from inside the cave.

“I warned you,” Kerrick said.

“I grew up with two brothers. I can handle harmless teasing. Besides, laughter heals the soul. You should try it sometime.” I walked into the cave without looking back.

Cheers and a few good-natured taunts greeted me. The men stood in a line with their hands hidden behind their backs, fidgeting like kids who had been caught stealing sweets. Their attention focused on Kerrick, who had followed me inside. He nodded.

“Okay, boys. What’s going on?” I asked.

Belen stepped forward. “We decided that even though you didn’t find Kerrick, you did catch the rest of us and should graduate. Congratulations!” They hooted and hollered.

“Thanks. Now stop blocking the heat, I’m frozen solid.”

“Not so fast,” Belen said. “We still need to give you our graduation gifts.”

“But—”

Belen approached and brought his hands forward. With a dramatic flourish, he opened them, revealing a pair of black gloves. “I noticed you didn’t have a pair.”

“Where—?”

“They were mine, but they had holes in the fingertips. I just cut them down for you and sewed them.” He gave them to me. “Try them on.”

They fit, but all I could say was, “You sew?”

“After two years on the road, someone has to. Do you like them?”

“Yes. They’re lovely…thanks.”

Quain and Loren presented me with a piece of leather rolled up and tied with twine.

“Untie it,” Loren said.

I had to take off my gloves to loosen the knot. Unrolling the leather, I exposed the inner side. Pockets lined the material. I puzzled over it.

“It’s for your plants and herbs,” Quain said. “You can store them in separate pockets and, when you roll it up, you can carry it in your knapsack.”

“That’s…” Unbelievable. Unexpected. “Perfect. Thanks.”

Flea came up next. With a shy smile he flourished three rocks and proceeded to juggle them. He performed a whole routine, with high throws and low throws, ending the show with one rock going up to the ceiling while he spun around in a circle before catching it behind his back.

The others cheered and clapped. I couldn’t speak for a long moment. When the cave grew quiet, I said, “You’ve been practicing.”

“A little,” he said.

“Wow, that was…amazing. Thank you.”

Kerrick handed me a piece of paper. I squinted at the words with suspicion. Was this an oath? But it was a list of supplies.

“Things to buy at the market,” he said. Then he dropped a pouch full of coins in my hands. “You and Flea can go tomorrow. I suggest you wear your green skirt and tunic to match the market crowd.”

“And clay-caked clothes are so last year,” Quain said.

Lying in my bedroll that night, I couldn’t sleep. The unexpected gifts from the guys had shocked me. They didn’t think of me as just a healer for Ryne like Kerrick. They cared about me. All those years I had avoided forming close relationships because I knew they would make it difficult for me to keep moving on. Eventually, I would have to leave the guys and that would cut deep. Damn. I hated being right.

Even knowing Kerrick and company crouched in the nearby woods just in case we ran into trouble, I planned to fully enjoy the day. Another bright cold morning had arrived with the dawn. I wore the skirt and tunic to keep the peace, but my cloak covered the clothes, anyway, so there was no real reason to wear them.

Located in the center hub of the city, the market bustled with shoppers, merchants and various undesirables seeking to prey on the unwary. Most of the merchants had set up their tables in three-sided huts with wooden roofs. Others hawked their wares from wagons, carts and blankets spread on the ground. Children dashed between legs. The general noise of voices arguing and haggling blended together into a happy, prosperous hum. I basked in the market’s energy, filling my lungs with the heady smell of fresh bread.

Flea and I walked a circuit first to orient ourselves to the sellers and goods available for purchase. Although we had agreed to stay together—well, Kerrick had insisted—I held the list. I also brought along my remaining coins, hoping to secure a few needed items.

At one point, Flea touched my shoulder. “See that kid?”

“The girl with the red hat?”

“No, the boy with the long black hair.”

“Yes, I see him by the applecart.”

“Watch.”

When the customers around the cart captured the owner’s full attention, the boy pocketed as many apples as he could before slipping away unnoticed.

“Nice technique,” Flea said.

“How did you know he was going to steal?”

“Coat too small. Pants threadbare with holes. No hat or gloves. Plus he had that look.”

“A hungry look or an I’m-about-to-do-something-illegal look?”

Flea laughed. “He doesn’t consider what he just did illegal, Avry. It’s survival. He had the worried look. Worry over where he’ll find his next meal. It’s constant. It doesn’t stop even when you have a full belly and a few slices of bread tucked away.”