Aydin decided it was time to leave Carsiol since his ruse for pretending to be of the common folk was well known by the people. He needed a new town. As he thought about it, he thought of his brothers in their respective domains, cold castles and secluded manors that they rarely set foot out of.  

He walked through the market square of Carsiol as he debated on where to go. The morning sun was just cresting over the top of the temple. The pantheon hadn’t changed much is the past few centuries. Attendance of the celebrations, feasts, and vigils had waxed and waned, but it more or less had remained constant. While he contemplated this, the door of the temple opened and a familiar face appeared. Aydin immediately headed towards the temple to meet her at the marble steps descending from the temple. 

“Good morning, Lex,” he said with an exaggerated bow and elegant flourish of his cap. “What a pleasant surprise to see you still in Carsiol.” 

Her green eyes sparkled with a playfulness as she replied with her own comically deep curtsy, “My immortal lordship. I find myself here because there is much to learn about your town.” 

“My world,” he corrected. “I know you are from no part of this land.” 

“True enough,” she shrugged as she turned and began to walk around the northern side of the square. 

Aydin followed. “I have a proposal for you. I’ve decided I would like to travel and I have a feeling you would make an excellent traveling companion.” 

Lex made a face as she thought over the proposition. She walked on another twenty paces before turning round and proffering her hand, “I think it just might be entertaining.” 

Ayding shook her hand before looping his arm through her and turning her to head towards the town stables. “You don’t mind that we take the scenic route, correct? And are you familiar with riding horseback?” 

They bantered as they made their way through town to the high stone walls of Aydin’s estate. He beckoned a uniformed lad at the gate to fetch a pair of horses from his stables. As the boy took off, he watched Lex admire the floral bushes planted along either side of the cobblestone drive. The morning sun reflected a golden halo on her brown hair.

In just a few minutes the boy returned, leading the requested horses. Aydin took the reins of a spirited chestnut mare, but Lex stepped into the stirrup and swung her leg over before he could offer her the calmer bay gelding. With a smirk, he handed the reins to her and mounted the other himself, acquiescing that she might be a better match for the mare afterall. 

Aydin led the way to the outskirts of Carsiol and onto the road that would take them to the northern mountain range. “How would you like to meet my baby brother?” 

Lex smiled as she urged her horse even with his own. “He can’t be any more annoying than you.”