Jehral had changed subtly since Ella last saw him. The metal circlet he wore at his brow now appeared to be made of solid silver, and he wore a sash of yellow over his black clothing. In the manner of a raj hada, the sash was decorated with a stylised desert rose.

"You look well, Jehral. It's good to see you again, too. Now," Ella said, colour coming to her cheeks, "let me go. There is a war going on. Let me return to my people."

Ella prepared to activate some of the sequences in her dress. The words on the tip of her tongue, she looked down, and then realised. Her dress was gone. She was wearing a plain yellow tunic. Looking at Shani, she saw that the elementalist's red robe was also gone, and in its place her friend wore a faded brown smock. Shani's red cuffs were nowhere to be seen.

"Where's my dress?" Ella said.

"They took them," Shani said, sighing.

Ella glared at Jehral. "Who, exactly, took them?"

Jehral actually blushed, the first time Ella had seen the desert warrior anything but poised. "Not I. We have an elder with us."

"But you looked, didn't you?" Shani challenged.

Jehral raised his chin. "I have taken a wife, Petryan. No, I did not."

"Will you let us go?" Ella asked.

Jehral looked puzzled. "Why would I let you go, when I have gone to such lengths to capture you?"

"No one asked you to," Ella said.

"Ah, but someone did. My prince asks, and I obey."

"What does he want with me?"

"That, Ella, he will tell you himself."

"And why is Shani here?"

"Because it was easier to take her, too, and because I suspect, Ella, that you may cause trouble."

"I'm never easy, barbarian," Shani growled.

Jehral ignored her, and addressed Ella. "I'm pleased to see that you have recovered." He prepared to depart.

"Jehral, will you at least tell us where we are?" Ella asked.

"We're half way to Castlemere, on the Basch Coast. Contrary to what you may believe, no one will find us, Ella. This wagon is one of forty in the train, and thirty-nine of the forty are legitimate traders."

"Jehral," Ella said. "We used to be friends. Must it be like this?"

Jehral came forward, his eyes blazing, and Ella shrank bank. "You lied to me, to my prince, to all of us. You took our knowledge and then you left us."

"I had to help my people!" Ella cried.

"Your name was a lie, and so was your position. You stole a great deal of essence from my prince's very tent."

Jehral turned and exited the wagon, sealing it shut behind him with angry tugs at the material, but not before making one last statement.

"And one more thing," he said. "You owe me a horse."

Then he was gone.

"Scratch you!" Ella cried after him.