To Walk Through a Dream Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven With Wavering Footsteps Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Stone Song Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three A Tale of Winter Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Destiny Inescapable Prologue Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Epilogue The Cycle's Continuing Beginnings Chapter One Chapter Two Chapter Three Chapter Four Chapter Five Chapter Six Chapter Seven Chapter Eight Chapter Nine Two Spirits Akin

A Tale of Winter (In balance, Imbalance) Chapter Five "I am sorry. If I'd known what you were going to do..." She dabbed at a cut near his eye, the area around which was rapidly swelling in an unpleasant but colorful fashion. Madame Darbois gave them a curious look from behind the counter, but still did not approach them to ask what had occurred. She'd contented herself with silently raising one eyebrow when they'd come in, and Esmerelda had shrunk even further inside herself with embarrassment. Still, it had been her suggestion to come here. It was the closest place she could think of. Phoebus was glaring into the fireplace ignoring her. "I don't think any of the others are angry with you, just Clopin." "No, I only looked like a complete fool." His look of anger collapsed as he turned to her. "What did I do wrong? Is he insane?!? I was helping!" He glared at the fire again. At hearing Clopin's name Madame Darbois had come away from the counter and was now wiping down an already-clean nearby table. Esmerelda glanced over suspiciously, but decided she was harmless, and it wouldn't hurt to have someone for advice in case she only managed to upset Phoebus further. She could see that his pride was wounded worse than his body. "You are not a gypsy, and so to him you are an outsider. He is the king and he prides himself on leading our people without any assistance. Even we don't help him. To have an outsider--" "I'm *not* an outsider." "He felt you were threatening him. It was like a personal insult to his ability to lead. Even suggesting he couldn't do it on his own would be dangerous. Even for a fellow gypsy to suggest it. And you......" She let her voice trail off, not wanting to offend him further. She sighed and watched him sulk for a few minutes longer before she got fed up with him dragged him off to get cleaned up. Chapter Six