“Daddy,” piped up Littlespark, “why was that man mad at you?”

Aidan looked down at his daughter, trying to think of a way to explain things. He was a bit surprised at the question. Littlespark was a quiet child, she usually didn’t say much. That was the longest sentence he’d ever heard her use. “He though I was something that I’m not,” he said at last.

“Why?” she asked.

Aidan picked her up. “Maybe because I’m different from other people,” he said.

“Am I different too?”

Aidan exchanged glances with Flame. That was one thing they had both worried about, that their half-breed daughter would indeed be different, too different to be accepted by most people. “You are different, but not the same way as I am,” said Aidan, unable to think of anything else to say.

“Will people get all mad at me too?”

Aidan smiled at her, hoping he was telling the truth when he replied, “No love, they won’t. You’re not like me, and besides, you’re too cute. How could anybody get mad at someone as cute as you?”

“That man shouldn’t have been so mad at you,” concluded Littlespark.

“No, he shouldn’t have,” said Aidan, again surprised by the girl’s sudden articulateness.

They made it back to the inn without any further incident and Flame and Littlespark got their dinner. The sun had set and the village was going to sleep. Aidan, on the other hand, was feeling very awake. “I think I’ll go hunting,” he said to Flame Song when she’d finished eating. “Do you mind taking care of Littlespark by yourself for a bit?”

“No, go ahead,” she said with a smile. Aidan left the inn and went out into the night. He paused for a moment and took a deep breath of cool night air. Maybe he didn’t need to breathe anymore, but sometimes he sill liked the feel of fresh air filling his lungs. He launched himself into the air and beat his wings hard, struggling for altitude in the complete lack of an updraft. It wasn’t long before he was high enough that the village below looked like it was made of toy houses, an the few tiny people still out at this hour were like ants. The aurora borealis was playing across the sky, and he flew below its shimmering cold fire, suspended between heaven and earth, reveling in the freedom of the air.

It was a long time later when he landed in front of the inn. He’d found the sustenance he needed, but more than that, he felt as though the flight had cleansed his mind. He felt refreshed and at peace. A dim glow in their room at the back showed that Flame Song was still up. He passed the night clerk who was dozing behind his counter and climbed the stairs to their room. He found Flame Song reading a new picture book she’d bought to Littlespark. Flame Song pointed to each word as she read it and the girl followed along intently. Aidan wondered how long it would before she started to read. She wasn’t even three yet, but she seemed to be paying a lot of attention to the words on the page.

The night passed comfortably, and the following day all three slept soundly. Just before sunset they checked out of the inn and headed home. Once they’d cleared the high pass of the Barrier Mountains, Aidan swooped down and flew close to the ground so he could talk to Flame.

“I’d like to stop in Coppertop and talk to Belak for a bit. Do you mind?”

“No, that’s fine with me,” said Flame. “What for?” she added, curious.

“Oh, I have my reasons,” said Aidan, cryptically.

Flame knew the futility of trying to pry answers out of Aidan when he was being cryptic, so she didn’t ask any further questions. But her curiosity was eating at her. What could Aidan need to talk to Belak about that he hadn’t needed to discuss with their dwarven friend on the way up?

It wasn’t long before they reached the dwarven city. The sky was just beginning to lighten, though dawn was still an hour or so off. They had to wait for the gates to open at sunrise. They both could have flown over the fortress-city’s walls, even with Littlespark, but they knew that many of the dwarves didn’t trust Aidan, and had long ago decided to do everything they could to avoid arousing any further animosity. Besides, Belak would probably still be asleep. He was an early riser, but not that early. At last the sunlight spilled across the landscape, hitting the highest tower of the dwarven king’s castle before sliding down the walls and reaching the tundra below. The huge gates slowly opened, moving on oiled hinges without so much as a squeak. The trio proceeded into the city with Littlespark still perched on her mother’s furry back and Aidan walking next to them with one hand on Flame’s shoulder. They threaded their way through mostly empty streets to Belak’s house, which was also his workshop.

Aidan knocked firmly on the solid wooden door of Belak’s home. From inside a grumbling voice could be heard. “One minute, one minute. I’m only just out of my bed. And who’d be calling at this ungodly hour I’d like to know.” The door was flung open and Aidan found himself looking down at the gruff face of his friend, one of the few people the diminutive aerian could look down at.

“Why Aidan! Flame Song! And your little kitten. What brings you three to my door this early? Or this late as it may be for you?”

“I’ve a small favor to ask of you, my friend.” He looked at Flame Song and winked, then leaned over and whispered something in Belak’s ear. Flame pricked her ears and listened, but she couldn’t quite make it out. She was itching with curiosity by this time.

Belak grinned hugely and said, “Aye, of course!”

Then Aidan lifted Littlespark down off of Flame’s back. “Spark, love, do you mind staying with your uncle Belak for a while?”

“No, I like him,” she said, with childish frankness.

Belak grinned at the little girl, who was still in human form and still wearing her new dress, having refused to change out of it. “I like you too, lass,” he said.

“What is going on?” burst out Flame.

Belak laughed, and Aidan grinned and said, “It’s a surprise. Belak has agreed to watch Spark while I show you something.”

“Show me what?”

“Now if I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise,” said Aidan, his grin growing even broader. He was enjoying this, knowing very well that Flame had as much curiosity as the proverbial cat. “Come on, we need to be outside the city for this.” He spread his wings and motioned for Flame to follow him. She shook her head, half in amusement, half in frustration, and blurred into aerian form, her own white wings contrasting vividly with her fiery hair. Aidan took off skyward and she followed. He headed north, in the general direction of their home, but stopped and landed on a grassy hilltop long before they reached it.

“Now will you tell me what this is all about?” asked Flame as she landed next to him.

“It’s easier to show than tell,” he said. Then he pulled something out of his pocket. “I bought this in Snowcap, I even paid for it instead of stealing it. I figured since it’s something magical that might be a good idea.”

“Magical? What is it?”

Aidan grinned. “A single use shapeshifting spell,” he said, and slipped the ring on. Immediately his form shimmered and blurred. When the shimmering cleared Flame found herself looking at a firecat, the first time she’d seen one, other than in the mirror, for the better part of a decade.

“That felt distinctly odd,” said Aidan, his voice still sounding the same, though now it issued from the throat of a huge white and orange feline. He twisted around, trying to get a good look at himself. “Too bad I still won’t show up in mirrors,” he added. “How do I look?”