Sades yawned as she brushed some of her freshly-dyed brown hair behind her ear, surveying the landscape she missed so much. She'd left the county six months ago and boarded a ship to Europe, and from there she'd gone to over sixty different countries, learning the languages and becoming more open-minded with every step she took. And now she was back in the place she was meant to be.

"Come on, boy. Let's go home."

Castor whickered below her as he trotted through the pass, his black mane sailing behind him. He was Sades' only companion on her travels, and he missed home as much as she did. She gave him a bit of rein and he broke into an excited gallop, sending rocks flying as his hooves tore up the parched ground. She couldn't wait to see her brother again - that was the best bit.

The only bad thing about being back in the county was the heat. Sades had spent the last few weeks of her travels in Russia, and she had nearly died of frostbite on one occasion. Castor felt it too, and he was beginning to froth at the mouth after only a few minutes of galloping. Sades pulled him up as someone came riding up on an unfamiliar horse and stopped dead in their path. She couldn't recognize the man until he turned his head, the shadows falling away from his face.

Tristan.

"Well, it got a little boring after a few months, so I just figured I may as well come back and see my ugly brother."

Sades nudged Castor into a slow trot until she reached Tris, where she gave him a huge cheesy grin, sliding the reins through her pale fingers. She had missed him so much, and she had so many things to tell him.

"Got you a present."

She rummaged around in one of her saddlebags and withdrew a Chinese dagger, the ebony hilt inlaid with jade and coral. It was overall a lovely thing, but it wasn't by any means simply an ornament. It was as much a weapon as anything else.

Sades chuckled to herself as Tristan spoke, a sudden craving for clove cigarettes gripping her chest. Her travels hadn't been completely beneficial, then. Castor wouldn't have given a rats if she lit up but this new horse, she couldn't exactly tell what his reaction would be to a flame. Not good, she figured.

"Who's this, Triss?"

She held out her hand for the strange horse to sniff, being sure to remain as still as she could. Castor whickered beneath her, nuzzling in to Tristan's chest. Evidently Castor had missed Sades' brother, too. A little smile curled her lips as she handed him the dagger, carefully watching his reaction.

"It's Chinese, the best one I could find. Belonged to an Emperor once."