“So, after we had that eighteen–month nightmare with the snow,” Caelan said, “followed by the eighteen months of pouring rain—which, you know, wasn’t too bad, but not all of us are from Glasgow—things finally settled into a good cycle. Not like it used to be. Things didn’t stay still once we got into the swing of it.

  “Honestly, the transformation in those early years was leaps and bounds. Every day, new groups passed through Virelith. Aurex, to my surprise, wasn’t being a complete waste of human life for a change. I could see how he’d gotten as far as he had before that thorn Ravon got jammed in his side.

  “With the Revolutionary Army breathing down his neck, we’d even started getting requested to advise on city matters.” Caelan snorted. “With the Lieutenant’s natural fee, of course.”

  He could still picture Solara, ink on her fingers, paperwork stacked in fortress walls around her.

  “But that never seemed to keep her busy for long. Between four hours of morning training and four hours of monster hunting when they spawned at night… sure, we had twenty-eight hours in a day, but she made it look like she was working a hundred. I learned my lesson the hard way about telling her to chill out. Nothing stopped her.

  “Us putting our mark on the city started small. The little tea shop. Then half the weapon shops. Any business she could get her hands on, really. Not that I was consulted on this—but whatever. Lumi’s store became the go-to shop for matching uniforms in the region. The woman’s got a gift; only right we supported her. Every day, we’d send two or three members down to help. Can’t have the Revolutionary Army’s head tailor going down.”

  He leaned back in the memory, listening to the hum of that rebuilt city.

  “But for all the progress Virelith made in those first few years, one thing remained the bane of the Lieutenant’s life: Ravon.” Caelan’s voice darkened. “On his rush to flee the city after the plaza, he’d grabbed nothing but his scrap bars and anything else he could stuff under his arm. The idiot had plastered his name on a building like it was some kind of church. Big, gaudy sign. Shrine to himself.”

  He laughed to himself.

  “With a bit of paint and a little editing? The number one bar in the war was born. Lovingly known as Whaa Whaa Dask’s. Ravon had set the place up as a throne room, a shrine to his own ego—but don’t worry. That throne didn’t go unused. We repurposed it. Stuck it in the back room, hooked it up, and—boom—the most popular throne in Virelith: the Ravon Dask Executive Suite.

  “Place was perfect… right up until the Lieutenant decided it was a Revolutionary Army company.” Caelan sighed. “So yeah. No more free drinks. Didn’t stop us from finding ways to pretend we were paying, mind you.”

  The bar was already at full roar.

  The air was thick with noise—laughter, shouted bets, the clatter of mugs. A large man sat at a table in the centre, forearms planted, surrounded by a ring of cheering patrons.

  Caelan’s voice boomed over the din from somewhere up on a chair. “And in this corner, the legendary gremlin from the north! You won’t know if she’s going to break your heart or your face before it’s too late—give it up for the Master Sergeant!”

  Aidan and Milo shoved a path open through the crowd as Keira swaggered up to the table, shadow boxing the air.

  “Yeah, yeah, give me that praise, bitches!” she yelled. “Woo, let’s do this!”

  Above them, Mynxi hung upside down from a ceiling beam by her tail, swinging side to side. “Kick his bum, Auntie Keira!” she shouted.

  “Just for you, my princess!” Keira called back.

  Mynxi swayed happily as Elyria shouldered her way through the crowd beneath her.

  “Very good, Mynxi,” Elyria called up. “You’re doing very well today. I’ll make sure to tell Auntie Solara.”

  “Hashtag facts!” Mynxi chirped.

  “That’s my niece,” Keira said proudly before dropping into the chair opposite the big man.

  Elyria grinned, already slipping into business mode as she hopped up onto a nearby table. “Three to one on the big guy,” she yelled. “Five to one on the Master Sergeant. Get your bets in!”

  She shrugged her jacket off her shoulders, rolled it, then whipped it back on again in one smooth motion as she cracked her neck and stretched out her arms.

  Aidan stood behind her, rubbing her shoulders. “Come on, sis, weekly drinking budget’s on the line here. You’ve got this. Lock in.”

  Caelan dodged through the crowd toward the table, glancing up. “Little one, want your juice box?”

  Mynxi held both hands out from the beam. “Yes, please, Dad!”

  He lobbed it up to her. She caught it easily… and immediately soaked the man opposite Keira from head to toe.

  “Oops. Dad?” Mynxi said.

  Caelan sighed. “We went over this, little one. You need to be upright for the juice to stay in.”

  “Okay, Dad, sorry. Sorry, silly man.” Mynxi kicked her legs. “Dad, can I have another one?”

  Caelan dug into his jacket and pulled out another carton, smiling. “Anything for you, little one.”

  Milo slid out from behind the dripping giant with a towel, patting at his shoulders and giving him a brisk slap on the back. “Let’s do this, big guy, you’ve got this. You gonna let a little smug girl challenge you? Yeah? Come on, everyone, he’s got this!”

  Aidan glared at him over Keira’s head. “Milo, the fuck? Get over here.”

  “Sorry, bro, sorry, sis,” Milo said, hands up. “Love both of you, honest—but I’m broke, and I’ve got a slip in my pocket with twenty kilos on big man here. Yeah? One shot this, sis.”

  Caelan winced. “Sis, calm down.”

  Keira twitched, then slowly turned her head and smiled at Caelan, too sweetly. “Oh, me? No, no, big brother, don’t you worry about your dear little sister. I’ll be drinking for the next week on this idiot’s money.” Her eyes sharpened like blades as she slammed her elbow onto the table. “But I’ll be drinking their fucking tears for free. That’s a Master–fucking–Sergeant guarantee.”

  Caelan just shrugged and joined the chant. “Yeah, fucking come on! Fuck him up, sis, you’ve got this!”

  Elyria stepped in between the packed bodies, boot thumping down on the edge of the table. “Right. Everyone, please kindly shut the hell up.”

  The noise died fast. Anyone who’d still been talking hurriedly shuffled closer, huddling in around the table.

  “Bets are closed,” Elyria announced. “I want a nice, clean game. And I want you both to know you’re wonderful people, and I know you’ll both do your very best.”

  “Enough of the flower talk, let’s do this,” Keira snapped.

  The big man planted his elbow on the table. Keira locked in, fingers lacing with his.

  Elyria wrapped her hands around both their grips. “Ready… steady… go!”

  They strained. The man took a small early lead, Keira’s hand dipping a few inches as the bar erupted into cheers.

  “Not so loud now, are you, little brat?” he shouted over the noise.

  “Bitch, like you will find out if I’m loud,” Keira shot back. “Now stop with the foreplay and give Mummy her main course.” She winked and blew him a kiss.

  “Here you go,” he grunted, pouring on more strength.

  Keira’s hand dipped lower. The table began to tremble. A second later, the floor joined it. Glasses rattled. The whole bar seemed to vibrate.

  Caelan’s grin faltered. “Oh no. Wait. Sis, stop—”

  Keira didn’t—and probably couldn’t—hear him.

  From the big man’s point of view, the world tilted. The room spun.

  From everyone else’s, Keira threw everything behind her arm.

  It wasn’t just his hand that moved. His whole body went with it.

  He left his chair, forearm still locked in her grip, and slammed face–first into the floorboards with a teeth–rattling thud.

  The bar fell silent.

  Keira climbed up onto her chair, one boot on the table, raising her free hand high. “Sup, bitch?”

  The silence shattered. The bar exploded into cheers.

  Caelan scooped Keira up and swung her over his shoulder like a championship belt. “We have our winner—the goddamn Master Sergeant herself! Come on, give it up! That’s my fucking sister!”

  “All bets are final!” Elyria shouted over the noise. She hopped down beside Caelan, pouch of heavy scrap bars at her waist. “Cael, you should see this haul. We’ll be drinking for three weeks on this. Maybe even two if we’re lucky.”

  Caelan threw an arm around her shoulders, still holding Keira with the other. “My beautiful little bookie. What would I do without you?”?

  Milo was slumped over a nearby table, face mashed into his folded arms.

  Aidan wandered over, hands stuffed in his jacket pockets. “What were you thinking? You knew he was up against her. Why would you bet against her? And how are you broke?”

  Milo didn’t lift his head. His voice came out muffled. “He looked really strong this time. I mean, come on, he was five times her size.”

  Aidan sighed and patted his back. “I’ll get you a drink in.”

  Keira hopped down off Caelan’s shoulder and landed on the table in front of Milo. She grabbed a fistful of his hair and yanked his face up. “Oh, don’t worry, bro. I don’t need a drink. I’ve got the sweetest drink right here.”

  She dragged her tongue up his cheek. “Mmm. Tears. So sweet. You fucking moron.”

  “Stop being gross, sis,” Aidan said.

  Milo shuddered. “No, no, it’s fine. I deserve this.”

  Keira’s boots suddenly lifted off the table.

  The large man from the arm wrestling match had her by the back of her jacket, hauling her up so she dangled in front of his face, slowly turning.

  “I don’t know how you did that,” he snarled, “but I want a rematch. Now.”

  Keira just grinned. “Round two already? Mummy likes them extra durable.”

  “All bets were final,” Caelan called over.

  Before the man could answer, a chair exploded across his back.

  “LET’S FUDGING GO!” Elyria yelled.

  She spun, grabbed the nearest random bystander by the collar, and punched him square in the face.

  The bar hesitated for half a heartbeat—no one quite daring to be the next person to move.

  “YEAH! WOO!” Keira whooped, wriggling free of the big man’s grip. She snatched up a bottle from a nearby table and smashed it over someone else’s head.

  That did it.

  The whole place erupted.

  Chairs flew. Bottles shattered. People swung at each other more out of sheer panic and adrenaline than malice. The bartenders calmly ducked behind the counter, sitting on the floor and polishing glasses like it was just another Tuesday.

  Aidan walked through the chaos like it was a slightly crowded hallway, two pints in hand, weaving casually between fists and flying bodies.

  Caelan stayed in the centre of it all, just watching, smiling like a proud idiot.

  A body slammed into the wall right beside him. Elyria dusted her gloves off and looked over. “You not joining in?”

  Caelan only smiled back.

  The big man staggered up again, bloody-nosed and furious. He grabbed Caelan by the front of his jacket. “I want my scrap bars.”

  Caelan didn’t stop smiling. He bent, caught the man by the ankle, and lifted him clean off the ground.

  “Too short to do what, Master Chief?” Caelan yelled, whipping the man up and down into the floorboards like a human mop.

  At the side table, Aidan slid a drink in front of Milo, who was still face down in misery.

  “Honestly,” Aidan said, taking a sip of his own, “I’m surprised it took this long. You not joining in?”

  Milo blindly groped for his tankard, still not lifting his head, and slurped from the side. “Not really feeling it today,” he muttered.

  In the background, Keira slammed a man into the bar with a howl of laughter. Elyria had some poor soul bent over her knee, smacking him rhythmically.

  “Who are you swearing at?” she scolded between slaps. “That’s not very fudging nice.”

  “I’m sorry!” he sobbed. “Please forgive me!”

  Caelan came sprinting through the centre of the bar, the large man held overhead by both ankles. The crowd parted instinctively as he barrelled toward the front window.

  He launched the man straight through it.

  Glass exploded outward. The bar roared its approval.

  And then—everything froze.

  A cold, formal voice cut through the night from the street outside. It was fury wrapped in ice, the kind of tone that sounded like the underworld itself had filed a complaint.

  “Who,” Solara said, “is going to explain this?”

  For a heartbeat, the only sound was glass settling on stone.

  Then, from somewhere above:

  “SUPER MYNXI—”

  “No, Mynxi!” Caelan shouted.

  “—PILE DRIVE!”

  Mynxi dropped from the rafters like a tiny, delighted meteor, tail whipping for spin, and crashed full force into a random patron, obliterating a table and rattling the floor.

  The bar shook.

  Solara stood in the doorway, eyes wide and unblinking, slowly scanning the wreckage.

  No one moved.

  Glass crunched somewhere near the centre of the room. The man Mynxi had pile driven into the floor wheezed out a single, miserable, "Ow."

  Mynxi giggled and bounced back to her feet, half standing on his ribs. She hopped off him and skipped through the still silence toward the doorway.

  "Auntie Solara, Auntie Solara!" she sang, launching herself into Solara’s arms.

  Solara seemed to come back to herself just in time to catch her. "Oh, hello, my perfect little angel. Have you been having fun today? Did your dad remember to get you lunch?"

  Mynxi nodded enthusiastically. "Uh huh, uh huh. Dad let me get the big lunch this time ‘cause I’ve been good."

  "That’s great, my sweet little angel." Solara’s voice was warm; her eyes were still glacial. "Now, do your auntie a massive favour. I need you to go on a super duper important mission for me, okay?"

  Mynxi straightened, saluting with her tail. "Yes, Auntie Solara Lieutenant!"

  "There are pencils and paper behind the bar," Solara said. "Auntie Solara is going to need more drawings to show all our new friends. Can you do that for me?"

  Mynxi lit up. "Yes, Lieutenant Auntie!" She wriggled down out of Solara’s arms, sprinting for the bar. "I’m on a mission! Move, sillies!"

  Solara’s smile dropped the moment Mynxi’s back was turned.

  She looked at Caelan.

  "Oh, Captain—"

  One of the back doors slammed open.

  "Woo! That’s a brilliant idea, Caelan!" Aurex shouted as he strode out, mid-conversation. "Imagine the look on that asshole’s face when he finds out you turned his throne into a toilet. Right, I’ll get the shots in and—"

  He stopped beside Caelan.

  The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

  Caelan, very gently, took Aurex by the chin and turned his head toward the doorway.

  Aurex went white. "Oh. Hello, Lieutenant Solara. So lovely to see you today. Well, I’d best be off, you know—meetings to have, city to run—" He chuckled weakly and tried to edge around her.

  Solara didn’t even look at him. She snapped her fingers and pointed at a nearby chair.

  "Sit."

  Aurex sat immediately, head down. "Yes, ma’am."

  Solara bared a smile that looked like it had been dropped on a stone floor. One eyebrow twitched. "Oh, Captain, I just wanted to check that our calendars are still synced. Because the last thing I remember saying this morning, after the briefing, was that you and the others were to go to Lumi’s to get the patches added to your jackets. And I really, really hope I wasn’t dreaming when I said this, but I also distinctly remember telling you to return to HQ so we could begin the event."

  She took a single, measured step into the room.

  "So please, Captain," she said sweetly, "do me the favour of explaining how those words resulted in… this."

  Garron chose that exact moment to shoulder his way in from outside, a sizeable crowd of people at his back. "If everyone could just find a space and—" He stopped. "Oh."

  Caelan opened his mouth.

  Solara held up a hand without looking at him. "Whatever it is, I know it’s just going to piss me off. So let’s try something else." Her tone sharpened. "One very important question, and I want a serious answer here, Captain. Is something happening today? Maybe something that was your idea? Something that had me running around making sure everything was in place for this dumb idea of yours? Perhaps the thing I’ve mentioned every day for the last month, like some kind of clock?"

  Caelan’s face went blank. You could almost see the cogs grinding.

  "The recruitment event," Solara roared.

  Elyria, who’d just finished downing someone’s abandoned drink, dropped the glass. "What are you talking about, Lieutenant? That’s next week."

  "No way," Caelan said. "That’s still at least a month away."

  "Today." Solara’s voice hit a new register. "The event is today. And where was the meetup point for sign-ups? Oh yes—right. Whaa Whaa Dask’s." She swept a hand at the wrecked bar. "And what do I find? The remnants of a goddamn warzone."

  Caelan rubbed the back of his neck. "It’s not that bad. We’ll have the place cleaned up in five minutes."

  Solara’s death glare could have cracked stone.

  At that exact moment, Takeshi pushed in through what was left of the front door with a stack of boxes in his arms. "Right, there’s too much dumb in this room. Everyone out. I booked the place for RP, come on, chop chop—oh hey, Lieutenant."

  Outside, Takeshi crashed back through the front window in a shower of remaining glass.

  "And clean that up as well!" Solara’s voice thundered from inside. "You all have five minutes. Move!"

  Even the patrons who weren’t Revolutionary Army members scrambled to start tidying. Broken chairs were stacked. Tables were dragged back into place. Someone started sweeping.

  Solara exhaled through her nose. "I swear, what kind of place needs a waiver just to get in? At least it’s out of HQ now."

  She turned to the small crowd who’d come to sign up for the trials, all of them hovering awkwardly near the doorway.

  "You know," she said, "if you want to be one of us, it’s not exactly a great look to just stand there doing nothing."

  Her head snapped round. "MILO. AIDAN. Why are you two just drinking?"

  Aidan held up his hands. "Honestly, I wasn’t involved this time. Not our mess."

  Milo lounged against the bar, tankard in hand. "Lieutenant, you ever thought about chilling out for, like, ten minutes?"

  Solara leaned down slightly, studying him. "Corporal Milo, are you alright? You seem pretty down today."

  Milo stared into his drink. "I’ll be alright. It’s fine."

  "If there’s anything I can do for you, you come to me," Solara said gently. Then her eyes shifted, going cold again as she leaned in close to his ear. "In the meantime, if you’re not too busy… pick a window."

  Milo landed in a heap on top of Takeshi outside the bar.

  "Oh, hey, Sergeant," Milo wheezed. "Thanks for breaking my fall."

  "Why," Takeshi groaned from underneath him, "do I keep agreeing to this?"

  The bar, five minutes later, looked almost respectable again.

  Solara stood on a chair near the centre, hands on her hips. “Five–minute warning! If anyone wants anything to drink, get it now—or so help the goddess, if anyone puts me off schedule again, you will receive my extra attention.”

  She turned to the table beside her, where most of the core members were now sitting unusually straight and quiet, plastered with innocent smiles.

  “And all of you stay right there,” she added, eyes narrowing. “I’m going to make sure this is for everyone. Master Sergeant.”

  Keira put both hands up like she’d been framed for murder. “What? I’ve legit done nothing today.”

  Solara gave her a look that said she believed exactly none of that, then hopped down from the chair. As she moved past Milo, still folded over the table, she paused.

  “Fact: cheer him up,” she said, more to the table as a whole than anyone in particular. “There’s always something to deal with around here.”

  She headed for the door—and almost walked straight into someone coming in.

  “Wow, Lyra. Honestly, just… wow.” Solara’s face softened immediately. “Look at you, all turned out. Please tell me it was Lance Corporal Lumi you went to?”

  Lyra snapped to attention with a very formal salute. Physically, she looked about sixteen—trousers tucked into combat boots, crisp shirt, suspenders, bow tie and a tailored formal jacket. Her hair was tied back so neatly it could have been measured.

  “Yes, ma’am,” she said. “As you always say—best foot forward, no matter the event or situation.”

  “That is why you are our little rising star, Lyra,” Solara said warmly. “Do me a favour—keep an eye on those idiots before they wreck the place again. I’ll just be outside for a minute.”

  Lyra sighed. “I thought there were meant to be—”

  “What do you think happened?” Solara said over her shoulder, already rolling her eyes as she pushed through the doors.

  “Right,” Lyra muttered to herself.

  She turned and stormed toward the main table.

  Milo, who hadn’t shown a spark of energy in the last half hour, immediately perked up.

  “Oh, sorry, I forgot something back at HQ,” he blurted, already edging away. “Back in a bit.”

  He started making a beeline for the back of the pub.

  Keira frowned and nudged Aidan. “Do me a favour and check on him? I’ve never seen him like this. Not since… You know.”

  She gave a small, humourless laugh.

  Aidan drained the last of his drink and shrugged his jacket on. “Don’t worry. We’ll have the talk.” He set the glass down and headed after Milo.

  Lyra reached the table, slammed her boot onto the nearest bench and planted her hands on her hips.

  “Right,” she said. “Who started it this time? Do you have any idea how hard she works? Honestly—” She pressed her palms together in front of her chest, almost like a prayer. “Each of you has had the honour of being educated and guided by one of the most beautiful and elegant minds this war has to offer. As we all know, you should be grateful just to gaze upon the ground where her excellence—”

  “Hey, Captain, bend over,” Keira cut in.

  Caelan obligingly leaned forward over the table. “Hey, Lyra. Nice fit. Must’ve cost a pretty penny if that’s a Lumi special. Use your wallet, or did you steal it?”

  Keira mimed licking his backside, putting on a terrible impression of Lyra’s voice. “Oh, Solara, you’re so fun, I love you, Lieutenant, mwah mwah. You know she can’t hear you, right?”

  Lyra pinched the bridge of her nose. “I can see why she’s ready to explode. How unbefitting of such high–ranking members—” she lifted her hands and air–quoted “—‘Captain.’ ‘Master Sergeant.’”

  Garron ambled over with a tray of drinks, setting one down in front of Lyra. “You’re doing it again,” he said gently.

  Lyra huffed, then slid onto the bench between Caelan and Keira. “It’s a really good turnout,” she said, looking around the bar. “I can’t wait to get it going. I mean, the real fun was setting everything up with Solara. If I could even spend a moment in that mind…”

  Across from her, Elyria lounged with a drink. “So who got you the outfit?”

  “How many did Lumi make you buy?” Caelan added.

  “Thought you were broke?” Keira said.

  “And is the bow tie because—” Garron began.

  Lyra threw back her drink in one go. “Right. First: none of your business. Second: ten, I think. Third: mind your business. And fourth—” she muttered into her glass, “because Solara looks cool.”

  Garron tried to put a fresh drink down in front of Caelan. Lyra intercepted it mid–air and took a swig.

  She leaned into Caelan’s shoulder. “Eh… thanks. For the, you know.”

  Caelan ruffled her hair, careful not to ruin it entirely. “I’m in no rush to get it back.”

  Keira narrowed her eyes. “What’s happening here?”

  “None of your business, that’s what,” Caelan said lightly. “So. Elyria—you hide the bag?”

  Elyria raised a brow at him. “Duh. The moment I saw her walk in the door. She’s not taxing this.”

  Garron lowered himself onto the bench with a contented sigh, tankard in hand. “So I take it you lot didn’t follow her schedule today, then?” He let out a deep, warm laugh.

  “What do you think?” Caelan said. “They’re trying to join us. What does she want us to do, lie to them and pretend we’re actually efficient and competent? I’ve put a lot of work into being useless and reckless. It’s pretty hard not to be the greatest gift the goddess put in here twenty-four-seven.”

  “You’re telling me,” Keira said. “Think a girl deserves another drink for that.”

  “Hey—Keira!” Lyra called after her as she started to rise. “You know how you’re my bud, right?”

  Keira spun back, instantly melting, and wrapped Lyra in a hug. “Oh my god, first Revolutionary Army event and she’s already drunk. Ahh, I love it.”

  Lyra, now pointing a wavering finger in the air, spoke with exaggerated dignity. “When you reach this level of refinement, you are more than capable of handling it. Unlike some of you. So yes, Keira, I do believe I’ve earned another.”

  “You’re shitting yourself right now and want the ground to eat you up,” Keira said mildly.

  Lyra stared at her. “So it’s not just me that gets that?”

  “One drink,” Keira said. “That’s, what, five hundred grams these days?” She held out her hand.

  Lyra rubbed the back of her neck. “Well, you know…”

  Before she could finish, a small bag of scrap bars landed in Keira’s palm.

  “Make it a round,” Caelan said. “In fact, two. Solara loves to go on when she’s on one.”

  Lyra slumped sideways against him, half laughing, half on the verge of tears. “You know, if you were half as good a leader as you are a nice person, I might think there’s actually a shot for you.”

  Caelan patted her head again. “Try not to pass out. Take this for later.” He nudged another bag of scrap bars toward her. “Mingle if you feel like it. Or do whatever you want, bud.”

  Lyra folded over, face pressed into his chest, practically sobbing. “Such a good guy.”

  “And how,” Solara said, suddenly right behind him, “have you yet again made another woman cry, Captain?”

  “Two guesses,” Elyria said. “Idiot or bumhole. Think it’s because he’s balding.”

  Caelan looked over at her, affronted. “One of us will be bald if you say that again.”

  “There’s no denying it, Cael,” Elyria sang, grinning. “It’s coming for you.”

  She laughed and took another drink as Caelan glared at her over Lyra’s head.

  From outside the bar, Takeshi’s voice drifted in through the cracked window. “It wasn’t me this time! I’ll let yous guess.”

  Veyra stomped in a moment later with Lumi and Braen at her back, shouting over her shoulder, “Well, let’s say some idiot has a track record of his dumb toys blowing up!”

  “ Screw you, it’s happened twice,” Takeshi shouted back from the street.

  Braen simply scooped Veyra up under one arm as she kept pointing furiously toward the door. “You can play with him later. We’re already late. Wow, so many short people in one room. Lumi, stay close until—Lumi?”

  Two shrieks cut through the crowd as a tray of drinks went flying. Glass and beer arced through the air.

  “OH SHIT, here she is!” Keira yelled. “Come here, you beautiful monster!”

  Lumi launched herself into Keira’s arms. “Ehhhh, it’s been so long! Six whole hours! I missed your adorable and war–famous hugs. Never leave me again, Keira, not for a minute!”

  They crashed into a nearby table, booze and glass cascading around them.

  Lumi pulled back just long enough to dig into the satchel at her hip. “Brought you something. Took me a while, but damn—almost as beautiful as you.” She produced a deep, midnight–blue wizard hat threaded with glittering sigil–patterns, and a carved wand—more like a twisted branch—with a bullet set into the tip, held in place like it had grown there.

  Keira squealed. “AHHHHHH, I love it, I love it—come here, you!” She practically tackled Lumi again, peppering her face with kisses.

  At the main table, Solara watched the chaos as Braen and Veyra joined them. Braen eased Veyra down onto a bench.

  “Everyone’s very lively today,” Braen said mildly.

  “Say that again,” Veyra muttered. “Lumi hasn’t shut up about today since she woke up. Knew I should’ve come with you lot.”

  Solara smiled, one eye twitching. “Oh, they’re lively for sure. They just won’t be for long…”

  She stepped from the table and began to walk into the crowd. “Captain, remind me later we might need to find a new Master Sergeant—and Lance Corporal as well—now,” she added under her breath, laughing without humour as she headed straight for Keira and Lumi.

  Veyra dropped a canvas bag onto the table. “Since you’re all here and didn’t stop past the shop, I thought I’d bring these.”

  Caelan and Elyria both lit up, reaching for the bag at the same time. “Are these—?”

  They each pulled out a fresh Revolutionary Army patch. A tight circular design, combining Solara’s barcode motif with the sigil–branding from Garron’s former kingdom, ringed around the motto picked out in clean Latin: In pace aedificamus, in revolutione stamus.

  Braen smiled as she watched them. “I thought you two would’ve been the first to get those on.”

  Caelan and Elyria just stared at the patches, grinning like kids.

  “You know,” Garron said, taking a seat, “for two people who argue all the time, you both find common ground suspiciously fast.”

  Elyria and Caelan glanced down in unison.

  “Please don’t tell them,” Elyria said.

  “I’ll never live it down,” Caelan added. “Please, Garron, old buddy, old pal—don’t do a brother like this.”

  Veyra looked two seconds from tearing her own hair out. “Just show us already, you weirdos. Nothing surprises us with you two anymore.”

  Caelan and Elyria exchanged a look, their tones dropping as they muttered to each other.

  “We should just get it over with,” Caelan said.

  “But you know what they’ll say. Those two, especially.” Elyria jerked her chin toward the front of the door. “You know what they’re like.”

  “Yeah, you’re right. They’re the worst. ‘Oh, look at us, all happy and in love,’” Caelan mimicked, putting on a high–pitched whine. “Makes me sick.”

  Elyria nodded solemnly. “Hashtag facts.”

  They both sat back down, picked up their drinks, and, in perfect unison, said, “No.”

  Garron slammed his tankard down on the table.

  Both Elyria and Caelan bolted, trying to launch themselves in opposite directions. Garron just reached out, grabbed the backs of their shirts, and hauled them both up in one effortless motion.

  Their jackets rode up, exposing matching tattoos inked between their shoulder blades—the exact design of the new patch, already etched into their skin.

  Lyra dragged a hand down her face. “Oh goddess. You are never hearing the end of this.”

  Braen clasped her hands together, beaming. “That’s adorable, you two.”

  Veyra burst out laughing. “I need front row seats for this tonight. No way am I missing this. You two are going to cry.”

  Dangling from Garron’s fists, Elyria sighed. “I knew we should’ve got them somewhere else.”

  “At least it’s the right thing,” Caelan said, laughing.

  Across the bar, Keira’s voice cut through the noise. “SICK! When am I getting one? That’s badass!”

  Lumi pursed her lip, mock–offended. “Are my patches not good enough for you lot?”

  Solara just stared at the suspended pair for a long moment, then sighed. “Fine. I’ll bite. How?”

  Caelan and Elyria both started talking at once.

  Solara clicked her tongue, dropped Lumi and Keira unceremoniously onto a nearby bench, and strode over. “You two—sit. Don’t move.” She placed one finger over each of their mouths. “We’ve been over this. One at a time. When I take my finger off your mouth, then you can speak. Got it?”

  They nodded.

  Solara lifted her finger from Elyria first.

  “We got drunk,” Elyria admitted instantly, face burning, “and I bet him he wouldn’t actually do it. But then he called me a chicken, so… well.”

  Solara looked up at Garron. “You can put them down, Master Chief.”

  He released his grip. They both dropped back onto the bench.

  Solara still had her finger pressed over Caelan’s mouth. She leaned in, lowering her voice so only he could hear. “You’re a complete idiot,” she murmured. “But that’s… adorable. Thank you.”

  She took her finger away.

  Caelan just sat there, still grinning. “So,” he said, clapping his hands once, “ready to get this kicked off?”

  Solara scanned the room, counting under her breath. “No. Not yet. Where are Milo and Aidan?”

  “Yeah, where is Milo?” Lyra added, frowning.

  “Oh, he forgot something at the inn,” Caelan said quickly. “They’re just grabbing it for me. We can start without them.”

  Solara’s eyes narrowed. “No. Not yet. We’re still waiting on—”

  “No, no, no. And no,” Caelan and Elyria both said at the same time, slamming their hands on the table.

  “Ew,” Elyria said. “They’re always so ‘oh, I love you, give me kisses,’ bleh. We can start without them.”

  “Oh, I know,” Caelan said. “Hello? I can be best buds with someone and not want a relationship.”

  “Hashtag facts,” Elyria said, raising her drink.

  Keira pretended to wipe a tear from her eye. “You’ve all grown so much. I’m proud of you, you beautiful heartbreaker.”

  Elyria winked at her over the rim of her mug. “Oh, Keira. You know I’d never break a cutie like you’s heart.”

  Braen lifted her drink with a grin. “Keira, could you be a sweetie and hook a girl up?”

  Keira sighed as if it were the heaviest burden the universe had ever placed on her. “Why’s it always me? Fine. Lucky I love yous. Right—anyone else?”

  Every single person at the table raised a hand.

  Keira muttered something unflattering under her breath.

  Solara didn’t even look up from her notes. “Just a water for me, please, Keira.”

  Keira immediately shouted back, “Bite me! You know—like how Elyria bites Big bro!”

  The table cracked up.

  Caelan didn’t laugh.

  He went pale.

  Because from somewhere behind him came a familiar voice:

  “Is that our two little lovebirds at it again?”

  Then another, softer voice: “Hector, don’t tease them, you know he’s shy.”

  Elyria let out a tiny, wounded squeak and immediately began quietly sobbing into her drink.

  Solara opened her arms like a weary saint welcoming pilgrims. “Specialist Bella. Lance Corporal Hector. Am I glad to see two sane people for a change?”

  The entire table shouted, “HEY!”

  Solara ignored them and pulled them both into a hug.

  Bella scanned the room. “Have the lovebirds been setting fires again?”

  Solara rolled her eyes. “Full-scale brawl when I arrived. Chairs, bottles, a grown man crying—normal Tuesday.”

  Hector gave Solara a fond, brotherly pat on the shoulder. “Don’t worry, Lieutenant. We’ll talk to them tonight. Oh! We picked up a few new tea flavours while we were out. Thought we might have a little tea party when we’re all free.”

  Solara looked two seconds from crying with joy. “You two complete me.”

  At the table, Caelan deflated like someone had punctured him with a fork and began gently thunking his forehead onto the wood.

  Bella drifted past him, spotted Lyra, and immediately cupped her cheeks. “Oh, Lyra! The new outfit is stunning. You look so grown—are you nervous?”

  Lyra straightened, trying to look composed. “Pfft. Nervous? Don’t be a silly goose. I’ve never been more ready. I’m—ready.” She turned deadpan to Caelan. “Really, Captain? You got her drunk?”

  Caelan protested. “Don’t pin that on me!”

  Hector dropped onto the bench beside Caelan, wrapping an arm around him. “Bella, sweetheart, go easy on the poor lad. He doesn’t force anyone to do anything. Especially when he’s still figuring out how to talk about his feelings.”

  Bella called over to Elyria, “Why don’t you just ask Caelan out on a date? Some men take time, but you two would be great together.”

  Elyria transitioned instantly from quiet sobbing to loud, embarrassed sobbing and started banging her head on the table in perfect sync with Caelan.

  Garron let out a booming laugh. “Lieutenant, if you’d told me when I first met you that you’d find a counter to those two, I never would’ve believed it.”

  Braen sipped her drink and added, “Anyone else find it funny? They’ll tell any of us they love us without blinking. Never heard them say it to each other.”

  Veyra blurted, “They got matching tattoos.”

  Caelan let out a strangled noise and resumed headbanging. Elyria followed suit.

  Bella gasped loud enough to shake the rafters. “IS THIS THE WEDDING THING? Oh golly, wow!”

  Hector beamed. “See? I knew you two would work out. How’d you do it, you clever dogs—”

  Aurex limped back into view, wearing rubber gloves and the expression of a defeated man. “Solara ma'am, that’s the toilet cleaned as you said. Can I go home now?”

  From the far side of the bar, Takeshi popped in holding a toolbox. “Lieutenant! I’ve fitted the new windows. Can we use HQ for our roleplay day now?”

  Solara didn’t even look at them. She snapped her fingers twice, pointing at two empty chairs. “Sit. Now.”

  “Right,” she continued briskly, “where is—”

  Keira returned like a one-woman tower of Babel, balancing what seemed like an impossible number of drinks.

  “Here’s the orders. Anyone else ask for anything, I’m kneecapping you,” she threatened cheerfully.

  Mynxi followed behind her, carrying two juice boxes, tail curled proudly.

  “Auntie Solara!” she chirped. “I completed the mission!”

  She handed over a stack of drawings.

  Solara melted instantly. “Aren’t you the best ever? Our own little Mynxi. You’re my hero.” She ruffled the girl’s hair.

  Mynxi puffed up, then offered one of the juice boxes. “The man at the bar said to give this to you!”

  Solara took it graciously. “Thank you, my little angel. Do you want to sit with your dad while we get started?”

  Mynxi nodded vigorously. “Yes!”

  She scampered across the bench toward Caelan, who immediately stopped headbanging and brightened like someone had flipped a switch.

  “Dad! Dad! I finished the mission!” she said, leaping into his arms.

  Caelan hugged her tight. “You always make your dad so proud, little one.”

  Mynxi wriggled happily into his lap. “Dad, can I ask you a question?”

  Caelan tilted his head, smiling. “Of course, little buddy. Fire away.”

  Mynxi pointed straight at Veyra. “Why does Grannie Veyra look older?”

  Keira immediately spat out her beer and doubled over laughing, slapping the table. Caelan slapped a hand over her mouth to shut her up as Veyra’s death glare locked onto both of them like a targeting spell.

  “Sorry, Sergeant,” Caelan said quickly. “I’ll have a word with her later.”

  Bella leaned in with a smile that was absolutely not helping. “Maybe she just needs a mother figure—physically, I mean. Hint hint, Elyria.”

  Veyra’s eyebrow twitched like it was about to detach from her face.

  “Oh, don’t worry about it, Captain,” Veyra said through a clenched jaw. “I know how children can be. Mynxi, sweetheart, I’ll try harder. I’m your AUNTIE Veyra. Also your Auntie Solara and I are the same age.”

  Mynxi’s eyes widened. “Woooah! How does that work, Dad?”

  Before Caelan could answer, Solara slammed her now-empty juice box onto the table.

  She placed a slow, ominous hand on Caelan’s back.

  “Right,” she said brightly. “Let’s get this party going, my amazing little Captain.”

  Caelan froze.

  Half the table froze with him.

  Garron wiped his mouth and muttered, “Keira… did you?”

  Keira blinked innocently. “Huh? I wonder. Didn’t Mynxi give that to her?”

  Aurex looked like he was about to faint. He grabbed Keira by the sleeve, whispering, begging, “Please, please, please tell me you didn’t.”

  Braen squinted at Solara. “Aww, look at our sparkly Lieutenant. She seems to’ve calmed down.”

  Lyra tilted sideways in her chair, already a bit slurred. “Hey… wait… what’s wrong with the Lieutenant?”

  Elyria leaned over to whisper in Caelan’s ear—barely audible over the rising panic. Bella, noticing the colour draining from Caelan’s face, shot upright.

  “Captain. You didn’t.”

  Hector raised both hands. “Whoa, whoa—he hasn’t moved. It wasn’t the Captain.”

  Elyria whispered, “You know you’re getting blamed anyway.”

  Caelan covered his face. “Oh, I know.”

  Keira cleared her throat loudly. “Okay, so… tiny mistake. I may have upgraded that juice box with the wrong thing. Also, it might have been pure spirit I poured into it, so.”

  Takeshi lunged across the table, grabbing her jacket. “Tell me it was base scrap. Tell me it was base.”

  Keira winced. “Well… Captain, was that emerald bars you gave me?”

  Across the room, Lumi was watching Solara with unfiltered awe.

  “She looks so majestic right now,” she breathed. “It’s all come together. If only hats were standard issue… this would be my dream…”

  Solara stepped up onto a chair.

  Clapped her hands.

  Smiled.

  “Hi. Hi everyone! Can I have your attention for a moment—”

  She shifted her weight to step onto the table.

  The table immediately tilted.

  Solara went down like a felled tree, disappearing backwards in a dramatic crash.

  The entire bar went dead silent.

  The only sound in the universe was Mynxi giggling.

  “Auntie Solara’s fun!” she cheered.

  Caelan did not move.

  He just stared at the fallen Lieutenant and whispered, in the voice of a man accepting his own execution:

  “…oh, we are all dead.”