Vera watched the matron, feeling strangely awkward. Like she’d been caught doing something she wasn’t supposed to.

  She cleared her throat and turned toward Caja and the other Hollowstone Table members. “Right. So. What are you planning to do here?”

  The woman was still staring at her, but at the question, she finally moved. Pressing a thumb to her nose, she blew out a clot of blood, wiping the rest across the back of her hand before scanning the state of her companions. Then she fixed Vera with a serious look. “First off… thank you.”

  Vera waved a hand dismissively. “Honestly, don’t thank me. That just makes me feel worse.”

  Caja studied her for a long moment. “Can I ask your name? You said you knew our leadership.”

  “You don’t need my name. Just mention the lady with the kid to Gard and he’ll know who I am.”

  “…Alright.”

  Caja stepped over to the unconscious—and very pale—Crawford, kicking his truncheon aside before stooping to hook her arms beneath his bulk. With a grunt and a flush of fierce red effort across her face, she heaved him upright, bone-plate and all, then manhandled him to the door, shoved him through, and dumped him unceremoniously onto the stone outside. Dusting her palms like she’d just rid herself of filth, she came back in and motioned for her people to wake their drunken comrades or help with the rest of the guards.

  “As for what we’ll do, lady with the kid,” she said as she hefted up the next guard, “we’ll drag these bastards over to the Table. Got a couple rooms down in the cellar I’m sure they won’t mind stayin’ in for a spell. Don’t know if Concord’s gone mad or if it’s just this lot, but best we don’t let ‘em get back up and fighting too soon. Bosses can figure out what’s going on before we go and declare war on the city.”

  “I do hope you’re not actually planning to declare war on the city.”

  Caja shrugged, shifting the limp weight in her arms. “Well, that’s me too. But we’re the ones with a Tenth Binding on our side. I figure that makes us anything but the fools.”

  She paused at the entrance, glancing back at Vera. “…Lady, you wouldn’t happen to want to share your Binding, would you?”

  “No.”

  “Thought not.”

  She disappeared briefly as she dumped the other guard outside. A few of her companions followed suit.

  Vera watched them work, her eyes also drifting to the other patrons in the tavern. Most had stayed frozen during the fight, but now they began edging toward the exit. Some froze again under her gaze, but when she didn’t move, they found their courage and slipped out, giving wide berth to both the Table folk and the unconscious guards.

  Soon, the tavern was empty of everyone but them.

  “What was that about?” Vera asked once Caja had nearly finished hauling the guards. Two of her companions were carrying the last of them out.

  “What part?” Caja muttered, scowling after one of her recently woken men who had stumbled outside to vomit while groaning about what gravesent mess had just happened.

  “The part where the guards accused you of breaking the Concord’s edict.”

  “Ash take it if I know. Just some bullshit excuse, far as I figure. Only edict Concord’s botherin’ with right now is that daft ban on Resonance trade, and we ain’t got any of that with us outside our own gear. Even if we had, they wouldn’t know about it with us only getting back this morning.”

  Vera lowered her head. That was her thought as well. It seemed ridiculous to her that the Concord would have issued an order for their arrest over something like that just now. When she’d spoken with Gard yesterday, there’d been no hint the Hollowstone Table was in any kind of trouble. To her, this looked more like some kind of power play aimed at the Chapter. Considering the Chapter made up much of Marrowfen’s martial strength outside the Boneward Concord’s own forces, that was a dangerous sign.

  It suggested some worrying things about the city’s leadership.

  “Think you’ll manage to bring all those guards to the Table without running into reinforcements?” Vera asked, gesturing toward the missing door. “You’ve also got your own people to worry about.”

  She hadn’t checked, but the earlier chaos outside had probably been the rest of the Table’s people that had been leaving, clashing with the guards. Which meant there were likely one or two dozen bodies—unconscious, injured, or worse—to deal with. Not exactly a simple cleanup.

  “Well…” Caja glanced to the door, then exhaled. “We’ll start by draggin’ ’em to a place I know nearby and wait for help.”

  “Help, which I assume will include Vanded Blazegrip.”

  “I’d sure hope so.”

  The woman gave her a look. “…Lady, you only familiar with the Vice-Master, or you know Blaze as well?”

  “Who knows.” Vera shrugged. “Guess we’ll have to see.”

  She doubted she could avoid meeting him at this point. She hadn’t wanted to get involved with whatever was going on here in Marrowfen, but maybe she didn’t have much choice now.

  Maybe.

  Caja eyed her, then jerked her chin at another of her companions. “Best we take our leave before more come sniffing around. I’ll tell the Vice-Master what you said, lady. Should I also tell him where to find you, or…?”

  “No. I’ll find him.”

  “Alright then.” Caja turned to the matron. “Sorry ’bout the muddle, Hilde. Table’ll make it up to you. You know that.”

  The matron—who apparently was named Hilde—crossed her arms, cleaver still in hand. “You will, or I’ll come collect myself.”

  Did you know this story is from Royal Road? Read the official version for free and support the author.

  Caja gave one last look between Hilde and Vera, her gaze lingering on Vera before also flicking to Serel. Then she turned and left with the last of her people, the sound of boots and dragging armor continuing outside.

  Vera wasn’t sure how much time they’d really have. It wouldn’t surprise her if someone had already run off to fetch more guards. But that would be the Table’s problem now. She’d given them the chance to send warning. That was one good deed for the day, wasn’t it?

  Her eyes shifted to the broken remnants of the tavern door, then over the splintered chairs and shattered tables scattered across the floor. Finally, she looked back at Hilde, who met her gaze head-on.

  Now, only Vera, Serel, Hilde, Gloria, and—presumably—Gloria’s father remained.

  “So… you recognized me, huh?” Vera said.

  Hilde’s brows went up. “Disguise like that wouldn’t fool a blind sow.”

  “Really? It took you this long, didn’t it?”

  The matron huffed through her nose, then gave a one-shouldered shrug. “Fair. Been a stretch since I last clapped eye on you, and the little one there—” she jerked her thumb toward Serel “—threw me clean off the scent. Never pictured the Ascendant totin’ ‘round a sprig cute as a piglet in boots.”

  “You’re not the only one who’s been caught off guard by it.” Vera’s gaze softened as it moved to Serel, who no longer looked quite so anxious.

  “Still—had a tick where I thought you looked familiar, yeah?” Hilde tapped the skin under her eye. “This thing’s not just for show.”

  Vera chuckled lightly. “If you don’t mind me asking, when was the last time you saw me? Do you remember?”

  The woman’s heavy-set face settled into heavy thought. “Reckon it was one of them bone-feast festivals, back after the Chainfather got put down. Two, three years back? But the last time I know I saw you sittin’ in my hall? That must’ve been a proper five or so years.”

  Vera silently considered that. She couldn’t actually place when she might have last visited this tavern in the game. It would most likely have been at least sometime in the third expansion, which meant it could theoretically line up with that timeline. But it was hard to know for sure. Even harder to know whether that connection even meant anything.

  “By the way,” she said, beginning to cross the room and walking toward Serel. “Was me kicking up a mess really all it took for you to figure out who I am? I can’t be that bad, can I?”

  Hilde followed her with her eye, then barked a laugh as she moved over to start righting overturned chairs, speaking louder across the space. “First time I remember you plunkin’ your backside on one of my benches, you didn’t have more than a Binding or two to your name, I’ll wager. We had a cellar problem—some spiteful wraith makin’ a ruckus down there—and you were about the only one bold enough to take the paltry coin we offered. Thankful as ever you dealt with the shade, but could’ve done without the great bloody hole in my floorboards and the screamin’ that woke half the patrons.”

  Vera stopped, looking back at her. “…I did that?”

  The matron flipped a chair, eyeing its cracked leg before setting it aside. “Sure did. Might not be much of a memory for someone who goes ‘round topplin’ gods and castles, but us common folk remember.”

  Vera was quiet a moment.

  “…No, I remember,” she eventually said. “It was a Fetter-Haunt, wasn’t it?”

  Hilde gave a single nod. “That it was.”

  Vera turned away again.

  She remembered because it had been a quest in the base game. It was years ago now, so it was only a faint memory, but to think it translated into this world as something she had done specifically. That was… fun.

  Embarrassing too, since apparently she’d wrecked the cellar while doing it.

  She reached Serel, who was watching her with big eyes. “You good, kiddo?”

  Serel nodded. “Mmm…”

  “…Was it scary?”

  The girl was quiet at first, then shook her head. “No. Not with Mommy here.” She bit her lip, hesitated like she was holding something back, then finally looked at Vera with determined eyes. “You were awesome, Mommy! I want to be like you!”

  Vera blinked. She suddenly felt very unsure what to say. But a pride-heavy smile threatened to creep onto her face before she smothered it with a cough.

  “Well,” she managed, “I think I’ve mentioned I’d teach you some things when we’ve got the time.” She stepped closer, scooped the girl up under the arms—earning a startled yelp—and tucked her under one elbow as she turned. “For now, though, we might have to leave. Us sticking around might just cause more trouble for the nice lady here.”

  “You’re more than welcome to stay,” Hilde called from across the room. “Only a mooncalf wouldn’t offer the Ascendant and her chick a bit o’ hospitality. That said, my hall ain’t the best place for hidin’.”

  “Probably isn’t, no.” Vera crossed the room with Serel in her arms, then paused as she caught Gloria by the kitchen entrance. The teen stood beside her father, staring at her with what Vera could only describe as starstruck awe. Vera raised one awkward hand in a wave. “Hello.”

  Serel waved too, less awkwardly.

  “Are you really her?” Gloria blurted, voice catching. “The Ashborn Ascendant?”

  “That’s… me,” Vera said.

  Gloria’s mouth opened, shut, then opened again. “I… I don’t even know what to say.”

  “You’d best keep that tongue of yours tied ‘round the right folk, girl,” Hilde yelled. “No need lettin’ half the neighborhood boys hear you crowin’ about it.”

  The teen’s face went beet-red. “Ma!” she yelped, shooting her mother a mortified glare.

  Serel giggled a bright, bubbling laugh in Vera’s arms.

  Gloria turned back, flustered. “Y-you don’t understand. I’ve read all the accounts, heard all the tales, even listened to the ballads! There’s this minstrel who comes through every other season—I have to beg Ma to pay him to stay here—and he always sings about you. I’ve seen you a few times when I was younger, but we never spoke, and I was always jealous of Ma’s stories—”

  Her father laid a steadying hand on her shoulder before she could spiral further, smiling warmly at Vera. He gave her a simple, respectful nod. She didn’t really understand what it meant, but nodded back, guessing it was supposed to be some parent thing.

  It felt strange, though, being stared at in this particular manner. Strange to meet someone who was basically a fan. Stranger still that it was the same teen girl she’d been amazed at herself just a few minutes earlier for how easily she handled Serel.

  “M-Miss Mournvale,” Gloria managed after a few moments, the previously quick-tongued tripping over her own tongue. “Can I… can I ask you some questions?”

  Vera considered her, then glanced down at Serel. “…Now’s probably not the best time. But how about this—we’ll head back here when possible, and if you keep being friends with the little one here, I’ll answer what questions I can. Sound good?”

  Gloria’s eyes lit up, and she nodded eagerly with a grin that stretched ear to ear. “You don’t even need to ask. Your daughter’s about the cutest thing I’ve ever seen. Being her friend’s no chore at all.”

  This time, Vera thought she caught the faint flush creeping across Serel’s cheeks instead as the girl ducked her head. Gloria laughed at the sight.

  Vera shifted Serel in her arms and walked back toward Hilde. She activated her Vaultring, producing a gray parchment inked with crawling sigils. “If you run into any real trouble because of everything that happened, use this. I’ll come.”

  The woman squinted in surprise before taking it. “This one o’ them Ashmarks?”

  “It is.”

  It wasn’t something Vera had known from the game, but after hearing about the Veil Letters yesterday, she’d quizzed Caldrin this morning about other things that were common sense here. That’s when she learned about these. Ashmarks were essentially one-use message spells that worked across great distances, primed to a single person. They were one of the only means of instant long-range communication in this world and, as she understood it, prohibitively expensive, allowing only short messages. Major factions often had them, but even they used them sparingly.

  Of course, when Vera asked, Caldrin revealed that Sablewatch Hollow had more than they knew what to do with lying around.

  “Huh.” Hilde gave a low whistle. “Never thought I’d be holdin’ one. Thanks, s’pose.”

  “Not really something to thank me for.”

  Vera held out her hand, and Stillwake appeared in it.

  Hilde stilled, eye moving to the halberd.

  “We’re heading out. I don’t want to cause any more of those messes I’m apparently infamous for, so I’ll be taking a quieter exit. Remember to call if you need it.”

  “…Aye,” Hilde muttered distractedly, gaze fixed on the weapon.

  Stillwake’s blade tore a rift in the air, Hollow sigils burning as reaching hands clawed along the edges. Resonance drained from Vera in a very noticeable wave. She looked once more over at Gloria and her father, lifting a hand in farewell, with Serel mimicking her again. Then, she stepped through the rift.