The room was bathed in the soft glow of candles set in extravagant chandeliers. The golden light and the cloying scent of heated beeswax and honey gave the space a deceptive warmth, a necessary mask for the cold white marble floor and the silver leather furniture that screamed wealth rather than comfort.

  Lucas shifted on the sofa, trying and failing to find a comfortable position. Sitting in the middle was always uncomfortable, but here it felt like a punishment. On his left, Felix was making a show of sipping his tea, each slurp loud enough to echo in the large room. On his right, Qalda was annihilating a pyramid of honey cakes.

  “I am relieved to see that the rumors about your kind are mostly founded in truth,” the elderly man said with a faint smile. He took a delicate sip from his porcelain cup. Despite his refined manner, a small droplet clung to his grey mustache, glistening in the candlelight.

  “I’m glad our reputation precedes us, Lord Ludwig,” Qalda replied, spraying a few crumbs as she spoke with her mouth full.

  “Imagine my surprise when I learned that one of you posed as a merchant to enter my city,” Ludwig chuckled softly. “Though, I was far more disappointed in my own soldiers than in you. How could they believe such a story?”

  “We…” Qalda began, but the man raised a hand, cutting her off.

  “Oh, I do not mind. Being a Lord has not made me blind to how the world functions. I know you Unbowed are rarely welcomed; it is only natural you would have to disguise yourselves. However, I must admit I was... disappointed in the Order when I learned that one of your brethren was kidnapping and torturing my subjects.”

  Ludwig’s voice, previously soft and warm, turned low and chilling.

  “I sent my knights to capture him, but he retreated to his lair. Fortunately for justice, he grew careless and left. Otherwise, who knows how long we would have been forced to wait.”

  “I thought you captured him inside his... lair?” Qalda asked. She placed the now-empty plate on the crystal table and nonchalantly brushed the pastry crumbs from her hands onto the pristine marble floor.

  “Oh, we found the cave easily enough. I don’t believe he even bothered to hide his trail. But entering it? That proved difficult.”

  “Why?”

  “As you know, your Order enjoys... an extraordinary level of freedom within the five nations. It was agreed by the four Kings and the Emperor that we are forbidden from invading your territory unless the Triad issues a warrant. To tell you the truth, I would have breached the sanctity of the place and dealt with the Triad later, but the barrier was absolute.”

  “You mean…” Qalda’s eyes widened slightly. “The cave was marked with our symbol?”

  The Lord nodded slowly.

  “Roland here is a high mage. Yes, I am fortunate to have such a powerful sorcerer in my service, but even he could not shatter the barrier. I petitioned the General for aid, but before a response could arrive, the bastard left his hole. He got arrogant. And so, we took him.”

  “But you are worried there might be another one in the cave, and you want us to check,” Qalda said, cutting to the chase.

  “Correct. You are the only ones who can enter, after all... but I will pay. Generously.”

  Felix stopped slurping his tea, the cup halfway to his mouth. His expression instantly brightened. But the excitement was short-lived.

  “I fear we will have to decline,” Qalda said evenly. “Entering places protected by an Unbowed barrier comes with severe consequences, even for us. Furthermore, two members of my group are new recruits. They have yet to receive their seals.”

  “I can give you the items we confiscated from the bastard. I am certain he carried the... seal that allows entry,” Ludwig insisted, leaning forward.

  “We haven't even replenished our supplies yet...”

  “We will provide everything you require. Supplies, equipment - on top of the payment, of course. As long as you promise to clear that cave and dispose of whatever is inside...”

  “Lord Ludwig,” Qalda interrupted him, her voice dropping. “Are you worried there might be something inside, or are you worried because you know there is something inside?”

  Ludwig paused, though his face remained expressionless. He glanced toward Roland. The mage had been listening quietly, standing like a statue in the corner since they entered the large room.

  “I sensed mana from within,” the mage said.

  “What Rank?” Evelyn interjected, her eyes narrowing. “A mage of your level must have refined senses.”

  “Gold, I am fairly certain.”

  “So the entity is at least Gold Rank, but there is a probability it could be even stronger. Furthermore, we have no clues about what awaits us inside. It could be a Vampire, a corrupt mage, or even another Necromancer...” Evelyn spoke calmly, though her expression had hardened. “The payment for such a risk...”

  “No!” Qalda cut her off, veins bulging on her forehead. “We will not accept the bounty. The risk is too high. I would have considered it if we had time to scout, to study the place, to gather information. But with the war… We will not rush in blindly. I am not letting a single member of my group die for your convenience!”

  Ludwig furrowed his brows, white casting dark shadows over his face. The warm, welcoming host aura evaporated instantly.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  “While the Unbowed enjoy extraordinary privileges, they also have certain... obligations,” Ludwig said, staring at Qalda. “You are not permitted to reject bounties issued by the High Nobility without cause.”

  “As long as you provide ‘fair’ compensation,” Qalda hissed back. “But based on the circumstances, the risk is astronomical. The compensation we would need can’t be measured in mere coins...”

  “I agree,” Ludwig nodded, and a faint, triumphant smile touched his lips. “My land will host the glorious army of our Empire. This is where we will set camp for the upcoming battle. The Emperor himself has taken an interest; he wishes for any issues that might disrupt his plans to be dealt with before the army assembles. Therefore, the reward will not come from me, or even the heirs...”

  He paused for effect.

  “The reward will come from the Emperor himself.”

  Lucas remained silent. He lacked the knowledge of this world and his standing in the group was too low to object even if he wanted to. However, he didn't miss the way Ludwig was maneuvering them. The Lord was clearly cornering the Unbowed, using the Emperor’s name to force compliance.

  He also didn't miss the way Evelyn flinched at the mention of the Emperor. It was subtle, and she looked away quickly, but Lucas still noticed it.

  “And that is not all,” Ludwig continued, smoothing his silk robe before Qalda could interject. “I will send Roland with you. This should be more than enough to demonstrate my sincerity regarding your safety.”

  “I thought master Roland failed to enter the cave,” Felix pointed out.

  “Oh, no. You misunderstand. I only failed to break the barrier. If it is a matter of entering myself, I am more than capable,” Roland explained with a small smile. “Have you youngsters ever heard of Nullcraft?”

  Everyone shared the same puzzled looks. Everyone, except Evelyn.

  “Anti-Magic,” she muttered as she studied the old mage with renewed caution.

  “Those are rather harsh words to describe a perfectly harmless branch of magic, but... yes,” Roland nodded and bowed slightly. “I happen to be one of the rare practitioners of Nullcraft. I cannot destroy the barrier, but I can render myself immune to its rejection. Walking through it will not be a problem for me.”

  A heavy silence fell over the room, but not for long.

  “Great, that settles it then. Please be ready at sunrise,” Ludwig clapped his hands gently. He stood up, signaling the end of the audience.

  A sharp, grinding sound came from Qalda’s jaw. The veins in her neck bulged as she stood up, every muscle in her body tense with suppressed rage. She had been checkmated, and she knew it.

  “The compensation better be worth it,” she barked.

  Without waiting for a response, she turned on her heel and stormed out of the room, the heavy doors groaning as she shoved them open.

  <<<>>>

  With Edir still in the forge, Felix at the temple, and Gio out looking to quench his hunger, Lucas spent the whole night alone in the room, staring at the full moon through the window.

  He woke up to harsh beams of sunlight assaulting his eyelids. His entire body was stiff from sleeping hunched over the table, his neck protesting with a sharp twinge as he sat up.

  It’s time. An alarm bell rang in his head, a sense of imminent danger that tightened his chest.

  Still, he knew he had no choice but to follow the group. Running away would turn him into a target not only for the Empire but for the Unbowed as well. The only four people who had been protecting him from harm would become his executioners.

  If neither Felix nor I have the seals necessary to enter the cave, and we only get one from that Necromancer, perhaps I’ll be allowed to stay behind.

  The thought had tormented him the entire night. Even in the brief sleep he managed to catch, he had dreamt of Qalda telling him to stay back and guard their belongings.

  The common room of the inn was dimly lit, smelling of woodsmoke and baking bread. It wasn't crowded yet - just a few travelers helping morning hangovers and a serving girl sweeping the sawdust on the floor.

  The group was already gathered at a corner table, waiting for him. They had left a seat at the edge, where a bowl of soup sat steaming, slowly losing its heat.

  “Where is Edir?” Lucas asked before even sitting down, a sinking feeling settling in his stomach.

  “He isn’t coming. He exhausted his… essence, forging your spear. The Drukyr’s constitution is different from ours,” Felix replied, not looking up from his cup. “Here, take Edir’s ring. You will need it to enter the cave with us.”

  He dropped a ring of heavy metal onto the table in front of Lucas. It clattered loudly on the wood. A green gem was set into the band, its surface carved with a faded, triangular symbol.

  Lucas stared at the ring. His last hope of staying behind evaporated.

  He nodded slowly and sat down, his mind buzzing with danger.

  “I thought Unbowed didn’t obey anyone, even Emperors,” he said, the frustration finally cracking his composure.

  “Are you scared?” Felix snorted, breaking a piece of bread. “Did you think you’d only hunt wild dogs and earn good coin without facing real danger?”

  “Felix!” Qalda roared, her fist slamming onto the table.

  The wood groaned under the impact. Soup sloshed over the rim of Lucas’s bowl, and Evelyn’s glass of wine jumped.

  Qalda took a deep breath, calming herself, and turned to Lucas.

  “It is the Triad that can stand against the Kings and the Emperor. We cannot. If we disobey and break the rules of our Order, the Triad will disown us, and the Empire will send its jackals to hunt us down,” she explained, her voice low. “Normally, I would have left you and Felix behind. But if the quest fails and Lord Ludwig decides to blame us, he will use your absence against us, claiming we didn't bring our full strength. With Edir out, I cannot risk leaving anyone else.”

  Lucas nodded but said nothing. He took a scoop of the soup, blowing on it absentmindedly, though he had no appetite.

  “Lucas,” Qalda called, waiting until he raised his head to meet her gaze. “I apologize. As a leader, it is my responsibility to take care of new members. But I promise you, you will return safely. I have already instructed Evelyn.”

  Lucas’s eyes widened in surprise.

  “Oh, now he is happy,” Felix sneered. “Qalda, I repeat… you don’t have to risk your life for him. He is not even part of our group yet.”

  “Felix!”

  “No! You always do things like this. Take care of yourself first for once!”

  “Felix,” Evelyn cut in, her voice calm and low, yet it still silenced everyone. “You should be the last one to tell her that. Need I remind you why you are alive?”

  Felix flinched. The sneer dropped from his face, replaced by a dark, sullen look.

  “That’s exactly why…” he muttered, trailing off.

  “Enough!” Qalda roared again, silencing them both. “I am not doing favors for anyone. This is what being a leader is. This is how we live in Rond!”

  The next twenty minutes passed in absolute, suffocating silence. No one spoke a word. Felix sat with his head lowered, picking at the wood of the table. Qalda and Evelyn ate with unbothered hunger. Lucas did his best to finish the soup and a loaf of bread, forcing himself to swallow, but his stomach felt like it was tied in knots.

  “Come, little one,” Gio stood up the moment he saw Lucas push his bowl away. “We must pay a visit to the armory. You cannot simply waltz into that place with just a wooden toy.”

  The chapters that begin new arcs are always the most difficult to write, but I finally finished it xD

  Also, I noticed that writing dialogue is the hardest part for me. To be fair, HWDF has so many characters with such different personalities that keeping track of their motives, attitudes, and perspectives takes a lot out of me. But it's also very fun to write.

  The next chapter will be out on Monday.

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