The market square seemed to hold its breath. Civilians continued their business, unaware that three armed individuals were having a silent standoff with what appeared to be an ordinary rabbit enjoying a stolen carrot.

  Reyn’s fingers wrapped around Good Deeds’ hilt but didn’t draw. Not with children running between market stalls and elderly merchants haggling over prices. The devastation from their barn fight flashed through her mind, and that had been in an empty building.

  ?Nobody move,? Rast whispered, his voice barely audible. ?If it attacks here…?

  He didn’t need to finish. The Beast of Valemark had torn through trained hunters like they were made of parchment. In this crowded square, it would be a massacre.

  The rabbit took another bite of carrot, the crunch somehow audible despite the market noise. Its pink eyes never left Reyn’s face.

  ?We need to lead it away,? Venn said with more air than voice. ?Away from these people.?

  ?It’s faster than us,? Reyn reminded her, hand still on her sword. ?The moment we run, it could—?

  The rabbit moved.

  Reyn changed her stance, weapons half-drawn, ready for the white blur of violence she’d witnessed before. Venn tensed and clutched her quarterstaff. Rast looked confused. Merchants nearby noticed the sudden movement, some stepping back instinctively from the armed strangers who’d just gone combat-ready over a rabbit.

  But the beast didn’t attack.

  It hopped once, twice, then launched itself through the air in a graceful arc that ended with it landing perfectly on Reyn’s shoulder before her mind could comprehend what her eyes saw.

  Everyone froze.

  The rabbit settled itself comfortably, as if Reyn’s shoulder was a throne it had been waiting to claim. Its nose twitched. Then, with the casual entitlement of a creature that knew exactly what it wanted, it began rooting through her rucksack, only its fluffy butt wiggling in the air.

  ?What is it doing?? Rast asked, sword still half-drawn, looking ridiculous threatening a rabbit that was now pulling items from Reyn’s pack .

  ?Don’t… move?? Reyn said, and questioned at the same time. The rabbit’s weight was negligible, but its claws were very close to her neck. She could feel its whiskers tickling her ear as it rummaged.

  A wrapped cloth flew past her head. Then a whetstone. A spare bootlace. A buckle that she hadn’t found a use for but couldn’t throw away. Finally, with a triumphant chitter, the rabbit emerged with its prize.

  A turnip. A slightly too ripe turnip.

  The Beast of Valemark settled back on her shoulder and began eating the turnip with satisfied chewing, occasionally chittering in what sounded like approval.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  ?Is it… is it eating a turnip?? Venn asked. ?On your shoulder??

  ?Yes.?

  ?The Beast of Valemark.?

  ?Yes.?

  ?The creature that’s terrorized the farmers for months.?

  ?Yes.?

  ?And it’s just… sitting there.?

  ?Apparently.?

  The rabbit made a sound that could only be described as contented, spraying turnip crumbs down Reyn’s shoulders. Its tail tickled the back of her neck.

  Rast slowly resheathed his sword. ?Why do things always get weird with you??

  ?We can’t kill it,? Venn said as if she’d suddenly realized it.

  Both Reyn and Rast turned to stare at her, which caused the rabbit to chitter irritably at the movement.

  ?It has killed people,? Rast pointed out.

  ?It’s also sitting on Reyn’s shoulder eating a turnip like a pet.? Venn stepped closer, studying the rabbit with that studying look of hers that Reyn found amusing. ?Look at it. This isn’t just a monster.?

  She was right. Now that it wasn’t trying to murder them, they could see details they’d missed before. The rabbit’s fur had an unusual sheen, almost iridescent in the sunlight. Its eyes held intelligence, tracking their conversation as if it understood. And its teeth… well, it definitely had too many teeth, but they weren’t that intruding when it didn’t bare them.

  ?We’re heading to Skyrise Tower anyway,? Venn continued. Wizards know stufd. If anyone would know what this creature actually is, it would be them.?

  ?You want to walk through Valemark with the Beast of Valemark on Reyn’s shoulder?? Rast asked incredulously.

  The rabbit finished its turnip and began grooming its ear, apparently having decided the conversation wasn’t worth its attention. Reyn glanced at it from the corner of her eyes, not making a single move.

  ?It’s not attacking anyone,? Venn pointed out. ?And if we try to remove it…?

  They all looked at the rabbit. It paused in its grooming to bare teeth in what might have been a smile or a threat.

  ?Right,? Reyn said, relaxing her body just enough to test for any reaction. ?Apparently I have a rabbit now.?

  ?The Beast of Valemark is not a pet!? Rast said.

  ?Tell that to the beast.?

  The rabbit chittered and rubbed its head against Reyn’s ear in what could only be described as an affectionate gesture. Then it bit her earring, decided it wasn’t food, and went back to grooming.

  Around them, the market had returned to normal. A few people pointed at the ?tall woman with the rabbit,? but most seemed to assume it was some kind of trained pet. After all, who would believe the Beast of Valemark was a rabbit that would choose to perch on someone’s shoulder like a feathery pirate’s parrot?

  ?We should go,? Venn said. ?Before it changes its mind about being peaceful.?

  ?Or before someone recognizes it,? Rast added, though he was fighting a smile. ?The reports I’ll have to file about this…?

  They began walking toward the College district, Reyn trying to move smoothly to avoid disturbing her new passenger. The rabbit seemed to approve, settling into a comfortable loaf shape on her shoulder, occasionally chittering commentary about things only it understood.

  ?You know,? Venn said as they walked, ?there are stories about creatures like this. Not violent rabbits specifically, but animals that are more than they appear. Old stories, from before the kingdoms were kingdoms.?

  ?What kind of stories?? Reyn asked, trying not to turn her head too much.

  ?The kind that usually end with ‘and that’s why we don’t go into that forest.’? Venn glanced at the rabbit. ?Myths to scare children, but...?

  The rabbit yawned, showing its many teeth, then tucked its head down as if preparing to nap.

  ?It’s sleeping,? Rast said, disbelieving. ?The Beast of Valemark is taking a nap on your shoulder.?

  ?After eating my emergency turnip.?

  ?This is not how I expected today to go,? Venn admitted.

  ?Really?? Reyn asked with a raised eyebrow. ?Because a murderous rabbit becoming my shoulder padding seems exactly like something that would happen to us based on my experience of Vaelen so far.?

  The rabbit made a soft sound that might have been agreement or just rabbit snoring. Its whiskers twitched with each breath.

  They continued toward Skyrise Tower, three people and one living myth-like children’s tale, looking like the strangest adventuring party Valemark had ever seen.

  ?Turnip,? Reyn said as they walked.

  Rast sighed. ?What??

  ?Its name is Turnip.?