The morning sun peeked through thin clouds, casting golden light over the rooftops of Tilver’s Crossing. The town had shaken off the weariness of night, its cobbled streets were alive with clatter and chatter—traders calling out their wares, children chasing one another around barrels and wagons, the aroma of fresh bread and spiced meat curling through the air.

  I leaned against the railing of the inn’s balcony, sipping a lukewarm cup of something the innkeeper had optimistically called tea. Down below, Bront was already wide awake, drawing curious looks as he carried his shield through town like he was looking for a sparring match. I wasn’t entirely sure he wasn’t.

  Lyria stepped out onto the balcony beside me, tying back her silver hair into a low ponytail. “You look like you’re considering jumping,” she said, eyeing my tea.

  “I’m not ruling it out,” I muttered, holding up the mug. “Whatever this is, it tastes like it’s been strained through a boot.”

  “You’re lucky. Mine came with a twig,” she said dryly, and we shared a tired smile.

  Selene was resting in another room. Lyria had checked on her that morning and said she was doing better—still sore, but out of danger. Her color had returned, and the potion seemed to have done its work. I could breathe easier, though I still felt like I’d been trampled by a stampede of boars.

  We hadn’t heard Kaela return last night.

  I’d hoped she might sneak back in around dawn, but her bed in the girls' room was still untouched. I hadn’t said it aloud, but I couldn’t shake a nagging feeling about it.

  Bront stomped his way back toward the inn a little after midmorning, a small child hanging off his arm and laughing.

  “Found this stray outside the bakery,” he said gruffly, shaking the giggling kid loose before sending him on his way with a copper. “He challenged me to an arm-wrestling match. Told me he was the strongest in town.”

  “Did he win?” I asked.

  Bront grinned. “Barely.”

  Before I could respond, the door to the inn creaked open and Kaela stepped inside.

  Her usual smirk was gone. She looked tired—hair windswept, her green jacket dusted with road dirt.

  “You’re back—?” I started, unable to hide my surprise.

  “Sorry,” Kaela said, holding up a hand. “Got caught up with something. But I’m fine.”

  That was all she offered. She flopped into a seat near the fire, not quite looking at any of us.

  “You okay?” I asked quietly.

  She nodded. “Yeah. Just tired. What did I miss?”

  “Bront nearly got bested by a six-year-old,” Lyria said, sliding into the seat across from her.

  Kaela snorted and offered a small smile. “Wouldn’t surprise me.”

  I didn’t push her, but the way she held herself—shoulders tense, eyes a bit distant—told me something had happened. For now, though, I let it go. She was here, and she wasn’t bleeding, so that was enough.

  After breakfast—or what passed for it—we decided to stretch our legs and explore the town a little. With Selene still recovering, it felt like a chance to breathe. Just a day to be people, not adventurers.

  Bront was immediately challenged to a friendly brawl in the training yard by some of the town guards, which he accepted with grinning enthusiasm. Lyria dragged Kaela and me toward the market, claiming she wanted to look at “local curiosities,” which apparently included everything from hand-painted masks to a taxidermied squirrel holding a miniature lute.

  We eventually met back up near the lake, where Bront had collected an unofficial fan club of children who now followed him like ducklings. He tried not to show it, but he was grinning ear to ear.

  “You’re good with them,” I said.

  “They’re loud,” he replied. But he didn’t tell them to go away.

  Kaela wandered off for a bit near the docks, standing by herself at the edge of the water, looking out toward the trees beyond the eastern wall. Her silhouette looked small against the expanse of the lake, and again, I felt that uneasy tug in my chest.

  She was hiding something.

  Before I could follow her, she turned and walked back to us like nothing had happened, her playful grin back in place.

  “Alright, who's up for some games?” she asked, her voice snapping the mood back into motion. “There’s a fairground near the east side of town. Saw it on my way back. Might be a good place to win back my dignity.”

  “You had dignity?” Bront asked, raising an eyebrow.

  Kaela jabbed him in the ribs with her elbow as she passed. “Keep talking, and I’ll enter you in the pie-eating contest.”

  Bront replied a little too eagerly. “Is that a promise?”

  We made our way to the fairgrounds, a bustling place full of curious games and challenges. The scent of grilled meat wafted on the wind from tightly packed stalls. The dinging, humming, and buzzing of various mechanical contraptions filled the air.

  My eyes were immediately drawn to what looked like an archery range. A small target stood at the end of a dirt run with a wiry fellow loitering nearby.

  “Hey, I think I want to give that a shot—” I started, but as I looked back to the others I saw their eyes all glued to different attractions.

  Bront spotted a group of well-built strong men tossing around stones, Lyria’s gaze was locked on a mysterious tent labelled ‘Fortune Teller’, and Kaela, already walking, headed straight for the gamblers’ pit.

  Bront and Lyria began walking their own way too, and I was split. I didn’t want to leave Kaela on her own, whatever happened last night was clearly still bothering her despite her efforts to hide it.

  I spun around, grabbing Lyria and Bront by their collars.

  “Hey—let’s stick together. We can take turns with each activity, but let’s do it as a group,” I offered.

  Lyria and Bront looked slightly annoyed but begrudgingly agreed with the sentiment.

  “Well what about Kaela? She’s already walked off,” Lyria said, crossing her arms.

  “Then we go with her choice first!” I said, turning toward the gamblers’ pit.

  We caught up to Kaela as she stepped into a small arena full of various games of chance, with some unlucky patrons already biting their nails, sitting on barrels around tables full of cards, and bone dice.

  She glanced back at us when she noticed our arrival, offering a sly grin as she headed straight to a table with a peculiar set of ivory dice.

  Kaela took a seat on one of the barrels and waved us in. Bront and I took a seat as well, with Lyria opting to just watch.

  The dealer was a black-haired dwarf, sporting an eyepatch, a scruffy wired beard, and more gold teeth than not.

  He eyed us up for a moment.

  “Place yer’ bets,” he said, his voice low and gravelly like a stone mill.

  Kaela went first, planting 10 gold coins on the table without hesitation. I had a bad feeling about this. Unable to back out though, I pulled out 3 gold coins and set them in front of me. Bront, already sporting an admittedly amusing poker face, went with 5.

  “Ye’ know the rules?” the dwarf asked.

  “Aye! Line us up, chief!” Kaela said back immediately, answering for us.

  The dwarf grinned and slammed the table with a hefty, calloused fist. The set of dice flew up from the impact and he snatched them out of the air with surprising dexterity.

  “Ladies first,” he said, flashing a gold toothed grin.

  Kaela grinned right back. “Give me seven or snake eyes.”

  As the dwarf began shaking the dice, Kaela leaned in towards me.

  “The game works like this; Call the number rolled, if you give three options you get one coin, if you give two, like I just did, you can double your coin, and if you give just one you triple it—” Kaela explained quickly, leaning back over the table as the dwarf cast the dice.

  The dice tumbled onto the table and when they finally came to a halt, they showed a total of seven.

  “That's what I’m talking about!” Kaela exclaimed as the dwarf dished out her 10 coins.

  Bront was next. While he tried his luck I leaned back in towards Kaela.

  “Why did you bet on snake eyes? Isn't that pretty unlikely?” I asked, trying to understand her rationale.

  “Aye, the odds are low, but if it hits, it’s a guaranteed two-and-a-half times return. If you place the whole bet on snake eyes you can quadruple your coin. And before you ask, of course I’ve hit it myself, I ain’t just carrying this spear for show, snakes are my lucky charm,” Kaela said back, leaving me with a wink as Bront promptly lost his 5 gold.

  I guess It’s my turn. I decided to take it slow.

  “Uh, I’ll call four, seven, and nine,” I said, hoping I was getting it right.

  The dwarf gave me an annoyed look, clearly unimpressed by my caution. and began shaking the dice again.

  He cast the dice quick and sharp, they tumbled, turned, and then came to a rest.

  Two fives…

  I pushed my gold towards him and he happily accepted.

  Kaela broke into laughter. “Hah! That’s what you get for being so timid about it!”

  I cursed her under my breath and stood from the table, joining Lyria and crossing my arms along with her.

  It was frustrating, sure, but at least Kaela seemed to be enjoying herself.

  Bront played another round then bowed out. Kaela went a few more with the rest of us watching on. She was the only one that came out on top. She rejoined us with an insufferable smirk and a slightly heavier coin purse.

  Since Lyria just watched the whole time we decided to go with what she wanted to do next. She led us straight to the fortune teller that she had been eyeing earlier.

  Bront grumbled something about a fortune teller claiming he’d, ‘terrorise a village in the near future’, and refused to get his fortune read. Kaela seemed reluctant too, but eventually went in. She emerged scowling, looking even more irritated than before.

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  Next, it was Lyria's turn. After a few minutes she came out blushing and giggling to herself, she cast a sideways glance at Kaela, looking almost—triumphant?

  I guess it was my turn.

  I entered the tent, ducking through a beaded doorway. A wall of incense slammed into me as I walked in, opting to breath through my mouth, I took my seat across from a motionless figure. Her face was veiled, and with wrinkly hands outstretched, she beckoned for mine. Her grasp was cold and bony, a decidedly uncomfortable sensation.

  As she started her reading, the mark on my chest suddenly began to freeze. She pulled back with surprising speed, almost hissing.

  “...Your fortune cannot be read. Get out!” she said, with a raspy and ragged voice.

  I blinked dumbly for a moment.

  “Out!” she cried.

  I swiftly took my leave of the hazy tent.

  When I walked out Lyria seemed to sense my discomfort, her smug smile from earlier slipped to something that looked more like concern.

  “Yukon...? What happened in there?” Lyria asked softly.

  “Hm? Oh nothing really—she said she couldn’t do my reading,” I responded plainly.

  Lyria seemed a bit disappointed but she didn't probe any further. Bront just looked relieved that we were finally done with the fortune teller.

  Next, we followed Bront to a gathering of strong-men. Dwarves, humans, and a goliath gathered around taking turns hoisting heavy stones. The rest of us sat this one out, watching in awe at the sheer strength on display.

  They started small, lifting a heavy stone, but even I could probably have managed that one.

  Everyone succeeded one by one and so they moved to the next size up. A boulder about the size of a standard crate. I might have been able to lift that one too, and most of them lifted it with ease, save for one of the humans, who had a bit of trouble. Even so, they all managed it.

  The next size up was quite the leap. A stone about the size of a wagon wheel. Only the goliath, one of the dwarves, a human, and Bront were able to lift that one. I certainly wouldn’t have been able to, this was crossing into inhuman territory.

  The following stone proved to be too much for the remaining human and dwarf. Even Bront seemed to be putting in a lot of effort to lift the massive boulder, but he succeeded.

  It was just Bront and the goliath left. The goliath was huge, a bit taller than Bront and with a massive belly, but Bront’s physique was far more intimidating.

  The two of them faced off with a snarl, grasping a boulder about the size of Lyria and twice as wide, and they began straining. The boulder wasn’t budging on either side…

  “Come on, Bront! Don’t let that goliath outdo you!” came Lyria’s cry, her voice louder and more determined than I’d ever heard it.

  I joined her. “Yeah, come on! You’ve got this!” I called.

  Bront bared his teeth, muscles rippling as he let out a guttural roar and strained against the massive boulder. The boulder budged—but it wasn’t enough.

  Kaela rolled her eyes and stepped past me. “Bront! That goliath called your mother a trollop! You really gonna let him beat you!?” she yelled passionately.

  With one final roar, Bront ripped the boulder from the ground, hoisting it as high as he could, before letting it fall. It shook the ground on impact.

  The goliath had barely managed to get it off the ground, Bront clearly took that round.

  We laughed and clapped him on the shoulder as he collected his winnings.

  Kaela, seeming more like herself now, came over to me, brushing up against me before turning with a glint in her eyes to ask, “Alright Ranger, which challenge did you want to try?”

  Lyria glared at her suspiciously.

  “I think I saw an archery challenge over there… Do you guys mind if I try?” I said back, ignoring Kaela’s flirtatious behavior.

  Bront snorted. “Sorry, Yukon. I’m starving,” and with that he walked off.

  “Ugh—Bront! Come on, he sat through all of the things we wanted to do!” Lyria called after him, but he was already well on his way to the food stalls, and it genuinely seemed like nothing could stop him.

  I shrugged, and told her not to worry about it.

  Kaela, Lyria and I walked up to the wiry man standing next to the archery challenge.

  The man spoke up as we approached. “Fancy a try?”

  “Aye, I’ll give it a go. What do I have to do?” I responded.

  The man grinned. “Just land a single arrow in the center of that’ there’ target.”

  I looked to the target, maybe about 15 paces away, this would be child's play for me.

  “And what do I get if I hit the mark?” I asked, turning back to the man.

  “5 gold for hitting the center,” he said with a toothy grin, adjusting his straw hat and crossing his arms.

  “Alright, I’ll give it a shot.”

  “That’ll be one gold each attempt, you get 3 shots per gold,” he said, extending his hand.

  I dug around in my pouch and produced a gold piece, flicking it over to him. He put it into his pouch in a hurry and grabbed a bow and three arrows from the ground near a crate he’d been standing by.

  When he handed me the bow and arrows I immediately regretted signing up for this challenge. The weight of the bow was purposefully distorted, the string was almost slack, and the arrows themselves were slightly warped. A truly rigged challenge.

  I figured complaining wouldn’t do me any good, so with a sigh, I stood in position.

  I notched the first arrow, took aim, and let it fly. Of course, it flew wildly to the side, barely punching into the dirt beside the target.

  I glanced over at the guy, he just grinned happily.

  Lyria looked curious and Kaela raised an eyebrow, but neither said anything.

  I notched another arrow, drew, adjusted my aim this time in an attempt to account for the equipment’s distortions, and released. The arrow flew a bit truer, slamming into the target but a little ways from the center.

  I didn’t look back, I could tell he’d still be wearing that same smug expression. Instead, I focused on the target.

  This time, Kaela spoke up.

  “What’s the matter, ranger? That really the best you’ve got?” she teased.

  I shook my head and narrowed my eyes on the target. What this man didn’t consider when he handed me this bow, was the fact that I’d probably made over thirty bows since I was a child. My fathers idea, and I’d had to use them all until I mastered them. The bows I made at the start were a lot like this one.

  I notched an arrow for the third and final time.

  Drawing back the warped arrow, I adjusted my aim yet again, sucked in a breath, held, and released.

  The arrow wobbled as it flew through the air, but eventually stuck itself directly into the center of the target.

  I smirked and tossed the bow back to Kaela, allowing her to see what I’d been dealing with.

  She caught it deftly, and her eyes immediately widened as she realized how distorted it was. Returning my smirk, she tossed the bow back to the man, he caught it, his smug smile nowhere to be found.

  I walked up to him happily and outstretched my hand.

  He dropped 5 gold pieces into it, and with that we walked off.

  Bront found us before long with his hands full of turkey legs and mugs of ale, he gave each of us a deliciously smoked leg and we walked together. Snacking, smiling, and taking one last look at the sprawling fairgrounds. As the sun drew low on the horizon, we headed back towards the inn.

  The four of us emerged giggling into Selene’s room, where she laid peacefully.

  Lyria cast herself onto Selene’s bed.

  “Selene! You missed a wondrous day, I missed you—” Lyria whined, apparently drunk off a single mug of ale?

  Selene smirked and looked at the rest of us.

  “You lot’ had a good day then?” she asked.

  Bront and I nodded, Kaela crossed her arms and turned her head, but even she gave a little nod.

  Selene sat up.

  “That’s good to hear, sorry I couldn’t join in on the fun. I’m feeling better though, the rest was much needed. I’ll be ready to return to Lanton tomorrow,” Selene said, pulling us back to reality.

  That's right, we had to return to Lanton, turn in the completed quest, and most importantly, inform the guild of the Fell empowered bandit. If more things like that were going to show up, we had to warn them.

  “Kaela, you didn’t return last night, but we’ve’ a bed for you in here. We will be leaving early in the morning so no sneaking off tonight,” Selene said firmly, to which Kaela nodded slowly, not making eye contact.

  “Bront, Yukon, we’ll see you in the morning.”

  With that, Bront and I left the girls room, heading back to our own.

  It had been a good day. Everyone seemed to have enjoyed themselves, and Kaela had lightened up a bit by the end of it. Still, something was bothering me. What had made Kaela so upset? Whatever happened, it kept her out all night. Could she be involved in some shady business…?

  These thoughts kept rising within my mind as I lay in bed. Bront’s snoring had already found its pace, so I couldn’t ask him what he thought. I eventually pulled myself from bed and went to stand on the balcony, hoping the crisp night air would still my curious mind.

  Resting my arms on the railing, I sucked in a refreshing breath of cool air. As I exhaled, a flicker of movement in my periphery drew my eye. I glanced over curiously. Standing there, on the balcony of the neighboring room, was Kaela.

  I looked away quickly, hoping she hadn’t noticed me — but curiosity got the better of me. I slowly glanced back.

  Her usual leather armor and dusty jacket had been cast off. She stood in only a light blouse, revealing curves beneath its thin blue fabric that would no doubt leave Lyria — with her more lithe figure — simmering with envy. The wind played through Kaela’s wavy red hair, flicking it lightly against her freckled cheeks. She was beautiful, without a doubt. But there was something else hidden within her golden eyes… Sadness?

  Of course she noticed me looking.

  Her surprise quickly shifted to a knowing grin. She narrowed her eyes at me.

  I shook my head and waved my hands, silently pleading, No, no, you’ve got it all wrong. She just kept grinning and raised an eyebrow in response.

  I pointed down, hoping she’d understand that I wanted to meet beneath the inn. She looked slightly surprised—then smiled, nodded, and slipped back inside the girls’ room.

  I did the same. Picking my steps carefully, I crept out of Bront and my room, heading down to a secluded seating area just outside the tavern, near the reception desk of the inn.

  Lit only by a candelabra and a few lanterns mounted on the walls, the space was dim and quiet. The red fabric of the couches stood out against the warm oak carpentry, and beneath them lay an intricate tan rug atop the hardwood floor. Cozy, yet eerily silent at this hour.

  Kaela showed up shortly after, dressed in the same thin blouse, clearly not caring to put on more clothes.

  “How bold of you ranger…” Kaela teased with a smirk, eyeing me up and down as she took a seat across from me.

  I cleared my throat a bit awkwardly. “That’s, uh… I actually just wanted to talk.”

  She tilted her head. “Oh...? You just wanted to talk, huh? That’s not what your eyes were saying—” she added, a sly grin playing at her lips.

  I did my best to ignore her teasing. “Kaela… I want to know what happened to you last night,” I said, finally.

  “I know we’re not really friends. More like allies on borrowed time. But if something’s truly bothering you… I want to know.”

  She fell quiet for a moment, her eyes studying me. Finally, she sighed and leaned back into the couch.

  “Ugh… You know, I don’t like hero types,” she muttered flatly.

  I held her gaze, unwavering.

  She stared back for a beat, then turned her head away.

  “...Okay, fine. I’ll tell you,” she said quietly.

  “I used to run with the assassin’s guild here. That’s who I went to see.”

  “An assassin’s guild...? How long were you with them?” I asked, sensing a rare chance to actually learn more about her.

  “Four years, I think. Started when I was 14, stopped about three years ago,” she said, her voice carrying a bitter edge.

  “That young, huh...?” I murmured, unable to hide my shock.

  I had a thousand questions, but I knew better than to push. Not yet.

  “So… last night. What happened? Why go back to them?”

  She was quiet for a moment, save for the anxious tapping that had started in her foot. She crossed her arms and refused to look at me.

  “A little after we arrived in Tilver’s Crossing, they sent a raven. A summons. I couldn’t ignore it.” Kaela was looking more and more nervous as she continued.

  “When I got there I was greeted as normal, and… and they tried to give me a mission,” she trailed off.

  My heart tensed. “Kaela… What kind of mission?”

  She looked up at me, her eyes filled with guilt. “A wealthy merchant saw Lyria on her way into town… Said he had to have her, no matter the cost… They–they wanted me to kidnap her.”

  My blood ran cold. The rage didn’t come all at once—it built slowly, burning hot beneath my skin. Not at Kaela. Not yet. But at whoever would dare suggest such a thing, and a guild that would even consider it.

  “Kaela…” My voice took on a dangerous edge. “You refused, didn’t you…?”

  When Kaela looked up at me, tears brimmed in her eyes. She shook her head—slowly—then turned away, pulling up her sleeve to reveal a freshly branded mark. It pulsed faintly with magical energy.

  “I tried… They wouldn’t let me… She—she’s probably already gone…” she whispered, her voice cracking into something hollow. A shell of grief and guilt..

  I stood, fury rising fast. My fists clenched at my sides.

  “Don’t you dare try to run.”

  I turned on my heel and bolted, feet thundering against the floorboards as I sprinted back upstairs. I slammed open the door to the girls’ room. Selene stirred at the noise, blinking awake and rubbing her eyes.

  “Yukon...?” she murmured, groggily.

  She saw me—standing there, breathless, eyes wide with disbelief.

  Then she followed my gaze to the empty bed I stood over.

  Her heart dropped.

  She understood instantly.

  Lyria was gone.