Golden light filtered in the window as the sun set and the city of Whistle Hollow settled down for the night. Lioren sat cross legged on her bed, her whetstone gliding across her short sword. She had gone through five rags, trying to clean the dried blood off. A small detail forgotten in the rush to save her life. Now the blade caught the reflection of the bedroom lanterns like they yearned for the attention. Her other three daggers lay in a uniform line in front of her, already cleaned and sharpened. Ready to taste blood again.

  Tomas sat on his bed, half-dressed and losing a fight with his new leather armor buckles he had picked up earlier that day. The untarnished fastenings laughed at him as he pulled a too-tight strap across his chest.

  “These mechants’ll sell you armor with buckles and not a damn one of them is in the right place.” He huffed, twisting and tugging at the strap before giving up and flopping backwards onto his pillow.

  Lioren didn’t look up but smirked as she continued to count her strokes, mouthing each number.

  “That a smirk I see? Or did your face finally cramp from all the fake smiling today?”

  “At least I didn’t lose to a buckle.” Lioren scoffed and shot him an amused sideways glance. It was sharper than her usual retorts, but it was halfway to normal. From the corner of her eye, she saw Mira look up from where she was sorting her day's purchases. Her eyes squinted as watched their interaction, something lingering behind her eyes.

  “I mean if you think you could do better, then by all means.” Tomas flashed her his lopsided grin and gestured to his chest where the straps stuck up in multiple ways.

  “Oh, I’d tie you up, I just don’t think you would like what I do with you after.” She met his gaze with a smoldering intensity that immediately flushed his skin. His mouth dropped open. Whatever witty retort he might’ve had died on his tongue, strangled by the mental image her words had just painted. He blinked, jaw still slack, like his brain was running ten full laps behind the conversation.

  “…I—I wasn’t expecting that,” he finally muttered, voice a little higher than usual.

  He looked away, rubbing the back of his neck, the tips of his ears going a dangerous shade of red.

  Mira, meanwhile, had frozen mid-sort with a pair of gloves dangling from her fingers. Her eyes snapped from Tomas to Lioren like she’d just overheard something she absolutely wasn’t supposed to.

  “I’m right here, you know,” she said flatly, one brow arched so high it practically vanished into her hairline. “If you’re going to flirt like that, I suggest waiting until I’ve left the room. Or at least until I’m not in the blast radius.”

  Lioren chuckled lightly, and returned to her blade as if nothing had happened.

  The room fell into an easy silence. Mira went back to sorting, cross checking her list, her eyes still wandering over to Lioren. It made her uneasy. Like she was trying to see something hidden. Dull thuds echoed from the hall, causing Lioren to look up. She recognized the steps before he opened the door. Kale walked like someone who didn’t trust the floor to hold him. She looked back down at her short sword as the door opened. Not a blemish on the steel. She ran her thumb along the blade, drawing a thin line of red as Kale closed the door behind him.

  “Hey, Kale.” Mira gave him a soft smile, anxiety deepening her voice.

  Tomas cleared his throat and sat up, stretching out his leg with an exaggerated groan before fidgeting with his buckles again.

  “You’re late. Missed a rogue cart, crash into a stall. Lioren nearly killed a man over spilled candy.”

  “I did not.” Lioren pursed her lips to stop from smiling. Cheeky bastard. She wiped her thumb and forefinger together, eyes widening slightly as only the smear of blood remained. Kale hesitated by the door for only a second then walked stiffly over to where Lioren sat taking more interest in her blade than his presence. His armor barely creaked but to Lioren, it might as well have been a loose floorboard in the middle of the night.

  “I wanted to say something..” He began , eyes studying the floor, as Lioren returned her short sword to the line up and picked up a dagger to inspect.

  “About earlier. I… Look, I said somethings, or the wrong things. My actions were selfish and I am sorry. You made it, that’s all that matters, and I’m.. glad.”

  Lioren’s eyes narrowed at her blade. She had almost believed him. Her eyes found him first, then her head turned to follow them. Kale flinched, meeting her cold stare among her gentle face. She held his gaze, searching his eyes before returning to her dagger.

  “Thank you.” Her voice was like a breath through the fog. She didn’t say it sarcastically. She didn’t even look back up at him and she didn’t press him. Just two little words she knew would stick him like a splinter.

  It wasn’t forgiveness. She already forgave him earlier. This was nothing he could argue against.

  Kale shifted, the floor creaking as he waited with bated breath.

  “I meant it.” His voice was tense and his fists clenched at his side.

  “I’m sure you did.” Lioren’s focus remained on her blade, studying Kale’s reflection in the metal. Kale stood a moment longer, expecting.. something. But Lioren knew this game because it was hers. She didn’t know what Kale was up to, but right now, they were opposing sides in a dangerous standoff.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  Lioren could see Kale’s jaw tick so she put down her dagger. Kale paused. And she picked up her last dagger to inspect it.

  Across the room, Mira cleared her throat, a little louder than she needed to.

  “So… I picked up some stuff for the road. If we set out in the next couple of days, we can reach Vorthane before their Harvest Moon Festival starts.” Her voice came high as she rummaged in her pack to make sure she hadn’t missed anything. “I even heard they are going to have an actual magic wielder! How exciting is that?” Her eyes pinged from one friend to the next.

  Kale moved away, footsteps hard and face contorted as he recognized a dismissal. He stood with his back to the room as he began to doff his armor.

  Lioren squirmed on the inside and she shot Tomas a look but he was too busy being at war with a strap he got stuck.

  “A festival sounds fun.” Lioren began as she sheathed her blades and stowed them next to her bed. “But Vorthane would bring us very close to the southern border.” Mira looked up, her head tilting to the side, just a little too much.

  “Yea, so?” She questioned but her face made her look like she didn’t want to hear the answer.

  Lioren frowned, Mira's head title unsettled her but she answered anyway. “I just heard there was an increase in Locusts activity here. If that's the case, there is probably more closer to the border. We shouldn’t get involved.”

  Mira’s eyes narrowed and ever so slightly, her hand touching her pocket. Lioren noticed, her jaw tightening as she turned her back to fluff her pillow.

  What is Mira’s problem tonight and what is in her pocket?

  “I agree with Lioren.” Kale announced as he propped his armor against the wall. The room went still. Tomas froze, mid buckle to stare at Kale’s back. Mira held her bag open with one arm stuck inside. Even Lioren slowly turned around to stare.

  What are you playing at now?

  Kale pulled the sheets back on his bed and made himself comfortable before placing his hands behind his head and leaning back into the headboard.

  “What? Everyone knows their reputation. I agree, we shouldn’t get involved. Staying here a couple more days won’t kill us.” He gave a shrug and closed his eyes. Lioren tensed as her breath caught silently in her throat. He was up to something and he didn’t want them to leave.

  “Right… Well, if it means I can sleep in a bed for a few more days, then I agree, let’s stay.” Tomas finally flung his armor over his head and onto the floor. He sank back into the bed with a dramatic sigh of comfort.

  Mira looked downcast as the vote went against her and she resumed stuffing her bag with supplies.

  “Kresswyn has a harvest festival.” Lioren blurted out as she rose up from her bed. “I saw a flier for it in the town square.” She wrapped herself in her cloak, pocketed a dagger and moved toward the door, mentioning she would go grab it. Mira moved to object but Lioren was out the door before she got out her first word. Something was pressing on her chest. Maybe it was Kale wanting to stay in town, or Mira's weird stares. Or maybe it was the fact she cut her thumb and there was no trace. Whatever the reason, she needed some air.

  People don’t heal like that.

  Lioren dug her fingernail into her thumb as if to test to see if the cut was really there. Her steps thumped down the stairs as the evening crowd grew rowdy. People laughed and toasted as light music filled the air. Ugh… Too loud.

  And what is going on with everyone? The uncertainty pressed on her like bricks. Mira stared at her like she was an alleged serial killer. Did Kale say something to her?

  Kale.

  Not only had he made his opinion of her crystal clear, now he was trying to play mind games with her. Lioren exited the inn and fell into step along the cobblestone street leading to the town center. Kale wanted to play games, fine, she would play.

  The cool air stole her breath in puffs, but she barely felt it. Her casual clothes and cloak seemed to be enough to hold off the chilling embrace of night. The moon was rising over Whistle Hollow, casting silver beams as it waned in the sky. Some last minute travelers made their way inside inns and taverns and as Lioren entered the town square, it was empty. Her mind raced with ways to outsmart and out play Kale and whatever outcome he was trying to create.

  She paused next to a board that held announcements, fliers, bounties and more. She pretended to look at it as fire rose in her stomach. Kale was going to pay. How dare he dismiss her as she lay dying. Now he was turning Mira against her. If he thought she was cunning before, wait until..

  Wham!

  Lioren slammed into the board in front of her, head exploding in pain as she slid to the ground. Dazed, she tried to look up but only saw two dark figures. Her ears were ringing as the two figures exchanged muffled words and one turned her head. It nodded a confirmation to the other and both grabbed her by the arms and hoisted her up. Alarm bells sounded in her head and her clarity was restored as adrenaline flooded her body.

  In a flourishing twist, Lioren was free with her dagger firmly planted in the ribcage of one of her assailants. His mouth opened in a silent scream as he fell backward into crates, causing them to collapse with a loud crash. Lioren turned to the other one who shook off his shock and drew his own blade. His swing was deadly, but Lioren was faster now. She parried and danced underneath his deflected blow, her dagger striking true in his back.

  A loud cry of pain erupted from his mouth as Lioren slapped her hand over his mouth. Heavy footsteps approached and Lioren spun to see a guard approaching.

  “Stop! Drop your weapon!” He ordered and her heart began to pound. She had just killed two people and now a guard saw her. The guard carried a torch, its warm light a spotlight on her crime. Lioren withdrew her dagger and let the body fall with a dull thud. She kept her hands raised as her voice refused to explain what happened. The guard approached slowly, his hand raised as if to pacify her. He knelt down by the body she dropped, his neck exposed.

  He is the only witness. It would be easy. One strike. Silence.

  The guard pulled back the collar of the body’s cloak and Lioren could see it, clear as day. A vertical diamond with a dot in the center. Her stomach churned and she felt like she was going to be sick

  “Locusts.” The guard spat and stood back up. He eyed Lioren, licking his lips as he tried to decide what to do. He brought the torch closer and leaned close. The bright torch light caused her eyes to squint, but the guard took a deep breath after analyzing her eyes.

  “Turn your head left.” He ordered and Lioren’s stomach dropped. Please no. She shook her head ever so slightly.

  “Fine, that's all I needed to know. I know why they are after you.” He paused to look around to make sure no one else saw but the square was quiet. “Now go!” He hissed and gave her a shove. She blinked, still caught in the rhythm of her pulse. The blood. The silence. Her breath came too fast as it whistled through her teeth.

  Why wasn’t he drawing his sword?

  “What…?”

  “Go!” He repeated, louder this time. “And watch your back. Someone else took your bounty today. I would leave town if I were you.” He took a few steps away and motioned for her to leave.

  “But why?” She whispered as she took a few steps away. Pausing briefly to take in his face. His trimmed facial hair, wrinkled eyes, and light brown hair, pulled into a ponytail. Probably in his forties or younger if being a guard had taken its toll. But her heart clenched and she sped off as his words reached her ears.

  “Because I remember what you did for the North.”