Yvlon Byres knew the answer before they said it. She was not a silver-tongued socialite, but she had learned to read people\u2019s eyes as a child. She had learned to dance with words before she had picked up a sword. Of course, she\u2019d left that world behind to become an adventurer, but some things never faded.<\/p>\n
Now she sat still and kept her face still, hoping that she was wrong. But the [Healer] just shook his head as he tapped on the silver and black metal that had become part of Yvlon\u2019s body.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m sorry Miss Byres. But I don\u2019t believe the metal can be removed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI see.\u201d<\/p>\n
Yvlon\u2019s tone was light and free of negative emotion. She looked the man directly in the eye; an honest [Noble] would do no less. Feeling free to speak, the man went on, speaking candidly.<\/p>\n
\u201cI am not a high-level [Healer]. Perhaps one with a Skill might be able to deal with this\u2026affliction. Or perhaps a [Bone Surgeon], although you would have to find a Gnoll tribe\u2019s [Healer] with such a rare class. As it is\u2026I can do nothing.\u201d<\/p>\n
The woman stared at her arms, at the metal that felt so alien and heavy on her skin. There was no pain\u2014only a sense of invasiveness. She could feel the metal in<\/em> her, and in truth she had expected no other answer from the man.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat of the exterior?\u201d<\/p>\n The tall, broad woman standing next to the [Healer] cleared her throat. She was a [Blacksmith], and she touched the cold metal with familiarity. Yvlon didn\u2019t mind the intrusion, although the [Healer] looked askance. But the [Blacksmith] only saw metal, and how it could be shaped.<\/p>\n \u201cThat I could cut away. The pieces below the skin\u2014if that is anchored to bone I won\u2019t touch it. Normally we\u2019d use a saw or snap the metal in two\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n The man hurriedly interjected and the broad-shoulder woman nodded placidly before continuing.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2014But with the right blade we could cut the metal. It\u2019s warped; lost a lot of its strength in the melting. An enchanted dagger would cut most of it off and we could sand the rest smooth. It\u2019s not easy, but it is doable.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon looked at the [Healer] to see his opinion. The man nodded reluctantly.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would certainly allow the skin to breathe and prevent much of the possible infection. But even so, the metal has bonded with bone. Your arms\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI understand. Thank you.\u201d<\/p>\n She couldn\u2019t bear to hear any more. Both man and woman exchanged uncertain glances. At last, the [Healer] spoke again.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll leave you to get dressed.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I will see if I can find a blade good enough to use. It will have to be enchanted\u2014Dwarven-craft weapons might work, but even that would involve sharpening\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Their words fell on deaf ears. Yvlon waited until they\u2019d left, smiling politely and thanking them for their time\u2014and paying them for their efforts. Then she sat back in the small room the [Healer] had examined her in and reached for her clothes.<\/p>\n She had still worn a breast band of course, but she had had to take off the clothing on her upper body to expose her shoulders and arms. Yvlon gazed at them now, and saw the metal. It had once been her armor, but now\u2026<\/p>\n It looked almost like a scab. A dirty, discolored plating of metal that ran from her shoulders down to her hands. It wasn\u2019t one unsplit seam either; jagged cracks had broken around her joints, allowing her to move her arms, albeit with difficulty. It was heavy. And as Yvlon stared at her arms, her shirt in one hand, her eyes filled with tears.<\/p>\n It was a moment of weakness. The only one she could afford, when everyone\u2019s eyes weren\u2019t on her. Yvlon dropped her shirt and felt her eyes sting as the world blurred.<\/p>\n Cool composure. Politeness at all times. It was the mark of a Byres, and she had kept the mask up. But she hadn\u2019t dared invite her friends, the other Horns of Hammerad. She hadn\u2019t wanted them to hear the news, see the looks on their faces.<\/p>\n Her hands were trembling, but all Yvlon saw was metal. Ugly metal. It wasn\u2019t beautiful, not like the silver she had worn, the silver which she\u2019d been so proud of, her family\u2019s colors and fortune\u2014the name she had taken for her adventuring groups. It was ugly and tarnished and black.<\/p>\n Just like her.<\/p>\n More tears trickled down her cheek. Yvlon wiped at her eyes clumsily, feeling the hard metal brush against her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cOh no. Not this. Honor and hearth. Please, not\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n It wasn\u2019t fair<\/em>. That was what she wanted to say, but wasn\u2019t it what she deserved? And she\u2019d been the only one with a weapon. Ksmvr had been down, Pisces and Ceria\u2019s magic had failed\u2014<\/p>\n She\u2019d done what she had to do. It was her duty, and she\u2019d been prepared for death. But not this.<\/p>\n \u201cNot this.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Her arms. The metal was so dull. Yvlon shook again. Strong. She had to be strong. If she let her friends down\u2014<\/p>\n Would they think less of her? Abandon her? She had failed once. How could she tell them? What could she say? She\u2019d already demanded almost all the gold they\u2019d earned. What about this?<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know.\u201d<\/p>\n It had been so easy a month ago. She\u2019d been so sure.\u00a0 Yvlon pulled her tunic over her head, slowly, clumsily. The [Healer] had offered her to help, but this she had to do herself. The fabric was far too loose for her comfort, but it was the only way she could get it over her arms. She couldn\u2019t even raise them fully over her head; the metal dug too much into her flesh to let her.<\/p>\n Part of Yvlon just wanted to sleep. To go to sleep and forget. But then she might dream she was in the pit again, imagining she was one of her long-dead ancestors. Or worse, she might dream of Skinner, the crawling monster with crimson eyes and the undead that struck down each of her friends in slow motion. Yvlon shuddered. Her eyes filled again.<\/p>\n Someone hammered on her door. Yvlon sat bolt upright. In an instant, her eyes stopped stinging, and she used her shirt to scrub at her face.<\/p>\n \u201cEnter.\u201d<\/p>\n When the panting young man pushed open the door he didn\u2019t notice Yvlon\u2019s red eyes; he only saw her arms, and even that only held his attention for a second. He stopped and bobbed his head awkwardly to her, as if she were his liege lady instead of a common adventurer.<\/p>\n \u201cPardon, Miss Yvlon, but there\u2019s trouble at The Nobleman\u2019s Disgrace!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon said the words and then remembered; that was the inn they were all staying at.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat trouble?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know. A coach arrived\u2014a fancy noble\u2019s coach, one of the ones pulled by magic! And a man and a woman came out, and then they said they were going to take a Runner away!\u201d<\/p>\n A Runner? Yvlon\u2019s brows furrowed as she tried to make sense of everything.<\/p>\n \u201cWho? And what does this have to do with us?\u201d<\/p>\n The young man could only gabble on as he tried to explain things from his limited perspective.<\/p>\n \u201cThe Runner? Her name was Ryoka Griffin\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s right! And she said she wasn\u2019t going,and the woman insisted, and then your Captain\u2014the half-Elf\u2014she said she wasn\u2019t going either and folks started drawing their swords!\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon didn\u2019t wait to hear anything else. She was out of her chair and pushing past the surprised young man in an instant. Her grief, her feelings of pain and regret\u2014all of it she gladly surrendered to adrenaline and the need for action.<\/p>\n \u201cMy sword\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n She didn\u2019t have one. Yvlon snapped at the young man.<\/p>\n \u201cGet me a sword!\u201d<\/p>\n She charged out the building and onto the street, running in the direction of the inn. She didn\u2019t know why Ryoka was here, but she had saved Ceria, and if the other Horns of Hammerad were going to fight, so was Yvlon. She would not let her party die again.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Sometimes Ceria wondered if she could ever have a peaceful life. If she quit casting magic and stopped going on adventures and just lived in a quiet place somewhere for the rest of her life, wouldn\u2019t that be worthwhile? She\u2019d never have to fight monsters and she wouldn\u2019t wake up with bugs crawling in her mouth while it rained. She could be happy.<\/p>\n But the flaw with that idea was that even if Ceria didn\u2019t get into trouble, her friends would. Like Ryoka, and Erin for example. The trouble with those two girls was that they tended to attract monsters and chaos like a tower attracted thunderbolts in a storm.<\/p>\n And it seemed like they were getting better at it, or at least Ryoka was. Ceria stood warily by her friend\u2019s side, staring at a tall, austere [Maid] standing in the middle of The Nobleman\u2019s Disgrace. Despite the countless swords, daggers, and other weapons being pointed at her, the woman appeared completely unconcerned. And Ceria\u2019s [Dangersense] was going off, warning her in no uncertain terms.<\/p>\n To be clear, it wasn\u2019t the Horns of Hammerad, Ryoka, or even Ressa or the [Butler] who had unsheathed their blades. Rather, it was the clientele of the inn, the revelers who\u2019d come to bask in the presence of the Horns of Hammerad, hear stories and get drunk.<\/p>\n Ceria agonized. How had it come to this? She\u2019d just said that Ryoka wasn\u2019t being taken anywhere against her will, and these idiots<\/em> had drawn weapons. On a servant employed by Magnolia Reinhart!<\/em><\/p>\n And now this servant was demanding that Ryoka went with them again. Ceria gritted her teeth as the young woman standing by her side glared at the maid she\u2019d called Ressa. The half-Elf knew her friend was stubborn, and she had no idea why Magnolia Reinhart wanted her, but she hoped she\u2019d at least be tactful\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cFuck you. I\u2019m not going.\u201d<\/p>\n If Ceria could have closed her ears off to not hear that, she would. Was Ryoka insane?<\/em> Ceria was no native to this continent, but she had heard so many stories of the Five Families and their influence. You did not<\/em> refuse their requests without good reason.<\/p>\n But it appeared that Ressa had fully expected Ryoka\u2019s refusal. The [Maid]\u2019s expression did not change; that was to say, she continued looking at like Ryoka like a filthy insect that was about to be smeared on the ground.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have no choice. Magnolia Reinhart has requested your presence. You will come with me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if I refuse?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFeel free to try.\u201d<\/p>\n What could they do? Ceria looked around the inn. The other patrons were looking at the [Maid] and her, clearly waiting for her instruction. If she asked them to she had no doubt they\u2019d throw the maid out of the inn. And then Magnolia Reinhart would probably burn down the inn and throw them off a cliff.<\/em><\/p>\n It had to be said again. Ceria stepped forwards in front of Ryoka protectively. Pisces, staggering slightly, took her right side, puffed up with alcohol and bravado. Ksmvr didn\u2019t do the same\u2014because he was flanking the [Maid], ready to charge her. Ceria could only hope he\u2019d wait for her to make the first move if it came to that.<\/p>\n \u201cIf Ryoka doesn\u2019t want to go, she\u2019s not going.\u201d<\/p>\n Again, the maid only flicked her eyes at Ceria and the other Horns of Hammerad dismissively. It was as if she couldn\u2019t see how outnumbered she was.<\/p>\n \u201cI would advise you to stay out of this matter.\u201d<\/p>\n That was it. Ten words. Ressa knew they were adventurers; she had to know that. And she also knew the mood in the inn was against her for all her mistress\u2019s influence, but she was still warning Ceria. That made the half-Elf hesitate, but what could she do? Let Ryoka be abducted? No.<\/p>\n She thought fast.<\/p>\n \u201cIn that case, we\u2019ll go with Ryoka. If you take her, we\u2019ll be right by her side.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka blinked. She turned to Ceria at the same time Pisces did. But it was Ressa who spoke. Her eyes focused on Ceria\u2019s face and then moved to Pisces and Ksmvr. Her eyes lingered longest on Ksmvr, although there was not a hint of expression in her face or tone.<\/p>\n \u201cAbsolutely not.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria challenged the woman, trying not to flinch from the cold stare. Did she have some kind of intimidation Skill? It almost felt like she was staring at Skinner again. But she held her ground despite the sweat running down her back.<\/p>\n \u201cMy orders were for Ryoka alone.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you really want Ryoka to go with you at least tell us why.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cShe knows why.\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa looked back at Ryoka. Ceria looked at her friend and saw a faint grimace cross Ryoka\u2019s face. There was some history here, she knew, but she didn\u2019t have time to ask for an explanation. Ceria changed tack.<\/p>\n \u201cThen reassure us. Ryoka is our friend; at least promise us she\u2019ll come to no harm while she\u2019s with you.\u201d<\/p>\n That would be simple enough, right? If they could nail her down to a promise or\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n It felt like everyone<\/em> blinked when they heard that word. Ressa\u2019s face was smooth, though. She shook her head.<\/p>\n \u201cNo promises. No bargaining. Ryoka Griffin will come with me. Or I will be forced to bring her against her will.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cOh really?\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces\u2019 slightly slurred voice ran out. He took an unsteady step towards Ressa. The [Maid]\u2019s left eye twitched as she focused on him, but she didn\u2019t make any other move. Pisces pointed at her, sneering.<\/p>\n \u201cYou seem quite confident, Miss Maid, that we will so obediently roll over and accede to your Mistress\u2019s wishes. But the good people of this city are not so spineless as to obey even one of the Five Families\u2019 minions when they come here to abduct an innocent Runner.\u201d<\/p>\n His words seemed to have the opposite effect that he had intended. Half the people in the inn shifted uncomfortably at the mention of the Five Families, and they seemed to realize they were pointing weapons at a servant of a Reinhart. Their blades lowered almost as one, although most still kept them out.<\/p>\n Pisces, oblivious, kept going.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd as to your presumptuous statement\u2014I feel obliged to point out the obvious. You are outnumbered and I very much doubt your [Butler] is a master of arms. To quote an oft-repeated phrase, you and what army will take Ryoka Griffin away?\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa made no immediate response. She just stared at Pisces with contempt. Meanwhile, Ceria and every person in the inn slowly filled in her unspoken reply.<\/p>\n What army? What army would back Magnolia Reinhart? It was more like a question of which army wouldn\u2019t<\/em> mobilize at her word. Every garrison of every major city in the north would back her if she so ordered.<\/p>\n Across the bar, someone slipped out the back. Ceria saw the movement, and then saw weapons slowly being sheathed, and people starting to back away. Drunk bravado had had a moment to sober, and now people were correctly realizing that this standoff was not<\/em> something they wanted to be involved in.<\/p>\n Pisces seemed quite oblivious to this. He didn\u2019t notice as more people began abandoning the tables around him and retreated from being active participants in the discussion to mere innocent bystanders, standing at the far end of the room. Meanwhile, the maid was waiting. Just waiting.<\/p>\n She wasn\u2019t even really listening to Pisces or her, Ceria realized. Ressa was just waiting for Ryoka\u2019s response again. And it was clear that saying \u2018no\u2019 a second time wouldn\u2019t be a wise idea.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka?\u201d<\/p>\n She murmured to her friend. Ryoka was breathing heavily, and her jaw was clenched. She had something in her hand\u2014a potion? Maybe a weapon of some kind, an alchemist\u2019s weapon. Ceria wished she could tell Ryoka not to use it at any cost, but she had no idea what Ryoka\u2019s relationship with Magnolia was. What should she do? If she\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cCeria!\u201d<\/p>\n Someone shouted her name. Ceria jerked, and then Yvlon rushed into the inn, a sword in her hands. She looked around for an enemy wildly, spotted Ressa. She froze in place, and the color drained from her face.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss Ressa?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon Byres.\u201d<\/p>\n It was remarkable how the [Maid] didn\u2019t react to Yvlon\u2019s appearance. She just stared at the woman, noted her arms, and dismissed her in an instant.<\/p>\n \u201cPut the sword down. Lady Magnolia has requested Ryoka Griffin\u2019s presence.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon might have been expecting trouble, but she was clearly thrown by Ressa\u2019s presence. Thrown into a barn door, by the look on her face. She wavered, but then gripped the blade more firmly with both hands.<\/p>\n \u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat did you say?\u201d<\/p>\n The maid\u2019s voice was cold. Yvlon\u2019s was just as chilly.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka is my friend, and Ceria\u2019s. If she doesn\u2019t wish to go with you, I will back her. Even if it means defying Aunt Magnolia\u2019s request.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThat is Lady Magnolia to you. And you would be well advised not to involve yourself in this, girl.\u201d<\/p>\n The two women locked eyes, but Yvlon refused to back down. Ceria vaguely remembered\u2014the Byres house was one of the Reinhart family\u2019s branch houses, weren\u2019t they? They were definitely subservient in some way.<\/p>\n \u201cYvlon\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cSay the word, Ceria.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon\u2019s arms trembled, but her gaze was square on Ressa. The woman only sighed; she seemed more irritated by Yvlon\u2019s refusal to budge than worried about the sword aimed at her. She turned back to Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? Will you come peacefully?\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka was visibly hesitating. She bit her lip as she glared at Ressa. Ceria was tense; she didn\u2019t know what was coming next and she feared whatever answer Ryoka might give. But then she saw Ksmvr raise his third hand.<\/p>\n \u201cIf I may have your attention?\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa looked at him and her gaze could have frozen ice. Ksmvr paid no attention; his other two hands were holding a dagger and a bottle respectively.<\/p>\n \u201cI advise you to surrender and retreat before my Captain orders me to attack. I am fairly confident it will result in your death or maiming.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria felt like she had inhaled her tongue. Everyone else in the inn goggled at Ksmvr. Ressa said only one word as her eyes narrowed.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium nodded at Ressa.<\/p>\n \u201cYou have the stance of a trained warrior, but you lack armor and visible arms. Unless you hold a magical item of considerable potency or possess unarmed combat Skills, I believe I will be able to kill you if my allies and I attack in tandem.\u201d<\/p>\n The Antinium finished with this confident declaration and waited for the maid\u2019s response. After a moment she realized people were staring at him.<\/p>\n \u201c\u2026What? Are we not intending to kill her if she insists on taking Ryoka?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria\u2019s head was starting to hurt. She pointed at the Antinium.<\/p>\n \u201cKsmvr\u2014stand down. No one is going to hurt her, and certainly not kill<\/em> her.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAh. My mistake.\u201d<\/p>\n Ksmvr nodded apologetically and stepped back. Ressa turned back to Ryoka. Ceria tried to quiet her beating heart. Try again?<\/p>\n \u201cCan we talk about this? If Ryoka doesn\u2019t want to leave\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFine. I\u2019ll go.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria turned in astonishment. Ryoka sighed and stepped forwards. Ressa regarded her with what looked like surprise as well.<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka?\u201d<\/p>\n The Runner shrugged at Ceria, looking resigned.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve got no choice. I knew this was coming. Ceria, I\u2019ve got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cBut\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n The look in Ryoka\u2019s eyes told her not to ask any more questions. Ceria glanced around and remembered her audience. She held Ryoka\u2019s gaze.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019re sure?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPretty much.\u201d<\/p>\n Ryoka turned and glared at Ressa.<\/p>\n \u201cWhere is Magnolia now?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cInvrisil. You will be taken to her estate which lies next to the city.\u201d<\/p>\n The name of the city made Ryoka and Ceria blink. She saw Ryoka turn and look back at her, and then her friend turned back to Ressa.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay. I\u2019ll go. But on one condition. Give me fifteen minutes to prepare before we leave.\u201d<\/p>\n The maid seemed to think this over. She looked sharply at Ryoka.<\/p>\n \u201cRunning will do you no good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n The two locked gazes for one more second. Then Ressa\u2019s head dipped almost imperceptibly.<\/p>\n \u201cI will wait for you in the carriage. Do not force me to retrieve you.\u201d<\/p>\n Without another word, she turned and walked out of the inn. Ceria stared at her back in shock, and then saw the door to the carriage open. Ryoka sighed softly, and looked at her.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ll have to tell Erin.\u201d<\/p>\n Then the chaos began and Ceria could only try and keep up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n —-<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Holy crap, this is it. Either I\u2019m dead or I\u2019m going to be interrogated and tortured horribly before I die. Or maybe I survive, but I\u2019m not placing my bets on a happy ending.<\/p>\n The instant Ressa walks out the door it\u2019s all go. I turn and drag Ceria upstairs; too slowly, because people are already crowding around me and the other Horns of Hammerad, asking questions and shouting, speculating.<\/p>\n \u201cOut of the way!\u201d<\/p>\n I shout at them as I push for the stairs. Ceria seems to get what I\u2019m trying to do and helps me push.<\/p>\n \u201cMove aside! We have to hurry!\u201d<\/p>\n They don\u2019t want to let us go. People are pulling at me, asking me how I know Magnolia Reinhart, what my business is with her. I want to punch them but I don\u2019t have time for a brawl\u2014<\/p>\n \u201c[Frozen Wind].\u201d<\/p>\n Someone whispers the spell. I hear shrieks<\/em>, and then feel the cold air blow past me, freezing me in an instant. Pisces lowers his hands as the crowd suddenly backs up. The spell he cast wasn\u2019t deadly, but damn, it looks painful. He pushes both of us up the stairs and Yvlon and Ksmvr are behind us in a flash.<\/p>\n \u201cIn here.\u201d<\/p>\n I push into Ceria\u2019s room and take a breath. She looks at me, wide-eyed and bursting with questions, but I know I can\u2019t answer any of them right now. I don\u2019t even know if I should. I can\u2019t drag her into this. God, what is Magnolia going to ask me?<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka, what\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFifteen minutes. Probably more like ten.\u201d<\/p>\n I cut her off as I snap. I pace around the room, already trying to figure out the fastest way through the streets.<\/p>\n \u201cFigure out how much gold you need to give me, and get all those damaged artifacts and whatever else you want me to get analyzed. I\u2019ll take it\u2014I\u2019ve got a bag of holding of my own.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYou do?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n I touch the bag Teriarch gave me at my side.<\/p>\n \u201cIt should fit everything. Can you put a bag of holding in a bag of holding?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDo not attempt that.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces stares at me intently as he stands against one wall. Ksmvr and Yvlon are just staring as Ceria sits on her bed. I nod at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll keep the backpack and the other pouch separate, then. Have it all ready before I get back; I need to go and that stupid maid isn\u2019t going to wait.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe can do that.\u201d<\/p>\n Yvlon speaks, looking at the others for confirmation. I meet her eyes; should I say anything? We didn\u2019t even say hello, and suddenly we\u2019re doing this. I still remember punching her\u2014<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka, are you sure about this? You don\u2019t have to go if you\u2019re not sure.\u201d<\/p>\n I tear my eyes away and look at Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cI think I have to. If I don\u2019t, there will be trouble.\u201d<\/p>\n Now that I know how big a fish Magnolia Reinhart is, I have no desire to push her. Pisces nods.<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be best if Miss Ryoka went with the servants without a fuss. We are only fortunate that the fools down below were not completely insensible to reason, or else we all might be in a serious predicament.\u201d<\/p>\n We all stare at him. Pisces still reeks of booze, but he doesn\u2019t look nearly as unsteady as he was a few seconds ago. Ceria gapes at him.<\/p>\n \u201cWait. You did that on purpose, <\/em>didn\u2019t you?\u201d<\/p>\n He sneers. Of course. I nod at him, and turn to the door.<\/p>\n \u201cGet everything you need to give me. I\u2019ll be back\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhere are you going?\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria looks worried. I turn.<\/p>\n \u201cRunner\u2019s Guild.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n No time to answer. I rush down the stairs, nearly trampling the innkeeper who\u2019s trying to listen at the door, and push out of the crowd. I get one glimpse at the coach\u2014surrounded by a crowd of people who don\u2019t quite dare to get any closer\u2014and then I\u2019m running full-tilt down the icy street. Damn. My feet are cold. At least I have one of Erin\u2019s jars of Corusdeer soup. I should have gotten more.<\/p>\n As I run I fumble at my belt. I call out, ignoring the looks I\u2019m getting as I run down the street towards the Guild.<\/p>\n \u201cIvolethe. You\u2019re going to have to get out.\u201d<\/p>\n The faerie flies from my pouch and up to my head.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou go to meet this woman? The others seem truly fearful of her name; it betokens <\/span>much of her, does it not?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cIt does. And you\u2014you\u2019ve got to stay away from her. You can\u2019t go in her house. Magnolia\u2019s extremely dangerous.\u201d<\/p>\n Is she? I\u2019ve never figured out how dangerous she is, but I know that she\u2019s smart and she employs [Assassins] and she\u2019s rich. I\u2019m going with maximum paranoia to be on the safe side, and at the top of my list is not getting Ivolethe in the same position as she was with Persua.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI will follow ye.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ivolethe agrees readily, which makes me feel relieved. But then she flies closer to my face.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKnow this, Ryoka. I am your friend, but in matters of life and death, I must not interfere. We have broken the rule twice; but we had cause and sacrifice, you understand? It must not, will not happen thrice. Remember that.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI understand.\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m on my own. Ivolethe nods, and flies up. She lets me run on until I get to the Runner\u2019s Guild. How much time has passed? Only three minutes? Five?<\/p>\n I slam <\/em>the doors open and rush up to the front desk. I thrust aside a female Runner, ignoring her shout of anger and point at the [Receptionist]. He blinks at me.<\/p>\n \u201cGet me\u2026every delivery you have for Invrisil.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n Everyone says that word. Why? It just wastes time. I pant as I clarify my statement in as few words as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m about to go directly to Invrisil. Today. If you have a multi-part delivery\u2026Courier deliveries\u2026anything. I want it.\u201d<\/p>\n Multi-part deliveries are like Courier deliveries, only the people sending the packages can\u2019t pay the exorbitant amounts demanded by Couriers. So they hire City Runners to take the delivery as far as they can go, and then another Runner will complete the request. It\u2019s a useful relay system, although it still costs a lot.<\/p>\n The man at the desk spreads his hands as I try to calculate how much the carriage can carry.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sorry Miss\u2026Ryoka, is it? I can\u2019t just\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n I grab him and drag him over the desk. He yelps, and I growl at him.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t have time for this. Give me the deliveries.<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Ten minutes later, I\u2019m rushing back down the street. Turns out even a [Receptionist] can run fast when you\u2019re literally kicking him around. I have a bundle of deliveries in my hand and more in my pack\u2014some are damn heavy<\/em>. Two more Runners are racing after me, carrying more things bound for Invrisil. I couldn\u2019t take everything, but I got a huge amount.<\/p>\n Ressa stares<\/em> at me as I fling open the carriage door and start shoving packages inside. Her intimidating glare* doesn\u2019t stop me from piling the rich seat next to her with deliveries. I\u2019m secretly enjoying every second of this, but I keep my face straight.<\/p>\n *Yeah, I\u2019ll admit it, she scares me a bit. She\u2019s like a perfect Victorian maid if you secretly suspected that they could kill you with their bare hands.<\/p>\n \u201cSorry, you\u2019re going to have to budge over. I\u2019ve got some really big stuff to take as well.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cDeliveries. I\u2019m a Runner.\u201d<\/p>\n I slam the door in Ressa\u2019s face before she can respond and turn to the panting Runners behind me. They\u2019re breathing hard from that little run? Disgraceful.<\/p>\n \u201cOkay, load the rest of the deliveries into the coach.\u201d<\/p>\n Is it a coach or carriage? Wait, they\u2019re both the same thing, aren\u2019t they? My mind\u2019s running too fast to focus on anything. I point to the vehicle, ignoring the hesitation on the faces of the Runners.<\/p>\n \u201cGo on.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you sure?\u201d<\/p>\n The female Runner looks hesitant. Understandable I guess; this definitely doesn\u2019t look like a bulk transport. I nod.<\/p>\n \u201cGet it on there. Hurry up!\u201d<\/p>\n The voice of command is a wonderful thing. They get to work, and I look around and see if I can spot Ceria and the others. I wonder if Ressa will snap when I bring all of their gear as well.<\/p>\n God. This is the stupidest thing I\u2019ve ever done, and I\u2019ve got a list. But it makes sense! I\u2019m getting a free ride to Invrisil, or rather I don\u2019t have any choice, so I might as well milk it for all I\u2019ve got. I\u2019ll get paid, I can help my friends out\u2014<\/p>\n The Runners are hesitating as they open the door and find Ressa glaring at them. I think they\u2019d be more comfortable with a snake in the carriage. I certainly would be.<\/p>\n \u201cWell? Go on; toss it in. Ignore the [Maid].\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2019m playing a dangerous game here. I\u2019ll probably end in me getting my ass handed to me, but I don\u2019t care. If Ressa thinks she can push me around\u2014<\/p>\n Well, she\u2019s right, but I\u2019m getting my revenge this way. I gesture at the Runners, and hear a cough behind me.<\/p>\n \u201cMiss? There is a trunk, as well as space above.\u201d<\/p>\n I turn and see the [Butler]. Honestly, I\u2019d put him completely out of my mind. But now that I look at him and his dapper suit\u2014I sort of want to deck him as well as Ressa. He reminds me too much of my folks\u2019 home. True, they didn\u2019t have servants, but\u2026<\/p>\n Actually, we did, didn\u2019t we? I mean, it wasn\u2019t as if we had our own butlers and so on, but gardeners, pool people, personal masseuses and so on\u2014that\u2019s a lot of people at your beck and call.<\/p>\n Damn it, mom and dad.<\/p>\n Anyways, what was he saying? A trunk?<\/p>\n \u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n He points. My eyes find a subtly disguised trunk on the back of the big carriage.<\/p>\n Holy crap, there is! Do all carriages have trunks? Well\u2026obviously. I haven\u2019t ridden in any before now, in my defense. And can it fit all the deliveries? I open it and peer inside. Wow. It can!<\/p>\n But then, this is no ordinary carriage. If the ones from my world are like regular cars, this one\u2019s pretty much a combination of a truck, limousine, and race car. It\u2019s huge<\/em>, plenty big enough to hold a full assortment of passengers and the deliveries I\u2019m bringing, and it looks lavish. Plush upholstery, gilded exterior\u2014magic horses. Did I mention that?<\/p>\n \u201cRyoka!\u201d<\/p>\n I turn from supervising the Runners as they pull the deliveries out of the carriage and redeploy them in the trunk to see Ceria and the other Horns of Hammerad. I realize I haven\u2019t even said hello to Yvlon, Pisces, or\u2026the Antinium.<\/p>\n Who is he? I remember Klbkch and Pawn, but this is the other one, isn\u2019t it? How many Antinium does Erin know? I see they\u2019ve got a bunch of pretty beat-up looking weapons in their hands. Are those the magical artifacts? God, they look so beat up. They don\u2019t even glow\u2014well, one is glowing, but it\u2019s very faint.<\/p>\n \u201cHere.\u201d<\/p>\n They shove the weapons at me and I fumble at my side. My bag of holding can hold everything they\u2019ve got\u2014one buckler, a sword, the blade of a sword, and a dagger. The pack and small bag that looks sort of like mine* goes into the trunk. Ceria pours gold into the bag, several hundred gold coins! The crowd watching us is murmuring, and I just pray like hell they don\u2019t try and rush us.<\/p>\n *Definitely a bag of holding. I mean, who wouldn\u2019t<\/em> use one? Forget wallets; I want this thing if I ever get back to my world. I can literally fit the kitchen sink in here.<\/p>\n \u201cDo you have everything?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThink so. Did I miss any items?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cNo. And you\u2019ve got the gold\u2026? Good. And you know what to do?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll get all of it looked at. Don\u2019t worry.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAnd if you have to make a decision\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf I need to I\u2019ll send a [Message] spell. I\u2019ve got it.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria and Pisces try to tell me how to find the best mages to analyze the weapons. Yvlon tells me what price is worth paying for a mage and when I should walk away. Ksmvr tells me that I should attempt to use aggression and tact in my dealings, whatever that means. And then\u2026then we just stand around awkwardly.<\/p>\n \u201cWell. I guess I\u2019ve got to go.\u201d<\/p>\n Ceria smiles at me, worry clear in her eyes.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t believe this is happening, Ryoka. This is so\u2014sudden.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cFortuitous, perhaps.\u201d<\/p>\n Pisces remarks as he nods at the carriage. He eyes me.<\/p>\n \u201cI would advise you to guard your tongue when you are meeting with Magnolia Reinhart, Miss Ryoka. It would be\u2026unfortunate if something untoward were to occur on your journey.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt would be a zemblanity, you mean?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cA\u2026pardon me?\u201d<\/p>\n I grin at Pisces\u2019s face. He\u2019s not the only person who can use words to befuddle people. I turn and nod at Yvlon. My eyes fix on her arms\u2014I\u2019d barely seen them before, but looking at them now, I\u2019m both sickened and amazed at how her skin seems to meld with the metal. But I jerk my gaze away and meet Yvlon\u2019s eyes instead. She nods at me, smiling with a trace of bitterness.<\/p>\n \u201cGood luck, Ryoka.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThanks.\u201d<\/p>\n It feels like there\u2019s a thousand things we should say, but that\u2019s all I have time for. I nod to Ksmvr\u2014not much to say to him, really, and then I look at Ceria.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ll be back soon.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s all. I know, it\u2019s like the worst thing I could say if I were in an action movie or a horror film. But really, I feel the same sort of foreboding come over me as I open the door of the carriage and step inside. Ressa doesn\u2019t even look at me as I scoot into the spacious interior and wave at the Horns of Hammerad.<\/p>\n Famous last words. But I said them\u2014and I did all this, offer to analyze the weapons, even grab all those deliveries\u2014because I am afraid. I\u2019m doing this because I want to believe there\u2019s a time after meeting Magnolia. There probably is. I shouldn\u2019t worry, but part of me does.<\/p>\n I ran from her at first. It was so long ago, I\u2019d nearly forgotten. But she knows. She was the first person to figure out where I came from, and I still remember how she could command me so easily. And now I\u2019m on a trip to meet with her. I can only pray it\u2019s not one-way.<\/p>\n \u201cWell?\u201d<\/p>\n I try to make the word challenging as the door closes and I look at Ressa. She glances up at me, and turns her head.<\/p>\n \u201cReynold? Take us away.\u201d<\/p>\n I hear the [Butler] moving outside the carriage\u2014he\u2019s in a pretty decent seat outside, even if it is exposed to the wind. He doesn\u2019t crack the whip since there are no horses; rather, the coach begins to accelerate with only the faintest shift in equilibrium.<\/p>\n I stare out the window and see the world moving with surprising speed as the butler drives us down the street. I look outside and then see something odd.<\/p>\n People. Waving at us. Their mouths are open, and I open the door slightly to confirm what\u2019s happening. Noise immediately enters the carriage. Not just noise; cheering.<\/p>\n Yes, that\u2019s right. There\u2019s people lining the streets, the crowd at the inn and countless people who came out to see what the fuss was about. Now they\u2019re giving us a sendoff as if we were a bunch of celebrities\u2014which we sort of are, I guess.<\/p>\n It\u2019s still unbelievable to see. A sea of faces passes me by as the coach picks up speed. The citizens of Ocre are waving and laughing and even throwing\u2026is that colored flour? Why? They\u2019re waving and cheering\u2014do they even know why Ressa is here or that it\u2019s me? Or are they just that thrilled by the nobility?<\/p>\n \u201cYou fucking people.\u201d<\/p>\n I pull the door open and flip off the cheering crowd. I hear the cheering falter, much to my satisfaction. Then I notice Ressa looking disapprovingly at me, which is to say like normal. I pull my hand back in and flip her off as well. That\u2019s the beauty of the middle finger. It\u2019s multi-purpose and reusable.<\/p>\n Once again though, the maid doesn\u2019t rise to my bait. Ressa just sits in the carriage, not staring at me but rather looking out the window on her side in silence. I can tell she\u2019s aware of me, but she\u2019s giving me the cold shoulder. The freezing shoulder, if I\u2019m honest.<\/p>\n As we speed out the gates to the city, I see the landscape begin to blur as we move impossibly fast. Holy crap, how fast are we going? I barely feel the acceleration, but it feels as if we\u2019re easily passing eighty miles an hour. How can we do that in the snow? And what if we hit a rock? Or a pothole? These roads aren\u2019t like the highways in my world!<\/p>\n But Ressa appears unconcerned, and I can\u2019t even feel the coach jolting along. It must be magic that\u2019s keeping us stable as well. That\u2019s a lazy explanation, but I don\u2019t exactly have the opportunity to analyze the way the wheels are interacting with the ground.<\/p>\n I stare back at Ressa. She\u2019s still sitting and not looking at me. And as the adrenaline and excitement of the last fifteen minutes finally fades from my system, I realize this is happening.<\/p>\n I\u2019m going to meet Magnolia Reinhart. I\u2019m not ready for this.<\/p>\n And I\u2019m nervous. I stare harder at Ressa, but I know she\u2019s not going to talk to me. She doesn\u2019t like me, probably because I\u2019m a rude asshole. So what should I do?<\/p>\n I could\u2026sit here. I guess. The inside of the carriage is very spacious and I can stretch out my legs. There\u2019s plenty of room, and even a small table<\/em> in the center. There\u2019s something covered by dark blue cloth on it. I wonder what it is? Yeah, I could be a peaceful guest and let this [Butler] and [Maid] take me to Magnolia like a good little girl.<\/p>\n Or\u2014<\/p>\n The dark upholstery of the carriage is almost sinfully comfortable. I sink into it, and then twist. Ressa\u2019s eyes turn as I prop my legs up on my side of the carriage and put my bare (and dirty) feet on the lovely padding. I cross my arms as I sit with my back to one wall of the carriage and stare at her. She looks pointedly at my feet but I don\u2019t move them.<\/p>\n \u201cSo. You did it. You got me here, and now you\u2019re delivering me to Magnolia. Well done, you.\u201d<\/p>\n No response. Ressa stares at me for another second and then goes back to staring out of the window. I sigh, loudly and as obnoxiously as possible.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what does Magnolia want from me? More juice? Something else? Or does she just want to chat?\u201d<\/p>\n Silence. I edge a bit lower in my seat, so I\u2019m nearly lying down.<\/p>\n \u201cYou know, it\u2019s odd that she sent you<\/em> to pick me up. Aren\u2019t you the most important servant? The demi-head honcho? Isn\u2019t it demeaning to have to come all this way?\u201d<\/p>\n No response. But I\u2019m pretty sure I\u2019m getting to her. And let\u2019s be fair, among my few talents, I do have one skill which I\u2019m unrivaled at: pissing off people*.<\/p>\n *I might not be a world champion or anything, but I\u2019m probably at least a state or national champion when it comes to authority figures. It\u2019s not just being a jerk or stupid; you have to be willfully annoying. It\u2019s an art and I\u2019m a connoisseur.<\/p>\n \u201cSo what does she want? Can you give me a preview? A hint? Or is it meant to be a surprise?\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa looks over at me with clear annoyance. She seems to consider a range of options, and then indicates the table with the covered cloth.<\/p>\n \u201cLady Reinhart has sent provisions in case you are hungry. Please avail yourself.\u201d<\/p>\n Translated, what she really means is \u2018eat something and shut up\u2019. I pull back the cloth and find a rather impressive spread of food. Cheese, meats\u2014even wine! I\u2019m tempted, but I\u2019d be an idiot if I actually had some.<\/p>\n Right? I\u2019m tempted, but I wonder if it\u2019s spiked with something to make me more truthful. Then again, couldn\u2019t Magnolia just have her servants restrain me and pour the truth serum down my throat if she wanted?<\/p>\n Even so, I\u2019m not hungry and I\u2019d rather just annoy Ressa.<\/p>\n \u201cAny idea how long this trip is going to take?\u201d<\/p>\n No response. I smile a bit; I\u2019m enjoying this.<\/p>\n \u201cNo? What about games? It\u2019s sort of boring just sitting here. Do you have anything fun to do?\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa\u2019s eye is twitching again. I grin wider. She looks up, and speaks briefly.<\/p>\n \u201cWould you like me to hit you?\u201d<\/p>\n I\u2026pause. My instinct is to goad her, but Ressa\u2019s eyes are very serious. And as I\u2019ve noted, she\u2019s not exactly one to shy away even when outnumbered. I could probably beat her in a fight\u2014but why would Magnolia send her by herself if she was incapable of defending herself or subduing me?<\/p>\n As all that flashes through my head I remain quiet. Ressa holds my gaze for one more second and then nods.<\/p>\n \u201cIn that case, be silent.\u201d<\/p>\n And then she goes back to staring out the window.<\/p>\n Well.<\/p>\n Um.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever been\u2014<\/p>\n Huh.<\/p>\n Back home, back in my world when I was younger I got that threat once or twice, when I\u2019d exhausted every other possible response from the adults I was needling. My response back then was \u2018try it\u2019, and if they did I was ready. But here, even with martial arts which I\u2019ve admittedly been neglecting to practice, I\u2019m at the bottom of a very tall totem pole in terms of fighting ability.<\/p>\n I stare at Ressa. She wouldn\u2019t\u2014<\/p>\n Yeah, she would. Crap. What do I do now?<\/p>\n It takes me exactly five minutes to figure out what to do. Ressa looks up sharply as I open the carriage door.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat are you doing?<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m going up front. I think I\u2019ll like the view up there.\u201d<\/p>\n As I open the door, wind howls<\/em> into the carriage. I jerk back\u2014I\u2019d forgotten how fast we\u2019re going! Flying snow blows in and I see the world whirling past, impossibly fast. But hell, I can see Reynold up ahead and if I climb\u2026it would be instant death if I fell out.<\/p>\n Ressa watches me as I hesitate at the door. For a second I wonder if she\u2019ll yank me inside, but then she turns and calls.<\/p>\n \u201cReynold. Slow the coach.\u201d<\/p>\n There\u2019s a little window he can hear us through. The [Butler] immediately slows the coach. I wait until it\u2019s at a stop and then hop out. Ressa stares at me impassively as I walk up to the front and jump up next to the astonished [Butler].<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m sitting up here.\u201d<\/p>\n He just stares at me before he nods.<\/p>\n \u201cVery good, Miss.\u201d<\/p>\n He pulls at a bunch of reins tied to the ghostly horses and the carriage begins to move again. I hear the door click<\/em> shut behind me, and wonder why Ressa let me get up front. Maybe she just doesn\u2019t want to deal with me. That makes sense.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, I instantly regret my choice as the carriage picks up speed again. It\u2019s not the snow buffeting me that gets me down\u2014the magic coach actually seems to deflect the snow particles. More magic, I guess, and a flying pebble or stick could probably kill the driver.<\/p>\n But it\u2019s still frickin\u2019 cold.<\/em> And I\u2019m not moving and Erin\u2019s soup has worn off. I\u2019m shivering, but I refuse Reynold\u2019s offer of a coat. Instead, I just sit up front and let my body get used to the low temperatures. And as the carriage continues to pick up speed, even the freezing weather is banished from my mind by the speed<\/em>.<\/p>\n I\u2019ve been in cars. Hell, I\u2019ve driven them pretty damn fast and gotten arrested for it. But this\u2014this is totally different.<\/p>\n Consider, a car moves up to\u2026eighty? Ninety miles per hour? Maybe a hundred if you were insane, but that\u2019s pretty much the upper limited outside of race cars. And even open-roof cars have a windshield and a good bit of car in front of the driver. But this\u2014<\/p>\n This is something else.<\/p>\n The wind blows by my face, a tempest of snow and air. The landscape flashes by impossibly fast in my face, and I see all of it, not just the narrow view from the windshield. I\u2019m staring, and I know my jaw is open.<\/p>\n This is life in the fastest lane. This is the sight every runner chases, but more than any normal person could imagine. Maybe Val and Hawk see this as they run. But this is a first for me. I look out, and see a mile flash by in moments. I see people flick by, small shapes on a road. We\u2019re off road\u2014surging smoothly up and down a hill, almost as if we\u2019re anchored to the ground.<\/p>\n It\u2019s so beautiful. It\u2019s wild and quick and magical. And as if that thought calls her, I see a flicker of blue flying out of the white landscape. Ivolethe laughs and flies next to us, flying next to the coach as if she\u2019s coasting on a breeze.<\/p>\n \u201cIvolethe?\u201d<\/p>\n My words are snatched away by the wind, but Reynold hears them. The [Butler] glances at me and I shake my head. The faerie hears me too; she flies closer and speaks in a little voice audible even over the howling winds.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLook, Ryoka! Look! This is what you need to see!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n The faerie flies closer, next to me and points. She laughs as a flurry of snow engulfs her and then flies out of it, trailing vapor, a blue spark of color amidst the gale.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe wind! <\/em>Can ye see it? The wind blows! We run with it!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She flies out, skimming across the land in front of us. She darts up and around, catching a current moving so fast that it speeds her past the carriage. Then she\u2019s zooming behind us, flying up, low, around, like azure lightning.<\/p>\n I follow her, entranced, seeing her shape, the sole constant in a world lost to the blur. And as she flies about, following some unseen path, I glimpse something. It\u2019s faint; it\u2019s like a trail in the air itself. It doesn\u2019t have color; rather, it\u2019s like a ripple, just like heat makes the air shimmer across the ground. I see it flex ahead of Ivolethe and accordingly she flies up and down and then spins away.<\/p>\n \u201cI see it!\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold jumps in his seat as I half-stand and scream at Ivolethe. She does a double-take in the air and flies towards me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cTruly!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYes! I see\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n I hesitate. The trail is gone. I squint at where it was, and then look at Ivolethe.<\/p>\n \u201cIt was there. I\u2019m sure of it.\u201d<\/p>\n The small faerie grins at me, delighted.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cI believe ye. This is the first step. If you saw that then\u2014\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYou think I can do it again?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cMiss?\u201d<\/p>\n A voice interrupts Ivolethe\u2019s reply. I look over and see Reynold staring at me, eyes wide.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cAre you, ah, speaking to me?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat? No. Of course not. I\u2019m speaking to\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n I pause and stare at Ivolethe. I glance back at Reynold and realize that he can\u2019t see the Frost Faerie, or if he can, she\u2019s only a faint blur. Ah.<\/p>\n \u201cUm. I\u2019m speaking to myself. Don\u2019t mind me.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cYes, Miss.\u201d<\/p>\n Slowly, I sit back down. Ivolethe grins at me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAre ye scaring the poor mortal?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cProbably.\u201d<\/p>\n I glance over at Reynold. He\u2019s hunching over in his seat, pretending he can\u2019t hear me. His [Butler]\u2019s fa\u00e7ade is a bit ragged as he studiously ignores my one-sided conversation, at least from his perspective.<\/p>\n Ivolethe shrugs, as if she couldn\u2019t care less about Reynold. Which is probably true. She points to the whirling scenery and grins.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYon contraption is quite a thing! It moves almost as fast as ye did when you drank the magic brew.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhen? Oh, you mean in the castle. Do you think I could ever learn to run this fast?\u201d<\/p>\n The faerie considers this and shrugs as she props her chin on her hand. She sits on the air next to me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cPerhaps. But not at first. I can sense the magic in this thing; it is rough, but there is an art to it. Does the lady who sends her servants to you have much wealth like this?\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cA lot. I don\u2019t know how much, but she\u2019s one of the wealthiest and most powerful individuals on the continent.\u201d<\/p>\n That makes me worried again, but having Ivolethe around dispels a lot of my fears. The faerie nods seriously.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThen perhaps a bit of respect is in order. The lords and ladies of the land were always touchy and prideful, even to the King of Knights.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cKing Arthur?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cAye.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Ivolethe smiles and points. I turn my head and see Reynold is actually edging away from me on the front of the carriage. That makes me smile too. I wonder if I should explain to him what\u2019s going on\u2014but nah.<\/p>\n The faerie pauses as she seems to glance at the horizon ahead of us. She frowns at me.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThere is much moving in the world this time. Much happens even as ye ride about.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cOh? Like what?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cLike the children. They are marching.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe\u2026children? Who?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cThe youngest. The ones with small ears and crimson eyes. They burnt a city, did they not? And they fight amongst themselves. They are moving about in the snow.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n She means Goblins. The children? The youngest? I frown at Ivolethe, but decide to pursue their movements before I ask about the other bit.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat do you mean they\u2019re moving? Moving where?\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cEverywhere. They run about in their hundreds, coming north from south. A vast army sits below the pass\u2014you have seen them once.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The Goblin Lord. I shiver. Ivolethe nods, and then points ahead of us.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cBut another army\u2014smaller, but thousands strong\u2014lies ahead. They march north as well. Fleeing their own kind.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cWhat? Where?\u201d<\/p>\n I sit up in the carriage, heart pounding. Ivolethe nods at Reynold.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n \u201cYon clueless fool is about to drive you straight into the center of them.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n For a second I just stare at Ivolethe in horror. She grins at me, exposing a mouth full of sharp teeth. Then she flies up and away.<\/p>\n Instantly, I turn in my seat.<\/p>\n \u201cDriver, turn the coach around!\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold stares at me. He looks around, and then points to himself.<\/p>\n \u201cD-do you mean me, Miss\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cStop the carriage! We\u2019re about to run into Goblins!\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cGoblins?\u201d<\/p>\n He just stares at me incredulously. I see a large hill approaching, and curse. I reach for the reins. Instinctively Reynold pulls away.<\/p>\n \u201cPlease don\u2019t, Miss Ryoka. I can\u2019t let you\u2014\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhat is going on?\u201d<\/p>\n Then a panel slides open behind us. I see Ressa\u2019s impatient glare as she looks at us. There\u2019s no time to explain. I try to grab the reins. Reynold pulls away, Ressa shouts. The carriage swerves as we crest the hill\u2014<\/p>\n And then there are Goblins. They march in a vast column across the valley in the snow, trampling slush into mud as they walk a hundred abreast. I see Hobs, dragging weapons in the snow, massive, dwarfing the smaller Goblins that run before them.<\/p>\n Children, what look like pregnant mothers and of course, warriors walk in some semblance of order, carrying packs, lugging improvised sleds\u2014some are even herding horses, mules and other pack animals! It\u2019s the most hodge-podge collection of equipment I\u2019ve ever seen. And at the head of that group is a detachment of Carn Wolves. Ridden by Goblins.<\/p>\n My heart stops. The sudden surge of fear and panic makes the world slow as the carriage shoots over the hill and directly into the mass of the Goblins. I turn my head and see Reynold frantically pull the reins left. The carriage immediately turns, but it\u2019s too late.<\/p>\n Goblins, hearing the sound of the carriage and the shower of snow, turn and cry out as we speed past the column. I hear their high-pitched screams, and then horn calls.<\/p>\n Instantly, the group of wolf riders at the head of the column turns. They run towards us and I shout.<\/p>\n \u201cTake us away!\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold desperately pulls, and the carriage turns. But although we\u2019re already speeding away, the Goblins are everywhere. <\/em>And this particular bunch is smart, because the wolf riders are already running to cut us off. We must have passed some scouts because they come from behind us, trying to run us down.<\/p>\n I see a tall Hobgoblin on a Carn Wolf running at us, shouting as more riders run with him. The main column of Goblins is in panic\u2014warriors are surging towards us en masse as the children and other Goblins try to run back.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat should we do?\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold shouts in fear as the wolves box us in. He\u2019s trying to pull us away, but the wolves are everywhere.<\/em><\/p>\n \u201cGo through them!\u201d<\/p>\n I point at a few wolf riders and pray like hell the carriage can take a hit. Reynold hesitates\u2014<\/p>\n And then I feel a hand grab the edge of the carriage. I jerk, but it\u2019s no Goblin. Ressa pulls herself up as the carriage speeds along and shouts a word.<\/p>\n \u201c[Invisibility Field]!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n Instantly, the world around us goes dark. I see runes on the carriage glowing, and the Goblins around us cry out, their eyes tracking the air where we were. I look around. Are we invisible? I can\u2019t tell, but we must be. It\u2019s as if someone\u2019s put sunglasses on the world.<\/p>\n \u201cThat way.\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa points and Reynold immediately turns the carriage, making a break for an opening in the ranks of Goblins and wolfriders. After a moment I hear more shouting, and look back to see pursuit has resumed. How\u2026?<\/p>\n \u201cThe snow! They can see it!\u201d<\/p>\n I shout and Ressa nods. The Goblins can indeed see the geysering snow from the carriage\u2019s passage and they follow that. But the moment of hesitation has given us an opportunity. If we can just get ahead of them the carriage will easily outdistance their riders\u2014<\/p>\n As we pass by more Goblins, I see something strange. A knot of huge Hobgoblins is dead ahead of us, and they\u2019re turning, weapons raised and ready for us. Reynold takes us right past them, but then I spot something odd. In the center of the armed group of elites, a small Goblin is riding a wolf. And she has something in her hands. She raises a black crossbow, almost as big as she is, and points it at us. She can\u2019t see us, surely. But she knows where we are. And she\u2019s aiming\u2014I shout.<\/p>\n \u201cDown!<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n The carriage swerves as I pull Reynold down and I see Ressa blur beside me. The crossbow bolt streaks towards the side of the carriage and shatters<\/em> as it touches us. The bolt doesn\u2019t break the magically-reinforced sides of the carriage\u2014<\/p>\n But it does end the spell. The world goes bright again and I realize we\u2019re visible. The Goblins shout and Reynold desperately flaps the reins to move us faster. I glance back at the Goblin with the crossbow\u2014<\/p>\n And recognize her. Rags meets my shocked gaze for one second, and I see her own eyes widening. And then we\u2019re past her in a blur of snow.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re almost away, Miss Ressa!\u201d<\/p>\n Reynold shouts in relief as the Goblins fall away behind us. Then he shouts in alarm as someone runs ahead of us. The tall Hobgoblin is streaking at us from the side, on a direct collision course as he rides his massive Carn Wolf. I hear Ressa mutter something from my side. I\u2019m scrabbling at my belt for a potion, one of the bags\u2014anything. But I\u2019m too slow, and the tall Hobgoblin\u2019s mouth is open in a roar as he holds a crimson sword over his head\u2014<\/p>\n On the carriage beside me, Ressa stands up. Her hand blurs<\/em>, and something flashes at the Hobgoblin. He jerks, and his sword deflects a flying object with a ringing <\/em>sound. Ressa\u2019s hands move again and the Hob snarls and jerks his reins. The Carn Wolf dodges away as five more black blurs fly at him. He strikes down each one, but while he does the carriage flies on. In a second we\u2019re past him, and his howl of fury confirms that we are safe.<\/p>\n Then we\u2019re gone. The Goblins racing after us stop as they become distant figures, and then just blips on the horizon. We race on through the snow, once again lost in a void of silence.<\/p>\n The three of us just sit on the front of the carriage, breathing hard. At least, Reynold and I am. Ressa is still sitting on the edge, still gripping the open door she came out of. Reynold\u2019s hands are white on the reins and I\u2019m wondering if I\u2019m going to have a heart attack.<\/p>\n Gods. What just happened? Goblins, obviously. But so many? Where are they going? Was that Rags,<\/em> Erin\u2019s little friend!? And the other Hob\u2014I could have sworn he was the one at the inn! What\u2019s going on?<\/p>\n And Ressa? My head turns and I stare at her. She returns my look impassively.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re safe now.\u201d<\/p>\n That\u2019s all she says. Slowly, she begins to pull herself back into the carriage, ignoring the wind ripping at her maid\u2019s uniform. I call out to her.<\/p>\n \u201cWait! What was that?\u201d<\/p>\n She just stares at me. And shrugs.<\/p>\n \u201cMy orders were to keep you safe.\u201d<\/p>\n I point to her with a trembling hand. It was just a blur\u2014hell, all of that was a blur. But I saw what she threw at the Hobgoblin.<\/p>\n \u201cThat was a throwing star.<\/em> Are you\u2014?\u201d<\/p>\n Ressa slams the door to the carriage without a second word. I stare at the door. Oh my god. That can\u2019t be true, can it? Is she a ninja mai\u2014<\/p>\n Nah. I sit back with the [Butler] and shake my head. I\u2019m going nuts. This entire thing is nuts. I\u2019m nuts, I want to eat nuts\u2014I\u2019m shaking\u2014<\/p>\n So is poor Reynold. His face is pale, although he still looks pretty damn composed for someone who just drove us through a Goblin army. More props to him, I guess. If this is how all British people are, no wonder they didn\u2019t crack when they were getting the shit bombed out of them during World War II.<\/p>\n I\u2019m generalizing. And panicking. I take a few more breaths of cold air to still my beating heart. That was\u2014jeez.<\/p>\n After a minute I rap on the little window that connects us with the coach with a trembling hand. It doesn\u2019t open.<\/p>\n \u201cHey. You in there. Pass us a bottle, will you?\u201d<\/p>\n I shout it at Ressa and hear no response. But after a moment, the window slides open and one of the bottles of wine is handed through, bottom-first.<\/p>\n I pop the cork after six tries, and then drink from the top. It\u2019s probably high-grade stuff I gulp down; I don\u2019t even taste it. After I down a third of the bottle I nudge Reynold. He jumps and the carriage swerves; when he sees the bottle, he gratefully accepts it and drinks from it without a word.<\/p>\n We just sit in silence for a while, passing the bottle back and forth. After we finish it, I throw the bottle into the snow, ignoring every instinct in my body that tells me not to litter, and I get Ressa to pass us another one.<\/p>\n Reynold drinks, I drink. We stare at the landscape, and I look at the side of the carriage. The crossbow bolt didn\u2019t even scratch the paintwork. God.<\/p>\n I want this carriage.<\/p>\n After I\u2019m feeling a bit warmer and the cold sweat has mainly evaporated, I glance at Reynold. He\u2019s got a bit of a flush as well. He\u2019s just a [Butler], wearing a light grey jacket over his dark clothing. He\u2019s holding the reins steady, guiding the magic horses forward.<\/p>\n \u201cIs it always like this?\u201d<\/p>\n He shudders, and shakes his head for a second before changing his mind and nodding weakly.<\/p>\n \u201cSometimes. On bad days.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cJeez.\u201d<\/p>\n I sit back, and stare ahead. The world is white. It rushes past me with a roaring sound made faint by the carriage\u2019s magic. I sigh, and look ahead. My friends and Goblins lie behind. And in the distance I see a faint shape on the horizon. Dark buildings, rising out of the ground as the light in the sky fades to nothing.<\/p>\n Invrisil, the City of Adventurers, awaits. And after that\u2014<\/p>\n Lady Magnolia.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Previous Chapter<\/a> Next Chapter<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Yvlon Byres knew the answer before they said it. She was not a silver-tongued socialite, but she had learned to read people\u2019s eyes as a child. She had learned to dance with words before she had picked up a sword. Of course, she\u2019d left that world behind to become an adventurer, but some things never […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":52856846,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_searchwp_excluded":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"patreon-level":0,"patreon_level":0,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[11693083,349],"tags":[7224,250708,4330244,4472517,11693079],"twi_volume":[11693132],"twi_collection":[],"class_list":["post-2753","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-volume-3","category-writing","tag-fantasy","tag-inn","tag-web-novel","tag-web-serial","tag-writing"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n
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