The morning sun broke through the clouds, casting long shadows across the damp streets as Evie laced up her running shoes. The air was crisp and clean, the remnants of the previous day’s storm leaving the winter air bordering on frigid. She bounced around on her toes a few times, feeling the welcome tension in her feet and calves and bounded off towards the city center.
As her feet pounded against the cobblestone streets, Evie felt her spirits lift and lost herself in the rhythm of the steps. She jumped around puddles and pockets of mud and saw her breath fog up in front of her as her body heated up with her increasing pace.
As the sun rose higher in the Saturday morning sky, the city slowly came to life. Shopkeepers opened their doors and or set out their stands and children played in the narrow alleyways between buildings, managing to laugh and cry despite the constant danger they’d been raised to expect from a young age.
Evie’s destination was the Broad Street market, a bustling hub of activity where traders and caravans from the other forts often converged. The market was a vibrant mix of colors and sounds and the rich aroma of freshly baked bread mingled with the scent of herbs and spices. Saturdays were especially busy, with farmers and hunters competing to sell the portion of their wares that weren’t claimed by the city and off-duty soldiers looking to spruce up their equipment or spend their newly earned paychecks.
Even in the commune, there was some disparity in income as those in more dangerous positions or with more experience earned more money. Soldiers earned more than bakers, and the caravaneers who were brave enough to travel the road between forts were rewarded for the risk - both in their compensation from the forts and in the proceeds for selling in-demand goods to the other forts. The system was broadly fair - certainly those who fell on hard times like Evie and her mother were worse off, but they were hardly destitute. And people who put their lives at risk on a daily basis deserved the extra compensation. A bartender could always enlist if they wanted the extra income. They were never short of spots in the militia, just people willing to fight.
“No, not there you idiot!”
As she approached the central square, Evie heard the man she was looking for long before she saw him. His booming voice carried through the crowd and made Evie smile as she let her ears guide her to its location.
“Do you want these apples you just risked your life defending to get run over by a horse before anyone gets the chance to eat them? Swords over there where the armorers are, food over on that side. It’s not that complicated!”
Evie found the man standing on top of his wagon, supervising his crew as they unloaded goods from a long line of carts. Darius was a tall, rugged man with a weathered face and a kind smile. He was a caravaneer who specialized in the most dangerous route - Washington to Richmond. What had once been a simple route down the interstate was now a treacherous multi-day trek along the edge of the ever-encroaching Shenandoah forest. Darius and his crew were as strong as an experienced troop of soldiers, and he was a Tier 2, one of the few Evie had ever met, but they still lost members of their troupe monthly to Virus raids.
As she approached, Evie called out, waving at him as she weaved through the throng of people to try to reach him.
“Darius!”
He looked down at her and immediately broke into a broad grin.
“Eva Victoria!”
His booming voice shook her eardrums as he hopped down from his perch and gave her a crushing hug that made her ribs creak. Despite her size, he still towered over her and she had to stop herself from gasping for breath after he released her.
“You’re looking big, when was the last time I saw you?”
“Six months ago.”
She stuck her lower lip out in a joking pout which caused him to laugh.
“Wow, really so long since we’ve been back? We got called up on a run out to Annapolis. That was not a good one, I’ll tell you. Lost some good men and women and now all I have are these idiots…”
A woman carrying a big bundle of apples stopped as she walked past them and gave her an eyeroll that was so exaggerated it mad Evie laugh.
“Kick him for me Evie.”
Darius’ wife and partner, Reyna, looked every bit as tough as he did and she hefted the several-hundred pound bundle like it was nothing.
“One time someone brings back an infected rabbit for dinner and he’s been complaining for days…”
Darius and Reyna both gave Evie a look as if to say ‘you see what I have to deal with’ and then, as if on cue, broke out laughing. It was several seconds before Reyna moved on, shaking her head, and Darius continued.
“But wow, six months? You look like you went and grew up since the last time I saw you. You know what they say… Time flies in other people’s lives when you’re not there to see it.
“I hit level 23 last week!”
Evie’s voice blurted out in a rush and her face colored in her excitement.
“I’m almost ready to enlist as soon as this last year of school finishes.”
“23, huh? These schools you kids are going to are no joke. Give it a few more years and you might be good enough to join us!”
“You’d be lucky to have me right now! But regardless, the army’s where I’m meant to be. Or the militia at least. Have to at least give it a go - see if I can really fight these things, make a difference.”
Darius just shook his head and sighed.
“Oh the young… Guess it never changes, even in this hellhole.”
“Any news from the capital?”
The yearning for information in Evie’s voice was plain as she changed the subject. Darius’s expression grew serious, and he beckoned for her to follow him.
“How about you help me unload some of these carts and I’ll give you the rundown while we work? I could use a strong back getting all this stuff down before one of these fools trips and breaks something valuable. I’ll make it worth your while.”
“You bet!”
Evie beamed as she grabbed the heaviest looking sack she could see and hoisted it onto her shoulder. She felt quite impressed with herself for all of half a second until she saw Darius with three similarly sized bags piled on his back, not even breaking a sweat. He saw the look on her face and chuckled heartily.
“Levels… 20 years ago I was a skinny boy delivering UberEats on a motorcycle - now I look like some version of a Greek god out of a Disney movie…”
Evie walked after him, grunting with each step under the weight of the sack.
“You know. I. Don’t think. I. Understood. What even half of those words meant.”
She sighed, and let the sack flop down in the pile Darius had designated.
“Way to make a man feel old…”
Evie laughed, wiping the sweat off her brow and going back to the cart to grab another bag. Darius just shook his head and dropped his own bags in the same pile where the customs official would audit them all.
When he spoke again, his voice had softened noticeable and his tone carried a grim note as he returned to her question.
“You asked about the capital… I won’t lie, things are not so good up in Washington. The Virus attacks have been relentless, and supplies are running low. The stewards are doing their best, but the situation is dire. They’re one bad defeat from being besieged, or even overrun.”
“Overrun?!”
“Quiet girl, do you want to cause a panic?”
A head or two turned their way and looked at them curiously, but the people quickly got back to their business when Darius glared back at them. When Evie spoke again her voice was close to a whisper.
“Sorry… But how is that possible? All of our strongest soldiers are in Washington. The stewards, the Argonauts, even our best training school is there.”
“They’re all really powerful, the best we have, but there are juggernauts and those things are not just mindless beasts. They think, they plan, and in battle they’re even a match for [Berserker] Kahlanick. And there’s worse… There’s rumors the Virus have a champion, a hero of their own.”
“That’s impossible…”
Darius' voice was hardly even a whisper now, so quiet Evie had to bend her ear towards him to be able to hear.
“I’m just telling you what I heard… But do we really know what’s possible or impossible? In my experience, when there’s this many stories floating around about something, there has to be at least some truth to them. And everywhere I go, the forts, the waystations - they’re all talking about this ‘Man of Ash and Fire’. They call him the [Destroyer].”
The voice Evie responded with was laced with skepticism, but there was a small note of uncertainty in it and she felt a tingle at the base of her neck.
“Him? So he’s a person now?”
“Hey you asked… All the same, the Capital is begging for more soldiers, but the other forts don’t want to send them. They’re all scared for themselves and want to keep all their strongest fighters home. Like this they’ll just pick us apart, fort by fort… Hey, I see that look - do you really think you’re the one to go running off there and save everyone?”
Evie jumped, and realized she was staring north, to where she knew the capital she’d only heard rumors about was located. When she spoke, her voice was defensive and she bent over to grab another sack to cover the blush forming on her cheeks.
“Well, why not me?”
“What about your mother? Your friends? You’re just planning on running off and leaving them all here?”
Evie looked up and gave Darius such a poisonous glare that he nearly dropped the bags he was holding.
“That’s none of your business.”
“Okay, okay, I’m just asking. Don’t have to bite my head off.”
Evie immediately felt a stab of regret at seeign his hurt face and sighed.
“Sorry. Sore subject.”
“Mother or friends?”
She just raised an eyebrow at him and he laughed.
“Okay, okay, that one’s on me.”
They continued working in silence until the sun was high in the sky and it had warmed up considerably. Each bag felt heavier than the last, and by the end, Evie’s face and clothes were soaked with sweat and she had to fight to stop her legs from shaking. When Darius dropped the last of the bags in the pile, she had to stop herself from groaning in relief.
“Not bad, not bad. Having you here must have saved me at least…” he quickly glanced over at the pile, “10 minutes.”
“I hate you.”
Evie collapsed against a bag that could have been made of antique glass for all she cared. Darius roared with laughter making her scowl even deeper.
“Now you sound like my wife. Here, take this, you earned it.”
Evie stared up at the notes he held out to her and her eyes widened in surprise.
“Darius, this is 200 notes… It’s way too much. I can’t accept this.”
Darius chuckled, shaking his head. “You earned it Evie, coming out here helping me out on your birthday! 18… You deserve a little something extra.”
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“But how…”
He placed a massive, but also gentle, hand on her shoulder.
“There are far worse things a man can do with his skills. Me and the gang have got to get the rest of this stuff dealt with. Take care of yourself, Evie. And if you or your mother need anything, you know where to find me.”
Evie nodded, slipping the notes into her pocket.
“I will. Thank you, Darius.”
She held out her hand for him to shake and he laughed, giving her just enough time to brace herself before he wrapped her in another crushing hug.
“And for goodness sake go celebrate! You better have something more fun planned for today than this!”
***
Evie ran slowly back towards home, still feeling exhausted from the work in the market. With the 200 notes burning a hole in her pocket, she found herself lingering on the edges of the market square. Each stall felt like it was offering something new and exciting, catering just to her: a freshly forged sword, a cast-iron pan, high-end military boots. Several times, she found her feet dragging her towards the stall, only to stop herself at the last moment and continue towards home.
She was almost free of the hubbub when her eyes, or rather her nose, caught onto the sweet aroma of a pastry stall. Before she knew it, she was standing in front of the display, her face mere inches from a selection of the most exotic and beautiful pastries she’d ever seen. She turned to the shopkeeper, eyes wide and saliva already forming in her mouth.
“Um, excuse me, ma’am. What… What is that?”
The woman looked smiled at her and replied in a voice lace with amusement
“That? That’s a danish.”
“And that one?”
“A chocolate croissant.”
“Where do they come from? I’ve never seen anything like them before.”
The lady’s smile widened into a beaming grin and she spread her hands out wide so that they almost encompassed the whole stall.
“Oh, I make these myself, they’re my speciality.”
“Which one would you say is your best?”
“My best, huh? That’s like asking a woman to choose her favorite child…”
Evie looked up from the display for the first time and eyed the woman expectantly, her foot tapping on the ground. The woman sighed and scanned over the pastries with a little too much doting love on her face. Finally, she pointed at a brown and white pastry that looked like a cake, but looked far creamier and somehow smelled like coffee.
“If you insist, it has to be the tiramisu.
Evie immediately leapt over to where she was pointing and brought her eyes as close to the glass as she could so that her nose nearly touched the glass.
“I see…”
“Girl you can’t eat them with your eyes you know.”
Evie jumped back, blushing and scratching the back of her head.
“I’ll tell you what, I normally sell these for 50 notes, but-”
“Fifty?!”
“But, your puppy dog drooling is doing more for you than any amount of bargaining would. It breaks my heart, (and my wallet), but I can sell it to you for 20.”
“Twenty notes…”
The words leaving her mouth were coated with a mixture of awe and bewilderment. She couldn’t believe people really spent that much on something that would be gone in minutes.
“Definitely less if I got my hands on it…”
Yet… It was as if her eyes, or her stomach, had taken control of her body and before she knew it she was reaching for the money Darius had just given her.
“Everyone keeps telling me to celebrate, but I’m not sure this is really what they had in mind…”
***
The rest of the afternoon passed lazily – the sun came out for a few hours and Evie managed to get her mother to bundle up and come out to the porch for a few games of chess. They sat outside, drinking tea and trading victories until the sun set and the cold became too much to comfortably bear. It was a simple day, but still a good one – she’d occasionally catch her mom looking at her with consternation like there was somewhere better for her to be, but Evie just let the looks slide off of her and sank deeper into the blankets wrapping her chair.
It wasn’t until later that evening, after Evie had heated water for her mother to take a bath and started preparing dinner, when she heard a knock on the door. She opened the door and found Mia standing there, bouncing up and down on her toes with a guarded smile on her face. Evie’s face reddened slightly and she stepped back, not quite blocking the door, but not fully inviting her in either.
“Mia, what are you doing here?”
“Just thought I’d stop by and wish you a happy birthday…”
Mia’s voice was stilted, but it didn’t fully mirror the discomfort Evie felt. Not waiting for an invitation, Mia pushed past her and stepped inside. As soon as she did, she froze and put a hand to her mouth in mock horror.
“And good thing I did too! I’m sorry, this is what you had planned for your birthday?!”
Evie looked around and inwardly cringed at the mess of pots and pans lying around the house, but she felt a small smile tugging at her lips.
“Someone has to make dinner. Besides, I didn’t have any plans.”
Mia’s eyes lit up with a mischievous glint.
“Well, we can fix that, Derek, get in here!”
Before Evie could protest, Derek was already in the kitchen, making oohing noises at the piles of seasoned meat and neatly chopped vegetables.
Mia laughed with delight, holding her hand out to Derek.
“Pay up! That’s two notes.”
“Two notes?? That doesn’t sound right…”
“Let’s see… Cooking, check. Apron, check. Ladle in her hand, check. One back to you because there’s no sauce on her face.”
“That’s not a ladle, it’s a spatula!”
Mia stuck one hand on her hip and held the other one out towards Derek.
“Gimme.”
With a huff, Derek dropped two crumpled notes in her hand, increasing the glee on her face.
“Derek, what exactly did you think she’d be doing? Dancing over at Ned’s with her other friends?”
Derek stuck out his lower lip and replied in a sulky tone.
“I had faith.”
Evie put a hand on each hip and tried to sound outraged, but she was unable to keep the smile off her face
“You bet on me?”
“You’re kind of predictable.” Mia laughed, and gave her a kiss on the cheek. “Oooh it kind of smells like sauce… That might be four notes, Derek.”
“No, no, no, bet’s called!”
They both looked at her and all three of them laughed until Derek gave her a warm embrace.
“Happy birthday Evie.”
“What are you two doing here?”
Derek grinned at her.
“We’re here to help you finish dinner, of course. Can’t let the birthday girl do all the work. Just please nobody let Mia near any of the food.”
“That’s fine by me! I’ll go give Ms. I some company while you all finish up.”
Together, they worked in the cramped kitchen, their laughter and chatter filling the small space. Much faster than she’d expected - and at a far greater quantity - the table was covered with steaming plates and bowls and one delicately wrapped tiramisu. Mia helped Anastasia to the table and they all sat down to eat, the simple meal transformed into a feast.
“So Evie…”
Derek paused from helping himself to a heaping plate of rice, carrots, and chicken and gave her a meaningful look.
“As the last one of us to officially graduate from childhood, you still need to answer: what’s the big plan? Reconquering the world or just sticking to terrorizing us with your baking experiments?”
His eyes twinkled with mischief as he dodged a playful swat from Evie.
“Well I was thinking I’d just apprentice myself to the lady who made this tiramisu… Which it sounds like you’re not too keen on… Ah well, pity. Guess that’s more for the rest of us.”
Derek’s face grew slack, the horrified look on his face causing even Anastasia to laugh.
“Oh please.” Finished laughing, Mia gave them all a massive eye roll. “Like our ‘hero-in-training’ is going to trade her armor and sword in for a toque and a rolling pin.
Evie scowled and tore off a big chunk of a roll before replying.
“I just want to be ready, that’s all. If there really are no more Tier 2s awakening without the [Pathfinders], the rest of us are going to have to be even better to stand any chance against the Virus…”
Her voice trailed off as she realized she’d accidentally touched on a subject none of them wanted to think about yet. They looked around at each other awkwardly before staring back down at their plates For a long moment, the only sounds were the clink of cutlery and the slow chewing of food. They were all 18, and if Darius’ news was accurate, lucky to have made it this far without being thrown fully into humanity’s desperate fight for survival.
It was Derek who broke the silence, eyes settling on the tiramisu.
“Speaking of being ready, I don’t know how all of you have managed to hold yourself back this long, but I think it’s beyond time we unwrapped this beautiful little package taunting us from the middle of the table.”
“It really is a Tiramisu huh.”
Anastasia’s voice was soft and filled with a small note of wonder as she looked up from her plate where she’d been flicking a carrot around in circles with her fork.
“Where in the world did you find this? It used to be my favorite once, but I can’t remember the last time I had one… It’s funny, isn’t it? How such small things can become such treasures.”
Evie’s face glowed at seeing the look on her mother’s face as she grabbed the package and began to unwrap it with care.
“I got it in the market. One of the caravaneers paid me a little to help him with his goods and you all kept saying I deserved a treat…”
“That was so sweet of you to share it with us. Even two years ago I think we would have found you hiding in the corner, face covered in cream, holding your stomach like it was about to burst open.”
For a brief second, nobody said anything, and then Mia guffawed and Evie’s cheeks flushed a bright shade of pink. Evie looked over at her mom, who’s eyes twinkled with mirth, and any remaining tension in the room was broken as the four of them devoured the tiramisu.
As they finished licking the last few crumbs of dessert off their forks, fingers, and in some cases, plates, Derek leaned back in his chair, a satisfied grin on his face.
“Alright, birthday girl, now it’s time to really celebrate. Off to the pub, first round’s on me.”
Evie opened her mouth to protest, but her mother’s gentle voice interrupted.
“Go on, Evie.”
“But Mom-”
The smile on Anastasia’s face was warm, but firm.
“No buts. Go with your friends. I’ll be fine here.”
With a mix of reluctance and excitement, Evie allowed her friends to drag her out of the house and down the street to the local pub. The small establishment was bustling with activity, the air thick with laughter and the clinking of glasses.
Derek led the way, navigating through the crowd with an ease born of familiarity, heading towards a snug spot near the back where the din of the crowd was just a bit softer. The wooden floors creaked under their weight, and the air was tinged with the smell of malt and woodsmoke.
Once settled, Derek waved over the bartender, a burly man with a friendly grin, who nodded in recognition.
“It’s this one’s birthday, so you know what that means…”
“Derek, noooo!”
Mia put her hands to her cheeks in protest, but her eyes shone with delight.
“18 for a few hours and you’re already corrupting her.”
Evie’s eyes widened with alarm as the bartender started pouring out shots into three identical glasses.
“What’s this?”
Derek gave an evil laugh as he reached over to grab one shot for himself and another which he slid over to Evie.
“Oh my friend, you have so much to learn.”
“Mia? Please?”
There was desperation in Evie’s voice as she looked over to Mia, but her friend just raised her glass and winked at her.
“Ahem… To Evie, the bravest of us all, who’s tougher than these shots, and much harder to keep down. May she earn towering fame and unending glory and never forget her friends."
“Cheers!”
They all shouted and rapidly downed their drinks. Evie felt it burn down her throat and warmth spread from her stomach to her head to the tips of her fingers. She looked down at the others and smiled as the light and heat of the pub intensified.
Music started up from a corner of the bar, a guitarist playing an upbeat tune and patrons danced between the tables. The atmosphere was infectious and they all found themselves tapping their feet and clapping along.
Mia yanked Evie to her feet and pulled her towards an open space on the floor.
"Come on, birthday girl, let's see if you can dance as well as you fight!"
Swept up in the moment, Evie found herself laughing and dancing alongside Mia, infected by her giddy enthusiasm. They jumped and swayed in the lamplight with hardly any sense of rhythm; shoulders and hips bumping into each other as they lost themselves in the music. At some point Derek was there and there was a second drink, and then a third. The light around them blurred and Evie forgot about everything besides the people around her.
Before she knew it, she was being helped down off a table and stumbling into Mia’s arms. She felt hot, and sweaty, and way too drunk, but she was surrounded by her friends and she felt safe. They stumbled from the bar, arm in arm, into the cold winter night. Laughter echoed around them, each breath forming small clouds in the night air. Evie leaned heavily on Mia, her steps unsteady and her vision starting to sway. The streetlamps cast long shadows as they made their way through the deserted streets, and their voices carried into the quiet night.
Mia kept a firm grip on Evie, helping her around potholes and over bumps in the road.
"Careful there.”
Her voice was warm, and the gentle strength of her touch and the closeness of their bodies in the chilly night brought a comforting intimacy.
As they walked, Derek recounted the evening, his tales punctuated by bursts of laughter and clapping from Mia. Evie listened, her head resting against Mia's shoulder, feeling the vibrations of Mia's laughter through their contact.
When they finally reached Evie’s home, the three of them lingered outside, none of them eager to end the night. Evie, still leaning on Mia, looked up at her friends, her eyes soft with gratitude, cheeks rosy and warm. When she spoke, there was a definite slur to her words.
"Thanks, everyone. Tonight was... it was perfect."
Derek gave her one more hug and meandered towards his own home, leaving Mia and Evie at Evie’s doorstep. Mia helped her through the gate, her hand lingering at the small of her back.
"You sure you'll be okay?"
There was true concern in Mia’s eyes and Evie felt an overwhelming sense of gratitude and affection for her friend. She gave a small nod and, with no small effort, extricated herself from Mia’s arms and stood up straight.
"Yeah, thanks to you. Really, Mia... thank you.”
Mia just nodded, her smile tender.
"Always, Evie. Just take care of yourself, okay?"
With a final squeeze of Evie's hand, she turned and walked away, a small bounce in her step. She turned back once towards the doorway, but it was closed and the house was dark.