Stars twinkled. Sound flowed like water, bathing Riley in joy. She plucked strings. I love it up here. Meditating happily, she looked at the vibrant green plants that had sprouted. “Where did you even come from? Am I supposed to be a druid or something?”

She looked up at the stars. She leaned against the tree and looked up at it. It reminds me of Nicole for some reason. Why? And why is it here?

Shrugging, she waved goodbye to the forest before willing herself to wake. The place faded. The sky went dark, and she opened her eyes to find herself in a stone room. Her father’s eyes were locked on her, and an arm rested against her leg.

She looked up and saw Nicole dozing in the chair. Smiling, she gingerly moved her foot and stretched. Residual pain churned through her muscles. It feels like I’ve rolled down a mountain. She sighed and stood.

“How are you feeling?” Roger asked.

“Alright,” Riley said, pausing to clear the hundreds of oaths that had popped up. Do I need to read these? They can’t make me give them anything, right? I’m just offering my auras and to do what I can. She paused and pulled them up, trying to sort through the massive list. Is this why the royals don’t just offer them to anyone?

[They can’t force additional terms on you. ~Beauty]

“Thanks!” Riley triggered Pretty and stood on her wobbling legs.

“If you are feeling up to it, they’d like to hit the enemy fort at dusk, which is in about an hour,” Roger said, standing. He walked over and pulled her into a hug. “Level Assassin again, and swap to it. You can afford it, given your upgrade.” He released her and placed three crystals into her hand.

Riley sat down and pulled them close. She focused on the crystals, pulling them to her chest and bringing them in harmony with her class. The crystals roared through her like a torrent. They slammed into the class that consumed the power eagerly, drinking it up and growing like a summer storm.

[Psionic Assassin (B) has advanced: 2 → 197!]

Riley gasped and wobbled, nearly passing out in the torrent of energy. Did he give me A-tier crystals? Those are worth an absolute fortune. She stared at her class. Turning inward, she swapped out of Ranger for Assassin.

Roger smiled. “Better.”

“Thanks, Dad.” Riley smiled at him. He’s a good dad. She turned and smiled at the stretching Nicole. “Fall asleep?”

“You had enough watchers.” Nicole stepped forward. Her fingers danced across Riley’s arm. “And the singing was nice.”

Panic rippled through Riley. She drummed a message back. “I was singing?”

“Humming.”

Relief flooded through her, and Riley happily took the outstretched bowl of stew. Shoveling it in, she ignored the taste.

“Sorry,” the guard said. “Supplies are low. We lost a few caravans.”

Riley nodded and swallowed, rapidly eating and trying not to think about the taste.

Shoveling down the last of it, she grimaced and took the outstretched waterskin. Drinking and rinsing, she handed the bowl back. “Thanks.”

“You’re welcome. The magus wishes to speak with you,” her guard said, walking out the door.

“Shouldn’t she be doing that?” another guard asked, gesturing to Nicole.

Nicole turned and scowled. “I’m her bodyguard now. Promotion.”

“You really are the worst handmaiden,” a guard said, sighing.

Riley chuckled. “She never was one.” She walked out the door. Looking out into the room, she saw several knights and soldiers huddled around the table.

Riley walked up and peered at it. Recruits or supplies? She looked at the pebbles further back on the roads. It has to be one of them. She looked back at the other forts. “How protected?”

“That’s the core issue,” Travis said, looking up. He smiled. “Feel up to a storm?”

“I’ll slot it.” Riley nodded.

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“Good. The goal is to push hard here. Then we advance up the line.”

Riley frowned. “How are we going to hold them?”

“Candidly? We’ve spread rumors about your auras up the line. I’m hoping people will jump,” Travis said. “The palace has been made aware.”

Fear rippled through Riley. They’re going to kill me.

“Relax. You made the oath,” Travis said, studying her. “It’s an asset. Now, are you feeling alright? The chills and aches can linger for a week.”

Riley sighed. “It feels like I fell down a mountain.”

“Yes. I hate it when it triggers, but it beats the alternative,” Travis said, grimacing.

Right. He must have had it trigger, too. Riley looked back at the map. “So, we’re pushing down the line and hoping that the mana regeneration is sufficient?”

Travis nodded. “We’ll delay some shipments. If we have a clear backup fort, it’ll make things easier.”

Riley studied the line. If they can do this without me there, that’d be great. She turned and walked out the door.

Walking through the large room, she looked at the resting soldiers. Several dozed in chairs or on benches along the wall. Some looked up and smiled at her.

One stood. “Nice to meet you, Lady Riley. If you need a cook, my wife is a level two hundred baker.” He grinned at her.

“I’ll keep it in mind,” Riley said, waving and walking out the door. She looked at the muddy yard. The cracks in the wall had been repaired. The tower was standing tall, and things were quiet. Odd.

Turning, she followed her father up some steps onto the rampart.

“Is it true?” Roger asked.

Ivan spun and nodded. “Based on everything we’ve seen, yes. They had no time to react when they sent in the lightning and fireballs. Instead, it just appeared over there and ripped through them. Several died, and the number of wounded is high.”

Riley grimaced. I don’t want to murder them if we can get them to surrender. She frowned. “I’d prefer to get them to join us.”

“As would we,” Ivan said. “We’re going to break the fort and request it. Using the warsworn to defend our backline is ideal.”

“Warsworn?” Riley asked.

“The prisoners who made a war oath.” Ivan turned back to the fort. “We’ll promise them some healing.” He pulled a little device from his pocket and walked toward the mage tower.

Riley followed him and entered. She wound through the corridors and looked at the group.

Summer stood, her red hair blazing as if it were alive. “I am ready to go. Lady Riley, can you provide some cover? We want to force a surrender.”

“I’ll cover you.” Riley followed her outside.

“Stay in cover,” Roger said, pulling her back inside. “Just in case.”

Riley looked at her classes. “I’ll be fine, Dad.”

“We’re not risking it,” Roger replied, stepping in front of her and nudging her back.

Riley sighed. He’s going into protective mode again. Her memory flickered back to her first contracted assassination, and she chuckled.

“I know what you’re thinking,” Roger said. “And don’t try it.”

Riley laughed and peered out at the wall.

Simon raised the device to his lips and spoke, his voice booming across the muddy ground. “Shorove soldiers. We know the state of your fort. You will not receive help. Your fellow soldiers will perish, and your fort will fall if you do not yield. Surrender if you wish to live.”

“Your void mage is dead,” another voice rang out. “You will fall—”

Summer unleashed a barrage of stone, sending it slamming into their gate with a growing fury. Metal clanged and rattled. Stone chipped, and bowmen raced up.

Riley pulled out her book. She flipped the pages and fed her mana into the runes. As a volley of spells shot from the wall, she released the spell, sending the crackling purple lightning soaring across the fields. Fireballs and the defensive stone snuffed out.

The trailing fireballs soared over the wall and exploded, engulfing the place in flames. In a growing fury, a barrage of stones slammed into the wall and gate.

“Final warning!” Simon bellowed across the gap. “The next attack will be worse. Far worse.”

Riley swallowed. Please don’t make me kill a bunch of wounded soldiers. She let out a breath and looked at the ground.

“Slot in your spell, Riley,” Summer called out.

Riley grimaced and leaned against the wall. She swallowed and turned inward, swapping her spell for Momentous Tempo. She felt it locked into place, and her stomach churned.

[You know. There is another option, little bard. You’ve used it before. ~Beauty]

A memory flashed into Riley’s mind, and she looked at the surrounding soldiers. Can I lie to them? She looked at her upgraded class and smiled. Summoning Music’s Lute, she slipped past her father and let her fingers pluck on the strings.

The heavenly instrument sent the sound rolling through the air. It crashed across the battlefield, and all the spells stopped.

“Soldiers now defending, I make this vow to you.

All will be forgiven. No captivity in view.

Your nobles are not present. Their oaths are broken now.

Shattered, fallen remnants of some long-forgotten vows.

I invite you then to join me. Don’t throw your lives away.

Come and gather round my hearth. Live another day.

This is my final warning—a promise of the hearth.

If you make your oath to me, I will do my part.”

With her hands dancing on the strings, she smiled at the distant fort and ended the song.

Roger scooped her up and darted back into the tower. Riley grinned at him and vanished the instrument away.

“Seriously, Riley? Again?” Roger asked, sighing loudly.

Riley chuckled. “I wanted to sing our troubles away.”

“I can’t believe that worked the first time.” Roger huffed and set her on the ground.

Riley laughed. “The guards were too shocked to know what to do.” She looked toward the distant fort. “Think it’ll work?”

“Where’d you get that lute?” a mage asked, confusion blanketing his face.

“Right?” Nicole said. “It was glowing!” She stared at Riley.

Riley shrugged. “Music must have helped.”

“Are you a bard?” the mage asked, moving closer.

Riley shook her head. “Of course not.” She poked her head out and frowned. Come on. Notifications began appearing. The enemy gate swung open, and she saw a growing revolt inside the fort.

“Charge!” Travis bellowed from below. Soldiers streamed out of the gate like a growing river.

“You’re staying here,” Roger said sternly.

Riley chuckled and sat on the nearby bench. I wish I had a cloak. It appeared, and she pulled it closer. Pain rippled through her, and she started healing any wounded soldiers.

Roger sat next to her.

Riley leaned against the wall and focused on the distant troops, slowly draining her mana to heal the injured.