Riley filled another healing potion and looked around the dim room that evening. She sighed, and Lucas walked into the room.

“How are you, Lucas?” Riley asked, stretching and looking at him.

Lucas grinned and took a seat. “Things went well, but I want your help if possible.”

“What?” Riley asked, leaning back on the bench.

“Kill the traitors before they say anything more. As of now, the palace thinks they are incompetent students. I left a gap, though. If they were to mysteriously die, the conspiracy will spread. It will cause turmoil, which is a good thing.”

“You want me to assassinate them?” Riley asked.

Lucas nodded. “Yes, you can do it without being seen. I can ask Althea if you’d prefer.”

“So, we’re sowing chaos?”

“Yes. It’ll slow down the expansion. We will break it as soon as Eteln is ready. I hope your father—“

“Is here,” Roger said, walking down the steps with a frown.

Riley spun. “Did they agree? Are they here?” she asked, reading his posture. The answer was evident.

Roger shook his head. “No, your grandparents clung to their failing power and wanted to use you to dig them out of it. I’m done.” He sighed and took a seat at the table.

“Sorry,” Riley said gently.

Roger turned to her. “I’m sorry, Riley.” He shook his head. “They were never great parents. I suppose that I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“It’s okay. We’ll move to Eteln. Maybe we can take some of the knights with us.” Riley painted a smile on her face. They rejected us. Her smile quickly faded. Just like that. She looked at the table. They didn’t even see the real me.

Letting out a long breath, Riley slumped.

Roger patted her on the back. “Don’t let it get you down,” he said. “They’ve always been this way.”

Riley nodded and wiped at her eyes.

“And we’ll go someplace better,” Roger said, sighing and shaking his head. “What have you been up to?”

“She snuck a dungeon run,” Lucas said, a smirk spreading across his face.

Riley sat up. “Shhh,” she said, holding up a finger.

Roger chuckled and turned. He looked at Althea. “Busy time?”

“Contracts.” Althea sighed and walked down the steps. “How’d it go?” She looked at Riley. “I am sorry.”

Riley looked back at the table. She took a deep breath and felt two arms wrap around her.

“They were fools,” Althea whispered, kissing Riley on the cheek.

Riley turned toward the affectionate elf. She studied her. Is this just an act, or is she sincere?

“Mom has always had a soft spot for struggling kids,” Lucas said. “There’s no stopping it. Oh, and elves say you are a kid until you’re forty.” He shook his head and rolled his eyes.

Althea scowled and let go of Riley. “Well, someone has to try to help them.” She walked over and hugged him before taking a seat.

Riley smiled and studied Althea. I didn’t get a great read on her. She looked at Lucas. “So, you want us to end the prisoners?”

Lucas nodded and turned. “I think the ideal play is to end the captive nobles and have them aid Eteln. We can protect the incompetents until it’s ready to collapse.”

Althea went quiet for a moment. “I agree. The council will, too.” She pulled out parchment and a quill. “I’ll compose an introduction letter. Riley, it would help to show yourself as an elf or half-elf.”

Riley nodded. I want to try elf anyway. “Nicole?”

“We may need her here,” Lucas replied.

Riley frowned and looked down. Aw. She was fun.

“We do need her here,” Althea replied, nodding. “But I’m certain that we’ll see each other soon.”

Riley nodded and stood up. “Thanks for having me.”

Roger stood and nodded to each. “Take care of yourselves.”

Riley walked into her room and grabbed her bag. Maybe I can find her and say goodbye. I need to say goodbye to Tahani, too.

Walking out of the room, she looked at the stairs. A smile spread across her face. “Tahani?”

The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

Tahani stared at Lucas. “Seeker Lucas?”

Lucas turned. “Who are you?”

“My replacement,” Nicole said with a grin, leaping the last of the steps. “Mom, you need to train her. I’m going with Riley.” She darted into her room.

Riley chuckled and looked at her old friend. “Did Nicole recruit you?”

Tahani nodded. “Yes.” She turned to Lucas and studied him. “You’re a good liar.”

Lucas stared at her. She smirked, and he chuckled. “Gods, I think you’re better than Nicole.”

“That’s why she’s taking my spot,” Nicole replied. She paused and looked at Tahani. “Remember what I told you. Let them die if your life is at risk. It isn’t worth that.”

Turning, Riley looked at Althea, who was beaming at Nicole. I don’t know what that’s about.

Nicole hopped down and ran to her room.

Roger took Riley’s bag, vanishing it into his cache. He took the note from Althea and read it. “Will this be enough?”

“If she shows up as an elf or half-elf, yes.” Althea walked over and hugged Riley. “Have a safe trip. I’ll see you soon.” Releasing her, she darted toward Nicole, pulling her into a hug.

Riley chuckled and walked to the steps. “We’ll be upstairs.” Ascending the steps, she walked out of the cottage and leaned against the wall, swapping Spell Thief for Ranger. “Are you doing alright, Dad?”

“Yes. It was inevitable.” Roger shook his head. “I’d just hoped they’d come around.” He looked up and down the street.

Riley looked at the evening sky. She looked at the distant palace and frowned. I’ll see you soon. Turning, she looked at her father. “What of the knights?”

Roger turned. “We’ll send them a message.”

Riley stretched. “Shame we can’t rob the vault before we go. I thought about it.”

Roger chuckled. “And that’s why you got a thief class.”

Riley chuckled, waved at the group in the cottage, and turned. Jogging down the streets, she built speed and blazed down the streets, weaving around wagons and people.

A guard at the gate looked up, and Riley shot past him in a burst of wind. Hitting the open road, the three ran, throwing snow and wind behind them.

Riley glanced at the sunset. The sky lit in a vibrant red. She focused back on the road and let her speed build. The two next to her matched her pace.

Embracing the feeling of her body, Riley shot through the night in silence. The wind whipped through her hair. Dropping her disguise, she ran, her dirty blonde hair flying behind her.

The three raced down the road. The sun descended, and night fell on them. Forests, farms, and villages blurred by. The waning moon rose, and a distant fort appeared.

Riley frowned. She bumped her dad. “Do I swap back to Spell Thief?”

“Yes,” Roger replied.

Nicole pulled her off her feet. Riley looked up and blushed before turning inward and swapping her classes.

Opening her eyes, she looked up. I spend way too much time being carried around. “Do you have a strength class?”

Nicole vaulted over a pothole and landed lightly. “I do. I’m no mage,” she said, chuckling.

Roger’s focus shifted to the fort. “Set her down. Riley, use your invisibility if needed.”

Nicole slowed, and Riley leapt. Landing lightly, she jogged toward the fort while searching for threats. Do I swap my disguise? Triggering it, she let it get replaced by whatever the gods decided.

The distant fort grew larger. Skills slammed into her, and she frowned. Gods, it’s harder now. As another skill ripped through her, she forced a lie into place. Just spying. Need to figure out what they are all up to. The pressure lessened, and her pace increased.

Veering around the fort, she raced across the area. A road had been made between the two forts. Soldiers on the ramparts looked toward them, and Riley triggered invisibility.

Racing forward, she let out a breath of relief. Gods, that pressure is something else. Racing past the fort, Riley looked out into the dark. I wonder how far they made it?

Following the roads, the group ran past villages and towns. Riley felt her legs start to burn. The outlines of trees and towns blurred.

Breathing heavily, Riley felt insight skills once more. A towering city appeared.

“Slow a bit,” Roger said, frowning and studying it. “I’m unsure where the border is.”

Riley slowed, moving carefully through the dark. Peering into the gloom, she tried to spot anything. Are there troops here? She followed Nicole through the fields around the city.

Insight skills rippled across her. Several, just searching for anyone. Well, this is a border to something. Creeping along, she felt one ripple over her. Triggering invisibility, she jogged a bit faster.

Roger turned and gestured. “This is—Riley?”

Riley bumped into him.

“Run quick. Use it as needed.” Roger handed her a rope.

Grabbing it, she turned and ran, using invisibility whenever skills hit.

Running across the frozen snow and ground, she closed the gap. The nearby city loomed. Its massive walls had several patrolling soldiers. In the distance, stone blurred and slammed into the gate.

Resonating booms filled the air. A distant fort came into view. An occasional ball of fire flew toward the city, and far stronger skills hit.

She frowned and triggered invisibility, chaining it while running toward the distant fortress. What lie do you use for this? She frowned and failed to think of an answer that wouldn’t trigger at least one side.

Dropping her disguise, she sprinted, tugging on her rope. The two assassins behind her kept pace. The stone fort grew larger, and a fireball streaked for them.

A flash of purple hit it, and the fire vanished. Riley sprinted. They’ll use arrows now. Tearing across the field, she kept up invisibility and was plucked from her feet.

Looking up at her father, she sighed. Was it the rope?

“Sorry,” Roger muttered, sprinting madly across the way. Arrows sunk into the nearby dirt.

The distant gate opened, and he tore through it. Riley looked at the torches and the fire. They flickered and cast light through the dark courtyard. Looks like all the forts. The mage-made buildings lined the stone walls. A man strode out of the barracks and frowned at each of them.

Roger stepped forward. “I have a note of introduction.”

The man ignored him, looking at Nicole and Riley. “I’m not the one you need to convince.”

An insight skill slammed into Riley. She gasped and nearly dropped to her knees. It screamed, demanding to see everything. Swallowing, she let it through. Please don’t let this be a mistake.

The pressure stopped. Straightening up, Riley saw an elven man walking across the courtyard.

“Gods, you’re real, both of you.” The elf walked up and held out his hand. “Commander Thalion.”

Riley shook it and looked at Nicole.

Nicole shook it, looked at Riley, and shrugged.

I don’t get it.

Thalion turned to Roger. “You must be Riley’s father.”

Roger handed him the letter. “Yes.”

Thalion flipped it open and skimmed. Riley turned. She bumped into Nicole. “What did he mean?”

“I don’t know.” Nicole shrugged.

“Welcome to our little fort. It’s good to see you both,” Thalion said, folding the paper and sticking it in his pocket.

Riley peeked.

[Thalion - 890. Commander 765, Ranger 723, Strategist 759, Truthseeker 734]

They don’t need me for anything. Riley looked up at him in surprise.

Thalion smiled. “Come. We have things to discuss, and I believe that’s my responsibility.” He gestured and walked to the barracks.