Suli watched as Rase dropped cubes of meat into the sizzling pan, kicking up a splash of burning oil. Her mouth watered as the aromatic scent of spices wafted up– then cut off as Rase replaced the lid.

“Whyyyyyyy?” She complained in an exaggerated manner, leaning back in her makeshift seat.

Rase laughed at the question, firelight gleaming off his flawless white teeth. “Patience,” he answered with a soft voice. “Hastiness is the surest way to ruin a good meal.”

Suli groaned as she lay back on the hard ground. She instantly regretted it. Despite the roaring fire, the earth was still cold.

“But I’m hungry!” Suli complained as she sat back up. It was true. The week-long expedition had already taken its toll. She was tired, hungry, and sore.

“I’d kill for a proper bed right now,” she muttered as she thumbed the Well hanging from her neck.

“You’re free to bring whatever you can carry.” Rase’s tone was light, but his eyes flicked downward for the briefest of instances. The ring on Suli’s finger was suddenly very heavy.

“I’m not going to waste storage on something so stupid,” she grumbled. “I’d rather continue to carry your belongings.”

He laughed. “And for that, we are very grateful indeed.” As Rase spoke, Naru appeared behind him. Tasha, their adoptive daughter, looked tiny beside him.

“She’s not the only one who’s hungry,” the giant warrior rumbled. “Tasha needs to eat soon.” He took a seat by the fire. Tasha followed suit. She was one of many orphaned by the war. It was still odd, having such a small child accompany them into Umbra, but better this than a crowded orphanage– or worse. And she had proven her use on more than one occasion.

“It’s all clear. The masked one offered to keep watch.”

“Alone?” Suli bolted to her feet.

Naru shrugged. “He offered.”

She scowled. “That doesn’t mean you can just leave him behind!”

“Why not? He’s clearly more adept than any of us,” he pointed out. “And of all the things he may be, I doubt a fool is one of them. He’ll call us if anything happens.”

If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

Suli bit her lip. “Even so…”

She pondered for a moment longer before retrieving her staff. “I’ll stand watch with him.” As she strode away, Suli wove a thread of essence into shape. A ball of light, no larger than her fist, winked into being just above the palm of her hand. She gritted her teeth as a wave of pain rolled up her arms. Even a spell as small as this one was costly.

It took her a few minutes to find the last member of their party.

Suli froze as the fisherman came into view. He called himself Ember– an alias of some sort, no doubt, but that was no reason for concern. Such things were common. More concerning was the fact that he hid his face– and that he currently stood over a corpse.

She watched as he yanked his blade free of the dead Reaver. It was an odd weapon. Not for material choice; there were plenty of elven weapons in the human kingdom– the war had seen to that– but his was longer and thinner than any she’d seen. Stranger still was its color. It was a shade of deep violet, the same color as his mask.

Suli shivered as he turned to face her. The mask he wore was perfectly smooth, save for two gashes where the eyes were.

“What is it?” Ember’s voice was cold and impersonal and made all the more so by his mask. Their voice was undoubtedly masculine, but that was all the information it offered.

“I came to stand watch with you.”

“I don’t need your help.” His reply was as quick as it was curt.

“... I see.” Suli suddenly felt very foolish. She should’ve expected as much. “Rase is almost done cooking,” she said softly, unwilling to back down completely. If they were going to work together, there needed to be some sort of shared camaraderie. “There’s a portion for you, if you want it.”

“I have my own rations.”

“Whatever they may be, Rase’s cooking is better, I promise you.” Suli paused for a moment, reconsidering her strategy. “I won’t ask you to spill your life’s secrets to us,” she said firmly. “But like it or not, we’ll be trusting our backs to each other. And not just mine. Rase, Naru, Tasha… It’s my job to make sure that we all work together smoothly. That includes you.”

Ember tilted his head, and for a moment, she was afraid she’d gone too far.

“I’ll do my job. You do yours.” His voice was just as flat and emotionless as before.

Suli sighed. “That’s not what I mean. They need to get to know you. This is a necessity, true enough, but one we are prepared to forego.” Her voice tightened. “If you won’t show us who you are, then we’re better off without you. Umbra is treacherous enough without being wary of a teammate.”

Her words hung there for a long while.

“Next time,” Ember finally said. “I’ll join you next time.”

She nodded. “I’ll hold you to it.”