Banners of arrows dancing like royals in a ballroom fluttered in the light wind. These two poles marked the entrance to the Arrowaltz camp, in the heart of which, raged a huge campfire, trying to outshine the midday sun above. As the hunting party approached it and the central tent, they passed an alley of death: corpses, furs, and antlers of Verti deer hanging on meat rags. All around, young apprentices in white shirts scurried, taking care of the camp.

Overall, the camp was not quite unlike Saint Goblin’s Inn, except that in the bustle, there was a distinct lack of little green witless.

Aaron stopped and whistled, and a pair of young apprentices appeared in front of him. He took the wyrm and the Thing off his back, tossing the meat into the open arms of the white shirts. They groaned. A moment later, the poor lads stumbled and almost crumbled under the immense weight of the catch, before finding their balance once more. Seeing them struggle assured Adria: the hunter was strong beyond imagination. Sure, his red shirt hid a lot of mass. But it was there not only as a consequence of one feast too many.

Aaron began dragging La’Var and Martin to the back of the camp, to a dark tent lingering several dozen paces away from the rest. Adria limped after him and he stopped, turning towards her with a furrowed brow.

“It’s my catch,” she explained herself. “I’d be an idiot not to see where you’re taking it.”

“In this world, curious eyes get poked out.” Aaron laughed. “Sometimes it’s better staying an idiot than turning into a blind man.”

“Don’t worry about my eyes. They’re safe.”

Her last drops of energy went towards raising her hand and moving her fingers in the patterns of a spell, and she whispered under her breath. Aaron’s gaze shied away from her -- she’d reminded him of what she could do. He returned to walking.

In the cramped tent, out cast from the others, there were filthy cages: Aaron tossed La’Var into one. Martin was locked in a rotting wooden crate, faring a more uncomfortable fate.

Adria stared at the keys in Aaron’s hands.

“Uh-uh.” The hunter in red shook his head, gray hairs falling from his stubbly beard. “You’re not getting it.”

“It’s my catch.”

“Don’t care.”

“What if Rivers tells you to give it to me?”

“When Rivers does, I’ll give you the keys. Till then, they’re mine. After all, I tied these bastards up and dragged them all the way here.”

Adria sighed and raised a finger in protest, but Aaron was already pushing her aside and leaving the prison tent. By the forearm, he grabbed her. Before he could take her out of the tent, she turned around and eyed La’Var, thinking, I am so sorry this is the only way. Trust me, I’ll get you out of here. Don’t you ever forget that we have an inn to save, alright?

La’Var met Adria’s gaze and looked down at the filth of his cage.

The tent closed, shrouding the captives in darkness. And the thought of the hunter and the ghost, who had become Adria’s closest people during the week’s trials and tribulations, rotting away in the bleak nothingness cast a shadow over her as well. The pain and exhaustion became unbearable. She couldn’t stand it anymore, and when Aaron let go of her forearm, she collapsed.

“I guess you’re not a freak,” Aaron said, looking down at her. “Those wounds that should kill are killing you. We need to get you patched up. Rivers would be pissed if you died…”

Smirking, he picked her up. The world blurred in her vision. She grit her teeth and clung to the hunter in red, who carried her to the main tent--a white giant looming over the flaming heart of the camp. Inside, grim corridors of blue torchlight led to an infirmary of rows of beds and shelves of medicine. Apprentices in white coats attended it. The young guys gave her a mixture of herbs and a few potions and started taking off her bandages.

The blood drenching them had dried and stuck the cloth to her skin. As they tore off, she heaved and kept her eyes closed. The pain stopped. She opened her eyes, and endless cuts and bruises marked her forever. She shivered. It hadn’t been cold a moment ago, but now it was the north all over again.

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The apprentices went to another room to pick up rubbing alcohol and fresh bandages. Adria embraced herself and dozed off while in wait. Then her eyes snapped back open.

I can’t waste this moment, she thought and cried her way to her feet, and struggled to the potion shelves. At any point, the apprentices could return: quickly, she snatched and hid a dozen potions in her pockets. They clinked inside while she limped for her seat, and before she could make it, the apprentices returned, hands full and gazes suspicious.

“What were you doing?”

“Nothing,” she uttered, then added. “Wanted to see what kinds of potions you have.”

“We need to see your pockets,” one of the apprentices said, ignoring her excuse.

Adria’s heart dropped.

“...Sure.”

They approached her and she backed away. One of the apprentices snapped.

“Come on! We know--

The eyes of the apprentice shut. First, he stumbled then collapsed. The second’s eyes widened.

“Oh creature, thou grand hunt is finished and plenty a meal is awaiting your pack. Enough with the light -- embrace your slumber,” Adria whispered again and the second apprentice fell asleep.

Sorry. At least you’ll wake up fresh.

Adria patched herself up and drank a pair of potions. Light returned to the world. Energy flooded her body whilst the pain receded. She put the Arrowaltz into beds and wandered out into the tent. A room with Rivers caught her attention.

Surrounded by shelves, the hunter sat at a desk. The keys to La’Var’s and Martin’s prisons hung off his belt. A book of black pages and white ink laid open atop the table. There were glowing Verti deer antlers. He weaved his hands in peculiar patterns, muttering spell words. Rivers of light flowed from the antlers and filled up vials.

When Rivers finished, the antlers stopped glowing.

“Verti deer are wonderful creatures,” he said. “And, with all respect to your powers, you are too. The spell you cast is not something you see every day. No, in fact, it seems like you don’t understand your true potential, do you?”

“Trust me, I know very well.”

“But in your eyes I see… Ah, never mind. I see you’re confused. Do you know what we do with the Verti deer?”

Adria shook her head.

“I discovered that their sorcerous abilities can be turned into potions for aspiring wizards looking to increase their power. It’s a complicated set of spells, which leaves me destroyed, but it’s very much worth it for the riches it has brought to the Arrowaltz.”

Yes, they are a wonder of this world, Adria thought, putting on an agreeing smile. But they’re not meant to be hunted in droves as you do. Selling their magic is disgusting. You have to respect them!

Rivers looked at his hands then at his surroundings and, sighing, shook his head.

“Now look at me, hurrying. There’s no rush. We have until tomorrow before we return to town and we just finished a glorious hunt, but I’m out here working like a peasant. No, no, we must celebrate -- the breakfast feast has to be ready by now.”

He put his round glasses on the table, took Adria by the shoulders, and began leading her out of the room. Before they left, behind his back, she pocketed one of the glowing vials.

Over the raging campfire, boar and deer fried. In the flames’ hearth, soup boiled in a steel pot. The smell of wonderful food--reminiscent of U’lis kitchen--lingered in the air, bound to attract every beast in a kilometer’s radius.

Around the fire, tables had been placed and dozens of apprentices sat, dining on appetizers.

Rivers settled beside Aaron and Clay. Adria found a seat next to them as well. She got a plate of salad and cheese, and pastries of all kinds, and got a goblet of warm wine. Momentarily, she devoured half of her plate, then stopped in the middle of a bite. Glancing over her shoulders, she snatched a handkerchief. When no one looked, she grabbed cookies, wrapped them, and shoved them in her pocket. Into another pocket, Adria snuck cheese and ham.

Over the feast, she made conversation with the Arrowaltz, talking about the politics of Sparkling Valley, her home, the north, and hunting matters. She had no clue about anything related to hunting so she recited everything from La’Var’s stories. And for a moment, she caught herself grinning.

This is nice and calm, and everything I’ve ever wanted, she realized. I could play with Rivers’ heart and forever have a place in the Arrowaltz. We’d live in the forests, always on the move. The Liar couldn’t find me… Is this it? Is this…

Adria’s thoughts trailed off.

But I couldn’t be myself. I’d have to abandon Martin, La’Var, and the rest of the inn. But…

In her head, Adria went back and forth, trying to decide, while apprentices began filling up bowls with soup--the main dish. Finally, after deep and painful thinking and rethinking, Adria nudged herself over to Rivers, laying a hand on his thigh and tapping his shoulder. She put her lips against the hunter’s ears.

“Excuse me, do you have a bathroom somewhere around camp?”

Rivers nodded, pointing at a path.

“Thank you.” Adria winked and strolled away from the dining tables. She took her time, of course. This was the perfect opportunity. Her now sinister smile gleamed. And her fingers fished for just the right thing in her pocket.