Logan's farmhouse. Outside Pella, the Territories of Ilsylvania. Day 03.

Tyree jolted and reached for the sword that always lay by her side, but her hands grabbed only bedsheets. She caught her breath, realizing she’d had a nightmare. But still, her sword wasn’t at her side.

That was when Tyree realized she wasn’t in AnaBeth’s inn. Tyree strained to sit up, her head on fire. She only just realized her left eye was covered by bandages she could feel going around her head. Tyree looked around and saw a familiar face. Her old adventuring mate, Logan, was sitting in a chair reading a book.

“Logan?” Tyree called. “What is going on?”

Logan turned a page, then started. “Oh, Tyressa, you’re awake! Good.”

Logan set down his book and walked over to Tyree’s bedside. He looked older than the last time Tyree had seen him. He’d added considerably more grey to his light reddish brown hair and his beard was considerably wispier. The half-serethi man was the oldest in their party at over a hundred and fifty, young for a full-blooded, but already far older than Tyree would likely live.

“How did I get here?” Tyree hated the fact that she’d apparently had a chunk of her memory missing. The only thing she remembered was finding that village that had been massacred to the last person by goblins. Had she run into them? Where were Tarik, Shai, and Caleb?

“You were attacked just south of here. You were banged up pretty badly.” By the forced gentleness in Logan’s tone, Tyree began to dread his answer with every word he spoke.

“And my squad? Where are they…?”

Memory came flooding back to her. They’d been walking to Pella from their return trip to Araedi following that bright purple light filling the sky. The Guardians had returned and… and they had killed Tarik. He’d given them a friendly wave and they killed him. But that wasn’t all. She’d heard her daughters.

“Tyree! Calm down! Here, take a sip of this!” Logan pushed a drink into Tyree’s hands.

She’d been hyperventilating and began sipping the drink, which was a strong, earthy tea.

“Please tell me my children are safe.” Tyree set the drink down in her lap.

“They’re safe. They’re outside. Listen.”

Tyree heard the faint sound of one of them, Alyx, laughing. She swung her legs out from under her blanket and tried to stand. Her whole body felt drained, just that little bit of effort had taken it out of her.

“Help me stand? I need to see them.”

Logan shook his head. “No, you need rest and… you’re not going to listen to me, are you?”

“No.” Tyree shook her head. She managed to work herself closer to the bed’s edge. “The way I see it, you have two choices: help me or let me fall and hurt myself even more.”

Logan sighed, but went to Tyree’s side. He handed her a cane, which she used to prop herself up as Logan helped her stand.

Each step towards the window felt like she was wearing armor made of lead, but she didn’t fall or stumble.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Outside, Alyx and Lynn were running around with a man whose long white and silver hair suggested age, but who moved with the fluidity and grace of youth.

“Who is that?” Tyree asked.

“His name is Halzy. He’s one of the Guardians who helped capture your attackers. We spoke earlier. He’s a good man.” Logan said. “He told me he and the other Guardians had something bad happen to them. He believes that’s why you were attacked yesterday.”

“What happened to my squad?” Tyree asked again, realizing Logan had never answered her question.

He looked at her with sadness in his eyes. “They didn’t make it. I’m sorry, Tyree.”

There was a knock at the door. Aliyah opened it, carrying a tray with three cups and a large teapot.

“I heard you two talking, I figured you could use a drink…” Aliyah trailed off as her gaze shifted from the empty bed to Tyree and Logan at the window. “Tyressa Norraine Pearce, you shouldn’t be standing. And Logan, you know better!”

“Busted,” Logan said under his breath. He looked up at Aliyah, an air of playfulness in his words. “In my defense, she all but threatened to hurt herself even more if I didn’t help her.”

Tyree jabbed a thumb into Logan’s arm and whispered, “Way to throw me to the dragon’s nest alone.”

“A smart adventurer knows when he is outmatched,” Logan whispered back. He slipped past Aliyah and closed the door behind him.

Aliyah set the tray on the nightstand and fixed two cups of tea, setting one on the bed and holding the other as she patiently waited for Tyree to all but drag herself to the bed.

Tyree took the cup and sipped. The brew was sweet and strong. “New recipe? It’s good.”

“Halzy made it. He’s a very good herbalist,” Aliyah replied, sipping from her own glass. She set the cup down, then reached for Tyree’s shirt, pulling her into a long kiss.

Taken aback, Tyree placed her arms around Aliyah. Aliyah pulled away, burying her head in Tyree’s shoulder and the two just held each other for a time. Aliyah sniffled and Tyree felt something wet on her neck. Aliyah pulled away and handed Tyree a cloth napkin.

“Tyree,” Aliyah began. “Why do you always insist on putting yourself in harm’s way?”

“I didn’t. Those Guardians attacked us,” Tyree said softly.

“No, they attacked Tarik. You should have fallen back with Caleb and Shai,” Aliyah said more firmly.

Tyree stayed silent. She couldn’t protest as she knew Aliyah was right. She’d charged into battle when she’d seen Kronos stabbed over and over. They hadn’t seen her and the others yet; Tyree should have ordered a swift retreat. Shai and Caleb would still be alive if she had.

“No, that’s not fair. I wasn’t there, I can’t… I’m sorry, Tyree,” Aliyah said, wiping more tears from her eyes. “Tyree, when I saw the state you were in when Lynn and Alyx brought you here… You looked awful. What if they had found you dead? They’ve already lost Lucien. I don’t want them to lose you, too. I can’t lose you. I don’t get the luxury of growing old with you. Call me selfish, but I want to spend as much of our time together as possible.”

Tyree hadn’t seen this version of her wife, tearful and vulnerable in over a decade. It was a version of Aliyah she’d hoped she’d never live to see again.

There was a great irony in her wife’s words. This was the exact same conversation she’d intended to have when she got here. Ever since finding the ruins of that village and seeing all that death, Tyree had known what her path would be.

“I’m resigning my commission with the army,” Tyree finally said. “Pella’s my last assignment.”

“What will you do? Adventuring is in your blood. I know that’s why you joined in the first place,” Aliyah said.

That wasn’t the only reason Tyree had joined. The deeper reason, the one she’d kept even from Aliyah, was why she had progressed so quickly through the ranks. As a captain, her survivorship benefits to Aliyah and their daughters, plus whatever earnings they had left from their past life as adventurers would be enough to ensure Aliyah would never have to work when Tyree was gone.

“I’ll figure something out. But I know in the short term, I want to hang out with you, our daughters, and our friends.”

Aliyah chuckled, a soft smile returning to her face. “I know you’ll get bored within a week. But we’ll worry about that then. Right now, I need you whole again.”

She leaned in and kissed Tyree again, this time running her hand up the small of Tyree’s back and pulling her entire body closer in a way that made Tyree want to grab Aliyah and never let go. Disappointment rose in Tyree’s thoughts as Aliyah pulled away and left the room.