"This isn't a playground, dears. The castle is crawling with danger. You two are a liability with no training under your belts," Erin spat, her voice laced with venom.

Hurt flared in my chest, but Kass stepped forward, her chin held high.

"We're fast learners," she countered. "We can learn the skills we need. We've been adaptable survivors for a while now."

Erin scoffed.

"Adaptability won't save you from trained guards and a maze of deadly traps. This isn't some market stall you can haggle your way out of."

Just as Kass opened her mouth, likely to unleash some barbed comment laced with her signature bravado, I grabbed her arm, cutting her off. "Kass," I hissed, urgency tight in my voice.

Before any sound escaped her lips, I sent Kass a pointed look – a silent plea that said, "Don't."

The message landed. Kass's lips thinned into a tight line, but she clenched her jaw shut, the retort dying on her tongue. This wasn't the way to handle things. Kass, with her impulsive nature, was a powder keg waiting to explode. I needed to be the voice of reason, even if it meant shutting her down in such a public way.

"We won't be a burden," I interjected, my voice gaining strength. "We can contribute. We have sharp minds and we're not afraid to fight."

A tense silence descended. Caleb, who had been studying us with an unreadable expression, finally spoke. "Erin," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "They have potential. Raw, yes, but potential nonetheless. Let me train them. They could be valuable assets."

"Potential gets you a swift death sentence in this game, Caleb," Erin retorted, her voice laced with anger. "I won't risk the mission because of your bleeding heart. We need a clean, precise operation, not rookies stumbling around in the dark, attracting unwanted attention."

Caleb's voice, a soothing balm amidst the storm, cut through the tension. "They deserve a shot to prove themselves."

"Deserve?" Erin scoffed. The bitterness in her voice sent shivers down my spine. "This isn't about what they deserve, it's about what this mission demands! Experience. We need a team—"

"We can handle it," I blurted out, surprising myself with the steadiness in my voice. Erin's withering gaze snapped towards me, her stormy eyes narrowed with skepticism. But I held her stare, a flicker of challenge igniting within me.

Internally, though, chaos reigned. Erin wasn't entirely wrong. The weight of her words pressed down on me, a sobering reminder of the gravity of the situation. Fear, a cold serpent, coiled around my heart, squeezing the air from my lungs. Could we, truly, live up to the expectations? Were we prepared for the dangers that might lurk around every corner?

Caleb's hand landed on my shoulder, a silent reassurance. "Erin just... worries," he said with a gentle smile.

"Well, her worry is justified," Erin shot back, her voice laced with frustration. "Lives are on the line here, Caleb!"

"They're eager, they're quick learners, and they have something rookies often do – something you might be forgetting – raw, unbridled determination," Caleb said, his voice hardening slightly.

Erin's jaw clenched. "Determination won't save them if they make a rookie mistake and get us all killed!"

"And coddling them by keeping them out of real missions won't prepare them for the future, will it?" Caleb countered, his voice rising slightly. "This is their chance to gain that experience, to learn from the best – you and me."

Erin's nostrils flared.

"The best? Don't flatter yourself, Caleb. This is a terrible decision, and you know it."

Caleb locked eyes with her, his gaze unwavering. "This is my decision, Erin. And it's final. They're on the team. If you're not comfortable with that, then that's your choice. But the mission goes on, with or without you. Did I make myself clear?"

Erin's jaw clenched so tight her teeth seemed ready to shatter. Her voice, when she spoke, was a low growl. "This is a suicide mission, Caleb, and you're putting them in the line of fire. If that's the way you want to play it, then fine. But consider this your first mistake, and one I won't forget. Count me out."

With that, she spun on her heel and stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind her. The air crackled with the electricity of her anger, leaving a stunned silence in her wake.

Kass drawled, stretching dramatically, "Wow, she seems like a real barrel of laughs." Her voice dripped with sarcasm, cutting through the tension like a knife.

Erin's furious exit left a gaping hole in the room, the heavy silence amplifying the pounding of my heart. Erin was right. This mission was a gamble, a high-stakes dance with danger. Were we, truly, ready to be thrown into the fire?

Suddenly, Finn slammed his fist on the table with enough force to rattle the pictures on the wall.

"Now you've royally screwed the pooch, Caleb!" he boomed. "We can't pull this off without Erin."

Caleb, his jaw clenched but his posture unwavering, met Finn's gaze head-on.

"Erin's a valuable asset, I won't deny that. But we can't let her absence derail the mission. They've got the skills, the drive, and let's not forget that youthful fearlessness that can be a powerful weapon in the right hands."

A gruff chuckle rumbled from across the table. Marcus leaned back in his chair.

"Caleb's right, Finn. Look, Erin's a legend, no doubt. Rookies are rookies for a reason, sure. But they're also unburdened by past experiences, flinches, or scar tissue. They're fresh, hungry, and ready to prove themselves. We can leverage that. We'll double down on their training, make sure every skill, every contingency plan is drilled into them. We'll go in there tight, a well-oiled unit, and we'll get the job done."

A flicker of hope ignited within me. Caleb's unwavering confidence, backed by Marcus's pragmatic optimism, was a balm to my anxieties. Maybe, just maybe, we could pull this off. We would get the training, we had the information, and most importantly, each other.

This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

Stealing a glance at Kass, I saw a similar determination mirrored in his eyes. We were in this together, and together, we would rise to the challenge.

Finding my voice, I spoke up, my voice surprisingly steady.

"We won't let you down."

A smile tugged at the corner of Caleb's lips.

"I know you won't. Now, listen up. We don't have a lot of time, so we'll need to hit the ground running. Tonight, we'll start with the basics – hand-to-hand combat, infiltration techniques, and some essential survival skills."

He gestured towards a nearby weapons rack.

"We'll get you familiar with the equipment you'll be using, and then we'll dive into some real-world scenarios. Strategy will be key on this mission, so we'll spend some time running drills and war-gaming different approaches."

I felt a thrill course through me This was it. Our chance to prove our worth.

Kass practically vibrated with excitement. "Hell yeah!" she burst out, her eyes gleaming with a warrior's fire.

All those weeks hunched over the forge, all the meticulous crafting of blades and sharpening of axes – this was what it was all for. Finally, she'd get to put her skills to the test, the weapons singing in her hands instead of gathering dust on the workbench.

Caleb grinned.

"Consider yourselves on notice. Report to the training room sharp at seven. We've got a lot to cover before you become mission-ready."

The rhythmic clatter of dirty plates filled the tense silence as I stacked them on the rickety table. Every scrape felt deafening in the wake of Erin's dramatic exit. A mission already fraught with uncertainty had just been thrown into further disarray.

Finn and Caleb exited the room, their voices dropping to a conspiratorial murmur as they walked. Though muffled by distance, I couldn't help but strain to hear their conversation. "...new contraption I've been working on," Finn said, his voice filled with childlike pride. "...deadly efficient, I tell ya! The guard's won't stand a chance!"

A flicker of a smile played on Caleb's lips, a rare glimpse of amusement.

"Let's hope they're more effective than your last batch, Finn. Remember the time you caught poor Isaac instead of that pesky badger?"

Finn's face reddened further, but he let out a hearty laugh.

"Ah, that was a learning experience! These new ones, though... well, let's just say they'll be singing a different tune."

Across the room, Elyse sat by the window, a picture of serenity amidst the chaos. Unfazed by the argument between Erin and Caleb and even by Erin's angry departure, she continued to be engrossed in her book. Her quiet confidence was a stark contrast to the turmoil within me. It was as if she were a rock in the sea, completely unmoved by the crashing waves of worry and doubt that threatened to engulf us all.

In that moment, I envied her composure. Maybe it was naivety, or perhaps a deep-seated trust in her own abilities and the team around her. Whatever it was, it provided a sense of stability that I desperately craved.

Glancing at the doorway, I caught a glimpse of Kass slipping out, presumably to check on her burn scars with Isaac. A pang of sympathy shot through me – the scars were a constant reminder of Kass' past.

Taking a deep breath, I pushed the empathy aside. There was no time for sentimentality, not now. With a determined clatter, I set the plates down on the counter near the kitchen entrance. The rhythmic chopping sound grew louder as I approached, emanating from a figure hunched over a wooden chopping block in the dim light. Marcus, his brow furrowed in concentration, expertly maneuvered a heavy cleaver, separating the flesh of a deer from its hide.

Beside him, Orion, his trained hawk, perched regally on the back of a chair, occasionally eyeing the proceedings with keen interest. Marcus tossed a scrap of meat in Orion's direction, which the bird snatched expertly in mid-air.

Intrigued, I leaned against the doorway, watching Marcus' practiced movements.

"Fresh catch?" I asked, curiosity piquing.

Marcus glanced up, a flicker of surprise crossing his stoic features.

"I managed to bring down a fine stag earlier this morning. Figured we'd have a hearty meal before the day's done," he replied, the cleaver thudding satisfyingly onto the chopping block as he straightened. He gestured towards the deer with the cleaver.

"See, this part here," he pointed to a section of hide still clinging to the flesh, "is the trickiest bit. One wrong move and you could end up wasting a good portion of meat."

There was a quiet confidence in his voice that resonated with me. It was a stark contrast to the nervous energy buzzing in the dining hall just moments ago.

"Interesting," I replied, stepping closer for a better look. "Is there a specific technique to removing the hide cleanly?"

Marcus gave a curt nod.

"Absolutely. You want to follow the natural line between the muscle and the hide, making sure to keep your blade flat against the flesh. A little patience goes a long way." He demonstrated, holding the cleaver at a specific angle and expertly slicing a thin layer of hide away.

A spark of curiosity ignited within me.

"Survival seems like more than just fighting and spells," I mused, watching him work.

Marcus straightened, wiping his brow with the back of his forearm.

"Much more," he agreed, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "In fact, the flashiest spells and weapons won't do you much good if you can't find food, navigate through unfamiliar terrain, or treat a basic injury."

He met my gaze, his voice firm but not unkind.

"That's why I propose some additional training for you all. Fundamentals of survival in the wild – tracking, foraging, basic first aid. The things the scrolls might not have covered."

The unexpected offer surprised me. While I hadn't doubted Marcus's skills in the wilderness, I hadn't anticipated him taking on a training role.

"Survival training from you?" I asked, surprised.

He chuckled, a low rumble that surprised me further.

"Don't underestimate a man who can bring down a stag with a single, well-placed arrow and find edible berries hidden beneath a blanket of snow in the dead of winter. Those fancy scrolls can only get you so far. Sometimes, the oldest skills are the most essential."

A wry smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

"Let's just say I've had plenty of practice keeping a roof over my head and food on the table. A family with a growing appetite can be a great motivator to learn the finer points of hunting and gathering."

A flicker of surprise crossed my face. I hadn't realized Marcus had a family. It explained his quiet strength and resourcefulness in a new light.

"A family, huh?" I said, genuinely curious.

His smile faltered for a brief moment, a flicker of pain crossing his eyes before he schooled his features back into stoicism.

"Three younger brothers," he replied, his voice tight.

The silence stretched, heavy with unspoken questions. Finally, I ventured, "Why aren't they here with you?"

Hesitation flickered across Marcus' face. He glanced around the room as if searching for an escape, then met my gaze, the pain in his eyes now undeniable.

"They're... they're with my mother," he said reluctantly. "She wasn't a good woman. Not to them, not to me. But they're too young to leave on their own yet."

A wave of sympathy washed over me. The thought of his young brothers left in an abusive situation was gut-wrenching.

"I... I'm so sorry, Marcus," I stammered, unsure of what else to say.

He shook his head, a bitter laugh escaping his lips.

"Don't be. It's my burden to bear. But not for much longer." He leaned in, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "Once they come of age, I plan to take them away. Hide them where the King's reach can't touch them. That's why I need this mission to succeed. Every coin we earn, every resource we secure, brings me one step closer to giving them a chance at a real life."

"Finn said you're gone for a few days sometimes," I clarified. "I just assumed you were on hunting trips for the rebellion."

A flicker of sadness crossed his features.

"Not exactly," he admitted, his voice dropping to a low murmur. "While I do bring back some provisions for the rebellion, my main reason for venturing out is to check on my family." He hesitated, searching for the right words, "I make sure they have enough food and that they know I haven't forgotten them. Sometimes, just leaving a few rabbits or a sack of berries on their doorstep is the only comfort I can offer."

The weight of his responsibility settled heavily in the air. Here he was, a skilled hunter and protector, burdened by a past he couldn't change. Yet, his fierce love for his brothers burned bright, fueling his determination to create a better future for them.

A faint cough from the doorway startled us both. Kass stood there, clad in a form-fitting suit of leather armor that hugged her curves. The burn scars that marred her arms seemed almost invisible beneath the supple hide.

"Kira," she said, her voice firm, "Elyse needs you in the dormitory. Now."

There was a hint of urgency in her body language that couldn't be ignored.

"Of course," I replied, exchanging a worried glance with Marcus. He offered a curt nod, his expression unreadable.