Lyra cursed herself as she pushed her horse to gallop faster away from Taka. What had she been thinking, staying nearby? After the first of Bryn's men asked for her and she was sure Zari and Raldo gave the correct answer and so weren't in immediate danger, she should have fled.

At least it wasn't Bryn who'd come. But Fenrin was almost more dangerous. Her brother knew her in ways her father never bothered to. Save Ulris, he probably knew her better than anyone. She could picture him putting the pieces together. She may have always been the smarter one, but Fenrin wasn't stupid. She doubted he'd have to snoop around long to realize how perfect the guild had been for her. Then he'd know she hadn't left.

She should have.

Lyra bit her cheek in frustration. She was such a coward. She should have put the guild behind her and moved on, but the thought of starting over after finding someplace she belonged was painful. The guild had been a place where she was valued and she had clawed her way to the top by her own terms. Against her better judgement, she had hoped that somehow she'd be able to stay.

Stupid.

There was no going back. Back meant Bryn, forward meant freedom. She wouldn't let him control her again.

Lyra flinched and the horse slowed. What was she doing? She wanted to stay in Taka, it was Bryn who was forcing her away. Fear of Bryn.

"Woah!" She signaled the horse to a stop, stroking it's hot neck as she thought. She'd promised herself she wouldn't let anyone stop her from getting what she wanted. So why was she leaving?

She pulled the horse around, back towards Taka.

But if she went back to Taka, Fenrin would find her. He would bring her back to Bryn, or worse bring Bryn to her. As much as she hated the thought, she knew she couldn't beat her father. Not yet anyway.

Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings.

Frustration filled Lyra and to her own surprise, hot tears squeezed out of her eyes. Why did he have to ruin this? Why couldn't he just let her leave? She unconsciously clawed at the sleeve that hid the bear tattoo.

She rubbed her eyes, clearing the tears. What did she want?

When she'd left home, she had wanted to prove herself. Not to Bryn but to the world, and most importantly to herself. When she'd met the guild, she'd wanted to be respected and wanted. She had achieved that, but she could feel there was more, something just out of her grasp.

The guild knew her, but she wanted Taka to know her. To treat her name the way Hjor did of Bryn, with awe and fear. To have people who would obey her without question, to have the power to choose how the world around her was shaped.

Those lonely years of her childhood taught her that power came from being able to control your surroundings and not have them control you. It was when she took control of pieces that she grew stronger. If she was going to reach that point, she couldn't keep running. She had some influence in Taka, perhaps that was the place to make a stand.

Her horse shuffled impatiently beneath her and Lyra sighed. Her last rebellion against the Bear had yielded mixed results. The hard truth was that she couldn't beat Bryn as she was. Not alone anyway.

Fenrin.

Lyra's lips curled. She had no idea how the last year had treated her brother, but he'd carried himself with confidence when he'd entered Taka. She knew all too well how strong he was. Had his place by Bryn's side been solidified by her leaving? Did he have at least some of the same ambitions she had?

She knew he had passion, she'd seen it in his defeats and victories. Could a man like that really be satisfied taking orders?

Lyra chuckled to herself. Even if he was happy, she could plant doubt in his mind. He'd always been easy to convince. Maybe together they could defeat their father and win their freedom.

No doubt, he was searching for her now. The question was, did he go south like she had, or west? She shrugged, it didn't matter, if she wasn't hiding he'd find her. It was just a matter of time.