They’d been in Hyasari for about two months. Service had just ended so they were going to leave when a nun walked up to them.

“Good afternoon. Lovely message today, wasn’t it?” When they both nodded, she continued. “I’m Sister Cheri. You’re Zadeer and Kiah, right? Father Phanes mentioned that one of you was looking for a job.”

Kiah nodded. “That would be me.”

“There’s someone here I think you should meet. Follow me.” She started walking back to the sanctuary and explained as they followed, “A man named Farrar Tanju mentioned looking for someone to help run his shop—a smithy near the northern markets.”

“How do you know that he’s still here?”

“He often stays for an hour or so after the service talking to people. He’s quite friendly. I believe he’s even talked with Queen Odelle before, though I didn’t see it myself.”

“Are you sure he’s not going to mind working with a goblin?”

“He mainly sells to goblins and fairies, actually. He stays away from using alchemy so most of them head to him. If he doesn’t mind selling to them, I don’t think he’d mind working with one.”

Cheri led them through the pews before stopping at one of the rows and gestured to one of the men gathered there. “That’s him. Good luck.” Then she gave them a reassuring smile and left.

Luckily, he noticed them standing there and Cheri rushing off. He chuckled, mumbled a farewell to the other people he was talking to, and turned all his attention to Kiah. “I see Sister Cheri’s been listening. I’m guessing you’re that person who might be interested in a job?”

Kiah nodded.

“Great! I can’t guarantee you’re hired until you see the place yourself but you’re definitely working towards it.” He held his hand out. “I’m sure she’s already told you, but I’m Farrar.”

“Kiah,” she returned as she cautiously shook his hand.

…

There was something about Farrar that she liked. It took a while to warm up to him and get a hang of his way of doing things. Then once every day wasn’t full of confusing questions and complicated answers, it was time to start working on the second half of the employment: learning Farrar’s trade, blacksmithing.

He carefully observed the dagger she just made. “Are you sure you don’t have any experience?”

“Absolutely none,” she responded with pride.

“Mom’s profession?”

“Seamstress.”

“Dad?”

“Whatever got him enough money for dinner.”

“Alright, I’m impressed,” he remarked as he handed it back to her. “I mean, of course it isn’t the best, but this is amazing for a first attempt. It’s even usable, with a little more work.”

“It’s a shame I don’t know how to wield it.”

“I can teach you,” Farrar offered.

Her look was enough of an answer for him, and he chuckled.

“Come in bright and early tomorrow,” he continued, “we’ll practice in the back until the shop’s open.”

…

She was vaguely acquainted with all the other goblins near where they lived. Eesat had made a point of introducing her to all of them, though honestly she didn’t remember all of their names. Even still, she was surprised that he walked up to her on her way home from Farrar’s shop.

“Kiah! A lovely evening Orestis has graced us with, isn’t it?” Eesat smiled.

It snapped her back to reality. “Yeah.”

“I’ve been meaning to ask, what do you think of the service here?” he prompted. “Far as I can tell most goblin provinces follow True Qizar’s standards, too. Must be pretty different from what you’re used to!”

“Definitely a lot more singing…”

“A friend of mine runs a special devotional for us goblins at her house. It’s a couple of hours after service every week. We decided to extend the invitation to you.”

“I don’t know… I’ve got a lot to do.”

“Look, it’s that little white house right there. You can come by whenever you want, I’m sure she wouldn’t mind.”

Kiah blankly nodded. “Thanks. I’ll… think about it.”

“That’s all I ask. Orestis willing, I’ll see you after service.”

…

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They’d been in Hyasari for about two and a half years before they heard anything from Efse. What they did get was nothing good; their lie was falling apart and it was only a matter of time before they realized the part she had in it. But they still didn’t have enough to pay for her to come to Hysari and they were quickly running out of options.

Suffice to say this made her incredibly distracted when she went to work. So much so she never realized when someone came in and started asking about things until Farrar came out of his office to check.

He helped and saw them out before properly addressing it with her. “What’s up with you today? Usually you’re on top of that kind of stuff.”

Her response was just a couple of mumbles.

“You know you can talk to me,” he remarked.

“I shouldn’t, though.”

“What’s the worst that could happen?”

“A lot more than you think…”

“Is it something at home?”

“Not quite…”

“It’s definitely not nothing.”

“Of course it isn’t.”

“Why can’t you just tell me what it is?”

“I can’t involve anyone else.”

“Why?”

“Because if you know, it’s only a matter of time before everyone else knows, and then we can say goodbye to whatever kind of normal this is supposed to be!” Finally, her wall was broken down by all of his questions. She hid her face in her hands to try to protect herself from revealing too much.

She heard Farrar walk away, lock the door, then come back to place a hand on her shoulder. “I promise that, whatever’s going on, your secret’s safe with me. Nothing’s going to leave this room if you don’t want it to.”

“Do you know what happens to goblins found to be in a relationship with a human?” was the first, quiet thing she said.

“It’s considered a form of heresy according to their interpretation of the Commandments, isn’t it?” He paused. “Is someone you know..?”

“Remember Zadeer, the one that comes to pick me up sometimes when I’m running late? He’s my dad. We moved here when goblins in my village started to realize there was a human child there. My mom’s still there and now they’re figuring out that she was the mother of that human child.” Kiah took a slow, steady breath. “It took Zadeer eight years to collect enough for the two of us. Even though I’m working now, we still don’t have enough for her… and the longer she stays there, the less time we have before she’s found out and sent to Vriuh.”

“Why didn’t you just say that?” The sound of him rushing around made her peak through her fingers to watch him. Eventually he walked back with a handful of coins, quietly counting them. “Here I’ve got twelve bronze and two silver. I’m not sure how much it costs for traveling across the kingdom, but this’ll definitely help with something and I’ve got a friend who can lend me some more.” He sat them all on the table in front of her.

“Farrar…”

“Don’t worry about it, this is just the spare change I’ve got lying around. Honestly I probably would’ve spent it all at the bar downtown, so really you’re helping me out too.”

“Thank you…”

…

Efse kept circling around her, somehow still thinking of questions to ask. “Have you found good friends? Are you keeping up with your studies? When did you cut your hair..? Aren’t you cold? Why don’t I knit you a nice, big scarf? Or a blanket?”

“Mom! Please, stop hovering! I’m as happy as you are that you’re here now but you need to slow down.”

Efse finally stopped. “You know I can’t help it. It’s such a relief to finally all be together again.” She glanced at Zadeer and added in modern language, “Perhaps it’s time to start living the life you wanted to have all along.”

Zadeer just gave a distant smile.

“Mom, I need to go to work,” Kiah said gently, stepping past Efse. “Farrar’s probably waiting for me. I’m not usually so late…”

“Alright, I’ll let you go.” Efse hugged her. “Promise to be back as soon as possible. And give him my thanks. Oh! How about you invite him to dinner? That way I can thank him for everything that he did for us.”

“Mom, you’re forgetting the part where none of know to cook. We’re going to end up poisoning him…”

…

Farrar told her that she was naturally skilled in swordplay. Personally, though, she preferred a bow; as far as she was concerned, the further away she was, the better. Out of everyone he had introduced her to, they all admitted they didn’t know someone with as accurate of a shot as her.

“So what’s your endgame for this, anyway?” Farar asked one day after they’d finished training.

She shrugged. “Self defense, I guess? I don’t really know what I’d use it for, as long as I stay here in Hyasari.”

“Did you ever think of selling your services?”

“Like… a mercenary?”

“Yeah. You’ll get to travel, plus I’m sure there’s some low-effort things some nobles are willing to pay for. I think you’d be good at it.”

“I guess it doesn’t sound too bad…”

“How about I let you test the waters? I know a girl that’s on top of that kind of stuff. We can find something simple for you to do and see how you like it. If it’s better than this then you can get your Talmi-Amitael pin and become an official merc.”

…

It turns out that he was right. Efse wasn’t too fond of the idea and Zadeer’s silence at the suggestion meant that he felt the same, but Kiah was sure of her decision. She spent two years chasing bounties with Farrar’s suggestion until a certain one led her right to the border—in the middle of the peace talks between Qizar and Seothia.

Farrar had told her that the person she was looking for was dangerous. He’d seemed to possess a personal distaste for them but he never told her why. The only thing she got out of him was that they used to be old friends. The longer she thought about it, the less she could remember any point in time where she really thought this person was worth the trouble. All she had was what he’d said to her.

Kiah spotted him heading out of Ilystalos. She trailed him long enough to be sure of where he was going and staged to intercept him. According to Farrar there was something on him that someone else was willing to pay a lot for; her intention was to get it and bring it back, not necessarily to hurt him. Of course, it seemed their little skirmish drew some attention to them and they were eventually both taken by the Seothian soldiers.

She waited in the tent they brought her into, not at all worried and mostly just wanting to be done. After a bunch of talking outside, someone finally entered—someone who, by picture alone, recognized to be King Casper of Seothia.

“You fought well out there,” he remarked. “What made you two fight in the first place?”

“That guy’s got a pendant that I need,” Kiah replied casually. “Well, that someone else needs it. I was hired to get it.”

“A mercenary, then? What’s your name?”

“Kiah.”

“You don’t have anything to do after this, do you?”

“Why do you ask?”

“See, my son tends to wander and my wife’s a worrier. We’re looking for someone to keep an eye on him and, seeing your apparent experience, I think you’re the person for the job.”

“What’s in it for me?”

“A pay you’ll hopefully find much more worth it than all the running around of a mercenary.”