"We should travel to the Northwest," Cynthia said.

She lay next to me in bed, resting her hand on my chest—gold ring glittering on her finger.

"I heard there are elves there... good ones like you."

I lifted my hand feeling the warmth of my matching wedding band. These rings were magic. One look at them had melted through Mrs. Dulldrey's icy exterior and finally shut up Gren. Even Cindra looked happy; it didn't suit her. The only person who hadn't changed was Mr. Reeves, his familiar smile crinkling his eyes whenever he looked at us.

"Hey, are you listening?"

"Sorry..."

I shifted in bed.

Cynthia tapped an impatient finger on my chest.

"OK. What's wrong?" She asked.

"No one's seen Lady Sin in a week."

"That's not unusual. Sometimes, she leaves the mansion for a few days."

"But she tells Mrs. Dulldrey when she's going out. She didn't tell anyone this time."

"Why are you so worried?"

I thought back to Sin slouched in a chair, cradling her knife in her arms. I couldn’t help but shiver.

"You don't know her like I do."

"Well, it won't matter in a few hours. We're packed and ready to go! Are you excited?!"

"Yeah."

"Liar."

She was right. My stomach was queasy and getting worse with each passing minute.

"Well, I expected you to have cold feet, so I planned ahead."

Her smile turned mischievous.

"Cindra is coming with us."

"What?!"

"I asked her to come. I know you two have always been... close."

That’s one word for it.

"I thought it might help you adjust to life outside the mansion. I might even learn to tolerate my sister."

"I'm surprised she said yes."

"I know, right? She jumped at the chance."

"How will Mrs. Dulldrey and Mr. Reeves take care of the mansion by themselves?"

"Mrs. Dulldrey said she would hire more people."

"Wait. Was everyone in on this but me?"

"Well, it was a surprise. Are you surprised?"

I nestled deeper into my pillow. The queasiness was gone.

Was that it? Was that the last thing holding me back from leaving?

"I'm elated."

"Elated? That's a fancy word."

"Mr. Reeves' a good teacher. We should get ready."

I rolled to my side of the bed, sat up on the edge and froze.

On top of the dresser was a plain white envelope that wasn't there the night before. I should know; I’d been awake for most of it. I picked up the envelope and turned it over in my hands.

My stomach sank.

It had a red wax seal imprinted with a hawk's talon. It was from Sin—it had to be. I didn't know what disturbed me more: that she had slipped into my room without me or Cynthia noticing or that she had left a letter. It was too formal—not like her at all. I didn’t need to open it, but I couldn’t put it down. Trapped between fear and curiosity, I fumbled at the wax seal with trembling fingers.

I took a deep breath when I finally broke the seal, pulling out the folded paper. It was my first time seeing Sin’s handwriting, it was neat and precise, lacking the flair I expected from her.

Dear Jacob,

I was wrong. I have failed you by not completing your training and failed myself by giving in to weakness. Let us end this today and become the weapons we are meant to be.

Go to Elmer's Trinkets and Sundries in the Upper District and receive my third lesson.

-Sin

The queasiness was back, an unease that gripped my guts like a vice. The third lesson. How many years had I waited for this? Why did she wait until the day I planned to leave?!

Spirits curse you, Sin!

I exhaled, my breath shuddering as my body trembled. I had to go, not for me but for Cynthia. The world was dangerous, one giant game of predator and prey. I had seen how quickly the roles could reverse. How could I protect her, myself or even Cindra if my training was incomplete? I would go to this store and be back in a few hours. I solved the second challenge in less than a minute this should be no different.

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"Jacob? What's that you're holding?"

I turned to my fiancé.

"I love you, Cynthia Woods."

She scrunched up her face.

"I love you too. Why am I sensing a but?"

"I need to go somewhere. I'll be back in a few hours."

She looked at me for a long moment before leaning back into the bed, hands behind her head.

"Fine. Be quick about your task, my Lord, lest I find another fiancé."

I smiled, leaning to the right to give her an awkward seated bow.

"Of course, my Lady."

I crawled over to her and planted a long kiss on her lips before jumping up and getting dressed.

It was unsurprising that Sin inspired my clothing. The red overcoat I shrugged on was a bigger version of the one she gave me many years ago. Mrs. Dulldrey had made some changes based on my preferences. I admired the golden trim on the coat's edges and the matching belt sash I wrapped around my waist.

My hair was next. I cut the sides of my head low— Cynthia's suggestion; she liked it when I showed off my ears. I tied the locs on my head in a messy top knot held in place by the first lockpick Cindra gave me. I slipped into my knee-high black boots and blew Cynthia a kiss as I ran out of the room.

Elmer's Trinkets and Sundries had a plain, windowless storefront of weathered stone. The small, faded sign above my head was the only indicator I was in the right place. As I walked closer to the door, I noticed something, a groove in the wooden door frame in the shape of a hawk's talon. I almost missed it. It was the same symbol on the letter's red wax seal.

Spirits below.

For the tenth time since leaving the mansion, I checked for the throwing knife hidden in my coat's sleeve. The strip of metal was a cold, hard comfort against my forearm. I breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever was behind that door, I would be ready.

I am the hunter, not the hunted.

I burst through the door in a low crouch, scanning the room—throwing knife pulled from my sleeve, ready to fly. A small man on the opposite side of the room yelped and ducked behind his counter. A moment later, half his head popped up. He stared at me through bizarre glasses that had a second set of lenses above the ones he saw through. It made him look like a bug.

"You're him, right? You’re Jacob?"

The tension in my shoulders eased an inch.

"Yeah, that's me."

"Well, close the door before the insects come in."

I lowered my throwing arm and scanned the room again.

The store lived up to its name. The room was smaller than my guest room. Shelves packed tight with dust-covered trinkets lined the walls.

"Where's Sin?"

"In the wind. You must know how flighty that woman is. She didn't even stay for tea!"

I closed the door and tucked my throwing knife back into my sleeve. I walked across the room in slow, deliberate steps as the man sat back on a stool behind the counter. He dabbed at the sweat covering his balding pate and sipped from an ivory teacup.

"What's your name?"

"Elmer Elmer. Don't ask."

I chuckled.

"Well, Elmer Elmer, I'm in a rush. Did she give you anything for me?"

"Oh, yes, indeed. Yes, yes."

He hopped off his stool and waddled on stubby legs behind a curtain to the back room.

I leaned on the counter, running my hand over the deep grooves in the wood. It was well used. This shop belonged to a serious craftsman.

A moment later, Elmer burst through the cloth barrier. He whistled to himself as he walked up and slid a wooden, rectangular box across the counter. He ducked down behind the counter and rustled through papers. A moment later, he popped up with a familiar-looking letter and placed it over the box.

I took the letter first, turning it over in my hands. The red wax seal stared at me; the talon symbol was like a lopsided smirk.

What’s your game, Sin?

I broke the seal and read the message in the dim lantern light.

The third lesson is ruthlessness.

That made me pause. I turned to the side, expecting Sin to walk out of a dark corner of the room.

Nothing—only cobwebs.

I turned over the paper.

That was it? Where was the clue?

I tucked the paper into my coat pocket and rested my hand on the wooden box.

Elmer licked his lips.

"What's wrong?" I asked.

"Nothing, nothing! I'm just excited for you to see it."

That was ominous.

The red chestnut box had a bronze clasp and hinges. I turned the clasped side away from me, unlocked the box and opened it in slow increments. I waited for the sound of a spring-loaded trap to release or for my body to fly from an explosion. The oiled hinges didn't even squeak.

Elmer looked up at me, face bright like he expected to get a pat on the head. I turned the box, and my eyes bugled.

Red velvet lined the box's interior. In the middle, a black wooden cane with gold accents rested in a cavity. I ran my hand along the black lacquer surface, lifting it out of the box. It was shorter and thicker than a normal cane, with a small, gold knob handle. Next to the handle were two raised bands of gold, evenly spaced a hand's width along the cane's length. The lengths of wood between the knob and each metal band curved like the handle of a sword. I wrapped a hand around the handle closest to the middle.

"Turn it clockwise, clockwise," Elmer said, twirling his finger.

I twisted the handle with a satisfying click and pulled out the gleaming blade. It was a short sword in the style Sin taught me to use. Elmer flipped the second set of lenses down over his glasses; his brown eyes doubled in size.

"Beautiful, so beautiful. I spent six months making it."

I nodded, speechless.

"Try the other end."

I put the scabbard part of the cane on the counter and twisted the second handle. A dagger slid out of the short sword’s hilt. The small weapon felt different—hungry. For what?

"Now, give me the dagger."

I cocked my head at Elmer and presented the dagger blade first to the craftsman. He plucked the dagger out of my hands without a second thought and wiggled it in front of me.

"Now, take it back."

I reached for the knife. He pulled his hand away, a smug look on his face.

"Really?"

I reached for it again. He extended his arm in a game of keep away. I wasn't a kid anymore.

"Give it!"

A moment later, the dagger disappeared and rematerialized in my grasping hand. I blinked at the sudden weight in my right hand. It was like Sin's knife but better.

"What was that?"

"It's enchantment! As long as you have the short sword on your person, you can will the dagger into your hand. Whichever hand you want but you need at least one of them free. Do you understand?"

I nodded, a boyish grin on my face.

"I think so."

"Good, good. Oh, I almost forgot-"

He ducked under the counter again, returning with a leather sword belt. I resembled the cane and slid it into the loop of the sword belt. To my surprise, the first gold band held it in place. I secured the sword belt to my hips underneath my belt sash.

"Thank you!"

Elmer returned my appreciation with a broad smile.

"What are you going to call it?"

"What?"

"A weapon like that needs a name."

I frowned. Nothing came to mind. Elmer gave me an apologetic smile.

"All in due time. The Luskaine Castle wasn't built in a day."

The conversation lapsed, and an awkward silence filled the room.

"Anyways... I have somewhere to be."

Elmer scratched the back of his head.

"I understand. Come back when you need something."

"Thanks! I will."

As I walked out of the store, I paused.

What did this have to do with ruthlessness?!

I wracked my brain, thinking back to the previous lessons from so long ago. There were three lessons with three parts: a word, a clue, and a challenge. I answered the challenge; Sin supplied the word and the clue.

What was the clue? Usually, she told me.

As if on cue, a gust of wind carried the smell of ash and death. In the heat of the morning, the cold realization struck me. The letter was a misdirection, a way to make me leave the mansion. Elmer was there to keep me busy while-

I lifted my head to the sky.

A trail of black smoke snaked across it.

It was only a feeling, but deep down, I already knew.

That smoke was coming from the mansion. My home was on fire.