The road to Valebrook wound through a patchwork of fields and forest, the greenery gradually giving way to signs of civilization. By late afternoon, Harris and Liam found themselves at the outskirts of Valebrook, its cobblestone streets bustling with townsfolk. Valebrook was larger than Greenhollow, with stone buildings sporting slate roofs and chimneys puffing smoke. Merchants called out from their stalls, the aroma of roasted meats and freshly baked pies hanging in the air. Children ran through the streets, laughter blending with the general chatter of the town.

Liam’s eyes widened, and he grinned. “Look at this place! I told you it’d be something, didn’t I?” He gestured broadly, as if personally responsible for the vibrancy of the town. “And smell that? I’m getting a pie, Harris. We’re getting pies.”

Harris sighed, shaking his head. “Priorities, Liam. We’re here for the artifact, remember?” But he couldn’t help a small smile at Liam’s excitement. The thought of a warm pie, even under the current circumstances, was enticing. Maybe they could afford a brief stop before meeting the noble—it wasn't like they would be able to negotiate well on empty stomachs.

They navigated through the crowded streets, stopping briefly to buy two meat pies from an elderly woman who eyed Harris suspiciously as he handed over the coins. Liam took a large bite, sighing in satisfaction. “You know, for someone who wants to keep a low profile, you sure do have a knack for attracting glares,” Liam said, his mouth half-full.

“Occupational hazard,” Harris replied dryly, glancing around. Valebrook was as he remembered it—bustling, a touch of danger lurking beneath the cheerful surface. He noticed a few shady figures lingering near an alleyway, their eyes scanning the crowd with a practiced ease that hinted at trouble. It seemed that, despite its cheerful facade, Valebrook held its fair share of secrets.

They made their way to the largest building near the town square, a stone manor surrounded by an iron fence. A pair of guards stood at the gate, eyeing them as they approached.

“State your business,” one of them said, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword.

Harris nodded, keeping his tone respectful. “We’re here to see Lord Atwood. He’s expecting us.”

The guard raised an eyebrow, looking Harris and Liam over before exchanging a glance with his companion. After a moment, he gestured for them to follow. “Wait here. I’ll inform the lord.”

They were left standing awkwardly in the courtyard, the sound of the bustling town fading into the background. Liam shifted from foot to foot, looking around with open curiosity. “This place is fancier than I imagined. Think he’s the kind of noble who has secret passages and hidden dungeons?”

Harris snorted. “I’d settle for him not having us thrown in a visible dungeon.”

Liam chuckled, but Harris could sense the tension in his friend. It was easy to joke, but they both knew this meeting could go in any direction. They were putting their trust in someone who had the power to make things very difficult for them, and Harris had learned long ago to be wary of nobles who spoke in veiled terms.

After a few minutes, the guard returned, motioning for them to follow him inside. The manor’s interior was richly decorated, tapestries lining the walls, and the air was filled with the scent of polished wood and incense. Harris took in the surroundings, noting the expensive furnishings and the portraits of stern-looking ancestors. Lord Atwood clearly wanted to convey an image of authority and tradition.

They were led into a sitting room, where a man in his fifties sat behind an ornate desk. His graying hair was neatly combed, and his eyes were sharp, assessing them with an intensity that made Harris’s skin prickle.

“Lord Atwood,” the guard announced before stepping out, closing the door behind him.

The noble gestured to the chairs in front of his desk. “Please, sit. You must be Harris... and this would be Liam, yes?” His voice was smooth, each word measured. Harris could tell instantly that this was not a man to be underestimated.

Harris inclined his head, taking a seat, with Liam following suit. “Thank you for seeing us, Lord Atwood. We understand you’re in possession of an artifact that might help us with... a mutual problem.”

Lord Atwood’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Indeed. The artifact. But I am afraid such items do not come without a price. You see, I have a rather delicate issue that requires someone of your particular... talents.” His gaze lingered on Harris, and Harris felt the weight of the noble’s scrutiny.

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Liam frowned. “What kind of issue?”

Lord Atwood steepled his fingers, leaning back in his chair. “There is a group of brigands causing trouble to the west of Valebrook. They’ve grown bold, harassing traders and travelers. Normally, I’d send my own men, but these brigands have proven... resourceful. I need someone with experience. Someone who understands how to deal with these matters quietly.”

Harris’s jaw tightened. He could see where this was going. “And in return, you’ll give us the artifact?”

“Precisely,” Lord Atwood said, his smile widening slightly. “Of course, I don’t care how you deal with them. If you can convince them to leave, wonderful. If you need to take more... drastic measures, I won’t lose sleep over it.”

Liam shot Harris a worried glance, but Harris kept his expression neutral. The noble’s request was more of an order, and they both knew it. Refusing wasn’t an option—not if they wanted the artifact.

“We’ll see what we can do,” Harris said finally, his voice betraying none of the turmoil he felt inside.

Lord Atwood nodded, seeming pleased. “Excellent. I’ll have one of my men provide you with directions. I look forward to hearing of your success.”

As they left the manor, Liam was uncharacteristically quiet, his brow furrowed. Harris could feel the weight of his friend’s gaze, the unspoken questions hanging in the air.

Finally, as they walked away from the iron gates, Liam spoke. “You’re not really going to... you know, hurt them, are you? I mean, they’re just brigands, right? Maybe they’re desperate or...” He trailed off, uncertainty in his voice.

Harris let out a slow breath, his eyes fixed on the horizon. “I don’t want to hurt anyone, Liam. But we need that artifact, and sometimes... sometimes there aren’t any easy choices.” He glanced at Liam, seeing the worry etched on his face. “But I’ll try. I’ll try to find another way.”

Liam nodded, his expression softening. “I know you will. Just... don’t let this place change you, okay? You’re not Malakar anymore.”

Harris gave him a tired smile. “I’m trying, Liam. One step at a time.”

They walked in silence for a while, the bustling sounds of Valebrook gradually fading behind them. The sun was beginning its descent, casting long shadows across the road ahead. Harris’s mind was a storm of thoughts—plans, doubts, memories. He knew the path before them was fraught with complications. The brigands weren’t just an obstacle; they were a test. A test of whether he could truly leave behind the man he once was.

“Do you think Lord Atwood knows who you really are?” Liam asked suddenly, breaking the silence. There was a note of anxiety in his voice, as if he had been holding back the question.

Harris glanced at him. “He suspects. Men like Atwood are always suspicious, always looking for leverage. He knows I’m not just some wandering gardener. But as long as he doesn’t know everything, we’re safe enough... for now.”

Liam nodded slowly, chewing on his lower lip. “I just don’t like it. This whole thing feels wrong. We’re supposed to be moving away from all that dark business, and now here we are, being dragged back in.”

Harris sighed. “I know. But sometimes, to move forward, you have to deal with what’s in front of you. It doesn’t mean we have to become what we were.” He paused, glancing at the sky. The first stars were beginning to emerge, faint pinpricks of light in the deepening blue. “We just have to do the best we can. One step at a time.”

Liam gave a faint smile. “Yeah, I suppose. Still, if this goes wrong, I’ll be the one saying ‘I told you so.’”

Harris chuckled, a low sound that held both amusement and weariness. “I’d expect nothing less.”

As they continued down the road, they passed a small group of travelers heading toward Valebrook, their faces wary but polite as they exchanged nods. Harris couldn’t help but wonder if they had already encountered the brigands. The thought made his stomach twist uncomfortably. He had to find a way to resolve this without bloodshed. He owed it to himself, and to Liam, to prove that he could be more than what he had once been.

The road ahead seemed even more uncertain now, the shadow of Lord Atwood’s demand looming over them. Harris could feel the darkness within him stirring, whispering of easy solutions, of power that could make the brigands vanish with a thought. But he pushed it down, focusing instead on the warmth of the sun on his face, on the presence of his friend beside him.

The wind rustled through the tall grasses at the roadside, and a distant bird called out, its song a lonely echo in the twilight. Harris took a deep breath, grounding himself in the present. The warmth of the pie still in his stomach, the soft crunch of gravel under his boots, the gentle murmur of Liam beside him—these were the things that mattered. Not the whispers of power, not the shadows of his past.

One step at a time. For now, that would have to be enough.

As they reached a bend in the road, the landscape opened up before them, revealing a stretch of rolling hills bathed in the golden light of the setting sun. In the distance, they could see the faint outline of the forest that lay beyond Valebrook, dark and mysterious against the horizon. It was towards that forest they would need to travel to find the brigands. Harris felt a pang of unease, but he straightened his shoulders, determination hardening in his chest.

“We’ll camp soon,” he said, glancing at Liam. “We need to be ready for whatever comes next.”

Liam nodded, his eyes scanning the landscape. “Right. And maybe, if we’re lucky, we won’t have to fight at all. Maybe they’ll just... listen to reason.”

Harris smiled, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. “Maybe.” He hoped Liam was right, but he knew better than to rely on hope alone. Whatever awaited them in that forest, they would face it together. And he would do everything in his power to ensure that they both walked away from it, intact and unchanged.

For now, as the last light of day slipped below the horizon, Harris allowed himself a moment of quiet resolve. The journey was far from over, and the challenges ahead were daunting. But with Liam by his side, he felt a glimmer of something he hadn’t felt in a long time—something he barely dared to name.

Hope