Felitïa sat in her bed while Elderaan handed her a cup of tea. Zandrue was leaning in the open doorway of the bedroom, watching them. “This young lady,” Elderaan said, “has told me what happened. Her version of it, at least. Now I’d like to hear it from you.”

“Don’t trust me?” Zandrue asked.

“You stole expensive herbs from my shop! Do you have any idea how hard it was to get those in the first place? Hmm? They only grow in Ninifin, and the Ninifins don’t let much past their border!”

“Yeah, I know,” Zandrue said. “That’s why I had to get them here.”

“I knew there was something up with you when you were in here last week!”

“But I gave them back, right? I could’ve taken off long before you got back, but I didn’t! I stuck around to help Asa out! The least you could do is be grateful.”

The anger in the room was making Felitïa’s head spin. She almost dropped the cup. As it was, several drops of hot tea splashed onto her lap. “Please! Stop fighting!”

Elderaan turned back to Felitïa. “I’m sorry, my dear.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Please, tell me about what happened.”

Felitïa told him everything that had happened—as best as she could remember, at any rate. Some of the stuff towards the end was a bit hazy. “If I’d just kept my concentration, I could have handled it so much better. I could have kept them confused until the watch got here.”

Elderaan patted her leg comfortingly. “I keep telling you that your concentration needs work. Now perhaps you’ll pay it more mind, hmm?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry.”

“Nonsense. Don’t worry about it, my dear. It’s not easy to maintain concentration in this sort of crisis, and it was the first time you’ve ever experienced anything like it. Let us pray you never do again.”

Felitïa took a sip of tea. “Their leader—I think he was their leader—he called me Will-Breaker. Any idea what that means?”

Elderaan thought for a moment. “Doesn’t ring a bell. Though it might fit...” He trailed off and looked to Zandrue. “Any ideas?”

Zandrue just shrugged.

“They also mentioned something else,” Felitïa said. “A person, I think. Not the one they were looking for. Someone else. A...” She wracked her mind, trying to remember. “Dusk Supreme, that was it.”

Elderaan frowned and stood up. “Now that is familiar. This isn’t good at all.”

“What’s wrong?” Felitïa asked. “Do you know who they were?”

“Not exactly,” Elderaan replied.

“They’re Darkers,” Zandrue said.

“Darkers?”

“Darkness Worshippers,” Elderaan said. “Followers of Night. The Dusk Supreme was their leader. Queen Felitïa spent years having that organisation hunted down.”

“Oh right,” Felitïa said. She’d heard a few of the stories before, but hadn’t paid much attention to them. “Didn’t people call the Dusk Supreme the Second Dragon or something?”

Elderaan nodded. “He was a terrible man with incredible magical powers—supposedly granted him by Night. More likely though, he was just an extremely accomplished wizard. Much like the Dragon that way, though without armies at his command. Certainly did nothing to help the reputation of wizards, that’s for sure. His trial and execution were the talk of the continent—probably the world—for ages afterwards. It was generally felt that Queen Felitïa’s campaign had crippled the Darkers, possibly wiped them out entirely. However, many say they are still active, just not as organised as they once were.

“It was a long time ago, but I remember the army coming to Quorge, seeking the help of wizards here. I was young and inexperienced at the time, and not up to the job at all. My teacher went, though. He never returned.”

“I’m sorry,” Felitïa said. “I didn’t mean to bring up bad memories.”

“Nonsense, my dear,” Elderaan said. The feelings she was detecting from him vanished, as he gained control of himself. “It’s not your fault. In the end, they had to get Isyar help, as I recall. The Dusk Supreme is long dead now, though.”

“Yeah, that one.” Zandrue came up beside him. “Dusk Supreme’s a title, old man. There have been others since him, and the position’s opened up again. The short, blonde one is in the running, I think.”

“They recognised you,” Felitïa said. “Do you know them?”

Elderaan glared at Zandrue, who sighed. “Not well. I met them once. A week ago. I was told they might be able to help me find what I was looking for. They didn’t have a clue. So I went my own way, found your shop, saw what I needed. The rest is history. I didn’t know they were Darkers.”

“And you didn’t bother to mention this before?” Elderaan said.

“It didn’t seem relevant.”

“Oh it didn’t, did it? Seems more likely to me that—”

“Nothing else happened between you?” Felitïa interrupted.

Zandrue shrugged. “Not really. They wanted to hire me for a couple jobs. I said no. That was it. I didn’t expect to ever see them again. Certainly not here tonight.”

“And the herbs you stole?” Elderaan asked. “What were they for, hmm?”

“Damned if I know,” Zandrue said. “I was sent to get some.”

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“By whom?”

“You don’t want to know. Look, I returned them. Let’s leave it at that, okay?”

“No, it is not okay, young lady,” Elderaan said. “I expect—”

“Look, it’s over,” Felitïa interrupted again. “Those men have been arrested, Zandrue’s returned the herbs. The rest doesn’t matter anymore.”

Elderaan huffed.

Felitïa drank the rest of her tea and held the cup out to Elderaan. “What about you?” she asked Zandrue. “Will you try to get the herbs somewhere else?”

“Too late for that,” Zandrue said. “I’m practically out of time as it is.” That fear was rising in Zandrue again. “No, I’ll just...well...I don’t know what I’ll do yet, exactly.”

“What happens if you don’t deliver the herbs?” Felitïa asked, shoving the cup more forcefully in Elderaan’s direction. He took it with a grumble.

Zandrue shivered. “Nothing good. I’ll just have to stay out of their way.”

“Whose way?” Felitïa asked, climbing out of bed.

“You really don’t want to know, Asa, and there’s nothing you can do to make me tell you. I’m grateful to you for trying to help me, but that only goes so far.”

Felitïa nodded. “All right. That’s fine.”

Elderaan harrumphed again.

“That’s fine,” Felitïa repeated.

“I should probably get going.” Zandrue turned for the door, but glanced back. “Thanks again.”

Felitïa looked at Elderaan. “We should let her stay here.”

“Certainly not!” Elderaan snapped.

“Who says I want to stay here?” Zandrue said, pausing in the doorway. She turned back around and motioned to Elderaan. “With him?”

Felitïa ignored Zandrue for the moment and said to Elderaan, “The Watch captain said she was your responsibility as long as she was in the city.”

“Then let her leave the city,” Elderaan responded.

“She could be in danger!”

“I certainly couldn’t care less. If she stays here, I’ll hand her back over to the watch.”

“Don’t worry, I’m gone,” Zandrue said, and strode out of the room.

“Zandrue, wait!” Felitïa ran after her, catching up to her by the counter in the front room. She grabbed for her arm, but Zandrue pulled away from her. “We can help you!” Felitïa pleaded.

“No, you really can’t.” Zandrue approached the main door and reached for the handle. She paused. “If I stay here, I put you in danger. You and the old fart.”

“You’re terrified of something, Zandrue. I can feel it.” Zandrue’s fear was making Felitïa’s head spin again. She did her best to push it aside and focus on her own thoughts and feelings.

Zandrue shook her head. “You’re misinterpreting things. I’m used to being on my own. I’ll be fine.” She reached for the door handle again.

“No, I don’t think you will. Please, let me help you. You saved my life. Let me repay that.”

“You already did. You stopped me being arrested. We’re even.”

“Not in my opinion,” Felitïa said. “Not when you’re still so afraid.”

“I’m not afraid of anything.” Zandrue reached for the door again.

“Yes, you are. Zandrue, I’m telepathic. I can sense your fear.”

Zandrue had the door partway open. Felitïa shivered in the cold, barely able to believe she had just admitted that. Elderaan was going to kill her.

Zandrue stopped partway through the door. A hint of curiosity emanated from her, pushing through the fear. “You’re out of your mind.”

Felitïa shook her head. “I think that’s why the Darkers came for me—why they called me Will-Breaker. They knew somehow.” It didn’t answer everything—like who was Quilla?—but it made sense.

Zandrue closed the door and turned to face her. “Prove it. What am I thinking right now?”

“You’re curious right now.”

“No shit. You’re going to have to be a little more specific than that.”

“It’s not that precise,” Felitïa said. “I generally just get emotions, but the ability waxes and wanes.”

Zandrue rolled her eyes. “Figures. Look, Asa, why are you doing this? You don’t even know me. Sure, I probably saved your life, but why would you want to put your life at risk to help me?”

“You’re right, I don’t know you,” Felitïa replied. Yet she still couldn’t shake that feeling of familiarity. “But I do know you enough to know I don’t want you to die, and that’s what you’re afraid will happen, isn’t it? You’re afraid they’ll kill you.”

Elderaan came up behind her.

“And if you get involved, they’ll kill you, too,” Zandrue said.

“Asa’s already involved,” Elderaan said, “and there are already people trying to kill her.”

“Completely different situation,” Zandrue said.

“Maybe so, but you’re involved in both,” Elderaan said. “I don’t particularly like the idea, but well... Asa’s right. You should stay here. We can help each other. There’s something to be said for strength in numbers, you know.”

“I won’t let you leave,” Felitïa said. “Not when we could help you.”

“She means it,” Elderaan said. “She can be ridiculously stubborn.”

“I learned from the best,” Felitïa said, smiling at him.

“Besides,” Elderaan went on, “she’s just told you one of her greatest secrets. I don’t dare let you out of my sight now. No telling who you might tell it to.”

“Apparently, the secret’s already out,” Zandrue said.

Elderaan nodded. “Yes, that is worrying.”

Zandrue sighed and a wave of relaxation emanated from her. The fear was still there, but it was much more in the background, replaced by a calmness interspersed with some disbelief. “I’m going to regret this.”

“You’ll stay?”

“For now, I suppose. But I don’t like staying in one spot for too long. Don’t be surprised if you wake up one morning and I’m gone.” She strode past Felitïa and Elderaan and over to the door to the back. “I suppose I should get to know this place better. Where do I sleep?” She disappeared into the back.

Felitïa started to follow her, but Elderaan put a hand on her shoulder. “I don’t like this, but I’m letting you have your way because the Darkers concern me more than she does.”

Felitïa nodded. “I understand.”

“But know this. The Watch may have made her my responsibility, but I’m making her yours. Don’t make me regret this. And more importantly, don’t let her lead you astray. I don’t want to be bailing you out of the city jail.”

“You won’t,” Felitïa said. “And thank you.” She hugged him. He merely harrumphed.

Zandrue poked her head through the door again. “Asa and I don’t have to share a room, do we?”

“I am a man of simple means,” Elderaan replied. “I can hardly be expected to have spare rooms waiting for any old vagabond to take.”

“Shit,” Zandrue said. “I guess I’ll make do.”

“You watch your language!” Elderaan snapped.

“Fuck that.” Zandrue laughed and disappeared behind the door again.