“What was that?” Lura asked. Her voice quivered slightly with unease.

Allena was still on her knees, covering her face in her hands. Tanzik had his hand on the hilt of his sword, and looked around the area watching for hidden Rooks. Their escape had been entirely too easy, and he expected an ambush.

Lura was furious. She knelt down in front of Allena and grabbed her wrists. “Allena. What was that?”

Allena steaded her breathing and looked up at Lura with torment in her eyes. “The end of all things.”

“That’s what the bird was on the token, isn’t it?” Lura remembered Allena insisting it wasn’t a bird, and the translator not knowing what kind of bird it was.

“Yes. But it’s not a bird. It’s something so much worse.” Her heart was pounding against her chest and all her strength had fled from her muscles.

“You promised you’d tell us.”

“I will.”

Tanzik saw nothing, but kept on his guard. “I think this is a conversation we can have somewhere safer.”

“Yeah?” Lura asked, not taking her eyes off of Allena. “And where would that be?”

“Anywhere but here.”

Lura hesitated for a moment. “No. Answers now. I’m tired of waiting. I was almost killed for this. You almost killed me for this. We have the conversation here and now.”

“I need time,” Allena said weakly.

“You’re all out. Talk.”

Allena sighed. Tanzik almost interjected but decided against it. He stepped away and kept looking around for danger.

“When I was younger,” Allena said slowly, “I ran away from home. I stowed away on a ship and came here, to Serevar. But in my home, there’s a legend. A horror story. Once every age, a horrible beast called the Phoenix comes to destroy the world. The few survivors repopulate and eventually the story becomes lost to time, but my people kept a thorough history. That demon in the clouds was this monster. It has returned, and this world will burn to ash under the heat of its fire.”

“I said I wanted the truth,” Lura said, frustrated that she was only getting a bedtime story to scare kids.

“You don’t have to believe me,” Allena said resignedly. “It doesn’t matter. You felt the heat. Saw the snow melt. It’s real and it’s going to kill us all.”

“So this token… a sign of its arrival?”

“I don’t know. The symbol represents the Phoenix. The face on the other side, I’m truly not sure. That’s what I wanted to find out. I thought you knew something about it that I didn’t.”

“No. Like I said, I thought it was valuable and tried to steal it.”

“The Rooks,” Allena said with a stark realization. “You said the Rooks were going to retrieve it, that means they might know something.”

“Doubt it, Veza seemed pretty eager to get the information out of you. So you really don’t know?”

“I wish I did.”

Lura groaned in frustration and stood up. She paced around with her hands on her hips. “So no one knows who that is, or what the token is even for? Someone has to.”

“If the Rooks don’t know, why were they looking for it?” Tanzik asked. “And how did they learn about it?”

“No idea. But I don’t think we’re welcome to ask them. What about your people, Allena?”

“I don’t know the way back home.”

“Bloody convenient.”

“I was a child. I almost died during an expedition my parents took me on. They wanted to go back but I was terrified. I ran. When I realized it was a mistake I tried to go back, but I didn’t know where I was from. No one knew our name for the place. I was lost.”

“I don’t buy it.”

“Lura, I want to know as much as you do.”

“And I’ve been around you long enough I know when you’re lying.”

Tanzik knelt down by Allena. “The time for secrets is past. We’re in this together and we need to know.”

Tanzik’s disappointment crushed Allena, but she shook her head. “I’ll admit this isn’t the truth, but I can’t say anymore.”

“Not good enough,” Lura said. “I’m done with the secrets. If you can’t give us the truth, then go fend for yourself and die somewhere else.”

Tanzik took her hand. “You can trust us. I understand your secrets are dangerous, but we’ll keep them safe. And you.”

“I trust you, Tanzik. But not her.”

“Fine, then,” Lura said. She threw her ams up in exasperation, clearly ready to be done with it all. “I promise, all right? Whatever god hates me enough to tie my fate to yours can win here. I may be a thief, but I can keep my word. I’m with you. On the condition that this nonsense doesn’t keep happening. I’m done with it. You be honest, I’ll keep your secrets. Your break your promise, I’ll break mine.”

Allena nodded slowly. “Okay. My people live far to the north, past the Kolos Ocean. It’s not possible for me to return. I did stow away, and this was considered… dishonorable. I’d be killed or imprisoned for the rest of my life if I came back. I genuinely don’t know who the face is. I can only guess that it’s not someone important like a noble or ruler. If it was, it’d be obvious. The face is simple enough that it must be someone known to few.”

“So this token was meant for someone very specific?” Tanzik asked.

Allena shrugged. “Probably. I’m just guessing from here. Maybe someone who knows about the Phoenix. Maybe someone with a way back home.”

“So the Rooks are our only hope then,” Lura said. She kicked a rock into the river. “This was a job, so Veza must know who the client is. The client has to know something.”

“The Rooks are famous for protecting their clients,” Allena said. “They’d let their organization fall rather than give up that information.”

“What are our options?” Tanzik asked.

“Well,” Lura said with a mischievous grin. “If they won’t give us the information, we’ll just have to take it.”

“I asked you earlier today but you didn’t answer,” Tanzik said. “Are you really willing to put yourself back on their hit list? You cross them a second time, there’s no coming back from that.”

“Yeah. Thanks you for the grim reminder of my imminent demise. Really appreciate that. I’m clearly back on their hit list already. They’ll ambush us at the first opportunity, I’m sure. I can try to pass it off as setting Allena free was the only way to get the information. But Veza doesn’t like me enough to buy it, he’s too objective. And even if he does, I’m still dead for the betrayal. Much as I hate to admit, I’ve got to stick with you lot.”

Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.

“Thank you,” Allena said softly. “I know this isn’t easy for you.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, mage. This is the only reasonable choice. Every other option is certain death. This is just mostly certain.”

“This is a bad situation,” Tanzik said. “The Rooks are after you two. The Empire’s after me, and when my captor doesn’t show up they’ll know something happened.”

“Oh you’re fine,” Lura said, waving her hand. “They won’t send too many people after a foot soldier who defected.”

Tanzik shifted his weight. “There’s more. They’re trying to pin a murder back in Orbrozan on me. The Empress wants to make a show of it. It’s a big enough deal that they’re not letting this slide.”

“Lovely,” Lura said. “Rooks, Empire, Phoenix… pretty much everyone’s trying to kill us.”

“What about King Hárkast?” Tanzik asked.

Lura scoffed. “He only cares about his war with the Empire. He’s not going to be much help. Besides, what could he even do? Send his army to the Rooks? They’re not soldiers, they’d scatter and we’d never find them.”

Tanzik rubbed his beard thoughtfully. “You’re right. I don’t think he’d agree anyway, all available forces are going to be pushing back the Empire.”

“So we’re fighting the Rooks?” Allena asked. “How are we doing that?”

Lura thought for a moment. “Too many eyes in the city, so they’ll expect us to run as far away as we can. They’ll have an ambush set up somewhere out of sight. They won’t think we’re stupid enough to go back into the city. So we do that.”

“Won’t they have people there?”

Lura smiled slowly. “Oh sure, but they won’t be looking for us. I know a guy who can help. Olrick, a worker at the Haunted Haunch. I sort of screwed over on a job.”

“You think he’ll help us?” Tanzik asked with a touch of concern.

Lura stifled a laugh. “Gods no, he’ll turn me over without a second’s hesitation. But that’s the plan. I pretend to be sneaky but subtly let him catch sight of me. That’ll pull the Rooks back in.” Her eyes light up and she raised her eyebrows as her smile widened. “Then King Hárkast will help!”

“You said he wouldn’t spare any troops,” Tanzik said, brows furrowed.

Lura’s grin was downright devilish. “Not willingly. But if we put in a false report, he’ll send soldiers to investigate, and what’ll they find? Rooks trying to assassinate the three heroes who just saved Stormhall!”

“No, we can’t put their lives at risk.”

“Ugh, fine. We’ll just lure the Rooks in then. There’s an old abandoned house down the hill from the inn we could use. They come in, we have them right where we want them. Veza won’t be there, of course, but someone will know where he is.”

“Lot of ways this could go wrong,” Tanzik said.

“Sure, but a lot of ways it could go right!”

“There’s exactly one way this could go right.”

“Feels like better odds than anything else.”

“I agree,” Allena said. “It’s risky, but we can do it.” Every path she saw herself walking ended in death, either by the Rooks or by her people if the token led her home. But either end was better than the Phoenix.

“What makes you think they’ll talk?” Tanzik asked.

“I’ll make them,” Allena said.

“Great,” Lura said, “let’s go.” She turned away and walked back into the tunnel that led back to the Rookery.

Tanzik was surprised by the suddenly lackadaisical attitude Allena had toward violence and the use of magic, especially considering how cautions she had been about it in the past. She had called using magic stealing from the gods, and now it seemed like she had stopped caring. As she followed Lura to the tunnel, Tanzik reached out to stop her.

“You okay?”

Allena forced a smile through the numbness she was feeling. “In the interest of keeping honest, no. And I don’t think I ever can be again. This journey started off as warning the king of an Imperial invasion and turned into a fight for survival against a monster whose sole purpose is to destroy.”

Tanzik nodded. He wasn’t going to pretend he knew what she was going through. “I’m here if you need anything,” he said.

“Right now I just need to get inside. Protecting us from the freezing rain is taking a toll.”

“One step at a time,” Tanzik said in agreement. They walked into the tunnel.

***

They traveled through the Rookery until they found a tunnel that led somewhere inside Stormhall. They weren’t sure exactly where they were since it was an unfamiliar path, but they soon found their way to the Haunted Haunch.

“Okay,” Lura said. “So last I left Olrick he demanded I never return. We’re square now, but by now word has to have spread that I’m wanted again. All I have to do is give him a glimpse and he’ll throw me to the wolves in an instant.”

“How are we doing this?” Tanzik asked.

“He’s usually in the back and likes to keep an eye on everyone walking past. All I have to do is walk by. He’ll recognize me even with my hood up so I’ll just act subtle like I’m trying to hide. Then I’ll loop around to the abandoned house and wait. We’ll all be there to ambush whoever tries to kill us.”

“How will they know where we’re hiding?”

“He’ll probably follow me.”

“This is hinged on a lot of ‘probably,’ Lura,” Tanzik said.

“You’re a soldier, not a thief. This is my world, I know how to walk it.”

“Fair enough. We’re with you.”

Lura put her hood up and left. Tanzik and Allena walked down to the abandoned house to lie in wait. The second story was a sort of loft that had line of sight on the entrance, so Tanzik and Allena set up a trap using some spare wood and rope that would block the entrance once the Rooks came in. They sat on the top step waiting for Lura to return.

“How do you think this ends?” Tanzik asked.

“Hopefully with the answers we’re looking for,” Allena said.

“No, I mean all of this.”

She turned to face him. “Every road leads to death, Tanzik. Some quicker than others. I don’t know how I think this ends.”

“Best case?”

“I bring you and Lura to my home, to my people. We escape the wrath of the Phoenix. They welcome me back with open arms. We live long and peaceful lives far away from the Empire. I settle down, have a couple kids, work on the open sea like I did in Violet Shoals.”

“Sounds beautiful.”

“It’s just a dream. My people will not welcome me home. They certainly would not welcome you or Lura. The Phoenix is inescapable. I can’t… I could adopt, but…”

“I’m sorry.”

She shrugged. “I’ve made my peace.”

“It’s important to dream a little. It’s something to strive for. Even if it’s not possible, sometimes we can get close.”

“What’s your best case?”

“Violet Shoals is the first place that’s felt like home since I was a child. I’d love to go back. My name is cleared by the Empire and they decide to leave Serevar alone to stay independent.”

“I thought you hated the cold.”

“I do, but the people are warm enough I could make it a home. Maybe I’d wander Cyfandir first, see everything this land has. Maybe find a warmer home, maybe not.”

“It’s your dream, you pick.”

“I’ll pick the uncertainty. The tension between two possible moments and following the path that feels right in the moment. I wouldn’t want my whole life planned out. There’s a hidden beauty in the unknown, an excitement.”

Allena smiled and leaned her head on his shoulder. The spent a moment in silence until Lura walked through the door.

“All right, we’re on. I spied him following me so I imagine they’ll regroup and attack in the middle of the night. I’ll sneak out once he’s gone and bring us back some food and blankets. Can’t risk lighting a fire in here. Keep away from windows, I’d rather them think I’m the only person here.”

They waited a few minutes and Lura left, returning an hour later with the supplies. Tanzik and Allena feel into an uneasy sleep after eating, but Lura couldn’t. She knelt down ready for her trap to work, keeping a hand on the bundle of wood Tanzik and Allena put together to block the door.

The door creaked open and Tanzik and Allena woke up, hands on weapons. Only one person came in. Lura peeked out the window and didn’t see anyone waiting outside. She held up one finger. Allena nodded and crawled toward the stairs. As the person climbed the stairs, Allena jumped up and used her magic to hold him in place while Lura pushed the wood over to block the door. Tanzik took out his sword to get ready for other potential attackers.

The Rook looked nervous, but said nothing. Lura walked over and put a knife to his throat. “Where is he? Where’s Veza?”

“I’m not telling,” he said quietly.

Allena put her hand on his face. Faint white crackles of electricity jumped between her fingertips. “Please,” she said softly. “I’d really rather not.”

He winced as the magic shocked him slightly. He shook his head. The electricity grew more intense. “He’ll kill me!”

“Nah,” Lura said. “I’ll kill him first once I get what I need. You won’t need to worry about him. You do need to worry about us though. My friend here can use magic, which yes, turns out is real. The Rooks like imaginative killers so just use that imagination to think what she could do to you.”

The man was sweating profusely. “The Haunch. Wanted to stay close by in case—”

A blast of electric energy knocked him out cold. “He’ll live,” Allena said. “But that’ll mess with his head enough he won’t remember this.”

“So back to the Haunch?” Tanzik said.

“Let’s go,” Lura said.

They rushed to the tavern and threw open the door. “Welcome back, Lurala,” Olrick said. Lura froze. She never gave him her real name, he would only have known her as Hab. “I do seem to remember telling you not to come back. Should’ve guessed I couldn’t depend on you for that.”

There was a figure at the bar and several other patrons sitting at tables. The figure turned around and Lura saw Yudhi holding a large iron club.

“Little girl,” she said coldly. “I have looked forward to this for a while.”

“Oh, no,” Lura said. The other patrons stood up and brandished weapons. She turned around and saw more Rooks dressed as beggars approaching the door.

“You did not think we are this stupid. Veza knew you would do something unpredictable and foolish.”

“The whole thing was a setup,” Tanzik said.

“They manipulated us from the beginning,” Allena said.

“You’re not as clever as you like to think, little girl,” Yudhi said as she walked toward them. “You’re predictable. Which only makes this more fun.”