Anna hoisted up her bulging bag from the floor and set it on her desk. Packed and ready for a short trip to Kho’gul, she allowed herself a moment to catch her breath. She took mental account of everything as it stood; three members were sent out on their own contract earlier that day, and four would travel to the city together – of them, one freshly signed. One other remained absent on business in Oakenhaven.

The last of these sent her thoughts worrying for Jessa. Each day since she left, one thing or another would spark a reminder of her. It happened often enough that Anna came to worry as one would for their own child.

Her own child. Long had it been since she let her memory veer in that direction. Blond, wispy curls and cheeks plump with a carefree smile flashed before her as if present and corporeal. She willed the vision away; now was not the time to think of loss from years so far past. Refocusing her attention, she tightened the cords of her pack and steered herself clear of any distracting concerns.

Three metallic taps sounded at the door, shattering what remained of her latent yearning. Thankful for the diversion, she muttered a word of gratitude to her gods before speaking up.

“Come in,” she said, permitting Deventh to enter. He carried an open envelope, skimming over the letter that had presumably been inside.

“Dare I ask what news?” Anna asked, noting his furrowed brow and unwavering focus.

“From Thulreg. There’s been an order to cease the investigation,” said Deventh, passing her the letter as he neared her desk. Her eyes raced over the parchment, each line etching a new wrinkle in her forehead.

“Not a single word of explanation?”

“‘By the earl’s decree,’” Deventh said, his shoulders rigid, eye contact sharp.

“Yes, I read that part,” Anna huffed, tucking away a tensed corner of her lips. “I suppose Thulreg would know as well as anyone else not within Lord Ghünthor’s most benevolent council. It’s a damn good thing we’re going back to Kho’gul.”

“I assumed with this news we’d cancel the trip.”

“Why would we? We might find some answers there.”

“From whom, would you venture?”

“I don’t know. But you can’t be suggesting now, after all we’ve uncovered, that you’re indifferent to this.”

Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.

“On the contrary, it is concerning,” Deventh admitted. “There’s likely some unsavory reason we aren’t meant to have any such answers, but we aren’t exactly in a position to take on deeds of pure altruism.”

“Nonsense. We sent Jessa home with enough money to buy us time for it.” As she spoke, Anna scooped up her set of gold rings and squeezed them over her fingers one by one. “I can’t stand by while these families are still left without their loved ones. Blind submission to the earl’s orders may suffice for the Oath, but it will not suffice for me. Were it not for our financial struggles, I know it wouldn’t suffice for you, either.”

A deep hum rose from Deventh’s chest.

“Very well,” he said. “So long as it’s not to the detriment of the guild's continuance, let’s go as planned and look out for any leads. Though it would be best to seek out some paid work in the city as well.”

“It sounds like we have a deal, then,” said Anna. “Is everyone ready to go?”

“Not sure. The letter only just arrived, so no one’s holding their breath for a decision. I’ll go and check on them.”

“Good, I’ll be ready in a moment myself,” Anna said as he turned to walk away. Pleased with the success of her persuasion, she let a smile wrinkle her eyes with crows’ feet as she looked down at her desk, where a thin golden chain trailed to a locket. Her expression faded.

“Wait,” she said, stopping Deventh in his stride. “Were there any… Other letters?”

“Were you expecting any?” he asked, returning to the front of her desk.

“I’ve had Jessa on my mind. She did mention she would write us when she arrived home safely.”

“Surely it’s a bit early to start worrying. No courier coming from Oakenhaven would even have a chance to catch his breath.”

“Maybe it is early,” Anna said with no conviction. Sweeping the locket off the desk and into her palm, she conceded to the possibility that she was simply being paranoid. Nonetheless, something twisted in her gut, something more convincing than Deventh’s words of reassurance. A pang of intuition, prodding well beyond her power to ignore it. “But do you not feel it? Are you not concerned for her at all?”

For a split second, Deventh averted his enduring gaze. He took a small step back and observed the tension in her posture, the tautness of her face.

“This isn’t like you.”

“No, it’s not. That’s why I am so uneasy, Deventh.”

“Give it some time,” Deventh insisted. “In light of recent events, it’s not irrational to consider all that could happen – but getting shaken up will do more harm than good. News will come eventually. When it does—”

“We’ll take it one step at a time,” Anna said, the edge gone from her voice. She met his gaze, which refused with all its might to break again. After a few seconds of focus, she relaxed her shoulders and nodded. “Of course. Something strange came over me. I’m sure we’ll have a letter waiting for us when we return.” She waved him off. “Go, see to the others.”

Deventh gave one last reassuring nod and headed for the exit. He glanced back to find Anna giving a mountain guard’s gesture of gratitude – four fingers angled upward against the left side of her chest, a pinky extended away from the others. Though she hadn’t expected him to see it, she did not waver when he did.

“Thank you, Deventh,” she said. “However deep you might try to bury it under your words, I see your compassion more every day.”

Deventh paused, acknowledging her words. Moments passed as they absorbed a mutual understanding. Once the unspoken nudge willed him to leave, he stepped out and moved past the light of the braziers.