Black Steel: A Tale of Fire and Mind

When Maxwell and Seraphina had first showed interest in becoming agents of the League along their cousin, Emmery, Barkley had been quick to suggest they blend in at a city of their choosing and establish a Shepherd guild. They could’ve settled down and stayed safe, but at the same time provided aid to any roamers. Brenton and Barkley had pushed for that idea, more vigorously than usual, but the council could hardly waste the trio’s skillset, and that hushed the voices of their fathers.

And so they’d followed the path of roamers. People who were always on the move, never staying in one place longer than they needed for their assignment. There were different breeds, based on the individuals themselves, but all shared a common background in combat and espionage. They all called themselves roamers, whether spies, assassins or those who’d harbour hunted people.

Though it was uncommon, roamers sometimes teamed up to have someone to share their burden and make their assignments easier. Seraphina, Maxwell and Emmery were a special bunch because they were family and they’d said from the start they’d stay in group throughout their service. Together, each with their own unique traits, they'd been a formidable force.

For Emmery, two full cycles older than them and inherently charming, blending in crowds and gathering information had been his favourite and where he'd been most efficient. He’d never failed to sweettalk any he woman he approached, whether available or not, and those he’d dared not try to sway through words, he’d done with coin.

Maxwell, built as an ox through nature and training, had been the first in line, whenever they couldn’t avoid a fight. He also always sought knowledge in any form. Most he’d acquire through reading. Seraphina and Emmery would first look at him for information and only if he couldn’t provide it from memory or a book from his satchel would they seek informants.

Seraphina despised the empire and direct confrontation. She could pretend to be a part of a society they’d all wanted to crumble, but it made her sick. She could fight, better than most even, but she preferred to devise plans around it, for there’d be less danger to their safety and the League’s exposure. Given the information Emmery and Maxwell would accumulate, she could often achieve their goals without ever getting detected. She’d always felt at ease working from the shadows and she could scheme like few others.

Their bond had made their team stronger and more efficient than most. Barkley’s wife, Mirabelle, had cultivated it from the moment Maxwell and Seraphina had arrived in Bandville. For all the advantages it’d offered though, in their youth and inexperience, they’d believed themselves invincible. They’d learned the hard way that had never been the case.

In Ashbourne. Six cycles past. When Emmery had died.

Even though he’d been older than them and could’ve set out as a roamer earlier than them, Emmery had waited for Seraphina and Maxwell to complete their eighteenth cycle of life before all three had presented themselves to the council and had insisted they’d been ready to take on whatever contract the League could provide them with, emphasising that they could be more effective as a group rather than simple individuals. Some had objected due to the foolishness the trio would often exhibit when training, but their capabilities, both their skills and elemental abilities for Emmery had also been an Elemental, fire like his father, uncle and cousin, had won most members over and their work had begun.

Their first few errands hadn’t taken them further than a fortnight’s ride, for they'd been young and, although shrewd in the training grounds, still inexperienced in the field. Their contracts had required the information collection in the appointed area, protection of familiar inhabitants from local thugs, group escorts, of people who’d been fleeing the local authorities, back to Bandville where they could be safe and small convoy raids for scheduled supply shipment they’d uncovered.

In their early contracts, they’d hardly ever needed to stealthy, but the times Seraphina had insisted a covert approach was best, they’d performed well. When news had reached Bandville that the Viscount of Oremart, a vast mining city northeast of Ashbourne’s realm, had decided to attack Bandville, and there'd been no seasoned roamers available to tackle the threat at such short notice, their chance for a serious contract had come.

The Viscount had looked closely into his realm’s decrease in provisions and learned the bandits in Crookwood had been responsible. Wallowdale, the realm that Crookwood was part of, had always been a pacifistic realm, with no military in their ranks, other than those who guarded Viscount Wilfried. Thus, the realm wouldn’t attempt to deal with bandits, even after Oremart had requested it.

Ashbourne had claimed not to have enough men to spare for the endeavour because they’d had their own realm to protect against bandits. In truth, they could’ve helped, but Clare, the Viscount’s wife and a Shepherd, pleaded with her husband to protect their own. She’d fuelled his doubts about the Oremartians motivations and so, the only help they’d provided had been shelter for Oremart’s small force. During the deliberations on how to approach the dangerous woodlands, she’d heard of the attack and send word beforehand. Had it not been for Clare, Bandville would’ve never acted in time.

With the shortage of experienced roamers, the Shepherds’s hands were tied and had been forced to send the trio on the job, but only after they’d appointed a veteran roamer to supervise and advise them. They’d pushed their horses and had reached Ashbourne in two thirds the time it'd usually take. The city guild, a butcher shop run by a fella by the name of Lombard, had already done their part and gathered information about their target, without Clare’s aid for the Shepherds needed her credibility untarnished. It’d been up to trio and their advisor to figure out the specifics.

The veteran had suggested they each use their individual skills, but he’d otherwise let them decide their course of action. He’d been there to help them first and foremost, but he’d also served as an observer to the test at hand. He’d only have intervened if the cons would surpass the pros, scrapping their plan and making a new one, one they would have to follow, but that would’ve meant they’d failed.

They’d made their plan and once their advisor had approved it, they’d gone ahead with it.

Seraphina, adventurous, trusting and extroverted at the time, had taken it upon herself to infiltrate the main hall and pose as one of the girls the brothels in the city provided for the hall. Despite her hate for the empire, she could mask it when needed. She could do it so well, that she’d managed to catch the Oremartian Viscount’s eye and she’d lured him to a small courtyard in the back of the hall, knowing barely anyone ever would visit, at the pretence of being an exhibitionist, as they'd learnt him to be. Maxwell and Emmery, as per plan, had cleared the surrounding area so that no one would bear witness to the death of the Viscount.

The trio’s first mistake that night had been not to check the small clocktower overlooking the courtyard.

No ever used the tower during the night and that had been what two servants had wanted to exploit and share a night of passion. They’d never gotten one as Seraphina’s giggles below had interrupted them. Curious as to what had been going on, possibly thinking any gossip they’d acquire could be lucrative for them, they’d watched Seraphina and the Oremartian Viscount below. They’d also seen Emmery perched on the wall across from them while he’d been knocking an arrow and letting it fly deep into the Viscount’s neck.

Seraphina had put her hands on the man’s neck and given Emmery just enough time to climb down the wall before she’d started screaming. For help. Out of feigned shock. Her hands had been pressing on the Viscount’s neck, not to prevent him from bleeding out, but make sure he would. The Hall guards and the Oremartian guard had come running to aid, but they’d been too late. The Viscount had died before they’d arrived. Seraphina’s performance had been exceptional, to the point that no one had considered her accomplice.

Not even the servants who’d seen it all.

They’d redressed and rushed away from the scene. After the officials had lead Seraphina away to question her, the servants had gone to the Oremartians and reported they’d seen the assassin. They’d given his description and the direction they’d seen him follow. The Ashbourne Viscount, scared of what the Oremartians would think, had ordered a search party assembled that included the servants for they had seen the man.

The second mistake the trio had made that night and the one that’d cost them, had been not to leave the city immediately after they’d completed the deed. Their reasoning was that Seraphina would’ve looked suspicious if she’d seemed anxious to leave the same night as the murder, when they’d wished the two realms to blame one another, and the boys wouldn’t leave without her. Their explanation had convinced their advisor it wouldn’t be problem if they’d leave a couple of days later.

That night, after the guards had led Seraphina away from the courtyard, they’d interrogated her, making her tell them her own account of the evening. Many a guard had seen her, her arm draped over the Viscount’s, so she’d spoken freely, telling them everything about her time with the man. They couldn’t contradict anything she’d said and so, eventually they’d let her go.

Maxwell, a boy at nineteen and first time in a realm’s city, had requested permission to explore it during Seraphina’s interrogation. Their advisor had granted it as there’d been nothing for him to do. He’d explored the streets and the night life, his road eventually taking him to the brothels. The courtesans had taken advantage of his youth and whisked him away, before he’d managed to get his thoughts in order.

Emmery had decided to spend his time waiting for his cousins at their meeting point. There'd been a small tavern by the name of Sweet Ale though the ale served had been anything but sweet, owned by Michael, a resistance sympathetic yet not part of the League. Low class workers, people working at the Viscount’s farms and builders mostly but sometimes guards too, would visit the tavern. Through observation of previous nights, the Shepherds had noticed it’d been the least looked upon open business.

Normally.

But that night, there’d been a brawl in a near block. While waiting, Emmery had ordered a couple of pints when two imperials of the Ashbourne Hall guard had stepped in the tavern after they’d ended the scuffle. It’d been a usual occurrence, so Emmery had paid no mind. He’d simply kept his back to them casually flirting with the bartender and trying not to look suspicious.

Another mistake.

Since he and Maxwell had cleared the courtyard, it hadn’t occurred to him that they may have had his description. So he’d stayed in place. It’d been the bartender that had leaned in to whisper in his ear, asking if he’d done anything and telling him that the imperials had been watching him closely, while one of them had just left in a hurry. He’d acted naturally, as if to respond to her flirting, and he’d whispered to get him the check and two pieces of paper. He’d paid her and then he’d scribbled on the papers before pushing them down her cleavage, apologizing at the same time. He’d pulled up his hood and started walking towards the north gate, probably hoping the bartender had been wrong.

She hadn’t been.

Seraphina had finished with her interrogation and as she’d been heading to the tavern, she’d found an unusually large force, more than thirty guards, Ashbourners and Oremartian alike, marching down the road. Curious, she’d followed them from the shadows. She’d kept up with up without problem, and soon she’d guessed where they’d been heading. She’d been contemplating how to warn Emmery when she’d seen him walk towards the guards and unsheathe his sword. He’d charged at them screaming ‘For Neverfall!’. Neverfall had been Oremart’s rival realm for both supplied the land with the best mineral ores. It’d been Emmery’s last act to protect his people.

Seraphina had felt numb as she’d watched Emmery fight the men he could reach, unable to do anything to help him. She’d seen the archers knock arrows on their bows and pull their strings, but she’d hoped they’d miss. Some didn’t and when she’d returned her eyes to her cousin, arrows had been jutting out of his body and blood had been running down his chin. He’d fought on until the blood loss had won and he’d fallen.

It was the last time in her life she’d stood motionless.

The rational side of her mind had told her to scurry off in order to avoid detection and further problems. She’d listened and with tears in her eyes, she’d walked to the Sweet Ale. Defeated. The bartender had approached her and given her a piece of paper with Emmery’s writing on it.

If you’re right, they’ll hunt me. When my people come, tell them not to search for me. I’ll lead the imperials the wrong way and then try to get home. If I’m not thereby winter I’m dead

The bartender had told her he’d scribbled down another note, telling her to meet him after her shift. A precaution in case the imperial watching him at the time would come asking about what he’d written. He’d come and the bartender had given him the fake note. Seraphina had thanked her and waited for Maxwell and their advisor. The news had ruined Maxwell’s gleeful experience and had replaced them with shame and guilt. Two days after the assassination and Emmery’s death, the siblings and their advisor started their journey home. A journey that’d taken them to Barkley and Mirabelle, the people who’d raised the siblings, to inform them of their son’s death.

The siblings could barely look them in the eye when they’d been telling them. Barkley had grieved in solitude, days after he’d heard the news he’d gone off east towards the mountain. There had been smoke and the scent of burning wood soon after he’d left. All who’d known of his Elemental nature had guessed what had happened and they’d tried to keep the Bandvillers away.

Mirabelle, who’d spent half her life being the wife of a roamer until Barkley had been chosen as a councilman, had known the risks when her son had become one and she’d prepared herself for grave news. Those hadn’t come in her husband’s roaming days, save a bad fall and injury to his hip that had ended his time away from Bandville. The ill news had come in her son’s time and she’d thrown herself into the nurture of others, with Seraphina and Maxwell at the centre.

Life for the League of Shepherds had to go on.

Even though the loss had been great and personal for their family, the job had been successful and efficient, but for Emmery’s death. Thanks to his last outcry no attention had come to Bandville, instead the blame had shifted to another powerful city which created even more mistrust between them. After the veteran had reported of the siblings’ work method and handling of a dire situation, combined with the results they had produced prior, the siblings kept getting called for contracts.

Nothing had ever been the same though.

The three had become two. They’d lost the easiest way of gathering information, until Maxwell had come out of his shell and taken it upon himself to fill in Emmery’s shoes in socialization and charm. Seraphina had become grim and merciless. She’d blamed herself for the miscalculation, for not bothering to check the clocktower. She’d let go of all emotion, but vengeance.

She wanted to hurt the empire. Damage it as much as possible in her lifetime. She’d done plenty of it in the six cycles since Emmery’s death.

They hadn’t been in Ashbourne since.

To return, Seraphina needed a little extra persuasion. Maxwell managed to convince her to take the job when he said they been different people back then and knew better that time round. She’d conceded and they journeyed to Ashbourne a few days after news had come from the city’s guild that they required permanent assistance since Albero had gone missing. Until the council would find someone to replace Albero, the siblings went in his stead.

Lombard, the Ashbourne guild leader, wasn’t happy they arrived much later than he’d expected them. The telling of Albero’s loss did pacify him a bit, but he was still vocal about the delay.

He’d come to the city before Seraphina and Maxwell’s birth at the council’s appointment and established a guild. In time, he got to run one of the city’s butcher shops, until with some roamer help, through mild poisoning and threats to the right people, his shop had become the main hall’s sole supplier. Because of that, the man could have people inside the hall’s walls, listening carefully for anything useful and receive reports from Clare, should anything dire happen, like the Oremartian Viscount’s plans to attack.

At first, the siblings spent their time solely in the butcher shop, getting acquainted with the craft and the customers. Essentially the rich folk around town. Maxwell oversaw the heavy parts, carrying from one storage to the next the animals he’d slaughter and skin, and making deliveries, while Seraphina was in charge of dealing with customers and keeping the shop’s finances in check.

While their integration in the city’s circle through the shop was reasonable, there were times they weren’t sure whether Lombard needed help in the shop or in Shepherd jobs, as they hadn’t undertaken any other business than what the shop required thus far.

"I’m starting to regret insisting we come here…" An exhausted Maxwell told Seraphina one morning they were eating alone at Lombard’s house.

"And I’m losing my patience. We’ve done nothing productive since we arrived.” Seraphina rubbed her temple. “There’s no news, no threats, nothing. If nothing ever happens?"

“Sometimes, no news is good news. If any come, we’ll know what to deal with. Like...” Maxwell trailed off. She knew what he meant and neither wanted to speak about it. The loss of Emmery haunted them still. Even more so once they stepped into the city. “Have you been out there?”

For a moment, she considered shutting him out, as she usually did when they came remotely close to brushing that subject, but after a while she spoke. “No. Unless our business takes us there, I’m not going to.”

“I have.” He said shaking his glass of water in his hand. “I barely kept my cool...” The water flew out from his glass, but he stopped it mid-air.

"Max, don’t…" she pleaded with him. He nodded and with a flick of his wrist poured the water back in his glass. "Keep that in check. Only Lombard knows about us, remember?"

"We’re alone. We both checked." Maxwell said rolling his eyes. "We’re not careless anymore, Sera. We’re not nineteen."

"Maybe not nineteen, but careless? Did you already forget about Derrick?" She asked raising an eyebrow.

"From where I stand, we brought an injured man into our home, kept tabs on him and discovered his identity before he could threaten our peace. No harm done." He replied seriously and she snorted. "Care to go out and have some fun?"

"You go on. My head’s still buzzing with all the numbers I had to deal with today." She answered pushing her hair back. Another change she'd undergone since the last time they’d been in Ashbourne. The first time her hair was long, reaching below her shoulders, which helped her in her guise, giving her a sense of mystique. But she’d cut them almost immediately after, for countermeasure at first but still maintained the pixie do till the day.

"Suit yourself, kid. Get some rest." Maxwell said before kissing her head and leaving for a night escapade.

The streets of south Ashbourne had always held dangers. It was the poor side of the city and where there was poverty, there was often crime. But once the Viscount of Oremart was murdered deep in the confines of the main hall, the lords of the city became the focus of attention rather that the lowlifes. There had been a rumour that one of them had paid the assassin to undermine the Ashbourne leadership.

Despite the odds, a girl orphaned at the age of ten managed to survive and reach adulthood. With her unique ability, she’d successfully managed to navigate through a society of disgruntled workers, staying out of trouble, but more importantly according to her late mother’s teachings, out of the authorities’ scope. After her mother had passed, she’d took up her place, not as a second cook, but an apprentice to the cook, Madam Jean. Under her wing and the tavern owner, she’d bonded with Madam Jean and Michael, finding in them the parent figures she’d missed early.

The more she grew, the more she helped around the tavern, often even coming out to serve too. That day, she’d been by her Madam Jean’s side for hours, in good spirits, preparing the menu for the night when most workers would finish with their works on the fields and constructions to come down for food and ale. Since the following day most would be free, it was getting increasingly busy, so Michael soon asked her to help with the service.

She had no objections. She smiled and nodded. Her mother would always tell her that ‘Negativity brings attention and you don’t want attention. Be polite, accepting, but within measure’. She kept the smile on as she took orders and came back with the patrons’ food and drinks. As usual, that night all serving girls received comments from men, though things hardly ever escalated because Michael was very protective of his employees and he’d set the rules in his establishment early on. Even before he’d practically taken her in twelve cycles prior.

Sometime late in the night, when the crowd had started breaking and she’d been ready to return to Madam Jean’s side, she heard a whistle and saw Michael waving her towards an unattended customer. She nodded at him, put a smile on her face and walked towards the man. Not a local, she hadn’t seen him before. A newcomer. "Hello, what can I get you?"

He looked up and smiled. "Now isn’t this a wonderful sight…" Men and their minds were often predictable. Especially his type. Broad, muscular shoulders, bulky built. "A pint of ale would be good." Deep voice too, definitely the savagery type, though his eyes and calmness gave away his gentle nature. The contradiction had her noting more of his features. Dark, almost black hair, untamed even in the short crop. An insistent scruff on his jaw, meticulously kept.

"Right, good sir." She said writing down his order as he snorted.

He sighed. "How wrong you are, lass…"

The sadness in his mind showed on his face as he frowned. She cleared her throat to focus on her job. "Are you sure? We have delicious stew…"

He interrupted her, shaking his head. "Not too long since I ate, thanks. Just the ale’s enough." He replied.

Normally, that would be the point when she’d search his mind and, based on what she’d find, try convincing him to order something else as well. Preferably the most expensive thing she could manage, but something in those tired, brown eyes made her refrain from doing so.

"I’ll be right back shortly with your drink then." She said and left to fetch his ale. When she returned, she found him in the same position, his eyes fixed on her. Searching. Questioning. "Here’s your pint."

He nodded. “Thank you, lass.” A sense of familiarity washed over her as they openly stared at each other.

It terrified her.

She wanted to disappear in the kitchen, away from the inquisitive glances of the stranger, when her boss stopped her. "What happened? Did anyone disrespect you?"

"No, Michael, nothing happened.”

He nodded, rubbing his chin. “Did that man tell you anything?”

She knew who she meant. It flustered her. “No, just ordered an ale.” He kept nodding. “I haven’t seen him before. New regular?”

He shook his head. “Those never stay…”

She left his thoughts unanswered. “Umm, it’s getting slow. Mind if I go in the back to help Madam Jean?"

He looked around the tavern as if only then noticing there were only a few patrons left. He waved her on. "Sure, go on. You could start with the dish washing for tomorrow too. I doubt there’ll be anyone feasting at this hour." She nodded and went off to finish her chores.

As she was scrubbing pots and plates, she still felt he familiar sense she’d gotten from the brute. She tried to scrub it off as well.

She couldn’t

"I’m telling you. There’s something about the girl…" Maxwell told Seraphina hefting a crate over his shoulder. They were at the butcher shop’s basement, halfway done for the day.

"Please, Max.” Seraphina said and rolled her eyes. “Don’t bug me because of a stirring to your loins." She went back to inspecting the ledger.

“That’s not it…”

She cut him off. "Just because you haven’t seen her since last week doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with her."

"Let me finish, Sera. I think there’s something natural about her." He talked back as she guided him to where he needed to deposit his crate. Natural was a way they used to refer to anything Elemental without speaking the word. The Emperor thought he had long eradicated the existence of Elementals and their land had forgotten. But no Elemental took any chances saying the words or showing their nature. Those who had, had quickly lost their life.

“Natural, you say?” Sera asked.

"Something, yeah. I just can’t tell what." He said.

"Did you see her do anything? Did she tell you anything?" She looked up with renowned interest.

"No, neither." Seraphina chuckled at his reply. "Come with me tonight to Michael’s tavern and if we find her, you’ll see what I mean."

"I doubt the Sweet Ale shelters such a treat." She considered for a moment. "Besides, don’t you think Michael would notice? He would probably ask us to retrieve her for her safety."

"Notice what exactly? Something he doesn’t know about?" He asked as Seraphina shook her head and put her finger over her mouth signalling him to be quiet. “He doesn’t know she needs protection.”

"Lombard knows, he would notice." She said defiantly.

"The man doesn’t get out of this damned shop and he only sends his lackies in the hall. How would he?" He countered. It was getting quite obvious Lombard’s efforts in counterintelligence were becoming more and more fruitless, all results of the past cycle were a result of Albero’s machinations. "Wait, why are you defending him though? You’re the suspicious one…"

She stopped walking, pointed to the ground and when her brother put the crate down she grabbed his hand and took him to the back of the basement, away from prying eyes and ears. "Will you consider me crazy if I tell you I don’t think Lombard’s on our side?"

"Hunch or extensive irritation?" He asked instead.

"A little of both. Started with irritation and now it’s a hunch. Hasn’t he tried asking you anything about home? Anything he shouldn’t know?" She cocked an eyebrow at him.

"Like numbers, weapons and such…" he trailed off. "It could be pure curiosity."

"Or he could be working for another." Seraphina opposed. "Think about it. He asked for our kind of skillset, now he’s keeping us hooked up in all sort of business concerning anything but our true purpose, not to mention he’s given us nothing to report back."

"Point, I guess. Why defend him earlier though?" He asked confused.

"I wanted you to show distrust first. This place…I’m biased." She said looking away.

"Sis…” he said and waited until she looked at him. He had that goofy grin on him, the one that often calmed her. “We’re a team, we figure things out together, don’t bottle it up. I’ll either agree or we’ll find a reason behind your hunches. Cool?" He said softly, lifting up his fist towards her.

They bumped fists firmly and she exhaled relieved. "How are we gonna do that? Home’s a long way and even if it wasn’t, we can’t just accuse him without any proof."

"We can try Michael." He replied. She stared at him and crossed her arms. "Don’t look at me like that. He’s sympathetic to our cause, remember? He could help."

"Asking about the girl in the process won’t hurt, huh?" She mocked.

"Now I want to find her even more and rub that smirk off your face." He said, but didn’t deny anything. "So, we’re going out tonight?"

"Why wait?" She went for the stairs, but he grabbed her hand.

"If you’re right, he might get suspicious." Maxwell warned.

Seraphina turned to him with a quizzical stare. "Think people wouldn’t believe I need a break from this or I might kill something? Even Lombard can’t be that stupid."

"When you put it like that…" A mischievous glance from Maxwell and they both went upstairs.

Lombard had been looking for them, but his search never got to the basement and he didn’t see how calm, even if serious, Seraphina was before she took the last few steps onto the ground level, where her fake fit started and she stormed out of the shop.

"What’s with her?" A worried Lombard came asking Maxwell.

"You know she’s different than last time. You made her a clerk, it doesn’t help with her temper.” Maxwell replied amused. He put a hand on Lombard’s shoulder and went to lift another crate full of meat. "She’ll cool off and come back at some point."

"Maybe you should go check on her? Not that she can’t take care of herself, but if her temper’s that bad…" Lombard suggested worried.

“True…” He nodded and removed the butcher’s apron. "I’ll go knock some sense into her, might grab a drink to soothe us. Or maybe I’ll just bring her back here, take her to the basement, so we can let off some steam wrestling." He winked and before he left out the door, he grabbed his satchel.

Two blocks away from the butcher shop Seraphina joined her brother. "Any problems?"

"Nope. He bought it. In fact, he suggested I come check on you." Maxwell replied and they resumed their walk. Seraphina maintained her mad expression in case any of Lombard’s lackies followed them, but soon realized they had no tail. They successfully navigated through the rush-hour crowd and reached Michael’s tavern while the sun was still high.

They walked right in and since they didn’t see Michael anywhere, they took at Maxwell’s usual table in the corner, giving themselves a full view of the room. As they were waiting for a serving girl, Seraphina became uncomfortable. A feeling of edginess, foreign to her, shook her. She felt as if someone was prying into her very being. She looked over to her brother who was watching her intently with a sneer.

Before she could say anything though, a girl came to them. When Seraphina looked up at her, she had no doubt that was the girl Maxwell was talking about. The girl hid behind a smile, not a professional one. That was a strained one. She seemed as perplexed as Seraphina felt. "Good evening. I see you came back, huh?”

She was talking to Maxwell. He nodded smiling. “Can’t seem to stop. Haven’t seen you in a while. I’m Max.”

She extended a hand. “Vivienne. I’ve been here, in the back. Cook’s apprentice, not a serving girl.”

Seraphina rolled her eyes. “Yet you’re serving.”

“A girl’s sick, so gotta help where I can.”

Maxwell clapped. “Good for you, good for you. I hope Michael notices.”

Vivienne smiled. Warm and genuine, she liked Michael. “He does, he’s a good man.”

Maxwell nodded. “Ale and the day’s special for me. Whatever it is.”

She laughed. “It’s the stew I suggested the other day. What about you, Seraphina? Anything I can get you?"

“I never mentioned my name.” She couldn’t know if Vivienne was an Elemental. One Elemental couldn’t tell one another. The siblings had made a lot of effort to feel each other in vain. Yet, Seraphina could tell there was different with the girl. "We’d like to talk to Michael. Any chance you’ve seen him today?"

A momentary frown appeared on her face, before she put on that strained smile. "He’s in his office right now. You see, things pick up around here later in the evening."

"He’s an old friend of ours. Could you tell him of us?" Maxwell asked smiling at Seraphina mischievously. "She’ll have what I’m having."

Vivienne nodded. "I’ll bring your order soon, but I make no promises for Michael."

"He’ll want to see us. Just let us know when we can walk up to his office." Seraphina said. Hardly anyone would stop them from seeing Michael. After a nod, the girl left and Seraphina turned to her brother. "Okay, I see what you meant. Have you ever heard of anything like this?"

"How would you describe it? The feeling of her attention?" Max questioned in a suddenly serious tone.

“Attention? What are you talking about, Max?”. She raised an eyebrow, confused, but even as she did, she realized that ever since the girl left and her focus shifted off them, the uneasiness quelled. So instead of voicing her mind, she answered his question. "Um, I’m not sure. An unfamiliar agitation?” She scratched her temple. “No, wait, nothing bad to it, more like restlessness. Does that make any sense?"

“Invasion of privacy?” Seraphina nodded. "Well, the feeling itself doesn’t make sense, but I’ve seen it in record before." He pulled a notebook out of his satchel and pointed at a list he’d made. “These are things that happened in Dawnfield, inexplicable things. I made the list when the council sent father there. Look at number four.”

She perked up at that, but Vivienne returned with their food and the peculiar feeling. "Michael says you can go straight up when you’re done. The meal’s on the house."

"Thanks. We’ll head there shortly." Maxwell replied and the girl left. Seraphina put her tray aside and looked at the fourth item on Maxwell’s list. Eerie sense led to discovery, roamers got killed. Made to look like a robbery. Three cases.

“Where did you see that?” She asked her brother.

He stopped his eating to answer. “The northern roamer journals. Before we stopped most of our operations there.”

“You read those? They made us study only the south.”

His cheeks turned rosy. “I was curious. I’ve read everything…”

Those journals held the history of all operations the Shepherds undertook since they’d first come to be. Hives, established guilds and people to contact across the land. Every roamer, the siblings included, were to record their journeys so future generations had information to go on. Even before Barkley’s time though, the Shepherds stopped their work north of the Dark Highlands.

Many had presumed it was because of the proximity to the capital, but what Maxwell brought to her attention then seemed like a more plausible explanation. If someone in the capital could detect Shepherds, it was only sensible to step away from the threat.

"Okay, so it’s starting to look like my hunch isn’t just prejudice…" Seraphina said looking around more closely then. “If she’s with them…” Her heart beat faster and her hands started trembling.

“We’re made. It’s too late.”

"If you told me the night you first saw her, it’d be late. Now we’re way past that, Max. Why did you wait to say anything?" She asked livid.

"I didn’t remember. I was writing in my journal last night and came across the list. Then I made the connection." He said calmly.

"Why are you so calm?" She asked, but made an attempt to seem normal. She took a deep breath to calm her racing heart and started on her meal.

"I’m not, but I don’t want to make the situation any worse. A terrified bird makes itself an easy target when it flies off. Your arrows always find them on take off." His words made sense, but Seraphina could barely contain herself.

As the feeling overcame her once more, all she could think about was how Ashbourne proved deadly to her family. With new information, she wasn’t sure Emmery’s death was a result of their failure. If someone could detect them by simply looking at them, no roamer was safe.

She had to act, even if they’d kill her. She’d bring as many down with her as she could. She pushed her half empty plate, stood up and went up the stairs to Michael’s office without bothering to check whether Maxwell or anyone else followed her.

"Ah, Seraphina, I knew you couldn’t be that far away with your brother here." Michael welcomed her looking up from his papers.

"I’m going to give you one and only chance." She threatened in a deadly tone pulling out one of her daggers. "Who’s the serving girl? My height, skinny, long, red hair. Who’s she working for?"

"She’s just an orphan I took in after her mother died. She’s working for me, what’s going on?" Michael asked lifting his hands up in surrender.

"Is Ashbourne her birthplace?" Maxwell inquired himself when he entered the room, closing the door behind him.

"I don’t know. Her mother never said. Guys, you’re scaring me here." He replied but never made a move. He knew it was pointless. If they wanted him dead, they’d kill him no matter whether he resisted.

Seraphina was beside herself. When she felt the unfamiliarity once more, she lost it. Her extreme emotions, anger and fear in a terrible mix, consumed her being and soon the candle fire escaped the wax. It reached for her as if drawn to her centre. Her arms welcomed the sweet warm only a scorcher knew. “No. This time if someone wants to get a piece of my family, they’ll get burned!’

"Sera! Calm down! You’ll burn the whole place down!" She heard Maxwell say somewhere through the rage. Then she felt his arms around her. She faltered. She didn’t want the fire drawing near her to hurt him. "That’s better. Breathe…" he soothed, never lessening his grip. She willed the fire away and onto the candles, but didn’t avert her eyes from Michael who sat in his chair with a horrified expression.

"Let me go, Max. Now." She commanded and when he did, she moved for Michael. "Working for the empire, Mikey? Lombard too? He brings the Elementals here, your girl somehow points them to you and then we die? Isn’t that what happened to Albero? With Emmery?"

"What!? Are you insane? I’m not with the empire. I hate it as much as you do. I just don’t want to fight it. I help you when I can, my tavern provides shelter to the people I know are with your group. Albero, he was my friend. I would never…" Seraphina’s hand on his throat cut him off.

"I deal in bullshit. I use it daily. I live it. I detect it…” She said through gritted teeth. “…and you are full of it right now."

He swallowed hard. He repeatedly transferred his gaze from one to the other. He swallowed hard, but didn’t speak. Seraphina reached for her boot and took out her dagger. Michael’s eyes went wide.

Then she went flying across the room. Her back hit the wall and she went down. Maxwell rushed to her side. "You…" The siblings trailed off astonished.

"I’m an Air Elemental, blower if you prefer.” He told them trying to put out the records Seraphina’s stunt set alight. “So you see, I would never work for the empire, they’d kill me.” He held up his hand. "Before you ask, you’re the only ones alive who do know at this point."

Seraphina put out the flames he’d missed. "Did you know about us?"

"Not you specifically, but Albero did mention there were others like us when he attempted to recruit me." He stood and went to check out the window. "You’re lucky it’s still light out there or someone might’ve seen you. Since when don’t you care about secrecy?"

"Your girl’s fault." Maxwell replied inspecting his arms where the flames had touched his skin before Seraphina regained her cool. There were red patches that would soon blister already.

"Vivienne’s? I don’t see how." Michael said confused.

"Not so fast. We could have used your skills all this time and you didn’t say anything." Seraphina accused him still playing with her blade.

"After at least six cycles roaming, you can’t honestly tell me you don’t see how pointless it is to fight. You accomplish nothing as long as the Emperor lives." He told them crisply. "All you manage to do is get yourself killed in the end. Emmery, Albero and so many others you probably know better than I. All lost in a futile cause. What’s the point?"

At the mention of Emmery’s name the candles flared briefly and Seraphina glared at him, but her words were calm. "Did Albero ever tell you about Bandville?"

He shook his head, so Maxwell continued for his sister. "It’s filled with families. Families who would otherwise not exist. Descendants of Elementals back when we were no more than a few dozen family lines. Or families the League rescued."

Seraphina took it upon herself. "It’s a place where people like us and people who simply want to be free can live with as little fear as possible, because there are individuals like me, Max and Albero who do everything they can to keep attention everywhere but the confines of Crookwood. It’s for them, we have fought and will continue to fight. No matter how pointless it seems to you. Your inaction is a disgrace to your kind."

"You know nothing of me and my life. You don’t know what I’ve lost. I cannot fight." He replied, tears filling his eyes.

"Whatever your story is, it’s one of hundreds, Michael, so there’s really no excuse, but we’re not here to judge you.” Maxwell said glaring at Seraphina. “We’re here for information. That you can give us at least." He said before she continued to badger the man.

"What kind of information do you want? Vivienne’s been here for fourteen cycles already, there’s nothing malevolent about her. Unless you believe the empire sent in here a little girl to spy on me." He mocked.

"Haven’t you ever felt… weird around her?" Maxwell inquired.

"Weird? What? Like we all certainly feel right now?” They nodded. “Sure. She does it all the time." He said amused. Seconds later, a knock came. "Come in, Vivienne."

"How did you know?" Vivienne asked looking straight at Michael.

"You were ten when I found you lurking in the back of the tavern soon after your mother died. You couldn’t hide it very well." He answered softly.

"My patience’s running thin. What’s going on?" Seraphina asked crossing her arms. Maxwell simply observed the situation.

"You hardly have any patience, Seraphina.” Michael said and beckoned Vivienne closer. “Before you pulverise us, that unfamiliar sense that has you two so on edge is nothing more than Vivienne reading your mind, though how I cannot possibly tell you." The siblings looked sceptically at Michael, then Vivienne. "So, since you probably haven’t guarded your thoughts, I suggest we leave the pretences around her."

Vivienne spoke again, her eyes drifting to Maxwell. "You’re Elementals?"

Maxwell followed Michael’s suggestion and didn’t hide. Instead, he pulled the water inside the jug in the corner of the room and made it run a straight line around her, never touching her. "Yes. Attune enough to influence an element to do our bidding.”

“We have other priorities right now. Why did you almost destroy my tavern, Seraphina?" Michael asked.

It was Maxwell who answered. "Because there are accounts of Elementals reporting that restless sense before the empire discovered them and had them murdered."

Vivienne’s frail body straightened up at that. "There are other like me?"

Michael ignored her. "If the empire had people on her side with Vivienne’s ability… your roamers wouldn’t know to guard against it."

"So here it comes back to your inaction. Had you helped us by providing this information, we would be aware that even our minds aren’t safe. The girl can’t be unique. There must be others. Others who can hurt us."

"The girl has a name. Don’t talk about me as if I’m not here." Vivienne yelled back and stood defiantly in front of Seraphina.

"Um, ladies, keep your voices down. We don’t want to attract any attention." Maxwell said chuckling. Vivienne was either stubborn or had no sense of danger. He liked that. Either of that.

"No one’s bothering with what’s happening here." Vivienne said indifferently, but stood her ground. "You suspect Lombard of betraying you. The butcher, right?" She declared looking into Seraphina’s eyes.

"Stay out of my head." Seraphina uttered in a low, threatening voice.

"Right, that. Albero was mindful of him as well. In fact…" Michael started and reached for his desk drawer. "…he left a letter here before he set out last. He told me to give it to whoever came asking about Lombard’s indiscretions."

"Give it." Seraphina commanded and saw the envelope coming her way suspended by the air. She broke the seal and held the letter up for her and her brother to read simultaneously.

My fellow Shepherds,

Since you’re reading this letter, my suspicions and yours have proved correct. Lombard isn’t on our side anymore. I do not know whether it’s greed or the recent loss of his son to the palace guards, though I suspect it’s a combination of both, but in the past cycle he’s been less than forthcoming and far less willing to send his boys inside the main hall, opting to let servants come in and take whatever order has been made.

It troubled me greatly and so, in the last week I have had Lionel, the boy I’ll be bringing back to Bandville soon, follow the man to see what he’s up to when he makes me hold up his shop.

The boy reports that over the days he’s spied on our guild leader, he has met with no less than three different officers of the city. None that report to C. Those imperials would then follow me whenever I was out and about, gathering clues, so in my mind there’s no doubt of Lombard’s affiliation with the city, maybe even the empire’s capital, as he lately often asks me more of our beloved home.

You might be asking yourselves why I haven’t reported anything. The answer is that I have no proof. It is my intention to present my suspicions and evidence to our council the moment I walk past the gates of Bandville, but because I’m wary of what may become of me and Lionel in our, I have trusted this letter in the care of Michael, a man worthy of your trust.

It is my suggestion that you eliminate Lombard and flee the city. But do not go south to Bandville, as you might be followed. Head to Neverfall, where my fellow Es can provide shelter in the heart of the mountain. You can gauge your next move through there.

Farewell,

Albero

Seraphina read it and let her brother examine the letter as she knew he would. "We were made before we even stepped through his shop’s door."

"Seems like it. So how are we handling it?" Maxwell asked, the others in the room forgotten as they were making plans. "The hit’s easy since we live in his house. Should we send a message?"

"Whatever we do, the kill is mine." Seraphina stated.

"Kill? What are you talking about? What does the letter say?" Michael inquired. Maxwell gave him the envelope and stood next to Vivienne, who he thought already knew what was written on it, as Michael read carefully. "So you’ll be heading to Neverfall?"

Maxwell nodded. "Once the deed’s done. But we still need to figure out how to approach the matter. Sera, the imperials definitely know we’re with the League, but do you think the betrayal runs so deep he would tell them of our nature as well?"

Before Seraphina could answer, Vivienne interjected. "I can help you find out. If you make him think about it, I’ll know."

"We wouldn’t risk your safety. Even if we fully understood what you are." Seraphina dismissed her quickly.

"I’m someone who can get you answers quickly. Since when does a ruthless assassin turn her back on such a tool?" Vivienne challenged.

Maxwell was getting more and more fond of the girl. "Sera, come on, she’s right. Whatever information she can get out of Lombard is useful."

“And it’ll be the truth for sure, even if he tries to deceive you with words.” Vivienne added.

Seraphina stood quiet, contemplating. With a sigh, she nodded, conceding. "We need to end this now. I’m not staying in this place another night."

"Then let’s go now. I have work to do later." Vivienne said and walked out of the room. Seraphina followed her at once. She’d no doubt wanted to keep an eye on her.

Michael returned the letter to Maxwell hesitantly. "They’re quite something, huh?"

Maxwell pocketed the letter and extended his arm. "I’d better go after them before they wreak havoc…"

"Just make sure nothing happens to her." Michael shook his arm as he nodded. It was obvious Vivienne was quite dear to him. "I know the stablemen, I’ll retrieve your horses, ready and equipped with them provisions, for when you return. It’s the least I can do after Albero…"

"Thank you, Michael. We appreciate it." Maxwell left the man to his business and went downstairs. At the front door, he found Vivienne waiting for him. "Let me guess; She threatened to maim you if you followed her?"

"Nope, she didn’t need to. I do have a sense of self-preservation contrary to what you think." She answered and they walked side by side towards the butcher shop.

"About that… Do you always do that? Can’t you stop it?" He asked interested. Apart from the obvious will to keep his thoughts private, he loved acquiring whatever new pieces of knowledge he could.

"Why would I? I don’t trust you." She winked at him and increased her pace. When he no longer sensed her then known attempt to read his mind, he smiled and caught up to her.

A block away from the butcher shop they found Seraphina with her back against the brick wall waiting for them. "Took you long enough." She said and stood straight. "So, what do you need from us to do whatever it is you do?"

"Somehow make him think about how he’s betrayed you." Vivienne answered seriously. "I can only tell what people are thinking in the moment, whether consciously or subconsciously. I can’t hear their memories."

"Hear their memories? What the hell does that mean?" Seraphina asked confused.

"Do you see me asking how you almost burned down the tavern? Don’t ask me to explain something I can’t describe and you can’t understand." Vivienne breathed shaking.

"Fine.” Seraphina huffed. “I’ll talk to him about my frustrations over having nothing to do but run numbers. Think that will do the trick?" She asked annoyed.

"If you add that it’s becoming clear we have no business here and we’ll have to leave, maybe." Maxwell suggested. She nodded and went inside. He turned to Vivienne. She was shaking. "Are you okay?" She put up a brave face, but he didn’t need the ability to read her mind to see she was afraid. She nodded nonetheless. "She may… come out too strong, but neither of us will let anything happen to you."

"I’m not afraid of you two or him." She said and sounded sincere.

"Then?" He asked sheepishly.

She looked up into his eyes then. "I’m not sharing my secrets."

"Of course not. You only learn of others’." He replied a little bitterly. "Can you do your thing from out here?"

"Yes. But I could focus better if we went inside. Less noise." She answered averting her eyes from him.

"I have another idea. Follow me." He instructed and she did. Right before they stepped through the threshold, Maxwell pulled his sleeve down to hide his burn and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. She stiffened under his touch, but otherwise made no move away from him. Inside the store, there was only one customer. Lombard’s errand boy serviced the customer as he approached them. "Hey guys. See, Lombard? She’s calm now." He said in slurped speech smiling. They’d been away for a couple of hours, enough to get drunk if he had actually been downing alcohol.

"Maxwell, what are you doing? Drunk when it’s still light?" Lombard asked incredulous. Seraphina lifted her hands and went to the back.

"Why not? No one’s here." He got the hiccups then. "Oops, sorry mister, didn’t see you there.”

“Go lie down. You’re…” Lombard rubbed his forehead. “Just go.”

Maxwell nodded and turned to Vivienne. “Tuck me in, beautiful?" He made a fake attempt to whisper, but everyone heard as they shook their heads.

Vivienne played her part well, sneaking both arms around his waist, as if trying to hold up some of his weight and dragged him forward towards the stairs in the back. "Just hold on, love. I’ll take you to bed." They took a few steps before she leaned in towards Lombard. “His room?”

“Second door on the left. Just get him out of sight.”

Maxwell played with her hair as she nodded. “Let’s go, love. Up the steps now.” They stumbled up the stairs to his room.

When the door closed behind them, he plopped down on his bed to further their charade. "Love? Really?"

"Followed your example." She shrugged and seemed to listen intently. Not the normal kind of spying though. "He doesn’t suspect anything." She listened some more before she sighed. “If there are others like me, he doesn’t know any. He doesn’t even feel me reading like you did.”

He nodded. “That’s good.”

He moved around on his bed, letting the girls do their part in peace. Since Vivienne was busy with Lombard’s mind, he racked his brain, trying to find anything that could help ascertain who and what she was. Despite her secrets, she practically told him she had some, he didn’t perceive her as a threat. Like Michael had said there was no malevolence in her. But still, no matter how much he tried to think, he couldn’t find even a speck of a clue as to her connection to it all.

He was at a loss and that rarely happened with scholar work. He kept up to date. Soon, Vivienne brought him back to reality. "Here we are."

"What? What can you tell?" He asked frantic.

"He’s thinking of how bad he feels for betraying you. He likes your sister. He hates she’ll get hurt. Maybe in the next meeting he’ll ask the imperial to spare her." She seemed to be reciting his every thought, then she stopped. She frowned.

Maxwell was the calmer party in the team, but even his temper was getting challenged in that moment. "What is it?"

"It wasn’t what Albero thought. The son who was lost to the hall guards didn’t die. He’s the first leak. He betrayed you. He was tired of scraps and he opened his mouth expecting rewards. He became an imperial. Lombard’s cursing him now. The son is there when he thinks of the imperial officer he reports to.”

“Can you tell rank?”

“Shh, you’re distracting me.” Vivienne said waving her hands. “Lombard’s wishing he’d never told his son about your people. He never mentioned Elementals though. He can’t stand himself. He hates he’s betraying some shepherds over his unworthy son." She kept talking about his feelings, inconsequential details.

Maxwell paid attention on her words, but also kept thinking ahead, of how they would proceed.

The kill would happen that night in all probability, Seraphina would deliver it. The secret of Elementals was safe thanks to whatever honour the man had left. His death itself would be the message. The siblings had discovered they were being played and they retaliated. Simple as that. Then they’d supposedly go back home and if they’d discover Lombard early, the imperials might send a tail on them. But the tail would head in the wrong direction, as the siblings would be going north to Neverfall.

Suddenly, Vivienne gasped. "I’m on their target list as well!" She hugged herself and tried to stop shaking. If she was afraid before, she was then terrified.

Maxwell felt unusually furious at that. "It’s our fault. We shouldn’t have brought you into this. We need to get you out of here right now."

"No, it’s not today. They saw you asking for me at the Sweet Ale…" a rosy blush formed on her cheeks, "…and they had people follow me. They think I’m like that boy, Lionel. A new recruit."

It made sense. Albero showed interest and hung out with Lionel, then Maxwell tried doing the same with Vivienne. "My fault. Damn it. You can’t stay here, they’ll kill you." Tears ran down her cheeks as she nodded. "You can come with us to Neverfall, you can start over…"

Even as he said it, he knew that wasn’t what bothered her. She didn’t want anything in her life to change. "Who’s the mind reader now?" She asked wiping the tears.

"We’ll help you figure things out. It’s what we do. Help folks in need." He said and went to her, hoping to provide some comfort. He didn’t intend anything more than a pat on the back, but he found himself holding her in his arms.

He expected her to call him a killer, not the sort to help people. She didn’t. Instead, she held on to his tunic desperately, while still listening in downstairs. "Seraphina’s been left alone with him. She’s on the verge of killing him on the spot."

"Go downstairs. Stop her. She can’t do it out in the open." He told her and she let go of him before darting out of the room.

He lied on his bed and waited. No screams came from below, so Vivienne had likely stopped his sister from bringing the traitor to justice. They didn’t exactly need the darkness to slip away from the city. They needed the time the night would provide before someone came looking for Lombard and found his body. Time they’d use to get as far away north as possible.

A while after Vivienne left his room, he was tending to his charred arm when he heard his sister trudging up the stairs before she entered the room and sat down furious, sparks of fire playing on her fingertips as she absentmindedly inspected her fingernails. "So we’re taking her with us?"

"Didn’t she tell you they think she’s with us?" Maxwell asked and moved towards the opposite corner of the room.

"She did. She even went back to Michael’s to pack." She said calmly, but the sparks flared. "You know, after she stopped me from slicing Lombard’s throat. Would you happen to know anything about that?"

"Okay…I can see you’re mad, sis…" he started.

But she cut him off. "Correction, I was mad when we had to include her earlier, kid. Now I’m livid." As if to make a point, another flare happened. "Since when does an outsider dictate how we operate? Even if it’s someone we now have to protect."

"She’s not dictating anything. I told her to come down and stop you. If you did it now, we wouldn’t go far before they discovered his body." Maxwell replied evenly. Since she caused no more flares, he moved closer to her and knelt at her feet. "Sera, we’re still in control of the situation…"

"I don’t know about that. Too many variables, kid. Lombard, his son, imperials somewhere in the city, Michael… Not to mention your little girlfriend. How are we in control?" She asked reaching for his arm where she’d burned him in Michael’s office.

"Lombard’s son knows nothing or they wouldn’t get Lombard on their side. He doesn’t suspect anything, so neither do the imperials. He’ll be dead soon and we’ll be gone before sunrise." He winced when the bandage she was placing touched his skin. She didn’t apologise and he kept on. "Michael’s an Elemental and cares about the girl, so he’s not ratting us out. As for the girl, she’s like any other person we’ve had to rescue since we offered our services to the League."

"She can get into our heads. That’s abnormal." She replied focused on her work.

He cackled. "Abnormal? Really?” He winced when she purposely applied pressure. ”Okay, okay, ouch!"

"Elementals used to roam the land, when have you ever heard of someone like her? You’re a bookworm, you’d know." Her words were true.

"Just because we don’t know of anyone like that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Maybe there’s a group of them holed up somewhere, like our people in Bandville." He guessed.

"Yeah, like the capital, working for the empire looking into the minds of everyone in search for our kind." She raised an eyebrow at him. He’d fallen in the trap she’d placed.

"May as well be. But she’s on our side." He assured her confidently. "Go out there. It’s already been ten minutes. Whatever excuse you used on Lombard can’t require more than that."

"Fine. I’ll come get you when the shop’s closed for the day." She said and left. So Maxwell was left alone in his room due to his earlier performance. Like the bookworm he was, he reached into his sack and pulled one out to kill the time. Darkness came, but there was still the usual commotion below. It had happened before, so Maxwell wasn’t worried, but he figured enough time had passed that anyone’d think he had taken a nap to sober up. He got up.

With a hand on his head, rubbing his eyes, he made his way down, where he found Lombard showing the main hall staff where their order was waiting. "Ah, Maxwell. Finally sober?"

He kept rubbing his eyes, scrunching his face. "Hardly. I got hungry."

Lombard gave a short laugh. "Of course. Seraphina’s in the back getting something ready."

"Are you sure? I could help the boys load the crates." He offered yawning.

"Maybe tomorrow, Maxwell. Tonight, you’re a little out of it." Lombard replied and turned to the boys.

Maxwell started for the kitchen in the back, but he stopped as if remembering something. "Um, hey, I brought a girl back with me. Did she leave?"

"Yes, some time after you went upstairs. Nicely done, young man." He said ushering him to the kitchen.

He went to the kitchen where he found his sister cooking. She’d already grilled a few steaks, knowing full well that would be their last proper meal in a while as their journey to Neverfall would last forty days at the very least. If they didn’t run into any trouble. He nodded at her when she looked up and he joined her in the cooking.

Soon they were joined by an exhausted Lombard. "Quite a feast you’ve prepared here. What’s the occasion?"

"Figured you’d like to have a nice last meal." Seraphina said serving him a large portion and closed the doors and windows. "You’re not going to scream, are you?"

He sat down shaking his head. "If I thought it’d do me any good, maybe. What gave me away?"

"You asked for seasoned roamers, then stuffed us in the shop. You ask the hall staff to come receive their orders instead of sending your lackies to spy. You’ve had people follow us. We tried to give you the benefit of the doubt, but man, you overdid it with Albero." Maxwell said.

"I guess I did. Would it help if I provided reasons for my actions?" Lombard asked cutting his steak.

"You’re a traitor. No reason you give can help you." Seraphina replied and sat down herself. "But I do want to know when you turned on us."

"It wasn’t before your last time here if that’s what you’re really asking. No. It happened last summer. They have a hold on me." He said evenly.

"You mean your son. From what we heard, he’s alive. Enlisted with the empire even." Maxwell surprised him.

"Yes. Maybe if I had been a better father than I was a Shepherd, none of this would’ve happened." He looked down in shame. "I haven’t told them of anything related to Bandville. I made your people look like a shadow over my head, one I had to please or I’d get hurt."

"You made inquiries of things you shouldn’t know though." Seraphina pointed out annoyed.

"While they were listening in on us. And what did they hear? Confirmation on my sayings. You weren’t trusting me with such delicate information. So they never pushed me. You have to understand, I only drew back my spies." Lombard said.

"Tell Albero and Lionel that. Oh, wait, you can’t, they died because you compromised them, like you did us." Seraphina said and got up. "What about the girl here today? Is she in danger through association too?"

He gulped. "Yes. Take her with you, otherwise she’s dead."

"We will. I have to applaud the spec of dignity you show.” Maxwell said clapping.

"I knew it would come at some point. I’ll leave this world with as much dignity as I can muster." He said sitting straight.

“One last question. Are they planning a move on Crookwood?” Seraphina asked standing behind him and placing her hands on his head.

“And did you compromise Michael as well?" Maxwell added.

"Michael’s safe. He never had anything much to do with us, except provide a meal or a few. As for Crookwood, if they ever manage to find Bandville, they will, but they don’t know where it is. That’s why they trailed Albero. The imperial I report to is nothing more than a lowlife guard. He wanted to proof before he brought it to the Viscount, so they won’t search. Our people are safe."

“Our people, not yours.” Maxwell tapped lightly on the table. "Sera, it’s time."

She nodded and twisted Lombard’s head with all her might. With his neck broken, his paralyzed body keeled over and due to his excessive weight made quite a thumping noise when he touched the ground. Before he could scream, she put a rag down his throat and stuck her dagger in his chest. "Farewell." She whispered before taking a seat and wiped the then crimson blade.

"I’ll go pack, you finish eating?" Maxwell asked.

Again, she nodded. "Can you also carry him to the basement though?"

"Yeah, sure. I’ll be back by the time you finish." And indeed he was. As Seraphina took her last few bites, Maxwell appeared with their travelling sacks and their weapons in hand. "Took the liberty of relieving him of his money. He won’t be needing it."

"Let’s go get your girlfriend and leave then." She said strapping her full quiver on her back and shouldering her bow and sack.

"I don’t do girlfriends, Sera." He uttered shaking his head.

“Keep telling yourself that, little brother.” she thought to herself as they walked out. They used every alley they could on the way to the Sweet Ale, their desire to avoid being seen a top priority. They were on full stealth mode and since Lombard had made no report of them acting out of the ordinary, the siblings’ job was easy enough.

A while later, they entered the tavern through the back entrance coming upon the cook, Madam Jean. They could also sense Vivienne in their heads. "Michael told me to expect you two. Don’t go to the front. There are imperials from the barracks out there."

"What? Why?" Seraphina asked slightly panicked.

"They often come by after their patrols. I’ll go tell Michael you’re here. Would you be dears and stir the pot so my stew doesn’t stick?" She asked heading for the door.

"Your food’s always exceptional, Madam Jean." Maxwell said smiling but stirred as requested.

"Always a charmer, Maxwell." The cook said and disappeared.

The siblings waited a short while and the next time the door opened, in slipped Vivienne. "I thought I heard you."

"No need to ask what that means, huh?" Seraphina asked annoyed. Vivienne turned red. "Did you do what I told you?"

Vivienne gave an affirmative nod. "I acted sick all the way back, when I came here and then retired home to pack. I only came back here an hour ago. No one will think anything of it tonight."

Michael and Madam Jean walked in at that moment. "Ready to go?" He asked as she went to take over the cooking once more.

"As ready as ever. We’re sorry we’re taking one of your assets…" Maxwell trailed off a little uneasy.

"Don’t apologise, just keep her safe. We’d much prefer her alive. Rather than dead." Madam Jean stated seriously.

"She can be trusted, Seraphina. Michael and Madam Jean raised me, they wouldn’t betray me, and you by association." Vivienne probably replied to Seraphina’s worries of how more than Michael were told of their departure.

"Stop doing that. My mind is my own." Seraphina grumbled awkwardly.

"Okay, you’d better get going. I figured you wouldn’t want anyone seeing you leave so I had your horses brought to the farm Jean grew up, a mile northeast of the north gate, Vivienne can show you. I obviously didn’t know Viv would be with you, so there’s only two." Michael informed the three of them. He tossed a bag of coins to Maxwell. "That will get you another horse when the opportunity comes. I don’t need to tell you how to evade the guards?"

Seraphina snorted. "We’ve studied the maps, we can handle it." She meant Maxwell had thoroughly studied and committed the maps to his memory, but point was, they knew how to get wherever they needed to. "Let’s give them some privacy for their goodbyes." She stressed out the privacy part as she dragged Maxwell outside.

"You could be a little less menacing. She’ll be around for quite a while." He stated as he leaned against the tavern wall.

"She can obviously choose when to do it, so I want her out of my head. Is that so hard to get?" Seraphina asked when Vivienne, with tear stained eyes, came out carrying a large backpack.

"Ready to go?" Maxwell asked and she nodded. Seeing how heavy her backpack seemed to her, he offered: "I can help with that."

"No. I can carry my own weight." Neither sibling commented on that. They started to go north, but Vivienne stopped them. "There’s another entrance… A secret one, no guard would consider it."

"What other entrance? We’d know about something like that." Seraphina challenged.

"There is one. My mom and I came through it back when it wasn’t so easy to come and go in the city. Someone smuggled us in." Vivienne answered and walked east.

“Not dictating anything, huh?” Seraphina asked Maxwell before they trudged after Vivienne.

They were in the southwest part of Ashbourne. Whatever escape route she had in mind would make crossing the main street that cut the city in half unavoidable. The siblings had questions about where she was leading them, but it was imperative they stayed quiet at the time, so they followed, senses alert for danger.

Suddenly she stopped them, just before they reached the main street. She crouched and so did they behind her. "What’s going on?" Seraphina whispered behind Vivienne.

She showed four fingers and pointed first to her head, then towards the street. No matter how infuriating it was not to be safe in one’s own mind, both Seraphina and Maxwell had to admit that was a neat way to detect danger.

When she felt comfortable the guards on their night patrol had moved on, Vivienne signalled the siblings it was time to move. That went on till they reached the east wall close to the centre of it. As the siblings stood watch, Vivienne was raking her brain to remember which storage area held the escape tunnels. She had only been eight when she’d last passed through.

After looking at the four buildings, which had expanded and made her job to remember harder where the entrance was. She wasn’t sure, so she decided to just touch and go. First attempt would have been the southern one, had Maxwell not stopped her. "If your idea was an escape route for the workers from when this part was a smithy, then it’d be located in the third building. First the bellows, then the crafters’ benches, the quarters which would have an escape route and last the storage."

"He knows his stuff, so unless you’re certain of the way, Max’s making the first guess." Seraphina whispered. "Do your thing and see if it’s safe to sneak in now." It was, so they broke a window and got inside.

Seraphina’s Elemental abilities proved handy in the tunnels as it was only thanks to her influence that flames, suspended in the air, shone the way. Vivienne hadn't mentioned her suggestion before, so they hadn’t thought to bring a torch. The light of fire out in the open would dissolve any chances of stealth, so the siblings told her they hardly ever carried ones. But deep in the confines of the earth, it would’ve proved helpful.

With Vivienne’s resurfaced memories, they were able to guide through the tunnels, thankfully they still held, and come out of the city. They saw no one on their way, something the siblings had been worried about from the start. Thanks to Vivienne, they had made it. Once out of the city, they moved far more calmly to Jean’s family farm, where the girls mounted one horse, Maxwell the other and their journey to Neverfall began.