The rest of the journey to Ravencrest passed without incident. The only real hardship was the ache that settled deep into my bones from sitting on a hard wooden bench all day. By the time the city gates came into view, the sun was already sinking toward the horizon, painting the stone walls in warm gold.

  There was no queue at the gate.

  Cain reined in the horses, and we dismounted, stretching stiff limbs as we approached the guards.

  “Well now,” the gate guard said with a grin, straightening as he recognised us. “Cain. Good to see you again.” His eyes flicked past him. “Looks like even Jenna’s with you this time.”

  “Hello, Jerrith,” Jenna replied, surprisingly cordial. “It’s good to see you. It’s been a long while.”

  Jerrith laughed. “That it has.” His gaze swept over the rest of us. “And it seems you’ve brought quite the company. Drisnil, Illara, Faie… that’s a heavy-hitting group if ever I saw one.”

  “Oh?” Cain said mildly. “You know them?”

  “Know of them,” Jerrith corrected. “Drisnil and Illara have been making waves lately—dangerous contracts, successful returns. Most of the guard has heard the stories by now.”

  I felt a faint prickle of discomfort at that.

  “And Faie,” he added, smirking, “well… she’s memorable.”

  Faie lifted her chin, looking entirely pleased with herself.

  Jerrith gestured toward the rest of the group. “I don’t recognise the others, though.”

  Cain obliged. “This is Theo—Illara’s father. Ash is Illara’s brother, and Sera is Ash’s partner.”

  Jerrith smiled at Theo. “You must have your hands full with Illara. She’s got energy to spare.”

  Theo chuckled softly. “She takes after her mother.”

  “Well,” Jerrith said, stepping aside, “since it’s you, Cain—and Jenna too—I’ll waive the gate fee this time. Just make sure you find time to see the captain while you’re here. He’ll be pleased to see you.”

  Cain winced visibly.

  “I’ll… make time,” he said, resigned.

  Jerrith swung the gate open. “Welcome back to Ravencrest.”

  “Good seeing you again,” Cain said as we passed through.

  Jerrith raised a hand in farewell.

  Inside the walls, Cain halted the cart.

  “This is where we part ways for the night,” he said. “Jenna and I will stay with a friend.” He glanced at Theo. “What about you?”

  “He can stay with Illara and me,” I said. “It won’t be luxurious, but there’s space in the tower. Sleeping on the floor should be manageable.”

  “I’d appreciate that,” Theo replied.

  “I’m staying there too,” Faie added immediately.

  I sighed. “Fine. But you’ll need to make space. Illara and I will take the bedroom.”

  Cain laughed under his breath. “I’ll return the cart and meet you all at the church in the morning.”

  With that settled, we turned toward the tower.

  As we walked, I couldn’t help but wonder just how crowded things were about to become—and how much tension the stone walls would be asked to hold.

  The tower was locked when we arrived, and none of us had a key. Thankfully, Drisnil’s particular talents made that a minor inconvenience. Within moments, we were inside.

  Being back in Norman’s tower felt wrong in a way I hadn’t expected. It still carried the sense that he might return at any moment. Papers lay scattered across his desk, and his bookshelf was in its usual state of chaotic disarray. Touching any of it felt like an intrusion.

  Faie, however, wasted no time. She lit a lamp and immediately began sorting through the papers, scanning them with focused intensity.

  Theo set about lighting the fire while Illara searched the cupboards.

  “I’m not sure you’ll find much food,” I said gently. “You know what Norman was like.”

  “I know,” she replied, still checking anyway. “I suppose I’m just hoping.”

  I cleared my throat. “How would everyone feel about dinner at a tavern?” I asked. “My treat.”

  The suggestion cut cleanly through the heaviness of the room.

  “That sounds wonderful,” Theo said at once.

  Sera’s face lit up with unmistakable excitement, though Ash shifted uneasily beside her.

  “It’s alright,” Sera said softly, squeezing his hand. “We can leave if it’s too much.”

  “Excellent,” Faie said cheerfully. “I’m looking forward to real food.”

  She glanced at me. “I assume you’re paying properly.”

  I had the distinct impression she planned to take full advantage of that fact.

  We left our belongings in the tower and made our way back to the tavern we’d sung in before. It was already lively, voices overlapping as patrons laughed and ate.

  As soon as we stepped inside, the barkeep recognised us.

  “Good to see you again, Drisnil. Illara,” he said warmly. “Looks like you’ve brought friends. Need a table?”

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  “Yes,” I replied. “I’m buying dinner tonight. Any chance of a deal?”

  He grinned. “One silver per person. That includes house ale and tonight’s special.”

  “Perfect.”

  I handed over seven silver, and he waved a waitress over to clear a table for us.

  Sera watched the bard with wide eyes as he played a lively tune, her excitement infectious. Ash, meanwhile, couldn’t stop smiling at her.

  “You must come here often,” Theo observed.

  “Sometimes,” Illara said. “We sing now and then to earn dinner.”

  Theo’s eyes brightened. “I’d love to hear you sing, if you don’t mind.”

  Illara glanced at me. “I think we could.”

  “We could do a duet,” Faie added immediately.

  I opened my mouth to protest.

  “Not this time,” Illara said gently, cutting me off. “I want you to sit back and enjoy it. Faie and I can handle it.”

  Before I could argue, they were already on their feet.

  They spoke briefly with the bard, who nodded and began strumming a familiar tune. The room quieted as Illara and Faie took their places.

  And they sang.

  “We’ll Be Fine”

  Illara

  The road is long, the packs are torn,

  The fire’s low, the night’s not kind,

  But we’ve been cold and we’ve been worn,

  And still we walk, and still we’re fine.

  Faie

  You say “we’ll make it, just believe,”

  I say “burn first, then ask them why,”

  If something jumps out from the trees,

  I’ll make sure it regrets the try.

  Both

  We’ll be fine, we’ll be fine,

  One way or another we’ll be fine,

  You pray, I blast, we laugh at fate,

  And somehow cross the line.

  Illara

  I’d rather spare than strike them down,

  There’s good in folk if you can see—

  Faie

  —and I’d rather not be bleeding out

  While they’re discovering empathy.

  Both

  We’ll be fine, we’ll be fine,

  Even if your way’s not mine,

  You heal the wounds, I make them stop,

  Different paths, same sign.

  Faie

  I don’t do quiet, don’t do meek,

  I don’t do waiting patiently,

  Illara

  But when things break and fear runs high,

  You’re standing right in front of me.

  Both

  We’ll be fine, we’ll be fine,

  Through the dark and through the grime,

  With song or spell or sharpened steel,

  We’ll make it every time.

  By the time they finished, the tavern was roaring with laughter and applause.

  I’d managed to collect four silver during the performance. After handing half to the barkeep, it covered two of our meals entirely.

  Theo was beaming, leaning toward a man at the next table. “That’s my daughter,” he said proudly, gesturing toward Illara.

  When they returned to the table, our food was already being set down.

  “You were both amazing,” I said honestly.

  “Thank you,” Illara replied, still a little flushed.

  “Naturally,” Faie said, smug as ever.

  At least she was consistent.

  We ate while sharing stories—mostly lighthearted ones from Illara’s and Sera’s lives in the village. For a little while, the weight of the past lifted.

  It reminded me of how things had been, before I became the town’s pariah.

  And for that evening, at least, it felt like I belonged again.

  Once we returned to the tower, we were all comfortably full and pleasantly tired.

  Illara and I went in search of the bedroom while the others claimed blankets and improvised sleeping spaces. Faie had already taken possession of the armchair, curled into it with an air of absolute ownership.

  The bedroom itself was in disarray. Books and loose papers covered nearly every surface, the bed piled high as if it hadn’t been slept in for years. The air smelled faintly of dust and old ink.

  Together, Illara and I began clearing space, shifting books onto the floor and stacking papers wherever there was room. It took longer than I expected, but eventually the mattress was visible again.

  I checked the sheets, lifting one corner and giving it a cautious sniff. Dusty, but not unpleasant.

  “I think they’re fine,” I said, fatigue creeping into my voice. “I don’t think I have it in me to change them tonight.”

  Illara smiled faintly. “We should wash first,” she said. “I imagine this tower must have somewhere for that.”

  We searched the adjoining rooms and found it: a small stone chamber with a wooden basin large enough for two, a copper boiler set above a fire, and a simple tap that fed hot water into the bath.

  Illara’s face lit up.

  “Geoff,” she said, already smiling, “you’re bathing with me. I won’t take no for an answer.”

  I let out a tired laugh. “I suppose I have missed warm water.”

  She purified the water with a quiet miracle and stoked the fire beneath the boiler. Then, without hesitation, she began to undress.

  “Well?” she said lightly. “You can’t leave me here on my own.”

  I hesitated only a moment before following suit, suddenly very aware of myself. Illara’s gaze lingered, curious and warm rather than judging. I tried not to stare back, though the effort took conscious restraint.

  When the water was ready, she tested it, cooled it slightly with another miracle, and stepped into the bath with a contented sigh.

  “Come on,” she urged softly. “Don’t keep me waiting.”

  I joined her carefully. The basin was small; my legs rested over hers, my feet tucked near her hips. The heat soaked into my muscles immediately, loosening tension I hadn’t realised I was still carrying.

  After a moment of quiet, Illara spoke.

  “I wish I could have known you in your own world.”

  I glanced down at her. “Why?”

  She hesitated. “It sounds peaceful. And I think… I could have imagined a life with you there.”

  The words caught me off guard.

  “I was lonely,” I admitted after a moment. “I had friends, but I was never truly close to anyone.”

  Illara smiled gently, then turned and leaned back against me, her head resting against my chest.

  “I wouldn’t have let you be lonely,” she said.

  She shifted slightly, settling more comfortably. “Please,” she added quietly, “put your arms around me.”

  I did so without thinking, my arms folding around her middle.

  “Thank you,” she murmured. “I don’t want this moment to end. I feel… at peace.”

  I rested my chin lightly against her hair, listening to the soft crackle of the fire and the steady rhythm of her breathing.

  For the first time in days, the weight of grief and responsibility eased.

  And for now, that was enough.