The woman emerged from the treeline, moving with cautious steps. She was petite, in her early twenties, with chestnut hair tied back in a practical braid that swung with each step. Her clothes were a mismatched combination of sturdy hides and softer fabric. A crossbow rested comfortably in her hands, her fingers brushing the mechanism with familiarity.
Adrian and Alex remained seated, hands tucked inside their cloaks, fingers brushing the triggers of their weapons. They appeared relaxed, leaning slightly against the logs, but every muscle was coiled tight beneath the surface.
Alex shifted, firelight flickering across his tense face. “Do we wait for her to talk, or…?”
Adrian’s grip tightened a fraction. “Let her make the first move.”
When she drew close enough, Adrian offered a calm, “Morning.”
The woman stopped a few paces short of the fire. Her crossbow stayed low but ready. Her gaze swept between them, then lingered on the roasting meat. She let the silence stretch, testing them.
Finally, she said, “That’s a good kill. Not many bring down a beast like that without a hunting party.”
Adrian met her eyes. “Got lucky.”
“Some luck,” she replied evenly, not looking away.
“More than we can eat.” He gestured toward an empty spot by the fire.
She studied them a beat longer, then sat.
Sylmara’s gaze flicked to the treeline before returning to the fire. “So,” she said, voice careful. “What brought you here?”
Adrian rubbed his neck, smiling lightly. “We… got lost.”
The artifact worked. His words came out smooth, natural, like his own tongue. Not that he ever doubted it.
Her gaze shifted to Alex.
He grinned awkwardly around a mouthful of meat. “No comment.”
She shook her head faintly. “Where were you headed?”
Alex swallowed. “Wherever the path takes us. For now? The nearest city.”
Her head tilted slightly.
“We’re travelers,” Adrian added.
“Travelers?” Her head was still tilted.
Alex nodded. “Yeah. Seeing what the world’s got to offer.”
“Travelers, huh? Must see a lot of… interesting places.”
"Plenty," said Alex with a smirk.
“What’s your name?” Adrian asked.
“Sylmara.”
“Nice to meet you, Sylmara,” Alex smirked. “I’m Alex. That’s Adrian.”
She gave the smallest smile.
Alex pointed toward the fire. “Have some, if you want.”
Sylmara glanced at her crossbow, then set it across her lap. “Thanks.” She drew a knife from her belt and carved off a slice of meat.
Adrian and Alex dug in again, letting her watch them eat first. Eventually, she joined them.
The fire popped. Silence stretched, broken only by chewing. Sylmara’s eyes kept scanning the treeline.
“We mean you no harm,” Adrian said quietly.
She only nodded.
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When Adrian finished his piece, he asked, “Where’s the nearest city?”
Sylmara took a slow breath, “West,” she said. “About a week’s travel.”
“A week isn’t terrible,” Alex offered, flashing a small smile. “What do they call it?” His question came light, almost casual. “The city, I mean.”
“Ashfall. Hard place to get into.” She said, still alert.
Adrian scratched his chin. “Any idea how?”
“There are ways. Why should I tell you?”
Alex leaned forward, grin widening. “We’re not asking for free.” He gestured at the boar on the spit.
They had rehearsed this much already.
She considered, then nodded. “That could work. Easiest way is with a caravan.”
“Are they common?” Adrian asked.
She studied Adrian for a moment before answering, voice even but careful. “Daily.”
“Perfect.”
She just nodded.
“What else should we know?” Alex asked.
Sylmara was quiet for a bit. "What would you want to know?"
"Something new people might need to know?" Alex added.
Sylmara paused, measuring. “Watch where you do business. Stay away from the council. That’s all.”
She was still tense, Adrian noticed. But he wanted to stay a few days in the village, so they could catch up on sleep. So he wasn't letting this chance go by. He also wanted to know more about the city; the information she provided might be enough for someone well-informed about the world. But they were clueless.
“We’re new to the region,” Adrian said, keeping it casual.
Her brow arched. “New?”
“Yeah,” Alex jumped in. “We came from the north. Feels like we’ve been walking in circles.”
“The Free City of Ashfall,” Sylmara said. “Run by the council.”
“The council?” Alex asked.
“Yes. Officially, at least. But I don’t bother with politics. It’s a trade hub.”
Alex nodded thoughtfully.
“And nearby villages?” Adrian asked, slicing off another piece. “Somewhere we could rest a few nights?”
The weapon stayed on her lap, but her grip tightened slightly as she spoke.
They noticed the reaction, but didn't act on it. That hit a nerve, Adrian thought.
Wanting to ease the tension, Adrian took a bite from the piece in his hand, and Alex followed. They didn't show any hint that they noticed her reaction.
The hesitation lasted for a few moments, "There should be a few," she said. The grip on her crossbow didn't ease. "After you exit the forest, the closest one is east."
"Does it have an inn or something to stay at?" Adrian asked.
"No, but you could find a stay in one of the villagers' houses, if you have something to trade for it."
"That shouldn't be too difficult," Alex nodded.
Adrian wanted to ask her more, but he had to tread carefully. Her alertness had spiked the moment they mentioned a village. That meant getting there or learning anything about it wouldn’t be easy. He needed a plan, but nothing came to mind.
There were a few options, each with risks. He could steer the conversation away from the village entirely, but that might make them seem suspicious. Or he could try to earn her trust first, before pressing further. But how? One wrong move, and they might not just lose her cooperation… they could spark a conflict. She was holding her crossbow tightly.
Alex shifted slightly, leaning back as he tried to sound casual. “So… what brings you out here?” His tone was light.
Sylmara’s eyes flicked to him, narrowing just a fraction. She tightened her grip on the crossbow for a heartbeat, then relaxed slightly. Her voice was measured, calm, but cautious. “Hunting.” She said, "Lost my party."
“You’re lost too?” Adrian asked, his brows furrowed.
“No,” she replied quickly, eyes flicking to the treeline. “I just lost my party.” Her fingers brushed the crossbow lightly.
“Is it safe to be alone?” Alex asked, a faint concern lacing his face.
She met his gaze evenly, a faint smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. “Not exactly… but I can handle myself.”
“Yeah… I see that,” Adrian said, letting out a soft laugh.
“We can escort you,” Alex added, his tone easy, friendly. “We don’t mind.”
She shook her head quickly, eyes scanning the forest edge. “No, I’m fine. I came here because I thought my party might be—well… because of the smoke.”
Adrian almost laughed. He didn’t know how long he should go along with it. Push too hard, and they risk losing her trust, or worse, her temper. But if he didn’t play along, they would lose the chance to learn more about the world and miss out on a few days’ rest at the village, without having to wake every two hours for guard duty.
She wasn’t carrying any water. He raised an eyebrow. “You must be thirsty,” he said, reaching for the water bottle beside him and holding it out.
Sylmara hesitated, eyes narrowing briefly as she assessed him. Adrian took a small sip himself, letting the gesture speak. “Go on,” he said lightly, offering it again.
Finally, she let her hand close around it, her grip firm but controlled. She took a careful sip, then gave a curt nod. “Thanks,” she said.
Adrian let out a small, almost imperceptible chuckle, letting the silence settle.
Alex leaned back, watching her reaction, hesitation flickering across his face for a moment. He let out a tired exhale, eyes flicking toward Sylmara. “You can tell your friends… they can come out too,” he said, voice low but firm. “It’s too much food for just three people.”
Sylmara froze. Her eyes widened. The firelight reflected off her startled gaze.
