Recap
The night in Windmere ended with six dangerous women sitting at Riven's table — uninvited and unwelcome. The silver-haired one claimed to know why the city was under attack. The hooded one whispered something worse: that one of them would betray him. Now, as the sun rises, Riven is about to learn how quickly suspicion can turn into steel.
Part 1 — Quiet Breakfast
The inn's common room smelled faintly of roasted barley and woodsmoke. The morning light spilled through tall, grimy windows, painting the tables in dusty gold. Outside, Windmere was already waking — merchants raising the shutters of their stalls, the clatter of hooves on cobblestone, and the distant sound of the blacksmith's hammer ringing across the square.
Riven sat alone at the farthest table, a half-finished bowl of porridge in front of him. It was lukewarm and bland, but eating gave him something to do with his hands.
The sword in his head sighed dramatically.
"You know," it said, "for a boy who claims to want to stay unnoticed, you have a knack for sitting in places where people can throw knives at your back."
Riven took another bite. "It's breakfast. Not a battlefield."
"Wrong. This is Windmere. Everything's a battlefield."
He didn't answer — not because the sword was wrong, but because the doors had just opened.
Part 2 — The Meeting
The first to enter was the silver-haired woman from last night — the one the others seemed to treat as their leader. She didn't look like she'd slept. Her long braid swung over one shoulder, her wind-touched blade strapped across her back, and her expression was as sharp as broken glass.
She crossed the room without hesitation and sat down across from him.
"Eat quickly," she said. "We have work."
Before he could respond, the others filtered in:
The storm-haired fighter with her ever-present crackle of energy.
The green-armored woman whose smile looked more dangerous than her spear.
The white-and-gold knight with a serene face that didn't match the way she watched everyone.
The hooded shadow, eyes the color of stormlit amethyst.
And the crimson-plated warrior whose armor creaked like a warning bell with every step.
By the time the last one sat, Riven felt like the only unarmed man in the kingdom — which was ironic, considering the sword whispering in his mind.
Silver-hair — Ysera, if he remembered correctly — got straight to the point.
"We're leaving Windmere today. Something's stirring to the east."
Riven leaned back in his chair. "And this involves me how?"
Her gaze didn't waver. "Because whether you like it or not, you're already involved."
Part 3 — Glass and Steel
The hooded woman's voice cut through the tense air. "We're being watched."
The words had barely left her lips when the inn's front windows exploded inward.
Splinters of wood and shards of glass flew across the room, the morning light replaced by the blur of cloaked figures diving through the wreckage. The first attacker hit the floor rolling, blades already drawn. The second vaulted over an overturned table. The third came straight for Riven.
His sword was in his hand before he realized he'd moved.
"Finally," it purred.
The room erupted into chaos. Ysera's wind-blade sent a slicing gust that slammed one attacker into the far wall. The storm-haired fighter's weapon crackled as she struck, each hit lighting the room with a violent flash.
The green-armored woman laughed — actually laughed — as her spear spun in a perfect defensive arc, deflecting two strikes at once. The white-and-gold knight moved with precision, her blade flashing in controlled, surgical cuts. The hooded shadow didn't seem to move at all — until her dagger appeared in an enemy's side.
Riven blocked, twisted, and countered, his blade biting into the attacker's arm. Not deep enough to kill, but enough to send the weapon clattering to the floor.
It was over in seconds. Two attackers down, the third vanishing through the broken window as quickly as he'd arrived.
The room smelled of dust, blood, and splintered wood.
Ysera didn't bother to chase. Instead, she turned to Riven. "That," she said evenly, "is why you're coming with us."
Part 4 — Shadows in the Aftermath
The innkeeper was still cursing when Ysera pulled a chair upright and sat as though nothing had happened.
"You're coming with us," she repeated.
Riven glanced at the shattered window. "Because people keep trying to stab me?"
"Because people keep trying to stab us," she corrected.
The hooded woman tilted her head, studying him. "The ones today weren't after her." She nodded toward Ysera. "They were after you."
Riven frowned. "Me? I've never even seen them before."
Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Someone has. And someone told them exactly where you'd be this morning."
The sword's voice was a low hum in his head. "You're sitting at a table with your suspects, boy."
Part 5 — The Road East
They left Windmere before noon, riding under a sky the color of tarnished silver. The road wound through rolling hills, the air thick with the smell of rain.
Ysera led at a steady pace, the storm-haired fighter and crimson-plated warrior riding close to her flanks. The green-armored woman rode just ahead of Riven, glancing back at him with a smile that felt like an unspoken dare. The white-and-gold knight kept to the edge of the group, quiet and watchful. The hooded shadow stayed at the rear, where she could see everyone.
Nobody spoke much. The silence wasn't friendly — it was the kind of silence that hummed with unasked questions.
By midday, the road narrowed into a rocky pass between two ridges. The hills rose sharply on either side, their slopes dotted with jagged stones and half-dead trees.
The sword's tone sharpened. "You feel that?"
"Feel what?" Riven murmured.
"Trouble."
They were halfway through the pass when movement flickered on the ridge. Figures stepped into view — armored, armed, and too well-positioned to be bandits.
Riven counted quickly. A dozen, maybe more. All watching. All smiling.
One of them raised a hand, and the mercenaries began to descend.
The sword's voice was calm now. "Here's your test, Riven. Watch closely. See which of them fights to protect you… and which of them enjoys the killing a little too much."
Preview for Chapter 3
Trapped in the pass by a mercenary band that seems to know the group's exact route, Riven spots one of his companions signaling the enemy mid-fight — and it's not the one he suspected.
Call to Action
Who do you think is the traitor? Drop your theory in the comments. If your guess is right, you might see your name hidden in a future chapter…