The two arrived at the Crow Man's lodge right on time, they kept their own treasures hidden but waited for Vernon in the back. The Crow Man's lodge stood at the edge of town, a squat building of blackened wood and mismatched stones. A single lantern swung lazily above the door, casting shadows that seemed to writhe in the evening breeze. The air smelled of smoke and damp earth, with an underlying tang of something acrid—like old herbs burning in a poorly-ventilated room. Mira leaned against the rough-hewn wall beside the door, her fingers absently brushing against the pendant in her pocket. Its heat had lessened slightly, but the thrumming remained steady, like a heartbeat in rhythm with her own. She watched the road leading into town, her eyes scanning for any sign of Vernon or the others. Kai moved to stand beside her, his crossbow now slung casually across his back.
"You think they'll be much longer?" he asked, his breath forming small clouds in the cool evening air. The moon had risen, casting silver light across the dusty ground and turning the shadows between buildings into dark pools.
Mira glanced at him, her dark eyes reflecting the lantern light. "Vernon's always punctual. If he's not here yet, something's wrong." She pushed away from the wall, her boots scraping against the gravel.
The pendant shifted against her leg as she moved, its heat pulsing with her footsteps. "Stay here. I'm going to check the main room."
She pushed open the heavy wooden door, the hinges protesting with a groan that echoed in the empty space beyond. The main room of the Crow Man's lodge was dimly lit by a single oil lamp hanging from a blackened beam, its flickering light casting dancing shadows across the rough-hewn walls. The air was thick with the smell of pipe smoke and something sharper—something medicinal and bitter. Rows of bottles lined shelves behind the bar, their contents gleaming darkly in the lamplight. The Crow Man himself stood behind the counter, his scarred hands methodically wiping down glasses with a stained rag. His eyes were dark and alert, his gray-streaked hair pulled back in a tight queue.
"How can I help ya miss?" Mira leaned against the bar, her fingers still resting lightly on the pendant in her pocket. The heat had increased again, as if reacting to something in the room. She glanced around, noting the few patrons scattered at tables, hunched over their drinks. No sign of Vernon or the others.
"Looking for some friends," she said, keeping her voice low. "Vernon and two others. They should have been here already." The Crow Man's face remained impassive as he set the glass down with deliberate slowness. "Aye, they were here." His deep voice rumbled like distant thunder. "Not anymore."
Mira's fingers tightened around the pendant. "What do you mean 'not anymore'?"
The Crow Man's dark eyes flickered with something unreadable. "They left. Not long after they arrived." He set the rag down and folded his arms across his broad chest. "Said they had business elsewhere. Left a message for you."
Mira's heart quickened. "What kind of message?" She felt the pendant grow warmer, its heat spreading up her side like a warning.
The Crow Man reached beneath the bar and produced a folded piece of paper, yellowed with age despite its recent use. He slid it across the counter toward her. "Said it was urgent. That you'd want to see it right away."
She grabbed the note quickly unfolding it the script was neat, deliberate—Vernon's handwriting. The words were brief but chilling:
"Mira—Something is wrong. The capitol is cracking down on guilds. We'll meet up soon it Morestown - V."
Mira's breath caught as she read the note again. Kai's voice came from behind her, closer than she expected. "What is it?" He had come inside despite her instructions to wait, his boots quiet on the floorboards. She turned to face him, the note still clutched in her fingers.
"Vernon left. He says the capitol is cracking down on guilds." Her words were steady, but her grip on the note betrayed her tension. The pendant felt almost scalding now, pulsing with an intensity that made her skin prickle.
Kai's face darkened. "Shit. That's not good." He looked around the room, his eyes scanning the other patrons.
"It's too late for us to travel." Mira eyed the man behind the bar, "Do you have two rooms available just for the night?" The Crow Man nodded slowly, his scarred hands still folded across his chest.
"Aye. Two rooms left." His dark eyes moved from Mira to Kai and back again, studying them intently. "But they'll cost extra, given the... circumstances." He didn't elaborate, but the meaning was clear.
The capitol's crackdown meant increased patrols, higher prices, and less tolerance for strangers asking too many questions. The pendant against Mira's thigh had grown so hot that the metal seared through her pocket, the heat spreading up her side like liquid fire. She pressed her palm flat against the wall to steady herself, her fingers leaving a faint outline of steam in the cool wood.
She pulled out one of the coins they had found, "Would this be enough?"
The Crow Man's eyes widened almost imperceptibly as he took the coin, his rough fingers brushing against her palm. He turned it over, examining the intricate engraving with professional interest.
"Aye," he murmured. "More than enough." His eyes flickered back to her face, his expression unreadable. "But I suggest you keep the rest of your... coin... out of sight. This is a small town, but rumors travel fast."
Mira nodded, tucking the coin back into her pocket beside the pendant. The heat was already beginning to subside, though the thrumming continued, steady as a heartbeat.
"Last two on the right." Mira thanked the man while she headed over, Kai followed after her words spilling out of his mouth as he hurried to keep up. "The capitol cracking down? That means—"
"—Guilds are being hunted." She cut him off, her words tight. "And that means they're hunting us." The hallway was narrow, the walls lined with rough planks that creaked underfoot. The floorboards were uneven in places, forcing them to step carefully.
The second-to-last door stood slightly ajar, light spilling from within. She pushed it open, revealing a small room with a single bed, a washbasin, and a chair by the window. A small oil lamp sat on the nightstand, its flickering glow casting deep shadows in the corners.
Kai stammered with worry as he followed her in. "Mira, what does this mean? We're not even guild members. We just work for them sometimes." He shut the door behind him, the latch clicking with finality.
"That doesn't matter. If they're cracking down on guilds, anyone who's ever done a job for them is a liability." Mira set the note down on the nightstand, her fingers still tingling from the heat of the pendant. She pulled it out, the metal now cool to the touch but still pulsing with that strange inner energy.
"We need to leave at first light. Head to Morestown like Vernon said." Kai ran a hand through his dusty hair. "You think he's okay?"
Mira gripped Kai's shoulders, "It's going to be okay. We'll leave first thing in the morning, okay. You know I won't let anything happen to you."
Kai nodded, but his dark eyes were shadowed with worry. "I know. I trust you." He paused, then gave her a small, lopsided smile. "But you know, you can be a little reckless sometimes."
Mira smirked, releasing his shoulders to pull off her cloak and drape it over the back of the chair. "Yeah, well, reckless is what keeps us alive."
Kai rolled his eyes he bid her goodnight before leaving her alone with her thoughts.
Mira sat on the edge of the bed, the mattress creaking softly beneath her weight. She stared at the note again, reading each word carefully, trying to decipher what Vernon wasn't saying. The pendant lay cool in her palm now, its pulsing rhythm steady but slower than before. She turned it over, examining the swirling patterns in the lamplight. The designs seemed more defined, the lines sharper somehow. She closed her fingers around it again, feeling the faint thrumming against her skin. Whatever it was, it wasn't meant to be disturbed. And yet here it was, in her hands, and the consequences were already unfolding. The capitol's crackdown—it wasn't just some distant threat.
She sighed rubbing her temples, "That's tomorrow's problem." She blew out the lamp, plunging the room into darkness broken only by moonlight filtering through the window.
The bed felt strange beneath her—too firm, too foreign. The note resting on the nightstand where Vernon's neat script seemed to glow in the faint moonlight. The thrumming persisted, steady and rhythmic, like a second heartbeat keeping time with her own. Outside, the wind sighed through the trees, rattling the shutters. Somewhere in the distance, a dog barked once, twice, then fell silent. She stared at the ceiling, the grain of the wood visible in the dim light. Tomorrow, they would leave. Tomorrow, they would find Vernon.
******
The next morning the pair left before the sun rose Kai found a willing merchant to take them to the edge of the village, they sat in the back of the wagon mostly silent, "Ever been to Morestown?"
Mira shook her head, watching the dark shapes of trees pass in the pre-dawn gloom. The air was crisp, carrying the earthy smell of damp leaves and woodsmoke. "No. But I know it's smaller than here. More... isolated."
Kai nodded, his breath forming small clouds in the cold air. "That's why Vernon chose it, I bet. Less eyes. Less people asking questions." His fingers tapped absently against the wooden bed of the wagon. "You think we'll find him there?"
Mira turned to look at him, her dark eyes reflecting the pale moonlight. "We better. I sure as hell won't be chasing him across the continent." She bit into an apple, "I want to go home, our little cottage awaits after we get our payment."
Kai leaned back against the side of the wagon, his face hidden in shadow. "Yeah. Home. That sounds nice."
The road stretched ahead, winding through the darkness. The trees stood like silent sentinels on either side, their branches forming a canopy that nearly blocked out the stars. The wagon creaked softly as it rolled along, the rhythmic clop of the horses' hooves the only sound breaking the stillness of the pre-dawn hour.
Mira pulled the pendant from her pocket again, turning it over in her hands. It had cooled overnight, but still thrummed against her palm like a live thing. She frowned at it, the swirling patterns seeming almost... alive in the dim light. "Why do you keep looking at it?"
Mira's fingers tightened around the pendant as she studied it, the metal still warm beneath her touch. "Because I don't understand it. And I don't like things I don't understand." She held it up, letting the faint moonlight catch the swirling patterns. "Look at this. The lines—they're more defined today. Like they're shifting."
Kai leaned forward, squinting at the pendant. "It's just metal. And some kinda stone in the middle." Mira shook her head. "No. It's not just metal. It's... I don't know. Active. Changing. I can feel it."
Kai rolled his eyes, "Put it away. You're freaking me out. You never fixate on treasures."
Mira tucked the pendant back into her pocket with a frustrated sigh. "Fine. But I swear, something's wrong with this thing. I can feel it."
The wagon continued on, the road growing rougher as the trees thinned and gave way to open farmland. The first hints of dawn appeared in the eastern sky, a pale gray light that softened the darkness and painted the rolling hills with silver. The horses' breath steamed in the cold air, their hooves kicking up clods of damp earth as they moved forward.
"Morestown! is nearby!" The merchant's voice rang in front of them, "Finally."
Mira and Kai shared a look as the wagon trundled into the outskirts of the town, the houses clustered together like wary animals. The buildings were squat and dark, constructed of rough-hewn stone and dark timber. Roofs sloped sharply, keeping the rain off, and windows were small—just large enough to let in light but not much else. A few lanterns still burned in the pre-dawn gloom, casting a dim yellow glow over the muddy streets.
The wagon rolled to a stop at the edge of town. "This is as far as I go," the merchant said, not bothering to look them in the eyes. "Town's up there. You'll find the inn near the center."
Mira jumped off first she flashed him a smile, "Thanks." The merchant nodded and immediately started to turn the wagon around, clearly eager to be away from what he likely considered dangerous territory.
Kai followed, adjusting his pack and crossbow as they watched the wagon disappear back along the road. The air in Morestown was thick with woodsmoke and something else—something acrid that made Mira's nose wrinkle.
"Smells like something's burning," Kai muttered, looking around at the dark buildings. A few lanterns flickered in windows, but most of the town remained shrouded in shadow. The streets were narrow, paved with uneven stones that had been worn smooth by decades of foot traffic. A dog barked somewhere in the distance, the sound echoing off the stone walls.
"As long as it doesn't smell like shit." Mira pressed forward, "Vernon is likely at an inn." The main street wound uphill slightly, lined with shuttered shops and the occasional dimly lit tavern. Ahead, the buildings grew taller and closer together, crowding out the sky.
A sign creaked in the wind, the painted letters barely visible in the dim light: The Broken Shield. The inn stood three stories high, its dark timber beams blackened by time and smoke. A single lantern burned above the door, its light reflecting off the rain-slicked stones of the steps leading up to the entrance.
Mira opened the door the door creaked open rather loudly, a heavy smell of ale, woodsmoke, and unwashed bodies wafted out, thick and warm. Inside, the common room was dimly lit by oil lamps hanging from the low ceiling. A dozen or so patrons hunched over tables, some drinking alone, others engaged in hushed conversations. A few heads turned toward the door as it opened, but most ignored the newcomers.
At the bar stood a broad-shouldered man wiping down a mug, his thick arms corded with muscle. His face was lined, his dark hair streaked with gray, but his eyes were sharp and alert as they flickered over Mira and Kai. "Help ya?" Mira removed her hood, the man whistled "Ain't you a pretty one." Mira's lips curved in a smirk as she approached the bar. "Flattery won't get you anywhere, but a drink might." She slid onto a stool, the wood creaking under her weight. Kai moved to stand beside her, his posture stiff with tension.
The barkeep chuckled, setting down the mug. "Fair enough. What'll it be?" He had a gravelly voice, like he'd swallowed too much sand over the years.
"A pint of whatever's strong and local," Mira said, glancing around the room. The patrons were rough-looking men, the kind who worked hard for little pay. A few were armed—hidden knives, well-worn swords. No guild members that she could see. The bartender nodded, pouring a dark amber liquid into a wooden mug.
"Local brew. Strong enough to put down a horse." He slid it toward her, foam spilling over the side.
Mira took a sip, wincing slightly as the sharp, bitter taste hit her tongue. It was strong—almost undrinkable. She set the mug down with a satisfied exhale. "Tastes like it too."
The bartender smirked. "You looking for someone in particular? Don't get many travelers passing through these parts."
Kai shifted beside her, his fingers tapping an impatient rhythm on the bar. "We're looking for Vernon," he said, his words careful.
The bartender's eyes flickered with recognition at the name. His hands slowed their work, the rag he was holding suddenly still. He looked at them both with newfound interest. "Vernon, eh?" His gaze narrowed slightly. "That's not a name you throw around lightly."
Mira felt the pendant grow warmer in her pocket. It was subtle, almost imperceptible—but there. "We need to find him," she said, keeping her tone even. "Urgent business."
The bartender set the rag down, leaning forward on his thick forearms. His breath smelled of pipe smoke and strong ale. "He's in the back. I'll lead show you to him."
He turned away without waiting for a response, moving toward a narrow hallway behind the bar. Mira glanced at Kai, who nodded. They followed, the floorboards creaking under their boots. The hallway was short, the walls close together, and the ceiling sloped. The bartender paused before a door and knocked twice, then once, then twice again—a deliberate rhythm.
A muffled voice called from inside, "Enter." The bartender opened the door, stepping aside to let them pass. The room beyond was dimly lit, a single candle burning on a small table.
Vernon sat in a chair by the window, his back to the wall, a mug of ale in his hands. He was a heavy-set man, so he didn't move much Mira entered the room first, "Got your note."
Vernon's gaze met hers, dark and unreadable in the candlelight. "Mira." His voice was low, roughened as if he hadn't used it much lately. His fingers tightened around the mug, knuckles whitening for a moment before he relaxed them again. He looked at Kai behind her. "And you brought the boy."
Kai scoffed, "I'm not a boy anymore, Vernon."
Vernon's lips quirked slightly. "You'll always be 'the boy' to me." He set his mug down, the liquid sloshing slightly. "You got here faster than I expected."
Mira leaned against the wall, crossing her arms. "The heist was easier than expected, Blackhowse manner wasn't heavily guarded." Kai stepped further into the room, his gaze flickering between Mira and Vernon.
"You sent that note for a reason. What's happening, Vernon?"
Vernon sighed, rubbing his palm against his face. "The guilds are being hunted. It's worse than I thought." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "The capitol's not just cracking down. They're making examples. Burning guild houses, executing people in the streets. Anyone who's ever done a job for them—thief, messenger, or otherwise—they're not safe." His fingers drummed against the arm of his chair. "I got word that the Black Hand in the south was wiped out. All of them."
Kai hunched down on a nearby seat Mira could see his face he looked terrified, "Vernon stop scaring him will you. This isn't really a surprise is it the new Queen is....."
"Ruthless," Vernon finished for her, nodding grimly. "That's the word for it." He reached into his coat and pulled out a folded piece of parchment, thick with ink. "I found this in one of my old contacts. It's a list of names—guild members, associates, anyone connected. If they haven't been caught yet, they will be soon." He handed the paper to Mira, who unfolded it with careful fingers. The list was extensive, dozens of names scrawled in careful script. She recognized some—names of guildmasters, old colleagues, even a few she'd worked with herself. Kai leaned in to look over her shoulder, his breath warm against her neck.
His eyes widened, "Not good. So not good." Mira shushed him, she shooed him away, "Look, we're just here to deliver and get our payment."
Vernon nodded, reaching into his coat again. He pulled out a heavy pouch and set it on the table with a thunk. "Fifty silver. As promised." He paused, then added, "And a warning. You two should leave town after this. Sooner rather than later."
Mira took the pouch, weighing it in her hand. The coin was real, cold against her palm. She secured it in her belt. "Why? Because you're worried about us?"
Vernon's eyes met hers, dark and steady. "Because I'm worried about you. You know what happens to people who get caught up in this."
The pendant in her pocket grew warmer again, the thrumming intensifying slightly. Mira frowned, resisting the urge to pull it out again. "We can handle ourselves," she said, though her words came out softer than intended.
Vernon leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "I know you can. But this isn't some job where you cut and run if things go bad. This is the whole damn world shifting underfoot." He exhaled slowly. "And that means people like us don't get to pick our fights anymore. They're being picked for us."
Kai ran a hand through his hair, looking between the two of them. "So what do we do? Hide? Run?"
Vernon's lips pressed into a thin line. "Depends. You got somewhere to go?" Mira bit her lip, "Kai. Enough." She glanced at Vernon, "Stay safe out there."
Vernon nodded, his face grave. "You too. And remember—sometimes the best survival is knowing when to let something go."
Kai hesitated, shifting his weight from foot to foot. "But what about the others on that list? Our friends. The people we know—"
"They'll look out for themselves," Vernon cut in. "If they haven't already."
Mira reached for the door handle. "We should go. Morning light is burning."
Kai nodded, though his face was still tight with worry.
They stepped out into the hallway, and the bartender gave them a brief nod as they passed. Outside, the air was crisp with morning, the town stirring to life around them.
"Finally! How should we celebrate...oh! how about we get dessert when we get home-" Kai frowned, glancing up at the gray sky. "Home? I don't know Mira, I think we should—" He cut himself off as Mira pressed a finger to his lips, her grin widening.
"Shhh, don't ruin it. We have our payment, the job's done, and I'm tired of running. I just want to enjoy our victory." She started walking down the narrow street, her boots clicking against the uneven stones. Kai hesitated, then fell into step beside her. "Fine. But we should talk about what Vernon said. About the guilds being hunted." Mira waved a hand dismissively. "We'll talk about it when we're home."
******
It had been a week since they left Morestown the two were in their small cottage nestled in the southern part of the kingdom. Mira was nestled on the porch reading a book. Kai went fishing earlier and she was looking forward to dinner. The morning sun warmed the small cottage, dappling the wooden beams with golden light. Her boots resting on the railing. The air was crisp with the smell of damp earth and the faint trace of the river downstream. She turned a page, the parchment rustling softly as she leaned back, letting the sun warm her face. A shadow fell across the page. She looked up to see Kai standing there, hands in his pockets, his fishing pole resting against his shoulder. His face was a mask, but something in his posture made her set the book aside.
"Catch anything?" she asked, even as she prepared herself for what came next. Kai sighed, stepping forward to sit beside her on the porch steps. He set the fishing pole down and leaned his elbows on his knees. "Couple fish. Big ones. But that's not what I came to talk about."
Mira nodded, already knowing what he would say. "Vernon."
Kai nodded, staring at the dirt path leading away from the cottage. "Yeah. Vernon. The guilds. The list. We can't just pretend we didn't see it." His fingers tapped against his knee, restless. "I know you don't want to talk about it, but—"
"I don't want to talk about it because there's nothing to talk about."
"How can you say that?!" Kai's voice rang across the porch. Mira's dark eyes furrowed as she glanced into his green ones, she shut her book rapidly, "Hold on. Look at me and explain to me why you are so afraid?"
Kai exhaled sharply, his fingers curling into the fabric of his trousers. "Because Vernon wasn't exaggerating. I've heard the stories—the guilds in the south were slaughtered. No survivors. No warnings. Just fire and swords and bodies left in the streets."
He shifted to face her fully, his expression tight with emotion. "And now we have that list. Names of people we know, people who helped us when we needed it. And they're all in danger."
Mira leaned back against the porch railing, crossing her arms. "So what do you want to do? Go running off to save everyone? You can't, Kai. That's not how this works."
Kai shook his head. "I'm not saying we can save everyone. But we could do something. We could warn them. Give them a chance to—"
"—to what?" Mira cut in, her voice firm. "To run? To hide? To what end? They'll still be on that list. And if they get caught, do you think they'll be grateful to us for making it harder for them to stay hidden?"
Kai fell silent, his jaw clenching. She sighed, reaching out to squeeze his arm. "I know you care. But sometimes—sometimes the smartest thing you can do is take your payment and walk away."
Kai pulled his arm back, frustration flashing across his face. "Kai, they were never our friends they were just people. We just happened to share similar interest-"
Kai stormed off into the cottage leaving Mira gobsmaked. The door slammed shut with a force that rattled the wooden frame. Mira remained on the porch steps, fingers still outstretched from where she'd tried to steady Kai. The silence that followed was thick, heavy with unspoken words.
Minutes passed. She sighed, closing her eyes she prayed for patience. The fish he'd caught lay in a bucket by the door, their scales catching the sunlight as they flipped helplessly. She should gut them. She should go inside and talk to him. She should do a lot of things.
Instead, she got up and moved to the edge of the porch, leaning against one of the support beams. "Young kids, why are they so damn idealistic." She muttered.
After a few moments she picked up the bucket and headed for the kitchen, "Kai? I'm going to start supper." She listened but was only met with silence.
Kai didn't respond. She set the bucket down with a quiet thunk, the fish water sloshing. The kitchen was small; the wooden table scarred with knife marks and old stains from countless meals. She grabbed a knife from the block and began cleaning the fish, the blade slicing through scales with practiced motions. The sound of her work filled the silence, punctuated by the occasional crack of the wood settling in the walls.
Minutes passed. She finished cleaning the fish and started preparing the vegetables, chopping onions with quick, precise cuts. The sharp smell made her eyes water. A shadow moved in the doorway behind her. She didn't turn around, just kept chopping.
"You're right." Kai's voice was quiet, strained. She paused mid-chop, fingers tightening around the knife handle. He stepped further into the kitchen, stopping near the counter. "About what?" she asked, not looking up.
"About some things. Not everything." She set the knife down and finally turned to face him. His hands were stuffed in his pockets, his shoulders hunched slightly. His face was drawn, tired. He looked at her with frustration and something softer, something that made her heart twist.
"You're right that we can't save everyone," he said. "I know that. But I can't pretend I don't care either."
Mira leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "I never said you had to pretend." His dark curls framed his face; they had the same hair color though hers was long and sleek.
He shifted his weight from foot to foot, restless. "I know. But I need you to understand. That list—it's not just a bunch of names to me. It's people. People who helped us when we had nothing. People who took risks for us." He exhaled sharply. "And now they're being hunted like animals. I can't just... walk away."
Mira's fingers drummed against her arm as she studied him. The way he spoke—so earnest, so raw—made her throat tighten. She pushed off the counter and moved closer, stopping just short of him. "And I understand that," she said softly.
His green eyes flickered with surprise at her proximity. She tilted her head slightly, watching the conflict play across his face. "But you're forgetting something important, Kai." She stood in front of the young man, "You and me—we're still alive. We still have a chance."
"I will keep you safe Kai, I swear on my life I won't let anyone hurt you." Mira's words hung between them, quiet yet resolute. Kai's breath caught, his fingers twitching at his sides. The words settled over him like a comfort and a burden both. He searched her face, looking for any sign of insincerity or doubt.
But all he saw was that same fierce loyalty he'd come to rely on over the years. The way she watched him now—the way she always watched him—made his chest ache. She would do anything for him. He knew that. And somehow, knowing that made it even harder to accept.
His throat felt tight. "I don't want you to have to protect me forever, Mira." His voice came out rougher than he intended. Mira raised an eyebrow, "Then get stronger. Kay?" She turned back away, "You can start by boiling the water."
Kai let out a short, startled laugh. "That's your response?" He followed her, shaking his head. "You're impossible." She shrugged, grabbing a pot from the shelf.
"And you're too sentimental. Here." She handed him the pot, their fingers brushing for a moment longer than necessary. He took it, his grip tightening slightly. "I don't know how to do this, you know."
"Cook?" Mira reached for the fire already crackling in the hearth. "That too. But I meant—how to balance caring and... survival." He hesitated. "I don't want to be the kind of person who just turns their back."