The Fae stumbled forwards.

  He hissed. Turned, eyes fixed on the doorway. From my angle I couldn’t see outside, but I could guess well enough that Durst was readying another arrow. The Fae bit out a low oath and twisted one wrist. The air around him shimmered like starlight on water.

  Then he was gone.

  My eyes fell to the floor. Blazing like sunlight, bathing the floorboards beneath it with gold, was the broken piece of sword. Wherever the Fae had gone, the shard had remained behind.

  Durst barreled through the doorway with a roar. I barely recognized him; his dark eyes were wild, frenzied, and his face was streaked with soot. He crossed the room and wrapped me in a crushing embrace. His bow clattered to the floor.

  “You’re alright?” His voice was hoarse, as if he’d been shouting.

  I nodded. My eyes burned with fresh, hot tears. I could smell smoke and wood on him, alongside something metallic.

  He released me and rushed towards Royce. “What happened? I don’t see a wound.”

  “He was attacked. A monster, like a dog, but it came from the shadows and it wasn’t… right.” I shook my head, frustration welling like boiling water. Salt, I felt so inept tonight, so entirely out of my depth. I was normally a fairly capable person; I could read and dress wounds and use actual, gods-given magic. But merely speaking full sentences during this madness had been nigh impossible.

  I steeled myself. “He was hurt here, and here,” I knelt beside Royce and touched his shoulder and thigh. “The monster bit him, and the blood…” My voice quavered. I gestured to the pool of crimson at our feet. “This was all h-his. He passed out at the table, and that’s when the… the Fae man came. He healed him.”

  Durst grew very still beside me. Only his dark eyes moved as they traced along Royce’s blood-soaked clothing. “He healed him? Why?”

  I twisted at my nightdress. My hands burned and I flinched. Durst saw, rose, and with a small grunt moved to collect some salves and strips of cloth from our pantry. When he returned he knelt and gestured for me to offer my palms. His lips pressed into a tight line upon seeing the blood and broken glass.

  Durst’s hands, like the rest of him, were large and rough. But his touch was gentle as he tended to my injuries.

  I winced with each shard of glass he pulled out, but upon closer examination my hands didn’t appear to be in dire shape. I’d have some nasty scars along my fingers and palms, but hopefully that would be the worst of it.

  Durst wrapped the cuts with soft cloth. I took the time to steady myself before fully recounting everything that had happened.

  This finally brought me some semblance of calm. I had been so far out of my element tonight, so baffled and terrified and helpless… but I could be astute, at least on occasion, and recounting information with a level head was certainly doable. I told Durst everything.

  “I think he was looking for things that could hurt him,” I finished. “Them. That would make sense, right? Fae were driven out of the human realm. If they wanted to come back, they’d have to make sure we can’t fight them off.”

  He made no response, just secured a final bit of white cloth around my hand.

  “Maybe they’re afraid of magic,” I continued. “Of good magic, I mean; runes. He seemed to think I had something important in my room. I think he wanted my book.”

  “Your mother didn’t say what they’d be looking for,” Durst murmured.

  I peered up at him, repeating the phrase in my head.

  “My mother… you mean… she knew this would happen?” My voice turned shrill as I gestured towards Royce and the pool of blood. “All this? She knew? Couldn’t she, or you, or, salt, someone, have stopped this?!”

  His dark eyes were exhausted. The crow’s feet around them were black with soot. “No.”

  I gaped. “No? What do you… how can you be so sure? Royce almost died, and the town-!”

  “Is alright.”

  I rocked back on my heels. “Alright?” I hardly dared believe the word.

  “Royce was the only one who was hurt, at least that I saw. Seems this wasn’t a full attack. At least, not one meant to leave bodies behind.”

  I passed a bandaged hand over my eyes, letting them shut briefly in relief. “You’re sure?”

  “Aye. Those monsters were rushing about all over the town square. It was chaos, but from what I could tell they weren’t hurting folk. The Watch and I managed to fend them off and got the worst of the fire under control. That’s when I saw the…” his expression hardened. Then he shook his head. “I… I don’t know. Just happened to look this way, and the house was dark. No, that’s not right. It…” He swallowed. When he spoke again, he almost sounded as though he couldn’t believe what he was saying. “Salt, it looked like the house was gone. Just a shadow.”

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  I shivered.

  He shook his head again, as if to clear it. “Saw magic like that before; the night your mother died. Their kind of magic. Warps things, tricks your eyes.” He heaved a sigh. “Fia promised you’d be safe tonight. Told me that when I saw the flames I should head to town, leave you here. But I saw the house and… and I…”

  I bit my lip. Rested one of my bandaged hands on top of his. “She said… my mother told you to leave? Are you sure?” I gestured to Royce.

  Durst spread his hands. “Maybe she only saw pieces of all this. But she sure as salt saw that.” I followed his gaze towards the sunlit steel on our floorboards. When he spoke again, he sounded impossibly weary. “Told me… told me… ashes, Brin. I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” His shoulders trembled. He bowed his head.

  And then more of my mother’s letter came to mind.

  One night, when you are a beautiful, clever, brave young woman, Durst will ask you to do something. It will be very difficult.

  I stared at him. Breathed in the smells of smoke and blood.

  “Is this… are you… are you going to…” My lips trembled. I couldn’t seem to form the words.

  He knew what I was trying to say. Durst always knew.

  He reached out. Picked up the shard. Placed it carefully in my bandaged hands. Looked at me with hollow eyes.

  “You have to run, kid. Take this and go north.”

  Blood roared in my ears. Run. Leave Fellbrook. Run.

  His voice seemed very far away. “Go to Pinnacle. The Order. Bring it to them.”

  The Order. Thalessians. Blessed paladins, warriors who could withstand Fae. Could even kill them.

  Leave. Run north. That’s… not so difficult.

  I can do that. I can.

  I swallowed. “Pinnacle. The Order. A-alright. Should we leave in the morning?”

  Tears slipped into his beard. “Alone.”

  Alone.

  Alone.

  I can’t do that.

  His voice broke. “I’m sorry. She didn’t say why. But you have to go now, and I… I can’t follow.”

  My vision blurred. The room spun. I couldn’t breathe.

  Durst stood. His voice was thick. “You should warn the Watch in towns as you go, and in the city. Tell people to be on their guard. I have…your mother left you some things. Said I was to give them to you tonight.” He disappeared into his bedroom.

  I knelt. Stared at my bandaged hands. Royce’s broad chest rose and fell in a steady rhythm beside me. I listened to the sound. Counted his breaths.

  He’s alive. We’re all alive. We’re alright.

  And I… I’m going to run.

  Alone.

  Be brave. She… she said to be brave.

  Durst re-emerged, carrying a wooden trunk. I remembered seeing it near his bed years ago. He slid it next to the table with a grunt and opened the lid.

  My eyes grew wide. I'd never seen a coinpurse so large. It appeared to be made from tanned, bulging calfskin and was nearly as wide as my thigh. I could see the glint of gold- not silver or copper, which were all I'd ever seen before- from inside.

  My jaw dropped. “This…” I trailed off, unable to comprehend that such an amount of money was mine. “What am I supposed to do with…”

  “You take damned good care of yourself. That’s what you do with it.”

  He pulled out more items; a fine, tall pair of black leather boots, a black wool cloak, and several small bundles. I smelled sweet fruits alongside something earthy. Next was a thick, neatly folded tunic. The fabric was a rich shade of blue. Upon reaching out it felt similar to silk, though thicker and sturdier. The sleeves, hem, and collar were embroidered with intricate silver thread, and there was a dark girdle wrapped around the garment's middle. I gaped again, unable to comprehend that such a fine piece of clothing was for me.

  “Your mother had one like this,” Durst murmured, rubbing one thumb over the cloth. After a moment’s pause he handed it almost reverently to me. Several similar bundles in vibrant shades followed. A second cloak and pair of thick gloves completed the pile.

  “I have a bag for all of it. I’ve been… ready.” He choked out a little laugh. Tears shone in his eyes.

  I just stared.

  He searched my face. Brushed some hair back from my forehead. I leaned into the sensation. Wondered when I’d feel it again.

  “You… you should get dressed. I’ll pack everything.”

  I walked to my room on numb feet. Dressed woodenly. The long blue tunic fit perfectly. Beneath it I wore woolen trousers shaded like a looming stormcloud. The cloak and boots were warm and supple.

  My room had a thin standing mirror and I tentatively examined my reflection. A mass of long, dark tangles framed an expressive face that, under different circumstances, could have been considered beautiful. High cheekbones and a strong jaw. A straight, narrow nose. Pink lips that quirked easily and often with amusement or curiosity. And above all that, gray eyes that I liked to think were intelligent and thoughtful.

  At the moment, however... there were dark hollows beneath my eyes and dried blood smeared across my cheeks. Some of it was in the vague shape of Royce’s handprint. Obvious tear streaks through all the grime completed the despondent picture.

  I paled at the sight, then traced a rune. “Alar.” A moment later there was a small shower of rainwater sprinkling down before me. I used it, along with a small washcloth and bar of soap, to splash and scrub at my face. When I finished my reflection still had a distinctly harried look to it, but the grime and blood was gone.

  My gaze drifted to the side, at the disarray of my bedroom. My chest tightened. There was blood spattered across my bed. Shattered glass everywhere.

  Durst would have to clean it up. Alone. The thought made me feel sick.

  I gathered up my runebook. Inhaled the familiar, warm smell of leather. Pressed it to my chest like a shield. Royce’s bracelet had fallen, too; I could see the glint of ash-hued wood beside my overturned nightstand. I sniffled and fastened it around my wrist.

  When I returned to the kitchen, Royce was still in a deep sleep. I trembled, looking down at him.

  Alone. She said alone.

  I won’t be able to say goodbye.

  Durst finished shoving my things into a thick knapsack. His face grew pale at the sight of me.

  “You look… just like her.”

  For some reason, that made me want to apologize.

  I swallowed. “Will you… say goodbye to Royce for me? And Miss Freth?”

  He nodded, then took two long strides forward and wrapped his strong arms around me. They were trembling.

  “I love you, kid.”

  Something inside me nearly snapped. Tears welled up. I fought hard to keep them down. Had he ever said that to me before? I wasn’t sure. I knew he loved me, of course, in his steadfast way; I had never doubted it. But to actually hear the words in that deep, solemn voice…

  I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. And then I wondered if we would ever see each other again- we would, of course we would, it was madness to think I’d never see Durst again! But the thought stayed, and I wondered how I would feel if I had not said it back, and I managed to choke out, “I love you,” with only a few tears slipping out.

  We held each other for a long while. Then his warmth withdrew. He secured the pack at my shoulders and guided me to the door. His eyes were bright.

  “Go north. Follow the Grace and it’ll lead you to the main road. There’s inns along the way; don’t stop anywhere else, you hear? Stay where there’s people. Get to Pinnacle. The Order. They’ll keep you safe.”

  I heard the words. They didn’t seem to make sense. I nodded numbly.

  Stared out at my trees. They whispered. Reached. Beckoned me.

  Be brave. Be brave. Be brave.

  I clutched the runebook to my chest.

  Be brave.