I didn’t sleep. Not exactly. Any time the world started to drift away, bone-white eyes blinked in a dark corner of my mind. A hundred swollen black fingers tapped at the stones beside my head.

  It was a miserable state, caught between exhaustion and fear. Gradually, soft voices grounded me back in the cave.

  “So… you gonna give me that knife back?” Renner sounded vaguely amused.

  “Nope.”

  I thought briefly about opening my eyes, but… this world outside of Fellbrook was full of cruelty, death, and monsters. If I kept my eyes closed, perhaps I could imagine that I was somewhere safe. That seemed much nicer than facing reality.

  “Right. So… a pickpocket half-breed protecting a Fae-dealing criminal. Aren’t you two original.” His voice was the very definition of snide.

  Teela sniffed. “Not that it’s any of your business, but I didn’t start lifting ‘til a few years ago. And why are you so sure she’s one of them?”

  “Come on, you seem smart enough. Think.” His voice dropped to a near-whisper. “When’s the last time you heard of a new runekeeper? Anywhere? They’re not exactly springing out of the ground.”

  “So? It’s not impossible!”

  “Uh-huh. And this one somehow survived a Fae attack with barely a scratch on her? Ran away dressed like a salted noble with a sack full of gold? Come on. None of that makes any sense.”

  “Well… I don’t know. But I saw the rune, back at the inn. It was like she… carved light into the air. You can’t tell me that’s not from the gods!

  “No? I heard everyone yelling. So you all saw a shiny symbol. Big damn deal.”

  “That’s how the Order says you know,” she hissed. “Pacted don’t use runes.”

  I heard the rustle of cloth, as if he’d shrugged. “Maybe you just saw what she wanted you to see.”

  Don’t listen to him, I begged silently. I couldn’t deny that there was some logic to his point, though; if Fae magic could alter the senses and create illusions, then who’s to say someone with wicked magic couldn’t make everyone think they’d seen a rune, then claim their powers were divine? The thought was dreadful.

  “You’re a pretty paranoid guy, huh?”

  “Or you’re incredibly gullible. Or you’re lying right along with her.”

  Teela gave a muffled laugh. “You know, most people assume I’m some kind of child-snatching, flesh-eating monster as soon as they see the horns and tail. It’s kinda refreshing to have someone suspicious of me for a different reason.”

  “Glad you’re amused.” He sounded anything but. There was a pause, then he added flatly, “People are morons when it comes to you half-breeds.”

  “Hey.”

  Renner chuckled. “Or whatever you want to be called. It’s true, though; everyone assumes you’re monsters because you’re half of something they know is evil. No one wants to admit that humans are just as bad. Maybe even worse.”

  “So… you just hate everyone equally.”

  He grunted.

  Silence reigned for a long while. Teela’s tone became thoughtful. “Do you think the road north is safe?”

  When Renner’s voice came again, it sounded like he was standing near the cave entrance. “Honestly? If your friend here is telling the truth about Fellbrook… that’s three attacks, two days apart, within two days’ travel. Something’s going on around here. So, no, it’s probably not safe, but the same goes for the way east.”

  I fought back a cry of dismay. Traveling wasn’t supposed to be this dangerous! Fae attacks were supposed to be rare; a few remnant monsters lurking here and there in the dead of night, preying on those who foolishly stayed out in the wilderness past dark. Not like… all of this.

  Teela moaned. “And I thought Respite was getting bad! You know they’ve had more and more sightings up there over the last few months? Some of them were bad.”

  Renner made a small, noncommittal noise. “Last I was there, it was pretty grim. Farmsteads burned up, bodies in the woods, and two pacted hiding out east of the city.”

  She gave a low whistle. “Ugh. Did the Thalessians get them?”

  “No.”

  “The town Watch, then?”

  He scoffed.

  Silence reigned again, and then she hissed, “What, you?”

  He didn’t respond. After a moment she asked, “Did you do the same as now, then; bring them to Pinnacle?”

  “No.”

  “Then-”

  “They’re dead.”

  “You killed people?” Her voice was shrill.

  “People’s not the word I’d use.”

  “How did you know for sure that they were pacted?! The paladins are the only ones who can tell-”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  “The paladins don’t know everything,” he snapped, “And trust me, they were bad.”

  A tense quiet settled over the pair.

  My heart raced. Renner had killed people. He was a killer. I was in the middle of the wilderness with a killer.

  He killed dangerous people. Surely that makes it… I don’t know, not better exactly, but… less horrifying? It’s not like he’s running around murdering innocents, maybe he even saved lives by… by killing people.

  I wish I was home.

  “Are you going to kill Brin?” Teela’s voice was even.

  He snorted. “I already told you both; I need a favor from the Order. So, no, not unless she runs or tries something funny.”

  “What’s the difference, then?” she growled. I could practically picture her tail snapping back and forth.

  “Between…?”

  “Between her and the people you killed out by Respite!” she spluttered. “You seem convinced she’s lying about everything, so why-”

  “Salt, I don’t run around knifing everyone I think is suspicious!” He sounded close by, as though he’d wandered back into the cave. My muscles tensed of their own accord. “And, as impossible as it is… if she is telling the truth, I’ll be a damn hero for getting her north in one piece. Order’s starving for actual magic.”

  Teela fell into silence again. Renner seemed content to leave the conversation at that.

  I was left to ponder over all he had said.

  If I’m stuck with him, I may as well try to make a case for… well, not being evil. That should help with the whole ‘not-killing-me’ thing.

  “They’re from my mom,” I rasped, letting my eyes slide open.

  Teela twisted to face me. “Huh?”

  I cleared my throat, shifting beneath the heavy blankets. “The clothes. And the gold. She’s not…” I sat up slowly, groaning at my aching limbs. Lying on the cold dirt all night, and then curling up against a rock, had done my body no favors. “She died. She left them for me.”

  “I’m sorry,” Teela murmured. I looked away.

  Renner lifted one shoulder in a half-shrug. “And your mom was a wealthy noblewoman from Fellbrook, huh?”

  I winced. “No. No, stop being such a… look, she…” I paused. Declaring just exactly what my mother had been capable of seemed so very far-fetched that it could just further convince him- both of them, really- that I was lying. I had her letter tucked away in my runebook, but that was hardly proof; he could just announce I’d written it myself.

  Still. I was being honest so far, at least mostly, so…

  “She could see the future.”

  Teela blinked.

  Renner dragged his tongue across his lower lip. “Well… haven’t heard that one before.”

  My face grew hot. “I know how that sounds, but… it’s true. She saw that Fellbrook would be attacked, and she left things for me to take and told me to… to…” My throat grew thick. I wrestled one hand free from the blankets and swiped at my eyes. I’m so sick of crying. She told me to be brave, not curl up in a ball and weep.

  Had she seen this, too? Me, huddled half-frozen in a cave with a friendly thief and a self-admitted killer? Had she seen the horrors I’d witnessed last night? The thought made me feel sick.

  I untangled myself from the cocoon of heavy fabric. “I know how strange this probably sounds, so I guess it’s fine if you don’t believe me. And I’m sorry…” I swiped at my eyes again. “I’m sorry I ran out last night and put you two in danger. More danger, I mean. I wasn’t… I didn’t think about what might happen if they… c-caught me.”

  Renner made a non-committal sound. He was crouched against the far wall, head tilted a bit to one side, watching me with a speculative expression.

  “You didn’t do anything to apologize for.” Teela’s voice was sober. She ran one hand through her choppy red locks. “What? You didn’t. I wish I’d been brave enough to try and help people out in that… whatever it was.”

  “Stupid enough,” Renner muttered. She made a rude gesture, at which he chuckled.

  At least the two of them seem to get along, more or less. That’s something.

  My stomach growled. I winced, pressing one hand against it, then rummaged through my pack for a very late breakfast. I found some black seed cakes and nibbled at them. Teela watched me with slanted eyes. I could practically feel her curiosity.

  I guess she didn’t open my pack after I ran off. Or maybe she did, and just didn’t realize what was so important. Should I show them?

  I swallowed my final bites. Renner paced around the cave, grumbling that we needed to get moving. Teela continued to watch me, looking distinctly catlike; her tail was even twitching.

  I’d thought it wise to keep the little sword piece a secret, but… after last night, after how close I’d come to dying, perhaps it was better for other people to know. And Teela seemed trustworthy enough. Salt, she’d actually thought about chasing after me last night; if that wasn’t a positive indication of her character, I didn’t know what was.

  And Renner… Trustworthy was not a word I’d use to describe him. Terse, waspish, and hostile were entirely more apt. But his hatred of the Fae and his desire to get to Pinnacle seemed genuine.

  “While we’re on the subject of honesty… look, I was an idiot last night.” Teela opened her mouth and I amended, “A brave idiot, but still. I could have been killed. And I suppose you can still think I’m lying about everything,” I shot Renner a glance, “But if I do run off and get myself killed, then… well, I think you should both know about this.”

  I reached into my bag for the smooth steel. My fingertips brushed against heat.

  “This is why I have to get to Pinnacle.” I set the shard down almost reverently. Warm golden light spilled across the stones.

  Teela knelt beside me. “Hey, I’ve seen one of these!”

  I blinked. “You… what?”

  She traced one finger along the metal.

  “Yeah, up in Respite! On the street with all the market stalls and the little perfume shop. My mom loves that shop.” Her lips twisted into a smile. “Anyways, there’s this big statue of some guy who killed a Fae. Part of his sword looks just like this. It even glows sometimes!”

  My brows scrunched together. “Is it a hooded figure? The man holding the sword, I mean.”

  Her head bobbed up and down, horns and hair gleaming like fire in the light.

  I pondered over the revelation. I suppose it’s not that surprising. People from all over the realm came south to fight the Nightmare. Why wouldn’t other places build a monument just like Fellbrook?

  Renner cleared his throat. “And why is this thing so important…?”

  I ran my fingers along the smooth metal, savoring its heat. “I don’t know exactly, but the Fae who attacked Fellbrook wanted it. He tore it from the statue in our town square. He was carrying it when Durst- that’s my, well, not really my father, but close enough- shot him with a witchwood arrow.”

  Renner’s eyebrows rose at that.

  I leaned forward, blood pumping with enthusiasm at having people to talk to about all of this. “I think the Fae were there looking for things that could hurt them; trying to take away our defenses, you know? He said… oh, what was it exactly…” I pursed my lips. “‘History is about to repeat itself.’ That’s what he said, and then he… well, it seemed like he was in our home looking for something else, too. I think it was my runebook. He thought it was something in my bedroom.” I gestured towards the leather-bound tome.

  Teela’s brows knit together. “Ashes above… what if you’re right?” There was a note of clear panic in her voice. “Look, I left Respite because of… well, Fae-touched aren’t exactly being treated so great up there. Not recently. But it’s not just there, it’s every town I’ve stopped in since; there’ve been attacks all over the place. The Order is finding pacted everywhere. People are scared everywhere.”

  Renner reached one gloved hand down and grasped the shard. He held the gleaming metal at eye-level, frowning thoughtfully.

  “So…” he drawled after a moment, eyes glinting gold in the light, “Let me get this straight, ladyship. Monsters attacked your town, and you thought it was a good idea to take the thing they wanted and go gallivanting off through the wilderness with it. At night. Alone.”

  I drew myself upright, jaw clenched. “I’m not gallivanting anywhere! I’m surprised you even know a word that big.”

  Teela snickered.

  I crossed my arms. “My mom said this would happen. She told Durst years ago. She said I’d have to run, and to go alone. She didn’t say why,” I added, feeling my cheeks grow warm under his dubious gaze, “But I believed her. Best case scenario, I get this,” I snatched the shard back from him, “Safely to the paladins. They can figure out what to do with it.”

  One brown eyebrow lifted. “Sure. And the worst case?”

  I stuffed the sword fragment back into my pack with a weary huff. “Honestly? I guess the Fae catches me and takes it back. And then I probably die in some terrible way, and don’t really accomplish much, but at least he’ll be chasing me and leaving Fellbrook alone.”

  Teela puffed her cheeks, blowing a long sigh. “But… I mean, you don’t think they actually will, though. Right? Chase you?” She looked at me imploringly.

  I twisted at the fabric at my sleeves. Winced at the feel of cloth against my smooth, unscarred hands. Couldn’t quite seem to form an answer.

  “Brin?”

  I gulped. “I… I don’t know.” It was a feeble response, but it was all I could manage at the moment. “The… last night, the music and the fog, that wasn’t… They were hunting people. Other people. Not me. And the inn was attacked before we even came here. So… surely none of it had anything to do with me.”

  Teela dragged a hand through her hair. “Right. Yeah. Probably just a really awful coincidence.” She offered a tremulous smile. “And it’s not like they can really run after you. They’d burn up at dawn. So even if they wanted to chase you, how could they?”

  I stared at my hands, heart racing, and said nothing.