The door bangs open and in stride a group of mercenaries, mud-stained boots thudding on the floorboards. Their cloaks were travel-worn. They had mismatched armours, armed with axes, swords and one even had a bow. The mercenary that was taking the lead had some kind of device on his hip.

  Sylmara’s hand drifted to her hip. For a moment, anger flashed in her eyes, then it disappeared just as fast it happened.

  Adrian caught it, but chose not to pry. If she wanted to speak, that would be her choice.

  The mercenaries clomped toward the bar, mud sliding off their boots and sticking to the floor with each step.

  Alex smirked, lips parting to fire off a comment—only to earn a sharp slap from Adrian.

  He chuckled, rubbing his cheek. “Fine.”

  Draveth remained unshaken. His cheer didn’t falter, as though none of this fazed him in the slightest.

  The patrons froze, mugs paused mid-air. A child ducked behind an old woman, eyes wide. Whispers died as fear settled over the room.

  The bar’s liveliness died in an instant, smothered by a heavy silence. Heads bowed. Eyes fixed on tables. Fear hung in the air like smoke. The only sound that broke it was Alex’s chuckle.

  The mercenaries turned their gaze on him, malice gleaming in their eyes. Alex stared back, unblinking—until Adrian’s hand cracked against him again.

  They sneered, but didn’t linger. In their haste, they pushed on toward the barkeep, brushing Alex off as if he were beneath notice.

  “Barkeep.”

  The mercenary’s voice cut through the silence, loud but not quite a shout.

  The barkeep’s lively expression dulled, replaced by a look of mild bother, as though someone had just tracked mud across his clean floor.

  “What can I do for you, gentlemen?” he asked, tone polite but edged with impatience, his gaze steady on the lead mercenary.

  The mercenary slammed his hand on the bar. “We’re looking for the Cursed.”

  Sylmara’s hand slipped to the grip of her gun. Her expression didn’t falter, but Adrian felt the air around her thicken, charged. Draveth laid a light hand on her shoulder, steadying her. The tension bled from her frame.

  “We’ve got witnesses,” the mercenary went on. “They were seen around these parts.”

  Sylmara’s eyes flicked toward Adrian and Alex.

  “There are no Cursed here,” the barkeep said, his tone leaving no room for doubt.

  The mercenary slammed his hand on the bar again, harder this time.

  The barkeep’s answer didn’t change. “There are no Cursed here.”

  “DON’T PLAY WITH ME!” the mercenary roared, spittle flying.

  The innkeeper’s patience was wearing thin. His voice sharpened. “Do you even know who owns this inn?”

  “DO YOU THINK I CARE?” the mercenary bellowed, face darkening with rage.

  The barkeep didn’t flinch. “Kaelen Ashmark,” he said, flat and steady. His voice didn’t change, his posture didn’t shift. He was calm as stone.

  The mercenaries’ faces shifted. The lead man’s eyes widened for a heartbeat, then snapped back into place, but something in his demeanor had altered. He turned, his voice colder now. “Question them.” He pointed toward the crowded tables.

  Kaelen Ashmark, Adrian thought. Why did that name cut through them like a blade?

  The mercenaries moved through the room, going table to table. Nobody refused; the answers came fast and trembling. Fear sat heavy on the patrons. Adrian gave Alex a sharp slap to the back of the head, a warning and a pre-emptive one, because he knew another might be needed.

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  “Chill,” Alex said, rubbing the spot Adrian had hit.

  Adrian glanced at Sylmara; Draveth’s arm pressed lightly on her shoulder. That’s taken care of, he thought, and turned his attention to eavesdropping.

  “Don’t play dumb, old man…”

  “I never seen them, I… swear.”

  “…a boy with black eyes… or a girl with the mark? Seen ’em?”

  A fist slammed the wood. Mugs rattled. “Answer me straight, or I’ll gut your tongue.”

  “You think the patrol will protect you? Ha. They string you up same as us.”

  A fist slammed the table nearby, mugs rattling. Patrons shrank back as the mercenary leaned closer. Adrian’s hand brushed Alex’s shoulder in warning, already anticipating the chaos if Sylmara lost control.

  A boy and a girl? They were really hunting children. Adrian was baffled.

  The more she listened, the more Sylmara’s hand trembled. Draveth’s grip on her shoulder tightened, steadying her. Alex stayed outwardly calm, but Adrian noticed his hand hidden beneath his cloak.

  He remembered the Kaverth stories, but hunting kids? He had never let himself believe it. Na?ve. He should have expected this. It wasn’t a hard conclusion to reach. Yet he hadn’t. He felt painfully na?ve. This world was just as cruel as his.

  A boy with black eyes. A girl with the mark. Maybe that was a truer way to describe the Cursed. But black eyes…

  He glanced around. The mercenaries were drawing closer to their table. Slowly, he slipped his hand beneath his cloak, fingers closing around the grip of his gun.

  If Sylmara snapped, things would spiral fast. Even Alex was eyeing her. Better to be ready than caught unprepared.

  A gruff man, bald headed with a thick beard, strode up to their table. He wasted no time, slamming his hand down before he spoke. “Have you seen a girl with a mark and a boy with black eyes?” His tone left no room for pleasantries.

  “No,” Adrian answered, casual and steady.

  He did not intend to start trouble, but he was not about to be intimidated by a group of mercenaries. If he were still in the slums, he might have backed down. But now, after discovering the Nexus and going through the training, he felt different.

  It was not the training itself that made him confident it was the MP7 tucked under his cloak. That gun was more than enough to handle problems, especially when the mercenaries only carried swords and axes. Even the bows were not a concern; by the time they were drawn, he would already be out of range.

  Still, the training had not been wasted. Because of it, he did not feel the need to bow to anyone, not even these armed men who thought fear could bend him.

  The mercenary noticed his lack of fear and respect and grew grumpy. He slammed the table again, then moved his hand toward the sword at his hip.

  “You little shit, speak.”

  Draveth joined the conversation. “We have not seen them.”

  The mercenary yelled for a minute or two, but they kept denying it. Draveth spoke the most, keeping calm while the others grew agitated. He was best at staying composed. Alex remained quiet the entire time, which Adrian found odd.

  After a few minutes, the mercenary left their table. The others lingered briefly before exiting the inn. Soon the atmosphere grew lively again, but not as before. The memory of the mercenaries lingered.

  They were quiet for a few minutes before Adrian spoke.

  “What do you think?” he asked, fingers interlocked.

  “It was bound to happen if there were survivors,” Draveth said, a sad look in his eyes.

  “I will find them,” Sylmara said, certainty shining in her gaze.

  “Keep those thoughts to yourself,” Draveth reprimanded, glancing around as if someone might have overheard her. But the inn was already loud with voices and singing.

  “I will.”

  “Yeah,” Alex said, his smirk gone. “I will help you.”

  It was rare to see Alex this serious. Adrian had seen him like this only a few times, the last being when he asked for a job. Now he wanted to find them too, to help if he could. It was the first time he had the power to try and change someone’s life for the better. If he did not, he would never forgive himself.

  “I'm in,” Adrian said without a second thought. If they had not said they were searching for kids, he probably would not have cared enough to help. But they were kids. If Ben had not helped him, he probably would have ended up dead.

  “We need a plan before we do something stupid,” Draveth said, glancing at Sylmara.

  “Relax,” she said.

  “How are we supposed to find them?” Adrian asked.

  “There are a few places to check. If they know they’re being hunted, they’d probably try to get to the forest. Or maybe someone is hiding them,” Sylmara said.

  “That is not really a plan,” Alex said.

  “The village is our best bet if someone is helping them. If they are running, they’re probably somewhere between the two villages, heading into the forest. Last place to check is the city,” Draveth said, rubbing his chin.

  “Finding them on the run would be almost impossible,” Adrian said, tapping his fingers on the table.

  “Same in the city. Village is our best shot,” Alex replied.

  “It’s not impossible.” Sylmara paused, thinking. “I’ve got contacts in the city. If they’re there we can find them, but getting them out and leading them to Veythral will be rough.”

  “Draveth?” Alex asked.

  “It should be possible,” Draveth said.

  “Then how do we do it?” Adrian pressed.

  “We split up,” Draveth said. “Two go to the village tomorrow. If they are not there, we press on to the next one. Two stay at the inn, wait for the caravan, then slip into the city.”

  “Who goes where?” Alex asked.

  “I’ll go to the city — I have the contacts,” Sylmara said.

  “You want me?” Adrian looked at Draveth.

  “You’re coming with her. Draveth and I will take the village,” Alex said.

  “Let’s hope this works,” Draveth muttered.

  “Yeah,” they all said.

  After a bit more planning, they settled in for the night. The plan was simple enough, but with Sylmara’s contacts in the city, they had a real chance. The village route, on the other hand, would be harder even if the kids were there, finding them would not be easy. But they had no choice; they had to try. While in the city, they might also reach out to merchants and other contacts they would need for the plans they had already made. The coins they brought would not last long, so sooner or later, they would have to earn more.