Llain watched Kalia go with a frown. It felt like more than a single night had passed with all that had happened. After Kalia's brush with death the thought of going back to the forge and doing chores for Karyth suddenly felt pointless. The streets outside were deserted but for the generous few that were trying to help those afflicted with the magical malady. Even the church bells had remained silent this morning, breaking a tradition that had weathered wars and storms in equal measure.

"You 'bout ready to head off, then?" Grist's voice interrupted Llain's thoughts as the older man came down the stairs. "Alatiel needs some time to rest too." Grist pointed to the bartender where he stood yawning at the bar and Llain gave a wave of apology.

"I've been waiting for you," Llain pointed out. "And I'm sure Camilla could handle the crowd." Llain glanced around the empty tavern hall pointedly. "Where'd you disappear to, anyway. Kalia would've liked to thank you for your help, I'm sure."

"Aye," he responded. "Not quite ready for that conversation, yet."

Llain furrowed his brow, but Grist pushed out through the front door instead of answering and Llain hurried to follow. The old man set a quick pace, and Llain found his shorter legs working double-time to keep up with Grist's long strides.

"So Wallamir, he's been a wizard for a while?" Llain mused aloud as Grist slowed to navigate through the detritus from last night's panic. "He seems pretty proficient."

"Oh I'm sure he'd love to hear that," Grist said wryly. "'Proficient' says the smith's apprentice. But aye, he graduated from the academy in Norastir. Came out this way to sell his sorcery in Farone's war. 'S where we met."

"You fought in the war?" Llain asked wide-eyed. "I read in a book that—"

"You ever notice how nobody here talks about the war?" Grist interrupted.

In fact that had been Llain's next question. Even though it had happened before Llain was born, the legends that Farone's war against the druids spawned had spread far and wide in the time since. He had grown up on tales of Faronian knights and the vengeful druids they had fought in the ancient forests south of Farone. Disappointingly, the legends seemed to stop being popular as soon as you pulled within sight of Farone's harbor.

"There's a reason for that," Grist frowned. "Nasty business all around. Not something that's talked about without a strong drink and stronger friends at your side."

"Just trying to make conversation," Llain grumbled.

What Llain really wanted was a distraction. The silence in the streets was shifting from somber to sinister as they slunk along toward Karyth's. A group of moaning men laying tangled on the ground accentuated the thought as Grist and Llain edged along the wall past them. Silver scars shimmered from the men's skin and Llain shuddered as one reached out a feeble hand toward him. Their eyes were baleful, silver orbs, and Llain was unsure if they could even see or if it was the sound of Llain's boots that caused the movement.

"Should talk to Wallamir if you wanna know more about magic," Grist continued as if Llain's interruption hadn't happened. "Just try not to tell him how 'proficient' you think he is. Not that it matters much. We're supposed to be leaving town shortly and things should go back to normal for you."

Grist chuckled at his own bad joke, and Llain gave him a confused look. It sounded like Grist was implying Llain wasn't invited along, but perhaps that was a conversation for later. Grist's smile was replaced with a thoughtful grimace as they rounded the corner to see Karyth's shop. The front door hung open, with a small wooden sign in front proclaiming the smithy open for business.

A gentle curl of smoke snaked its way from the kitchen chimney, nearly drowned out by the thick, black cloud belching forth from the workshop in the rear. The rhythmic pounding of a hammer on metal broke the silence, and Llain found a smile growing on his face. If Llain hadn't just walked through the city he could almost pretend it was just another day he was late for work.

Llain pushed past as Grist slowed his pace, and pushed through the half-open doorway into the smithy. The bell at the door clanged out a welcome and the sound of hammering from the workshop stopped. Llain saw a plate of eggs and bread sitting at his spot on the table next to the bagged lunch Karyth always had waiting for Kalia to take to the temple. Even late, Karyth always made sure the two of them were taken care of and well-fed for whatever the day might throw at them.

"You're gods-damned lucky, boy. I'd've had your ass for being late on a festival day if business weren't so slow." Karyth's voice entered the room before he did.

Thin, tapered ears supported the bandanna Karyth used to corral his hair, great white ropes of it that he braided fresh each morning before beginning work. His bronze skin shone with a sheen of sweat as he pushed past Llain to get a mouth full of water from a pitcher, setting his hammer down gently on the floor to avoid breaking anything with the massive iron weight.

"Master—" Llain tried to interrupt.

"Whole town must be sleeping off a drunk," Karyth mused as he gulped down a glass of water without taking a breath. "Haven't seen a single soul since dawn and even the temple was off with the bells."

"But—" Llain began again.

"No time," Karyth interrupted. Already he was turning back toward the workshop, hammer slung over his shoulder like a stick. "We have three orders due this afternoon and I won't be late on account of my lazy sloth of an apprentice."

"Karyth, enough!" Llain finally yelled at the man's back. Karyth turned for a moment and raised one of his eyebrows in shock. "I'm not here for work, I came to make sure you weren't dying."

"What in the world—" Karyth murmured. "You still drunk, boy? I'm fine."

"Lucky me," Llain grumbled. "But if you'd been outside since last night you'd know there are hundreds of people in the street who aren't. There was an attack during the festival." Llain gestured toward the open door as if it could provide support of his words just as Grist's shadow filled it.

Karyth froze and a dozen expressions crossed his face in the instant it took for Llain to look from him to Grist and back again. Llain had no time to react as Karyth used both hands to swing his hammer and let it fly through the air toward the doorway. A breath of air across Llain's face was the only sign of its passing, and Llain looked helplessly toward the empty doorway where Grist had been standing.

A crash from the street outside was followed by a growl from Karyth as he crossed the room in a few steps. Llain was relieved to see Grist stand from where he'd fallen prone to dodge the hammer, but Karyth gave him no time to recover before decking him across the chin with a fist. Grist took the blow without flinching, and Llain's eyes widened. He knew how strong Karyth was, and a blow like that would have been more than enough to flatten most people.

"You," Karyth hissed through his teeth. "I warned you what would happen if you desecrated my home with your foul stench again, didn't I?"

Grist nodded somberly and Llain felt far out of his depth. Grist and Wallamir had mentioned knowing Karyth in the past, but they hadn't mentioned any hard feelings. Llain had expected a warm reunion, not a brawl.

"What the hell?" Llain said. He crossed the room and tried to interject himself between the two men, but Karyth held him back with one meaty hand while the other swung wildly towards Grist's jaw for a second blow. "Karyth, stop. We're here because of Kalia!"

Mentioning her was Llain's only thought to disarm the situation. At the very least it might give them a chance to escape the shop and outrun the old elf. Karyth looked askance at Llain for a moment before dropping his hands and taking a step back.

"Explain," he grunted.

"The boy's half right," Grist answered as he rubbed at his jaw. Already the skin there was turning an angry red, and Grist stretched his jaw with a grimace. "Your girl's mixed up in this nonsense and she was worried about you. We came by to make sure you weren't keeled over like the unfortunates outside."

"Kalia was torn between coming here and to the temple," Llain explained. "I told her we would make sure you're alright so she could focus on helping out there." If anything, his words seemed to be making Karyth more angry, and Llain was torn between running from Karyth's fury and trying to figure out what was happening.

"And you vowed never to set eyes upon my daughter again," Karyth said quietly. "The last favor I ever asked of you, and a vow you swore upon Lilian's grave to keep."

"Wasn't intentional," Grist said with a nod of his head. "But aye, that's the other half. I've been hired for a job and it involves your girl. Didn't know that at the time, but the papers've already been sorted and the temple wouldn't take kindly to me backing out on account of an old grudge. I came for your blessing," Grist clarified, "not your permission."

"You dare?" Karyth bellowed. "You've taken everything from me! And now you come to take the only thing in my life that wasn't broken beyond repair?"

"I only do what you can't, you stubborn jackass!" Grist matched Karyth's volume. "I didn't even know it was her, but I'm glad for the chance. Maybe Kalia deserves to know the truth about her family. Maybe she deserves better than a miserable, old man who clings to the past and lets the present suffer!"

"Hey," Llain said into the momentary silence. "Grist that's enough. Karyth is a good dad, and a tolerable person the rest of the time. I won't stand by and let you insult him."

"That's all he does," Karyth spat. "Sows poison on the ground and delights as the crops of other people's good fortune withers."

"And you!" Llain rounded on Karyth and the old man looked as if he'd been slapped. "While you were sleeping, Grist and I were out in the city making sure Kalia didn't die. You can at least pretend to have some glimmer of gratitude in that blackened heart of yours."

Both of the men sat silently for a moment, glaring daggers at Llain. He gulped nervously as the silence stretched. Llain had only spoken the truth, or what he knew of it, but both of these men could probably swat him to the ground without batting an eye. But after another moment of silence both of the men started laughing, and Llain felt the tension drain out of the room in the span of a few tense heartbeats. Karyth sank into a seat opposite Grist and their eyes met for a moment before Karyth spat onto the floor.

"Does Kalia know?" Karyth asked. "About—"

"Hasn't seen me yet," Grist answered reassuringly. "Was unconscious last night when I helped get her to safety, and I stayed away until she had left for the temple this morning. Far as she knows, I'm one of Wallamir's hired men."

"Of course he'd be tangled up in this as well," Karyth blew out a sigh. "I— Give me a chance to talk to her before you— I'll find some way to explain."

"I know it's asking an awful lot," Llain finally cut in. "But is there even a slight chance you two can explain what's happening? I feel like I'm reading a book with half the pages torn out."

Grist looked to Karyth, who shrugged to say he didn't care anymore. "We'll talk about it later," Grist answered Llain. "Before we go, though, there's one more matter of business we need to talk about, Karyth."

"Of course there is," Karyth answered with a forced smile. "You've already taken everything I love, what's another favor between old friends?"

"We need a ship," Grist said plainly. "All the ships I'd trust for transport departed for the race night before last. Except one," he finished meaningfully.

"I haven't seen Liam in years," Karyth barked. "You'd have more luck than I would."

"Not that," Grist answered. "I need you to fix up his ship." Grist pulled a roll of parchment from a jacket pocket and unfurled it on the table. "This is the amount the church has allocated for travel expenses," he said pointing at the bottom of the paper. "If we're going to be sailing past the breakwater, that dinghy Liam's got won't cut it. I'm leaving that up to you."

Grist pulled another piece of parchment from his jacket as he stood to leave. "Here's a letter for you to draw on. Not sure how much it'll cost, or whether you'll be able to use it with the city in its current state, but take as much as you need and consider whatever's left over my final apology."

Llain moved to follow Grist, but the look in Karyth's eyes gave him pause. He briefly considered trying to comfort Karyth, but past experience had taught him how reluctant Karyth was to show emotion. A pat on the shoulder was as likely as not to end with a black eye.

"I can't forgive you," Karyth murmured as Grist reached the door. "All these years and still the pain feels fresh when I see your face. Kalia is all I have now and I won't let you take her too.

Grist moved back and rested a hand on Karyth's shoulder. "I'm not taking her away, Karyth. I'm only making sure she can come back when she's done." He left without another word and Llain walked to the door as it swung closed behind Grist.

"Where are you going, boy?" Karyth asked. Any semblance of emotion had been replaced by the stoic anger Llain had grown accustomed to. "I didn't hear any piece of Grist's plan that mentioned him needing a useless waste of space tagging along like a lost puppy."

Llain looked back in shock at the vitriol in Karyth's words. "How dare you," he nearly choked on the words. "I— I don't care what he wants. Or what you want, you miserable old shit. I'm going for Kalia, and I'll do whatever I need to make sure she comes home safe. She deserves someone who treats her like more than a piece of meat to fight over outside the bar."

"Take your things then," Karyth said with a gesture toward the stairs that led to Llain and Kalia's rooms. "That man," he pointed toward the closed door as a look of disgust rose on his face, "has destroyed more lives than anyone else I've had the misfortune to meet. But of course you don't see that. No one does until it's too late. So I won't be here when you realize your mistake. There is nothing for you here if you walk out that door."

Llain stood there for a moment as he felt the anger growing in his chest. Months and years of work in his shop, caring for and becoming a part of Karyth's family, it boiled down to him versus Grist. It was almost absurd enough for him to laugh, but he knew that laughing in Karyth's face couldn't end well.

"I don't know what your history is," Llain said quietly. "But since you're so reluctant to share it I have no choice but to go with my gut. And my gut tells me I'd rather follow someone who wants to do something about our situation than a sad, lonely man who sits in his shop pretending that everything is fine."

"You can throw out my things," Llain continued as he opened the door and took a step across the threshold. "I'd rather forget the portion of my life I wasted here."