Veena sat alone in her corner of the ‘Horse Trough’ drinking morosely. It had taken her just under a full day of hard riding to get back to Ribow. The village was close to becoming a town, eventually. “Gods damn it, Rog, we should have just fuckin surrendered. Maybe you would have been able to say goodbye to Yvonne at least,” she idly mused out loud, her finger twirly the empty pint glass in front of her.

Veena was glad she had at least grabbed the money they had snagged from the merchants before high-tailing it out of there. It wasn’t even close to the haul they would have gotten had the contract panned out. But it was enough to make sure both she and her family weren’t destitute. “Need another love?” Helen, the barmaid, asked softly. “Yeah, and if you have some bread, and fish that too,” Veena replied, handing the glass to her. Helen nodded. She carefully placed the glass onto her nearly overloaded tray and walked back to the bar.

Helen had been the only one to serve their little group when they stopped in between contracts. Mainly due to Tyrin, Veena was glad he was dead, “Mean little alcoholic shit.” She muttered, leaning back in the chair. She felt it touch the wall. Once she was sure it would hold her in place, she propped her feet onto the table. A small little part of her hoped she was just dreaming and that Harrick carrying a hung-over Roger or Tyrin would barge in, heading right for her.

But, she knew, it would never happen. “Fuckin Hell Rog,” Veena closed her eyes and taking deep breaths, letting the alcohol numb her from head to toe. Soon enough, the day caught up with her, and she fell asleep.

Someone or something was touching Veena’s shoulder, shaking her gently. “Veena, wake up. I got your food and drink,” Veena groggily opened her eyes, blinking away the sleep she saw Helen standing to her left. “What, how long was I out?” Veena went to sit up, but her movement tipped the careful balancing act she had. Her stomach lurched as the chair slid down the wall taking her with it. It stopped abruptly, she looked, and a gauntlet-covered hand had caught her.

She followed it up to its owner, and she swore her heart stopped. “Are you alright, miss?” The red-skinned demon-lookingBlooded Emissary asked.

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Lissa looked at the woman she caught, the expression on her face changing every heartbeat, it seemed. Finally, it settled on relief, “I am fine now, thanks.” Lissa helped her get the seat back onto its feet. The barmaid looked at Lissa, nodded, and turned to the previously asleep woman, “I didn’t mean to startle you, Veena. You just looked like you needed some sleep.” Lissa watched as Veena waved back the barmaid.

“It’s okay, Helen, thanks for letting me sleep,” Veena turned to face the table. “And the food is still warm. You must have seen me nod off and waited to get it. How sweet of you.” Helen smiled, “If you need anything, let me know.” She then turned to Lissa, “And I will get you a drink on the house for stopping her,” Helen pointed to Veena, who stopped mid-sip and looked at Helen. “From cracking her skull on the floor,” Lissa waved her off, “I don’t need that, but I will have some fish. It smells delicious.”

“Will do,” Helen said cheerily while walking off. Lissa turned back to the table, and everyone was staring at her. “Look at you being a hero,” Garza said with a smirk. This earned him a loud and powerful slap on the back from Darvick. “She ain’t being a hero. She was just being polite, ya musclehead,” he said while receiving a glare from Garza.

Lissa could see Almios barely holding back laughter while taking a sip from his drink. Micah had covered his face with his hands. Mera and Mela were too engrossed in examining Micah’s rings to even notice this exchange. Saida hadn’t come back from the stables yet. She had wanted to haggle with the owner at his “Blatantly outrageous prices,” as she put it.

“Micah, how close are we from the last sighting?” Lissa asked while trying to recall exactly how long they have traveled. The days had started blurring together with the breakneck pace they were going. “A few days at least,” He replied before leaning over the table, “But considering it has been moving steadily west, we may encounter it sooner rather than later.” Lissa saw Darvick purse his lips, “Have you gotten any word from other adjutants about its movements?”

Micah shook his head, “Nothing, which is both a relief and worrisome. It either means it has gone to ground in some way, or the more likely cause.” Lissa saw the sorrow in Micah’s eyes as he finished speaking. “It hasn’t left any survivors of its encounters.”

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Veena had eaten her meal after the abrupt awakening in a panic. Each bite brought her closer to a potential disaster. She would have aroused suspicion if she left right away. Veena knew that the longer she was eating, the higher the chance that someone would come over and ask for Roger, Harrick, or Tyrin.

She had to get home and had to leave Ribow as soon as possible. Veena knew where Roger stashed his money. Yvonne would just have to live with the fact she took it. Roger’s house was first. His neighbors knew her and wouldn’t think twice about her entering through a window. Roger had been notorious for locking himself out and also forgetting to properly shutter his windows.

Veena tried the front windows. “Damn it,” she muttered under her breath as she failed to find one Roger hadn’t done correctly. She looked up to the second-story windows. “I really hate you, Rog,” Veena said aloud, finding an improperly shuttered window above her just out of reach. She looked around and tried to formulate a plan.

Veena wandered for a moment, looking for anything to help her reach that window. Soon she found an empty barrel with the lid sitting next to it. “You’ll have to do it,” Veena said, grabbing the barrel and hauling it to just under the window. Leveling it the best she could, Veena stood atop the barrel arms just out of reach of the windowsill.

She tried in vain to find any handholds that she could use to climb, but none were secure enough for her. Taking a deep breath, Veena realized she would just have to jump. “Rog, I swear by all the gods, I hope the afterlife is treating you good. Because when I get there, I am kicking your ass!” She shouted at the end as she sprang towards the window.

Veena reached out, fingers brushing up above the windowsill, then her palms, and she latched on with one hand. The other she wriggled to pry open the shutters. Veena hauled herself through the window into the pantry knocking over vegetables, cheeses, dried meats, and other food stocks.

“Fucksake Rog,” Veena muttered aloud after getting off the floor. She had to scrape bits of flattened cheese off her arm. “At least I am in the right room,” She said while looking around the pantry. It took her a moment, but she found it. She walked over to the far corner near the door and knelt down.

Veena took a dagger from her belt and pried the loose floorboard out. She saw the corner of the little box and grinned. It only took a few minutes to pry the boards necessary to lift it up. Once it was done, she grabbed the box and opened it. Inside were a few smaller coin purses covered in dust.

Veena picked one up and shook it. Hearing the comforting sound of coins rattling inside eased her worry just a bit. She shut the box and made her way through the house back onto the street. “Here is hoping, Dorian and the kids are home,” Veena took off towards the south side of town towards home. She passed by the empty houses of Roger’s neighbors first, then through the various merchant’s shops, and then finally to the river bank.

The hearth was lit. Veena could see both the smoke and a shadow dancing on the far wall. Dorian was home. She slowed her jog about twenty meters from the door and took calming breaths.

Veena had to be both calm and rational to Dorian about this. Otherwise, he wouldn’t leave, endangering himself and their children. Coming to a full stop in front of the door, Veena took one final steadying breath and opened it. “Dorian, we need to,” Veena began to say but stopped as she took in the figure standing facing away from her. She took her hand away from the door and drew one of her daggers.

“You are late, Veena Blackwood,” The figure said, their voice changing in pitch. They slowly start turning to face her. Their voice hurt her ears, and she had to force herself from trying to cover them. “Who the fuck are you? And what are you doing in my home?” Veena said while kneeling to set down the coinbox onto the floor.

Veena looked up at the figure and saw a porcelain mask and froze. “My name is unimportant Veena Blackwood. What is important is that you are a loose end,” They pointed one gloved finger at her. “Your group’s failure not only puts our guild into jeopardy, but it also reflects poorly upon our reputation,” They seemed to glide forwards slowly towards Veena. She stood slowly and stiffly.

“If you are going to kill me, at least spare my family. They don’t know anything,” Veena said, steeling herself against any possible pain. The figure froze and chuckled, “Kill you? No, Mrs. Blackwood, you are far too valuable to let rot in the ground like the rest of them.” They reached into their robes and pulled out a sealed piece of parchment.

“Read it, and give me your answer,” They said calmly. Veena took it and carefully broke the wax seal with her dagger. She quickly had to sit down to read. Veena was slowly processing what she read. Finally, she finished. “You can’t be serious? I mean, I was planning on doing this already, but,” Veena was at a loss for words. “But you didn’t expect we wouldn’t want you dead or at the least try to finish the job?” The figure replied, finishing her sentence.

Veena nodded, and a gloved hand touched her shoulder. It was as cold as the river during the winter. Veena shivered reflexively, “Mrs. Blackwood, I take it your answer is yes?”

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Lissa bolted upright and scanned the room. She was alone, it seemed. Listening intently for what awoke her, she heard it, “Callista.” Lissa slowly crawled out of bed and dressed in silence. Her name kept being spoken randomly. After what seemed like ages, she was ready, armor and weapons.

Lissa drew one of her daggers. She opened the door enough to peer into the hallway. Its emptiness only added to her unease. Stepping out quietly, she went to Garza’s room and tried the door. “At least he locked it,” She muttered after a few unsuccessful attempts to open the door.

As much as she wanted to knock, Lissa didn’t want to alert whoever said her name. Door after door was the same result. She grew frustrated and turned to face the hallway. What had once been empty now held a man at the far end, and behind him was a room. The room was well lit, casting his face in impenetrable shadow. Lissa frowned. How had she known that it was a man standing there? She shook her head, “Who are you, and what do you want?”

He didn’t answer and took one step forward. Lissa had expected the floor beneath him to creak, but it made no sound. Lissa saw a glow upon his face as the man appeared to open his eyes. She felt her stomach drop. His eyes glowed gold, but the shine didn’t light up his features.

“I am a patient man Callista, but I do have my limits,” His voice was calm and collected. Lissa felt a chill run down her spine. She knew the voice. “You were at the bathhouse. You tried to kill me!” She screamed and pounded on the nearest door knowing someone would wake up and come out to help. “You sought help first this time, instead of trying to do it on your own. Maybe you can learn after all,” He said while pausing his advance.

“I didn’t have anyone close by then. Now they are just behind these,” Lissa turned to look at the door she was hitting. There was no door, just a wooden wall. “Doors?” She turned back to look at the man. He was much closer now, well within arms reach. Lissa took a step back in a panic. She hadn’t heard him move, the doors were now gone, and she was alone.

“Callista, you must realize something, and I won’t repeat myself,” He said with a tinge of frustration in his voice. Lissa scowled and lunged at him, trying to drive the dagger into his heart. She froze mid-step, the blade still being brought up to his chest. “These base, violent tendencies are quite troubling. But nothing I can’t fix given time,” He said while appraising her form.

Lissa wanted to squirm under his gaze, but nothing obeyed her except her eyes. She followed him as he walked around her. The blank hallway widened to allow him to pass on her side closest to the wall. “The time is coming soon where you will have to make a choice. This choice will ultimately decide not only our fate but many others as well,” He said while coming back to his position in front of her.

He shook his head, “I wish I could give you more than that. But even my gaze has its limits.” The man sighed, and Lissa watched all the tension that had been in his shoulders vanish. “I hope you are the last one that I must do this to,” He said, confusing Lissa. She saw his left hand glow, and he moved towards her chest. Lissa looked into his eyes. She saw remorse and sorrow deeper than she knew possible.

As his fingertips brushed her armor, she saw his fingers glide through it. Lissa felt his fingertips across her chest and then his full hand. His gaze with her never wavered, “I am sorry for what I am about to do.” She saw his arm shoot forward and felt his hand go into her chest.