Somewhere nearby, a door opened, then shut.

My eyes opened.

I lay flat for a long while, blinking up at the ceiling of my quarters. Smooth, polished wood, elegantly worked. Only the best for the guildmaster of the hunter’s guild—and as her apprentice living in the attached shadow’s suite, only the best for me, too.

My skull still pounded, voicing its protest at…whatever it was I’d inhaled the night before. And my shoulder ached, even though Silvos had so-kindly popped it back into its socket. Just a fracture, he’d said, while I writhed. I could almost remember toddling back across Linead, somehow staying vertical while Avira and Silvos carried-

Myles. I jerked, half-rising, and toppled Nella from my chest in the doing. She tumbled to the blankets around my waist, crowing angrily. “Sorry,” I mumbled, stroking at her ridges. “Sorry, girl. Didn’t mean to.”

With every second that passed, the sleep faded from my mind. I glanced to the window, aghast at the sight of the morning light streaming through. I…I had contracts to do. I could not still be lying around sleeping. Swallowing hard, I put my feet on the ground. My head swam.

“Gotta get up,” I mumbled, bracing myself at last. “Can’t…Can’t sleep all day.” The sound of that door still stuck in my mind. If someone was here…

But when I toddled forward, pulling a tunic over my head, Avira’s quarters were empty—as was the cot she’d set up in the corner for Myles. No one will harm him here, she’d said, her eyes ice-cold. They’d never be so foolish as to try and finish the job right beneath my nose.

And now he was gone, her with him. I stared for a long moment, blinking. And then I whistled, holding an arm out.

Nella didn’t fly, this time. She trotted out of my quarters, dragging her tail behind her. I frowned, then waggled my arm again for her to jump up. “Nella? Is something wrong?”

She only slipped forward, rubbing against my leg, and sent a ripple of happiness my way. There was a twinge of fear to it, though. Concern. For me? If I reached for my bonding band, I could catch a glimpse of…myself. Pale and sweating, leaning against the wall alongside Myles’ limp body.

“I’m fine, sweetling,” I murmured, crouching slowly. “And you won’t hurt me.” I chuckled, shaking my head. “I guess my shoulder appreciates it, though.” Gathering her into my arms, I stood, cradling her against my chest.

Holding her there like a baby, I trudged out of our quarters.

The headquarters were dead quiet, not a hunter to be seen in their halls. I wasn’t surprised. With the recent spike in fiend activity, any hunter able to had spent every waking second in the wilds outside Linead’s gates. It was needed, if we were going to keep the region safe—and it paid very, very well. Peer as I might around each corner, I didn’t catch more than a passing glimpse of another person. By the time I reached Avira’s office, my headache was back in full.

She looked up as I opened the door, though, offering me a tiny smile. “There you are, Trellin. Close the door, there’s a dear.”

O…kay. I closed it like she’d asked, stealing a look around as Nella wriggled away and trotted over to her bed in the corner. Avira stood by the window, Silvos pacing a few steps away. And—Myles. He sat on a richly padded chair in the corner that hadn’t been there the day before, dark circles under his eyes and a thick wrapping of bandages around his neck. But he was awake.

My mood brightened instantly. Grinning, I crossed to Avira’s desk, leaning against it as I gave him a nod. “Aethir’s ashes, Myles, you look horrible.” When he rolled his eyes, I coughed, shaking my head. “I mean, um. How are you feeling?”

Myles opened his mouth.

“No talking,” Silvos said, glaring over at him. He shut his mouth again.

“Uh,” I said, looking over to Silvos, who sighed.

“He’s…adequate,” he said, shrugging. “Mostly. He’s banged up, and his neck in particular took…a lot of abuse. His throat, and his spine. Whoever that assassin was…he clearly wanted it to look like a suicide, but he did not want Myles to survive the attempt. He’s to take it easy for at least a week. At least,” he said, shooting another sharp look at Myles when he started. “Longer, if you can’t keep your voice down. You risk permanent damage otherwise. Do you understand?”

Myles wrinkled his nose, but nodded, sinking lower in his chair.

“That’s horrible,” I whispered. “I- I should’ve been there faster. I’m sorry. I should’ve-”

“I told you before, lad,” Avira said, twisting to eye me over her shoulder. “You arrived precisely in time. Do not trouble yourself with hypotheticals. That way lies only bitterness and hurt.”

“I…I guess,” I mumbled, my gaze dropping. “It’s still just…infuriating.”

“We understand,” Silvos said quietly. “Believe me. But even though Myles’ condition is…difficult, he will heal. Take pride in that.”

I nodded, trying to convince myself of that. Myles smiled at me, his eyes swollen, then looked away.

“So when’s the tribunal start?” I said, looking to Avira. “Now that Myles got attacked, they’ve got their kick in the pants. We can-”

I stopped, seeing the shadow pass over her face. “Wait. Are you-”

“It’s not so simple,” Avira said.

“But someone tried to kill him,” I said, gesturing toward Myles. “They strung him up like-”

Like he’d tried to do himself in. I stopped before I could finish, my lips parting.

“I see you understand,” Avira said, drifting back toward her desk. She was ghostly pale, I realized, as was Silvos. Not that she normally had much color to her, but now…it didn’t even look like she’d slept. Had she stayed awake the whole night, while Myles and I slept off the poison?

She shook her head, sitting down, and leaned on her desk. “I fear that even if we dragged the elders together, laying our case before them, they would not listen.”

“But…Someone tried to kill him,” I said, still disbelieving. “You really think they’d-”

“They would say that Myles just tried to kill himself,” Silvos said quietly.

Avira laughed, short and barking. “Aye. The foolish boy clearly realized his own shame, and tried to resolve the matter with some shred of honor intact. Something akin to that, no doubt.”

Myles drooped, his shoulders hitching higher.

Avira abandoned her next sentence, looking away with a hiss. “It’s…I’m sorry, Myles. It’s unjust.” Her head lifted, and she glanced back to him, her jaw set. “But I’ve faced this storm afore. I know how this works.”

She’d been accused of murder, locked away for half a year while they tried to cut a confession out of her. I understood—but was this the time to dredge that up? I swallowed. “Avira, I…I don’t know. I just…”

Avira smiled thinly when I trailed off. “Whoever the assassin was, he came prepared,” she said. “He knew precisely where Myles was. He stole in and out without hesitation, and that smoke pellet he used is not something allowed to be freely made.”

“I guess, but-”

“Most damning of all, he was able to enter the Hunter’s district without being stopped.” Her voice was low, and as she spoke, she pounded one fist gently against her desk. “He either had the credentials to get past the guards—or he was allowed in by someone here.”

I nodded once, but my mind was just…blank, aghast. “So whoever sent the assassin-”

“Was likely someone with the power and sway to make that assault happen,” Avira murmured.

“It could be the elders themselves,” Silvos said, speaking at last. He crossed to stand behind Avira, resting a hand on her shoulder. Her shoulders drooped at the touch, her expression softening. He frowned, though, his eyes serious. “Verrick was very open in showing his appreciation for the guild’s advisors.”

“Because they could do his bidding,” Avira muttered. “With them under his thumb, he could do as he pleased. He still does, it seems. And now, he-”

“Avira,” Silvos murmured, squeezing her shoulder. She quieted, still scowling.

He sighed, looking back to me. “The gold-tag has changed hands, but that doesn’t mean their loyalties have followed suit. If they can drag their heels, they will. They can’t refuse the request for a tribunal, not when the accusations are so serious, but they can drag it out long enough that momentum is lost.”

“And they can kill the witness we depend on to prove our accusations,” Avira said. She folded her hands tightly, taking a deep breath. “If we were to press the point, reveal the attack and that Myles survived, all it would do would be invite them to make the next move sooner rather than later.”

“You think they’d try again?” I said, looking between her and Silvos before stealing a glance at Myles. He still stared at the floorboards, despondent. “Wouldn’t that be really risky?”

“Perhaps,” Avira said. “I cannot say, lad. They’ve clearly warmed to the idea of taking risks already.” She shrugged, the weariness on her face intensifying. “Perhaps they would try a different angle. I cannot predict what they will do—so it’s a risk we cannot take yet. I have to discover who was behind this attack before I can make a new assault of my own.”

“We,” I said, smiling faintly. “We have to discover who did this.”

Her yellow eyes turned to me, unblinking. Slowly, my smile faded. “Avira?”

“I’m…afraid not, Trellin,” she said. Her hands clenched around each other. Her shoulders rose as she took a deep breath. When she let it out, she straightened. “If we cannot address the attack at its source, then every second Myles remains in Linead is another opportunity for them to try again. The answer,then, is clear. He must leave.”

“Wait, but-”

“As much as I trust you, though…” she said, looking to Myles with an apology in her eyes, “I…cannot send you off alone. You understand, I hope.”

Myles nodded, looking down again.

The pieces were starting to come together in my head—and I didn’t like the picture one bit. “Wait. Avira. You can’t possibly mean-”

“As it so happens, I have an urgent task that needs solving as we speak,” Avira said, a crooked smile playing at her lips. Her eyebrow twitched higher. “A sensitive matter of not insignificant importance to Aradhen itself. One that is important enough to merit the attention of the guildmaster’s own shadow. Personally.”

“I’m not going to-”

“And as it would happen, there is a guild ship departing Linead’s docks this very evening. Truly, the Broken must smile upon us.”

I just…stared at her, trying to find the words. Finally, I found some. “You’re serious, aren’t you.”

Myles sank lower, making a face.

Avira’s smile faded again, going small and wry. “Sorry, lad,” she murmured. “I know this wasn’t in the cards, but…it’s the only answer I can see that will solve our problems both personal and royal. Someone must go to Talmarn, and Myles cannot remain here. I need your aid here, but I have none else to send, either.”

“So I’m going…there?” I said, still flabbergasted. “I’ve- I’ve never been out of Aradhen, Avira. I’ve only recently been outside Mersali. I can’t possibly-”

“You will perform admirably,” Avira said. The corners of her eyes creased, her gaze softening. “Of that, I have no doubt at all. You are a skilled hunter. Whatever pest they’ve discovered, you are more than equipped to dispatch it. And Talmarn is almost a month by ship each way. The travel time alone will keep Myles out of harm’s reach and allow him to heal.” She nodded once, decisively. “I will be hard-pressed to replace you, but you will serve the guild better there.”

I inhaled, long and slow, buying myself time to think. It…did make sense. I could see where she was coming from. I hated it, and the thought of leaving Linead when the guild was hip-deep in its current madness, but we could at least keep the crown off our backs, this way. It would take the weight off Avira in a way that I couldn’t here, no matter how many contracts I fulfilled.

Even still. I stole another look at Myles, turning my gaze back to Avira. “I…I get it,” I said, my voice low. “But…I’m worried. If they were brazen enough to attack Myles, there’s no telling what else they might do.” I shook my head, balling up my hands. “I know you can handle yourself, but…what if they-”

Avira chuckled, dropping her chin. “Truly, I am honored that you worry for me so. But I am more than capable of handling myself. They’ll be hard-pressed to take me down the same way.”

“Well, they didn’t fight Myles,” I pointed out, thrusting a finger toward him. “They just knocked him on his ass and moved in. They could do the same to you if they wanted. Right?”

“She won’t be alone,” Silvos said, smiling faintly. He drifted to the wall, taking up a watchful position there. Pointedly. “We’ll keep her safe, don’t you worry about that.”

I was forced to nod at that. Okay. So…Avira wouldn’t be alone here, even, ah…well, she wasn’t sleeping alone these days, which did leave an attacker fewer opportunities to spring an ambush on her. “You’re not a fighter,” I said, though, eyeing Silvos. “I mean, not that I doubt you know what you’re doing—I do remember Deldynne—but-”

“Sabbas remains nearby as well,” Avira said, flapping a hand at me. Something clunked in the hallway, like someone twitching and hitting the door frame. I furrowed my brow, my ears pricking, but Avira continued on without pause. “He will be as vigilant as ever, especially once I inform him about the attempt on Myles’ life.” She chuckled, her eyebrow raising. “I believe we have little enough to worry about should we inform him.”

“P-Probably not,” I mumbled, nodding along. Sabbas was exactly the same as he was during the Crown Challenge. Stubborn, hard-headed, and noble to an absolute fault. He wasn’t connected to this. There was just no way.

“Well?” Avira said. I looked up, and she let her head tilt to one side, watching me. “What say you, lad? If you’re so dead set against the idea, I…I shan’t make you sail to Talmarn. But-”

“No,” I said, nodding begrudgingly. My gaze dropped to the ground. “It’s…It’s probably the best plan we’ve got. I don’t like it, but that doesn’t really matter.”

Avira smiled again, inclining her head. “Aye. I’m sorry.”

“It’s not your fault,” I said with a groan, running my hands across my face. Here I was barely awake, and already exhausted again. “So…We leave tonight?”

“Just afore sunset,” Avira said, sitting back in her chair. “I’ve chartered a seahunter ship to take you to Talmarn. The delegation rode with a merchant, and I couldn’t possibly trust this mission with an outside vessel. It’s a bit outside their usual range, but the waterboys have agreed.”

“They’re doing you a big favor,” Silvos said, nudging her chair with his foot. “Should you really call them-”

“Once you arrive, they’ll wait in port for you to handle the mission,” Avira said—and then she rolled her eyes. “If Talmarn can’t foot the bill for the contract, then the guild will likely have to eat the cost of all the ale they drink while waiting. I’d appreciate you keeping things as prompt as you’re able.”

“I’ll do my best,” I said, wilting a little inside. I’d seen on our voyage to Deldynne, the sheer quantity of drink the sailors could put away. It…wasn’t an idle concern. “Then, I’ll-”

“I’ve made an appointment for us with the imbuers,” Avira said, holding a hand up as I turned to leave. “Sorry. I assumed you’d be amenable to the contract, and-”

“It’s fine,” I said, confused. “But…Why do we need the imbuers?”

“We’ll need a way to communicate properly,” Avira said. “The bonding band is a nice trick in a pinch, as we’ve seen.” She smiled thinly, nodding toward Myles. “But it won’t suffice long-term. I have some, ah. Ideas.”

“Great,” I said. “We’re getting creative?”

Avira chuckled, lacing her fingers together again. “And I presumed you would want to update your own marks afore you set off into a strange land. It’ll be some time until you can see an imbuer again. But if you’d rather just leave, I can tell the waterboys to-”

“No, no,” I said, laughing. “I’ll take the marks, thanks.” I glanced to the side, to where Myles sat. “Hey. You good with this too?” Not that he really had much choice, since he was the one being targeted, but…I still wanted to ask.

Myles nodded, though, leaning forward to brace his elbows off his knees. Taking a breath, he-

“No,” Silvos said. Myles deflated again.

“Meet me at the imbuer at the third bell,” Avira said. “Until then-”

Someone knocked at the door. I turned, my hand going to my belt knife. “Who’s-”

“Oh,” Avira mumbled, making a face. “Right.” She picked her knife up, picking at her fingernails, and raised her voice. “Come in.”

The door creaked open. Kevin slipped through, grinning sheepishly. Nella raised her head, blinking away sleep, and let out a happy coo.

“Sorry for the delay,” Kevin mumbled, rubbing his eyes. “It…It took me a bit, but- Oh.” He glanced back through the doorway. “You coming too?”

Someone else? Avira straightened, her expression going serious, so…this, apparently, wasn’t part of the plan. “Whoever’s there, show yourself, or-”

“Ah,” I heard a woman say. “Ahaha.” Korinn leaned past the door frame, her cheeks bright red. “H-Hello, ma’am.”

“It’s Avira,” Avira said, glaring at her. “Were you listening?”

“N…o,” Korinn said, flapping a hand frantically. “No, of course not! That would be eavesdropping. That’s rude.”

Avira’s expression didn’t change—but I saw a vein in her temple start to tick. “Then what precisely were you doing in the hallway outside my office?”

“What, me?” Korinn said. She pressed a hand to her chest, her eyes wide. “Why, I was just standing, is all. Waiting. Trellin didn’t show up to the contract board, and then when I looked for him, Sabbas said something about Myles getting carried into the headquarters past midnight.” She leaned over a little farther, waving toward the hapless silver. “You look horrible, Myles.”

He rolled his eyes.

“Who attacked him?” Korinn said, turning to me. “What happened?”

Avira let out a huff, looking away.

I chuckled sourly. “Heard all that, did you?”

The flush climbing her cheeks intensified anew, but she didn’t so much as slow. “Why, there I was, patiently waiting for such an important meeting to finish, when-”

“Korinn,” I said, cringing.

She shifted, folding her arms. “Well, I was. The door was shut and all. Isn’t my fault your voices carry.”

“Fine,” Avira sighed. “Sabbas knows anyway. Say not a word of it beyond these walls, lass. Now, return to Sabbas, and-”

“Did you say you’re going to Talmarn?” Korinn said, glancing sidelong at me.

I knew that look on her face—that shifty look, her eyes narrowed and her lips pursed. “Korinn,” I said. “That’s-”

“Won’t that be a fantastic journey?” Korinn said, smiling. She twined her arms behind her head, swaying as her eyes went misty. “Such a long way. You’ll see such sights.”

“I guess,” I mumbled. Ahead of me, Avira leaned on her desk, staring at Korinn. Was she smirking? “Then, I’ll go pack, and meet you at the-”

“That’ll be dangerous, though,” Korinn said, shaking her head. “Such a long way away, with no backup?”

I stopped. Behind her desk, Avira shifted. “Ah…Korinn, Trellin will-”

“I’m sure you’ll be fine, of course,” Korinn said, flashing a winning grin my way. “Just, wow. You’ve got to be so excited, traveling like that.”

“That’s-”

“I’ve never even left Linead, except for the challenge,” Korinn said. Broken above, she was all but batting her eyelashes at Avira, still swaying back and forth.

Finally, Avira cleared her throat. “Ah…Korinn, would you perhaps like to-”

“Oh,” Korinn said, spinning as if only then remembering herself. “Oh, I apologize. I’ve been a bother, haven’t I? I couldn’t possibly invite myself along. No, I’ll-”

“It would be good for a mender to go with them,” Silvos said, looking to Avira. “Even if she’s not fully trained-”

“I did see the imbuer just last week,” Korinn said, sidling closer. She pulled her sleeve back, pointing at a looping, lyrical mark on her forearm. “Got a new augmentation all set up. Not that that’s relevant to anything, of course.”

Avira eyed Silvos. Then she turned the glare on Korinn. “You’re a pain in my backside, you know that?”

“I haven’t a clue what you mean,” Korinn said, winking at her. “Then-”

“You may go,” Avira said. When Korinn beamed, skipping for the door, she held up a hand. “But! Only if Sabbas gives his blessing. I shan’t deprive him of his shadow for the next two months without his say-so in the matter.”

“You won’t regret it, ma’am,” Korinn said, dipping low into a bow even as she sidled for the door. Her hand darted out, giving Nella a quick scratch between the ears, and she darted away as the hatchling let out another croon. Her head appeared back around the door frame, a grin on her face and a twinkle in her eyes. “See you tonight, Trellin.”

“It’s Avira,” Avira mumbled, making a face as the young woman vanished again. She ran her fingers through her hair, digging at her scalp, then looked to Kevin. “Well? What have you found?”

“I can do it,” Kevin said, nodding. He looked as tired as Avira, I realized. But why? “I’ll…I need to work the imbuing over the next few hours, but it should work.”

“Should?” Avira said, leaning forward with a frown. “Researcher, I don’t normally take gambles on should.”

“What’s going on?” I said, looking between them. “I’m…a bit lost here.”

Myles looked away again, sinking lower.

Avira sighed again, her shoulders drooping. And then she set her sights on me. “Even if he was an innocent party, Myles attacked you,” she said quietly. “And he still worked for Verrick. Sending him to Talmarn is best for his own safety—but I need a guarantee that he won’t vanish as soon as he sets foot on foreign soil.”

“That’s where I come in,” Kevin said, a wan smile on his face. There was no amusement in it, not really. “I’ve already done tracking plates for years. I just need to come up with something for this specific case.”

“If he tries to run, you’ll be equipped to track him,” Avira said. She eyed Myles sidelong, her eyes narrowing. “But you know, do you not? If you slight the goodwill this guild has shown you thus far-”

Myles shook his head, ducking it low.

“You have enjoyed our protection thus far,” Avira said slowly. The look in her eyes was sad, but there wasn’t an ounce of mercy in her voice. “I pray that I do not need to explain the consequences that would follow should you lose it.”

Myles’ head-shake turned to a furious nod.

“Ah,” I said, faltering. Kevin’s presence here opened a whole other line of thought, one I’d been happy to forget about until now. “There’s…There’s something else. Something I need to tell you about.” I wanted to snatch the words back, shut this whole line of conversation down—but I couldn’t. Not if we were about to leave Aradhen. It hurt, but…I couldn’t ignore this.

And when Avira, Silvos, and Kevin looked to me, I took a deep breath.

“Kevin put a theory to me,” I said quietly. “About the uptick in weird fiend behavior. I mean…not a theory, really. But something has clearly changed, and it’s possible that it’s all because of the entity. I mean, the matriarch.” I gestured toward the world beyond, my heart sinking lower by the second. “He thinks…It’s possible that the matriarch had an effect on the region cores here. The…The world, kind of. But if they’re changing now, it’s because something changed them. And the only thing to really change here is-”

“Ayanella,” Avira said softly. “Aye. I have not been blind to the possibility, lad.”

My chest ached. I let my arms fall, looking to where the hatchling lay curled up, her sides rising and falling in blissful sleep. “I don’t know if it’s true,” I whispered. “She hasn’t hurt anyone, Avira. She’s…She’s just one creature. How could she possibly be responsible for all this?”

“I don’t know,” Avira said. “But I mean to find out.”

I looked up. Avira stood, her hands braced on her desk. Silvos turned, blinking.

“Researcher, I will not force this on you,” Avira said. Kevin stiffened, and she smiled faintly. “But if you would have it, I’d send you to Talmarn alongside them. Whatever taint has spread across our lands, it’s present there as much as here. Search it out, find its source. Find me some answers.” Her gaze darted to Nella, then back to him. “Are…you able to do that?”

Kevin licked his lips. The implications there were clear—the consequences of his failure. “I think so,” he said. “I…I can try. I want to try.”

“Search well,” Avira said. “Myra bless your efforts. If we find that answer, then mayhap we stand a chance of averting this yet. If not…If we cannot devise a better hypothesis here-”

“I know,” I whispered, seeing her eyes latch onto mine again. “I…I understand.” If we couldn’t solve this, then Nella was more of a risk than we could ask the world to tolerate.

“I’ll find it, guildmaster,” Kevin said. A sheen of sweat shone across his temples, but the set of his face was resolute. “I promise.”

Avira sighed, but nodded. “The four of you, then.” She shook her head, smiling down at her stacks of paper. “I wish I could spare you more hunters, lad, but-”

“It’s plenty,” I said. “We’ll fix this, Avira. I’ll…I’ll see you at the imbuer. Okay?”

“Indeed,” Avira said. “You’d best go pack. You’d hate to miss the ship.” A hollow laugh burst from her throat. “Twice, and I might think you’re making a habit of it.”

“Not this time,” I said, winking at her. “C’mon, Nella. We’re going. Sleep up, Myles.”

With the baby krytir dragging herself after me and my mind spinning with plans, I set off for my room—and the open world beyond.