Rowena, Kieran, and Sorel stared at each other, their desperation growing. Mattie looked completely focused on just staying upright.

“We can go set up camp somewhere nearby,” Sorel said in resignation, but Rowena could see the worry and strain etched into the young woman’s light brown skin.

Kieran sighed, but didn’t say anything. He just ran his hand nervously over his head– his hair, usually shorn almost completely away, was already growing back a little bit after a week on the road. That gave him a more healthy look about him, but he still looked too worn out to put up an argument.

The thought of another night without safe walls around them made Rowena shudder and she pulled her cloak hood together at her throat more tightly. The fact was that none of them were in a state to stay up and stand guard.

Rowena set her jaw stubbornly, took a deep breath, and went up to the window and began knocking firmly.

“Go away!” the man yelled, his voice muffled. “I told you, I can’t let you in until the morning! If then,” he added as an afterthought. “Never said I would definitely, absolutely give you access to Arcania.”

“I need you to hear me out,” Rowena said, using her best Merchant’s voice: calm but assured and firm. “Let’s be reasonable.”

“I am being reasonable!” the man replied with something like a hint of incredulity in his voice. “I’ll bring you a Healer tomorrow morning and everything! You have to admit that’s more than fair. I could just turn you away,” he added with a little hint of pride in his voice.

Rowena’s heart beat faster, and she activated a little Calm Person to gentle her nerves. She had to do something. But what?

I think you know what, Cuth said slyly.

Blackmail? You said not to use Detect Secret on a person until Level 10.

That’s not what I mean, and you know it. Though, I like your instincts there!

“But what if the wyvern comes back?” Rowena hissed, trying to keep the edge of hysteria out of her voice. At the same time, she pulled back her cloak hood so that the man could easily see her face and hopefully feel that she was trustworthy. She nervously smoothed her thin blonde hair– it was probably as dirty and greasy as the guard’s– and balked. If he let them in, would he demand to see their Sigils? No guard worth his pay would let a ROGUE into a city! And certainly not after dark!

Cuth apparently lost his interest in teasing her and his patience in waiting. Use your other Ability! he snapped.

“Wyvern? Girl, there’s not been a wyvern anywhere near Arcania– or Calathan, for that matter– in generations.” Nevertheless, the man reopened the window and poked his head out, as though pleased to have someone with whom to chatter.

Obviously he didn’t mean Calm Person. And then Rowena remembered with a flood of dread– she apparently actually did have one additional Ability available to her. And it might be the only option.

Influence Individual? Rowena thought with a shudder. That one, of all the Abilities, felt the most transgressive. She hated the idea of forcing someone to do something against their will. Still, what choice did she really have? It was that, or they spend the night in the wilderness again, and potentially not get into the city at all, what with her Class.

“...if they ever truly existed at all. Myself, I think the bones in the University Museum are a hoax. If you ask me, the MAGIC USERS are all in it with the–”

Biting her lip, Rowena summoned the last of her energy and concentration on slipping into the meditative Subclass state. She hadn’t used Influence Individual since the first time she’d accidentally used it on her father– the memory stung, and she winced– but it felt as readily available as the two Abilities she’d come by in the usual way, though since she hadn’t used it since it was a bit rusty.

Just a little bit, she thought. Just enough to get him to see our side–

Rowena focused on the yammering guard, trying to nudge his sentiments in favor of the four of them. She felt the energy pooling up slowly, almost reluctantly, probably due to her weakened state. Still, she mentally pushed the energy towards the man. It felt odd: she sensed his feelings towards her– a little suspicion, but mostly curiosity and some sympathy. Fortunately, there was very little animosity.

Do I just– she thought hesitantly. It wasn’t like this the first time.

The first time, you weren’t a Level Six! Cuthbert said eagerly, his rapt attention on the magical energy swirling through her mind. You can be a little more nuanced now. Like a poison rather than a truncheon, he smirked.

Rowena decided to ignore his cheeky comment and focused on pouring energy into the man’s sympathy. She marveled at how relatively easily it flowed. She’d thought that Influence Individual was unethical, but it wasn’t like she was forcing the man to do something he didn’t want to do– this felt more like… like stoking a fire.

Exactly! Cuth exclaimed. You aren’t making anyone do or feel anything they don’t already have inside them… it’s no different than a pretty man’s wink getting him an extra drink at the tavern!

Rowena wasn’t sure they were exactly the same thing, but she ignored Cuth for the moment as she focused on the situation at hand.

Influence Individual, Activated!

“...so glad you asked. Now, the ROGUES Guild–” the man’s speech slowed a little and he looked at her curiously for a moment as though he sensed something happening. His eyes narrowed, but then softened, and his wide lips curved into a little smile. “Say– you're a good girl, to listen to an old man’s theories. Why don’t we just make a tiny little exception and let you and your friends in tonight? We’re not so far from sunset…”

“We would appreciate that so much,” Rowena said quickly, and gestured at her friends. They made their way back over to her as the man disappeared from view.

“I can’t believe you actually did that,” Kieran muttered as he came up to her.

“I didn’t know what else to do,” Rowena whispered back defensively.

Kieran held up a hand and managed a weary grin. “No, no, I’m impressed.”

Behind the gate they could hear the muffled sounds of something heavy being moved. After a few moments, the left side of the gate creaked open, slowly at first, and then rapidly.

“Come on, come on!” the man said urgently, making rapid gestures with his hands as he looked around nervously. He was shorter than Rowena had expected him to be, given that he was a guard.

Rowena joined the man in his guilty, nervous glances as she entered Arcania. Fortunately, there was no one around, though they could hear sounds coming from a bustling tavern not too far away. She breathed a sigh of relief— they were finally at their destination! But now that they were here… now what?

Sorel helped Mattie over the threshold, and once Kieran was inside the man shuttered up the gate once more with a quick, resounding thud.

“Thank you,” Rowena said to the man.

For a moment, he looked a little confused, and then shook his head. “My wife always said I was a soft touch. Now shoo– just go, and quickly! I don’t want anyone to see you and get suspicious that I opened the gate after sundown. Can’t afford to get fired again.”

“Can you tell me where we might find an inn nearby?” Rowena asked quickly, feeling her influence on the man beginning to slip.

He nodded anyway– it was a reasonable question, after all– even as he looked around nervously. “You’ve got two close options. The tavern over there–” he gestured at the source of the loud noise they’d heard when the gate opened up, a raucous-sounding place not far from where they stood–”has some rooms to let, and though they might be a bit full now, they always find room for more.”

“Seems a bit… cramped…” Rowena said, her heart sinking as she looked in that direction. It looked lively, which was probably something most people liked in an inn, but she had been hoping for something peaceful, if not private.

“Well, modesty is a good virtue in young folk,” the man allowed, and then pointed to Rowena’s right. “Alright. Go down this way until you hit the next major looking street– street, mind you, not alley– and take a left. Six more streets down and you’ll find the Broken Quill Inn. On a little square with a fountain shaped like a dancing bear. Tell Lorimer that Gerry sent you.”

Rowena nodded and started down the path he had indicated. Sorel and Mattie shuffled behind her, Sorel giving the man a curt nod.

“Thank you. Thank you, Gerry, it’s really appreciated,” Kieran added hastily before trotting to catch up with Rowena. “Rude, Ro!”

She pressed her hands against her face for a moment and took a quick breath. Using another Ability had drained her even further. “I’m sorry, I just don’t feel well and I want to get to the inn as soon as possible. Let’s go.”

“Fair enough,” Kieran shrugged with his one good shoulder, and they set off down the path he indicated, the little glow orb he’d made leading their way.

Rowena tugged her hood back over her face to hide the shame she knew was plastered all over it. Despite her misgivings, using Influence Individual hadn’t felt wrong. It was an Ability she had, one that plenty of people had the option to actually choose, though it wasn’t encouraged, particularly for Merchants. It was considered a matter of pride to not have to use such tricks.

But if she hadn’t used Influence Individual, well… Not only would they not have been allowed through the gates, but she probably would have been denied entry to the city because of her Class anyway.

What other choice had she had?

She wasn’t a Merchant anymore– she never had been, not really.

Rowena was a Secretseeker. And it was high time she accepted that fact.