Eli felt a stab of anxiety staring up at the activity and tried to keep a tight grip on his aura, imagining holding it close to his skin, just as Dara had described. He hadn’t felt too confident with the incident outside Herria’s gate, and the two had practiced more last night after dinner with her trying to help him improve his control. The whole concept still didn’t make much sense, of having an invisible force within his body that others could sense, but only when his control slipped. If he ever perfected the technique, he’d be able to hide his freaky aura, which helped motivate his continued practice. Still, he couldn’t ignore the bad feeling in his gut as more figures appeared on the walls overhead, and he could only hope that his aura wasn’t broadcasting and causing the trouble.

He glanced over to Dara with concern. “My aura isn’t out of control, right?”

“No, this is something else,” she responded with worry, still staring up at the commotion.

“I think using my glowing eyes would get a reaction from them, even though it might help explain the problem, but I’d rather not be a target. What do you think? You know them better than me.”

She turned sharply at his words, one hand reaching out to grab his forearm. “No, Eli, don’t let them see your eyes. The horn and red flag mean there’s an alert of some kind, and we don’t want them thinking you’re a part of it.”

A low horn sounded again as it was joined by a new thumping that repeated like a giant beating on a drum, and the people in the market finally looked up at the sound. In moments, the market turned into a hive of activity as people started packing away the stalls even as the shoppers disappeared into the village.

“There’s been an attack,” she whispered, her words almost drowned out by the suddenly raised voices of the people bustling around them.

He looked back at the gatehouse with the small red flag under the larger yellow one, unsure what the problem was, but Dara gestured them towards a nearby stone building. The structure was the largest he had seen in the village, with the front door facing the market and road with two guards at the door, one on either end. One was older with a smattering of grey hair in his beard, while the other probably didn’t need to shave regularly. They wore leather armor very similar to the guards in Herria, but instead of the truncheons at their belts, they each held spears.

With Dara in the lead, they tried to enter the building, but the younger guard held a hand in front of her, a deep scowl marring his features. The older guard gripped his spear, bringing it down and around as if prepared to skewer her if needed. Instead of trying to push her way in, she stood firm with her head held high and shoulders back. “I am Gifted Daralis Easone. You will immediately summon Gifted Eyonne to attend me. Now!” she said in a clear and commanding voice as if she owned the place.

The younger guard hesitated, but the older guard had already relaxed his stance, his spear dropping, and pushed the other’s hand away from Dara. The veteran bowed briefly to Dara, then gestured, and the younger man disappeared into the depths of the building. Turning back to Dara, “Apologies, Gifted Easone, I didn’t know you’d returned. I’d been told you were in Bishal for the season.”

“Sadly, my plans have changed. Now, will you keep me out here or show me inside?”

The man remained calm against her strong words, took a step back, and then quickly gestured inside. As the three entered the shadowed entryway, the younger guard was already hurrying back with a muscular woman trailing him as she finished strapping on her thick leather armor. Her skin was almost as dark as Dara’s, but her shorter hair was a much lighter dirty blonde. The woman’s deadly-serious expression set off alarm bells, and Eli couldn’t help remembering his first sergeant back in the war, who’d worn a similar expression when the shit hit the fan.

The woman stopped, her gaze sharp as she looked over Dara and Eli. She bowed briefly to Dara with her clenched right hand across her chest. “Gifted Easone, I see your strength.”

Dara said, “Gifted Eyonne, I am very glad to see you.” Her rigid posture and serious expression showed cracks as her voice wavered, “What is happening? Where is my father?”

Eyonne glanced at Eli instead of answering while two new guards wearing the same leather armor entered the room from where Eyonne had just come from. The man and woman took station near the door, their faces expressionless.

Dara kept her eyes on Eyonne and gestured sharply, her hand cutting through the air. “We do not have time for this. I have a blood debt with Eli Tal, and you will not shame me by asking. Again, what is happening here? Where is my father?”

Eyonne bowed slightly to Eli as she answered, “The manor is in lockdown. Something has happened, but I don’t have the details. I only know my orders from Gifted Tanca to prepare for an attack, and I’d just received them moments before guard Rissa came with notice of your arrival.” Her eyes looked over them again, perhaps thinking about the poor timing.

Dara’s attention strayed to the two new guards behind Eyonne, then glanced behind her at the other two guards that had not returned to their post at the building’s front door.

Eyonne’s face settled into a neutral expression, though her eyes didn’t leave Eli. She gestured down the hallway, “Let me see you somewhere more comfortable. I’ve already sent for further word from the fortress.”

There was a commotion behind them, and a massive man in metal armor walked in the front door. Outside a handful of laborers in Herria, he was one of the few people Eli had seen on Lurra who was taller than him. The new guy was wearing some big iron from head to toe, with a colossal shield strapped to his back. He had on a thick iron helmet that blocked much of his features with only his piercing eyes revealed through the narrow slits. With muscles to spare, his bulk took up much of the doorway, making an NFL lineman look small.

If his name isn’t Juggernaut, I’ll be disappointed.

The armored man walked up to Dara and bowed to her with the same clenched fist over his chest. “Daralis,” he said in a surprisingly soft voice slightly muffled from his headgear. “I’m overjoyed to find you healthy and well.” Straightening, he summoned even more guards into the room, who moved to take positions along the walls.

Eli started to get nervous. As big as the room was, it felt full of serious-eyed and armed people eyeing him with growing suspicion. He took a little comfort that they hadn’t pulled their weapons, but they certainly looked about a hairsbreadth from taking that leap.

Shit, what did I walk in on here?

“Gifted Tanca,” Dara said with a nod to the metal giant. “What is happening? Is my father well?”

Tanca removed his helmet, revealing a clean-shaven olive-skinned face under light blue eyes that focused unerringly on Dara. “I have serious news, my lady. There was an attack. Assassins somehow infiltrated the central keep, and your father is gravely hurt. I’m here to see if there are any healers in the village since there might be sell-swords with a hidden ability.” He turned to Eyonne. “I don’t know of any of our people with a strong healing ability. Do you, Eyonne?”

Dara’s dad is hurt? Why the hell are we standing around talking and not acting?

Eli’s heartbeat increased, the thump growing louder in his ears while his hands clenched and unclenched in agitation. The guards must have had sharp eyes as they moved their hands towards their weapons, and he took a deep breath, trying to calm the emotions bubbling inside.

Eyonne stepped closer to Tanca with a frown, “Wolf is hurt? We must….” As if reminded of where she was, she cleared her throat as her frown disappeared into an emotionless mask and stood up at almost attention before responding. “No, Tanca, there are no healers in the guard. Ugni can only heal his own wounds slowly. Same for Reva, though hers might be a bit stronger. Maybe someone has a healing tincture or potion?”

Dara looked to Tanca. “I don’t understand. What about Gifted Slana? Surely she’s already helping?” Her voice almost pleaded at the end as she looked up at the metal giant.

“My lady,” Tanca said as his eyes focused intensely on her. “Gifted Slana was killed in the attack. Her assistants survived, but they don’t have a healing ability. They’re already using their more mundane methods, but I’m here in case their efforts prove insufficient.”

Dara suddenly turned to Eli, and they made eye contact. Even without words, he read the request in her expression and looked over to Tanca. “I'll help. I have a healing ability.”

Dara gestured a hand in introduction, “Gifted Tanca, this is Gifted Eli Tal. He’s already saved my life once, so I can personally attest to his strong healing ability.”

Tanca’s expression vanished into a mask, his eyes moving between Eli and Dara. “That is a happy coincidence, my lady, as we have such a need. But if I may ask, aren’t you supposed to be in Bishal visiting your uncle Duarte?” At his words, Eyonne’s gaze sharpened with even greater suspicion.

Oh shit.

Her dad was attacked, and Dara just happens to be in the nearby tiny village, days from where she was supposed to be? On top of that, in the company of some unknown guy with a rare healing ability? Okay, yeah, Eli could understand their suspicion. Still, he didn’t think they had time for this shit when their boss was possibly dying.

“This is a matter of Easone family honor,” Dara said quietly to him, just loud enough that Tanca and Eyonne could hear her. “Eli, I only say this in front of you as you already know the details.” She made a weird gesture and interlaced her fingers, but her thumbs weren’t included, and instead pointed them back at herself. While he didn’t know the meaning, the others in the room reacted strangely. The guards stepped away to put their backs against the walls as Tanca and Eyonne stiffened to attention.

Dara looked away, sideways towards the floor, even as she kept her hands in the same strange gesture. “My uncle kidnapped me in Bishal.” She stopped briefly, clearing her throat as her eyes blinked back some moisture. “Duarte Easone drugged me and handed me over to the blood cultists. I think it was five or six days ago, but I was unconscious, so I can’t be sure.” She nodded slightly towards Eli, with her eyes still on the ground. “I woke up at the Blood Boulders with the cultists, and Gifted Tal found me there and killed them all. Since then, we’ve been traveling through a small trail in Eld Forest to get here.”

A couple of tears finally broke through Dara’s defenses as she raised her eyes again. He almost felt her will extending towards all present, even as silent tears fell. Unlacing her hands, she clenched one hand across her chest, “I swear I had nothing to do with the attack on my father. I arrived here with Gifted Tal and only heard about the attack just now. I swear on my power, by the Oververse!” A tiny flash of light followed her words, and the thick air in the room receded a bit.

Eli smiled, proud of her quick thinking since he’d forgotten that option. He was pulled from his thoughts as Tanca cleared his throat loudly, and he noticed that everyone’s eyes were on him, including Dara.

Feeling his face heat up, he thought quickly. “Okay, let’s see. Ummm, I swear I was not involved in the attack on Dara’s father, and the first I heard about it was in the last hour. I wish no harm to Wybert Easone or his people but will defend myself if attacked. I swear this on the Oververse?” he finished with a slight question, unsure if he’d said everything right. But then there was a light around him that was brighter than expected, as even his skin appeared to glow golden for a moment. There was a sensation like he was suddenly under a microscope while something massive and unknowable looked through his soul, pausing there as if to confirm his words. He couldn’t help shuddering when the feeling passed.

What the fuck was that?

Tanca bowed deeply to Dara, followed by a shorter bow for Eli, while Eyonne did the same behind him. “More than good enough for me.”