Sir Vonda’s face was dark around her lips, and below. Where her lips should have been, were thin pieces of flesh, and the skin from her mouth down was wrinkled, red and white. Her eyes were filled with a deep grief.

“It killed a dozen people, including my brother,” she said.

“I’m sorry to hear that.”

“Dying in a fire is a terrible thing.” She closed her eyes, wincing. “When the fire engulfed him, his screams… I sometimes hear them.”

Adam felt his gut wrench, as though someone had grabbed at it, and had twisted it aside. “I’m so sorry.”

“I heard him right beside me. It was only for a moment, before something knocked me unconscious. A falling piece of wood. Someone managed to pull me away in time, but for my brother, he was too far gone.”

Adam wasn’t sure what to say, and even if he did know what to say, his throat was dry, and he could barely swallow.

“I joined the Order soon after, when I was six years old. Ten years later, I set out. It’s been almost three years since I left the Order, but I have managed to explore so far along the land. I’ve spent some time in Aswadasad, and in Aldland, of course.”

“Right,” Adam said. “When did you leave to explore?”

“The first of Dawnval,” she said. “Soon after, the Undead awaken, so I made sure to deal with them on my journeys. I was a little too young to really begin my journey, but they could not stop me.”

“It’s a good time as any to leave,” Adam said. “New year new me and all that.”

She furrowed her brows at him, but let the saying go. “It was also my birthday, and I thought a fresh start at that age would help me.” She slowly began to understand what he said.

“The first of Dawnval is your birthday?” Adam asked. “Really? It’s my birthday too. Well, mine and Jurot’s.”

She stared up at Adam and smiled, which Adam found rather pretty. “Perhaps it was Fate for us to meet,” she said. “A follower of Lord Sozain and Mother Soza.”

“I’m sure it was,” Adam said. “She does love getting involved.” Adam quickly glanced up in fright, just in case he was a little too cheeky.

Sir Vonda glanced at his hands for a moment, before clutching her cup tighter. “Thank you for guiding me through the festival, Adam.”

“Any time,” Adam said. “It was my pleasure.”

“I spoke with Jaygak and Kitool, and I think they will be quite fine additions to assist us,” she said.

“Right,” Adam said, a small smile on his face. “I do have quite the eyesight. They’re Half Elvish, you know?”

She smiled. “Does the original deal stand? Half the treasure?”

“Yeah,” Adam said. “Doesn’t matter if we bring more or less people. We’ll take half.”

“What of Dunes? It may be quite deadly, and he is a Priest of War.”

“We could bring him along too,” Adam said. “Might even bring Jonn and Fred.”

“You trust them?”

“Those two? Not so much, honestly. However, if they do this, they’ll earn my trust. If they betray us, then…”

“Then what?”

“I’ll beat them up, take their stuff, and let them wallow in their self pity and self hatred.”

She reached over to hold the back of his hands. Hers were rough, from years of training for battle. “They are hurt.”

“That’s no excuse,” Adam said. “I don’t stand betrayal. Betrayal means my friends get hurt.”

“What if they steal, but they do not hurt your friends?”

“Then they’ve taken coin which could be used to buy a diamond which could then be used to save my friends.”

“What if they require it to save a loved one?”

“Then they should have spoken to me about it,” Adam said. “I’ll probably forgive them, but I won’t trust them any more.”

She squeezed his hands. “There is always a reason for these things, Adam. I ask that you do not forget that. Please.”

“I know,” Adam said, glancing aside, sighing. “People don’t usually steal because they’re evil or anything. Well, some people steal because they’re evil, depends on how heavy their wallet it.”

“Lives are previous.”

“I know. There are very few things which would make me take a life. A humanoid life, I mean. There was a time before I met you I was accused of some things, but I let those people go with a light punishment.”

“What kinds of things would bring you to kill another?” Vonda asked. “Something so… irreversible.”

Adam raised his brow. “You should tell that to Charlie.”

“It is irreversible to your soul, Adam.”

“You know…” Adam looked aside once more, sighing again. “Jarot, Jurot’s grandfather, the old geezer. He and I spoke a while ago. He told me a story and it made me think. Sometimes I catch myself thinking about it. If someone… if someone killed Lanarot, what would I do?”

Sir Vonda felt as though she had made a great mistake.

“I told him that I’d bring Lanarot back, so the Iyr could save her. They’re crazy, you know? Then, once she was back, safe, I’d spend however long it took. However much time it required. I’d get my revenge.” His eyes met Vonda’s.

He could see the regret within them.

“Whoever it was. I’d end up butchering them, like chattel. Slow. Painful. It would not be an easy death, if they did end up dying.”

“What if it was someone stronger?” Vonda asked. “Would you throw away your life to fail to kill them?”

“Doesn’t matter,” Adam said. “I’d make living a pain for them. They’d wish they were dead.”

“Even if it means not seeing your sister again?”

Adam continued to stare into her eyes. This time, Vonda saw doubt creep within his gaze.

“I hope that never comes to pass, Adam.”

“Me neither,” Adam said. “I, of all people, know that impossible things happen. They happen quite frequently, actually. What’s that quote? One in a million chances happen nine times out of ten?” He let out a scoff. “Fate, eh?”

“She works in mysterious ways,” Sir Vonda said.

“That She does.”

Vonda let go of his hands, returning to her drink. Adam poured her some more, and sipped on some wine.

“Sorry about that,” Adam said. “That ending got kind of heavy.”

“I did speak about the death of my brother,” she said. “It was only fair that you spoke of the potential ramifications of whether someone kills your sister.”

“I mean, they’d have to be really fucking stupid to kill the child of an Iyrman,” Adam said. “I might not even have to do anything, though I will.”

“If your sister ever needs help, I will give it to her,” Vonda assured.

“Really? You planning on sticking with this deranged lunatic for a little longer?” Adam joked.

“You like to put yourself down, don’t you?”

Adam smiled. “I put myself down, because no one else is allowed to.”

“It will be very difficult to put you down when you are so powerful.”

“Well, you know,” Adam said. “That’s true. You’re not so bad, either.”

“Am I not? I’ve heard that I’m rather preachy. Not to my face, though, people find it difficult to say things to my face.”

Adam wasn’t sure if she was joking, or if she was being serious. “An awful shame,” he said. “At the very least, I’ll say things to your face.”

Sir Vonda and Adam stared into each other’s eyes for a long while, neither giving the other any ground as they drank.

Then a low humming came to them from above.

Adam pulled back, looking up to see Strom. “Oi. How long have you been there?”

“Since she asked you why you called yourself the son of Fate,” he replied, simply.

“That’s creepy,” Adam said. “Are you going to stay up there?”

“The sky’s so beautiful,” Strom said, humming quietly. “Let me daydream in peace, son of Fate.”

“You always make things awkward,” Adam said. “I bet you’re going to talk about how you choked the life out of someone close to you, but you know what, I don’t want to hear it. I’ve had enough of awkward and cringe for this day.”

“What does cringe mean?”

“Ask Jurot.” Adam returned back to his seat, shaking his head. “This guy. Thinks he’s hot stuff because he’s super old, a Dragon I think, Storm Dragon, if that’s a real thing, and he’s probably stronger than the Chief.”

“You figured that much out on your own?” Strom asked.

“Old men are always coming in the way of young romance, am I right?” Adam joked.

Sir Vonda, who had slipped up her scarf, glanced down at the cup. He noted how her face grew slightly red, but he wasn’t sure if that was from the alcohol, or from the awkwardness of what he said.

“Uh,” Adam said. “I should… go. I’ve got some stuff to do.”

With all the awkwardness of a teen at prom, Adam scuttled away, going to enchant. ‘She… she doesn’t like me, does she?’ Adam thought. ‘No, no. Get your head out of the gutter, Adam. She’s a Priest of Life.’

Adam sighed.

‘I can’t do any romance. Not yet. Not that it matters, she’s not into me.’

He picked up the spear he was working on for Entalia, which he plucked a Thread of Fate to make somewhat decent.

‘Right?’

Strom continued to hum for some time. His eyes were half shut, as he thought of a time long past. He closed his eyes, wondering if he didn’t choke the life out of brother, that they could have eventually grown to be like Jurot and Adam.

‘No,’ he thought. ‘I still hate him.’