Relief washed over me when I passed through the Guildhall's doors.

Castille was waiting outside. She sat atop her black mare, leading Dugan and Isla's horses by their reins.

"So. What did she say?"

I raised the large lavender sack in my hand.

Castille gave me a grim nod.

"What did it cost you?"

My insides twisted. I grimaced from the flood of conflicting emotions bubbling to the forefront of my mind.

"Can we talk about that later?" I asked in a whisper.

Castille grunted, giving the Guildhall a suspicious look.

I stepped into the makeshift courtyard to board the driver's bench of our wagon. I dropped the sack between my feet.

"Ow," Shay said, his voice muffled through the fabric.

"Do you even feel pain?"

"I don't know. Describe it to me?"

I sighed. It was better to ignore him.

I checked over my shoulder.

Under the canopy of the covered wagon, Dugan and Thor were busy working on our plan B for Van Lagos and his cartel. With any luck, we wouldn't need it.

"Castille, did Cassandra tell you were to find Kateen's estate?"

"Aye, let's go. We're losing the light."

I turned my head to the sky. In the distance, the sun was beginning its slow descent.

"You're right. Lead the way."

# # #

We left the secured perimeter in a trot, passing into the buzzing streets of the Service Quarter. The initial high of victory was redirected to the backbreaking work of rebuilding the town. Around us, a cacophony of hammers knocked nails into wooden beams. Men and women sorted through piles of wreckage to repurpose the debris as construction material. Other workers were on break, crowding around stands that served stew made from leftovers of the feast. The sight filled me with a strange pride. The Steeltowners were many things, but above all, they were survivors.

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As I scanned the faces in the crowd, I noticed one thing that was missing: Kateen's guards. She had pulled back the patrols of her territory. Kateen was consolidating her forces, expecting us to make a move to save Isla.

I glanced at Castille riding beside me. She was more quiet than usual. Her face set in a frown, steel grey eyes staring into the distance.

Had she come to the same conclusion?

"I'm sorry about Cassandra."

"Not now," Castille said.

I looked down at my feet, searching for the right words.

"It's my fault. If I didn't lie to her, she would have trusted us—told us that Kateen was planning to-"

"I said not now!"

I turned away from her.

"I'm sorry."

Castille huffed.

"It's my fault."

"What?"

"Before I became an adventurer, I was… more than a soldier. Do you know what a sworn sword is?"

Pretty much.

"Why don't you tell me?"

"When a noble goes into battle, they don't go alone. Sworn swords are their elite guard, specially trained to protect them from harm and lead their soldiers in their stead... I… don't like nobles, but Isla was different. She's my responsibility. It should be me going in there. Not you. Not Shay."

I flashed a sad smile. That was the most she had spoken since leaving the Pit. Castille exhaled, the tension leaving her body.

I smirked at her.

"It can't be you, Castille. It's not your job."

She snorted, smiling while shaking her head.

"Aye, I deserve that."

She sighed, her face becoming solemn again.

"How am I supposed to save my brother if I can't save one mage?"

# # #

I pulled up the wagon at the edge of the wealthy Residential Quarter. Any closer would draw too much attention to our group. My hands searched my body, double-checking my equipment. My lockpick was secure at the base of my topknot. My cane pressed against my hip. The golden sceptre was warm in the folds of my belt sash.

I took a deep breath. I was ready.

The wooden planks of the wagon bed creaked, and Dugan's head popped out of the canopy behind me. He rested a meaty hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

"I saw your bloody dagger on the floor. I saw the cut on Isla's neck. Make sure you both come back, or I'll kill you myself."

I stiffened in my seat, a chill running up my spine.

"I will. I promise."

Dugan patted my shoulder and stepped back.

I turned, meeting his expressionless face with a nervous smile.

"You didn't stutter once that time."

His hard, brown eyes stared through me.

"The message was too important."

"Jacob, you should get going," Castille said, a few feet in front of me on her horse.

"Yeah… Right," I said, keeping my eyes on Dugan. "If I don't come back by nightfall, you can split the gold two ways."

"Make sure it doesn't come to that."

"Yes, boss."

I slung the lavender sack over my shoulder and jumped off the wagon.

Taking another deep breath, I pushed Dugan's threat to the back of my mind. With one foot after the other, I began my slow trek to Kateen's estate, unaware of the horrors I would face.

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