[FLASHBACK]

  The heavy oak door of Zinnia’s Corner swung shut behind them as they exited to the snowy plains of Vincha.

  Lucia pulled her collar up, shivering from the cold. She glanced sideways at Almir, who didn’t seem to be affected.

  "So," she began, breaking the silence. "What is this 'help' you need?"

  Almir turned to her. "I need you to help me guard a person."

  Lucia stopped walking, letting out a sharp, derisive snort. "Huh? Listen, buddy, you bought me a drink, and for that, I’m grateful. But let’s just leave it there, alright?"

  She turned to walk away, but Almir’s next words stopped her.

  "So, you want to keep the bounty on your head?"

  Lucia stiffened, her hand drifting instinctively toward the knife at her belt. She turned back slowly, her eyes narrowing. "I can take care of myself. I’m not interested in babysitting."

  "He is the one person who can get that mark off your record," Almir said. "He is just in a tight spot right now."

  "Spare me the tears," Lucia scoffed, crossing her arms. "So are the rest of us."

  "Listen to me," Almir stepped closer, looming over her, while trying to look non-threatening. "He lost his father recently to a feud between the noble houses. He was forced into hiding. His sister... she was already withdrawn, but now she has cut herself off from the world entirely. I am doing what I can, but I am overwhelmed. I cannot watch them both alone. Please, help us until the heat dies down."

  Lucia rolled her eyes. "Not really interested in a sob story. And why should I help you? You nobles just plot and play games with our lives based on some imaginary status."

  She raised a gloved hand, tapping the jagged, pale scar that ran beneath her eye.

  "We are all flesh and blood, and I’ve got something to show for it," she hissed. "I’ve been a pawn before, and this is what I got. So take your noble friends somewhere else."

  "Please, just talk to him," Almir insisted. "He is different. And I will make it worth the trip."

  Lucia studied him for a long moment, weighing the desperation in his eyes against the weight of her own coin purse.

  "Fine," she spat. "One conversation. Fifty coins."

  Almir blinked, taken aback. "Fifty coins? For a talk?"

  "If you want better and cheaper, go find yourself a whore." Lucia smirked, gesturing vaguely toward the darker alleyways.

  Almir sighed, the fight draining out of him. "Fine. Let’s go."

  They walked through the winding streets of Vincha, the cobblestones slick from the ice forming. The village was quieter, with most villagers tucked away in their homes, giving Almir and Lucia some privacy.

  "I can't believe you agreed to that," Lucia muttered. "Also, why me? There are plenty of sell-swords in this city."

  "Because currently, you are the same as us, someone on the run," Almir replied.

  "I did kill someone, you know," she said flatly. "So the warrant checks out."

  "I know. I managed to get my hands on your records." Almir glanced at her. "But was it the Baron who hired you?"

  Lucia stopped, meeting his gaze with a defiant stare. "And what if I did?"

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  "Nothing," Almir said calmly. "It is your crime to carry. If you decide to work with us, we'll just make the warrant go away."

  "So you say," Lucia murmured, resuming her pace. "But would you really trust a murderer?"

  "No," Almir admitted. "At least, not a cold-blooded one."

  He looked down at her, catching the light in her eyes.

  "But your eyes tell a different story."

  Vincha, Kingdom of Divinium, Eastern region of Rohana Federation, 2051 S.C., 170th day

  "Ahh, that hit the spot," Lucia sighed, wiping a fleck of foam from her lip with the back of her glove. She slammed the empty tankard down on the table with a satisfied thud.

  "You’re always so unladylike," Irene giggled, sipping her tea delicately.

  "You know this place brings it out of me," Lucia said, offering a crooked smile. "But at least I’m not sitting at the bar brooding at the world, you know?"

  "True. You seem to be in better spirits ever since Heron joined the party."

  "And yet, Irene, you seem to be growing more distant," Lucia countered, her smile fading into a look of scrutiny. "Now that it is just the two of us, do you want to share what is on your mind? Like the old times?"

  Irene averted her gaze, tracing the rim of her cup. "It is nothing, really."

  "Come on, I know you better than that. Ever since Heron joined, you’ve had this aura around you, like you know something is wrong with him. I promise I won’t tell anyone."

  Irene sighed. She glanced around the bustling bistro to ensure no one was within earshot, then lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper.

  "Richard is up to something," she murmured. "And it involves the boy."

  Lucia leaned back, unimpressed. "Well, obviously. No news there. I knew that the moment he suddenly decided to involve the kid with our party."

  "It is not only that," Irene pressed, her voice trembling slightly. "He asked me… well, he asked Heron and me to have training sessions. He wants to use pure crystals. He wants Heron to be a catalyst."

  Lucia went rigid. She didn’t speak, but the temperature at the table seemed to drop. Her hand tightened around the handle of her tankard until her knuckles turned white.

  "Lucia?" Irene whispered. "Please, say something."

  "Four cycles ago," Lucia began, her voice a low, dangerous hiss, "when Almir met me in this very bar, he swayed me to give you people a chance. And even then, my gut told me it would end up the same as always."

  She leaned forward, her eyes blazing. "Have you nobles no morality? Is that the criteria for your bloodline? To be so utterly out of touch with the value of a life?"

  "Lucia, you are my comrade, but you are also my friend," Irene pleaded, reaching across the table to touch Lucia’s arm. "You were there for me when the world wasn’t. If my brother crosses the line, I will side with you. But for now, I don’t know his full plans. I only ask you not to judge him before you know them too."

  "I’ve grown to like the two of you because you were always grounded," Lucia spat, pulling her arm back. "I was even more surprised when you went the distance and rejected your surname. But what is the point of this party if there is no trust?"

  "You are right. And I think he’s been keeping everyone in the dark for far too long."

  "Far too long," Lucia muttered. "And it might be far too late."

  "No, stop it. Don’t have such dark thoughts."

  "How can I not? And when were you going to tell me?"

  "We haven't had any privacy these days," Irene defended weakly. "And I wasn’t sure if it was something to be concerned about yet, since Richard discarded the idea when Heron said he wouldn’t participate."

  "Privacy? So, you don’t trust May?"

  "No! I love our little May and trust her with my life. And I love my brother; he protected me when I decided to cut ties with the nobility. He stood up against our grandfather—the acting Regent—remember?"

  "I remember it all," Lucia said, her voice softening just a bit. "He cleared my warrant, and when everyone pointed a finger at me, he believed in my innocence regarding that case." She paused, taking a steadying breath. "That said, he is our party leader. He must keep us in the loop. Heron is our client. If Richard has something planned, we need to know about it, nobility or not."

  "You’re right. I promise to talk to him and schedule a meeting. I want to clear the air. No more secrets."

  "What about his 'meditation' ritual?" Lucia raised an eyebrow. "Think he’ll address that too?"

  "I’ll make him," Irene vowed. Tears began to well in her eyes. "Please, Lucia, don’t get mad over this. I don’t want us to fall out. You guys are my family."

  Lucia crossed her arms and sighed, the tension finally leaving her shoulders. "I’ll calm down. I love you too, Irene. But don’t let that get to your head."

  Irene jumped out of her seat, grabbed Lucia, and squeezed her into a tight hug. "I knew you’d understand. Please don’t leave my side."

  Lucia laughed, awkwardly patting Irene’s back. "Don’t be silly. A beauty like you is bound to find herself a man, and you’ll forget about me in no time."

  Irene hugged her tighter. "No man can create a rift between us." She released Lucia, her eyes fierce. "Not even my brother."

  Just then, the tavern door banged open, and May rushed in, scanning the room frantically until her eyes landed on them.

  "Hey, you two! Glad I found you," May panted, rushing over to their table. "I need you to come with me, quickly. Richard has something he wants to discuss with all of us. And well… it is sort of a big hurdle."