"Can...we...please stop..."

  Hamond looked over at Anthyla. The noblewoman was struggling to catch her breath, bent over with arms hanging limply. Given they'd been moving through Kelshir at a quick run, it was no surprise she was worn down.

  There was a time not long ago when Hamond would have been exhausted by a similar run. The time they'd spent on the road had made him stronger. All of them, since no one else was breathing all that hard. That is, save for Lady Kelshir.

  Myron looked around them, surveying the street. "The watch doesn't seem to have found out about us, so I suppose we can take a moment."

  Indeed, it almost seemed like their plan had worked too perfectly, making Hamond a little suspicious. They had not seen any sign of a guard so far. While there were a fair number of people out and about, none had called out an alarm. The most anyone had done was move aside to keep their distance, leery of their drawn blades.

  While it could be pure luck, Hamond knew well that periods of luck did not last forever. All they could do is hope to get to the Aetheric Knights before they learned of their entrance into the city. A fight with a few guards, while exposing their presence, was easily within their power. Against the knights with their unknown thaumaturge was a different matter.

  "Is that one of those foundries?" Nela asked, pointing at a building down the street.

  The answer was obvious to Hamond, but it appeared Nela had not seen a smithy before. The open area on the near side of the building, with a pair of visible anvils and soot-stained walls above it, were clear indicators that the answer was yes.

  "I...believe so," Anthyla said, still panting a bit. "If I am...correct, that is one of the older foundries in the city. My father has since helped arrange for new ones built in the past few years."

  "To help with the war effort," Myron added.

  "Exactly. Weapons and armor are made here in Kelshir for the king's men." Anthyla frowned. "Even most of the bombards, like the one you destroyed, are cast and put together here in this city."

  "Why not just make them closer to the battlefield?" Nela asked, "Seems like that would make it easier for everyone."

  "There are a lot of iron mines to the northeast of here," Myron explained, "So it's either send the weapons farther, or send the ore to make them farther."

  "And the smithing trade was well established here before the war began," Anthyla concluded.

  "I'll bet the lord makes more than a few pikers off of it too," Hamond said. He was starting to see how all of this - the Elefae, the war against the Spellking, and Lord Kelshir's decisions - fit together.

  "Are you certain?" Anthyla looked concerned, "It does make some sense, but...I am not fond of counting coin. I would not know."

  "I suppose you wouldn't know what used to be there before those new foundries you mentioned were built."

  "I am afraid not." The noblewoman sounded confused. "But why does it matter?"

  "In a walled-off city like this one, you cannot build anything new without tearing down another building." Hamond took a deep breath, knowing how much his next words would hurt. "It would be very easy if those buildings were abandoned for some reason. As in, their occupants were being forced out of the city."

  "You mean the Elefae," Edeline said, finishing the thought.

  "Shit." It was all Nela could manage to say, and Hamond didn't blame her.

  Lady Kelshir clenched one fist to her chest. "My father has much to answer for. But we cannot do anything here." She looked over each of them in turn. "I believe I have recovered enough. We should proceed."

  This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

  "Agreed," Myron said, "Move out and-"

  "Drop your weapons!"

  They all turned to see a pair of men, carrying spears and wearing faded uniforms, advancing on them. One was older and bearded, while the one who had spoke only had thin scruff on his face. Just as Hamond had figured - their luck had run out.

  "Drop your weapons now!" the younger guard repeated.

  "I thought I told you not to be so harsh," the older man said sharply to his companion. "You can't just order everyone you meet around."

  "There's an elf there, captain!" the guard protested, gesturing at Nela. "They're dangerous!"

  "And if you keep provoking them, they'll prove you right!" The guard captain's patience had run out. "Go meet up with the others on Redkite Street. They'll need every man they can get. I'll handle them here."

  "But-"

  "It's an order. Go." The captain scowled at the man, who paled before backing off wordlessly. Once the other guard was down the street, the captain turned. "Now, how about you all..."

  He trailed off on seeing Anthyla standing behind them. Of course he would recognize her, Hamond thought bitterly. Any captain of Kelshir's guard would be expected to. Whether this was more bad luck or good fortune, Hamond couldn't say.

  "My lady," the older man said slowly, "I assume this means the reports of you being held hostage by the elves were false."

  "Those are nothing but lies, Captain Sophos. I was never a captive of anyone." Even in the plain dress, she was able to call on enough of a dignified air to make it clear she was indeed Lady Kelshir. Very impressive, Hamond had to admit.

  "So the missive the knights sent to us was false. Curse them and their little games." The man gritted his teeth. "My lady, if you would, I can escort you from here. It isn't safe for you to be out in the open unprotected right now."

  "I am sorry, but our business is urgent. I am needed elsewhere."

  "Our?" Captain Sophos echoed. The man clearly was not stupid. Hamond found himself wondering if his expectations for guard captains had been affected by his time in Hallowscroft. Them ending up under Kalvarel's spell was not an indicator of any skill or wisdom on their part.

  Anthyla just silently nodded.

  "So you trust them then," the captain said. He looked over each of them. "So, what would you all say? Can I trust you to keep her from any harm?"

  "We have so far," Myron answered immediately, "We should be able to continue to do so."

  Sophos sighed, appearing to age years in front of them. "I don't like it, but I'll have to take you at your word. But two warnings. First, the streets of Kelshir are not safe. If I were you, I would find a place to hole up in and wait until tomorrow before risking anything."

  "And the second?" Edeline spoke up.

  "I don't know what you're planning, and I'm not going to ask. But if Lord Kelshir so commands, we might end up facing each other in battle."

  "Hopefully it will not come to that." Myron raised his sword straight up in front of him. It could be some sort of salute, maybe a practice among soldiers. Hamond wasn't familiar enough with that to know for sure.

  Captain Sophos held his spear forward in a similar salute, and then turned and trotted off. Hamond watched him go, wondering how someone like that ended up in the service of a man such as Lord Kelshir.

  "A good man," Myron commented quietly once the captain was out of sight.

  "We're not going to do what he said and go hide, right?" Nela asked.

  "Of course not," Edeline answered, "There is no reason to give the knights a reprieve."

  "I do wish we could have figured out if the city watch had asked the knights for aid." Hamond wasn't sure if dividing the Aetheric Knights up would be better or worse. While it would mean fewer to deal with at once, they couldn't rule out the remaining knights attempting another attack on Faehaven.

  "Whether they did or not, we need to get moving." Myron turned to Anthyla. "Which way do we go from here, again?"

  Anthyla didn't answer, lost in staring off into the distance.

  "You all there?" Nela waved a hand in front of the noblewoman's face. "We don't have time for this shit, you know."

  This finally got her attention. "My apologies. It is just...is this the only way? I fear..." Lady Kelshir stopped speaking for a moment, fighting to compose herself. "No. It is not important now. You are right. we must deal with the knights now. This way, I believe." She pointed down the street, away from the foundry.

  Edeline walked over. "Staring down people you know, with the simple truth that they have to die if you want to protect yourself and those you care for...I know how hard it is. I had to go through this very thing too."

  "So did I," Hamond added, once again reminded of Kalvarel. "I had to kill someone I called a friend. It was necessary."

  "Can't save everyone if half of them are trying to kill the other half," Nela added, "And you can't save anyone if someone kills you first."

  "We may kill a few people who don't deserve it," Myron spoke gravely, looking down at his sword. "But they've already killed many who also didn't. Better that we bear the burden of a few regrets so that other people will not have to die."

  "Thank you, all of you." While the tense look on Anthyla's face softened a bit, it didn't entirely fade. There was only so much to ease her worries. Odds were, Hamond knew, there was only one person who could do that - and they were on their way to rescue her.

  "Come on then." Myron gestured. Anthyla nodded, and they were off again. Not running nearly as fast as before, but still moving quickly as they went further north into Kelshir.