After I finished telling them the plan, they stared at me from across the small fire. Kiri shifted on the log she used as a seat.

  “Risky,” Avian said. “But I don’t see another way.” She thought for a moment. “You know the guards there. How much scrutiny do they give those entering their gates?

  “When dressed in official uniforms, they don’t give much pushback,” I said.

  “Even if they are escorting prisoners?” Kiri asked.

  “Most of the guards want the prisoners in and out of the village as soon as possible. As long as we stress that we’re only passing through, they will be eager to get us on our way.”

  Kiri glanced at the flames, then stared over my shoulder. “Did we move far enough away from the guys you saw? Won’t they see our fire?”

  “I dug the hole deep enough that they likely won’t see it directly. They might see the glow and smoke, but they won’t risk coming into the Forgotten Forest unless they need to, especially at night. They also have limited numbers. Three guards to watch two prisoners. They can’t leave them alone, or allow them to outnumber the guards. I can’t imagine they’d send one scout into the forest.”

  Avian added a log to the fire. “Their investigating wouldn’t be a bad thing. Separating their forces will make it easier to get the advantage. I’d be more worried about them becoming defensive when they see the smoke. Sneaking up on one guard while the other two sleep is much easier than if all three are awake.”

  “I’d prefer if Sani woke before we leave Kiri here alone.” I glanced at him. His back still rested against a tree. “Will he wake up in time?”

  Avian shrugged. “If he regenerates enough life-force to regain consciousness, he still won’t have enough to use his powers for a few nights.”

  I had questions about this life-force. The idea made little sense to me. Was it something depleted from the blood when they used their abilities? I had heard stories about wizards using powerful magic without needing any ingredients or potions. How could they do what the stories claimed, but Sani ran out of this life-force so quickly? Before I could think of the best way to ask my question, I noticed Kiri’s facial expression.

  We had been through a lot in just two nights. Running from guards, fighting a dangerous creature disguised as a bard, battling a spell master gone rogue, and her kidnapping by a creature we thought was a tall tale. She had sufficient reasons to be worried. But the look of concern seemed deeper than I expected. Was something else on her mind?

  Before I could ask, Avian locked eyes with her. “You’re looking around more than you normally do. Is something wrong?”

  “I think he is close again.”

  “Who?” I asked.

  She whispered, “The sasquatch.” After pausing, she added, “I keep seeing flashing images, like I did right after I saved him.”

  “Is he trying to tell you something?” Avian asked.

  “I don’t know. I think he’s worried. Not for himself, but for me. Or maybe he thinks he’ll never see me again, and that is upsetting him.”

  “Don’t worry, we’ll be gone from here soon, and you won’t have to see it again,” I said.

  “Him,” Kiri said. “I know it sounds insane, but I didn’t sense danger when he kidnapped me. Not only could I see the images, but I think I could feel what he felt.”

  “Anger? Fear?” Avian asked.

  “Sadness. Loneliness.” Kiri stared at her feet. “I think he took me not just to protect me, but because he didn’t want to be alone anymore.”

  “But then he just let you go?” Avian asked.

  “I think he could sense my own sadness at being whisked away and losing my opportunity to get back home.” She shrugged. “Is it possible he let me go because he didn’t want me to feel sad?”

  I exhaled. “Seems like a lot of thinking for a creature that shits in the woods and wipes its ass with berry leaves.”

  Kiri crossed her arms.

  Avian raised her eyebrows. “I guess you’re holding it until we get back to civilization.”

  I shook my head. “Doesn’t matter.” Locking eyes with Kiri, I asked, “Are you suggesting we bring the sasquatch with us?” I threw my arms up. The guards stationed in Palla Cahua aren’t particularly ambitious or highly observant, but I think even with ratty clothing and a sack over his head, they’ll know he isn’t a regular prisoner.”

  Avian scoffed. “What are we even talking about?” She stood up and stretched. “I feel like I’m going insane. Are you really discussing the possibility of letting that creature travel with us?” She started walking into the forest. “I’m going to find some berry leaves.”

  Kiri made a face like she just bit into a rotten apple.

  I clenched my jaw. If she was right, and the sasquatch had taken a special liking to her, then it could be helpful if we got into another pinch. Having it near us in the woods was almost a comfort when considering the forgotten could be lurking close by. But having it travel with us out in the open wasn’t something that was possible. “We’re almost back to where we started. Palla Cahua is a day’s walk. Once we enter, we’ll head to Cusi. The road runs close to the wall. Perhaps your furry friend will be able to follow our scent.”

  This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

  “Do you think he smells that far?”

  I pointed my thumb at the apprentice. “As long as that is with us, your hairy friend might be able to smell us all the way to the capital. I’m guessing Dante didn’t bathe them.”

  Kiri giggled. “You’re a good friend.”

  “Go get some sleep. I’ll take the first watch.”

  Avian woke me up before Patra rose. “We must get ready,” she said.

  I sat up and glanced around, realizing that this whole thing wasn’t just a bad dream. “Is Sani awake?” I asked.

  She nodded. “He’s having trouble keeping his eyes open, but he’ll be ready by the time we get back.”

  The frigid night air bit at me when I stepped out of the tent. Being away from the fire at night was a risk I’d have to take. I pulled from my bag extra clothing and one of the sacks I liberated from Dante.

  “You’re sure about this?” Avian asked.

  I nodded. “Only one guard should be awake, and he’ll be concentrating on the forest side. He won’t expect a threat to come from Mallma.

  Avian extended her arm. “Lead the way.”

  Staying low, we left the cover of the tree line and headed for Mallma. Once at the wall, we kept beside it as we moved. I didn’t think this was one of the manned guard-towers, but if I was mistaken, they wouldn’t see us right below them. We move swiftly, while staying quiet, backtracking toward the yaksha camp we scouted earlier in the night.

  I waited in the shadows while Avian snuck into camp, getting behind the watch. As he stared at the trees, she wrapped a hand around his mouth. He tried to stand. She pulled a dagger and plunged it into his neck.

  No! Part of me wanted to yell, but I kept my mouth shut. Killing him wasn’t part of the plan, nor was it necessary. I moved from the shadows to the camp, heading toward one of the sleeping guards. I had hoped Avian would subdue her guard instead of killing him like she did the one on watch. But I couldn’t tell her without alerting them both, which would definitely lead to her killing them.

  I woke the guard up, holding the tip of my sword against his throat. “One little push and it’s over for you.” I paused, letting it sink in. “Don’t make a sound. Put this in your mouth.” I dropped a piece of cloth and a small portion of rope. He did as he was told, tying a gag around his own mouth.

  Then I tied his hands and feet. I left him there while I checked on Avian.

  She wiped her bloody dagger on the fallen guard’s body as I approached. “We just need to kill the prisoners.”

  I grabbed her arm. “The plan was to subdue and tie them, not kill.”

  She sighed. “The first wouldn’t listen to reason and tried to alert the others. I had to make a quick decision.”

  “And him?” I pointed down at the slain guard.

  “After killing his friend, he would be more motivated to fight back. Why take the chance?” She studied my face. “I know you lack the stomach to do what must be done. Go back to camp.” She pointed her head at the prisoners. “I’ll take care of them and the guard you subdued.”

  “No!”

  “They are criminals.” She threw her hands up. “Why do you risk our lives to protect theirs?”

  “They have not been judged.” I clenched my jaw. “If Mallma ever catches us, we will be prisoners. Does that mean we are guilty?”

  She nodded. “They accused you of practicing magic, and you did. They said we killed people.” She raised her eyebrows. “We did.”

  I wanted to appeal to her morals, but the Brigand likely trained those out of her. Instead, I thought I would make an argument based on a logical assumption. “If we start dropping bodies, word will get back to the capital. My father’s connections won’t be able to help us if the royals insist on our capture. Every murder is one more reason for those in the capital to turn their backs on us.”

  She huffed. “Fine, we will go capture the prisoners.”

  They were easy to subdue, since they were already bound. I untied their tether and led them, along with the guard, back to our camp.

  Avian strolled beside me, mumbling something under her breath.

  Sani sat next to Kiri by the fire. While sitting up without help, his shoulders slumped, as if he was falling asleep. Both turned to face us when we approached.

  Kiri jumped to her feet. “Did the other two get away?”

  I shook my head.

  Avian threw down the two uniforms she took from the soldiers she had killed, then she started stripping the other men.

  Sani pushed himself up, moving more like an elderly man than a young warrior. “I cut that too close.” He glanced around the camp, his gaze stopping when it reached Avian, who was taking the clothes off the third guard. “I feel like I missed something.”

  “We are going to pose as guards and prisoners,” I said.

  “Are the other two guards dead?” Kiri asked.

  “Avian altered the plan, she claimed to have no choice,” I said.

  “They should have listened to reason,” Avian lied. The second guard was killed while he slept. “The smart move would be to kill these three, and throw them all in a deep hole.”

  The guard she was stripping struggled, trying to pull away from her.

  “Calm down,” Avian said. “Tye is a white knight. He’ll let us all perish before allowing me to slay a bound man.”

  “Wait. Is she saying killing them was the only choice?” Kiri asked.

  Sani interjected, “They are the enemy. It isn’t wrong to kill those who wish to kill you.”

  “I’d also like to say, I’m a trained assassin, not a guard.” Avian rolled her eyes. “Since joining your little crew, we let a sasquatch stalk us, allowed whatever Joklo is to get away, set several infected apprentices free, and are risking our own lives by keeping one with us.” She shook her head. “Now you want to tie up the guards and hope they don’t get loose in time to alert Palla Cahua of what we have done.”

  “Palla Cahua?” Sani wiped the sleep from his eyes. “We went back?”

  “We were close after leaving the hunting lodge,” Avian said. “Tye knows how they operate. We should have the least resistance entering here.”

  “Don’t change the subject.” Kiri crossed her arms. “If we are to become the murderers Lar has painted us as, then it should be a group decision.”

  Avian scoffed. “Group decisions don’t work well in the heat of battle. We can’t all sit down and decide every move. A single leader must make the final decisions.”

  “Which shouldn’t be you,” Kiri said.

  “I make the final decisions.” I raised my eyebrows. “Murder is off the table. We don’t kill anyone when they are sleeping. If we are to end a life, it is to be during battle, and during battle only.”

  Avian shook her head. “The Mallma Union way.” She shrugged. “That is, if you aren’t a member of the royal family or one of their knights.”

  “Are you suggesting murder is allowed outside Mallma?” I asked.

  “You’ve been tucked away behind those walls for too long. Vanaheim is a dangerous place. Sure, Borra and Odell don’t openly allow murder, not officially. But unlike Mallma, their royals don’t pass judgment across the land. Villages pass judgment through local authorities, who are often corrupt. Most of the land is essentially self-regulated based on the Naser Wigon ways.”

  “I don’t follow,” Kiri said. “If not the royals, who is ultimately responsible for making sure justice is served?”

  “In Borra and Odell, that depends on three things. Your location during the act, your status, and your standing as a Wigon.”

  I shook my head. “We aren’t in Borra or Odell. In Mallma, we don’t murder out of convenience.”

  Avian approached me, getting her face inches from mine. “Look around. We aren’t in Mallma either. We’re in the Forest of the Forgotten. I can’t tell you how the laws work here, but I can say, between this forest and that wall is borderlands. In the borderlands, there are no laws.”

  “Mallma will avenge crimes against their citizens and soldiers, even if they take place outside these walls.”

  “Then let Mallma come for me, but for now, I don’t need your shit.” Avian threw a uniform at the feet of Sani and Kiri. Put these on. She donned the third uniform over her clothing.

  “What about Tye?” Kiri asked.

  Avian nodded toward a prisoner’s rags. “He and your hungry friend will be going in as our prisoners.”