The next morning, I was already regretting asking for Winona\u2019s help.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
She pounded on our bedroom door in the tavern, jolting Finn, Toni, and me awake before the sun had even come up.\u00a0\u201cUnlock the cursed door,\u201d\u00a0she growled when she heard Finn\u2019s frightened squeak.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWell, first you have to tell us the password,\u201d\u00a0Toni mumbled sleepily, slowly rolling from his bed, his normally slicked back hair actually mussed up from slumber. The banging on the door stopped.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Password?<\/em>\u00a0\u201cWhat password?\u201d\u00a0I whispered as quietly as I could. Toni turned to wink at me from the door.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Oh, there\u00a0was no password<\/em>. Winona must have figured it out at the same time because her fist slammed on the aged door again. It groaned against the abuse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cToni, if you don\u2019t let me in, I\u2019ll have to find my own way in and you\u2019ll have to deal with the consequences of however I do that,\u201d\u00a0she snarled through the door, her hand jiggling the lock.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toni smoothed his hair down and said,\u00a0\u201cWell, I suppose that\u2019s a better password than the one I just thought of.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cViolence?\u201d\u00a0Finn responded, sitting up in his bed, his curly hair a fuzzy, tangled mess.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I chuckled.\u00a0\u201cMaybe we do have an applicable password for Winona, after all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toni undid the locks and the door swung open before he had time to get out of the way, so it thudded into his shoulder with a crack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winona looked around the dingy tavern room. I was still securely under my covers, Finn was only sitting up, and Toni rubbed his shoulder as we walked back to his bed.\u00a0\u201cWhy are you not prepared to leave yet?\u201d\u00a0Winona asked, pointing at all of our stuff that was still scattered around the room.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019ll take like five minutes to do,\u201d\u00a0I mumbled, turning over in my bed and pulling my brown, wool blanket up around my neck, fully intent on going back to sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next thing I knew, my covers were ripped off my bed, the accumulated warmth sapped from my body.\u00a0\u201cWell, that\u2019s about the rudest thing you could do to a person before the sun is even up,\u201d\u00a0I scolded, sitting up with the slight chill. Winona held my blanket in her hand and glared menacingly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cFoolish people lose their blanket privileges,\u201d\u00a0she said, marching over to the room\u2019s window and opening the curtain. The sky had started to lighten a little.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut we agreed on leaving after a late breakfast,\u201d\u00a0Finn said.\u00a0\u201cAfter all, even though Toni\u2019s magic has helped a great deal in helping us heal, I\u2019m definitely still recovering from almost dying. I\u2019m not sure how you are already feeling fine. You took so many hits, even with my help.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe it\u2019s because I\u2019m not a weakling like yourself,\u201d\u00a0she said, pulling his blanket from his bed, too. She tossed them both to the center of the room, and turned to glare at Toni, who was starting to settle back into bed.\u00a0\u201cYou all apparently didn\u2019t have anyone on lookout last night. News is spreading about the Reanault clan. Authorities are looking for information.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe were careful not to be seen on the way there, though,\u201d\u00a0Toni said, scratching his stubbly chin.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winona let out a frustrated groan.\u00a0\u201cCareful doesn\u2019t correlate directly to unseen. There\u2019s no promise that we weren\u2019t seen by someone. And anyone from the tavern the night that Emilee died could put two and two together pretty easily.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I wrapped my arms around myself, adjusting to the lack of warmth of my blanket.\u00a0\u201cThis is a big leap for a small chance,\u201d\u00a0I said.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou say that until you see someone pointing at you and whispering on the streets, like what happened with me this morning,\u201d\u00a0Winona said, throwing her hands up in frustration.\u00a0\u201cEither way, if you\u2019re not ready to leave in the next thirty minutes, I\u2019m leaving. With or without you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why doesn\u2019t she just go off on her own then if she was going to have an attitude like that?\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI suppose we don\u2019t want to really risk the possibility that someone reported us,\u201d\u00a0Finn said, not moving from his bed. It was like we were all waiting for another person still in bed to make the final decision. Winona growled in frustration and stormed out of the room. Her growl of disapproval continued down the hall, until we couldn\u2019t hear it anymore.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toni sighed loudly. At least he still had his blanket. He groaned, throwing his feet to the floor from under his covers.\u00a0\u201cLet\u2019s get a move on, then,\u201d\u00a0he said, starting to roll up his blanket to pack it in his bag. I jumped out of bed, feeling a vague sense of annoyance dancing around in the back of my head.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI don\u2019t understand why we\u2019re just following her orders like she\u2019s in charge or something,\u201d\u00a0I grumbled under my breath, grabbing my blanket from the floor and tossing Finn\u2019s over at him.\u00a0\u201cIf she\u2019s in trouble, it\u2019s not our problem if we don\u2019t want it to be. It\u2019s not like she was some saint before we met.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat?\u201d\u00a0Toni asked over his shoulder.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cShe\u2019s complaining under her breath,\u201d\u00a0Finn responded, shoving his balled up blanket into his pack.\u00a0\u201cIt\u2019s best to ignore her and let her get it out of her system, or she\u2019ll spend the rest of the day in a bad mood.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I huffed.\u00a0\u201cI will not,\u201d\u00a0I grumbled.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finnan cleared his throat, but said nothing else to me. I grabbed my scimitar from the ground and clipped it to my belt. I forced a large smile and turned to my companions.\u00a0\u201cAlrighty, let\u2019s go on an adventure,\u201d\u00a0I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finn shook his head slowly and Toni cocked an eyebrow at me.\u00a0\u201cShe doesn\u2019t seem to be in a foul mood at all,\u201d\u00a0he said, poking Finn\u2019s shoulder.\u00a0\u201cYou should really work on your judgement of other\u2019s emotions cause it seems to be broken.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finn smacked a hand to his forehead before pulling his pack onto his back. He strapped a nondescript dagger we\u2019d taken from the Reanault hideout to his belt and walked out of the room and turned down the hallway.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt seems like he\u2019s the one in a bad mood,\u201d\u00a0Toni said out of the side of his mouth to me.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I shrugged at him.\u00a0\u201cFinny\u2019s mood is like the wind \u2014 always has been that way as long as I\u2019ve known him. I\u2019m surprised you just noticed, quite frankly.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019m on high alert from now on,\u201d\u00a0Toni said, ruffling my hair and walking out of the room.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I looked back at my bed before following him. We\u2019d likely be sleeping on the ground for the next couple of nights, at the very least. I thought of my bed at home, my siblings all snuggled in with me in the early mornings when we weren\u2019t fighting over honey cakes. I missed my bed. I missed them. I missed home.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n But I\u2019d chosen this adventure, without any influence or input from Ma and Da. This had been my own doing. This was going to help my family and my village. No matter how much I missed them and the comforts of home, I needed to remember that this was for the good of the shire.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Not to mention, I was going to meet my hero, the Dragon\u2019s Head Warrior. I was going to learn from them. I\u2019d maybe even be able to fight as well as them someday, if I kept moving forward. I left the room without another glance back. It was time to move forward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winona slunk through the morning crowds of Shallow Tides Bay several feet ahead of our group, her head swiveling between people as they passed. She was making sure we didn\u2019t run across any trouble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019d made it to the wealthier section of the city, and the crowds on the streets were a little thinner. Less businesses were in this area, and some of the largest homes extended along an entire block of a street.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried to stop myself from gawking up at the fancy architecture on the roofs and only peeked in a couple of large windows to spy on how the top echelon of society lived.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I mostly saw a bunch of stuffy rooms that looked like no one had dared to go into them. The fresh, colorful bouquets of flowers on tables said otherwise, but if having a bunch of money meant not fully living in your home, I had no interest in it. Oak home was well loved, if not a little overrun with small feet romping around. But it was real. Not this picturesque image.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ahead, a group of about eight officers turned the corner onto the street. Winona\u2019s sure steps faltered when she spotted them walking in our direction.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Swords were clipped to each of their sides and every one of them held small batons, which they were using to inspect nearby shrubs as they passed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re fine,\u201d\u00a0Finn whispered next to me. I\u2019d tensed up in seeing Winona lose a fraction of her cool.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re tourist. That\u2019s all.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n There were little-to-no small-folk in this area of town. I had seen one elderly gnomish man a couple blocks back, playing a lute lazily in a patch of shade. Finn and I stuck out like sore thumbs in the small sea of tall-folks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The officers walked past Winona without a second glance. Her hood was up, and she stuck to the shadows, her weapons skillfully tucked under her cloak.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n One human officer\u2019s pale-blue gaze locked on us and she turned to an elven officer next to her and said something in his pointed ear. His dark gaze fell on us too. They broke off from the group and approached us with all the authority their role afforded them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou were saying?\u201d\u00a0I whispered back to Finn. Toni slowed down, clocking the officer\u2019s approaching us and stood between us and the officers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cGood morning,\u201d\u00a0Toni said, nodding to them with a confident tone in his voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt looks like one of your friends there has run into some trouble,\u201d\u00a0the female officer said, pointing at Finn\u2019s forehead. While Toni\u2019s magic had helped him heal fast, he still had a couple of yellowing bruises and a large cut on his forehead from the fight with the Reanaults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I pushed Finn as hard as I could, trying my best to act like it was a friendly pat. He stumbled forward, and turned on me with wide eyes.\u00a0\u201cOh, Finny here is just a little clumsy. We were practicing different fighting stances and I bested him a little too good,\u201d\u00a0I said, smiling at the officers. They looked at Finn, unimpressed.\u00a0\u201cHe\u2019s more of a bookish type, so I don\u2019t know what I was thinking asking him to practice with me,\u201d\u00a0I followed up, chuckling nervously.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The elven officer scoffed and rejoined the group of officers as they passed by. The female officer looked over us all once more, noting the scimitar at my side.\u00a0\u201cMaybe you should think about joining the Shallow Tides officers, then,\u201d\u00a0she said, softening a little in her posture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2019ll think about it,\u201d\u00a0I said, hooking my arm through Finnan\u2019s.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re on our way to Skai City to visit a friend now though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The officer nodded.\u00a0\u201cSafe travels to you,\u201d\u00a0she said, nodding at Toni and leaving us, jogging a little to catch up with her group.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winona was leaned against a wall ahead of us, watching the interaction closely. She stood up straight when the second officer left us, turning to continue up the street. Toni released a huge breath.\u00a0\u201cLet\u2019s get out of here. I\u2019m ready for some mountain air at this point.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHow long has it been since you\u2019ve been anywhere other than a ship or port city?\u201d\u00a0I asked, looking up at our friend with raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He frowned, mouthing numbers silently as he thought about my question. The longer he took counting told me that the number was going to be higher than I would have originally guessed. Toni looked young enough, but sometimes tall-folk aged differently. Toni wasn\u2019t an elf though\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cIt\u2019s been eleven years,\u201d\u00a0Toni said, smiling for a moment before a deep frown formed under his flushed cheeks.\u00a0\u201cI hadn\u2019t realized it had been that long, actually.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWell, it\u2019s a good thing we\u2019re going to the mountains now, before eleven becomes twelve,\u201d\u00a0Finn said, finally recovering from the light act of humiliation when I pushed him. He wouldn\u2019t meet my gaze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I squeezed his arm in mine for a moment, feeling a small crack starting to form in our friendship. I had to fix this.\u00a0\u201cI promise I don\u2019t think you\u2019re weak,\u201d\u00a0I whispered to him.\u00a0\u201cJust because you\u2019re better at the book stuff doesn\u2019t mean that you can\u2019t also be strong. You just set a high level for excellence with your smarts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI am a bit of a perfectionist,\u201d\u00a0he whispered back to me, his taupe skin darkening from his neck up to the tips of his ears.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I snickered.\u00a0\u201cA bit is an understatement.\u201d\u00a0We walked in silence for a few streets. He\u2019d look me in the eyes now, but Finnan\u2019s mouth formed a smile that didn\u2019t quite reach his eyes. I\u2019d really hurt his feelings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cBut I am sorry if I embarrassed you or anything. I just wanted to get away from those officers\u2019 questions as quickly as I could,\u201d\u00a0I said.\u00a0\u201cI should have thought of another way to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toni picked up his pace, now walking a couple feet in front of us like he was trying to give us some space.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI know you didn\u2019t mean it,\u201d\u00a0Finn said.\u00a0\u201cI just hate feeling weak. Winona was hit way harder than me in that fight and was still standing at the end, unlike me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n This<\/em>\u00a0is what he was worried about?\u00a0\u201cFinnan Windwick, the only reason why Winona was still standing at the end of that fight is because you were using your magic to help her and not yourself. You were selfless. That\u2019s the opposite of weak, if you ask me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finn\u2019s pointed ears tinged a berry color again.\u00a0\u201cThanks, Kit,\u201d\u00a0he said, squeezing my arm back with his arm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhenever you need reminding, let me know and I\u2019ll be sure to do it,\u201d\u00a0I responded, pinching his shoulder before running off to catch up with Toni. The sound of Finn\u2019s feet smacking into the cobbled road followed behind me and I ran past Toni, with my eyes set on Winona.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I reached out to tag her and run past, but as my fingers brushed the middle of her back, her leg shot out in front of me and tripped me before I could run past her. I toppled forward, but tucked my head and rolled into a somersault to pop back up on my feet in front of her.\u00a0\u201cWell that was rude,\u201d\u00a0I said.\u00a0\u201cI just was going to tag you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNever try to sneak up on a trained assassin,\u201d\u00a0Winona responded tartly and then resumed walking. I looked back to see both Toni and Finnan giggling as they walked up to join us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This trip was going to be no fun, was it? I pouted, following Winona with a sluggish gait.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo pouting now,\u201d\u00a0Toni said from behind me.\u00a0\u201cShe caught you fair and square. That just means you\u2019ll have to learn to be sneakier.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winona turned her head just slightly to show us a scowl. It\u2019s not that I wanted to annoy her, or even bother her. But I knew she was keeping more secrets from us. I could just feel it in my gut, and the only time I\u2019d seen her open up was when she was frustrated or angry. With enough heat, that kettle would boil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I tried to sneak up on her two more times as we ventured through the furthest inland parts of the city of Shallow Tides Bay. Houses grew smaller \u2014 though they stayed expensive-looking \u2014 because the slant of the city tilted upward with the hill and large, old trees of every kind started to speckle the open land between homes. Toni panted as the hill got steeper.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t worry about me, guys. Just adjusting to my land-legs still, I guess,\u201d\u00a0he said, sounding like he was trying to sound normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One thing I hadn\u2019t considered when asking Toni to join us was the difference living years at sea-level could make on a person. I turned and looked down at the sparkling waters of the Golden Sea. We were so far above them now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe gate is just a few more blocks up,\u201d\u00a0Winona said, not looking back and not slowing her pace. Toni waved her on, puffing a couple times and then taking a few hesitant steps up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThere will be some time to adjust between here and Skai City,\u201d\u00a0Finnan said, looking at his map of Roahdhan and pointing out a city high in the mountains at the center of the continent.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI wonder if anyone could teach either of you a spell that can help\u2026 alleviate some of the strain,\u201d\u00a0I said. There were plenty of cities on the route we were taking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toni puffed past us.\u00a0\u201cCome on, slow pokes,\u201d\u00a0he rattled as he spoke.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cMaybe he doesn\u2019t need any magical assistance after all,\u201d\u00a0Finn said out of the side of his mouth with a grin. We walked behind Toni, keeping an eye on him as he swayed and staggered his way to the northwest gate of the city. Once outside of the walls, Toni collapsed against the tall, rocking side with a groan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cDon\u2019t be such a baby,\u201d\u00a0Winona snapped, crossing her arms and looking down her nose at Toni.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI\u2013\u201d\u00a0Toni strained to sit up and flopped back to the ground with another groan.\u00a0\u201cI have no arguments. I am a baby. Someone carry me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finn and I put our fingers to our noses without a word, staring up at Winona until she noticed us. It took a second but her gaze landed on the two of us and she rolled her eyes.\u00a0\u201cWhat is this? Some game of\u00a0not it<\/bdo><\/em>? We\u2019ll just rest for a few minutes and give the man a break and an orange slice or something.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNo need for the hurry anymore?\u201d\u00a0I asked. What was with the rush to get out of the tavern this morning if we were going to sit outside of Shallow Tides for someone to find us?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe\u2019re not inside the city, so no,\u201d\u00a0Winona responded, pulling her bag off her back and setting in on the ground in front of her feet. She dug through it for a moment and then pulled out a bright, plump orange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The gate was not thirty feet from where we stood. I could see a few people walking around, even.\u00a0\u201cWe\u2019re right outside of it though,\u201d\u00a0I said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finn sat on the ground, following Winona\u2019s signal and digging through his pack for a snack. He pulled out some fish jerky triumphantly and the salty tinge wafted up to me. I looked around at the group, still confused as to what had changed in our circumstances.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cOh, right,\u201d\u00a0Finn said between chews of his dried fish stick, finally realizing I wasn\u2019t following.\u00a0\u201cPort cities have a city border policy here, since so many pirates come through and sell their wares\u2026 and sometime steal new wares. It\u2019s not the most ethical thing in the world, but basically once you\u2019re outside of the bounds of the city, you can\u2019t get in trouble. You do have to be gone from the city for a full year if you\u2019re caught or charged though.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I sat on the ground, sticking my legs out long in front of me.\u00a0\u201cDo we think we\u2019re going to be caught or charged for what happened at the abandoned mansion?\u201d\u00a0I asked. I flopped back on my pack to look up at the bright, blue mid-morning sky.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n No one responded for a long moment, so I pulled my head off of my pack to look at them. Toni and Finn were staring at Winona, who was keeping her eyes lowered. I cleared my throat.\u00a0\u201cWere we charged for something?\u201d\u00a0I asked, pulling myself fully off the ground now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winona ripped away the final piece of skin from her orange.\u00a0\u201cNo, but the guild reached out this morning and made it sound like they\u2019d be willing to name all of us as murderers.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat do you mean?\u201d\u00a0Toni said, sounding coherent, and angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n She pulled a piece of parchment out an almost invisible side pocket on her bag and handed it to Toni without meeting his narrowed glare.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cA new debt has been accrued and will be levied against you and your companions at a time we deem appropriate. Fail to comply and we will see you all charged,\u201d\u00a0he read aloud.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d\u00a0Finn asked.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I quickly followed Finn\u2019s question with my own.\u00a0\u201cWhat new debt are they talking about? We didn\u2019t do anything.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winona pulled a chain that was hanging around her neck and a black orb popped out from under her shirt. I recognized it. It was the same amulet that had been around Jace\u2019s neck. In the daylight, I could see that it was in the shape of a human\u2019s skull.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cYou took that from Jace\u2019s body,\u201d\u00a0I whispered and Winona nodded once. Did the guild want that thing? Why?<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWhat makes that amulet so special?\u201d\u00a0Finn asked, getting to the question before I could.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe guild planned to use it to go to the capitol city of North Roahdhan, Dariat, and kill Queen Hestiana. They want to install the monarch, Mechar Thedos, into power from South Roahdhan. Mechar\u2026 is cruel. I couldn\u2019t let the guild have this,\u201d\u00a0Winona said quietly, cradling the black skull in her hands.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I recognized the ruler names, at least. Mechar Thedos ruled from the capitol city of Guneyr, which actually wasn\u2019t too far from where we\u2019d be traveling. I hadn\u2019t heard that they were cruel though. I hadn\u2019t heard much of anything about them, actually.\u00a0\u201cNot saying I\u2019m pro-regicide, ever. But I have to wonder how you know that Mechar Thedos is cruel? I thought you were from Shallow Tides Bay,\u201d\u00a0I said, scooting closer to Winona to get a better look at the amulet.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n Finn said some words behind me under his breath. I recognized the speech pattern from the ship, in Captain Serpentis\u2019s quarters. Finnan was reading Winona\u2019s mind.\u00a0\u201cYou need to tell us how you know that,\u201d\u00a0I said, pushing closer again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winona didn\u2019t speak. Finn did, though.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEmilee was married to him,\u201d\u00a0he said.\u00a0\u201cEmilee was married to them, the Monarch Mechar Thedos. He hurt her, and you helped her flee to Shallow Tides.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Winona\u2019s gaze whipped up to Finnan.\u00a0\u201cYou stay out of my head, you little\u2013\u201d\u00a0she snarled, nearly jumping over me at him.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n I kicked up into her stomach and knocked her back, jumping up to stand defensively in front of Finn before she could recover and try to lunge at him again.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI dropped the spell once I realized what\u2013!\u201d\u00a0Finn shouted her around me, but then he yelped as she stood and marched toward us. Her breathing was heavy, angry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cNever again,\u201d\u00a0she said, murder in her voice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Toni\u2019s hand clapped onto her shoulder. He was a few inches taller than her, but it was like he towered over her in that moment. She jumped away a little from him and a similarly murderous look on his face to match her voice.\u00a0\u201cTouch either them and I will end you,\u201d\u00a0he said, the palm not on Winona\u2019s shoulder lighting up with fire.\u00a0\u201cYou have kept enough secrets from us that it\u2019s only fair he was curious enough to use magic on you. You may have done something good for the continent, but at the cost of all of our lives. I haven\u2019t forgotten that it was a death pact the guild made with you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n I reached back for Finn\u2019s hand, and our fingers intertwined. I couldn\u2019t be a part of a death pact. That thought hadn\u2019t even crossed my mind. That was what our debt ultimately was. We\u2019d have to do whatever the guild told us to do, or lose our lives.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey\u2019re going to ask us to do something awful, and we\u2019re going to die because we won\u2019t do whatever awful thing they\u2019ve asked us to do,\u201d\u00a0I said, my voice faltering as fear welled in my throat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n I\u2019d never see my family again. I\u2019d never make it to the Dragon\u2019s Head Warrior and learn how to protect Hill Hollow. Hellbringer was going to kill everyone I loved, and there was nothing I could do about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n<\/body>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Continue the adventure into chapter twelve here.<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n