Lioren was just tying off the end of her braid as she stepped through the entryway of the inn. The first few rays of the sun were just peaking over the distant tree line and the crisp morning air carried faint woodsmoke and anticipation. The streets were already a buzz with rolling carts and vendors heading to the town square to set up their stalls. Lioren bit her lip, hoping the incident the night before was thoroughly cleaned up as she adjusted her pack and stepped down the few stairs to the road. Tomas followed just behind her, their footsteps syncing like an afterthought of the night before.

  The group was easy to spot near the southern gate, Jessabelle and Mira were chatting over a shared pastry and Kale was hovering nearby, doing his best impression of casual while he spoke to a guard with some of Jessabelle’s companions. Mira glanced over, spotting them as they approached.

  “Finally!” She called, waving them over. “I was about to come up and drag you both down.”

  Lioren rolled her eyes but smiled anyway. She looked quizzically at the guards who seemed to be inspecting the baskets and crates in the wagons. Jessabelle followed her gaze and licked powdered sugar from her thumb.

  “Two people were killed last night.” She said, answering Lioren’s unspoken question. “Two locusts, if the rumors are true.” She added, dusting her hands of pastry crumbs. Lioren tried to keep her expression neutral as she recognized the guard that saw her.

  “Is that so?” She murmured and tossed her bag into the back of their wagon and turned her back to the guards. Jessabelle nodded, gesturing to a tall male with shoulder length black hair.

  “They have been questioning Roan for at least fifteen minutes.” Jessabelle rolled her eyes with a frustrated sigh as the guards moved onto another wagon, opening crates and baskets.

  “What are they looking for? Do they think we hid the murderer in a basket of flowers?” Tomas chimed in, throwing his bag beside Lioren’s and hopping up into the back.

  Jessabelle shrugged, straightening out her dress. “Just taking precautions I guess. Making sure we aren’t smuggling anything out.” She left to go talk to Roan, leaving Mira and Lioren alone as Tomas rearranged the wagon to make sure there was space. Mira glanced nervously at Lioren, her teeth worrying her lower lip.

  “Something on your mind?” Lioren asked, watching the growing crowd with arms crossed. Her brow was furrowed as she looked between the multitude of faces for anyone paying to close attention. Mira hesitated, picking apart the last of her pastry.

  “I just…” She let out a heavy sigh, her eyes flicking to Kale who was walking with the guards, giving them a detailed list of what was in their cart. “Last night got tense. I know Kale isn’t your favorite person right now but…” She paused, bits of the pastry falling to the ground as she struggled to find her words. Lioren clenched her jaw at her hesitation. Just spit it out. With a deep breath through her nose, she turned to Mira and placed a hand on her shoulder.

  “I know, Mira. Tomas already pointed out how…” She paused, swallowing her pride. “Quick to fight, I have been with your brother.” She gave Mira’s shoulder a few pats. Mira looked up, her big brown eyes full of concern. “I promise to play nice. Or at least not bite his head off because he opened his mouth.” Doesn’t mean he is in charge though. She added to herself and turned to look at Kale standing patiently and waiting for the guard to finish inspecting the cart in front of theirs.

  Mira gave a small, grateful smile, though it didn’t quite reach her eyes. Her fingers kept twitching like they didn’t know what to do now that the pastry was gone.

  “I appreciate that,” she said, voice quiet. “Really.” She hesitated again, her gaze dropping to the cobblestones where the last crumbs fell.

  “But this morning,” she murmured, “when I heard about the killings, my first thought wasn’t who... it was what if.” Lioren tensed but she kept her eyes relaxed and looking around.

  She felt Mira’s eyes flick back up to hers, searching—worried, afraid, ashamed all at once.

  “Just for a second,” she added quickly, like she could undo it with words. “And I hated myself for thinking about it. You’re my friend. You’ve been my friend.”

  A beat.

  “But I don’t know what’s going on with you, Lio. You say you’re fine, and maybe that’s true. But something feels... off. And I just—I don’t want to look back and realize I ignored all the signs.”

  She tried to laugh, brushing her hair behind her ear with a shaky hand.

  If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

  “Gods, listen to me. Kale’s finally rubbing off on me.”

  Lioren didn’t answer right away, her gaze now trying to find something that wasn’t Kale, the guards or Mira’s awkward smile. Just breathe. She let out another breath and took a step toward Mira as the guards approached. She led Mira off to the side as Kale started rambling off about their manifesto. Not that they had one really as the hired swords. Mira followed but it was closer to Lioren dragging her as her face fell from awkward lightness to worried confusion. Her hand slid from Mira’s shoulder like it had never belonged there and her throat tightened. Her thoughts scrambled for the safest path forward but they hit nothing but thorns.

  Lioren’s stomach clenched as she struggled to keep her composure neutral as the guard from last night looked over at them in curiosity.

  “I get it,” Lioren said finally, her voice too calm to be comforting. “You don’t want to be blindsided.” The guard was moving now—breaking away from Kale and heading directly toward them. Kale’s eyes followed him, narrowed with suspicion. What else she was going to say, died as the guard got to close for their conversation to remain private.

  “Good morning ladies, do you mind if I ask you a couple of questions?” The guard asked as he came to a stop a few feet away from them. Mira nodded quickly, arms folding over her stomach. Her gaze flicked to Lioren. Lioren forced a smile and nodded as well. She could feel Tomas’ eyes on her, glancing back between jokes with the other guards.

  “Thank you. Were either of you out late last night?” He didn’t write anything down. He just watched Lioren like she was an old story he half-remembered. Mira shook her head. Then looked at Lioren. Waiting.

  “I was. I took a walk, couldn’t sleep.” Lioren told him, her voice controlled. Even.

  “Alone?”

  “Yes, but I met up with my friend, Jessabelle by the gate. We walked back to the inn together.” The guard tilted his head slightly. Not in disbelief or accusation. More so, he found her statement minorly interesting. Lioren’s eyes narrowed, but only for a second.

  “Did you happen to pass through the town square?”

  "No, sir.” The lie was clean, worn-in. Like one of her blades she never lets rust. From the corner of her eye she saw Mira stiffen. Lioren straightened, raising her arms in a casual stretch. Unbothered. Relaxed. A mask she’d worn a hundred times. Please Mira, don’t say anything.

  “I assume you didn’t see anything suspicious then?” His eyes flashed to Mira and back, too quick, but Lioren noticed. There was a message behind that look. Lioren hesitated, trying to decipher if there was a wordless clue.

  “No, just the usual shadows.” Lioren murmured and another second passed in silence. Then the guard smiled. Just faintly.

  “Well then, thank you for your cooperation.” He held out a hand to Lioren, his eyes swimming with meaning. Lioren took it and gave it a shake, and in the press of his palm, she felt it again. That silent thank you. Not for the lies. Not for the night before. For the North. Lioren’s stomach flipped over but she forced herself to return his smile. The guard nodded to Mira and returned to Kale and the others. He spoke a few words that Lioren was surprised she could hear over the hustle and bustle of the morning.

  “They didn’t see anything. That should wrap up this caravan. Send them on their way.”

  The other guards nodded, said their thanks and motioned to the caravan that they were free to go.

  “What do you mean you didn’t go by the town square last night?” Mira hissed once the guard was out of ear shot. She moved in front of Lioren, her face turning red. “Did you just lie to a guard?”

  “Yes.” It came like a breath through clenched teeth. “But not for the reason you might be thinking.” Mira’s wide eyes narrowed and her arms crossed over her chests

  “Then why.” Her voice was clipped, waiting for the excuse she was sure would come. Lioren dropped her gaze. She exhaled slowly, drawing on the closest thing to regret she could reach without tipping too far.

  “Because I never left to get the damn flier. I just… needed to get out. That room was suffocating the life out of me.” She paused, letting her voice crack just enough “The looks you kept throwing at me, the tension, even Kale agreeing with me. It didn’t feel real.” Mira blinked, caught off guard. Like that was the last answer she expected.

  “So you just… left?” Her voice was soft, almost regretful. Lioren nodded. Just once. Her shoulders trembled slightly.

  “I said what I needed to say so no one would follow me.” Her eyes met Mira’s, glistening, guarded. “I wasn’t trying to hide. I was just trying to breathe.” She blinked, and let the tears fall. Not sobbing—just enough.

  Mira stepped forward and pulled her into an embrace. Hard. Protective. Claustrophobic. But it was enough to tell Lioren one thing. Mira believed her.

  “I’m sorry I have been so weird.” Mira murmured into her shoulder. “I promise I am here for you, Lio. I’m so sorry I ever doubted you.”

  Inside the hug, Lioren caught the eye of Tomas. He watched them with the faintest smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. Lioren returned it, embracing Mira back before her eyes wandered to Kale. His face was stoic but his eyes were a twister of emotions. Lioren narrowed her eyes slightly and tightened her arms around Mira and whispered a ‘thank you’.

  Mira pulled back, her own tears leaving faint trails on her cheeks. She fiddled with Lioren’ braid, twisting it in her fingers before letting it rest against her shoulder. Her eyes held a strange determination as she took Lioren’s hand and together they walked back to their wagon as the first in the line of the caravan were beginning to set out. As Lioren climbed into the back of their cart, Mira hesitated and pulled a piece of paper out of her pocket. Lioren looked at it curiously and her eyes widened slightly as Mira crushed the paper in a tight ball and threw it off into the mud.

  “What was that?” Lioren asked as Kale climbed into the driver seat and picked up the reins and Mira climbed effortlessly into the back with Lioren and Tomas. Mira gave her a soft smile and settled down for the ride.

  “Just some trash I don’t need anymore.”