The city buzzed to life while Ned danced from patron to patron, leaving tables giggling with blushed cheeks as he worked his magic. He felt life in this work he’d never imagine growing up. The bottom feels so cold, so distant from above.

Dorran shoved the kitchen table to the side and motioned for Ryn to take position in their training grounds.

“Here?” She glanced around, taking inventory of every breakable object. “Is there enough room to practice?”

He set a cast iron caldron at her feet with a huff and took a few steps back. “We aren’t practicing. Not yet.”

“Then what is this?” An empty pot? For what?

“You’re… resilient, but you’re still injured. Have you noticed the state you’re in?” He gestured at her with exaggerated flair. “I can’t just give you a sword and have you go to town. I need to make sure your body can handle it.”

“Lift the cauldron. Hold it at your chest. Watch your toes.”

She followed his instructions. Her fingers gripped the handles until they screamed. The first few seconds were easy, but each passing moment brought on another ache. The muscles in her chest burned, twitching under the pressure.

Her knees wobbled, threatening to buckle. Each breath tore through her lungs like a knife. The blood rushed to her face as she fell forward. The cauldron clanged against the floor between her feet. Ryn doubled over and fought to catch her breath.

“Not bad. Again.” His words rang through her ears. “No half-measures.”

Ned swung by between sets. Just curiosity. He delivered a pitcher of water and fruit bowl without a word, disappearing to the front in a fluid motion.

Ryn’s brow ticked with annoyance at his incessant interruptions. He returned again just before noon. Dorran had her bent at the hip, holding the gods forsaken pot out at arms length.

A whistle cut the air behind her. “This is some training I can get behind.” She felt his smirk burning a hole in her back.

She spun on her heals and hurled the pot at Ned with a frustrated groan.

He caught the projectile against his chest with a huff. “What? It’s a compliment.”

“That is not a compliment.” Her words sputtered out between heavy breaths.

“You really are such a charmer, boy.” Dorran shoved a glass under Ryn’s chin. “Drink.”

“Whatever you say, old man.” Ned rolled his eyes and trudged to the stove. “You guys want some food or not.”

Dorran palmed the pouch in his pocket. His brow furrowed with silent calculations. “Gonna take a few weeks at least.” He turned to Ryn. “Maybe we ought to head back to the cottage. We still gotta get you a sword and pay for board if we stay.”

She stretched her back out, shoulder blades popped as her arms swiveled. “Not exactly the coziest at the moment, but I guess we can fix it up.”

Ned interjected before a decision was made. “Stay here. It makes gathering information easier. I’ll foot your tab.”

Dorran watched his eyes with an air of suspicion. “How’re you supposed to afford that?”

Ned smirked and leaned into the man’s chest. He curled a finger through Dorran’s beard as he spoke. “I have my ways.”

He stumbled back with a laugh when Dorran shoved a hand into Ned’s chest.

“Get away from me.” A chuckle started low in Dorran’s chest as Ned turned to plate some food.

Afternoon gave way to evening as Ned carried on with his duties and Ryn lifted a pot in various positions. Over and over again.

Her patience and stamina wore thin. Her hands were raw and screaming for mercy. Joints threatened to snap with every passing second.

She dropped the cauldron on the table and fell into a chair, sweat pouring down her temples. “This is too much.”

“It may feel that way, but you need strength if you expect any amount of training to pay off.” Dorran slid a glass of water in front of her.

“So I just play pot transporter? Until when? We have no idea how long we have to save her, yet I’m here redecorating a kitchen.” She stared down at her throbbing hands, palms wet with sweat and blood.

Dorran stood, his voice cool as he repeated. “You just need more strength. I’ll be back.” He left without another word.

Ned returned to the kitchen shortly after. “Where’s the big guy going?”

“Damned if I know.” It left her lips in a sigh. She stood slowly and grabbed the pot again.

He jumped forward, covering her hands with his. “Okay, why don’t we just take a break, yeah?” His hands cupped her shoulders gently as she fell back into the chair.

“You’ve been exercising all day. You weren’t even in the best shape to begin with.” He winced at his word choice. “No offense.”

“I need to get stronger.” The words fell from her lips in a mumble as she tried to stand again. “I’ve been in pain as long as I can remember. This is just any other bad day.”

“Right, sure.” The weight of his hands brought her back down. “But, you need rest, too.”

He lifted her chin with a stroke of his hand. “And again, you weren’t exactly at peak beforehand.”

She pursed her lips in a line, fatigue whittling her away. “I guess.”

He groaned, joining her at the table with two plates and mugs of ale. “Just eat. Hopefully that oaf gets back before dark.”

Ryn picked at her plate and watched him eat. Why was he so invested? He wasn’t swept up in this. Just an all-too-interested stranger.

“What?” He spoke between bites, never looking up.

“Huh?” She studied him, attempting to catch his train of thought as it flew by.

“You’re thinking about something. What?”

“What makes you think that?” Her fork scraped the plate with a squeal.

His eyes rolled until his gaze met hers. “Food’s still on your plate.”

She sputtered and stared at the table. “Fine, sure.” She tried out different questions in her head. “You worked for Brack.” She took a sip from her glass. That’s not even a question.

“I did.”

“You seem to know a bit about all of this.” Another few gulps.

“I’ll tell you what I can, if that’s what you’re asking.” His smirk was palpable.

“What exactly is his plan, then? We still have no real idea what’s even going on.” Continuing to fly blind would be the death of her.

“He’s been funding research for years, since I met him. He said he just needed a breakthrough.” He spoke as he finished his plate. “I didn’t think it’d be possible.”

Ryn’s hand fell beside her plate with a thump. His casual attitude toyed at her nerves. “Didn’t think what would be possible?”

Ned sighed and scratched at the side of his neck. “Orrivar’s been declining for centuries. Since Tharavos came into the picture.”

“This is declining? The streets are busy. The banks are full. Where is the decline?” Her voice soured with each word.

He watched his words process in her eyes. “I don’t disagree. But here, anything less than growth is failure. Orrivar’s been the world’s trade hub for thousands of years. It’s only relatively recent that Tharavos has stolen that title.”

Her fist clenched around her fork, nails digging into her palm. “Rich is rich is rich. Why does it matter who’s on top if second place is still leagues away from third?”

His voice softened as his gaze shifted to the table again. “I don’t have that answer, Ryn.”

She continued without listening. “Ceaseless greed. Anyone with that kind of power will never care about people like us. We’re the lifeblood of their pockets and all they do is bleed us dry.”

“Yeah.” He begged his heart to settle. “Anyway, that’s why this all started.”

A breath escaped her lips as she refocused on her food. “So what was so important about this research?” She took a bite. It tasted of nothing.

“He wants to control Valthuran.”

Ryn choked down her food with a chorus of hacks. Ned handed over her glass. He watched her down the rest with an upturned brow.

“He wants to control Valthuran.” It still didn’t sound believable from her mouth.

“If we control Valthuran’s movements, we can control the supply and demand in Tharavos.” He cleared the table, walking away as he spoke.

Her ears pricked as she watched his back. “We?”

“Orrivar.” He didn’t miss a beat. “They don’t care as long as Orrivar’s in control.”

She settled back into the chair. “So, that package was the result.”

“Seems so.” He spoke over his shoulder as he washed up the day’s dishes. “Guess sending his steward however many years ago ended up paying off in the end.”

“Brack’s steward?”

“A guy named Malric. A bit of a weird one. Brack sent him to oversee a mine he bought in Tharavos. That was the story, anyway.”

Bile burned the back of Ryn’s throat. “He was sent to oversee the research.”

She watched him nod in silence.

“That mine was just a cover.” Her nose started to burn.

Ned shrugged as he continued working. “I mean, they needed the resources. But they could’ve just bought them if they wanted.”

She stared at the table, tears blurring the wood grain. “That mine.” Her voice cracked, threatening to break into a sob.

Ned spun to see her face. “Ryn?” A soapy puddle pooled in the cracks of the stone beneath his feet.

Tears fell against her will, but her voice was steady. “That mine took our homes. It took our stores. Our whole district.”

He moved to her, wiping his palms on his clothes. “I’m sorry.”

“Everyone got sucked in. Even my parents.” Her voice hardened. “My mom was a doctor. My dad cooked. It didn’t matter in the end. If you couldn’t escape the district, you ended up in the pits. I don’t remember life before, but I know they did.”

His hand hovered over her shoulder with hesitation. He started to lower it, but pulled back at the brush of her clothes. “I didn’t know.”

She rubbed the tears from her cheeks and steadied her breathing. “It took everything from me, and it didn’t even matter.”

The door swung open just after the day’s final light escaped behind the mountain range.

The pair jumped at the intrusion. Ned returned to the dishes while Ryn tried to compose herself.

Dorran stood across from her. Wood clanked against wood as he dropped a carved sword on the table in front of her.

She stared down in disbelief. “This isn’t exactly what I meant.”

Dorran rolled his eyes. “Best to build your strength as you train.” He watched as she nodded slowly. Her eyes were dull and movements sluggish.

“You need some rest right now, though.” He paused to glare at Ned. “In your own room.”

Ned held his hands up, maintaining his innocence. “She’s more than welcome to her room.”

She groaned with exasperation. “This is ridiculous. This—” she motioned between the men. “—occupies way too much of either of your thoughts.” She shuffled out of the kitchen with a sniffle.

Dorran glimpsed a tear plummet from her chin.

Ned’s ears turned red as he watched her leave.

He shook his head, resetting his focus. There was more work to be done.