Stepping into the tavern in Ravenwood hurt more than I’d thought it would, I quickly realized. There was no Shane to greet me, no premium meal that Gristle had planned his entire day around. Instead, a short, plump woman, probably double my age, with brown locks tucked behind pointed ears leaned forward at us with her chest completely resting on the bartop.

  “What can I do for you boys?” She asked, her gaze not straying from Finn. As we sat at the bar he turned on his typical charm, and flashed her the signature grin that always had women falling at his feet.

  “Mead for me, miss, and something to fill our stomachs. What do you have?” The woman rattled off a few things, and Finn selected a plate of rabbit stew. I tuned them out and focused on a gouged spot in the wood of the bar.

  How far do you think Sahara’s actually involved? I asked August. Does it concern you? He asked in return, Does it bother you to know she might not be completely innocent in this? My lips flattened as I thought about it. Yeah, I replied, it does bother me. She’s young, and kind to the people of this town. It seems like she truly has a place Topside if she’d just accept it. She doesn’t need to work Underneath. Being involved with something this severe could ruin her. Who knows what kind of crowd can take advantage of her down there? August hummed at that. You mean like Valen did when she started working for him? She’s not a child, Rune, or innocent. She signed up for this just like everyone else in that place.

  “Huntsman!” I snapped my head up as Finn barked my name and gave me a shove. “You gonna order something or what?”

  “Dark and elven.” I grumbled on instinct, “And whatever food he’s having.” Finn gave me a questioning glare, but apologized on my behalf to the barmaid. She muttered something about piss and coffee as she sauntered off to retrieve our order.

  “What’s with the brooding?” My partner nudged me with his elbow. I sighed deeply and rubbed the back of my neck with my hand.

  “Just thinking,” I answered simply, “About what we saw earlier. I’m having a hard time understanding which side she’s actually on, here. What if she ends up getting us into some deep shit, Finn? If I’m found out, we’ll both be executed for treason.”

  Finn hummed as he mulled over the information. “I don’t know if she made a life-pact with V. I’ve never seen a mark on her. If she did, however, that would mean her wellbeing is tied to ours. If we die at her hand, or due to her betrayal on the job together, that would void her life. That’s how the pact works. That’s how your secret is guaranteed to be safe with us while you’re in Venom.”

  “So…” I spoke slowly while I evaluated his words, “The easiest way to decipher her intentions would be to find out if she’s branded?” When Finn nodded his confirmation, I continued, “How are we supposed to manage that?”

  Our drinks were brought out, and this time I made sure to thank the maid. If there was one thing I’d learned in my years in Sailor’s Rest, it was to never piss off the barkeeper. I thought back to memories of Shane’s apprentice spitting in mugs, or putting a few drops of bitterroot extract in people’s drinks when they’d rubbed him the wrong way. Those guys would be doubled over with stomach cramps shortly after. I chuckled to myself as I picked up my drink. Would hate to end up like those unlucky bastards.

  I took a long drink from the elven stout she’d chosen for me, and savoured the bitter taste. “It’d be too easy or obvious to just come out and ask her if she has one, wouldn’t it?” I asked, casting a side-look at Finn, who was shrugging.

  “I mean, you seem to have some level of a relationship with her. Maybe it is that easy.”

  His statement made me snort. “Relationship? That’s a bold statement. We went shopping together. That doesn’t make us anything special.”

  “I mean, besides the little fact that you saved her life, and almost killed yourself doing so? She was terrified, Wren. She- no, we genuinely believed you might die after that magic stunt in the forest. I was picturing my body strung up on the outpost walls as punishment for letting you die on your first mission. I’m sure her thoughts weren’t far off from that either. She’s been acting differently since then, and don’t tell me you haven’t noticed.”

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  I had noticed, and that was what had me doubting everything in this moment to begin with. Before, when she said very little and was indifferent towards us, it would’ve been easy to peg her as another dealer working the streets to her advantage. Now, after spending time with her around town, I wasn’t sure what to think. My thoughts kept trailing back to Gia, and what I would do if it were her in those shoes, not Sahara.

  The barmaid came out with our food, and Finn gave me one last nudge before picking up his spoon. “Maybe give her the benefit of the doubt. Evaluate, get the full picture. Don’t condemn her before you talk to her. We at least owe her that.”

  He was right, and I knew it, but I wasn’t ready to just drop it so quickly. However, the food in front of me sparked a hunger I didn’t know I had. I grabbed my own spoon and dug into the stew. It wasn’t a meal from Gristle, that’s for damned sure, but it would have to do. I chewed slowly while I pondered how to confront Sahara. You can’t let your personal life interfere with your decisions. August’s voice came to the front of my mind again. That’s easier said than done, I barked back, My personal life is how I got here in the first place. It affects everything. My decisions could affect everything.

  I lost myself in the beer and conversations between both Finn out loud and August in my mind, purely wasting time and keeping my thoughts from going dark. I didn’t even notice at first when the familiar combo of blonde hair and blue eyes flounced into the bustling tavern. She greeted most of the regulars by name, stopping by a few tables and making small talks as she went past. It only aggravated me more, seeing her back to the way she was in town earlier, before the alley deal. She seems genuinely nice and caring for these people, how could she do something like that to them?

  I wasn’t ready to address that just yet, so when she chose to sit next to me instead of Finn, I growled internally. Fuck’s sake. August chirped at me to get my act together, and I sighed.

  “So, how was your day out on the town?” Sahara asked lightheartedly, “Did you find everything you were looking for? Do all the poking around you were hoping to accomplish?”

  I gave her a side-eyed glance and took a gulp from my mug. “Plenty.” I answered flatly, and focused again on the gouged spot on the bar that had become so captivating to me at the start of the evening. Sahara leaned forward to give a questioning look to Finn, who offered her an apologetic half-smile and a shrug.

  After a confused glance in my direction, she waved down the barmaid. “Matilda! A pint of my usual, please! And would you mind making sure my room is ready? I have a meeting soon.” The dwarf woman who’d served us earlier was already sliding a pint of cider across the bar for Sahara.

  “Of course, love! Already on it.” She excused herself from the bar, assumingly to go check the room in question.

  Sahara turned her attention to us once more. “Okay, I’ve said it before but just to be clear; I am the one talking. You two are just big, scary guard dogs. You stand in the corners, you say nothing. I get my answers, and then you,” her eyes darted at me, “can do your… thing. You still didn’t tell me exactly what that means, by the way.”

  I stared back coldly. “It’s not a hard concept to grasp. What’re you planning to do with him afterwards? Can’t just leave him out and about.”

  “Oh, that’s on me.” Finn piped in. “I’ll be escorting him to V. Direct orders.”

  I turned to face him when he spoke and blinked a couple times, but shrugged it off and looked away. What happened to this guy after me was not my problem, nor concern. I downed my second glass of stout and brushed the excess from my stubbled chin with the back of my hand. “Understood.” Finn and Sahara must’ve both seen my gaze grow cold and distant, because they exchanged a look of concern as my mug hit the bar with a thud.

  Focus, Rune. You have a job to do. Get out of your head, get out of your feelings. None of that matters right now. Get the job done, don’t screw anything up, and get out alive. It was the same thing I’d been telling myself from day one of doing contract work. However, it felt like an entirely different weight when others’ lives were also on the line. I could handle myself, but being responsible for two other people, one of which I didn’t even trust? That was a tall order.

  Matilda came back and told Sahara that her room was ready, and her guest was settled in. Sahara picked up her drink and stood to face us. “Ready?” She asked once more. Finn and I stood as well, and dropped a few silver coins on the bar for the meal and drinks. He faced Sahara and put his fist to his chest in a salute. I locked eyes with her and gave a short nod, and she quickly averted her gaze.

  “Right, let’s go then.” She spun on her heel and made her way through the mess hall, leaving Finn and I to keep up with her as she navigated expertly through the dinner rush. The entire time my eyes stayed locked onto her, I kept chanting to myself as if it could change any potential bad outcome. In the last hour, I had planned for a million ways for this to go sideways, as I always did. But one thing always remained constant.

  Get in, get the job done, and get out alive.

  Get in, get the job done, and get out alive.

  Get in… Get the job done… and get… everyone… out alive.

  Shit.

  Even my constant was no longer the one solid thing in my mind.