The harbor of Solmyra shimmered beneath hanging lanterns across the restless sea. Waves slapped against weathered planks in steady rhythm, carrying with them the sharp tang of salt, tar, and old fish. Merchants were closing their stalls, shutters thudding into place as coins were counted in hurried whispers. Somewhere along the docks, a cluster of drunken sailors sang off-keys, their laughter drifting through the night.
Lily wrinkled her nose as she followed the others down the pier, stepping around puddles. Brennar walked beside her, hugging the clerk's ledger to his chest. Rowan lounged on a coil of rope. Jaro and Teren dragged their feet, yawning together as they stared at the planks beneath them.
Lily eyed the docks skeptically. "This is it? Harbor watch? I thought this was a hunting squad. Why aren't we hunting?"
"Because, Holloway, we don't spend every day chasin' beasts through the woods. Welcome to the glamorous side of Guild life. Scribblin' ship names and keepin' drunk sailors from drownin' in their own boots. You're lucky to join us on such grand adventures, really," Rowan quipped as he tossed a knife into the air. "Just try not to trip over thin air while you're gawkin' at the waves."
Lily didn't bother to argue. She simply slumped against a piling, her head lolling back to track a piece of driftwood. She began picking at a loose thread on her sleeve, scuffing her boot rhythmically against the planks to make sure the squad heard every second of her restless impatience.
"Lily, please stop scuffing your feet, it isn't very nice to look at. If you stand up straight and keep your chin level, you will feel much better." Brennar suggested. "A quiet night is better than a bloody one."
"Besides, Heliosa's forests don't have as many creatures as other kingdoms. Unless one sneaks in from somewhere else, our jobs are more about earnin' coin than fightin' monsters. Until then, it's watch duty, settlin' arguments, escortin' folk... whatever fills our pockets," Fox guy explained.
Before Lily could answer, their captain strode up. He stopped three paces away, gaze sweeping past her as if she were no more than a shadow, and addressed his sergeant in a clipped tone.
"Garric, t-tell Holloway she'll take the south pier w-with Finn."
With a long-suffering sigh, Garric turned to face her. "You're with Finn. South pier."
Lily arched a brow. "What is he doing? He's standing right here. I heard him. No need to pass the message like he's a league away."
He just lifted a shoulder. "Orders."
"Fine. Tell him I heard him." She spoke loud enough making sure Darian could hear every word. "I. Heard. Him."
Garric, stone-faced, turned back anyway. "She says she heard you."
Darian gave a short, businesslike nod. Still never looking at her, he headed off as if his loyal friend's words were the only ones that had reached him.
Lily threw her arms wide in a gesture of total defeat, her expression one of baffled annoyance. "He's ridiculous. Is he deaf, blind, or just plain stupid?"
"All three, when it comes to women, ekh-eekh!"
When their captain's tall frame vanished into the shades of the docks, Lily folded her arms. "Does he treat every woman like this? Passing messages through you like some fool guy?"
The men exchanged glances.
Brennar spoke first. "Oh, don't be so mean on him, Lily. He isn't like that for no reason. It's the heavy burden he carries. Poor, dear Darian."
"What reason then?"
Garric glanced over his shoulder, making sure Darian was well out of earshot before leaning in to her. "He was the most unfortunate man when it came to women. Some kind of curse, you'd think. Almost all his experiences went badly. Let's start with his mother. She was cruel, she beat his father, abandoned them both. Darian grew up learning not to trust what should have been safe."
"And when he got older, he tried his luck with women. They mocked him. Brave with a bow, tongue-tied with ladies. Laughed at him 'til it stuck." Rowan added.
"They made fun of him," Garric stated. "Made him believe he wasn't enough of a man."
Lily's irritation faded into something more thoughtful. She opened her mouth, but Rowan spoke again, his voice dropping to a confidential hush. "And then came the worst of it."
Brennar looked worried and reached out to touch Rowan's arm gently. "Rowan, please. We should not talk about such private things here on the docks."
But Rowan pressed on. "You know Margarette, the clerk at the guild hall? Sweet lady, always smilin'. Darian had eyes for her. We thought she liked him back."
Lily blinked in surprise. "Margarette?"
He nodded, relishing the moment. "One night, he thought he'd finally caught her heart. She poured him wine, made him laugh, and even stayed close at his side. He was awkward as ever, but happy. Then she went with him, drunk as he was, back to his place." Pausing, he lifted his brows in a pointed hint. "Well, you know what happened after that. It was his first time, Holloway. And he gave it to her." He paused, knife flicking between his fingers, eyes glinting in the lantern light. "Only it wasn't the girl of his dreams after all."
Brennar pressed his fingers on his mouth. Kellen muttered a curse.
Rowan continued, "It was Seraphina, Margarette's mother. Used her daughter's physique, or trickery, or simply by her own wits. No one knows how. But Darian woke to the truth the next mornin'. Shattered him clean through. From that day on, he swore he'd never trust any woman again."
Lily stared, her face shifting in startled disbelief. "You're joking."
Rowan shook his head.
"And Margarette doesn't know. Best she never does. Not a word, Holloway," Garric warned.
"He's so stupid," Lily scoffed. "He sees Margarette almost every day, and doesn't know the difference?"
Garric shrugged. "A man blinded by hope sees only what he wants."
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
Lily couldn't decide whether to laugh or pity him. Seeing stern, awkward Darian undone so harshly left her caught between sympathy and disbelief. Before she could decide, footsteps returned down the dock.
Darian's shadow approached, bow across his back, eyes sharp. The men straightened instantly, Rowan tucked his knife away, and Brennar flipped open the ledger as if he'd been writing the whole time.
Finn swayed in quickly to catch Lily's attention. "Right then! Back to ship names. And look at me, paired with our lovely Holloway on the south pier. Must be my lucky night." He offered her a lazy mock salute. "Keep your eyes sharp, milady. Sailors get rowdy quick."
Lily rolled her eyes. "Wonderful. My luck."
Darian walked past, as rigid and wordless as ever, seemingly unaware of what they were saying about him.
A few minutes later, the two went to the quieter south pier, where the stink still clung to the air. Lanterns swayed overhead, their light flickering across the black water.
Lily walked briskly, boots knocking softly on the planks, while Finn fell in step at her side. He flashed what he assumed was a charming smile before leaning closer.
"So, what's it feel like? Stuck counting ships with me when you could be doing something far more exciting... like sharing a drink with me?" He added a wink for good measure.
Lily turned her head just enough to look at him, expression flat. "Do you have something in your eye?"
Finn frowned, confused. "No, why?"
"Let me help take it out—so you can't wink anymore."
He winced theatrically, covering his eye. "So cruel. That would hurt." But then he stared at her. "You have a sharp tongue, talk like Kellen or perhaps... you're the hard-to-get type."
"Well, let me tell you straight. I'm not interested in you or any of you." Lily tried to speak coolly. "So stop talking to me, or I'll cut your tongue out."
Finn's jaw dropped. He slapped a hand over his mouth as though to guard it, peeking at her between his fingers with mock horror.
Lily exhaled through her nose, a bit annoyed. "You men are impossible."
Finn lowered his hand slowly, his grin creeping back. "Impossible, maybe... but at least we're entertaining."
Before Lily could fire back, shouting erupted further down the dock. Two men staggered from rival ships, swinging wild fists. Their crews followed, shoving, jeering, the pier suddenly alive with curses and crashing blows.
"Here we go."
Lily's hand flew to her sword hilt. "Finally."
"Not that." Finn warned quickly, holding up her arm. "No blades. You draw steel, you're done, probation over."
The words stung, but Lily forced her hand away from the hilt.
"Hey! Stop it!" she shouted, stepping between them. "Enough!"
None of the sailors listened. They were too far gone, drunk, furious, blind to anything but their fists. The stink of sweat and cheap wine clung to them. One of them shoved her shoulder hard, the jolt rattling up her arm, and another swung at her without even looking at who she was.
Lily jumped in barehanded. She pulled a sailor back by his collar, making him fall. Another tried to hit her but she grabbed his wrist first and twisted until he yelled. Her moves were fast, rough, and effective. It was clear she knew how to fight.
Finn, impressed even as he traded blows too, ducked a punch with a smirk.
The brawl grew louder, shouts echoing over the slap of boots and crack on wood. Barrels toppled, ropes snapped. Then Lily spotted a knife flashing in the dark, one sailor lunging for Finn's unguarded back.
Her blood surged hot in her nerves. For a heartbeat, her hand was back on her sword. But Master Theron's words reminded her: a fire that must be restrained. Power without control leads only to ruin. Do not let instinct rule you. Sharpen your mind, and let discipline guide your hand. Power is an edge—it can defend, or it can cut.
Snarling, she kicked the knife clean from the man's hand and slammed him face-first into a piling. Wood cracked, something clattered, and he crumpled unconscious.
The fight stopped when the city watch rushed in with clubs, forcing the sailors apart and dragging some away in chains.
Lily's shoulders remained tight with unspent tension as she focused on breathing to control her racing pulse.
Finn clapped, fully impressed. "Not bad at all. Stronger than half the men I've seen brawl down here. You could've tossed me in the sea if you wanted."
"Don't tempt me."
"See? That's the type I like best."
Lily stayed silent. Her knuckles ached from the clash, and she wondered if restraint would ever feel as natural as letting loose.
Instead, the Guild taught her patience and self-control, test after test. The days went by fast, each one making her stronger in ways fighting never could.
Mountain Escort
The mountain paths were narrow under the pine trees, and the healers muttered as they stopped to pick roots and herbs from the rocks. The squad walked in a loose line, watching the hills.
At a rest stop, Lily watched Brennar. He was kneeling to fix his pack, moving with graceful, tidy gestures. Even on the dusty mountain path, his leathers were brushed clean and his boots were polished like mirrors.
"You are very tidy, Brennar," she offered him an honest smile. "You are the neatest hunter I have ever seen."
He looked up and gave a little, playful tilt of his head. Reached out and gently tucked a loose piece of hair behind Lily's ear.
"I simply don't like being messy, Lily dear," he chirped in a sweet, sing-song voice. "Dirt is just so... boring. It sticks to your soul. But being orderly keeps everything wonderful."
He looked at her sweetly with his pretty hazel eyes. "It is a pity, really. You are such a strong girl, but you carry yourself like a grumpy bear. You would look quite darling if you sat up straight and showed a bit of grace."
Lily didn't get angry at his correction. Usually, she hated it when people touched her but with him, it was different. His presence was so friendly and ladylike that felt like a big sister the way he treated her.
"I suppose I could try," she murmured, feeling a bit more relaxed.
He nodded with poise. "There is a good girl. A little bit of grace goes a long way, even for a hunter."
She kept her eyes on him. "You're... different from the others. Honestly, I'm surprised that you chose this type of work."
Brennar gave a light, tinkling laugh. "Oh, my parents thought the same, Lily girl. They truly believed I wouldn't last a single day in the guild." He adjusted his scarf with a delicate touch. "People were quite mean, really. They said I acted 'wrong' for a boy. But I always found the way women move so much more... charming. I loved their dresses and how they fixed their hair. I wanted that bit of glamour for myself. But people can be so dreadfully cruel, don't you think?"
A knot coiled in Lily's stomach. She remembered the names, the whispers, the way children bullied her when she was a kid. "I know what it feels like," she affirmed. "To be hated for whatever reason."
He sighed in a soft, airy way. "Even my father and brother were quite against about it. They called me a waste of blood. They said being gay was a shame. It was all very serious and very sad." He placed a hand on his weapon's handle. "So I came here to show them I can be a star in my own way and look fabulous doing it."
Lily admired beneath her sympathy. "That takes more strength than swinging a hammer. And at least the squad doesn't make fun of you."
Finn snorted, which have been listening at their back. "Are you kidding? We respect him. The last man who jeered at Brennar left with broken bones. No one beats him bare-handed."
"Don't be fooled, Holloway. Rosethorn's not the only somethin' that hits hard in this group. 'Tis got a mean streak if you mess with his silks." Rowan mused.
Brennar just shrugged, chin lifted in quiet satisfaction, modest as ever.
Finn, leaning against a boulder, seized the opening. "You should be careful, Holloway. Strong, tidy, soft-spoken Brennar's making the rest of us look bad. But instead of sticking by him, you could always stick with me. I'm more charming and let's be honest much easier on the eyes," he winked, clearly trying his luck again.
Lily didn't blink. "You'd look better if you kept your mouth shut."
The twins burst out cackling. Rowan doubled over, wheezing with his foxy laugh. Even Garric's lips twitched and Brennar hid a chuckle behind his scarf.
Finn wasn't the first to try to charm her. But he was nothing like Juliene.
Up ahead, Darian paused at a fork in the path. His eyes swept the slopes, then again without looking at her, he spoke to Garric. "T-tell Holloway to hold t-the rear."
"Rear guard. His words, not mine."
Lily rolled her eyes but moved to the back without complaint.
Her sword hand twitched whenever shadows appeared in the undergrowth. Once, a stone clattered down the slope, her muscles tensed, ready to leap forward but Darian's bark came quick through Garric.
"Hold. Don't waste strength on ghosts."
She obeyed. By day's end, not a single bandit had shown. When they regrouped, Darian gave Garric a curt nod.
"T-tell Holloway... compliant, for now."
He passed it along like captain's personal messenger.
Lily nearly growled, but she just bit her tongue.
?? Which member of the squad you liked so far?
