RUIN

I'm furious. I really, really am. Yaris just fucking left while I was literally pissing and then when I tried talking to everyone else about why he left, they weren't really clear with me. Shatterjaw just kept talking so I cut her off, practically yelling that no one should be going off alone because there's a fucking unknown Fae out there and that shut them up. Magnum had quickly exited and now we're waiting for him to come back with Yaris.

I'm so angry. I'm angry at them and I'm angry at Yaris. It seems like every time there's conflict, he decides to fucking leave like a child rather than sort it out and be honest about his fucking feelings like a fucking adult.

Shatterjaw shifts near the fire as I glare at my food. I know I should keep eating but my stomach is in knots and I can't.

"You know," Shatterjaw says, sounding unsure. "If someone was in charge, like you, this type of thing wouldn't happen."

I groan at that and shift my glare to her.

"Which part, Shatterjaw?" I snap. "A Fae following us? Is that what you mean?"

She grimaces.

"I meant… you could command someone to… stay, right?"

"For fuck's sake, I'm not a drill sergeant and Yaris isn't a solider!" I exhale sharply and shake my head, feeling some of the fight leaving me. "What the hells makes you think that he would even listen? "

She opens her mouth and then closes it again.

"Regardless," I rub my face. "It is unwise to go anywhere alone. Not while all of this is happening. Not while a Fae is tracking us. I'll talk to him."

And not just about his foolishness—about his distance and habitual penchant of abandoning me when he's pissed.

Ugh.

Shatterjaw nods and shifts.

"Hopefully this will be over sooner rather than later," Shatterjaw says, trying to sound casual, and then grimaces when I look at her. "Right. I'm just saying. You never know. It could be easy."

I twitch. I want to point out that it's more likely to be drawn out and complicated, but opt for a more level headed approach.

"I'm the only Seer around here," I say steadily. "Let's stop making predictions, shall we?"

It's true, but mostly, I just don't want to think about it for the moment. It's entirely possible we're entirely fucked but we really don't need that attitude… right?

Shatterjaw nods and is about to say more when I suddenly stiffen and sit up, worrying my lip. She freezes and watches me as I carefully feel out the magic headed our way.

Yaris is approaching. That much is clear. His magic—his aura, really—is mature and firm, like an old oak tree that smells of sunlight and vines with pale pink flowers on them. His magic used to just feel "big" but since my senses have awoken, it's much more detailed. Magnum is with him. His magic felt like an absence but now it's like an old, bottomless well residing deep within ancient woods and it swallows everything thrown down into it. It smells like damp and crisp and… red, somehow.

A third person is with them. Her magic feels like Yaris' in a way, but it's much older, like an extremely archaic oak that's been twisted by time but still thrives and gives life to everything around them. She smells of sunlight and squirrel and acorns. She is… she must be the Fae. And somehow, she's related to Yaris.

"Ruin!" Shatterjaw is in front of me, looking severe and worried. "What's wrong?"

"They're back and…" I shake myself. "They're back and they have a Fae with them."

"Shit," Shatterjaw puts herself fearlessly between the door and me, her fingers closing over her sword grip. "What do we do? Have they bewitched them?"

I shake my head, quite certain they haven't.

"No. Yaris and Magnum's magic is pure. It isn't twisted like that."

Shatterjaw looks surprised, probably that my senses are that sharp, but doesn't comment on my evaluation.

"What should we do?"

"Wait… I guess," I say and huff. "Just… no sudden movements. The Fae feels powerful and—"

I feel them inside the inn.

"—and they're here."

A few moments later, there's a knock and Magnum enters. He looks a bit unsure, and his magic is on high alert, his hair frayed in every which way which is… kind of hot.

"Uh," he looks at our solemn faces. "We… have a situation."

"I know," I say, shifting and trying to look relaxed. "Bring them in."

Magnum sighs.

"Of course you can feel her," he says softly and opens the door. "Yaris, Bandit, come in."

Yaris comes in, looking blank, his arms wrapped tightly around himself and a scratch on his cheek. I'll deal with him in a moment.

The woman who follows him closes the door behind her and looks around curiously. She's wearing a hiking dress that's meant to blend into the landscape along with a dark navy cloak. She obviously has a glamour on as she's glittering rainbows but her skin is very pale, her eyes a playful hazel, and her hair a soft blond. She reeks of Magnum's magic, but none of that is her most interesting feature.

She has a thick, twisted scar running from the top of her nose to the edge of her right jawline. She is definitely Fae which means she suffered a very serious injury by… ash wood? I think it was ash wood.

Just like Yaris.

She appraises us quietly, but looks relaxed and friendly, her eyes flickering to Shatterjaw, then me, and then back to Shatterjaw. She doesn't seem interested in anyone else.

Yaris retreats to the fire, brooding, while Magnum heads to the bathroom, no doubt to fix his hair.

"How do you do?" I say, putting on my stately manners, unsure of how to proceed. "I am Ruin Shadowsunder, former Grand Maestro of Ordesh, and this is the captain of my guard, Captain Shatterjaw. It is a pleasure to meet you."

She cocks her head and then laughs, shaking.

"Shit, if you're that polite with all Fae, dragon rider, you'll end up with a cut out tongue." Her eyes twinkle in amusement and she has the same lilting accent that Yaris does, though it is heavier. "But you're cute. And powerful. Though… cuteness can be powerful, in its own way."

"Uh… okay?" I blink. "Why… don't you have a seat and tell us why you're stalking me?"

She grins and sits down in the chair by the fire. Yaris not so subtly scoots away from her. I resist an urge to roll my eyes and instead focus on the newcomer.

"How'd you know I'm stalking you?" She asks curiously. "Could you sense me?"

I could lie, but I suspect that wouldn't help us.

"My dragon told me," I say plainly. "He was concerned. He didn't know who you are. I don't know who you are."

She smiles and it is beautiful, enchanting, erasing her scar entirely, but I don't think she's ashamed of it anyway. She wears it like a badge of honor, something to be seen, a testament to her survival and I can respect that.

"I go by Bandit," she says. "But I do have a Fae name. I am Hemlock Honeysuckle Sunbeam, second daughter of King Sunbeam, third child of the 17th Sunbeam monarchy. Erased child and rebel."

There's a heavy silence and Yaris is scowling at her like she's a lying fiend. I'm taken aback and unsure what to say. Her giving her full name is a true sign of trust and I suspect she's here to help us. That's what my gut says, and my gut is usually good. It's getting better, even.

Just when I'm about to respond, Yaris speaks up.

"I've never heard of you," he snaps. "Well… sort of. My parents always named everyone else, but… there was a sixth child who passed, who they never put a name to. I thought… they had been an infant. I do not… I do not know you."

Bandit smiles sadly.

"Because those sad excuses for parents erased me, Yaris," she shifts her sizable attention to him. "I rebelled. Like you did once."

Yaris huffs, looking impatient.

"There would be records," he insists. "I would know."

Bandit looks at him gently, compassionately, as if he has been wronged.

"Our people do not keep accurate records, Yaris," she says softly. "You know this from experience. You're telling me there were no holes? Nothing to make anything suspicious?"

She waits as he tries to think, obviously struggling to not just dismiss everything outright. I wait too, wanting him to have a chance to come to his own conclusions. He scowls and looks affronted for a few long moments before his face goes slack.

"That's not—" he swallows. "… I-I would know, would I not? They would not…"

They would.

"Yaris," I clear my throat and looks at me, lost and desperately trying to shove everything down. I can see it in his eyes—he's trying to wrangle all his complex feelings like a man wrangles a wild horse. "I can sense your connection. I wouldn't be able to say she's your sister, but you're definitely related, and she is old."

Bandit looks me over, her eyes a bit wide.

"Shit," she breathes. "You really are powerful."

I dismiss it with a wave.

"Irrelevant," I say. "What do you want?"

She swallows and glances at Shatterjaw.

"I want to help," she says. "I know the pillars were made with blood magic. I know my siblings died for it. I tried to stop it and got a new face as a result. I have waited for a thousand years for the dragons to show themselves again. There have been dragon riders here and there but none of your magnitude. The world is dying, and you are the healer. I want to help." She takes a deep breath and smiles wryly. "That and… I would be bringing something very valuable with me."

I raise an eyebrow.

"And that would be?"

Bandit fiddles with her hair.

"I run a… network of people who recover, analyze, and distribute, uh…" She bites her lip. "… sensitive information."

"You're a spy," Shatterjaw says flatly. "Great. Who do you spy for?"

"Myself," Bandit offers, looking a little more confident. "We… I mean, I sort of never stopped that rebellion against my father. We have a lot of information on the Fae and current affairs. And on the elves. Some humans. Well. Not some. Just… almost every?"

She grimaces and I snort.

"Great. You're a spymaster. How trustworthy," Yaris says dryly, and it looks like Shatterjaw and he are in some sort of agreement over this because she nods.

"I'm not a spymaster. Not exactly," she huffs. "I'm a resistance leader who prefers to use subtle methods to change things. We rarely fight outright, though our members are trained."

I consider all of this, ignoring Yaris and Shatterjaw's glares.

"You must have a large network after so many years," I finally say, curious.

Bandit nods.

"We… did. But unfortunately, the Sunbeam monarchy doesn't like us meddling and neither do… well, truly, all of the monarchies don't like us meddling, so we've been nearly wiped out a few times. Regardless, it is workable now. We call ourselves The Nightshade Initiative."

I look at her in surprise.

" You run the Initiative?"

"Oh. So, you've heard of us?"

Shatterjaw and I exchange a look.

"Yes. King Oathblade didn't like your activities. He wanted me to come up with better wards to keep you out of the palace and even had me ward various nobles and their houses. This was a few years ago."

That summer had been the hottest in three decades and the magic as fickle as the distrusting wind. I always felt there was something at play, making it harder, because we couldn't keep anyone out, no matter what we tried. It was maddening.

I laugh and grin at her.

"Godsdammit. I couldn't stop anyone. It's because it was Fae magic, right?"

Bandit shrugs but looks pleased.

"Yes. Fae magic is very well suited for subterfuge. I'm surprised you couldn't stop us."

"It was the weather," I say with a wink. "Well. I, for one, would love to welcome you, and unless anyone has any real objections, I think I'll do just that."

Yaris scowls and looks like he's about to speak and I look at him steadily. He looks at Bandit and then at me and then at Shatterjaw and then shuts his silly mouth, recognizing a lost cause .

"Excellent! Bandit, you can stay here, if you want. Yaris and I will be getting our own room," I say and put my feet on the floor. Shatterjaw, of course, objects immediately.

"Ruin, you really shouldn't—" she starts, and I cut her off.

"We'll be fine. I'll ward the door. But he and I need to talk. Alone."

Yaris now looks like an affronted wet cat who's accepted their doom. He mumbles something and sighs dramatically, slouching woefully on his corner of the couch. Wisely, Shatterjaw looks like she doesn't want to get into the middle of it or deal with him and just nods slowly.

"Yes. Of course. Uh… good luck."

I sigh. I'll need all the luck I can carry.