Everything happened in a blur.

  Ward drew his sword. He lunged around the table and swung.

  Renner moved much faster. In one heartbeat he’d whirled and snapped his hand out. Silver flicked through the air. His other hand dropped and, in one smooth motion, he drew his own sword. It met Ward’s with a metallic clang that rattled my teeth.

  Josiah bellowed in pain. I didn’t have time to turn and see where the dagger had hit; Thom had produced a knife and, rather than go for Renner, was climbing over the table. Coming towards me. I traced.

  Agnes shrieked, “Don’t let her-!”

  “Veth!” Heat flooded my insides. For one awful moment, I wondered if it hadn’t been long enough. If I was still drained from earlier.

  I would ignite the table, and perhaps the men around me. Then I’d collapse in the middle of it all. Leaving Renner to fend everyone off while my body slowly roasted and I railed helplessly an entire world away at a Fae who probably thought the whole situation was very boring.

  It was a horrifying thought.

  It wasn’t what happened.

  What happened was almost worse.

  The fire caught on Thom’s shirt. His heavy jowls were illuminated in a flash of orange light. Then his hands as he tried to smother the flames, and then his tongue as he screamed in pain. Pungent sulfur and burning hair stung my nose. I gagged.

  No oh no he’s burning he needs help-

  I quashed the urge to lunge forwards and douse the blaze. I could help him after. Assuming I was alive.

  Thom kept burning. He fell backwards off the table.

  Ward cried out and jerked backwards, too, clearly caught off guard. Renner followed, sword chopping down. The blades connected again, and then again and again. His free hand dropped and spun another dagger from its sheath. I whirled towards Josiah.

  The big man was on one knee, face twisted into a rictus of pain. I could see the black knifehilt sticking out of one shoulder. He was clutching at it and staring with vicious intent towards Renner.

  I raised my fingers again. “Ve-ngh!”

  The world flashed white and I stumbled forwards. My palms slammed into the wooden floor. The back of my head throbbed and an iron lantern clattered to the ground beside me. From behind, Agnes gave a triumphant little hiss.

  Then I heard the rapid thumps and rustles of boots and cloth being pressed against what was likely scorched flesh. Thom was howling. Agnes snapped something at him.

  “Help, help, help me now-” Ward’s lips were drawn back and his teeth were bared. He was backing up, sword clenched in both hands. This hiss of metal was almost constant, so violent was the onslaught, and it made my ears ring. He was blocking every blow Renner rained on him, but couldn’t seem to find the opportunity to return a strike. His gray eyes were wild. Frenzied.

  It was the look of a man who was facing off with death, and knew he was not winning.

  My vision slowly sharpened. I pressed my palms against the wood. Renner’s knife hand was working, slowly but surely, to shift the blade back between his forefingers and thumb. Getting ready to throw again.

  Josiah was stalking forwards. Towards the furious combat. Blood was dripping from one dangling arm. His uninjured hand was holding the heavy woodcutting axe at a very odd angle; gripping it just below the bit.

  I got to my knees and traced. Renner flicked his eyes towards me, mouth a grim line, and then he opened his mouth and cried out-

  My scalp lit on fire as fingers wrenched into my hair. My neck was snapped back so hard that for an instant I thought I was actually dead.

  The grip on my hair grew horribly taught. Then stars burst behind my eyes as the hand snapped down, and my face hit the floor with a hollow thud.

  I tasted metal. My nose was filled with something sticky and warm. Renner was shouting. He sounded like he was somewhere very far away.

  Someone else was screaming, too. Calling me all kinds of vile, vicious things in between gasps and sobs. A hand grabbed my arm, and another my shoulder, and the world spun as I was flipped onto my back. A crushing weight shoved down onto my ribs, forcing the air from my lungs.

  There was hazy smoke behind Thom. The fire was out, but its damage had been done. His tunic was in tatters and I could see blistered red flesh beneath, spreading up onto his shoulders and the underside of his jaw. The smell of burnt hair and acrid, melted fat made my gut rise. I took him in, the anguish and pain and fury on his red face.

  For a moment, I felt sorry for him.

  And then his fist came down.

  Everything went white. My ears rang. My teeth rattled. Warmth spread out from my lips, smeared and dribbled its way across my nose and chin and cheeks. I gasped for air. My hands lifted without a thought to cover my face. He dragged one away and the next blow left a sharp impact on one cheek. My head snapped to the side. My eyes lolled. He was howling oaths at me.

  My vision was spinning. Too bright. Hazy. But I saw the silver. It was blinding. For a moment, I thought it would hit me.

  It didn’t.

  There was an awful, wet gasp. Like someone trying to catch their breath through a throat-full of water.

  Then the weight pressing me down shifted. Thom fell to the side. One hand was clutching at his ribs. It pulled away crimson and he gaped at it. His face slowly turned pale and his mouth moved soundlessly.

  He’s got the trembles.

  I gasped for air through numb, split lips. My mouth was filled with blood. I nearly choked on it.

  This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Gotta live. Gotta thank him. Can’t die. Don’t die.

  I couldn’t seem to make my limbs move, much less push myself upright, but I managed to roll my eyes towards the sound of ringing metal. The upside-down angle made me feel nauseous, but my heart rose along with the bile.

  Josiah had joined the fight. It was different, now; rather than a savage onslaught, Renner seemed to be on the back foot. He was knocking aside swings from Ward while dancing back from the much larger man, keeping tables and chairs between them. And, every few moments, grabbing a lantern or copper plate with his free hand and whipping it towards one of the men.

  His forehead was shining with sweat. Drops of it spattered from damp chestnut hair. It almost looked like a fight he couldn’t win. Almost.

  But, even upside-down and half-conscious, I recognized the look on his face.

  Calm. Lethal. About to make a brutal choice.

  He danced behind another table and started working another dagger free. Then he actually winked at Ward. The other man bit out a curse and lunged toward him. Metal whined as his sword was batted aside.

  Josiah’s boot slammed furiously into the table, sending it crashing to the floor with an explosion of cracking, crashing wood and dinnerware. The enormous man grunted and staggered as he did so. He was slowing down. Breathing hard. He couldn’t catch up.

  He’s going to win. Gods, he’s actually going to win.

  Hope swelled like a rising dawn. And then was torn away.

  Pressure hit my swollen, aching lips. Agnes’ gnarled hand clapped over my mouth and pushed down. I felt warm blood smear across my teeth and tongue. Two bony knees dug into one arm and trapped one of my wrists to the floor.

  And then there was something very cold and sharp against my throat.

  “Stop!”

  Ward and Josiah listened immediately. Renner froze.

  Agnes’ voice was level. She was glowering at my companion. “I’ll slit her throat. Drop your weapons.”

  The chilly steel pressed down. I felt my pulse thrumming against it like a trapped bird.

  Renner didn’t move. He was looking at me.

  “I’ll do it,” she hissed. “I’ve done it before. It’s not difficult.”

  She can’t mean that. No one can mean that.

  My thoughts spun. Vaguely, I was aware that I should have been very frightened. Weeping, perhaps. Begging her.

  Instead I just felt… a hazy, distant indignance.

  He tried so hard. He fought so hard. He almost saved us. He shouldn’t die because of me.

  My eyes lolled towards Renner. Sweat was dripping down the side of his red face. He was panting. All the calm lethality was gone, replaced by cold rage.

  And fear.

  I couldn’t speak, but I met his eyes and managed to shake my head a bit. Even managed a muffled, “Mmph, mm-mm. Mm-mm!”

  It wasn’t quite as good as shouting ‘run, save yourself!’ But it was a good try.

  “I’ll do it,” Agnes hissed. I shuddered as the blade broke my skin ever so slightly.

  There was a clatter as Renner’s weapons hit the ground.

  I moaned a denial against her wrinkled skin. I felt her shiver a bit, watched her eyes drift shut for a breath, and realized with grim satisfaction that she had been very afraid.

  Good.

  “Good man,” she said in a short, clipped tone. “Ward, come help me. Get her gagged and bind her wrists.” She snapped her eyes to Renner. “The knife stays right here. Anything from you, any movement, and I’ll-”

  “I get the idea,” he snarled.

  No. No, don’t give up. Pick your sword back up. Throw a knife. Run out the door. Don’t just stop!

  I squirmed as hard as I could, trying to buck off the woman’s slight, bony frame away. She grunted but held fast.

  He can still win. If I can get her off, even for a moment, maybe he can-

  “Him, too?” Josiah panted. He was breathing hard. I could see blood spattered like tiny, gleaming rubies on the wood around his feet.

  “Her first. Then, yes. Strip off your armor,” she snapped at Renner. “The cloak, boots, everything. You seem like the type to have weapons tucked away.”

  Renner hesitated, staring at me. He looked torn.

  I met his gaze. Flicked mine towards the door with another muffled moan. Begged him to run.

  He didn’t.

  I closed my eyes. Tears started to slip out as I heard the quiet rustling of cloth, leather, and concealed metal being stripped away.

  “You’re making a mistake.” His voice was even and low. Promising violence, even now.

  Agnes scoffed.

  Her hand let up abruptly. I opened my swollen mouth, blood-filled mouth and started to shout, but Ward shoved cloth into it. What followed was an awful few moments of struggling and moaning as he tied a gag around my mouth, then flipped me onto my stomach. He bound my wrists so tightly that my hands started to tingle painfully with the need for blood.

  “Check her for weapons. You never know,” Agnes ordered. She kept the knife pressed to my throat and kept her vicious, gleaming eyes on Renner. I heard more stripping leather and the soft rustle of cloth.

  Ward slid his awful, pinching fingers down my sides, to my belt and trousers. He found the knife and tossed it aside. I curled my legs up as he yanked off my boots.

  He sniffed. “That’s it.” Then he gave my friend a vicious grin. “Your turn.”

  I angled my head back. Everything of Renner’s was on the ground save his loose tunic and dark, singed trousers. He spread his mottled hands and said nothing as Ward stalked over. He never took his eyes off the thin man’s face.

  A few moments later Ward and Josiah had Renner bound and gagged and sitting beside me. Josiah turned to Agnes. She had slid away from and was tending to Thom. The man was lying on one side beside me, still clutching at the knife in his ribs. His face was ashen. His breath was coming in shallow gasps.

  “He gonna live?” Josiah rumbled.

  She sniffed. “Depends on Baltha. I’ll ask her for more of that foul herb. For you, too,” she gestured with a wince to the big man’s shoulder.

  “And the plan?” Ward rubbed his jaw. “Still take ‘em to the cage?”

  Agnes thought for a moment. “Yes. Yes. I’ll have Aveline stay here and tend to Thom. We’ll walk them down and wait for her. I think with two, so soon after the girl, she might be pleased enough to barter.”

  Josiah grunted. Then he sank into a chair and closed his eyes.

  Agnes continued, “We’ll bury their belongings tomorrow. With Thom, if we need to. Ugh. Poor dear. You vicious little witch.” She spat on me.

  I kept fighting for breath through my clogged nostrils. Then the door opened. My blood ran cold.

  Terrence took one step inside and froze. The color drained from his face and he gave a garbled, choked cry. He started to rush in my direction. Ward blocked him.

  “What happened? What’s, what is this? Why-”

  “Terrence, dear,” Anne’s voice rose to a sharp, commanding pitch. “It was terrible! They’ve been in it together. Admitted as much, and then look what they did to poor Thom!”

  He spun all around, tawny hair swaying and jaw dropped wide. “What? But that… that doesn’t make any-”

  Ward rolled his eyes and slashed one hand towards the fragrant mug on the bar. “Oh, salt all this, just have him drink the damn wine. I’ll lock him in a room and he won’t know any better by morning.”

  Terrence balked. Then he dragged his feet backwards very slowly, staring at Ward as though he’d misheard him. “W-what? Know any better? What?” His round brown eyes shifted towards my face. Whatever state I was in, he choked out a cry and went even more pale. “Saint, what did you do to her?!”

  Agnes was pouring the spices into the mug. She tilted it this way and that in her hands and gave the frightened young man a tight smile. “Don’t fret, love. We don’t want you mixed up in all this.”

  He was breathing hard. Looking around like a trapped animal.

  “It didn’t work,” came a murmur from near the door. Aveline had shut it behind her. She was frowning at me. “That one- she had three cups. At least. It didn’t work.”

  I blinked. My left cheek was swelling, and my eye along with it. Everything appeared watery and too bright.

  Agnes paused. “You’re sure? What about him?” She jerked a thumb towards the silent, taught figure bound at my side.

  Aveline pouted. “Well, he didn’t have any. She interrupted us. It wasn’t my fault.”

  The older woman snorted. “Didn’t say it was. Hm. You said Lewen was none the wiser?”

  Aveline flicked her dark hair back and sniffed. “Yes. But I don’t know about the others. Didn’t think to… I wanted to come see you when I heard. She…” the beautiful young woman bit down on one plump lip and peered at Agnes. She looked almost frightened. “She shouldn’t have come into town. She’s not supposed to. That’s not the deal.”

  “What are you all talking about?” Terrence moaned. He looked like he was going to faint. And he was still staring at me. Like he wanted to run over and help.

  So they drug the other townsfolk. They give them some kind of herb to make them forget when people go missing. Ashes.

  And it didn’t work on me. Thank you, thank you, any gods or saints who can hear, thank you.

  Thank you that I didn’t forget Teela.

  Agnes cleared her throat. “Right. Well. This will be a bit more difficult, I suppose.” She fixed her sharp gaze on the shivering young man. “Master Terrence, you’re going to come for a walk with us. And you’re going to see something very frightening, but you’ll be safe. I promise.”

  I railed against my bonds. The ropes dug into my wrists and I choked on blood as I tried to shout out from behind the gag. I jerked my head back and forth in pleading denial.

  They’re going to have him make a deal. And then he’ll be part of all this. He won’t be able to help it. No, no no no no no!

  What if he refuses?

  Could the creature erase his memories of this grisly scene? Would he wake tomorrow, pleasantly baffled but ready to believe that story of Renner attacking us in the woods?

  If not… if he refused… would they kill him? Feed him to the hag?

  Terrence’s eyes were shining. “I… I don’t want to,” he whispered. He looked towards the door. Aveline was leaning against it, frowning at him. “I’m not going to.”

  Agnes drifted forwards. Her face was cold and flat again. “Sweetheart. I’m afraid it’s not a choice.”