Hearing that her parents had crossed paths with Shroud throughout their years was not surprising. They'd spoken of them before, though vaguely, in their retellings of their more prolific deeds. Now Everna had a name to associate with the robed figures, vicious assassins, and evil mages they encountered.

To hear that Shroud once controlled Pendel in its entirety left her questioning everything she once believed.

Throughout her life, she'd been told that Pendel was nothing but a podunk town on the furthest fringes of the kingdom, crumbling beneath the weight of poverty and neglect before Mayor Ashburn arrived some thirty years ago. Under his leadership Pendel freed itself from the rut it'd fallen into and grew into the bustling town that it now was. That's what her parents said, what Mayor Ashburn said, and what her teachers and historical texts claimed. No one said otherwise.

The truth painted a far darker and more sinister picture. Pendel had suffered — not from negligence, but from intentional devastation wrought by Shroud. They owned the people of Pendel, bled them dry, and reveled in their disparity. Shroud stole children from their families and forced them into their order of thieves, murderers, and zealots — silencing or coercing anyone who dared oppose them.

Even the capital was powerless to break their hold. Every High Knight, adventuring party, and mercenary they sent to rectify the situation met a gruesome end or found themselves pulled into their fold. It wasn't until Mayor Ashburn, a Pendel native fortunate enough to escape Shroud's notice, arrived and liberated the town.

In the five years following, Sir Swiftbrook assumed control of the town as the Guard removed the remaining agents. Pala took over from there, serving five years as the Courts worked to sort out the matter. Most of the townspeople received a pardon from the Courts, as their plight was not of their own doing. They eradicated the town's history at all levels to ensure the kingdom's incompetence never graced the pages of the historical texts. It took but one generation and unanimous silence to hide the truth.

Corden came along only a few months later, and it was five years after, a year before Everna came into the world, that Arden won the town's first official election. By then, Shroud was little more than a distant memory for most, and the town had grown substantially. The houses that lined the palisade walls were all that remained of the time before Mayor Ashburn.

"That's why the town's been a little off about the matter," Ronan said. "The younger folk, who wouldn't know better, dropped the ball when Arden died. The rest of us knew. That's likely why no one spoke out in your defense, either. Except Banor and Andryll, gods bless them."

"But what would that have to do with Windmore?” Wil asked. “He's nobility. Why would he stay in Pendel, of all places?"

Her father threw him a caustic look, one of many since their conversation began; Wil merely raised a brow, unimpressed. "I'm the one keeping the Courts from putting her to the gallows. I need the details. They won't just take her word for it. Not after the issue with Sir Swiftbrook."

"Dad, quit being a pain in the ass and answer the question, please," Everna groaned.

Her father snorted and raised a brow — or he would, if he had any left; he'd lost them during his fight with Dulzraran, that part of his face marred with faded burn scars.

"A pain in the ass? And just where do you think you get off with that attitude? You think you're grown, huh?”

Though she knew he meant it in jest, she scowled. "I am, not that you could ever accept it. Besides, I am standing right here. I'd like to know how everyone conveniently overlooked Windmore this entire time."

"I don't know," her father admitted. "I can only assume it has something to do with his pardon or his family situation. Windmore, as hard as it is to believe, had little to do with Shroud. He hated them just as much as the rest. At least, that's what Evelina says."

He wanted revenge, Everna assumed. It was a common motive, perhaps one of the most common. Every other case she'd studied dealt with it — spouses killed for adultery, business partners murdered as retribution for ruined reputations and lives destroyed, and young women killed for rejecting men. Banor claimed Windmore tried to ruin Mayor Ashburn once. He was on her father's ass for every little thing over the years.

Shroud must've taken advantage of it. As much as he hated Shroud, he must've hated her father more, and that hatred made him an ideal accomplice to Mayor Ashburn's assassination. If things had worked as he intended, he'd have taken her from her father, just as her father had taken his sister from him.

Wil pursed his lips, something dark and bitter in his eyes. "Shroud's good at taking advantage of people's grievances with others." He turned to her and asked, "Anyone else who'd have an issue with you or your family?"

"Not that I'm aware of. Windmore's the only—"

"Landen," her father said, stopping her short.

She bit the inside of her cheek. Landen certainly didn't like her; he hadn't since they were children, though for what reason, she couldn't say. After the one scuffle they'd had when they were much younger, she never spoke to him unless it was necessary. She hadn't seen him since Mayor Ashburn's death, not that she had a chance to. She'd only been home for a week before Wil hauled her to the safe house.

Wil cocked his head, inquisitive.

This time, her father was all too eager to talk.

"He frequently accompanied Arden on his hunting trips," he said, disgust dripping from every word, "and has a rather disturbing obsession with Everna. He always has."

"He hates me," she corrected. "I—"

Her father scoffed. "I know depravity when I see it, Ever, and there's been a few times he looked like he was getting ready to try something."

"It isn't just your old man being paranoid, either," Banor slurred as he stumbled past, a small mound of corks in his hand. "I've had to stop him from following you out the door once or twice. He's not right in the head. I've been saying that for years."

She always thought him a touch creepy, but so were a fair few of the travelers that frequented the tavern. He wasn't the first man to leer at her, even before she came of age, though she took it as a matter of distaste. The others all made crass remarks and crude innuendos when they approached the bar, and more than once, she had to swat away a stray or wandering hand. Landen merely glared at her, ordered his drink, and left. They'd spoken maybe a handful of times since their school days.

Suppressing a shudder, she swallowed another mouthful of whiskey. "Back to a less disturbing topic. Why Pendel, of all places? What could Shroud possibly want with the town?"

Her father motioned vaguely to the south. "Pendel's the southernmost settlement in this part of the region. Far enough away that no one would notice."

"An easy one to take, at that," Wil affirmed. He turned and leaned back against the bar, sighing. "The division is more ideological than physical, but the region's split in half. Shadowguard controls most of the south, while Shroud dominates the north. Problem is, Shroud's bigger and more organized than Shadowguard — and the bulk of our members are up near the front lines."

"You're talking like this is some sort of war," Everna said.

Her father tossed another piece of splintered wood into the fire. "Because it is. It’s what the military folk call a 'shadow war.’ It's fought behind the scenes, often in the political sphere. There are no armies out in the open, just a lot of maneuvering in the shadows and strings pulled."

A war?

Everna dropped her head into her hands and sighed. It was as if she were standing on the edge of a bottomless pit that only grew larger the more she learned. It began as a small crack and now it loomed before her, massive and gaping and threatening to swallow her whole. What started as a murder and a framing grew into something so impossibly large that she couldn't help but feel small and powerless.

As her irritation waned, she deflated. That one word tore the wind from her sails and left her floundering as the magnitude of what she was dealing with finally dawned on her. A war?

There was no end in sight. Each time she thought she'd taken several steps forward, something sent her stumbling further back. They'd dealt with Windmore — finally — but there was still the assassin to deal with. Godwin as well. Now the Courts.

That was assuming there wasn't anyone else they'd overlooked.

Would it end with Pendel?

Gods, what deity had she offended to deserve this? How many more people were going to risk their lives because of Shroud's obsession with her?

Her father placed his hand on her shoulder and squeezed. "Hopefully, with Windmore arrested and Shroud's plans falling apart, they'll cut their losses and pull out altogether."

Wil hummed in agreement. "They lost the only foothold they had when Corden arrived — and with a High Knight about, they'll have no choice but to tread carefully."

She pursed her lips. "Or they might get bolder. You saw what they did in Windhollow! You saw what they did here! The whole town hall's missing. More than that, you put a target on your back today. If they find out who you are and that you're the one blocking them at the highest levels of authority — "

"Swe —" He paused, his eyes darting to her father. "Everna, I was in the same position you are a few years ago. Almost to the letter. They're fully aware of who I am. At least the upper ranks are."

"Is that why you stepped in?"

He was silent for a moment, his gaze distant. A bittersweet smile, though one more pained than anything, turned his lips. It was the most emotion she'd seen from him yet.

"Let's just say I owe it to someone who's not around anymore."

Just as Everna thought the conversation came to an awkward halt, the tavern's doors opened. Her father sat up, prepared to inform the newcomers that the tavern was closed for the day, but she waved him off. She knew who it was. She could hear the telltale clacking of heels against the stone pavement.

Cedric sauntered into the taproom, snickering. Vina stomped in after him, her face flushed and nostrils flared. There was a thick leather-bound book in her hand, the pages worn with use and the leather peeling at the corners.

"I regret to inform you we've reached our capacity for idiots today," Everna called. She took another sip from her bottle. "We have a strict no-tolerance policy for bitches, as well. Sorry, but both of you need to vacate the premises."

Vina sneered at her. "Then why are you here?"

"I live here. Why are you here? I don't recall inviting you over."

"Shroud's poking around the safe house," Cedric said, waving a dismissive hand. "And Vina was too much of a coward to stay. Where's my sister?"

"Upstairs, rifling through my book collection," she said. "I'd wait until she comes down. My mother has a habit of flinging knives at people who aren't supposed to be in the house. Where's Adela and Dain?"

"With Osain at the Guard post."

Her father tensed at the mention of Osain. Odd.

"Ah, sorting out the citizenship, then. Which reminds me," she turned to her father. "I'll explain later, but I promised a couple of people a place to stay — one's a child."

Her father pursed his lips. "His Highness —"

Wil sighed. "I told you not to call me that."

"His Royal Pain in the Ass," her father corrected, rolling his eyes, "mentioned that earlier. Far be it from me to turn a way a child. Certainly not after something like that."

Everna bit the inside of her cheek. If Wil mentioned the incident with the Enforcer, her father made no indications of it. She suspected he hadn't; she'd never hear the end of it if her parents knew. Her father would strangle her for her recklessness.

Vina glanced around the taproom, her nose raised and scrunched. "This place is revolting. Though what can you expect from a lowly tavern? It's no place for a child, that's for sure."

"Since when did you care about children?" Everna asked.

Dain and Adela had made themselves scarce during their stay in the safe house; they only emerged from their shared room when necessity demanded it. Beyond a few brief words, and the occasional inquiry about their wellbeing, Everna had hardly spoken to them. They were both struggling to come to terms with what happened, though Adela seemed to bounce back more quickly. Last Everna saw her, she managed a smile, at least. Dain barely acknowledged her, or anyone else, most days.

Vina, to no one's surprise, vehemently protested their presence. She insisted they didn't need a couple of useless Wilders taking up space and wasting their stores. She especially took issue with Adela's habit of waking up crying in the middle of the night.

And Everna had thought Vina couldn't stoop any lower.

"Don't like it?" her father asked, disgust twisting his face. "Then leave."

"Please," Wil groaned, pressing his fingers to his temples. "Do us all the favor and leave. No one's in the mood to deal with your shit right now."

Vina's face reddened further, fury burning in her eyes as her gaze shifted from Wil to her. With a contemptuous huff, she stalked off to the far side of the tavern and flung herself into one of the few remaining chairs. Cedric hurried after her and snatched the book from her hands, fending off her feeble attempts to retrieve it.

"Anwellian swine," her father spat. "They think they own everything. More of Shadowguard, I assume."

"You assume correct, unfortunately," Wil grumbled.

"Evelina will be thrilled. I wonder how long it'll take her to slap the piss out of that one."

"It won't be fast enough," Everna said. She slid off the stool and set her bottle aside. "I'm heading over to the post to check on Adela and Dain. Cedric's flirting is making me sick to my stomach and I need out of the tavern for a bit."

"You're not going alone," her father said. "Not after what just happened."

"I don't need supervision every second of the day. Gods be, what's next? I'm not allowed to sleep in my room by myself?"

"You better be sleeping alone."

She rolled her eyes. "You are unbearable, you know that? Truly. You and Mom both."

Ignoring her father's response — something about her being far too young for men — Everna slipped out of the tavern and into the street, Wil begrudgingly following. She wasn't sure how to justify his presence. With his leathers and his hood pulled up, he stuck out like a sore thumb, but perhaps it didn't matter. If the town hadn't figured out something was amiss, Windmore's arrest would certainly tip them off.

Good, she thought. It’s high time the town got their heads out of their asses.

As her mother said, it would only get worse from there.

History

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