We left Southsun with little fanfare. Mother Geslin saw us off in the morning, her spindly arms waving us away with a bit too much eagerness.

I took the hint.

My presence made the mercenaries uncomfortable. I killed their friends, and I was a walking reminder of their failure to complete Rugar's mission.

So, our journey began, with our wagon weighed down by the gold in Thor's saddlebags and the supplies we piled into the wagon bed.

True to our plan, I scouted ahead, bringing Isla along for company. She was a better horse rider, and, after the experience two nights before, it didn't hurt to be around her.

What were we now?

Party members? Friends? Family?

Something more?

The last thought made my face flush and my stomach twist. Conflicting emotions battled within me: happiness, embarrassment, anger and guilt.

It had been less than two months since Cynthia died. Yet, sometimes, I could still feel her hand resting on my chest or her voice as I woke up.

All the memories I pushed down were bubbling to the surface. The capital was more than a place to pay back my debt. It was where Cynthia and my family died. It was where Sin lived.

What would I do if I met her again?

What would she do to me?

I didn't want to find out. I didn't want to think about it. Sin. Rugar. Van Lagos. It was all too much.

Isla became my solace, my shelter from the storm of my mind.

We rode our horses in silence, marvelling as the world was reborn. The cracked ground turned green with sharp blades of grass. The trees grew heart-shaped leaves, and the air… The air was clean!

We couldn't stop smiling… at the environment… at each other.

We survived the Dellends. Something about that bonded us beyond the short months we had known each other.

In the evenings, we camped in the forests, covering the canopy of the wagon with leaves and branches. Castille would hunt for fresh game, and Dugan would cook what she caught. Isla went back to practicing with her dagger while I focused on my Landbound abilities when I wasn't sparring with her. Thor stayed in the wagon bed, content to sleep for most of the journey.

Our way back to the capital was indirect. I created a serpentine path through the countryside's forests and rolling grasslands. Despite the winding route, I didn't get lost.

Something was tugging on my soul.

I was going home.

It was in the sea salt in the air, and the moisture seeping into my clothes.

Home.

More bittersweet memories bubbled in my mind. I let them come. Images of Mrs. Dulldrey, Mr. Reeves, Gren, Cindra and Cynthia washed over me.

Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

Cynthia…

Her image conjured ghostly fingertips that ran up my back, a comforting hand resting on my shoulder.

The closer we got to the capital, the stronger her presence became, and it wouldn't be long now. After over a month of slow travel, a familiar landmark loomed in the distance.

"Do you remember that?" Isla asked, pointing at the burnt-out watchtower.

Isla and I were off our horses, guiding them through a path in the forest we already scouted.

"Of course, that's where you gave me my first lesson on Landbound Magic. What do you think? Camp there again for old times' sake?"

"Depends. Are you going to burn it down again?"

I shrugged.

"If I'm in the right mood."

"We shouldn't camp there," Castille said, walking a few feet behind us. Several feet behind her, Dugan maneuvered the wagon between bushes and over tree roots. The path gave him just enough room to squeeze through. It wasn't as well-maintained as the roads.

"But-"

"Everyone knows about that campsite. It's the first place Rugar's men would look for us."

"Then let's use that. It's been a while since we got intel on Rugar and his mercenaries. What if we set up a fake camp at the watchtower and stake it out? We could ambush the ambushers."

"Oh, good idea," Isla said.

Castille raised an eyebrow.

"And I assume this stakeout will be you and Isla alone for the whole night."

Yes!

"No! But if that's what you're suggesting…"

Castille shook her head.

"I don't like splitting the party."

"Please, Castille. I have a good feeling about this," Isla said.

It was like we were begging Mrs. Dulldrey for another slice of meat pie.

Castille huffed.

"Fine, but be careful. We've been lucky to avoid their patrols so far. The last thing we need is to be found out this close to the capital."

We smiled in unison.

# # #

When night came to the forest, we set our trap. The old watchtower had seen some use in the past two months. The charred debris from my accident was cleared, and someone removed the rocks that littered the ground. All that was left was a patch of damp earth. Perfect for our plan.

We used some supplies from the wagon to pitch a tent in the watchtower and set up a campfire in front of it. Isla hollowed out the ground beneath the entrance so that our ambushers would fall into a pit.

We took a position in the forest, at a place where we could see the watchtower entrance from a safe distance. Isla raised grassy mounds to sit on and grew a leafy shelter that covered us like an overturned basket. A narrow slit was made on the side to give us a clearer view.

"This is perfect," I said, leaning forward to look at the watchtower through the slit.

"I aim to please," Isla said.

Streaks of moonlight poked through the leaves, catching hints of her smile.

To think I used to hate her.

"Have I ever told you that you're amazing?"

"Well, there was that one you called me a conqueror."

I laughed.

"Hey, you said it first."

Isla smiled again, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I may have gotten carried away."

That smile… For a moment, it washed away my doubts… and my guilt. I spent a month facing my memories. The final hurdle was moving past them. I had to accept that Cynthia was gone. Isla was here, right in front of me.

"You should get carried away more often."

"You think so?"

"I know so."

I closed my eyes and leaned forward to kiss her.

A small hand pressed against my chest.

"What are you doing?"

I pulled back, opening my eyes. Isla was staring at me, a confused expression on her face.

"I… I thought that's what you wanted."

"Why would I want that?"

Heat flushed my face.

"Because… because I love you."

Isla raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"Oh."

Her eyes softened.

"I love you, too."

I gave her an incredulous look. Now I was confused!

Isla narrowed her eyes as if trying to stare into my mind.

"Oh! Oooh…"

She looked away, and my stomach sank.

She grimaced, her voice falling to a whisper.

"I don't love you like that, Jacob."

My mouth went dry.

"Oh… OK."

"I-It's not you! It's me. I... I don't love anyone... Not like that."

She was still a bad liar.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Isla ran a hand through her hair.

"I'm terrible at explaining this. It's like being Castille but in reverse."

What was she saying?

"The opposite of Castille?"

"Yes! Exactly."

I recoiled.

"That's—That's not a thing!"

How can you like no one?! It made no sense.

Isla's face fell flat.

"So, I've been told."

She flashed a tight smile and looked away to the watchtower.

Did I just mess up?

"Isla-"

"Shh! Look."

She pointed to the watchtower and the lone figure creeping along its side.

One of Rugar's mercenaries took the bait, and our trap was about to be sprung.

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