Lantern light spilled across the inn courtyard as the caravan finally reached the village. The caravan workers began unloading the baggage from the pack animals and leading them toward the village stables.

  Fatigue was visible on every face.

  Yet none of them complained.

  They continued their work while talking quietly among themselves—mostly about the warm meal and hot bath waiting for them.

  Narishta stood among them, carefully inspecting the cargo while coordinating the unloading process. Despite the long journey, her movements remained organized and focused.

  Sai and Kaveh watched the scene from a short distance away.

  “Miss Narishta is very diligent,” Sai remarked.

  Kaveh nodded.

  “Yes. She is. Especially considering this is the first time she has taken full responsibility for managing a caravan.”

  Sai glanced at him.

  “Her first time?”

  “You could say that,” Kaveh replied. “Master Karandash’s previous assistant met… an unfortunate end.”

  Sai turned toward him, surprised.

  “What happened?”

  Kaveh shrugged slightly.

  “I don’t really know. Just rumors. The kind that leave you unsure whether to pity the man… or fear Master Karandash.”

  Sai remained silent for a moment.

  “You may not be very familiar with how things work on this continent,” Kaveh continued. “But independent merchants are extremely rare here.”

  “Most traders belong to guilds, or operate under their protection. A merchant like Master Karandash—completely independent—is unusual enough.”

  He paused.

  “But receiving a contract from one of the greatest nobles on the continent?”

  Kaveh shook his head.

  “That is almost impossible.”

  Sai considered this quietly before speaking again.

  “If my guess about those bandits earlier was correct… and judging by the type of guards he hires…”

  He looked toward the busy workers.

  “I doubt bandits are what Master Karandash truly fears.”

  Kaveh smiled faintly.

  “You’re a sharp one, Sai.”

  A short distance away—

  Rose stared at the large building in front of her.

  Unlike most of the other structures in the village, it stood two stories tall and wide, its red brick walls glowing faintly under the lantern lights.

  Above the entrance hung a wooden sign carved with letters she couldn’t read.

  Mardukir stepped beside her.

  “The name of the inn,” he said, “is The Luminous Road Inn.”

  Rose nodded.

  “That’s a beautiful name.”

  Mardukir chuckled.

  “It is. But the real reason people come here is the meat pies.”

  Rose turned to him immediately.

  “Meat pies?”

  “The best you’ll find for days of travel,” he said proudly. “They mix beef, lamb… and camel meat.”

  Rose blinked.

  “Camel meat?”

  “I’ve never eaten it before.”

  Mardukir laughed.

  “Then tonight will be a memorable experience.”

  He gestured toward the warm light spilling from the inn’s doorway.

  “Just wait until you taste it. The spices alone will make your mouth water.”

  Rose looked at the inn again, her eyes bright with excitement.

  A man suddenly hurried out of the inn, passing quickly between Rose and Mardukir as he made his way toward Master Karandash, who was speaking with Sharruk.

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  The man bowed his head slightly.

  “Master Karandash,” he said respectfully, “I am your humble servant, Karith. Please inform me if you require anything. I will make sure it is provided.”

  Karandash glanced at him briefly.

  “Thank you, Karith. And send my regards to your master.”

  “Of course, sir,” Karith replied quickly. “We have prepared the finest room in the inn for you, as well as rooms for your workers and guards. Please, this way.”

  He stepped aside and bowed again.

  Karandash and Sharruk walked toward the entrance of the inn.

  As he passed, Sharruk glanced toward Mardukir.

  “Take the first watch,” he said before disappearing inside.

  Rose looked at Mardukir, then back at Karith, who was still bowing politely.

  “What’s wrong with that man?” she asked quietly. “Why is he acting like that?”

  Mardukir looked at her.

  “You didn’t notice the collar around his neck?”

  “Yes,” Rose replied. “What is it?”

  “He’s a slave,” Mardukir said simply. “Many of the workers in this inn are slaves. Slavery is extremely common in this continent.”

  Rose stared at him in surprise.

  “Slavery?”

  “Yes,” he continued. “It’s one of the largest trades here. Some guilds even maintain entire slave armies.”

  Rose frowned.

  “Slave armies? You mean soldiers and guards?”

  “Exactly.”

  Rose fell silent.

  In her homeland, Lord Casper’s soldiers fought for loyalty—for their land, their oath, and their lord.

  But a slave…

  What did a slave fight for?

  Mardukir gently pushed her forward.

  “Come on,” he said. “There’s a hot meal waiting for us. And after that, we take the first watch.”

  “Alright,” Rose replied.

  The moment Rose stepped inside the inn, a wave of warmth washed over her.

  The rich smell of roasted meat, baked dough, and heavy spices filled the air so strongly that it made her stomach tighten with hunger.

  The common hall was crowded.

  Lanterns hung from thick wooden beams above, casting golden light across the room. Long tables filled most of the space, and nearly every seat was occupied.

  Travelers, merchants, guards, and caravan workers filled the hall with noise.

  Some were laughing loudly.

  Others argued over cards or dice.

  A group of merchants near the wall were deep in discussion, speaking in a language Rose didn’t recognize.

  Wooden mugs slammed against tables as drinks were poured and shared.

  A pair of musicians sat near the far corner, playing a lively tune with a flute and a small drum, adding to the constant hum of voices.

  Servants moved quickly between the tables, carrying trays stacked with steaming plates.

  Most of the guests seemed to be eating the same dish.

  Golden-brown pies sat on thick wooden plates, their crusts split open slightly where rich meat filling bubbled beneath the surface.

  Rose’s eyes widened.

  “So that’s the meat pie you told me about,” she said.

  “Wow… it looks amazing.”

  Mardukir chuckled.

  “I told you.”

  Rose scanned the room eagerly.

  Nearly every table was full.

  Workers from several caravans sat together, their dusty clothes and tired faces making it clear they had traveled far.

  Finally she spotted one.

  “There,” she said, pointing.

  A table near the center of the room had several empty seats between a pair of traveling guards and an old merchant quietly drinking from a mug.

  “We can sit there.”

  Mardukir followed her gaze and nodded.

  “That was quick.”

  He gestured toward the table.

  “Come on. Before someone else takes the seats.”

  Rose was already walking toward it, the smell of the meat pies growing stronger with every step.

  Her stomach growled quietly.

  Tonight, at least, the road had ended with warmth, food… and the promise of a real bath.

  Sai rose from the ground, brushing the dust from his clothes.

  “Are you finished?” Kaveh asked.

  “Almost.”

  Sai looked around the stables one last time before shaking his head.

  “I didn’t find anything suspicious. No magical traps. Nothing unusual in the stables or the surrounding area.”

  “Good,” Kaveh replied. “Then we can finally enjoy a warm meal—and maybe a bath.”

  He stretched his shoulders slightly.

  “Mardukir and Rose are taking the first watch tonight.”

  Sai nodded.

  “Let’s go.”

  The two of them walked toward the inn.

  Despite the late hour and the approaching dawn, the common hall was still crowded.

  Voices filled the room—laughter, arguments, the clatter of mugs against wooden tables.

  As they stepped inside, a familiar voice called out.

  “Kaveh! Sai! Over here!”

  Mardukir waved at them from a table near the middle of the room.

  The table was mostly empty except for a few plates and mugs.

  Sai and Kaveh started making their way toward him, weaving through the crowded hall.

  As they passed between the tables, Sai overheard part of a conversation from two men sitting nearby.

  “I’m telling you,” one of them insisted drunkenly, “I heard it from a fisherman who hunts near that village.”

  His friend took a long drink from his mug.

  “You’ve had too much to drink.”

  “No, listen!” the first man continued stubbornly. “A black ship—no sails—crashed against the coast. Then it exploded.”

  He leaned closer.

  “A cloud of darkness covered the whole village… and afterward every single villager was slaughtered.”

  The other man sighed.

  “You’re drunk.”

  He stood up slowly.

  “Come on. I think it’s time we go.”

  Sai glanced at them briefly as he walked past.

  Pirates… or raiders, perhaps.

  It wasn’t uncommon in places like this. Sai didn’t know why… but something about the man’s story lingered in his mind.

  As they reached the table.

  Mardukir grinned.

  “Someone’s in a good mood,” Kaveh said as he sat down.

  “You have no idea,” Mardukir replied, still smiling.

  “That girl made me a lot of money tonight.”

  Kaveh raised an eyebrow.

  “Don’t tell me…”

  “Oh yes.”

  Mardukir laughed.

  “She ate four whole meat pies by herself. You should have seen the gamblers’ faces.”

  Sai looked around.

  “Where is Rose?”

  “She’s standing outside Master Karandash’s room,” Mardukir replied. “Guard duty.”

  Kaveh leaned back slightly.

  “And you?”

  “What do you think?” Mardukir said casually. “Drinking while I wait for Zamirah and the commander to wake up.”

  He lifted his mug.

  “Care to join me?”

  Kaveh pulled out a chair and sat.

  Sai followed.

  Mardukir raised his hand toward one of the inn servants.

  “Another meat pie,” he called out.

  Then he pointed at the table.

  “And three mugs of ale.”

  Rose sat inside Master Karandash’s room, stifling a yawn.

  Karandash himself was busy counting using a strange device Rose had never seen before—a wooden frame filled with rows of small beads that he slid back and forth with practiced motions.

  Rose didn’t pay much attention to it.

  Sitting here was still far better than standing outside the door.

  Whenever she was assigned to guard his room, Karandash always insisted she come inside instead.

  “Rose, here,” Narishta said, offering her a small cake from a plate.

  Rose took it immediately.

  “Thank you.”

  Narishta then approached Karandash’s desk, setting down a cup.

  “Your tea, sir.”

  “Thank you, Narishta.”

  Karandash handed her a folded sheet of paper.

  “Check this.”

  She took it and read quickly.

  After a moment she raised her head.

  “I told you before, sir. Someone in your Althamira branch is stealing money.”

  Karandash set the paper he had been reading aside, irritation creeping into his voice.

  “It seems you were right. Though it’s not as bad as it could be.”

  “Not yet,” Narishta replied calmly. “But it needs to be handled quickly. A rotten apple spoils the whole basket.”

  Karandash glanced at her.

  “Quoting my own words back to me now?”

  She smiled faintly.

  “We can deal with it on the return journey.”

  Karandash’s expression changed.

  Instantly.

  So sharply that Narishta had never seen anything like it before.

  Then—

  Suddenly her body lifted into the air.

  Something seized her and hurled her across the room as if she weighed nothing.

  She crashed against the wall.

  And when her vision cleared—

  Rose’s spear was already driving toward Master Karandash’s head.