"It doesn't count," Reyn said, testing her shoulder's range of motion. Three days of rest had done wonders, though her muscles still complained when she forgot to move carefully. "I was defending myself as much as them."

  Venn looked up from grinding herbs, exasperation clear on her face. "You could've left after forcing those grunts off. But you stayed and organized their defense. You fought to help them when you had little fight in you."

  "I doubled their troubles by killing their men at the inn." Reyn frowned. "Can you claim credit for solving a problem you caused, or at least worsened?"

  "You didn't cause the Crimson Hand. They've been terrorizing people for years."

  "Still feels like cheating."

  Venn threw her hands up, scattering herb dust. "You're impossible. Do you know that?"

  "Yes," Reyn said with a shrug. "My mother mentioned it often."

  "You came to stop them from exploiting the town, and you did. I count it as a good deed."

  A knock interrupted whatever response Reyn tried to form. Corelei entered without waiting for permission, which Reyn appreciated. Practical people didn't waste time on unnecessary formalities.

  "Morning meeting," Corelei announced. "Need to discuss the town's future."

  Reyn stood, pleased her legs cooperated without wobbling. "Good. I have suggestions."

  The common room of the hastily repaired inn held what looked like half the town's adults. They all turned when Reyn entered, conversations dying mid-sentence. She found it uncomfortable but assumed they were still nervous after the battle. Besides, she knew she stood out in the crowd.

  "Right then," Corelei said, producing her ever-present charcoal. "How do we prevent another attack?"

  "Hire the bridge troll," Reyn said immediately. "Grax, I think. You won't find more dedicated guardians."

  Everyone nodded, someone actually writing this down word for word.

  "And you should lead the town defense," Reyn continued, addressing Corelei. "You already proved you can organize the necessary measures."

  "If that's your command—"

  "Command? Just common sense. You're good at it, you're respected, and you hit people with pots when needed. It works."

  More nodding. More note-taking. Someone asked, "What about weapons training?"

  "That is important," Reyn agreed. "Daily sparring should suffice. Even farmers and fishermen should know which end of a spear points forward."

  "We'll implement your system immediately," someone said.

  "My system? No, just... regular training. Nothing special about it. Hit and avoid getting hit."

  Awkward silence. Reyn looked around the room, puzzled by their expressions.

  "Next item," Corelei said quickly. "Tracking the Crimson Hand. You mentioned wanting to pursue them?"

  "Yes. Does anyone know a good tracker? It's been three days; the trail will be cold. My own skills are decent, but not after this much time." She paused. "My friend Rast would have been perfect, before he got hurt."

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  "Could hire someone from the Hunter's Guild," suggested a merchant.

  "Expensive," another added.

  The Crimson Hand survivor looked up. "I feel like I should help."

  "Can you track?" Reyn asked.

  "Well," he said, drawing out the word. "No."

  Reyn studied him. Jarek, Corelei had called him. He'd been helping the town organizing supplies and tallying damages despite claiming not to remember his name.

  "You used to run with them," Reyn said. "Your memory might return. Maybe you'll remember where their operations are, or something else that might be helpful. You'll join us on our journey forward."

  "I..." He fidgeted with his ledger. "I'm not sure I was... am, very good at traveling. I can manage supplies and rations and all that, but..."

  "Close enough. We'll leave tomorrow." Reyn turned back to the group. "Anything else?"

  "Permission to rebuild the inn properly?" the innkeeper asked.

  Reyn blinked. "Why are you asking me? It's your inn."

  Another awkward silence. Venn coughed. Several people found the ceiling fascinating.

  "Of course you have permission," Corelei said smoothly. "Next item?"

  The meeting continued with similar oddities. People asking Reyn's approval for things that didn't need approval. Deferring to her opinions on matters she knew nothing about. By the end, she was thoroughly confused and slightly annoyed.

  "That was strange," she told Venn afterward.

  "Was it?" Venn's tone was slightly amused.

  "Why did they keep asking my permission for things?"

  "Oh, no reason. You helped them. They respect you." Venn busied herself with her medical supplies. "Where are we going after we leave?"

  "Valemark, I think. Someone mentioned a beast killing livestock there, yesterday. Sounds like something that needs handling." Reyn paused. "We?"

  "You're not leaving me behind. I'm on the Path, remember? There's a Temple in Valemark."

  "Fair enough." Reyn considered their group. Herself, still not fully recovered. Venn, who could barely fight. Jarek, who might remember useful things or might just be very good at counting their rations. Who also could kill them in their sleep if he was faking his amnesia. "We'll need to be careful. The Hand might be looking for us on the road."

  "When are you ever careful?"

  "I'm always careful. I carefully hit things with my sword until problems stop."

  "That's not what careful means."

  "It's worked so far."

  The next morning, half the town gathered to see them off. Reyn found it excessive but assumed they were just grateful. Someone had even prepared a formal speech.

  "By your authority as War-Leader of Rivier—"

  "Wait. What authority?" Reyn interrupted.

  Corelei stepped forward. "The traditional authority granted to those who defend a settlement from attackers. It's an old thing in this area from when... well, your people used to raid our towns."

  "I don't want authority. I'm just passing through."

  "Yes, that's... your privilege, I assume. Nevertheless." Corelei's expression might have held amusement. Hard to tell. "Safe travels, War-Leader. We'll implement your orders."

  "They weren't orders! They were just... opinions!"

  "Very authoritative opinions," someone called out.

  Reyn looked at Venn desperately. The healer was clearly trying not to laugh. "What is this?"

  "Just go with it, right?"

  "Well, but—"

  "It doesn't matter. Come on, War-Leader. Valemark awaits."

  They left Rivier with Reyn still protesting that she hadn't meant to lead or command anything, Venn failing to hide her amusement, and Jarek muttering about optimal walking speeds and supply consumption rates.

  "Fifteen miles a day is standard," he said, "but that assumes normal-sized people. Do Bormecians walk faster? Eat more?"

  "Just walk," Reyn said, still disturbed by the morning's revelations. "We'll figure out the numbers when we get there."

  "But if we don't track our progress, how will we know if we're being efficient?"

  "We'll know because we'll be there."

  "That's... that makes sense." Jarek seemed surprised by this.

  Behind them, Rivier settled into its new normal. Grax would arrive within the week, delighted to have a bridge with actual strategic importance. Corelei would run the town's defense with the same command she'd run her kitchen. And somewhere in the archives, future historians would puzzle over the War-Leader who'd reorganized their entire defensive structure while insisting she was just making casual observations.

  But that was Rivier's story now. Reyn had her own path to follow, preferably one that didn't involve accidentally becoming anyone else's leader, if only for a day.

  "Do you think the beast in Valemark counts as impressive?" she asked as they walked.

  "Depends on the beast," Venn said.

  "Right. Well, hopefully it's at least medium-impressive. I need to make progress on this pilgrimage."

  "You just saved an entire town."

  "Or made matters worse!"

  "You helped them, and asked nothing in return."

  Reyn considered this. In the distance, Valemark waited with its beast problem. Behind them, Rivier began implementing the suggestions she hadn't meant to give.

  "I suppose so," she admitted. "But I'm definitely not accidentally leading anything else."

  Jarek looked up from the notes he was somehow taking while walking. "Aren't you leading us?"

  "No. I mean, yes, but no."

  "I'll follow you, until I am helpful."

  Venn grinned. "Me too!"

  Reyn sighed. It was going to be a long walk to Valemark.