It had been a long road out of Ith. It began with a conversation between friends, an offer of a favour owed to their rescuer, and a scattered split-up and reunion through the well-guarded gates. Then, in the Raderan heartland, they navigated around bandits and animal hazards. Raya and her friends hiked along trails or across untamed grasslands; they dined on river fish, cedar nuts, and rabbit haunches. It had begun with the grim knowledge that their plans had failed, their lives had been forfeit, and Ith would endure martial law until a new government formed. It would end with the familiarity of Olston.
Raya was glad her friends had made it out of Ith as well. Dondar was along because Olston was his home as much as it was hers. He hoped he wouldn’t be reprimanded for basically deserting his post on the Town Guard for the last two years.
Full of bitterness, Avri had asked to join Raya out of desperation. She had said she stood no chance in Ith anymore. The City Watch had never done well by her.
Benn—to Raya’s surprise—was the only one who had voiced uncertainty in going to resettle in the little mining town. He had asked to speak to Raya aside from the others. Full of anxiety, he had stammered out the start of a phrase before launching into a speech. “I’m not sure what to do now. Do you remember what I asked you in Vagren? You said your whole life was up in the air and that you would like to wait until it’s done. I want to go with you to Olston, but I want a future with someone—with you.” He had grinned sheepishly. “Obviously, I can’t ask you to commit to something like that already, but… is there a chance?”
Raya had smiled ear-to-ear. Benn was adorable. “There’s a chance,” she had told him, slyly.
“Then I’ll go along, and we’ll see,” he had said, gawking like a child who had just witnessed show-craft magic. He had stood by her side without a promise of this and still had not acted as though he were owed a thing. Raya knew her friend had shared her cause for its moral rightness, but also for his loyalty to her.
Bidding Saring a farewell—and mentioning their unpayable debt to him—Raya and her friends had departed Ith.
The palisades of Olston were guarded by a few of the Town Guard. Among them was Erek who had travelled with Benn, Lotha, Dondar, Hemsten, and Raya, to the blasted ruins of Ellakar. He had returned with a wounded arm, but carried a spear easily enough. Sten had not returned, Raya remembered sadly. Erek was the first to recognize the travellers that day. “Raya Ganner, as I live and breathe,” he exclaimed. He jabbed the butt of the spear into the dirt and ran toward them with open hands. “And Dar! You’ve survived her mad quests!”
Dondar clapped hands and patted backs with his old comrade-in-arms. Erek to Raya and politely offered her a hand. She clasped it and smiled, then introduced Avri. She acted nervously around the guards, but they let her into Olston regardless. She was Raya’s friend.
The group of travellers went to Raya’s house with her—the first order of business before getting them settled. Raya knocked at her own door to be polite, but then went ahead inside. Her parents might not be accustomed to visitors, but they would also be thrilled at her return. She paused as her eyes grew accustomed to the shadows in the corners of the room—she’d been in the sunshine all day. The magician Viker had been coming to open the door. Raya froze, blocking the doorframe for her friends outside. “Are they—”
“They’re fine,” Viker assured her. His short brown hair looked a little thinner than it had two years ago, but that might’ve been the lighting. “Raya’s here!” he called.
Raya’s mother, a frail woman with faint wrinkles and deep dimples, hurried out of her parents’ bedroom. “Oh, Raya,” she gasped, and threw her arms around Raya. “Welcome home!”
Her father did not come to greet her. Raya soon learned, from the magician and her mother, that her father was bedridden. The illness that had affected Olston this year remained clutching a few members of the town’s populace—Raya’s father was still among them. He was conscious and was relieved to see Raya, but he was weak and plagued by a hacking wet cough. Viker was certain he would survive, assuring Raya there had only been a few deaths, during the worst of the illness two Moon’s past.
After introductions were done, Raya crossed town with her friends toward Councillor Kama’s house. Melik Kama had always been a friend, and Raya was certain he would be the one to speak with about getting proper quarters for her friends. Of course, they could always stay in the Gran, if need be.
Even from the base of Old Sun Rock, Raya could see how Olston had grown. There were nearly fifty more houses on the northeast side of town. The palisade spikes had been moved to allow the refugee district enough space. The markets were packed, and columns of smoke rose near the granite mine. The life here was as plentiful as in Ith, albeit relative in size, but to Raya the life here seemed far healthier.
That was, until Councillor Cavthur came striding down the slope to block Raya and her friend’s way up. “Back in my town, I see, Miss Ganner,” he sneered. “With more miscreants, it seems. Robbers or layabouts from the bloodied streets of Ith, I assume.”
“That’s Benn, Cavthur. He’s been here a dozen times and he’s from Vagren, not Ith,” Raya explained. Benn’s scruffy chin likely disguised his familiarity.
“And this woman? A freed slave with a bounty on her head? Or a common crook?” Cavthur demanded, without missing a beat.
Avri looked ready to pounce on him in retaliation, but thankfully Dondar spoke up first. “To be blunt… mind your business, sir,” he growled. “The Town Guard will ensure you don’t disturb the peace.”
Cavthur’s face flushed red. “You’re a deserter and you cannot speak for the Guard. I ought to have you thrown in the cell for speaking—”
“That’s enough,” a calm voice called. Melik Kama was walking down the hill, his hands hidden amongst the folds of an orange and white waistcoat. His short white hair looked translucent in the sunlight, but his smile was distinct. “Jan, go scold the miners or something. Miss Ganner has had a long journey.”
Old Man Cavthur’s resident scowl returned and he stamped away down the hill. Raya was amazed the man was still walking—he must have been seventy.
“Raya, welcome!” Melik exclaimed. “You’ve brought your trusted friends with you, I see. Will they be staying in Olston?”
“If the Council will allow it,” Raya said.
Melik waved dismissively in the direction Cavthur had gone. “Don’t worry about him. When I went to Ith and I saw you in the midst of all that fighting, I knew you were the best person to leave Olston in years. I saw a woman fighting for what she believed in the midst of this world’s chaos—and I will always make a place for her here. Your friends are Olston’s friends, Raya.”
The pride and respect Raya felt was warmer than the sunshine, blossoming in her chest and bringing brightness to her cheeks. Benn patted her shoulder. Raya knew she had made mistakes—her fight for what she believed had ended in failure and nearly cost her friends their lives—but the recognition she felt from Master Kama meant that she hadn’t been alone in it. She smiled to her friends and then eagerly followed the Councilman to find them homes.