The morning sun broke across the river in shards of gold. Rioran rowed their small boat with steady strokes, arms moving like pistons as the oars cut through the water. Ripples spread behind them, bending the reflection of the endless forest.
Aelar leaned over the edge, staring at the wall of trees closing in on both sides.
"Father," he said, rubbing the crescent-shaped mark on his forehead, "how do we know when we've reached Padas? Because right now, every tree looks like it wants to trap us."
Rioran smirked. "That's because you've never left Ravendale. Those trees?" He nodded toward the shore. "Birch. Oak. And that one—" He pointed. "—is the one you'll crash into if you keep leaning like that."
Aelar rolled his eyes. "Very helpful."
"It was," Rioran said flatly.
They drifted in silence. Birds whispered above them. The river carried them forward whether they wanted it or not.
Rioran turned the boat toward a quiet bank and tied it to a twisted root.
"We're here."
Aelar stood—and nearly fell. His legs wobbled like they'd forgotten what land was.
"You walk like a newborn deer," Rioran said.
"Shut up," Aelar muttered, but he smiled despite himself.
They climbed a narrow trail carved into the hillside. Strange markings scarred the trees, lines and symbols that looked too deliberate to be natural. Aelar barely noticed.
Then the path opened.
The valley below burst into life.
Stone buildings ringed open training yards. Steel flashed in the sun. Merchants shouted prices. Children ran laughing between rows of banners.
Aelar's breath caught. "Is this… Padas?"
"Yes," Rioran said. "It is."
"It's…" Aelar whispered. "Alive."
Before they could step farther, a guard moved into their path, hand on his sword.
"You. Boy with the mark—and the man beside him. Names."
Aelar stiffened. The mark always did this. Always drew eyes.
Rioran's hand rested on his shoulder. "Easy. I'll speak."
As Rioran spoke with the guard, Aelar drifted toward a tree at the edge of the path. He shaded his eyes—
Crack.
"Move!"
Aelar dove as a branch shattered where he'd stood. Leaves and dust exploded into the air.
A young woman strode forward, lowering her hand from the ruined limb she had cut too hard.
"You alive?" she asked.
Aelar pushed himself up, heart hammering for reasons that had nothing to do with falling wood. Her dark hair was tied back, her stance confident, a practice blade hanging at her side.
"I—uh—yeah," he said, taking her offered hand.
She smirked. "Good. I get yelled at enough already."
"You… kind of deserve it," Aelar blurted.
She laughed instead of getting angry. "At least you're honest." Then she waved and walked off.
Aelar stood there, dirt on his palms, chest tight, watching her disappear.
Rioran returned, raising a brow. "You look like you just fought a bee."
"Nothing happened."
"Of course it did."
"Father…" Aelar hesitated. "When I saw her, my chest felt wrong."
Rioran snorted. "That's called love at first sight."
"Love?!" Aelar's face burned.
"Your grandfather saw your grandmother here," Rioran said. "Said his legs stopped working."
"So I'm cursed."
"Better than being unloved."
"That was not comforting."
They entered the square, swallowed by sound and motion. Then four men in white uniforms blocked their path.
"You two. The lord will see you."
"Already?" Aelar whispered.
"Apparently," Rioran said, "we're interesting."
Horses were brought. Aelar climbed on stiffly, gripping the reins too tight.
"Try not to die," Rioran said.
"I won't—"
The horse stepped wrong. Aelar nearly flew off.
"…Finish that sentence," Rioran said.
"Shut up," Aelar groaned.
They rode through Padas beneath watching eyes. Some curious. Some wary. The stone hall rose before them, runes carved deep into its walls.
A man in a fine white uniform greeted them.
"Rioran," he said warmly. "Old friend."
"My son is tired," Rioran replied.
The man's eyes flicked to Aelar's mark. His smile thinned. "Interesting."
Aelar leaned closer. "Father… why are we here?"
"Follow my lead," Rioran whispered.
Inside, banners glowed in the sunlight. Weapons lined the walls like teeth.
The lord studied them.
"So," he said, smiling, "this is the boy."
Aelar straightened. "Yes, sir. I'm Aelar. And… why exactly did you want to see me?"
The lord's eyes gleamed. "All in time."
Aelar swallowed. "Father… I think we just stepped into something dangerous."
Rioran exhaled slowly. "That's because we did."