The Guild Hall. Morning.
The cells were empty.
Ben stood in the corridor, his wrists raw where the ropes had been, his ankles stiff from days of sitting. He rolled his shoulders, tested his bandaged arm. The healers had done good work. It would heal.
Tina stood beside him, her arms crossed, her face still. She had not spoken since Grog unlocked her door. Her staff was in her hand—returned, along with her other belongings. She clutched it like a lifeline.
Davin stood apart, his eyes wide, his hands shoved in his pockets. He looked around the basement corridor—the stone walls, the flickering torches, the heavy doors.
"It's not a prison," he said.
Grog shook his head. "It's not."
"Then why does it feel like one?"
Grog met his eyes. "Because you haven't earned our trust yet."
---
They climbed the stairs to the main floor.
The guild hall was busy—adventurers coming and going, Garret at the counter, Grace at her desk. The noise hit them like a wave: voices, footsteps, the clatter of weapons and armor.
Davin stopped at the top of the stairs. Stared.
"There are so many of them," he said.
Ken appeared beside him. "There will be more."
Davin looked at him. "You're the shadow one."
Ken said nothing.
"The one who can be in more than one place."
Ken tilted his head. "Something like that."
Davin nodded slowly. "I've met others with blessings. Not many. But some."
Ken was quiet for a moment. "So have I."
---
Grog led them through the hall.
Adventurers stared. Whispers followed. Ben kept his eyes forward. Tina kept her hand on her staff. Davin looked at the floor.
At the front desk, Sera looked up. Her eyes moved from Ben to Tina to Davin, assessing.
"These are the strangers?"
Grog nodded. "They'll be staying. In the guild."
Sera raised an eyebrow. "The guild isn't a charity."
"They'll earn their keep."
Sera studied Ben. His bandaged arm. His steady eyes. His sword at his hip.
"You're the swordsman."
Ben nodded. "I'm Ben."
Sera turned to Tina. "The lightning."
Tina's jaw tightened. "Tina."
Sera looked at Davin. "And you? What's your trick?"
Davin swallowed. "I can teleport."
Sera stared at him for a moment. Then she snorted. "Of course you can."
She turned back to her ledgers.
"Rooms are upstairs. Third floor. Don't cause trouble."
---
The rooms were small, clean, simple.
A bed. A window. A washstand. Ben set his sword on the bed, walked to the window. Looked out at the city below.
Tina stood in the doorway. "We're really staying."
Ben didn't turn. "It seems so."
"And if they change their minds? If they decide we're too dangerous?"
Ben was quiet for a moment. "Then we leave."
"The artifact needs time."
"Then we buy time."
Tina stepped into the room. Sat on the edge of the bed. "I'm tired, Ben."
He turned. "I know."
"I'm tired of running."
Ben sat beside her. "I know."
---
Davin explored the guild hall.
He walked through the great hall, past the tables, the fireplace, the notice board covered in contracts. He found the training yard, watched recruits sparring, arrows flying. He found the kitchen, where a cook named Marta was kneading bread. She gave him a roll, still warm. He ate it in three bites.
He found the roof.
The door was unlocked, the stairs narrow, the roof flat and graveled. He stood at the edge, looking out at the city. The sun was setting, painting the rooftops gold and red.
He had never stayed in one place this long.
Footsteps behind him. He didn't turn.
"You're the shadow one," he said.
Ken moved to stand beside him. "I am."
"Are you following me?"
"Yes."
Davin looked at him. "Why?"
Ken was quiet for a moment. "Because you're young. Because you're alone. Because you remind me of myself."
Davin stared at him. "You were running too?"
"I was hiding."
"Same thing."
Ken shook his head. "Running means you have somewhere to go. Hiding means you don't."
Davin was silent for a moment.
"I've met others with blessings," he said. "Before Vorlag's hunters found them. Before they were taken."
Ken nodded slowly. "So have I."
Davin looked at the city. The lights were coming on, one by one.
"I've never stayed in one place this long," he said.
Ken looked at the stars. "Neither have I."
---
The evening meal was tense.
Ben, Tina, and Davin sat at a corner table, away from the others. Adventurers glanced at them, whispered, looked away. No one spoke to them. No one sat with them.
Garret brought them food. Stew, bread, water. He didn't smile. He didn't glare. He just did his job.
Ben ate slowly. Tina pushed her food around her bowl. Davin ate everything.
Lira watched from the front desk. Her bow was across her knees, her eyes on the strangers.
"They're scared," Ken said, appearing beside her.
Lira didn't look at him. "They should be."
"They're not our enemies."
"Not yet."
Ken leaned against the wall. "Grog trusts them."
"Grog trusts that they're useful." Lira turned to him. "There's a difference."
Ken held her gaze. Then he nodded slowly. "Maybe."
---
Grog sat with Mirena at a table near the fireplace.
"The adventurers are restless," Mirena said.
Grog nodded. "They'll adjust."
"And if they don't?"
"Then they'll leave."
Mirena was quiet for a moment. "The artifact. I've been studying it."
"And?"
"It's degrading. Each use weakens it. The strangers have maybe a dozen jumps left before it fails."
Grog's jaw tightened. "Can we replicate it?"
Mirena shook her head. "Not yet. But we're closer."
"How close?"
She met his eyes. "Close enough to hope."
---
That night, Ben sat alone in his room.
The window was open. The city was dark. The stars were bright.
He thought about the worlds he had seen. The worlds that had fallen. The worlds that were still burning.
He thought about the guild. About Grog, who had offered them a chance. About Lira, who watched them like hawks. About Ken, who moved through shadows. About Davin, who was young and scared and trying to be brave.
He thought about Tina. About the healer they had lost. About the artifact, slowly dying.
They had been running for so long.
Maybe it was time to stop.