“It ain’t our fault your father passed before paying his debt. Whatever you grab is all you’re getting.” Beck stood in the middle of the small cottage, knife in hand while his goons stood out front. I stuffed blankets, clothes, and anything else that seemed useful into a bag. “Wrap it up.” I shouldered the bag turning towards him, “You’re a real piece of work.” “Maybe, now get the fuck off my property.” I stepped outside breathing deep noting the scent of recent rain mixed with cattle in the small field up the road. Idiot 1 and 2 smirked looking me over head to toe. “You sure you don’t wanna change your mind? I’m sure we could talk Beck into letting you stay if you did something for us in return.” I smirked stepping up in front of him. “I would honestly rather die a slow painful death from starvation than even think about doing anything with either one of you.” His frown was immediate. “You little bitch.” He reached for my neck with a big meaty hand, but I ducked and stepped past him turning to face them both. Ronny laughed as Mason nearly face planted into the steps. I backed up slowly as Beck stepped out accessing the scene. “Keep you dogs on tighter leashes. There are bitches who would do a lot worse than me.” I walked down the path into town not sure what to do. My father had raised me since my mother died giving birth. He’d gotten us by, avoiding the thugs until he got sick. I got desperate a few months ago and begged for money from Beck and his lackeys. I knew this would happen once dad passed, but I never thought about what I would do after. I had no family to turn to. The only person I had was Finn and he was off being trained as a soldier. I’d written to him the moment dad got sick but never heard back. I’d had nightmares of him coming back only to find me gone. His family didn’t need another mouth to feed and I wouldn’t ask them to take me in. Stay or leave, it wouldn’t be easy. I came to the center of town and stopped. I could look for work or I could just keep walking. The door to the in opened letting music, laughter, and orange light leak out into the front porch. I stepped inside and moved to the bar finding Ray, the older barkeep, wiping down glasses. “Ray, you said you passed the training camps on your way back from the city right?” “I did but they’ve probably packed up by now.” “Where exactly?” “It wasn’t too far from the city, takes about three or four days with a cart. Might take a week or so on foot.” I knew how to get to the city. I’d gone with my father as a kid. While Ray was right, the camps would have moved, it was closer to a city with more work. And if I could find Finn, he would help me. “No, no, no. You won’t make it by yourself on foot.” “Dad trained me my whole life. I’d be fine.” “Faeries don’t fight like men.” “Well why else can I do?” He sighed setting the glass down on the bar. “Work here for a few nights and I’ll take you on a stick run. I’m low on a lot of stuff so I was planning on going in about 2 weeks anyways.” “Ray, you’re a saint.” I kissed his cheek and grabbed a tray. “Who’s waiting on drinks? I’ll run the rest of the night.” He pointed to a table in the corner, “you’ll have to sleep in the back room tonight. I don’t have a room available with the soldiers that have been moving through. Tomorrow you can help turn over rooms and then use an empty one until we leave.” “Why have soldiers been moving through?” Ray shrugged while I filled the glasses. “Said something about getting stationed further north in preparations for something else.” I lifted the tray making my way around tables. The men in the corner were laughing making jokes about the fae they’d encountered on their way here. I set their drinks down and as I went to set the last in front of the man sitting farthest from me, the soldier next to me jerked to the side howling with laughter and knocking me to the side. The glass slipped from my hand when suddenly the farthest man caught the glass, barely a drop sloshed over the side falling on the table. “Pull yourself together, or I’m closing our tab.” The drunk soldier held up his hands innocently and the man set his drink down looking me in the eye, “are you alright?” “I’m fine, happy to see soldiers with smiles on their face.” “We’ll only be smiling as long as it takes to get to camp. Once training starts up again you’ll forget any of us ever had dimples.” They all laughed, “Is every unit going north?” “No but the majority are. We’ll be heading out first thing in the morning.” “Really? You’re heading towards the city and then north?” “We’re going north east straight to the camps.” I stared at the man thinking about Finn. He could still be in the city remaining with whatever units had stayed to defend the city, but he could have gone north to participate in whatever movement was about to take place. “Are you alright?” The man was suddenly next to me, startled I stepped away, “just thinking about how to find a friend.” His eyebrows lowered, “Why go looking for a soldier? He won’t be allowed to leave his posting.” “I don’t know what else to do. He hasn’t responded to my letters and I have nowhere to go…” “What is your name?” “Allora.” “You have no family?” “My father was my only family and he died a few days ago.” “Days?” I nodded and froze when a familiar laugh came through the door. Beck and his goons stood just inside the doors looking for somewhere to sit. His eyes landed on me and that cruel smile grew. “Well look who’s here. Letting Ray hire you out?” “Hasn’t he banned you from coming in here?” “We had a nice long chat about that and turns out he changed his mind.” He stepped forward and I stepped back, but to my surprise, the man stepped in front of me. “Found a new body guard? I’m sure Finn will be heart broken.” “Quite the man picking on a woman grieving. How is it you weren’t conscripted into the army?” “Got a bad leg from getting kicked by a horse as a boy. Usually carry a cane.” I rolled my eyes. He carried that can you beat people who owed him money, but his leg was fine. “That’s interesting. I’ll be sure to have the recruiter be looking into that.” “And who the fuck are you to be doing that?” “Prince Tarrick. General of the king’s, my father’s, army.” The room went silent and Beck’s face turned ghost pale. Our tiny inn was playing host to our future king. I’d nearly spilled beer all over him. “I think it best if you leave this establishment.” Beck practically ran out the doors, his boys running after him. “Please everyone, I’m merely a citizen like the rest of you tonight. Let’s get back to our laughter and conversation.” The room filled with chatter again as he turned to me. “I’ll escort you to the city and find you accommodations before heading north.” “That’s really not necessary.” “I insist. If you give me your gentleman’s name I’d be happy to locate his unit.” “He’s not exactly mine just a friend but his name is Finn Rosen.” “Would you be able to leave with us in the morning?” “Oh, sure, I’ll just sleep in the back room tonight and be ready first thing.” “The back room?” “All the inns rooms are filled tonight.” He nodded, “then you’ll take my bed and I’ll sleep on the floor.” “Oh No your highness I couldn’t.” “You can and you will. I won’t have sleeping in a storage room.” He handed me a key, “it’s room 10.” “Well I told Ray I would help him tonight, but as soon as the crowd thins I’ll come find you.” He nodded and I quickly ran back behind the bar. Ray stared at me. Catching my breath I looked at him, “Apparently the prince will be escorting me to the city.” His eyes widened and I laughed.