The waystation appeared on the horizon as the sun dipped lower in the sky. It was a simple stone building with a thatched roof, situated where the Old Trade Road met a smaller path that wound up into the foothills. A wooden sign swung from a post near the entrance, though I couldn't read the elvish script carved into it.

  "What does it say?" I asked Elindra, who still walked close beside me.

  "Traveler's Rest," she said.

  As we drew closer, I noticed something odd. The door hung open, swinging in the breeze. No smoke rose from the chimney, and the small stable attached to the side of the building had its gate ajar.

  "Something's wrong," I said, slowing my pace. "It looks abandoned."

  Elindra frowned. "The Waykeepers make their home here. I’ve known them since I was a girl. They're bound by oath to maintain the station at all times."

  I grabbed my sword, the weight of it reassuring in my hand. "Stay behind me."

  We approached cautiously. The dirt around the entrance had numerous small footprints, and what looked like a broken cart wheel lay discarded near the door. I peered inside, letting my eyes adjust to the light.

  The interior was a mess. Tables overturned, benches broken, and supplies scattered across the floor. And movement—small, hunched figures darting between the shadows.

  "Kobolds," Elindra whispered, her hand going to her knife. "They're scavengers and thieves."

  "Dangerous?" I asked, keeping my voice low.

  "In packs, yes. They're cowardly alone but bold in numbers."

  As if on cue, one of the creatures emerged from behind an overturned table. It stood about four feet tall, with scaly greenish-brown skin, a long snout, and yellow eyes that gleamed in the dim light. It wore crude leather armor and clutched a rusty dagger in its clawed hand.

  The kobold froze when it saw us, then let out a high-pitched screech. More of the creatures appeared from various hiding spots—at least eight or nine of them, all armed with makeshift weapons.

  "Humans and elves!" one of them hissed. "Kill them! Take their things!"

  They charged as a group. Something shifted inside me as they rushed forward—a warmth that spread from my chest to my limbs, a clarity of purpose that sharpened my senses. The Blade Rune's blessing, awakening in response to the threat.

  Time seemed to slow. I could see each kobold's movement with perfect clarity and anticipate their attacks before they made them. My body responded with a speed and precision that felt both foreign and natural.

  The first kobold reached me, thrusting its dagger toward my stomach. I sidestepped, my sword flashing down to sever the creature's hand at the wrist. It howled in pain, stumbling backward as dark blood spurted from the stump.

  Two more attacked from different angles. I parried one's spear thrust, the force of my blow snapping the crude weapon in half. In the same motion, I spun to slash across the chest of the second, opening a deep gash that dropped it to the floor.

  "John, behind you!" Elindra called.

  I whirled to see a kobold that had circled around, its weapon raised to strike. Before I could move, Elindra's knife flashed through the air, burying itself in the creature's shoulder. It shrieked, dropping its weapon.

  The remaining kobolds hesitated, seeing three of their companions wounded in mere seconds and a fourth disarmed. I pressed the advantage, advancing with my sword held ready.

  "Leave," I said, my voice hard. "Now."

  One of the larger kobolds snarled and charged anyway. I met its rush with a precise thrust that pierced its throat. The creature collapsed, gurgling as it died.

  That was enough for the others. With frightened yelps, they scattered, some fleeing through the door, others disappearing into the back rooms of the waystation.

  "Elindra, watch the door," I said, the Rune's power still flowing through me. "There might be more outside."

  She nodded, retrieving her knife from the wounded kobold, which had crawled away, leaving a trail of blood. I moved deeper into the waystation, checking each room for remaining threats.

  In the back, I found what the kobolds had been after. An elven family— a man, a woman, and a young boy—bound with rope and gagged. They were bruised and frightened but otherwise unharmed.

  "It's okay," I said, sheathing my sword and kneeling to untie them. "They're gone now."

  The elf man’s eyes widened as he got a good look at me, taking in my human features. I removed his gag first.

  "Thank you," he said, his voice hoarse. "We thought they would kill us once they finished looting the place."

  I freed the woman and child next, then helped them to their feet. "Are you the Waykeepers?"

  The man nodded, rubbing his wrists where the ropes had chafed. "I am Lathen. This is my wife, Merina, and our son, Eldan. We've maintained this waystation for fifteen years."

  "John!" Elindra called from the front room. "They're all gone. It's safe."

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  She appeared in the doorway, her expression softening when she saw the family. “Lathen, Merina. I'm relieved you're alive."

  "Lady Elindra," Merina said, bowing slightly. "What brings you so far from Silverhaven?"

  "We're searching for Princess Lyrielle," Elindra said. "She's missing."

  Lathen and Merina exchanged glances. "The princess?" Lathen asked. "Here?"

  "We believe she passed this way," I said. "Heading into the Mountain Clan territory."

  Lathen's brow furrowed. "There was a group that passed through two days ago, staying off the road in the distance. They didn't stop, just continued up the mountain path. I noticed them because one had striking red hair—visible even in the twilight. It could have been Princess Lyrielle, now that I think on it.”

  My pulse quickened. "Did you see who she was with?"

  "No, not clearly," Lathen said. "There were three or four others, all cloaked. They moved quickly, like they didn't want to be seen."

  "Was she bound?" Elindra asked. "Did she appear to be a prisoner?"

  Lathen shook his head. "I couldn't tell. They were too far away, and it was early in the morning, still too dark to see clearly. I only noticed the red hair because it caught the first light of the rising sun."

  I glanced at Elindra. This matched what her vision had shown—Lyrielle traveling toward the mountains with companions whose identities remained hidden.

  "We need to follow them," I said.

  “You’re still too wounded to travel too long into the evening, and there are still untold dangers in the mountains. Kobolds are the least of concerns until we get close to the Mountain Clan’s patrols,” Elindra said.

  I wanted to argue, to push on while the trail was fresh, but the throbbing in my side reminded me of my limitations. The fight with the kobolds had reopened my wound slightly, and a small bloodstain was spreading on my tunic.

  "You're injured," Merina said, noticing the blood. "Let me tend to that while Lathen and Eldan restore some order here."

  "Thank you," I said, reluctantly accepting the delay. "We appreciate your hospitality, especially after what you've just been through."

  Lathen smiled. "You saved us from a terrible robbery. A meal and a night's shelter is the least we can offer."

  While Merina examined my wound and applied a fresh poultice, Lathen and his son began setting the waystation to rights, righting tables, and sweeping up broken pottery. Elindra helped, her movements graceful even in such mundane tasks.

  "The kobolds have grown bolder lately," Lathen said as he worked. "This is the third raid in as many months. Usually, they stick to the deeper mountains."

  "Something's driving them down," Elindra said. "Perhaps the rumors of unrest among the Mountain Clan are true.

  "The Mountain Clan has always been difficult," Lathen said. "But lately, there have been rumors of a power struggle within their leadership. Some say Lord Kaelan is losing his grip on power."

  "To whom?" I asked.

  Lathen shrugged. "No one knows for certain. But travelers speak of a faction that wishes to break away entirely from the other clans."

  I considered this new information as I learned the makeup of this Elven world. It seemed there were so many groups ready to fall apart at the seams and break out into war. Much like Earth.

  By the time Merina finished treating my wound, Lathen had a fire going in the hearth and was preparing a simple but hearty stew. The young boy, Eldan, watched me with curiosity.

  “I’m sorry he’s staring,” Merina said. “Not many humans come through this waystation. Lathen, don’t be rude.”

  “Not a problem,” I said, more amused than anything else. The boy seemed harmless.

  “Sorry,” Lathen said as he stirred the stew. “You saved us. You’re very strong, like a hero from stories.”

  “I’m not hero,” I said. “Just a man doing what I have to.”

  "You fought well for someone who claims not to be a hero," Elindra said, approaching with a cup of water. "The Blade Rune's blessing is strong in you."

  Our eyes met as she handed me the cup, her fingers brushing mine. "Thank you," she said softly. "For protecting me from that kobold."

  Before I could respond, she leaned down and pressed a quick kiss to my cheek. It was a simple gesture, but it sent a warmth through me that had nothing to do with the Blade Rune.

  "Just returning the favor," I said. She had tended to my wound after all. "We make a good team."

  Dinner was served soon after—a thick stew of root vegetables and dried meat, with hard bread on the side. It wasn't fancy, but after a day of walking and fighting, it tasted better than any five-star restaurant meal I'd ever had.

  As we ate, Lathen told us more about the mountain paths we would face tomorrow. "The main road is the safest, but also the most watched. If you're trying to avoid notice, there's a lesser-known trail that branches off about two miles up. Hunters and trappers use it."

  “It may be the way Lyrielle’s captors took.” Elindra said.

  After the meal, as Merina was clearing the dishes, Lathen approached me with an awkward expression. "We've prepared a space for you and your for you and Lady Elindra. Would you prefer one room or two?"

  I felt heat rise to my face. "Two. Definitely two."

  Elindra, who had overheard, looked equally flustered. "We're not... that is, we're just traveling companions."

  Lathen flashed an embarrassed expression. "My apologies. I assumed, well, the way you look at each other.”

  "Two rooms will be fine," I said, though I couldn't help glancing at Elindra. Had her kiss and touch meant more than I realized?

  The rooms were small but clean, each with a narrow bed, a washbasin, and a small window. Mine faced east, toward the path we'd traveled today. In the distance, I could just make out the lights of Silverhaven, twinkling like earthbound stars.

  I sat on the edge of the bed, removing my sword belt and setting it within easy reach. The events of the day replayed in my mind—the fight with the kobolds, the discovery of the elven family, and the news that Lyrielle had indeed passed this way.

  And Elindra. The feel of her lips on my cheek, the way her eyes had held mine when she thanked me. I barely knew her, yet there was a connection between us that I couldn't deny.

  A soft knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. I opened it to find Elindra standing there, her hair loose around her shoulders.

  "I wanted to check your wound before you sleep," she said. "The fight may have aggravated it."

  "It's fine," I said. "Merina did a good job with it."

  "Still, I'd feel better if I looked at it myself." There was something in her tone that suggested this wasn't just about my injury.

  I stepped back, allowing her to enter. "Be my guest."

  She closed the door behind her, and the small room suddenly felt much smaller. "You'll need to remove your tunic," she said, her voice professional but with an undercurrent I couldn't quite identify.

  I complied, wincing slightly as the movement pulled at my wound. Elindra approached, her fingers cool against my skin as she carefully removed Merina's bandage.

  "It's healing well," she said after examining the cut. "No signs of infection."

  "Thanks to your moonflower paste," I said.

  She smiled, her face close to mine as she reapplied the bandage. "The paste helps, but your body is strong. You heal quickly for a human."

  "Maybe it's the Blade Rune's influence," I suggested.

  "Perhaps." Her task was complete; she should have stepped back, but she remained close, her eyes meeting mine. "You were impressive today. The way you fought, it was like watching a dance."

  "I can't take credit for that," I said. "It was the Rune's power working through me."

  "The Rune enhances what's already there," she said. "It doesn't create something from nothing."

  Her hand still rested lightly on my bare chest, just above the bandage. I was acutely aware of her touch, of her proximity, of the scent of herbs and flowers that seemed to surround her.

  "Elindra," I began, not entirely sure what I wanted to say.

  “Shh,” she said, and then she kissed me again, this time on the lips.

  I returned her kiss with vigor, letting my hands slide to her waist, feeling the curves of her hips. We moved together, and I turned her over, pressing her against the bed.

  She began to undress, and I was already halfway there. I blew out the candle in the room and despite our having two rooms, we made love, and she stayed the night with me.