The same nightmare that had haunted Priscilla’s dreams had come to plague her once more.

  Illnyea ran frantically, her gold eyes flashing with fear each time she glanced over her shoulder but each glance just renewed her pace. The surroundings were dark as ever, the shadows sharp and taunting as Illnyea’s breathing grew ragged. When she tried to turn around the next bend, her foot sank deep until her knee was covered.

  Illnyea tried to pull her leg out of the muck, tears running down her face as it didn't budge and she only succeeded in getting her other leg trapped as well, and then her waist and she gasped, then her arms were caught, then her chest, then her neck, then –

  Magic sparked in her eyes, the only part of Illnyea that was still visible, the tell-tale cracks of a magical overload spreading over her skin as she was fully dragged beneath the earth.

  Then the dream had shifted into the world where the creature who tried to take over Priscilla’s mind resided and Illnyea was floating within the darkness, the glow from the overload the only thing that penetrated the darkness. That glow reflected off Illnyea's silver hair and illuminated the creature’s blank face as its too long fingers drifted closer to Illnyea.

  Priscilla kicked her legs desperately in a vain attempt to reach her sister before the creature did.

  And that was where Priscilla woke up gasping before dawn, clutching at her heart as panic burned within her. The two nightmares had fused into one and Priscilla couldn’t slow down her breathing at the panic that was rising within her.

  “Master?” Asha said, the artifact’s worry cutting through Priscilla’s hazy emotions.

  Priscilla took one, two, three deep breaths in and out, and her voice was mostly steady as she said, “Just a bad dream, Asha.”

  It sounded like a lie even to Priscilla’s own ears.

  “You have far too many bad dreams,” Asha said disapprovingly. “You should ask the divine’s chosen if he has any herbs that will grant you a more peaceful sleep.”

  Priscilla dragged herself out of bed as she considered that. She’d have to reveal she was having nightmares and that’d probably just invite more questions Priscilla didn’t really want to answer.

  But Priscilla looked at herself in the small mirror in the room and winced.

  “That might be a good idea,” Priscilla conceded, eyeing her reflection.

  When Priscilla had first been forced into this body, it had unblemished skin and the shiny polish of someone who took good care of herself. But now, there were dark circles that a raccoon would envy and her cheeks were gaunter than she remembered them being. Priscilla had been eating more field rations than normal meals, but she thought she gave this body enough calories to keep it stable.

  Priscilla frowned and that resulting expression could have made a baby cry with the way her green eyes sharpened poisonously and her lips curled into a sneer instinctively. She dropped the frown and sighed, rubbing her temples. She’d have to keep in mind her face lent itself towards natural villany when talking to people.

  “I’ll see if I can find any lavender tea to drink tonight,” Priscilla said and Asha’s approval warmed their bond.

  A quick wash of her face didn’t help that much and Priscilla could only hope the boy’s knew better than to comment on a lady’s beauty sleep (or lack thereof).

  Priscilla flipped through the bestiary to pass the time until dawn but unfortunately not even the interesting hunting habits of razor beaked crows could keep her mind off everything Priscilla was desperately trying to ignore. So Priscilla turned to look through the pouch full of broken pieces of quartz, holding them up to the thin light of pre-dawn.

  Maybe, just maybe, if luck chose to be with her, these tiny gems would help Illnyea siphon off enough excess magic so Illnyea could live.

  Or so Priscilla hoped.

  (She had never been the praying type, but before she left the privacy of the room, Priscilla paused and bent her head over her clasped hands. She whispered a prayer to the god that had punished her, not even choosing to call them the god of cowards so perhaps her earnest plea could be received.)

  (“Please don’t let my sister die.”)

  Sulaiman did give her a second glance when Priscilla came to wake them up, but Priscilla’s smile was bright and she focused on helping wake up Kavil, who was proving to be quite the heavy sleeper. In the books, Kavil was one of the party members who was more sensitive during watch, waking up when a branch cracked or a badger-wolf in the distance howled.

  Priscilla slowed for a moment as she realized that habit was likely born from the time that Kavil spent alone and on the run from the bandits. She looked at Kavil who she had barely managed to force into a sitting position and decided that was a good thing.

  The other occupants were already waiting for them by the time they went downstairs in the morning with the hopes of getting a quick breakfast and leaving shortly after, which made Priscilla pause when she entered the dining room. Even the merchant was there, though he stuck up his nose and looked away when Priscilla glanced at him. She held back a sigh as she moved further into the dining room.

  Priscilla told their daring tale of fighting Dappled Hyenas in the morning as the cook brought them their food, drawing the attention to her so Sulaiman and Kavil could eat undisturbed. Sulaiman looked less put off by the attention than he was yesterday, though he still didn’t add anything to the conversation even while Priscilla extolled his combat prowess. Priscilla firmly but not unkindly dodged questions that tried to pry into her and her companions' lives.

  She finished the tale by showing off the ears they had collected and her audience oohed and ahhed appreciatively.

  But storytime had to come to an end, and Priscilla breathed out a sigh of relief once they passed through the gates and Sulaiman snorted.

  Priscilla glared at him, guessing he was judging her, asking, “What’s so funny?”

  “You were planning out your life as a bard yesterday,” Sulaiman said, “and yet, after just two sessions with a captive audience, you seem exhausted already.”

  Something lurked behind Sulaiman’s mild voice, a question that he didn’t say aloud but glittered in Sulaiman’s gaze as it sharpened on her face.

  “Alas, it seems the profession isn’t for me,” Priscilla sighed, tossing her hair dramatically to avoid looking at him. “I’m not built for entertaining the masses. My talents will be reserved just for my friends.”

  “A pity,” Sulaiman said after a moment, returning his gaze forward. “I would’ve liked to see you make a fool of yourself more.”

  “Oh, fuck off,” Priscilla snipped. “Next time I’m letting you do all the talking so I can point and laugh.”

  Sulaiman gave her quite the stank eye but before they could start arguing in earnest, Kavil pulled his horse between theirs, saying, “Do you think we can get any bounties for the toads?”

  Priscilla blinked in surprise at the question, and even Sulaiman paused to give Kavil an evaluating look. Kavil noted he was getting weird looks and his shoulders raised by his ears.

  “What?” Kavil said, glancing away. “The merchant Tallow mentioned the hyenas bounties this morning and I was just wondering. I know you need a hyena ear but I don’t know if our claws will count too.”

  Sulaiman and Priscilla both looked to the other for the answer, and Priscilla laughed as Sulaiman looked shocked at his own actions.

  “I honestly have no idea,” Priscilla said, “but we can check.”

  “What’s an adventuring guild like?” Another question tumbled out of Kavil as once he got one answer, he needed all of them. “There’s one in Meadowyar, right? How big is it?”

  Sulaiman took up the reins of the conversation and Priscilla yet the two boys yap at each other, content with keeping a lazy watch on the forest. Him and Illnyea occasionally took up bounties, and he’d be a far better teacher than Priscilla’s theoretical knowledge.

  Priscilla’s hand never strayed too far from the bag of quartz tied to her belt.

  The story has been illicitly taken; should you find it on Amazon, report the infringement.

  The Emerald Forest held no more nasty surprises for them. The forest actually grew more animated the further they left the inn behind them, birdsong filling the air and smaller creatures scampering across the undergrowth with little fear. Kavil had pulled Priscilla back into the conversation, pointing out plants he recognized and Priscilla reciprocated by naming the animals they spotted best she could. She didn’t know all of them, but Kavil didn’t seem to mind, eagerly brushing past her lack of knowledge to ask the next question.

  They exited the forest near sundown, the sky painted in pink and yellow hues that washed away the bright blue of day. It was another hour before they were able to see Meadowyar in all its glory.

  Priscilla hadn’t taken the time to appreciate the view when she had left, her mind focused on Kavil.

  But Meadowyar was a sprawling city that had benefited greatly from being the closest city near the Emerald Forest’s southern edge, halfway between the capital and the Muloian mountains, so it was a popular trade post during the ‘rebellion.’ Before then, the city had mainly been known for its flowers, and you could still see some of that original influence in the way the city was arranged like flower petals around a central point — a large fountain where many in the city got their water from. It had been enchanted long ago, enough so that no one remembered the enchanter’s name, but it served as the symbol of the city for providing never ending water for the farmers and florists.

  It was difficult to appreciate it all in the dimming light but Priscilla had a good imagination and she could enjoy the view properly tomorrow. It was much more fun to watch Kavil’s face as Sulaiman led the way back to the Thornewood manor, following the cobbled streets to the part of the city where the well-to-do lived.

  Kavil’s eyes grew to the size of apples when Priscilla said, “Now this is our stop.”

  “This is where you live?” Kavil asked, his head on a swivel as he took in the giant garden, hedge maze, and courtyard that was visible through the front gates.

  “Afraid so,” Priscilla said, waving a mean little wave to the guard who gave her a suspicious look as he opened up the gates. Priscilla kept her head held up high though, urging the horse forward.

  Priscilla had just dismounted from her horse, when a familiar voice said, “Miss–ah, Priscilla, there you are.”

  “Mr. Ordan!” Priscilla said happily, a smile stretching across her face as she turned around.

  Now that was a face she had been looking forward to seeing again. Mr. Ordan looked more tired than when she had last seen him, the lines around his eyes a little deeper than before as he quickly approached and came to a stop a few feet away from there.

  Mr. Ordan’s eyes lingered on Kavil.

  “Ah, this is a friend I made while traveling,” Priscilla said quickly, tugging on Kavil’s arm to bring him forward, “and I liked him so much I brought him to visit! Mr. Ordan meet Kavil McCue, Kavil meet Mr. Hans Ordan.”

  “Hello Mr. Ordan,” Kavil said, smiling as he bowed his head.

  Mr. Ordan’s gaze flicked between Priscilla and Kavil. “Hello Mr. McCue.”

  “Call me Kavil,” he said, scratching the back of his head bashfully, “I don’t think I’ve ever been referred to by my last name, like, ever.”

  Mr. Ordan gave a slow nod before refixing his stare on Priscilla.

  “Priscilla, if I may speak with you for a moment,” Mr. Ordan said, then paused. “In private.”

  Priscilla didn’t still completely, but she did slowly pull her arm away from Kavil. There was something in Mr. Ordan’s voice that made Priscilla’s hackles rise. Not anything that Mr. Ordan was doing, but like feeling a premonition of lightning before it struck.

  “Sure,” Priscilla said easily, “will it be long or short? I still have to get the travel stank off of me, so it’d be nice to know when I can schedule that bath for.”

  “I don’t know,” Mr. Ordan said and Priscilla finally lost the battle to keep her smile.

  “Take care of everything for me,” Priscilla said, patting Sulaiman’s shoulder as she passed him, ignoring the look he was giving her. To Mr. Ordan, she said, “Do you want to talk in the garden? I’d suggest the house, but who knows how much privacy I’d get after my little adventure.”

  Mr. Ordan simply nodded without addressing Priscilla’s flippant words.

  The butler didn’t lead very far into the garden, just past the trellis that marked hedge maze's entrance where Priscilla had first run into Illnyea.

  “I wanted to make sure you were aware of this,” Mr. Ordan said, straightening to his full height with his hands tucked behind back, “as soon as you returned.”

  “You’re scaring me there, Mr. Ordan,” Priscilla said, trying to ease some of the tension from her own posture. “You’re making me think that something real shitty has happened.”

  Mr. Ordan did not deny her statement and Priscilla’s stomach dropped.

  “I understand that before the caravan departed, you and Illnyea had reconciled, at least somewhat,” Mr. Ordan began and Priscilla nodded, throat suddenly dry. Mr. Ordan took a deep breath before continuing. “A week and three days ago, we received word that while the caravan was traveling, Illnyea chanced upon wizards from the Royal Crimson Tower who were plagued by red dire bears. They appreciated her help so much that they provided enchantments to the caravan’s wagons, their merchandise, and even the horse’s harnesses and horseshoes.”

  Priscilla couldn’t figure out how this tale went wrong yet, as it simply sounded like Illnyea being her meddling, good-natured self – but she knew it would from the gravity in Mr. Ordan’s voice. It was like waiting for the guillotine blade to drop and cleave through the tiniest amount of hope Priscilla had kept deep in her heart where reality couldn’t harm it.

  “The enchantments greatly reduced travel time,” Mr. Ordan continued, his voice never losing its steady and even cadence, “and even allowed for them to take a more direct route home upon their return. However…” Mr. Ordan’s blue eyes darkened. “We have not received any messenger pigeons from the caravan since they left Harosaw City six days ago, even though they are meant to check in every other day. Based on the estimates that were given, the caravan should have returned yesterday morning.”

  The earth beneath Priscilla swayed as she took that information in, her mind going horribly blank as she realized the only variable that could have affected this trip was Priscilla herself – there had been no mention of Illnyea having connections to the Kavendash pet mage tower, so this was something that hadn’t happened in the original story.

  … but if Illnyea had been searching for a way to get back to Priscilla sooner, Priscilla knew Illnyea would jump on the opportunity because that was the type of person Illnyea was, always seizing opportunities when they presented themselves.

  And the only reason why Illnyea would have done that was because of a promise that wasn't meant to exist.

  She was why this happened. She had influenced Illnyea somehow, affected the world before the plot began so Illnyea didn’t return safely home like she was supposed to.

  Priscilla’s thoughtless words changed more than planned to – what she saw as a small rock carelessly tossed into a lake was now threatening to cause a tidal wave.

  But it wasn't until Mr. Ordan reached out to steady her shoulder and realized she was swaying dangerously and her hands were shaking.

  “The parents,” Priscilla said desperately, reaching up to grasp Mr. Ordan’s arm as it anchored her, “what–what are they doing about this? They, they’re sending out a search party right? Sounding the fucking alarm and triangulating where they’re supposed to be? Right? Right?”

  Mr. Ordan was silent as Priscilla said, “Don’t tell me they’re doing fucking nothing. Please, please don’t, please…”

  Slowly, as one approaches a wounded animal, Mr. Ordan said, “The Thornewoods have decided to wait for any news to be sent out first. It is possible the magic failed or the pigeons and the caravan were delayed by the storm that came through recently.” He paused, his words gaining the cadence of one being quoted, "'They could turn up tomorrow, so we shouldn't bother with that when we have an important guest arriving soon.'"

  Priscilla was filled with a deep and terrible anger at those words, one that made her want to scream and yell and burn down the garden that surrounded them to ruin the perfect beauty the Thornewoods took so much pride in. Even if their assumption was right, it meant the caravan was stranded somewhere their equipment wasn’t meant to traverse. And if the messenger birds (who used birds for communication when you lived in a world with fucking magic) weren’t arriving liked they were supposed to, that should setting off all sorts of alarm bells in the dumb ass parents’ heads that something was wrong.

  But nooo, those heartless shit rags couldn’t even be bothered to act for the daughter they supposedly loved all so they could make themselves look better for a stranger. It was what Priscilla's parents would have done, and she hadn't thought she could hate someone more than them but it seems these new parents took the cake. At least in her last world, traveling didn't come with a very real threat of dying.

  Mr. Ordan winced as her fingers dug into his skin and that was enough to remind her that she had to first take a deep breath in.

  Mr. — had always told her that she was a spitfire and her passion was admirable, but she needed to learn how and when to control that fire so that she didn’t burn down those who didn’t deserve it.

  And Mr. Ordan definitely didn’t deserve it.

  She took another deep breath in, closing her eyes and struggling to recenter herself.

  She wasn’t Priscilla anymore. She couldn’t be. Thinking of herself like that was just a moment of weakness.

  She was Priscilla.

  And Priscilla was Illnyea’s big sister.

  She hadn’t accepted that title lightly because she had never had a real family before. Mr. — had been the closest she ever got, and even then, she could only call him a friend rather than the older brother because she was a coward. She had finally plucked up the courage and planned to say it during her speech at his wedding but –

  She took a sharp breath in and pushed the painful memories away because she could do nothing. She was in a new world, in a new body, with one clear purpose.

  Illnyea was in trouble, Priscilla knew that fact like she knew she needed to breathe, and older siblings were meant to bail out their younger sister when she needed help.

  “Mr. Ordan,” Priscilla said as she slowly loosened her grip and let her hands drop to her sides, “I’m afraid I’m going to have to be leaving tomorrow morning so we won’t have much time to chat.”

  Mr. Ordan studied her face before nodding.

  “Allow me to assist you in preparing for it,” Mr. Ordan said, falling into step with Priscilla as she turned on her heel.

  “Firstly I have to speak with the boys,” Priscilla said, stalking across the cobblestone courtyard.

  “And your next step?”

  “I have a conversation with the parents,” Priscilla sneered, voice dripping with disdain.