Charis’s hooves clomped swiftly and steadily along the uneven terrain made of overgrown roots, thick vegetation, and rough roads paved with dirt—a common sight for the impoverished country of Penichros where I and many other assassins currently resided. The wind whipped against my chapped cheeks and tangled mess of blonde curls as Charis continued her quick speed, and I was thankful when she slowed to a gentle trot once we approached our current home.

I slid off her back and patted her shiny, brown coat as I led her to the stable. Two of the usual six horses were absent, which meant that Ulfric must still be out, too. With Onyx on my shoulder, I sighed and shoveled some fresh hay for Charis before making my way inside, snickering a bit as William’s pleas for me to wait fell behind me. My hand rested on the splintering, wooden door as I paused to collect my thoughts. The happy, muffled voices and the warm light peeking through the cracks soothed my aching heart and troubled mind, and Onyx cooed and rubbed her feathery head against my reddened cheek, sensing something was off.

“I’m fine, girl,” I muttered quietly as I pushed the door open.

I breathed in the smell of sweet rolls that mixed in the air with the fresh ink from the scribbling quill in Alfed’s hand and burning wax from the many candles that illuminated our small abode. When a strong hand gripped my bird-free shoulder, I gasped as my mind immediately flipped back to Theo’s desperate gaze, but when I met William’s slightly annoyed expression, I rolled my eyes and shrugged him off.

“You should have waited for me, Cat.”

“You should have been faster,” I retorted, throwing the bag of money I’d stolen onto the counter for Alfred to count.

“I didn’t know we were in a race,” William replied humorously, grabbing my arm to pull me back. The corner of his mouth turned up in a small smile, but the moment he noticed my stern expression, he immediately became serious. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine. I just—”

“Caterina!” Isobel’s voice rang like windchimes through the house, and I immediately ran to embrace her. She was the only person I wished to see right now. “How was tonight? Did you find everything we need for the journey?”

“I found more than I wanted,” I mumbled, hoping she’d catch the double meaning in my tone. When her brows narrowed and her emerald eyes glazed over in thought, my shoulders slacked some. I knew she’d understand, at least to some degree.

“Do you want to discuss it before or after your initiation?” Her hands moved to her hips, and she took in my every move with an intense, understanding gaze.

“Cat, that’s tonight?” William asked as he joined us. He gripped my shoulders excitedly, forcing Onyx to fly off, and I laughed as she flew to the messy bookshelf and cawed in annoyance.

“Of course, it is. It’s her eighteenth birthday, genius,” Isobel replied, flipping her black hair over her shoulder and walking away to grab pliers.

“We spent all day together, and you didn’t remind me? I’m hurt.”

“You didn’t care to remember,” I quipped, turning to face William and pushing my pointer finger against the tip of his nose to force him to step back. “And after all I did for your eighteenth birthday last year? I thought we were friends, William.”

“Cat, come on, you know I—”

“Stop your grovelling and get a towel, William,” Isobel instructed as she moved two stools into the small side room that held nothing else but sacks of flour, empty bags, and extra weapons. William sighed, his lips twitching as he feigned disappointment, and rushed off to the kitchen to get a towel from Agnes. Isobel patted the wooden seat in front of her and I quickly accepted it. “So, what happened?”

“I saw Theodore.”

“Theodore,” she mumbled quietly, searching her mind for where she may have stored that name, and then gasped the moment recognition hit. “The Theodore? The one that helped you escape the Council of Commons?”

“Yes,” I said as I chewed on my bottom lip. “But not in the best way. He’s the one we stole from tonight.”

“That may not be the worst thing, Caterina. Perhaps he’s just well off? He may not necessarily be working for the Council of Commons.”

I rolled my eyes. “Well off with his father’s money and no doubt in the very thick of whatever monstrous plans that Kingmaker is concocting. It seems he never got away, even though I’d always hoped he would.”

Isobel pursed her lips. I’m sure she didn’t agree with me, at least not entirely, but she chose not to press the issue more, which I was quite thankful for. My heart ached enough as it was. “I’m sorry, Cat. Did he recognize you?”

“It’s fine,” I said, shaking my head. “And he did. These blasted magenta eyes gave me away.”

“They are quite unique,” Isobel giggled, “though they aren’t an unmistakable sign. Anyone who came from the Dunamic Isle before it fell could have them.”

“Well, they were for him. Not that it matters. Hopefully, I’ll never see him again.”

“Hopefully not. Now, are you ready to officially become a Shadow Guild assassin?” Isobel smiled and held up the pliers. I swallowed hard and braced myself, opening my mouth to give her the best access I possibly could to my back teeth.

William barged into the room just as Isobel’s pliers clamped down onto the tooth. “I can’t believe you were going to start without me!” William huffed.

“Hush, I need to focus.”

I stifled my laugh and sucked in a deep breath. Isobel watched carefully and began to count. “Alright, Cat. Three, two—”

“Ugh!” I shouted as the tooth was painfully ripped from my gum. William handed me the towel and a cup of water. “What happened to one?” I asked, swishing water around my mouth and spitting it out as it mixed with the sick, metallic taste of my own blood.

“I heard it’s less painful if it’s a surprise.” Isobel shrugged, offering my tooth to me as if it were a trophy.

“I’ll pass. You can throw it away.”

“Don’t throw it away. Edmond could use it to make her antidote capsules fit properly,” William suggested as he held out his calloused hand to Isobel.

“Is that alright with you, Caterina?” Isobel asked.

“I don’t care what you two do with it. William can eat it if he wants.”

“Eat it?” William’s face scrunched in disgust. “What is wrong with you?”

“I was being facetious, you goof. Take it to Edmond. It’s a good idea.”

William smiled and kissed my cheek. “Happy birthday, Cat.”