Rhylen

I steady myself, keeping my expression neutral as I motion for Harper to continue. Her words hang in the air like an unspoken challenge, and I can't help but wonder what she's hiding. My voice remains calm, despite the swirling tension in the room.

"Please, continue."

Harper's eyes dart to her hands, fidgeting restlessly in her lap. Is she really struggling to find the right words, or is she simply stalling? The more I watch her, the more I sense something off, though I can't quite place it. Perhaps she's trying to weave a story to obscure the truth. There is something about her, something nagging me. Her continued hesitation gnaws at me.

"You see," she begins, her voice trembling slightly, "I believe I’m from a different world. Called Earth. I lost something… and I..." She trails off, and there’s a subtle crack in her tone, a wave of sadness that seems almost too real to dismiss. Or is it? Was she truly sorrowful or was she playing us? Using emotions to cover her tracks. I narrow my gaze, trying to read her.

"I went to a person who performs something like magic" Her voice quivers again. "I’m not sure what kind of person that would be in your world, but they put me in a dream to forget what I lost. This was so I could move on without it. That’s when I woke up here in Eldoria."

Her explanation doesn’t make much sense. There’s a part of me that wants to believe her, but the rest of me knows better than to trust too easily. It’s as if she’s a puzzle I can’t quite solve, no matter how much I try to fit the pieces together. I glance over at Arandur, his posture relaxed, but his eyes intense as he studies her. He's always been good at reading people.

He leans back, rubbing his chin, his sharp gaze never leaving Harper. "I do not sense lies from her," he whispers in my ear. "But there could be things she’s not saying.”

I nod in agreement, my mind racing. I need to be careful here. We have a mission, and she's become an unexpected variable.

"I’m going to reveal our mission to her. Only enough to gauge a reaction from her.”

He gives a quick, subtle nod, a silent acknowledgment that he understands.

I turn my attention back to Harper, I lock eyes with her, watching her closely. I need to make her feel comfortable, as if she’s part of something bigger than herself, something she can’t easily escape from. "Thorin is right," I say, my voice sharp. "You do owe him a debt of service. You will do any tasks, small or big, that he or the others here require. And you will need to train in certain skills."

Her expression shifts, a spark of willingness in her eyes. "I’ll do whatever you need," she says quickly.

I have to keep a level head. She’s either genuinely eager to prove herself, or she’s hiding something, playing me for a fool. I study her face, searching for any sign of deceit.

I press on. "Your first task is to help us find someone. Someone from Earth."

Her reaction is immediate, her eyes widening in surprise. "From Earth? Do you have anything more to go on? There are a lot of people on Earth."

I take a deep breath, suppressing the small bit of doubt that threatens to creep in. I need to stay focused. "This one carried himself well," I say, watching her closely for any sign of recognition. "His name was Josh Carter."

The change in her expression is instantaneous, her drop to the table as she makes an odd face. "Josh Carter? That’s a very common name. Why are you looking for him?"

I feel my pulse quicken, a sliver of doubt creeping in. This could be a dead end.

"This Josh Carter," I say slowly, "presented himself to the King of Ravenhold, making promises to help elevate the King’s people. He spoke of something he called technology, and how it would vastly improve his kingdom."

Her eyes light up, and snap back to mine. "Josh... Carter. Holy shit. ‘THE’ Josh Carter?"

I lean forward. "So you do know him?"

She nods, her brow furrowing as she processes the information. "I know of him. He’s one of the richest men on our planet."

She leans back in her chair, running her hand through her hair and I can tell by her expression that this Josh Carter is someone important, someone with a reputation that resonates even across worlds. Maybe even comparable to a king in our realm.

"We need to find him," I press, keeping my tone firm. "The King of Ravenhold is eager to bring him back to his kingdom.”

“If the King of Ravenhold was interested in what he could offer, why would he let him leave? Was he kidnapped?”

She’s sharp. Already wanting to know more. I don’t think she needs the full details until we can trust her more. “That information is not for you.”

 She leans back and crosses her arms in annoyance. "I will do my best to help you find him, but if I know more it might…"

I cut her off. “This is all you get for now.”

I lean back in my seat, "How will you be able to help us in our search?"

She appears to squirm in her chair, "Oh, we have a lot of… documentation on Josh Carter back in my world that I recall. I remember a lot of it and it might help me find him here, in this land.”

I’m not sure how much of this I can trust. She might be from Earth, but it sounds like she has no personal relationship with Josh. I glance over to Thorin who has his gazed fixed on her. The way he looks at her, the way his eyes linger, it makes me uneasy. He seems taken by her allure, and I can tell that if I’m not careful, I’ll lose control of this situation.

I can’t afford for Thorin to get too attached to her, not when she could be playing a dangerous game. Perhaps I should have Arandur relay that message to him, he’s more likely to listen to him than anyone else.

I rise from my seat, the decision made. "Maisie will help you find better attire and gear. Rest, then tomorrow, you can prove how useful you are."

Harper clasps her hands together, her enthusiasm palpable. "I will do my best."

I offer a cold smile, "I pray you do," I reply.

The weight of my thoughts heavy on my chest as I turn to leave. There's something about her. It continues to nag me, and I know I’ll have to keep a close watch on her every move.