Harper

My fingers ached. My arms felt like they were filled with molten lead. But after hours of firing arrow after arrow, I finally managed to land one, granted, it barely stuck to the very bottom of the target, but still, I did it. On my own. Progress.

I exhaled sharply, shaking out my hands as Thorin gave a short nod of approval. “About time,” he muttered, but I caught the tiniest hint of amusement in his voice.

Training didn’t stop there. We moved on to throwing daggers, something I was marginally better at, though that wasn’t saying much. By the time Thorin demonstrated the correct way to drive a blade into someone’s ribs in close combat, I was pretty sure I’d never be able to unclench my fists again. Not exactly my favorite lesson, but I couldn't deny it was necessary.

We finally finished , it had to be sometime in the afternoon. I felt like a rag doll. I trudged back upstairs, every limb screaming in protest. My exhaustion nearly overpowered me, until I caught the scent of food wafting through the hall. My stomach grumbled in approval, and suddenly, I wasn’t so focused on the pain, but the need to eat.

Inside, Morag was setting the table with food, each dish looking more mouthwatering than the last. I practically collapsed into a chair as she turned to me, one brow raised.

“You look famished, Harper. Is Thorin training you too hard?”

I froze, my mind flashing back to the morning’s lesson, specifically, to the moments when Thorin had adjusted my stance, his calloused hands brushing my arms, steadying me as he positioned my bow. I felt warmth creep up my neck and focused very hard on not thinking about it.

“No, of course not,” I said quickly, grabbing for an apple in a desperate attempt to occupy myself.

Morag shot Thorin a pointed look. He just laughed, leaning back in his chair. “She’s going to need a lot of work.”

I scowled, biting into the apple with unnecessary force. I’d landed a shot, hadn’t I?

Rhylen walked in, his presence filling the room with its usual quiet intensity. He took a seat across from me, his keen gaze assessing. “How was training?”

I barely had time to swallow before he was already expecting an answer. “Fine,” I managed.

Thorin, of course, had to add his two cents. “We’ll get her trained up.”

Rhylen nodded slightly. “Good. We’ll be setting out for Moonlight Thicket this evening. Our journey will take longer than expected so Thorin can continue training you each morning.”

My stomach sank. Training, everyday? Great…

“Why are we going to Moonlight Thicket?” I asked, hoping it was for some mundane, non-life-threatening reason.

Rhylen’s expression didn’t change. “I’m taking you to see Arion. The Keeper of Secrets.”

I had no idea who that was, but based on the way Thorin immediately straightened, I wasn’t sure I wanted to find out.

“Arion?” Thorin’s voice held an edge of caution. “Are you sure that’s wise?”

“Yes,” Rhylen said simply. “While Harper knows of Josh Carter, she doesn’t seem to know him personally. So, we decided the risk was worth it.”

Shit. I guess I was not so convincing on how much I could help with finding Josh Carter. And risk? That word sent a prickle of unease down my spine. “What kind of risk?”

I glanced at Thorin, expecting him to be the one to answer, but Rhylen held up a hand to silence him. “Arion watches over the Pool of Secrets. If you drink from it, you see visions, sometimes memories, sometimes glimpses of what could happen. But Arion doesn’t grant access to the pool freely. He has a habit of requiring favors, and sometimes, they aren’t harmless. The worst ones are the unspoken favors, which he can claim wherever and whenever he pleases.”

I blinked. “This guy sounds like the Sea-Witch who’s going to steal my voice in exchange for my legs.”

Dead silence. Everyone stared at me. I guess that’s just a story I know.

I let out a nervous laugh. “Sorry. That’s an Earth pop culture reference.”

Morag tilted her head, considering. “This Sea-Witch sounds dreadful. What other monsters exist in your realm?”

I snorted. “Oh, plenty. Vampires, werewolves, ghosts, politicians…”

Thorin groaned. “She’s joking.”

Morag didn’t look convinced, but before she could ask more questions, Rhylen spoke again. “Arion is not an ideal option, but we need you to be cautious about what he asks of you.”

I gave him a mock salute. “I’ll be on high alert.”

His expression darkened. Clearly, my sarcasm wasn’t appreciated.

“Finish eating and rest up,” Rhylen said, pushing back from the table. “Maisie will get you when it’s time to depart.”

And with that, he picked up his plate and left the room.

I sighed, watching him go. Guess I was too annoying for him to be around. Now I just had to decide whether I wanted to keep irritating him or try to impress him. The new boss from hell. I’m sure the right answer is not pushing his buttons.

I finished my lunch and dragged myself upstairs to my room, every muscle protesting with each step. The second my head hit the pillow, exhaustion won out, pulling me into a much-needed nap.