“It’s only right we test new members—out in the field, where it matters. In fact, I think we should make this a permanent rule going forward. For all new recruits.” He smiled serenely at Erik. “Wouldn’t you agree?”
Ah. I saw what he was doing. He’d agree to hoisting a new, unexpected rule on me, but only if Erik confirmed that everyone else must go through the same paces. And I supposed it wasn’t so bad. Sooner or later—likely on the sooner side, knowing how fast things moved around here—I’d have been sent off on my first quest, anyway. I just had to make sure I nailed this one, so Erik would have no excuse to turn me away at the end of it.
Erik flattened his lips into a thin line, then said, “Yes, of course. From now on, we’ll give all new members a trial quest to see how they perform in a real world scenario.”
My father nodded. “Good. Frida, do you wish to proceed?”
“I suppose,” I said. “What do you need me to do?”
Erik smiled, turned, and motioned at one of the many guards he kept stationed around the guild’s grounds. The guard, donned in deep red leathers, lifted a folded piece of parchment and hastened across the courtyard. As I waited to hear the details of my mission, my stomach twisted uncomfortably, like angry sea waves had taken up residence inside me. I fought the urge to swipe my sweaty palms against my trousers. Erik, I had to admit, might have a bit of a point with the whole trial period thing.
Because the idea of actually aiming my arrow at someone and watching the life bleed from their eyes…well, I just thought I’d have more time before I had to do it, that was all. Time to steelmyself against it. I’d never felt eager to kill. It was why I’d held off joining for so long. But my brother had convinced me that I’d feel differently once I got involved. We didn’t kill anyone who was worth saving, after all. Only the bastards of the world, who deserved what they got.
Really, the guild was doing a good thing for society, and no matter what happened, I would only aim the tip of my arrow at someone who deserved it.
But knowing that didn’t mean I felt ready. Maybe I just needed to get the first one over with. Maybe then it wouldn’t feel like my insides were being shoved through a cheese grater.
The guard came to a stop beside Erik. Reverently, he held the paper in his upraised palms and held it toward me. Swallowing, I took the offered task, unfolded the parchment, and gobbled the words with my eyes.
Assassin’s Guild Assignment for Frida Rurik
An orc named Rune—surname unknown—is rumored to live on the Floating Forest, a small island located within the Isles of Fable. There, he keeps a dragon. To complete your induction, track down this orc and take his dragon. Assassination is not required.
Heart pounding, I read the impossible words again.
To complete your induction, track down this orc and take his dragon.
I blinked, then looked up. “Is this a joke?”
“Why would it be a joke?” Erik asked, practically purring.
My blood began to boil. He’d done this on purpose. He’d given me an insurmountable task, knowing I’d never succeed—which meant I’d be locked out of the guild for the rest of my life.I shook my head in disbelief. What had I ever done to him? It felt like he’d been against me from the start.
“All the dragons are dead,” I said flatly.
He smiled, though there was no warmth in the expression. “That’s not true. I know you’ve heard the rumors about the four dragons living on those islands.”
“There’s also a rumor that Isveig’s ghost is trapped in chains, wandering the world in pain for all of eternity. But everyone knows that’s nothing more than a fanciful tale. Same as this.” I waved the parchment in the air to punctuate my statement.
Isveig had been a conqueror who had hunted and killed both orcs and dragons alike, all in his quest for power. Thankfully, the orcs had retaken their kingdom nearly thirty years ago. He’d rotted in the dungeons for a long while. But he was dead now. Good riddance.
I often wished the tales were true and his soul was cursed to endure a miserable half-existence for eternity, but ghosts didn’t exist. And neither did dragons—unfortunately.
“I have it on good authority that these dragons are very much alive,” Erik said, then shrugged. “But if you aren’t up for the task, I’ll find someone else to do it.”
Fuck. He was serious about this, and judging by his expression, he actually believed in these dragons. If I didn’t agree to this, he’d force me to pack my bag, walk out those gates, and never look back. I might not even get a chance to say my goodbyes—not properly. He’d given me no choice but to accept this doomed mission. And when I inevitably failed…well, I’d worry about that when the time came.
My father’s frown had deepened over the course of the conversation until his expression had transformed into an outright scowl. “When you brought up this new trial period, I thought you’d have her go for a target in the city. Or at leaston the continent. This assignment will take weeks—if not more. And you don’t even want her to assassinate the target?”
Erik sniffed and looked down his nose at my father. “We’ve been hired to do a job, and that job is to take the dragon from him. That is why she’s going to the Isles.”
“I thought they were pro—”
“You thought right. No harm will be done,” Eric said, a tense gaze locked on my father’s face. “This is the assignment I’ve decided to give Frida. Go to the island, harm no one, and bring me that dragon.” He slid his gaze toward me. “Take it or leave it.”
For one heart-pounding moment, I actually considered saying no. I could walk away from all this and go back to my cottage in the woods that I’d held on to this past year, just in case things fell apart at the guild and I needed to return home. But the truth was, I was lonely out there by myself. I had Stella, of course, but all of my loved ones were here.
Guild members were forbidden from fraternizing with those outside the organization. Before I’d come to the city with my tail between my legs, I’d gone years without seeing my brother and my father. Birthday gifts had mysteriously turned up on my front porch, but that had been the extent of their contact. And since my nearest neighbors lived miles away, it’d been just me for a really long time.
