The Forsaken Hero

Startled, I raised my head and met Tana’s gaze, finding her eyes glistening with emotion. It took a moment for me to process what she had said, but when I did, a thick wave of panic clogged my throat.

"I suspected as much, at least, that you were a slave," Dyson mentioned darkly. "But to think you actually had one of these rumored Soul Crests."

I closed my eyes and bowed my head, grasping the folds of my skirt so tightly my knuckles turned white. In the passion of the moment, I’d spoken without thinking. No matter how badly I yearned to crawl away and hide, there was no going back. Now that they knew, they’d surely send me back to the church, and-

Helron regarded me closely, absently scratching his chin. "As fascinating as your past seems, I can’t say it’s the most pressing matter. Escaped slaves are commonplace around here. Weren’t you two about to be enslaved, anyway?"

My breath caught, and I looked up, blinded by tears. The guild leader was gesturing at Tana and Sorrin, who both nodded in agreement. Suddenly, what Tana had mentioned to me after our fight in the goblin cave came rushing back. They’d been captured by slavers and had barely escaped before making their way to the Northern Continent. Did they...did they really not care?

Rasce barked a short, mirthless laugh. "Don’t tell me this is what you’ve been hiding the whole time. You’re an escaped slave? At least make your secrets worth discovering, not something everyone already assumed."

I stared around in disbelief, only partially hearing the conversation. I had much more to hide, so much more, but they seemed satisfied with just his much. All of my worry and anxiety...dismissed like winter winds before the spring.

Tana reached across the distance and laid her hand atop mine, her touch warm and comforting. "This ’Lord Byron,’ was he your master?"

Brushing a tear from my eye, I nodded. "One of them. Vithrass said he was a member of the Circle, but to me...he’s more of a demon than any I’ve killed."