The Forsaken Hero

The commander met us in the courtyard, her helmet tucked under her arm. I shied back as she grimaced at me, hiding behind Jessia.

"And who’s this skittish child?"

Jessia moved aside, patting me on the shoulder. I flinched.

"The Oracle of Eternity, or so she calls herself."

"I-It’s Xiviyah," I stammered, not meeting her eyes.

"You don’t have to be afraid of me. We’re at peace, technically," she said. "Call me Nestra. I command the Imperial Guard."

I lowered my head. "Sorry. It’s just...you remind me of another. He commanded the soldiers at the border."

"Conrad, was it? He was a formidable soldier, one whose loss we shall feel keenly for many years. Perhaps the closest in the kingdom to breaking through to the eighth level."

I touched my throat, feeling a whisper of cold steel. Conrad had been the one to capture me and hand me off to the Inquisitor. He’d beaten Fable, even given that my wolf was already exhausted.

But why was she talking as if he was dead? He should have retreated with Verity and the rest of the refugees.

"Well, no use crying about the dead. What’s done is done."