I took a step back, pulling my dagger away from Cindra's neck.

Staring in disbelief, my eyes wandered from her face to the form-fitting black leather that clung to her body. A swept-handle rapier hung from her hip. It was strapped to a brown leather belt decorated with pockets and pouches.

I had hoped that she was alive, but… I didn't expect this!

"Y-You look good… You're hair—it's red!"

Cindra watched me with a measured gaze, no emotion behind her hard brown eyes.

"The people hunting me were looking for a blonde maid."

She still spoke in that same dull monotone.

How I missed it.

I nodded.

"Misdirection."

"Just like you taught me."

She stepped forward and grabbed at my belt sash with her left hand.

"Are you still hiding a spare stash of coins in your sash?"

"Of course, it's the one place a pick pocket can't get to…"

I smirked.

"Just like you taught me."

"Hmph."

Her right hand darted up, pressing a throwing knife to my neck.

"When did you-"

"Misdirection. Drop your dagger."

She glanced at the tongue of fire floating in my other hand.

"And stop doing whatever you're doing."

I smiled, shaking my head.

Last Laugh clattered on the ground, and my fire petered out.

"What are you doing here, Jacob?" Cindra asked, the slightest hint of anger in her voice.

"Talking to my friend."

The edge of her knife broke my skin, and I winced from the small nick next to my trachea.

Why did all the women in life want to kill me?

Cindra's voice fell to a deadly whisper.

"Stop. Lying. This shop belongs to them. I've had eyes on it for weeks, and you're the first person to visit. Were you in on it? Did you help them kill my sister?"

My anger flared.

"I would never! I…"

And as quickly as the feeling rose, it was smothered by guilt.

I furrowed my brows.

"I shouldn't have left her behind…"

Cindra narrowed her eyes. She twisted her knife to the side for one clean swipe across my carotid artery.

A twinge of panic fluttered in my chest.

With a flick of her wrist, I would bleed out in seconds.

"Cindra, wait! I didn't know… Sin sent me here while her people burned down the mansion."

"Talon. They're called Talon."

My eyes went wide.

"How do you know that?"

"They're hunting me, so I hunt them. My turn. Why did you come back to this shop?"

"I completed a quest, and I needed to pay back a debt."

I held my breath.

In moments like this, it was always so hard to tell what she was thinking.

Sweat trickled down my face as I met her dead-eyed gaze.

She was going to kill me. It was a simple as that.

I didn't keep my promise. I didn't keep Cynthia safe.

I sighed with relief as the knife pulled away from my neck.

"I thought you were dead," Cindra whispered.

"I-"

She thrust herself forward, her lips locking on mine. Her right arm wrapped around the back of my neck. My arms wrapped around her, pulling her close.

For one fleeting moment, everything was right in the world.

We were two broken people, our jagged edges fitting together to become whole.

She broke off the kiss first, a faint smile curling the corners of her lips.

"I missed this game... It's like we're kids again."

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I smiled back.

"I'm sorry… About Cynthia… About everything… I failed…"

Cindra blinked.

Something dark flashed behind her eyes. She pulled away from me, turning around to crouch and pick up the throwing knives she had left scattered at the lip of the alley.

"Cindra?" I asked, nervousness edging my voice.

The perfect moment had passed, and in its place, a wall had formed between us.

Cynthia…

Eventually, Cindra spoke.

"At least, you have an excuse. I was there. I could have done something, but…"

"She told you to run."

Cynthia's last moments were fresh in my mind. I experienced them firsthand, and their memory hurt me every time I used my abilities.

Cindra continued.

"I did... I ran like a coward."

She scoffed.

"I'm worse than a coward. I couldn't protect my twin sister."

I stepped closer.

"You survived, Cindra. That's what she wanted. She was proud of you."

Cindra turned her head, glaring at me from the corner of her eye, her lips twisted in a snarl.

"How would you know? You weren't there, Jacob! You didn't watch her bleed out!"

I recoiled. That was the most emotion I'd ever seen on her face.

"I-I'm Landbound, Cindra… I saw everything… through her eyes..."

Cindra gave me a long, hard stare.

I didn't know if she believed me or thought I was insane. I wouldn't blame her. I'd never heard of a mage seeing a dead person's memories.

After a long moment, Cindra huffed and went back to collecting her weapons. She picked up another throwing knife and swung the weighted end of her belt sash over her shoulders. While I waited, I willed Last Laugh back into my hand and twisted it into its scabbard.

Eventually, she stood and faced me.

"I could use some help."

I bent down to pick up the throwing knife next to the wall.

"Not with that. I've been investigating them: Sin, Talon, their whole black network. We should team up. You being a hero and all."

"You heard about that?"

"It's hard to miss the crowd following you around."

I raised my eyebrows.

"How long were you watching me?"

"I wasn't. I've been working on a network of my own. I have eyes on the mansion, this shop and a few other places."

Cindra stepped closer, one hand outstretched for her throwing knife. I gave it to her, considering my next question.

"What's Talon?"

She took the weapon and paused, giving me another measured glance.

"The best I can tell is they're high-end criminals: spies, smugglers, arms dealers-"

"Arms dealers?"

"Yeah… They've been using the Briggs merchant house as a front for their operations."

Briggs…

I frowned.

That name again…

Realization hit me like water bursting through a dam.

Whether by coincidence or fate, that name had followed me for two months.

The first time I heard it was in the Sanctifiers' Guildhall. According to the now deceased Alden Able, Carlton Briggs was the last owner of the mansion I called home.

Did the High Sanctifier's investigation lead him to Briggs? Is that why Sin killed him?

The second time I heard the name was in the Dellends. Kateen had tried to torture me for information on the Briggs family. The group had made multiple attempts to break up her monopoly and sell weapons in the region.

My eyes went wide.

No wonder she thought I was one of them!

The hand bomb I gave Van Lagos was from Elmer's shop.

My jaw dropped as pieces of the puzzle fell into place. And then there was Rugar…

Cindra narrowed her eyes.

"I know that look. What did you figure out?"

"I-I think I helped Sin take out her biggest competitor."

"Who?"

"Rugar. He supplies most of the weapons for Luskaine's military. With him out of the way, Talon can take over."

"True, but I heard a Dahlgeshi attacked his camp."

"That Dahlgeshi was after me."

Cindra's eyes widened a fraction of an inch.

"You've been busy."

I scoffed.

"I could say the same about you. I don't have a network of spies in the city, and you've gotten better with knives, too."

I pointed to the rapier on her hip.

"Do you know how to use that thing?"

Her hand wrapped around the handle of the weapon.

"I'm passable. As for my spies, they're more like lookouts. They're all orphans I took in."

I nodded. In the capital, orphans were never in short supply.

Cindra continued.

"It takes a lot of money to clothe and feed them, so I appreciate your contribution."

She pulled my balance statement out of her cloak.

"Hey!"

I patted my coat pockets and then leaned forward to snatch it out of her hand.

"When did you-"

"When we kissed."

She looked me up and down.

"You look good, too."

My face flushed.

Cindra looked almost amused.

"I meant what I said, Jacob. We should work together. We can take down Talon and then Sin."

I grimaced.

Cindra narrowed her eyes.

"You can't be serious… After everything that's happened, you don't want to kill her?"

"No! I mean, yes..."

"I told you to stop lying," Cindra whispered, pain and anger mixing in her voice.

"Think of everything she's done… She had your fiancé, my sister, tortured and killed. She burned Mrs. Dulldrey, Mr. Reeves, and Gren alive… And don't get me started on the Red Room-"

"Don't! Don't talk about that…"

"You showed me the scars, Jacob. Admit it."

"S-She was making me strong!"

I crossed my arms to stop from shaking.

"She was making me strong…"

Cindra let out a frustrated sigh.

"There he is… There's that little boy with stars in his eyes. You idolize her, Jacob. That's why you're blind to what was so obvious. She wasn't making you strong; she was abusing you."

No…

"Why do you think we all wanted you to leave with my sister?"

No…

"Why do you think I volunteered to come along after you rejected me? It was the only way to save you from her."

"No!"

Cindra stepped closer, her voice almost pleading.

"Now's our chance. We can get revenge, and Sin can pay for every terrible thing she's done. Jacob, come with me."

I shook my head.

"I can't, Cindra... I tried… I tried to fight her, but she's too strong."

Cindra's face flashed with anger.

"No, you're too weak! You were always weak when it came to her! You made an image in your head too big to tear down, but I won't do that! I won't pull my punches! I won't run! But if you don't want to fight, then leave!"

She pointed to the street.

"Go be a hero while I do the real work!"

She turned and walked deeper into the alley.

"Cindra… Cindra, wait... You can't win!"

"No, but she can lose."

"Cindra!"

She stopped, turning to face me with a hopeful look. She wanted me to follow her, join her to cut a path of revenge across the city.

Revenge is a fool's game.

Sin's words echoed in my mind.

Why now, of all times?

I blinked, focusing my mind on Cindra. She looked so far away.

"What if I need you?"

Cindra glared at me and then sighed. She pulled a playing card out of one of her many pockets and threw it at my feet.

"If you ever come to your senses, go to the Pale Horse Inn and ask for the Red Robin."

I knelt to pick up the card, flipping it over in my hand. A small, red-breasted bird was painted on the other side.

When I looked up, the alleyway was empty.

I was alone. Again.

I closed my eyes and held the card close to my chest.

Cindra was alive. For now, that had to be enough.

# # #

The walk back to Luskaine Castle was slow. I flipped Cindra's card end over end, replaying the conversation in my mind.

After two months of worrying if Cindra was alive or dead, I just let her walk away.

I should have followed her.

I still could.

Another flip of the card. Another replay of the conversation.

I should have said something. Something to make her stay. Something to stop her from chasing Sin and getting herself killed.

The guards let me in through the gatehouse, and with an escort, I was led to my guest room in the Castle's Keep.

I peeled off my coat and threw it on the stone floor. My weapons belt was next. I yanked off my boots and fell face-first onto the bed.

Maybe it was for the best.

Maybe it was better to disappoint her now, instead of later.

I groaned into the feather mattress, waiting for sleep to take me.

"She was always so stubborn..."

I frowned at the new voice in the room. With groggy eyes, I lifted my head to glance at the source of the sound.

Moonlight streamed through the large window and the figure in front of it. Long golden tresses rolled down her back, and her white shift fluttered from an ethereal wind.

"Cynthia?"

She turned, her long hair whipping around to reveal her shocked face.

"You can see me?!"

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