Feng

He had so many chances to kill Eryka.

In her sleep. During the fights between the beasts and knights. Any time in their journey. He was careless, excited to be so far away from the Assassin's Guild and Master Veron's clutches. No matter how far I run, I will always be controlled by him, Feng reminded himself.

But then why didn't he kill Eryka yet?

She trusted him, the fool. She should hold a blade to his throat with every step he took, keep him on a short rope so he couldn't disobey her orders.

She didn't, though. They walked alongside each other like they were equals.

There was also the deal she struck. Could she really help him escape from his guild? Escape Veron? Everything would be worth it if she could.

There was also the matter of the border knights.

He convinced himself that they would take care of her. They would see past her flimsy disguise and march her straight back to Altos, but they didn't.

Feng helped with that. When they didn't let her pass, he attacked to get through. It was pure instinct; he didn't consider the consequences at all.

Branches scratched his face as Eryka led him through cover to the spring. "A woman is scheduled to bring an offering to Alethea's Spring every day," she panted as they sprinted to the city. "She brings a carriage because a farm is close by. We can hop in there and hide until we get there."

For a princess who never experienced hardship a day in her life, Feng had to admit it was a good plan. Eryka crouched behind a rock and Feng threw himself down next to her.

She peeked over the edge and into the city. Feng watched closely over her shoulder. Knights weren't jogging in the streets in their lines, and all of the people outside were walking in their brisk manner, but no one looked panic or desperately pushing through others to get to their homes.

"Let's go. I think I can see her from here, talking to somebody," she whispered, and she slid down the hill.

They ducked in and out of cover until he lifted the tarp over the wagon and Eryka dived inside. He glanced at the woman—her back was still turned. He rolled inside and tucked the tarp carefully back over them.

Eryka stretched in the corner and grinned at him. "Smooth sails from here."

After a few minutes, the woman called goodbye to whoever she was talking to and clucked to her quaggas. They neighed before clopping through the city and to Alethea's Spring.

It felt like hours that Feng was lying underneath the tarp, the air hot and stuffy. Finally, though, the quaggas stopped. The wagon bounced and creaked as the woman dismounted and went to the spring.

When the wagon bounced again with her mounting the quaggas, Eryka slithered forward on her stomach and pushed against the tarp. It swung free and she rolled onto the ground.

The wheels turned, and Feng jumped out before the quaggas took up a trot. He turned back and reached out a hand, but the tarp was out of reach and swinging wildly.

"She'll notice that," he muttered as they trudged to the water's edge.

"So what? She'll think it came loose during the ride. There was no way she could've known it was us," Eryka argued. Feng didn't answer, but from experience he knew people could discover things you thought they would never be able to know.

She kneeled down next to the water. Alethea's Spring was a very wide pond with steam rising from the water. The sand at the bottom glimmered with sunlight.

"Do we call Alethea's name, or what?" Feng asked when she made no move.

She pursed her lips before pulling out a piece of paper. "No. We have to put something that's important to us in the water. Alethea is the goddess of truth, and these objects represent what's true to us."

How's a piece of paper important to you? Feng didn't voice the question aloud. He kneeled next to her and studied the water. What's important to me? Letting one of his weapons sink would be a waste.

He plucked an undecorated silver ring from his finger and tossed it in, next to Eryka's crumpling paper. He never wore it out on missions because the glint of silver in the light would give him away. He always kept it on despite that. It belonged to his father, and it was the only thing Master Veron allowed him to have.

Suddenly, a tinkling laugh echoed around the spring. Eryka's expression remained the same, like she expected it. Feng was looking around for the source of the laugh before a seven-foot-tall woman sprung from the water and floated in the air with a bright smile.

"Ah, beloved Princess Eryka!" she exclaimed. "I watched your birth, you know. You were such a cute little baby!"

"W-why thank you, Alethea," she stammered, and bowed her hide to hide her blush.

Alethea's smile faded when she turned to him. "Feng," she said softly. He tensed at his name and avoided her piercing eyes. She was the goddess of truth—she must know everything about him, even the things he never told a soul.

"Don't look away, child. You will forgive yourself in time." She smiled at Eryka and continued, "So, what is it you want to ask?"

"We want to know where the Thieving Witch is," she said without missing a beat. "The one that tricked you and stole all your magic."

Alethea winced. "You don't need to elaborate, dear. I remember that day like it was yesterday. Before I can answer, I must test your strength and knowledge."

"Of course, Goddess," Eryka replied. "What do you need?"

"You each must complete a trial and bring the object at the end to me," Alethea ordered. "Once you are done, I will give the answer you seek."

Eryka dipped her head and asked, "What do you want us to do?"

"One of you is to go to the River Roundabout and retrieve the sacred golden coin that Gerd sacrificed to be with her love Afonso," Alethea said. "The other is to go deep into the abandoned mine to defeat the Undead Saola."

"Wasn't the Undead Saola a myth? Everyone believed that he caused the avalanches and cave-ins at the mine, so they shut it down... but that isn't true, is it?" Feng scrunched up his nose in thought.

Alethea smiled and slowly sank into the water. "You shall see, children... come back and visit if you don't die!" With that, she completely vanished into the water.

Eryka studied Feng and said finally, "I'll go retrieve the gold coin. You can go and see the myth in person."

"Great," Feng mumbled, but if he was being honest with himself these were their perfect jobs. He would be better and cleaner at killing the saola than Eryka, and Eryka had good hiding and bribing skills. She could get a canoe and set sail in two licks of a pangolin's tongue.

"The River Roundabout's in the east. I think the mine is close to here," Eryka murmured. "I'll see you soon."

There was no question in her voice. She rose to her feet and smiled serenely at Feng. His heart jumped, but he gritted his teeth and turned his back on her.

"You better," he said.