It had finally, finally stopped snowing by the next morning. The sun came over the mountains, casting the clear sky in shades of deep violet and blue. The strongest of the yak were latched to carts that dragged heavy metal sheets behind them to clear the bulk of the snow from the cobbled street. Young children emerged from their homes to play while the older ones were handed shovels to help clear mounds away from doors and windows.

From the window in the room she shared with Elise, Kiya watched the town come to life in the absence of bad weather. It wasn't just the loggers on their way out for critical supplies or children playing and attending to their chores. The butcher across the street from the inn flipped its sign and opened its doors.

Such a strange place. What strange people. It was still bitingly cold without the wind, yet most of those wandering the streets had chosen to go without their scarves and hats. Kiya shivered and pulled the quilt tighter around her legs and further up her body. Did these people not feel how goddess-damned cold it was?

"Kiya, could you give me a hand?" Elise called, stepping out from behind the privacy screen in nothing but her shift and mid-length corset.

"Who are you getting all fancy for?"

"Myself," Elise answered with a confident smile and turned to show Kiya the mess of stings. "I don't need to be in my hunter gear when we're not on patrol. Besides, the magistrate's wife wouldn't stop commenting that young men only held women in high regard when they aren't running around in trousers."

"You are a soldier," Kiya reminded her, untangling the cords and pulling them tight without restricting Elise's ability to breathe. "Whether you wear a dress, slacks, or nothing at all, there is no higher regard than serving your king. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise."

"Thank you. That means a lot, coming from you."

"You're welcome. How is it going with the magistrate? Red put a lot on your shoulders yesterday."

"It's difficult to say after only a day, but... given this task alone, it's a good thing we're here for four months. This town is a lot older than I thought. It has a deep history, and its mythology is fascinating, I'm sure. But the magistrate is in deep with the capital. It might take me the entire four months to get him out of his own mess."

"I'll come with you, then. Between the two of us, we can sort out whatever nonsense the magistrate has gotten himself into and find the materials the commanders are actually interested in."

"Didn't Red assign you to help August with the inn? I don't want you to get in trouble."

"August doesn't want my help, and I have absolutely no interest in spending a second longer around him than I need to. If Red has a problem with that, then he can help the old bastard."

Kiya ripped the door open so hard that it hit the wall with a harsh bang. Elise raised an eyebrow. That was a more aggressive response than she had expected from her lieutenant. Sure, Kiya had a temper and violence was her typical resolution method, but it usually took a lot more than that to set her off.

Downstairs, August was behind the bar, looking through a heavy book. He barely glanced up when the two women reached the bottom of the stairs, but instantly stood up straight when he saw Kiya. His mouth opened, like he was about to speak, but then he looked back to Elise, closed it again and nodded his head in acknowledgement. Kiya, for her part, practically ran for the far door without looking anywhere near him.

It would have been more subtle for her to light the forest on fire. There was definitely something going on. "I don't think August is that old," she prodded carefully once they were outside. "Ten, maybe fifteen years your senior. Pretty young for a man with his own business."

"What are you talking about?"

"You called August old. I just don't think he really is."

"Oh for- my problem with August isn't his age."

"But you do have a problem with him."

Suddenly, Kiya stopped walking and turned to look up at Elise. "Don't do that," she said flatly. "Don't start looking for something that's not there. The innkeeper and I are on neutral terms at best. I don't care for him, he doesn't care for me, and that's how it's going to stay. Understand?"

Bullshit, Elise thought, but what she said was, "Of course."

Kiya started to relax and nodded. Her dark eyes flitted up to the dark bruise right over Elise's eye and grimaced. "How's your head?"

"It hurts," Elise shrugged, and they started walking again. "But I've taken worse hits to the head during training. Can't say the same about you, though. That bear got you good. Are you sure you don't want Rick to look you over?"

"Rick is a glorified butcher. His recommendation would be to cut off my arm, cauterize it with a hot blade, and throw leeches on the stump. I don't know about you, but I'm pretty attached to my limbs. I've had them all my life." Elise started to laugh and Kiya chuckled. "Do you really not remember anything about that night? Nothing at all?"

"I remember that I owe you a huge apology," Elise winced and sighed. "I shouldn't have accused you of only joining the military for the money, and I definitely shouldn't have questioned your loyalty to Red. It's just... It's hard being the only one who believes in the creatures we've been trained to fight. I know it sounds ridiculous, but I would like nothing more than to see a werewolf or a vampire. By the goddess's name, I would settle for seeing a gnome!"

"I'll accept on the second point," Kiya laughed. "You were wrong to assume that I wouldn't follow Red into the pits of hell. That man is the closest thing to family I've ever known, and there is nothing I wouldn't do for him. I can't accept your apology on the first matter, though."

"I know, it was so stupid. I-"

"No, newbie, I can't accept the apology because you have nothing to apologize for. First off, I didn't join the military at all. I was raised in an orphanage run by the Monster Corps. I stayed in the army because of the money. And if you think you're insulting me by saying so, then let me put your mind at peace. I proudly wear the official insignia of the biggest waste of taxpayer gold in the kingdom. I keep up with the training, teach the newbies like you, and I follow every order. It's no different than serving the Border Corps during peace times."

"That seems like an unfair comparison."

"How? Squads from both divisions are deployed to their respective outposts. Both spend their days training, patrolling, helping out the local population in their spare time, and some may indulge in a drink and a game of cards once and a while. None of us have ever drawn our swords outside of training, we've never seen true combat, and we stay until our rotation is complete. Some of us believe that we'll never see a fight in our lifetimes, others think war is right around the corner. The only difference between us and the Border Corps is that we've been doing nothing for five hundred years and they've been doing nothing for two."

"Still an unfair comparison," Elise countered with a smirk, stepping up to a large house and knocking on the door. "We do far more community service than the Border Corps."

Kiya burst out laughing again just in time for the door to open and an older woman in her mid-fifties to emerge. Her eyebrows flew up when she looked at Elise. "Miss Hawthorn," she said in surprise. "Well, would you look at that? I knew there was a proper young lady under all that dirt and leather."

"Hello Mrs. Roberts," Elise smiled back. "May I introduce Lieutenant Kiya Bridges. She's joining me today to assist in my work with the magistrate."

Mrs. Roberts turned to look at Kiya, and her lips pursed into a thin line. Kiya met her disapproving gaze with a smile of her own and offered her hand. "A pleasure, Mrs. Roberts. Oh, and don't worry about looking for a proper young lady in me. All you're going to find is more dirt and leather."

The magistrate's wife didn't say anything. She didn't take Kiya's hand, either. She turned and walked back into the house. "You don't have to indulge the woman," Elise hissed. "But the least you can do is not antagonize her."

Kiya snorted a very unladylike laugh and followed them into the house, through the kitchen and into a sitting room with a roaring fireplace. Three men stood up from their seats when the women entered, and before Mrs. Roberts could introduce them, the oldest man stepped forward to take Elise's hand. "Miss Hawthorn, welcome back," he said enthusiastically. "I see you brought one of your companions."

"Yes, Mister Roberts. This is Lieutenant Kiya Bridges. She's come to offer her assistance and expertise."

"Lovely to meet you, Lieutenant. Please, come in. Martha, would you make our guests some tea?"

Mrs. Roberts' already disapproving frown turned into a glare at her husband before she returned to the kitchen. "This is my son, Elliot," Magistrate Roberts said proudly, looking at the youngest of the three. "He just returned from the capital this summer from law school. A barrister! We are so proud."

"An honor," Elliot bowed slightly to kiss the top of Elise's hand, all but ignoring Kiya's existence. "I must say, Miss Hawthorn, you are even lovelier than my mother described."

"Oh!" Elise's eyebrows flew up in surprise as all the color drained out of her face. "Well... thank you, Elliot. That's, uh... That's very kind of you."

"Oh, bless her," Elliot laughed with his father. "You have clearly spent too much time in the military, Miss Hawthorn. I can't imagine you're used to the refined compliments of a gentleman."

Those poor bastards. They had no idea.

Kiya turned quickly to the second stranger, fighting against another laugh bubbling in her chest, and extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Lieutenant," he said, an amused smile playing on his lips as well. "My name is Hadyn Eldred."

The second they came into contact, warmth spread throughout Kiya's entire body. From her frosted hands, up her arm and her aching shoulder, then all the way down to her numb toes. For the first time since the night of the bear attack, she felt at ease. Even the constant, churning nausea settled. There was a silent authority to Hadyn's bright green gaze, and she felt the sudden need to break eye contact and look down. Not in fear, but to show him the respect he so clearly deserved.

Those sensations lessened when their hands separated, but only to a certain degree. Kiya felt an undeniable, unexplainable draw to Hadyn as he shook Elise's hand. "Hadyn is the primary contact with the more remote villages further north," Mister Roberts explained. "He is also an expert on myths, legends, and history of the area."

"My family has lived in these mountains for nearly twelve centuries," Hadyn chuckled. "Our history has been passed down to each generation through our traditions, and I've sort of become a collector of stories. The magistrate told me that I might be of some assistance to your research, Miss Hawthorn."

"Actually," Elise turned to Kiya. "Lieutenant Bridges is our own master of stories and histories. She's offered to help with the research aspect so I can focus on untangling the magistrate's accounts."

"I would have thought that a lieutenant would have a better mind for business," Elliot's voice was light, but there was no hiding the condescension. "These accounts are old, Miss Hawthorn. I wouldn't want to stress the delicate sensibilities of a young lady."

Kiya was sure she was about to bite through her tongue. Somehow, Elise was keeping the irritation from her expression as well. "I assure you, Elliot. I am more than capable. Please, show me the books. There's no reason to delay."

"I suppose that leaves us, then, lieutenant," Hadyn turned to Kiya again.

"Make yourselves comfortable," the magistrate gestured to the overstuffed armchairs. "Please, follow me to my office, Miss Hawthorn."

Elise nodded politely and followed the two Roberts' out of the room, leaving Kiya and Hadyn alone. "Are you sure it's wise to leave Miss Hawthorn alone with them, Lieutenant?" he asked as the door to the hallway closed behind Elliot.

"I have no doubt that Elise can handle her own. And no need for any further formalities. Technically, this is all volunteer work, so you can just call me Kiya."

"You do know that Martha and the magistrate have already put their hopes on Elise marrying their son, right?"

"I do."

"Does Miss Hawthorn know this?"

"To be determined."

The corner of his mouth twitched upwards. "What happens when she does find out?"

"I'm not sure. But my bet, Mister Eldred, is on a very diplomatic and scathing talking down to. No one makes you feel like a child who's done wrong quite like a nineteen-year-old woman who is following her family's tradition of military service."

"She sounds fascinating. And if you're going to insist on an informal relationship, then I insist you call me Hadyn."

"Fair enough. Where would you like to start then, Hadyn?"

"With you, Kiya," Hadyn sank back into the armchair and fixed her with intense curiosity "I would like to hear your story."