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My mother sold me to an evil man when I was six.
She had dark hair like me, that much I can remember, but her face is muddy in my memory. Like a painter that didn't know when to stop. I don't know her name or what happened to her.
I belonged to the evil man for five years before Dario saved me and gave me a new life. I can only remember bits and pieces of my time with the evil man, and even those I try to block out.
I consider myself lucky that Dario took me under his wing, though I'm still not sure why he did. He was one out of the three major crime lords in the slums of Caldaro. He still made me work for everything I have, which was more than anyone else ever afforded me. I never had a proper name, so he gave me one.
Taelin.
He said it meant 'he-who-chooses-his-own-destiny', but I think he just made it up and thought it sounded cool—who knows.
Nine years now I've had the name, so it is definitely mine. Nine years Dario and his family have taught me the essentials of life—from reading and writing to kicking the shit out of customers who didn't pay up. Nine years working for the Fox Tavern.
A hulking man slid me a gold piece across the bar. "Send a maid up to my room in an hour. Make sure her tits are bigger 'an my head, right?"
"I'll see to it," I replied, pocketing the coin. I had been pouring gallons of ale down the man's throat all night it seemed.
"Good lad." His stool skidded against the hardwood as he pushed himself up to leave. He left a plate of chicken bones behind.
The tavern was packed, the fire was stoked, and the drinks were pouring. There was a festival midway which meant it was a good night to make money. The barmaids mingled and laughed with the patrons. They had their skirts hiked up and their corsets strung tight.
"Giulia, you got a customer in an hour—room eight. I think he wants Sammi," I called back as I entered the kitchen. Giulia sat in the office to the right with Dario going through some documents. She gave me a thumbs up. Giulia was the headmistress of all the barmaids. She was also Dario's wife.
"I'm going to take some dinner up to Viola. Theo has the bar for now," I said. The cook nodded as I grabbed a plate from the shelf.
I made my way up the back staircase to our private quarters. Viola was most definitely not a barmaid. She was Giulia's niece—and like a sister to me, although 'cousin' might have been more accurate. Regardless, we grew up together.
I knocked once before entering. Viola was sitting up in bed while her dad held a small vial to her lips. He was giving her her medicine. She grimaced before swallowing. Her eyes swept over the food before meeting mine.
"Good evening Doctor Fabri, I brought food," I said and smiled politely. The man acknowledged me for a moment through small spectacles before giving a subtle nod. He kissed Viola on the forehead before leaving the room. He side-eyed me as he left. The door clicked shut behind him.
That guy gave me the creeps. Even though he was Giulia's brother, he acted nothing like her. Giulia was a no-bullshit tough-love type of person, while Doctor Fabri reminded me more of a weasel.
"Thank the stars," Viola said through a sigh. She jumped out of bed and grabbed the plate from me. "I'm starving. How's it going down there?"
"Careful, your dad's only just left," I laughed, putting my whole weight onto the door, making sure it stayed shut. I was half joking and half not. Doctor Fabri might've had a heart attack if he saw her moving about so freely.
Viola scoffed before sitting back on the bed and tearing through a chicken leg. "What's he gonna do, confine me to my room even more?"
"Maybe. Maybe he'll find something to do with me instead."
Viola laughed. "Don't be so scared of him, you know Dario wouldn't let him do anything to you."
I wasn't necessarily scared of the doctor—who wasn't a real doctor. I was just wary for Viola's sake. But, she didn't need to know that. Her dad had connections to strong powders and tinctures that our customers liked to use when the ale wasn't enough. He brought a lot of business to the tavern, though some unwanted.
"Yeah, you're right. It's a mad house downstairs—but, in a good way. So far no fights, but I wouldn't hold my breath," I said through a grin.
Viola wiped her face with a cloth before setting her empty plate down on the side table. It was darker in her room, only lit with a couple of candles. Her red hair looked almost brown in the dim light. She smiled up at me. "Thanks for dinner, Taelin. You don't have to worry about me when you're so busy."
I put my hands behind my head and stretched. "Worried? No, I just needed a break from the noise."
Viola made to roll her eyes, but just then a firework blasted into the sky. We both watched through her window as the light show began. The festival was obscured by buildings and structures, but the sky was clear. The fireworks crackled and fizzed one after another. They were different sizes and colors.
Viola let out a breath she'd been holding. "I wish I could see the festival."
It was my turn to hold my breath. I sat on the bed. I watched her as she stared at the night sky. The stars gleamed in accord. More fireworks.
"Well," I whispered, "let's sneak out later."
She shot me a warning glare. "No. Not tonight. Dad is watching me hard, I can feel it."
"He probably is," I agreed, "but he has to sleep some time."
"And so do you," Viola huffed. "You have drills in the morning."
I held back a sigh. I hated that she had to miss out on everything. I tried not to pity her, but her mother died when she was just a kid from some mystery illness—and that illness took a hold of Viola as well. She had a weak constitution. Without her medicine she would convulse and lose control of her body. Still, I didn't think she needed to be locked away like she had some plague. It was an understatement to say her dad was over protective.
"Up to you. If you change your mind, you know where to find me." I ruffled her hair before leaving the room. She stared daggers into me as I closed the door.

***

Viola stuck to her word and didn't find me that night. I tried not to feel let down, and honestly it was kind of easy with the sun beating down on my back and Dario whacking me in the ankles with his wooden sword. I would be suffering much more if I were also sleep deprived.
"Tighten up your stance, you're wide open," Dario barked at me. I obeyed as I gripped my sword tighter. "Now come at me, boy."
We were in a small clearing in the woods. Dario towered over me as if he were one of the mighty trees that surrounded us. I squared my shoulders. With a deep breath, I lunged forward, aiming for his left side. But his reflexes were lightning-fast. He parried my attack effortlessly, sending a shockwave of vibration up my arm as our swords clashed.
His eyes gleamed with a mix of challenge and encouragement. "Good effort, but you're showing your moves," he advised, his voice steady. "You've got to keep me guessing, like this."
Dario demonstrated by launching a rapid series of strikes, each one unpredictable and precise. I scrambled to defend myself, his weapon a blur as it closed in on me from various angles.
Sweat dripped down my brow as I struggled to keep up with his relentless assault. But I refused to back down. I knew this was the only way to improve.
With newfound determination, I adjusted my tactics. Instead of going for brute force, I focused on agility and strategy. I feinted left, then swiftly changed direction, going for a low sweep at his legs. I felt a satisfying thud as my dull sword connected with his knee.
Dario staggered back. He chuckled, clapping me on the shoulder. "Well done, my boy. Looks like you've got some tricks up your sleeve after all."
We continued our match, but now, the dynamics had shifted. I was more focused, more precise, and my strikes became increasingly unpredictable.
However, after a few more exchanges, he disarmed me, sending my sword flying. He dug his weapon into my chest, sending me to my knees. I raised my hands in surrender, a grin spreading across my face. "You've got me," I conceded.
He offered a hand to help me up. I accepted and pulled myself to my feet.
"You're getting better every day. Remember, it's not just about strength, but strategy and adaptability." His face darkened. "You'll need to be ready to fight."
Something odd was laced in those words. I studied him for a moment. His eyes were distant as he tossed me a canteen and a cloth. I wiped the sweat from my face and drank my fill of water. His silence made my skin crawl. There wasn't anything in the world that scared Dario. At least, not that I knew of.
It wasn't common knowledge, but Dario was once a knight for King Genovis. In fact, I think only me, Giulia, Doctor Fabri, and Viola knew. He ended up deserting his post. He escaped the strongest knighthood in the land. Irreconcilable differences. If he were ever found out, he would be executed on the spot. He had a different name then, but that much he'd never tell us.
That being said, Dario was a force of pure power. Not just physically, but in every way. He was like an unshakable mountain, but also a steady stream. He held his head high and took care of his people.
I retrieved my dull blade and we made our way back to the tavern through the underground tunnel. It ran for about two miles. The tunnel was made long before I joined the crew. It connected the tavern to outside the city walls. It's how we smuggled people and more illicit materials. The city guards checked everything at the gate, so it was necessary.
Viola and I also used the tunnel to sneak out late at night, mostly to practice our half assed archery. She was actually a better shot than me. It wasn't always just us though, the rest of the younger crew would sneak out too.
The tunnel opened to the forest on the northwest side of Caldaro. There were farmlands on the opposite side, while the main gate was to the south. Nobody liked to venture into the woods for fear of bandits, so it was the perfect place to slink around.
Dario lit the way with a small torch. The silence was deafening. I steeled myself before speaking. "Is something wrong?"
Dario kept his pace. "I won't lie to you, boy. There are forces trying to destroy our business. They want to squish their competition. I'm worried about the tavern."
Worried? Dario worried? My mouth went dry. "What? Do you know who?"
He paused for a moment before responding. "From what I understand, Vero has teamed up with Segreto. They want to break into our market."
Vero. The loan shark of the slums. He had money and plenty of muscle. Segreto was an illegal weapons and artifact dealer. He was the more powerful of the two.
They had tried to run a 'hospitality' service once before, but it never took off. The girls were treated horribly and the customers complained of lice. Also the ale was like water and they had no connections like Doctor Fabri did. In all honesty, nothing could really compete with the Fox Tavern—unless the tavern was gone.
We walked the rest of the way without speaking. I wondered how long Dario knew. How long he'd been fighting in silence. My stomach turned at the thought of my life being torn apart again. It was always in the back of my mind, like I've just been waiting for the other shoe to drop; despite living a generally safe life (compared to what it used to be).
Dario pushed open the hidden door, and we stepped into the basement. We made our way to the main floor. The scene that unfolded before us was nothing short of a nightmare.
Tables lay upturned, chairs shattered, and debris littered the floor. The air was thick with the acrid smell of spilled ale and the remnants of glass.
Dario clenched his jaw, his fists tightening around the hilt of his sword. His eyes swept across the wreckage, assessing the extent of the damage. But despite the chaos, there was one thing that provided a glimmer of hope—nobody seemed hurt. The patrons and staff had managed to escape unscathed.
I followed Dario through the devastated tavern, my heart thudding against my ribs. Broken glass crunched under our boots as we moved toward the bar. Giulia stood there, her expression was pure fury.
"They came out of nowhere," she said, her voice trembling with suppressed rage. "Vero and his thugs stormed in, started wrecking everything. But we managed to get everyone out before things got too ugly."
Dario nodded, his gaze fixed on the mess around us. "They wanted to send a message, and they've certainly done that."
I tried to steady my breathing. This was our home, a haven for many who had nowhere else to turn. It was more than just a business; it was a family, and seeing it torn apart like this was a painful blow.
Dario turned to me, his eyes filled with determination. "I'll gather the others. We need to regroup. Vero and Segreto won't get away with this. Taelin, I can't leave the tavern tonight, so I need you to go out and fetch my old comrade. He's coming from the king's Knights. I sent for him about two weeks ago. Do you think you can get him here?"
I nodded, my fists clenched. It was time to stand up and fight back. The Fox Tavern may have been battered, but its spirit was far from broken. Together, we would make sure they regretted the day they crossed us.

***

That night Dario told me where I would find him. Sir Gallo Mazzanti. He was a High Knight, which meant he was probably a luminary. I guess it pays to have friends in high places.
Luminaries were a rare breed of people who possessed powerful abilities. Some called it magic, others called it dark arts. Whatever side of the coin you were on, there was no denying their power. Luminary abilities manifested in late teens and young adults, ranging from elemental manipulation, super strength, to really anything. It was always different.
I saw him in the clearing in the woods. His back was turned as he secured his mare to a tree. His armor glinted in the moonlight. A great sword was sheathed at his hip. His hair was long, black, and graying. I didn't want to startle him, so I tried to sneak. Turns out, that was a bad idea.
I was about six feet away when he drew his weapon, pinning the tip to my throat. He moved so fast I could hardly register it. I threw my hands in the air and took a step back.
"S-Sir Mazzanti?" I croaked. How embarrassing.
Recognition briefly flashed over his eyes. Then he frowned. "Who are you?"
"Taelin. I'm here in Dario's stead. He can't leave the tavern tonight, so he sent me to fetch you. The tavern was attacked." I gulped.
To my relief, the man sheathed his weapon. "I see. I hope I'm not too late."
I rubbed my throat where I could still feel the cold blade. "No, Sir. I think you've come at the perfect time. We're in your debt."
"Let's not waste any more time then. Lead the way, lad."
We found the hidden entrance to the tunnel and began the trek. I held a small torch as we walked side by side. I couldn't help but steal glances at him. He was a real High Knight! I've only been close to the city guard and we definitely weren't on friendly terms.
"I can't believe old Longo has been in Caldaro this whole time. I haven't seen him in almost twenty years. Are you his boy?"
I scrunched my brows until I realized 'Longo' must have been Dario's real name. It felt awkward knowing it.
"No, well... not by blood, at least. He took me in when I was eleven."
"I see. He's a good hearted man," the Knight replied.
After a moment of silence I finally asked the burning question. "Is it true that most High Knights are luminaries?"
Through the dancing shadows, I saw him smirk. "Why? You want to see a trick?"
My heart jumped. "I meant no offense, Sir—"
He cut me off with a wave of his hand. A small ball of light appeared at his fingertips. He held it. I winced as the tunnel lit up all around us. Once my eyes adjusted, I stared—a bit slack-jawed.
The man gave a strong belly-laugh. "Not all of us are luminaries, but you do need exceptional skill to become a High Knight. Back in the day Longo and I held the same rank. I've gone up since."
My feet were suddenly lighter. With Sir Mazzanti on our side, we could take down any slum lord. I took a deep breath of relief. My life would not be upended after all. I was safe. Viola was safe.

***

Once we arrived I gave the Knight a brief tour of the tavern, but didn't see Dario anywhere. The furniture was still broken, but the mess had mostly been cleaned up. Sir Mazzanti asked if there was somewhere he could relieve himself, so I showed him the way. While he was attending to his business, I sprinted to Viola's room to tell her about the man.
Dario was in her room with Doctor Fabri. They looked solemn while in discussion. Viola sat up in bed when she saw me enter.
"Taelin's back!" She smiled wide at me. I grinned back.
"Did you find him?" Dario asked as he took a step towards me. He had that worried look again.
"Yeah, he's downstairs. There's nothing to worry about any more. Nobody will stand a chance against us with him on our side." I couldn't contain my grin. "You should've told me he was a luminary."
Dario's brows knitted. "What do you mean, boy? Mazzanti is no luminary."
"He is," I corrected. "I saw it myself. He can... make light." I gestured oddly with my hands.
Dario's eyes widened just a fraction. All of the sudden, I felt like something was off. The hairs on my neck stood. "R-right?" I asked.
"Get behind me!" Dario yanked me by the arm as a deafening blast resounded. Viola and Doctor Fabri shrieked as the door, and the whole wall, crumbled to rubble. I looked from behind Dario as the smoke cleared. There stood who I thought was Sir Mazzanti. The Knight stepped into the room with a smirk.
"It's been much too long, Dario. In fact, I can hardly believe it's actually you. Shame we had to meet again this way." The man crossed his arms over his broad chest.
"Where's Mazzanti? What have you done, Ovid?" Dario barked through gritted teeth.
"You'll be pleased to hear that Mazzanti did not double cross you. He was still as loyal as a dog. Unfortunately I had to put him down." The Knight cocked his head. "And it's all because of you."
I thought my heart was going to explode in my chest. I wanted to puke it out. I watched as Doctor Fabri hugged Viola, shielding her from the quarrel. They were both shaking. I realized I was shaking too.