To Fight Against Fate

Everything was in place, the preparations completed an hour before the Thornewoods were expected to arrive.

Sulaiman and Kavil were waiting in Mr. Ordan's with their luggage, ready to leave in case things went terribly wrong, though it was clear neither enjoyed being so far from the action. The enchanter Arnold had a carriage ready by his shop, pre-loaded with supplies and tools for a quick getaway, and grumbled the entire time he shouldn't be carrying things that heavy at his age. Mr. Ordan was stationed outside to greet the Thornewoods when they arrived and planned to enter with them so his presence would go unnoticed at first.

Illnyea was shifting her weight nervously as she stood in the foyer, glancing at the door and away again as she went over the script she had prepared for herself. This entire operation rested on her, and Illnyea feared she would let them all down.

Her fingers curled around her wrist, brushing against the meticulously applied makeup.

"Don't mess with the makeup," Priscilla chided, stepping forward and poking Illnyea in the shoulder. "We need it perfect for maximum dramatic effect."

They had applied makeup that darkened the motley but faint burns on Illnyea's arm into a dull, angry red with a shiny coat over it, like the wound had never been healed and was still tender and raw. Kavil had painted the lightning scars that ran all the way up to Illnyea's face with a dusky gray that stood out starkly against her skin. There was smudged charcoal underneath Illnyea's eyes to create faux eyebags and make her seem exhausted like she was running on three hours of sleep in three days.

Overall, Illnyea looked like she had been put through hell.

"I know, I'm just nervous," Illnyea said, letting her hand fall down to hang limply by her side. She was frustrated with herself for letting her emotions get the better of her when Illnyea needed to keep calm and collected.

Priscilla stepped in front of Illnyea, placing her hands on Illnyea's shoulders until Illnyea eventually looked up and met her sister's green eyes.

"I believe in you, Illnyea," Priscilla said seriously. "You don't need to tie yourself up in knots over this because no matter how this conversation goes, I'm going to be right there with you, ready to step in if you need me."

Illnyea took a deep breath in, briefly closing her eyes as she let her sister's confidence roll over her. Priscilla's reassurances did help, and they did have backup plans in case Illnyea screwed up badly.

"I got this," Illnyea said, putting force into her voice as she tried to will the words to be true. Illnyea wasn't a good liar, but if one said a lie often enough, it could become the truth. Or so people claimed.

Priscilla grinned, the sight comforting for Illnyea's poor nerves, squeezing her shoulder. "Hell yeah you do."

Now Illnyea just had to live up to her sister's expectations. She straightened, squaring her shoulders as she prepared herself to cut her parents out of her life like one did rotting flesh from a necrotic wound.

It was the best way to let her heart heal, but, gods, was it going to hurt.

Priscilla casually leaned against the stair's bannister, half-blending into the background. Priscilla had explained that her outfit had been specially chosen for that – a long-sleeved brown shirt, a pair of sturdy leather pants, and the ever present pair of fingerless glove and artifact. Illnyea took comfort that her sister was at her back but resisted the urge to glance back as she heard the sounds of her parents growing ever closer.

Illnyea smoothed her hands against her pants and faced down the entrance alone.

Mr. Ordan opened the door with ease, his eyes lowered in deference as he said, "Welcome back, Master, Mistress."

Cian Thornewood grunted his acknowledgement, brushing past the butler. As Cian pulled off his gloves roughly, Illnyea took careful note of the annoyed slant of his lips, the disheveled, wispy appearance of his normally well groomed beard, the slight snarl of his nose like the world annoyed him, and the careful way he held his left shoulder like he was trying to not aggravate an injury as he hung up his coat.

Idalah Thornewood glided in after her husband, nodding at Mr. Ordan as she passed him. She pulled off her traveling cloak to reveal a fine rust colored dress that shimmered with each step she took. Tiredness pulled at her posture, and there was a tightness around her eyes and mouth that spoke of stress, and Illnyea recalled that negotiations had apparently not gone well.

Every detail Illnyea could take note of mattered because it would be the details that would let her succeed.

When Idalah's gaze finally landed on Illnyea, she let out a soft gasp, glove-covered hand coming up to cover her mouth. Her eyes were wide with horror, blinking rapidly as if she thought that would change reality.

Idalah gathered her skirts as if she was about to rush forward and draw Illnyea into her arms. Part of Illnyea's heart was lightened by it, but most of her was strangely irritated by the display of affection.

"Where have you been?" Illnyea asked, the ice in her tone making both parents pause. Idalah's shoes scuffed against the floor as she stuttered to a stop.

Cian sighed deeply, running a hand through his hair as he asked, "Why are you making a fuss when we've only just returned? Ask your questions later – "

"Where have you been?" Illnyea asked again, words more pointed since she had been ignored once. Her jaw was set stubbornly even as her hands briefly shook as she was challenging her parents for the first time in her life. Illnyea clenched her fists to hide her nerves.

Idalah seemed taken aback by the response, glancing in between Cian and Illnyea. She stepped forward, stepping in front of Cian.

"We were just meeting with a business partner," Idalah said, a conciliatory, soothing tone coating her words, like when she used to chase away Illnyea's nightmares. "We had to travel to him after he was waylaid by bandits."

"I hope everyone is alright," Illnyea said carefully. She even meant those words because no one deserved to be hurt just because they worked for the Thornewoods. (Enough had already died for them.)

Cian finally glanced up and got a proper look at Illnyea's wound. Seriousness bled into his expression as he cocked his head, his frown deepening with something that approached concern.

"We only suffered a few minor injuries," Cian said, "though I see that you ran into a spot of trouble."

Illnyea let out a strangled sound, half-way between an incredulous laugh and derisive snort. She stared at Cian, marveling at just how different he seemed now that Illnyea wasn't viewing him through the lens of him being her father. He was a rough man, callous in many ways, always so focused on himself and things he cared about rather than the world around him.

A contemptuous half-smile made itself at home on Illnyea's face.

"You could say that," Illnyea said. Bitterness hung off every word, sour and acidic, and that seemed to clue Cian into the fact that something was seriously wrong.

Cian's gaze swept over the room, finally taking notice of Priscilla lingering behind Illnyea. Whatever expression was on Priscilla's face made Cian's lips thin until they were fully hidden by his beard.

"Where's Rudy?" Cian asked. He went to cross his arms as he glowered, but winced and settled for just putting his right hand on his hip.

"He's dead." Illnyea delivered the news flatly, like one remarked on the weather.

Cian stilled so completely that Illnyea wondered if he stopped breathing, and blinking rapidly like his world had been shaken. Idalah simply stared with wide eyes, hand covering her mouth as she let out a quiet sound of grief.

The news of Rudy's death seemed to shake both of them far more than Illnyea's own wounds had, and the part of her mind that had been silent since she left the fens reared its head.

(how dare they mourn him, whispered the shard of broken glass lodged in Illnyea's mind, when he's already caused so much harm.)

Illnyea's mouth didn't care that there was a script, words falling like venom from her tongue as she spat, "And the world is better off without him."

Her father sucked in a breath, drawing himself up with righteous anger. "How dare you speak about him like – "

"When someone tries to kill you," Illnyea cut off Cian ruthlessly, "you find that respect for the dead dries right up."

The winds abruptly left Cian's angry sails, and he gaped. Illnyea thought he looked a bit like a bearded fish caught on dry land, left to flounder and burn beneath the harsh light of truth.

"What did he do to you?" Idalah whispered, like she dreaded the answer.

Illnyea laughed hollowly. "What didn't he do?"

The emotions that Illnyea hadn't allowed herself to dwell on since Priscilla rescued her came flooding back, like a dam had burst within her mind now that she was facing down the people that had forced her to travel with Rudy, had set her up for failure and ridicule. Her father had considered Rudy to be one of his closest friends, and that fact was damning about what type of person he truly was – and her mother, well, she had respected Rudy as a business man, which showed just how atrocious her judgment was.

These were the people that Illnyea had looked up to all her life.

What a disappointment they were.

"He nearly ruined your company's relationship with the Royal Crimson Tower," Illnyea said, "calling them useless baggage after I helped save their life – and this was after he had the entire caravan ostracize me for trying to learn from him, like you told me I should, and he told me that Cian said I would spend the entire time staying out of the way."

Cian sucked in a breath, like the accusation caught him off guard and Idalah glanced at her husband, equal parts stricken and angry. The minute gestures made Illnyea even angrier.

(where was this care when you needed it, whispered the broken glass, why do they only regret now that their faults are thrown in their faces?)

"He forced the caravan to travel though the infamously dangerous Heinlein Fens with the wrong equipment," Illnyea continued, the words rolling off her tongue faster and faster as white-hot anger pulsed in time with heartbeat, "and when our men went missing, he forced the guards to tie my hand with rope and treated me like a prisoner for daring to suggest we go searching for them.

"He put a dagger to the child's throat," Illnyea growled, remembering the fear in Holly's eyes as she struggled against Rudy's grip, "so he could threaten me into compliance so the cult that had slaughtered the rest of the caravan could capture me! I watched them kill Eileen in front of me and lick her brain off their fingers and Rudy handed me over to them so the cannibals could eat me alive!"

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Illnyea's voice crack echoed in the sudden silence, as she had begun to scream as she listed off Rudy's many sins. Her chest heaved, and her breaths came in fast and quick as she struggled to regain her composure.

Her eyes stung but Illnyea didn't dare wipe them and ruin the makeup the others had worked so hard to apply.

"So, yeah," Illnyea said, her voice raspy, "I think he deserved to die and I hope he rots in the seventh hell for his sins."

Cian took a step back, like the force of her hatred was too much to bear. Idalah just kept staring at Illnyea, staring with an expression that Illnyea had never seen before, her mother's face oddly open yet broken at the same time.

"But that's not actually what I wanted to talk to you about," Illnyea said as she sniffed, pushing forward with the actual plan now that she had knocked them off balance emotionally. "What I wanted to talk about was the fact that I can't stand to spend another minute in this house with the people who didn't lift a finger to save me when they were the very people who damned me."

Those words shocked Idalah enough to speak.

"What…" Idalah swallowed. "What on earth do you mean, Illy?"

The sound of Illnyea's childhood nickname, the name that had been crooned in her ears when she needed comfort from nightmares, the name that her mother had whispered while combing her hair and giggling as they walked the streets of Meadowyar, well, now it turned Illnyea's stomach to hear.

She much preferred the name Priscilla called her, 'Nyea. It felt softer when it came out of Priscilla's mouth, but never made Illnyea feel like a child when she heard it.

"I mean that if I had it my way," Illnyea said, taking care to enunciate, "I might never see either of you ever again."

Idalah reeled like Illnyea had slapped her, but it seemed Cian was enraged by them.

"Now listen here," Cian said, taking a step forward, "I don't know what sort of tales Priscilla has been filling your head with but you can't – "

"Can't what?" Illnyea asked, stepping forward to glare at her father. "Decide my own future?"

"You're only seventeen," Idalah said, her words weak, like her argument.

"Yeah, for two and a half more months," Illnyea said, glaring up at her mother now, "and I'm the same age that dad was when he began his own business, so what does age have to do with this?"

Cian's face was flushed, his nostrils flaring. "So you're just going to throw away everything we've done for you in a fit of spite?"

"Spite?" Illnyea repeated, incredulous. "Is that truly why you think I'm doing this?"

Cian's blue eyes flicked behind Illnyea again, his glare doubling, and that made the white-hot rage boil over once more.

"If you really want to know," Illnyea said, stepping forward in a way that emphasized that Illnyea was taller than her father now, nearly tall enough to loom, "maybe we can start with the fact that you've utterly failed as a father – disowning your own child without even trying to understand what had driven Priscilla to that point, without even realizing that you pushed her to that extreme. Maybe we can talk about how you set me up for failure with Rudy, entrusting me with a man who thought I was worth less than the dirt on his shoes? Maybe we can think about the fact that you tried to keep the maps from Priscilla when she was trying to search for me, maps that let her find me in time so I didn't die?"

The flinch Illnyea drew out of Cian made Illnyea feel simultaneously powerful and empty.

"And you," Illnyea said, glaring up through her lashes at a shell-shocked Idalah, "I thought better of you, but what type of mother goes on a business trip instead of searching for their missing daughter?"

"I… Priscilla was looking for you," Idalah said, stumbling over her words, "and there were things that we had to do, and you don't, you don't understand…"

Illnyea just stared in disbelief, long enough that Idalah's face darkened with shame as her voice trailed off.

"If there was even a chance that someone I loved was in danger," Illnyea said slowly, feeling like she was setting fire to the bridge between them, burning away the love that had been so carefully nurtured for years, "the only reason I wouldn't join the rescue party is if I was dead. And even then, I might just drag my corpse after them, because it seems, unlike you, I actually care enough to try."

Silence hung in the foyer as Idalah flinched.

Her parents were rattled by her words, neither saying anything for a long moment as they stared at the ground, but after rallying himself, Cian drew himself up, his chin lifting stubbornly.

"So what do you think you're going to accomplish with this?" Cian asked, his voice gruff. "Like your mother said, you're still seventeen, and without our permission, you're not going anywhere."

Illnyea stared at her father and mother in turn, and when Idalah said nothing to contradict Cian, Illnyea felt the last wisps of hope that had lingered at the back of her mind, hope that maybe her parents would prove to be better than they were, sputtered and died.

"Should you do that," Illnyea said, feeling oddly disconnected from her body as she said words she had hoped she would not be forced to, "then you're going to lose every ounce of respect you've ever earned and your legacy will become nothing more than ash."

Cian's gaze sharpened, a small glint of contempt entering his gaze. "And how would you accomplish that?"

"I've left six letters with couriers throughout the city," Illnyea said, staring at the man who once promised he would give her the world if she only asked and she felt hollow inside, "detailing why Priscilla and I have renounced the Thornewood name, gladly becoming No-Names if it meant we could escape you. If I don't personally collect them by sundown, they'll be sent out to three of your major business rivals who must be salivating for the chance to take over your company when you're already in dire straits, two to your closest business partners in Kavendash so they can understand what type of people you are, and the last to the Baron, so he can approve of our name change."

Cian blanched as Illnyea rattled off the recipients, mouth falling open, and Idalah's face went pinched and tight, lips quivering with emotion Illnyea found she didn't care enough to identify.

"Are you… blackmailing us?" Idalah sounded incredulous, staring at Illnyea like she didn't recognize her anymore.

Illnyea shrugged. "You're the one who threatened my freedom first, if you hadn't done so, you never would have known about the letters. I'd say this is fair play."

Idalah's lips were pressed so tight they went bloodless, and a muscle worked in her jaw.

"Would you really throw us away that easily?" Idalah asked quietly. The weight of her gaze as she examined Illnyea's expression felt smothering.

"You're the ones who chose your business over me," Illnyea said.

Idalah opened her mouth but no words came out, and she looked at Cian like he might have the answers. Cian's expression was stormy, staring at Illnyea with what looked like hurt and betrayal.

(they betrayed you first, whispered the broken glass, and would have failed you again and again if you kept your heart open to them.)

Her resolve was firm – even after she had laid out everything that Rudy had done, detailed the ways they failed Illnyea, neither of her parents had said anything that approached an apology.

"I've read the contract you made with Priscilla," Illnyea said, sensing a moment of weakness that Priscilla told her to lookout for, "and I'd like to propose something similar. As soon as you sign it, I'll go collect my letters and burn them."

"And would the conditions be the same?" Cian asked, eyeing Illnyea the same way she had once seen him eye a merchant attempting to swindle him in the market. It stung to be looked at like that, but in the way that lemons did, with a note of sweet freedom beneath the hurt.

"Priscilla?" Illnyea said over her shoulder. "Would you bring it over?"

"Of course," Priscilla said, finally inserting herself into the conversation with a casual confidence Illnyea envied. Though she was smiling, it had a sharp edge to it, like a knife that was begging to cut through its target.

Neither of their parents looked happy about Priscilla's appearance, Cian scowling fiercely and Idalah's frown was so deep, the lines may just become permanent.

"Here's your copy of the contract," Priscilla said as she pulled out a stack of paper and waggled it in the air, "but I'll give you the highlight reel. Firstly, you'll finance Illnyea's travels until she turns twenty-three or until you go bankrupt, whichever happens first."

The flippant tone Priscilla used to discuss their potential destitution seemed to startle their parents, but she continued on with a snide, mocking smile. "Secondly, you will permanently assign Sulaiman Halsteed as our guard so that we have protection while we travel."

Illnyea saw Cian twitch like he wanted to speak but held his tongue.

"And lastly," Illnyea said, stepping in just as they practiced, "I know that you own several properties across Kavendash that act as waystations for the caravans – I want free use of them for me and my companions. If you try to break any of the clauses of our contract, I'll take that as permission to write and send out the No-Name letters and I'll probably find a few more people to send them to by then."

Contemplation stole over both of her parents' faces, Cian's scowl deepening as he stroked his beard and Idalah's frown softening as she thought deeply. They glanced at each other, Idalah raising an eyebrow and Cian cocking his head, communicating with subtle gestures that spoke to the years they had spent together.

"Let me see the contract," Idalah said and Priscilla obligingly handed it over. Their parents stepped away as they began to quickly read through it, muttering softly to one another.

Illnyea let out a slow breath and startled when she felt something touch her hand. But it was just Priscilla gently squeezing her fingers, head tilted as she mouthed, "You okay?"

That simple question paired with the genuine concern in Priscilla's eyes made Illnyea want to cry but she smiled instead, choosing to enjoy the affection that Priscilla was offering.

"I'm okay," Illnyea mouthed as she squeezed back.

Priscilla's crooked smile was warm and true, chasing away the coldness left from their parent's lack of care.

The main difference between Illnyea's contract and Priscilla's was that Illnyea hadn't been able to decide if she wanted to be disinherited or not. Priscilla had convinced her to not put anything down in writing yet just in case, 'the geezers kick the bucket and you'll be set for life.' Illnyea wiped her free hand on her pants as she watched her parents read the contract closely.

"You will need to give us advance notice of when you would arrive," Cian said, lifting his head as they finished discussing things, "as the property may already be in use."

Illnyea nodded, as they had expected something like that. Priscilla had said to leave small openings in the contract for the parents to push back on so they felt like they had some control about what was going on.

"The Halsteed boy can be assigned as your guard," Idalah said, crossing her arms and tapping one well-manicured finger against her sleeve, "but where will you be traveling? You may need additional protection if you're going south."

"The next stop is the capital," Illnyea said. "We'll be leaving right after the harvest festival ends."

Idalah nodded slowly. "And after that?"

Illnyea faltered for a moment before straightening. "I don't know, but we'll be fine without extra protection – we survived a cannibal cult after all."

Cian looked annoyed by that answer but Idalah put a hand on his right arm, stopping him from speaking. Her mother seemed tired now, the lines on her face deeper than Illnyea had seen before, like Idalah had aged while speaking with her.

"I understand," Idalah said quietly. "Will you… at least stay with us until the festival? With how many visitors Meadowyar has right now, it may be difficult to find lodging in the city."

Priscilla had been right that their parents probably wouldn't want them to leave immediately if they got to this point in negotiations. There was no reason to not stay when it would save them money in the long run but Illnyea made a show of thinking about it, exchanging a glance with Priscilla, who raised an eyebrow in response.

"Fine," Illnyea said, as if conceding.

Idalah looked relieved, her shoulders slumping as if she had been afraid Illnyea would leave then and there. No one said anything for a long moment, and inwardly, Illnyea began to pat herself on the back for a job well done since it seemed her parents didn't want to adjust anything else.

"Then, we'll sign the contract," Idalah said, turning towards the parents' study.

"And we'll get it notarized this afternoon," Priscilla said, bumping Illnyea's shoulder as they followed. With her parents back turned, Illnyea allowed herself to smile.

The signing of the contract went quickly and quietly, no one speaking. Both of her parents looked tired as they pushed the contract toward Illnyea. She took it gingerly, treating the document that secured her future with great care.

"Ah, excuse me."

Mr. Ordan's impeccably polite voice broke through the silence and all turned to the butler, who had quietly slipped into the room after them.

He stepped forward with a smooth envelope in his hands, handing it out to Idalah, who took it automatically. Mr. Ordan nodded, looking satisfied as he took a half-step backwards to maintain some distance between them.

"Arnold Distel asked me to pass that along to you," Mr. Ordan said, tucking his hands behind his back, "as he has delivered the last of the equipment you requested but is no longer interested in continuing a business relationship with you. He kindly wrote down recommendations of where to take your business."

Idalah stared at the parcel in her hand and then flipped open the envelope, pulling out the sheets of paper. Her lips pursed as she read the no doubt scathing words Arnold wrote – Illnyea had only spent a few hours with the enchanter and found that his tongue could be sharper and filthier than even Priscilla's.

Cian took the papers from Idalah as she sorted through the rest, but Idalah paused as she reached the last page.

"What is this?" Idalah asked, words sharp as she looked up at the butler.

Mr. Ordan blinked, then smiled, his eyes crinkling.

"My resignation letter," Mr. Ordan said lightly.

"What," Cian said flatly as Idalah stared open mouthed at Mr. Ordan.

"I have served twenty long years," Mr. Ordan said, brushing past the parents' disbelief, "but I think high time I retired for greener pastures. Thank you for your patronage, I shall see to it that my belongings and myself vacate the premises immediately."

Mr. Ordan bowed, a perfect ninety degree angle, and then left the room before anyone could say anything else.

Illnyea did her very best to look shocked, desperately holding back a giggle as she saw how gobsmacked her father was at the sudden turn of events. She knew that Mr. Ordan would be letting the boys know the contract was successful, exiting out a side entrance of the manor near his former room, and then would wait with them by the gates before they all went Arnold's shop to let the enchanter know the good news.

They hadn't wanted to take the risk that the parents discovered that Sulaiman and Kavil had been staying over without their knowledge, so they would be staying with Arnold until they departed for the capital. Since neither Priscilla or Illnyea planned to spend much time in the manor and Arnold had the room to house them, it seemed like a fine plan since it meant that Sulaiman didn't have to return to the guard barracks.

"Wow, what a surprise," Priscilla said in a monotone voice, doing a much worse job at hiding how unfazed she was by Mr. Ordan's departure. "Well, we have to go get this notarized, so bye!"

Priscilla looped her arm through Illnyea's and they left before either of their parents had recovered.

Once they had made it outside and saw their friends waiting for them, Illnyea finally let her laughter escape, the tension draining from her body now that it was finally over with. There was a lightness in her chest now, a giddy feeling filling her body from her nose to her toes, chasing away the lingering grief of her idealized view of the type of people her parents were.

With her friends and sister beside her, Illnyea looked forward to her future.