Free The Shadowsteel Forge (The Dark Ability Book 5) by D.K. Holmberg

her work, but it’s not the same.” He grabbed the dice and shook them, staring at them as they came up Watcher’s Eyes. “I’ve been trying to figure out what I need to be doing. Running the tavern is all well and good, and I like the legitimacy of being allowed to run it, but I feel like I’m missing something.”
    “Like breaking into somewhere?” Jessa suggested.
    Brusus smiled. “Maybe that’s all there is.”
    “I think there’s something more,” Rsiran said. He made a point of not meeting Jessa’s eyes; he hadn’t really spoken to her much about his thoughts after meeting with Seval. She would understand—he knew that she would—but he felt much like Brusus had been feeling. There had to be something more than what he was doing. He hadn’t realized that until meeting with Seval, and realizing how much he wanted the recognition of the guild. He’d managed to tell himself that it didn’t matter, that he was able to deal with the fact that he would always have an unsanctioned guild, but he wasn’t sure that was true anymore.
    But first, he had to find stability. Until he knew that whatever contingent of the Forgotten that was left wasn’t going to come crashing in on him, and that Venass wouldn’t continue to chase him simply because of his ability, he wasn’t sure he could let his guard down to actually enjoy the recognition of the guild. But that meant he would have to do something he had been avoiding. That meant he would need to attempt to do something about both of the organizations that were after him.
    “Ah, probably. Having stopped the Forgotten doesn’t mean that Venass has given up.”
    Rsiran shook his head. The man he’d followed into the forest was likely from Venass. Which meant they were still after his family. And worse, if they risked coming into Elaeavn, it meant they weren’t afraid as they had once been. “I don’t think they have.”
    “What do you intend to do, Rsiran?” Brusus asked.
    Jessa looked from him to Brusus, before glancing up to the lorcith tree sitting on the mantle. She sighed, and Rsiran knew that she understood what he would have to do. That he couldn’t sit around and do nothing. Jessa had known him long enough to know that whenever he chose to act—and admittedly, it always put him at risk, it was to protect her, and others he loved. But his actions often put them at risk as well. That had to end. He was thankful that she didn’t try to dissuade him or claim, as she always did, that she could take care of herself. It was his presence in their lives that exposed them all to these dangers. It was his responsibility to remove the threats that remained, so they could all live in relative peace once again.
    When he didn’t answer, Brusus nodded. “Be smart, Rsiran. That’s all I ask of you. I know you’re skilled, and I know that you’re capable, but please just know that concern flows both ways.”

Chapter 8
    O utside the tavern , Jessa took his hand. “Walk with me a ways,” she said.
    “We don’t have to walk.”
    “What, and let you Slide us? You’ve been walking all throughout the city lately. Don’t think that I haven’t noticed. I think Brusus noticed, too, but he won’t say anything. It’s almost like you’re afraid to Slide these days.”
    “I’m not afraid.”
    “Then what is it? You think you might lose your ability for some reason, so you want to learn our streets the old-fashioned way? Or you think… Great Watcher only knows, Rsiran. But I know you’re trying to prepare for something. It’s like what you do when you work with Haern. You think you’re preparing.”
    “I am preparing.”
    “I don’t think you are. I’m not sure what you’re doing, but it’s not preparing. Unless you’re willing to work with the alchemists…”
    “I don’t know if I can.”
    Jessa nodded. “Them grabbing your sister probably wasn’t the best way to convince you. But you’re preparing and biding your time for something that