I stepped outside Robert's house and looked over Compound City.
The sun was dipping low, stretching long shadows across broken streets and collapsing rooftops.
"Alright," I said.
Robert stood beside me.
"What now?"
I flexed my fingers at my side.
"We find Hagen."
Simple.
At least in theory.
I glanced at Robert.
"You know this place better than I do. Ask around. Listen for rumors."
Robert nodded.
"And you?"
"I'm going hunting."
He almost smiled.
"Try not to get yourself killed."
"No promises."
We split up.
As I walked through Compound City, I paid closer attention to everything around me.
Wealthier buildings sat closer to the center.
Bandits laughed openly in the streets like nothing could touch them.
The poorer families stayed hidden in broken homes and alleyways.
And everywhere I looked, I saw fear.
Not loud fear.
Not panic.
The quiet kind.
The kind that teaches people to survive by staying invisible.
I hated it.
I kept walking until something caught my eye.
Bright lights.
A giant red arrow.
Pointing toward a building ahead.
A bar.
I stared at it.
"Well."
That's obvious.
Too obvious.
Probably a trap.
But traps sometimes held answers.
As I walked, I thought I saw Erin and Robin moving through a side street.
I stopped for a moment.
My hand twitched instinctively, like I still had a sword to reach for.
But I didn't call out.
If anyone was watching me, I didn't want them connected to this.
Better they stayed safe.
I kept walking.
I pushed open the bar doors.
Instantly, I was hit with smoke and alcohol.
Cigars.
Whiskey.
Old wood.
The room was busy, but not crowded.
One seat at the counter was open.
Perfect.
I sat down.
The bartender turned.
"What'll it be?"
I looked over the bottles.
Endless choices.
Most of them meaningless to me.
"Bourbon."
He nodded and poured it.
As he set it down, I leaned forward and lowered my voice.
"You know anything about Hagen's whereabouts?"
The bartender paused.
Scratched his chin.
"If he's not at his house…"
He wiped the counter.
"And he's not here…"
His eyes flicked to me.
"Then he's probably outside the city."
I took a sip.
It burned going down.
Good.
"When does he usually show up here?"
"Every night."
Useful.
I placed three gold coins on the counter.
"For the drink."
The bartender looked surprised.
I stood up.
"And the information."
Outside, the air felt colder.
Night was coming.
Time was running short.
I returned to Robert's house.
Before I reached it, I saw Robert speaking with a watchtower guard.
"Hagen?" the guard asked.
"What do you want with him?"
Robert folded his arms.
"Just to talk."
The guard laughed.
"If you're not rich or useful, Hagen doesn't care if you live or die."
Robert's expression hardened.
The guard kept talking.
"You need to let go of the past."
Silence.
Then Robert shoved him to the ground.
"You don't get to say that."
His voice cracked slightly.
"When your wife is murdered in front of you…"
He stepped closer.
"When your daughter grows up in this hell…"
His fists clenched.
"Then you can talk to me about letting go."
The guard lowered his head.
"I'm sorry."
Robert didn't respond.
He simply walked away.
The guard stayed on the ground for a moment before standing in silence.
I followed Robert back inside.
He dropped onto the bed.
"This city makes me sick."
I sat across from him.
"Something tells me that wasn't just about Hagen."
Robert gave a bitter laugh.
"A friend told me to get over my wife."
I nodded.
"People told me the same kind of things."
Robert looked at me.
"I couldn't."
"Neither could I."
Silence.
Then Robert spoke.
"What did you find?"
I leaned back against the wall.
"Hagen could be in three places."
I held up a finger.
"His house."
Second finger.
"The bar."
Third.
"Outside the city."
Robert nodded.
"I checked his house."
"And I checked the bar."
I sighed.
"No sign of him."
I looked toward the window.
"I did see Erin and Robin."
Robert's eyes sharpened.
"Did you talk to them?"
"No."
"Why not?"
"Because I don't want them involved in this."
Robert studied me for a moment.
Then nodded.
"Fair."
He stood and began pacing.
"So what's the plan?"
I thought for a moment.
Then answered.
"We wait."
Robert stopped.
"For what?"
"For Hagen to show up at the bar."
I stood.
"If we kill him there…"
I looked toward the city lights.
"People will see it."
"They'll know he's gone."
"They'll know someone finally stood up."
Robert slowly nodded.
"Public execution."
"Something like that."
I continued.
"His house feels like a trap."
"And outside the city, someone could interfere."
Robert agreed.
"So the bar it is."
He reached into a worn bag and pulled out small flares.
He handed them to me.
"If you find him first, light one."
I took them.
"And you'll come running?"
"As fast as I can."
I smirked slightly.
"I really need a backpack."
He laughed.
We both did.
For a moment, things felt almost normal.
Almost calm.
Almost before the storm.
Robert held out his fist.
"For a better tomorrow."
I bumped it.
"For a better tomorrow."
Silence settled in after that.
We waited.
We prepared.
Eventually, exhaustion hit me.
I leaned back and closed my eyes.
Sleep came fast.
Then
Footsteps.
Horses.
Movement outside.
I opened my eyes.
Robert was already awake.
"He's back."
I stood.
My hand moved instinctively to my side.
Empty.
No sword.
Just me.
Outside, the city had gone quiet.
Now we waited for nightfall.