Dear Diary,

  I am currently aboard the river vessel known as The Sea Cow. I tagged along with Jupiter — a Lieutenant Commander in the Red Post, the youngest one ever, actually.

  He brought me to investigate a problem in Mellite.

  But unknown to Jupes, when we arrive, I may sneak away and hunt down Golush — or at least what I think is a Golush. There’s a bounty of 1,000 gold if it is.

  Jupiter will be so pissed.

  It will be glorious.

  He has this unbearable need to watch over me like I’m constantly in danger. He’s a great guy, though. He checks on me regularly and even helps with my studies. I don’t know why he decided to become my completely unnecessary guardian…

  But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like it.

  He’s not bad on the eyes either.

  Don’t tell anyone I said that.

  Until next time.

  I woke to unfamiliar smells and the steady sway of the boat beneath me.

  Tee Tee, who usually slept like the dead, was restless — shifting and skittering at every thud of wood against current. The hollow knock of water against the hull made him nervous.

  I slid carefully out of the narrow shelf-like bed, ducking so I wouldn’t hit my head on the bunk above. A soft snore drifted through the cabin.

  Jupiter.

  A calm smile spread across my face in the darkness.

  I scooped up Tee Tee — not even daring to slap my leg for fear of waking him — and made my way up the creaking stairs to the deck.

  The moon was bright enough to silver the shoreline. I leaned against the railing, arms folded over it, gazing out at the stars. Tee Tee curled into my collar, his tiny claws gripping fabric.

  The river didn’t have a true name. Some called it the Melrose River. Others the Mellite or the Acosta, since it emptied near the great port before feeding into the Culver Sea.

  But to me, it was simply the river nearby.

  The air was cool and clean. Occasionally, a light mist drifted across the deck. I breathed deeply.

  I felt freer than I ever had.

  For the first time, I was on a real mission.

  Not training.

  Not theory.

  Not practice.

  An adventure.

  The thing I had dreamed about since I was a little girl clinging to a toy squirrel.

  My insecurities felt smaller out here. Manageable. This was only the beginning. Jupiter had even mentioned that if this investigation went well, I might join the next bandit hunt. Dangerous, yes — but profitable. And renown-building.

  I would not miss that.

  And being alone with Jupiter…

  It had been exactly what I’d hoped.

  He listened to my theories. Asked how I would begin the investigation. Checked on my training. On my family. On me.

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  Was he overly protective?

  Absolutely.

  But he saw me.

  Not as Arturo Plad’s daughter.

  Not as Bruno’s apprentice.

  Not as Graysia’s struggling student.

  As an ally.

  I almost asked about Kayleigh Tosh.

  I didn’t.

  This was my time with him. As adventurers. Nothing would ruin it.

  Even if a small part of me knew he would be furious when he discovered my little side plan.

  Worth the scolding.

  I was mid-imagining the argument when a voice joined me.

  “You know, if you wanted a real squirrel, I knew a guy once.”

  I spun around.

  A half-elf in a well-worn merchant’s coat stood beneath a hanging lantern.

  “Senad!” I exclaimed, throwing my arms around him.

  Tee Tee got caught in the embrace and chirped indignantly as I pulled away.

  “It’s been years,” I said, still smiling. “What are you doing here? Are you back?”

  He shook his head. “Visiting a fellow trader in Mellite. Then returning to Toblerone.”

  Toblerone — the continent of the Kenith’La’Quil elves. War-torn, though the elves rarely admitted involvement. Bruno was from there, though he’d never shared the full story.

  “How’s your brother? Your father? And… uh… Martha?”

  I laughed at his hesitation. “Everyone’s well. Dad’s expanding outside of Lindor.”

  Senad threw up his hands in triumph. “I told him, Benson! For years I told him! His craft is too good for a single city.”

  I nodded. Senad had worked hard to rebuild his reputation. Years ago, he’d sold… questionable goods. But he’d turned it around. Now he was a legitimate trade broker between Toblerone and half the known coast. I was genuinely happy for him. I knew he had many children — with multiple mothers — and he’d left scheming behind to provide for them all.

  “I’ll be back in Melrose in a few months,” he said. “Tell your father we must meet. I’d love to help him, especially if he plans to send goods to Toblerone.”

  “Of course, Senad. He’d love that,” I replied.

  My father was particular about who he worked with. But surprisingly, Senad was one of the few he trusted in small dealings. I was fairly certain he handled our sugar supply. Or was it cinnamon?

  The thought vanished when I heard a voice behind me.

  “Everything alright up here? It’s rather loud for this time of night.”

  Jupiter stood beside me.

  Close.

  Very close.

  I caught the scent of coal and pine from his cologne and had to physically stop myself from smiling too much.

  “Jupiter, this is Senad — an old family friend. Senad, this is Lieutenant Commander Jupiter Nouns. We’re heading to Mellite together.”

  Jupiter looked like he might correct my wording, but instead extended his hand firmly.

  Senad shook it, though I noticed the tension in his shoulders.

  I grinned. “Don’t mind him, Senad. Jupes is a big pushover.”

  Jupiter gave me a look.

  Senad chuckled politely, but after years of dealing with stern Red Post officers, he didn’t linger.

  “Well,” he said, backing toward the stairwell, “I won’t intrude any longer. Give my best to your father… and, ah… family.”

  He disappeared below deck.

  I turned toward Jupiter with a mock-irritated expression.

  “Do you have to scare everyone?”

  He ignored the theatrics. “I was checking on the noise. And on the missing woman who was not in the bunk below me.”

  His face was pure militant discipline — but I knew him well enough to recognize the mask. It was duty… and something softer beneath it.

  “We weren’t that loud,” I scoffed, leaning against the railing. “And the Red Post wasn’t exactly kind to him in the past. Besides, I can handle myself against a merchant.”

  To my surprise, he didn’t lecture me.

  He stepped beside me, looking out over the water.

  “Bruno told me your lessons with the High Ranger are going well.”

  A flash of irritation sparked at Bruno, but I let it go. “I’ve made a few strides lately. Who knows? Maybe you’ll get to see me in action.”

  I gave him a bratty smile.

  He rolled his eyes loosely and looked back at the stars.

  “You know… about ten years ago, I was struggling with my path too.”

  I blinked. I had a hard time imagining Jupiter struggling with anything.

  “Oh?” I prompted.

  “Yes,” he continued. “Most paladins are sent away for years of cloister training. Bruno fought to keep me here instead. There’s a cloister near the Fjordlyns — the Shimmering Isles. Cold. Windy. Bare.”

  He actually shivered at the memory.

  “There was a core spell I couldn’t master. It allows me to heal someone by draining my own endurance. I spent months failing. Bruno isn’t a paladin. Prosic was past his prime to attempt it. I nearly left the Post. Nearly sailed north to train there instead.”

  I knew the spell.

  I had seen it.

  “Do you know what finally unlocked it for me?” he asked.

  “No,” I lied softly.

  “It was you.”

  My breath caught.

  “Do you remember your first night out with Sandra Lynn?” he asked.

  Of course I did.

  Sandra Lynn’s eighteenth birthday. Too much fun. Too much wine. Jupiter intercepting us before we made fools of ourselves walking home alone.

  We’d wandered into the barnyard instead of the path. I stepped on a rusted nail.

  He didn’t hesitate. Laid me down. Removed my shoe. Pulled the nail. And then—

  Light.

  Warmth.

  Relief.

  The spell that drained him to steady me.

  And as a side effect, sobered me completely.

  When the dizziness faded, I was in his arms. He was carrying me.

  Duty. Pride. Protection.

  All for me.

  I smiled and lightly slapped his pauldron. “The paladin message I’ll never forget.”

  He smirked slightly.

  “Sometimes,” he said quietly, “you just need something… or someone… to fight for.”

  Every ounce of blood drained from my face.

  I realized I was twisting my hair again and quickly dropped my hand.

  “You’re a good man, Jupes,” I said earnestly.

  “I try.”

  He kept looking at the stars.

  And I had never been happier.