After four years away from her old stomping grounds, Karessa Auruchie has finally returned. It feels good to be back in a world she understands—free of goblins, free from politics, and most importantly, free from the Council. But she’s not here to reflect on her past; she’s here to save the two orphans her former band of thieves took under their wing.

Their leader, Elek, won’t let them go so easily, but Karessa agrees to a proposition that’ll grant them liberty, and all it entails is one big heist. If she succeeds, the kids can go free. But if she fails, she’ll return as his thief once again.

Bylur has finally escaped from Zalantea’s fighting ring, where captives engage in lethal combat for little pay. Now that he’s free, he must accumulate funds as quickly as possible to secure the release of his enslaved sisters.

While looking for work, he meets a dwarven princess who wants to acquire an item at an auction without the intention of paying. He’s to be her thief, posing as a buyer. It’s a dangerous task, given the security, but with the amount of gold she’s offering, he’s willing to set his morality aside and eliminate anyone who gets in his way if it means getting his family back.

April 16, 2027