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[/table]Nylah Aldaos had never known wealth like this before. The bounty she had collected from turning in Dalious Durendail, the infamous pirate captain, had been astronomical. It had felt too good to be true when she watched the guards drag him away, bound in chains, and the heavy sack of gold exchanged for his capture fell into her hands. For the first time in her life, she was free to do as she pleased. Her employers were happy, so she was happy. 

Months had passed since then. Nylah had spent her days indulging in luxuries she’d never imagined. She had traveled across the world, hitting a few places on her bucket list. Eventually, she found herself on the Isles of Bishop & Knight, hopping from island to island, relishing the beauty of white-sand beaches, crystal-blue waters, and sunrises that cast the sky in hues of gold and pink. There were no contracts, no missions, no sleepless nights spent wondering where the next job would take her—who her next target would be. Instead, she allowed herself to relax, to simply exist without the ever-present weight of her mercenary life.

For a brief time, she had been happy.

But as the days drifted by, her spoils from Dalious Durendail’s capture dwindled. The lavish meals, the fine wines, and the carefree days came at a cost. Nylah could feel her coin purse grow lighter with each passing week, and now, the inevitable truth was staring her in the face—she couldn’t run from it any longer. 

She’d been on the run from her employers, too. The ones who always expected their cut, their share of her success. For months, they had allowed her to enjoy the fruits of her labor, but patience was never their strong suit. Nylah knew they were waiting, and their patience would soon expire.

Sitting on the edge of a cliff, Nylah stared out at the vast sea. The cool breeze tugged at her cloak, the scent of salt filling the air. She knew what had to be done. The respite was over. It was time to pick up her bow and arrows once more, to return to the life she’d grown so skilled at. 

Her fingers brushed the golden locket around her neck, a rare moment of contemplation as she stared at the horizon. The carefree life had been brief, but she couldn’t afford to be careless any longer. Reality was knocking at her door. Nylah Aldaos, the mercenary, would need to get to work again.