Built by Magic (Falling for Fables #4)

Chapter 1

1

FRIDA

I balanced on the sloped rooftop, aiming the tip of my arrow at my prey. My heartbeat was a steady beat beneath my ribs that counted down the seconds I had left to take my shot. A gentle breeze pushed into the courtyard, dashing my mark’s yellow hair into his flat eyes, momentarily blinding him. I smiled. My opportunity would get no better than this.

I steadied my aim, squinting beneath the orange glare of the evening sun, and the bowstring went taut. Breathing calm and mind clear, I checked the sight one last time, then loosed. The arrow hissed through the air, spinning away from me. Only two heartbeats later, the sharp tip punched into my target’s soft, squishy head. A spray of black sand exploded from his face.

I leapt to my feet and threw my fisted hand into the air, a celebratory shout bursting from my lungs. Down in the courtyard-turned-arena below, several leather-clad figures wandered out from the protected observation stand, washed in the sunset’s glow. A few lifted their bows and aimed up at me.

Smiling, I slid down the sloped rust-red tiles in the opposite direction, and launched onto the ground, where I landed in a crouch. City dust plumed around me. My horse, a mare named Stella, neighed and shook her long black mane around her powerful shoulders. I leapt onto her back and urged her through the streets.

As her hooves thundered across the cobbles, wind tore through my hair and an exhilarating sense of rightness settled over me. Heart pounding, I leaned forward, my hands against her slick neck, using my decade-long practice to keep my balance. A sense of wild freedom filled my chest, the drab city nothing but a whorl of nothingness surrounding me. I was loath to turn her back toward the courtyard, but I had no other choice. The others were waiting for me.

Because somehow, I’d done it.

I’d actually passed. That meant I was now an official member of the guild. Which was amazing . Dreams do come true.

But an unexpected tremor of unease went through me as I turned Stella back around. It was all quite sudden, really. I’d expected it to take more than a year for me to earn a coveted spot in the most infamous guild on the continent. That would have meant at least a few more months of freedom before I was bound to them for the rest of my very long life. As an elf, that meant centuries. Apparently, it had taken my brother a full three years before he’d passed his induction. For some recruits, it took even longer.

But, of course, I’d been an archer all my life, which had given me an edge. My mother had handed me a miniature bow before I’d even taken my first step.

Besides, this was what I wanted . My mother had served in the guild before her illness. My father still did, along with my brother, my uncle, and my cousins. The Assassin’s Guild was a family affair, and I wouldn’t be the first Rurik to turn her back on it forever.

When I returned to the courtyard and dismounted, several figures were waiting for me. All politely clapped, save my brother, Logi, who whooped and hollered. A little over a year ago, he’d come to me and had begged me to join the guild. And when I’d finally relented, he’d spent every spare moment of his time training me.

“Yes, Fri!” he shouted, his long chestnut hair a wild tangle around his broad shoulders.

Behind him, I spotted my father striding through the makeshift obstacles with a twinkle in his eye. The black leathers he wore signified his spot as a high-ranking member of the guild and gave his muscular form a dangerous edge.

“I don’t think any of us doubted you could do it, but well done, Frida. Excellent archery skills, as always,” he said in that great booming way of his. His voice always struck me as the complete antithesis of everything else he was. When he wore his assassin role, he rarely spoke. And if he did, his words were whispered, barely loud enough for one to hear. His skills of stealth were something of a legend around these parts. He liked to say the assassin was a mask he wore to hide the loud, thundering mass of a man he truly was.

Although I sometimes wondered if it wasn’t the other way around—if the assassin was the real him, deep down. To me, it didn’t matter either way. I loved both sides of him.

“Thanks, Father,” I said, beaming at his praise.

“Yes, well done, well done,” came the nasally voice of the elf who was the true leader of the guild. Erik was the head of the Conung family, who also led the Thieves’ Guild. It made him the most powerful person in the elven kingdom, after the queen. Although many considered his power to exceed even hers.

It did in the streets, at least.

He wore his long silver hair slicked back and tied into an agonizingly tight bun that made it look like his skin was being yanked off his face. His head-to-toe garments were a mottled gray—the color signifying him as our leader. He said it was the best color for blending in with the city’s cobbled streets and drab buildings. Wearing his trademark sneer, he looked up and down the length of me, like I was some kind of undesirable who’d wandered in from beyond the guild’s gated walls. Someone who didn’t belong.

“I suppose I should congratulate you,” he said after a moment. “But you do understand you’re not a full member of the guild just yet?”

My father frowned. “Of course she is. Her arrow hit the target, and she got away before any of our own archers could retaliate. She successfully completed her induction task.”

“She shot a scarecrow in an entirely fake scenario. It’s hardly a true test of her ability to stay calm under pressure. We need to see her in action— real action. None of this darting around rooftops and shooting inanimate objects.”

Hands fisting, I lifted my chin. “I don’t understand. You’re the one who set this task for me.”

“Yes, and your passing means you can now be considered a guild member on a trial basis ,” he said firmly, in a voice that brooked no argument. “Now you may be given your first quest. Complete it successfully, and you’ll officially be one of us.”

I looked to my father. His brow was furrowed, but he slowly nodded, clearly agreeing with Erik, which frustrated me to no end. I’d done everything he’d asked of me. I’d completed all my training and had devoted the past year of my life to them, even following their ways of celibacy and sobriety, despite my reluctance. And I’d now succeeded at the induction task, the same one every other member had once been given. No one had been required to do an additional trial quest. Until now.

“Hmm,” my father said, scratching his chin. “I suppose it’s a fair requirement.”

My jaw nearly dropped. “Wait, you agree with him? But why?”

When I’d first shown up on the guild’s doorstep, my father had been delighted. More than anything, he wanted me to join. Or at least I thought he had.

“It’s only right we test new members—out in the field, where it matters. In fact, I think we should make this a permanent rule going forward. For all new recruits.” He smiled serenely at Erik. “Wouldn’t you agree?”

Ah. I saw what he was doing. He’d agree to hoisting a new, unexpected rule on me, but only if Erik confirmed that everyone else must go through the same paces. And I supposed it wasn’t so bad. Sooner or later—likely on the sooner side, knowing how fast things moved around here—I’d have been sent off on my first quest, anyway. I just had to make sure I nailed this one, so Erik would have no excuse to turn me away at the end of it.

Erik flattened his lips into a thin line, then said, “Yes, of course. From now on, we’ll give all new members a trial quest to see how they perform in a real world scenario.”

My father nodded. “Good. Frida, do you wish to proceed?”

“I suppose,” I said. “What do you need me to do?”

Erik smiled, turned, and motioned at one of the many guards he kept stationed around the guild’s grounds. The guard, donned in deep red leathers, lifted a folded piece of parchment and hastened across the courtyard. As I waited to hear the details of my mission, my stomach twisted uncomfortably, like angry sea waves had taken up residence inside me. I fought the urge to swipe my sweaty palms against my trousers. Erik, I had to admit, might have a bit of a point with the whole trial period thing.

Because the idea of actually aiming my arrow at someone and watching the life bleed from their eyes…well, I just thought I’d have more time before I had to do it, that was all. Time to steel myself against it. I’d never felt eager to kill. It was why I’d held off joining for so long. But my brother had convinced me that I’d feel differently once I got involved. We didn’t kill anyone who was worth saving, after all. Only the bastards of the world, who deserved what they got.

Really, the guild was doing a good thing for society, and no matter what happened, I would only aim the tip of my arrow at someone who deserved it.

But knowing that didn’t mean I felt ready. Maybe I just needed to get the first one over with. Maybe then it wouldn’t feel like my insides were being shoved through a cheese grater.

The guard came to a stop beside Erik. Reverently, he held the paper in his upraised palms and held it toward me. Swallowing, I took the offered task, unfolded the parchment, and gobbled the words with my eyes.

Assassin’s Guild Assignment for Frida Rurik

An orc named Rune—surname unknown—is rumored to live on the Floating Forest, a small island located within the Isles of Fable. There, he keeps a dragon. To complete your induction, track down this orc and take his dragon. Assassination is not required.

Heart pounding, I read the impossible words again.

To complete your induction, track down this orc and take his dragon.

I blinked, then looked up. “Is this a joke?”

“Why would it be a joke?” Erik asked, practically purring.

My blood began to boil. He’d done this on purpose. He’d given me an insurmountable task, knowing I’d never succeed—which meant I’d be locked out of the guild for the rest of my life. I shook my head in disbelief. What had I ever done to him? It felt like he’d been against me from the start.

“All the dragons are dead,” I said flatly.

He smiled, though there was no warmth in the expression. “That’s not true. I know you’ve heard the rumors about the four dragons living on those islands.”

“There’s also a rumor that Isveig’s ghost is trapped in chains, wandering the world in pain for all of eternity. But everyone knows that’s nothing more than a fanciful tale. Same as this.” I waved the parchment in the air to punctuate my statement.

Isveig had been a conqueror who had hunted and killed both orcs and dragons alike, all in his quest for power. Thankfully, the orcs had retaken their kingdom nearly thirty years ago. He’d rotted in the dungeons for a long while. But he was dead now. Good riddance.

I often wished the tales were true and his soul was cursed to endure a miserable half-existence for eternity, but ghosts didn’t exist. And neither did dragons—unfortunately.

“I have it on good authority that these dragons are very much alive,” Erik said, then shrugged. “But if you aren’t up for the task, I’ll find someone else to do it.”

Fuck. He was serious about this, and judging by his expression, he actually believed in these dragons. If I didn’t agree to this, he’d force me to pack my bag, walk out those gates, and never look back. I might not even get a chance to say my goodbyes—not properly. He’d given me no choice but to accept this doomed mission. And when I inevitably failed…well, I’d worry about that when the time came.

My father’s frown had deepened over the course of the conversation until his expression had transformed into an outright scowl. “When you brought up this new trial period, I thought you’d have her go for a target in the city. Or at least on the continent. This assignment will take weeks—if not more. And you don’t even want her to assassinate the target?”

Erik sniffed and looked down his nose at my father. “We’ve been hired to do a job, and that job is to take the dragon from him. That is why she’s going to the Isles.”

“I thought they were pro—”

“You thought right. No harm will be done,” Eric said, a tense gaze locked on my father’s face. “This is the assignment I’ve decided to give Frida. Go to the island, harm no one, and bring me that dragon.” He slid his gaze toward me. “Take it or leave it.”

For one heart-pounding moment, I actually considered saying no. I could walk away from all this and go back to my cottage in the woods that I’d held on to this past year, just in case things fell apart at the guild and I needed to return home. But the truth was, I was lonely out there by myself. I had Stella, of course, but all of my loved ones were here.

Guild members were forbidden from fraternizing with those outside the organization. Before I’d come to the city with my tail between my legs, I’d gone years without seeing my brother and my father. Birthday gifts had mysteriously turned up on my front porch, but that had been the extent of their contact. And since my nearest neighbors lived miles away, it’d been just me for a really long time.

It felt good to be a part of something again—to feel like I had a real family now—even if I wasn’t completely thrilled about how I had to earn my place with them.

And so I couldn’t say no. Not when it meant going back to that aching loneliness again. At least I didn’t have to assassinate anyone yet.

“Frida?” Erik asked, his silver brow arching.

I wound my hands around my back and fidgeted with my tunic’s bottom hemline. The material was rough and scratchy, but it was something to hold on to.

“No, I’ll do it. I accept the mission,” I said, my voice tight. “I just have one question, if that’s all right.”

“Very well,” he said.

“Someone has hired us to steal a dragon. What do they want with it?”

Erik levelled his dark gaze on me. “I can imagine many reasons why one would want a dragon, but it is not our business to ask questions of those who hire our services.”

I prickled at that. “That’s not true. We ask questions all the time—to make sure we’re aiming our sights on the right people. Just because we’re assassins for hire doesn’t mean we’re willing to spill the blood of an innocent. Not anymore. We turned aside from the ways of the old guild decades ago.”

“This was a mistake,” Erik snapped, turning to my father. “I told you she wasn’t ready.”

“And I told you she was,” my father replied in a voice that held just as much snap. Then he turned to me. “I’m sure we were hired to get the dragon away from someone dangerous. You’ll be doing the world a favor by taking it from the mark. Any more than that, we can’t tell you. And if this goes wrong, I’m afraid you won’t get another chance to join the guild.”

Unspoken demand: stop asking questions . It was a blunt command, one I knew he would never take back.

I searched his eyes for any indication of what he was thinking. Something about this entire situation felt off to me, but if my father agreed with Erik, I supposed I’d have to do it. He’d never send me on an assignment he thought I’d fail, and he’d certainly never let something as powerful as a dragon end up in the wrong hands. I truly believed that.

And so when he gave me a slow nod, I forced myself to stand tall.

“All right,” I said. “When do I leave?”

Erik’s slow smile chilled me to my bones. “In one hour. Gather your things. The ship will be waiting for you in the harbor.”