Run: 2026-02-19-01KHTYXEDJJGDCGQSSZ7DEMJ2P

The Raven's Nest was exactly as Rory remembered it - the same worn wooden bar, the same maps and photographs on the walls, the same low murmur of conversation punctuated by occasional bursts of laughter. She pushed open the heavy door, the familiar scent of whiskey and tobacco washing over her. She froze when she saw him. Silas Blackwood, sitting alone in his usual corner booth, nursing what looked like his third whiskey of the evening. His grey-streaked auburn hair was longer than she remembered, pulled back in a loose ponytail. The lines on his face seemed deeper, carved by time and too many untold stories. "Rory?" His voice was rougher than she remembered, but the surprise in his eyes was unmistakable. "Bloody hell, I thought that was you." "Silas." She crossed the room, suddenly aware of how much had changed since she'd last been here. The weight of the delivery bag on her shoulder felt heavier than usual. "Long time no see." He gestured to the empty seat across from him. "Pull up a chair. What brings you to my humble establishment?" Rory sat down, shrugging off the bag. "Work. I'm making deliveries for the Golden Empress now. Yu-Fei still sends you the usual order?" "Every Thursday without fail." He signaled to the bartender, who brought over a glass of white wine without being asked. "Your usual." "Thanks." She took a sip, watching him over the rim of her glass. "You look... different." "So do you." His eyes held hers, and she saw the question he wasn't asking. The one about Evan, about why she'd left Cardiff so suddenly, about why she'd cut off contact with everyone who knew her before. "I got out," she said quietly. "That's all that matters." Silas nodded, understanding in his expression. He'd been her father's closest friend, had known about the situation with Evan even if he hadn't known all the details. "Your father would be proud of you, Rory. He always said you had your mother's strength." The mention of her parents made something twist in her chest. They'd died in a car accident three years ago, a fact she hadn't told Silas. "How's business?" she asked, changing the subject. "Same as always. Some days I wonder why I keep this place running." He gestured at the room. "But then someone like you walks through that door, and I remember." "Remember what?" "That some connections are worth keeping alive, even when life tries to pull us in different directions." He leaned back, studying her. "You've changed, Rory. Not just the hair - though the black suits you. You carry yourself differently. Like you've been through a war and come out the other side." "Maybe I have." She thought of the nights she'd spent hiding in train stations, of the months of rebuilding her life from nothing. "But I'm still here. Still fighting." "That's my girl." The old nickname made her smile despite herself. "So tell me, what's next for Aurora Carter? Law school is probably out of the question now, but surely you've got plans beyond delivering Chinese food." Rory swirled her wine, watching the liquid catch the dim light. "I don't know. Some days I feel like I'm just marking time, waiting for... something. Purpose, maybe. A sign that I'm on the right path." "You'll find it." Silas's certainty was comforting. "You always were too smart to stay lost for long." Their conversation drifted to safer topics - mutual acquaintances, local news, the changing face of Soho. But underneath it all ran a current of what remained unspoken. The years of silence between them, the secrets they both kept, the paths not taken. As the evening wore on, more patrons filtered in - some casting curious glances at the bar owner deep in conversation with a stranger. Rory noticed how Silas greeted each one by name, how he seemed to know their stories, their troubles, their joys. He'd built a new life here, one that had nothing to do with espionage or danger. "I should get back to work," she said eventually, glancing at the clock. "Yu-Fei will have my head if I'm late with the next delivery." "Of course." Silas stood, offering his hand. "It was good seeing you, Rory. Really good." She took his hand, feeling the strength in his grip despite his age. "You too, Silas. And... thanks. For not asking the hard questions." "Some things are better left for when you're ready to share them." He released her hand, his expression softening. "But know that when you are, I'm here. Always." Rory shouldered her delivery bag, pausing at the edge of the table. "Hey, Silas? What you said earlier, about connections..." "Yes?" "Maybe we shouldn't wait so long next time. To catch up, I mean." A smile touched his weathered face. "I'd like that. Now go, before Yu-Fei sends out a search party." She laughed, the sound feeling foreign after so much time alone. "See you around, old man." "Count on it, kid." As she pushed open the door and stepped out into the London night, Rory felt something shift inside her. The weight of the past years seemed to lift slightly, replaced by the fragile hope of new beginnings. Silas was right - some connections were worth keeping alive, even when life tried to pull you apart. She had no idea what the future held, but for the first time in a long time, she felt ready to find out.