Run: 2026-02-20-01KHXPGR89K35BY51BYYF79SFP

The Raven's Nest hummed with the low murmur of conversation and the occasional clink of glasses. The dim light cast long shadows across the worn wooden tables, and the scent of aged whiskey mingled with the faint aroma of leather-bound books. Aurora Carter, or Rory as she was known to her friends, pushed open the heavy door, the green neon sign above flickering as she stepped inside. The cool evening air clung to her black jacket, and she shook off the chill, scanning the room. Her eyes adjusted to the dim light, taking in the familiar sight of old maps and black-and-white photographs adorning the walls. She spotted a familiar face behind the bar, his grey-streaked auburn hair catching the light. Silas Blackwood, or Si as she used to call him, was polishing a glass with a worn cloth, his hazel eyes focused on the task. He looked up, and their eyes met. For a moment, time seemed to stand still. The noise of the bar faded into the background, and Rory felt a strange mix of emotions welling up inside her. It had been years since she'd seen Silas, and he had changed. The lines on his face were deeper, and his once-strong frame now bore the weight of time. But his eyes, they were the same—warm and inviting, yet holding a depth of experience that spoke volumes. Silas set the glass down, his movements slow and deliberate. He limped slightly as he rounded the bar, his slight limp more pronounced than she remembered. He stopped in front of her, his gaze searching her face as if trying to reconcile the woman before him with the girl he once knew. "Rory," he said, his voice a low rumble. "It's been a long time." She nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "Too long, Si." He gestured to a table in the corner, away from the main crowd. "Let's sit. Catch up." They settled into the worn leather chairs, the table between them a silent barrier. Rory noticed the silver signet ring on his right hand, a constant companion she remembered from their past. She wondered if it held the same significance to him now as it had then. "So," Silas began, leaning back in his chair. "What brings you to The Raven's Nest?" Rory hesitated, her fingers tracing the small crescent-shaped scar on her left wrist. "Just passing through. Thought I'd stop in, see how things were." Silas raised an eyebrow. "And how are things?" She met his gaze, her bright blue eyes steady. "Different. Changed." He nodded, understanding passing between them. "We all have, Rory. Time has a way of doing that." She looked around the bar, taking in the details she had missed earlier. The hidden back room, accessible through a bookshelf, was a new addition. She remembered Silas mentioning his network of contacts, but seeing it brought a sense of reality to his words. "You've done well for yourself, Si," she said, her voice soft. He shrugged, a small smile tugging at his lips. "It's not much. Just a place to hang my hat." Rory chuckled, the sound light and genuine. "Always the modest one." Silas leaned forward, his elbows resting on the table. "And what about you, Rory? What have you been up to?" She hesitated, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. "This and that. Nothing too exciting." He studied her, his gaze intense. "You're not still in Cardiff, are you?" She shook her head. "No. Left a while back. Needed a change." Silas nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Evan?" Rory's fingers stilled, her expression unreadable. "Partly." He reached across the table, his hand covering hers. "I'm sorry, Rory. I should have been there." She looked down at their joined hands, a bittersweet smile on her lips. "You were. In your own way." Silas squeezed her hand gently before pulling away. "And your parents? How are they?" Rory's smile faded, a shadow passing over her face. "Dad's the same. Mom... she passed a few years back." Silas's expression softened. "I'm sorry to hear that, Rory. She was a good woman." Rory nodded, her throat tight. "She was." Silas leaned back in his chair, his gaze thoughtful. "And what about you? What are you doing now?" Rory shrugged, her fingers tracing the rim of her glass. "Working part-time. Delivery job. It's not much, but it pays the bills." Silas studied her, his gaze searching. "And the law? You were always so passionate about it." Rory's fingers stilled, her expression unreadable. "Things change, Si. People change." Silas nodded, understanding in his eyes. "They do. But some things stay the same." Rory met his gaze, a small smile on her lips. "Like what?" "Like the way you think," he said, a hint of a smile on his lips. "Always three steps ahead." Rory chuckled, the sound light and genuine. "And you, Si? Still the spymaster?" Silas's smile faded, his expression serious. "Retired. This is all I have now." Rory studied him, her gaze searching. "And are you happy?" Silas hesitated, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass. "It's complicated, Rory. Life has a way of throwing curveballs." Rory nodded, understanding in her eyes. "It does." They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared past hanging between them. Rory looked around the bar, her gaze lingering on the hidden back room. "So, what's with the secret room, Si? Planning a heist?" Silas chuckled, the sound low and rumbling. "Something like that. Just a place for private meetings. Old habits die hard." Rory smiled, her gaze softening. "I remember. Always the secret keeper." Silas met her gaze, his expression serious. "And you, Rory? Any secrets you want to share?" Rory hesitated, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. "Not today, Si. Maybe another time." Silas nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Another time, then." They sat in comfortable silence, the weight of their shared past and the unspoken regrets hanging between them. Rory looked around the bar, her gaze lingering on the old maps and photographs. "You know, Si, I never thanked you. For everything you did for me." Silas met her gaze, his expression soft. "You don't have to, Rory. It was my pleasure." Rory smiled, her eyes bright. "Still the gentleman, I see." Silas chuckled, the sound low and rumbling. "Old habits die hard." Rory looked around the bar, her gaze lingering on the hidden back room. "So, what's next for you, Si? Any big plans?" Silas shrugged, his fingers tracing the rim of his glass. "Just taking it one day at a time. You?" Rory hesitated, her fingers tapping lightly on the table. "Same, I guess. Just seeing where life takes me." Silas nodded, understanding in his eyes. "Sounds like a plan." They sat in silence for a moment, the weight of their shared past and the unspoken regrets hanging between them. Rory looked around the bar, her gaze lingering on the old maps and photographs. "You know, Si, I think I'll stick around for a while. See how things go." Silas met her gaze, a small smile on his lips. "I'd like that, Rory. It's been too long." Rory smiled, her eyes bright. "It has, Si. It has." They sat in comfortable silence, the weight of their shared past and the unspoken regrets hanging between them. But for the first time in a long time, Rory felt a sense of peace. She had found her way back to Silas, and that was enough for now.