Stathis flew in a wide arc, trying to stay low and hoping the guards wouldn’t notice her as she came in and landed, letting her wings fade away. The sunlight was starting to fade, sun beginning to drop behind the mountains. It felt good to have ground underneath her feet again, although her leg was aching and threatening to cramp up, the wound still store.

She gave Dorothea a squeeze. ‘Come on, almost there.’

Dorothea just mumbled back, her hands tensing on Stathis’s body, resting her head comfortably against Stathis’ shoulder. Her forehead was hotter than it should have been, fever-sweat prickling her brow. Stathis swore and started walking as fast as she could, ignoring her own tiredness.

The first guard she saw saluted her and let her pass, as she headed for Mother’s tent. At least this was only a small group – rather than a full military escort, it was only her and some advisors, as well as a few squads of soldiers. She walked straight in, the captain of the guard holding the flap open.

Mother was deep in conversation with some of her advisors, a map unrolled on the table, wooden counters and markers showing where various forces were located. She looked up as Stathis entered.

‘Dorothea needs a healer. And we need to talk about Duke Molinbra.’

‘Ah yes. I send him and his men to go and find you, after Carissia returned without you. She had managed to defeat several wyverns.’

Dorothea stirred to life behind her, whispering into Stathis’ ear. ‘Bet yours was bigger.’

‘Is there anyone here that can help her?’

Mother clicked her fingers and Carissia stepped out from a side-chamber. Her robes, of course, were immaculate, any dirt cleaned off, her smile bright and cheery. She walked briskly forward as Stathis twisted Dorothea off her back, onto an empty chair. Her eyes were open but glazed, expression tense.

‘She was badly wounded by a wyvern and lost a lot of blood. I did what I could.’

Carissia touched Dorothea’s forehead, then crouched to check the wound, peeling bloodstained fabric away from skin, making Dorothea shudder in pain. There was a large wound in her leg, oozing with blood, cut deep into her flesh. Carissia gently touched her hand against it, then intoned a prayer. The air was filled with the scent of fresh-turned earth as light flared around her fingers and the wound started to heal, going from a deep and bloody rent to healed flesh, although with the blood still on Dorothea’s skin. Her breathing slowed and stabilised, her eyelids fluttering.

‘You certainly took your time in getting back. And loosing against a wyvern as well.’

Stathis managed to resist the urge to growl at Carissia, but just barely. ‘I didn’t lose! Managed to kill the damn thing.’

Mother tapped a wooden marker down with a sound of finality, her advisors taking the hint to leave, making a not-quite-hurried exit for the door.

‘How large was it?’

Stathis tried to estimate. She’d never seen it fully stretched out, only as a writhing coil of wings and fangs. ‘I think the wingspan was maybe… ten paces?’

‘A young adult. An impressive achievement. And you seem to have acquired a sword as well.’ She nodded at the weapon, still hung through her belt. She drew it, the metal acquiring a slight golden sheen – it must be magical. That would explain how it had sliced so easily.

Mother tapped the blade, listening to the ring of the metal, then looking at some designs stamped near the base of the blade.

‘Elven craft, unless I am mistaken. Enchanted to fight the Black Triad. Truly, a suitable weapon for you.’

‘That’s not important right now!’ Although finding a magical sword in a wyvern’s hoard was pretty cool. ‘Will Dorothea be alright?’

Carissia answered, casting another spell. ‘Oh, she will be fine, after some rest. She is less used to such things than we are. But it seems you managed to get her injured.’

Mother spoke. ‘She’s alive and in a state to be healed. Against a full-grown wyvern, that’s victory enough for anyone, I think. Although it was perhaps a little foolhardy not to travel together? Or have full support? There’s no shortage of people here that would happily travel with you.’

Stathis slouched her shoulders together, not wanting to have this discussion again.

‘But you deserve congratulations. A magical blade and a wyvern for your tally? That’s significantly more impressive than any of my early jobs.’ She held her hand out, Stathis handing the sword over, letting her take several practice swings with it before she flipped it around and offered the hilt back to Stathis. ‘Maybe have a sheathe made with wyvern leather?’ The stern expression melted away into a warm smile, as she clapped a hand against Stathis’ shoulder. ‘Let’s just assume I’ve chewed you out for going off on your own already? It’ll save us both time. And I suppose you at least took Dorothea with you, which is a good start. Maybe get a few other companions?’

Stathis felt vaguely disgruntled that there wasn’t an argument, but took the sword back and carefully nestled it through her belt, having to position it so that the enchanted blade didn’t cut the leather.

‘Carissia destroyed the main nest, so they won’t be troubling the area anymore. Now, you mentioned something about Duke Molinbra?’

‘Yeah, he got his mage to seal the tunnels to the cave I was in!’

‘Hmm. Well, he always was a coward. Congratulations on having someone so terrified of you that they’d rather leave you to starve than fight you. I assume you were able to fly out?’

Stathis nodded.

‘That’s regrettable. Well, I daresay his people will be glad of the imminent reduction in their taxation, now they won’t have to pay for his estates and clothing. But, Stathis, what would you do?’

Carissia started to speak before Mother cut her off with a gesture, still looking at Stathis.

‘Well, he needs dealing with. He did attempt to kill me, even if sort of indirectly. But he’s the rightful ruler, and he might try and start a rebellion or something if we let him go, but we can’t just kill him.’ Mother nodded, gesturing at Stathis to continue. ‘I suppose we’ll need the Winged Guard to apprehend him, cut off communications and have some sort of trial? Not that it will take long.’

‘Yes, I am interested what his reaction will be when he gets back. Nevertheless, when found guilty, what would be an appropriate punishment, for attempted murder and treason?’

Stathis squirmed uncomfortably. ‘Well… If he could be stripped of his power, then he could be exiled.’

‘That seems likely to prolong the trouble, does it not? He was an irritant as an ally; I cannot imagine him being any less of a problem as an enemy.’ Her expression was neutral as she pressed Stathis for an answer. ‘And allowing traitors to survive does have a rather unsatisfactory tendency to encourage more of them.’

‘Maybe… Doesn’t his chancellor or head advisor or whatever not like him? Could they organise the trial and be used to lead a sort of town council to be in charge? That way it doesn’t look like we’re eliminating the leader for our own purposes, and it keeps the leadership with those that know the place. Otherwise you’ll have to throw one of our people in there, which means that they will draw a lot of hatred.’

‘A peaceful, and quiet, change of leadership? An interesting idea.’

‘It’s a lot more likely to be supported by the town, isn’t it? You don’t want to give other people any reason to unify against you.’

‘Hmmm. Sometimes I wonder if I raised you a little too well. There is no shame in offering rather more terminal advice, from time to time. But I think your idea has some merit. Although I imagine you have different ideas, Carissia?’

‘Kill him and be done with it. He’s nothing but a problem. But as a representative of the faiths, far be it from me to offer advice on such a matter.’ The stabbing and throat-slitting motions she was making were a rather stark contrast with her words. ‘Dorothea should be fine now. Not even a scar, although you should be more careful with her, Stathis. She won’t be as good at her job with some scars on her face.’

Dorothea managed to open her eyes, giving a somewhat melodramatic moan as she reached out and plucked at Stathis’ sleeve. ‘Thank you, my shining knight.’ Carissia and Mother both smirked at her. She didn’t want to be cruel and brush off Dorothea’s hand, so couldn’t do anything but stand there and feel her face reddening.

‘Dorothea would be appropriate, should you be interested. She is scarcely likely to be a tool of the great darkness.’

Stathis rolled her eyes. ‘That’s just prophecy nonsense! Just because you believe some stuff, doesn’t mean that it will come true.’ Dorothea pulled her closer, so that Stathis was standing close by her. Despite the scabbed blood still present on her leg, the flesh beneath was clean and unbroken.

‘Oh? “A blade of sun and steel, that shall pierce the beast of the burning blood”. That sounds accurate enough, does it not?’

‘That could mean anything! It doesn’t mean I’m going to fight some demon or whatever.’ Stathis almost rested her hand on the hilt of her new sword, before realising that would probably make it cut through her belt.

‘You are here for great things, my daughter. I have raised you to be good, true and strong, and you excel in all those things.’ Despite her formal words, Mother was smiling. ‘Even if I am wrong, one day the Iristari shall be yours, and be led to even greater things. You make me proud already – what will you become?’ She clapped Stathis on the shoulder again, before tilting her head. ‘It sounds as though the errant Duke has returned. It will interesting to see his face.’

She walked outside, Stathis and Carissia both following, Carissia assuming the gliding stride of a priestess, her robes drifting eerily around her, some spell making them move that way. Stathis trailed a few steps behind.

Outside the tent, a group of horses were riding in, the Duke and his soldiers kicking up a lot of dirt. He reined his horse to a stop, starting to say something, and then he saw Stathis. His face paled and he glanced around, looking as though he were considering running away. Mother made a hand gesture he couldn’t see, the guards subtly moving to block his movement, just in case.

‘Duke Molinbra. It seems your services were un-needed, as my daughter has managed to return under her own power. Nevertheless, it seems as though there is a conversation we need to have. Attend me. Now.’ Just the suggestion of anger made him blanche further, his face a deathly pallor as he dismounted, managing a slow and wobbly stride towards her.

Mother turned back to Stathis. ‘You have done well. A wyvern slain, a treasure found and a traitor unmasked.’ She stepped forward, giving her a swift embrace, the metal of her breastplate pressing against Stathis’ body. ‘Long past time for you to have some proper armour. Now, take Dorothea, while I have a lengthy conversation with the Duke. Don’t worry, I will take your ideas into consideration.’

Stathis followed the instructions, scooping Dorothea up into her arms, accepting the arms that squirmed around her neck. ‘Not so tight!’ Dorothea didn’t answer, and required prying off into a bed. That done, Stathis drew her new sword, taking the time to properly look at it. It was excellently crafted and balanced, moving easily in her hand, chopping and slicing through the air. A sword from a treasure hoard!