The summons came that very evening, while the women were cooking their dinner; it requested Tahlisa Sorram show up, with a companion of her choice, to explain her situation to Lord Harrow, the next day, at noon. Saelina tried to stay positive and told her guest that the Lord would no doubt be a gracious host and see to it that she was given adequate transportation to wherever she needed to go. Her friend was not fooled by her false cheerfulness and she found the mage peering intently at her, throughout the evening.

When they finally sat down to eat, on the floor, Tahlisa's gaze seemed even more forceful. Saelina tried her best to focus on the food.

“It tastes great. Did you put in one of your mixtures, again?”

Her guest merely nodded. Looking closer, Saelina noticed a silvery shine in her portion; she had no clue what kind of additive could give such a sheen, but could hardly complain about the result. They finished their meal in silence and Saelina cleaned up while Tahlisa stoked the fire. Afterward, the former got ready to sleep in front of the fireplace, again, but was stopped by a gentle hand on her shoulder.

“Please, sleep in your usual place. I won't be going to bed for a few hours, at least.”

Saelina decided not to argue. The odd tone in her friend's voice brook no discussion and she was not eager to spend another night on the dirt floor. As she lied down, her companion sat next to her.

“I need to tell you something, my dear.”

The sorceress rested a hand on her host's arm.

“I've met some of the weakest people and some of the strongest that this world has to offer. I've witnessed the abandonment of pride and dignity a thousand times over, death caused by morals or honor, never to be remembered or valued.”

Saelina wanted to respond but Tahlisa continued before she had the chance.

“I have held enough power to topple kingdoms and known the deepest of loves, unending. I never thought I would meet a human who so thoroughly impressed me with their raw power, unaided by magic, wealth or status.”

Saelina felt her body getting heavy and her mind started to slow.

“You are survival, Saelina, pure and feral. You are the truest embodiment of the potential I've glimpsed in each and every soul I've come across.”

She felt the words seep into her every bone, infusing her with a warm glow but at the same time there was a deep sadness behind it all, a soul-crushing reality she could not quite grasp. Her mind was slipping further and further away.

“I refuse to let someone so clear and brilliant slip through the world's fingers. I know there are times you'll hate me for what I have already done, but I hope the future will let you remember this moment, my last gift for this plane; I will see you reborn.”

There were more words, more promises, but struggle as she might, Saelina could no longer stay awake. The darkness, which claimed her, was warm and gentle; it seemed to carry her away from the beaten dirt floor, the broken windows and ragged walls.

When the darkness lifted, she found herself in front of an enormous eye, of the deepest blue she had ever seen. It observed her, curiously. Coarse silver skin, feathered wings, rustling softly were the only other impressions she latched on to before fading, once again.

She saw the snow-covered valley, stretched out in its limited glory, below her. The Lord's Tower rising, dark and ominous, against the clouded sky. Before she could form a single thought, she found herself inside, in Callum's room. He was standing at the open window, naked, glancing briefly at the bed behind him, where a young woman was sleeping, soundly, then turned his eyes towards the forest, towards Saelina's house, a pained expression on his face. His body was familiar to Saelina and for a moment she remembered a time when the sight of it had excited her, rather than disgusted her. Looking at the woman on the bed, she saw pale skin, freckles and smooth hair, a few shades darker than her own; it was comical how similar and yet different they were from each other. She looked past Callum, to the forest, only to find herself among the trees she had come to know so well.

A dark shape stood among the branches, above, observing the sleeping town of Mahlein; as she peered at the figure, it shifted and she was filled with the sensation of dark, penetrating eyes searching her very soul. While unnerving, the feeling was not entirely unpleasant, but before she could pinpoint her own thoughts on it, she was pulled away, outward, until Mahlein's Tower disappeared, then she saw the entire region, the mountains to the south, the lights from Laladre to the North, further and further, she flew, until she looked down at the world. The grandness of it all took her breath away; she turned towards the horizon and could perceive how the sea seemed to curve, in the distance. It was quiet and dark. The first rays of sunlight hit her face, as the sun showed itself, beyond.

The bright warmth enveloped her, until she knew she was no longer hovering above the world but was somewhere else, entirely. She was safe, that much was certain. Warm hands touched her cheeks and gentle eyes locked with hers, holding ancient and endless secrets and something else, as well, something just for her: a farewell. She wished to stay but knew there was no place for her, there, not yet.

As the presence slipped away, she was overcome with a profound and devastating sadness; it was not hers alone, someone else was crying out, in grief, far off in the distance, yet the sound reverberated through her very essence.

Saelina woke from the sound, only to realize she had been dreaming; the whole of it quickly slipped away in the daylight but she was left with bits and pieces. The big blue eye, Callum's room, a black figure, who saw her, and a being of light were all she could recall.

Looking around, she soon noticed that she was alone in her hovel. Tahlisa was gone; she jumped up, scanning the hut, once more, hoping she was wrong. A pile of neatly folded garments were placed in front of the fireplace, weighed down by several pieces of jewelry, as well as some pouches and vials; a small white letter topped the stack.

Her hands trembled slightly, as she picked it up and opened it.

My Dear Saelina,

I grant all my worldly possessions to you, as a thank you for saving my life.

Do with them as you see fit.

There will be trials in your future, but rest assured that your destiny has only just begun.

Your eternal friend

Tahlisa.

A sense of loneliness started to settle within Saelina's gut as she came to terms with the contents of the letter. She knew it was coming but had not realized how sudden it would be or how much it would hurt. Her loneliness had been bitter but protective. Having no one care, made it easy not to care, in return. The fact that someone had actually taken the time to help her and listen was suddenly overpowering.

She decided to focus on the stack of objects, to keep her mind occupied. While she was not likely to keep the dress or most of the jewelry she was genuinely grateful to see the black velvet cape among the belongings. She looked over the vials, hoping an apothecary could reveal what they contained and maybe even how to use them.

There was a knock on the door and she scrambled to hide the things under the sleeping skins, lest they took the chance to confiscate them. When she opened the door, two guards stood, outside, who eyed her with contempt and impatience.

“We've come to escort Tahlisa Sorram to the Tower for her audience with Lord Harrow,” the man on the left announced in a curt tone.

The reminder that her patient had been summoned the evening before sparked a deep sense of anxiety in Saelina as she looked from one to the other.

“She...she left during the night.”

The two men shared a look, then gave her a stern glare.

“Then you will have to take her place. The Lord wishes to know about the 'guest'.”

For a moment the urge to resist rose within her but then she deflated and nodded, limply, before donning her old cape. The day was well underway, causing her to wonder how long she had been sleeping.

Walking the main road was still an utter humiliation, suffering the curious and judging stares of her neighbors, while her escorts did their best to walk either slower or faster than her, causing one 'accidental' bump after another. She eventually fell to the ground and everything she had carefully balanced in her mind came crashing down; tears started pushing through her eyes and she had to struggle to keep them from falling. There was no mercy, no pity, no reprieve from the misery that was her life.

Your destiny has only just begun.

Had it? Was she not simply continuing down the inevitable path towards her doom? For some reason those words sounded more mocking than comforting outside her scrawny home.

“Get up, whore.”

She gathered her legs underneath herself, hoping there were no tears left to see on her face. Then she stood and continued on, her head held high; if the townspeople were going to watch her head towards her demise, she would not give them the satisfaction of seeing her bent and broken.

The Tower was built for prestige and menace; as such it was a rather narrow building, relying upon its impressive height rather than fortification to inspire awe over a sense of security. The stonework consisted of dark basalt boulders, giving the impression of the structure being bathed in continuous shadow.

She had walked through the massive oak doors, many times, yet she was unsure whether she would get to walk back out, this time. A newcomer had been and disappeared without meeting Lord Harrow; she could have been a spy or wanted criminal. It was the perfect excuse to finally get rid of Saelina, for good. And if that was indeed the intended outcome, there was no way Callum would simply give her up.

The antechamber was small, yet richly furnished. The walls were covered in family portraits from the Harrow bloodline. Ever since her first visit, the impression that they were silently judging her had been there and on this day, it seemed even more severe.

One of her escorts quickly went into the main hall, no doubt to explain the circumstances. She waited patiently, enduring the withering glare from the other soldier. Callum was in the room, beyond, she knew it. It took only a few moments before the first one came back and lead them into the grand hall.

Saelina took a quick gander but it seemed like nothing much had changed; the decor was still dark colors adorned with gold; along the wall, several short pillars carried the busts of every member of the family, going back five generations. There was no greater badge of pride for the Harrows than that which came with their blood.

Heavy curtains were tied up, next to the tall windows but still managed to block out most of the daylight, causing most of the otherwise vibrant colors to seem dull. A great desk stood in the middle of the room, its contents in impeccable order; in front, the tall frames of the Lord and his only child were waiting for the delegation to come forth.

Saelina felt their eyes upon her, the moment she entered, but she returned their gazes, calmly and proudly. She had lasted ten years under the tyranny of their incessant bickering. Every day had been a struggle, knowing her own innocence; she had lived through every defeat and taken every blow they threw at her. Callum's eyes betrayed the fury he was struggling to contain, probably directed at her, while his father seemed mostly displeased.

“I understand we won't be seeing Miss Sorram, today?”

Regor Harrow's voice was surprisingly smooth, considering his mighty frame; his tone was not hostile but there was a glacial quality to it.

“She left, during the night.”

“What do you know of her?”

“She's a sorceress. She's worked for the royal courts in the past, but has since been independent,” Saelina provided, openly.

“Why was she here?”

A note of aggression started slipping into the questions.

“I brought her.”

“Why?”

“I found her injured in the woods. I carried her home and cared for her.”

“And she disappears the very next night?”

“Evidently.”

He stepped closer, staring intently at her face.

“Why was she in our forest, injured?”

She kept herself steady and refused to break eye contact.

“I don't know.”

“You didn't ask?”

“No.”

A deep sigh of frustration escaped the Lord's mouth.

“You may have endangered the entire town, does that even occur to you?”

“No.”

“What?!”

She did not cower from the anger which now contorted the man's face.

“Tahlisa asked no questions about the town, itself, or your Lordship's family. She had no interest in Mahlein, beyond her own recovery.”

“Then why didn't you bring her here? Our medics would have tended to her, far more efficiently than you.”

“It was already late when I found her; by the next day her magic had almost healed the wound, entirely.”

“She's been trading with the town merchants.”

“She's been paying for our survival, my Lord.”

His features smoothed into an icy mask and it was obvious he was dissatisfied with her defense.

“There's no saying where this mage is now or what her motives are. You have acted exceptionally foolish and I'm done suffering your insolence.”

He paused for a moment, seemingly deciding on what to do with her; she knew it was an act, it had all been decided, the moment they learned about Tahlisa's disappearance. The only question was whether Callum would protest it, openly, or wait until later to act.

“You have long been a blight upon Mahlein and her people. I've turned a blind eye because despite your...indiscretions, this family has retained a softness in their hearts for you.”

The soldiers with her were stone-faced but underneath the facade, there was an almost palpable restlessness, anticipation for seeing the village slut getting her just desserts.

“I considered locking you up, keeping your poison contained within these walls, but somehow I'm inclined to believe my own family less than immune to your...machinations.”

He threw a withering glare in his son's direction, who wholly ignored his father, keeping his eyes firmly locked on Saelina, something which did not escape the older man's notice.

“You have until sundown to leave Mahlein, forever. I will ensure that no one impedes your departure. I will arrange for a horse to be brought to your house, with the express understanding that you will never set foot here, again.”

For a long moment, she said nothing, unable to believe what she had just heard. She stared at the Lord, mouth agape in confusion. Before she could pull herself together to respond, he gestured to the soldiers.

“I need a word alone with Miss Lavenna.”

She felt her heart clench, slightly, at the sounds of her old surname, but remained indifferent. The men quickly bowed and hurried out of the room; Lord Harrow turned to Callum with a raised eyebrow.

“You, as well.”

His son did not immediately obey, still staring intensely at Saelina; she met his eyes but did not waver under the extreme rage she saw, in them. His father stepped between them, giving his heir a stern expression.

“Now, Callum!”

Slowly, ever so slowly, the younger Harrow started moving, walking past his former fiancée so close that she could feel the heat from his body.

“I'll find you.”

The whisper was so quiet, she almost didn't catch it; when it registered what he had said, he had already vacated the room. His father was looking at the door for a few moments before turning his attention to Saelina.

“I will not pretend that I'll be sad to see you leave. Even so, I have come to admire your tenacity and will to live in the time, since the engagement was called off.”

The words were pretty but Saelina felt they only came from a place of relief that she was finally going to be gone.

“I know my son is not the man the town thinks he is. But he's all they have. All I have.”

The pathetic excuses of a rotten soul.

The thought was so sudden, Saelina was not entirely sure it had come from her. But she knew it to be true; the Lord was trying to pretty up an ugly truth. From his expression it was clear that he was trying to convince himself as much as her.

“I will make sure he becomes the kind of leader this town needs. But in order to do so, I need to end the toxic mess which goes on between you. You bring out the worst in him, make him a monster.”

What else had she expected? The man in front of her would never place the blame where it belonged.

“If I'm so horrible, then why didn't you help me get out, years ago? You've known that I've tried to leave!”

He turned his back on her and leaned against his desk.

“I was hoping he would see sense on his own. Once the luster of your affair wore off, I was sure his obsession would cure itself. I thought removing you might make matters worse.”

“You let him torture me, with no intervention, to protect him? Are you insane?”

He slammed the desk and she flinched.

“Watch how you talk to your Lord! Let's not forget the devastation you've caused this family when you carelessly lost your child.”

He went to stand right in front of her, his faces mere inches from hers.

“I can't force you to feel remorse for your failure as a woman but I will make you show the proper respect in my presence.”

She wanted to stand firm but his closeness made her deeply uncomfortable; he seemed to calm down a bit and stepped back.

“I may have mishandled my part in your situation but it's too late to dwell on that. You will leave this place and find your fortune or death elsewhere. You will no longer be my problem.”

He turned his back, once again, and stood in front of one of the windows.

“I know Callum won't give up. At least not right away. I will buy you what time, I can. I suggest you don't squander it.”

He dismissed her with a slight hand wave and she quickly exited the room; as soon as the doors closed, a deep voice stopped her in her tracks.

“You don't seriously consider leaving me?”

She looked up as Callum made his way down the stairs. She needed to be careful if she wanted to have any hope of escaping.

“I'm not sure. I know things can't stay the way they are.”

“And what's so bad about the way things are?” he wanted to know.

She shot him an incredulous glare as she went to stand at the entrance.

“If things don't change, I won't last the month, much less the winter. What your father offers is a lifeline.”

He had reached the bottom step and stopped; he was worried about scaring her off, she realized. His eyes were darting all over the place and he fidgeted, nervously.

“I need you.”

It was the most vulnerable she had ever seen him; she looked away.

“How can I possibly believe you? How am I supposed to forget the years of betrayal and torture you've put me through?”

He seemed about to take a step towards her and she flinched, causing him to freeze.

“Saelina...”

He looked down, trying to find the words. When he finally met her gaze, his face was filled with pain.

“I beg you!”

It was her turn to find the right words; for a long time she just looked at him.

“Callum, when the sun sets, I am leaving here. This ended ten fucking years ago, you just refused to let go. If you have ever carried any love for me or our unborn child, you'll let this end.”

There was an edge in her tone, making it clear that there would be no negotiations, no more chances. Callum seemed on the verge of protesting but thought better of it, and gave a small nod.