Rowena passed a fitful night– she was completely exhausted on a physical and emotional level she’d never experienced before, and yet at the same time was artificially being bolstered by Inverted Calm Person.

This dichotomy created a strange division inside of her, a disconcerting pull both to rest and an inability and unwillingness to do so. Both sides of her, though, were obsessed with one thing: the very idea of sleep. She couldn’t help but think about it constantly, even as her eyes swung back and forth in the relative darkness, looking for anything out of the ordinary. She strained her ears for the sound of whomping that might indicate the wyvern’s return.

How long do you think I could stay awake before going mad? Rowena wondered almost giddily.

I think the longest I’ve seen a person stay awake unaided is about three days. Aided? I don’t know. This one night with your inversion seems to be making you as mad as that person I saw, Cuth thought back.

Did they recover?

Yes. At least I think so. I hope so.

It’s almost nice having you here, Rowena thought. Almost.

Cuth snorted. Thanks.

Cuth, how old do you think you were?

Not old. Maybe in my twenties. But it’s hard to be sure, Cuth sounded a little pained by his lack of ability to recall his past. Mature beyond my years, of course.

And did your parents hate you, to give you such an old-fashioned name? Rowena let out a little snort when she thought that, and clapped her hand over her mouth. She needed to stay silent!

I– I don’t know. Is it old-fashioned? Cuth sniffed, and she realized she’d hurt his feelings despite his general bravado.

I mean, I like it, Rowena thought hastily. But I’m not the one to tell anyone the fashions.

They discussed back and forth, idly wondering who Cuth had been and why he was in her head. Each answer Cuthbert was able to give was somehow less satisfying than not knowing anything at all: he couldn’t remember his family, except that he had had two parents and a sister, but recalled essentially nothing about them. He couldn’t remember his work, or if he’d had any at all– perhaps, he thought hopefully, he’d been some kind of nobleman, rich and spoiled and without a need for gainful employment. He thought he liked to sing, but was unable to recall any specific songs. He enjoyed wine more than ale, and chicken more than pork. Not at all useful, in Rowena’s opinion.

All the while, Rowena kept as careful a watch as she could to guard her sleeping friends. Every so often, she heard a rustling or crackling sound, and once or twice she dragged herself to her feet to go investigate, but fortunately it was always nothing. She’s not sure exactly what she could have done, anyway, but better to go than just sit, useless.

The night continued in this manner until Rowena began to feel the effects of her Inverted Calm Person wear off like the last bits of water trickling out of a jug.

Should I activate the Ability again? Rowena wondered wearily.

Absolutely not! Cuth replied quickly. This had made you loopy enough. No need to tempt fate.

Rowena raised her eyes to the horizon and was relieved to note a pre-dawn glow in the sky. She’d made it this far, at least– long enough that if nothing else, the creature would have a difficult time sneaking up on them. Stubbornly, she tried to keep her eyes open by sheer willpower, but it was a serious struggle until she felt a hand on her shoulder.

It was Sorel. The tall, quiet young woman still looked worn and weary, but at least a little bit refreshed.

“Thank you,” she said. “I’ll take over for a couple of hours– can you get to sleep?”

Yes, yes, yes! Cuth thought. Your brain is a mess between the exhaustion and Ability usage.

Rowena nodded gratefully, a little embarrassed to have been caught almost dozing while she was supposed to be keeping watch. Still, nothing had happened even if she’d nodded off, so no sense in worrying about it. “Definitely. And– thank you for last night. I don’t know what we would have done without you.”

The Shield raised a hand dismissively, as though her defense had been nothing.

“We need to try to get to Arcania tonight,” Sorel said in a low voice. “That– that creature might come back.”

Rowena shuddered, and nodded, though the thought of an intense day pushing hard to get to their destination early was not appealing to her.

Sorel looked over at Mattie and Kieran and added, “And anyway, I don’t know how much of their conditions are stress or injury, but there’s something not right about all of this.”

“I agree. I’m hoping someone at the University can help us,” Rowena said, and then paused awkwardly. “Sorel? I– you and Mattie– you–”

Sorel raised an eyebrow, and Rowena closed her mouth, too embarrassed to properly ask the question burning in her mind. It seemed like such a silly thing to ask now that she’d half-asked it, given that they were potentially being hunted by a dangerous mythical creature and/or being eaten alive from the inside out by their overpowered Subclasses.

They sat together like that for a few moments as the sun slowly began to peek its way up the sky. Fortunately, the other girl soon took pity on Rowena’s awkward embarrassment and shrugged with a wry smile. “I love her. It’s not really that complicated.”

Rowena swallowed and looked away, slightly shame-faced. So Kieran was right! “You’re right. It really isn’t, and it’s not really my business, either.”

“I wouldn’t say that. We’re a traveling party and the road is dangerous. It’s not a small thing to have a sense for who you’re traveling with.” Sorel rubbed her eyes and straightened up, stretching. “Plus, you’re a Secretseeker. I’m just surprised you didn’t ask or figure it out sooner.”

Rowena blushed even more deeply at that. Sorel didn’t sound angry or perturbed in the slightest– maybe her friends really did accept who she was better than she herself did. And Sorel was right, anyway… she needed to start living up to her Subclass.

Rowena sat in silence and thought for a moment as she watched the tall Shield scan the horizon. She desperately wanted to ask about the Fog and whether or not Sorel also had a brain-bound companion, but was almost afraid to hear the answer. Still, Sorel was probably the most discreet of all her friends– Kieran couldn’t keep his mouth shut, and Mattie was too curious and inquisitive to remember to keep secrets. Finding out more information was what Secretseeking was about, wasn’t it? She took a deep breath.

“Sorel, remember when we were talking about the voices at the Selection Ceremony?” Rowena began in a tentative voice.

Sorel made a noise of assent, looking at her with some curiosity.

It was now or never. Rowena had already embarrassed herself enough by asking Sorel about her very obvious relationship with Mattie, so she figured she may as well go all in.

“Do you ever still… hear them?”

“Still hear them?” Sorel repeated, and her hard hazel eyes met Rowena’s, searching.

“Yes, like– like a whisper in your mind.” Rowena could feel her cheeks reddening as she quickly began to realize that Sorel had no idea what she was talking about. So Cuth was unusual!

“No,” the other girl replied simply before a thoughtful look came over her face. “But I never really heard the voices as ‘voices,’ exactly, not like you and Mattie and Kieran said. More feeling. Thought.”

Oh yeah, Cuth said in wondering approval. That right there is a woman of pure instinct. Amazing for a Shield. Or WARRIOR of any sort, really. Wow.

“Right, of course. Just asking.” Rowena said hastily and covered up a conveniently timed yawn. “Wake me in an hour– you’re right. We really need to get going. I don’t want to risk being out in the open and exposed tomorrow night if the wyvern decides to come back.”

Sorel nodded and looked around the landscape. “My hope is that it will stay within range of its habitat, but we don’t know that it’s not a tracking beast of some kind.”

So many things we don’t know, Rowena thought with a sigh.

“Go. Get some rest.” Sorel’s last sentence sounded firm, and Rowena knew it was time for her to go to bed.

She looked around for somewhere comfortable to lay down, but found herself too tired to even consider moving far. Instead, she hesitated for just a moment before scooting down until she could lay her head tentatively on Mattie’s lap. The other young woman was still sleeping soundly, and had a pale cast to her face, but she didn’t awaken with Rowena’s movement.

Rowena wasn’t sure why, but she had a bad feeling about the wyvern, about all of it. She was so exhausted, though, that despite her troubled thoughts, she quickly drifted into a deep, intense, but fitful sleep.