“Hear now.” Farra shouted, stepping down from Raom's corpse and approaching the audience. She continued forward, standing beside Valen. Behind her Erres quietly lifted his blade, decapitating the minotaur and pulling the severed head behind him.

“Raom is no more, you still standing, his former soldiers, are now under command of Lord Erres. To defy orders means punishment by his or an appropriate officer's hand. Because of foolish decisions, this domain has suffered, and many you might have felt to be fellow soldiers have perished. You can choose to harbor vengeance toward us, or you can abandon it and dedicate yourselves toward a worthy cause. None of you have proved irreplaceable, but none of you have proved hopeless either. From here on, consider yourselves born anew, with the opportunity to show your worth to our Lords waiting. This eastern land will at last be united with the temple, circumstance will change, and with it, we shall become a stronger War Faction. Do not despair, for uncertain as things may seem in the moment, it is Sievin who will act as an interim officer placed in command in absence of other leadership. Heed his and any superior's orders. That is all.”

Farra turned and backed from the crowd, drawing a heavy breath, the magic from her embedded runes seeping out. “I am no good at this.” She panted, clutching one arm with her opposite hand and slowly walking toward Erres who met her in turn. Erres let go of the minotaur's head, glancing down to one blood-splattered gauntlet, reaching with his over to extend a less-tainted arm of support. The feirin leaned in, breathing between her teeth.

Valen had taken Farra's place, looking over every remaining soldier. As the one who slaughtered most their comrades, each looked back in uncontrollable trepidation. “Lord Erres and I stand united as equals, though I am partial to his ascendance. You all will be put to a great deal of work. Let us proceed by establishing an appropriate ley line and gate.” Valen continued thereon to assert orders in greater detail, clusters of soldiers hurriedly scattering among the ravaged domain. After time, only a small group of surviving soldiers including Sievin and Calin, along with Farra's troop remained. “Calin, it is courtesy of Estelle that you remain standing here. And Sievin you understand your purpose well. You will both attend me and help my understanding regarding the lay of this land and its happenings. Time is still an inconvenience to us, Naia you will be accompanying Farra.”

The human girl gawked upward, a few of the soldiers glancing to her.

“You are Farra's attendant. As sufficient as the destruction here may seem, your duty is not yet complete.”

Valen waved a single hand through the air, its signal unmistakable as the heavy gauntlet commanded all soldiers with him. After receiving friendly bumps from the passing soldiers Farra had assembled, Naia was left standing in waiting, looking onward at Lord Erres and Farra as they stood together.

Naia was unsure whether to approach the two while Farra hunched over Erres' arm in what seemed like extreme discomfort. The mender heard a violent cough from the feirin, then seeing Erres’ hand move in the slightest amount, waving the mender over. Naia stepped forward nervously, glancing at the ghastly and monstrous head behind the two.

“Yes?” Her voice was meek, but as the loudest noise was the occasional crackle of fires atop buildings at a distance, even it was loud enough to reach both her superiors' ears.

“There's little you can do for Farra at this moment. It's the result of maintaining the enchantment within her body as long as she did. I have things I need to take care of, but her mission is not yet done, and therefore nor is yours. But let us find a bed to let Farra rest in before I explain what needs to be done.”

They looked about, Farra hanging onto Erres, keeping her head downward and taking erratic breaths as they walked forward. The mender scurried through buildings that seemed amenable from the outside, searching for any sort of bed. Erres gazed over buildings torn and ravaged to where their interiors lie exposed, looking for some sort of place for rest could be untouched. Farra kept clutching to Erres side, managing to pull her hood over head to hide herself. After what felt to be an extensive time for the feirin, Naia called from a short distance. The building she found was comparatively untouched among the ones missing chunks of roofing next to it, the three ventured in to what was an unused storehouse, filled with stale air. In the corner was one stone bed covered with padding formed of tarnished cloth and hides.

Farra's regalia provided an additional cushion, she laid back onto the bed, shifting into a position to not smash her tail stubs, her harsh breathing beginning to stabilize. “Such a distasteful location...but thank you.” She let out a groan, wrapping underneath her regalia and onto her side.

“She wasn't like this after she did it the first time. Why now?”

Naia looked over Farra's ailing body, seeing her writhe in a clear agony, wriggling about continuously as if searching for some position that would alleviate the discomfort. The runes on her body had been gradually dissipating the energy they held, and left in place of their glow was this pain.

“The enchantment's toll has to do with the time she maintains it, not how much she exerts herself while under it. She maintained it for an exceptionally long time during this siege, even if she only had to draw her blade for a modest number of soldiers.” Erres glanced over his officer's ailing figure. “There is a price to any power. Still, with some rest it should be fine.”

A knock came from outside, Calin and Sievin both entered through the doorway while ducking their heads. One carried a scabbard familiar to the young lord, the other carrying the larger brown bag that Farra initially set out with. “Valen directed us to retrieve and bring these to you Lord Erres. We apologize for disturbing Farra's rest.” Calin spoke without hesitation, but with a clear and apologetic tone in his voice.

“It comes of no mind. It's my hope you'll learn from your soldiers Sievin.” Erres made a motion to step over to the two, feeling a gentle tug on one finger from a hand veiled in a thin and black glove. He then decided to stop and stay by the bedside. “Scour the contents of the bag for remaining sacks of dust. Leave at least two if there are still that many. One of you prepare the finest hound available as a mount for Farra, she and the mender will be setting off after a rest. Thank you for retrieving this scabbard as well, it was forged with great care, but it seems that I was caught in the moment to end up leaving it on the ground.”

“At once, Lord.” Bows came from both, and after a quick deliberation, Sievin left the storehouse while Calin began rummaging through the bag.

“After finding the dust, take the bag back to Lord Valen, he will find use of whatever remains inside.” Erres turned back to Farra when he felt the finger fall from his gauntlet, seeing her once distressed eyes now shut. He picked her hanging hand up and laid it across her body. “If you can find the time to rest mender, then you should do so as well. Farra's mission is still ongoing. In fact, soldier, see to it that Sievin teaches her how to ride and direct a hound before returning to Lord Valen.”

An affirmation came from Calin. The exhaustion began to set in for Naia after the mention of an opportunity of rest came, a shred of hope that was replaced with anxiety over learning to ride a hound. As it was Erres’ orders, they were to be carried out, neither individual daring to offer an alternative.

The moon cycled through. The fires that lit the stronghold withered away, letting a cold dark set back in. Soldiers created posts and began attaching bright, magically-infused stones acting as guides in the darkness. Naia stood outside the storehouse, Sievin on one side of her, and a slobbering and grinning hound whose reins she held in hand on her other side. Farra emerged from the storehouse just as she entered, her eyes still weary from rest, lugging a single sack of dust in one hand.

“How much time do I have left?” Farra shuffled forward, clenching the bag tight as she looked to the hound.

“To our understanding, six moons, not including this one which seems to be coming to a close. Lord Erres would not divulge the details of your assignment, but it seems that a hurried flight to Lady Bathalian's court would be best for many reasons.” Sievin spoke, Naia cutting his voice off immediately after. “Did you rest enough Farra? They taught me how to guide the hound in case you would have to sleep but...”

“Then I will take you up on that offer. Forgive me Naia, let us set out at once, my body still is drained.”

The girl looked back in brief disbelief before shaking her head. She glanced to the slobbering hound that looked back at her. “You better be obedient.” The hound let out a confused cry before laying to the ground so that the mender could mount it without trouble. As soon as Naia tossed a leg over, it rose back up before Farra could approach. “Back down, she needs to get on too.” The girl cried in exasperation, the hound doing a spin before abiding her request.

“It seems to be energetic.” Farra mused, the exhaustion in her voice prevalent and nearly succeeding in mellowing the energy in the air from the hound's excitement. She took a breath, placing one hand over Naia's shoulder to pull herself onto the mount. Only a moment after ensuring the bag of dust would not fall, Farra wrapped both her arms around Naia's stomach to steady herself.

“Hey, what are you—” The hound rose, interrupting Naia's thoughts as it recommenced spinning. Naia clenched the handles of the creature's harness, attempting and managing to calm the excitable hound into obedience.

“It appears you will yet be fine.” Sievin chuckled at the novice display. “Then with that I wish you well on your journey, both of you well.” The beast turned and walked away. Naia kept her gaze on him until she felt a head begin to slump over her shoulder, a hooded Farra beginning to smother her. Naia craned her head away in response, unable to fully pull herself from the feirin that had begun to use her as an impromptu pillow.

“Are you really up for this, it seems like you haven't rested at all.” Despite her words, Naia had already given in, well aware that her commanding officer would find any reason to press forward. So she shifted, turning forward and managing control over the hound while trying to find the most comfortable position given Farra was likely to be using her as a post to rest on much of the journey.

A lack of words came from Farra, only a relatively inaudible murmur which Naia nodded her head in response to. Despite Farra not yet sleeping, her body felt more like a clinging corpse on the girl’s back than a lively individual. The human girl lifted the reins and the hound set forth toward the gate in a prance. The gate leading outside of the stronghold was broken down, dismantled and its materials being reallocated for different uses. Soldiers turned their head, gazing toward Naia who despite a straight face as the hound charged forward, felt wholly unsure of how to guide the creature. It leaped over a chunk of metal that spanned across the ground, another murmur being let out by Farra as her body bounced, already fighting to keep her eyes open.

The creature rushed forward out of the gate, catching the attention of both Lords and Estelle who stood far in the distance. With the turn of Naia's body toward them, the hound took it as signal to rush toward the group. It dashed, causing more soldiers to rear their head when Estelle stepped in front, the creature coming to an abrupt stop as the demon extended her hand to stroke its head.

“He is a cute one.” She smiled when Lord Erres stepped forth and around, looking over Farra.

“Your life over all else. There will be other opportunities.”

“I will be wary my Lord.” The feirin’s voice was meek, tying together strands of energy in an effort to speak louder. “What is the likelihood that word of Raom's demise has reached Bathalian's court?”

“She is a talented spellweaver that shouldn't be underestimated. There would be no word that made it to her domain by foot. But I suspect she had her ways of observing the happenings in Raom's dominion, given traces of certain magic both Lord Valen and Estelle found. Her officer's demise at Lord Valen's hands only reinforce suspicion. As one of my most loyal followers Farra, I wish I could lend you more aid than I am able, but subterfuge will trump might now.”

“My mission will be carried out with the utmost care, placing it second only to my life as you request my Lord.”

“Good. As convenient as it might be to find something amiss in that court, the foothold established here is already a tremendous boon, and with shadows at Lord Mellor's border, we would be hard-pressed to defend such an expansive region from monster and vagabond alike. I've been in touch with Teilve and Gare. Teilve should be able to reconvene with you in Bathalian's court as well. Gare has his hands tied with slave revolts in land bordering mine and hers.”

“To see such a familiar face will be rejuvenating, you have nothing to fear for my mission then Lord Erres.” Despite the apparent exhaustion and struggle to keep her eyes open, a beaming smile came across Farra's lips at mention of the mage.

“Then may Belthemot keep the both of you safe on your journey.”

Both riders nodded as the hound turned.

“Did they tell you where we are headed beforehand?” Farra spoke softly, but the creature awaited no orders. It wasn't long after departing that the wind drowned out any attempt to hear Farra's faint words, leaving Naia to piece together what the feirin said while the creature picked up its sprint upon gracing the open plains.

“Yea, just try to rest.” Naia remarked back, trying to turn the hound northwest, away from both the moon and where they first ventured from. Despite the feirin’s own concerns, the swirling wind soon becoming soothing to Farra, drowning other sound as she leaned into Naia for a second rest.

By the time the feirin awoke, the moon had not only faded, but was long behind them when it did shine in the blackened sky. They traveled in the darkness. Plateaus rose high to their left, and to their right was a vast and empty darkness. Farra drew a long breath, pulling back from Naia's shoulder. Each movement made her body ache, but it was better than being unable to pull herself along. She looked down, seeing the sack of dust still tucked tight beneath her robe.

“Forgive me for relying on you so much Naia, if time was not essential then I would not force the issue like this.” To Naia's ears, Farra's voice carried a certain delicacy she had not yet heard, one akin to how the feirin would become apologetic or unsure in her reflections, yet she felt it was likely due to her lack of strength. The beat of the hound's paws over the dry ground, cutting through the wind filled a void left by a lack of words.

“Don't be, I don't think someone can be strong all the time. Though between you and the lords—even Estelle—it might be easy to think otherwise.”

“We are an army that needs stand united. If when one of us falters, another is there to support, then together we can always be strong. That is one of the simplest manifestations of Lord Erres' ideologies.” A shred of energy returned to Farra's voice upon her words venturing toward Erres. She shifted behind Naia, looking around and examining the distance. “The runes in me are a weapon like any other, useless if mishandled.”

“But you're terrifying—all of you are. The way you all fought. It was just a massacre. They had no way to fight back. It doesn't seem like they had a chance at all.”

“And that is how war is most preferred. Not a battle, but a slaughter. Some enjoy the thrill of battle. But numerous I think are those who would prefer to live in some semblance of peace. If only these lands would be so cooperative to that end.” Farra let out a violent cough, slumping back over Naia. “I should perhaps refrain from speaking.” She groaned in a much more coarse tone.

“Just rest more if you need to.” Naia's hands eased on the hound's reins. By this time the creature understood the direction it should head based on how Naia shifted her body, feeling the guidance of its rider's weight. As she shifted, so did Farra behind her. Naia could feel the eyes keeping themselves shut but twitching upon moving across her diminutive shoulder. “Farra, do you think...I mean...you showed them so little mercy because they were traitors. Most of them anyways.”

A pause came between her words.

“Would you ever forgive a traitor?”

Whether it was a second silence that fell, or Farra was channeling her strength to speak, Naia couldn't tell. But she felt a shiver in her body until the arms wrapped around her stomach allowed a squeeze, one reassuring given her prior experiences with Farra.

“My duty lies to Lord Erres and the War Faction. If betrayals were forgiven by our leaders, then I might see no reason not to forgive myself. I believe that to be true. But some part of me also believes there would be a personal issue. One I think that might hold a grudge. But it might just as well desire to forgive.”

The feirin's hands clenched Naia's tunic tighter.

“But I must set aside those feelings. I am a blade and instrument of my Lord's conquest, I mustn't let my emotions cloud my judgment.”

Naia let out a breath as Farra's digging fingers released their hold. Whether that hold came out of anxiety or disdain, the mender had no idea, but she found her breath returning as Farra's words concluded.

“I see, I think that was a more merciful answer than I was expecting in a way. Are you sure you aren't going soft after all that killing?”

Farra let out a puff before letting her head sink back down. “Not at all. I just need to rest a bit more.”

Traveling through the darkened lands for several hours longer, Farra finally drifted into a sleep. Naia looked side to side on the hound, the creature deftly traversing over hill and crag alike. Its soft mane provided a soft landing for every leap it took. Her eyes shot side to side, much like she thought any scout might, looking for a sign of any enemy in the darkness. But part of her felt a comfort, this hound seemed spectacularly light of foot. She was not worried about any sort of individual or creature catching her as much as she might miss their destination. Despite the directions detailed to her by both Lords, Calin, and Sievin, the added stress of learning to ride the hound addled her. The moon was no luxury, venturing away from it as it waned provided little in the way of light, and any structures to the left were eclipsed by the rising plateaus and formidable hills.

At long last, over a black horizon Naia spotted the specks one could mistaken for fireflies if they let the darkness cloud their perspective. She held the reins tight, tugging on them and encouraging the hound to a halt.

“Farra, wake up, I think were here. It's looks like what I was told.” She turned, elbowing and shrugging in an attempt to rouse Farra. The feirin lifted her head, fingers pressing into Naia as she gathered herself.

“Was it long? You seem very tired.” Farra murmured, spotting bags underneath Naia's eyes.

“Now that you mention it, I am feeling a bit exhausted. But were here aren't we? I can probably rest inside. Or wait what even will this place be like?”

“We are not here to raze her domain, even if I found her to be a traitor, she will be forced instead to answer to a council. She is a wry woman if you haven't met her, both calculating and cautious. But I more than suspect recent events will have left her rattled.”

“Then you have a plan, just like you did in Raom's domain.” Naia sighed, this time in relief upon hearing Farra's preparations, picking up the reins and ordering the hound forward at a brisk pace.

“We did not prepare all this time just to fail.” Farra shook the drowsiness away, taking a long breath and rising tall on the back of the hound, the rest during travel having restored her vitality. “We will be staying here for a moon. I'll see to it you are given proper lodgings Naia.” Farra ruffled the girl's hair before reaching for the reins.

Naia shook. “I've brought us this far, do your mental preparations while I finish my part.”

“As you wish Naia.”

The land was perfectly flattened, the dirt smoothed perfectly. While the flames adorning a central rising structure began to grow in the distance, even more immediate were great stone towers acting as monolithic sentries positioned to accentuate the importance of what lied between them. And between, scattered across an expansive flat plain of dirt were periodic hovels and small groupings of tents. Once traveling closer to the center keep, an equal amount of towers positioned symmetrically on the other side of the keep became discernible. Below the height of both the keep and towers were several structures, becoming more and more condensed the closer they came to the keep, having shoddily paved roads.

They came around one small and smoke-ridden hovel, the glow of red flame emanating from within. From a wider building were a myriad of lights showing signs of magic.. The hound they rode turned toward a third structure, hearing the cries of other creatures and whining back in a desire to investigate. Naia tugged the reins keeping the creature forward until the keep rose a modest height above them, glorified more by the intricacies of the flames adorning it rather than its size. After rounding one more building and coming onto a path, a tall woman with pointed ears came into view

“I would prefer you not to bring that hound into my court.” She spoke, garbed in an elegant if not gaudy robe, accentuating her body and emphasizing status. “If you would see it to the stable before entering my hall, then that would be preferable.”

Naia and the hound halted, the woman gazing and analyzing the sight before her eyes. Bathalian’s very gaze carried a mystique that the mender knew to be some manner of magic. Farra rising behind and above Naia in stature speaking in response. “Naia while a promising rider, is still a novice in maintaining and stabling such creatures like this hound. If you would allow a soldier to aid her and see to it that she is also provided lodgings after our lengthy journey, it would be appreciated. That way we can commence conversation among officers and lord.”

The tension between the two female superiors was palpable. They stared at one another, the elf’s eyes looking over the feirin’s garments before locking eyes with her. Farra looked back before patting Naia’s side and smiling. “I wish for my soldier to be properly taken care of.”