Trinsi’s melancholy turns into a full blown rage at the woman overnight. She had been so tired the night prior that she hadn’t fully processed the events that transpired.

Why is the woman so aggravating? How could she drop a bomb on Trinsi like that? She made it sound so heroic and selfless the day before, but now that Trinsi has to deal with the aftermath, she is fuming.

First, she has to explain to Lunetta and Usel that their trump card in all this ran off on a suicide mission. She did this leaving little to no instruction of what their next move is going to be once they get to Cloakwood.

Next, she has to tell their troops that their beacon of hope is probably not coming back. Trinsi hasn’t decided if she wants to hold off telling them about the seven Storms heading their way. The Storms being another stressor that hasn’t completely sunk in yet.

Finally, there was the heart valve. She healed her. Seis had used her last lifeline on Trinsi. This was both a blessing and anxiety inducing. The knight regrets telling her about the condition, and while she knows that she should be grateful, she doesn’t like it. In her mind, Trinsi hadn’t done anything to deserve it.

If Seis dies… Trinsi is going to be furious.

---

Four weeks go by and there is no word from Seis or the said group of Storms that were heading in their direction. Granted, General Usel had been extra precautionary with their movements, so perhaps they were able to lose them. The group is closer to Cloakwood but will have another month of traveling before reaching the town. Lunetta had sent a scout to the city ahead of them to notify the High Chancellor of their new plan.

“To be frank it’s not unusual for her to disappear months at a time.” Cheron mentions to Lunetta one morning, “ I suspect things are different now, she can’t be that far behind us.”

“She makes faster time on her own, perhaps she’s ahead of us,” their bearded beast master counters. Olan strokes the fur of the beareater that walks beside him.

“Without making contact?” Usel hums, “I doubt it. You saw them with your own eyes Olan, how many were there exactly?”

Olan clears his throat, making brief eye contact with Trinsi. Seis had originally told Lunetta and Usel five, but she had slipped up to Trinsi the night of her leaving. “Seven,” he confesses truthfully.

Lunetta winces, “I don’t know what to do Usel… this is nothing like I read in the archives. We’re undeniably in over our heads. No one on the continent has seen war in 200 years, we all think we know how to fight, but we’re only making it easier for them to find us.”

Even Cheron’s optimism can’t lighten the mood.

Olan gives it a shot anyhow, “Daf Lunetta, the Storms have not seen war in 200 years either. While their ancestors may have passed down their spells and power, they can’t win with that alone.”

An Orr that had been walking close to them nears, she hesitates to approach but ultimately decides that they have nothing to lose.

“Pardon Daf Lunetta, Duka Usel, Duka Trinsi, Beastov Olan.” Her accent is thick, and the term ‘Beastov’ is that of her native language, but Lunetta nods for her to continue. “I know there isn’t a lot of history of the Esters in the Syardom, but two or so centuries ago, the Esters had residency in the Orrdom.”

“I knew that the Esters were the original people of this area, but I did not know that,” the fated queen admits, her attention held.

The Orr shakes her head, “That is incorrect Daf Lunetta, the Esters were not the original people of these lands, the Storms were. The Esters for many years swore an allegiance to them and took residency in the outerlands in order to patrol the border.”

Trinsi stops walking, she had been ahead of the group so it takes them a couple of steps for them to catch up.

“My apologies, from what I understood the Esters helped the Syars take these lands from the Storms.” Lunetta says with an arched brow.

“Yes, that is what ultimately happened. The Esters betrayed their country… but I can’t help wondering if after the events of the Battle of Oakson… Dux Bellorum Seis-”

Olan cuts her off with a piercing glare. “Do not talk ill of Dux Bellorum Seis, that woman is the reason I am here right now.” He makes it very clear that he will not listen to the woman’s implications.

“Seis, has been my mentor for many years now, and while she may seem heartless at first, I can assure you that the last thing she wants is more violence,” Cheron says without doubt. “If she has not returned then-” he shakes away the thought, “I trust her.”

“I understand,” the Orr woman bows, “I apologize.”

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention,” Lunetta’s voice is calm unlike Olan’s, “while I do not doubt Dux Bellorum Seis, I have taken your concerns to heart and will encourage you to bring any other concerns you may have in the future to my attention as well.”

They watch the woman wander in another direction but resume to walk in silence. Trinsi is nauseous. She doesn’t want to doubt Seis, why is this new information so disconcerting? Seis saved Trinsi from the destructive defect in her heart, she has to be a good person, right?

---

The day had a bite to it, this was expected as they advanced north. It was that which was unexpected that turned their day somewhat sour. At the time Trinsi could not have foreseen that the day would end… so unlike their morning.

The morning was cold and that bothered Trinsi, but everything bothered Trinsi. To add to her annoyance it was Cheron’s turn to survey the perimeter with her. The rest of their troops stayed behind to pack up camp.

He was especially chatty today for no reason, but the knight had no energy to give him sass for it. For the sake of convenience she goes along with his banter.

Because of this, she can’t help noticing when he stops abruptly.

“Trin,” he says through gritted teeth.

Trinsi looks in the direction of his gaze. They were feet away from a Storm and his blackspined tiger. Perhaps it was the overcast lighting, but this man appears larger than the two they faced before, but fortunately the Storm has not spotted the Trinsi or Cheron.

He stands in the middle of a wide stone bridge, he has sensed something awry as indicated by his stopping.

Unbelievingly, the Storms have passed them? Without spotting the Syars? Unless this is a scout. Trinsi knows that their group will have to cross this bridge in order to get to Cloakwood, but if they wait for more support the Storm might have additional support when they return as well.

She doesn’t have to fret too long about it. Seconds later, no one other than the last of the Esters herself swings over the bridge. She pierces the beast with two short curved swords, one in each hand.

Cheron lets out an audible gasp. The tiger roars and begins to thrash around uncontrollably. Seis jumps back and dodges the Storm’s electric spear.

Terra mater est enrabbia.

The earth trembles and it’s so violent that even Cheron has to catch his balance. The blackspined tiger charges away from the bridge with wild eyes, it’s rider dismounting and landing on the earth with a loud clap of thunder.

La Terra Aeternam ti protegi.

Seis, with her two swords in hand, jumps into a shadow and becomes one with the shadows of the bridge’s arched entrance. Whatever this power is, Trinsi is compelled to gravitate towards it. Cheron has to grab her by the shoulder to stop her from revealing their position.

“Trinsi what are you doing!?” he exclaims in a harsh whisper.

Meanwhile, the Storm becomes frustrated, swinging the spear into the air is doing nothing. He snaps it into two separate swords and angrily whirls around them in the air. One of them snags the dancing shadow that is the Ester, breaking the spell that concealed her. She takes a potion out of her cape and breaks it over the man’s head. A clear liquid runs down his face, the man is confused when nothing happens. The distraction is not big enough for Seis to land a hit.

She dodges his swords, and takes off into the forest, towards the the two spectators that are Trinsi and Cheron. The knight wonders if they have been spotted.

Seis is quick, when she reaches a good distance between her and the Storm, she spins around and sends an exploding arrow flying towards the man. Trinsi didn’t see when she drew the bow but understands what is happening now.

“Get down!” she shouts at Cheron, pushing him off the beareater and into the bushes. Trinsi herself diving behind some shrubbery. The beareaters are smart and charge further into the woods.

The explosion is remarkably quiet for how big and hot it is. The engulfed man is screaming and rolling on the floor in agony. The potion Seis had used on him makes the flames stick to him. He drags his body towards the edge of the stone bridge and throws himself over the ledge. Moments pass before the splash of his body hitting the water is heard and his screaming ends.

Cheron and Trinsi sit in the lingering silence, waiting for the coast to be clear but mostly frozen in shock.

Finally, the soft sound of approaching steps brings their attention back to where they last saw Seis. She stands over them, holding a hand out for Trinsi.

Like the first time she met her, she’s dirty, covered in soot, and an overall disaster. But she’s alive.

“So you did notice us,” Cheron says standing up.

Trinsi takes her hand, and Seis pulls her up effortlessly.

“Of course I did, you were as loud as Sydion’s giglet you cow tit.”