Black Steel: A Tale of Fire and Mind

“You had to stay on the roofs and assist from above, but you left your post. You disobeyed your orders.” Gavin accused Seraphina before their Elders. “Do you deny this claim?”

“I do not. I went against my orders twice tonight.” Seraphina said without a hint of regret, nor any other emotion. The people in the room gasped. They were used to her ways, stern and often rush, but not once had she disregarded their orders. “Once the dome exploded, I stopped felling enemies and rushed to the gates. Seeing the blockade, I left my position and used the hole on the outside wall to enter the Keep.”

“At least you have the decency to admit it.” Gappy, the Elder she disliked most, mocked.

“What you did is inexcusable. Many died because you chose to rush ahead without eliminating targets below. You are a soldier…” Gavin was saying, but someone cleared their throat. Seraphina didn’t turn to see who. “Is there something you wish to add, Cypher?”

“Yes commander.” He replied and waited until they allowed him to speak. “You are mistaken.” He said again. Evenly. With respect, even if his words lacked it. “I am a soldier. The men and women in our horde are soldiers. Lady Seraphina is an assassin.” Seraphina held her eyes closed, as she heard murmurs of agreement. “Assassins don’t work in the light, sir. Lady Seraphina may be an excellent fighter and an even better marksman, but she and all assassins are far more efficient in situations where their targets are caught unaware. Or are you not satisfied with her results all this time?”

“Of course. We are all grateful for every roamer’s work.” Gavin said and there more murmurs of agreement behind her. “But we are going to war. Lady Seraphina and all others we will bring before our council must abide to order. If we are not organized, more people will die…”

Cypher cut off. “It’s war, sir. People will die. Ours and theirs. Thanks to the assassins, the League managed to take the outposts with only three casualties and no detection. Or perhaps, you would’ve preferred you faced the entire force of Ironham barricaded within their city while the horde was locked out? Would the few we mourn have survived then?” Cypher wondered aloud. “Or would many more of us standing here join them in oblivion?”

“Cypher, I believe you are getting out of hand.” One of the Elders said.

“I am, yes, but I believe we should be thanking all that helped bring us this success. I was there when Lady Seraphina appeared out of nowhere and helped us subdue the Viscount’s personal guardsmen. Before they managed to shut themselves in an impenetrable cavern. Before they could send birds to the capital and reveal our movements. Would you like me to recount her accomplishments? I believe they overshadow one order she didn’t follow. Don’t you?” Cypher asked loudly.

While he was addressing the crowd, Seraphina, Reggie and Barkley all remained silent. For their part, Reggie and Barkley weren’t impartial when it came to her. They didn’t want to sway the council to acquit her. They had to do it themselves, if they thought it so. But for her part, Seraphina didn’t believe she needed to defend herself. In a difficult situation, she considered her options and did what she thought was best. She chose to act, rather than wait till they’d cleared the gates. It went against the orders of one man, orders she thought were wrong, and it was a fault only because that one man was a commander of the Shepherds. She had faith the council would see her actions for what they were, not consider them a case of spite.

But she had another reason to remain silent. She wasn’t afraid they would order her death. The worst thing they’d do would be to send her off to another city to do their bidding. Not because she was an asset to the League, but because shunning people wasn’t their way. Unless someone committed treason, in which case death was certain.

“Seraphina, daughter of Brenton…” Someone said and waited until she opened her eyes to look at them. “…do you have anything to say for yourself?” She’d seen the woman before. In Embersummit. Always behind Zera’s skirts. Her right hand. The name Seraphina couldn’t remember.

Everyone waited for her answer. “Knowing what truly went on inside, I might have done things differently, but without knowing, I cannot honestly say I wouldn’t do the same exact thing.” Seraphina said, breaking the silence. “It is no defense, but it is the truth.”

“I see.” The woman said. “Commander, a question.” Seraphina saw Gavin come next to her and bow to the woman, in expectation. “While taking the barracks, if your men got trapped inside the burning buildings along with our enemies, what would you do?”

“It happened, ma’am. We pulled the doors open, cut our enemies until our people got out and barricaded the doors again. Those men and women are alive, here among us.” Gavin said, puffing his chest out, oozing pride.

“I see…” The woman said again. Seraphina didn’t know her enough to assume what she’d do, but if the woman had learned anything beside Zera, Gavin had just made a mistake. She rose from her seat and stood before the council. “Fellow councilmen, were our orders not to kill any they would find asleep, but once they’d get detected, trap our enemies inside the barracks and allow the scorchers to burn them to the ground?” Many gasps echoed behind Seraphina, but she remained motionless. Many councilmen nodded.

Gavin cleared his throat. “Councilwoman Laura, we did…” He wanted to explain himself, but another councilman urged him to stay silent. So Laura made councilwoman. Interesting.

“Your intentions were pure, I am aware, and I’m sure the men and women you saved are grateful you went against your order, their families and us as well, but tell me this. How is what you did any different than what this woman did?” She waited, but Gavin had nothing to show. “Unless of course you think her actions were a result of her husband being on the other side of the wall.”

The murmurs proved Laura said aloud what was going through the minds of most people in the room. “I never said such a thing, your worship.”

“Oh, your mouth may not, but your body certainly did. Just like many others in this room.” She replied and addressed the crowd. “We have many people to judge after this battle. We have deserters, a man who claims he killed his comrade by mistake, people who killed in cold blood innocents they should’ve shackled. Do you really want to judge someone who helped us reach success sooner? Just because she deviated from the plan when a bad situation arose and she managed to adapt?” Her outcry had many shaking their heads and many more voice their disagreement. “Then, let us not prolong our victors’ night any more. Unless another councilman wishes to add anything…” she paused, giving them time to add something. “…no? Lady Seraphina, you are excused.”

Seraphina bowed, turned around and started walking away. She only stopped to shake Cypher’s arm and exchange nods. She didn’t look at anyone else while she strode to her tent, only at the ground. She removed her armor, grabbed some clothes and her weapons and walked out. Reggie was waiting for her, with Raine by his side, his own change of clothes and a crutch under his arm. She took a deep breath. “I’m going to the river west of here.”

Reggie nodded. “Let’s go.” She nodded back, took his clothes and they walked side by side in silence. At his pace. She had Reggie and Raine on either side of her, but her eyes remained stuck on the ground. Even he kept a distance, though he didn’t know why she needed it.

It took them two hours to reach the stream and all the while, Seraphina was forcing her mind to remain blank. Her blood-drenched clothes and weapons were making it difficult, but she managed to reach the river without the night’s events overwhelming her. She sat by the water’s edge and set down to clean her weapons. It used to be something she’d once enjoyed because it meant she was victorious, but the smudges covering her steel should never have touched her daggers. Innocent blood stained the blades. She polished and polished until she could find no more red. Even then, she called fire to her palm and let it eat away at the metal, cleansing it.

Seraphina placed her then clean weapons on the ground. Despite the cold, she took her boots off, removed the rest of her clothes and dumped them near the riverbank before she set them on fire and dipped into the water. She rubbed her skin. Hard. When there was no more red, she still felt there were stains and started scratching. She started bleeding and stopped. She just stood there, staring at her own blood.

She felt Reggie stand behind her. Felt the touch of his naked body against hers. Felt his arms wrap around her and his hands slide into hers to prevent her scratching. He was trembling from the cold. He placed his head against her neck and said nothing. She had plenty to say. Away from everyone but her other half, she could. “Do you know what I did?”

“No.” He said and touched his lips on her shoulder, while rubbing her hands.

“I killed two children.” She said and the rubbing stopped. “Neither more than six.” Reggie’s body became tense. “When I went into the vault, they jumped on me in the dark and I thought they were guards.” Reggie resumed rubbing. “They had wooden swords.” She turned around in his arms, her eyes filled with unshed tears. “Wooden swords, Reggie. They whacked me with wooden swords and I didn’t realize it.” She pulled away, turned around and stared at her palms. “These are the hands of an assassin. A murderer. Now, a child killer.”

“It was dark, they jumped on you when you reacted to the threat. It was a mistake…” Reggie said and reached for her hands again. She let it and so she started crying. “If you could see, you’d never.” The tears came faster.

“Does it matter? Two children are dead by my hand. Children.” She sobbed. “I’ve killed young people before, but…” She screamed. Only the shrill of Viscountess when she saw her boys could match Seraphina’s howling. “How can I ever hold my own child?”

“I know…” He stepped closer to her. “I know…”

She closed the little distance between them and hid herself in his embrace. “I can feel their blood on my skin. Their mother’s pain echoes in my mind, driving me crazy.” She twisted her fingers out of his and grabbed her head. “I can’t numb it, Reggie. I can’t find a reason for killing these boys.” She shook her head. “So innocent. Those blonde locks, stained with red… Their throats…”

“Children younger than them died clutching on their mothers’ breasts in the dome. Torn into pieces. Burned alive. Crushed by piles of stone. Those boys’ end was more honorable than that of those children.” Reggie said against her hair.

She cleared her eyes, but the tears kept coming. “It shouldn’t be an end. They didn’t have to die.”

“We’re starting a war. Many will die. Innocents and guilty. You and I need to make peace with it.” Reggie pulled back and titled her chin up so she’d look at him. “Chloe’s safe.” More tears blurred her vision. He held her head and stared into her eyes. “Our daughter…is…safe.”

Seraphina’s spikes were still greased with sweat, mud and blood. Her body was full of her scratches in her attempt to cleanse herself of the boys’ blood. Her eyes produced more tears than she’d shed in her lifetime, turning her into a pitiful sight. Snot was building up in her nostrils, making it hard to breathe. She was a mess.

So was the kiss she gave him. Messy. Full of need. Raw emotion.

Brought by his deep understanding of her. He saw the truth behind the mask she wore for everyone. She was telling him facts and he was seeing the effect they had on her. He knew. He always knew with her. And despite her flaws, her terrible mistakes, he never pulled back.

That early morning, she needed him more than she had when she first met him. Her body was healthy, but her mind was troubled. Plagued. No cast could remedy the sickness. Only him. His lips soothed her. His soft touch mended her ailment. His acceptance, his love quelled the turmoil in her mind.

She pushed her fingers into his hair and tried pulling him closer, though there was no space between them. He tangled one hand in her hair as well, the other on her nape. He pulled her head back, touching his forehead to hers. “I am yours and you are mine. Two warriors standing side by side…”

Her hand trembled as it travelled down to his jaw. “…two hearts always beating as one inside.”

He smiled. “Keep going.”

After she’d let him slip her wedding band on her finger, they’d been too busy consummating their marriage to exchange any vows. Seraphina, a woman of action, thought them unnecessary, but Reggie valued words. While they’d been catching their breaths, slowing their hearts’ beating so they’d fall into sweet sleep, he’d laid on her, trapping her underneath him so she’d hear everything he’d wanted to promise her.

“My mother left me at birth. My father died just as I became a man and the empire took my brother, my nieces, my nephew. So much loss in my life.” He’d brushed away a dark tuft of hair, stuck on her sweaty forehead. “I was left with no one. Chose to become a recluse, living in my dead brother’s home, away from people, so no one else could leave me.” He’d kissed her forehead and looked at her. “Until you came along and gave me hope for a new purpose. Fight against those who took everything from me.” He’d paused. His eyes had filled with tears for the first time in her presence.

She’d reached up and kissed him. “You were always a fighter, my love. I only provided the connections.”

“At first. Then you gave me a person to count on. A pair of eyes to watch my back. A marksman like no other I’ve seen to cover my tracks. A comrade, a partner. But you didn’t stop there.” He’d stopped once more and had touched his lips on one cheek after the other. “You took the ignorant fool I was, wasting away in my lonely cabin, and shaped me into a Shepherd. I was an imperial, but your only hope to survive was to trust me and you did. Mutual interests let us grow close. I opened up to you.”

“And I to you.” She’d interrupted him.

He’d nodded. He’d smiled. “Yes. In our own way, our hard way, we did. I built you the bow you’ve used to kill our enemies. You trained me harder than any imperial trainer I’ve had and because of it I am still alive while dozens lay dead. In many cases, the things we did for each other brought us to victory, one way or the other.” He touched his forehead to hers. “But when the battle’s won and the dust settles, when we can put our weapons down and rest, I only want you. Need you. To nestle in in the safety of your arms. The only way I can feel alive after the horror is you. To touch you. Kiss you. Make you mine. You are my anchor..” He’d kissed her. Long and deep.

She’d smiled against his lips as tears had formed at the edges of her eyes. She hadn’t let him pull back more than a breath’s touch. “I am yours and you are mine. Two warriors standing side by side, two hearts beating as one inside.”

Seraphina remembered well the smile he’d given her. She could also never forget the words he’d said after and repeated them to him. “My wife, I promise you, right here, right now, no matter what we have to do in this and every battle we face, you’ll always find home in my arms.”

“That’s right, my wife.” Reggie said as he rubbed her nape. “I know your morals. Your strengths and your flaws. I embrace them all, good and bad. You. Your victories. Your mistakes. Even your temper.” He paused and chuckled. “And our family. Not even the beating Maxwell gave me at Madfalls scares me.” Despite her fragile state of mind, she started laughing. He kissed her. “I’m here, you hear?”

She did. The children’s screams tuned down. She could breathe again. She looked up at him and nodded. “I love you.” He locked her in his embrace and hummed. She smiled against the warm skin of his chest and concentrated on his humming as he rocked them in the cold water.

“You do realize you’re turning into my sister, right? Not sure how I feel about that.” Maxwell asked Vivienne as they walked towards the marble obelisk. Celebrations for Bailey’s and Calliope’s wedding still went on, centered around Ironham’s grand jewel, three days after they’d arrived in the city, but Maxwell and Vivienne lost their patience and decided it was pointless to wait and went to try getting a meeting with Fergus.

“I don’t see how.” Vivienne replied strolling alongside him, her arm wrapped around his. “I’m choosing to wear a dress, I smile a lot and I don’t burn people who nag me.”

Maxwell chuckled and leaned in to whisper in her ear. “You have a dagger strapped around one thigh and a belt full of knives on the other. Your smile is a nervous reaction and no one nags you because we choose to follow your suggestions. Most because they fear you, and others…” he stopped and bit her ear. “…have ulterior motives.”

The bite brought jolts up her spine. “Others, huh? What would those motives be, my sweet brute?”

He bit her ear again. “You’re the mind reader. Guess.” She didn’t dare read him. From the way he’d been staring at her when she was getting herself ready for the occasion, she could tell what was going through his mind even without reading him. “Nope, not my sister yet. You’ve turned red.” He said laughing and straightened up.

Vivienne gave him a light shove. “Shh. You’re an idiot.”

“Hmm, there are people who have called me that before. Hmm …” He put his finger on his chin and childishly pretended to think.. “Oh yeah, my sister.”

“Ehh, shut up.” Vivienne said huffing. She didn’t like the comparison. Didn’t deem herself worthy of it.

He stopped walking and turned to her. He bowed. “Is that an order, fair lady?”

“A suggestion actually. Don’t want to mess up your plans tonight, do you?” He shook his head rapidly. Laughing, she shoved him again and they kept walking to the merrymaking.

Three days and three nights they’d spent in the city. The Rocky Slopes was full every working hour of the day. Ironhammers and Oremartians kept going between the festivities around the obelisk and the inns of the city. All they did was sleep and celebrate. With so much work on their hands, Vivienne could understand why Clay couldn’t send his spies to gather intel. His sickness wasn’t the only reason behind his exaggerated fury.

Even Maxwell and Vivienne grew frustrated they couldn’t meet with Fergus as soon as they liked because of the crowd. Three days of observation and the input Oris gave them on Fergus were enough to make them adjust their plan. They decided to dress the part and join the celebrations, hoping to find a moment when he’d be free enough so they could pull him aside and talk to him.

They broke out into the courtyard around the obelisk. It was packed with people like every other day and night they’d been there. They were all passing food and drink around. Dancing in pairs. In circles. Some on their own. Many carried instruments and played along the tunes of the band. Drunk and disoriented as they were, the sound was often off, but the laughter never stopped. Not even the chilling cold phased them.

Children ran around their feet, their laughter quelled by the music and the songs. Thieves were among them. Coin pouches were missing from people’s belts. Others were cut open and coins sprawled out under the dancing folks’ feet, but they didn’t notice as the children picked them up and moved away. Did they not care enough or were they too drunk?

It didn’t matter. They went on and on. They’d pause a little to return home, bathe and sleep, and then they were back out. They didn’t even care enough to dress nicely any more. Some would even use their work clothes. Others would wear the same stained outfit every day.

One of those was living next door to the Rocky Slopes and was friends with Clay. He was one of the many to note his absence in the past few days, but thankfully, the festivities held his interest more than Clay. That was another reason they didn’t want to wait any longer. As guild master of Neverfall, it was his job to create strong ties to the city, should the League ever need to exploit them.

While they were keeping him asleep though, locked in the basement with someone always there to watch him, people were starting to take notice, but the Shepherds didn’t want anyone looking into him, afraid Clay’s early dementia combined with his Elemental affinity might get them compromised. But if they took hold of the city, whether through an alliance with Fergus or his death, they would finally be able to send Oris and Beata off to Embersummit and work on placing a new guild master. The sooner they dealt with the Viscount, the less risk they were taking.

Their target was sitting beside his daughter and her new husband, clinking pints and sharing laughter, as his people rejoiced in his company. Maxwell and Vivienne had a sea of people spanning all ages between themselves and Fergus. “How should we do this?” She asked him.

He smirked. “Blend in.” He said and pulled her into the circle of dance, laughing as they went. “Just dance.” For a moment, she tried to resist. She stared at Fergus in the distance, then the dancing circle. It was leading them in his direction. She smiled and let Maxwell take lead.

She knew not the steps, but no one took notice. One foot in front of the other it went, until she kept up and the walking turned to dancing. So focused she was on her feet, she didn’t realize they passed by Fergus. She was annoyed, but Maxwell’s laughter boomed beside her.

It swept everything away. Everything but that smile. Free. That’s how he felt. She didn’t need Aether to know. It was all over his face. In that moment, he felt free. No duty, no orders pushed his feet forward. Only the music and the merry men and women around him. In that moment, he honestly felt like one of them.

Vivienne hated they had to cut it short, but they had a job to do.

Laughing, they broke away from the dancing circle and stood aside for a moment to catch their breaths. “Phew, that was fun.” Maxwell said straightening his cloak.

“Useful too. Good thinking.” Vivienne remarked and went to him. She pushed back the black locks of his hair, in an attempt to make him less threatening. As much as she could at least. They’d covered the scars on his body with cloth, but the ones on his head remained visible, some barely covered by his hair.

Maxwell allowed her to finish the grooming and wrapped his arms around her. He leaned in to whisper in her ear. “It wasn’t practical, I wanted to dance with you.” Before she could say anything, he kissed her cheek and pulled back. “Time to do our job.”

She nodded and they walked towards the Viscount’s table arm in arm. Fergus was laughing as a jester entertained him and the crowd around them. They stood aside, letting the man do his piece and watched as everyone kept drinking and laughing. Like most, they were getting drunk fast. Only Fergus seemed unaffected by the wine, but Vivienne soon noticed why. He was watering down his drink. A lot.

He was still equally chirpy though. His laughter appeared genuine. So did the romance between Calliope and Bailey. The gazing eyes. The soft touches. The undivided attention seemed real. Unless they were as good actors as painter and writer, Vivienne could believe in the innocence of the union. She’d love to read them and figure it out without delay, but she and Maxwell had agreed it wasn’t safe to use Aether out in the open. Better to try only in the presence of Fergus, preferably in confined space.

“You’re staring…” Maxwell said nudging her.

She refocused and realized he was right. She’d locked her gaze on the Viscount, but much to her relief, he didn’t seem to notice as he was watching his jester perform. Vivienne laughed at the jester’s next joke and leaned against Maxwell while he wrapped his arms around her, his head on her shoulder and her hand on his cheek. “When?”

“After the performance. Everyone’s looking at him to see if he’s pleased.” Maxwell said and kissed her shoulder. “You smell nice.”

She giggled. “For once. Can’t remember the last time I used perfume.”

“The day you came with me and Sera.” He said and that time touched his lips to her neck. “Chamomile.”

She shuddered.

Not because of how much attention Maxwell had paid to her from the start, but because she felt someone knocking on her mental walls. A widespread Aetheral reading wave. Trying desperately to compose her expression, she turned around and locked her lips on Maxwell’s. She ended the kiss and pulled his head further down so she could whisper in his ear. “I’m not doing it.”

His body became as rigid as her own felt. She turned around and clung on to him. Waiting for their discovery. Her fingers, ever so lightly, ran along Maxwell’s arms until she reached his hands on her waist. Just a little further down, the belt of knives hung strapped around her thigh. She looked around, but no one was closing in. Her eyes found no threat, but she couldn’t shake off the feeling of danger.

They’d been caught off guard, expecting any form of threat other than Aetheral and unlike Vivienne, Maxwell had no guard against the mental invasion. His trembling hand on her waist proved his inner struggle. Her Aetheral shield stood impenetrable between her mind and the unknown reader, so having faith in her defense, she reached out her own reading wave, desperate both to know if they’d got discovered and to end Maxwell’s anguish.

Barely a moment later, the high level of people’s intoxication hit her hard. She muffled those minds as soon as she encountered them, but she still found herself stumbling and Maxwell had to hold her upright. She opened her eyes and kept searching until Maxwell tapped on her waist. “The Viscount’s looking at you.” He whispered in her ear and her reaction was to stop reading.

Slowly, as if her gazing eyes only passed by him, she looked at Fergus. He was staring. Purposefully. She met his eyes. He was still staring, but since he had her attention, he started tapping on his temple. He knew. Shivers went up her spine and she searched for his guardsmen. They were standing close by, just behind Calliope and Bailey. Stationary.

Vivienne stared back at Fergus and decided to do what he asked. She read him. “Finally. Don’t be alarmed, no one’s going to chase you.” He paused his thoughts and she felt a bang against her mental walls. As he was focusing all his power over Aether to read her directly, it wasn’t the simple tap she’d felt earlier, but he wasn’t getting through. Upon realizing his failure would endure, he stopped. “Extraordinary. You, my dear, have nothing to fear from me. I’m not empire. I loathe and fear it. Let me prove it. Tonight. Place of your choosing.”

Knowing he’d pulled back his wave, she spoke to Maxwell. “He wants to talk. Wherever I want.”

He nodded on her shoulder. “That’s what we came here for, isn’t it? Aether doesn’t change that at least.”

Vivienne agreed, but more than that, she was curious. She’d found another of her kind. She emptied her mind of all things she wanted secret and tapped on her own temple. “The eastern vinery fields. Two hours. We’ll find you.”

Though she couldn’t hear it in the distance, she noticed him chuckle, before he nodded. “I’m sure. I’ll be there, alone.”

Vivienne nodded as well and put up her mental shield again. She turned and let Maxwell lead her away. “Eastern fields, where you trained me. Think two hours is enough to get me sober?”

◊◊◊

Two hours later, Fergus was strolling among the finest vineries in the realm of Neverfall, while Maxwell and Vivienne watched him from afar. There was no one but them three on the fields for a while and so Maxwell and Vivienne decided to show themselves. Rising from their crouch, they closed the distance between themselves and Fergus.

“I was starting to think you’d stay there till morning. Crouching nonetheless. Don’t your knees hurt?” Fergus asked rubbing his own knees. “Ahh, youth. How I miss the good old days my joints didn’t hurt with every move.”

“You knew where we were?” Maxwell asked puzzled.

“Minds and bodies are easy to hide, but auras? Impossible. Only the touch of death can mask them.” He smiled at Vivienne. “Yours even more so. Extraordinary. It’s brighter than I’ve seen in a long while.”

“You are an Aetheral…” Vivienne said and took a step back. As Seraphina always told her, caution was their friend.

“Yes. It's been so long since I’ve said it out loud.” There was warmth in his voice, in his gestures. As if he was trying to manipulate them, she thought.

“You’ve been to the capital.” Vivienne stated and he nodded. “How are you alive? Entire villages got razed over suspicion, and you...”

He gave them a pitiful smile. “And a savage manhunt is happening across the land because our beloved ruler heard whispers of an Aetheral and he thinks he’s missed one. Don’t forget that. He had his abomination go over every face in the city looking for a girl. The same girl in…Maxwell’s mind right now I suspect.” As he was speaking, her hands reached for her daggers and Maxwell grabbed his axe, but Fergus never looked away from her face. Not for a moment. “Don’t fret. I told you, I’m not with him. I’ll never be. And I’m alive, because I am lucky. All of us.”

“Lucky?” Maxwell wondered aloud, taken aback. “What does luck have anything to do with this?”

“Hm…how much do you about Aether?” He asked, addressing Vivienne.

“Enough.”

“Has anyone talked to you about it?” He pressed, but Vivienne wasn’t inclined to answer his questions. They were the ones seeking answers, not him. “Right. Of course. You don’t trust me. Of course, of course, how could you? I’m only asking questions, not offering any answers. I don’t blame you.” He clapped and took a deep breath. He was drunk. Like Vivienne had become when she touched the minds of the intoxicated. “Walk with me? To clear my head.”

Maxwell and Vivienne exchanged looks. They nodded at each other and he turned to Fergus. “Don’t stray far.”

Fergus shook his head and started walking. “Vivienne, correct?” He didn’t wait for confirmation. “I’m sorry. Reading’s often as natural as breathing for me.” He said and scratched his head. “I can see you’re an Aetheral, just as clearly as I can see Maxwell is a wielder of water. Our auras reveal our affinities. Everyone has some, but in people like us, one colour shines brighter than the others, showing our nature. Did you know that?”

Vivienne didn’t think that piece of information could hurt and spoke. “Yes, purple in our case, white in water.”

“Yes, yes, indeed.” Fergus said nodding to himself. “Ugh, I’m never touching a drunk mind again. Not on purpose.” He touched his head, wincing. “Anyhow, you were still surprised when our gifts met, weren’t you?”

It was no question. He knew the answer. “I wasn’t looking into auras. Too many gathered in one place.”

Fergus chuckled. “Well told lie.” She crossed her arms across her chest and his chuckling seized. “Unless… you really need to actively look… Oh, that changes things.”

“What are you talking about?” Vivienne asked, getting frustrated.

“You can’t read auras effortlessly, can you?” He asked and stopped walking. “You can’t see all these lights around us? So much life… You need to try, concentrate.” Abruptly, he turned and looked at her. “I can’t make it stop. I see every aura surrounding every little thing. It’s often tiresome, but so intoxicating.” He touched a grapevine on his left. “These grapes, ripe as they are… Just looking at them affects me more than the wine they’ll produce. But you… You’re having trouble, aren’t you?”

“She does.” Maxwell answer and Vivienne glared at him. “The emperor can’t read auras either, can he? That’s what you meant by luck.”

Fergus stared at Maxwell in a new light as he clapped. “That’s almost right. I doubt he can’t completely, but I think he finds it difficult enough that he doesn’t waste any energy trying. When his reign began so long ago, he probably bothered himself doing it.”

“You seem to know a lot about what he may or may not have done.” Vivienne said, but she looked at Maxwell.

Fergus laughed. Loud that time. “It’s a family goal. ‘Pass on everything we know about the bastard’ as my father always said. The lives of our children depend on it.”

“Your daughter?” Maxwell asked, his axe back in its sheath on his back. It bothered Vivienne how at ease Maxwell was with the Viscount. Aether was hardly a reason to get comfortable with him. On the contrary, she was even more wary.

“Calliope? No. Not attune enough. She’s inclined towards it, but she’s not.” Fergus said and put a grape in his mouth. “Try one, they’re delicious.”

Maxwell ignored the suggestion. “Just you then?”

“Alive? Yes, unfortunately. My mother…” He sighed. “… she was one, but she died long before she could teach me anything about my element. Everything I know comes from experience and journals.” Fergus answered and Vivienne noticed Maxwell’s eyes light up at the mention of unread text. Fergus chuckled. “So bright all of a sudden. I never would’ve passed you for a scholar.”

“Appearances can be deceiving.” Maxwell said, not caring to hide his excitement. “Do you think I could go over those? Knowledge…”

Vivienne cleared her throat, catching the attention of both men. “Viscount Fergus, our spies have always known how much your city hates the emperor, how much you try to oppose his empire. If, as you say, there have been Aetherals in your family, why haven’t you tried stopping him?”

Fergus clenched his fist so tight they’d become white and he’d scrunched his eyes so much they seemed closed. For the first time since he came to the fields, he got angry. “The more journals I read, the more I asked myself the same thing.” He crossed his arms across his chest. “You can null me, right? I couldn’t penetrate your mind. Well, I can’t do that, but apparently my mother’s grandfather could counter Aether, like you. But he and his people were too scared to do anything about our oppression. I don’t know how they could let this go on.”

“Fear is a powerful hindrance. Especially if he had his affairs settled here in his city.” Maxwell tried to justify.

Fergus snarled. “Ha! His own. But what about the people’s? Like you said, the emperor’s one whim can lead to the scorch of entire villages and no one questions it. Is it alright because it hasn’t happened in our realm? It’s not.”

“Yet, you say you loathe the empire. Noble sentiment, but you do nothing about it.” Vivienne found an opening. “Or is that why you’ve married your daughter off to the Oremartian? Get his city’s support?”

The dander left his face, bafflement replaced it. “No. I just told you I can’t counter the bastard. Getting Oremart’s support is useless without someone to counter him. He’ll kill us before anyone can reach him.”

“Then why? What’s with this marriage?” Vivienne pressed. “The timing’s rather convenient. Barely a winter has passed since Bailey buried his brothers.”

“They fell for each other in Wallowdale before the advisors forced him to become Viscount. A long time ago, they said. They’d been sneaking under our noses until Bailey’s brothers killed each other.” Fergus scratched his nose. “I didn’t like it when I found out. Oremartians are brutal, not the kind of man I would wish for my only daughter, but the boy’s different. I applaud his thoughtfulness. They kept everything hushed because, knowing the savagery instilled in them, the boy was sure his brothers would hurt Calliope.”

“You’re not gathering forces then?” She asked again.

“No. Even now that you exist, only two realms can’t go against his numbers. Dawnfield’s too well-guarded. Then the training camps of Larcbust and Sabaria are close enough to circle any army and crush them.” Fergus said and kicked at a rock. “I could get you close, but his minions are too many. There’s no…”

Vivienne stopped him. “Wait. You can get me close?”

“Didn’t you hear what I just said? We need numbers. Even if you serve his head on a platter, it won’t make his loyal subjects stop. They will never believe he’s dead. To them, he’s a God.”

“Yes, but can you get me close?” Vivienne insisted.

He growled. “Yes, we just need to understand a map, but it doesn’t matter now, does it?”

Maxwell touched Vivienne’s hand, making her look at him. “Viv, I think we can trust him. He cannot feign a father’s fear for his child.”

“Fear? No. Absolute terror!” Fergus said and fell to his knees. “Calliope and Bailey are both inclined to Aether, their children… it’ll be a miracle if the gift skips another generation, but even if it does and their children’s children get it. What then? Who will teach them if I’m not there, huh? What’ll happen when the capital requests their presence and they bow before the emperor like I have? How will they hide their nature well enough to survive his inspection? And Bailey? He doesn’t know about me, about Aether. He could expose us, even unintentionally. Trust me, if there was a way to get rid of this plague, I’d be the first to raise my sword.”

Vivienne looked between Maxwell and Fergus. Maxwell had already made his mind, but he was letting her choose whether to trust the Viscount or not. She tried to think of what Seraphina would do, but again was at a crossroads. The Seraphina she’d met would’ve already run the Viscount through, to eliminate the liability of an Aetheral with unknown loyalties, but the woman she’d become, a mother herself by then, would understand. Seraphina thought her new self a better one, even if less of a pragmatist than she used to be. Vivienne trusted her judgement more than her own in that moment. She sighed, still divided within, and knelt by Fergus. “What If I told you we have twenty thousand on our side?”

“Thousand?” Fergus’s head shot up. “Twenty thousand!? Impossible.” He started shaking his head. “It cannot be. Those numbers…”

“Boatwright, Mountmend, Wallowdale, Ashbourne and Ironham stand with us and so do their people. If you want proof, we can only give you a piece. Ashbourne’s sending her armies here as we speak.” Vivienne said and offered him her arm. “We are here to take the city. By any means necessary.”

Maxwell nodded. “Our people think we should assassinate you and put one of our puppets in your place to ally the Neverfallers with us.”

Fergus stared at her arm, but didn’t take it. “My steward? I know he’s been spying, but I thought it was for Dawnfield. Killing me won’t get you anywhere. The people won’t follow him. They’d ask for Calliope.”

“We know.” Maxwell said and knelt in front him. Even on his knees, he appeared a head taller than Fergus. “We could run you through right now, but a good friend told us suspicion hung over your daughter’s wedding. He thought you were using it to ally with Oremart and possibly start a rebellion yourselves. While against our orders, we thought…”

“…you had to meet me and play nice. Aether had nothing to do with it.” Fergus said nodding to himself.

Vivienne shook her head and grabbed his arm to lift him. “Not the reason we approached you, no. But it’s an additional one now.”

He squeezed her arm. “You haven’t told me this though. How? All these realms…”

“We are shepherds.” Vivienne smiled. “There have always been refugees, Viscount. Over the years they formed communities and became rebels to survive. The stronger ones went out into the land to help the hunted innocent. Help them escape and find a life in our communities. And now, we have a reason to gather and push back. An opportunity. We’ve taken the realms, one by one, through guile and through blood. Only four remain and two are within your grasp.” She told him and saw his eyes fill with tears.

“Let Neverfall join us. Convince Bailey to do the same. Then only Sabaria and Larcbust will remain.” Maxwell informed him further. “Our people are moving to Larcbust as we speak. Help us take Sabaria. If you do, Dawnfield stands alone, making our job easier.”

Fergus remained still. Holding tight on Vivienne’s arm with tears running down his cheeks. “How have you managed all this? Right under our noses?”

“You said it yourself. The emperor’s whims have always caused sorrow across the land. His reign has lasted too long. Enough time for the oppressed to gather numbers and establish themselves within the empire, don’t you think?” Vivienne asked.

“But so high in the ranks?” Fergus asked.

Maxwell stood next to Vivienne. “When old Jonah, once your steward, passed away, why did you choose Keegan as his successor?”

“Competence. He’s stunning with numbers.” Fergus replied with a smile. He was fond of his people. “And before you ask, I’ve known about his Elemental abilities since my old steward took him on as his apprentice.”

Maxwell smiled and nodded. “Yes, he’s always been good with numbers, but Jonah suggested him, didn’t he?”

“Yes, yes. I told you. He’d been his best apprentice for a long time.” Fergus said waving his hand. “I’m guessing Jonah’s not the reason the other apprentices didn’t stick around, huh?” Both Maxwell and Vivienne remained silent, while he grabbed his chin and started pacing. “Assassins right under our noses… Murdering my people…”

Vivienne grew agitated. “We do what we must for our people.”

“…and I didn’t even see it.” Fergus put his hands up and laughed. “Oh, you misunderstand. I’m impressed. Your people have impressed me. I only chastise myself and my family for not figuring you out sooner. We would’ve avoided unnecessary bloodshed all these years. We could’ve worked together.”

Maxwell and Vivienne stared at each other, until he turned to Fergus. “You’re either drunk or mad.”

“A bit of both I’m afraid. Which is worse?” Fergus laughed again. “I cannot fault your rebellion’s actions. I’m standing before you, telling you I would gladly usurp the Emperor, sacrificing many in the process if it meant my daughter would be safe. I can’t…no, I won’t fault you.”

There was more to his reasoning and Vivienne could read it in the images he didn’t try to conceal. “Not just that. You’ve killed rebels yourself.”

Fergus nodded. “I’ve always exercised leniency and provided as much safety as I could within the city walls, but when the capital sends her leeches, for the sake of my family, there was little I could do but abide to their ways. I can only hope I did not kill anyone you hold personally dear. If I have, I ask for your forgiveness. Fear… No, cowardice is my reason.” As he tried to gauge her reaction, the silence grew heavy between them. He was scratching his arms, never laying his eyes on them, but everywhere else. Maxwell crossed his arms across his chest, while Vivienne kept reading the Viscount.

In time, she slowly released the hold on her knife belt. “My mentor once said that one can feign any emotion on the outside, even remorse. Words, gestures…” she said offering him her arm. “…but they can’t feign feeling it.”

Fergus grabbed her arm and stood with her help. “In her journals, my grandmother used to say the same thing.”

“An Aetheral as well I take it.” Vivienne replied.

Fergus nodded and squeezed her arm. Vivienne looked into his eyes and found terror reflecting in them. “You honestly think you can overthrow him? Counter him and kill the bastard?”

Vivienne answered aloud. “This is the best chance we have. I can counter him and my people have trained me well enough to fight, even kill him…” Fergus’s whiskers turned up at the her words. “…but too many bodies stand between me and him.”

The smile playing on Fergus’s lips didn’t let up. “But I told you I can get you close, didn’t I?”

“Didn’t mention how. Sneaking us inside Threne Keep is impossible without detection, many have tried in vain. The best infiltrator I know couldn’t find a way to him, how can you?” Maxwell asked and Vivienne remembered all the time they’d spent in the libraries of Embersummit and Briohall searching through journals with Reggie and Seraphina for a weak spot. They’d found none that didn’t involve many people and hence, more liabilites. It was a fortress, within a fortress, with numerous innocents standing as another layer of barricade. They’d been expecting to fight their way through.

Fergus kept smiling. “The earth Elementals in the city… Any of them your friends?”

The snarl Raine gave rung in Seraphina’s ears as she shot up and reached for her bow. A party of four stared back at her, hands up and eyes glued down. The men were the League’s scouts. Seraphina lowered her bow, but didn’t call the wolfess back. “What happened?”

Her voice made them jump and the others pushed one boy forward. “Um…” Seraphina tapped on Reggie’s shoulder while waiting for the boy to continue. “…Lady Seraphina…”

Reggie wouldn’t budge. She huffed. “Out with it already.” They boy cringed and looked away, but pointed down as he did so. Seraphina looked down and found the cause of their discomfort and the fiery cheeks. She was naked. “Right.” She put on Reggie’s shirt and covered his own nakedness as much as she could with his cloak and her body. “Now speak.”

“Councilman Barkley asked us to track you. He feared something happened, but…” The boy said and fidgeted. His pale face turned redder the more words rushed out of his mouth.

“You see what happened.” She thought shaking her head. “Run back to my uncle and tell him we’re fine. Go.” They turned and rushed away, as if she was still aiming at them. She whistled and Raine came to sit next to her, letting Seraphina rub her fur. The soothing touch lasted but a moment. Until she saw the marks on her arms. Her own scratches.

The screams of the children she murdered returned. She stopped petting Raine. Her hands trembled. She brought her knees close to her chest and closed her eyes. The screams didn’t subside. Raine bumped her head against Seraphina, but she pushed the wolfess away. The more she rocked, the more Raine kept coming back, until she pushed her head in Seraphina’s lap.

The struggle to keep Raine away and the irritation of failing to do so worked as a distraction. Well enough that the internal turmoil abated. Shaking her head, she stopped fighting Raine and nuzzled her instead. The wolfess started licking at the open wounds on Seraphina’s arms after a while. Still fresh as they were they stung, but it was bearable and Seraphina welcomed the pain. Another distraction.

Reggie’s loud yawn brought her out of her reverie. As he stretched, their cozy bed of leaves shook and gave away on the edges. Raine’s ears perked up and her head turned sideways while she was watching. Seraphina looked back and what she needed greeted her. The still sleepy smile he gave her and the way he reached for her hand warmed her inside. “How did you sleep?”

With her elbow against her knee and her fingers in her hair, she sighed. “Better than I expected. Did I thrash around?”

He sat up and touched his lips to her shoulder. “Not really. Didn’t even make a sound. I think you were too exhausted.” He kissed his way up to her lips and hovered. “I had something to do with that.”

“You did.” She said and kissed him, smiling against his lips.

He touched his forehead to her temple. He let out a long breath and wrapped his arms around her, pulling the cloak over his shoulders. She wasn’t cold. She was hardly ever cold. “I missed you, little monkey.”

“Me too. Haven’t spent that much time apart before.” She said leaning against him, her arms on his.

“That’s not what I meant.” His right hand reached for her left and turned her wedding band. “I missed Seraphina, daughter of Brenton and Lyn. My wife and mother to my daughter.” She turned her head back and looked at him. “You haven’t been her since we sent Chloe away. You’ve been the League’s trained assassin.”

Her free hand found its way to his cheek. “I am both, my love, but never at the same time. In this war, you need the killer, not your wife. In your arms, you need my softness, not my cruelty.”

“Don’t wander off into the ruthless side too much…” He kissed her palm. “…you might lose your way back.”

She leaned against him. “You and Chloe will always light my way back.” He smiled and nodded, satisfied with her answer. For the time being.

They gathered themselves and Seraphina burned every piece of clothing Reggie had been wearing the night before, full of blood, sweat and dust from the dome’s explosion. Raine kept howling while they were watching the flames engulf the cloth. Reggie whistled to her and she stopped, only to come and sit by Seraphina’s feet. Still staring at the flames, Seraphina scratched at her head. “Are you sure you can walk back?”

She heard the crutches stomping towards her and moment later felt his hand touch her waist. “Mmhmm. Not broken after all.” He murmured with his head on her shoulder. “Hope you don’t mind the slow pace.”

She shook her head. “Not when you’re hurt.” She said and put her hand on his. “Back to life…”

“No…” He touched his lips to her neck. “…Back to war. Our road back to life starts when we set off for Briohall. Until then, only war and duty’s in store for us.”

◊◊◊

They reached the encampment just before sundown. Most had moved to the fallen city to protect themselves from the continuous rainfall. Barkley wasn’t among them. He and a couple of councilmen stayed behind, giving out orders. When Seraphina and Reggie walked in the camp with Raine, they found him discussing matters with Laura, Zera’s confidant and new councilwoman, and approached them. Despite Reggie’s crutch, they both greeted the councilmen with a bow as ought to, but Laura quickly dismissed the gesture. “Please. As my grandmother would say, there are more important matters than such courtesies.”

“Wise woman.” Seraphina commented, while Barkley was trying to hush her.

“Yes, I like to think so.” Laura nodded in approval. “She never fails to share her mantras with the world. For instance, were Zera here, last night’s absurdity would never happen.”

Reggie interrupted her. “Zera’s your grandmother?”

“She mentioned, didn’t she?” Laura asked, but Seraphina and Reggie shook their heads.

Seraphina thought the similarities in posture and behavior derived from a mentor – apprentice relationship, not family ties. The colour of their skin, so different from one another, Zera’s whiter than milk while Laura’s dark, brown as a sparrow’s feathers, hadn’t made Seraphina consider anything else. Though not an uncommon coupling, Seraphina rarely paid enough attention to one’s features to compare them. The colour of skin, hair and eyes she looked and cross referenced, but hardly ever did she go deeper than that. “I should fix that. My own daughter shares only my eyes…”

“Hmm, I thought she had.” Laura said and shrugged. “In any case, Zera’s taught me to never be afraid to say what’s right and set people in their place. Commander Gavin, an honourable man, I’m sure, is a man of action and battle. He didn’t know how to use your skillset within the walls and gave you the wrong orders. He needs to understand that unlike the other assassins who held their post, your disobedience averted a disaster.”

Barkley cleared his throat. “What Laura means is that after last night’s events, our people are reevaluating our strategy to make the best use of everyone’s skillset. Right, Laura?”

“If one wanted courtesy…” She nodded. “…but I don’t. Instead of seeing his error, Gavin brought you and other deviants before the council for what? Adapting to a bad situation according to their nature, not his own, nor his orders? The man’s ego could’ve exposed us to the imperial army.”

Seraphina stepped in. “It’s not to my benefit, but that’s not true. Cypher exaggerated my efforts. By the time I found them, they…”

Reggie put his hand over her mouth and Laura came closer. Her words came as whispers, barely reaching Seraphina’s ear. “They were handling the Viscount’s remnant guard. It doesn’t matter.” She reached up and pecked Seraphina’s forehead. “Brute force and numbers aren’t the reason behind our victory. The tactic you and what your… practitioners presented got our people inside the walls unscathed. Who’s to say the lot of you couldn’t cut Ironham’s head on your own?”

“Laura…” Barkley warned, glancing around. “We agreed.”

She shook her head at him and grunted. “The southern council. What’s left anyway. Won’t you learn from your mistakes, Barkley?” She took a step back and looked at Seraphina and Reggie again. “Secrets often do more harm than good.” She touched her forehead, as she let out a long breath, almost a sigh. “But yes, we compromised.”

“And got what you wanted in return?” Reggie asked lowering his hand. The smirk she gave, full of mischief and pride, was answer enough. “What did Embersummit request?”

Seraphina was sure she knew. She’d often discussed her assignments with Zera, her granddaughter always by her side. Even more often than not, Zera had asked Seraphina’s opinion on how she would raze the empire, were it up to her. Laura’s smile had been exactly the same then, as Seraphina had been offering her input. “Send the assassins on a killing spree. Question’s where.”

Laura nodded repeatedly. Only the absence of continuous jumping separated her from excited children. “Forward. Prepare the ground for our armies. Eliminate the figures of authority. Get inside if you can.”

Seraphina crossed her arms. “Barkley, you agreed to this?”

He nodded. “We’re nearing the end. Of our lives or his reign. It’s time.”

Seraphina smiled. “Finally.” She said nodding. “Where are you sending me? The road in between or the end of it?”

“Larcbust directly. The best will all go to the camp. Most of the monster’s head stay there when the army’s not moving across the land, spreading fear and enforcing the submission of the masses. Cut as many of them as you can until our people come. That is the only order. See as you see fit, but just… kill.” Laura paused and smiled at Seraphina. “Think you can do that?”

She didn’t answer. She didn’t need to. Her past spoke for her. Reggie cleared his throat, breaking the short moment of silence. “Could I make a request, your Worship?”

Laura waved him off. “Already cleared with the council. You will join the assassins in their early journey…” she shared a look with Barkley, who couldn’t stop chuckling. “… to assess the situation and make a preliminary plan of attack of course.”

Reggie joined in the chuckling. “Of course, your Worship. Anything the Shepherds request. Thank you.”

Laura nodded and touched Barkley’s hand. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have other people to inform of the news. I wish to witness their delight firsthand.” Her laugh reached Seraphina’s ears as if it were an distant echo. A far away whisper. For Seraphina was already thinking ahead. Time. Resources. Opportunities. Death. Everything spun in her head. A whirlwind of inner workings.

“Seraphina…?” Barkley called. She felt Reggie’s hand on her shoulder, shaking her.

“Uncle?”

“I asked if you are alright.”

“No.” Seraphina sighed and Reggie’s hand gave a light squeeze. “But I can do this. You have nothing to worry about.”

“I’m not doubting your skills, Shepherd.” Barkley stepped close to her and put his palms under her chin. “But I’m worried about my niece. What’s happening in there?” He asked and tapped her head.

“Barkley, it’s not a…” Reggie intervened, but Seraphina shook her head.

“My reason, uncle.” She said and took a deep breath. He’d know what she meant. The turmoil, the tears were hard to fight back. She needed a moment. She exhaled. “My reason is I made a mistake. An act of pure instinct, yet an awful mistake. Unspeakable.” She closed her eyes and breathed in again. “And that reason isn’t enough to keep the images away. The screams.” She paused, to listen to the children’s wailing. Every hair on her body stood up straight. She shook herself and opened her eyes. “But I can still do my job. I wouldn’t jeopardize that.”

Barkley pulled her in for a father’s embrace. As he always did when she needed it. She wrapped her arms around him tight. Like she’d done the first time she’d killed. Like then, all those years in the past, he kissed her head and whispered. “That pain makes you more human than any injury. Feel it. Remember it. Let it help you appreciate life. But never let it consume you. Don’t go dead inside. Never forget who you are. Who you really are, you hear?” He pulled away from her and reached for Reggie’s hand. He also grabbed Seraphina’s and put them together. “It goes to both of you. You are good people doing terrible things now, like everyone in this camp, so the less fortunate can live. But you are luckier than most here. Away from the battlefield, you have each other. You are partners in life. Share the burden. Share the pain. Keep each other sane.” He smiled. “Sane enough to go back to that little girl of yours and live the lives you should. The life we all should.”

The walk back to the inn was a speechless one. With Viscount Fergus on their tail and every wedding guest still out on the streets, they had to keep quiet and their heads down so no one would recognize him. And he was an easy man to recognize. Twice they had to blend in the crowd because a guard caught a glimpse of him. Even upon reaching the inn, they had to cause a distraction to get Fergus in through the stables. Not once did he complain about the manhandling or the stench of the dark alleys they’d used. Maxwell was impressed.

Once inside, Maxwell took the Viscount to the cellar, while Vivienne went off to fetch Oris. Fergus took a seat and didn’t waste a moment of Vivienne’s absence to ask his questions. “Do you think she can do this? Or does love cloud your judgment?”

“I’ve been working against the empire before she came into my life. I made my first kill long before I met her. Long before I loved her.” Maxwell said grabbing a chair.

“That’s not what I asked.” Fergus pressed. “Do you think she can do this?”

Maxwell spun the chair a couple of times and sat, his arms resting on the chair’s back. “In a fight? He’d old. Very old. Not physically of course. But I don’t think he’s used this time to become a swordsman. He must rely on his element. Viv… Well, Viv has been training non-stop since she joined us. That was three winters years ago. What she lacks in physical strength and stamina, she makes up in cunning. Whenever we’d had to draw our weapons, she’s always the least injured. All that never using her gift, unless necessary. Yes, in a fight I believe she can take him.”

Fergus caught on. “But…”

Maxwell sighed. “She can’t go cold.”

The Viscount squinted and scratched the back of his head. “Why’s that a bad thing?”

“The man who trained her in Aether and helped her secure herself from Damien’s elemental attacks.” Maxwell said and paused to consider his next words. Some revelations weren’t his to make, but the man across the table was willing to throw himself and his people in a war that hadn’t caught up with them. He needed to know what their chances were and why. And so, Maxwell continued. “Her mentor is also Damien’s mentor. From his time.”

Fergus banged the table. “Another monster!? Another man preying on the spirit of innocents? And you work with him?”

In an instant, Maxwell grew agitated. More than he should be. The anger wasn’t is own. “Stop it. You’re pushing your feelings out and I doubt it’s just me. There’s a crowd up there, want to turn it into an angry mob?” Maxwell waited until the faux anger subsided. Fergus was still beside himself, but at least he contained it within. “That’s better.” Maxwell shivered, the Aetheral effect still lingered on his skin. He shook himself. “Lucian is one of us. Damien betrayed him and he’s been holding himself accountable for letting the bastard fool him. Fool the entire Order of Dawnfield. Aetherals, all of them. He’s been working against him ever since. He’s lived on and waited until more Aetherals came along, so he could train them against Damien. But as you well know, the bastard wiped out your kind and hushed the existence of Elementals so much and for so long, the people forgot.”

“And those who know, who remember, are too scared of getting hunted down like animals…” Fergus added. “Why tell me this? It’s irrelevant to my question of Vivienne’s skills.”

“It’s relevant because Damien fooled Lucian. He fooled three dozen Aetherals. Wise beyond measure. And he didn’t use Aether. He used charm. Guile.” He paused and tapped on the table. “Charm and guile won’t get him anywhere with Viv and Aether she can counter, but the man is master manipulator. So no, I don’t doubt Vivienne’s skill. She will kill him, given the chance. I’m only worried he’ll goad her into making a mistake that’ll cost her life in the process.”

Maxwell looked up and found Fergus staring in pity. It unnerved him. “Worried not as a fellow rebel, but a lover…” Fergus sighed. “I apologize, but I have to say, despite your pain, I feel better about this endeavour now. I really need that monster put down for the sake of my daughter. Now…” He reached across the table and offered his hand. “…how about we do our best and make sure your lover gets back in one piece too?”