Vel, an Oracle older than Prythian itself, visits the Autumn Court at the request of its High Lord. While there she gets swept up in the court's political scheming, with Eris trying to win her favor using any means necessary. But all is not what it seems and her visit is cut short by a bloody betrayal. Alone and afraid, she must escape Autumn and get back home. - Perhaps she’d misjudged him and he was going to slice her open. Vel decided she wasn’t going to stick around to find out. In the blink of an eye, she squeezed her palm between the blade and her neck, scraping most of the skin off in the process, and with her other arm she elbowed Eris in the stomach as hard as she could. The dagger clattered to the floor slick with her blood. Eris released her, stumbling a few feet back. She turned back towards him, palms up. Blood was pouring down her left arm, dripping into her sleeve. He’d already produced another dagger from Mother knew where and was about to throw it at her face. “Wait. Eris. We want the same thing. We could work together if you would just trust me.” Eris narrowed his eyes at her. “Trust you? Do you genuinely think I’m simple?” he hissed out the words, trying to keep his voice low.