Sheilah stared up into the carriage, part of her wondering how she’d fit into the thing with her bow, quiver and sword, part of her wondering what she should say once inside, part of her wondering what it would be like to launch her breath into the confined space, part of her alert and wary of all the men and horses around her, part of her marveling that yes, she was aware of even the mice lurking in the grass nearby.

She turned away from the carriage, and let out a whistle; Fialla moved to join her. The soldiers all stiffened and muttered amongst themselves at the sight of Fialla; Shielah overheard some of them remarking about her elven features in low, dangerous tones.

Well, Fialla should be able to take care of herself, if things got bad. She had enough faith in her friend for that.

Sheilah handed off her bow and quiver of arrows.

“I’ll get these back from you.” Sheilah murmured, and Fialla nodded.

She awkwardly climbed into the carriage, laying her rapier across her lap, making sure her belt knife was close at hand. She might not be in the Redlands, but it was always prudent to keep a knife within reach of a hand.

Once she was settled, she eyed the two women carefully.

One of them was an older woman with a certain severity to her face, her hair was a mix of blonde with streaks of white from age, and her eyes were pale blue. The other was much younger, with dark eyes and hair.

After a long moment of silence while the three women eyed each other, “Well, who are you?” Sheilah asked brusquely, breaking the silence.

Magdalene let out a short breath. “I’m your mother. You’re my daughter. You’re coming home with me.” She replied matter-of-factly. She rubbed the bridge of her nose. “It would probably be better if we weren’t staring at each other like complete strangers.” She added in a lower tone.

Sheilah adopted a complicated expression as her parallel thinking developed several replies. “I learned that my parents weren’t my parents only a couple of months ago.” She replied and then added, “and that my real parents were from our enemy, Stormheim. For now, strangers suits me just fine.”

“Enemy? The Clansmen think of Stormheim as... the enemy?” Magdalene replied, baffled.

Sheilah gave her a confused look. Wasn’t it well known?

“Yeah. Enemy.” Sheilah agreed, a touch of challenge in her voice, daring the woman in front of her to violence.

Why was she trying to provoke the woman?

Her gaze shifted to the other woman. “Who is she?”

Magdalene rolled her eyes dismissively. “She’s my maid.”

“An answer that doesn’t explain anything.” Sheilah replied, irritated. What was a maid? She wasn’t getting anywhere with this woman. Ladria at least offered understandable explanations to why things were.

She pulled her knife from her boot and twirled it on her hand. “I’m given to understand that you gave me this knife.”

Magdalene nodded. “That’s right.”

Sheilah nodded and tucked the knife back in her boot. “Why?”

“To protect yourself.” her mother replied.

Sheilah nodded.

The silent tension stretched indeterminately.

“Do you have any belongings we need to pack?” Magdalene asked.

“A bit. Also my shadow.” She replied with a smirk. “She’ll be coming along, too.”

Both Magdalene and the maid traded confused glances with each other and then with Sheilah.

The soldiers exclaimed over her pile of wolf furs; they named it as a Mist Prowler, or a Fog Wolf. They were notoriously difficult to kill, and the fact that she had a mound of cured hides instantly earned their respect. They were likewise impressed with the crystalline antlers; apparently the deer were impossible to hunt.

Sheilah pondered their words briefly; the deer required patience, but the wolves were, as they said, difficult. The difference between them was only that she had the power of the Dragon.

They were extremely happy with the discovery of the pond, and happily led their horses to drink.

Sheilah introduced Fialla to her mother, which elicited a strange reaction from the latter. She stiffened, her blue eyes became hard, brittle chips of ice.

“You did not say your ‘shadow’ was an elf, Sheilah.” Magdalene offered coldly.

“Does it matter?” Shailah asked indifferently. “We grew up together.”

Fialla bobbed her head, rested her spear in the crook of her neck and offered her hand in the manner of the Dragon clan.

Magdalene stared at the girl’s extended hand like it was a viper.

“It’s a greeting. You’re supposed to take her hand.” Sheilah offered helpfully, though it was obvious to Magdalene that Sheilah was distracted, her attentions focused elsewhere.

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Magdalene grimaced and took the girl’s hand. It was warm, dry and strong. Like Sheilah’s hand, it was dry and tough, with callouses.

“I kind of imagined your mother would be taller.” Fialla joked to Sheilah, and then waved her free hand over her head. “Maybe you get it from your father?” She asked.

She looked up at Magdalene and frowned a little. “Could you not look at me like that?”

Magdalene seemed to catch herself. “Ah, forgive me. It’s just... there are ... elven problems... in Stormheim right now.”

Fialla’s eyes immediately narrowed at that. “There are no Wild Elves in Stormheim.” She replied coolly. “Do not think of me as the same as Dark or High Elves. I will be offended.” She looked up at Sheilah. “Think of me as Sheilah’s little sister and we should get along.” She added helpfully.

“...sister.” Magdalene muttered, and Fialla nodded.

“We’ve been that way since the beginning.” Fialla offered. “She was the one that taught me how to hunt properly.”

“That was your family, idiot.” Sheilah replied. “You learned how to make your kills from them.”

“No, that was you. I learned by watching you.” Fialla urged.

“Yeah well, you killed a dragon before me, so we’re on equal footing.” Sheilah disputed, ignoring Magdalene.

“You’re the one that killed a Tyrant.” Fialla argued. “You’re still ahead.”

“What’s a dragon?” Magdalene asked, trying to keep up with the conversation.

Sheilah and Fialla eyed each other.

“I’ve never had to explain what a dragon is to someone who doesn’t know what they are.” Fialla offered lamely.

“Me either.” Sheilah replied.

“Draw it, maybe?” Fialla offered with a shrug.

Sheilah nodded.

Fialla used the butt of her spear to draw a series of sinuous lines in the dirt.

“It’s a very large... beast?” Sheilah offered as Fialla drew. She couldn’t think of any other words to use, and to call it a monster would be blasphemous, to name it as a Totem in front of people from Stormheim sacrilege. “It breathes fire, and is the absolute pinnacle of everything.” she added in a voice that was edged in reverence.

“How... big... is this beast?” Magdalene asked in a concerned voice.

Fialla blinked, and looked around for something she could use as a scale.

“The one Sheilah killed was... about as long as...” She trailed off in thought. “From the rearmost carriage to... over there, perhaps?” She gestured with her spear. “It could swallow a horse whole.” She shrugged. “The one I hunted was much smaller. It could only swallow me.” She offered.

“You... hunt these things?” Magdalene asked, horrified.

Fialla and Sheilah traded looks and shrugged.

The soldiers began returning, lugging barrels of water and leading horses.

“How long will it take to get to Stormheim?” Sheilah asked Magdalene.

“About six weeks, give or take.” Magdalene replied. “It’s not a very comfortable trip, I’m afraid.”

Sheilah and Fialla traded looks again. In this forest, where water and food was plentiful and the land wasn’t as harsh and unforgiving as the Redstone, how difficult could it be?

“This is not very comfortable.” Fialla opined to Sheilah as the carriage lurched into motion.

Sheilah nodded in agreement. She peeked out the window and noted the crawling pace they were making.

“It’s not particularly fast, either.” Sheilah observed, and elbowed Fialla. “Do you think we should go ahead?”

“That’s unthinkable.” Magdalene retorted. “The Princess of Stormheim cannot go anywhere unaccompanied.”

Sheilah glanced significantly at Fialla, which made Magdalene frown.

“A proper retinue is needed.” her mother explained.

“I don’t understand, and you’re not explaining it.” Sheilah replied. “I am capable of seeing to myself, and even if I weren't, I have Fialla at my side. She has always been there to catch me when I fall.”

Magdalene sighed and rubbed her forehead. “Things might have been different where you grew up, but in Stormheim, how you are seen by others is critical.” She gestured with her hands. “If you dress and behave like a savage, then all they will see is a savage. If you are seen as a princess, then you will be treated as a princess.”

“So I’m a savage.” Sheilah mused, and looked at Fialla. “I don’t think this was a very good idea.”

Fialla nodded. “Do you think we should go back home?”

“I’m beginning to think we should.” Sheilah replied warily.

Magdalene tsked under her tongue. “I did not mean that you- either of you- are a savage.”

“We dress and behave like savages, though, right?” Fialla asked.

Magdalene sighed forcefully. “That is not what I said.”

Sheilah and Fialla traded looks again.

“You- I suppose the both of you- will need to be educated so that you can become proper adults.”

Fialla snorted at that. “She doesn’t understand.” She remarked to Sheilah, who nodded.

Magdalene gave them both a confused look. “What is it that I don’t understand?”

Sheilah let out her own sigh, and reached towards the sword that was propped against the side of the carriage. She picked it up and laid it across her lap.

“When you grow to the point where you can no longer be a child, you ...” she paused, uncertain as to how much she could tell Magdalene, especially in front of a complete stranger. “You take ... your weapons, and you hunt a dragon.”

She paused again, searching for the right words. “When you return, you are an adult, with all the responsibilities it entails.” She unsheathed her sword partway and laid it across her lap. “This blade is proof that I am already an adult.”

She looked up at Magdalene. “When you speak of me as a child, when you speak to me like I’m a child, to me that’s a step backward.” She paused again, searching for the right words.

She took a breath and firmed her voice. “I will allow you to talk to me as a mother to her daughter, but I will not allow you to speak to me as a child.” She pushed the half-unsheathed blade back into the scabbard with a click.

There was a long silence then, as Magdalene digested this.

“Very well.” She stated after a long consideration. “It’s not too far of a stretch to do this.” She nodded to herself. “You’ll still need an education, especially in language. It’s a mess.” Her gaze shifted to Fialla. “Something will need to be done about you.”

“I’m not leaving her side.” Fialla immediately announced.

“I imagine not.” Magdalene replied.