When Casia Sersha entered her private quarters in the officer's wing, it was obvious she was in an uproar; perhaps that was the reason she failed to spot Laelith until she was halfway into the room. She froze, mid-step and turned towards the intruder who stared back from the chair of her desk with cold indifference. Her face soon contorted into an angry grimace.

“How did you get in here?”

“Rough day, Casia?” Laelith asked, instead of answering.

The cold rage she felt was only barely kept out of her voice. The captain glared, crossing her arms.

“Thanks to you, the commander is considering a demotion and loss of privileges.”

“Oh no,” Laelith warned her with a growl. “You don't get to put the consequence of your actions on me. I am not playing that game with you.”

“Oh?”

Casia raised her eyebrows in mock surprise.

“And is your little visit another 'consequence of my actions'? A nice little chat to beat me into submission?”

“I thought about it,” Laelith said as she stood. “You certainly deserve it, considering the hell you've put my friend through.”

Her former lover paled, as she slowly made her way towards her.

“But Ezeas reminded me what was at stake, and I don't want to start a vicious cycle during our stay her. So I had to think of something else.”

Casia's eyes flickered to and from Laelith's face, while she shifted her weight from foot to foot.

“One of the perks of being a sea captain, is the many connections you get to make. I've made a fair few within Islasa's borders. Some of them are among the many clients this compound caters to, when they issue new orders.”

Laelith stopped, just outside reach of the shorter woman, her lips curling up in a cruel smile.

“At first, I figured I should simply recommend them all to avoid working with you personally, effectively blocking any chance of you having a career, outside the compound.”

If Casia had seemed nervous before, there was no longer a question of it. Her body was tense and she had balled her fists. She still met Laelith's gaze but her eye seemed to struggle with the connection.

“But that did not seem quite equal to literally endangering my friend's life, just to get back at me. So instead, I decided to use honesty as my greatest weapon. You see a great deal of the clients that contract military personal have some relation or other with humans.”

“You didn't,” Casia gasped, then seemed to remember herself. “So what? Why should they believe you over me?”

Laelith laughed.

“Oh, I don't expect all of them to. But I know for a fact that Commander Lauril will make an incident report, one that every client has a right to access, if they request it. And they will. After all, they have to make sure the training officers instill proper values and behaviors in any soldier they might hire.”

Casia fidgeted with the hem of her jerkin, her lips pressed into a thin line as she gauged her opponent's words.

“There are places where they don't care whether I hate humans or not.”

Laelith made a dismissive gesture.

“So? There will be enough people looking into the Lika Compound, wondering why the leadership is keeping an officer employed who has shown unprofessional and pernicious behavior and allowing said officer to train recruits.”

She made her way to the door but stopped next to Casia, who seemed frozen in defeat.

She leaned in and whispered: “How many complaints before they're forced to strip you of your rank and throw you out? Ten? Fifty? Know that I'll rain a hundred down on you, if that's what it takes.”

Then she left the room, filled with cold satisfaction. She made her way to the infirmary, trying to shake the encounter from her mind. While it felt good to get back at the person behind the whole thing against Saelina, she still could not rid herself of the cold rage in her chest. It burned and seared, demanding blood be paid for blood spilled.

When she entered the sick area, the healer shot her an evaluating look, then gestured to a bed in the back where her friend was sitting, staring out the window.

“Anything worth watching?” Laelith asked, hoping her face looked as bright as her tone.

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Saelina turned towards her, smiling.

“Laelith, I was wondering where you went.”

She sat on the stool next to the bed and leaned her arms on the mattress.

“I had to finish some business. How are you feeling?”

Saelina shifted, wincing as she moved.

“My rib is still sore, but Essy took care of the rest.”

Laelith's eyes widened in surprise.

“He did? He usually doesn't heal anyone when there's an infirmary available.”

“I think he feels responsible for what happened. Seeing as how Lyari's involved, and all.”

Laelith nodded, lowering her eyes.

“We have that in common,” she muttered.

“This wasn't your fault. We both know they wouldn't have given in until they got me alone.”

She grabbed Saelina's hand and her friend squeezed back. For a while they just sat like that, both finding comfort in the other's warmth. The light from the crystals which protruded form the cave walls, cast odd patterns through the glass.

“I think I messed up,” Saelina said, breaking the silence.

“How so?”

“I...asked Ezeas about...well, about us.”

Laelith furrowed her brow.

“What us? You and him?”

Her friend nodded.

“Why? Are you in love with him?”

Saelina shook her head.

“I don't think so. But lately, things have been better between us. I guess I was hoping we might have moved on to being friends. But he made it clear that wasn't the case.”

Laelith dropped her head on her arms and groaned.

“I'm going to have to kick him later,” she grumbled.

“I don't think he did anything wrong,” Saelina argued but Laelith held up her hand.

“Oh no, dear, he absolutely did. If he would just stop with his stupid half-answers, a lot of misunderstandings could be avoided.”

“Sounds like the voice grumbling in my head,” Saelina noted, then fell silent, her eyes distant.

Laelith knew what was going on and waited patiently, until Saelina cleared her throat, awkwardly. It seemed the dragon had nothing pleasant to say.

“I've been meaning to ask: were you ever close?”

Laelith smiled.

“You're asking the right questions, sweetheart. The truth is we were more like siblings than cousins.”

Saelina stared and she shrugged, her smile widening.

“I know, it doesn't really show. I was also friends with Lyari, once.”

Her friend dropped her head into her hands and she laughed.

“Sorry, I think that might have broken your mind, a little.”

“Mm-hmm,” was all the redhead said.

“Essy never told you what his teias does, did he?”

She shook her head and Laelith sighed.

“Of course not. Well, it's nicknamed 'the good of the people', and it lets someone know whether a choice will benefit the people of Islasa.”

Saelina cocked her head in contemplation.

“That sounds useful.”

“It is. Except the damn premonitions don't tell you whether your choice will simply increase the people's spirit or whether it will avoid the flooding of the entire country.”

“So, every decision has the potential to be catastrophic if he chooses wrong?”

“Exactly.”

“So, he might have to betray someone, not because he thinks it's right but because if he doesn't he could doom his people?”

Laelith nodded.

“He ignored his teias, once when he asked for Miralise's hand in marriage and it almost toppled the country. He thought she had betrayed him and cut her from his life. Our relationship suffered as well. He even cut off his parents for years, focusing solely on his work as the future Mastre of the House of Shadows.”

“It makes sense,” Saelina admitted, though reluctantly. “If he cares about someone, it's harder for him to make the right choice. By keeping his distance, if he does have to betray someone, it won't hurt as bad for either party.”

“He's still an idiot for being so rigid about it,” Laelith countered, her voice getting heated. “Lyari kept sticking around despite his best efforts, so he tolerates her and Niranne's got him wrapped around her finger. Those two are hardly a balanced influence.”

She felt Saelina's hand on her shoulder.

“I guess you miss him.”

She stared into her friend's smiling face and sighed, returning the smile.

“I guess I do.”