The Fortitude cut through the warm waters of the White Sea like a knife through butter, the port of Nian fast approaching as the looming and formidable outline of Dealanaich all but blocked out the sun as it towered above the massive city.

Cassandra D'viritazi stood at the bow of the ship, her hands firmly clasped behind her back, subconsciously emulating her father as she walked the deck with purpose. Her auburn hair was tied back severely, stopping the rapid wind from whipping it about her head as steely eyes took in the activities of the crew. They were performing admirably, as they had since the voyage had first begun only three days ago. Few were better trained than the sailors of the Ragoran Navy, their professionalism and adherence to rank nearly a religion all its own. The stern expressions and shouted communication of the men and women caused warmth to blossom in Cassie's heart. She'd once been one of them, a deckhand scrambling across the ship with fervent purpose, desperate to impress, to prove herself. She missed those days on occasion. It had been some time since then, having been selected for the raiders only six months after graduating from the Naval Academy, but she still looked back on it with fondness. There was a sense of camaraderie amongst the sailors of the Fleet that was lost as one rose up the ranks or, as in Cassie's case, changed specialisation entirely.

That wasn't to say that she regretted joining the raiders. They were the elite of the elite, the first to enter combat and the last to leave. To call them the best would be something of an understatement. Their training and equipment was leagues above what was provided to any other body of the Ragoran military. Cassie recalled her pride when the gruelling regimen finally came to an end. She'd spent an additional three months of training at Fort Sumter to ready herself for the final trials, to finally wear the silver medallion etched with the legendary singing siren. There, before her family and friends, she'd been named a raider of the Ragoran Fleet.

How her father smiled.

Cassie shook her head of the thought, of the man's shit-eating grin, and returned to her duties. Emotions were a weakness which could be conquered like any other. Cassie had known this since she was a girl and she was unlikely to let them hold any sway of her now. While growing up, she'd seen many make the same mistake over and over again, including the members of her own family. She'd often wondered how people could be so free and open with their feelings. Whatever switch allowed them to do so was forever beyond Cassie's reach. She was a private person and kept herself to herself. No one needed to know what she was thinking, or how she was doing. They simply needed to leave her alone, a lesson her family had never learned, constantly badgering her at every moment. Eventually Cassie had given up on telling them to go away. In truth, she rather enjoyed their company, even if she felt she didn't have much to add much to the dynamic. She did adore being an older sister. Children were so easy to entertain, to get along with. Especially Tessaraina.

Tessaraina.

Cassie grit her teeth and clenched her gloved hands tightly, the sound of the straining leather almost soothing, allowing her to find her centre once more. Yes, she'd been a good sister, but when she was younger she'd barely spoken to anyone not of her blood.

Of course, her attitude had changed upon joining the Navy. Doubly so when she was thrust into a command position almost against her will. As a raider, she'd thought she had finally found her calling, her true purpose in life. To live by the sword on the high seas, her cutlass cutting down any who threatened herself or her crew. She'd never expected to be a leader, a commander, yet that was exactly what happened exactly one year ago, almost to the day, when the Lieutenant of the raiders aboard the Fortitude had been speared through the gut by a Wellinder. Cassie could still remember the scream as he fell backward, his belly split open as he tried to hold his intestines in. His wound would later be the end for him, but the beginning for Cassandra in many ways. She had been a Warrant Officer at the time, an easy enough role that gave her little in the way of responsibility beyond passing orders from her Lieutenant. With him dead and no one else willing to take up his mantle, she was forced to become something she'd never wanted to be. Many had died that day, but all agreed that if hadn't been for her quick thinking and undeniable skill, the Fortitude would have been destroyed. Upon their return to Nian, her promotion was made official and a toast had been raised to her by the Admiral of the Fleet himself for her act of heroism.

She hadn't felt very heroic at the time, covered in blood as the dying cries of her subordinates echoed out around her but she had nodded and smiled all the same as the tables in the mess rumbled with fervour. She might not have felt she deserved the praise, but she would be lying if she said she didn't enjoy it. It was nice to be seen as something beyond the name you were born with, a struggle that Cassie had been fighting all her life.

Her sudden rise in fame had also caused some division in those that now served her. She'd heard the rumours as much as anyone else had, the tales of how the only reason she'd been promoted in the first place was because she was a D'viritazi. Luckily, Cassie still had loyal raiders who spoke up in defence of her, putting down any who had cause to disparage her name. Many of them had been there the day the Fortitude had found itself surrounded and cut off from the rest of their patrol, forced to fight a battle on three fronts. They'd seen what she'd done, how many Wellinders she'd single-handedly put in the grave. That feat in particular always gave many pause.

The reason the raiders were created in the first place was to battle Wellinders. Arrows and harpoons were all well and good, but the ships created by the savage Clans were too fast for Ragora to match. They were stronger, larger, but not able to keep up with the way a Wellinder raiding vessel cut through the water. Inscribed cannons were also an option, of course, but the vast expense of operating them, never mind the cost of actually having them constructed, was far too much for the Admiralty. Only four ships in the Fleet even had Inscribed cannons and of those four only one was operational at all times, sitting in the shallows near the port of Nian. The fear, and Cassie believed a a well founded one, was that should an enemy manage to board and take control of the cannons, the devastation that could be unleashed on Nian, or any of the Ragoran cities, would be catastrophic.

So, nearly one hundred years ago, the raiders were born, named for the old tradition that Wellind still practiced in modern times. Raiders were boarders, the warriors who took the fight to the Wellinders and ensured that none left their ships alive. The Clans of Wellind were born in blood, their aptitude for combat far exceeding that of any other country or culture on the continent. If a sailor was forced to fight a Wellinder in battle, the outcome was all but assured. Raiders were trained to match and exceed their great foe, to break them with superior skill and numbers. It was a dangerous profession, but one which was looked upon with awe by all in the Navy. Raiders were a different breed, warriors who were challenged to face impossible odds and return triumphant.

Cassie couldn't be happier to count herself among their number. Little did she know that even among the raiders, she was considered extraordinary. She'd been learning the sword since she could grip one in hand and sailing for nearly as long. Cassie also remained calm when others would panic, able to lead from the front while still keeping a steady head on her shoulders, even if a roaring Wellinder stood before her, over seven feet tall and axe ready to crush her. She had never faltered when faced with a threat and her reputation amongst the crew of the Fortitude was near mythical as a result. She didn't see the looks they gave her when her back was turned, the sheer disbelief in their eyes when she returned from a raiding vessel without a single scratch on her and a cutlass that was soaked in Wellinder blood. All raiders shared a certain degree of celebrity in the Navy and among the citizens of Ragora at large, but the admiration that was held for the silent guardian of the Fortitude was something else entirely.

They were only minutes away from docking now. Cassie felt a smile touch at the edges of her lips as the first noises of Nian swept over her, followed by the sweet smell of spice, the tang of freshly caught fish and the warmth of bread taken from hot ovens. She was lucky to arrive back in the morning, before the sun had fully crested the horizon. She loved Nian during this time. It had a calmness to it, before the stresses of the day began in earnest.

But the sight of her home was marred now, tainted by the reason she'd asked to leave early in the first place. Dealanaich was a constant reminder, the Nest clearly visible even from the deck of the Fortitude. Cassie tried not to look, but her eyes were drawn in that direction regardless. The sinking feeling in her chest persisted as her stare remained fixed on the Nest, almost as though she could feel her father staring back down at her.

At sea, Cassie was free. Returning to land felt oddly constricting at times. This feeling only grew all the more intense as she climbed to the peak of Dealanaich, so far removed from the White Sea it might as well be another world, one which her ancestors had crafted centuries ago. She'd learned to manage it, conquering the wave of panic that followed her return through sheer will, but her progress had been ruined by recent events. Now arriving in Nian felt like manacles were wrapped around Cassie's wrists and ankles, the weight making her feel slow and sluggish, unable to think, unable to breathe.

She found herself praying that no one was waiting for her at the port. If it would be anyone it would be Tilia, but Cassie hoped her little sister would stay away, at least for the moment. She needed time to readjust, to ready herself for seeing them all again.

After finding out what really happened to Tessaraina, the family had barely said one word to each other. Mother closed herself off, Tilia had thrown herself into her work, Lilian had dared to hope and Dawn distracted herself with her pregnancy. Freida ended up locking herself within her rooms, only letting her husband see her. Cassie knew that Deirdric and Alden had left for the mainland in search of their sister at her request soon after, but the raider couldn't help but think that it would all be for naught. The Rainie she remembered couldn't make it on her own, not in the world outside of the Nest. She was so small, so adorably empathetic. She didn't have the strength that was needed to survive for long without someone to protect her.

Cassie should have been that someone.

She was the big sister. It was her job, her purpose in their Clan. She was the best of them at fighting, even her father had said so. It shouldn't have been Alden who went with Tessaraina, it should have been her. She could have kept Rainie safe in Venos, could've stayed with her. Instead, Alden had left her behind in an unfamiliar land, in the hands of a mercenary who, apparently, served her father's will. Everyone knew you couldn't trust the word of a sell-sword, yet Mastan had done just that.

In Cassie's mind, this venture to save their sister was a fool's hope. It was like losing Tessaraina all over again. Lilian and Freida were dreaming, despite what their father said. They couldn't trust a word that dripped off of his venomous tongue. Rainie was gone and she wasn't coming back.

Cassie's hand found the hilt of her cutlass, squeezing some of her frustration into the steel as memories of the time she spent with her youngest sister appeared unbidden within her mind.

Usually she had complete control of her emotions, but learning that Tessaraina had been living in Venos without aid had thrown her for a loop. She couldn't think properly. She was distracted, ill at ease.

It was the reason she'd left the Nest in the first place, heading for the only place that had ever made any sense to her: The deck of the Fortitude. She couldn't take the sitting in one place, taking tea with her sisters as they all tried to soothe each other's consciences. Freida spoke often of preparing some sort of welcome for Rainie's return. How could she be so blind? Rainie was dead, they'd buried her. She wasn't coming back. Father himself had said he hadn't had any form of contact with her since she left, all communication going through the sell-sword he'd entrusted her to. She was most likely long since deac, a pile of white bones buried in a shallow grave without friends, without family, without hope.

Cassie drew an inch of steel from the sheath at her hip, dark eyes stormy as she glared at the Nest, the veins on her neck standing as the pressure around her grew intense, terrifying. The crew around her felt the shift in the air, the sudden tension suffusing them and making them all turn to look to the raider Lieutenant as one. They didn't know what had happened, didn't have any context for the sudden change, but like any animal, some instincts were difficult to ignore. They felt the presence of a predator, a natural enemy that forced them to stop their work to still their shaking fingers and trembling hearts.

“Cass, you look like you're about to kill someone.”

The voice gave Cassie pause, realising what she was doing a moment later as she returned her cutlass to its home and reigned herself in, a hitching breath the only sign that she'd come close to losing control. The suddenness of the attack terrified her. She'd never had any problems like this before. Yet another issue that could be placed at the feet of her father.

Willow, Cassie's second, took her place beside her lieutenant, kind eyes gleaming and a warm smile on her face. Cassandra felt her heart settle at the sight of her greatest friend, so very different from her, the opposite in so many ways. They may both be raiders, both formidable, but that was where the comparison ended. Willow was warm where Cassie was cold, kind where her friend was cruel. She also happened to be the prettiest woman that Cassie had ever seen. She didn't know why she thought that every time she caught sight of her, but it came up regardless. Her short, pixie-like brown hair complementing her fairy like features and warm, chocolate eyes.

Cassie stopped herself before her mind could wander beyond that point.

“Apologies,” Cassie said softly, simply, as she took yet another breath, though this one for very different reasons, “Coming home has made me... anxious.”

Cassie didn't like to speak. She found it difficult at the best of times and often those were few and far between. Still, she'd been getting better since joining the Navy, sometimes able to string whole sentences together. It was something of a requirement for someone who was in command of a group of warriors, much to her dismay. Despite her progress, Cassie still liked to remain quiet, observant. She found that her natural silence had a rather profound effect on those who served under her. There was respect, of course, but also a small amount of fear, of mystery. Cassie liked others not knowing how she would react at any given moment. When she spoke, they listened all the more intensely because of it.

“I can see that,” Willow laughed as she leaned against her longbow, yawning as she took in Nian next to her friend. Cassie's eyes found Willow once more, watching as the warm spray of the sea landed gently on her tanned skin, her smile pearly white and gleaming as her eyes all but glowed, “I feel the same sometimes. Still, its nice to be home. Its been rather boring aboard.”

Cassie nodded at that. She couldn't say that she hadn't enjoyed the peace and quiet of the time away at sea, but this time of year was known for Wellinders trying their luck by hammering their heads against the might of the Ragoran Fleet. It was raiding season after all, the coming of Autumn marking the time when all the Clans sent their warriors out to attack their neighbours in hopes of bringing back riches aplenty. Yet the border had been quiet, not a hint of any trouble for as far as the eye could see. Even the White Sea had been unnaturally calm, a bad omen if Cassie had ever seen one. They hadn't been deployed long, little more than a day in fact, before their Captain had decided to return to port. His decision had been met by cheers from the crew, many of whom had their own leave cut short by the suddenness of the order to investigate possible activity from Fort Sumter. Cassie, as a raider, had a choice on whether she wished to join them or hand off the responsibility to another unit, but she was loathe to let the Fortitude sail without her. Cassie made her name aboard this ship and didn't want to place her protection in the hands of a unit who didn't understand her history, her meaning. Besides, the order couldn't have come through at a better time, on the eve of yet another tea party with her sisters. She'd left a quickly scribbled note for Tilia and fled the Nest as fast as her feet could carry her. The further away she got, the less weight she felt upon her shoulders. Out on the White Sea she was nothing more than a raider, respected and admired for her skill. On land she was Cassandra D'viritazi, daughter of Mastan and Theadora, almost a Princess in the eyes of the people. She wished they didn't look up to them so. They were just people, like them, and not a one of them was perfect. Her most of all.

'Cassie! Look at the ships!'

Cassandra grimaced and placed a hand to forehead, cursing silently at the phantom of Tessaraina, who continued to dominate her thoughts. It had gotten better when they'd reached the Border, but since the choice to go home had been made Cassie could think of little else. She dreaded her return to the Nest, dreaded seeing her family again, of remembering times best left in the past, but she had little choice. She couldn't abandon them. As much as she didn't understand her family at times, they were her Clan. She loved them.

“Cass, what's wrong?” Willow's concern was clear as she turned to her friend, lowering her voice so the busy crew didn't overhear them, “Are you alright?”

“I'm fine,” Cassie replied, only slightly annoyed by Willow's closeness. The young woman did not adhere as strictly to the rules of rank as she should. Cassie should say something to her, but she knew that she wouldn't. She'd already long since given up on trying to stop Willow from calling her 'Cass'. If she was being truthful with herself, it was because she rather enjoyed it.

“To see your family?” Cassie looked to Willow with a raised brow, more than a little surprise in her eyes as the young woman laughed, rolling her own, “Come on, Cass. I knew something was wrong the moment we left port. I always do.”

Of course she would. Cassie had known Willow since they were both very young, their families having moved in similar circles since long before they were born. Willow's father had served in the High Lord's court for many years, a minor Lord with some land outside of the city. Technically Mastan and Willow's father were of the same rank, but that was where the similarities between the two ended. The High Lord would never dare to call a D'viritazi beneath him in the social hierarchy. Cassie had seen it first hand when the man had visited the Nest with his family. In public, Mastan showed the High Lord every grace and courtesy his rank afforded him. In private, all in the know were aware that the roles were very much reversed.

It made sense that things would be that way, Cassie thought to herself. After all, it had been her family who'd established the position in the first place, back when Ragora was still recovering from their sordid past of divided clans and brutal traditions. Every High Lord since the first had her family to thank for the power they wielded.

The power they were allowed to wield.

Cassie and Willow had met during one of the functions held in the High Lord's tower, many of which Cassie had been dragged along to as a small girl. She'd sit and watch as sycophantic, fawning Nobles tried to interact with her family, to pierce the veil of mystery that surrounded the D'viritazi. More than one would come up to her, usually the children of the rich and powerful, hoping to be placed into her inner circle. The joke was on them, for Cassie didn't have an inner circle, nor any other social construct of that nature. She had herself, her brother, her sisters and her parents. She didn't need anyone else. At least, that's what she told herself until Willow sat down beside her.

Cassie had fully expected to be inundated with compliments and annoying, prying questions by the young girl, the same as she had by so many others, but that didn't happen. Instead, Willow just sat there, saying nothing at all. This continued until the end of the function, when the girl simply got up and left without speaking a single word. Cassie could only watch her go, confused and more than a little bewildered by the strange girl.

For months after that day, Cassandra often found herself wondering why she didn't say anything. It happened once more when Willow accompanied her father to the Nest, the minor Lord having a meeting with Mastan and a few other members of the High Lord's court. Instead of seeking out Lilian or Freida as so many others did, Willow came and found Cassie, who was practising her swordplay with Alden. Again, she said nothing and sat on the ground near the entrance to the courtyard which was Cassie's practice ground. When the meeting was over, she simply stood up and followed her father from the nest, not a single syllable passing her lips.

When this happened a third time at yet another of the High Lord's functions, Cassie couldn't take it anymore and asked why the young woman was acting so strangely.

“I want to be your friend.” She'd smiled brightly, seemingly so happy that Cassie had been the one to break the silence between them, “But I needed you to talk first. That was important.”

To this day, Cassie still didn't understand what that meant and she'd pondered the words quite a bit over the years. She hadn't needed a friend, nor did she want one, but it seemed after speaking with Willow for the first time she wasn't given a choice in the matter. Through their formative years, the Academy and even into the raiders, it often seemed like Cassie couldn't escape Willow even if she tried.

If she was being completely honest with herself, she didn't want to. It was for that reason that, once she'd established her own command, Cassie had put in a request for Willow to be her second, having her transferred from the Wave-maker onto the Fortitude. Cassie still couldn't quite understand why she'd done it. She only understood that once she knew she could, it wasn't a choice at all.

“You know, next week Tilvanis is performing in front of the Singing Trees,” Willow said shyly, smiling at her friend, “It's supposed to be quite breathtaking.”

“I see.” Cassie replied, unsure exactly what point Willow was trying to make and continuing to glare at any sailor she believed was slacking. As a raider Cassie's authority didn't extend to the deckhands on board, but that didn't mean she couldn't offer some sage advice in the guise of stares filled with open contempt.

She'd come up from below just to have some time to herself. The Fortitude was a rather large vessel, a galleon capable of holding at least one hundred sailors and nearly fifty raiders. There was even more space now, with Cassie's unit only being twenty three strong, but it still felt stifling to be hemmed in all day, every day. The Captain didn't want personnel wandering the deck who weren't supposed to be there, but he tolerated it in Cassie's case. Kincay was well aware of the sense of protection the crew felt with her on board his ship. He was more than a little different to other Captains Cassie had sailed with over the years. He had an attentiveness to the needs of his crew that few could match and that extended to the raiders on board. Technically, he wasn't responsible for their safety, as that was Cassie's job, but he treated every single one of them as though they were family. After the scrapes they'd all been through, it was comforting to know that you had a steady hand at the helm who valued your safety above all other things. Cassie had learned much in matters of leadership from Kincay during her time on the Fortitude, experiences that she wouldn't trade for anything.

“I didn't want to ask you in front of the others,” Willow continued awkwardly, a slight tinge touching her cheeks as she stared down and into the churning foam of the White Sea, “Would you like to go with me? It'll be nice to have a friend there. You know what my family are like.”

Cassie did. Her mother and father were quite the social butterflies, she doubted that Willow would be able to hear anything over their attempts to further ingratiate themselves with dignitaries, both foreign and domestic. Cassie had unfortunately been subjected to it herself when Willow's Clan discovered her connection to one of the D'viritazi daughters. Thankfully she hadn't had to sit through their attempts too often before they realised it was a lost cause. She'd been to the Singing Trees before, her family having had outings there many times. It was one of the reasons many of means came to Ragora in the first place, to listen to the jungle fill with melodious harmony. Tessaraina had always loved them, Cassie remembered, even as a babe.

Spirit! Why couldn't she get her sister out of her head?

“Another time.” Cassie replied softly. The thought of being surrounded by so many people, especially in light of recent circumstances... well, it sounded like the underworld made manifest on the physical plane. Besides, if you've seen the Singing Trees once you've seen them a thousand times. Tilvanis would liven things up, she was sure, with him being said to be a bard of unparalleled talent, but not enough to make Cassie attend.

“Oh... Alright, another time,” Willow smiled, but it was significantly weaker than before, “I just thought you could use the distraction. I know that-”

“Lieutenant D'viritazi! Just the woman I was looking for.”

The voice belonged to none other than Captain Kincay, the elderly man sauntering across the deck with the sure footing of a sailor who'd spent his life at sea. Despite recently celebrating his sixtieth year of life he had the energy of a man half his age. Short and made up of sinuous muscle, the Captain had seen more than his share of battles, with several scars criss-crossing his arms and face. That was another reason for Cassie's immense respect for the man. Several Captains in the Fleet were wet behind the ears and hadn't been in a fight in their lives, at least not one that could threaten their safety. Kincay was the opposite in most respects, never shy of drawing his sword and spilling blood shoulder to shoulder with his men. As a man of common birth, he couldn't rely on his name to help him, he'd needed to earn their admiration and deference through sheer, bloody hard work. The fact that he was common born should mean nothing in Ragora, but Cassie knew prejudice still existed, especially in the Navy, the shining jewel of the Ragoran military. Kincay was proud of the fact that he had risen on merit rather than his name, performing so many great feats for the Fleet that he all but forced the Admirals to promote him and give him command of the Fortitude.

Cassie was trying to do something similar, though her own problem may have been the exact opposite. Kincay wanted to be seen in spite of not having the very thing that Cassie was trying to run away from: her Clan's name.

“Captain!” Cassie shouted, with Willow following suit beside her as the two young women saluted their commanding officer. Kincay was rarely one to stand on ceremony, especially when out at sea, but one could never be too careful. As kind and gentle as he seemed at times, he also had a firm hand when it was needed.

“At ease, Lieutenant, we're not quite in earshot of shore yet, no need for the formalities.” Kincay said with a smile as he looked around to the men, each of them giving their own salute before returning to their duties, before he looked to Willow, “Wonderful that you are here, Warrant Officer Merry. Saves me the trouble of searching for you myself.”

“Sir?” Willow asked with a blink of confusion.

“I just need a consult, nothing dire, I assure you." The Captain walked to the railing and leaned over the port side of his ship, patting the wood fondly as though she was a lover or a wife. Perhaps she was in the Captain's eyes. He'd been her Captain for as long as he held the rank and all knew he had an uncanny relationship with his vessel. It was almost as though he had supernatural intuition when it came to how the Fortitude operated, often pointing out problems that no one else had seen, “I wanted to speak to you both in regards to our... shall we say, peaceful trip. Thoughts?”

Cassie frowned, unsure what the man was trying to say. Kincay sounded like he was on edge, his voice strained. Now that Cassie focused she noticed a heaviness under his eyes that hadn't been present when they'd left three days before. Sometimes Cassandra found it difficult to read facial cues. Being friends with Willow had helped, but she still floundered at times. The subtle art that came so easily to her mother and father still eluded her. Thankfully, the signs of stress were so clear on the face of her Captain that even she couldn't fail to notice, “I don't understand, sir.”

“The reason we were sent out, Lieutenant, was because there had been reports of activity at the border. Yet we found nothing. Shit, we found less than nothing.”

Cassie knew of what he spoke. She'd been briefed with the other officers the day they'd come on board the ship. Naval Intelligence had sent over a dossier to Kincay, one which stated several ships belonging to an unknown Clan had been sported skirting the boundaries of Ragoran territory. It wasn't unusual to receive word of such sightings around raiding season. Usually the Wellinders liked to pick on softer targets, but every year there would be an noticeable increase in attempted breaches during the Autumn months. The Fortitude had been sent out to reinforce one of the Border patrols, which consisted of two brigs named the Hammer and the Red Thorn. Their goal was to make sure that no ships slipped the net and made it to the Island, nothing more. The raider thought the Captain would be happy about the lack of activity but his troubling expression continued to make Cassie doubt her intuition.

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“We receive reports like that from Intel all the time, sir,” Willow began respectfully, her words echoing Cassie's thoughts, “It isn't unusual for them to be wrong. Rare, but it happens.”

“It's raiding season, Merry,” the Captain said with a shake of his head, “We should have at least come upon a couple of ships filled with enterprising young Wellinders hoping to make a name for themselves, but nothing. I spoke to the Captains of the Hammer and the Red Thorn, they were surprised to even receive reinforcements. The last activity they noted was three days ago and that was just a passing merchant vessel that was knocked off course. They've been in constant communication with the other patrols and each of them has had minimal interaction with the enemy. It makes my blood run cold.”

“You think something is afoot, Captain?” Cassie asked, her eyes narrowing, “Is there something we're missing?”

“Maybe. Maybe I'm just being paranoid,” Kincay chuckled, scratching at his salt and pepper beard, “But I want to make sure.”

“Sir, three days is not enough time to come to a reasonable conclusion as to their intentions,” Willow said, trying to put Kincay's mind at ease, “The longest the Fleet has gone without fending off the Clans is measured in months, not days.”

“During raiding season?”

Willow hesitated, “Well... no. But three days is-”

“I know, I know,” Kincay sighed, a look of frustration crawling up his face, “You studied Wellind in the Academy, did you not?”

Willow immediately perked up, standing at attention with a smile on her face. A raider she may be and a formidable warrior to boot, but the young woman had always been more inclined towards scholarly studies than war, unlike Cassie, “Yes, sir. I've studied their history going back to the purge and beyond.”

“So tell me, with your knowledge of the Clans and how they operate,” Kincay asked with a dour expression, “How long do we have to wait before we can confirm something is wrong?”

“You think they're mobilising?” Cassie said suddenly, her hand coming up to touch her chin as she stared into space, “You believe the Clans are planning an attack?”

Willow shook her head immediately, “Not possible. The division between the Clans is greater than it has ever been in the past. There is no reason they would ever think to mobilise against us. The Zar, Wellind's most powerful Clan, would be needed for such an alliance and they'd never attack. They are the only ones with the strength and the means to force any sort of unity amongst the Clans.”

“Why not?” Kincay asked.

“Because they have no reason to, sir. They have the lion's share of alternate, safer raiding grounds, leaving the other Clans to argue over scraps. They have no reason to put their position in danger by pitting their might against Ragora. The cost would be far too high.”

Cassie wasn't as well-versed in Wellinder culture as Willow was, but even she had heard of Clan Zar. They'd risen to prominence when she was still very young, but she still recalled her father speaking of their victory, of how they'd taken Gloryhome, the heart of Wellind, with relative ease and minimal losses. According to Mastan, it was the actions and abilities of one man, one warrior, that had allowed the Zar to achieve such a triumph: Clo'dorsha, an ancient title for one who embodied the strength and skill of the dead War God. She'd felt fear at hearing that name once. He'd sounded supernatural to her young mind, though that had faded when she herself starting learning to fight. That was the last she'd ever heard of them. They'd never attacked Ragora, proving themselves wiser than half of their competitors. Cassie couldn't help but agree with Willow on every count, it would be foolish for them to attack. Even if they did, what could they hope to achieve?

“Besides, it hasn't even been six months since Clan Hoflin was destroyed,” Willow pointed out, “They were one of the mightiest Clans in Wellind, reduced to rubble by the Lieutenant's father. I know little of the inner workings of Clan Zar, but even they must see it would an exercise in futility to repeat history.”

Cassie remembered that day well. She recalled the panic in the eyes of the sailors beside her and even some in her raiders as they all stood on the deck of the Fortitude, sailing alongside twenty ships, two of which were armed with Inscribed Cannons. The foes arrayed at the border had seemed endless, with at least a hundred raiding ships barrelling straight towards them. Cassie had felt nothing but excitement in that moment, as the rain pounded down from above and Lightning lit up the sky. She was eager to test herself, to prove her command was not just the result of her name and circumstance.

Her father didn't give her a chance.

He'd appeared on the swelling and tumultuous surface of the White Sea. Standing in place on the water as he stared out at the horde of Wellinders that fast approached. They saw him as well, but their hubris meant they didn't turn around. They tried a few minutes later, once they'd realised the enormity of their mistake, but by then it was already too late.

Mastan D'viritazi moved faster than the eye could see, his whips blinding as they cut whole ships in half with a flick of his wrist. They attacked him as he came, their deadly aim and vast skill no match for a Master Knight of Mastan's calibre. It helped that the battle favoured him. The Wellinders had no Knights to defend them and so all fell within moments to the man garbed in blinding Lightning. All in the Fleet watched, terrified and in awe, as Mastan tore apart an entire Clan without breaking a sweat. The worst of it was he appeared on the deck of the Fortitude after unleashing such devastation, patting Cassie on the head like she was a child, and disappearing just as quickly.

In what felt like a single moment, the greatest threat that Ragora had faced in nearly a hundred years was thwarted. Cassie could still hear the screams, the cries of pain that echoed out across the water, defying the noise of the storm that encased them all. The Fleet had waited till morning, killing the few stragglers who'd managed to survive her father's onslaught, before sailing home for Nian. It had been quiet aboard the Fortitude, not a man or woman breaking the silence as all dwelt on what they had witnessed.

Cassie was not as shocked as they. All she felt was a fury that her father had stolen her thunder, her chance to continue to be seen as more than D'viritazi. This was followed by selfish self-hate, as having her moment in the spotlight would no doubt mean the deaths of many of her raiders. In the end, she settled on being thankful that her father was there. Not for herself, but for those under her command. She wasn't particularly close to any who followed her, but that didn't make them any less her soldiers, her warriors. Following Kincay's example, she would do what she could to keep them all safe, to return to their families.

“Perhaps you're right,” Kincay said begrudgingly, though Cassie saw he was unconvinced, “You make a logical argument, Warrant Officer, I just can't help but think that we're not seeing the whole picture. Call it intuition or Spiritual guidance if you wish. I've sailed the White Sea for too long to ignore it.”

“What are your orders, Captain?” Cassie asked softly, standing at attention and nodding at Willow to do the same, her second following suit without a word.

“You didn't answer my question, Warrant Officer Merry,” Kincay stated once more, “How long?”

“Going a week or more without having some kind of incident with Wellind during raiding season would be unusual, sir.” Willow said after a moment of thought.

Kincay nodded thoughtfully, “Alright then. I've already prepared a report for the Admiral, but I have one other that I would like to be passed along. That's where you come in, Lieutenant.”

“Sir?” Cassie felt her heart sink into her stomach, a subtle tremble running through her legs.

“I need you to take another to your father. I want him to be aware of what's going on, just in case. The Admiralty won't tell him shit unless he asks and I want to stay ahead of this.”

“Sir, is that the best idea?” Willow asked at a whisper, eyeing the crew around her, “If the Admiral finds out that-”

“That's why I'm only letting the two of you know about this,” Kincay muttered, his voice just as quiet, “Besides, I'm already defying orders by returning early from the Border. I can weather the storm if the Admiralty kick up a fuss, but we need to keep this as contained as we can, at least for the moment. No sense in causing a panic by letting too many know. I might be wrong, I pray that I am, but it would be best if we keep the relevant parties involved of a possible invasion. Would you not agree.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Yes, sir.”

Cassie's voice cracked, unnoticed by the Captain but picked up on by the savvy Willow, who turned to look at her friend with a frown.

“Good. Will you see it done, Lieutenant?”

Cassie wanted to say no, wanted to reject the duty and fob it off onto someone else, but she knew she couldn't do that, nor would she even if it was an option. She had to face her father eventually, at least this meant they would have something other than Tessaraina to talk about. She would ensure the meeting was brief if nothing else, “Of course, sir.”

Kincay nodded with a bright smile, reaching into the coat of his uniform and pulling forth a folded piece of paper absent seal. He handed it to Cassie, turning his body to hide his action from the rest of his crew, “Good. I'll deal with your raiders when we reach the shore. I want that report to take the highest priority. I'll be at Fort Sumter, send a messenger to let me know its done.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Very well, back to work.” Kincay turned on his heel and made his way back to the helm without a backwards glance, looking for all the world like a man who'd just been checking up on his subordinates. Cassie watched him go with narrowed eyes. Kincay was taking a huge risk. He was right to say that the Admiralty would most likely not inform her father, but Cassie couldn't understand how so small an idea as three days without attack meant there was some possibility of invasion. It was too great of a leap in logic, especially when the stakes were so high. Should the Admiral of the Fleet discover the source of the deception, Kincay would lose his ship and his rank, not to mention the good reputation it had taken him years to build.

“Do you think he's right?” Willow asked, her own expression now sharing the unease that was etched onto the Captain's.

“You're the Wellinder expert,” Cassie replied, “You tell me.”

Willow shook her head hesitantly, “Everything I know about Wellind suggest that its impossible, but he looks so convinced.”

“Kincay has good instincts,” Cassie stated, hiding her own doubt behind her loyalty, “We should heed his word.”

Cassie took the place that Kincay had only recently vacated, hoping in part that Willow would leave her to her own thoughts for a while. She should have known she was dreaming in that regard. The raider followed her, taking up a spot to her left as they both watched the fast approaching dock of Nian in the distance.

“You need to talk to me, Cassie,” Willow began kindly, “I caught that look.”

Cassie carefully schooled her face, but even she could not prevent the scowl from appearing. Willow always needled, never left anything well enough alone, “What look?”

“Don't bullshit me, Cass,” Willow snapped, though quietly to avoid being overheard, “When the Captain asked you to deliver that report you looked like you wanted to throw him overboard.”

“Leave it alone, Willow.” The warrior's tone was low. Dangerous.

Willow laughed and rolled her eyes at her friend, “That may work on everyone else, but it won't work on me. You need to tell me what's going on.”

“Why!” Cassie shouted, a little too loudly. Eyes were immediately drawn to the duo, even Willow seeming shocked by the sudden increase in volume, “What are you all staring at? Back to work!”

The sailors quailed under the intensity of Cassie's stormy stare, their own quick to drop back to the tasks they were performing. Cassie's barked command also caused many of those closer to find new jobs, moving further away from the two raiders.

Cassandra felt a hand wrap around her wrist, the firmness and intensity of it making sure she couldn't leave without making a scene, something which Willow knew Cassie was loathe to do in any circumstance, especially not in front of so many faces, “Cass.”

All she said was her name, but it was more than enough. Cassie felt the rising anger within her begin to fade. What was she doing? She didn't give into her emotions, didn't let them control her. Again she was reminded of just how tumultuous she felt every moment of every day, how learning of Rainie's fate had left an open wound on her heart. She'd thought time away at sea would heal it, but she couldn't have been more wrong. The weight of the stress she'd felt had left her, yes, but that was only replaced by guilt at the idea of abandoning her sisters when they needed her most. She'd been selfish again, as she always was when things got too hard, too difficult. As great a warrior as she was, Cassie always ran away when complicated feelings came into play. She thought herself the master of her own mind, but that was a lie she'd concocted. The truth was she just didn't know how to handle it, rejecting and disparaging her sisters for believing, for the hope they felt at the idea that Rainie was still out there somewhere.

Where they felt joy, Cassie only felt a crushing sense of loss, of failure. She was supposed to protect them. Not just Rainie, but all of her siblings. That was what her father had told her, what he'd raised her to believe.

“You're the strongest, Cassie.” His hand was placed on her small head, a comforting touch to remove the sting of pain from her weeping hands, injured from wielding the blade for far too long, “You have to keep them safe.”

She couldn't do even that. The worst of it was that the very person that had given her that instruction had damaged her family almost to the point that they could never be healed. She hadn't seen it. Why hadn't she seen it?

“Cass,” Willow was closer now, far too close, “I'm here. Always, right here, with you.”

She was, and yet for some reason Cassie couldn't help but think she had never felt further away. Her one connection outside of her Clan and she was trying to distance it. It was what she always did. It was why she'd barely said a word to Willow during their time at sea, making sure there were others nearby to avoid this exact conversation.

“I know,” Cassie replied, leaning against the railing once more, feeling the salty spray of the warm water as it touched her cheeks. Her throat felt dry, “I... I need help.”

“What's wrong, Cassie?” Willow said, releasing her hold and standing beside her once more. Their hands weren't quite touching, but Willow's pinky was settled against hers, the warmth of it filling the warrior and settling her tumultuous spirit. She hated being touched almost as much as she hated speaking, unless it was her.

“Tessaraina.”

“Have you been thinking of her?” Willow said softly, sadly.

Willow had been there when they'd held the funeral. Last rites spoken over an empty casket that would later be lowered into the sea. Cassie had held Tilia's hand while the other had grasped her mother's, both crying and filled with such grief. Theadora had known. She'd known from the beginning and still she had the nerve to shed tears, to share in the pain of her son and daughters. They'd lost something in themselves that day, something which would never return. Cassandra didn't cry, she couldn't. It all felt so surreal, almost as though it was happening to someone else. She kept mistaking Tilia for Rainie, their hair the same, their smell the same. It was all too much and so she shut herself off.

Her father didn't cry.

“I have. She never died at sea.”

“What?” Willow suddenly looked to her friend, eyes wide and filled with shock.

“Rainie might still be alive.”

*

The carriage rumbled up the steep inclines of Dealanaich, the rock causing the ride to be less than comfortable. Thankfully, Cassie and Willow were more than used to it. This wasn't their first journey up the mountain, nor was it likely to be their last.

Arriving at dock filled all of the crew with good cheer as they sang songs and went about the business of securing the Fortitude. Many watched as the massive galleon sailed into place, more than one with eyes as wide as saucers. Cassie could understand their awe at such a sight. She'd felt much the same way as a child, often finding excuses for one of her elder sisters to take her to the port to watch them sail in and out of the dock. When she was older and was trying to decide on her future, she would often come down ponder on what her life could be. It was here, in this place, that she'd decided to join the Naval Academy. A path all her own, free from the D'viritazi name.

Captain Kincay had waved her away as soon as the gangplank was in place, a grave nod her only farewell as she returned the gesture. Moving swiftly and with purpose, Cassie grabbed her small pile of belongings and weaved her way through the masses on the port. Luckily, many knew the uniform she wore, the black and blue of the Navy offering her some room to maneuver as she made her way towards her family's private dock at the other end of the Nian port. There was always a carraige held there, one with a driver skilled enough to navigate the treacherous terrain of Dealanaich. She planned to return to the Nest as soon as she could, to see her father and deliver Kincay's report. She'd given her word, after all. Kincay was not ordering her to do this. He couldn't, in fact. What Cassie should have done was report the Captain to the Admiralty at Fort Sumter, but she would never do that to the person who had taught her so very much. She chose to trust him, knowing full well that he was rarely wrong in situations like this one. He always said he 'went with his gut' and it had rarely steered him, nor any member of his crew, wrong.

It was only when she'd managed to pierce the crowd and caught sight of the entrance to her family's warehouses that she realised she was being followed. She knew who it was before she even turned around.

Willow was standing there, bow in one hand and a bag in the other. She clutched both objects tightly to her chest, staring at Cassie's feet, frozen in place like a hare that had caught the scent of a fox. Her eyes were red from crying, her face flushed. She was trembling but she didn't turn away despite being subjected to Cassandra D'viritazi's terrifying glare.

Few words had been exchanged between them after Cassie's had revealed the truth about Tessaraina. Willow had tried to get more out of her, of course, but just mentioning her little sister's name aloud had been exhausting. She closed up again soon after, barely looking at the raider. She should have seen this coming. Willow wasn't one who could just leave after hearing something so life-changing. Cassie didn't regret it. Breathing felt a little easier now that she knew.

“What are you doing?”

“I-I''m going with you,” Willow's reply belied her appearance, filled with strength and conviction, “You shouldn't be alone now. Not after-”

“Go home, Willow,” Cassie snapped as she continued on her way, “You'll only get in the way.”

“No.” Willow said stubbornly and quickly moved to follow her friend, speeding up so she could walk alongside her, “Not leaving you.”

“Willow-”

“Shut up, Cass,” Willow snapped, her eyes still touched by unshed tears, “I'm not leaving. If you're going to see your father, you'll need me. Besides, you can't make me leave.”

“I could.” Cassie growled, her lips pulling back to reveal sharpened canines, a predator's grin.

“But you won't,” Willow said with a chuckle, “You'd never hurt me.”

Cassie came to a complete stop, drawing Willow up short. The young raider very nearly dropped her bow and bag, such was the suddenness of Cassie's movement. The certainty in Willow's statement was so great Cassie almost felt it strike like a physical force across her cheek. For a moment, the two women only stared at each other, one set of eyes stormy and as sharp as steel, the other warm and filled with comfort, with love.

Cassie snarled into the air, her hands tightening into fists as she started walking once more, “Stay out from underfoot, and no bloody talking!”

“Yes, Lieutenant, no talking. Quiet as a mouse!” Willow beamed as she hefted her belongings once more and continued after her friend.

The two made it to the carriage, the men at the gates recognising Cassie for who she was and not slowing their advance in any way. Together, they climbed into the carriage and set off for the Nest, sitting in the opulent comfort such a ride afforded them. The driver needed no convincing. One glance at Cassandra's stormy eyes was enough to make him lower his head in deference. Cassie had always hated the thing. While being in the bowels of a ship at sea was tolerable, enjoyable even, but being locked in a steel wrapped coffin that was rising up a mountain and could plummet with a single wrong decision filled her with no small amount of fear. Adding to her irritability was Willow's stubborn need to be a good friend, which made Cassie all the angrier. She didn't want her to see her family, to see what they'd become. More than that, she didn't want Willow to think less of her for leaving the way she did.

“So, are you going to tell me what happened?” Willow's probing question caused Cassie to open her eyes. She'd been trying to forget where she was, but apparently that wasn't an option.

“What did I say about talking?” Cassie asked before closing her eyes once more.

“I just really feel you should talk about this, Cass.”

“Why? You talk enough for the two of us. Anything I say is redundant.”

“Cassie-”

“Hush,” The warrior replied softly, allowing her cold expression to be a little more open, accepting of Willow's feelings, “We'll speak more once we reach the Nest. Just... Please, just give me some time to gather my thoughts.”

“Alright.” Willow said.

A few seconds later, Cassie felt movement as Willow moved from her side of the carraige to the seat next to her own, shifting her bag out of the way as she did so. Cassie wanted to complain, it would be out of character for her if she didn't, but she didn't want to. Having Willow close was always comforting, especially now.

The journey flew by after that, Willow's proximity helping to ease Cassie's fears of the trip up the mountain. When the carraige came to a stop, however, was when the real fear set in. Dread clouded Cassandra's mind as she peaked out of the window

The doors to the Nest of her Clan had already been flung open, their lofty magnificence on display. The ostentatiousness of it all had never been a draw to Cassie, but even she had to admit that her ancestors knew how to make an impression. The entrance to her home was at once intimidating and beautiful, awe-inspiring in its complexity. She looked to the steps that led inside, spying only a single servant and none of her family, nor Arno. She breathed a sighed of relief, thankful for the privacy, for the moment to adjust. It was always jarring for her to return to land after a length of time at sea. Luckily, only three days had passed and she was barely affected beyond being a little unsteady when she first left the ship. She recalled on one occasion being on the Fortitude for nearly three months when they took their turn as one of the border patrols. Coming back after that was not a pleasant experience, especially so when one considered it was her first lengthy voyage with the Fleet. She could barely stand afterwards, almost falling over as soon as her feet touched land. Thankfully, that faded with time, but she was always slightly paranoid when returning home, praying to the Old Gods and Spirit to ensure she at least kept her dignity instead of stumbling to her knees as the world spun.

She stepped out of the carriage as Willow handed her bag over, joining Cassie on the heated stone of Dealanaich. The sun was just beginning to crest the peak, which meant they had made it just in time to avoid being cooked alive. It was simply the way of life to tolerate the heat at sea, but that was one aspect of Naval life that Cassie could do without.

“Lady Cassandra! Welcome home.” The servant at the doors bowed low, his head all but scraping the ground. Cassie could do without that as well, but she knew well enough to take the good with the bad.

Cassie nodded once in thanks, looking to Willow and ensuring the young woman was keeping up with her, “I need to see my father.”

“Ah,” The servant stood upright with a nervous expression on his face, “He is currently in the training grounds with Lord Orin. He could be quite some time.”

Lord Orin? Another sycophantic Noble's child wanting a lesson with the great Mastan D'viritazi, she assumed. Odd. Her father never deigned to give such requests the time of day before now, but then who knows if he was the same man he once was. It wasn't her concern in either case.

“That's fine, you may go.”

The servant made to say something else but Cassie dismissed him in her mind, striding past the young man with Willow in tow.

Cassie was intimately familiar with the Nest's interior. In fact, as a child and in a moment of abject boredom she had even tried to map the winding mass of rooms and corridors. She hadn't been successful in that, the task requiring far more time than she was willing to give, but she did like to believe she knew the halls of the Nest better than all others with the exception of her father. She led Willow through the maze with confidence, barely glancing ahead as her thoughts were consumed with her upcoming meeting with Mastan.

“Where are we going, Cass?”

“To my rooms,” Cassie said, only half-interested in speaking at all, “We'll wait there for father to send for me.”

“Shouldn't you have told the servant that?”

“No.” Cassie said simply. Nothing happened in the Nest without Mastan hearing about it. He'd want to speak to her upon learning of her return, this she knew absolutely. It had been their tradition dating back years. She doubted that even recent events would change that. He most likely expected her to reject the invitation but he would extend it regardless. For some reason, her father liked hearing about her life as a raider on the White Sea.

It was as they were walking past one of the many courtyard gardens that Cassie noticed something had changed. A new presence, a new face. One she didn't recognise.

Coming to a complete stop caused Willow to very nearly knock herself over by smashing into her friend's back, grumbling as she juggled her bow and bag, attempting to keep them from falling free. Cassie took pity on her friend, grabbing a hold of the bow as Willow secured her other belongings.

“Gods, Cassie! At least warn me or move out of the way when you do something like that,” Willow cursed, snatching her bow back from Cassie's outstretched hands. It was then that the young raider noticed the look on Cassandra's face, her slightly turned head, eyes looking through a pair of open glass doors to one of the many over-hanging gardens of the Nest, one which looked down upon the city of Nian below. The sight of it was beautiful, wondrous even, but Cassie had seen it too many times to be taken aback by it. The garden too, was breathtaking, but like the view it offered nothing new to Cassandra's eyes. No, what had caught her attention was entirely different.

“Cass? What's up?”

“Who is that?” Cassie asked curiously as she pointed in the direction of the stranger she had spotted.

And she was a stranger. Her pale skin and hair gave her away almost instantly. Blonde hair was relatively common in Ragora, if rarer than the customary darker colours, but pale skin was not. In fact, for as long as Cassie had been alive she couldn't remember seeing a single person with such a white complexion, even the merchants crossing the seas to trade having developed some kind of tan. Yet this woman remained completely untouched by the sun.

She sat on one of the benches arranged around the garden, seeking shade from the sun in the shadow one of the large trees that littered the area. A black book was in her hand, one which looked worn, more a journal than a published tome. The woman was staring at it intensely, her eyes focused to the exclusion of all else.

And what eyes she had. Gold, bright and shining. She seemed serene, angelic, almost as though she were an Incarnation of the Great Spirit itself. She had to be one of the most exquisite sights that Cassie had ever seen.

“Pick up your jaw, Cassie,” Willow said bitingly, her cold tone a sharp contrast to the heat.

“What?” Cassie turned to her friend dumbly, blinking several times.

“Nothing,” Willow snapped before looking to the woman once more, though this time she held no small amount of hostility in her eyes, “She's from the mainland, but definitely not the Empire or the Republic. Fero? Venos, maybe?”

Cassie snorted, “Why would a Venosian be in the Nest?”

“I don't know,” Willow said with a sigh, “Lets ask her!”

Without another word, Willow began to walk towards the young woman, all but forcing Cassie to join her. The warrior watched her friend's back, a hunched tension present that wasn't there before. Cassie wondered back to what she had done wrong. She was almost certain she'd done something, or perhaps it was something she'd said? She couldn't for the life of her figure out what, but Willow was temperamental at the best of times. Cassie was sure her friend would tell her the cause for her sudden concern soon enough.

The troubling development of Willow's mood quickly fell free of Cassie's mind as the two raiders approached the young woman. First her father was training someone not of the family, now a stranger from the west was sitting in the Nest without a chaperone. Cassie was missing something.

“Hello!” Willow all but shouted as she came to a stop before the woman, who very nearly jumped out of her skin. She blinked several times, as though adjusting to the real world once more as she stared up at Willow, whose stance was anything but welcoming. Golden eyes gleamed as Cassie examined the girl, half hidden behind Willow's back and out of her view.

She was young. Younger than Cassie had first suspected. She couldn't have been older than sixteen which only made her being there all the more confusing. It wasn't strange to see foreigners in the Nest, but they were always accompanied by either her mother or father, perhaps even one of her siblings. It could be that one was nearby, but she doubted it. Something about the woman's appearance was pulling at her, forcing her attention.

There was a gentle air to her, an inviting kindness that reminded Cassie of Willow in some ways, though it was absent the biting edge that her friend had always held within her. Despite that soft, comforting nature she exuded, there was also a hardness to her golden eyes, the hint of a colour so black that it defied logic and belief. Cassie couldn't read expressions well, couldn't interpret emotions, but she knew people, their character. Something was telling her that the girl before her wasn't quite as helpless as she appeared to be, despite her dress, slight frame and immaculately maintained hair.

“Oh, good morning." Her voice was melodious, thoughtful, and the smile that followed such a sound seemed to make the sun peeking over the mountain shine a little brighter. Cassie felt her heart skip a beat when subjected to such a sight, the simple greeting somehow far more than was intended. “I don't believe we've met.”

“No, we haven't,” Willow said, raising her head so as to glare down upon the woman, “We're wondering what you're doing here. Only servants and trusted associates of the D'viritazi are allowed to wander without a chaperone. You aren't a servant.”

The woman chuckled, looking down at herself, at the finery she wore. It was of Ragoran design, of that Cassie had no doubt, but she knew little of dresses, unlike her sisters. She'd never had the interest in wearing them even as a child. They were impractical, useless when employed in a combative setting.

“No, I am not.” The woman said brightly with a shake of her head, “And I am without a chaperone. I suppose that makes me a 'trusted associate'. My name is Elora. What is yours?”

Willow was clearly taken aback by the friendliness of the reply. Cassie could almost feel the hesitation in her. The warrior wasn't sure how exactly her friend had expected this to go, but it seems that having her open anger met by warmth and kindness was not it.

Elora. The pull that had drawn Cassie out to the gardens in the first place became all the stronger. An old half-forgotten memory swirling beneath the surface of her consciousness, just out out of reach. It felt important somehow, distinctive.

Willow seemed shocked into silence upon hearing the young woman's name, her previous bravado seeping away. Cassie took the opportunity to step around her friend, allowing herself to be seen by the newcomer. She had expected any number of reactions, most likely some show of deference and respect. Even if this woman had never seen her before, every member of the D'viritazi Clan was easily recognised by their auburn hair and uniquely coloured eyes.

But Elora did not immediately curtsey, nor did she bow or avert her eyes before one of the daughters of Mastan. Instead, recognition filled her as she jumped to her feet, shaking the book in her hand in Cassie's direction. Her smile transformed itself into a familiar grin as excitement sent a shiver through her body.

“Tess! You're not going to believe what I've-”

She stopped, stock-still, as the familiarity faded away. Elora tilted her head to the side, almost as though placing the pieces of a puzzle together in her mind. It was over in the span of a single breath, the Lady laughing as she gave a respectful curtsey, “Spirit, you have my apologies. You must be Cassie.”

“Tess?” Cassie asked softly, her eyes filling with the confusion that had filled Elora's only a moment before.

Elora nodded, “I'm sorry again, it's just you look so alike. The resemblance truly is uncanny.”

“Who are you-”

“I found it, Elora,”

'I found it, Cassie!'

No. No, no, no.

“By the Old Gods...” Willow had turned to face the new arrival, her mouth falling open, her eyes pinned with such shock that she, like Cassie, was suddenly locked into place. “Cass... look.”

She wanted to. She truly did, but the immensity of hearing that voice again, one which she'd believed had been lost forever, was too much for the warrior to take. Memories rushed back, those which she'd long since relegated to the very depths of her mind. She had locked them away to spare herself the pain of seeing her face. It was her. Cassie knew that with a certainty that defied her own beliefs, yet she could not turn. As much as she wanted to, she knew she couldn't. Her mind began to war with her soul, her doubt colliding with her want.

It couldn't be her. This wasn't real.

Her heart hammered, her breathing beginning to match as her chest rose and fell at a blistering pace. Cassie continued to stare into those golden eyes as her body began to shake, as reality began to bend and break, darkness closed in at the edges.

“No one told you,” Elora breathed as she took a step forward. Cassie immediately retreated, her hand going to the cutlass at her hip as she snarled, causing the woman to draw herself short. Aggression, instinct. Those were her foundations, what she could rely in when all other things fell away.

“Cassie, you draw that sword and I'm going to kick your ass.”

The voice had turned dangerous, more animalistic than human. Tessaraina was still there, her tone, her inflection, but it was changed. It reminded Cassie of herself. That fact alone caused her to sob into the air, her grip around the hilt of her blade shaking.

“Is this real?” Cassie whispered to Elora, trying to handle her breathing, to stop herself from letting the cascade of emotions overwhelm and consume her. Her eyes were pinned to the young woman, fear and hope warring within the razor sharp steel, “Am I dreaming?”

“It's real, Cass,” Willow said just as quietly, walking up to Cassie's side. She was crying, but smiling. Joyful. “She looks just like you.”

Cassie laughed shaking her head even as she grinned savagely into the air. Hapless euphoria filled her as she spoke, “Rainie doesn't look like me. She looks like Freida, like Dawn. Not me. Its a lie. You're all lying.”

“Cass-”

“I don't know what game you're playing, but stop it!” Cassie's rage, her pain, fixed on the person in front of her. Elora stared at her with nothing but sympathy in her eyes, understanding. What could this girl possibly understand about such loss? “Rainie isn't here! She's gone! She went away and she's never coming back!”

Suddenly, she was young again. Standing next to her sisters and brother as their parents told them that Rainie had died, lost to the depths of the White Sea. They'd cried and wept, holding each other as she stood to the side, unsure of what to do, of how to react. Tessaraina had been her baby sister. She was supposed to keep her safe. She hadn't cried, even when the others sought comfort in her arms.

It was then that Elora's face was replaced by another and Cassie could only stare, only marvel, as her eyes suddenly snapped into focus. Her mind cleared, the memories banished as the darkening vision dissipated. She gazed upon Tessaraina for the first time in over ten years.

Her hair was different, but it was still her hair. Her eyes were different, but they were still her eyes. She'd grown tall, a match for Cassie in height. She had the look of a warrior about her, even in the way she stood, the way she leaned slightly on one leg, her calloused hands never far from the well worn hilts of the daggers at her hip. She was muscled, wiry, lean. The build of a predator, as fast and as lethal as any blade. Willow was right. She did look like her. The curve of her jaw, her mouth, her nose. They could have been twins if not for the difference in age and the fact that her skin was a shade lighter, closer to Elora's than her own.

“Hello, Cassie.”

The raider lifted a hesitant arm, fingers trembling as she placed them against Rainie's cheek before pulling it back just as fast, staring at her tingling hand with wonder. She'd needed to be sure, needed to be certain that this wasn't just some elaborate fever dream that she'd concocted in her own mind to escape the guilt she still felt gnawing at her very soul.

“I'm so sorry, Rainie.” Cassie began to cry then, the tears flowing freely. She cried for all the times she couldn't in the past, all the times she'd failed to comfort or console. For all the moments when she could have done something to save her but had been too weak or foolish to do it, “I'm s-so sorry.”

Rainie smiled at her and it was that same smile she'd had since she was a little girl. Everything about her had changed, her transformation bewildering and total, yet that hadn't. Seeing it again, after so many long years of heartbreak, was enough to cause Cassie's body to tremble all the more intensely.

“It's alright, Cassie,” Rainie replied as she reached out hesitantly, touching the hand that still gripped the hilt of her sword. Her cheeks were wet, eyes so similar to her own, “It wasn't your fault.”

She wished more than anything that she could believe that.

Cassie hugged her sister then, pulling her in close, holding her even as sobs racked her body. She smelled different. She was different, but Rainie had come home. Cassie tightened her hold even as she felt her sister return her desperate embrace.

Willow and Elora stood side by side, tears shining in both of their eyes as they looked to the crying siblings, locked in each other's arms.