I sat on the edge of our opulent bed, my sword and belt undone and laying next to me on the soft, thin silk. As I dabbed at my face with the wet towel Elora had thrust into my hands as I entered the room, I couldn't help but wonder as to the reason for such flimsy fabric. My thoughts snapped into focus a moment later, realisation quick to follow. After all, who needed warm blankets when the sun baked the land in the day, the retained heat lasting long into the nights? I glanced at the huge windows, wincing as a hint of sunlight touched my eye and caused stars to dance across my vision. I found myself thinking that the rising of the moon couldn't come fast enough.

The room that had been provided to us by the D'viritazi was, in a word, luxurious. Beyond that even. Never before had I felt so out of place, even in Myrin's grand palace or the Senator's spacious villa in Yelmora. It was a symphony of fine art and expensive furnishings. There was even a little drinks station by the bay doors to our huge balcony, one which was leaden with what I was assuming was good wine and silver goblets. The stone beneath our feet was replaced by fine, warmed marble, which I had to admit felt good against my bare feet, my boots abandoned on the way to the bed. I sighed morosely, trying to push my last conversation with Arno from my mind as I finally cast the bloodied towel aside, painfully aware of the fact that it might have been the most cost intensive battle rag I'd ever used to mop up my blood. I chuckled at that, touching Tessa's favour idly as I thought on the day so far. More than that, I thought on what was to come.

“We have a walk-in wardrobe, Orin. Spirit, I think this might be almost as large as the one I have back home. They have clothes for both of us in here. How would they even know we were staying together?”

“I couldn't answer that, Princess,” I smiled as I turned in my too soft seat, very nearly slipping to the floor. Elora was standing at the door to our private closet, her eyes furrowed in thought as she examined the dress and tunic she clutched to her chest with the intensity of a woman who had an acute understanding of fashion, “But Arno seems a capable man and the servants are obviously well-trained. I'm not surprised they were prepared for something like this.”

“I suppose so,” Elora sighed as she cast aside the impeccably conceived garments and walked to me, snatching up the crimson coated towel that sat next to my sword, “I'll pick out some items for dinner. Something that goes with your eye, I think. You looked so handsome in green back in Myrin.”

“I could call the Storm if you want?” I grinned, “Is there anything in there that goes with Lightning and black clouds?”

“Considering this is the home of the Lightning Smiths, I would say yes,” Elora smiled as she brushed at the blood I had missed, her absent hand running through my hair and touching upon the piece of her dress idly. I closed my eye to her touch, my hands coming up to wrap around her waist, pulling her closer and enjoying her proximity, “Though perhaps we should stick with the green. I wouldn't want the guard up in arms because they thought you were about to start a fight again.”

“Pretty reasonable assumption. I do love a good fight,” I frowned in sudden thought, “The first time you saw me wear green in Myrin was during the fight with Craven. I wasn't wearing the tunic for more than a few seconds.”

Elora shrugged with a shy smirk, “True, but you removing it was the best part.”

“Oh? Is that right?” I tightened my grip around my Princess, forcing her closer still.

“Stop that, Orin,” Elora laughed, grabbing my chin in hand as she forced me to look up at her and not to...well, other things, “You are incorrigible. I still need to clean up this blood.”

“It can wait.” I said softly, my hands going lower.

“For you perhaps,” Elora rolled her eyes, “But I would much rather kiss my husband when he hasn't the taste of iron on his lips. Now hold still.”

I did as my Princess commanded, though not without letting her know of my displeasure with a rather bitter sigh of disappointment, which only drew yet another laugh from my exquisite wife, “As you command, my Princess.”

“Plenty of time for that later, love,” Elora said sweetly, pressing her lips to my forehead before resuming her task. I smiled and just enjoyed her touch, the feeling of her fingers through my hair. I shivered slightly as she brushed at the edge of my silver scar. For some reason it had been aching since we'd reached Dealanaich, for the first time in weeks. As had the other souvenir I'd received from Zelato across my chest. I thought of mentioning it to Elora, but decided to keep silent. I wasn't above a little pain and the feel of my wife's hand on my face was more than enough to quell the annoying twinge before it could become anything more serious, “What I would like to know is what you and Arno discussed.”

My expression darkened at that. Despite the dismissive tone I'd adopted with the man, I still found the exchange rather frustrating to recall, “You noticed it, didn't you? The way he stared at me when we were introduced at the gates?”

“I did,” Elora nodded, her concentration on her work absolute, “He clearly harbours dislike for you, love. I assumed it had something to do with his grandson, this 'Roland'.”

“As did I,” I shook my head, “But that wasn't the case.”

I explained to Elora what we'd spoken of, how he knew of my past and my time in Myrin. Finally I finished by telling her of the threat he'd made, barely veiled as a warning of what would befall me should I hurt the House D'viritazi in any way.

What surprised me about the Princess' reaction was that she didn't seemed very taken aback by what I described, merely shaking her head sadly, “I knew it would be something along those lines. You can tell just by talking to the man, the D'viritazi mean everything to him. He didn't even seem to care about the state of his grandson. You did hit him rather hard, love. A grandfather should be more inclined to check that he is alright, but Arno didn't bat an eye. The same with Niari-”

“Your best friend?”

“-Hush, you. Did you notice how he spoke to her, treated her? He loves her, that much is clear, but he seemed far too keen on how she could best serve the D'viritazi more than anything else. Mentioning how she would be perfect for the role of head steward if she only grew up? Did you not find that strange?”

I nodded, brow furrowed in thought, “I suppose it is, but I don't really see what this has to do with our conversation.”

“I saw it many times in Myrin, love,” Elora sighed, her golden eyes staring into the past, “Some Nobles become so obsessed with history that they refuse to see the present. Did I ever tell you of Count Hugo the Elder?”

I tapped Elora's back in thought, “I remember you mentioning a Hugo the Younger. You said you were on your way to meet him when-”

“-When I met Sister Erin and Delithia, exactly right. Hugo the Elder was his father. A pompous man, but by all accounts a good one. He treated those who worked under him well and was known as quite the loyal liege man among the Nobility.”

I raised a brow, wondering where my Princess was going with this tale.

“But he was stuck in his ways, obsessed with past glories. His family could be traced back to before the founding of Venos, all the way back to Zealeth, the Queendom in the far flung reaches of the west. He thought it gave him prestige over younger, more powerful families. His pride very nearly cost him everything. A great flood came storming through his land, to the west of Myrin. He did nothing to aid his people or his crops, both of which were suffering. It was a terrible time. Whole towns were wiped out, many people forced to move their lives elsewhere.”

“Why would he do that? You just said he was a good man?”

“And he was, my love,” Elora stated firmly, “But he believed he knew better. He claimed that the flood would pass quickly. His family had faced similar threats in the past and all had subsided before they did any harm. He looked to history for his answers and, heeding the experiences of his ancestors, stood firm against the onslaught of counsel. He said such advice was useless, especially when it came from Houses so much younger than his own. So instead of taking action to help his people, perhaps save some of his harvest, he stubbornly held the line. Even my parents got involved at one point. Myrin relied on his fields for food. Without them, the city and villages near the capital could go hungry. Yet he remained fixed, unwilling to do anything.”

“So what happened?”

“What all thought would happen. Days quickly turned to weeks with no sign of the deluge subsiding. My parents ordered his lands seized, but by then it was too late. Much of the harvest had died and, without it, many people couldn't feed themselves. It didn't help that what followed that year was the worst winter on record.”

“Let me guess,” I said with a sad sigh, “This all took place ten years ago?”

Elora hesitated, pulling the towel away from my face to look in my eye, her own filled with a pain which echoed my own. She didn't have to say the words, for I knew the truth. It seems more had happened during that terrible winter than I thought. I didn't dwell on that for long, though. I very much doubt that Hugo's idiocy affected me much. The past was the past, I couldn't change it, and even if there had been enough food to go around, I wouldn't have had the coin to provide enough to see us through the winter in any case. The only reason we'd made it through had been Mastan D'viritazi, a fact which still left a foul taste in my mouth. I was grateful to the man for what he did, I truly was, but the fact that he'd done it simply because I was in the orphanage grated on me. I suppose I could only be happy that I had been there. If I hadn't... well, that was something I would much rather not think about.

“And then?” I whispered, pushing the Princess onwards and pushing my own memories to the back of my mind, where they belonged, “I'm assuming things didn't go well for Count Hugo?”

“No, they did not,” Elora said firmly, “He was brought before the House of Hymns. Most of his lands were stripped from him, leaving him only one fertile field and a villa in the inner city to call his own. Many were calling for his head, especially those lesser Lords under him who'd been ruined by his inaction, but it turns out that such action wasn't needed. He died three weeks later, a heart attack ending his life when he was in his prime. His son inherited his title, though it was much diminished. Hugo the Younger carries the stain of his father's mistake but, thankfully, he seems more open to change than the Elder was. Even if he shares his father's inflated sense of self-worth.”

“You've lost me, Princess. What does this have to do with Arno?”

“Everything, Orin. I was told that tale as a girl, a word of warning from my father. The inability to change can destroy or cripple bloodlines. All you have to do is listen to Arno speak to know how much faith he puts in the D'viritazi. Not Mastan, but the family as a whole. The only time I heard him become animated was when he was telling me of his own clan's service, how they had been at the side of the D'viritazi for a thousand years. They may not be the Kings of this land, Orin, but they might as well be. It's been that way for centuries and Arno's afraid that your coming marks the end of an era, a change to the status quo. He wishes to keep things the way they are, to ensure stability. Not a bad goal, but in this case it is a misguided one. It's ironic in a way. The man seems obsessed with history and its making, but is terrified of the future. He can't do anything to prevent it either, because Mastan is pushing for you to be here and, as head of the Clan, his word is absolute. I'm glad that Arno isn't in charge, though I imagine it must be quite frustrating.”

“For us both, I'd wager.” I replied dryly.

Elora chuckled and threw the bloodied towel to the side, placing her hands around my neck gently, “Have no fear, my Knight. Arno may not like you being here, but his loyalty to Mastan is unquestionable, I learned that much from our brief interaction. Much like Hugo was to the old ways. He will not harm you. You just have to do as you said, show him that you aren't a threat. Perhaps that will change his mind.”

“You don't sound convinced, Princess.”

Elora shook her head, “I'm not. People like that tend to be as stuck in their ways as a boulder in the dirt. Arno's opinion matters little regardless. The Nest is ruled by one man only.”

“And one woman,” I reminded my wife, “From the way Arno was speaking it seems like Theadora isn't that happy I'm here either.”

“That's trickier, but I think her reason is more focused on Tess than anything else,” Elora said as she kissed my cheek gently, “Like my mother was afraid of you, so is she. We'll just have to wait and see how all this unfolds.”

“I suppose so,” I said with a sigh, “Just one of these days I wish we could turn up somewhere and someone would be happy to see me.”

My Princess smiled coyly, “I'm always happy to see you, love.”

I grinned as her grip tightened further and she pulled herself in close, the smell of her filling my nostrils as she pressed her forehead to my own, “I'm glad to hear it, Princess.”

“You know... There's a bath in the back. I think it's big enough for two.”

That was all I needed to hear. I grabbed a hold of my Princess and lifted her into my arms, eliciting a squeal of delight from the woman I loved, “Then what in the Spirit's name are we doing out here?”

With her laughter filling my ears and breath upon my cheek, I strode through our small apartment with purpose and a wide, fool's smile on my face. Perhaps Ragora wasn't so bad after all.

*

A servant came to collect us a few hours later. He was a rather dour looking man with a solemn expression on his face. I wasn't surprised that Arno hadn't been the one to take us to dinner after our last exchange, the man no doubt sulking and sending a servant as some kind of subtle slight. I touched the hem of my fine tunic as Elora and I followed the man back out into the hall. My Princess had put together quite the outfit for me, green as promised and trimmed with black, paired with the piece of Elora's dress holding back my hair and, of course, Tessa's favour on my arm. It might have been the finest thing I'd ever worn, truth be told, even more opulent than the outfit I wore to my wedding. Such thinking produced the image of a rather angry looking Laird, glaring at my brand new tunic with utter hatred in his eyes. I chuckled as I thought on how the man would react to seeing me in such finery. He'd probably criticize it to no end, considering it wasn't one of his pieces. He often couldn't help himself, I'd found.

Thinking of the grumpy tailor inevitably brought up thoughts of home, of the orphanage. I felt guilt stir in my gut. I hadn't thought about my family in some time. I could produce a dozen excuses as to why I hadn't but each felt bitter and fell to ashes before they could form upon my tongue. The truth was I'd tried not to think about them because I didn't know what would happen when Samuel reached Myrin. I had to assume that he had already done so, which left me feeling pathetically helpless despite the power I called my own. I could only pray that Julian kept his word, that he protected my family from the Knight of the Hall. I knew I hadn't misjudged Elora's father in any way. He was a good man and one who was true to his oaths by all accounts. Still, the nagging notion of not knowing filled me with no small amount of trepidation and fear.

“Are you alright, love?” Elora's worried voice pulled me back to myself as I smiled at my beautiful Smith. She had decided to forgo her customary tunic and breeches in favour of a dark blue dress that made her already radiant beauty all the more apparent. A fleeting image of our time in the tub made my face darken slightly as I stared.

Elora seemed to know what I was thinking of, for a moment later she looked away, her own face turning crimson even as her smile grew wide and she slipped her hand into mine.

“I'm fine, Princess. Just thinking of home,” I said the last words quietly enough, but Elora caught them all the same. As much as I had cause to worry for my family, Elora had even more. The Sister and the kids wouldn't be the ones caught fighting if the worst came to pass. That would fall to her mother and father, the mightiest duo in Venos. Sure enough, her own expression darkened as a hint of sorrow touched at her golden eyes, “I miss Myrin more than I thought I would.”

“As do I,” Elora replied quietly before she seemed to banish her dour mood and beamed up at me with confidence, “Don't worry, Orin. We'll be back before we know it. Perhaps we could invite the Sister and the children to come stay with us in the palace? I've been thinking on it for a while, what do you think?”

“I doubt the Sister would come,” I chuckled, playing along with the fantasy of it all, “She loves the orphanage too much to give it up. But maybe a nice dinner wouldn't be out of the question.”

“A feast,” Elora nodded serenely, “Just for us. Just for family.”

“I'm sure they would love that.”

We followed the servant down the hall, picking up the others as we went. Annabelle and Vera were first, the two sisters emerging from rooms across from one another. The First Smith of Venos was dressed to impress in a stunning violet dress and matching earrings of amethyst. Vera had decided to forgo the dress, unlike Yelmora, and instead was dressed in a subtle black outfit that was lined with sparkling white, a homage to her Element at a guess. The First Knight also didn't look nearly as refreshed as Annabelle, her yawn and heavy eyes evidence enough of that.

“Bloody dinner,” Vera muttered under her breath, “I was having a wonderful dream.”

“It will be over soon enough, Vera,” Annabelle chided gently, “It's customary.”

“I know that,” Vera snapped childishly, “Doesn't mean its a good custom. You look wonderful, Elora.”

Elora smiled brightly, gifting the First Knight and Smith a twirl, “Thank you, Vera.”

“Aye, gotta say you clean up well, Elora. You too, lad,” Boldrin the bold emerged from his room, the large doors smashing open as he grinned mischievously at all present, “But then, so do I!”

I blinked at the large man, taken aback by his choice of clothing. Shit, I was just surprised that Arno had anything in his size. For some reason, my mentor had decided to wear something akin to military wear, with a formal tasselled jacket that was a dark shade of scarlet and a cravat of the same. Boldrin had also washed his hair and beard, trimming both with care. The whole picture threw me for a loop, “Spirit, boss. Never seen you dressed to the nines before.”

“Well, when in Ragora, do as the Ragorans do,” Boldrin laughed, “They put a lot of stock in appearance, snobbish as they are. If you want folk to listen to you in this country then you've got to go all out once in a while.”

“You look almost presentable, Boldrin,” Annabelle said with a hint of a smile, “Something I believed was impossible.”

“Oh, you hang around me enough, Lady Annabelle, and you'll find that nothing's impossible.” Boldrin let loose with another laugh that made the servant wince, “Right, where's Tess?”

I was asking myself the same question, as the door to her room remained closed. I sent a little nudge over the Bond and was heartened to receive an immediate reply. A few seconds later, my Smith emerged, wearing the same dirtied outfit she had when she'd left us.

“There she is!” Boldrin turned on the servant, the man less than half his size and withering before the sheer stature of the mercenary, “Right, on to the food. We've been living off of crackers and water for too long. I need meat.”

The servant nodded immediately before making his way down the hall at a steady clip, back towards the circular room with the mural. His eyes were never far from Boldrin, as though afraid the man was going to attack him.

Tess sidled up to me tiredly, the bags under her eyes intense as she tapped the back of her hand against my own, shivering slightly at the contact before settling in for the walk.

“You alright, Tess? You look like you didn't sleep,” I asked my savage Smith plainly as she, Elora and I followed after the rest of our group.

“That's because I didn't,” Tessa replied with a frustrated sigh, “Was trying to catch something, but I missed it. Made some progress, but now I'm back to banging my head against the wall. This Weapon shit is fucked.”

“So it did have to do with your Weapon,” Elora said with a nod, “I suspected as much. Remember what Annabelle said: Don't force it, the solution will appear in time.”

“It's been weeks, Elora,” Tessa huffed, “I was expecting to be further along by now.”

“But you are further along,” Elora pointed out, not withering under Tess' intense stare as she once had, “That's an achievement all in itself. Don't worry, I believe in you.”

“Your positivity is nauseating.”

Elora laughed at that, “Doesn't mean that I'm wrong.”

“I suppose not,” Tess grumbled, every word like pulling teeth, “Thank you.”

“You are very welcome.”

Tessa looked me up and down, before glaring at me, “You look nice.”

That took me back a little. I don't think Tess had ever complimented my clothing before. I blinked at me Smith, “Ah... Thank you?”

“It's not a trick, Orin.”

“I don't know, it could be,” I replied after a moment of gathering myself, “If you'd stabbed me then, there's no way I'd be able to defend myself in time. Too stunned.”

“Huh,” Tess looked thoughtful as she touched the daggers on her hip, “Something to keep in mind for next time.”

I didn't want to read into that too much so I wisely decided to keep silent.

We continued on our way with no trouble. I made sure to keep my eye firmly fixed ahead of me when we passed underneath the mosaic. I didn't want to get sucked in again, to be left emotionally troubled by whatever it caused me to see or feel. I noticed Tess doing the same, keeping her steely stare fixed on the servant's back. Seems she didn't want a repeat of what happened earlier either.

We were shown to a small dining room just off of the eastern corridor from the central hall. It wasn't exactly as grand as I was expecting which was a relief in many ways. After seeing the Great Hall and the sheer awesome grandeur of the Nest I was expecting us all to be sitting at a table that was the length of the Old Road. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. It was cosy, with a small fireplace burning merrily on the far wall. Artful paintings were present here as well, but were rather drab when compared to the grand pieces that were displayed on the walls outside. The understated nature of it all left me rather surprised. What left me even more surprised, and a little relieved, was that we were the only ones dining.

“Where are my sisters? My mother and father?” Tessa asked one of the many servants who lined the walls. This one seemed rather young and was holding a bottle of wine that he very nearly dropped when addressed.

“They send their apologies, my Lady, but they are taken with other matters and are unable to dine with you this evening.”

“All of them?”

“I'm afraid so. A thousand pardons, my Lady.”

Tessa snorted, “It's fine.”

“Perhaps their heart to heart is taking longer than we first thought?” Annabelle asked as she moved to her seat, flanked by Boldrin and Vera.

“Maybe,” I said with a frown. Something was niggling at me, but I couldn't be sure what. I looked to Tess with a raised brow, “What do you think?”

“Father's up to something,” my mercenary murmured back as we took our seats, “Don't know what, but he wouldn't miss this without a good reason. Tell Elora.”

I did as Tess requested, receiving a supportive nod from my wife by way of reply. I exchanged looks with the rest of the table, each taking my meaning with only a glance. We couldn't say anything, not here and surrounded by the servants of the D'viritazi, but we had developed our own shorthand from our time on the road together which was enough to spread the warning.

Our arrival put a small dampener on proceedings, but as soon as the food emerged we all settled down some, though not a one of us was truly relaxed with the exception of Boldrin. Dinner began with some kind of fish dish which was delicious, the very scent of it causing my mouth to water. I devoured mine in minutes, not surprised to see my companions doing the same, even my usually dainty Princess. Like Boldrin had said earlier, the fare that we had been provided at sea would satisfy your stomach but it did nothing else. They only took food that was unlikely to perish given the duration of the voyage. The fish on our plates now looked to be freshly caught and I would expect nothing less from so rich a family. I found myself relaxing as the meal carried on and the courses came out one after another, the wine helping in that regard, an aromatic white that tingled on my tongue. We spoke of nothing important, just whatever came to mind. If it hadn't been for Mastan looming large in the back of all our minds, it would have been the most relaxing night I'd had since that first one in Yelmora at the table of House August.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Another!” Boldrin shouted as he waved his wine glass overhead, his face already turning red from the drink. A servant was quick to jump forward, immediately filling the glass to the brim before returning to his place near the door, “Spirit, the service here is quite something. This ain't got nothing on Brin's brew, though.”

“We have a vineyard back home in Myrin, on the outskirts,” Elora said sadly as she took another swig from her own glass, “The drink they produce is not as nice as this, to be sure, but it did warm you up in the winter.”

My Princess stared at the wine, melancholy and nostalgia etched onto her features. It seemed that my thinking of home had given Elora cause to do the same. I wrapped an arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer and causing her to give me a thankful, affectionate stare as she rested her head against me, “I'll have to try a bottle sometime.”

“You will, love.”

“I stole a bottle of wine off of Orin once.” Tessa said with a shrug as she took a very small sip.

“You did?” I asked, “How'd you manage that?”

“You and Gertrand stole a case from the old inn near the eastern gate. Can't remember the name now, something to do with a mermaid?”

“Ah!” My eye widened as I smiled, “The mermaid and the saucer. Great place, closed down a few years ago. Wait a minute, I never stole anything from there.”

Tessa nodded resolutely, not a hint of doubt in her eyes, “You did. It was an ancient thing, must've been in their cellar for years. You two put the case down to catch your breath at the alley on the corner. I grabbed a bottle when you weren't looking. Tasted fucking horrible, I dumped it.”

“Shit, I remember now,” I said, a memory of a rainy, moonless night appearing in my mind, “It was so old that it had turned to vinegar, or at least it tasted like it. The fence we brought it to only gave us a couple of coppers for the whole thing. How'd you manage to swipe a bottle, Tess? I was standing right next to the fucking thing.”

“Yeah, you don't notice much, Orin,” Tessa said with a sudden, true laugh which made me laugh as a result. I couldn't help it, “You'd be surprised what I got away with when you were standing right next to me.”

“Oh? Like what?” I asked with a smile. My worry for Tess had dissipated entirely as the meal went on. I'd said nothing to her about the Weapon and I didn't plan to. Honestly, I was scared shitless of getting in her way somehow. She was looking more like herself, which picked up my mood tremendously.

“Like...” Tess hesitated, her face flushing before she put down her cup and stared at the table, refusing to make eye-contact with me at all, “Never mind.”

I exchanged looks with Elora, who had clamped a hand over her mouth to stop her smile from showing. I loved my wife when she was a little tipsy, her adorable nature becoming all the more evident, “Come on, Tess. You can't just leave us hanging like that. What did you do?”

“Nothing,” Tessa snapped, her eyes moving to each of us in turn, “Fuck off.”

Boldrin chuckled, “The more you say that, lass, the more interested it makes us.”

“I'm sensing quite the story," Annabelle said, staring at Tessa over the rim of her glass with eyes of sparkling ice.

“Acute, sister. I believe I sense the same.” Vera grinned and Tessa sank all the further into her chair.

My Smith squirmed in place, clearly uncomfortable so I grabbed her hand and gave it a quick squeeze before releasing my hold, “I suppose we can save that story for another time.”

Tess nodded immediately, “Or never. I'd prefer never.”

“Nope, too late for that, I'm afraid,” I replied as I tapped the side of my head, “I have a long memory.”

Before Tess could reply to my words the door to the dining room opened with the heaviness of sturdy wood, the creak causing all our eyes to find our new guest. My good mood evaporated in an instant as I realised the identity of the interloper.

Arno looked far more formal as he sauntered on through the doorway, his eyes cold and expression colder still. He didn't look at me, pointedly ignoring my presence as he presented us all with a stiff bow, “Considering the din I heard as I approached, I'm assuming the meal was to your satisfaction?”

“Simply delightful, Arno,” Boldrin said, as he put on the false accent of Nobility and raised his already empty glass once more, “Now be a good chap and fetch us more of this delicious wine.”

Unimpressed with Boldrin's dismal attempt at humour, Arno simply continued on, “I have been sent by Lord Mastan to fetch Lady Annabelle, Lady Vera and Boldrin. He wishes to speak to the three of you before you retire for the evening.”

All three in question looked to each other curiously before all sitting looked to me. I felt painfully aware of their collective gaze as I frowned at the head steward, “For what purpose?”

Arno's lip twitched but other than that his face remained as impassive as ever, “It is not my place to question the Lord of the D'viritazi, Lord Orin. I know not the purpose of the invitation, but I can assure you it is nothing nefarious.”

“Then I'm sure father won't mind if we tag along.” Tessa cut in, looking equal parts relieved and worried. Relieved because she didn't have to continue to discuss the subject of what exactly she'd been up to when I wasn't looking in Myrin, and worried for sake of our companions.

Arno bowed once more, his lips turning upright as he addressed Tess. Elora was right, Arno's loyalties truly were beyond reproach, “I'm afraid not, my Lady. I have been given the strictest of instructions to only take Lady Vera, Lady Annabelle and Boldrin. The Princess, your Knight and yourself have been given leave to explore the grounds of the Nest at your leisure until the matter is concluded.”

“We've been given leave, have we?” I asked, a curious smile on my lips as I looked to Boldrin and the sisters. They each gave me a nod in turn, their own curiosity as to the strange invitation demanding action, “Well, best not keep the Lord of the manor waiting.”

The three got to their feet, eyeing Arno curiously as they made to join them. Before they did, however, Vera bowed to Elora and I, “Lord, Princess. We will return presently.”

I was pretty fucking baffled by that, blinking in confusion at the First Knight and wondering why she was being so differential now. It took me a second to realise it was for the sake of Arno and the servants watching more than anything else, to reaffirm that she and her sister were loyal to Elora and I. That made sense, I suppose... Yet my mind wandered back to when Vera and I spoke to each other on the ship to Nian. It seemed relevant somehow, and I couldn't help but feel that the bow was more for my benefit than Elora's, “I don't doubt it, First Knight.”

Annabelle took her cue from her sister and curtseyed towards us before joining Vera next to Arno. Boldrin stopped by my side, clamping a large hand on my shoulder and squeezing none too gently. If anyone else had done something like that, you'd only be able to interpret it as a threat, but in this case it was just Boldrin being Boldrin, “Don't worry about us, lad. Mastan ain't the type for the cloak and dagger bullshit, despite evidence for the contrary. Under all his bullshit, he can be a good man at times. We'll be back soon and tell you all.”

“I ain't worried about you, boss,” I grinned up at Boldrin the bold, “I'd be more worried about the other guys.”

“Damn right.” Boldrin laughed as he, Vera and Annabelle walked out the door with Arno, disappearing into the darkened hallways of the Nest. The head steward didn't acknowledge any of us by way of farewell, even Tess. He just turned on his heels and headed for the door as though he couldn't get away from us, or likely me, fast enough.

“Stranger and stranger still,” Elora murmured under her breath, wine forgotten and sobriety returning as she looked after our companions, “I wonder what that could be about?”

“Us, I would imagine.” I said, “Though I don't understand the need for secrecy. Doesn't Mastan know that they're just going to come back and tell us what was said?”

“He does,” Tessa shrugged, though she looked as troubled by this latest development as Elora and I, “Which means this is about something that he believes will be to our benefit. We can't do anything about it either way. Father wouldn't hurt them, nor would anyone else in this place. Mastan is many things, but I don't doubt that he believes in you, Orin.”

I nodded, agreeing with my savage Smith. I'd only met Mastan the once and most of that encounter had been consumed by the family drama that he had created in the wake of his choices, but I did think he didn't mean me or mine any harm. He'd said it himself: He believed something was coming that only I could stop. Whether I thought the same was another matter entirely, “Well, seems we have the rest of the evening to ourselves. Fancy giving us another tour, Tess?”

“Don't really remember anything about this place,” Tess grumbled as she got to her feet with Elora and I following, “Fuck. I don't even think I could guide us back to our rooms.”

“I can do that, my Lady,” The young servant who'd very nearly shat himself when Tess spoke to him for the first time all but shouted, his eyes half closed as though he was afraid my mercenary was going to rip his head off, “Just say the word and I'll show you the way.”

Tessa frowned at the young man, which made him shiver all the more, but I recognised the expression as that of my Smith being lost in thought. A few silent seconds passed before the light of realisation ignited in her eyes. She smiled softly into the air, “The Sky Bridge. It was one of my favourite places to visit when I was little. My sisters would take me often.”

I smiled, as did Elora, “We'd love to see it, Tessa.”

“M-my Lady,” The servant mumbled as he raised a hand in weak protest, “I've been told that the Sky Bridge is only to be crossed by those of D'viritazi blood. I would need to speak to-”

“This is my Knight and sister-Smith,” Tessa growled at the poor bastard. I was sure he passed out while standing up before his eyes snapped back into focus, “They are as much my blood as any member of my family. I am a Smith of the Lightning Lords and you will take me to the Sky Bridge. Are we clear?”

“Crystal, my Lady.” the man squeaked. I've rarely felt so bad for another person as I did in that moment. Shit, the kid reminded me of Beatrice, though not as annoyingly prone to panic attacks. I missed the red-haired maid, finally coming into her own as a palace servant. I hoped she was doing well. Given that my residence was going to be said palace one day, I was sure that I'd see her again, “R-right this way.”

“Careful, Tess,” I grinned at my Smith, trying to hold back my laughter, “You're sounding more and more Noble by the second.”

“Orin, you are a Count.” Elora dead-panned, causing Tess snort with laughter, “And a future King. Those in glasshouses shouldn't throw stones.”

“Point taken,” I replied sheepishly, pulling both my Smiths into my sides, the contact comforting, as we continued to follow after the young servant, who'd thankfully begun to walk straight again, “So, the Sky Bridge? What is that? Sounds important.”

“It's a bridge... in the sky.” Tessa was looking at me like I was an idiot. So was Elora. They exchanged a glance and started laughing which only made me grimace in consternation.

“I feel like you two are making fun of me, but I can't for the life of me figure out why.”

“Because you're an easy target,” Elora said fondly, kissing my cheek.

“And because it's funny,” Tessa chimed in with a smirk before continuing, “But you're right, the Sky Bridge is important. When a D'viritazi reaches adulthood they are expected to climb to the peak of Dealanaich. The way is treacherous and long for those who don't know the route, which is marked by seven hundred steps. When the descendant reaches the peak, they are expected to stand beneath a storm. If they emerge without being struck by lightning they are declared true members of the bloodline.”

“Shit.” I said shortly, imagining standing underneath a thunderstorm. I realised that I wouldn't be in much danger, considering the Gift that Tess created for me, but still, it must be a terrifying experience to be faced with nature's terrifying wrath.

“Shit is right,” Tess grimaced, “It's an outdated tradition but many still do it, including father, Lilian and Cassie. I don't know if Tilia performed the ritual, but Dawn and Freida didn't. It's more for those who are combat orientated.”

“Would you do it? Walk the seven hundred steps?” Elora asked.

Tessa shook her head immediately, “No. I don't need to walk up a big hill to tell me what I already know. Orin's a walking example of my bloodline. I have nothing to prove to anyone, least of all the sky.”

I couldn't help but smile at that.

“So, all joking aside, what exactly is the Sky Bridge?” Elora asked curiously, tucking herself closer to my chest. I found myself watching my boots, making sure I didn't get them tangled with either my Princess or Tess.

“It's the first part of the path,” Tessa said softly, “A large bridge that spans a larger chasm that's cut straight into the mountain. No one knows how deep the thing goes, but the few that have fallen in were never found.”

“And we're going to pay this chasm death bridge a visit?”

“Yes,” Tessa said with a smirk, sensing the clear unease in my wife's voice, “Don't worry, Elora. There are barriers in place to prevent people falling. Walking the Sky Bridge is more symbolic, much like climbing the seven hundred steps is.”

As we walked, I found myself drawn to the architecture of the Nest once more as we moved into an unfamiliar part of Tessa's ancestral home. It was strange to think it, but I felt like every time I examined something in detail I noticed something new, something that hadn't been there before. For instance, I was nearly positive that, like the residence and the older quarter which contained the Great Hall, this newest of areas was constructed from a different kind of stone, one which was closer to that which was used in Yeles. Yellowed rock that absorbs the heat to keep the air cool, “Tess, how long did it take to build this place?”

My Smith raised a brow at the question but answered anyway, “No one really knows. As far as I know, they're still constructing it even now, with each new head commissioning a new addition. As for the original design, I have no fucking idea, but apparently the First Lightning Smith did it alone.”

I nodded, my question answered. This place was truly a colossus of many styles of construction, all wrapped up and rolled into one. It certainly added to the defensive nature of its confusing layout and it made sense considering how rapidly Nian changed over decades, not to mention centuries. I knew little about the city's history, but I understood that it had been the centre of trade in the east for a very long time. Just passing through Nian in the carriage, you could almost see it evolve and adapt as time went on. It made sense that the Nest should reflect that. It also made Elora's assessment of Arno all the more poignant.

“It's up ahead,” Tessa suddenly called after we'd been walking for nearly half an hour. I was beginning to think we were lost, and the rather shifty behaviour of our guide wasn't helping matters. I was sure he'd taken a wrong turn more than once, “I can see the entrance.”

I stared past my Smith, looking to where she was pointing and catching sight of a large archway that seemed to lead out into empty space. The border was elaborately designed, with black opal to represent storm clouds as carefully carved sapphire evoked images of lightning bolts shooting through them, some touched with cores of pearl. A few of the bolts appeared to be gold in colour, though they were slightly hidden, only the edges being seen behind the storm of black, blue and white. I was about to draw attention to those golden bolts when I suddenly caught sight of what lay beyond. Talking was pretty difficult after that.

The sun had long since set in Ragora, yet its lingering will still painted the sky in the brightest shade of fading red. Stars could be seen in that crimson canvas, brighter even than on the darkest night in Myrin. The moon was equally as brilliant, seeming closer than I'd ever seen before and smiling down on us three with its calming glow. I felt Elora and Tessa both let loose involuntary gasps at the strange yet beautiful vision, just as taken aback by the strange sight as I myself was.

Then, when my eye eventually returned to Ouros once more, I caught sight of the Sky Bridge.

It was constructed of the rock of Dealanaich itself, blackened and cruel stone somehow brought to purpose. It extended across a vast gorge that fell deep into the earth, a rough circle of emptiness that extended downwards for hundreds of feet before the edges disappeared into seemingly endless shadow. I felt my stomach spin just looking at it. I usually had no problems with heights, but something about that darkness seemed so different from the one living within my soul. It seemed malevolent somehow. I walked onto the edge of the bridge with my Smiths in tow, each of us still holding each other as we took our first steps out into the nothingness. I glanced below once more and immediately regretted it, instead turning to look at the Nest behind me. I couldn't see anything of the building itself. From where I was standing, it was as though the archway was merely a part of the mountain. We must have moved into the rock to reach the Sky Bridge.

At the other end of the bridge started the path to the peak. I found myself looking up once more and couldn't help but wonder how the fuck someone was supposed to scale the bloody thing. From where I was standing it looked nearly impossible. The sheerness of the rock, the sharp points and unsafe footholds, all of it led me to believe that trying to make it to the peak would be a fool's errand. I did catch sight of a couple of steps immediately after the bridge crossed the chasm, so perhaps I was missing something.

“I used to love coming up here,” Tessa said with a smile, letting go of my arm and moving to the edge of the bridge, laying her hands against the stone barrier as she stared out into the vastness of Ragora, “I think it was because I couldn't hear or see Nian. I loved the city, don't get me wrong, but it got a bit much sometimes. Freida, Lilian, Cassie and Dawn would take turns bringing me here, sitting me on the edge and letting me dangle my feet over oblivion. Cassie was my favourite. She doesn't talk much. We just enjoyed the silence together. It was peaceful.”

“Sound's great, Tess,” I said tightly, noticing that Elora was still clinging to me like I was the only thing standing between her and a swift fall into the aforementioned void, “The view is something else.”

And it was. Tess was right, the sights and sounds of Nian were gone. We must've be on the other side of the mountain. The only thing I could see, past the mass of rock at the rim of the chasm, were endless wild jungles and empty plains of wild grass far below us. The more I stared, the more I felt my soul calm and forget about the mass of emptiness beneath me. It must have had an effect on my Princess as well, because she released me soon after, taking a few hesitant steps forward and joining her sister-Smith at the edge of the nothingness.

“You have to see this, Orin,” Elora shouted back to me as she grinned, looking down into the deep of the abyss, “It almost feels like you're falling.”

“No thank you, Princess,” I replied with the shakiest of smiles. The view may have calmed me, but I wasn't insane enough to believe my luck would hold out if I got near the edge. Luckily the Sky Bridge was quite broad, allowing for three people to stand abreast with space between them. It looked sturdy enough, but I found myself calculating how long it would take for me to grab my Smiths and make it back to the archway, “I can see plenty from here.”

“Coward,” Tessa muttered mockingly with her infuriating smirk, “Why don't you head back to the room? I know it can be frightening, there's no shame in turning around.”

I bristled at that. Tess knew exactly what to say to push my buttons. The best thing to do would be to stay where I was, but I was a stubborn bastard by trade and she knew it. If I didn't have that, then I didn't have much of anything. I took a deep breath and walked towards my Smiths, keeping my eye fixed on Tessa's back to alleviate the flipping feeling in my stomach. It didn't help much.

“Happy?” I snapped at my Smith sullenly, standing between Elora and Tess but refusing to look down.

“Very.” Tess grinned as she leaned over the edge, both feet leaving the ground and the only thing stabilising her being the barrier. I instinctively grabbed her forearm to give her some sense of safety, mentally cursing myself.

“Are you afraid of heights, love?” Elora looked to me with a smirk that was the match of Tessa's.

“You know I'm not, Princess,” I replied dryly and with a roll of my eye, “It's just... that fucking gorge makes me nervous, and I would feel a lot better if Tess stopped trying to kill herself. The fact that this bridge is probably a thousand years old isn't helping.”

Tess finally took pity on me and landed neatly onto the ground, receiving a sigh of relief from me by way of reward, “Though, I will admit, I've seen a lot of things in my life, but this is up there with the best of them. I can tell why you liked this place, Tess. It is peaceful.”

“It is,” Elora nodded in agreement, her hand touching the stone of the barrier softly, “You can't hear a thing up here.”

Tessa nodded, some of the worry she'd been carrying gone from her eyes as she leaned against me slightly. I doubt she even noticed she was doing it, such was her mood, “No wildlife call Dealanaich home save the D'viritazi. I thought that was sad as a girl, but it allowed me to experience bliss like this. Now hush, no more talking. Lets enjoy it.”

And so we did. We three, a Knight and his Smiths, stood on the empty edge of the D'viritazi Sky Bridge and stared out into the intense wilds of Ragora. I couldn't tell you how long we stood there for, our minds empty, our thoughts serene as we stood in a comfortable silence that could only be had by those who were as close as we were. I even risked a look down at one point, but instantly regretted it once again, prompting chuckles from my Princess and mercenary. After careful deliberation, I decided that I both loved and hated the Sky Bridge, with my feelings edging more towards the latter.

But, of course, it couldn't last forever.

I couldn't explain how I felt it. Perhaps it was a thought, a feeling, a whisper on the wind. A murmur on the breeze that told me of his coming. One thing was clear, though. One fact was absolute in my mind as my eye widened and I felt the hairs on my neck stand on end. If we didn't move immediately, we would all die.

“Bond!” I roared at my Smiths, causing them both to startle and stare at me,” Now!”

My Smiths, each hardened by combat, grabbed my hands with each of their own. I snapped the Storm Eye open before Etherin had even finished turning Elora and Tess to light. I caught sight of a flash moving on the wind, descending upon us from above. It crackled with the incredible blue-white of Lightning. I roared and threw myself to the side just in time to avoid being cut in half, the stone of the barrier and bridge exploding in the place I'd been standing a moment before, showering me in shards which cut at the flesh of my hands and face.

I landed further from the archway, rolling once to avoid any follow up as I spun in place, trying to fix my attacker with my physical sight. He wasn't hiding. He wanted me to see him.

Mastan D'viritazi stood on the Sky-Bridge, though this was a very different man from the one I'd met in the Great Hall. This Mastan was wrapped in armour of shining blue light, a laurel wreath of the same placed upon his brow. The centre of his breastplate was a mass of storm clouds, some black and others white, untouched by the storm that raged through his Armour. Lightning danced across the plate, bolts jumping from one side of his body to the other. His wounds from our earlier bout were completely gone, his easy-going smile back in place as he stared at me with his startling, sky-blue eyes. Strangest of all was what he was carrying in his hands: Two whips, each a brilliant, incandescent white that seared the rock they lay against, small sparks turning the already blackened stone to pitch black.

“You know, I was thinking of our last bout on the way over here,” Mastan said conversationally as he walked towards me at a sedate pace. The pressure he exuded was unbelievable. I was still on my knees, my whole body trembling. I could feel his soul like a physical thing, could feel it press down upon my shoulders with an intensity that rivalled that of Zelato's. No... it surpassed it, “When you left me, I was on my knees. It seems you are now on yours. How the tables have turned.”

“What-” I made to speak but didn't get the chance to finish before the tip of one of those whips smashed into my chest. It was like getting hit with Craven's gauntlet at Dunwellen. I felt the air leave my lungs as I was sent flying backwards, skittering further along the Sky-Bridge. I tried to control myself, but my body was in spasm, the lightning in Mastan's whip taking away my brain's ability to do so. I tried to employ the Storm to stop it, but the unexpectedness of the attack had thrown off my concentration.

“Orin!” Elora shouted.

“The barrier!” Tessa was quick to follow.

My eyes widened as I realised the reason for their warning a moment too late, smashing into one of the barriers on the side of the bridge at speed. The rock crumbled, my body passing through it as though it were nothing more than paper. I felt long shards embed themselves in my body, blood welling up in my lungs as a result.

“RIONNA!” I cried out, feeling the silvery hilt appear in my hand less than a second after my desperate call. I stabbed my sword of stars into the rock and came to an abrupt stop, grumbling in quiet pain as the sudden jerk made my arm almost jump from its socket despite my increased strength. I glanced down, cursing at the hungry maw that lay beneath me.

“Tess... what the fuck,” I growled out loud, wrapping my other hand around Rionna's hilt to secure myself in the Bridge's side, “I thought you said he didn't want to kill me.”

I felt Tessa's fury over the Bond, white hot and filled with violent intent, one which touched at the edges of madness. I gritted my teeth, trying not to let her feelings effect me, “Tess... I need you.”

As quickly as it had appeared, the fire was gone. Gone was perhaps the wrong word. Quietly pushed to the background would be a better description. Her response to my words came quickly, her voice guttural and filled with hate, “Kill him, Orin. Kill him. Kill him.”

“Easier said than done. Any ideas, Princess?”

“He's a Master, Orin,” Elora whispered. I could hear the fear in her voice, could feel it over the Bond, “We don't have anything that could hurt something like him. Even with our Resonant Gifts, he's just too strong.”

“We don't have nothing. We have one thing. Just need to wait for the right-”

“Am I interrupting?” Mastan's voice made me freeze in place. I turned my head slowly to the right, trying to stop my own fear rising as I suddenly found my eyes meeting his. The fucker was standing on the wall, right next to the spot where Rionna was embedded and I clung on with all my might. His expression was just as easy, just as mocking, as it was before, “You should really stop that, you know. Speaking with your Smiths during battle is a good habit to get into, but not when your opponent can overhear the conversation.”

“Fuck you, asshole!” I snarled and called to Strength. Elora complied and I felt my muscles fill with Aurum fuelled energy. I yanked myself upwards, releasing my grip on Rionna and soaring through the air. We'd gained a lot of control since Myrin, so at the very least I wasn't sent flying. The Princess gave me just enough to reach the edge of the bridge. I slammed my hand into the rock, my fingers digging in as I pulled myself onto the bridge, laying on my back with eyes closed and breath coming heavy. I opened them and met Mastan's once more. He stared down at me intently.

“You should be more aware of your surroundings, young Heir. Especially if you want to live-”

I didn't wait for him to finish. I summoned Rionna to my hand, calling to both Strength and Storm. I was on my feet in an instant, my sword moving with the screech of suddenly displaced air. Mastan knocked the edge of Rionna's blade away with one gauntleted hand.

“A noble effort, though a pitiful one,” Mastan shook his head disparagingly, mockingly, “Try again, Orin.”

I roared and demanded more from Elora and Tess. Both of my Smiths let loose with battle cries to match my own, each pouring more power into my limbs. I blurred and came at Mastan D'viritazi, who easily avoided all of my attacks without his Weapons in hand.

“Faster, faster!” I could hear Tessa's voice in my soul, as though she was trying to whip the Forge into a frenzy.

Mastan took three steps back, quicker than I could follow, and before I could discern what happened he'd sent one of his whips towards my face. I felt the world slow as Thought came to the fore and lifted Rionna to block instinctively. The whip wrapped around my sword of stars and, with a flick of his hand, Mastan ripped Rionna from my grip and sent her skittering down into the chasm. I called her back an instant later, just in time to avoid another lash that was aiming to bisect me. It didn't cut through Rionna, but I think the heat of those things would do a number on my flesh, “Impressive! You are capable of thinking on your feet, but I doubt you have much experience against Weapons like mine. Not all are swords, axes and spears, Orin. Weapons can come in the most unusual of forms. You will learn this, in time.”

“Is this some kind of fucked up lesson-” I ducked, barely avoiding another flick of his whip and dived close, trying to lower the distance between us. Mastan didn't work well at close range, not if his Weapons acted like normal whips. I needed to get in close.

I tried, but the man was just too fast. Every step I took forward, he just took another step back. His Weapons were unpredictable. I had no experience fighting fucking whips! Who uses whips in a real fight!? Mastan suddenly flicked his Weapon towards me once more, this time spinning his wrist in a strange motion that made the whip dance like it was a serpent getting ready to devour me. I tried to block but every time I did, Rionna was ripped from my hand. Summoning her back constantly wasn't a viable option, the drain on our Aurum was too intense. The fight was dragging, the minutes piling up. I could Bond with Elora and Tessa for a while without straining myself, but that wasn't the case here. I needed to do something soon, otherwise they would be repelled from my soul.

I dove beneath Mastan's flailing whips, rolling and rising with a slash aimed for the only part of his body that was unprotected: his smug, fucking face. I stabbed out with Rionna, but he slipped the blow with ease, releasing his hold on his whips as they turned to light and returned to his soul. Mastan fell to brawling, sending shattering blows to my torso and abdomen as one of his hands closed around my own, the one which held my sword. He held me there, unable to attack, his Strength making my own seem meek in comparison. I called to Elora for more, but nothing we did made a difference. I couldn't free up Rionna. My eyes widened as the memory of my battle with Alden came to mind.

I released Rionna and brought her back in my left hand, accepting the stunning blow to my ribs that all but turned them to dust. I was too close to Mastan to use my blade to the fullness of her potential, but at the very least I could give the fucker a scratch. Holding my sword at an angle, I brought her down, hoping to put Rionna through his eye.

Mastan smiled and blurred, faster than I could follow, faster than the Storm could see. Rionna was suddenly gone and I was flying backward once more, landing in a heap near the middle of the Sky-Bridge. I groaned as my wounds were slowly knitted together by Elora and Tess. Mastan had broken the bones in my right hand, most of my ribs and my collarbone. This fight was on another level to what I'd faced before. Craven, the Knights at Dunwellen, Alden. None of them had been like this. Never before had I felt so fucking helpless, and I'd been near dead when I'd 'fought' Zelato.

I coughed blood onto the rough stone, my eyes heavy as I shook my head and jumped to my feet for what seemed like the thousandth time.

“Orin, you can't keep doing this,” I could hear the strain in Elora's voice, “We need to do it now.”

“Wait for the right moment, Orin,” Tessa's voice had a cutting edge to it, almost as though she was begging to be let back into the world to tear Mastan apart herself. I could feel that she was barely keeping her emotions in check, “Take a little more. He doesn't think you have anything. You need to wait.”

I nodded tiredly as I summoned Rionna to my hand, the effort very nearly driving me to my knees, “Seems this is some kind of lesson. Though I'm not seeing what I'm supposed to learn.”

“Orin, some of those blows could have killed you!” Elora shouted, “I don't give a shit about his lessons. We're kicking his ass!”

I grinned ferociously, feeling Tessa match with the same, “Fucking right, Princess.”

“Are you done?” Mastan called, having not moved, “Have you come up with a 'plan' to defeat me?”

“Aye, we have,” I chuckled as I gripped Rionna in a stance, “It's a pretty good one too.”

“I'm glad to hear it.” Mastan lifted a hand into the air and I felt my ears pop, the smell of ozone filling my nostrils as light and heat appeared in his outstretched hand. My hold on Rionna loosened, my mouth falling open, as a literal Lightning bolt formed in the hand of the Lord of the D'viritazi.

“Oh, you can fuck right off!” I shouted in frustration before banishing Rionna. I gritted my teeth and set my feet, “Fine. Throw it, asshole!”

“Orin!”

“What the fuck are you doing!”

“I'm gonna catch it,” I said with a giddy laugh. It might have been the blood loss or the suddenness of the fight itself, but I was certain that I could catch the bolt before it killed me, “Easy.”

“This isn't a good idea!”

“Orin, run!”

“Can't run, can't hide, can't slice it in half with Rionna, and I'm not fast enough to dodge it,” I replied to my Smiths as my heart hammered within my chest, “I got this.”

I'd broken a hurricane after all. How hard could catching a Lightning bolt Technique thrown by a Master Knight be?

Mastan cast back his hand and threw the bolt like a javelin. The sound of it screeching through the air, followed by the distant din of thunder, was my only warning before it struck. I called to the Storm, pulling at the wind and begging it to listen. I asked Tess for Speed, Elora for Thought and, when the moment came, I caught Lightning.

Though it might be more accurate to say that Lightning caught me.

I grabbed it just before it reached my chest, the texture of it so strange that was it was almost indescribable. At once boiling hot and searingly cold, it was like grabbing a hold of water and just as hard to stop from slipping through my fingers. I watched as my hands blackened and burned, blisters appearing as I gritted my teeth against the pain. My Princess and mercenary healed me as fast as they could, but it was a losing battle. I was holding onto one of the most deadly forms of nature's wrath, her fury unleashed upon the world, the sound alone was enough to make my knees tremble. I felt Storm connect with the Lightning. The connection was tenuous, but it was all I needed to maintain my grip. I felt my feet sliding backward on the stone, the bolt pushing me back with everything it had. I tried to make my tether with it more secure, to bring my will to bear, but it was like I was being actively blocked. I looked to Mastan, who was watching everything with curious eyes, his hands behind his back. It must be him. He was stopping me from gaining control without even trying. What I'd done in the Great Hall, destroying his power, it had been nothing more than a performance to him. If he'd wanted to, he could have crushed my control over his Lightning and let it destroy my body.

I knew, in that moment, that I couldn't dissipate this attack. I couldn't do anything to stop it directly. But perhaps I didn't need to.

“Be ready, Princess,” I was careful to speak directly into my soul this time, trying to break the habit I had developed over our time being Bonded, “I reckon we're only going to get one shot at this.”

“I'm ready, Orin.” Elora's reply was filled with determination.

“Tess, I need you to give me as much from Storm as you can.”

“I can do that.” My mercenary growled.

I felt my eye begin to glow all the brighter, could feel the Storm swirl, becoming a maelstrom of pure power. I felt faster than I ever had before, and I would need to be for this to work. I brute forced my way into gaining the smallest amount of control over the bolt, taking great pride from seeing Mastan's eyes widening in surprise. I felt my soul surge, the black flames rising into the abyssal sky of my soul space. The Lightning that rippled across them was intensifying to match the coming of the Storm. I roared and pushed with all my might before releasing the bolt. I shimmered and moved, stepping aside and taking the bolt through my shoulder instead of my chest. I'd managed to redirect it just enough to stop it from tearing a hole out of my chest. I felt my body scream with pain, but I pushed the renewed Storm into my blood and bone, bringing myself back under control instantly before the resulting spasms could wreak havoc in my body. The sheer effort of it, of causing the bolt's essence to dissipate, nearly made me pass out as the world spun. But I didn't have time for that.

“Elora!” I shouted, both spiritually and physically, summoning Rionna to my hand.

I felt a phantom hand settle on my shoulder, the touch of my wife making our Bond burn all the brighter as I suddenly saw the vast, unfathomable eye of Space appear within our now shared soul space.

“First Sword!” Our two voices mingled, becoming one, even as our minds drew closer together. I felt what she felt, saw what she saw. I took a breath, raising my blade above my head, ready to unleash an attack that couldn't be stopped, that would mean our victory, “Rionna-”

My sword was gone.

Mastan stood before me.

I didn't know what happened. Rionna's departure had caused Space to do the same. Elora's mind and my own were suddenly separated, the jarring effect of that made me sluggish, my thoughts slow to process.

What just happened?

“Techniques are powerful, Orin,” Mastan began, his hands still behind his back as he examined me, “But not all powerful. Boldrin, Vera and Annabelle told me of your new ability. It is impressive for one so young. But not for an Heir. No, you are held to a higher standard.”

“How...” I gasped, the pain making my hands shake, but it wasn't physical. It felt like my soul had been stabbed, as though my black flames were bleeding. My Smiths were suffering the same backlash that I was, even Tess, who wasn't a part of the Technique. Both had been stunned into silence.

“Ah, yes, apologies,” Mastan said seriously, “Interrupting a Technique can often make you feel like your soul is tied in knots. As for the how, well, that should be easy for you to discern. It was obvious that your attack was tied to your sword. You made it so, by shouting the name of it out loud. Remove the sword, the technique dies. Come now, Orin, you must have realised that yourself?”

I headbutted Mastan in the face. It achieved nothing at all, only causing my own forehead to burst open and weep blood into my eyes.

Mastan sighed, “Orin, I am trying to help you. Boldrin has told me of your training. You have a strong foundation, but your skills as a Knight are sorely lacking. We will be working on that for the duration of your stay here.”

“Your daughter wants to kill you.” I said bluntly, wiping at my face.

Mastan chuckled, “Yes, I'm sure she does. But Tessaraina will understand this, I'm sure. As will you and the Princess. I am one of the strongest Knights on the continent, Orin, and I am offering you all of my knowledge, and that of my wife, to ensure you become the most powerful version of yourself you can be.”

“You nearly killed my Smiths!” I roared in the man's face, my own anger coming to the fore, “You nearly killed me!”

“I can assure you that you were in no such danger. I have complete control over my abilities. I knew how much you could take. If you had fallen after the initial assault, I would have caught you. If you'd failed to grab the lightning, I would have cancelled the attack. Theadora was closely monitoring your Aurum supplies, all while Lady Vera and Lady Annabelle have been observing from the entrance,” Mastan pointed a thumb over his shoulder, towards the archway leading into the Nest back along the now shattered and broken Sky Bridge. Vera stood near the entrance, just as Mastan said, but she didn't exactly look happy about what had taken place. Her face was livid and grip around Illithin harsh as she glared at the back of Mastan's head. I gave her a little sarcastic wave as my anger left me. Vera and I would be having words later. All I felt in that moment was tired. Tired of the games and tired of the man standing before me. The fact that I couldn't hurt him, couldn't even touch him, was another contributor to my withering rage, “Don't be too hard on them. They had very little choice in the matter, I'm afraid to say.”

“What do you want me to say, Mastan?” I said sharply.

“Like I said, Orin. You need training. The reason I called for Vera, Annabelle and Boldrin was to get an idea on where to begin. After this little match, I know where you stand in terms of your Knighthood. This will not be fun. You will hate me, you may even come to despise me but, in the end, you will be strong. Strong enough to protect them, strong enough to keep Princess Elora and my Tessaraina safe. This I swear to you now, on my honour as a D'viritazi and a Knight.”

Mastan placed a hand on my shoulder then, his placid expression falling away as he gave me a strained smile, one which contained more depth than I believe even he knew. His eyes seemed like they were pleading, their biting edge nowhere to be seen.

“Please, allow me this, Orin. Allow me to begin to make up for the mistakes of the past. What say you?”