I stood completely still. My arms were extended out to my sides and my remaining eye closed as I inhaled deeply, enjoying the freedom of the fresh air and the rush of the breeze that rustled through the branches of the mighty trees of Estalin.

I renewed my grip on Rionna and gave myself over to the Bond, feeling it's quiet hum of contentment in my chest at the unity that came with the connection between my Smith and I. Opening my eye, I looked around the forest with a smile touching my lips. This would mark only the fourth time that Elora and I had been able to Bond since leaving Paldrum, since surviving the brutality of the Severance and reaffirming our Bond, as well as our promise to stay with each other. It was also the first time that Elora had deemed me fit enough to practice with Rionna, having given me the all clear this morning after I awoke to find her examining the injuries I had received from Craven and Jester thoroughly.

During our flight from the small fortress, the Princess had forbidden me from any form of exercise. My soul had recovered as a result of the Severance but my body was still far from whole. The burns from Craven were one thing, but it was the strikes I had received from Jester which had caused Elora to worry so. The wounds were healing nicely, but not completely. Even now, silvery scars marked my skin. I felt little in the way of discomfort but I didn't want to argue with my insistent Princess and so had refrained from drawing upon the power of a Knight while Bonded so she could focus on healing as much of the damage as she could.

She wanted to fix my eye. This much I knew from the expression of frustration that had been etched on her face at the end of each healing session. Afterwards, she would sit around the campfire in a state of depression until I managed to cheer her up and reassure her that I was fine with the lose.

That wasn't strictly true, of course. I didn't regret my actions in fighting Craven, nor in defending Elora from Jester, but I did feel the loss of my sight rather keenly. I had been practising with a stick when Elora would finally fall asleep, trying to keep my annoyance contained so the Princess didn't feel it over the Bond. Without my right eye my skills as a swordsman had diminished greatly. Learning to compensate for the loss was something I was willing to do but with such a limited field of vision and heavily affected depth perception it was hard not to curse every time I hit myself with the stick or missed what I was aiming at by a mile.

Elora had found me after a particularly bad session, head clutched in my hands and a loathing of my own abilities eating at me from the inside out. She had just sat beside me and said nothing, but her presence had meant the world and I felt a great strength fill me just from the proximity.

These thoughts and more rushed through my head as I held Rionna in my hand and fought to stop a treacherous tremble from running down my arm. I was hesitating. The sword of stars wouldn't hurt me if I made a mistake and struck myself in practice, she was my Weapon after all and was tied directly to my soul, but I almost felt like I was no longer worthy of wielding such a glorious sword any more. Something that Elora was quick to dismiss as foolishness.

“I made her for you, idiot,” She had scowled, her hand running through my hair, “She is yours, as am I.”

Her words caused the smile to return to my lips. We had already been on the road for three days, our destination of Myrin getting closer all the time, but I still felt a thrill run through my body as I thought about her lips against my own and the feeling of belonging that had settled in the purring black flames of my soul.

I took another deep breath and steadied myself before I began to run through Boldrin's nameless forms. I was agonisingly slow in my movements, careful to make no mistake. With no way of seeing with my right eye any more, I would need to compensate with my other senses. I was worried about being attacked from the right. Any warrior would be able to see my obvious weakness and would attempt to take advantage so I needed to shore up my defences in any way I could. If I didn't, then Elora would be in danger and that was something I would not allow. I was her Knight now, totally and truly, so I had no time to feel sorry for myself. With my new title came a series of new expectations. The least of which was that I was next in line to become the King of Venos. That was something that the Princess and I had yet to discuss. Neither of us seemed very keen on broking the subject and I was more than thankful for that. I just prayed that the King and Queen lived a very long life so I wouldn't have to worry about it in the immediate future, not that was I very concerned for them at any rate. They were Elora's parents and I would never stop her from having a relationship with them if she so chose, but I wouldn't be bowing and scraping before that bitch of a Queen anytime soon. She could go fuck herself for all I cared.

Fury rose up in my chest and I attempted to push it back down and focus on my surroundings. I was still feeling very bitter about the whole experience. Being locked in a dungeon and having a forbidden ritual performed on you tended to do that. Especially when said ritual would have guaranteed my death from a previous wound that I had been unaware of. Something that the First Knight of Venos, Lady Vera, had decided to omit when I first Bonded with Elora.

My anger grew and I sighed in frustration. These last few days had been whirlwind of crazy shit happening to me in quick succession. Not even two months ago I had been just another mercenary arriving home and ready to settle down in my home town. Yet not even a week later I was Bound to the Princess of the Realm, had battled a corrupted Knight and was sleeping in the palace of Myrin.

Thinking of Elora calmed me down and I chuckled at myself. It was worth it for her. Spirit, even the loss of my eye was a price I would gladly pay to keep her safe. I did intend to be much more vigilant in keeping the one that remained, though.

'Orin, I name you my Knight.'

I stumbled and righted myself instantly, silently cursing under my breath as her face filled my vision once again. Her falling expression, the shattering of her expectations.

'Do you accept?'

I gritted my teeth and the forms sped up as I tried to banish Tessa from my head, to banish the memory of her tear filled eyes and sorrowful smile.

'No.'

“Spirit damn it!” I snapped as Rionna collided with my leg. It took all of my willpower not to hurl the infernal thing at a nearby tree. The Weapon felt my annoyance and a ripple ran through the silver of her hilt, as though she was seeking to comfort me.

Why did it affect me so much? Why could I not escape her accusing eyes and the fading hope that followed? She had just told me that my life up until Bonding with Elora had been a lie, one that had been carefully maintained by those I thought I could trust the most. What had she expected me to say? Did she think that I would take her up on the offer, welcome her into the Bond with Elora and I with a grin and a wink?

“Spirit damn it, Tessa,” I grumbled, my need to train was already fleeing me and I sat heavily on a fallen tree. I could hear the sounds of the camp in the background. We may have thrown off the shackles of the Severance and proven our Bond before the most powerful Knights in Venos, but Elora was still a Princess and entitled to protection. More than thirty women had left Paldrum with us, all of them dressed in the armour and royal blue of the Princess' guard. Embla would be nearby, without a doubt. The woman was quickly becoming a thorn in my side. Anytime I had wanted to be alone with Elora she had been nearby. I had thought the Princess would be just as annoyed by this as I was but she seemed to find it incredibly funny as I fished for a kiss only to feel the glare of the warrior on the back of my neck and did nothing to dissuade the intense guard, leaving me to suffer in silence.

'Why?'

“Spirit damn it, Tess,” I repeated, my grip loose around Rionna's hilt as she laid against my knees. The sharp-eyed mercenary hadn't waited for my explanation. In fact, she hadn't let me get a word in edgeways before she had fled the room and the castle of Paldrum altogether. I had chased after her but she was always faster than me, disappearing into the assembled army of Venos with a practiced ease that I wouldn't be able replicate.

That was the problem! Why the fuck was she so upset? Surely it should be me running from Paldrum in a mood, not the other way around!

That was not even the only problem of the day. With the loss of Tessa also came the loss of me finding the band. They were no doubt somewhere nearby but it could take me days to look for them. Tracking Tess herself was a fools game. She was much better at hiding her trail than I was at following them. It would only lead to me becoming helplessly lost, something I couldn't afford to do that close to the border with Dunhold.

I thought about the Brigade. About Boldrin who was still recovering from the wounds he had received from Craven. I thought of Alec, who I didn't know was alive or dead. What was Tessa thinking? Why would she react so strongly to the rejection? They were my family too, I deserved to know where they were!

I felt like I was missing something. Why had she rushed to try and Bond with me in the first place? She must have known I would say no. I didn't know how it worked! The implication that I could Bond with more than one Smith was strong, but I didn't know how it would affect the Bond between Elora and I. Why would I take a needless chance of damaging our connection? It wasn't like we were in any imminent danger. Tessa could have taken the time to explain things a little more clearly. To sit down with Elora and I and discuss it. But no, she had decided to run away, leaving me with little answers and only more questions.

The biggest question was why I felt so fucking bad about saying no. It was like there was some kind of tearing in my gut when I saw that look on her face. It was like I had betrayed her, not the other way around.

I jumped to my feet and swung Rionna experimentally, looking with wonder at the blade of darkness as it zipped through the air, the song of the sword of stars soothing my troubled heart. I had yet to see Tessa since we had left Paldrum. More than that, I had yet to feel her eyes upon me as I did when we were travelling to Dunwellen. Elora had done her part to try and look for the girl but had found nothing. Which meant she was either nowhere near us or she was using her Inscribed wards to hide herself from the Princess' spiritual sight. I was betting on the former. I think that me rejecting her had done more damage than I had initially thought.

At least I had received some answers to my questions before the sensitive Smith had headed for the hills. I now knew that an Heir drew their power from the bloodline of their Smith, which explained why I had the same Element that Elora said all Knights of the House of Brand have. I had explained all this to Elora in detail and she had been fascinated by the implications. It also explained why the Queen was so against Elora Bonding with me. She seemed to hold something against the silver Element, which apparently was related to her family. That meant that Jester was more involved in all this than I had initially thought. Not only did he serve the same mysterious Mentor that Craven claimed to, he was also related to Elora in some way, which was the reason he was able to use the strange Element that the Queen hated so.

Elora had not been thrilled to learn that the man who had hurt her Knight shared her blood, but her excitement over finally getting some answers as to what an Heir is trumped her hatred of the strange Knight. Though, not by much.

At least I didn't have to worry about any strange Knights in my own family. I was more than a little relieved when Tessa told me that I was from common blood. It was strange to think it, but when Boldrin had said that I was 'special' and an Heir, I had jumped to the conclusion that I may be Noble. I thanked my lucky stars that wasn't the case. I had become rather attached to being a commoner. My entire identity was based around the fact that I was essentially the same as everyone else. I was glad that being an Heir didn't change that. Well, at the very least, it didn't change it that much.

Telling Elora about what Tessa had tried to do had been the most difficult part of the conversation. She had been excited at having finally received some answers for the both of us but even as I spoke I saw her expression fall further and further. It had continued to degrade until my Princess was sitting there with fury in her eyes and her hands clenched into tiny fists. The Bond was flaring and I felt her anger across the golden thread. I held her for a long time after that until she had calmed down. Elora hadn't spoken to me about that particular aspect of our conversation since. She said she would speak to Tessa when she saw her next. Though, when that would be I did not know.

Tessa was my friend. She had hid things from me, this much was true, but it wasn't like I was about to kick her out of my life. The Sister and Boldrin had done the same and yet the thought of them not being around was almost too much to bear. Boldrin nearly being killed had taught me that. If she had just stayed and listened to me for one Spirit damned second then maybe, just maybe, I could have avoided this whole mess. But I had hesitated, I had floundered and Tessa had taken that as rejection instead of as a need for clarification. I had never seen Tess look like that. She had always been strong and stoic. A natural predator who was the embodiment of barely contained violence. But in that moment she had seemed like a little girl, a child that wanted nothing more than to be accepted, to be cared for. For a split second she had reminded me of myself. Perhaps that was why I was feeling so melancholic. The sudden change in personality had thrown me for a loop and I had no idea how to respond.

My feelings for the mercenary were being pulled in two separate directions. On one hand, I felt like my anger at her lies and deceit were justified. On the other, I just wanted her to come back so we could talk all this through. Elora was little help in this regard. The Princess was furious at Tess for trying to Bond with me behind her back and when I was in a vulnerable state. I'm sure she would have some choice words for the mercenary when she made a reappearance. If she made a reappearance.

I tried once again to run through the forms and once again fell short. It wasn't Rionna's fault, but my own. The blade, as always, felt like it was made to sit in my hand. My body just felt it wasn't my own at the moment. Along with the lose of my eye and my emotional turmoil, it was all beginning to pile up. I had been so excited when Elora had given the go ahead to practice, now I couldn't do even that.

I thanked the Spirit we were heading back to Myrin. The Sister and I needed to have a frank discussion about my past, and seeing the children again would definitely be a balm for my soul. I yearned to hold little Delithia again, to let the golden haired girl bolster my flagging spirits.

I returned to my training and tried to push through my own doubts but failed at every corner. There was a shadow over my mind that refused to budge.

I wasn't at it for much longer before Rionna disappeared from my hand and I grinned, my heart lightening as a shimmering cascade of petals emerged from my chest and formed into the body of my Elora, Princess of Venos and the Flower of Myrin.

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She had changed a little since we had left Paldrum. Comparing her to when we had first left Myrin after escaping the palace was like the comparison between night and day. Her blonde hair tumbled freely down her back, catching the light and setting her aglow. Her honey-coloured eyes found my own instantly and the smile on her face as she saw me was enough to banish the shadow that had held me down mere moments before.

Before she was even fully formed she had wrapped her arms around me and settled her head against my chest. True to her word, as soon as we had left the stuffy castle of Paldrum she had immediately changed out of her incredibly elegant dress and into a simple tunic and breeches, a small dagger now sitting in a hilt at her hip. Her eyes still contained the gentleness I had come to love but there was an edge to them now. Elora had seen war, had seen it's devastation and had even taken the life of Craven, our great enemy and also the one who had pushed us together. She was stronger and more sure of herself. Comparing the Princess of before, who first taught me the ways of the Knight in a hesitant and unsure voice, to her now filled me with pride. As a Smith, she had grown even more than I had as a Knight.

“Ah, that's better,” Elora mumbled as she leaned against me blissfully.

I grinned in response and wrapped my arms around her, “Miss me, Princess?”

“Always,” Elora yawned, her eyes closing briefly as a hint of frustration entered her voice, “I can't seem to figure it out. The healing Gift won't budge. I'm sorry, Orin.”

“Hey,” I said softly, touching her chin and turning her eyes up to look at her directly, “It's fine. I'll get by without an eye. I'll figure it out.”

Elora smiled and reached up to stroke the right side of my face, a hint of sadness touching her features as she ran a finger down the long silver scar that ran through my closed right eye. “You do look rather dashing. Roguish, in fact.”

“Is that so?” I chuckled and sat back down on the fallen tree, pulling Elora into my lap as she laughed, “Well, I am a mercenary. Have to live up to my reputation somehow.”

“I'll find a way,” Elora said firmly, her eyes still firmly fixed on my wound, “I didn't think it was possible to repair a shattered Bond or for a Smith to wield a Weapon, yet we have done both over the last few days.”

“True,” I replied with a sigh, remembering the feeling of the Bond shattering, of the heartache and pain that followed. But my feelings for Elora didn't diminish when it was gone. If anything, the experience only made them stronger. “Being an Heir has it's perks.”

“Yeah,” Elora frowned and stared off into the distance, a flash of anger crossing her features, one which I recognised and knew all too well.

“She made a mistake,” I whispered into the ear of my angry Smith, kissing her quickly on the cheek before retreating, “There's more to this than we're seeing, Elora. I'm not defending Tess, but-.”

“I know, Orin.” Elora snapped before she winced and took a calming breath, “Just.... Just give me some time, okay? I need to work through this. I nearly lost you in the Severance, then Tessa tries to steal you from me-”

“She didn't try and steal me-”

“Same thing,” Elora waved a tired hand through the air, “She didn't discuss it with me. If she had just mentioned she would try something like this, I could be more rational. Right now, I'm just annoyed. Don't even get me started on the fact that she's a Smith, or it seems you can Bond with more than one person. The thought of sharing you, even just thinking about it is...please, I just need some time.”

I nodded and understood where Elora was coming from. Her natural inclination to be angry at Tessa was no doubt being exacerbated by the Bond itself, which heightened her emotions, especially when it came to being protective of me. I had experienced the same feelings many times. At least we were finally at a point where the Bond couldn't control our actions. The pain of the Severance hadn't left me with nothing to show for my efforts. Surviving the ritual had compressed my flames by another three inches! I was nearly halfway down to my core now and the alleviation it had given the both of us from the Bond had been a Spirit sent blessing. Our stores of Aurum had also increased according to Elora. Not considerably, but still enough to be noticeable to the Princess.

“How are you feeling?” Elora asked after a moment, “Are your wounds bothering you?”

They had twinged slightly as I had sat down on the log with the Princess on my lap but I shook my head regardless. Elora needed to stop worrying about me so much. She had been fussing over me non-stop since we had left Paldrum and more than once I had caught the worry in her eyes as she looked at me when she thought I wouldn't notice. She was afraid I was spiralling. To be honest, maybe I was. A lot had happened over the last few days.

“No, dearest wife, I am fine,” I grinned as Elora blushed and hit my chest.

“Stop that!” Elora stammered, her face becoming darker by the second.

Elora had explained after we left Paldrum that we were technically married because of some obscure rule from Venos' founding, one that didn't require a ceremony. It turned out that the Bonding itself was considered to be the only thing that mattered in a royal marriage. Elora and I had filled out the other requirements accidentally as we battled Craven on the burning stage of the inner city.

“Whatever you say, my wife, my love,” I said wistfully, “How you torture your husband so.”

“Orin, I mean it!” Elora replied quickly hiding her face and burying it into my chest, “You do this to annoy me.”

“I do,” I replied stoically, waiting for her head to pop up and look at me before I pressed my lips to hers.

Elora froze and I pulled away with a smile, “But I enjoy it.”

“Y-you are impossible,” Elora sighed and wrapped her arms around my neck, pulling me closer and kissing me again enthusiastically.

We would have continued like for that for quite some time if I hadn't heard the harsh clearing of a throat behind me. I turned and looked at the furious face of Embla of the Princess' guard, her eyes ablaze and her teeth clenched. I smiled and stared at the warrior before turning back to see Elora with a hand over her mouth to stop her laughter from flying free.

“Shall we continue?” I asked, leaning towards the Princess who leaned back with mirth in her eyes.

“No, I believe that is quite enough for one day,” Elora said confidently, leaning forwards and pecking me on the lips once more, “After all, I don't want to make Embla uncomfortable.”

I groaned morosely, “You enjoy torturing me.”

“Why, yes, husband, I believe I do,” Elora replied jovially, “Still, I think we should sit here a while longer.”

“That's the first time you've called me that, you know?” I said lightly, my hand landing on her leg while I wrapped the other around her shoulders.

“Called you what?” Elora asked blissfully, her eyes closed as she leaned against my shoulder.

“Husband,” I smirked as the Princess' eyes opened and glared at me.

“It's true, though. Isn't it?” Elora responded, looking strangely vulnerable as her eyes looked anywhere but at me.

“Of course,” I whispered and kissed her forehead, “Of all the secrets that have come to light over the past few days, I think that one might be the best.”

Elora smiled, content. “Maybe I should have told you earlier.”

“You should've,” I nodded and Elora froze in my arms, afraid I was angry with her for hiding it, “I mean, think about all those missed opportunities. We spent all that time together in my room at the palace. We could've-”

Elora clamped both hands over my mouth as she shushed me, laughing even as she tried to be serious. “Hush now, you're going to get me in trouble.”

“Of course, Princess,” I laughed as she released her hold on my lips and pulled her closer still, “Plenty of time yet.”

* * *

The trip back to Myrin passed faster than I was expecting. Elora's guard were highly professional and well-trained, though I was unsure how much actual combat experience they had. They took their job as protectors of the Princess very seriously, almost to point of it being a religious duty. Elora and I were always at the centre of their formation, with Embla assigned as the Princess' personal bodyguard. I thought that would fall under my duties, since I was the Royal Protector and all, but when I tried to broach the subject with the stoic wall of muscle and steel she had only ignored me. Seemed like there was still a few of the Princess' guard that were angry that I had usurped Cellus' position. Not that I cared much about that anyway.

Elora had told me of the talk she had with Cellus in Paldrum, of how she had explained how she felt about me and couldn't let me go. It had filled me with no small amount of warmth that she had done so. I was surprised that she thought she had got through to the young Duke after explaining to him how she felt. Still, I would hold onto the small flame of paranoia that stilled burned within me. As reasonable as Elora made Cellus seem, I was still reminded of his actions at the gazebo. If all was well, then all the better, but I would continue to keep my guard up when in the company of Nobles. We might have gotten through to the King and the other Masters, but the greater members of the court in Myrin were another story. These people famously hated any kind of change, especially one that didn't benefit them directly. I thought I had been safe before because hurting me could hurt Elora, but the incident with the Queen and Severance proved that there were other ways to end the Bond and my life. I hated the fact that I had been so weak against the Queen that I couldn't put up any kind of fight against her when she had chased away Jester, so I doubled down on compression training. Whenever I wasn't Bonded with Elora and trying to find my footing again as a swordsman, I would be compressing with everything in me. The stronger I got, the faster I would be able to hold my own against these fucking monsters. There was still quite a ways to go yet before I was at the level of Vera or the Queen, but I had been weak before when I had first joined the Brigade. I was treating this no differently. Repetition and the forming of habits was the way forward. Now I just needed to maintain my breakneck pace and not slow down. If I couldn't protect Elora from the likes of Jester then I wasn't good for anything at all. Shit, even Craven would have killed me with ease if it hadn't been for Boldrin and Brin.

Elora saw what I was trying to do and she joined me whole heartedly. Already she was back at work on the Gift of Speed, as well as trying to put some ideas for Armour together. Both of which would give me a huge advantage in the days to come.

I couldn't shake Tessa's words about becoming stronger. My feelings towards the mercenary hadn't changed over the last few days. I was still torn between bitter disapproval of her actions and a need to make sure she was alright. I knew for certain that she wasn't watching me. One night I had even laid awake while pretending to sleep, hoping that I would hear her rustling about in the bushes but nothing had even twitched. She must be with the Brigade. I only hoped she came to her senses soon and came to see me, before the damage done by our strange parting turned to bitterness and resentment.

My training as a swordsman was improving, but it wasn't as fast as I was hoping and I was nowhere near where I wanted to be. I honestly believed that if I was attacked by the likes of Sig the pig and his idiots now I wouldn't stand a chance. The missing eye was just too big a gap in my defences and I found myself wishing I could speak to Boldrin about some way to improve myself. Embla and her guards were more than happy to put my abilities to the test. I had yet to win a single spar. They were all incredibly skilled and I found myself simultaneously thankful and utterly devastated. Thankful because Elora was surrounded by competent protectors, devastated because I had yet to hit them even once. For once, I was thankful that we were training with wooden weapons. I'd be crippled otherwise.

Of course, the tables turned when Elora Bonded with me. My skills didn't magically improve but with our Resonant Gift of Strength I was pretty much unstoppable to the mortal guard, decimating their ranks as they came at me in numbers. It was good training as it allowed them to fight a Knight and it also did wonders for my own confidence, even if I needed Elora to be even slightly useful. Bonding with the Princess was like a drug and even thinking about it as we rode towards the distant walls of Myrin put a smile on my face.

The smile faded when I thought about what was going to meet us there, however. The Sister didn't know that I knew the secret of my past. Of the three that had lied to me, it was Sister Erin's deceit that hit the hardest. She was my mother. She had raised me. To keep something from me that was so monumental, so integral, to who I was as a person was something I hadn't really accepted yet. A small part of me had hoped that Tessa was lying about the Sister's involvement, but I don't see how it could have been possible otherwise.

“Orin, are you alright?” The Princess was sitting on a white mare beside me, a far more beautiful steed than my own. She smiled at me playfully, “Problems with riding?”

I winced as another tremor of pain ran up my backside. How did Elora do it? She looked so at ease while I looked much like a country bumpkin. I had always been a terrible rider and that had been with the ancient beast Boldrin had gifted me. My current mount was a tiny bit more spirited. Embla and the other guards laughed at me quietly as I grumbled in misery at every slight movement.

“Spirit, do I hate horses,” I complained, looking over at my Princess, the picture of grace and royalty, “How are you so good at this?”

Elora shrugged smugly, “Father used to take me riding around the royal gardens when I was younger. I always enjoyed it and Cellus was always good so we would often take rides together.”

“Cellus was good rider? Why am I not surprised,” I growled, trying in vein to bring the wretched beast between my legs under control.

Elora smirked, her eyes shining. “Orin of Myrin, are you jealous?”

“Me? Jealous? Never, Princess.” I replied quickly, my eye turning to look at Elora's two as she smiled at me.

“Good, you have no need to be, Though, if you want, we could go riding together sometime.” Elora asked, just barely managing to hold back her laughter. I appreciated the attempt, at least.

“Perhaps a nice walk, instead?” I replied weakly and the floodgates broke as Elora howled with laughter, the guards joining her. Despite trying to maintain my stoic demeanour I too cracked under the strain and chuckled along with the Princess, staring at her fondly as she did the same right back.

“Though, if you make me wings like your mother we wouldn't even need to walk,” I said after the laughter had calmed down.

As much as I despised the Queen, I had to admit that the idea of flying through the air, untethered from the earth, was something that I could very much grow to enjoy. When we had jumped off the walls of the palace I had been terrified. But, in hindsight, it was actually rather beautiful to gaze at the city from so high above.

Elora frowned and a look of concentration fell over her features, “Honestly, I'm not too sure how she does it. I know it's not totally a part of her Armour. Father said it was a Gift, but I just don't know what Idea you would have to use to implement them. Something to do with a bird, perhaps?”

“How many Gifts are there?” I asked, to both sate my curiosity and to help take my mind off the beast I was riding.

“Many. More than I know of. There are some Gifts that everyone can have, like Strength or Speed. I've heard of a few others that can let Knights do incredible things. I once read a tale of a Knight who could change into a dragon, but I don't know if that was true or not. As far as I know, mother is the only Knight who has wings in all of Ouros. I don't really know what you would call the Gift of the Crown. Since it's a Gift you give to me, I suppose it must have its own category.”

Ah, I had almost forgotten about that. During Severance I had somehow managed to give Elora what Tessa called 'the power of her bloodline'. The Princess had become a ruler of darkness, wearing a crown as black as my soul's flames, with obsidian eyes studded with stars and wielding the Weapon she had created for me. We had attempted to replicate the ability several times over the last few days but to no success. At first we had assumed we could activate it like any other Gift, but since it was my Gift to Elora she couldn't seem to do anything to activate it. I had tried to looking for the 'switch' to turn it on but had not been able to manifest it so far. Even thinking about Elora's Crown form sent a shiver down my spine. She was cold and beautiful and terrible, a force of destruction realised.

“Yeah. We'll need to figure that out soon. Would be pretty devastating if the enemy thinks you're helpless and suddenly you start running around throwing Dark Element everywhere,” I said absent-mindedly. It would be a load off my mind as well. If Elora and I were ever separated, I could give her the Gift and she would be able to defend herself.

Elora smiled at me warmly, “We'll figure it out. We've got all the time in the world.”

I returned the Princess' smile but I didn't know if I believed that. Tessa's words were still ringing in my ears. She had told me that Elora's power wouldn't be enough. That I would need to be stronger. The Mentor was still out there and I doubt he would simply let Elora go because of Craven's death. It seemed to me that the sad and insidious Knight was nothing more than a pawn in his leader's twisted game. Not to mention the fact that Jester was a Master and now knew that I was an Heir.

Being an Heir made me a target and Elora became a target by association. Not to mention that we didn't know why they had wanted the Princess in the first place.

Mystery after mystery. Question after question. All I wanted was some answers, but with Tessa absent and Boldrin in the wind, I only had one place to get them.

I felt a hand grasp my own and I looked over at Elora who stared at me with firm eyes and a resolute will.

I squeezed gently, taking comfort in the connection. I returned my eye to the horizon, where the spires of Myrin, shining and resplendent, sheared upwards and into the sky.