"I can't believe Neven is dating the prince of Orinovo," said Ainreth for what must have been at least the tenth time, but Fennrin couldn't blame him. He was still surprised at that revelation, too. Though it seemed to be less important to him than it was to Ain, which made sense. He barely knew Oretski, while Ain had been fighting him for a decade.

"I can't believe we have to march on Diramisk," Fennrin said, sighing, cuddling closer to Ainreth where they were laying on their bedrolls side by side. Unfortunately, this old fort didn't have usable beds, so they had to settle. "It seems so wasteful. How many people will die pointlessly?" Fennrin grimaced, thinking. "Maybe if I went alone as a shadow—"

"The Bulwark, Varilik, no one is going to let you because you're too important. And I'll die sooner than see you go on such a dangerous mission alone."

Fennrin's heart skipped a beat at the fierce love and protectiveness in Ain's words. He didn't like this, if only for their soldiers' sakes, but he comforted himself by reminding himself that Orinovo had asked for it. Daryan had said as much, and Fennrin agreed with him. He didn't much like butchering Orinovo's soldiers, but he would do what he had to.

"Then I suppose there is no other option," Fennrin said, nodding to himself. He couldn't afford to be so regretful on the battlefield, so he'd better pull himself together.

"I don't like this, either." Ain sighed too, kissing Fennrin's forehead. "I wish there was another option. But I can't really think of one. I'm sure the queen has already tripled security." He smirked with great amusement. "Probably lit many extra candles just to make certain no shadowforger is slipping through."

Ainreth chuckled, the beautiful sound making Fennrin's heart stutter, leaving him unable but to laugh too.

But suddenly, there was a knock on the door, drawing his attention from Ainreth to it.

"Apologies for intruding, Fennrin. Do you happen to a have a moment?" Daryan's muffled voice asked from the other side, making Fennrin separate himself from Ain, much to his annoyance, and get up.

"Yes, of course." He looked back at Ainreth who rolled his eyes, but then he did smile and nod at Fennrin.

"I'll just take a nap. Varilik talks so much I can fit one in without a problem," Ainreth said, yawning in an exaggerated manner.

Fennrin almost laughed at that, but he managed to keep a straight face as he opened the door, finding the older man just outside of it. "Yes, sir?"

"I wanted to talk to you for a little while if you don't mind," Daryan said, smiling, the skin around his eyes crinkling. The smile did ebb a little when his gaze turned to Ainreth. "And I do hope you enjoy your nap, general."

"I always do, Lord Courtier," Ain responded, resting his hands on his stomach and closing his eyes. Then he added in a quiet grumble: "I enjoy them more with Fenn next to me, though."

Daryan shook his head and sighed before turning back to Fennrin. "Shall we?"

Fennrin looked over his shoulder one more time to...well, he wasn't sure what, but he was satisfied at the sight of Ain being comfortable, and so he followed the Herald outside, closing the door behind him.

"How are you recovering?" asked Daryan as they settled into a stroll down the stone corridor, walking next to each other, only a soldier or two here with them.

"Recovering?"

"After being held captive," Daryan clarified, frowning at Fennrin a little with concern, and Fennrin had to blush in embarrassment. Of course that was what the Herald had been referring too. Fennrin wasn't certain why he hadn't figured that out immediately, but he hadn't.

"Oh. I'm...quite all right. The kapetan did nothing to me."

Daryan raised an eyebrow. "Mentally?"

Fennrin shrugged. "Also all right?"

Daryan smiled fondly, making Fennrin blush again. He felt like all he could do around the Herald was being awkward and unsure of himself. He knew it was somewhat ridiculous to be intimidated by a figure in power because he was dating Ainreth, but Ain didn't act like a general most of the time, so it was easy to forget.

"It is quite all right if you are not, you know. I won't think less of you," Daryan said kindly, still smiling. "I know I was quite shaken the first time I was held captive."

Fennrin blinked, not having expected that in the slightest. Somehow, he hadn't really thought of Daryan as someone who would be in danger much. Though then again he was out here, on territories that Orinovo still considered to be theirs. They could attack them at any point, and while Orinovo was unlikely to win, people could die.

"When did that happen?" Fennrin asked immediately, possibly cutting Daryan off, curiosity getting the better of him.

But Daryan just smiled some more, looking endeared. It made the corners of Fennrin's mouth twitch up. "Some hundred years ago."

Right, Daryan was very, very old. Fennrin kept forgetting. It did make him wonder just how long he and Ain would live for, assuming they wouldn't die of an illness, during a battle, or otherwise.

"I believe it was a group of Orinovan vigilantes, using me as a hostage. But that is unimportant. The reason I mention it is to make it clear that I will not judge you. And I will always listen, if you wish to tell me things."

Fennrin nodded, now smiling back properly. He couldn't help but feel honored that the Herald cared so much. It was nice to hear that he wasn't just a weapon to Daryan, that the man cared about his emotional state, as well. He wasn't sure what he would come to Daryan to tell him—he couldn't imagine wanting to get something off his chest and not go straight to Ainreth—but it was nice to have the option. He wasn't really used to that.

Even now, he really only just had Ain. And Fennrin didn't want to seem like he was ungrateful for that. In fact, he couldn't thank the sun enough. But still, perhaps there would be something that could be better discussed with Daryan at some point. The man was clearly very wise if nothing else.

"We need to make sure you are better guarded next time, also," Daryan continued, nodding to himself as they kept walking aimlessly through the corridor, passing old wooden doors, some open, some closed, but not stopping at any of them. "Oretski could have killed you instead of taking you captive, and I dare not consider what that would mean for our nation."

Fennrin grimaced. He didn't want to consider it either if he were to be honest, the thought too intimidating when he unpacked the true meaning behind it—that the fate of Lys-Akkaria rested on his shoulders. It wouldn't be good, and that was as much as he needed to know.

"But the important thing is that you are unharmed and back with us," Daryan finished his thought. "Though there is something else I wished to talk to you about."

"Yes, sir?" Fennrin immediately blushed again, remembering that Daryan had specifically asked him not to call him that. He needed to work on that.

"The matter of what we now have to do," Daryan said, clasping his hands together behind his back, still looking quite casual, but the atmosphere has shifted to a more serious one. "You alongside our soldiers will have to fight through Orinovo all the way to Diramisk."

Daryan sighed, grimacing, as if the idea pained him. That was quite surprising because Fennrin had for some reason expected Daryan to be quite into the idea. He hadn't seemed to have a problem with the battling they'd done so far, though Fennrin supposed this was a little different. This territory they would be fighting on now was Orinovan soil with Lys-Akkaria having no claim to it.

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"You've fought very bravely and successfully," Daryan praised him, pride in his voice, and Fennrin felt his heart stutter in gratefulness. Between this and Ainreth's constant praise, he could get used to people being proud of him. "However, things may change now."

Fennrin nodded as he listened, stepping around a soldier walking opposite them before returning to his place next to the Herald.

"Orinovo doesn't care much about the land we took back. There aren't many resources there, aside from a small silver mine. The land is largely agricultural. So while freeing our people was very important to us, for the queen, this represents little more than a bruise on her ego. We did anger her, but not enough to make her do desperate things."

Oh, Fennrin was finally, properly starting to understand what Daryan was saying. "More desperate than experimenting on people to give them az-ari powers?"

Daryan chuckled, though it sounded sad, no humor in it. Fennrin couldn't blame him. "I will admit, that I did not foresee." Then he grimaced, lowering his gaze. "Well, to be entirely honest, one of my spies did bring me very vague information about something to that effect possibly happening, but I disregarded it then as a rumor, assuming it couldn't have been true. It simply didn't sound plausible two years ago."

In hindsight, that did seem somewhat foolish. But Fennrin couldn't blame the Herald. It still sounded impossible to him, and they had one of these artificial az-ari locked up on the other side of the corridor. A man who could use not one but two sets of az-ari powers.

And then there was Yarima, who likely had more than that. How did she fall into all this? Surely if the kapetan could also take powers from az-ari, he would have taken Fennrin's. Or would that somehow interfere with whatever experimentation they had wanted to put him through?

Fennrin had many questions and almost no answers. But he would get answers once they were putting a stop to whatever Orinovo was doing to make this happen. No matter what, it was wrong.

"I regret that very much, but alas, I cannot go back in time to change things," Daryan said, sighing. "Which means we must focus on the present. And the present requires us to lay siege to Diramisk, no matter how difficult it is going to be." Daryan turned his gaze to Fennrin directly, his eyes as if staring into his very soul. It made Fennrin want to look away at the intensity, but at the same time he couldn't seem to be able to. "I simply wanted to make sure you are willing to do what is necessary so we can get peace at last."

Fennrin frowned, not liking what he was hearing very much. Was Daryan doubting his loyalty? Had he done something wrong? He hoped he hadn't. "Yes, of course I am."

"Even if it means killing hundreds more?" Daryan's gaze softened at that into something almost akin to pity. Fennrin swallowed. It was so strange, this talk of death and killing. He was murdering soldiers, butchering them even, with how effectively he could do it, it was true, and yet it never seemed to properly occur to him unless someone pointed it out directly.

Maybe Fennrin should be disturbed by that, but he didn't mind enough to feel that way. At least it didn't weigh on him since he had to do it anyway. Orinovo didn't want to surrender, and they couldn't wait around for them to fill their army with more powerful soldiers.

"Yes. If it means peace, then it is worth it."

Daryan gave him a small smile. "You'll do anything it takes?"

"Yes." Fennrin frowned, truly not sure what the problem here was. "Have I given you reason to doubt me?"

Daryan's smile widened, his eyes turning fond. "No, of course not. You've been a model soldier. If you told me you used to be one, I would believe it."

Fennrin smiled back a little as he shook his head. "No, I wasn't. And technically speaking, I am still not one."

Daryan frowned in thought, humming. "Well, we could change that. If you would like. I'm sure we could do with another general."

Fennrin blinked, staring in shock for a moment before remembering he should be saying something. "Uh, that's.... I am honored, but I can't lead anyone. And I've only been helping for a few months."

Daryan smiled again, chuckling a little. "Time is irrelevant. Actions matter. You are a symbol now, whether you want to be or not. The Nightrazer. You haunt the nightmares of Orinovan soldiers. It would make perfect sense for you to be a general, alongside the Daybreaker, no? He too was made general for one event, and one event only."

Daryan bringing that up made Fennrin scowl at him, his shock forgotten in exchange for resentment. Yes, he remembered that very well. He certainly remembered the small detail about Daryan threatening Ainreth into taking the position. "You made Ain be a general. Against his will."

He only then remembered that he probably should have been less direct about it, but he didn't regret a single word. He liked Daryan in general, but what he'd done to Ain wasn't okay.

Fennrin expected the Herald to get angry with him because the shadowforger knew very well the man was capable of it, but instead Daryan just grimaced, averting his gaze to look down at the floor. "Yes. That wasn't my best moment. Ainreth and I have had our differences over the years, but I definitely did not help things by doing that. But our people needed a hero." A shadow seemed to pass over his face.

Fennrin tried to think back ten years ago, remember what the atmosphere had been like. But all he found was pain and tears. He'd been too worried about where his next meal might come from to pay attention to anything else back then. He did remember some posters with Ain on them, but that was a fleeting memory. It hadn't been important.

"Ainreth wanted to disappear from public life after that battle," said Daryan with a sigh, his gaze still trained on the floor. They never stopped walking though. "I...panicked, I suppose. I couldn't let that happen. The only reason Orinovo didn't win that day was because of Ainreth, and that is a fact. He is the hero we needed, the sole person keeping Orinovo from attacking our then weakened country again. I can't imagine what would happen if I'd let him do what he'd wanted. Has he told you what he'd done that day?"

Fennrin pressed his lips into a thin line. He was finding it difficult to keep up his anger when Daryan explained things like this, but he was still annoyed. He was sure there had been a different way of doing things. There must have been.

Though now he was intrigued by Daryan's question.

"He said that he isn't even sure himself," Fennrin replied, frowning. "I do know it accidentally killed his friend."

Daryan nodded, grimacing harder. Good, he was glad the Herald was getting the sting Fennrin had been trying to put into his words with that sentence. It felt strange to talk this way to the leader of Lys-Akkaria, but Fennrin was justified.

"Yes, the reason behind that is that...." Daryan shrugged, raising his eyebrows as he finally looked at Fennrin again, something akin to both awe and concern on his face. "Well, I wasn't there myself, but from what the soldiers that had been in safe distance reported back then, Ainreth seemed to have drained energy from the very sun itself."

Fennrin stared at Daryan with wide eyes, stopping in his tracks. "W-what?"

Ain was that powerful? Fennrin had had no idea. That was both incredible and terrifying. Especially considering that the way Ain had talked about it, it didn't seem as though he had much control over it, nor did he seem fully capable of doing it at will.

"The reports were many, and while some details differed, the main idea was the same," Daryan continued, nodding, also having stopped in the middle of the hallway. "The one thing that every one of them said the same, though, is clear—the sun grew a little less bright for a few seconds before Ainreth released his scorching wave."

That was...incredible. Fennrin couldn't even feel terrified at the scope of Ainreth's power. He was too fascinated by it to be. Ain constantly called Fennrin strong and powerful, and meanwhile what he was doing was nothing compared what a lightweaver could do.

"How could I let someone like him disappear? It would just bring chaos and hopelessness." Daryan said. "Not to mention more war."

Fennrin frowned, chewing on his lip. He didn't want to agree. He was sure there had been a better way. Perhaps some kind of compromise before threatening Ain. Especially by using his dead friend against him. But he supposed he understood somewhat.

"It was still wrong."

Daryan nodded solemnly. "Yes, I agree with you. I was too focused on maintaining peace at any cost that I couldn't see it back then. If I could, I would change things. Go about it differently. But all we can do is move forward."

He gestured to the hallway in front of them as he said this, waiting for Fennrin to nod before they started moving again. The fort was built as a circle, so sooner or later they would reach the room he and Ain had been staying in.

They walked in silence so thick that Fennrin was considering saying something just to break it. But before he could say anything, there came yelling and clamor from somewhere ahead.

Not hesitating for a second, Fennrin turned into a shadow, the dim space of the fort giving him near perfect freedom in where he could go, hurrying toward the noise just as a horrible whining noise was heard, followed by a huge crash. And as he slid around some running soldiers, it dawned on him where the noise was coming from.

Oretski's cell.

Trying to go even faster, his panic building, he found the door thrown open, the room bathed with sunlight coming from a large hole in the wall, stopping him in his tracks. And in front of the hole stood two figures, one dressed as a soldier, the other Oretski, very much freed.

Before Fennrin could turn back and grab their shadows to stop them, with one last look behind them, they were jumping out, flying away, leaving him scrambling to run to the opening, staring after them.

Fennrin had thought that one of their own had betrayed them, but now he knew that wasn't the case. She'd seen the soldier's face. She'd seen her white hair peeking out from beneath her cowl. That had been Yarima.

Yarima had come here and managed to free Oretski. Without raising any alarms.

She'd just taken away a very valuable hostage from them. A dangerous enemy. But at least they still had the information they'd needed, Fennrin thought, trying to comfort himself. They would deal with this mess as they marched on Diramisk.