King Min is restless, now more than ever, without Advisor Hwang beside him to whisper exhortations to entice the snarling fox he keeps locked deep within. Advisor Hwang represents the emotions he cannot and will not express. He paces away in the confines of his chambers, cowering, almost, in his den, as Caylus Sampson continues to soar around Coimeach Pass, cornering him with the simple threat of what an owl's wings could bear. His scar begins to sear- a tell-tale sign that his cold demeanour is fading, fast.

Lord Highmarch returns with Sir Conall, Sir Davys, Dowager Queen Min Chinsun, and Preacher Elisedd, the Head of Holy Affairs in Vulstis.

Sir Conall clicks his heels in greeting, as is the custom of all men in the Vulstis Guard, before addressing King Min. "Your Grace, we could not locate Advisor Hwang. None of us have seen nor heard from him since the Council meeting."

"None of you?" King Min asks pointedly, raising his eyebrows at Sir Davys, the man who has eyes and ears everywhere.

"The five of us here have not, Your Grace," a cheeky smile graces Sir Davys's lips as he continues, "as for the people in Skulk Square and in the northern Nnidhal District, however, they spotted him riding towards the coal mines."

King Min sucks on the inside of his cheeks in a futile attempt to keep all his amounting emotions under wraps. He decides to check the first concern off his exceedingly long list.

"Sir Conall, you told me you put your best men on Coimeach Pass. Why was Caylus Sampson able to take it so easily? You should've had the upper hand, it's a stronghold after all!" King Min leans on his writing desk, finger nails scraping deeply into the polished oak. He stares at his commander from beneath long eyelashes, dark eyes swimming with menacing emotions ready to come crashing out.

"That's what's odd, Your Grace. I questioned the survivors, and they all said they were sleeping. No one was assigned to the night watch, even though my Generals' records show the rotas and which men should have been awake. Caylus Sampson and his men essentially walked in unchallenged." Sir Conall informs, unwavering but internally petrified under the scrutiny of his King.

"It is almost as if there is a rat messing with us." Lord Highmarch chimes in, everyone in the room chilling at the possibility that Vulstis could be in imminent danger, and Caylus Sampson is the least of all their problems. He checks King Min's second concern off- though he hates to suspect his most loyal charge, could Advisor Hwang be that rat?

"Both of us." Sir Davys adds gravely, each of them turning to look at him quizzically. "As much as we don't like to admit it, we know Caylus Sampson well. He used to be one of us. I know he wouldn't have even thought about invading Vulstis territory, let alone Coimeach Pass, unless someone had assured him that Prince Jimin and Verectias wouldn't reprimand him for doing so. He is a man of honour, and would not want to endanger the entirety of Patrinis. The last thing he would want is a confrontation with the Protector of the Future."

It is silent for a moment as Sir Davys's words are digested. King Min hates that he is right, but he knows that Caylus Sampson is the most honourable man in all of Patrinis.

"I have not yet had any word from Verectias Palace." King Min says apprehensively. Could Advisor Hwang have told Caylus Sampson that he had the King of Vulstis's permission to obtain Coimeach Pass despite having no such thing, and now the coward is running in the complete opposite direction? If so, King Min would rather pretend he thinks the rat is someone else, rather than parade the fact that Vulstis has been played the fool in front of both Nocriam and Verectias.

"I did not raise you to be this stupid, boy!" Min Chinsun snaps. "Honestly, it takes doves two days just to deliver mail from Verectias Palace. It's all the way up in those wretched mountains, for crying out loud! Caylus Sampson wouldn't have received a warning yet, and as soon as he does, I'll bet my corset he'll retreat immediately whether he has his daughter or not."

The mention of the fiery-haired woman distracts King Min from the fact that his mother is too honest and logical for her own good. Aine Sampson. The perfect person to play the part of the rat.

"Aine." he spits through gritted teeth.

Ever since he brought her to Vulstis, everything has gone wrong. She is everything wrong in his life, and yet wherever he goes, whatever he does, she is there. At this point, her existence is just to mock him, and the cold King's resolve is starting to crack. Whether these occurrences are purely coincidental or due to her actually having divine powers and enacting her wrath on him as promised, he does not care. He just wants her gone, to stop following him so he can once again live in peace as the Protector of the Past. She is the perfect scape-goat. The perfect rat to avoid Vulstis's embarrassment.

"Your Grace?" Preacher Elisedd questions calmly, having been an observer up until now. His skills in Holy matters not being much use.

"Aine Sampson. I want her gone. Forever. Preacher Elisedd, mother, you will find her guilty of being the rat." King Min commands.

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"But, Your Grace!" Sir Davys attempts to protest.

Sir Conall's jaw slackens at the King's verdict but, unlike Sir Davys, he does not attempt to vocalise his thoughts. Lord Highmarch smiles silently to himself. Min Chinsun stares blankly at her son, trying to recognise the man that stands before her.

"Your King commands it." King Min states.

Preacher Elisedd nods in perturbed acknowledgment. "I will do as the Gods see fit."

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"Well, I'm exhausted." Rian breathes, placing his sword back into the stack.

"And that's why you have a scar on your face." Aine quips, twirling her sword proudly in her hand. The sheen of sweat on her forehead and messy hair betray her, though, as Rian had definitely put her through her paces.

"Careful, now, I still don't know whether I'm willing to forgive you for that." Rian teases, caressing his scarred lip.

"Seriously?! You were the one that wanted my help to pull your wobbly tooth out! It just went a bit wrong..." Aine pushes back, crossing her arms.

"I'm just kidding. Besides, now I look more badass!"

Aine rolls her eyes, noticing how dark the sky is becoming in the process.

"I best go and pray in the Royal Chapel before it becomes too late. You should, too." Aine almost commands.

Rian scoffs, going to retrieve the neglected bow he had been intending to fix earlier. "Nocriam sure has rubbed off on you. Us of lower station in Vulstis pray in our houses in the mornings. We are not allowed in the Royal Chapel." As a child, Aine used to complain about prayer, but since going to evening prayer like clockwork in the Holy Kingdom of Nocriam, it has become a habit. It is also another excuse to avoid going back to her room where she'll be suffocated by memories of her mother.

Aine winces, shooting her friend an apologetic glance for her ignorance. Rian shakes his head, unbothered, and waves her off.

"You might want to clean up!" he yells after her.

Aine deadpans, but soon realises that her painfully uncomfortable up-do from this morning has fallen completely loose and her hair is freely flowing down her back once more. Random pins stick out of it in obscure directions. Her dress has scuff marks and some fraying threads from where Rian's blade had caught the long sleeves a few times. She simply huffs, bringing her hair forward to shield the plunging neckline from any more prying eyes. She is only going to pray, Preachers are not supposed to judge.

The Royal Chapel cannot hold a torch to anything in Nocriam, which is to be expected. Where Nocriam uses white marble, Vulstis uses charcoal covered stone. Where Nocriam uses architecture that gives the impression that one is walking with the Gods, Vulstis uses gothic architecture that grimly reminds one that they are very much still on Earth. Vulstis keeps one grounded, whereas Nocriam puts one's head in the clouds. The only things that are the same are the grand statues of the Sun God and the Moon God at the end of the aisle as well as the Holy Scriptures.

"Welcome, my child." Preacher Elisedd greets with open arms, grasping the Holy Scriptures in his left hand. His robes are a simple brown and held together with a single gold rope.

"Hello, Preacher." Aine replies, her eyes travelling back over the aisle. Her heart stops when she spots The Dowager Vixen in all her royal glory bent over in prayer before the statue of the Moon God. Her eyes dart back to Preacher Elisedd, who offers her a kind smile as they begin their stroll towards the statue of the Sun God.

"My name is Preacher Elisedd, I am the head of this chapel. Are you here for evening prayer?"

"Yes, Preacher Elisedd." Aine confirms, ignoring Min Chinsun beside her and putting her faith first, kneeling on her hands and knees and thanking the Sun God for all that is good and bright in her life.

She rises after a while and kisses the hand of the Sun God's statue, manoeuvring over to kneel before the Moon God. She repents for all the bad and dark things that the Moon God has decided just punishment to plague her life with. As she goes to stand once more, The Dowager Vixen stops her.

"Did you help your father invade Coimeach Pass, child?"

Aine turns slowly, eyes wide. Did I mishear?

"What?" Is all she can manage.

"I know you are not hard of hearing. Confess. Here, before the Gods." Min Chinsun orders, fierce and unmoving as ever.

"My father is in Vulstis? Why would he...?" Aine whispers. She tries desperately to find the fearless warrior within her, but the little girl who would cradle in the safety of her mother's lap presides. And so, helplessly, she collapses to the ground beneath the magnificence of the Moon God's statue, its silver eyes boring into her soul.

Staring back, bottom lip quivering, Aine monologues. "Why would he do that? He knows that Verectias will come for him. If I lose him, I don't know what I will do." She bows her head. "Oh, Holy God of the Moon, spare me this injustice, I beg of you!"

"Come, dear Aine, stand." Preacher Elisedd offers, pulling Aine off the floor. She looks at the elderly man and the Dowager Queen with glossy eyes. Pleading eyes. Anyone but my father.

"She didn't know." Min Chinsun states.

Preacher Elisedd nods sweetly.

"Forgive me, girl, but both your father and Vulstis have been played for fools. My son thinks you're the rat that's been playing us and let your father in. Your confession just now confirmed my suspicions: it's not you. Preacher Elisedd and I now need to figure out a way to convince the King." The Dowager Queen explains, a smile of respect gracing her hardened features.

Aine's worry does not ease- King Min's thoughts are usually set in stone.

"Leave it the hands of the Gods." Preacher Elisedd suggests. Aine is perplexed as that could go any way, but Min Chinsun seems to pick up on a different meaning. "Follow me."

Preacher Elisedd leads the way to a secluded crypt full of the previous Kings of Vulstis, overlooked again by a smaller version of the Sun and Moon God statues. Preacher Elisedd stops right before the smaller Moon God statue and clasps its hand, twisting it to the left three times. The floor beneath Aine lurches before giving way to reveal a staircase and a well-lit corridor.

"The answers lie below, my child."

Does Aine entirely trust these people? No. Does she have any other choice? No. If she runs now, she'll look suspicious. With that, she plods down the staircase and watches as the trapdoor closes behind her. Only onwards now.

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