The Sekrelli was unsettled. They had been riding around on horseback for a full day and Aris was exhausted from focusing the whole day on trying to ‘see’ Rask. More than a handful of times, she found herself staring at Verne’s dark green solute. It was impossible to describe the movement or sensation coming off of it, but it gave off a distinct impression that it simmered with some kind of agitated heat.

Strange. Even Ral frequently praised how utterly calm and focused the man was. It annoyed Aris, quite frankly - you would think someone who’s been back stabbed and lied to would at least have some reservation towards other people. But no, her brother would give even a Kuvan priest a chance to be his friend.

Maybe it’s why he’s so popular. Even if he was Caelisian and now commonly known to be (technically) the Solaris, people still liked him. Aris shoved the thought from her mind. She would have never handled popularity well anyway - besides this wasn’t the time to sulk about something stupid like this. She had already been through being jealous and resentful of her brother.

“Not even a hint of him?” Ral asked. There was a clacking sound, probably from Ral throwing wood into their campfire.

“No.”

“We are still some d-distance from his last rep-ported location,” Laell said. The runist sat next to Aris and they were nearly huddled together against the growing night chill.

Laell’s involvement in this haphazard mission was met with a lot of protests and nearly delayed their departure date by another day. Of course, it wasn’t because the academics were afraid she would turn into an Unseeing but rather they thought Aris or Ral would kill her the moment they left the island. Aris was willing to lean into it to keep Laell from joining them, but the runist quickly convinced her she should go along.

“I have to p-prove the talisman works,” Laell had said. “I c-can’t ask anyone else to p-put their lives on the line like that. And I must l-look at the enchanting circles. U-undamaged ones.”

The added bonus was that Laell managed to convince Verne to wear one of the warding talismans, because of course he would listen to her. Aris drew her knees to her chest and tried not to look disgruntled at the thought. He was wearing the sun-cursed thing, that’s all that fucking matters.

“Did you have enough to eat?” Ral asked. They had brought rations with them as they were trying to keep low. She nodded. “We should get some rest and head out early at sunrise.”

“I will keep watch,” Verne said. There was a familiar jangling sound of metal along with Ral and Laell moving around to settle in for the night. Then from the direction of Verne was the soft scraping sound of sharpening stone against metal.

Aris had the unpleasant memory of being on that damn cart for days and days on end, fading in and out of consciousness. Verne used to sit by her enchanting circle and sharpen his sword while watching her. The disgruntlement grew to an unpleasant lump at her throat.

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“What, so you can keep playing guard?” she said acidly. The scraping sound stopped. “It sounds like you’re enjoying this.”

“That’s not true.” His voice was level, calm and his appearance would probably be the same, collected nobleman Ral saw every time they sparred. But Aris knew better by watching his rich green solute squirm with discomfort.

“What do you know about the truth?” Aris snorted. “The Sekrelli and the Kuvans always had their own brand of truth. You’re just like the rest of those who call us liars.”

“Aris,” Ral said with a warning voice.

“Why should I not believe only in things that I see?” Verne said, his voice now edged in tension. “I never called you a liar. I simply do not believe in something I have not witnessed. It doesn’t make sense to me that the truth behind the Unseeing had been kept from everyone when Gates had been a problem for so long. How are you unable to understand my doubts? Perhaps, Aris, you are the one ignorant about those not from your kingdom.”

She was furious but was surprised that a laugh was what burst from her. “Now you lose your temper?” she sneered. “Where was this spirit back then when I was purposely trying to get you angry?”

“You don’t understand how different this is,” Verne muttered.

“How is this any different? The facts are the same. And one of the obvious fact is that neither Ral nor I have any fucking reason to lie to you. Of all the things you’ve seen with your own parts-damned eyes, this is the most unbelievable thing you’re willing to get angry about?”

She saw his solute move and heard him get up and approach her. Aris scrambled to her feet, praying she didn't stumble into the campfire in front of her. She would tear off his talisman, then strike him if he tried to hurt her. Then she would immediately turn into Shade form and -

“This is different because if the Academy - or if the Kuvanian representative, my father or the emperor think our mission is a failure, you and your brother will be executed,” Verne said harshly. She jerked back, both at his words and at how close he suddenly seemed. “Practically speaking it doesn’t matter where the Unseeing comes from. If the Academy and people paint you two as criminals you will very much be in danger.”

“I’m not scared of politics,” Aris said.

“You should be,” Verne replied gravely. “Wasn’t that what destroyed your entire kingdom in the first place?”

“It was an attack led by assassins.”

“Yes, but how do you think that’s possible without political machinations?” Verne sounded like he moved back to his original spot. “How do you think the framework of upholding order under two rulers gets dismantled so quickly? How do you get everyone to stop regarding Caelis as a kingdom?”

Aris pressed her mouth into a thin line.

“I refuse to let you even come close to execution,” Verne continued. “I’ve told you that before. I’ll extend it to your brother. I won’t allow either of you to die. It’s precisely why my… doubts make this difficult because if you are wrong there is nothing stopping religious zealots from getting rid of you.”

You have a debt to pay now, Aris. You can’t die.

“If we eliminate all your doubts, will you finally be on our side?” Aris asked finally after a bout of silence.

“I have always been on your side, Aris.” She couldn’t see his face, of course. She wished she could see his face.