Thepa and Rory gathered their weapons and left the room. Thepa was bursting, having not seen Rory for at least a completion. She almost made it to the sitting room to say something, waiting until they were far enough not to be overheard, when Rory beat her to it.

"You know, I was going to say how good you looked, but after you sat on me, I think you could stand to lose a few pounds," Rory teased.

Oh Rory, you haven't changed one bit, she thought. It had been a while, but she missed Rory's ribbing. She only hoped her own game was up to snuff.

"Keep it up, elf, and I might sit on you again. Besides, didn't they teach you any combat training in that temple of yours? You figure they would want to make sure her Royal Highness was trained enough to stay off her posterior. What kind of pretty-pretty priestess princess can't avoid a decent spring attack?" Thepa retorted with a playful smirk.

Rory rolled her green eyes at the teasing title. "At least when my rear hits the ground, people don't have to worry about whether or not someone cast an earthquake spell."

Thepa grinned. "Maybe, but sitting on you might be the only way to shut you up."

"If I knew staying quiet would get you off your rear, I would have sown my mouth shut completions ago.

Thepa turned to stare at Rory, who stared back at her, barely suppressing a smile. Finally, Thepa did a quick look behind her to check her bottom and shrugged her shoulders. "Maybe it is getting a little big. It must be the fatty foods here in the capital."

Rory shook her head, "Nah, you're as perfect as ever. I've missed you, sis."

They hugged again, Thepa happily embracing it. When she was done, she pulled away far enough to sock Rory in the arm.

"Hey, what was—"

"I'll write you every day, Thepa," Thepa mocked. "I love the stationary, Thepa. It's perfect. Thepa. I'll go through so much you'll have to buy me more. You know it's been a month. A month! At the least you could have sent more than a single whisper spell."

Rory rubbed her arm, but her eyes filled with remorse. There was something there, Thepa could tell. She wondered if it had anything to do with what Einkidi had written.

""It's been difficult with my duties," Rory said. "I've tried a few times, but the longer I put it off, the more ashamed I became. It got to the point where I felt writing would have made it worse. Forgive me?"

"Always," Thepa responded without a second thought. It stung, but Rory was here now and from what she gathered, indefinitely. "I'm honestly surprised you'd not made the trip sooner. I would have thought the High Priestess had better opportunities to visit Goldale."

"I'm needed around Wildehaven. Ironically, I've made two trips to the Beachwick to meet with the druids. They are interested in the teachings of Chandeidra."

"Really? Did you meet with Sister Oona? She's the friendliest of the three Sisters. If anyone in the Beachwick would approve of your goddess, it would have been her."

"Yes, I did. We had a lovely chat," Rory hesitated. "I actually got to meet all three Sisters and spent a fair bit of time with the Matriarch. Your mother was very kind to me. She didn't say it, but I believe she misses you very much."

"Oh," was all Thepa could say.

Rory hooked her arm into hers, pulling her away from the sitting room. "You never told me what happened. The last time I saw you, you were ready to go on your world tour. What happened to the Matriarch in Waiting? What happened to my Thepa?"

I'm still your Thepa, I just...I never wanted that. I never wanted to leave, but what could I do?

At first, Thepa resigned herself to her fate. The plan was to finish her conscription with the Wildehaven Hunters. Then, Thepa and her mother would tour the nations, introducing her as the Matriarch in Waiting. However, it all changed when they met the Archduke and the Matriarch had introduced her as the finest hunter in all of Sainta. Emboldened by the claim, the Archduke requested a contest against some of his best rangers. The results weren't even close; Thepa had beat them all.

Greatly impressed, the archduke jokingly offered her the position of captain of his army, but when the Matriarch refused, stating Thepa was destined for the Beachwick, something inside her snapped. She had grown accustomed to her freedom and, though she loved the Matrons, she knew she had a higher purpose then serving one tiny nation on a small island in the middle of the sea.

Back at the embassy, everything fell apart. Thepa had fought with her mother over speaking for her and blamed her, quite unfairly now that she looked back on it, for all her problems. Many completions of frustration and sorrow poured out of her as she passionately argued how she should be allowed to make her own choices. Things were said that could not be unsaid and Thepa left to find the Archduke, agreeing to take the job.

The Archduke tried to talk her out of it. Even though he was a man of his word, he could tell something was wrong. Thepa used his trepidation against him by pointing out the strategic advantage of having the Matriarch's daughter lead his army. He agreed, but only if the Matriarch said yes; and strangely enough, her mother did. The next day the Matriarch left without so much as a simple goodbye. It was the last time the two spoke, that is, until today.

Too ashamed of her actions that day, she looked back at Rory with trepidation. "The same thing that happens to all of us. The same thing that happened to you. We grow, we move on. Sometimes were destined for bigger things."

Rory gave her a sympathetic smile, seeing right through her non-answer, as she always did. "No one wins in a game with pride. Do you want to talk about it?"

This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.

Thepa nodded slowly, "Maybe. I've been thinking about it a lot, but I don't know where to start. It's like we're at two different ends of a chasm and I don't know how to bridge the gap."

And that's not even counting what happened today.

"Well," Rory said with a small smile, "you have plenty of time to figure it out. But you know, it's never too late to make amends. Maybe you can try talking to her again and explain how you really feel?"

Thepa thought it would be a good idea and more than anything missed these types of conversations with Rory, but for now she wanted to spend time with her.

"Later. I want to catch up first. I hear Claudia's at the embassy."

"Oh!" Rory said. "I didn't know she was here. I haven't seen her since Einkidi got back from her honeymoon. It would be nice for all of us to be together again."

Rory turned, opening the sitting room door, and beckoned for Gamma to come. Gamma was a Youngling of the Plains and a few completions older than the two of them. When Thepa first met the human, she was in charge of the interns inside the temple of Chandeidra. At first, it had been a little strange, Gamma assigned to Rory, when Rory had been under her. But Gamma didn't let it bother her. She shook off any apprehension, in what Thepa came to know as her best qualities: kindness and patience.

"I see goodness in her, Gamma confided. "Sure, she's a little immature, and green for the role, but who isn't? But I know Ms. Rory's heart is pure. And really, isn't that what Chandeidra teaches us is important? To be driven by the heart?" Thepa knew very little of the teachings of Chandeidra and considered what little she did know as bunk, but she agreed with the sentiment. Rory was the most caring person she knew, Gamma a close second.

The trio made their way to the embassy, Thepa taking the opportunity to chat with Gamma along the way.

"It's good to see you again, Gamma. How's life treating you? Any chance you've rubbed the royal feet lately?"

Gamma giggled at the joke, and even Rory chimed in with a snarky remark about shoving dirty feet up a rather large behind. The mood was light and playful, Thepa growing ever happier as they arrived at the embassy. A weary attendant eyed them suspiciously, but guided them to a small study, where Claudia was buried in paperwork.

Without warning, Thepa barged right in and pretended to toot a horn. "Attention! Attention! Her royal highness, Princess Aurora!"

Claudia jumped up, surprised, but upon seeing who it was, greeted them enthusiastically. "Thepa! Rory! Gamma! How lovely to see you!"

Rory and Thepa both gave her a hug. "Guess what Claudia! We're getting the squad back together!" Claudia looked at them with curiosity as they explained what had transpired in the council meeting. "Are you in?"

While Thepa was pretty sure Claudia was in, she wasn't expecting such an enthusiastic reaction. "Oh, I'm definitely in. Ever since I reenlisted, the Mistress has me going on diplomatic missions with her. I thought it would be exciting to see the world, but truth be told, being with her is rather tedious."

Thepa replied, "What's it like working for the Mistress?"

Claudia gestured for them to sit down, pouring them tea. "Like I said, it tends to be tedious. Mostly, it's a lot of traveling. She spends a lot of time in her private chambers when we're not on the open road. Once or twice, she's stumbled out, completely inebriated. She's tried to get the other paladins to drink with her, but she gave up on that after the first few weeks. Often, she has me do the smaller diplomatic missions when we go to the other nations. Nothing too serious, but she said if I plan to stay enlisted, it's something that's important for me to learn. Oh! I think she's having a secret tryst with the Archduke."

Rory nearly choked on her tea. "What?"

"It wouldn't surprise me," Thepa said. "They seemed very flirty, even with all of us there. The Archduke is known for his appetites. It's one of the worst kept secrets in all of Goldale. You should have seen the eyes he was giving Rory. He was practically undressing her."

Rory blushed. "Well...I guess an Archduke of Goldale is something a girl could get used to. Have you seen this place?"

Gamma interjected, gesturing towards Rory, "Don't you know where you live? I guess princess isn't enough for her."

They all laughed and Rory rolled her eyes. "Apparently, I'm rubbing off on her."

Thepa nodded, still smiling, "Yes, I have, many times in fact. Much of it breaks my heart. Sure, it's certainly got its problems, like anywhere else," Thepa said as she thought of the people on the lowest level. "Besides, if the rumors are true, I'm not sure the Archduke would be interested in making you queen."

"Eh," Rory said, shrugging her shoulders. "It would be his loss. I've heard about these problems myself. I plan to speak to some of the local missionaries about it while I'm here. Perhaps this week we could make a trip down to the docks together?"

Thepa smiled and said, "I'd like that."

As time passed, they continued to catch up on the completions since they had last been together. At some point, the Mistress came back to the embassy and told Thepa and Rory that the Archduke was ready to see them and she asked Claudia to fetch a bottle of sherry.

They bid farewell to Claudia and promised to meet later as they headed back towards the palace.

Thepa was beaming. The day had started off strange enough, but for the first time in a long time she was genuinely happy. Her and Rory, together, ready to take on Sainta. Nothing was going to ruin the moment for her. That sense of contentment stayed with her as she and Rory entered the Archduke's grand audience chamber, its high vaulted ceilings and ornate tapestries beckoning them as if it was the start of a grand adventure. Even the Archduke sitting on his throne-like chair, flanked by two guards in shining armor, only added to her anticipation.

He gestured for the two of them to approach and when they did Thepa couldn't help but notice the Archduke's piercing gaze on Rory. For her part, Rory seemed unfazed by the Archduke's attention, and met his gaze head-on, regal in her poise.

When they reached the foot of the dais, Thepa and Rory bowed deeply. "Reporting, my liege," Thepa said.

The Archduke gestured for them to stand. "First off, let me say what a pleasure it is to have you here Madam Priestess. Your presence certainly lights up the room. Perhaps if you have some time, we could discuss the will of Chandeidra over dinner?"

Rory gave him a grin and replied, "Yes, I believe that would be excellent. We should have it down on the docks where it would be the most productive."

Thepa bit her tongue, impressed by Rory's diplomacy. She was glad that while Rory might be more proper from the girl she first met, she hadn't lost her cheek.

The Archduke shook his head, "I see your point. Perhaps when things calm down a bit first."

Rory bowed again and said, "Whatever you say, your Grace. How else might I be of service?"

"I'm worried about the future of diplomatic channels between the nations," claimed the Archduke, shifting his tone to impress upon them the seriousness of the situation. "You heard some of the infighting, but I promise you the situation is much worse than that. If things don't improve soon, I feel the nations will decide they are better off by themselves. That would not go well for the war effort. It would give the beast a strategic advantage over us. In our weakness, they might be able to assemble and overrun our position. We are stronger together. It is imperative to the future of Sainta that your team must succeed. Can I count on the two of you to make that happen?"

Thepa considered her options and was happy where it led her. She would finally get to be with Rory and Claudia. More than anything, they were two of the three people she wanted in her corner every step of the way. She might not have Einkidi, but she was sure she could make it work. She thought Sister Vivian, might have difficulty adjusting to her leadership, but when it came right down to it, she was confident she would be able to count on a fellow satyr to do the job. The others, she wasn't so sure. She hoped at the very least they were responsible enough to recognize her authority and see the voice of reason.

"I believe we can make it happen, my liege."

The archduke smiled as to say failure was not an option.

"Don't let me down."