Thepa and the others raced to the starboard side, just in time to see a ship twice the size of the Dinghy fast approaching them. Its flag, of a skull and crossed swords, made it clear that it was a pirate vessel, even to Thepa, who had spent very little time on the high seas. Below it flew another flag, sporting two lines of colors: red on top of yellow.

"Julius!" Thepa bellowed. "Do you know who they are? Is it Swampspell?"

Julius shook his head. "I don't know the colors. It could be, but as far as I know we had no ship bearing that mark. It's possible they could be independent. It wouldn't be the first time. If they're not Swampspell, they could be dangerous. We need to be prepared."

"We don't have time for this!" Thepa cursed. "Take evasive maneuvers!"

"Aye, captain!" the ship's captain responded. "But we won't get far. That kind of ship will overtake us in minutes."

"Do what you must!" Thepa ordered, as the ship's captain called out to his sailors and took control of the helm.

"Turn to port! Full speed!"

A fight? Now? Thepa hoped it wouldn't come to that, but based on the reactions of those around her, she thought it unlikely. Still, it was best to be prepared and she started to bark orders of her own. "Rory, you should head below deck. The rest of you, prepare for battle. They might have numbers on us, but we should have superior strength. Hopefully, we can scare them off once they realize we're not merchants."

Although she didn't feel as confident as she sounded, the team responded promptly. Next to her, Wilran started praying, Yenry conjured a ball of light that fanned out to cover the ship, while the rest readied bows and watched the pirate vessel closing in. When the ship was almost upon them, it turned to match their pace, pulling up beside them on the starboard side. Once it did, Thepa could see over twenty pirates on deck, yet something seemed off. They appeared threatening, but none of them moved aggressively towards them, making Thepa uneasy.

"Julius?" spoke Thepa apprehensively.

"I don't know, Captain Thepa. I have never seen this tactic before. Should we attack?"

At that moment, Thepa’s eyes caught movement from the opposing ship. A figure, slender and agile, swung gracefully from a rope attached to the ship’s mast. The figure cut through the air, the wind whipping around her as the rope reached its highest point. With expert precision, she released her grip, twisting into a flawless somersault. When she landed, it was with a soft thud, both feet planted firmly on the deck of Thepa’s ship, the wood creaking beneath the impact.

It was only then Thepa got her first look at the pink-haired, pale-skinned, scantily-clad human. Despite her daring entrance, the woman’s expression was casual. Happily, Thepa addressed her at once.

"Lily!"

"Ms. Tiger!" shouted Julius.

The woman smiled a mischievous smile. "At ease, boys."

Julius and Thepa lowered their bows as Thepa gave her a lopsided grin. "Leave it to you to make a grand entrance. The girl I met months ago would have just cut my neck first."

"Well, that girl had to learn a hard lesson. Now ya got me," Lily said with a wry smile placing her hands on her hips.

"Well, good thing she didn't forget it. I wouldn't have gone easier the second time," Thepa replied as she embraced her friend. As they caught up, Lily made a subtle circling gesture with her hand. It was then that the second ship slowed down.

"Lily, I'm glad to see you, don't get me wrong, but why are you here?" said Thepa. "How could you possibly know I was here?"

Lily took her time in answering, somewhat uneased by the question. "I heard about the Beachwick..."

Thepa nodded. "Yes, we are on our way to deal with that."

"I assumed. Some of our informants in Pearlview told us you were headed this way, but ..." she turned and looked at Wilran. "They also said the high priestess of Chandeidra saved them. I guess they must have been talking about you."

Wilran blushed in embarrassment as Thepa mentally kicked herself. She had not contacted Elite Team Zero to inform them of Rory. It was another reminder of her medicated self-absorption.

"L-Lily..." Thepa stammered. "P-Perhaps you should follow me down below for a second. I have something to show you."

Lily gave Thepa a quizzical look but obeyed, following her below deck. As they made their way down the narrow hallway, Rory suddenly stuck her head around the corner, causing Lily to freeze in her tracks. Instinctively, her hand flew to her chest as a small gasp escaped her lips. Without a word, she turned on her heels and fled back up the stairs leaving fear and confusion in her wake. Turning after her, Thepa quickly mouthed a 'sorry' to Rory before running backup herself. When she eventually found Lily, her back was against the taffrail, trying to catch her breath and calm her racing thoughts.

"No, no, no, no, no," Lily repeated in disbelief

"Lily," Thepa tried to calm her down.

"It's not possible Thepa, I saw it."

"Lily I..."

"She was gone, Thepa."

"I know..."

"She... should be dead...How is this possible? When did it happen?" Rory made her way back up slowly and emotionlessly and Lily looked like she might jump ship. "By the god of the sea, what's going on?"

The ship had started to make port outside of the Goldale outpost and the sailors made themselves busy. Three long docks were approaching and the second ship had broken off from their backside to dock at one of them. Still, none of the group moved as Thepa attempted to calm her down, that it seemed to do little good. "About a fortnight ago. How it happened, we're not sure. Elite Team One saved her from some goblins. I know it's hard for you to see it, it was hard for me too. But trust me, it's her."

After a long pause, Lily finally found her voice. "Is that true? Are you really Rory?"

"So I've been told," Rory responded flatly.

A confusing statement if there ever was one. By then the dockhands had already started to tie off the Dinghy. Thepa encouraged Wilran and the others to go ahead to the outpost, promising that she, Lily, and Rory would be there momentarily. When the others left the gangplank, Thepa once more turned to her pink-haired friend now giving Rory the side-eye. Rory looked uncomfortable under her gaze, her eyes darting back and forth between Lily and Thepa. The silence was deafening, broken only by the lapping of the waves against the hull of the ship.

Finally, Thepa spoke, her voice low and serious. "Lily, I know this is difficult for you, but for me, please listen."

Lily tore her eyes away from Rory darkening her expression. With a raised brow she wordlessly asked a question.

"The Beachwick calls and I must answer. However, I can't save it and protect Rory. I need you to watch her," Thepa said, nodding towards the woman who still looked uncomfortable under Lily's scrutiny. "She's not in a good state, and I don't want to leave her alone. I need you to make sure she stays safe and doesn't do anything rash."

Thepa didn't need nor want a repeat of Pearlview, even if the only thing slaughtered had been goblins. Reluctantly, Lily agreed.

"Alright, but take my buccaneers with you. They might be able to help."

Thepa shook her head explaining the plan. "I appreciate your offer, Lily, but I don't think that's necessary. We have a plan in place that will work."

"But what if it doesn't?" Lily countered. "What if Zelphina's forces are stronger than you anticipated? What if you get caught individually and picked off? You can't afford to take any chances. The stakes are too high." With my buccaneers, you present a stronger opposing force. Zelphina will hesitate."

Thepa sighed, acknowledging Lily's point. She didn't want to put her team in danger, but she also didn't want to risk any more lives. Giving her a public display to evoke her birthright was the only plan that made sense. As she pondered, she walked across the gangplank with Lily and Rory following close behind. Up ahead, she could see a sorry excuse for a soldier dusting himself off in a feeble attempt to make himself look presentable. Had she been here under official action, she might have given the elf a dressing down. Instead, she simply allowed the soldier to stamp her papers without comment.

"What about my mother?" she asked. "On the off chance I fail, I can't leave her and Sister Vivian to Sister Zelphina.

"I'll get them out," said Lily nonchalantly. "Wouldn't be the first time we've broken in."

Assuming they live long enough....

Thepa bit her lip and shook her head, while she opened the door into the outpost for the two of them. It certainly didn't surprise her that Lily had broken into the Beachwick. If she did win against Zelphina, she would have to see what she could do to stop it, however if they had an advantage, she was grateful for the opportunity.

Once inside, they found themselves in a rather large common area with only a few people milling about with the rest of Elite Team One. Lily turned to made casual conversation with Rory while Thepa approached the team to discuss the new plan.

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"All good, Captain?" asked Wilran.

Thepa nodded. "All is well. Lily is going to lend us her platoon of pirates and keep an eye on Rory here in the outpost. So, we revised the plan. First, we meet up with Sister Onna and the Skirret. Then we meet with Sister Zelphina to negotiate. If she thinks Swampspell and Goldale are on myside we might be able to get through this without spilling a single drop of blood."

"What about not getting anyone else involved? I thought you said if we did this, we were on our own?" said Tash.

Thepa and Lily exchanged a look. "We agreed it would be better this way," Thepa affirmed. "If Sister Zelphina chooses to go peacefully, she can leave. Clemency will be offered to any of her followers who wish to remain in the Beachwick. That, or they can go with her."

Lily nodded. "Any who seek sanctuary in Swampspell are welcome."

A deep feminine voice called out from behind. "It's a sound plan. One worthy of a leader who adapts to her surroundings. You will serve the Matrons well."

Thepa turned towards the unknown voice and was met by satyr she recognized all too well. It was Sister Onna, a dear friend she had known her entire life. Sister Onna was an imposing figure, towering over Thepa's slight frame by a good foot. Her powerful physique was draped in a tunic of coarse, earthy fabric, intricately patterned with symbols and sigils only the most skilled of artisans could create. Her face and arms were adorned with intricate war paint in hues of ochre and sienna. Wispy strands of brown hair were deftly woven with twigs and leaves, blending seamlessly into the dense jungle foliage that covered every inch of the jungle.

Thepa gave the satyr a warm smile and greeted her with half a bow and outstretched hands. "It's good to see you, Sister Onna. I'm sorry it took so long. We got here as soon as we could."

Onna returned the greeting, but bowed much lower as a show of respect. "There is no need to apologize. With your team, my forces, and the help of Swampspell, I believe this matter will be settled quickly."

Thepa returned an uneasy smile. "Well, let's get this over with then." Then she turned to the rest of the team. "Last chance to back out."

She could still see some of the apprehension of Yenry, Julius, and Tash, but none of them said a word. Instead, Julius pulled out his flute and walked past Sister Onna to the door leading into the jungle. As she made her way outside the building and past the gate of the outpost, she saw the combined forces of the pirates and the Sisterhood of Skirret. It was an impressive sight and if the plan worked, hopefully all of them would make it out alive. A tense air passed over the group and Thepa stood tall to address it.

"You all know what is about to happen. Be ready. This is for the Sisterhood, not for our own glory." Without waiting for a response, she went to the front and headed east in the direction of the Beachwick.

The journey itself was short, answered only by the sounds of the jungle. By the time they got to the clearing, only fifteen minutes had passed. When they approached the clearing leading to tall impressive gates, drums sounded in the distance. Movement began around the towers, soon join by shouts and cries. The residents had been alerted to their presence, and troops moved to flank either side of the gate. When they got closer, Thepa could see half a dozen archers, some of which had been in her training class, in each tower as lines of fighters, and spear women, stood at attention ready to attack on command. Finally, they were joined by a lone figure who looked in their direction with a scowl on her face.

Thepa halted the procession twenty feet away. The Sisters of Skirret moved into attack formation taking up the front lines as Lily's pirates made up the back bows posed towards the two towers. Wilran and the rest of Elite Team One stood behind Thepa as Sister Onna moved to her right side. She was ready. They were ready. She only hoped it wouldn't come down to bloodshed.

As tension filled the air, it was the steely satyr who broke the silence.

"Greetings, Outsider Thepa," said Zelphina has she bowed in mock fashion with outstretched arms.

"Greetings, Sister Zelphina," Thepa replied. Unlike her greeting with Sister Onna, she barely bent her neck let alone her back. At the sight of it, Sister Zelphina's scowl returned.

"Why are you here? You know foreigners are not allowed inside the Beachwick without express permission."

"Sister Thepa is not a foreigner," a voice said from the back. "She is the rightful heir, unlike a power-hungry traitor."

Sister Zelphina hissed, "I'll deal with the Skirret later. For now, know your place Matron and know there is only one traitor. She stands before me, having abandoned her homeland long ago. She deserves to be nothing more than an outsider."

Thepa ignored the comment and continued, "I come to restore the Matriarch to her rightful place. Surrender willingly and you can leave in peace. Your followers will be granted clemency and allowed to stay if they wish. No one needs to die here today."

"True Matrons know hardship. If it comes to a battle, we will fight."

"And so will we," answered Sister Onna. "It is the duty of the Matrons and the Sisters to follow the Matriarchal line. The Skirret will die for Sister Thepa."

Zelphina raised a brow. "Ah, but will those foreigners? Our affairs are not theirs. Will they fight if arrows are notched? Come now Outsider Thepa. You know how we can end this."

Thepa stared down at the ground, taking in the scent of the trap Zelphina was laying before her. It was clear now that, everything had had happened between her mother's warnings, and Zelphina's scheming was all leading to here. Zelphina knew she couldn't just take control while Thepa was alive. With determination set on her face, Thepa locked eyes with her opponent. "So be it," she said, handing her bow and quiver to Sister Onna. She then removed her Goldale armor and cap, letting them fall to the ground with a heavy thud. It was a symbolic gesture that seemed to foreshadow what was to come. Thepa knew that it was unlikely she would ever put them back on. All that remained were the two daggers she had strapped in her belt and the small moon-shaped pendant hanging around her neck.

Sister Zelphina again gave a wicked smile and did the same. Thepa reached for her daggers but was stopped by Sister Zelphina as she held up a single hand. "Before we start, perhaps it should be clear to all what this means. Bring forth the prisoners."

Two of the fighters moved to a small hut behind the gates. When they returned, they had two tied up satyrs slung over their backs. They brought them to the small space between the two groups and there was a collective gasp from their side of the battlefield; Thepa included.

The two women were laid on the ground, their bodies battered and bruised. Someone had shaved their heads and their once-proud horns had been cruelly sheared off. Sister Vivian, the younger of the two, looked as if she put up quite a fight given the muscular figure her body maintained. The older woman, Thepa's own mother, Matriarch of the Beachwick, lay beside her. Her body was frail and weak, broken by the torture she had endured.

Gasps turned into shouts of anger as the battlefield grew more restless. Thepa felt a mixture of emotions as she looked upon her mother in such a sorry state. Anger boiled inside and a deep sadness welled up in her chest as she realized just how defeated her mother looked. She couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt as well, knowing she could have done something to prevent this. As she took in the sight before her, Thepa knew that she would do whatever it took to restore her mother's honor and dignity. Zelphina had to pay.

"When you lose," Zelphina taunted. "You will suffer the same humiliation of defeat. Only then, once all of the Beachwick knows I'm the rightful Matriarch, will I let you and your mother taste death."

Thepa face contorted with rage as she bared her teeth at the disgraceful sister. Wasting no time, she finally drew her daggers and charged. Sister Zelphina did the same, and the two met in the middle of the field, exchanging blows. Clashes of iron echoed in her ears as she parried and thrusted each oncoming attack. It wasn't long before first blood was drawn with Thepa getting a slice across the sister's forearm. She felt a smile crossed her face as Sister Zelphina gave a quick glance to assess the damage. The crowd behind her cheered.

"I see you learned a trick or two among the foreigners. Youngling's play..."

Sister Zelphina moved in for a counter attack and attempted to press Thepa back, but Thepa could tell the wound was slowing her down. The sister's main hand wasn't keeping up the pace it had in the beginning of the fight and she seemed to parry and counter with ease. When Zelphina tried to dodge one of Thepa's weaker attacks, Thepa feinted at the last second, sending her elbow up to knock a dagger from Zelphina's hand. Many on Thepa side of the battlefield cheered, but Zelphina recovered quickly with a punch to Thepa's face before backflipping into her starting position.

Panting and out of breath, the two satyrs paused. Thepa shifted her stance aggressively waiting for Zelphina to make the first move. Instead, Zelphina looked down at the Matriarch and spit in her face.

The crowd booed. More than half of Sister Zelphina's forces dropped their defensive stance, this time not even hiding their contempt for Zelphina's actions. Part of Thepa, a losing part, was trying to tell her that it was a taunt, however all she could see was red; rage and fire building up all around her. In her bloodlust, she flew at Zelphina delivering a fury of blows, each successfully dodged.

For a full minute, Thepa pressed her attack, each blow came faster than the last. But for that same minute, Zelphina dodged effortlessly, weaving through the onslaught with an agility that seemed almost taunting. An ever-widening smile crept across her face, the thrill of the fight evident in her eyes as she moved just out of reach with every swing.

Then, the unexpected happened.

A deafening roar of thunder split the air, followed by a blinding flash of purple light from the direction of the outpost. Smoke began to rise in thick plumes, darkening the sky. The sudden noise and chaos sent a jolt of surprise through Thepa’s body. She instinctively glanced toward the source, her focus wavering for a split second.

But a second was all Zelphina needed.

Before Thepa could react, she felt a sharp, searing pain explode in her shoulder. Zelphina’s dagger had found its mark, driving deep into her flesh with the full force of Zelphina’s strength. Thepa gasped, her grip faltering as the pain overwhelmed her senses. Her vision blurred as she staggered backward, the world tilting beneath her hooves. Her daggers slipped from her hands, clattering to the ground as she collapsed, her body hitting the deck with a heavy thud. Pain shot through her, radiating from the wound in her shoulder, but there was no time to recover.

Zelphina moved with terrifying speed, her expression cold and focused now. In an instant, she snatched up one of the fallen daggers, and before Thepa could gather her wits, Zelphina was on top of her, pinning her to the ground with alarming force.

"Bean!" cried the Matriarch.

Thepa let out a gasp of pain. The dagger felt like a searing hot poker had been plunged into her flesh, causing a wave of agony to radiate through her body. Her mind was in a haze as she struggled to stay conscious, her vision blurring as she tried to focus on Zelphina's face. The weight of the attacker on top of her only added to the crushing pain in her shoulder, making it hard to breathe. She could feel warm blood trickling down her arm and staining her clothes, mixing with the sweat that was already dripping down her face. It was all she could do to stay still and try not to move, knowing that any sudden movements would only make the pain worse. Despite the unbearable agony, Thepa refused to cry out, gritting her teeth in a desperate attempt to hold back the screams that threatened to escape her lips.

Her fate was sealed. Zelphina knew it and taunted her with cruel words. "Not so mighty anymore outsider. No mommy, no army, no weapons. Time to die. Any last words?"

Thepa closed her eyes and thought about the thing that mattered to her more than anything. As much as she loved her mother, as much as she honored the Sisterhood, she wanted her last thoughts to be of Rory. Thinking of the last words Rory said to her in the goblin cave, Thepa wordlessly said goodbye.

I'm so sorry sister. Once again, I've failed you.

Sister Zelphina raised her dagger to deliver the final blow, a wicked glee across her face, but in that moment the small blue light came forth from Thepa's pendant. Before the dagger's tip touched her, Thepa found herself in a world that was frozen solid surrounded by mist. Time stopped. Not even the air or wind could be heard except the beating of her own heart which pounded away in her chest all the while attempting to flush blood around the knife that wasn't even oozing. Not sure what she should do, she slid out from underneath Zelphina, surprisingly pain free, and stepped to the side.

Still, nothing moved. From here she could see a few faces in the crowd in various states of anguish, appeasement, and shock, but most were obscured by the cloudy mist. Realizing whatever was happening might not last long, she set her resolve, and charged at the unsuspecting Zelphina. In less time that it took Thepa to blink, the mist around her collapsed, freeing her of its protection. With a smooth motion, she knocked the dagger out of Zelphina's hand, swept her hooves out from underneath her, caught the dagger high in the air, and brought it down into Zelphina's cold unloving heart.

It was all over.