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They all hacked and coughed, Tannen turned to her stomach and regained her footing.

"How are they?"

She stumbled to a stand, she was growing very tired of stumbling and opening her wounds, but it could not be helped. She looked through the hole in the entrance to see that the others still fought. She held her shoulder as she steeled herself, blood of course ran rather freely.

"Stay here."

She began a hurried walk to the entrance, she called out to Auryen. The distraction nearly cost him his life, the log of the Oger passing inches over his head. He disengaged, but continued to pelt the beast with quick attacks with his quill as he made his way into the temple to meet her.

"I can't spare much to talk, I'm afraid!"

"How much more before the beast comes down?"

"I don't think it will, the Poniard doesn't break the skin, neither do their weapons. Startle has been effective, but it's too small to do anything more than superficial."

"Would that quill break through its eye?"

"It would I think, but it moves too much."

Tannen unsheathed The Feathered Edge.

"I will give you an opening, when I say, aim for the eye and straight through to the soul."

"How?"

She grabbed his shoulder and turned him to her. She looked in his eyes.

"The only thing in the world is that quill, nothing else. Trust me."

He nodded and turned back as quickly to the Oger, dedicating all his mind to the quill. She kept hold of his shoulder and guided him back outside, slowly advancing.

She was waiting for an opening of her own, when the Oger would finally turn to her. She of course could not battle it directly, but she would still show the abomination the rightful vengeance of the god of all things beautiful.

The time came, the Oger finally reared its head towards her and Auryen. She hoisted the sword well above her head and gripped as tight as she could. Her will, and the will of her god passed through it in a mighty explosion.

Holy light of unparalleled brilliance burst from it. Browyn, Gyile, the innkeep, even she was entranced again by its divine effect. As planned, the Oger too was held in place, all their arms and legs went limp, near falling and collapsing too it. The strength in her arm was the only thing that remained, holding the sword aloft. Auryen might have fallen too, had he not devoted all his attention to instilling all the quickness and speed he could unto the quill. In a moment, as quick as a bird in dive, the Scholars Poniard pierced cleanly through the Oger's right eye, and lodged itself well into its brain. Once it was done, Auryen attention turned ever slightly upward, and he too was lost in the godly light.

When even her will was lost to the brilliance, the light finally dimmed as she could no longer channel herself into the blade.

She collapsed to her knees, drained again of all her strength. She wagered less than a day since she had last fainted and was becoming sick of this too, but sleep brought its pleasant warmth and she was soon persuaded to lie still.

It was less than a minute before she was awakened, jostled by Auryen. He too was shaken and tired, evident by his trembling hands and sway.

"Come back to us now. Are you alright?"

She sat up slowly, helped by the Elf.

"I can't keep this up."

"Come on, come on. It's time to go back."

Her vision dimmed, the world was closing off as her eyelids fell. She gave half-hearted protest, yearning to lay back down. If they needed to move she could simply be dragged off, she argued in her head. It felt like the ground was shaking to her as Auryen began to move her.

"No... I need to rest a moment."

Auryen moved his arm beneath her left and held her shoulder, bringing her arm around his neck to carry her.

"I'm afraid that's not an option. Gyile!"

The shouting of Gyile's name stung her ears, like a fine needle had been pressed into it. Gyile moved around her and grabbed from the other side, they hoisted her up. For a moment her feet hovered above the ground before they lightly dragged against it. A wild trail was drawn as they began to move, leaving the temple behind and making their way towards the trail from whence they arrived.

"Why won't she wake up?"

Gyile was answered solemnly by Auryen, to the greatest of his ability at least.

"Whatever that was must have required a great deal of strength. Right now, we need to go."

She made no effort to open her eyes, but spoke nonetheless, groggy and slow.

"What’s happening?"

Gyile whispered.

"There is a second."

The severity struck her with enough force to open her eyes and tense her arms. She tore her right arm away from Gyile and slid down to one side. She used her free arm to reach again for her sword but fell down fully after Auryen lost his grip on her. She scrambled to look behind, finally hearing the crushing footsteps of the Oger's approach still obscured by the treeline. Auryen and Gyile were caught off guard, stepping away from her then trying to pick her back up.

"One more time, Auryen... I can... I-"

"Gods smite you girl, so you might stop struggling! I won't let you kill yourself! Gyile, help!"

Even as the Oger came into view, taking its long and looming steps towards them, something else stole Gyile's attention.

"Get down!"

That something came from behind, the frantic sound of hooves. Two of the Gate Watch on horse back, halberds in hand came from around the bend of the trail. The rushing horses missed them by inches, moving headlong into battle against the beast. They raised their halberds high aiming for the shoulders to push it over just as it emerged from the trees. Though they were not divine, the weapons the Gate Watch used were better kept than what Tannen and the others had brought, save of course the divine gifts. The quality of the weapons, and the strength of the charging horses was enough to pierce and rend the flesh of the Oger. It was caught off guard and without even a twig to wield, the Oger mindlessly stepped back and raised its fists to little effect.

It was toppled quickly, squirming upon the ground. The thing that stood two Men tall just moments before was brought low, it was still dragged a moment upon the ground by the sprinting horses before their strength, and the strength of their riders failed to push it further. This stunned it however, as the Gate Watch maneuvered around it, keeping the weapons planted deep within its flesh. One jumped off quickly and reached for their sword. Like Auryen and Tannen had, they used the weakness of the eyes to aim for the brain. And with the plunging of their sword, it gave its final death throes, then laid silent.

"Doorne's mercy, are all of you alright?"

The guard wiped his blade and stood up while speaking. He pulled away his scarf to better breath, which revealed his wizened and well-kept face. He was similar to the innkeep, but his armor not so rusted, and he was better dressed for the coming Snowfall. He approached while the other guard continued to pin the now dead creature.

"Who is hurt?"

"I don't know if she is hurt, but she's used the last of her strength."

Auryen spoke with the man quickly.

"I hate to ask but we need a horse to get her and the boy back to Blank River."

"We'll not have the same mistake twice. Wait for others to arrive. Fey, do you have your flare?"

The other guard nodded and sheathed his weapon. He pulled out what resembled a sudden flare and tossed it. After catching it, the guard held it well above his head and turned away from it. As he pulled a rope from the handle, the familiar screech tore through the air. A trail of red smoke shot up into the sky.

"They'll come soon and we'll get you all back. Stay ready if another Oger comes."

Tannen still spoke, even through delirium.

"I'll... help..."

"Like wrestling a wall. Close your damn eyes, we're all getting out of here."

Auryen moved her to lay on the ground. And again she fell asleep.

She awoke much, much later, her wounds restitched. She had lightly awoken a few times when she was fed water and drink, but that could hardly be called alert.

The room she awoke in was familiar, and she quickly recognized it as the room she had rented. Familiarity brought a small comfort, she was still uneasy. She stood up into the cold, the thick bedding sliding off the bed to the floor with a fair weight. She walked out the door, creaking the wood floor with her sluggish steps. When she made her way down the stairs to the bar, silence crept under her skin. No roaring and cheering like the day before, quiet ruled in its place now. She feared the worst but turned the corner at the bottom of the stairs to see the eldest son. Surprise and joy flushed his face, making his cheeks rosy for a moment as he set aside a tray with soup and water, both steaming.

"Miss Braia! You've woken!"

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He was suddenly in front of her and embraced her tightly. He spoke, almost cracking in his voice.

"Thank you."

As much as she appreciated the gesture, the young Man was pressing into the gouge in her shoulder. The pain was greater than a fresh bruise, but less than she expected, painful nonetheless. She embraced him in kind quickly then gently pushed back.

"Easy kid, easy. Help me to a chair."

They walked to the nearest table, the young Man guiding her. She leaned back in the sturdy chair she found herself in. Quietly she spoke.

"What happened."

He shifted in his own chair, getting comfortable enough to retell the tale.

"After you fell, the other guards arrived, more than one for each of us. We all rode back with their horses, except Auryen and a few guards, they stayed to study the temple for a while."

"His cover's not to different than his contents, huh."

"Curious to a fault? I'd bet more gild then I'd like to admit. In any case, we all returned safe. Father was in a good mood for a while, so he gave a round out for free. There was a quick impromptu celebration in our honor, you seem to have missed it."

"I've been missing nice things recently."

The barkeep spoke from behind her, having finished up doing whatever he was doing down in the floor below and seemingly materializing behind her.

"That's a sad thing, miss."

He set three mugs upon the table, they smelled sweet and stinging. The son made comment.

"And his generosity continues! I've never seen you give out a drink for free. Well, not in succession."

"She couldn't claim it before."

"You've weaseled out of more."

"Shut up and drink boy."

She would have asked, but the innkeep moved of his own accord. She took it as yet another cultural difference and picked up her mug. It stung as much as the aroma suggested, perhaps a bit more. The cider gave a smooth burning straight to the stomach, spiced and sweetened. She rested it with care and spoke to the innkeep.

"Thank you."

"Thank you."

He answered quickly, before Tannen asked of the boy.

"Is he alright?"

"He's sleeping, and he's alive. I'll always be thankful for that, whenever you pass through Blank River, I'll show you that thanks. There will always be a room for you here at the Napping Tarrask."

The son showed a great deal of surprise, but rested his expression quickly.

"What of the other boys, and Auryen?"

"Gyile and Browyn have let their reputations as troll slayers inflate their egos, but that should pass by Seed Fall. Auryen has taken quite a bit of time over by that temple, one night he didn't even come back to rest."

The son said with excitement.

"One night? How long was I asleep."

"A tenday and a few spare nights. It's now the first of Leaf Fall."

The son jokingly added to his father's direct answer.

"And now the tax men has come asking about you."

The innkeep's face sank low with a rage, with the same rage she saw when he first heard his youngest had ran.

"To bed with you. We'll speak later."

"But-"

"It's nothing you've done boy, go to bed."

The young Man was dejected, no doubt offended but not sure why. He followed his father as he stood up, and dropped his head a bit low as his father gently met his forehead with his own. The embrace was short before he pushed him away and off to sleep. The innkeep sat back down, Tannen obviously confused she almost forgot the Man had a name.

"Um... Rickum, why did you send him away?"

"It's not for him to discuss, and I'd already asked him to be left out of this."

"What’s going on?"

"A Head has paid us a visit, here in Blank River."

"One of Esmony's government enforcers, why?"

"The god's gift."

She remained confused, prying deeper.

"What's so wrong then, why the urgency?"

"The Heads are controlling, and overly suspicious. Even though you've done nothing, that might not save you from their paranoia. The more interest they take to something, the more likely they are to take more... drastic actions."

"So just keep my head low?"

"Or run."

Completely direct, like all he spoke, the innkeep genuinely feared for her life should she remain here.

"Normally, things would just be uneasy, but with something so powerful in play they are likely to escalate. To make it worse, the cloak is gone."

"What?"

"After we returned we lost the cloak. Tales have already spread about its power to give breath in even the deepest of waters, and so the the Head has come to claim the artifact and its power for the state."

"How could a cloak that lets one breath underwater be useful… no. Just having such an item gives substantial sway to the government over the churches, even outside Esmony. And because I am a foreigner, they'll likely blame me for its disappearance. Is that your thinking? But I am also a paladin, even they would recognize the strength and jurisdiction of the peacock."

"I wouldn't stake your life on it, miss. In your stead they questioned us, I spoke to the Head in the stead of my children on the condition that he would not speak to them. He's gone behind my back, he has little reservation left for courtesy. He wants the artifact, or someone to blame for its disappearance. He already believes, or intends to blame you for faking your condition and stealing it. They are spiteful."

He spoke from experience now. Aggressor or victim were both as likely, and she'd decided not to ask. He continued.

"You do not become a head of the Hydrea through restraint."

"Then there is no other way?"

"I don't know what it would be. Nothing else is worth the risk. You should be heading out, tonight. He has been watching close by."

A soft creaking from behind. The door opened to the dry cold before closing again. The tall cloaked figure motioned from the chin outwards to someone unseen with a soft thank you before the door closed.

The cloak lowered and the figure walked into the candlelight. The Elf Auryen greeted the two Men.

"Rickum, and miss Braia. Back into the land of the living?"

"Yes..."

The innkeep cut her off.

"She'll be leaving."

Auryen was taken aback for a second.

"How soon?"

"Tonight."

"Come now, that's hardly reasonable. I'll be leaving tomorrow, I can take her with me. And the both of us could do with some more rest."

The innkeep turned to Tannen.

"Do you still need to rest?"

"Some more rest would be nice."

The Innkeep nodded

"You are entrusted to your own safety. I won't dissuade you anymore."

Auryen spoke now.

"I'll purchase another horse for the trip."

"There's no need, I was going to walk the way to Libare."

She said. Auryen shook his head at the prospect.

"You speak like you are a burden. Please, I insist, I have plenty of gilds to go around. If you are so insistent to refuse the gift, then only ride until we part ways, we head the same ways until at least the border with Wayland."

"Are you sure?"

He nodded.

"Quite. However, I would suggest you take Grendt's Pass. I hear tensions are rising between Mornshed and Libare. Libare is preparing for something, and they've begun to annex and claim land on their border. People fear war."

"I've spoken to a priest of the Komodo, we're years, perhaps decades away from another War."

"He is a fickle god. I will not say don't go to Libare, but you ought to have a friend come with."

"You would come with?"

He smiled softly at the question.

"Of course, if you would come with me. We'll have to stop at Wayland in CloudScrape before we set back out, but I would be happy to accompany you."

What smile she had mustered at the thought of a friend faded with his words.

"I'm afraid I must make my way to Libare as quickly as I can. Safely or otherwise."

"Not your own will then."

He knew that her faith compelled her. He corrected himself.

"Forgive me, that is your own will, isn't it. It's your own decision. Then, I'll escort you to a village on a river. You might need to sail up the Long Pike, I'll leave you enough for the trip."

Tannen was a bit lost for what to say, and how to feel. This much generosity was more than she was familiar with, she feared there might be a catch but felt his offer was genuine.

"You'd give me so much?"

"Of course."

"Okay. I'll only take the very least of what you'll give me then. With that, where to then?"

"I don't know, I'd need a-"

A map was spread in front of them, crumpled, faded and yellowed but detailed and surprisingly up to date. Revisions carefully inscribed with a fine coal, or wiped away to be barely noticed. Despite its age, it remained incredibly neat. The whole world was before them. With it was another mug, slid quietly to the Elf. Rickum whispered before he left.

"Rest well. I'll wake you come morning."

She nodded thanks, Auryen yet again gestured thanks and they took to studying the map. Auryen was quick to comment on it.

"As well-kept as it is, some of this is still out of date. There's a new village at the base of Felstar that's missing from this map."

"Your minds too far northward, lord."

"Fair enough, miss. I suppose though, heading south from here if you are to take Grendt's pass- I was right, Long Pike River. Up river unfortunately but it is by far preferable to walking."

"And to make it onto the Long Pike, we'll need to get to Tutford. I was going to stop in Neoparram to take a boat from there, but I'd hate to leave you with another horse for so long."

"Perfect. I can't go all the way to Libare with you, but Tutford is just out of the way enough that my colleagues won't scold me for taking so long to get home."

"That easy?"

There was a short silence, Tannen broke it.

"I know I ought to rest, but I don't think I can."

"You just woke up again, it only makes sense you'd like to stay awake a little longer."

Auryen hazarded a question.

"Would you... like to hear about your mother?"

She hadn't taken a drink from her cup for some time. The question made her thirsty for it.

"I don't know. I want to know more about her, from before I knew her. But at the same time, I don't want to change how I remember her."

"I see."

She sat a moment more, lingering on it and tending to her drink. The thought of her mother now, brought her a great deal of sadness, and disappointment. She spoke again.

"We'll have time on the road."

"I suppose."

Putting the thought away for another time, she looked at Auryen with curiosity.

"What I would like to hear about is that temple we were in, while it's still fresh in your memory."

"Well, I'm pleased to say I found a great deal. Bear with me now, because most of it is speculative, but I am confident that it lends credence to our theories."

Tannen smirked a bit, a little doubtful. Auryen saw this and came to a quick conclusion.

"Ah, you're not an academic, it might be easier to understand when you're under the influence of a bit more alcohol... Well, at least you might find it entertaining then. Although for that, we will need to sneak ourselves a few more cups and mugs."

"I'll take some more."

Auryen left the table and returned with more drinks for the both of them. After which they talked for a long while. They rested in their rooms until the early afternoon, but not before Auryen would remember to put a small pile of gild on the bar.