"My best guess is we were separated for a while by the rift's time differential. When the dome fell she was already dead. We did take one of the tunnel guards alive but he didn't know anything about the magic involved," Chess explained.

"I see," Sholer said. "This doesn't explain your retainer out in our infirmary. When last we spoke you were alone aside from that stray you picked up."

Chess rubbed the back of her head and stayed quiet about her adoption of Ashley. "Amber is a family retainer. We... reconnected again shortly after we escaped the rift."

Sholer raised an eyebrow. "There is more to that story I'm sure, but we'll leave it for now. Tell me about Steven."

Before she could speak, a soft knock at the door interrupted their conversation. Chess nearly sighed in relief.

"Come," Sholer said curtly.

"Ma'am the lady's retainer has awoken and is asking for…" a soft feminine voice said before choking off in a half sob as it drew near. "Her."

Chess finished the last of the strong tea in her cup before moving to turn.

"Lady Stewart it may be best if we continue this in the morning after you get some proper rest. You'd best see to your people." Abbess Sholer sighed wearily as she brushed a hand over the top of Lynn's head.

"Yolanda dear, please come in. You're the best person to help me prepare Sister Plinder's body for the light," Abbess Sholer said with careful gentleness.

Chess watched the thin and bookish skunk-kin woman enter the room slowly, a trail of tears matting the fur on her face as she reached to touch Lynn's body like she couldn't quite believe what her eyes told her.

They'd laid the body out on the long coffee table and the Abbess had spent many quiet minutes examining it before speaking. The woman looked to have aged a decade in the last hour. Chess found herself torn as she began feeling pity for the woman, but she quickly throttled it by reminding herself what she and her church did to its own people.

But am I really one to talk with the number of people I've killed since coming here? No—no, they all had it coming she decided.

Chess's stomach knotted up, and she nodded mutely to acknowledge the dismissal before turning and fleeing for the door. She felt like she'd been forced to kick someone's dog to death in front of them. Only worse, it wasn't actually their dog. No, she'd stolen the real one.

She stopped to ask the guard outside for directions to the infirmary before walking away. It took her a lot of effort to maintain a steady walk and not break into a sprint. And even more to keep tears from her eyes.

Stupid hormones, she rubbed at her aching eyes.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

When Chess finally found the hospital ward, the loud argument wafted out into the hall, and she hesitated to step in, instead, peering in around the jamb.

It's like I'm continuously running from one shitshow to another, she thought after listening for a moment.

"What you're suggesting is dangerous! Not to mention reckless! What if...what if..." the old man standing near Masae's curled form in the middle of the room threw up his hands in exasperation and began pacing. His gaze held steady on an older woman who remained by Masae's side.

Chess took a quick look around, finding Amber tucked into a bed close to Masae, a pair of her magical tentacles connecting her to the kitsune woman. If she's using her magic she's probably fine, she reasoned, despite the waxy color of her friend's skin.

Chess felt she probably looked much the same. The edge of the door was doing much of the work of keeping her upright after all.

"It makes the most sense. If we can get the children out they may yet live," the old woman said calmly.

"There is another way," Masae's weak voice cut through the argument like a headsman's ax.

Both—Chess assumed they were healers—turned to Masae with questioning looks.

"If I shift," Masae explained, then coughed and pushed herself up, "it's dangerous for…other reasons. But it has a better chance than if I deliver them like this."

The old woman helped Masae sit up a bit and fed her some water before trying to force some food on her. "You need your strength," she added when Masae shook her head.

Chess slipped into the room and flop onto the nearest cot. Amber turned at the sound and gave her a strained smile. The others didn't notice. She waved Chess over.

"I need to save my children. It's my first time," Masae argued. There was a heavy note of anguish in her voice.

"Is there a houndsman? Or someone specialized in canines here? I'm afraid your skills might not translate, and I'm not sure I'm strong enough on my own," Masae asked.

"Are you saying what I think you are?" The old man's eyes looked like they might pop from his skull.

Masae let out a long breath and nodded. "It's dangerous because they may never find their humanoid forms … but as foxes, they'll be more than ready to be born. We try not to shift during pregnancy for this very reason. If it's the only chance…"

"Get the baron's son, he's a dire wolf tamer and the closest thing we've got," the old woman commanded her counterpart.

The old man grumbled but strode out promptly.

Amber snagged Chess's arm and dragged her down onto her cot before slowly rolling over.

Chess moved deliberately, careful not to bump Amber's hip.

“I'm not sure this is a good idea,” Chess protested in Elven as Amber snuggled back into her. "Us I mean."

“You're the last one I thought would bring up propriety,” Amber sighed, changing languages to match her.

“It's not that. It's… fuck. I'm basically your boss now. What if it doesn't work?"

“Yeah? Who else would I seek comfort from? If you're worried about having other obligations in the future. Don't be. I understand where the game we're playing eventually leads. Even if you don’t want to acknowledge it," Amber explained. “It’s not like I’m asking you to get naked. I know where we are.”

"That sounds like you expect to fail before we start. That's even worse,” Chess added lamely.

"You’re being an idiot. Just hold me.”

Chess grumbled but complied, slipping an arm over Amber’s chest and burying her head into the nape of her neck.

Minutes later, Chess felt Amber start to shake in her arms.

"Oh, hey it's fine," Chess said lamely, then opted to just tighten her embrace a bit and wait it out.

It wasn't long before Amber's sobs turned to quiet snoring and Chess joined her.