Seeing Libertus again filled Ava with relief. "Where have you been?" She pulled free, the hint of a smile on her face. "Where are the others? Is Pelna with you, too?"

His face sobered. "Pelna's gone, I think. I've not seen him, and even with those who made it out, there's still many missing. I'm sorry kiddo, I know you were friends."

She'd guessed the same; although Libertus' arrival gave her some hope. "Thanks. There's still so much we don't know. Only a handful of the Guard made it out."

Placing his hands on her shoulders, he steered the conversation. "But you did, and based on everything we've heard, someone's turning into quite the hero herself. Crowe believed if you ever got out from under all that political crap you'd be better off." Sighing, Libertus shook his head. "Thank the Six you're all right."

"Thank the Six? What happened to don't bother with all that religious stuff and trust in your blade?"

He shrugged. "At this point, I'll take all the help I can get." A diminutive woman with flushed cheeks and bright blue eyes joined him, leaning against him she thrust out her hand.

"I'm Emilie-Em, if you like," she offered, and by the light grunt and flinch from Libertus, Ava guessed Emilie sought to remind him of his manners. "You're Ava. I can't tell you what a relief it is to finally meet you."

"Meet me?" Ava didn't understand. "Why?"

Em released Ava's hand. "Whenever we arrived somewhere new, the big guy here had to ask after you. I told him it was getting a bit creepy, and you'd run into each other, eventually." She glanced at Libertus before continuing. "I'll admit I got caught up in the search myself, you stayed a few steps in front of us for such a long time."

Libertus scratched his head, looking away. "Yeah, well, if it hadn't been for a few helpful locals, I'd have given up." He dipped his head and quieted his voice a quick glance to those nearby. "I could use your help Ava. There are a few remaining Glaives, and under the circumstances, they're eager to help but nervous about acceptance, I'm hoping you can," he glanced at Emilie and seeing a reassuring nod, Libertus continued, "maybe convince others we can be trusted?"

"Trust you? Libertus, if you know where the Glaives are, we need them."

His focus shifted beyond Ava, posture straightening. "Marshal."

A light touch on her arm confirmed the presence of someone standing behind her, Cor's resonant baritone took the lead. "Let's talk inside," he said, leading them toward the larger cabin. "With Dave heading to Lestallum, he'd allowed me to use this space." Standing aside, Cor ushered Libertus and Emilie inside, but stopped a third woman, unknown to him. "This is a private meeting."

Most of the hunters Ava had met fit the same description; the men were far burlier than average and woman of average height, strong and highly capable. Standing up to Cor, the woman's height barely topped five feet, giving the first appearance of someone far younger hidden under a mass of tangled bright red hair. Ava did not miss the hard stare carried in defiant eyes, their true color masked in shadow.

It was her garish attire that struck Ava most. Dressed in predominantly white clothing, an odd choice for a hunter in the wilds, the rolled tops of her white socks peeking out from under her boots added to her eccentricity. The idea of such a small and delicate woman braving the wilds made little sense, but she stood firm challenging Cor, daring him to deny her right of entry.

"Where Em goes, I go. I'm Robyn. You're the Immortal. I can bow if it makes you feel more important." The refinement to her accent mismatched Robyn's appearance and sarcastic directness; lyrical and soft, her voice far more suited to quiet parlors and afternoon tea. Ava guessed she hailed from somewhere within the Protectorate.

Libertus explained, "Marshal, with Robyn it's better to let her sit in a corner. She's harmless until you need her not to be." Directing his attention to Robyn, Libertus issued a gentle warning. "You can stay for now."

The group ignored a few snide comments from Robyn's chosen seat atop a table, until she directed the conversation away from pleasantries. "Would you stop wasting time and get on with it, Libertus?"

His shoulders sagged. "Right." Staring at his feet, Libertus offered what he witnessed the night Insomnia fell.

The deeper into the night Libertus took them, Ava's hands shook. Drautos. She stopped listening; her mind reeled with the truth of the revelation. You belong here. His words from years prior haunted her thoughts. You're better than they are, better than you realize. You're one of us. Captain Drautos' proclamations to her meant little then; he despised her.

Libertus finished, his head resting in his hands, leaving Cor to answer. "Thank you for telling us. Your friend was. . .an exceptional man."

An absent smile revealed Libertus still lost in the memory. "I keep waiting for Nyx to show up and give me grief for making him wait." His face sobered. "He had to be the damned hero. I've left letters and messages for him here and in Galahd. I'm not sure why he refuses to contact anyone."

The conversation continued around Ava, but lost in her concerns and fears she ignored the others.

Mac recruited Drautos. Mac put Drautos within reach of the King. "Mac did this," she said, eyes wide as her thoughts shifted deeper. "Then that means. . .the Chancellor. . .I can't stay." The compulsion to move pulled Ava to her feet.

"Hey kiddo, are you all right?" Libertus shifted to face her. "Ava?"

"Mac trusted Drautos completely." She glanced over to Cor. "If Drautos was Glauca-"

"Ava, you're wrong." Cor remained seated but countered her concerns. "I know where you're going with this and I can assure you, your father did not know."

"How do you know? You didn't know about Drautos." Ava met Libertus' show of concern. "What if Mac helped him?"

Libertus reared back surprised by her question. "Mac? Ava, what's going on? Mac died years ago, Drautos was the traitor."

"You don't know for sure," Ava said, her eyes glazing over. "What if it was true?" Ava looked over her shoulder at Cor, but it was Robyn, sliding off the table who responded.

Robyn scratched her head. "Glauca had your old man killed. At least, whispers from Tenebrae traveled through the occupied territories; it was a message: defy the Empire and pay a price."

"You were hardly old enough at the time." Delivered in his most non-confrontational manner, Cor sought to challenge without provocation.

Huffing the hair from her eyes, their pear green hue finally visible. "You may be the mighty Cor the Immortal, but you've never lived in an occupied territory. There are lessons to be learned from Tenebrae to Galahd, not that you and your liege ever bothered."

Emilie interrupted. "Robyn, leave it."

"Why? Because he had a knack for survival? People struggled every day to survive, and they didn't get a fancy title." Emilie pulled Robyn outside, amid continued arguing at being ushered away mid conversation.

"Sorry about that Marshal, Robyn is more than a little harsh, but she doesn't give up when it comes to the Nifs. You can count on her."

l-l-l

Flying over the open waters, Aranea's transport carried Ignis, Gladio and Prompto toward Lestallum. Gladio's sullen and withdrawn behavior hadn't waned, seeking to find a focus for his anger at Noct's disappearance.

Off to the side of the transport Ignis and Aranea spoke in hushed voices as she continued her examination of his injuries. "I wouldn't know where to start," she said, peering as close as she could to Ignis' right eye. "It's not that I'm trying to argue," she whispered, "this doesn't look temporary."

"What of the left?"

She stared at the damaged eyelid; the skin fused sealing the eye shut. "Maybe we should wait until we see the doctors in Lestallum."

"We?"

She laughed, a soft sound, gentle and meant for Ignis alone. "Yes, we. For such a brainiac you really have no capacity for subtlety."

Lowering his head to quiet his speech, Ignis replied. "The definition of subtlety and subtext seems to be vastly different in your mind than mine."

"It's called flirting, Ignis. Give it a try, I promise it won't hurt."

He curbed his usual sarcasm, opting instead to answer without formulating his words in advance. "When you're pressed against me as such, it is no longer flirting, but in fact a rather overt invitation."

"How horrible for you," the teasing lilt to her voice wrapped her words, "someone of your superior social graces no doubt would find it rude to ignore such an invitation."

He shifted away. "Aranea, I. . .allow me to find Noctis first and then, perhaps I would accept without reservation."

From the rear of the transport, Gladio scoffed and grumbled leaving no doubt as to his mental state. "It's about time you remembered. If you two are done playing house, maybe someone can move this trash can a little faster. We need to get back and search for Noct."

"Hey big guy," Aranea's face darkened. "How about I kick you out right here? You're in for one hell of a long walk."

Pushing off from the wall, Gladio met her sarcasm with scorn. "Fine. At least I wouldn't have to listen to you two for the next hour." Gladio shook his head. "When we get to Lestallum, you'll no longer be useful."

"Gladio!" Ignis sharp rebuke did little to Gladio's attitude.

"Come on Gladio, we're all worried about Noct. He's all right, he has to be," Prompto said. "Aranea is helping us out."

"Right. Helping us out. Just like Ava helped us out, right? Iggy's lost his mind to her," he pointed at Aranea, "and you are clueless Prompto. They set us up." He stalked toward Aranea. "Ava's capture? All bullshit, just a way to make you trust the merc here and even that train ride, a setup, they wanted us stuck in Gralea all to take Noct."

Prompto shook his head. "Ava wouldn't do that, you weren't there Gladio."

Aranea cocked her hip, her hands resting on her waist. "I thought you were just a muscle head, but now I realize you're a world class asshole. You don't get it. Looks like it's up to me to knock some sense into that head of yours." Aranea recounted the events surrounding Ava's rescue.

l-l-l

Finding the agent had been easy enough, Formouth was the only stronghold still active. The near constant departure of transports from the stronghold into the waiting fleet ships were a clear sign. If Ravus had grabbed Ignis' friend, this is where she'd be. Aranea had received the order to head to Altissia earlier that morning, but planned to ignore it until they found the missing woman.

Biggs turned his head. "So, we wait?"

"Yeah, we wait." Aranea paced in the hold. "On second thought, we're on a resupply run if asked, let's go." There'd been no demands, no chatter in any of the communications. If Ravus had planned anything, she would have been told. "Put us down near the hangers. And then you two start checking the outbuildings."

"Sure thing, Lady A."

This is stupid, she thought, all this because of Ignis. She tamped down the beginnings of a smile. Get a grip. Find his friend and get the hell out before you get dragged back in. She'd flirted more than she should have, but his face flushed at every tease and once she started Aranea couldn't stop.

Maneuvering the transport wasn't the problem-being seen by any of the human counterparts at the base had the potential for difficulties. Beginning their descent, Aranea's attention pulled to one of the far hangers. Two humans walked toward a transport. "There. That's Ravus." She pointed at a tall man in white and black uniform, his strides tentative following another. "Keep us out of sight, Biggs."

Ravus she could handle. He'd buy a supply run. But the second man she preferred to avoid. His long dark coat moved with him, confident strides carrying him along. Even his steps were smug. Slow movements brought his black fedora to rest on his head; despite the distance obscuring his face, his expression likely fell to that of a smirk. Aranea preferred little contact with the Chancellor, he stared through her in conversation; always the smartest in the room, remaining silent but saying so much in his self-satisfied expression and posture.

"They've boarded, Lady A. Shall I put us down?" Biggs waited for Aranea's approval and guided the transport down.

"Stay put," she warned, "when the Chancellor's ship is gone, and I mean really gone -we go."

Wedge turned to face Aranea. "The girl could be dire, Lady A."

"She's probably dead." Aranea's eyes followed the ascending transport. Damn it Ignis, she thought, you couldn't have lost a cat or a puppy. It had to be a damn Crownsguard agent in the middle of all this crap. "Forget what I said, put us down. We'll hope they're all fixated on the next conquest and don't notice us."

Biggs muttered as he started their descent. "Might need to rethink the paint job, Lady A."

The appearance of an Imperial dreadnaught overhead meant the Chancellor would be on his way. They simply had to be smart and play dead. Transports ascended into the sky converging at the dreadnaught until the small assembled fleet left the base empty.

"Should we?" Wedge asked.

"Go. She's got to be in that hanger." Both men agreed. "And boys, hurry."

She followed the two men, cautious, prepared to fight if necessary. Aranea's continuous visual scans of the area revealed Formouth empty. "Altissia is the target," she said aloud with a passing thought to the safety of Ignis and the prince.

When Biggs and Wedge emerged with the woman, they'd made a makeshift stretcher from a metal plank. Carrying her with care on board the transport, Aranea's eyes watered in empathy. "What the hell did they do to her?" Her men had covered the younger woman with a jacket. The Crownsguard insignia on the back barely discernable from the shredded condition of the coat. Pulling it aside, Aranea winced, sucking in her breath.

Angry red slashes across her shoulders and arms hinted and the state of the woman's jacket told a gruesome story.

"Those are axe and blade strikes, Lady A. MTs I'd guess. She likely tried to fight her way out and was overcome." Biggs shifted the younger woman's body. "She's breathing, at least, and looks like someone healed her."

Aranea scoffed. "Barely. Get us up in the air, toward Lestallum." Stepping aside, Aranea made a call. Ignis answered on the second ring.

"Yes?"

She guessed he wasn't alone or even whomever he was with wouldn't understand why she called. A quick explanation seemed best.

"I found her, and I'm not going to lie. She's alive, but will need serious care. Where do I take her?" Had she more time, Aranea would have explained at length. She heard muffled voices as her passenger started talking. Nonsense at first slowly morphed into repeated sentences.

"No, daddy, no."

Aranea knelt closer. "Damn. What the hell happened?" Putting the phone on speaker, Aranea tried to talk to her passenger and listen for Ignis' return. "Are you Ava? Hey. Open your eyes. Can you hear me?"

Ignis returned, his voice carrying through the speaker. "The Marshal and another wait for you at Cape Caem, do you know it?"

"Yes." She relayed their destination and a request to hurry before returning to the conversation. "Ignis, she might not make it. Her wounds are deep and severe. I'm sorry."

She heard him sigh. "Understood. Thank you. I must go, but know that I am grateful."

"You should know the Chancellor and Ravus are bringing the whole of the fleet to Altissia. Maybe now is not the right time."

The silence on the phone lasted a moment, before Ignis spoke once more, his voice barely above a whisper. "Again, thank you. We have little choice."

l-l-l

Gladio said nothing, but Aranea's anger continued even after the telling. "The Chancellor messed with that woman's head. I stayed behind until I was sure she had help, but when your Marshal picked her up," Aranea stopped and settled herself. "She sobbed. I don't think I'd ever heard anything. . .it took two people an hour to calm her. Ava kept insisting her father was alive and had killed the king, she begged the Marshal to end her life before she hurt anyone."

Gladio stepped out of his resentment. "The hell? Why would Ava do that?"

"Why do you care?" Aranea fired back, "you were setup, remember?"

"I know why," Prompto said, sullen and quiet he stepped into the conversation. "He made her see it. The Chancellor, I mean. She thought . . . she thought it was real." Arms crossed, he stared at the floor. "I don't know how, but the Chancellor . . . he . . . he can do that." Prompto's admission ended the argument, his arms wrapped around himself.

"Sorry kid, I didn't mean to upset you." Aranea's half mumbled apology was the first. Gladio followed soon after.

Forcing a light smile, Prompto tried to laugh. "Heh, you know me. Can I kill a conversation or what?" When no one responded, Prompto continued. "You know, maybe we shouldn't go to Lestallum, start with Hammerhead first. We're going to need wheels and that means-"

"Cindy," Ignis answered. "This time we have the gil, but it is likely we'll get caught up in errands."

"Iggy," Gladio started, "you and Prompto go to Lestallum. I'll find a way to Hammerhead. I have an idea, but will need help."

l-l-l

The small fire burning gave off little warmth in the cabin, Ava staring through the flames. She shivered.

"Here," Cor said, placing a blanket around her. "I'll let you rest here. If you need anything-"

"You could. . .you could stay-Cor." She'd used the familiar; Ava thought she read the signs since her return from Formouth. His cold detachment had softened, warmed in such a way it couldn't be ignored. Cor had shifted in his behavior with her; the light touches and closeness he adopted whenever they were together she took as a sign of his affections.

Cor backed away shaking his head before speaking. "Ava."

"I don't understand. Is it because of Mac?"

"Yes."

Ava shrugged off the blanket. "You keep insisting Mac is gone, and yet you let my father dictate your actions? Why? I'm not a child. Maybe I'm misinterpreting here or maybe it's my perception, but you care about me, and I'm telling you it's all right."

"Ava, it's inappropriate and not up for discussion."

"First Gladio and now this," she said, gripping the chair. "I'm sorry if I offended you. I just thought. . .I have these flashes of you in Caem, holding me," her voice trailed off, eyes transfixed on the fireplace. "I don't blame either of you."

His frown deepened, deep lines etching further with irritation. Quick strides carried him close. Grabbing her shoulders Cor met her eyes. "Enough. I care about you Ava, you are more important to me than you realize, but you and me is something that could never be, should never be."

He released her, helping her sit once more, Cor's attention focused on his boots. "I'd hoped to avoid this conversation, the error was mine. Your experiences in Formouth-I can't ignore how your ordeal. . .I. . . I allowed it when I meant to protect you." He held up his hand to prevent her from speaking. "I'd never intended . . .I'm so sorry."

"What do mean you meant to protect me?"

"When I met your father, I was assigned by the king to keep a close watch on Mac. Clarus was convinced your father was a danger. Mac was reckless; everything he did an impulsive reaction to any of us questioning him, especially Clarus, and this scrutiny often pushed me to intervene or help Mac through the problem. That closeness led to an incredible friendship that lasted until Mac married your mother." He paused. "Juno disliked me in particular, blaming my past and reputation as the cause of Mac's impulsiveness, but when you were born it escalated."

"I know how my mother felt about all of you, including King Regis; she didn't hide it when I was young."

Ignoring her interruption, he continued. "Juno couldn't accept her daughter wasn't perfect. The link meant you were more like Mac and less. . . less Lucian. She demanded you be fixed as if the link could be severed. In response, Juno withdrew leaving you and your father alone despite residing in the same house. Mac turned to Clarus and Althea for help with you, unsure how to raise an infant. The constant stress and steps into the unknown alone intensified his loneliness and uncertainty and," Cor sighed, his eyes rising to meet hers, "that brought him to me."

"I don't understand."

Cor reached for her hand and held it. "Mac couldn't leave your mother. The founder of the Kingsglaive and ranking member of the King's Council were too visible, too public. So, we all pretended. You three presented the perfect family for all to see," he released her hand, no longer meeting her eyes, "when in truth, your father and I. . ."

She stared at Cor, even in his vague words, she began to understand.. Two peas in a pod, Cid had said. Cor unable to control his emotions when Mac went missing. Mac and Cor together. "No, it can't be. Mac was always at home. He always came home."

Cor nodded. "Your father always came home for you."

Her eyes widened thinking on all the times her father would arrive with Cor in tow, how they'd leave together citing another mission or work at the Citadel. The pictures she'd received from Clarus never showed her mother and Mac, but rather Mac and Cor together. She'd mistaken so much of their conversations about her father as a sign of fierce loyalty, but it proved to be far deeper. "You kept the secret, because you and Mac were. . .you loved him."

"Yes." Cor removed something from his hand; holding out a titanium band, she noted it looked exactly like Crowe's ring. "Mac gave this to me when you were two. It's the same as yours, allowing us to fight without fear of injury from offensive magic. Read the inscription."

Ava accepted the ring, feeling its weight in her hand. She tilted it to read the inscribed words.

For hearth and home

"Those words meant something very different to your father; they were never meant as a rallying cry, but a promise to protect what mattered most to us both." Keeping his eyes to hers, Cor's voice quieted. "I did my best to stay clear as you grew older, until you insisted on joining the Guard. I broke my promise and had to intervene; keeping you close seemed the best way to keep you safe."

"What promise," Ava asked.

"Do you remember the memorial gardens, and the inscription?" Shaking her head, he explained. "A task without measure, a life to be treasured; an oath once spoken shall never be broken. That was our promise to one another and to you, Ava." A knot formed in his brow. "After you returned to Caem, I realized I'd failed you, too."

The embarrassment of her interpretation released a flood of apologies. Cor wasn't making advances; he was showing deep concern. Mortified at what she'd done, she promised to leave at first light.

"Ava, stop. I should have explained everything years ago, I thought all my interference with Gladiolus and guidance over the years enough to imply where we stood. I could never be your father, but I tried to be there when you needed his influence." He managed to stand and straighten his jacket. "Let me say this. I was there when you first entered this world, and have stood in the shadow of your father, watching over you as best I knew how." He offered his hand to her, and Ava accepted. "If you will allow it, I would continue to do so."

Nothing changed between them; Ava had always looked to Cor for guidance and a willing ear. When he moved toward the door reminding Ava to wake early, she couldn't let him leave. "Would you stay?" Ava wasn't quite ready to sleep. "I could use a little guidance right now. Since Steyliff, I keep thinking . . . maybe it would be best to stop, and then after Gladio, the things he said about my loyalty-I don't trust myself."

His expression tensed. "As a mentor, I can remain objective, but if you want me to help you, hold nothing back."

Ava understood what a full disclosure could mean. "You might not like what you hear."