Argine's loyals proved hard to persuade. Most of the Travelers had been convinced by Crilarin that they were more needed elsewhere, but there was a small circle of zealots that didn't hesitate to draw their blades when they saw Eina approach. She was impatient enough to let them do it, and the fae chakrams flew around the room like discs of moonlight, slitting throats and limbs as they circled around her. Just as Crilgarin had predicted, at least one of them was carrying the famous "bag of winds", and with that, the sentry was but a shadow in the ceiling of the Sanctum.

The crossroads was before her, or it would be if the choice had ever been in question. Even if Grim had her for a pawn, he had shown himself to be more trustworthy than Argine, even if it all had been pretend. No. Eina felt her throat being gripped by fear for a few moments before she pushed those thoughts away with the help of Crilgarin's previous words.

Eina shivered a moment. Sometimes she wondered about what sort of thing she would've done in the past, before her death, what decision would that woman have made? It didn't matter much, they were all rogues and thieves. Grim and Phasmer and Crilgarin too, but even cutthroats and criminals had the right to pick their friends.

There was no choice to make really, it had been made long ago.

...

Grim was not a very good actor, she had to admit. His pretend innocence was hard to believe and would be even for a child. Argine took care of reminding him, she could hear, but at least this did not deter him. He would play his part of the plan as long as it took to give her time. She didn't need much now. Before her, Eina could see Argine at the edge of a precipice, and at the other side of the chasm, a good 10 meters away there was Grim. His arms were crossed and his posture was hostile, but the legs were ready to sprint away at any moment. it would be soon Phasmer's information should have guided a platoon of praetorians to the camp by then, and Eina would need to make sure Argine was the only one to answer to them.

Now, her shadow might not be a great actor, but he could get a rise out of anyone alright. His words could be full of stubborness and bravado, but dipped in sarcasm, so pervasive Argine seemed to have forgotten about her at all. Perhaps she had believed Eina would fight for her... or perhaps she'd hoped one of her other traps would've killed her.

No such luck. Eina approached so slowly it almost hurt to move, and Grim,seeing her out of the corner of his eye, picked up the pace with an even more ridiculous speech.

"Enough! I have heard too much of you, little man! Time to end this farce."

Eina was practically behind her, carrying the Shroud with its cargo, she only needed to reach out far enough to put it in her bag. Just a few more inches.

"You're right dear seer," said Grim, changing his tone completely, "we should wrap it up."

Eina dropped the package in Argine's satchel and pulled away the shroud in one swift movement. The last tremble in Grim's voice had warned the Hierophant, however, and she turned around in time to see Eina jumped out of the way. Clanking of armour could be heard down the hallway.

It was too late for her, and Argine knew this, but not so late she couldn't get her revenge. As the voices of the gnome guards were starting to enter the chamber, she cast a lightning bolt at Grim hitting him square in the chest. She spared one last savage smile for Eina before the praetorians started overwhelming her.