News of Cordelia's incapacitation and heritage spread faster than wildfire. The medics later told Welkin that, in their experience, the only thing that spread as fast as a contagious illness was gossip about those that had been admitted to their care. However, this left Welkin having to field questions while worrying about an Imperial or Federal counter-attack.

Fortunately, Eleanor soon arrived and took over the defence of the castle and talks with the Vinnish, allowing Welkin to relax for the first time since the battle commenced. He found himself in the Great Hall of the castle when Faldio, Audrey and Isara found him. "There you are," Faldio remarked. "We were beginning to worry."

Welkin levelled his friend a withering glare before leaning back and shutting his eyes. "I've been rather busy, haven't you heard…" he deadpanned.

Audrey hummed. "Yes, the Princess being Valkyrian and Darcsen," she murmured. She turned to Faldio after a moment. "How does that work?"

Faldio, being the resident historian, sighed. "It's likely a case of "History is written by the Victors" since we don't exactly have any written records from other contemporaries or even the Darcsen point of view for that matter."

Eyes turned to Isara as she leaned back in her chair. "That is entirely because no one bothered writing down what we said for almost two millennia." she groused out. "We've known since the beginning that the first King Randgriz was a Darcsen."

Audrey looked at her, stunned. "Why?" she blurted out.

"Why did Randgriz betray the Darcsens?" Isara clarified, receiving a nod in return. "He didn't really. The War of the Valkyrur, or as we've called it: "The First Genocide", was brutal. The Valkyrur slaughtered every Darcsen they could find after one Darcsen, in ignorance, called their powers "flashy magic" and royally pissed them off. However, the Non-Darcsens were always spared and, since they had been treated as second-class citizens, they started to worship the Valkyrur as Gods." she said before standing and walking to one of the windows. "The survivors travelled to the site that would become modern Randgriz and begged their chieftain to do something."

No one breathed, so entranced by Isara's story were they that they could hear the very quiet tears trickle down her face, though her back was to them. "The price for peace was high. Some of our Holy People worry that it may have been too high," she murmured. "In exchange for the deception, peace came, but only after every Darcsen in Europa was rounded up and put into groups of five. They all drew straws and the one with the longest straw got to live. The other four…"

As Isara's voice trailed off, everyone felt pained, knowing that their ancestors, more than likely, aided in the persecution of the Darcsens, some more recently than others. When Isara spoke again, it was but a whisper, but it could be heard clearly by all. "Four Rings for the Lucky Few, Never to be troubled again. Six for the Brave Lords, To stare Death in the eyes for us. Nine for those wronged, To harm us. One for the Great King, on his Great Throne, In the Galic lands, Where our Shame lay."

No one said a thing after that. Silently, and slowly, they left the room to Isara. Faldio was the one to break the silence: "There's probably no coincidence that the sum of the rings in that poem is equal to the number of Genocides across the continent if we count the War of the Valkyrur as one."

Audrey looked down, shutting her eye. "If I know Baldren and Gilbert, then, once word gets out, they will use this to conduct a purge of any "undesirables" and will focus on Darcsens."

Welkin looked at her. "How bad will it get?" he asked quietly.

Audrey sighed. "At best, the Darcsens will be made a slave race." The fact that the only other scenario would see another genocide against the Darcsen people was understood by all. Shaking her head, she pushed herself away from Faldio. "I need a shower…" she grumbled. "Even the knowledge that my ancestors partook in that makes me feel sick now. And it's a hundred times worse since I am related to Baldren and Gilbert."

Welkin left them to it, knowing that Faldio would probably join her and would make sure she was alright and went to find Alicia.

It didn't take long to find her, especially since she had been looking for him as well. "Hey," she whispered. "How are you holding up?"

Welkin sighed, letting himself slump against the wall. "None of the Darcsens will be surprised, but Faldio and Audrey both fear what the Federation backed Gassenarls will do once word gets out," he murmured. Alicia laid a hand on his shoulder and he looked grateful for the support. "Still." he said, "It's not all bad, having a real shower and sleeping in a real bed will be heavenly, even for those used to camping in the woods."

Alicia smirked, "You mean having a physical wall to deafen the sounds of Faldio and Audrey over the flaps of cloth?"

Welkin chuckled. "I'll admit, that is a bonus," he remarked. "Though, if I start to miss the nature, I'm sure Audrey wouldn't mind if I poked around the castle's gardens."

Alicia hummed and leaned into him. Welkin pushed himself off the wall and they walked through the halls together. They had grown close over the last month and, though neither were willing to risk what they had and knew that the other felt the same way, they felt as though they weren't at the natural climax of their relationship. Neither knew it at the time, but the others had started a pool on many of their milestones: First Kiss, Asking Out, that sort of thing. Even Eleanor, Princess Cordelia and Isara were involved.

Before either of them quite understood what they were doing, they found themselves in quarters that had been set aside for Welkin, as was his right as one of the cell leaders. It wasn't much of a coincidence that Alicia had gotten quarters next to him. On their entry to the room, Welkin removed his jacket and flopped onto the bed. Alicia giggled at the sight. "You know Welkin," she remarked, "A shower would probably do you a world of good."

Welkin snorted. "I smell. Got it," he replied, drawing another string of giggles from her. "I'll be out in a bit then," he remarked before getting up, "You're welcome to wait around and relax, then we can get some dinner."

Alicia smiled and nodded, then called out to him "Maybe a shave too!".

Welkin, smirking, entered the bathroom and began running the water, eager to feel the warmth on his skin for the first time in a month. Alicia laid down on his bed and shut her eyes, intending to do as Welkin suggested and relax.

A little over an hour later, Welkin walked out of the bathroom in fresh clothes, hair mostly dry and freshly shaved of the stubble that had formed over the last month. He was just about to make a comment to Alicia when it died on his tongue after seeing her laying on the bed. For the first time since he had met her, she looked at peace, and he didn't want to disturb that peace.

Welkin wasn't sure what came over him, but reflecting in the years later, he would define that moment as the beginning of their real relationship. He climbed into bed next to her and, making sure that he didn't jostle her enough to wake her, laid on his side, facing her. His own eyes drooped and he soon fell asleep with the last thing in his vision being the brown-haired baker's apprentice from home.

Several hours later, Isara wandered the halls in an attempt to ground herself again. She had lost herself to her mind after reciting the poem to Welkin, Faldio and Audrey and it was only hours later that she realised that she had been in her own little world.

She eventually found herself in a stable that they were repurposing as their garage. It only housed Edelweiss and the tank that the defectors had brought at the moment, but she was sure that they'd have more soon enough.

Turning on the radio, Isara began listening to the music on offer, she was rather partial to the Jazz station. Listening to music as she tinkered with Edelweiss' systems, she let time flow past her. However, before she could get too engrossed, a voice called out to her. "Miss Gunther, Ma'am?"

Isara looked up and noticed the former Federation soldier she interviewed, Miles Arbeck, standing near the Edelweiss. "I'm no "Ma'am" Mister Arbeck," she replied. "Just Isara will do."

Miles looked pained at that, "Are you sure? Most people here seem to hold you in high regard and I don't wish to offend."

Isara raised an eyebrow. "I think you'd offend more people by referring to me as a "Ma'am"," she replied.

Miles wasn't so sure about that but wisely said nothing to her about it. Isara turned back to her work. "Are Mr Wallace and Ms Miller actually talking to each other or are they still glaring at each other?"

Miles actually blushed, though Isara couldn't see it. "Umm… they've moved on to more… expressive forms of communication."

This drew Isara's attention and gaze. "Oh," she remarked lamely. "Well, hopefully, they'll be able to convince Welkin and Eleanor that they're able to head into the field." she finally said before grimacing. "How… how much did you have to bear?"

Miles looked away before grabbing a few tools to work on his tank. "Just a snog. Thankfully, they came up for air and realised that I was still around before they got too expressive."

Isara hummed and she and Miles settled into working on their respective tanks, letting the hours pass in companionable silence with only the radio for noise.

Faldio and Audrey laid back on the double bed, looking tired, but also looking content. They, like Welkin and Alicia, had adjacent rooms, but, sort of like Welkin and Alicia, were in Audrey's room. The major difference was that it was actually Audrey's room in the castle rather than a random guest room.

Faldio rolled over onto his side, facing Audrey. Admiring her beauty, he was just about to suggest something when he noticed her expression. "Audrey? What's wrong?"

Audrey sighed, shutting her good eye. A solitary tear splashed onto the bedsheets, "I think the Gassenarls should end with me." Audrey quietly murmured.

Faldio cupped her cheek, "Since our children will be Landzaats, I'll be fine with that."

Audrey gently removed his hand and sat up in the bed. "No Faldio. I wouldn't wish my family on anyone."

Faldio furrowed his brow and sat up to face her. "Audrey?"

Audrey, perhaps not hearing him, started to ramble. "I couldn't even defend myself against the Inquisitors and lost an eye for my troubles. Baldren and Gilbert subscribe to fanatical bigotry and would spew their views even when you don't want to hear it…"

As Audrey let out more and more of her insecurities, Faldio wrapped his arms around her middle and laid his head on her shoulder. When she stopped and looked at him, he smiled at her. "If you think the bigotry would turn me away, then I'd be hard-pressed to find someone whose family didn't participate in the persecutions," he whispered before pressing a kiss to her cheek. "What prompted this?"

Audrey grimaced and turned away from Faldio. "You brought up children," she replied, continuing after a beat of silence. "I'd be an awful mother to any child."

Faldio snorted. "I doubt that, and not just because we're in a state of undress in your bed," he replied, drawing a skeptical glance from Audrey. "I have seen that when parent and child disagree on viewpoints when it comes time for the child to be a parent, they will adhere to their view over that of their parent's," he explained. "Whenever we have children, we can use the example of your parents for what not to do."

Audrey didn't look convinced, but Faldio squeezed her hand. "We'll be in it together. I promise."

Even if Audrey didn't fully believe Faldio, she wasn't about to lie to herself, his words sent her heart aflutter. At least, that's what she would tell herself was the reason for her… passionate outburst.

While Faldio and Audrey were renewing their passion for one another, word on the events at Castle Gassenarl spread like wildfire. Up and down the country, softly at first, then louder and louder, a cry sounded from the hearts of every true Gallian.

Vaÿk Gålå! Cordelå Vaÿ!