The two women facing each other were serene, if inwardly tense. To Alisha, the biscuits and tea felt more challenging than their occasional spars; perhaps it may merely be the subject matter she needed to discuss, the therion mused. She did not like having to bring it up, but there was no helping the matter. Once they both had a chance to enjoy the beverages a kind seraph on staff brewed for them, Alisha cut to the chase: "I believe it is time for us to carry on with our separate tasks, and go our separate ways."

Margaret stopped dead, her expression indicating that she did not expect this subject. Alisha felt she saw a certain amount of hurt flash over her face as well, though it was gone instantly and replaced by pensiveness. "If this is about you being a hellion?" she ultimately asked, to which Alisha found herself hesitating.

"Yes and no," she began, "while this is one of my reasons, it is by far not the most important." She was interrupted by an audible clink as Margaret put down her cup, pinning the befuddled Alisha with her gaze.

"Alisha Diphda. We are sisters in arms, have stood against more powerful beasts than most encounter in a lifetime, beheld the might of the gods together." Her tone brooked no argument or interruption and Alisha wilted while her friend continued: "I would lay down my life to protect yours, as would you for myself. We have shared joy, grief, hope, and recently even a bed. So as your friend, I expect to never hear such nonsense again. I expect you to never even think such nonsense again. Hellion, human, or seraph, it makes no difference to me." Alisha nodded meekly, though the gaping abyss in her stomach felt oddly filled for once. And not from the food. Margaret nodded imperiously. "Good. Now continue."

There went her next reason; she had been feeling the slightest bit awkward about the intimacy they engaged in not long ago, but Margaret soothed that away. Now Alisha merely had the greatest one left. "My personal worries aside, it is about time I returned home. Glenwood is safe once more, and so my gaze turns toward Hyland; my brother, His Majesty the king must see reason. So I will go and lay it all out to him. Once there, I will continue to elevate the country, eliminate sources of discontent and Malevolence."

Margaret calmed down as she laid out her reasons. "You put a lot of thought into this," the younger woman mused; Alisha nodded regardless, expression firm. Her fellow blonde sighed. "But I see your point now. As Shepherd, I can not focus overly much on either of the two realms in the name of neutrality." She received another nod, these being Alisha's foremost considerations. "What if he doesn't see reason? If the council poisoned his mind while you were gone?"

The therion lowered her head in despondence at the idea. "Then I will do what I must," she declared flatly. "No matter how much my heart bleeds at the mere thought."

They fell silent for a while, each woman following her own musings. Margaret refilled their cups in the interim. Neither met the other's eyes for a long while and when they finally did, the younger one's gaze firmed up. "Why do you think birds fly, Alisha?"

She felt as if someone asked her that question before, but could not remember who, when, or where. Alisha knew Margaret liked to ask about peoples' opinions in that manner, however. She took another sip of tea while mulling over a proper response. "I believe that birds fly to behold all the beauty in this world. From their perch up high they can see so much more than we who remain on the ground, and so they spread their wings." Warmth spread through her cold being as she spoke, the words feeling just right. Only then did Alisha finally remember giving the same answer to Velvet what felt like ages ago, on a cold Winter day, before she ever knew the world's ugly truths.

Margaret's lips curled into a faint if fond smile. "A good answer," she praised. "Though my own is somewhat different. May I?" Alisha nodded. "Thank you. I feel that birds fly because they are born with strong wings," she told the attentive princess. "Wings that let them embrace the sky, and so they fly. It is in their nature to do so."

"I see," she responded when her friend fell quiet. "So we may not quite agree on our priorities." One sought beauty in the world while the other accepted nature as what it was, without a desire to actively change it. "But I believe we can work out a solution if we ever clash, oh gentle Shepherd."

"Heh, don't," her friend commented wrily. "I would prefer to go without another powerful therion on my case. Velvet was more than enough for two lifetimes." They shared a chuckle over that, though Margaret's serious demeanor returned afterward. "But we digressed. Will you claim the crown if you must?"

Now it was for Alisha to sigh. "No," she said. "I shall not, for as long as there are others suitable to wear the crown."

"It honours you to wish for a ruler better than yourself, but I think you would make a fine queen."

"So I gathered," Alisha retorted with a faint smile, "and I am glad you would think so highly of me. Regardless, I am a knight first and foremost; the ruler is required to oversee their realm, to remain in safety so as to not precipitate their early death. Even if I desired the crown personally, which I do not, I can never be the pillar of stability I would need to become." She paused there as her idle thoughts made an odd turn. "Although, thinking of it like that, is this not a preconceived notion I could break with? An eternal queen..." She trailed off, pondering a matter which had never been done before. In the end however, Alisha merely allowed herself another sigh. "But no, I do not see myself in that position."

She indulged in another biscuit while Margaret mused in silence. "I still believe you would make a fine queen," she began in the end. "And there is something to be said for the long-term stability an undying ruler could grant. Realms rise and fall by the mettle of their rulers as much as their people. Conversely, your eternal presence at court and among the ruler's advisors would serve much the same purpose." She paused to crack a smile then. "But I'd like to see you don the purple, Alisha. If anyone earned such a position, it is you."

"I... do see your point." And was that the beginning of Alisha reconsidering? "But would my people truly accept a hellion for a queen?" Margaret's flat stare was response in itself and she wilted. "Forget I asked."

Yet now that her friend brought it up and made her case, she could not help but wonder; Alisha never saw herself fit to wear the crown, but perhaps, just maybe, Margaret had a point. She would have to reconsider her options, especially in regard to succession. "I will give the matter some more thought," she offered before closing this subject: "What about yourself? Do you plan to follow the Shepherd's path until its conclusion?"

"For the time being, yes." Margaret studied her finely crafted cup from up close, deep in thought. "I will travel and aid the people of Glenwood, all while spreading the word of Minkkubi and Innominat. The churches of Hyland and Rolance require my input as well, not to mention the many seraphim that will soon have to integrate into their communities. It will be a few hectic years, both before and after Laphi can spread his domain to last eternal. Once all humans can interact with seraphim and hellions, the world will change once again. I am just uncertain if I will see it."

"You should not speak like this," Alisha admonished, but Margaret shook her head with a fond smile.

"Change takes time," she insisted. "Even constant improvements will not save the world in a day, that is not how humans work. But I know change will come. So... promise me something?"

"Anything."

Margaret hesitated, placing her cup down with an odd finality. "If I do not live to see the change we so desire, then, Alisha, make certain that when next I am reborn, I can see it." She never averted her gaze from her friend's widened eyes, though Alisha's vision grew blurry under tears.

"I promise," she choked out under the onslaught of emotions. "No matter what, this I so swear."

"Thank you."

They exchanged watery smiles; with some hesitation, Alisha stood and rounded the table to embrace her friend. Margaret squeezed her tightly, well aware that it was usually her to initiate such contact. The therion knew that the real work was just about to begin, what with the many issues they could not just fight their way through, but she was hopeful. Dealing with Sorey and the matters of her own heart, confronting Hyland's ruling class, they would get to it. For this moment, she merely appreciated her dear friends, who went through fire and flame right by her side.

Later that same day, the two of them and Margaret's seraphim accompanied Laphicet the elder, or Innominat, to talk to the village elder of Elysia. It was Alisha's first time meeting Zenrus, though he offered her a faint smile despite his stern demeanor. "It is high time we meet," he greeted Alisha in particular, then chuckled. "Though I expected different circumstances."

Zenrus made a sweeping motion to indicate the Crowe's Nest surrounding them. Elysia had been destroyed by the battle, leaving him and the other seraphim little choice but to relocate. Half the population had already scattered to the winds as they were wont to do, the rest remained by his side. Regardless of that, Alisha offered him a soft nod. "My heartfelt condolences for the loss of your home."

"None of that, young lady. Home is where the heart is. You can rebuild a house, but you can never retrieve lost love." Margaret and Phi both fidgeted at that, though Zenrus rather regarded Eizen. "Then again, never say never. Despite its grueling name, Desolation has always been full of wonder. Now, enough sentimentality; I heard you clashed with my boys some time ago?"

"Indeed I did," she confirmed dourly, her awe making way for melancholy. "My calling was not amidst the light, but in the darkness. Unfortunately, Sorey declined to agree, the last time we met."

"So I heard," Zenrus murmured; his ancient eyes never left Alisha, excluding everyone else from the conversation for now. "I have to apologise for that. It was ultimately my failure to teach the boy about distinguishing different types of hellions. Your will is strong and your heart sings even now."

"It is quite alright," she deflected kindly, though the praise lifted her spirit nonetheless. "But I believe there are more urgent matters to discuss?" She nodded to Laphi and Zenrus hummed in agreement.

"Why, yes. Young Enya told me of your designs for a nation of seraphim. And you're a brat for it!" The boy reeled back, as did everyone else at the sudden rise in volume. "Separate everyone from their chosen homes and from humans? How foolish of you, boy! That is how the malakhim began, not how we want to become!"

He glowered at Laphi, who scowled back momentarily. Then Phi shoved his shoulder. "He's right and you should know that best." Instead of backing down when the glare shifted to him, the seraph boy merely stared back. "Malakhim will soon walk amongst humans without visible distinction because of you. Why shepherd them away, prevent them from interacting with humans?"

"...point taken," Laphi conceded grudgingly. "It was mostly just an idle idea, anyway. To have a place for seraphim to go if they need it, not to pre-emptively remove them all from human society."

"It is still a bad idea," Zenrus cautioned; his sudden shift back to calm and reasonable left Alisha somewhat befuddled. "Creating a safe haven for our kind is good in itself, but not by way of a full realm."

"Um." Enya immediately wilted when her interruption brought attention to her; no one prompted her however, and she visibly firmed up after a few seconds. "Perhaps a temple, or something like that? I was just thinking about all the things you told me about the Empyrean's Throne and figured that might work, or maybe build something like that elsewhere... because I kinda forgot there is a big hole where it used to be..." she trailed off there, ducking her head in embarassment. Phi winced in sympathy.

"And the same for hellions," Alisha chimed in before they could get lost in a tangent. "I understand that most will be fine with the silver flame as well as Innominat and Minkkubi present, but there will always be those who feel happier like this." She did not need to list herself as an example, they all understood. "Therefore they, too, should possess a place they can go."

She left everyone time to mull it over, though Laphi did not need long to pipe up: "We are starting to set dangerous precedents. If hellions and seraphim have such havens, then humans need one as well. But in the long term those places may attract people who don't want to be among the others; they would breed discord."

"A fair point," Zenrus granted without pause, "except that you and your sister are supposed to prevent that. As much as we may dislike the notion, humans are the focal point of both seraphim and hellions. So only those two need safe havens. If now Innominat were to safeguard one, while Minkkubi protects the other, you could keep an eye on things."

"Hm." Laphi tapped his chin in thought while Alisha quietly agreed with Zenrus' consideration. The fact aside that there were far more humans than of the other two, society really did focus on them. How much of that was based on past and current circumstances or the different quantities however, she could not ascertain. Laphi appeared to agree as well. "You have a point there, again. How about this then: for now we rebuild a temple above the chasm for seraphim to go, and we build one to the north of Hyland for hellions."

"Why there of all places?" Margaret inquired curiously. Laphi grimaced.

"That's where Aball was. We found it some time ago, claimed by the sea. So now we're building a temple where it all began." Alisha felt once again out of touch, considering everyone except Zenrus had some kind of reaction. When he saw her lost look, the boy thankfully elaborated: "The village where Velvet and I were born, and reborn as daemon and malak."

He left it at that, but she did not need any more information. Instead of wallowing in sympathy however, Alisha changed the subject: "Speaking of Velvet, where is she?"

"Talking to our newest collaborator," he told her with a shrug. Alisha needed a moment to remember who the boy meant.

"Perhaps I should have done this sooner," the woman in question said that moment; she was far distant from Lastonbell, facing the woman who eclipsed even a giant such as Georg Heldalf. "Where have you been these last decades?"

"Sealed," Velvet retorted without much inflection. Hyaci Maltran wondered whether she had to extrapolate the reason of her displeasure, but the goddess of darkness brought it up on her own: "You don't sound to have much loyalty for his cause."

Hyaci allowed herself a huff. "It is by my choice that my loyalty is given, and my choice by which it is retracted," she explained curtly. Velvet frowned and the lesser woman continued: "I did not follow the Lord of Calamity for ideological reasons, but because I saw he could fulfill my own desires. Had I known what you revealed today and what I witnessed two days prior, I would have reconsidered my stance long ago."

The two of them held each other's gazes for a time, ignorant of the passing of time. Nature called around them, the buzzing of insects and occasional noise of larger fauna; as always, it had begun to reclaim what was left of the Spiritcrest, sprouts of grass emerging from the plains. Hyaci already heard people refer to it as Dragon's Claw, paying tribute to the thin, fingerlike mountains which remained surrounding the area.

When neither woman gave signs of breaking the mutual staredown, Velvet followed up: "And what is it you want?"

"The crown."

She had meant to hold back on her ambition for a while longer, but being asked directly was just as well; going by her bemusedly arched eyebrow, Velvet had not expected them to go that way. Hyaci elaborated without prompting: "I was born with nothing fourty-eight years ago. A commoner orphan, little better than a street urchin. Yet I never let my circumstances stop me from excelling, from growing. I survived until reaching adulthood, then enlisted and became a decorated soldier. But why stop there when I could always go beyond?" She smiled mirthlessly, fully aware of the other woman's understanding. "I spent decades working on my ascent from nothing into the nobility, savage and compassionate in equal measure. Yet to rise further, I needed more time. Becoming a hellion over twenty years ago was perfect in itself, but the downfall of all nobles in Malevolence would have been the final step for me to seize power. Who else than the Blue Valkyrie, beloved knight and heroine of the kingdom?"

"You're a well-known face at court and your advice is acknowledged by all, despite your beginnings." Velvet mused in response while studying Hyaci intently. This left her distinctly uncomfortable. "I won't pretend I understand entirely as I never suffered too much hunger, but I know the value of hard work. I can see your logic as well. But out of curiousity: once you have become queen, what next?"

She was clearly trying to draw Hyaci into a logic trap or some kind of epiphany, but the older woman merely huffed again. "My design for the crown was thirty years in the making, Ms. Crowe. Even with Lord Heldalf, it would have taken at least another ten years to come to fruition. Until that point, all my effort was pointed in reaching higher and only afterward would I consider what next. There is nothing wrong with that, is there?"

Another momentary staredown followed, but this time Velvet backed down. "No. You're certainly ambitious, more so than me. I would have been happy living in my village, being a huntress and looking after my family. Life was not so kind to me," she finished mirthlessly; Hyaci arched an eyebrow in response, but Velvet did not elaborate. "Not that it matters. If you want the crown, that is Alisha's choice to make. The Empyreans will soon step back from the people and let them determine their own fate."

"Which makes her the most powerful living hellion by far," Hyaci concluded. "And thus the kingmaker." She could see Velvet's point, though it prompted a sigh nonetheless. "She will not give me the crown, I know her well enough. Which leads back to why I would have reconsidered my alignment earlier, had I known: with the situation as it is, there is no more guessing. Before me is an insurmountable gap that force of arms can not bypass. Therefore, I could only be queen if you bestowed such upon me. And so, I need to find myself another goal to reach for."

Hyaci offered Velvet a mirthless smile even as her entire being seized up in conflicted feelings. She knew better than to let her anger or distress show, or the sadness she felt. Twenty years and more, only to fall short. Velvet, however, smiled. "You will find something," she encouraged the other woman. "People like you are a rare breed, the kind that never gives up and keeps on going. You actually remind me of an old friend like that."

Then however, she hesitated with another glance over Hyaci. "But perhaps you should stop worrying about your station now. You already made it high. Maybe focussing on something else would do you good." The blatant dismissal grated on her, but lashing out would yield her nothing. Hyaci carefully schooled her expression.

"I will consider it," she allowed in the end. Only once their preliminary discussion was over and Velvet left for other matters did Hyaci return to the subject matter; in the end, she did not know what to do. And as the slayer of Artorius, after freely admitting she would have been fine never leaving her home, perhaps there was some wisdom to Velvet's suggestion. Or perhaps she meant to tell Hyaci that life tended to be unpredictable. She would have to ponder the matter a while longer.

Days later and half a continent away, Runette Forton emerged from the teleportation gate beneath Horsa. "It is done," she declared upon her arrival. Enid and Rodeen both looked up from the books they were reading, only to find their sister approaching them with a rare smile. "The Lord of Calamity has fallen, and Glenwood may now march into a new golden age." The youngest Forton sister embraced both lamias and quickly reverted into a similar shape.

"We noticed," Enid retorted in a quiet deadpan, though she squeezed Runette just as much. "Praise be the Great Lords."

"Praise be," her little sisters echoed and they separated with elation, though Runette hesitated noticeably before speaking again.

"If you wished to return home, I could arrange it," she offered after a moment. Enid huffed and shook her head at once while Rodeen considered the matter a moment longer before declining; they had made their peace with it all. Not that it stopped Runette from trying: "I would much prefer to have you near," she admitted, "it has been a long time."

"Oh Runette." Rodeen embraced the younger woman again and ruffled her silky hair. "You've always been the baby, just how did you become Cardinal?" Runette squawked under her sister's attention, but only weakly tried to fight her off. Rodeen continued gently: "It doesn't matter if we are near or far. Wherever you are, our hearts are with you and yours is with us. So stop being a baby."

Runette huffed at that, though she did not miss Enid's calculating look. Once it was clear her wariness had been noticed, the oldest sister spoke up: "You already knew we are content here, as unorthodox as it may appear. And while you are the baby-" at which point she received a slap from Runette's tail that did not even sting "-you are also smart enough not to try anyway... unless there is a reason for it. So, why are you here?"

Rodeen had begun to search her little sister's expression as well; the blank mask she put in place was as good as a confession. She held her temper in check through force of will and merely waited for Runette to break. She always did when family was concerned. Although it took them an actual minute of quiet staring this time, by which point the silence had grown mightily uncomfortable. Runette lowered her head with a soft sigh. "With the Lord of Calamity destroyed, Lady Minkkubi and Lord Innominat will recede from directly interfering in our matters. They only did to save Lord Maotelus, who was under threat."

Both of them inhaled sharply at the news, but Runette gave them no time to ask questions: "As such, Shepherd Margaret is no longer bound by their demand to ignore the presence of a major bandit group raiding the Empire's people and reserves. I will not pretend I approve of your new... occupation," she continued softly while they digested that, "but I know for a fact you can not win in such a confrontation. So I would wish for you two to leave with me, for the gentle shepherd will arrive soon to discuss the matter with van Aifread. I believe she will demand he dissolve this group first, instead of forcing the matter immediately." She fell quiet then, making a helpless motion. "But if I had my way, you two would be far away by then."

Seeing that Rodeen had begun to seethe over learning that her new home was threatened, Enid put a hand on her shoulder as she considered the matter. "You heard about this?"

"Lady Minkkubi arrived to discuss further proceedings with me," Runette admitted. "She mentioned something along those lines."

"And what kind of proceedings would that be?" Enid inquired further, this time out of actual curiousity. Runette indulged her, explaining about Innominat's domain and how it would be spread over the world within a few years. Hellions and seraphim would be revealed to all, allowing them to interact freely for the first time. The older Fortons were in awe, but worry dug its way into their hearts nonetheless; being what they were, neither of them appreciated the idea as much as they might otherwise have.

"I am not sure I could do it," Rodeen mused out loud when their sister fell silent. "To be among people like this and know they can see me, would they not shun me again?"

"Perhaps they might," Runette allowed with a thin smile, "but for how long would they? Humans die, but hellions are eternal. A few decades of distrust or spite may be the most of it, as children would grow up with us in plain sight and if not free of prejudice, then at least with far less of it than the older generations. With myself and Hyland's beloved princess Alisha soon revealed as hellions, we are setting the foundation to understanding and cooperation."

"But we're still not coming with you," Enid finished; Runette deflated visibly, but did not keep arguing. "We'll talk to Aifread about the shepherd, though. Maybe something can be worked out. Now, how have things been in the capital?"

Accepting the attempt to change the subject, Runette began to tell her sisters about recent events in Pendrago. She did not mention the lie she was just told and neither did Enid or Rodeen; they all knew van Aifread would not be swayed. Yet what he did or how the response ended up being was out of their hands regardless; so for the time being, they were just three sisters catching up.

. .

. .

It had been a week since her conversation with Velvet, but the words remained on Hyaci's mind throughout. She considered the young woman sat in front of her, both of their hands folded in their laps. "Our roles are now reversed," she acknowledged once again. "The student has become the master. Congratulations, Alisha."

"Thank you," her erstwhile student deflected the praise with a soft smile. "But I can not claim mastery when it is physical prowess that sets me apart. Had our battle been one merely of skill, I would have found myself before the same gap you faced that day." Hyaci accepted her compliment with a nod. Alisha met her gaze earnestly, as she always had. "You wished to speak with me?"

"Yes." That was what she had Velvet relay after their discussion. Even if Hyaci already knew the result, she felt she must at least ask. "Being who you are and what power you wield, I wish to hear your designs for the kingdom."

Alisha's gaze lowered to the rough stone table separating them as she considered the question. "I have no greater designs as of yet," she admitted a moment later. "That is, beyond the obvious of forcing the army to desist, by force of arms if necessary. I need to speak with His Majesty first to determine whether he is fit to rule in this new age."

"I see." Perhaps there was a chance after all. "And on the off-chance he is found wanting, did you have an alternative candidate in mind?" The way Alisha pursed her lips spoke of distaste, though Hyaci felt it was at the thought of overthrowing her brother and not the assumption of her playing kingmaker. She knew best that this woman had always coveted turning her realm for the better. When Alisha shook her head mutely, Hyaci played her hand. "Perhaps I may make a suggestion?"

The younger woman's eyes snapped up to meet her narrowed gaze; she understood her meaning fine, the many years at court having honed her sense for subtlety much like they did Hyaci's. "This is why you followed him?" she inquired before answering herself: "No, that would be too simple. For how long did you aim for the throne?"

"Since before your birth," Hyaci admitted honestly. "My original plan was to take over once everything is thrown in disarray by the Malevolence. But as with Lord Heldalf before, I could not hope to overcome you and thus need to adapt my plans around yours." She was far less caustic about it than she would have expected, but then again, Hyaci had an idea for why. She continued hesitantly: "Not to mention that, well, beholding divine might humbled me more than I would have imagined. I will not undermine your decision, regardless which it is."

Alisha slumped then, offering a heavy sigh that any other would have deemed unbecoming of a princess. "Very well," she allowed, "then receive my answer: I don't know." Hyaci blinked while her former student shrugged weakly. "Margaret sweet-talked me into considering the crown for myself and until I made a decisive choice on whether I want it, I can not truly consider granting it to you." That made sense, though Hyaci found herself surprised once again; she never expected Alisha of all people to make a bid for the throne.

"Should you desire it so, I will support you."

"Thank you, truly. As my lady-in-waiting, I would expect nothing less of you." She delivered the news so nonchalantly that Hyaci needed a moment to realise what she just heard. Alisha giggled when her composure cracked in surprise. "Yes, you and only you shall receive that title for the foreseeable future." Hyaci huffed, fully aware of the blatant bribery but appreciative regardless. "Do you accept?"

"Yes."

"Marvelous! Now-" "Hold."

Alisha paused upon being interrupted, having straightened up again by now; Hyaci studied her curiously. "Why would you trust me so easily, despite everything?" Her pointed question made the princess lock up somewhat, though she deigned to answer nonetheless.

"You renounced your allegiance with Calamity Heldalf when given the chance, and it is my belief that no one is beyond forgiveness if only they desire it. You know that." She did. "You may call it naive and be correct, but I refuse to give up on someone I can save. If you use this second chance I grant to betray Hyland again however, I will devour you, as much as it hurts me to even think of that." Alisha hesitated there, but pushed on: "I hardly remember my mother after so long, there is only you in my memories."

The admission came unexpected, but it touched her nonetheless. For the first time in what felt like an age, Hyaci's heart throbbed. She never considered having children. Yet after training and looking after Alisha for over a decade, she found herself barely opposed to the notion, if at all. Glancing back at her former student, Hyaci found her waiting expectantly; merely the errant twitch of her fingers belied her anxiety. A remainder of Alisha's previous bad habit to drum on a table while nervous, she knew. "This is sudden," Hyaci began lamely, uncertain how to proceed. While a part of her knew she could try to butter Alisha up, lean fully into this opportunity, yet another refused. Perhaps it was time she listened to her heart for once instead of her desires. "But I am glad that you think so high of me. And if nothing else, I am proud of you. Even with the odds stacked against you, you grew into a respectable princess and knight."

An honest smile blossomed on Alisha and in the sanctity of her own mind, Hyaci admitted to herself that she liked the sight of it. Now that her mind began to open to the possibility, she considered that if the throne were out of reach, perhaps she should next work for others instead of herself. Few of her fellow orphans could crawl out of destitution like she had, but with some aid and a few precise rulings there might be a way. But those were thoughts for another time. "When do we move?"

Alisha caught her meaning and the moment of warmth faded as both women returned to business. "Soon, but not immediately," she declared. "Sorey is expected back in a few days and I do not want him unaccounted for. All of this happened so fast that he needs to be brought in, or he might backstab us accidentally."

Hyaci heard about the ploy to get Shepherd Sorey out of everyone's hair; it admittedly made her laugh how they baited him with untouched ancient ruins. Regardless, from everything she heard about the young shepherd, he would be a nuisance; Hyaci arched an eyebrow at Alisha. "He might backstab us anyway and going by that grimace, you thought the same thing. I taught you to speak of matters as they are. Manners are for court and the public."

"You did. Then again, which of us started with the careful maneuvering for the throne earlier?"

"...point taken."

They shared a chuckle over that before falling into a thoughtful silence, sometimes interrupted by bouncing ideas back and forth. The matter of their rogue shepherd needed to be addressed indeed.