"King Ezran!"
Ezran turned as a soldier rode up to him, "Is something wrong?"
"We found something!" the man said, holding up a bag the jingled, "In Viren's things!"
Soren flinched, then took a steeling breath and straightened up to face whatever horrible thing he was about to learn about.
"That bag…" Gren said, then his eyes widened in recognition as he rode forward, "Wait!"
"What is it, Gren?" Ezran asked, about to open the pouch.
"You don't need to see that, your highness," Gren replied, holding out a hand, "It's… it's not a pleasant sight."
"I appreciate it, Gren," Ezran said, "But I'm the King, and I need to take responsibility for undoing the bad things Viren did."
Gren seemed like he would protest again, but was interrupted.
"He's right," Queen Aanya agreed, "We might be young, but we're still leaders. We can't make effective decisions if you shield us from bad things. Even with good intentions."
Gren frowned, then started and turned to find General Amaya on his other side, leaning over to put a hand on his shoulder.
She leaned back and nodded, signing, They're right - the most important thing is being here for the after.
Her friend and interpreter nodded, falling back a bit.
Ezran nodded his thanks to his aunt and Aanya before opening the bag, and frowning in confusion for a few moments before saying, "Oh, no."
"What is it?" Soren asked - almost involuntarily, grip on his reins tightening.
"Where's Rayla?" Ezran asked, then shook his head, "No, Ibis!"
The Skywing elf had turned to watch, and was near enough to reply, "Yes, King Ezran?"
The King let his horse fall back to walk next to the wagon, holding out the bag, "It looks like Viren trapped a bunch of elves in coins - is there a way to undo it?"
Ibis took the bag carefully, considering. He felt sick, thinking about the kind of suffering those trapped had endured, "It would take a very strong will to survive long in such a prison, I am not sure…"
"There has to be something though, right?" Callum asked, looking as horrified as the Skywing elf felt, "Right?"
"This level of dark magic is beyond me to break," Ibis said, standing as he tied the bag onto his belt, "But I will return to the Storm Spire - perhaps there is something Queen Zubeia can do."
"We'll wait to hear back from you," Ezran said, expression serious - still far too old for his age.
"I will be as fast as I can," the Skywing mage replied, and as he looked up, happened to catch sight of Soren.
The Crownguard felt like throwing up, and was struggling to remember how to breathe. He knew his dad was a bad person, but it still… hurt, to find just how bad Viren was.
Ibis sighed, but he had to get moving - so he summoned his mage wings and took to the air by shooting air beneath him.
"I'll go find Rayla," Callum said, jumping out of the back of the wagon and running off. The Moonshadow elf had taken to scouting around the army - not particularly comfortable in a large group of humans, even with elves in attendance.
Amaya rode up to Ezran, and signed, I know you want to stay for your friend's sake, but we can't really afford to stop. We have prisoners, and supplies are limited.
"Then maybe…" Ezran considered, "Maybe you could lead the rest of the army ahead, and I can stay with Callum and Rayla?"
His aunt shook her head, then paused, As king, you should continue ahead - but I could stay with Callum and Rayla, and maybe some of the more heavily injured that could benefit from the rest.
Ezran frowned, then nodded, "Yeah, you're right.."
Amaya nodded, and held up a hand with the signal for the camp to come to a halt. She went to the other officers to divide up their camp as necessary.
"Soren," Ezran said, startling the Crownguard, "Did you want to stay behind?"
"No," Soren replied, "I mean," he hesitated, then sighed, "I want to stay, but I'm a Crownguard - my duty is to go with you."
"But will you be okay?" the young king asked, frowning, "You don't look good."
"Hey, I'm a Crownguard," Soren repeated, forcing cheer, "I'm supposed to worry about you, not the other way around!"
Ezran didn't seem convinced, but sighed and nodded, riding back over to discuss his plan with Queen Aanya.
"You should listen to your king," Janai said, winged lionine mount walking up to Soren.
"What?" the Crownguard asked, surprised. He didn't know much about the Golden Knight of Lux Aurea beyond her incredible fighting ability and dubious friendship with General Amaya.
"Viren made many enemies, and most will not forgive you for his crimes," the Sunfire elf went on, "And if you continue to have trouble sleeping, you will be of no use as this… Crownguard position you are so proud of."
"I'll… think about that," Soren said, not sure why the woman was offering him advice.
Janai snorted, and dismounted to walk next to her mount as she left, "See that you do."
Ibis flew as fast as his wings could carry him, and made it back to the Spire in record time - though it helped an army on the move did not cover ground quickly.
He was panting as he swooped through the main entrance, shaking his wings as he let the magic go and they returned to arms. Arms which shook from the effort as he untied the pouch at his waist, jogging into the Royal Chamber.
"Ibis?" Zubeia asked, "What's wrong?"
"This was found among the dark mage's belongings," the Skywing mage said, spilling the coins on the ground, "It is beyond me, but is there anything you can do?"
Zym whined uncertainly from nearby, crouching next to his mother's forepaw as the Queen leaned down.
"Will these horrors never cease?" the Queen sighed, shaking her head, "Most of these elves have perished, but one… yes, there is one I can free who still lives, though barely."
"Is there anything I should do?" Ibis asked, kneeling to catch his breath.
"You have done all you can," the Dragon Queen replied, then her eyes began to glow as she summoned her magic. The room began to fill with lightning, and all the coins floated off the ground from the static - though one rose above the rest.
Ibis watched as the lightning intensified, but had to close his eyes as the light became unbearable. When he opened them, he was surprised to see someone he knew, "Runaan?"
The Moonshadow assassin leader groaned, blinking his eyes open and looking around in surprise as he sat up, "Where…?"
"You're in the Storm Spire," Ibis replied, moving closer to put a hand on the other man's shoulder, "You've just been freed from a dark magic spell."
"I remember the coin," Runaan glared at nothing, then shook his head and looked up, "Queen Zubeia, you have my thanks."
"No thanks are necessary," the dragon replied, slowly lying down, "I only wish I had been in time to help your fellows."
"I understand," the Moonshadow assassin said, then winced and looked at his purpling arm.
"A binding?" Ibis asked, frowning.
"Yes," Runaan replied, sighing, "To kill the crown prince of Katolis, in revenge for… well, the believed slaying of the dragon prince."
Zym decided to make himself known then, chirping as he ran over. He sniffed at the binding, then - as he'd done before - grabbed it between his teeth and ripped if off.
"There is no need to avenge my son," Zubeia chuckled, "As you can see, he is very well."
"The dragon prince is…" Runaan blinked, then started, "Then Rayla-"
"Rayla and her human friends brought him home," Ibis supplied, smiling, "And more - there is much you have missed."
The Moonshadow assassin frowned, "Missed? How long has it been since the night of the assassination?"
"About a month," the Skywing mage replied, "Allow me to explain what has occurred."
Soren winced as he reached up and touched the bump on his head, pulling his hand down and sighing. No blood, that was good.
"Who threw that?" Gren asked - interpreting for General Amaya.
The General herself glared at the surrounding soldiers, waiting.
"It's fine," Soren said softly, going back to brushing his horse. Even though they were splitting their forces, Ezran and Aanya had decided to rest for the rest of the day to help with the organizing.
Gren continued interpreting, "Soren put his life on the line to defeat Viren, just like the rest of us - if anyone has a problem-"
"It's fine!" Soren shouted, cutting her off.
Amaya and Gren looked back in surprise.
Soren sighed, then set aside his brush to stand next to the General. He looked at the gather soldiers - though most were looking away or trying to make themselves scarce, "My dad did a lot of bad things, and you guys are still angry - I get it. You should be. But my dad's not here - so you're taking your anger out on me - I get that, too. I've done that, too."
He plastered on a smile, and pointed to the bump, "It's not like I really use my head anyways, so it's no harm done! There's no need for anyone to get in trouble."
"Soren," Gren said, "Are you really okay with that?"
Amaya sighed, then clasped Soren's shoulder before turning back to the other soldiers.
Gren cleared his throat to interpret again, "Fine. You're all lucky this time - but consider this a warning."
"That goes for the elves as well," Janai said - walking up from where she had been observing, "The dark mage is dead. The battle is over. We gain nothing fighting each other."
There were a tense few minutes where no one said anything - then it passed, and the camp resumed its activities.
Soren sighed, turning - but was stopped by a hand at his shoulder.
Gren interpreted as Amaya signed, "I want you to stay behind. I'm not asking this time."
"But-" Soren started.
"You aren't the only Crownguard," Amaya went on, "And if Ezran hears about this, it will only make him worry. And without me there, it'll get worse."
Soren tried to think of a reason to stay - he really did - but what the General said made too much sense, and he wasn't really good at arguing if it didn't involve punching.
"Just stop being stubborn," Janai huffed, crossing her arms.
"Fine," the Crownguard sighed, "I'll stay."
Amaya put a hand on his shoulder, and when he looked up, offered him a smile. She patted his shoulder, and nodded before heading off.
As Janai walked next to her, Gren interpreted for the General, "Thank you for your help."
"I was not helping you," the Gold Knight snorted, "I was merely being honest."
Amaya's shoulders shook in silent laughter, then signed something to Gren.
Her friend blushed, then cleared his throat, "Um, the General suggests you can… discuss it in her tent…?"
Janai sputtered, then crossed her arms and said, "Of course - when are you free?"
Amaya grinned.