I'm sick of these farewells chapters now, but I have to do one each. You may have noticed they're all the same, but bear with me. This is way too short.

Raziel

Raziel would have preferred to have this moment privately, but he had things to say to Turel, and they had little time. Turel was wrapped up in his wife's stare (and given her history, probably watching her hands) at the moment, not paying much attention to anything around him. How he'd ever managed to get her with child he'd never understood (and now certainly never would.)

His wife stood in front of him, patiently waiting for him to realize she was there. She herself was just starting to swell, but he'd never see the result now. Given the impracticality of fitting maternity breastplates, she had eschewed armour for the moment. He took a moment to set the image in his mind, although to what point he was unsure, given how little time he'd have to enjoy it.

A scream sounded, distant yet, but too close for comfort. His wife glanced at the distress on Turel's wife's face, then looked up at him. She was experienced enough to know a death cry when she heard it, and coupled with this sudden reunion and the atmosphere in the stronghold, it would have been surprising had she not drawn her own conclusions. Losing patience, she spoke first.

"The last time I saw you like this, we were in that cave, with two hundred fledglings combing the mountains. What has happened this time?"

"I'm about to be murdered."

"By who?"

"It's...complicated."

She sighed. "Time Streaming. Such a curse."

He had to agree. "Moebius spoke to you?"

"Not in so many words. But he would not have brought us unless he felt responsible"

"Don't hold him at fault. I would not wish you executed at the moment" He slipped a hand discreetly inside the dress. She glanced down, amused.

"At the moment? I see. If I am executed, it means little, but if I was executed now, you would lose your bloodline."

There was another scream, this one close enough to be worrying.

"No! Now leave, quickly. I will not be pleased should you be killed today."

"Oh? Not quite as much as me, I believe." She kissed him "I would say farewell, but there seems little point." She helped him into his armour, then left with Turel's wife. Melchiah and Rahab's wives had already left. And, farewells done, there was nothing else to do but await their end.