Diamond wakes with a gasp, a hand on her throat, cold sweat sliding down her back and pooling in the hollow between her mouth and chin. She had the nightmare before – that she was lying in a mass grave of Falkreath. And when she tries to pull herself from the tangle of rotting limbs, she'd be dragged down into a pile twenty bodies deep. And then no one noticed that he was still screaming when they buried her alive.

Nauseated, Diamond wraps her arms around her knees. She breathes – in and out, in and out – and tilts her head, her sharp kneecaps pushing against her cheekbone. She's kicked off most of the soft sheets on Libby's bed in the grand bedroom, now of which are strewn across the floor. Still, a wave of heat spreads through Diamond's shoulders down to her toes.

The smell of morning dew wafts to her nose and Diamond can see the morning light leaking through the windows of the kitchen across the way of the dining room.

It's dawn as Diamond uncoils herself and pushes to a sitting position. Her hair feels like a frizzy halo around her head and the silk nightgown is pushed up to her thighs. She rubs her head and gives a soft sigh through her nose. Glancing around the room, Libby is nowhere to be seen, and the house is quiet.

Nervousness seeps through Diamond as she eases herself out of the bed. The bedroom doors are open, which offers some form of comfort and Diamond pokes her head out. The fire is reduced to embers, yet the table has a strange abandoned quality with no food on it.

Then Diamond hears it; a strange huff of air.

With the master bedroom on the ground floor, Diamond's head cocks upwards towards the second level and finds a shadow pop its head up quickly before going down. Her heart leaps, but Diamond covers her mouth so the gap that escapes her lips isn't loud. She looks all around and finds some of Libby's 'collectible' weapons hanging on the wall. She maneuvers over and grabs an iron sword before stalking back over to the doorway. The metal feels warm under her hands and she gazes at it momentarily to find the blade pulsing with a soft red light. Enchanted; with fire for that matter.

Still hearing that strange huffing of air, Diamond exits the room and carefully creeps up the stairs closest to her room. She comes up near the shadow and watches its head pop up again, this time using the shadow to find its orientation. It's across the balcony overlooking the dining area, in the upstairs bedroom. Then it's as if everything connects and Diamond relaxes completely as she hears the continuing panting of air.

Diamond walks around the balcony towards the bedroom, but stops short when she finds Libby dangling from the beam of the bedroom doorway, repeatedly hoisting herself up to touch her chin to the wooden bar. Sweat soaks her bare arms and brassier, running in rivulets down her pale skin. Training gloves on her hands keep her grip steady.

She's been exercising for an hour already. Libby's arms quiver as she lifts herself again. Though she is humble about how skilled she is, there is no reason to train like this. Even if every repetition makes her body scream for her to stop. She isn't even out of shape – after all, not like hr guild training was any walk in the park. Though, Diamond had her suspicions that it has something to do with her being the newly elected Guild Master.

Libby's already gotten an edge on them. She just needs it to be a bit sharper.

She doesn't stop her exercising as she smiles at Diamond, panting through her clenched teeth. Diamond tries to give her best convincing smile as she stares at Libby's toned body.

Libby's abs ripple and sparkle with sweat as she ungulates her stomach to hoist herself up; her legs swing up a little as well, almost curling into a ball as both her kneecaps and chin touch the beam. Her biceps are thicker, rounder despite their quivering of having to lift Libby's weight. Her bangs stick to her forehead and her hair is pulled back into a braid down her back.

Has she always been this toned under her Guild armor? Or has Diamond just never noticed?

Diamond could swear that Libby has gotten more muscular since the last time they were together; which was well over three weeks, so it wouldn't surprise Diamond if Karliah had been training Libby during that time. Still, it's surprising to see the difference. She can't even recall the last time she had seen Libby without her uniform. The only other time was when the girls tried to spend a day at the beach, but it was rudely interrupted by a band of marauders. They were about in their early teen years, but still Libby was in fair shape for a girl of her age.

Libby finally stops after five more pull-ups and then drops, landing square on her feet. She smiles as she pulls off a towel on the banister of the balcony and walks over to Diamond. Grabbing a large glass of water, Libby gulps sit all down before he takes a breath.

"Glad to see you're up. Did you sleep well?" Libby asks through breaths.

"As best I could." Diamond answers as she still stars at Libby's muscles. "When did you start this kind of training?"

Libby stiffens for the slightest second as she gulps her water, but relaxes easily. "Karliah eased me into it while I was pretending to be dead." Is all she says.

Diamond watches as Libby then sets the water on the banister and then hoists herself over. "Libby -!"

Diamond stops short when Libby grips the banister with only her knees and dangles over the other side. Libby places her hands behind her head and begins to curl herself up so her chin touches her knees. Crunches on the stairs?!

"Oh my gosh Libby, be careful." Diamond says as she sets the enchanted sword on another wall rack. Libby huffs in response as her head comes up to touch her knees. "Do you work out like this all the time? Every morning?"

"Yep." Libby grunts. "When I have the time. As you know . . . the guild is busy all day . . . and every day."

"What time did you get up?"

"About an hour before dawn."

"By the gods."

"Hey," Libby finishes her reps and then hoists herself over. "You want to go for a run. Get some of that mountain fresh air in you?" Libby jabs Diamond in the arm, Diamond giggles slightly, still she rubs her arm as Libby's jab was harder than she intended.

"Um, yeah sure." It would be nice to be able to do something to distract her thoughts from . . . Diamond shakes her head and sighs. The pain in her chest still hurts so badly, even though she assumed she talked it out with Libby when she first arrived. Then again she was too hysterical to even focus on what emotions he was experiencing. Maybe now that she's settled, now in the company of her friend, she can find time to herself to . . . mourn? Plot?

Diamond realizes that she still needs to contact the Brotherhood, and the thought makes her heart catch in her throat. Libby, as if she read Diamond's thoughts, claps a hand on her shoulder. "I contacted the Brotherhood. Told them what I could and that you needed a few days to recuperate."

"What did you tell them?"

"What you told me, with a little extra detail to try and make you sound tougher."

"How?"

"Like how we ran into one another long our trails and how beaten up you looked, or . . . looked like you had been in your toughest battle yet." Which wasn't a lie. Diamond did face off against a challenging encounter with the Faceless. And knowing Libby, she had a way of making Diamond sound rugged and loyal and strong. If she mentioned her unwilling captivity with the Faceless, Astrid should forgive and accept why it is Diamond was gone.

It's rather a miracle if the Emperor has stayed this long in Skyrim. Hopefully he can hold out just a little longer until Diamond returns. Retracing her steps, she still needs to speak with Gabriella.

"Come on." Libby nudges. "I've got some clothes you can borrow."

Diamond follows Libby downstairs, fixing her hair as Libby trifles through her closet.

After a brief warmup on the outside deck, Libby escorted Diamond down towards the front of the house where she takes the lead of the run.

Diamond's lungs burn and her legs are lead, but she keeps running, keeps her position behind Libby. Her housecarl, a Redguard woman with beautiful war paint follows them around the property on horseback. Libby leads the way, and is nearly ten yards in front of her. How could she possibly be this fast? Was she merely holding back for Diamond?

The sound of crunching twigs and labored breathing fill the warm summer air, and Diamond keeps her gaze on the damp and gleaming dark hair of Libby. One step after another, one breath in, one breath out. Breathe – she has to remember to keep breathing.

Ahead, Libby turns a corner, heading north – back towards the mansion. Like a flock of birds, Diamond follows her. One step after another, never slowing down. The run has done a good job of distracting her mind and helping her sort out an explanation for Astrid. She has no intention of apologizing, even if Astrid lectures her about how Diamond let herself get captured, Diamond will not apologize, however she does fear she's close to snapping when it comes to Astrid. The only bright side for everything is that there was no mention of the Listener.

Diamond misses a breath, and her knees wobble, but she keeps upright. The run will be over soon. Soon.

She didn't even bother to look behind her, as Libby's property is so massive that she fears she could easily lose her should she only glance away for a second. But she does witness Libby turn her head and smile, reminding her to keep up as the two continue to run on. At least she has faith in Diamond.

The trees part, revealing the field that lay between the lake the hill where the mansions sits and the stables. The end of the path. Diamond's head spins, and she would have cursed at the stitch that lances her side had she had ay breath to do so. She has to keep up with Libby. Keep up.

Libby clears the trees. She runs a few more feet, slowing her pace to cool down. Diamond's only response is to keep her feet moving. Only a few yards left; a newfound source as she watches keeps her focus on Libby, who is barely even heaving for air as Diamond. Years of training with the Brotherhood has taught her the dangers of giving up too easily.

The light of the open field grows brighter and brighter as it approaches. Stars flash before her eyes, swarming in her vision. She has to stay focused. Then, she is through the trees, and the open field surrounds her in an explosion of space and grass and blue sky. It was all she could do to keep from sinking to her knees, but she makes her legs slow, slow, slow, makes her feet walk, makes herself take breath after breath as the stars continue bursting before her eyes.

"Great work Dia." Libby smiles. "Let's get some water. If you don't have any plans we can still train after this."

By the Eight . . .

Through the spots in her vision Diamond can see Libby approach her with a canteen of fresh water. Diamond's feet move of their own accord towards her, then past, back to the woods. "Hey, where are you going?"

"I dropped my ring back there." Diamond lies, doing her best to look scatterbrained. "Just give me a moment to find it." without waiting for her approval, Diamond enters the trees. She steps into the cover of the bushes, stumbling as the world becomes dark and light and tilted. She has barely sunk to her knees when she vomits.

She heaves and heaves until she has nothing left inside. On trembling limbs, she grapples onto a nearby tree and hauls herself upright again. She finds Libby standing across the path, watching her with purse lips.

Diamond wipes her mouth on the back of her wrist and says nothing to her as she exits the woods; gratefully taking the canteen of water.

It's around lunchtime when Diamond decided it was time to do back to the Sanctuary and face the Brotherhood, with their mockery, their disappointment, or perhaps even surprise and relief to find Diamond alive after being held captive in the Faceless headquarters.

Diamond can't help but coldly laugh at the idea. She would gain a famous reputation just by that information alone. She had been captured by the Faceless and survived. Of course she would leave out how they had wanted to recruit her, especially when facing Astrid. She had spent the better part of the day with Libby on how to hide her tells when she's lying and to watch out for inconspicuous body language signs; though truthfully Diamond didn't think that Astrid could understand half of the knowledge Libby had given Diamond.

Before she leaves, to say Diamond was hungry would be a sever understatement. She is halfway through her meal, shoveling down meat and chocolate down her throat, when Libby walks out with her Nightingale uniform on, the ebony black cloak enveloping her body.

"Where are you off to?" Diamond asks through a mouthful.

"What?" says Libby as she fixates her hair into a low braid. She's taken a bath as her hair is still fairly wet as she braids it and she smells of fresh daisies in the spring. She pulls a platter of bacon towards her and piles it on her plate. Diamond makes a disgusted face, her nose curling. "You don't like bacon?"

"I hate, bacon. I'd rather die than eat it."

"That's surprising." Libby says taking a bite.

"Why?"

"Because you eat like the pork before it's cooked." Libby smiles slyly as she takes another bite.

Diamond opens her mouth to expose the ball of bread and beef that she s chewing. Libby shakes her head. "You might fight well, but your manners are a disgrace."

She waits for Libby to mention her earlier vomiting, but she doesn't continue. "I can act like a lady, if it pleases me."

"Then I suggest that you being to do so." After a pause, she says. "You know you don't really have to go back to the Sanctuary yet. Astrid will understand."

"There's been enough delay on the assassination of the emperor, and I doubt the Divines will bless me any further with another extension of time." Let alone turning Astrid in an understanding person."

No doubt she'll express her condolences in front of the others and then assign Diamond another contract like nothing has ever changed. Truthfully perhaps things would be better that way, after Veera and Malick –

Dead. Diamond forces herself to think. Veera is dead. Malick is dead.

The weight compresses on her shoulders and she chokes on her next mouthful of oatmeal. Libby looks up as she sticks her fork into a plate of sweet rolls. Without needing words, Libby rises from her seat and approaches Diamond as she claps her hands tighter, tears squeezing their way out of her eyes. Diamond shakes her head as if trying to ward her off, but she soon feels Libby's arms wrap around her shoulders. Diamond didn't realize how cold she was until she leans into Libby's warmth. Taking a deep breath, Diamond weeps at last.

Despite Libby offering to escort Diamond to the Sanctuary, despite the rule being that no one but members are supposed to know about its location, Diamond could use the alone time to piece together a believable explanation without enticing that she had let herself get caught. Let them think they've tortured her, raped her, abused her. If they do feel any form of sympathy, she intends to use that to her best advantage.

"You're sure you're okay with this?" Libby asks as she watches Diamond strap on Shadowmere's saddle. She stands with her arms crossed, her one shoulder braced against the tall wall. Her hair is down and she wears a blue tunic with gold lacing and brown trousers and hunting boots.

"I'll be fine."

"You said that last time and you ended up in the home of the Faceless."

Diamond's chest tightens and she swallows. "Well, I'll be more vigilant. And with your fast traveling map, I'll get there no problem."

Libby sighs through her nose and folds her lips in.

Shadowmere had been in Libby's stables while she was gone, and he looks well cared for: his coat is gleaming and well fed, his saddle polished and new iron shoes nailed to his hooves.

It is a painful ride, and Diamond's nose also stuffs a blow as the continual stench of horse sweat and excrement floats to the back of the entourage.

She travels for the remainder of the day, and the assassin sits in silence as she watches the forest pass, the tightness in her chest not easing until she leave that shimmering glen far behind. Her body aches by the time she stopped for the night. Diamond didn't bother to speak at dinner, instead she gazes up at the sky as it fades to a tangerine. Erecting a tent she ties Shadowmere off to a tree and crawls inside and quickly finds sleep.

She doesn't dream, but when she awakes, she couldn't believe her eyes.

Small white flowers lay at the foot of her cot, and footprints lead in and out of the tent. Diamond sweeps a foot over the tracks, destroying any trace, and stuffs the flowers into her satchel. She wonders as to who exactly, in the middle of a forest, would send her lowers? Let alone have the nerve to enter her tent? As they travel onward, Diamond continually spends a good portion of the following day with sweaty palms and a racing heartbeat, and keeps one eye fixed on the passing woods.

When she finally returns to the Sanctuary, Diamond stands in front of the door for a while. Her heartbeat is rapid as she stares at the ominous skull with the bloodstained handprint on its forehead. She managed to come up with a good enough story that inquires most of the truth while leaving out details that would degrade her reputation among the others.

She still hasn't forgotten the little seed of anger that had burrowed inside her at the mention of how no one had come searching for her while she disappeared for three whole days. Emperor or no Emperor, whatever happened to teamwork and family bonds. But she decides it'd be best not to bring that up with Astrid. At least not yet.

With shaking hands, Diamond grasps the hidden knob of the door, and pushes her way inside.

Her cape billows out around her as the breeze from the outside carries through the crevices of the door. She doesn't remove her hood just yet, feeling much safer with it on as she carefully steps down the stairs. She still wears the pink tunic and beige pants with brown hunting boots that Libby had donated to her before she left. Hopefully the fact that she entered the Sanctuary alone is enough for them to not fire on sight.

Though the thought is inappropriate, she hoped by now that Cicero and the Night Mother are gone, not wanting to add another problem to her list.

She enters the main chamber where Astrid's table still has a map of Skyrim sprawled across it, daggers stabbed into different locations, her bedroom empty, though a fire still brews in the fireplace. She hears voices come from the atrium and braces one hand against the wall, her fingertips gathering moisture and dirt.

Astrid's back comes into view first as she faces the rest of the assassins who gather around her in a circle. The Night Mother's coffin is gone, though Diamond's heart sinks when she can see the silhouette of it behind the glass of the altar room.

As she eases down the steps, she sees Nazir, Veezara, Babette, Gabriella, Festux Krex, and Arnbjorn. Each are too focused on Astrid until Diamond steps through the archway into the chamber. Veezara's head is the first to turn and he instantly places a hand on his sword. The notion causes a ripple effect until all of their attention is diverted enough for Astrid to turn her head. Diamond can't remember what she was talking about, but not like she'd be able to hear with her blood roaring in her ears. Her hood hides enough of her features, but her pale pink lips, and the pink tips of her ponytail pour out of one side of her cowl.

For a moment as Astrid places her hand on her dagger, Diamond can't help but compare this situation as to how Libby might've felt revealing herself to Diamond. Only this time, they're well aware of her freedom and that she's still alive, but they probably didn't expect her to be back so soon.

Diamond looks all around before removing her hood, trying to hide the shaking in her fingers. When she feels the hood collapse onto her shoulders, everyone's eyes widen in surprise and hands remove themselves from the hilts of the weapons. Diamond's eyes scan the crowd, expecting, hoping someone would say something, and someone does.

"Diamond." A voice breathes.

"By the gods . . ." Festus says.

At first Diamond thinks the first voice is Astrid, but it had come from Gabriella; who has a smile on her face. Diamond's stare at her is a long enough distraction when she feels a body press against hers.

She feels the scaly skin and knows who it is before she realizes he's holding her. Veezara. Diamond places her hands on his muscled back and sighs into his shoulder. "Praise the gods, sister. You're okay." Veezara pulls back and smiles as he holds Diamond's shoulders.

"The gods have got nothing to do with it." Diamond forces a smile.

As Gabrielle and Babette approach, Veezara steps aside to let Astrid come forward. Diamond is hesitant, but Astrid opens up her arms and gives Diamond a quick hug and pat ton retain her reputation. "Thank goodness you're alright." She smiles, her eyes soft for once; though strangely Diamond's spine shivers.

Babette comes up and hugs Diamond, with her child-like height her arms wrap around Diamond' waist. "Diamond, thank goodness. It's so odd to see you out of your uniform. You look so pretty!"

Diamond giggles and bashfully smiles. "Thank you." she speaks quietly.

Gabriella links their arms and escorts her deeper into the chamber towards the middle and they stay there to continue the meeting. As they come close to Nazir, he sparse her a smile and a nod. "Welcome back. Glad to see you're still in one piece."

"Are your contracts still in need to be done?" Diamond smirks.

"Of course, you didn't expect me to do them all, did you?" Nazir returns her grin.

Diamond turns to Arnbjorn who still has his arms crossed, but there's a ghost of a smile has he gives a breath of a laugh. "Should've known you were too stubborn to go down that easily."

"I learn from the best." Diamond bats her eyelashes. Arnbjorn's lips stretch and he chuckles.

"Well it's nice to know that Astrid' teachings have at least burrowed themselves in that thick skull of yours." Fests says, as she huffs. Diamond doesn't bother catting back, she knows that's as close to relief and affection she'll ever get from the old geezer. In truth, she missed it in fact. Perhaps he and Ms. Lola would've gotten along well.

Her heart tugs at the thought of the old Redgaurd woman trying to escape the flames of the mansion. She might not have been close, but she seemed innocent enough that she didn't deserve such a death, if she didn't survive.

The Faceless are Strong. She should've made it.

It' odd to think that she wishes them good fortune, even though Malick and Veera were the only ones who aided in her escape, Eloria, Kiara and Lola didn't do anything worth having them perish in the fire.

What has she come to, wishing that they all survived? Is it because of Malick's words to her?

Her cause may be true, but the woman is a lie.

Diamond remembers Malick's last words to her, to Zusa in defiance. His blackened skin and look of blinding pain as Zusa pointed her sword at his throat. Diamond claps her hand over her mouth and stops sob in her throat, making it sound like a hiccup or a choke.

"Diamond?" Gabriella softly asks. Diamond shakes her head as she swallows a few gulps of air. Then everyone turns attention to Astrid as she regains her position at the head of the group.

Diamond doesn't wait for her to start. "Is the Emperor still in Skyrim?"

"Surprisingly yes." Astrid immediately answers. "It would seem Sithis is working with us as he hasn't left since Vittoria's murder. The funeral itself taking up a wide span of days. Which brings me to my next subject of topic. Now that the news of her murder has settled and the funeral done, it's the perfect time for us to continue our path down the road to the assassination of the Emperor. Now Diamond, Gabriella has been helping me arrange your next contract, everything is in place, but if you still some more time to recover -"

"I'm ready." Diamond says, not even waiting for her to finish.

There's a momentary silence, but Diamond keeps her stare on Astrid. "Diamond, are you sure you don't want time to relax, and regain your strength?" Gabriella questions.

She turns to Gabriella and pats her fingers that hold her arm. "I'm fine." She returns to Astrid. "After what those Faceless did to me, after the way they slandered our name, I'm ready, willing, and able."

Astrid smiles. "Very well. You and Gabriella shall discuss the contract, everyone else, return to your stations."

Everyone scatters about then, giving Diamond nods of approval and smiles of relief. Gabriella and Diamond make their way to the bed chambers, Diamond relieved to find most of her things untouched, and gratefully accepts the new set of armor Gabriella provides. It fits like a glove and she can't even put into words the rejuvenation she feels to see the red and black again.

As Diamond pulls her hair back into its ponytail, she still finds the cloak draped across her bed. The cloak of the Faceless she hadn't been able to discard since she fled the mansion.

She approaches it and takes it between her fingers. Its ragged, torn and dark purple with a holographic black texture to it, and his cologne still permeates the fabric. Diamond brings it to her nose and inhales; picturing Malick embracing her as the cloak whispers to the floor, and casts against her legs, around her arms.

Her eyes are watering, but she doesn't have time to mourn as she hears Gabriella call her from the kitchen. "Coming!"

Diamond folds the cloak up as neatly as she can and shoves it in her wardrobe behind her other hanging clothes. She then heads down into the kitchen and joins Gabriella at the table. They are the only ones in the kitchen.

"Come sister dear, your next contact awaits, as Astrid indicated." She says.

"So what are the details?" Diamond asks as she scoots her chair closer.

With the Emperor in Skyrim and the funeral soon to take place, his security service, the Penitus Oculatus, will need to begin its preparations immediately. The security is being held by a Commander Maro. Arid and I have already devised a plan to break the man, and in doing so, cripple the Emperor's protection."

"This sounds more like a contract for the Guild." Diamond admits. "They have a way of breaking people beyond their point."

"And it is them of which we acquired the tips and details on how to do so to our clients." Gabriella smiles. "Now you are to slay the commander's son, Gaius Maro, and once he is dead, plant false evidence on his body implicating him in a plot to kill the Emperor."

"Okay. Seems easy enough." Diamond says. "He shall die."

"He is set to leave the Penitus Oculatus outpost at Dragon Bridge, and inspect a security of each city in Skyrim." Gabriella explains. "Go there now. Observe Gaius Maro's departure, and follow him. Waylay him in one of the cities, and send his soul to Sithis!"

"It shall be done."

"Once he is dead, plant the incriminating letter on his body, and let fate take care of the rest."

"Very well." Diamond says as she rises from her chair.

"Oh, and one final thing."

"Yes?"

"If you want a bonus, don't kill him at Dragon's Bridge, or on the road. Kill him in one of the major cities. That way the body will be discovered quickly along with the letter about the plot."

"Seems fair enough."

"If you do that, Astrid has authorized me to grand you a rather unique bonus. It is a special bonus to be given to Olava the Feeble, in Whiterun. She's an old and dear friend, and a powerful seer. The token entitles you a reading of your future, and an opportunity one should not pass."

Diamond nods. "Thank you, Gabriella."

Before she leaves to start her new contract, she quickly heads back up to retrieve the cloak, but stops at the idea of how everyone will react of her bearing a cloak of the Faceless.

Reconsidering her options, Diamond settles for a black cloak with read trimming. She stops at the blacksmith area to gather as much weapons as she can carry.

She pulls her hood over her head as she exits the sanctuary.

"They've taken the bait." She speaks.

Pursing his lips, the man bites his lip as he stands with his arms crossed. The tomb around them is dank and dusty with the smell of mold. He shakes his head. "I'm not happy about this."

"I understand."

"Father, please this is for the greater good." The young man speaks softly.

"I still wish there was another way."

"As I recall, you wanted him to pass in a way of honor. What is the difference of the setting if it's for the same cause?" the cloaked woman speaks.

He looks to her, glaring, but find it to be effortless as he can't decipher her expression from the white cloth covering her eyes. Her entire body is camouflaged in the shadows cast along the walls of the single torch in the room. She acts like a vampire afraid of sunlight.

"They are as gullible as they are predictable. But believe me I wish there was as well." She says.

"And this is for your sake." Speaks the young man across the tomb.

"Then do you understand what I am asking of you?"

The young man looks up, towards the shaft of moonlight spilling into the tomb. She he looks back at the woman, his eyes are bright. "Yes."

She bows her head. "Then do what needs to be done."

The young man nods and walks out of the tomb. The older gentleman follows, but pauses on the threshold, the darkness beyond beckoning to him, and turns back to the black figure.

"I will ensure he receives a proper burial." She speaks before he can even open his mouth. "What he will do, I cannot repay to you with gold or valuables. But I express to you my deepest condolences, and may the gods welcome him with the highest of honor."

Tears form, but he blinks them away.

"For their sake, it had better be quick."