Murtagh and Arya were to leave for Teirm, effective immediately. There was no time to pack, only to change. Murtagh had quickly switched into a spare set of armor, Albriech helping him with the fastenings. He thought for the first time about Thorn's bare hide, anxiousness washing over him. While now wouldn't be the best time to fly around dressed in the old armor with Galbatorix's insignia, he'd rather Thorn have that than nothing at all. He regretted not realizing until now that they were ill-equipped for any major fights.

I will be fine, the dragon assured him, speaking from the courtyard above where he waited with Fírnen. I can make quick work of the Ra'zac with or without the armor.

I'd still rather you have it. Murtagh sighed, tying the leather guard around his forearms. It is likely that Thea is behind this. And if she is there, I need to know that you are as safe as possible. I'll have to increase your wards in the meantime.

Make sure not to overdo it.

When he was suited and ready to go, Za'roc hanging off his hip, he exited the armory with Albriech behind him. Hal was pacing ferociously in the hallway, waiting for him, still in her dress from the party that had since been cancelled. She held his bag in his hand, having already packed it for him as best she could. She paused when he did, and he could see how hard she was fighting to keep from crying at the sight of him readying for battle. He hated the thought of having to leave her behind.

"I should be going with you," she muttered as he moved to stand in front of her. "I feel like I am leaving you and Arya to clean up my mess."

"Thea's mess," he corrected, slipping his bag out of her hands and over his shoulder. "And we will stop her."

"Murtagh."

He turned at the sound of his name, finding Roran standing at the end of the hallway. He nodded once and Murtagh knew to follow. The armory was located underground at the keep, which was situated behind the castle to accommodate the large number of soldiers. However, the space was designed to be tight and narrow to limit the flow of enemy troops should they manage to break in. Especially since it was through the keep that one gained access to the queen's private chambers at the very top, a safety precaution that even Galbatorix had maintained. Murtagh gripped Hal's hand in his, keeping his gaze on Roran's back. If he looked at Hal now, he himself might cave.

Nasuada waited for them in an office on the second level, Arya and the others standing around a table, a map unfolded that showed the land of Alagaësia. The distance to Teirm looked vast, and Murtagh felt his nerves return. What if they were already too late?

"There have been no additional reports," Nasuada said by way of greeting, not even looking up at him. Her eyes were focused on the map. Jörmundur and Aharon, like before, were present as they awaited what commands would be relayed to the troops. "I hate to do this," Nasuada continued, briefly looking at Arya and then Murtagh, "but I have to send you both in blind. The messenger who arrived seems to have gone into a bit of a state of shock, so we are unable to glean anything else from him except that Ra'zac are in Teirm. We have no sense of numbers, casualties, or even how the troops are faring."

"What about scrying?" Murtagh asked, looking over to Arya, who promptly shook her head.

"Someone put some kind of ward over the city. I can't see a thing."

"Nor can any of my magicians," Nasuada added with heavy sigh.

"We will remain cautious, regardless," Arya assured her, looking to Murtagh who nodded in agreement.

"I know you will. Aharon will be dispatching two to three squads to follow behind you. We'll be staggering their release to manage the supplies they will have to travel with. The first will be to offer any on-the-ground support. The second and third will enter when they receive the all-clear. I'll have them following with medical supplies and equipment so that we can tend to the injured as quickly as possible." She turned to the captain. "How long should it take for the men to arrive?"

"On foot? We're looking at a five-day march. The journey through the Spine will slow us down, assuming there are no additional and unexpected complications. This time of year, in the mountains, could prove difficult."

Murtagh thought of the inches of snow that had fallen as he and Hal had been leaving and swore inwardly. It would likely be even worse now. Even at a hurried pace, the snow would be laborious to move through, especially for the command bringing the equipment.

"That's what I feared. And we cannot have them arriving too exhausted should they need to fight. Very well. We continue as planned, with Murtagh, Thorn, Arya, and Fírnen arriving as the first line of defense. If you manage to get things under control before the first unit arrives, update us immediately."

"Yes, ma'am," Murtagh responded, and Arya nodded.

"You both should know, Murtagh you especially, that depending on the conditions of the city, I may need you to remain behind for longer than anticipated to help with the aftermath. I cannot force Arya's hand, so Murtagh, I'm counting on you and Thorn especially."

Murtagh didn't object, even as he felt Hal stiffen beside him. He knew this could have happened at any time, and he had been prepared regardless to do what he must. Now that time had come, and he realized there was only one other thing left to do. He pulled his hand out of Hal's, placing his right fist over his heart before he dropped to his knee before Nasuada, bowing his head. Recognizing his intentions, everyone else stood back out of respect.

Only then did he remove Zar'roc from its sheath, holding it up flat on his palms as though in offering. "Yes, your majesty. And I, Murtagh Morzansson, as my own man, hereby give my blade to you, and my fealty."

Nasuada's expression softened. Murtagh knew he could have simply accepted her orders and left, not once acknowledging that he never was able to swear his fealty as intended. But he'd made a promise, one he wished to see it through. Not just because of his pardon, but because he was learning that his honor — as part of this new path he was on — was perhaps even more important.

She gripped Zar'roc by the handled and lifted it high, observing the blade. Smiling, she said, "Years ago, this same blade was sworn to me by your brother. It feels almost symbolic that it is given to me again now." She gazed down at him. "I am honored and proud to receive it once more. As you accept your duties and responsibilities to me, I accept your fealty. Rise as my vassal and take up your sword."

Murtagh did, returning Zar'roc to its sheath, unable to explain the smile on his face. However, the silence was interrupted by a quiet sniffle, and heads turned at the noise. Murtagh had to press his lips together to keep from laughing at Hal's expense, who was wiping her face. He opened his mouth and she snapped, "Yes, I know, I'm sensitive!"

Roran coughed into his hand, using the gesture to hide his smile. Nasuada sighed, but her expression became serious once more, focused on the matter at hand. "If there's nothing else, then you are all dismissed. Murtagh, Arya, good luck."

There was an immediate flurry of activity, Aharon leaving to prepare the soldiers. Arya glanced at him and Murtagh fell in line with her soft steps as she exited the room. Hal followed closely behind, her head still down as she tried to regain her sensibilities. Although he still wished to tease her for it, he knew now wasn't the time.

"Something does not feel right," Arya whispered to him, keeping her gaze forward. "If we assume that this is the Shade you warned us of, why attack Teirm?"

"I don't know. So far, we have been given no indication as to her motivations for any of her attacks except maybe to cause damage. But this feels different. This feels like it's supposed to mean something."

"Then I supposed we must stop her and figure out what."

Arya looked over his shoulder as they reached their dragons and her expression softened. "I will give you a few minutes. Afterwards, we make for the city. We should be able to arrive within a day or two if we limit stopping for rest."

Murtagh nodded and turned to find Hal standing beside Thorn. She was still crying, but he knew these tears were no longer about his fealty. She tried to keep a brave face despite this, and the result was endearing and heartbreaking. Walking over to her, she tried unsuccessfully to wipe her face again, avoiding his gaze until he was standing right before her.

At first, they said nothing. Murtagh didn't know what he could say to ease the stress on her face. He took her face in his hands and lifted her gaze, smiling softly. Her expression twisted in anguish, struggling to find the words. The last time they had said goodbye, Hal had been the one to leave. "Murtagh, I —"

Before she could finish, he swooped in for a kiss that was less of a goodbye and more of a promise. A promise that he would return as quickly as possible. That he would return safe. It was all he knew how to do. He knew they were short on time, but he forced himself to take this slow. It's not that he didn't think he might not return, but he also did not want to take this moment for granted.

He pulled away slowly, moving his lips to kiss the top of her head. "I'll see you soon, iet dunei."

"I know," she said with a nod of her head. "Be careful. Both of you," she added, glancing over at Thorn.

We will, Thorn promised her.

Murtagh leaned down and kissed her once…twice more before, as if he were storing up his reserves, unsure of how long he would gone. He wished he had more time. "I love you," he said.

"I love you, too. And I'm so proud of you." Then, subtly and quietly, she rapped twice on her chest with her fist.

His eyes burned at the familiar gesture that he had not seen since they left home. He kissed her one last time before repeating the gesture back to her. His throat felt tight with fear and guilt and duty, and he had a newfound respect for Hal's decision to leave him that moment in the tunnel, as he then turned away from her and forced himself to not look back. He felt like he was tearing himself apart now, even if he knew he was making the right choice.

Let us make quick work of these demons once and for all, Thorn stated, baring his teeth. That way, we can return faster than we are gone.

Aye. Murtagh did not dare look back, but he knew Hal would understand. Instead, he locked eyes with Arya and nodded once to let her know he was ready. She gave him an encouraging smile before Fírnen's wings unfolded. The nearby soldiers stood back and watched with rapt attention, not having seen the might of a dragon in take-off for battle since Eragon left.

Stealing his resolve, Murtagh steadied his nerves, letting his mind go blank as he did before any fight. He could not allow himself to dwell on matters that could distract him. He needed to focus on the immediate task at hand. The sooner he could get things under control in Teirm, the sooner he could return to Hal.

All right, he said to Thorn, let us be off.

…

"You will make yourself sick, worrying like that," Giles chastised disinterestedly. Hal released a deep sigh, stepping back from the door and letting the curtain fall. Giles was sitting by the fireplace, carefully eyeing some strange contraption with a checkered base and small, statuesque pieces that he was moving around according to his own whims. Hal had tried to focus on his instructions for all of two minutes before she had jumped up and moved herself to the window.

"I know. I just keep looking for Thorn in the sky."

"It's barely been half a day, Hal. No use in fraying your nerves to the point of no return."

Hal spared a final glance through the crack in the curtain to the dull grey sky outside. Perhaps it was the loss of Murtagh by her side, but everything had felt colder. Foreboding. "I just worry."

"It's not that I don't expect you not to. However, in times such as these, you must trust in his and Thorn's strength and abilities. They are not going in alone, either. In the meantime, you have to make sure to take care of yourself so that they have something to come home too."

There was a knock at her door, and Albriech opened it for Merida, who came in rolling a small cart of food.

"Ah, perfect timing!" Giles cleared off the table, apparently not too impressed with his progress to save where his pieces were as he set them on the ground and out of the way.

"I have a good spread for you this morning, Miss Halen," Merida ordered, already attuned to Hal's nerves. "Come and sit. You'll feel better with some food in your stomach."

Hal did as she was told, sitting by the fire as Merida finished laying out the breakfast tray. "Any word from her majesty?"

"Not yet," Merida said, keeping a level head and tone despite the numerous times Hal had asked the same question. "But I know the moment she hears anything, she will let you know. Do not fret."

Hal struggled to smile, not wanting to voice her concerns out loud. She feared that Nasuada would very well push her out. Not intentionally or anything. But there were a lot of people higher ranked than Hal waiting for official reports. For example, Lord Risthart — who had been a guest at Murtagh's official state dinner, and had only just left for his city a few hours ago with the second squad of soldiers Nasuada had deployed — had been seen entering Nasuada's private study late last night, hardly leaving until early in the morning, looking more haggard and strained as they waited for news from the city. According to Juliet, his wife and children had not made the trip to the capital for the event.

"Tell me about your wedding plans," Merida said, slapping Giles hand patronizingly when he reached for a roll. "Will you wait until you return home?" Giles made a face, muttering under his breath.

Hal smiled at the obvious attempt of a distraction. "I would like to," she admitted. "Our friends are back on Illium, and I can't imagine getting married without them there to celebrate. Although…I admit, with us being here for an undisclosed amount of time, I do wonder how long we'd have to wait if we stayed such a course."

Giles carefully reached out for a slice of salmon, shoving it into his mouth before the handmaiden could stop him. Chewing with a pleased smile, he said, "Just do like you were already planning and elope."

"Eloping, how romantic," Merida said, surprising Hal with the wistfulness in her voice. The woman was so serious during her duties, that such moments of expression were far and few between. "Well, whatever you decide, I get the feeling that Master Murtagh would do whatever it is you asked."

Hal chuckled, but did not dispute her claim.

A tense hush had fallen over the castle while everyone waited for an update from Arya or Murtagh or perhaps another messenger. The hours passed in silence. That night, she stared up at the canopy of the bed, wishing she could see the dirt and cracks of her ceiling back home. Wishing that Denu were here to help slow her racing thoughts. She would give anything for that soothing cadence of his voice that could relax her with the right quip or words of wisdom. In this moment, the memory of him was not enough to ease the fear in her heart.

Wiping her face, Hal climbed out of bed, too restless. She pulled her robe over her nightgown, padding quietly around the room until she had what she needed. She snuck out quietly, making sure the door was firmly closed before she turned around and flinched in surprise.

"Going somewhere, Miss?"

Baldor grinned up at her, knowing damn well she wouldn't have known they were there. Albriech was asleep, and Hal figured they must be alternating taking watch. It was her first time even contemplating the fact that they remained outside her room during the night as well. Had they been out here this entire time?

"Just a walk for some fresh air. Have you two been out here all this time?"

"No, but since Teirm is under threat, security in Ilirea has increased." He noticed the bow and arrow in her hand and grinned. "Another trip to the archery, huh?"

Her grip tightened on her bow. "I just need to…clear my head."

Baldor nodded. "I'll go with you —"

"Oh, honestly, there's no need for it."

"Too late," he teased, giving her a knowing look. "Just give a moment to let my brother know."

Hal felt rather self-conscious as Albriech woke up, eyeing her with surprise as Baldor explained what she had told him. Agreeing to stay behind should a late-night messenger come with news, Hal thanked him before turning on her heel, heading down towards the fields. Baldor walked a few paces behind her, reading her disposition well and keeping quietly to himself.

They had passed very few people on the way down to the grounds — only a few night staff and watchmen. The soldiers had stared at Hal, as if still wary of her, but they continued on without bother. With Teirm under attack, she had finally become an afterthought. Merida and Juliet had even mentioned that the whispers around Murtagh and Thorn had changed some. While still not trusted by the masses, apparently it was agreed upon that now was the time to see how useful they could be. For the first time since Galbatorix, people were realizing that with Eragon away and Arya bound to her people, the queendom was exposed without a dragon rider. And no one would deny that Murtagh and Thorn were strong. Hal tried not to take too much stock in such talk. Heaven only knows that they could wake up tomorrow with a complete change in heart if Murtagh did not come back with the results they preferred. But she hoped for his victory all the same, unable to deny that it would have more than just the obvious benefit of having defeated the Ra'zac.

Like last time, there was a row of targets set up for practice, spaced out at different positions and distances to give the archer practice in a variety of ways. In the night, even though there was barely any light, Hal could still make out the faint coloring of the red bullseye, or the yellow secondary ring, or the pale white outer ring. She knew it was the inhuman part of her. The Shade. Superior strength, speed, sight, and smells. No matter what she did, there was always something reminding her that she was unnatural, and suppressing certain senses, like sight, were harder than others, like strength or speed.

It hadn't been enough to save Denu. And if anything happened to Murtagh and Thorn while she was just sitting here…

Baldor stood back, watching in silence as Hal yanked one of her own arrows out of her quiver. She had nocked and released it before she had even realized what she had done. She heard the resounding thud as the arrow found its target. Her aim was improved over her previous session, but she regretted going so long without practice. She had to keep her strength up at all costs.

Hal didn't really think about it. Her shooting. She never really did these days. It was an extension of her body now, like breathing or blinking. If there was a bow and arrow in her hand, she would find her target. It may not always be exact, but her aim was often true. She did not think about the tension in her muscles as she pulled back on the string. Did not think about how she needed to slightly shift her angle to hit the center because of the breeze.

She instead thought of nothing but Denu. She allowed her fear and her grief to fill her, and then she imagined that she was pouring it into the arrow and sending such feelings flying far away. Her body moved without the control of her mind, Hal firing arrow after arrow, hearing Denu's laugh, seeing his smile. When she reached back and realized she was out of arrows, Baldor suddenly cleared his throat. She turned and saw him gesture to the spot by her feet. She looked down and saw a large bucket full of arrows the soldiers practiced with. She looked up at him and he just nodded.

She kept going until she ran out of arrows, then she marched herself down the field with the bucket in tow and yanked out as many as she could, starting with her own, and went again. Despite her strength, her arms began to tire with the relentlessness of her exercise. Her fingers ached, still rather stiff from Hal doing the same thing earlier in the week. But she felt close to Denu right now, shooting arrows as he had taught her to while thinking of him.

She went on like this for hours, and she knew she was losing her stamina. Her drawback was weakening, her arms shaking with the exertion, her arrows lacking distance. Her vision was blurry with her continuous tears and the sweat dripping into her eyes. But she kept going. Archery had been something to bring her piece of mind. The concentration, the power, the feel of it enraptured her. And it had been something that Denu had taught her. Not to mention she had this fear. This nagging and nonsensical fear that if she stopped, Denu would leave her again. As painful as the memories of him were, there was also a peace in them. A reminder of when she felt like she had it all.

The sun was already rising when Hal finally collapsed, her arms completely numb with exhaustion, blisters once again forming on her fingers and palms after having just healed from before. She panted, trying to catch her breath. Instead, it came out like a choked sob, and she covered her mouth with her hand, squeezing her eyes shut as the tears threatened her once again. It was no use. Murtagh's departure had left her feeling raw. All this time she had pushed down the feelings of her loss, telling herself to focus on what was in front of her. No more looking back. And yet, Murtagh had been a constant in her future. What would she do if he didn't return? In that moment, she felt every loss she had ever endured up until this point.

She felt a hand on her shoulder and looked up to find Baldor kneeling down in front of her. "Come on, let's get you back to your room."

She was about to argue that she at least needed to collect the arrows when she turned and realized the bucket was already full. On the ground were hers, which Baldor must have realized by the less refined but more customized look of them. She had been sitting in silence longer than she had realized.

"Come on, you need to rest."

Hal felt like passing out, but she didn't move. She stared at the rising sun, missing the sunrise on Illium and wondering what her people were doing. Wondering what Murtagh and Thorn were doing, and if they were safe.

"Baldor?"

"Yes?"

"They're okay." She said this with assuredness, as if he were the one worried about Murtagh and Thorn's safety.

She looked at him, seeing the concern and confusion in his face. Hal remained steadfast until he suddenly understood and nodded. "Aye. They're okay."

Hal allowed Baldor to grip her arm and help her up. They returned to her room in silence, Albriech looking bewildered and confused, but keeping quiet as his younger brother shook his head.

Hal closed the door to the room behind her, having thoroughly exhausted herself to the point of sleep. But first, she went to run herself a bath, not wanting to get into bed covered in sweat. As she was digging through the wardrobe for a clean set of clothes, she found one of Murtagh's old tunics mixed in with her things.

She hesitated, struck by a sharp pang in her chest. She pulled the garment out, clutching it in her hands. Although Hal felt ridiculous for it, she lifted the shirt to her face, inhaling slowly and deeply the familiar scent. And she felt her eyes immediately fill with tears, unsure as to why she felt like she was in mourning. Unsure as to why she felt like something horrible was about to happen now that Murtagh was no longer by her side.

…

On the second night of Murtagh and Thorn's departure, Hal slipped out of her lonely and empty room once more, this time to join the two brothers in the hallway. They seemed to have pilfered a few empty crates from the kitchens and flipped them over to serve as chairs and a table for them to use.

"Still can't sleep?" Baldor asked with a sympathetic smile.

"No. Do you mind if I join you both?"

"Not at all," Albriech said, shuffling their deck of cards. "Want in?"

"I've never actually played a card game before."

"You haven't! Now we have to teach you. It's our civic duty."

Albriech insisted on giving up his seat, so Hal graciously accepted, tucking her long nightgown and robe under her legs as Albriech sat cross-legged on the ground. Still shuffling the cards, he asked, "Is this the first time you and Murtagh have been separated?"

Hal felt her cheeks warm, laughing nervously. But then, the more she thought about, the more he realized that he had a point. "Now that you mention it, I think it is. I mean, there was that stint when he was in custody after turning himself in. But this is certainly the furthest we've ever been apart since we met." She fingered the end of her braid. "I just worry about him and Thorn."

"To be fair, anyone in their right might would be worried if they were in your position. It's nothing to be ashamed of or embarrassed about."

"I know. But I admit that while I understood that this would be our reality once he swore fealty to Nasuada, it's still hard to accept. And considering that I pushed for it, I feel responsible for making sure I remain supportive. I'd hate to complain after everything we've been through just to get here."

"You should meet Katrina," said Baldor, taking a peek at his hand as Albriech dealt the cards out.

"Roran's wife," Albriech clarified, setting the remainder of the deck down on the makeshift table.

"Your situations might not be exact," Baldor continued. "But every so often, like now, Roran is called away from home. She'd certainly be sympathetic to your situation."

"Well, if she's married to someone like Roran, I can imagine how strong she must be. He hasn't said much about her, but I can imagine what kind of woman it would take to capture his affections."

"Honestly, before you and Murtagh, I didn't think I'd ever see a couple like Roran and Katrina. You all set the bar rather high for the rest of us."

Hal grinned, rather surprised by such praise. Before she could ask just why he felt that way, Albriech said, "All right, all right, enough chit chat. Hal, this is a game called 'Rich Man, Poor Man' and how you play is…"

It took her some time to understand the rules, and she didn't really comprehend them until they started playing. Eventually, she found herself getting the hang of things. As the night wore on, Hal found that the two brothers were an excellent distraction. They were adept as keeping the conversation away from more pressing matters, talking instead about growing up with Roran and Eragon in Carvahall and how they came to join the royal army.

"It's late," Albriech said, hearing the final bell toll throughout the halls of the castle. He looked at Hal and said, "I know it's hard, but you should still try to get some sleep —"

"Hey, Albriech," Baldor said suddenly, glancing around the hall. "Have you seen any night guards walk past in the last hour or so?"

Albriech opened his mouth to answer, then hesitated and frowned. "Now that you mention it…I don't think I have."

"Is that unusual?" asked Hal.

"Under normal conditions, no," Albriech answered, rising slowly to his feet. "But it's one of the ways in which they've tightened security even further. They've increased patrols on every floor. We should've seen them by now."

"Could they have gotten called away?"

"Yes," he said slowly, thinking. "They could have. And that's exactly what I'm worried about."

Just then, the ground shook underneath them, a slight tremor that felt as though a chill were running through the castle. She heard porcelain shatter down the hall as a vase fell over, voices rising over the noise as the night staff shouted in alarm and called out to one another for reassurance that what they had just felt was real. Stunned, Hal instinctively reached for the wall to brace herself, but it passed as quickly as it had come. So fast, in fact, that Hal had to look to the brothers to make sure she hadn't just imagined the startling sensation. Sure enough, Albriech and Baldor were wide-eyed and frantically looking around as if that would uncover the source of the vibrations.

A figure moved out of the corner of her eye, a servant judging by his uniform, and ran to the nearby, glassless windows. Without thinking, Hal jumped to her feet and followed suit. Albriech hissed her name, reaching for her arm to pull her back and just missing. He and Baldor hurried after her, and all of their gazes were on the city. Hal held her breath, unsure of what they were waiting or looking for.

At first, nothing seemed to happen. In the middle of the night, it was hard to make out any unusual activity. Hal strained her eyes to see past the dark, the anticipation made worse by their expectation and the deafening silence that surrounded them.

She saw it first. The faint disruption in the ground indicating that something was wrong. And it unfurled in a horrifically sudden manner. The ground in the middle of the city seemed to bulge and rise before it exploded completely, sending dirt and crumbled buildings high into the air like they were nothing. It sounded almost like thunder, reverberating in her ears like she was standing in the middle of a storm. There was almost a second of utter, shocked silence before screams erupted from the castle. Hal felt like her heart had stopped completely, unable to look away as the falling debris destroyed even more parts of the city and kicked up even more dust, creating a wall that practically blocked most of Ilirea from view as it seemed to draw closer.

The servant beside her backed slowly away from the window, the whites of his eyes so apparent that Hal felt his terror more than she felt her own. "May god have mercy on us all," he muttered, not even paying them any attention. He then turned and fled back down the hallway, Hal watching in her own state of shock.

When the servant went to turn the corner, his cry of surprise was swiftly cut off when an arrow appeared and impaled him through his eye. Hal flinched like it was she who had been struck, so caught off guard by the sudden violence that she couldn't even scream. Which was, perhaps, a smart albeit unconscious decision. The servant twitching as he clung to life, someone lifted his legs and dragged his body out of sight.

Albriech was much quicker to move as he made a gesture to Baldor. He yanked on Hal's arm to drag her back down the hall. "Stay inside," he hissed, throwing her into her room, and he moved as if to close the door behind her. Perhaps to even lock her in. Unsure of what made her think it, Hal stopped him and said, "Get inside. Now."

She wasn't sure if it was the tone of her voice or the look in her eyes, but the brothers hesitated only for a moment before doing as she said. She had them press flat against the wall, a few steps away from the doors. "Don't move," she said in a low tone. "Keep quiet." She spoke quickly as the two brothers watched in confusion, then understanding.

"You can do magic?" Baldor breathed, but Albriech cut him off with a searing look. Hal focused carefully on the shield, trying to mirror Murtagh's natural calm when he had performed the same spell when they had first run into the Lethrblaka and again when they'd run into the Ra'zac.

"Cutting it a bit close, don't you think," a gruff voice said, coming around the corner.

"You were too squeamish to get your hands dirty," said another, frightfully calm voice. "Don't criticize me for how I do things."

"Let's just hurry up and get this over with," the first man said, his dark eyes focused. "The longer we stay here, the more likely we are to be found out."

"Half the guard will soon be dealing with the Ra'zac in the city," the second man said, and Hal felt her blood run cold. Albriech and Baldor's faces paled. "Let's just hurry and grab the woman and get out. Remember, the Shade wanted her alive."

"I know the orders!"

Their footsteps wandered closer until they stopped right in front of the door. "No guards," the first voice commented. "But it looks like there were. Morzansson might have put up traps after the first failed attempt. Be careful."

Hal, Baldor, and Albriech were pressed tightly against the wall, hardly breathing. Please hurry, Hal begged them quietly. She did not want to push her luck and drain her energy now.

"There are no traps or spells," the second man stated. "Let's go —"

The first man kicked open the door and barreled in, his shadow long and intimidating in the glow of the hallway. It was an older man, somewhat burly in nature. He had a rough look about him, along with a crooked nose and sunburnt skin. He must spend a lot of time outdoors, perhaps even on a farm somewhere. But Hal had certainly never seen him before around the castle. He looked around the room with great expectation before his eyes narrowed as he realized what he was seeing.

"She's not here!"

"What? That's impossible! Our sources confirmed this was her room."

"Well, she's not bloody in it, is she?"

The second man entered the room. He was taller, with fair skin and pale hair. As he spoke, Hal noticed the formidable crossbow hanging loosely from his hand and suppressed a shudder. Looking at them both, she felt a sense of menace and danger. She strengthened the shield around them as well as the shield around her mind, praying that Baldor and Albriech had been trained in defending their minds as well. Judging by the way the second man was scanning the room slowly and quietly, he was reaching out with his mind while the first man tore the room apart. At one point, Hal thought the second man had sensed them, his eyes narrowing around where she was standing.

"How is she not here?!" the first man bellowed, his frustration obvious. "They assured us that capturing her would be easy."

"If it was easy then the Black Hand would not have failed the first time." The man turned away and Hal nearly released a breath of relief. But she didn't, very much aware they weren't out of danger yet. "She can't have gone far. We have the city and castle surrounded. They must've caught wind of the attack and moved her. Let's hurry after them before the trail goes cold."

"You better be right," the first man growled.

The two men took off down the hallway, and Hal waited several moments until their steps disappeared before she released her magic and dropped the shield. Shaking from fright and stress, and admittedly the most magic she had used in months, Hal nearly collapsed to her knees. Baldor was quick to catch her and usher her to a nearby chair as Albriech quickly and quietly locked the doors.

"Keep your voices down," Albriech said, taking charge and forcing calm into his voice. "Baldor, help me barricade the door. I think Hal managed to buy us more time if they think she was moved. But let's not risk it and get taken by surprise."

They quietly moved what furniture they could, blocking the door with the armchairs and small tables. Hal felt frozen in terror, unable to comprehend what she had witnessed and heard. Hal had no doubt Thea was the Shade the man had been referring. How did she get mixed up with the Black Hand?

"Hal, quickly change into your boots," Baldor ordered. "It is likely we may need to flee, and you need something sturdy on your feet."

She was grateful they were at least able to keep a level head. She nodded dumbly, doing as instructed. Slowly, her mind began to make sense of the situation they were in and, after she had her shoes on, she grabbed her bag, Murtagh's hand-and-a-half that she fastened around her waist, and her bow and arrows. She jammed her curls into a messy braid, wanting them out of her face more than she cared for how she looked. And in her nightgown and robe, armed to the teeth, her hair was probably the least ridiculous-looking thing about her.

Hal turned and quickly walked to the balcony windows, suddenly remembering something else the men had said. She threw open the curtains and felt her heart seize. Large plumes of smoke still drifted high into the sky. Without thinking, she opened the balcony doors and stepped outside. Now, there were at least three Lethrblaka circling the city high above, occasionally diving towards the ground to a swell of screams from the citizens below. It was faint, much of the noise lost over the distance and wind. But Hal could just make it out.

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Baldor wrapped an arm around her waist and yanked her off her feet, dragging her back inside. Albriech slammed the doors shut, locking them and throwing the curtains back, making sure not a single inch of window was exposed.

Baldor practically threw her back into the chair, putting his hand on the armrest and leaning in, his expression stern. "Listen to me carefully, Miss Halen, because I need you to understand the situation we're in right now. Those two men just as good as told us that they are looking for you, and that there are others nearby with the same goal. So, what you absolutely cannot be doing right now, is standing on balconies where anyone from the ground or another room has a clear vantage point to you and your location. Do you understand me?"

Hal was momentarily stunned, not having given that a second thought. Not having expected Baldor to be capable of such ferocity, although it certainly made her sit up and nod. She admittedly had assumed they were adept fighters. But it wasn't until now that she realized how thorough their training was in matters of security. She should've taken Roran and Murtagh's recommendation more seriously. She would not underestimate the brothers again.

"There's almost no way to reach the ground in a safe manner," Albriech explained, his arms over his chest as he walked towards them. "The castle sits too high up on the hill — which, ideally, made it hard to infiltrate, but equally harder to escape."

"And we don't know how many enemies are in the castle," Baldor added, stepping back and beginning to pace. "We can't expose Miss Halen when she's the one they're after."

"But do we dare stay here and wait for help?"

While they were trying to come up with a way out, Hal could not help but think of how it had even come to this. Murtagh and Arya would have likely only just arrived at Teirm, and that was probably even under breakneck speeds. Which meant that, even if they were made aware of the situation back in Ilirea, it would still take at least two days for them to get back. And that was assuming that Teirm didn't also need assistance. Either way, the city of Ilirea had been left without its dragon riders.

Hal had been left alone.

She began to cry, fear mingling with her relief. She hated herself for it. But she hoped that it meant Murtagh was, perhaps, safer in Teirm than he would have been if he had remained. Perhaps, after all, this was for the best.

"It's going to be all right," Baldor said, returning to her side with a sympathetic look. "We're going to get you out of here."

As soon as he spoke though, there was another explosion, this one so close that Hal felt like her ears were suddenly bombarded with sound before she lost the sensation entirely. The ground shook underneath them again. But this time, these were no soft vibrations. The world tilted and shifted as if the castle were swaying. Hal had the dizzying realization of what was happening and only had a few moments to cast another shielding spell around the two brothers and herself just as the floor crumbled underneath them, and they disappeared into the darkness below.