Author's Notes:

Ethan Kironus- Demetrius :( However, he at least had the most peaceful death of the story, getting to know they won the war and having a few painless minutes for the first time in many years.

Guest(s) - Thanks for the reviews! And ah, the topic of voices! I read the entire draft aloud before publishing a chapter to confirm it all sounds natural to me. I also speak in the voices of the established characters, and I've heard them enough that their vocabulary and cadence is very familiar. However, I often worry that the OCs will sound a bit samey in comparison because I don't have any of those advantages, especially since they already tend to have less flashy personalities. I'm glad it works well enough that you can picture some of the scenes coming straight from the game, though!

Chapter 54

Day 25 of Ethereal Moon, Imperial Year 1180

Claude carefully watched Professor Byleth's reaction as he pulled her onto the dance floor. To his disappointment, she barely even reacted to his touch, let alone the context of the situation.

"You're fine dancing with me, right, Teach?" he finally asked to ensure she even understood the invitation.

"Yes. I would have removed your hand otherwise," Byleth answered in monotone.

Claude asked nervously, "You mean… removed from your hand, or removed from my arm?"

"Hmm?"

"N-never mind."

Claude eased some as he relished in the attention he and Teach received from the rest of the students. He was not sure if they were impressed by his nerve to ask her onto the floor or surprised by how graceful the two moved in unison.

"You're pretty good at this, Teach," Claude noted. "I didn't realize dancing was a component of a mercenary's repertoire."

"It's not. This is my first time. However, I did observe the techniques while overseeing practice with Flayn."

"It's… pretty impressive that you picked it up that fast, actually. Though I guess it adds up since you were witnessing Garreg Mach's undisputed finest dancer at work. Unless you adhere to the theory that the judges were too scared of Seteth's reaction if Flayn didn't win the cup. Just putting that out there."

Byleth told him, "You talk a lot, Claude."

"I try to be frank," Claude lied. "I mean, it's better than Dimitri and Edelgard. You saw those two earlier, right? The heat was palpable all the way from the crowd when they were practically rubbing backs out here on the floor, but the Highnesses would rather dance with some ancillary students than work up the courage to actually hold hands. Tragic, really."

"I sensed no heat, nor do I grasp why there would be. But I did notice that Prince Dimitri almost asked her for a dance before it started," Byleth told her partner.

"It's not literal heat, Teach. Just a metaphor of sorts. I can try explaining if you really want to know."

Byleth shook her head. "I think I can infer your meaning. I sense no heat from you right now, though. Behind the smiles and jokes… what truly gives your eyes fire, Claude?"

Claude flinched subtly. How was she able to turn the tables on him so easily? He kept calm as he replied, "You're right that none of this truly makes me that emotional. As for what does? That's my secret, Teach. Maybe you'll see one day, maybe you won't."

As the song concluded, Byleth was swarmed by a wave of other students asking for a dance now that Claude had proven it was possible. She looked genuinely overwhelmed by the scene, and Claude could not help but grin with pleasure at finally eliciting a reaction from the stone-faced teacher.

Claude saw all of the other senior members of the Golden Deer at a table in the corner, so he took the opportunity to rest a bit. Leonie and Raphael had clearly reserved the space for their food, but he was surprised by some of the other faces present.

"Lorenz, Hilda… are you not getting out there for the next dance?" he asked.

Hilda justified, "I will for the one after this, but I need a bit of a breather. I was starting to get a bit hot, and it would be so embarrassing if I got all sweaty this early on."

"As for me, it would be rude to show preference to any lady here. The only way to be fair is to accept the first one to offer me her hand," Lorenz explained.

Claude glanced around and asked, "Is the sign-up for your waitlist being run out of Cyril's janitor closet? I can't seem to find the line."

"Surely only because they are scared to approach when I stand in the company of a known libertine."

"A known libertine worthy of a dance with the renowned Professor Byleth?" Claude reminded. "Listen, Lorenz… surely a true gentleman would aid a lady abandoned without a partner, even if they didn't come to you directly, right? I saw a few looking around on my way over… Dorothea, Mercedes, and Annette come to mind."

"Hmm. Well… perhaps this once, you make a fair assessment, Claude. I will see what I can do to help," Lorenz conceded.

As Lorenz departed, Hilda leaned over and whispered, "Umm, Claude… I'm not sure if those would be my first three recommendations for Lorenz. In fact, they might just be the last three."

Claude smiled. "Is that so? Well, he'll figure it out in good time."

Hilda sighed. "I guess he's done enough for me that I should humor him with an offer before he gets embarrassed too badly," she decided as she stretched and pursued after the unlucky suitor. She added at the last second, "Please don't escape the ball while I'm away, Marianne! Try to have some fun!"

"O-okay…" Marianne muttered as she hid behind Raphael.

"Just how did you manage to get a dance with Professor Byleth, anyways, Claude?" Lysithea asked.

"It was a very complex procedure. To summarize my approach as best as I can, I first asked if she wanted to. And after she said yes, we began to dance." When Lysithea groaned with annoyance, Claude suggested, "I can demonstrate the whole process to you if you're willing to go a twirl."

Lysithea frowned and looked down. "No thanks. I'm just enjoying watching everyone else. I'm a bit too exhausted to do much myself."

"Makes sense. It's got to be getting pretty close to your bedtime."

Lysithea's grip on the table tightened as she complained, "Are you really going to try using that same insult agai-."

Leonie headed off the conflict by saying loudly, "Linhardt came by and talked some a minute ago before leaving early. Apparently, the Black Eagles made some sort of promise last night to meet back here in five years for the millennium festival. Sounds fun, right?"

"It does, but I don't want to be accused of stealing their idea. It's probably not too practical, anyways. I'm sure we'll all have other important things going on," Claude responded.

Leonie nodded. "Yeah, I guess that's a fair point. I don't think most clients would be happy if I stopped in the middle of a job to go to some reunion."

"I'm not sure if knights are allowed to just run off, either," Raphael said between bites. "What about the rest of you? Where will you be in five years?"

"Where I want to be, or where I think I'll be? Those might not be the same answers…" Ignatz muttered. "N-no, forget that. Either way, I'll be a knight, too."

"Me? I think I'll…" Lysithea's eyes darkened as she paused and then shrugged. "Well… I think I'd be happy doing anything, really."

Marianne said under her breath, "I don't see myself doing much. If anything, it will hopefully be less intense than this year has been."

"It's thankfully difficult to imagine it getting any stranger," Ignatz agreed. "What about you, Claude?"

"Heh! Either nursing my grandfather or nursing the Roundtable as leader of the Alliance," Claude chuckled. "But even if we don't see each other as much, don't be afraid to let me know what I can be doing better, alright?"

Raphael observed, "I once saw Lorenz already writing up a really long list. He said something about demands that gotta be met for him to ever accept you as leader."

"Well… maybe try to keep your requests to a single page to balance it out," Claude sighed. "But you know what? Nothing I do will deserve more praise than your knighthood, Lysithea's 'anything' or Marianne's so-called nothing much. What really matters to me is that you become the best version of yourself possible, whatever that looks like. To be someone that I and the people I care about can be proud of? That's a dream that truly gives fire to my eyes."

Everyone nodded in agreeance despite the odd verbiage, and Leonie lifted up a glass of champagne as she cheered, "To those best versions of ourselves in five years, then!"

The Height of the Stars- Day 28 of the Verdant Rain Moon, Year 1187 (Fódlan Calendar)

Khalid was reading a book under the shade of a juniper tree in his courtyard, but as he turned a page, he momentarily allowed himself to relax, close his eyes, and listen to his surroundings.

Singing birds. The bubbling of a fountain. A flutter of a page in the breeze. A threaded needle as Ariella and Marianne worked on their tapestry. Dimitri dipping a particularly sturdy reed pen into ink as he authored an account of everything he had seen in Almyra.

There were no cannons, no clashing blades, no sobbing. It was just an ordinary, peaceful morning in the Dunya Palace shared by the four friends.

Despite the early normality of the day, a major feast was planned for that evening. The bodies of those killed in the Battle of Istakhr had all received proper burials, and though special requests for reinterment of deceased family members from prior campaigns would take months to process, enough progress had been made for King Faruq to declare a week of celebration marking the end of the war. Funerals had been held for Nader, Anthony, and Demetrius, and Khalid's entourage had recently visited Astane in solidarity as Sardar Soraya's remains were brought home. Festivities were being held all across Almyra, but the feast that night would represent the end of the official commemorations. Lydia, Juliana, and Dizhwar all planned to be in attendance, which quickly stirred gossip that a new heir to the throne could be announced. It took almost two weeks for the king to recover from both the effects of the malison and the heartrending discovery of James's betrayal, but he had improved enough to host the proceedings.

Though Khalid wanted to focus solely on the events slatted for that day, his mind still wandered to other matters. The contingent from Fódlan's Locket had returned home with news of James's downfall, at which time Queen Byleth announced the results to all of Fódlan and dispatched King Faruq a request for an official conference with an Almyran delegation. Khalid would stand in representation of the king and queen.

In addition to reevaluating the diplomatic stance between the two lands, Prince Dimitri was expected to be a topic of much discussion. The news of his survival had inevitably generated a great stir, particularly in Faerghus, and Dimitri needed to meet with Fódlan's leadership to resolve his future. The specifics remained unclear, but Dimitri already told the others that his time in Khalid's services was nearing its end.

As an ally to both Fódlan and Almyra, Brigid's new queen Petra Macneary would serve as a mediator for the negotiations. The meeting was scheduled for a few weeks later at Garreg Mach due to its central location for all parties. Fódlan's Throat remained closed for the time being to prevent anyone still unconvinced about renewed diplomacy from becoming too vocal. That was probably the only reason Dedue had not yet come to Almyra in search of Dimitri, though even a closed border likely would not have stopped him without the assurance that the prince of Faerghus would soon be headed west.

Khalid opened his eyes when he heard steps approaching from the tunnel. Moments later, Balthus emerged holding a bowl of nuts.

"Sorry if I'm interrupting, but I brought some food with me. Can't complain about that, right?" Balthus said as he sat down next to Khalid and began to unshell the seeds.

Khalid's eyebrows rose. "Where did you steal those from?"

"Stolen? I prefer 'found' or 'acquired.' And I don't know where from. No one has told me the names for all these rooms here… though there's so many I'm not sure if I'd remember them, anyways."

Dimitri sighed as he joined the pair, once again moving easily at full health. "It's good to see you, even if I can't support the consumption of contraband."

Khalid asked as politely as possible, "Not to be rude, but… why are you even still here, Balthus? Everyone else is already gone. You got your payment from my parents, right? Or are you just avoiding some debt collector on the other side of Fódlan's Throat?"

"Yeah, I've got the payment, but I was also the captain of my little regiment, remember? I've been making sure all loose ends are tied up," Balthus justified. "I'll probably have people waiting for me on the other side after they hear how much we made, sure, but I'm not sticking around in hopes of clinging to my wages. I'll find a way to waste them, anyways."

"Why are you still here, then?" Ariella asked as she and Marianne continued to weave.

Balthus crossed his arms as if deep in thought, though Khalid remained doubtful that he would provide particularly profound insight. The mercenary finally answered, "I just like this place and its atmosphere, you know? You've still got plenty of nobles running around, but the people here seem to care more about strength and friendliness than any of that. Oh, and the feasts! Plenty of pretty ladies, too." Balthus's expression fell some as he added a bit more earnestly, "And though I'm not too worried about the debt collectors, I am getting a bit tired of my stepmother sending people to kill me. I wouldn't mind seeing them arrive a bit less often. Holst has already agreed to keep an eye on my family and let me know if she starts giving them any trouble instead. I like helping people, too, and you look like you could use a fresh set of hands, Prince Claude."

"Are you asking me for a job?" Khalid inquired as he finally reached for a selection of pistachios. Old habits forced him to wait until being assured that Balthus had not stumbled upon something poisoned.

"Not asking. Just pointing out that you've got an opening, and the perfect candidate is sitting right in front of you."

"Perfect candidate, huh?" Khalid scoffed. "The perfect candidate who spent weeks asking questions about my mother and when he might get to meet her? Because that wasn't odd at all."

"Hey, nothing weird about indulging a childhood dream. I didn't mean any disrespect, really," Balthus insisted.

Khalid eyed him suspiciously, but Marianne interjected, "Well… maybe you should take the offer seriously, because… you'll actually have two opening to fill, Claude."

Everyone faced her in unison, keen to know if they understood the implication correctly. Marianne turned away from her work and confirmed, "I want to go Garreg Mach for the conference. And… I want to stay there. It's time to go home."

Unlike Dimitri's case, they had managed to keep Marianne's identity a secret from most of the team from Fódlan. Only Balthus put the pieces together after meeting the missing daughter of Margrave Edmund. He had agreed to preserve her privacy, but the game was apparently at an end.

Marianne's announcement was not particularly surprising, and it was met warmly by Khalid and Dimitri. Ariella congratulated her, though her smile seemed a touch fake for some reason. Was Ella worried about getting lonely?

Balthus laughed a bit as he pondered, "I hope everyone isn't suddenly leaving just because they heard Fódlan might finally be rid of my presence."

Marianne shook her head. "It's not that. The first reason is my adoptive father… it wouldn't be right to let him continue blaming himself for my supposed death. And secondly, I can do a lot of good if I accept the role of Margrave Edmund." She smiled softly. "I think I've known my choice for a while… I just had to find the courage to admit it. I really want to thank you all of you. Dimitri… for showing me how to stop running from a troubled past. Ariella… for reminding me of what I'm capable of and that it's truly special. And Khalid, for pushing me to mature even more."

Dimitri's voice shook with emotion as he responded, "And we're all grateful for you, too, Marianne. Thank you for reassuring me of my life's value when I couldn't see it."

Balthus stretched his arms once the eulogizing was finally over and observed, "Well, it's a shame I won't get the chance to work with you two for long. But the budget for your retainers will remain the same, right, Claude?"

"I haven't even extended an offer, and you're already looking for a raise?" Khalid asked incredulously.

Ariella chuckled. "You joke about the money, Balthus, but we all know you're more interested in staying here for Nousha. Interested enough to not even joke about it."

Balthus smiled nervously. "You make me sound so suspect when you put it like that. But yeah, I wouldn't mind getting to know her better. I get that I tend to put my foot in my mouth whenever I speak, so is there something else I could do to demonstrate some interest? Maybe buy Nousha some flowers or something?"

Dimitri frowned doubtfully, but Khalid granted, "It's… not as bad of an idea as most people would first assume."

"You've got that book about flowers up there, Khalid. Maybe there's some indication in there regarding which one might be her favorite?" Ariella advocated.

Khalid prepared to answer, but he halted as he heard more impending footsteps from the tunnel. Nousha herself soon appeared and sat with the others in ignorance of the interrupted conversation. Ariella and Marianne glanced at Balthus with amusement, but he surprisingly kept a straight face.

"I'm surprised you didn't stop by earlier, Nousha. Did you just wake up?" Khalid asked. "Wouldn't judge you if so. We could all use a few months to catch up on missed sleep."

"I actually did sleep in too late, but no. I just got back from meeting with your parents," Nousha told him.

This captured everyone's attention. Dimitri guessed, "To officially name you as grand agha?"

When Nousha nodded, the others all got up to congratulate her.

"So, you're finally free from the infernal question of whether you'll keep your family's dynasty uninterrupted. How does it feel?" Khalid asked her.

"Ah… well, about that…" Nousha demurred. "I actually asked the king and queen to officially recognize Demetrius Vatatzes as grand agha between my father's death and the Battle of Istakhr, and they acceded. No more of that 'acting grand agha' nonsense. I don't think the title was ever important to Demetrius, but still… he deserved it."

"He really did," Ariella agreed sadly. She then noted, "Even so, I wouldn't have expected you to sound so nonchalant after surrendering one of your longest-running priorities."

Nousha shrugged. "Yeah… but there are more important things in life. Less pressure on whoever my successor is, right?"

"Right," Khalid concurred. "We're all proud of you, Nousha. And even though your father was hesitant about you becoming grand agha, I know he would be, too, if he saw the woman you've become."

Marianne nodded. "He sees. He knows."

"Yeah… I guess he does," Nousha said as she swiftly cleared a pair of tears from her eyes. She chuckled as she ran a finger along her face and noted, "Don't think he'd be too happy about this scar, though. He liked pointing to me as evidence that his bloodline carried beauty as well as strength."

Despite the jocular tone, Balthus seemed genuinely upset as he reassured, "You're kidding, right? You're as beautiful as ever, Nousha." When the grand agha looked unsure how to react, he insisted, "I'm serious! There's not a lying bone in my body. I'm, umm… too full of honesty and respect to make room for one of those."

"You're full of something, alright," Nousha groaned. She eventually gave up hiding her amusement, however, and offered a genuine smile that was nearly outright saccharine. When Khalid saw it, he could not argue against Balthus's opinion.

The others were all enjoying this exchange, but Nousha pivoted to Khalid and told him, "Anyways, your parents wanted to see you soon. They were talking to Abbas right before me, and I even saw Darius on my way out."

"Thanks for telling me. Sounds like my parents have cooked up a family reunion. I wouldn't be surprised if it lasts all day like it did when James was nominated, so I'll head over right after I get properly dressed." Khalid stood up and waved to everyone. "I'll see all of you tonight, okay? And sorry if you were counting on me to help finish off that bowl, Balthus."

"Nah, we've got enough mouths to cover your portion," Balthus concluded. He shook the bowl to stir the contents as he held it towards Ariella and Marianne. "Come on, both of you. You deserve a fair share. It's my treat for the heroes of Almyra."

Marianne looked away uncomfortably. "I don't know… I was doing very little while the rest of you risked everything at Istakhr."

"That 'very little' contribution of yours likely saved our lives, Marianne," Dimitri reminded.

"And that's the actual truth, not just pandering," Nousha concurred. "So feast up! Just don't eat so much that you ruin your appetite for tonight. That's going to be better than whatever Balthus found here."

"I'm pretty sure this was part of tonight's menu…" Ariella muttered.

There was chuckling as everyone finally teamed together to finish the snack, though Khalid did not hear what followed as he entered his room to change.

Khalid need a minute to consider his attire. In all likelihood, he was going to be nominated as the new heir that evening. He needed to convey that he respected the honor without coming across as inauthentic. Should he therefore lean into his known persona or go out of his way to assure others that he was capable of being serious? In the end, he selected a new kaftan that Nousha gifted him after her distress over the one purchased by Ariella.

He was readying a ceremonial shamshir when there was a knock on the sitting room door. He shouted, "Come on in! Sorry to disappoint, but I'm already fully clothed."

The door opened, and Ariella entered. Khalid knew something serious was on her mind when she did not react to his joke.

"What's bothering you, Ella? I hope you aren't too distressed about the possibility of working alongside Balthus. I can scare him off if I need to."

"N-no, of course not." Ariella hesitated before abruptly thrusting a piece of parchment towards Khalid. She murmured, "I planned to wait until after tonight to tell you… but… now that Marianne started things off, maybe it's best to get it all over with at once…"

That explained her reaction to Marianne's announcement. Khalid squinted as he took the letter and asked, "What am I looking at here?"

"My… resignation. If you will allow it," Ariella stammered.

Khalid read the letter in silence. His retainer was clearly worried about his reaction, so she explained, "Despite everything that happened, choosing to join your service was the best decision I ever made, Khalid. I'll never regret it. But… I've slowly come to realize that I let that service define me for too long. I almost died several times in this war, and on every occasion, I was surprised to find that my first fear was not for your future. I know you'll be fine without me. What I would have regretted, though, was not getting to help those mages Marianne and I trained reach their full potential. I have a gift, Khalid, and I want to use it, especially if Marianne won't be here to lead the way. I wish to build a comprehensive school of magic in Istakhr. Not only will I have to end my services with you, but I'll also need your financial support to make it a reality."

"So… not only do you intend to leave me retainerless, but you also expect me to fund my abandonment?" Khalid asked dryly.

Ariella smiled uneasily as she admitted, "That's a crass way of putting it, but essentially yes."

"… Request denied," Khalid said dismissively as he handed the letter back.

His retainer's eyes widened. "What? But I thought you'd be-."

Khalid raised a finger to calm her and clarified, "Request denied until you do one final thing for me."

"Umm… sure. What is it?"

"I left you behind last time I went to Fódlan, and I want to atone for that. Come with me to Garreg Mach and make some new friends that might be of value to your endeavors. And after that… return to build that school." Khalid smiled as he put his hands on Ariella's shoulders. "Of course I'm proud of you, Ella. I'll always be in your debt, so you'll get that funding. You've been the greatest retainer I could have ever asked for. I'll miss having you around, but I didn't pursue you all those years ago because you were simply loyal. I wanted you because I knew you were someone like me- always striving to learn and to grow. It's not been lost on me that this is your calling."

Ariella nodded as she tried not to cry. "I'll miss seeing you, too, Khalid. Even if I'm not going nearly as far as Dimitri and Marianne."

"Of course! I'll still be right here," Khalid promised. He opened his arms for a hug. "And doing this should be a lot less awkward going forward, right?"

"Ha! You've got a point, Khalid," she chuckled as she welcomed the offer.

Ella helped the finishing touches on the prince's outfit, and the two descended the stairs together. While Ariella went to tell the other four of her decision, Khalid continued through the tunnel. On the other side, Abbas was conversing with James and Theodora. The pair of prisoners had been resting next to the plaza's bathing pool.

James and Theodora avoided a formal trial since they quickly confessed to their crimes. James was stripped of his titles, and both he and his retainer were condemned to a life sentence of imprisonment. At least for the time being, though, they were treated well. King Faruq allowed the pair to serve their sentence in the Dunya Palace, and though they were forbidden from leaving, they were free to wander the royal quarters whenever visitors were not being hosted. Not only would it be familiar scenery, but they would be relatively safe from outsiders seeking vengeance. Faruq's successor would have the authority to move them elsewhere, but Khalid saw no immediate motivation to do so.

When Khalid approached, the prisoners were drying their feet and looked ready to return to their quarters before more guests arrived. James gestured to his younger brother and pointed out, "It sounds like tonight is going to be the big event. Make sure your speech is no shorter than mine, and don't panic if they aren't as enthusiastic for you. Do you have an outline put together, or will you make it up as you go?"

"I'd like them to think it sprung from the depths of my heart as I beheld the souls of the crowd," Khalid answered. He then patted a piece of parchment hidden within his coat. "But no. I'll be prepared."

James snorted. "I'd expect nothing less. Well… tell me how it goes. Be honest when you do."

The disgraced prince and his retainer turned to leave, but Khalid signaled, "Hey… Theodora?"

"… Yes?" the gloomy woman asked.

"Thanks for helping Ariella start with magic. She just told me that she hopes to open a school soon. I thought you might want to know."

Theodora's eyes brightened ever so slightly. "… Ah. Yes, well… she's right for the job. The Dékhomai would be happy to see it."

"Don't expect smooth sailing just because the Sentinels are gone," James warned his brother. "… But you already knew that. Good luck, Khalid. You and Ariella will probably need it. I suppose your assessment was accurate, though… I'd be happy if you proved me wrong."

The two exchanged understanding nods as James and Theodora continued to their chambers. Even though James's government collapsed in cataclysmic fashion, the two prisoners still accomplished many of their aims and could at least share each other's company.

"What were you talking with them about?" Khalid asked Abbas once alone.

Abbas shook his head. "Not much. It's pretty difficult to talk with them, but I feel like I have to try. Father would want that, and… I guess you could say I feel some responsibility for how James turned out. James's war got all three of my retainers killed, yet I see as much of their blood on my hands as his."

Khalid had no comforting words that would satisfy, so he instead observed, "I figured the king and queen would want you to spend the afternoon with them instead of booting you out before I showed up."

"They wanted me to stick around, yeah, but apparently Darius was going to be invited after they caught up with Nousha. Maybe I'm being stubborn, but I'm not ready to act like everything is okay with him. He killed Shahid."

"Actually, he-."

"Yeah, yeah, I know Darius wasn't the one holding the blade, but he knew all along and said nothing. Being too weak to confront his father is a pathetic excuse." Abbas moaned as he scratched his head in frustration. "I can't hate him, but… I don't know. I'm not sure if I ever really know what to think."

"Do you at least know what you're doing next?" Khalid asked.

Abbas shrugged. "Father and I agreed that I need to stay through tonight's events, but I'm out tomorrow morning. I burned a lot of goodwill in Elam after siding with Ghalib, so it's best if I'm not too public of a face during the rebuilding. Instead, I'm going to be privately traveling for a while. Father and your mother said they're fine with me doing a bit of outreach for the Expunged Children, but I think I'll spend most of my time learning and thinking. God knows I need it." He cleared his throat. "I do know one thing, though."

"And what's that?"

Abbas took a deep breath and confessed, "I was wrong about you. Yeah, I was never going to like you because of what you and Tiana represented, but the only reason I was so harsh was because I thought you were weak. I really did believe that you taking the crown would destroy our kingdom and that your only hope was if I beat strength into you. I wanted the best ruler for Almyra possible. Clearly you have a strength of a different kind that I didn't understand, though." The elder brother forced himself to reach out a hand. "I'm… sorry I didn't realize that much earlier."

Khalid could tell that his brother did not fully believe his own words. Abbas was ready to apologize and admit intellectual fault, but he was still unwilling to acknowledge long-running moral failures directly to his brother's face.

The younger prince spent several seconds staring at the offer before him. A stream of emotions presented a wide range of possible reactions. Pardoning Abbas of all guilt… mocking him for only half-apologizing after Khalid held all the power… the options were limitless, really.

He finally mused softly, "You wouldn't believe how badly and how long I awaited the day you'd extend a peace offering to me… for us to truly be brothers." Khalid shook his head, though, as he said, "But… I can't shake hands on that, Abbas. Even if I was as weak and pathetic as you thought, it wouldn't justify any of your behavior. Your apology falls short, so I can't accept it in good faith."

Abbas began to slowly withdraw the hand. He seemed surprised by the rejection, but he was even more stupefied when Khalid instead gave him a hug.

"… But you're still my brother, Abbas, and the fact that you'd even try to apologize is a step in the right direction. I sometimes felt naïve for believing it could ever happen, but now… I'm confident you'll have a better confession next time."

"If you think my current one was that unacceptable, I don't really deserve a hug," Abbas mumbled.

"Maybe not. But I'm giving it because I want to, not because I did some accounting and deemed you worthy."

Abbas eventually broke away from the embrace and stepped back. "I-I'm headed to my rooms for now. Goodbye… little brother," he stuttered as the two parted ways.

Khalid walked to chambers of the sovereign in silence. In the end, not even the Dunya Palace had been entirely spared from the ravages of war. When news of James's defeat arrived from Istakhr, the garrison at the palace dismissed the claims as another one of Khalid's plots until additional evidence poured in. In the interim, though, several of the Shakiriyya most loyal to James panicked from fear of retribution. They looted what they could from the palace to pawn off for funds, quickly loaded the treasures onto wyverns, and fled before Tiana or Khatereh knew what was happening. Three of the four miscreants had already been captured, but tracking down all of the lost heirlooms would be a longer process.

Khalid hardly noticed the damage as he approached his parents' quarters, though, for he was deep in reflection. Hearing Abbas actually refer to him as a brother had warmed his heart in a way he rarely felt. One of those childhood dreams, as Balthus would put it.

He was not prepared to hear crying in the distance, however, when he was granted entrance into the first room. He tensed for a moment. Had the worst finally transpired?

No, for now there was laughter. Khalid hurried his pace to resolve his thorough confusion about just what was happening ahead.

The noise came from a courtyard outside. Khalid first arrived through a liwan where his parents, Aunt Maysun, and Uncle Dizhwar lounged together in the shade. Darius sat just outside in the sun with a man and a woman that Khalid did not recognize. The three were embracing each other, and they were once again sharing tears.

Khalid began to worry that he was interrupting something important. The queen and king turned towards their son, allowing him to whisper, "Umm… should I go back inside and wait un-."

"No, stay with us. We want you to meet them," Tiana said as she waved him closer.

Darius and his companions finally looked up to Khalid as he approached. He did not know the two, and yet… they looked familiar. They bore facial characteristics of his own family, though they were both thin and unusually pale for Elamites.

Khalid only needed a few seconds to deduce their identities. "You must be…"

"I'm Drypetis, and this is Thyus. We're… your cousins, Prince Khalid," the woman said.

Khalid found it bittersweet to finally meet them. It was good that they were alive, of course, but the years Ghalib stole from them could never be recovered. Khalid took their hands and exhaled, "To be honest, I wasn't sure if you guys really ever ended up in a monastery or if that was just Ghalib's code for being dumped in a ditch like Shahid."

Darius nodded. "Sometimes I wondered the same thing. My father rarely risked incriminating himself if other options were available, though. He had enough influence to push them aside without dirtying his hands."

"When Darius told His Majesty the full truth of our childhoods, your father sent a request for us to be summoned here," Thyus told Khalid.

The prince observed, "I thought monastics were only ever supposed to travel on official Votary business after joining the order. Unless you're here to proselytize, I'm not sure this really counts."

"The abbots might answer to Nabataea, but they won't ignore the king when he's adamant," Faruq said as he sat up in his chair.

"He also threatened that the next letter would be from me," Tiana said with a wink.

Khalid smiled and winked back before facing his cousins again and asking, "So… what's next for you two? We won't let the order force you back if you don't want to go, so it's your choice this time."

Thyus and Drypetis exchanged inauspicious glances. The woman finally answered reservedly, "I have faith in Nabataea, and I wouldn't know where else to go at this point. I was never good enough for much else, anyways. But… I'm glad to at least meet the rest of my family, even if only for a short while." Thyus nodded in agreement.

It would have been callow to expect anything different. Still… everyone was disheartened by the response, Darius more so than anyone. He clearly had things he wanted to say, but he was unwilling to utter them in the company of his siblings.

Maysun came to the same conclusion, so she leaned over to her husband and asked, "Dizhwar, would you be so kind as to give Thyus and Drypetis a brief tour of the palace while I discuss something important with the others? If my niece and nephew don't plan on returning here, we should ensure that they don't miss anything of interest today."

Dizhwar bobbed his head to each side as he pondered the request and noted, "Of everyone here, wouldn't I be the least qualified to offer a tour?"

"You'll manage well enough. Please… it would mean a lot to me if you did this for them," his wife insisted.

That finally convinced the emir, who extended the offer to the two cousins. Both were eager for the opportunity and followed Dizhwar away.

Darius did not wait long to knell and beg, "Your Majesty, please don't let them go back so soon. I know what they said, but my siblings have spent over fifteen years with my father's words echoing in their heads, telling them how useless they are. They need to be shown some compassion and encouragement from us to wash out those lies before they can make their own decisions about their future."

The king nodded. "Everyone here agrees on that. We'll think of a reason for them to stay longer. We can be upfront, or maybe we tell them there's a suspected typhus outbreak at their monastery and that they can't return until it's resolved." Before his son could say anything, he added, "And no, Khalid, I won't allow you to use any of your poisons to grant the story more evidence."

Khalid bristled, "Hey, I'm not that-."

"It was only a jest," his father said with a hearty chuckle. "Anyways, you'll welcome to stay with them for as long as they're here, Darius."

Darius's voice and posture were sincere as he replied, "I can't thank you enough, Your Majesty. It's incredibly gracious of you to help, especially knowing all the things I've done."

"I'm doing it for their benefit. How could I not after hearing the real reason they ended up there?" Faruq clarified. "But… you should know, Darius, that I do not hold you accountable for the war. Shahid's death is a more troubling matter, but I also recognize that my brother put you in an unfair position."

The king reached a loss for words as he contemplated his son's death, so Tiana stepped in by saying, "I actually feel like I owe you an apology, Darius. Ghalib's policies and allies have been anathemas for a long time, but I didn't realize he was so far lost as to abuse his own children. We could have avoided a lot of heartache had we pursued the issue sooner."

'I'm every bit as guilty on that account," Maysun coincided. "I didn't want to think my little brother was capable of such a thing."

Darius muttered, "Still… it doesn't absolve everything I did."

Khalid shook his head. "We could spend all day finding new reasons to apologize, but I think the more important thing is that we're here together now, ready to prevent similar mistakes going forward. That's what matters to me, at least."

"Very true," Faruq said. "And that's why, Darius, I'm appointing you as my new mirza. You have the trust of the Tabarzin, and now you have my trust as well. The rest of Almyra will foremost remember your service in the Battle of Istakhr rather than what came before. The 'padishah' nonsense must be left behind, though."

Darius knelt again with an anxious chuckle. "You'll never the word cross my lips again, Your Majesty. I'm honored to have a second chance, and I promise to rise above my father's pernicious leadership."

"That will require Elam and the Tabarzin to share a unified vision again. I trust that working closely with Khalid won't be a problem for you?" Tiana pressured.

"It will not." Darius spun to Khalid and added, "I know you don't want to waste time with regrets, but I still want to apologize for shooting you back at Merv. It looked pretty grisly."

Khalid shrugged. "Hey, it taught me a lesson, and it reaffirmed that despite what that tournament would have us believe, you don't actually have the best aim in Almyra. Thanks for missing my heart, Darius."

Darius smiled guiltily. "Maybe I accidentally pulled from that stash of tampered arrows we gave you…"

After the cousins finished snickering, Faruq shared a quick glance with his sister. This prompted the emira to stand and beckon Darius, "Let's go find Dizhwar and your siblings, shall we? I think the queen and king want to speak with their son."

"Right… we'll be back soon, Your Majesty," Darius said while bowing. As she followed behind the new mirza, Maysun requested, "Khalid… if I don't see her, make sure Nousha comes by to talk to me this time. I want to congratulate her on the new title in person. If she's brave enough to lead a campaign against my brother's wishes, I'd be offended if she's not brave enough to spend another few minutes with me." Khalid gestured his acknowledgement.

The prince faced his parents again once the others were gone. His mother smiled peacefully, finally free from the anxieties of a war and a collapsing family. The king looked the best he had in many months. He was still gaunt compared to his former stature, but his face and eyes were filled with color and life again.

Faruq began formally, "Khalid… there's no point pretending that this will be a surprise. I intend to nominate you as my new heir tonight. I already have confirmation from Dizhwar, Lydia, and Juliana that they approve. After your victory at Istakhr, it was all but assured. Abbas has neither the interest nor the support anymore, and James… well, James clearly can't be king." His voice hitched, so he cleared his throat before continuing, "But… I hope to be clear on one thing, Khalid. I don't want you to see this appointment as a mere inevitability, because the truth is that I've never been prouder of someone in my entire life. I allowed Almyra to sink into stasis, and against all odds, you managed to pull us out while also saving the lives of two brothers trying to thwart you. I'm sorry I was not a better king or a better father, but surely I did something right along the way for you to turn out so well."

"I would be honored to succeed you, father," Khalid said with his head lowered, his voice threatening to quaver. "But there's never been a perfect ruler, and I know I won't be the exception. I would never have been possible at all were it not for your courage. You risked everything to marry for love, and you always strived to protect your family. At least your mistakes were born from love rather than spite."

Tiana held her husband's hand as she concurred, "For better or worse, I'm not sure you ever met a person you truly hated, Faruq. You usually peak at upset or disappointed, even if your temper tries to pretend otherwise. It's good that the rest of us are here to pick up the slack, but there's virtue in that trait. Maybe it's even how you charmed me into following you here despite the bad jokes and dubious claims."

Faruq resented these final remarks, but Khalid tapped his chin as he found a smile and pondered, "Faruq the Loving… Faruq the Benevolent?"

"Let's allow someone else to provide me an epitaph. Nader probably instigated his own, but I don't have that level of self-assurance anymore," the king said with a wistful chortle. "Though in truth, if I was remembered for nothing more than being your father, I would consider it a privilege."

Khalid just barely kept his eyes from watering as Tiana whispered something to her husband. After Faruq nodded, the queen told her son, "There's actually something your father and I have been practicing. He felt it was important to try, and it gave me something meaningful to do. I really needed that after doing so little to help end the war…"

Tiana stood and gripped a tight belt wrapped around her husband's waist. After he indicated he was ready, she lifted him to his feet and offered the support necessary to keep him standing. He had lost weight, but it helped that Tiana was already strong as an ox. She grunted, "It took a lot of therapy to get his legs straightened out while boosted, but your father refused to give up."

Khalid's eyes widened in surprise, and he was quick to embrace his father to help prop him up as well. It was a lot of hugs for one day, but Khalid was not going to complain. Tiana managed to wrap a hand around her son to complete the trio. They all laughed with deep breathes that intimated weightier underlying emotions.

Faruq told his son, "I pray every night that a day somehow comes when I can embrace all my sons as one again, but for now, I will cherish one miracle at a time. Thank you, Khalid. I don't know how many years I have left, but I swear to live them up to your example. I can't on my own, as you see, but it's possible with both of you at my side."

"We want to do better, and Almyra still has so much room to grow. You have everything you need to lead the way, Khalid," Tiana added.

Khalid hugged his parents tighter. Despite their shortcomings, he knew it was moments like this he would remember them for. He shared his father's dream, of course. Whether it lie at the height of the stars or just above his grasp, he would never stop reaching.

"I love you both, and don't you forget it!" he told them.