Road to Newcastle

Waking the next morning proved an especially arduous time in Louise's short stay in Albion. Her watch had given her some manner of focus to distract from the ever-present memory of the near dishonor she'd inflicted upon herself the night before, when devious thoughts and tired whispers had driven her mind. Nearly seen her first real kiss stolen by her mind's confused wanderings and aching designs.

To think she'd… she'd… no, it didn't bear thinking about. It was a mistake, one born of her own weakness, and she'd not have it again. Kirche did not deserve that dishonor, Wardes did not deserve the shame it would bring, and Siesta did not deserve to be in the employ of a shameful woman!

It was to this she'd woken, her tossing and turning leaving her a bit smudged and grubby. Kirche was already up as the morning watch, small bars of grain, nuts, and dried fruit the only breakfast on offer. Being separated from Sylphid and, subsequently, much of their rations didn't leave much choice. But Kirche was busy cleaning her sword, and Louise was quick to take advantage… and calm her temper from feeling the bog water that had seeped into her gear overnight. Boots were dry at least, but her pride raged and railed against the very thought that she'd rested upon the dirt! Not just in the dirt, but the peat of the bog and been soaked in its filthy water!

It was a miracle she wasn't already freezing cold from it, but in that her own rage served her well. Steaming from the inherent indignity of it all, she had enough presence of mind to check through her bags and… there it is, good. If she'd lost her make-up box in all madness of yesterday, she'd likely have started screaming.

She peeked about to make sure no one was looking, and when she saw Siesta sharpening her weapons too, scurried back to her depression in the ground. It had… rather grotesquely filled in with bog water, but she wasn't in need of crystal-clear see-through water. No, even this murk was a decent enough mirror to look into and use. She was… not in the best of shape, of course, but… at the same time, she could be doing worse. Her face was smudged, her hair was dusted with muck and bog water and twigs and pebbles, but it wasn't a complete rat's nest. Keeping it in that braid was doing a decent enough job of that.

But that didn't matter to her. What she saw and glared at with near enough power to evaporate the puddle was. That… damned scar, poking out. Just over her eye, under her other eyes, where sweat had carved through the grime to reveal it…

Louise scowled and popped open the cosmetic box. Thankfully nothing within was destroyed, but she was only concerned for the shrouding foundation. With that in hand, her pride won out and she used just the tiniest bit of water from her water-skin to wash the grime off her face. It was the only bit of water magic of 'home' that she could really use, and even then, took all her focus. The part of her drilled by Neb was beside herself to be using some of her drinking water for such vanity, but the rest of her promptly squashed it and told it to shut up.

A brush taken up, a dip into the foundation, and her shame is hidden once more. She… she could not let Wardes see the scar, she couldn't. See the lone imperfection she'd brought upon herself, turned her into a failure of a Valliere… well, more than she already was. Mother had not a scar on her, nor did her father or her sisters… to be the only one to bear it, and upon her face no less…

She shook her head and put everything away when the foundation was set. She didn't have time to sink into her own loathing at her failings as a daughter, they had bigger things to do. With the vain and desperate hole in her gut filled in for now, she managed to get her mind back on track and take things in. Derf was fine, happily chatting at Kirche and Flame, and by her own look her gear was doing ok too. A quick push fixed the small dent in the breastplate, and her vambraces were in good repair too. She'd be fine, just needed to get dressed and choke down the dry rations.

"Louise?"

Louise had to swallow an undignified squeal as Siesta tapped her on the shoulder, concern clear. "W-w-what is it?!"

Siesta frowned and lowered her voice, the concern growing just a bit more. "Louise… I know it's important to you, but you really shouldn't be carrying makeup. If those… hounds are out here, they could use it to track us. Or the Reconquista's own beasts and scouts could do the same."

It's an entirely sensible and practical thing to say, exactly what Louise wanted her to say. Yet that well of sheer indignant self-loathing began to rear its head, pretty face starting to morph into fury, before Siesta glared right back and stole all her thunder. "Milady, I know there's a great many things that you hold dear, sacred even. And some I will not tread upon as I did yesterday. But this that puts you, us, in danger? No. I will not broker it, even if it means overstepping my station."

Louise just stared at her with a big 'HUH?!' look on her face, shocked by Siesta's sharp words and sharper glare. The handmaid held it for a few moments before sighing. "Louise, please… we'll get you a new set when we're out of this warzone, I promise. Only the best. On my coin too."

That part finally got Louise to snap out of her shock. "On your coin! This is some of the finest cosmetics in the entire world! The foundation alone would cost an entire year of your stipend!"

Siesta met the snarled words with a cool impassivity, reasoning that this outburst was more to do with Louise's shame at the state of things than the actual cosmetics. "Then I will get the best I can for you, that's my word. But your life, Kirche's life, Flame's life, they're worth more to me than anything in that box. You know this, I know this."

Louise growled and snarled and felt her lips twitch into a deep grimace. Siesta was right, of course she was right, but to be ordered about by some commoner-!

She took a deep breath and forced that part of her mind down into the cold well of rationality. Siesta… was right. They were in a war zone; their lives were at risk, and they needed to do everything they could to make it to Newcastle alive. To find their friends.

Louise lets it out slowly. "…You're right. I'm sorry for snapping, I have no excuse."

Siesta visibly relaxed. "And I'm sorry for being so cold, Louise, but we must get going. Even the time you took to clean your face, lovely as it always is, can't be done so easily from here out. You're our leader… if you lose your cool, we're in bad waters."

The compliment made Louise flush a bit, embarrassment for her vanity making her glance away. "You're right and… I'm sorry. I was being foolish, and you shouldn't have to suffer that."

She gathers herself up and straightens into a more proper posture. "Let me get Derf and make sure Kirche's ok. You already have our direction?"

"Sure as the sun rises in the east." Siesta giggled, the hood of her cloak rising up to hide all but her eyes. "On your word, we'll move out. I think I saw some smoke at the very edge of my patrol last night, so let's be ready for potential camps."

Camps… right. The closer they got to Newcastle the more likely they were to run into Reconquista. She could only hope they'd be able to slip past their circle and get into Newcastle proper. If they couldn't, well… there went Prince Wales, their leads, and potentially Tristain! Which she refused to let happen, or her hair wasn't pink and she didn't have erotic dreams about her friends-!

The sudden slap which Louise delivered unto her own cheek made Kirche and Siesta almost leap out of their skin. It also scares a flight of birds out of a nearby tree, making Louise steam in embarrassment as she scrambled to grab Derf and get the rest of her gear on. She looked towards the cosmetics box…

"Leave it!" Siesta called as she helped Kirche cover the remnants of their camp. "We need to go before someone comes to see what the commotion's about!"

Louise grunted and groaned for a moment before grabbing the box, silently slipping the foundation into one of her pockets as she shook the rest out, then threw the box clear in the opposite direction of where they'd be going. "Gone, let's go!"

She ran off before Siesta could hope to make 100% sure she'd dumped all the cosmetics out, but with shadows on the horizon and closing, she didn't have a choice. Louise was already running with Kirche and Flame, and they needed her to guide!

She hurried off into the trees, the girls long gone from their campsite when the patrol that had spotted the flight of birds swooped in. All they'd find were a tossed box, cosmetics, and a long scuttered campsite.

The girls for their part don't stop running for a solid thirty minutes, getting as much distance as possible between them and their former camp as they could. And, mercifully, manage to pull themselves out of the bogs and mires that they'd been slogging through since yesterday.

"We must not have been very far off if we're already on solid ground." Kirche panted as they slowed to a jog. "But good Founder, Louise, what was that?!"

Louise just scowled at her. "None of your business, now focus. Siesta's our only eyes right now, and much as your sense of direction is impeccable, I don't want to lose her."

Kirche, knowing Siesta was only just in earshot for them to keep in touch while she scouted, smirked. "Oh Louise, so concerned for your dear handmaid. Did you get to have some gallant moment saving her before we ran into each other?"

Louise nearly tripped as she went over one of the ubiquitous roots at home in this old-growth forest they were moving through. "H-hey! No teasing right now, we're trying to get somewhere!"

"It's the perfect time for teasing." Kirche chuckled as they jogged around one of the larger trees. "We can't be on pins and needles all day, Louise, we'll get exhausted long before we run into any danger."

Louise groaned and hauled herself over a log in the way, Kirche happily vaulting it with the tell-tale clank of her plate armor. "Well laugh it up, I'm just wanting to not get ambushed again. It's happened twice already; I want the drop on them this time."

Kirche took Louise's hand as she hopped down, the two moving through the terrain together while Flame cheated and swam with his tail above water down a nearby stream. Salamanders preferred molten rock to bathe in, but a cool stream wasn't all that bad for him. It also helped hide his own scent from any pursuers, as he was a foreign creature to these lands.

"Oh, my good boy's doing so well!" Kirche cooed like a proud mother as she watched Flame navigate through the water. "I remember not so long ago when even a foot bath made him hiss."

Louise hummed as she kept her gaze forward, Siesta about a dozen yards away and signaling they were clear so far. "Yeah, I remember that. You ended up having to go to the infirmary after trying to give him a bath the first time."

Kirche giggled and smiled in fond memory. "Yes, but he was so sorry for giving me that scratch, I couldn't stay mad. Still got the scar, but it's barely there now. Wouldn't know it is if you weren't looking for it."

The word made Louise scowl to herself. Of course, Kirche could brag about that, her entire family was known to do it. The scars they gained, the uncouth rumbles they got in, and the barbaric stories they'd tell…

She bit her lip until the pain made her ire die off. That was not Kirche's fault, the scar Louise hid was her own problem and nothing more. She shouldn't be getting envious of Kirche's ability to keep chugging along with her positivity, if anything it was welcome. It helped distract from her own thoughts and that self-loathing that refused to rest even as the sun climbed ever higher in the sky.

"Do you think Prince Wales will know anything?"

Louise blinked at the question, her focus sitting on where Siesta was scouting about and looking so serious it was rather cute. S-she was looking for a signal of course, n-not just standing and admiring! "Of course he will! His Majesty's not only a champion of his people, but the mover and shaker of the entire Albion navy before this Reconquista rebelled! If anyone knows anything about what we're looking for, it'll be him!"

She gives a little fist-pump of determination, only to frown as she spots a signal from Siesta. "Hold on, we've got something. Get Flame!"

Flame was already waddling out of the water and heading for them, Kirche's tight and almost subconscious desire to keep him safe letting him sense when she needed him close. They're barely a step behind Louise herself as she jogs up to Siesta, the handmaid grim-faced. "Louise, that smoke I saw last night was a camp after all. The flags aren't anything Albion royalist, so they're either Reconquista or mercenaries. They've set up at a river crossing, and it's a large group too."

Louise mulled on that and looked to Kirche. "I don't suppose you're confident going against that?"

"Are you?" She countered with a grimace. "We're only four, it'd be better if we went around. Sure, we'll lose some time, but it's better than getting captured or killed."

Louise had to concede the point. "It is, and we've no idea if we'd be able to take them all down before they raised a ruckus enough to draw a patrol. Siesta, what do you think?"

A glance over showed the handmaid nowhere to be seen.

"Siesta?!"

-Siesta-

Siesta stalked quietly through the shadows of the mercenary camp, taking in what she could see and hear with utmost care. While it hadn't been an order, she knew the intelligence they could gain from this place was too good a chance to pass up, and she'd not let that potential go. Louise and Kirche could stay well out of sight, the camp wasn't going to be watching away from the royalists anyway.

Thus, with hood up and mouth covered to help her blend in, she snuck from shadow to shadow, her steps light and nearly silent on the loamy ground. She'd have to stay away from the banks of the river the camp laid beside, at least for now, so best get what she could here in the drier sections.

Though that, admittedly, wasn't turning up much of anything right now. This bunch seemed like the basic level Neb had taught them about, little different from the hired muscle you'd see in a street gang. She could see it in how they hollered and jeered, drank from open barrels and taps, even in how they barely had working latrines. The kind to just dump their waste wherever they pleased, creating a dank, almost slimy mud in areas of high traffic. Yet, drunk, and boisterous meant they weren't all that perceptive.

Sneak and hide and wait she did, silently memorizing the haphazard patrols and sights of heaviest traffic. Her main goal now, with such little chatter in the air beyond insults, raunchy songs, and other drivel… was the officers. This band had to have someone in charge, else they'd probably have broken into much smaller reaving groups long ago. Or else killed each other over the booze and food. It really shouldn't be that hard, she just needed a name…

She felt herself tense as someone stumbled against her hiding spot, the barrels and boxes rattling against her back as the drunk stumbled off. She had to be careful, no matter her skill. Luck always played a factor in these things, and she'd be a fool to think she was invisible. She counted to five, making sure no one else was nearby, before scampering to her next hiding spot. A simple gap in between some barrels, putting her back in the shadows just as a pair of talkative grunts turned the corner and walked past her.

"You hear? Ol Benny got on the Boss's bad side!"

"An what did that bruiser do to get on Leman's bad side?"

"Something bout mouthing off, ya know em. Leman's probably gonna take his hand off, send a message!"

"Gonna be hearing screams outta that bastard's tent all night!"

Siesta grinned to herself, mentally thanking them for giving her what she needed. No surprise the boss of them would be ruthless, now she just had to listen for where the screams were coming from. Or, at least where people were going to be avoiding said screams. A quick glance showed there was no sign of anyone right now, and a vault over the barrels had her running again. By her initial scouting and estimates, she was getting close to the center of this camp…

And that bloodcurdling scream she heard from just a few tents down put paid to that thought! The sound made her cringe and duck into another hidey spot, cringing further when she heard what had to be two of the mercs trying to drown out the screams with… well, each other. She'd always imagined such things as more romantic not… kind of gross. Maybe that was the dank mud on her boots talking, or maybe it was the fact this apparent couple wasn't the most 'tender' but she pushed it out of her mind. She had more important things to think about, especially with the 'boss' tent so close. This looked to be in a sort of back alley made from the tents, it should be easy to sneak up to the tent…

But what then? Should… she kill this Leman? It was one thing to end a life during the heat of battle, kill or be killed, but to just… assassinate someone in cold blood?

Siesta took a quiet breath and let it out slowly, being very careful to watch her step and keep her ears open. Moving with the screams was her best bet to avoid detection, but who knew how long that'd last. She had to get into that tent, find any information she could, then get out. That's what she was built for, that's what she was talented at. All the same though…

She felt her grip tighten on one of her daggers. She was right outside the tent the screams were coming from. The angle of the sun didn't let her see any shadows, but it sounded like that 'bruiser' she'd heard mentioned was getting more than just a lost hand for whatever he did. A bit of shuffling, slow steps, looking for a loose flap to duck under…

Another, fresh scream made her swallow a squeal. The sheer… pain of it grated at her ears, making her shiver and clench at her dagger again. To inflict such… suffering on another, no matter how deserving was… barbaric! Neb had said that it was rare a reaver was worthy of mercy, but to hear such an example…!

She bit her lip under her mask and hardened herself. Remember the lessons, focus on the objective. There was a loose flap right there, enough she could slip in easy. Just need another… there!

As a fresh scream grated against her ears, she crouched and crossed under the flap in two strides, luck on her side and bringing her perfectly under a rickety table. It wasn't much, but it provided cover and shadow for her to stay in. The scent of blood and urine was strong in here, the pants and whines of the tortured bruiser clear in her ears. She could see another table on the other side of the tent, a few crates, bundles of spears, the kinds of things you'd find in a storage tent. No cot or bedroll, but she supposed this Lemar was smart enough to keep that well away from the bloody table.

She couldn't see the man himself, just his pants and boots. Better quality than those outside, but not by much. Well and long used, little left in them, maybe another month. Less with all that blood getting on them. She didn't know what this Lemar was doing to the bruiser on the table, but until she had a chance, she'd have to wait. Wait… and listen… and try not to burst out to tackle the sadist.

Patience Siesta, patience… patience through the screams…

"You're boring me, Benny. You go and you brag… you go and claim you brought down one of Cromwell's pets… and you didn't think there'd be consequences? You're lucky I got to you first really… I hear that 'buddy' of his really likes to feed annoyances to his hounds. And they don't kill quick, oh no…"

The boots walk away, Siesta frowning as the gravely voice begins to fade. She hears the flap of the tent open and that same voice barking orders as it walked away, only the pants and groans of the victim there to be heard now. Siesta counted to ten, making sure Leman wouldn't return, before slowly slinking out to take in the tent proper.

The bruiser turned victim was tied to the other table, forced to stare at the top of the canvas and unable to see her. He'd been bruised and lacerated across his chest, arms, and abdomen, though thankfully not eviscerated. Well, thankful for her, he seemed to be in a world of agony. Some kind of… chemical seemed to be mixed in, and she could see some of it on the knife that had doubtless left the wounds. Poison?

She didn't have time to guess. A separate desk that looked vastly more put together was her main interest. Quick steps took her to it and she began to search, tossing aside worthless bits like rosters and duty lists. She wanted… aha!

A message, from someone in Reconquista's command staff. Cromwell, the leader of the movement, wanted this band of mercs to advance further north towards Newcastle and join up with the main force for… a general assault?! Oh no, they were getting ready to attack the royalists again! The date of rendezvous was… five days hence, they had some time, but this wasn't good!

"Now what do we have here?"

Siesta tensed and went still, a piece of steel resting on her neck. "A shadow just… perusing my things? Sloppy getting all absorbed in it, but I can't really blame you. Makes some fine reading. Turn around, nice and slow."

Siesta silently cursed herself for getting careless. She'd been so focused on the message and its contents she'd stopped paying attention to her surroundings. With little choice, but a hand hidden in her pocket, she turned slowly.

Leman was about average for a merc in charge of a rag-tag outfit. Old enough to command the respect needed to keep people in line and the sheer lack of empathy to use whatever means necessary to get the job done. She could see its lacking spark in his muddy eyes, greasy, dark hair tied back in a tight tail. He was five days past a needed shave and three past a bath, but his steel was properly cleaned and poised right on her jugular.

"Well, aren't you young." He noted with only a faint interest. "Royalists must be getting real desperate to be sending kids out to spy. Or maybe you're some rando looking for family. I ain't much in the mood for caring."

The steel dug a little closer. "Normally, I'd take my time making you squeal. Figure out what really hurts you, maybe even toss ya to the boys if you were stubborn… But I got Benny to work on now, and I ain't got time for kids. Sorry, looks like you're gonna be another corpse in the river."

The man couldn't have been more insincere in his 'apology' if he'd tried. Siesta could feel the knife begin to press… then ducked back as her hand lashed out, a crushed egg in hand and its contents flung into Leman's eyes. The sand and larger bits of glass instantly blinded the man, a howl of pain rising as he tried to clear his eyes with one hand and wildly swipe with the other. But Siesta was already away, her duck letting her sway forward and draw with her other hand, dagger plunging into Lemar's throat and turning his howls of pain into death gurgles. She didn't stick around to see him bleed out, she simply fled the same way she'd entered.

The howls and sudden cut off hadn't apparently been noticed. His own sadism turned against him this time, and Siesta makes good time on the route back to where she'd first infiltrated the camp. Five days… they had five days, maybe less, to get to Newcastle and complete their mission. Not a lot of time in the grand scheme of things, even less so when they still had no idea where almost half their friends were.

It's as she's waiting for another haphazard patrol to pass and musing that she smells it. Brimstone… no, no, it couldn't be…

The screams come before the howls, on the north-eastern side of the camp. Not in the direction of the bridge, but surely that couldn't be…

Siesta didn't want to stick around and find out, instantly beating feat as chaos descended. It was enough no one would try to stop her, and she's swiftly back in the safety of the trees with little issue. She had to warn Kirche and Louise, she had to! If those were what she thought they were, they either needed to run as fast as their feet could carry them, or find somewhere deep and dark to hide in!

-?-

"…Pathetic."

An armored boot crashed down, pulping the skull of a mere mercenary. A personal visit, to exact retribution on the one who'd dared harm his poor hound. He didn't care if it was a dare or anything of the like, only that the guilt be punished. Yet, what does he find? A bunch of drunk, rowdy mercenaries so out of their minds they'd dared call his beauties mere beasts. That insult could not stand, of course not…

But now he had to sully his boots on dank mud as his handsome hounds ran about and took their fill of the mercenaries. He silently delighted in their screams and cries of pain, no mercy finding them until his hounds grew bored and tore out their throats. Let them go to whatever god they believed in, it mattered little to him. Now where was… ahhhhhh…

A deep breath filled his nose through the scorched metal of his helm, the scent of old fear-stench on the air. The one that had dared hurt his hound had been suffering, excellent… he could indulge in some of his own punishment whilst his hounds tore the rest apart. A stroll through flying limbs and spurting blood, a fond pat to one of his hounds as it presented the head of a particularly favored toy it had found, oh yes…

The tent appears easily enough, and he rips it aside, only to sigh in utmost disappointment. "Really, Leman, a knife in the throat? Someone got sloppy."

The voice like whiskey over burning gravel tuned to the one still strapped to the table. "You though… ah yes, 'Bobby' I believe it was. You hurt my hound, thought yourself a big man to kick the pup while he was sleeping. Do you have any idea how long it takes to get a Hellhound to stop raging and sleep?"

He tuts as the cowering flesh-carved turkey whimpered and begged. "It just won't do, you see. Leman was starting to get somewhere with you for doing such a horrible thing, but it looks like he's not going to be much help now. So, here's a quick little deal. Either you tell me who snuck in, and I make this only mildly excruciating… or you keep quiet, and I make this unspeakably excruciating."

Bobby whimpered and tried to plead again before the black-helmed, red-skinned creature leaned in close, hellfire burning in his eyes as he glared at the merc. "Cease. Your. Whimpering. Even my pups do not whimper, they rage, and they roar. You, I do not offer the same indulgence. Answer the question."

Bobby spilled instantly, of course he did. About the young girl that had seemed to appear from shadow, her search in the desk, Leman catching her, and her use of some kind of powder to blind Leman before killing him. She'd since slipped away, before the creature got here!

"Hmmm… well, that is most unfortunate, yes." The red-skinned creature patronizingly patted Bobby's head. "Buuuuuut… well, a deal's a deal I suppose. No fun for me, not today."

He turns about on his heel and whistles, the sound sharp and grating like nails on chalkboard. "LARONA, MEAL!"

He strode from the tent as his youngest addition bound in and began to savage the one that had injured her, her master not paying it much mind as he strolled down the scene of carnage, smelling the air again. "Hmm…"

His eyes narrowed and a laugh like the black pits rose from his chest. "I see… that hydra's nestlings made it up here after all. And one of them's still wearing that makeup, tsk tsk."

A wave of his hand and a clench of his fist scrawls blasphemous symbols into the mud, blood and offal flowing into it before it burst into hellfire, the sacrifice heeded.

"Go forth, my eldest. Hunt them down and bring me the staff. Them being alive… I leave up to you."

Three roars shattered the air as the massive hound took great sniffs of the air and blackened the ground with its fiery breath. The three heads from which the fire bayed and spilled argued and raged at each other a moment before the hell-spawn took off running, following the trail back to the source as best it could.

"There's one advantage you have, hatchlings." The houndmaster mused as he turned about and started back the way he came.

"Your muddy affect will by you some time."

-Louise-

Louise and Kirche had been smart enough not to try and chase after Siesta. She was a big girl; she could take care of herself. Instead, they'd started towards the closest crossing they could remember seeing on the map, and their steps only quickened when screams began to arise from the camp. They had no idea what was going on in that direction, but better to be safe than sorry!

"I really hope Siesta's ok." Louise panted as they hurried along the brush by the riverbanks. Compared to the old growth further in, the area closer to the river was lousy with low-growing shrubs and vines, not to mention the mossy rocks and slick mud. It was taking all their concentration just to keep from slipping into it, and it was just their luck the crossing was after some rapids. Fall in here and… she didn't want to think about it.

Kirche grunted, some spell work from Louise letting her carry Flame on her back. The salamander wasn't as useful here in the muddier sections and she refused to let him try and follow them in the rapids. His tail would get wet, and while it wouldn't kill him now that he'd swallowed a fire ruby, it would put him out of commission for hours. Better he serve as a lookout and enthusiastic flamethrower/bug-eater while Louise's Divine Strength spell let her push through.

"Not much longer now." Louise assured as they went along, the crossing clear to her eye. "It smooths out soon, nice and shallow! Rapids form again afterwards, but uh… we'll keep that in mind for later, right?"

Kirche nodded. "Yep… good Founder, Flame, you need to lose some weight…"

Flame just gave a sound of apology while he burned away another cloud of gnats. The damned things were almost everywhere it seemed, even next to the rushing water. They must find the mud it forms to be a particularly lovely breeding ground, and their incessant buzzing despite Flame's best efforts was slowly driving them mad.

"Can barely hear myself think next to all this water too." Louise grumbled to herself as they reached a slope, an animal trail and roots forming natural steps. "Founder, why'd you run off Siesta?"

Kirche finally put Flame down, the path ahead enough for him to waddle along on his own without fear of the rapids. "You're a real worry-wort for her, do you know that?"

"Well of course I am." Louise puffed, following them along as her spell on Kirche wore off. She hadn't wanted to use it personally, but lugging Flame around was no easy task. "Not only is she a commoner in my employ, she's also saved my life. Several times now in fact. I…"

She sighed and played with her braid, Kirche slowing to let her catch up. "She's… dear to me, I guess. Not only has she been an impeccable handmaid, she's… listened. Been there for us, and we for her, it's… I have a hard time trying to be her Lady now, especially after that scolding she gave me…"

Kirche patted her shoulders, silently taking in the water and crossing as they approached. Nice and shallow, calm water, good. "You did need it. I had no idea you'd even brought that makeup, let alone would apply it while we're in the middle of enemy territory."

Louise scowled, dark thoughts gathering in her eyes. "You wouldn't understand."

"Try me."

The scowl turned to glare right into Kirche's impassive look. "…Fine. Scars are a mark of shame to my family, always have been. You and yours, I know… boast about them, but to me they're a sign of failure and shame. And across my face no less!"

She kicked at the water, turning away from Kirche. "I can't be weak. Not again, never again. A common bandit wounded me, carved a permanent reminder into my face. The Unblemished Valliere lineage, ruined not only by being incapable of our home magic, but suffering such a shameful scar in her first outing. I'm half tempted to forswear the name to stop bringing shame to it."

That got a cuff to the back of the head, Louise whining from the sudden pain. "Hey!"

Kirche's frown was impressive when Louise looked back to her. "Don't do that to yourself. What matters right now is that we get to Newcastle alive and help Henrietta, right?"

Louise's scowl lessened a bit. "…Yeah."

"Find more information on the artifacts, find everyone safe and sound, right?"

"…Yeah."

"Go kick some ass and show we're more than our names?"

The frown turned into something of a smile. "…When did you get a way with words?"

"When I figured out being all haughty really wasn't my style. I like being a lot more casual with you and our friends, certainly beats all the stuffy formality we had last year."

Louise rolled her eyes, though it looked fond to Kirche. "Stuffy she says… look, we're far enough from where the camp was. Let's get to the other side and wait for Siesta."

Kirche smiled a bit and started that way. "Finally trusting her?"

"I've always trusted her. Just… realizing I need to show it more."

Flame croaked, tail wagging from the other side of the river. He'd already crossed, the silly duck. Now they just needed to get over there and wait for Siesta-

"LOUISE, KIRCHE, DUCK!"

That was the only warning they received, Siesta's scream cluing them in just soon enough to through themselves into the pebbly riverbed. A howl sounded overhead, jaws snapping and claws flashing as the creature sailed overhead, Louise and Kirche scrambling to their feet as Siesta at last appeared, crouched on a branch in the canopy behind them.

"WHAT IN THE FOUNDER?!" Kirche cried, sword already out in both hands. She had a feeling her fire magic wouldn't be much use against this one.

Louise had to agree, even as she felt adrenaline surge and her mind sharpen into focus. The… thing, in front of them was similar to those hellhounds that had attacked them in La Rochelle. But this one was different, very different. First and foremost were the heads, plural. Three of them, snarling and spitting on three muscular necks perfect for ripping and tearing. Heads like monstrous mastiffs, fangs blazing with unholy fire and maws all but flooding with it too, she could see it running up its muscular, powerful legs and down its flanks. The damned thing was a purpose-made killing machine, and it was thrice the size of the hellhounds they're run into on top of that! Hell, the water was steaming just from it standing in it!

"Be… very careful." Louise cautioned as it stalked and snarled at them, guarding their way forward. "We make one wrong move; it's not going to be pretty."

Something this fast, this powerful… she had to hold it in place somehow…

"SLOW!"

Darkness flowed from her staff and the creature lunged, instantly launching into a sprint that took it straight to them in three bounds, the sludgy magic slowing it, but down to a visible sprint instead of a roaring leap! It was enough to get out of the way, the right and left heads snapping at them as they rolled aside, Kirche lashing out with her blade as she went and scoring a light hit.

"GIRLY!" Derf called as it recovered and began to claw and leap and bite at them in a furious maelstrom, the sheer frenetic movement only barely kept up by a desperate cast of Haste. "GET IT IN THE CENTRAL HEAD, THAT'S THE LEADER!"

Loise barely managed to roll aside again as claws grazed her vambrace, the infernal weapon scoring deep into the metal. "I'm TRYING! SIESTA, KNIVES, DISTRACT IT! WE'LL BE FINE, I TRUST YOU!"

At any other moment, Siesta would be deeply touched by a verbal acknowledgement like that. As it was, she let her brace of knives fly, the steadier hand and higher vantage letting her sink all but one into the thick hide of the creature. It howled and roared its rage for all to hear, instantly turning its target to her. Hair on her neck flew up and Siesta dived, a ball of hellfire bursting from the trio of slavering maws to blast apart her perch, the handmaid rolling to her feet on the bank with daggers drawn. She was in the melee now whether she liked it or not.

Louise and Kirche used the opening and blast to close in, Kirche driving a hammering blow into the beast's back only for it to shoulder check her, the sheer power it managed to hit with such little motion sending her rolling back. It had hurt, she had its burning blood on her sword to prove it, but she needed more oomph.

Louise knew she had to give it too, spell already on her lips as she slashed the creature's leg, Derf's blade hacking through the thick hide as he ate the infernal magic it was made of. It's yowl of pain and rage almost made her words get drowned out, but she managed it. "DIVINE STRENGTH!"

The bolstering light rose to life as Louise's magic filled Siesta and Kirche alike, but she paid for it. The head she was nearest lashed at her, sinking its fangs into her arm with impossible speed. The metal just barely protected her from being skewered on the fangs, but the blazing heat burned straight down to her skin, making her scream in pain as it thrashed and tore at her.

"LOUISE!" Siesta screamed as she charged in, the creature using her Lady like a chew-toy in no way impeding its movement as it leapt towards Kirche with its other maw, the bite and claw being caught on the Germanian's blade while she tried to hold it back and in place. It was enough for Siesta to close the distance, a stream of normal fire flowing down from Flame where he'd taken vantage. To the surprise of everyone, the hellhound roared in anger and pain alike as the fire washed over it, distracting it enough for Louise to wrench herself free and call out another spell. "ICE ARMOR!"

Being in a river's shallows made the spell vastly easier for her to cast, Siesta's body swiftly coated with then protected by water freezing into a protective series of plates. Not impediment to her motion but all the protection she could ask for, Louise's training had done her well.

And needed, as the creature spun on its front paws and lashed at all three of them, the spray of water and slashing claws enough to force them all back, Siesta's armor saving her from a nasty gash across the shoulder, the water hiding its angle of attack.

Louise coughed and slid back, knowing what water magic she knew was her best bet right now. Fire seemed to hurt it, and Kirche took immediate advantage to slam a lance of fire straight into its side, but now it sought to savage her and Siesta alike, the two having to fend it off as it attacked them simultaneously. Her saving grace right now was being maneuverable, but she needed some way to get at that middle head without being savaged by the other two… that's it!

"KIRCHE, SIESTA, GRAPPLE IT! I'M GOING TO SLOW IT DOWN!"

She didn't wait to hear them squawk at the mad idea, the creature too busy savagely tearing and rending at them. Their protection wasn't going to last much longer, she needed to put something on it and fast, even if she had to exhaust a large chunk of her willpower to make it happen. First, to get it a bit weaker.

"WEAKNESS!"

It was a handy spell in this case, black thorns racing from her staff to slam into and start atrophying the beast's hell-flame powered body. She felt a shiver run up her spine, the thorns almost hissing in glee at their use, only for her to focus hard on the raging beast that was doing its damndest to claw through the armor of her friends, even as their blessed strength tore and ripped their own weapons through its hide. It wasn't even a beast at this point, more akin to an elemental of sheer rage.

"ICE ARMOR!"

She utterly poured her willpower into the spell, the river's water rising to engulf the beast at its feet and necks, freezing into thicker and thicker layers of ice that steamed as soon as they formed on it, the rents in its hide exposing the air to liquid hellfire and sublimating the ice straight into steam. Yet, the sheer power she was putting into it far outstripped the speed it could thrash, break, and melt it, the armor that so helped Siesta turned against the beast and becoming a prison of erstwhile protection.

While it was so trapped, Siesta and Kirche managed to grapple and hold onto the right and left heads with all their might, the center one biting into Siesta's flank and cracking through her armor to break something else entirely, the handmaid's cry of pain instantly galvanizing her lady to action. Roaring a wordless cry of revenge, Louise sprinted for the creature and leapt up, her target clear as she aimed to get over Siesta and drive Derf straight into the central head's skull.

"LOUISE!"

The warning came almost a moment too late, Kirche seeing the center head's ice-collar crack and shatter as it flexed every hell-powered muscle in its body to smash it apart, the fire-bellowing maw reared up to catch Louise in mid air right on the flank, where it'd be able to rip through her jerkin and breastplate and do who knew what grievous damage!

"GUST!"

The emergency blast of wind just managed to carry Louise out of the way, but the head was ready for her and the side heads were soon to break free too, its rage unending and set only on seeing them dead. If it got loose again after she'd poured so much willpower into that prison, on top of all her other spells, she may not have enough to work with again! And she could already see the strength of her friends beginning to fade, the magical strength running out.

"CROAK!"

Fire bloomed across the beast's back as Flame, brave salamander and currently Louise's best friend in creation, sprinted and leapt his way down into the river's shallows, his stream of fire the hottest he could manage as he sought to save his mistress and friends. It was a distraction, enough to really get the heads mad, but it got the main head's attention ever so briefly off Louise.

The cold well of logic Louise held close to hand, strengthened by the sheer power of water magic she'd managed, rushes forward before Flame's stream has even finished. The creature's maw wide with a blast of hellfire, the ice collars on the other two heads starting to shatter, Kirche and Siesta trying as hard as they could to hold on while the signs of their magical strength flickered and started to die. All of it in seeming slow-motion, clear as if she could see each individual ice crystal.

Derf slices forward in an arc, meeting the head's muscular neck just behind the skull. It roars in an unholy combination of rage and pain as the magical blade devours its hellfire essence, cleaving through hide, flaming meat, blackened vertebrae, and out the other side. In an instant, the beast's entire demeanor changes. With two heads and two sides without a controller, it loses all coordination, randomly lashing with claw and paw and maw with no true direction beyond ferocious strength. But the dark magic weakening it had reached its zenith, and those grappling it too merciless advantage.

A dagger buried into each eye on one side and a hard chop to behead the other, the body continues to convulse and thrash and attack. For almost five minutes, even as Louise chops and slashes and all but debones the creature with Siesta and Kirche's help, it refuses to lie still in death until its fury was finally overcome by the river's flow and it goes limp, swiftly turning to ash and leaving the three girls to gulp in deep breaths, take stock of aches and pains, and go congratulate Flame for being the bravest little salamander that ever there was.

It isn't until they're able to stop shaking from the adrenaline that they fully cross the water, Louise washing her face out of habit while they recovered. She halts when her mind catches up, but she's already able to see it.

"How'd that thing… even find us?" Kirche had to ask as she and Siesta waited for Louise to finish up. "We're like… half an hour from that camp…"

Siesta shook her head. "I don't know, but if any of its friends survived La Rochelle, it may have gotten our scents. In either case, we managed to bring it down… let's hope there's not many more of them."

She blinks and slaps her cheeks. "But enough of that, I have grave news! Louise, Kirche, Reconquista's going to attack Newcastle in five days!"

That news instantly pulled Louise from her washing, taking her mind entirely off her scar that was clear to see now. "WHAT?!"

Kirche was too knocked to really answer as Siesta started filling them in. "It's a mass for a general assault in five days, I saw the message in the mercenary leader's tent. I left shortly after since there wasn't anything else, but those… hellhounds attacked the camp as I was leaving! I saw that creature running down this way as I went after you, praise God for Flame leaving some scorched patches for me to follow!"

Louise frowned and looked at Flame. "…Ok, you're still my favorite for getting her here, but that probably led the creature to us too. Let's try more subtle next time, k?"

Flame just croaked, a bit embarrassed and ashamed.

Kirche shook off the shock and patted Flame's head. "You're alright boy. But that means we need to get word to Newcastle that much faster! If they're going to be attacked, they need to be ready for it! And sure, five days gives us some time, but…"

"We need to get there to tell them. If nothing else, we can't risk missing Prince Wales." Louise answered, that cold well of logic still with her. "If they don't know about it and the prince gets caught on a patrol by the gathering forces, we're done. But I'm not sure I can make that trek after pouring so much power out, at least not at the speed we need."

Siesta and Kirche mulled on that before Louise nodded to herself. "Siesta… we need you to go ahead. You're stealthy and quiet enough to make it through the siege ring on your own, and if you need to you can double back to us without being spotted."

Siesta was quick to protest splitting them up further, but Louise held up a hand. "Siesta, I trust you. I meant it when I called it, and you're the best for this job. We're not getting anything done with my exhausted self slowing us down, and we're close enough to Newcastle that if you hurry at speed, you can make it by tomorrow morning. Me… I can't do it, I'm too tired. My legs are shaking, I'd only slow you down."

Siesta grit her teeth. "But I can't just leave you Louise! You need to rest, it's better if we stay together and move slow but cautious. We can't get caught by those hounds all by ourselves!"

Louise kept an even gaze with her. "Siesta… you're fast, you're smart, and you're probably the best of us when it comes to solo work. Hell, you are the best of us at solo work. Neb's somewhere out there trying to find us, Tabby's probably already at Newcastle knowing her, and Sir Wardes would be there too with Guiche and Monmon in tow if they're worth their salt."

Then she smiled. "I trust you. We trust you. This information must get to Newcastle. You may even find everyone there and be able to tell them where we are, where we're coming from. That'd be more than enough to make you the hero of this whole trip."

She took Siesta's hands and squeezed them, her handmaid trying to summon another protest even as tears gathered in her eyes from such a display of trust. "I. Trust. You. And it's because I trust you that I give you this mission and want you to go ahead of us. Take Flame with you, Kirche will be only a moment away and I'll be with her. We can talk through Flame that way and be ready for anything."

Siesta squeezes back, biting her lip and trying to keep those tears down…

"…Ok… ok, Louise… I'll do it. I'll… I'll do your trust proud; I promise…"

Louise smiled her best smile and leaned in to press a kiss to Siesta's forehead. The feeling makes Siesta blink through her tears, and Kirche smile like a lynx, but Louise paid it no mind. "Go. With my blessing and all the luck I can give you. Go make me proud… go make yourself proud. Go be our Siesta, our sweet relief."

Well, if she was expecting a teary nod, she got it. She clearly wasn't expecting a return kiss to her own forehead and did a good job of looking like a hooked fish.

Siesta just smiled back. "Good luck, Louise. Keep yourself and Kirche safe, same to you Kirche."

Kirche just laughed and gave a tired salute, her armor slicked with drying mud and pebbles from the riverbed. "You take care too, Siesta. I'm going to give you a kiss myself next I see you, if only because I can finally have real food again."

Siesta flushed, some of the inherent embarrassment of what she'd done rising to the fore. "Oh, you… thank you, for letting me have Flame. I promise he'll be safe with me."

"I know he will. Don't doubt him, he was only going so slow because of me and the river. He can keep up with you."

Siesta giggled at the teasing wink and Flame's confirmative croak. "Then we'll be off. Remember, both of you, when the sun's rising on your right, that's east and you're facing north. If it's rising on your left, you're facing south."

Louise gave her a friendly cuff on the shoulder. "We're not kids Siesta, sheesh. Go on, get rolling. We'll see you in Newcastle and share the stories with everyone."

Siesta just gave a helpless smile and, in a fit of emotion, hugged Louise tight. Louise tensed at the sudden embrace, but relaxed and returned it just as tight a moment later. "Be safe, please…"

"I will." Siesta promised, voice barely a whisper to keep herself from crying. "You keep safe too… I still haven't gotten that recipe down yet."

Louise just chuckled and squeezed her one last time. "Then I'll enjoy trying it next we see you. Now hurry off before I have to carry you there."

"Wouldn't be a bad thing." Siesta murmured with an embarrassed blush, but she pulled back all the same. "Kirche, you too!"

"Ah, come here!" And Siesta gets wrapped up in a patented Zerbst goodbye hug, giving her a nuzzle and coos of comfort before she does the same to Flame, giving the salamander very specific instructions on how to take care of himself before giving her formal and contract mandated blessing to go as far from her as Newcastle. With that done, and goodbyes given, Flame and Siesta took off at a run for the north, and with it, Newcastle.

Louise and Kirche waited for about ten minutes, getting their breath back, before they started to follow. True to Louise's word, she was exhausted, and their pace was only a former of what it had been earlier that day. Thankfully they didn't run afoul of and have to hide from too many patrols as they went, but it got quieter as the day sank into evening and they started to look for a camp site. Without Siesta's quick eyes and senses, it took them until nearly sunset to manage it, nestled into a natural cave that went far enough in to hide their fire while allowing the smoke to escape. There was even a small spring just outside, deep enough to get a much-needed wash in after refilling their water-skins.

"Do you think they've made it?" Louise asks once they're fully settled, a simple stew of dried meat and potatoes with carrots their meal, and the only one Kirche could make with real confidence… at least with what they had on hand. Neither of them could claim to know Albion plants well enough to know what was and wasn't edible.

Kirche was silent a moment, eyes unfocused, before shaking her head. "They're making progress, but they've had to skirt around several camps. It really does look like Reconquista's marshalling for a general assault. Though I am surprised we've managed to avoid any of the forts."

Louise smiled as she slowly worked off her boots, the long trek and the fight at the river nearly gluing them to her legs. "Guess we've gotten lucky and should be happy for it. Those forts were holding off Reconquista until those… things came into the picture."

Kirche hummed and crossed her arms, still in armor. "Have you like… heard anything from that staff? I know Derf likes to chime in with his own stuff every so often, but what about the staff?"

Louise shook her head. "No, praise the Founder. I have a hard enough time when Neb gets one of his heads taken over as is, actually getting talked to through it?"

She'd, of course, neglected to mention that she'd had several dreams relating to it and spoken to the apparent Mother Goddess of Neb's home, but she just wasn't sure when, if ever, would be a good time.

Kirche had to laugh a bit. "True, true… I think we've earned a bit of peace, if only for tonight. Good eye spotting this place."

"I think you mean slipping and falling into it." Louise huffed as she undid her vambraces next. "Stumbled on it entirely by accident and…"

She paled as she reached into one of her pockets, suddenly realizing she was missing something.

Kirche moved over to her instantly, not liking that at all. "Louise? What's wrong?"

Louise covered her face and muttered something that Kirche could more or less construe as 'foundation'. When she got that much, she sighed and wrapped an arm over Louise's shoulder. "You still brought the foundation with you."

A tiny, ashamed nod.

"That creature probably tracked us by the scent of it."

Another ashamed nod.

"Have you learned?"

A pause.

"Louise."

The smaller girl forced herself free with a noise of deep frustration. "I'm sorry ok! I just… I don't know anymore Kirche, something in me is scared to death about people seeing this scar! I don't want to get disowned for Founder's sake, I don't want to lose my sister!"

Kiche blinked and followed her as Louise stomped off on socked feet to steam by the spring. "Wait, which sister? I know all about your mom and those issues, I'm not contesting why you're mad there but… why would a scar get you disowned and unable to see your sister?"

"You really don't know my family." Louise bitterly ground out. "Sure, you know the tales, but even that brief appearance Mother made doesn't show it all. My family's entire reputation is based on strength and perceived invincibility, the sheer fear my mother strikes into people. One of my sisters is a foremost researcher and a truly spirited individual, something my parents are quite proud of. My eldest sister is the sweetest… kindest… most loving woman I know and…"

She sniffles, memories of Cattleya comforting her when it all became too much flowing through her mind and dancing in front of her eyes, barely able to keep going. "Yet both of them… are powerful mages… they are! Triangle for Eleanor and square but for how sickly she is for Cattleya. Then… there's me."

Kirche was starting to get a better understanding as she stood next to Louise, both looking up to where a natural overgrowth hid the cave from most of the moonlight, but just enough to make the spring look so pretty. "…The one that couldn't cast magic… makes me feel even worse for how I acted."

"You didn't know." Louise grumbled, kicking a pebble into the water. "No one does… I didn't want them to. It was my burden to bear, my pride needing its proof. I've… long craved my parents' approval, my sister's… Cattleya, bless her, always gave it but… I had to prove myself. It's been riven into me, it's part of who I am. But… I just don't know if I can ever live up to that standard…"

She touches the scar crossing her face. "And to be reminded day in and day out that I've been wounded, by a mere scoundrel, the daughter of Karin the Heavy Wind… it's…"

Kirche squeezed her shoulder, offering what comfort she could. "I don't fully get it, but… I respect your feelings on it. I'm a lot better than I was, I'll not disparage you."

Louise snorted a bit and glanced at her. "I suppose you are… and given we've now had several near-death experiences; I suppose I best be a bit honest with you?"

Kirche looked to her with honest confusion. "Honest? About what?"

Louise grumbled and reached up to play with her braid for several moments before womaning up. "I… I admire you, Kirche. Your relentless forward drive, your roll with the punches attitude, hell even your episodes being a big sister. I… I thought you were the second most beautiful woman I'd ever seen when I first saw you. Second to my sister Cattleya of course, but second."

Kirche took the compliment for what it was meant. "Louise…"

"Don't stop me now, I'm on a roll. You're smart, wickedly clever when you choose to be, very good at getting under people's skin, a fantastic mage, and now a veteran of battles and our shared training. I… I admired you a great deal when we first started. I thought… here at last, I have the catalyst that'll spurn me on to revelation. A true rival that can push me to learn where tutors had failed. Here was someone that I could throw all my learning against and show that I wasn't just a bag of wasted genes…"

Kirche looked down, shame coloring her voice. "But… that's not how it turned out. As much as I said I admire you back at the academy, that's just… not how we acted with each other."

She waved off Louise's attempt to justify it, she could see it coming. "Don't try and play it off, we were awful to each other. We've come a long way, and praise the Founder for it, but nothing erases that."

Louise mulled on it, both looking back to the spring before she chuckled a breathless chuckle and gave Kiche a nudge with her elbow. "No, but it can be forgiven. And when we set out on this quest, I forgave you Kirche. It took us a while, but we got there. And I'm proud not only to call you a friend…"

"…But also someone I care dearly about."

Kirche turned fully to face her, eyes wide in shock and Louise looking rather embarrassed, shuffling in place and playing with her braid and pouting up a storm. Then, smiles and they both laughed softly, the air lightening and their stances relaxing.

"…Oh shit the stew!"

Louise all but flew back into the cave and saved their meal from fiery disaster, another round of soft laughter filling the air as they partook, cleaned up, and made sure they'd be ready for the morrow.

Kirche glanced outside again, taking in the sight and whether they were covered enough. Once satisfied, she looked to where Louise had just gotten out of her jerkin, back in normal clothes (near enough). "Hey, mind helping me out of the armor? I managed it one night, but getting soaked two days in a row is not my idea of good maintenance."

Louise shrugged. She was going to look over her own armor tonight too, it made sense. "Sure. Get at what you can while I get the back. That thing's been getting put through its paces."

Kirche had to laugh. "Yeah, much to my chagrin. Starting to see why we kept seeing the mages in the back of the formations during our lessons. You're lucky your 'Neb Spells' are one or two words, saves you a lot of time."

Louise huffed a haughty laugh as she started undoing the belts on Kirche's back and shoulders. "Well I'm so very glad you think so. Honestly, it's with how structured the spells are. I don't have to really… think that hard about what I want them to do, it's more a control thing. Which, as we saw with that creature, can still be a lot more hindrance than help if I'm not careful."

Kirche hummed, then sighed with relief as the breastplate came free and she could breathe a bit easier. For all the work she knew had gone into it, keeping her chest in that thing for so long was rather uncomfortable. With it off, and Louise kindly getting the pauldrons and faulds off too, she's able to divest herself of the rest in short order and get out of her boots.

"I've never been so happy to let my feet breathe." She grumbled, Louise giggling in mirth at her misery. "Or any of me for that matter. Socks may well be glued to me as is, and I'm half tempted to get out of it entirely and let that spring wash the day away."

Louise, turned away and laying her socks to air out on a bit of twine, feels herself flush. Certainly, she'd been in the bath with Kirche several times, both unpleasantly and pleasantly depending on the time, but she'd never been… well, alone with another girl taking a bath! And even then, the steam and soapy water had kept things mostly private! Hell, she hadn't shared a bath with just one other person since she was at home with Cattleya, and that didn't count!

"I-I mean if you want to… you did have to sleep in your armor last night, and neither of us have so much as touched a bath ever since we landed. Neb may say we should be ready for a long time between them, but we s-shouldn't turn them down!"

She made it sound more like she was talking herself into it than anything, but she also felt her flush deepen. Her heart was beating in her ears, her chest felt oddly tight, and she couldn't really swallow. She didn't like the feeling, but maybe… maybe she was just tired, yes! A proper bath and some actual sleep would do her wonders!

Kirche gave a big stretch and groan of relief at that. "Sounds like an idea to me! I'll get my gear looked at first, you take first wash. Much as I may want to, you did get the big kill today."

That she did… and it weirded her out that Derf hadn't been making his usual chatter once they'd left the river. He looked fine, she'd checked him over while they were eating, but he only said he 'wasn't in the mood fer chattin' when she'd asked what was wrong. Alas, it was the only thing she could distract herself with considering she was half-way through stripping off her shirt and pants. Muscle memory was a powerful thing, especially as she barely noticed before she was already in just her hair. Thankfully for her sanity, Kirche was doing as promised and going over her gear, so Louise was able to use her voluminous locks to hide her dignity and get her clothes hung to air out before fleeing into the spring.

It was cool, clear, and just deep enough to get up to her neck when she stood on the bottom. It was clear and devoid of any fish or the like, so it somewhat reminded her of a tepid hot spring like she'd heard about in the more volcanic regions of Halkegenia. She'd have to ask if Kirche had visited any given Germania was home to a few.

That reminder made her flush again and scrunch up on herself, even as the relief of letting the sweat and grime wash away came over her. There really wasn't a spot to 'sit' against the spring, but she had to distract herself somehow… right! Hum a song and wash her hair, it took forever anyway, and she may as well get it over with! Hum and wash… hum and wash… hum and wash… hum and-

"Ahhhhhh! That feels sooooooo good!"

Swallow the scream, swallow the scream!

Louise just barely managed to keep her scream of shock down, swallowing like a whole apple and with just as much difficulty. "Geez, Kirche! Tell me when you're just going to jump on in!"

Kirche puffed a lock out her eye, a wry look sent right back. "I said I was coming out to join you. You were in your own little world and didn't hear me."

Louise huffed and looked away, both in indignance and to avoid looking at her. Unlike the steam and soapy water of the academy baths, this water was nice and clear, meaning that if she did look at Kirche, she'd likely get a full view of her… impressive self. That was nice and diplomatic without objectifying her, there!

Kirche chuckled, reading Louise's embarrassment easily. "Oh, come now, Louise, we're both girls. It's not like I have anything you haven't seen before. Not like I'm Wardes, right?"

Louise's flush turned into a full crimson blush. "No… but unlike the academy, there's no obscurement, so I'm merely respecting your privacy!"

There, perfectly diplomatic answer, stop laughing!

Yet Kirche laughed all the same! "Oh, you're adorable as always. We're just relaxing Louise, letting the stress go away for a bit before we must do watches. Nothing so wrong just staring up at the sky with me, right?"

"For what little we can see." Louise groused. For she was entirely and infuriatingly correct, so why was she having such a hard time just being in the same spring? Her heart was pounding, the water felt too hot all of a sudden, and now she could all but feel herself wanting to turn and just drink in her friend's relaxed visage!

Who wanted to drink in a friend reclining in the nude?!

There was, of course, an answer to that. One that she'd been pushing down for months now, near enough since she'd first really noticed their training under Neb showing results. Siesta starting to get abs, Tabby's back, the way Kirche's hips got so very fit…

She all but slapped herself, how dare she! Wardes, Wardes, Wardes, think on the kind man who'd chosen her above many suitors and who'd shown nothing but care and adore towards her, who promised to make her happy! Focus on… focus on him and his handsome face, that smile, not the… the giggle coming from her amused friend or that… teasing smile and…

Founder dammit.

Sighing and surrendering so she could just get it over with, Louise scooted a bit closer and joined Kirche in looking up at the sky. They couldn't see much through the overgrowth, but it was enough to see the sky. And now that she thought about it, provide some shadow for cover. Daring a glance, she looked over towards Kirche.

On one hand, Brimir be praised, Kirche was mostly lounging in one of the shadowy section, obscuring her from the collarbone down. On the other hand, she was washing her hair and just smiling, a kind of pure joy only those celebrating being alive could show in her eyes. And what pretty eyes they were, both of them twinkling in the moonlight. It had been so rare to see both of them at a time, but now she was so used to seeing them both.

"You're beautiful."

Kirche blinked and looked over to her, Louise suddenly as pink as her hair. "…Huh? Louise, was… that a genuine compliment about my looks? From you?"

Louise pouted, trying to mask her embarrassment with indignation. "W-w-well what about it?! I told you I was being a bit more honest with you, so there!"

"Well yeah, but… you didn't have like a comparison or a caveat." Kirche noted, still a bit shocked. "You just… said it. I dunno, that just kind of hit different…"

Louise felt a brief thrill of victory run through her. Aha, she'd managed to get the better of Kirche this time, perhaps she should press the advantage! A bit of petty revenge for the numerous times she'd teased and embarrassed her over their time knowing each other, of course! A perfect plan you devilishly clever Valliere!

Louise fixed her hair a bit, not wanting it to be messy as she got her revenge here. "Well… yes, I suppose it would, wouldn't it? Here we are, the both of us having vanquished foes and survived perilous dangers! I feel it only right to compliment that strength and beauty I've gotten to see in action, why I'd be insulting you if I didn't!"

Kirche blinked again and tilted her head, silently wondering if Louise hadn't suffered a blow to the skull. "Are… you sure? I mean, I'm flattered, of course, but… you've only been free in complimenting Siesta and Tabby."

Louise scoffed, this strange bravado of having the upper hand getting to her head. "Well, of course, because I thought quite well of them! Given our history, it's taken some time for my opinion of you to reach the same level of consideration! You're welcome by the way, I have very high standards."

Kirche scoffed at that, some humor returning to her eyes. "Oh yes, only the highest standards really. To think, one has to pass the sky to be considered worthy of honest compliments."

Louise smirked at her, flipping her wet hair back with a light splash. "And only those of such sky-high skill are worthy of my honest admiration. Help me wash my hair?"

Kirche's rebuttal died on her tongue. Louise was beyond protective of her hair, to the point she only trusted Siesta to wash it. Not even Tabby had that privilege despite being trusted to braid it. Louise had already turned around, doubtless very proud of herself, but Kirche blinked away the surprise and smiled, shifting over until she could run her fingers through the wet pink locks.

It was at this point that Louise realized she'd made a grave tactical error.

She was quite used to either washing her hair herself or having Siesta help her. So used to it that she had the spacing down pat so that she'd never feel anything from Siesta but her hands, keeping her perfectly separated from the sensations that would make it more than just her handmaid doing her job or a friend helping. That spacing was… inadequate with Kirche.

As sin pressed against her back and the warm hands of her friend began to stroke and clean her tresses, Louise almost exploded with steam. She'd completely forgotten about Kirche's most prized assets (which said plenty) and now paid the price! How… how could she move now?! She'd invited Kirche to wash her hair, extended the hand of trust and close friendship, but now she had the prison she'd been near suffocated in several times pressed into her naked back!

And her hind brain was not helping with its monkey noises!

She could only stay still, keep her hands locked under her armpits and just… let Kirche do the job. Once she was finished, Louise could, of course, offer the same then realize how late it was and get on the watch! That would be her path to victory!

"You have such gorgeous hair, Louise. I always thought you were a bit too proud of it, but damn, this is like silk."

And just like that, her entire plan went up in smoke. "W-well… the only point of pride I had for a long time was my hair. My mother and sisters all made it clear that I was to treasure it, so I grew it long and silky!"

Kirche hummed, using her hands to brush out bits of debris and dirt as they talked. "Well, color me envious, but I wish I could get my hair this smooth. I know we both wake up in a tassel of bedhead, but hair this smooth, comes right out most of the time right?"

Louise frowned, minor frustration at her friend's self-deprecation showing through. "Your hair is gorgeous though! Lustrous, bright scarlet, why it's the first thing I noticed about you!"

"Oh?" Kirche teased, gently pressing her chest a bit more into Louise's back. "And here I thought the first thing everyone saw were these. You're sweet Louise."

Mercifully she pulled back to her comfortable spot. "But luster isn't feel. I haven't managed to find a single conditioner that really works for me. It either makes my hair really oily or dries it out for some reason."

Louise did her best to calm her racing heart and keep her words steady. "W-well if we ever get into a town with enough trade to have it available… I could introduce you to the kind I use. It's out of Romalia, so it's rather expensive, but… well, if we're going into battle together, no reason we shouldn't look fabulous while doing it."

Kirche's laugh was felt as much as heard, those lightly calloused and warm fingers cleaning Louise's hair more like flames for how it made her skin tingle. Louise had to keep talking, it was the only thing keeping the idea of just turning around to face Kirche and make the offer from bubbling up!

"Oh hush you." Louise managed after the laugh died down. "I'm merely being my dramatic and proud self whilst we await the next universal humbling."

Kirche hummed and kept cleaning her hair, Louise grumbling as that hum sent shivers up her back. "Well say something why don't you!"

Kirche paused in her work. "And why do I need to? I'm perfectly comfortable here as is, very peaceful. I've not been this relaxed since we first got into Rochelle."

Such an honest answer actually managed to calm Louise's nerves and heart alike, the tension relaxing a bit and letting her just kind of be. It was very peaceful now that she mentioned it, just the usual sounds of the night and not a single thing to disturb them. Just peace, a safe spot, and each other…

Be more honest, huh…

Louise scrunched her eyes closed. Brow furrowed, thinking hard, trying to focus on anything but that thought. She was honest, she'd told Kirche everything she felt comfortable sharing, she had…

She. Loved. Wardes.

Be. More. Honest.

Words from Neb a long time ago. Or what felt like a long time ago. Coming back to her, here, in this little safe spring and cave, just her and someone who'd come with her every step of the way, for good and ill.

"There, looking good." Kirche announced as she moved back, Louise's sudden curl concerning her a bit. "You ok?"

Louise blinked and ran her hands through her hair, noting that Kirche had been thorough and gentle alike. She bunched it behind her head and let it fall again, the feel of it clean and nice after the last couple days in muck, sweat, and grime a relieving one. She couldn't just… hog that feeling to herself…

"Thank you, Kirche. I'm sorry, I got thinking about Tabby and Neb and… everyone really. Just hoping they're safe."

A decent enough excuse as she gathered her will, heart trembling and mind railing against its plans.

She could almost see Kirche's nod as she moved back enough for the warmth of her body to be replaced with cool water, Louise internally mourning for the loss to the abject mortification of her mind. "Yeah… I hope they're ok too. Flame checked in a minute ago, he and Siesta are at least through what they believe is the Reconquista front line, but they're not sure."

A small hook for her mind to grasp onto, something to pull herself up with from the torrent of her raging emotions. "I see… thank heaven they've made it that far. I'll be glad to see them if we can make Newcastle by tomorrow evening."

"Yeah… how's Neb?"

Louise frowned and focused on her own bond. "He's… out of that fog, but he's nowhere I recognize. Either… not on our map or he's forged ahead without a real direction. I tried to send 'Newcastle' to him, but he's far enough away that I couldn't tell if he got it."

Kirche hummed and stretched, working a kink out of her shoulder. "Be real nice to have him back. It's only thanks to him we had any idea how to fight that creature."

Louise laughed this time, letting herself float in the spring a bit. "Yeah… hey, you washed my hair. Want me to…?"

Kirche joined the laugh. "Sure, knock yourself out. Don't be disappointed, I haven't had any actual cleaner in this thing since our carriage got wrecked."

"We're going to need to apologize to Professor Colbert for that one." Louise muttered as she took the most circuitous route to Kirche's side, what remained of her self-control wanting her to be more or less back in the shadows to keep her thundering heart under control. Thankfully she was, and Louise floated herself over, Kirche sitting up and turning around to let Louise do her thing. Approaching tentatively, Louise started to work at the crimson locks, incredulity surging to the top of her sticky emotions for a moment.

"You… you don't call this smooth?! What are your standards?!"

"Your hair."

Well shoot her now, she sure felt like she'd been. Kirche felt the sudden freeze and laughed a bit, glancing over her shoulder in a way that almost made Louise's heart stop. "What, did that get you out of everything? I was being honest, you have some of the smoothest, silkiest hair I've ever felt. If not the smoothest, but I'm loathe to kick my mother from that spot."

Louise audibly gulped and turned to that topic. "What… is she like, if you don't mind my asking?"

Just keep stroking through that smooth scarlet, clear the debris and grime, focus on that.

Kirche turned back around and tilted her head to make the work easier. "Hmm… fiery. It's the best word I have for her. Father's the more public and often involved of the two, I don't deny, but she's a real woman of action. She deals with problems herself, makes as many friends as enemies, and more often than not can boast her way out of a situation. I'm really lucky to have both of them… and I think they'd like you, in the end."

Louise paused for a moment, a bit lost for words. "…Really?"

Kirche nodded, eyes back on the sky. "Yeah. I think they'd like everyone, but especially you. After they got over the whole Valliere thing, of course, but your attitude and drive to always learn… it would speak to them I feel."

Louise worked her jaw for a moment before getting back to it. "…I'd like to meet them, if we get the chance. Assuming they don't try to charbroil me on sight, of course."

They shared a quiet laugh and Louise got back to work. Her mind scrambled for anything to talk about next, the quiet comfortable and warm even in the spring water, her work washing Kirche's hair bringing them a bit closer together until she was almost pressing into Kirche's back.

The last stroke finished the job. "There…"

Kirche moved to pull away, reach up and feel her hair.

…Louise's hands fell to her shoulders and gently held her there.

Kirche came up short, looking over her shoulder, Louise's forehead pressed to the back of her neck. "…Louise? Are you ok?"

"…I dunno." She confessed quietly. "I just… Kirche, I respect you, I do. You… you deserve better than someone that's dishonoring her engagement with a cheating heart. I just… I can't stand it anymore, I…"

Kirche, now very concerned, turns in the water and puts her hands on Louise's shoulders, trying to comfort her like she did Tabitha. "Hey, hey… what's all this talk? You sure you're not tired? We did get up at first light and had a really long day."

Louise shook her head slowly. "No, no… Kirche, please… let me say this. I just… I need this out of me before it chokes me…"

She swallowed hard and dared to look Kirche right in the eye, the swirl of emotion clear in her own and swimming with stress-born tears. "I… I… Founder, I can't say it…"

A sick laugh bubbles from her throat before she takes a deep breath and nods. "Actions… speak louder than words… no matter how they may sting."

Kirche frowned and moved to check her temperature. Clearly Louise was not well, the willpower exhaustion must be getting to her-

Warmth pressed into her lips and Kirche froze. Louise froze, both staring at each other, not a word passing between them but saying so much in a moment. Louise had… had…

Louise had kissed her. Kissed Kirche.

The shock of it pulled them apart, the pair staring and blinking at each other like the other had spontaneously grown an extra eye. Stared… blinked… stared… stared…

"OH, SAY SOMETHING ALREADY!"

That got Kirche to burst into laughter and guffaws, Louise beating at her shoulders in sheer embarrassed mortification. The entire serious mood went up and popped like that, couldn't she at least appreciate that! She'd gone and… and given her first kiss! Right here in a spring in Albion on a secret mission to her one-time mortal enemy! There was some gravitas to this!

Kirche's mirth calmed and her lips turned up in a gentle smile, catching the beating hands and holding them gently. "…God, but that's what you were so nervous about huh? Sheesh… I don't blame you. I know what your engagement to Wardes means to you, and to your family. But… while we're here, and it's just us…"

She leaned in closer, gaze tender and… a little nervous too. "I uh… I don't know what I'd be doing here but um… if you want to try, just… see where we go…?"

Louise gulped, heart overriding her mind with that look. "Oh I uh… thought you'd know more, I just… kind of have Siesta's books to go on…"

She fiddles with her hair a bit, Kirche's grip not strong enough to stop her… but she doesn't want to be let go either… "I doubt that was… any good either… so…"

They just floated there for a moment before Kirche laughed again and pecked Louise's nose. "Guess for all our grandstanding and boasts, we're just a pair of nervous girls after all. I put on a good front, but… well, flirts were the farthest I ever really got."

Louise moved just a bit closer, the warmth of her… hell what did she call Kirche now?! Friend was a bit of a misnomer now that they'd… they'd… k-k-k-kisssed… but all the same she… wanted to see if that spark she felt was still there and… well, Kirche was right there so…

The next kiss was slower, less a smash together and more of a light touch. They almost jumped apart at the contact, flushing and looking away in embarrassment. But then they'd glance back and laugh a bit, growing slightly more comfortable with this silly, weird spot they'd found themselves in. Then, Kirche kissed Louise, gently, but not pulling entirely away, the warmth of each other clearer on their skin and gooseflesh rising as Louise returned it a moment later. Looking at each other, smiling shyly but not pulling away, Kirche slowly reaching up to tuck some hair behind Louise's ear…

"…You uh… wanna get out of the water?"

Louise flushed again, going pink as her hair once more. "B-b-but we're not decent!"

Kirche laughed low and mirthful, tapping Louise's nose in a gesture so fond Louise almost wanted her to do it again. "Louise… we're gonna get sick if we stay in here much longer. As I said, let's just… see where this goes. If it's terrible, well… too bad, we'll blush and laugh it off tomorrow before moving on."

Louise pouted at her. "…Fine. But if you get embarrassed, it's not my fault."

"Oh we're both embarrassed here." Kirche chuckled as she floated to the edge, hands splashing onto the edge and starting to haul herself up. Louise squeaked and looked away, backing towards the edge slowly and pulling herself up backwards, hard ingrained manners making her cover herself with her hands and eyes firmly away from Kirche.

Warm hands settle on her shoulders, hair tickling her cheek. "It's ok, Louise… I promise, I'll let you know if your stern gaze is too much for me."

That got an eye roll, but she steeled herself and stood up, turning around with eyes angled up so she'd not see more than Kirche's head. And she indeed only saw Kirche's head, as she'd stepped close enough for her face to fill Louise's vision. Using that height against her… it was really hot…

Kirche winked at her and tucked a wet strand behind her ear, near enough her breasts pressed into Louise's own distinctly lacking own. She suddenly felt super self-conscious and moved to cover herself again, only for Kirche to stop her. "They're adorable, Louise, don't worry about that. Eyes on mine, k?"

Louise grumbled and forced herself to let her arms hang. "You're being really confident for not knowing anything…"

"Because I cover up deathly terror with boldness." She informed with a smile and a peck to Louise's cheek. "Do you… want me to guide you over or?"

Louise blinked and returned the peck in a fit of her own bold-covered terror. "I… I uh… I think my legs are jelly and uh… do I like… hold you or… put my hands somewhere I uh… Siesta's books are really salacious but they're not very helpful right now…"

"No they're not…" Kirche agreed under her breath, not entirely sure where she should be putting her hands either. Neither wanted to be too forward given how 'delicate' this whole thing was, but at the same time they almost itched to touch each other… but where? Shoulders at least seemed safe enough…

Louise tentatively placed hers back on Kirche's shoulders, blush still present and having to rise on the balls of her feet to get closer. "I uh… I'm so sorry, Kirche… You really don't deserve to have someone who'd kiss someone she isn't promised to…"

"Hush." A soft, almost nervous kiss to the lips. "We're just seeing where this goes… getting it out of our systems, that sort of thing."

It was the easiest justification as Louise's hands migrated and she slowly embraced Kirche around the neck, pulling them close together and chest to chest. It was… shiver-raising, to feel that prison press into her like this, and it wasn't from the water cooling on their skin, even she could tell that much. They stood there for a moment, just holding, Kirche's hands carefully resting on Louise's flanks. Not quite her hips, it didn't feel right to be that low…

Louise kissing her took her mind off that. Another quick, chaste one but… the next was longer. Warmer, less of a spark and more of a suffusing heat. It took some adjusting, and some awkward mumbling, before finding a fit that felt just right. Again… and again… smiles shared and another kiss lasting a little longer…

It didn't feel terribly long a time later that the kisses deepened. They parted for less time, barely long enough to pull in breaths before pressing together again, grips tight as heat bloomed in their chests and made nails drag at skin. It was so warm, their blood thrilling at new sensations and emotions let loose, Kirche didn't even noticed they'd staggered and nearly tripped into the cliff wall, her back exploding in shivers compared to the warmth she held. This… this had to be the Flame of Passion for true, its deepest and most ardent expression! And she was feeling it with only a tight (albeit naked) embrace and kisses!

Louise's half-lidded gaze and low hum banished that thought from her head. She had something else to focus on here, she could wax giddy later. Another kiss, slowly stroking up along Louise's back, feeling the very much deserved rewards of her training, the smooth locks of hair, oh yes… this wasn't the stick she'd first seen at the academy, oh no… she was still a short, petite thing but she was a fit short, petite thing.

All that power she could pull out of her frame now, it made Kirche want to lick her lips…

A squeak made her blink, cheeks darkening as she realized she'd subconsciously done just that, and given Louise a taste in the process. Hmm… warm and very… her, was the best word for it. "What?"

"N-nothing!" Louise assured quick as she could, heart thundering and mind a fog beyond the sharp focus of all things Kirche. " J-just… wasn't expecting it."

Kirche kissed her softly, earlier hesitance slowly melting away the longer they held each other. "It's ok, just… habit. Still ok?"

Louise returning the kiss was answer enough… and she was brave enough to ever so lightly prove at Kirche's lips during a brief parting, hearts like drums and 'noble sense' buried further with each touch as a shiver ran through Louise's spine and made her grip, an honest groan pulled from Kirche's throat… and bringing them both to a flushing halt again.

"D-did… you d-do that?"

Kirche shrugged with a blush of her own. "W-well what can I say? That… felt really nice…"

Louise flushed deeper and, well, tried again. She hadn't done something that different, surely.

Kirche shivering and gripping her into a kiss to hold back another groan told her the exact opposite, the brief moment of questioning clarity lost as they gripped and lightly tugged at each other, the kisses deepening further with light smacks and pops as they had to pull back for breath, lines made in shoulders and flanks as they let instinct guide their attempts, no matter how clumsy, little winces and grunts of pain telling where something went wrong while kisses told where something was right.

Louise wasn't sure when they ended up on Kirche's bedroll. She wasn't sure when she'd crawled atop her former nemesis and begun to press their tongues together, sharp implements of war now dueling in a far more intimate manner. Their hands roamed as they kissed and tasted each other, what small bit of rationality remained in Louise's mind doing all it could to slap euphemisms on what they were doing. Her hands ran through Kirche's hair, gripping at her head to press their kisses that much closer, the two of them nearly refusing to part from each other's lips as they made out, tongue entwining and squeezing and exploring each other while they roamed. A hand to warm skin, feeling soft temptation roll and dance beneath her hand while Kirche's own ventured just low enough to knead at seat and hip…

Their minds were set only on each other, here in this cave where it was just them. Them, the dying fire, the warmth of each other, the thunder of their hearts and the need to affirm in some great way that they were alive. That there was something good to be found in this country, even if it was just the touch of each other. The light smacks and clicks of their kisses so deep and heady it made their heads spin…

"Founder, I love you…"

Louise. Froze.

Everything before her seemed to come into perfect clarity. Where she was atop Kirche, their bodies pressed together, hands roaming, gripping that red hair while she f-fondled her friend's breast, Kirche's hands on her hips and drawing lines in her skin with her nails and… and… and!

Kirche went from having the best night of her life to being utterly bereft of warmth in the span of a split second, hazy eyes blinking. And here she was about to… to… ooooooh…

Kirche sat back up like a bolt and pulled the bed roll cover over herself, flushed three shades darker and glancing about furtively. She could hear Louise whining and all but flagellating herself, but couldn't really see her in the dim light of embers. Thankfully it didn't appear they'd uh… been caught in the act so to speak.

She took several deep breaths to calm her racing heart, even as she memorized the sensation of Louise atop and making such sweet sensations on her. "…I'm sorry… don't blame yourself, we got… carried away."

It was better she take responsibility. Sure, she'd been the surprised one and all, but she'd also really been enjoying it. Maybe if she'd managed to keep her mouth shut for a few minutes more.

Louise remained huddled somewhere in the darkness for several long minutes, Kirche just laying back and burying herself in her bedroll to try and hide her own shame. That had been… stupid, well and truly stupid. Louise was engaged, to a very smart and courageous man, and Kirche didn't want to… dishonor that. Dishonor her friend, even if it meant whatever had burned here could never burn again. Just getting that kiss, let alone everything else, had been more than she could ever ask for.

She'd apologize in the morning, agree to never speak of this again, then repent at the nearest chapel they came to and that'd be that. She'd not impose like that again, even… if the thought of it made her hurt deep down to her core.

The silence stretched but for the crackles of the embers. She had no idea what time it was, but at this point if either one of them took a watch they'd be exhausted come first light. Maybe… maybe this'd all turn out to just be a dream. Another one for the dram log where she'd come so close but gotten denied again. Heh… it was funny. That log hadn't changed the central subject in months, only how many extras there were.

Her eyes were heavy… she could even convince herself Louise had finally skulked out of the shadows…

A warm hand settled on her cheek and a kiss found her lips. "Kirche… I'm sorry. I'm just… I'm such a mess. I don't know… how I feel. There's this whole mission over our heads, we're missing our friends and then there's Wardes and my engagement… I…"

Another kiss and Kirche rises enough to see her, both covered by a shirt and bedroll respectively. They stare at each other, one understanding and the other with tears tracking her cheeks and trying desperately not to fall apart.

"It's ok." Kirche soothed, reaching out to stroke Louise's cheek and clear some of the tears away. "It's ok to be a mess. Founder knows I've been one too… Don't worry about this, Louise. We'll not speak of it in the morning and we'll just keep going… you have enough on your head as is."

Louise grimaced and squeezed her eyes closed, more tears spilling down her cheeks. "…But I don't want to forget this… My first kiss and… Mother would kill me, even Cattleya but… it felt more right than any dream I had with Wardes and… and…"

Kirche sighed and cupped Louise's face with both hands. "It. Is. Ok. I'm not going to push this, Louise, I'm not going to push you. I've got enough respect for people in general, and for you in particular, to never think of taking advantage of this. To me… who cares? I'm already a flirt by reputation and I don't give a toss about it. All I want are the people I care about to be happy, you included. So if you need time… if you find this was just some impulse brought on because you're tired, you're stressed, and you're just not yourself… that's fine. I won't be mad… and I don't want you beating yourself up for it."

Louise hiccupped and tried to say something, anything to that… but she couldn't find the words in the face of such honest kindness. The kind that, part of her never really thought Kirche was capable of, much to her intense shame. All she could do was nod, just a bit, and try to smile.

"There you are…" Kirche cooed, kissing her cheek this time. "I promise, I won't breathe a word. If you want my help, just an ear to listen to you… I'll be there to offer. Someone's gotta listen to you ramble at some point, right?"

Louise managed to puff a laugh, the tease warming her cheeks. "Like you don't either… thank you, Kirche. I just don't know or feel settled enough about… well, a lot of things, but… thank you. Just knowing I have someone really in my corner besides Neb is… freeing, almost."

Kirche laughed with her and let her go. "Freeing is a good step. Let's uh… let's get some rest. I doubt we're that far off from first light at this point, and we do need to get moving the moment we can."

Louise nodded, the tiredness returning and weighing on her shoulders. "Right… we should be in sight of Newcastle by nightfall if we move at a good pace. Rest well, Kirche."

Then she blushes and fiddles with her shirt. "But uh… one more thing?"

Kirche tilted her head, only to squeak in surprise as Louise crashed their lips together and took solid grip of her head, the two descending into sloppy, desperate kisses for several minutes as Louise did all she could to drink her fill of the sensation. So it wouldn't tempt her, you see, that's why she'd tackled her still nude friend and kissed the daylights out of her!

Or… something, she was too busy blushing and scurrying back to her bedroll, Kirche dazed but hearing one last promise.

"If we make it to Newcastle and have a night to breathe… then maybe."

She went to sleep with a loopy smile on her lips,

And Louise tried to figure out how she'd ever face Wardes again, for she'd been unfaithful.

…And she was very concerned why that didn't make her as upset as it really should have.

-?-

"Good… she comes along well."

In a nebulous dimension of swirling shadows and endless black pits, a single window started out unto the scene of Louise's shame. It had seen and heard it all, as had the one within, grinning as her little nudges and whispers did their work. Oh, she'd not outright manipulated the girl to finally find some warmth, but… she couldn't claim to be entirely without 'aid' in its recourse.

"Hmph! Yer a right peace a work alright, and here I thought the snake head was bein dramatic!"

The darkness swirled and a baleful eye opened amongst the shadows, staring at the flippant sword currently 'visiting' somehow. "I've yet to understand how you came unto my realm, but you're lucky to have done so. Even a single Cerebi is beyond your ability to handle once its hellfire is in you."

Derf snorted somehow as his blade bled the accursed essence into the darkness, where it would be properly remade. "Yeah-yeah, jus get on te the part where I can handle it. I ain't lettin a bunch a hellspawn unmake me, I seen to much fer that!"

The eye slowly orbited him. "Yes, I'm sure you have, hmm… a secret then, for a secret returned. I'm a collector of course, I cannot just… give away without something in return. You understand…"

"No rust off my blade." Derf drawled as he thought on it. "Ehh… pretty sure their whole religion's a lie. Founder, bloke named Brimir, just a mage. Could use this thing called void magic, didn't really mesh with the normal system. Could blow apart armies, cancel spells, hell he could world walk if he really worked at it. Didn't do that much, think it was only once actually. Somethin spooked him. But yeah, there ya go."

The eye blinked, rather… surprised by such a forthcoming response. Devil May Care, this sword. "Very well… The essence of these demons is best understood as riotous potential. Given direction to destroy, ravage, pillage, and burn. Once its direction is lost, by the death of its host, it falls in line with the world around it and absorbs into it. You though, absorb it… so give it new purpose. It can be anything you wish it to be, but decide so quickly. Even a small reserve of it is more than your mere blade can handle for long."

"East nough to think on. Now what about that nasty bloke I saw when I was sucking the magic outta that big hound?"

The eye opened wide again and a grating chuckle filled the area. "Graawl, is his name. A hound-master extraordinaire, he's been the favored kennel keeper since the days of the first demons. Each litter to rise out of his lands of torture and anger is akin to family for him, and your group's slain several. Now with the eldest of his most recent batch dead, why… he'll not stop to see the girls dead."

Derf started to shake and rattle. "Well he can sure try, cause I ain't gonna let em!"

"Good. He seeks the staff, it's the only reason he's been given such power to appear, and with him that Pit Lord… Uncle's intentions remain yet chaotic, do stay on your guard."

Derf didn't get a word in edgewise before he was banished back to his proper place, the eye of Malassa looking back to the window.

"Yes, do stay on your guard… hounds are a notoriously stubborn and tenacious lot."

"And you'll find no safe harbor once their master is on your tail."

A small container of foundation briefly appeared in the shadows before vanishing, the cover given for now.

"He'll not be fooled a second time."

Ch. End