Lucline came to, Rasina's hand running through her hair. She sat up quickly and looked around.

"Rasina, what happened?"

Her lovers pulled her in. "Listen, Lucline. They took Tira."

Those words were like a dagger to her heart, but she knew it was true. She remembered the Hooded Commander grabbing the girl and fleeing with her.

"After they did, you pretty much single handed routed our foes."

Lucline's eyes fell on a spear leaning against the wall. She sighed, it would have to come out now.

"I'm sorry I kept it from you. My parents indentured me out as a squire to the Order of the Lily as a child. I was supposed to be trained up as a Knight of Dibella. However, through some error or twist of fate, I ended up in the wrong location. Instead of the very public Order of the Lily, I had arrived at the secret Order of the Spear. These were knights that forswore magic and armor and honed their bodies into weapons instead. I'm sure you wondered why I could never cast expert level destruction magics."

Rasina nodded. "I did. I knew you didn't use poisons for your main offense and thought it odd you were restricted to lower-level attack magic."

"I've been practicing, but my true offensive abilities are polearms and unarmed fighting. I wanted to be a mage, not a monk. So, I repressed my abilites and hoped I could just live as a mage and alchemist."

Rasina pulled her close and rested Lucline's head on her shoulder. "I understand, I think. You can be yourself with me."

Lucline felt her eyes heat up. "Still, until we save Tira, I won't be holding back."

Lobamog came in, his expression serious. "The Branch office has been abandoned. None of the other Society members are there, not even Minrre. I'm unsure if the Brotherhood dealt with them or not but it's odd that none of them are there."

Talsma and Vasfer appeared in the door behind him.

"We can't ask you three to risk your lives in dealing with this." Lucline said. "Tira was entrusted to me, but you all should get out before it's too late."

Lobamog laughed. 'it's already too late. The Commander knows we fought alongside you. We will be targeted if the Brotherhood wins anyways. My magic is at your disposal, ladies."

Talsma brandished her crossbow. "This one and her brother will also throw their lots in with you ladies. They broke the wheels on this one's carriage. There is no where in Nirn or Oblivion they can hide from these one's wraith."

Tears made hot tracks down her face as she smiled at the others. "Thank you, everyone. We need a lead or something to figure out where they went. So, we can find the Brotherhood."

At that moment, there was a yell from outside.

"Come out with your hands up. Everyone in that house is under arrest for the murder for four watchmen last night."

Lucline wanted to scream. The goons that she had killed last night had infiltrated the watch. They could explain, but that would take too long. Tira's life was hanging in the balance.

Lobamog smiled and illusion magic flowed to his hands. "Here is what we are going to do. We are going to grab what supplies we can, then I'll cast a large invisibility spell and we will sneak out of here. I know a cave we can hide in outside town while we plan out next step."

Lucline looked at Rasina who cut her off with a jerk of her head. "No, I will not leave you to face this alone."

Lucine frowned. "But love, you'll be wanted for murder if you don't set the record straight. You won't be able to return home again."

Rasina wrapped her in her arms. "My home now is wherever you are. And your heart is telling you to find and save Tira. So, it is my honor to help you. We can start again in another place outside Sentinel where the warrants won't matter. Even if that means we must leave Hammerfell."

Lucline cupped her cheek. "It's not fair, that you're making all the sacrifices."

Rasina gave her a smile. "I'm sure you'll repay me some day. For now, we need to save Tira. Come on, let's get a move on."

Lucline left the spear against the wall but grabbed her potion pouch and the alchemy kit. She packed what clothes she could and left the rest. She put on the Sun Cloak and they all went to the window. Lobamog cast his spell and they headed out into the city.

A/N: We start to approach the end of the first Arc of the Dufrey Diaries. I hope you'll join me tomorrow for the next part.