The estate was quiet again. Without Raine and Haelith, it felt empty. Maren tried to stay busy, helping Kathrine and trying to keep Karen out of trouble. Trace had gone down to Edinmire with the Basitin Keith, as well as Natani and Flora. She really did want to talk to Trace, but he seemed so busy nowadays, working to undo the past, and make sure he would have a future. He really was a different person, but she still felt the need to say something to him. It was afternoon when she took a break from cleaning, and stepped outside to the back patio. It was still winter, but the air was warmer than it had been, and she was comfortably warm in the sun. Sitting down, she looked into the distance. Far off was the end of the mountain range that separated the Keidran and human territories. It was shocking how close Trace had chosen to settle down, in such a hotly contested area, though his past self would most likely have been using this house as a place to launch a secret crusade against the furballs. Speaking of furballs… "Hey Sythe."

"Oh… hey." He walked onto the patio from the house, and sat down next to her. Mrs. Nibbly was curled up on his shoulder like she usually was, happily asleep. "It's quite the view, right?"

"Yeah. We didn't really get to appreciate it last time we were here."

"Well, last time we were here we were fighting for our lives. Pretty scenery was the last thing on our minds."

"Yeah…"

"Have you talked with him yet?"

"No. He's been so busy, running around, trying to fix things. I really want to believe he's changed, but…"

"You're afraid that some demon is going to come back and beat us up again?"

"Putting it lightly." The two sat and enjoyed the view in quiet for several long minutes. "Why are you here still?" Maren asked suddenly.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I'll leave…"

"Sit down, that's not what I'm talking about. I'm wondering why you've chosen to travel with us for so long. You didn't have to come with us to Valinos, and you didn't have to come with us back here. So why are you still here?"

Sythe didn't say anything for a while. She could tell he was thinking though, and waited. "Well… I guess because I don't really have anywhere else to go. When Flora decided to walk out from the arranged marriage, I went back home. I was called a failure, and when the war officially broke out, I was blamed. Not because I did anything to start it, but because I was supposed to be what united the Wolf and Tiger tribes. I became an outcast to them. So I left. I packed my things and left. When we met, I was just trying to get some cash working as a mercenary for some wandering marauders. They didn't like me, and when you dragged me along with you lot, I really had no other choice. And… I guess I've gotten a bit attached to you all. You're the first real friends I've had in months. Everyone else I knew just thinks I'm a traitor and a coward. Maybe they're right…"

"I'm not going to argue with them. You're really good at running away." Sythe frowned and turned away, frustrated. "But you're also really good at coming back." He looked over at her as she put her hand on his shoulder. "When things went south last time we were here, I was told you were searching everywhere for me. You broke me out of the ritual before I was consumed forever, and you stood up against one of Clovis' goons. Sure, you can be a coward, but you've done some pretty brave things too."

"Yeah. I did. Thanks." he smiled. "And that actually brings me to my second reason: I like you. I like all the people we've been traveling with - except maybe Maddie, she's just a punk. But I really like you. You've been willing to deal with all the crap I've brought, and then some. In some ways- actually, a lot of ways, you're my best friend."

"Just a best friend?"

Sythe didn't have to think long, but he did think. "Yeah, I think just a best friend. I honestly don't see anything more than that in our future. We've got too much going on, and we're so different. I had thought about it for a while, but I don't think that there can be anything more between us. I'm happy to just be very close friends."

Maren smiled as well. "I'm glad. I kinda was also hoping we could only be friends."

"No worries there." Sythe chuckled. "I don't want to commit to anything serious. Flora seems to have moved on just fine, but… I think I want to spend more time like this. Not tethered to anywhere but myself and my friends."

"Well, that's going to have to wait. You forget, there is a war going on, and you are a wolf."

"Eh, could be worse. Could be a Templar."

"Speaking of, where is our Templar? I haven't seen Richard since this morning."

"Don't know. Honestly, don't really care to know right now. He and Raine have been pretty close the last few weeks. I don't think he knew about her leaving until it was too late. He probably would have gone with her in a heartbeat…"

"Probably. Come on, we should make sure he's not causing trouble."

…

He couldn't stand it. Four months, at least! If she had just told him sooner, he would have been ready. He would have gone with her. She didn't give him a chance to even try. Richard paced his room, and tried to pry his mind away from her, but his eyes drifted to the bed they shared, the window they sat and enjoyed a cup of coffee in, he could almost hear her laughter as he made a fool of himself again.

He sighed, and sat down. He had never felt like this before. There was a hollow emptiness in his chest. Why did she do this to him? Why didn't he say anything to her before she was gone? He put his head in his hands, and tears welled in his eyes. He wished for nothing more than to see her return, right now, so he could say all the things he needed to. But she was gone. And she would stay gone.

But she would be back. And then he could say everything. Starting with the words that he found the hardest to say, and as tears gently rolled down his cheeks, they escaped his lips in the faintest whisper:

"I love you Raine… come back…"

…

He was there again. A test of wills, a test of endurance, a test of patience. "Why must you make this difficult for me? Just tell me what I want to know."

"I already told you what I know. She's gone, and I don't know where she gone. And I'd like to see you turn and leave too. Take that tail and get out of here, lizard."

His eyes twitched when she called him that. It made her feel good, making him squirm, and try to maintain composure, but she also knew that she shouldn't push him too far. He had made that clear, and the cut across her arm where his dagger caught her was a constant reminder. "One way or another, I will find her. I have people looking for her. This is your last chance. I will not ask you again: Tell me, where did Haelith go?"

"Is that a promise? You aint gonna ask again! Ha! Get out of here, I have people… to…" Templars had ushered every patron out of the tavern, some more forcefully than others. His footsteps were heavy, and she heard the scrape of metal against metal, and the rattling of heavy gloves wrapping around the handle of his halberd.

"Answer me. Now." She could see her own reflection in the blade, she could see her own eyes grow wide. But she could see the violet eyes of the poor woman who came to her, broken and afraid, and she made peace in her mind. She stood up tall, and furrowed her eyes.

"You don't scare me."

"I know." There was a wicked swish through the air, followed by a scream of pain and terror. Blood splattered the floor, and Aidu fell to the ground as he slashed her from waist to shoulder. The pain was unbearable, but she opened her eyes just enough to see the end: orange eyes, a sneer, and a bloody blade coming down to her head.