Shana stood as Dart walked over to her, clutching his bleeding right arm. "Are you alright?" she asked, trying to hide the worry in her voice. Glancing over the wound, she was irritated that Rose would be careless enough, or cruel enough, to hurt him like this so close to an important battle.

"Yeah, it's not as bad as it looks," said Dart, even as several drops of blood fell to the earth.

Shana retrieved some bandaging materials and healing herbs from her pack and proceeded to tend to the deep cut. She was alarmed at the damage, fearing that it might become infected without being stitched closed, but she knew that there was little she could do here besides bind it. After dabbing the wound with a cloth, she pressed ground herbs and a bandage on it and wound it tightly. Dart winced several times.

Rose joined them during this process, and Shana couldn't help but cast her several irritated glances. Shana's frustration escalated when she noticed that Rose held no interest in Dart's wound whatsoever, but preferred to sit alone indifferently, almost as if nothing had happened at all. Shana sighed sharply at the woman's flippant attitude. After ensuring the stability of the bandage, she reclaimed her seat next to Lavitz, eyeing Rose angrily, trying to discern any amount of guilt or regret. She found none.

Fingering his bandage, Dart sat next to her before turning to Lavitz with a broad smile. "Did you see that?" he asked excitedly.

Flashing a white grin, Lavitz said, "Yeah! That was amazing!" He leaned forward. "I admit, I still can't quite believe all this. You've been handed such a gift, Dart, and I can't wait to see how you use it. I mean, you can create fire? Imagine what could be accomplished!"

"Man, I can't quite believe it myself," returned Dart. Shana noted a hint of trepidation in his voice. "And being able to fly, that could've been so helpful in Hoax, especially with those people climbing over the walls and everything. I could have attacked them before they even hit the ground."

"Exactly! So much potential."

They continued for some time, discussing various battle tactics that could be employed in three dimensions and with the additional factor of fire, while Shana listened distractedly, nodding and chuckling at the appropriate times. Her eyes stayed focused on Rose, who always distanced herself from them. Occasionally, Shana caught slight changes in her expression, and she decided that Rose must be listening in on the conversation, but making no effort to join in or interact in any way. Occasionally she would raise an eyebrow or roll her eyes just after some of the men's more daring and dramatic ideas, but for the most part remained stone-faced, staring at the ground just before her feet. Shana was puzzled at how Rose could stay still for so long without shifting her weight.

After perhaps half an hour, Rose stood abruptly and walked toward her dark horse, stating, "We should be moving now. We've spent long enough here." Without hesitation, she mounted the horse and started toward the road, waiting at the edge for them.

Dart, Shana, and Lavitz stood, stretching their muscles, before gathering their items and mounting their horses as well. Dart and Lavitz took the lead and began chatting immediately, and Shana found herself riding next to Rose in an uncomfortable silence.

Shana spent several minutes trying to invent a topic of conversation, but arrived at nothing. Rose had emanated an air of hostility since the moment Shana had met her, and now was no exception. Part of her feared that if she spoke, Rose would react harshly, but she also felt that Rose was judging her for her silence. Eventually, Shana began to hope the road would narrow and force them to move single file, allowing her some semblance of relief. But it did not come. They rode in silence for almost an hour, with nothing but the muted rumble of Dart's and Lavitz's voices, ever locked in conversation before them. A couple times, Shana tried to insert herself into this conversation, but it only ever bought her about a minute of reprieve before they returned to their previous state. To Shana's surprise, their silence was finally broken by Rose herself.

"Tell me about Dart," she said plainly.

After a glint of shock, Shana felt a flash of anger - or was it jealousy? - and glanced over at Rose, who was staring indifferently ahead. For a brief moment, Shana wondered if she had heard the question in her mind, but then Rose turned to her expectantly. Shana shrank under the gaze of those piercing eyes, and she quickly looked away. Her eyes landed on Dart, perhaps fifteen feet ahead.

His shaggy hair was being tousled by the wind, that rebellious hair that she loved so dearly. Its growth over the past five years had led to Dart's haphazardly trimming it, but she liked it this way. Something about it was endearing to her, and she hoped it remained so beautifully haphazard. As he smiled in his conversation with Lavitz, she wondered if he was worried about the fight ahead, and if he had really come to terms with this new power he had inherited from his father. Knowing Dart to hide his own doubts and trepidation, she feared that he was more concerned than he let on. She wished so dearly that she could help him understand what she thought of him.

Returning to the peculiarity of Rose's question, Shana's jealousy returned. It seemed strange to her that Rose should be so willing to go fight a dragon with them, no matter if she was a dragoon or not. And Rose's strange attachment to Dart was nothing to be taken lightly. Shana wondered at the nature of Rose's strange fascination with him, and decided to sift out the possibilities with a question of her own.

"What about him do you want to know?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady and carefree.

"How long have you had feelings for him?"

The bluntness of this question struck her forcefully. How could Rose have possibly known? She had only been around them for a couple days, and Shana hadn't done anything out of the ordinary to make her think that way.

"What?" exclaimed Shana. "I don't-"

"Don't try to deny it," said Rose calmly. "I've seen how you look at him. How you're attentive to his needs. There's an obvious connection between the two of you, and I want to know how far back it goes."

"I-I guess…" Shana stumbled over her words. The only person to whom she had confided this information was Lavitz, and then indirectly. Did she really want Rose knowing her deepest thoughts? Could she trust her? More than anything else, she was painfully aware that Rose would push her to an answer, whether she wanted to divulge it or not.

After a deep breath, she admitted, "I guess ever since I was little. Maybe seven or eight. But I don't think he feels the same." Her voice fell. She had known for some time that Dart did not reciprocate her emotions, and she was frustrated at how plainly everyone but him seemed to be able to see her heart. In Bale, the king had noticed immediately, and now Rose as well. Was she really that transparent? If so, did Dart really not know?

"I wouldn't be so sure," said Rose. "He cares about you. This much is clear. If I had to hazard a guess, I would say that you are the reason he continues to fight. Don't lose hope yet."

Casting another glance at Rose, Shana saw nothing but the same cold, stern gaze staring fixedly at some point ahead of them. Such kind advice forced Shana to reevaluate her hasty judgment of Rose. Perhaps beneath her cold exterior there was actually someone kind and caring. The only question was how long it might take to see that person.

Several minutes later, they passed a great sycamore tree on the right, its white bark glinting brightly in the sunlight. Clearly, this was some kind of landmark, as Lavitz suddenly turned and called, "We need to pick up the pace. The Seventh Fort is just a couple hours ahead if we hurry."

And with that, the group quickened their pace to a gallop, quickly leaving the forested terrain behind them. Some time later, they crested a large, rocky hill and found themselves looking out over a long, deep valley stretching across their path. In the middle wound a long river, meandering to and fro, flowing toward the south as it sprouted out of a dense tree line a couple miles to their left. On either side of the river lay a wet marshland, perpetually flooded by the water rushing out of the mountains before them.

Lavitz came to an abrupt halt and turned to face them.

Pointing to the north, he said, "Way over there where the trees start back up again is where we're headed. We should make our way north along this crest as long as possible to avoid trudging through the marsh."

Taking the lead, Lavitz turned them north. They made their way along the linear hill, treading carefully against the loose stones. Over the next hour, the hot sun gave way to several clouds, and far to the south a dark horizon threatened rain. The trees to the north drew ever nearer until Lavitz decided that it was time to climb down the hill.

They began their descent, going down at an angle for better footing. Moving in single file now, Shana fell in line behind Dart, with Rose behind her. As the dull rhythm of horses' hooves sounded in her ears, her mind began to wander.

As she reviewed the past couple weeks, she thought back to that night in Hoax, Dart lying unconscious for so many hours. She knew she would never forget the pain she had hidden within her as she worried that he would never wake. Lavitz had reassured her many times, somehow always able to see all of her anxieties, but she had also been able to discern his own hidden doubt. His selflessness had always been something that had surprised her. Ever since Hellena, he never failed to put others before himself, no matter the circumstance. Always, he was mindful of others and their feelings. Although she had only known him for a short time, he had already impacted her greatly. His encouraging words spoken that night in Bale had brought her comfort whenever she had thought of them, and she found herself trusting him more and more. He had proven a faithful and caring friend.

More than all this, she was grateful for the friendship he had brought to Dart, although it sometimes puzzled her. She couldn't quite understand how men could be so comfortable around each other so quickly. Her relationship with Rose had shown no such promise. Where Dart had trusted Lavitz with his life mere minutes after meeting him, Shana was unsure if Rose would put forth any effort to help her should she need it. She was constantly distant, whether literally, by standing off a short distance, or emotionally, by her cold and stern demeanor. Shana was slightly disturbed at how Rose never smiled, and she wondered what kinds of trauma could have led her to her current state, because it didn't make sense that anyone would choose to be so cruel and unfeeling.

She supposed that it had something to do with Rose's old friends that she had mentioned in Hoax. Although she hadn't said what happened to them, it seemed that it was something terrible, and because of this, Shana felt badly for Rose. She was sure that whatever had happened was the cause of Rose's bitterness, but Shana was unsure as to how to help her. Perhaps if Rose would just talk about it, it would make her feel better. Shana had experienced this many times.

In her youth, Shana had gone to Dart to vent about her inner frustrations, and he had always listened well. No matter what kind of stressful day she had been through, telling Dart about it had always made her feel better. She had always been able to trust him with her inner heart. However, ever since they reunited, she felt a strange wall between them. Where they used to freely share their emotions with one another, they now hid them inside. That day in Indels Castle was the closest Dart had come to opening up to her since he had left Seles five years ago.

However, she knew that he was not the only one who did this. She, too, felt incapable of talking freely with him. Strangely, she simultaneously felt as though nothing had changed, and yet that they were two completely different people. As much as she wished that she were able, she could not quite bring herself to open up to someone she barely knew.

She laughed at herself. Dart may be different, but he's still Dart, she thought. Glancing up at him once again, she felt her love for him swell unexpectedly. Blushing, despite her relative solitude, she scolded herself for being so transparent.

The bigger reason that she hid herself from him was much deeper. Ever since she was little, Dart had always been there to rescue her. Even when she was captured by a cruel enemy, Dart had charged headfirst into a heavily-fortified evil prison to get her out. And ever since that day, he had never stopped assuming that she was weak and incapable of defending herself. She was not the same little girl he had left behind. While he was gone, she had come to rely on herself, forced to grow up without him there to lean on. And now, she longed to prove this to him. She wanted him to know that she was not as frail as he supposed; she was a fighter.

Admittedly, she had noticed a slight change in his attitude toward her since Hellena. As each day passed, his respect for her capabilities grew, although she knew that there was far yet to go. She longed for the day when they could fight side by side, without him casting her out of the fray in an effort to preserve her. But she feared that all this progress would be lost instantly if she told him of her struggles.

And so she kept them inside and didn't tell him. She didn't tell him that she lived in constant fear that Sandora would find her again and take her away. She didn't tell him that that strange scene in the cave resurfaced in her mind each day, plaguing her with worry over what could happen. She didn't tell him that even though he was now a powerful dragoon, she worried that they would be unable to overpower the dragon, and that he would be killed. But most of all, she didn't tell him that she loved him because she worried that he didn't feel the same. Every day, even now, she longed to wrap her arms around him and confess, but her fear of his indifference never ceased to overcome that drive.

She raised her head to look at him as they neared the base of the hill. Although she knew all his flaws, every time she saw him, he seemed altogether perfect. She could never imagine spending her life apart from him.

As they reached the valley, the ground turned abruptly soft. Picking up the pace, Lavitz led them northeast toward the tall, twisted trees. Despite the distance between them, Shana could feel the tension rising within Lavitz. He was eager to reach the fort in the hopes of providing whatever aid he could, but tense for fear of what he might find there. The eerie silence pressing over the marshes was an unnerving indicator. Shana hoped for his sake that the soldiers there were still alive.

Slipping into the tree line, Lavitz stiffened, jaw clenching tight, breathing becoming labored. Even Dart seemed tenser, although Rose showed no such change. Darkness crept over them as heavy clouds rolled in above them to block out what little light made it through the tree canopy. They began to listen intently for any sounds of conflict ahead of them, and the persistent lack of it only served to intensify their anxieties. As they continued east, the trees grew thicker and the ground softer, until their path became difficult. They squeezed between trees as mud splashed about them, coating the horses' legs.

Finally they came upon a path, a wooden boardwalk had been built a few inches above the mud. The horses gratefully stepped up onto this small road, and the group followed it to the left.

After several minutes, Lavitz broke the tense silence and said, "Something's wrong." He shook his head, his brow furrowed in worry. "We should be hearing something by now." Urging his horse forward, he quickened their pace once again.

They turned several corners as the boardwalk wound through the trees. Steadily, the muddy ground gave way to standing water, eventually covering the entire forest floor. Tall gangly roots rose up out of the water, some only a few inches tall and others taller than the horses. The sky grew ever darker.

Just as Shana began to wonder if they would ever make it, they came upon the fort. The tall stone structure jutted high into the trees, but was badly damaged. Gaping holes opened the inside to the elements, and the wooden gate had been hewn open, splinters of wood scattered about. Large chunks of stone jutted out of the shallow water at the base of the trees.

Shana gasped as she surveyed the area. Strewn about were countless dead, both Basil and Sandora soldiers. Several dead soldiers lay across the boardwalk, one staring blankly into the sky, blood staining the wood beneath him. At least a dozen men lay half buried in mud or floating on the water, and to Shana's horror, one body lay impaled on one of the taller tree roots.

As soon as he saw the carnage, Lavitz cried out, quickly dismounting and sprinting toward the gate. Dart called out after him and followed, and Shana hurried to do the same. Much to Shana's irritation, Rose seemed in no hurry.

Trying to keep her stomach, Shana stepped over the men on the boardwalk, casting one wayward glance at the man on the root, and entered the fort to find Lavitz on his knees, holding up the ragged body of a soldier. Rushing over to him, Shana saw that the man was still alive, but only just. His breathing was ragged, and he struggled to lift his eyes to Lavitz. She could see no wounds on him, but it was clear that he was near death.

"Sir… Lavitz?" he whispered in a raspy voice.

"Yes, I'm here," said Lavitz, voice cracking. "What happened?"

The soldier took several labored breaths before saying, with great difficulty, "The dragon… attacked-" He fought for air. "Poison in its… breath."

A tear fell from Lavitz's cheek onto the soldier's armor, and he said, "I'll tell them about you. About how you fought bravely. And we'll stop the dragon. I promise."

As the soldier fought to keep his eyes open, he managed to get out one more word: "Thank…" Then his eyes closed, and he was gone.

For a moment longer, Lavitz stayed there, staring at the soldier's face.

"Lavitz," said Dart quietly.

Slowly, Lavitz laid the body on the floor and stood, shaking his head in despair. Shana's heart went out to him, but she knew that she could do nothing to help.

"How many people…" said Lavitz, voice shaking. "How many people do they have to kill before they stop!" His voice rose to a shout, and he struck the wall near him with his fist. He then turned and slid down the wall, holding his head in his hands and releasing a flow of tears.

Shana's own eyes welled at the sight, and she sat down and placed her arm around Lavitz, crying with him. She struggled to understand his pain and the great loss he felt. Only a few weeks before, his own men had died fighting against Sandora, and so many more had been slain at Hoax. And now, it seemed that the Seventh Fort held no survivors. It felt wrong that Lavitz had been dealt such a hand, and she silently joined in his vow to bring justice to this tragedy.

After several long minutes, the sobs ebbed away and Lavitz wiped away his tears. He stared at the floor, defeated. Shana raced through her mind in an effort to formulate some grand speech to revive his morale, but she knew that it was in vain. Nothing she could say could ease the pain. Eventually, Lavitz stopped and looked up at Dart, eyes still red and swollen. Dart offered a hand, which Lavitz took, and pulled him up to his feet. Shana stood, wiping tears from her face, noting Rose's shadowy presence near the door.

"We're going to fight, and we're going to win," said Dart. "We won't let their deaths be in vain."

Sniffing, Lavitz said, "You're right. We'll go to the dragon's nest. It can't run from us there."

Dart cracked a small smile and patted Lavitz on the shoulder.

"We should check for other survivors," said Lavitz flatly.

They agreed, and promptly began walking through the many rooms of the fort. Shana only grew more and more disheartened as they found body after body lying dead. She continuously watched Lavitz for any other reactions, but found nothing but a stony, determined expression. His grief was palpable.

On the top floor of the fort, they were surprised to find a Sandora soldier still clinging to life. His movements were slight, and his breathing ragged, but he was alive. Upon approach, Shana felt her stomach roil as she saw his bloody wound, already showing early signs of infection.

Upon seeing Lavitz, the soldier recoiled, fear striking his face. "N-no…" he managed to say. "Don't…"

Lavitz and Dart knelt beside him, looking over his wound. Shana slightly expected to hear Lavitz condemn the man, but instead, he said, "Don't worry. We won't hurt you."

Catching Lavitz's eye, Dart muttered quietly, "He's not going to make it. Maybe a day."

"You're in pain," said Lavitz. "Let us help you."

"Wh-why?"

"Because nobody deserves to die this way."

"Wait," said the man. Lavitz and Dart eyed him questioningly. "The… the d-dragon is…"

"The dragon is what?" prompted Dart.

After several quick and labored breaths, the soldier responded, "East. F-forest. The dark… forest."

"Thank you," said Lavitz. "I'll make sure everyone knows that you helped us."

Eyes pleading, the soldier glanced back and forth between Dart and Lavitz before saying, "Kill me. Please."

Both men stood, and Lavitz grasped his lance, tears welling once again. Dart approached Shana, turning her toward the door, and she allowed him to lead her away down the stairs as she heard the lance sink sharply into the soldier's heart. A moment later, the sound of his breath came to an end. Lavitz followed them down, wiping his eyes once more. Shana struggled to fight back her own emotions as they came to the ground floor.

The three of them turned toward the door, where Rose was watching silently, stoic as ever. As they began walking toward the door, Rose turned and made her way back to the horses. The other three followed, disheartened from the devastation of the Seventh Fort, but determined to avenge every soldier who died there. Shana wrestled with the rampant death as they rode away. Knowing the toll that this had taken on Lavitz, she kept an eye on him at all times. She only hoped that they would truly be able to bring about the justice that they sought.