Author Note: I know that it's been a long time since I've posted much of anything, so here is a short interlude chapter for you all! I'm sorry for the extended break; a new job means a whole lot less down time. Thanks for your patience as I work through this, and know that I haven't forgotten about this story or any of you!

The shadows clung to her, even working to silence her footsteps as Rose walked away from the camp into the forest. They were getting closer and closer to Bale every day, albeit at a disgustingly slow pace. The king's attention to detail was often an exasperating quality. But none took it worse than Dart. The man had become an explosion waiting to happen, so tightly wound were his emotions. Rose waited daily for the fallout and was more impressed every day at how well Dart managed to keep things bottled up. But it would not last. Rose knew this more than anyone else in their little troupe.

The farther she got from the others, the better she felt, more relaxed. She hadn't wanted to admit it, but something had been bothering her, eating away at her, and she needed some time to figure it out – alone. Shana's attentiveness was... kind. But she could never understand. This was something that Rose had to sort through without any help. After all, she'd been doing it for years now; she could do it a few more.

Eventually, she stopped. Reaching out with her mind, she called the darkness to her until it wrapped about her like a cloak. Not even the moonlight managed to reach through the trees, and she took solace in the black. She'd always been slightly intrigued by her magical ability to feel everything in the darkness, to see without light. Even now, she sensed the invisible trees, the dark blades of grass, the silent shrubbery fighting for life on the forest floor. She could navigate a world of complete and utter darkness and never so much as stub her toe. It was a skill of which she was immensely proud.

And now that she could think, she sat and thought. What was this feeling that had been lurking within her for so long?

Or how long had it been? A few days? Weeks? She'd lost count.

Typical, she mused.

She focused harder, closing her eyes. When had it appeared? Hoax? So many things had happened there that it was entirely possible. Proximity to Dart had had a strange effect on her psyche that she'd chosen to ignore. But that did not seem to be the right answer. She dug around more before becoming frustrated at her inability to pinpoint her emotions. Why did she struggle like this? It had been easier once...

She shook the memories away and refocused. The feeling had started before Kazas, of that she was sure. That whole venture had been a distraction, and an effective one at that, from what had really been bothering her. She still cringed inside every time she saw those leering eyes in her mind, and in her mind she always relieved that soldier of his head. She still regretted not having done it while they were in the castle. But that was not the struggle – the grief – she sought. She wandered further back until the realization settled on her.

It had begun at the prison.

Opening her eyes to the darkness, she spoke aloud.

"Lavitz?" she asked herself skeptically. Had his death really had such an impact on her?

She swore and ran the scene through her mind once again. The wind, the sword, the blood. And the familiar stinging pain inside her. Yes, that was where it began. Remnants of that pain raced through her now as she recalled Lavitz's death, and she cursed herself as she realized the ramifications.

She'd cared about him.

A swirl of emotions flared up within her at this thought. She'd fought for so long never to care again. Caring only brought pain. Because, as Lavitz had demonstrated so splendidly, everyone died in the end.

Maybe I should just leave them now, she thought. It would make things easier. She wouldn't have to see any of the others die. She might not ever hear of their deaths, except for perhaps the king's. This journey, this petty distraction from her mission, would cease to be a problem.

Because wasn't that all this was? A distraction?

Her brow furrowed, knowing full well that she was lying to herself. She cursed herself again for being involved with these people for so long. She'd told herself over and over that it was merely her attraction to the dragoon spirits that had brought her this far. But now she understood that she was, in fact, beginning to care.

The dragoon spirits are just an excuse, she admitted to herself. Stop holding onto something you can't keep and take the easy way out. Leave.

As if in response, distant words resurfaced in her mind, simultaneously shunned and welcomed: The right way is rarely the easy way. His voice echoed in the dark silence around her, brought to life once again in her memory. The flash of his smile warmed her heart like only he'd been able to, and for one solitary moment, she fancied that she was not alone, that she was not broken, but was back with him on that day, his arms holding her heart together.

She gasped as she wrenched herself back to reality, and the black power around her faltered. She knew what he would say if he were here now. And as much as she hated to admit it, she was certain that Lavitz would say the same. She needed to stay with these people. Fate had brought her to them, and fate was guiding them now. To what end, she did not know. But she knew that whatever end came, she was meant to be there. Just like last time.

And besides... the best way to honor Lavitz's memory was to protect the people he'd loved the most.

Rose released the darkness around her, and moonlight sprang to life through the trees. She shirked away from it at first, but soon adjusted to the feeling.

Perhaps, as miserable as her life had been, she could manage to care once again without fear. But, she knew, that day was still long in the distance.

His face appeared before her once again. He held out his hand to lift her from the ground.

Baby steps, he said.