In the Swamp of Sog:
Maudra Laesid was known as a strong healer with patience and grace by her people and by the rest of Thra. She knew that her presence at the battle of the Crystal Castle was impossible, it was clear that the Maudras were needed to help lead the Gelfling through this hard time. Yet she struggled to sleep knowing her children were soldiers sent into the battle, she wished she could have kept them away from the fight. She had left some of her top healers at Stone-in-the-Wood to help in case of injuries, but it didn't feel like enough. She sat up in her bed, she was feeling a pull to the Endless Forest, like she was needed there. Had battle been gruesome? How many lives had been lost? she was going to send a letter to Maudra Yre first thing, or maybe she would go herself.
It was a humid night, and she could feel the moisture clinging to her as if a barrier to the world. Perhaps she was overreacting, no news is meant to be good news, right? She took a deep breath and listened to the silence of the swamp. Breathe in. Breathe out. Something felt wrong. Something was definitely wrong.
"Bellanji," she shook her husband.
"Hmm?," he could barely open his eyes.
"Something is not right," she said to him and felt a prickle on the nape of her neck. What was wrong? She wasn't sure but there was something... she couldn't quite place it.
"What is not right is that it's night and you are awake," he joked half asleep.
It's night, it clicked inside Maudra Laesid's head. There was never silence in the Swamp of Sog, even at night the Pimlins would chatter and the Gizzizzy would croak relentlessly. The stillness echoed in her ears, there was barely a whisper of the light wind, something was certainly wrong.
"Bellanji," she didn't waste time shaking him. She got out of bed abruptly and went to grab her robes. "We must hurry, something is not right."
"Not right?," he repeated with a yawn.
A horn blew from outside her home, it was faint but audible. It was a signal; a watchman must have seen something. Maudra Laesid had put watchman out after the second battle at Stone-in-the-Wood. She knew Skeksis were conniving and would stoop to any low. Bellanji heard the horn and sat with a jolt, now even he could not deny that his wife had been right. Something was wrong.
"Gather the village. We leave immediately."
"Leave? Laesid, wait. Leave where?"
"We go to Stone-in-the-Wood. Now! GO!," she nearly barked the order to her husband, which was much a surprise to him. This was not the patient and graceful wife he had known for so many years. He ran out the door of their home, many of the Drenchens had heard the horn and emerged from their homes, Bellanji was already giving instructions to them.
Something is wrong, she tried to sweep the fear of the unknown away, she needed a level head. She couldn't spare a though for Stone-in-the-Wood, not now. Now she had to be a Maudra to her people and that meant taking them to safety. Laesid couldn't explain the prickle on her neck and the pull to get away from the swamps. It was something she was not going to ignore, if her instincts were telling her to flee from her lifelong home then she was going to oblige. She had finished dressing when the sound of a second horn blared, this one closer to village.
"Mother?," Pemma, her youngest daughter, emerged from her room rubbing her eyes.
"Get dressed, my child, and wake your sister now!"
"I'm awake," Eliona shouted from inside her bedroom.
"Be quick! Get dressed! We must leave at once!"
"But mother," Pemma was shaking, no chance of her being cold on a humid night like this. She was scared.
"There is no time," Maudra Laesid put a hand on her daughters shoulder, trying to comfrot her but also being firm. "We must be quick, we must leave for our safety. Please hurry!"
Pemma nodded, she had many questions she wanted to ask her mother, but she knew it was not the time. Her mother's voice was strong, but strained she only ever spoke like this when she herself was worried.
The Grottan Village:
"When single shines the triple sun," Deet mumbled the words to herself.
She had repeated the prophecy over and over again trying to make sense of it all. Mother Aughra said it would be revealed in time, but she needed to hurry back to her observatory. She never told them of the odd creatures in the prophecy or what it all meant, but maybe that was part of it? Maybe the Gelfling had to figure it out on their own without her help? Deet wasn't sure.
"What was sundered and undone shall be whole- the two made one," Deet continued out loud, looking for clues hidden in the stone. She helped build all day, but when it was time to rest, she always found herself here. She would stare at the mural of words and art, hoping something in her mind could pull it all together and make it make sense.
"By Gelfling hand or else by none," she finished and raised her head to the stone, her eyes looking for new clues hidden among the pictures.
"Dala basheouiou," Hup also pondered with her.
"Well, the triple suns are obviously the three brothers: the Greater sun, the Rose sun, and the Dying sun."
"Ye ye," Hup agreed.
Deet resisted the urge to look at the sky, to look towards the Dying sun as a pressure in her chest intensifyied. It was something primal, something she could not understand but she attributed it to her time consumed by the Darkening. The Dying sun had been her guide, her map to this very place where she sat, maybe in a way it had been her salvation. It did not change the eerie feeling she had when lingering her eyes on the small purple sphere in the sky.
"Single shines the triple sun? They all are in different places in the sky, they never shine as one," Deet sighed, she felt defeated by the unending knot if thoughts buzzing in her head. It was then that it clicked. "Wait! Wait... The Great Conjunction! That must be it! When single shines the triple sun is the Great Conjunction!," she jumped and Hup clapped.
"Ye! All sun are one! Gair Galvir!," Hup explained the the Polding also celebrate the Great Conjuction.
"But what of the rest? What is sundered and undone shall be whole, the two made one? But this is done by Gelfing hand? What could the Gelfling fix that is broken in Thra? First, I must find what is broken."
"Broken?," Hup was deep in thought.
She and Hup then went off to find her father who was helping put a roof over the third home built in their new oasis. The new village was coming along slowly compared to what could have been down if the whole clan had been here, but progress was still evident. More of the clan missed the comforts of the caves they had called home for so long, leading to an expansion of the underground section of the new village. Hup had been so great, always willing to help in any way he could. She was so lucky to have such an amazing friend with her.
"I see you finally reached your decision," Maudra Argot appeared out of nowhere.
"What decision?"
"You are going back to Stone-in-the-Wood, are you not?"
"I was... I mean, I... I was looking for my father," Deet didn't deny it.
Maudra Argot cackled and held her cane," You, Deet, are like no other."
"Maudra Argot?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you know of anything broken in Thra? Anything that needs to be put back together?"
"Besides my knee," she joked, then went quiet to focus. "Is anything really broken? What do you think is whole in Thra?"
"Lots of things! The flowers and bugs! The mud and the river! Many thing here are the way they should be."
"Sun! Alma-gana! Caasioubae!," Hup added to her list and then smiled," Mud!"
Deet chuckled and Maudra Arogt couldn't fight the grin on her face.
"So much is whole, but yet you seek to fix something?"
Deet sighed," It's the prophecy, Maudra. 'What is sundered and undone shall be whole, the two made one'," she recited it again. "I need to find what is not whole."
"Mhhh," Maudra Argot thought a moment longer. "I cannot think of anything that is broken that a Gelfling would need to fix," she murmured. "But you have yet to answer my own question, Deethra. Are you going back to Stone-in-the-Wood?"
"I feel like I'm needed here," she admitted shyly. "I don't want to abandon my clan."
"Oh Deet," Maudra Argot gently patted her back. "You are the one who left at the command of the Santuary Tree to save us all. You went to warn the All-Maudra of the Darkening and saved us from the Arathim. You even made peace with the Arathim and found us a new home! You have helped us build," she laughed. "You alone have saved us, you have not abandoned us.
"But if I leave now I-..."
"You have your own destiny, Deethra. You descovered this prophecy! Perhpas you play a bigger part in it then you realize."
"Do you think so?"
Maudra Argot shrugged," I am an old Gelfling now," she laughed again. "Who knows what my mind is doing," she limped along side Deet as they walked. "You have so much life left, Deet. You must go and live. Live while there is still life to have," she winked. "And you must of course take the Podling with you."
"Ye! Hup with Deet!," he cheered. "Back to Stone-in-Wood."
Deet pondered this and then said," I'm going to Stone-in-the-Wood. We need help to fufill this prophecy. Hup and I will also check on my dad and bring back word about the battle."
"You have a great destiny to come, Deethra. Lath'N and Mitjan will always be proud of their daughter," Maudra Argot gave a gentle smile as a ball rolled into her leg. We turned to see Bobb'N and a Stonewood child running towards it in pursuit of their missing toy. "Now I must go show the young ones how to properly play," Maudra Argot kicked the ball and used her cane to carry her as she laughed with the children. Hup ran with them, trying his best to kick the ball too.
Deet carried on to find her father hammering away on the top of it. She call him down and explain her plan, how much this means to me and all she wants to accomplish. He hugs his daughter tightly and makes her promise to stay safe. They both look over the beginning of a new home, a place that is truely thier own and Deet feels hopeful.
At Stone-in-the-Wood:
"I should return to Ha'rar," Brea was trying to plead her case to Maudra Yre.
"I understand you long for home, but we must not be rash," Maudra Yre barely looked to the Gelfling princess before her.
"I understand you are dealing with so much here, Maudra Yre. I don't not wish to burden you further and I know my sister is worried about my whereabouts."
"I have sent word to the All-Maudra," Maudra Yre stood from her desk. " She knows you are here and safe."
"At home is where I will be most useful to our cause, Maudra Yre. There I have my library and resources to help me decipher the book."
"The book?," Maudra Yre seemed confused momentarily, but the moment passed, "Oh yes, the book to understand the Darkening?"
"Not really the Darkening, but maybe it will help us understand what's going on with Deet," Brea nodded. "I'm not sure what I'll learn from this book, but I hope it has the key to help explain Deet and the powers she seems to have gotten from the Sanctuary Tree."
"I'm sorry, Brea," Mauydra Yre sighed, and her posture crumpled. "I cannot allow you to leave the village because the Garthim could be out there."
"I would be safe, I assure you."
"Brea," Maudra Yre sighed again, she obviously was ready for this conversation to be over. The Gelfling wage war with the Skeksis and here she was asking to go home in the middle of it all, she felt a twinge of embarrassment. Brea knew she must look like a wishy-washy little princess, asking to run home to her sister and hide away from the battles to come. Brea didn't even let Maudra Yre finish her thought.
"Forgive me," she bowed her head slightly. "I know how busy you are, and I nag you with this worthless request."
"I know your wish is not nag me," Maudra Yre replied. "You have yet to see a Garthim, have you not?"
Brea shook her head," No, I saw one when I was in the Castle," she held in the shudder that sprung down her spine.
"Then you know the danger we now face. I cannot send you to Ha'rar without a safe route, you know Seladon would have my head."
Brea was shocked by her words but lightened when she saw the exhausted smile lingering on Maudra Yre's face, she had somehow in this time of darkness found a way to make a joke. Brea smile in return.
"I will stay, I'm sure I can crack some of the meaning behind this book here."
"Very good."
"MAUDRA YRE! MAUDRA YRE!"
Shouting from outside the main hall. Brea turned, scared of what this could all mean, but Maudra Yre stood tall and ready to face the consequences. A Spriton soldier burst into the doors, pushing past the guards and brazenly looking for a sign of Maudra Yre. He spotted her and bolted," Maudra Yre! Come Quickly!
"What is it, soldier?," she met him halfway across the room, her long dignified strides carrying her quickly.
"A scout! He spotted something coming from the East," the Spriton was out of breath.
"What did he spot?!," Maudra Yre wanted to be patient but needed to know immediately. "Was it Garthim? Are they coming for us?!"
He took in a large breath," Drenchens are near, many injured... I ran as fast as I could. Rian getting healers."
"Drenchens...," Maudra Yre's face was an open book, she was obviously not expecting these words to come from the soldier's mouth.
"Why are the Drenchens coming here?," Maudra Yre murmured to herself.
"Why are they injured?," Brea asked another looming question.
"I must go now," she said as she was already running away.
"Stay and catch your breath," Brea told the Spriton before following Maudra Yre, they zoomed through the village heading East. Brea could hear the commotion before she could see what was happening. She felt her stomach turn and she was reminded of the Crystal chamber, the sounds of shouting, the smell of blood. Brea covered her mouth to stop herself from repeating her past, she willed the vomit to retreat.
"Maudra Laesid," Maudra Yre found the Drenchen leader stumbling with a dazed expression. She had a cut across her face and blood smeared down her neck and on her robes. She looked lost, her eyes were hazy and she barely turned to the sound of her name. Her youngest daughter was by her side, trying to help her walk as she tripped on her own feet.
"What has happened, Maudra Laesid," Maudra Yre took her hand in hers, turning so they face one another.
"Black," Maudra Laesid moaned. "Black everywhere! They came in the night!"
Maudra Yre gripped Maudra Laesid's head tightly and looked into her eyes," Look at me, Laesid. Look at me! You're here. You're at Stone-in-the-Wood. You're safe."
"Stone-in-the-Wood... Stone-in-the-Wood... Stone-in-the-Wood...," Maudra Laesid repeated over and over.
"Mother," Pemma began to cry.
"She must be in shock," Brea helped Maudra Laesid sit on a nearby rock. "Do you think it was the Garthim?"
Maudra Yre looked at the other Drenchens, they were all bruised and bloody, some in horrible shape, she wondered how they made it here. Maudra Yre turned to the young Drenchen girl who was cut all down her arms and her clothes were nearly torn off, it was Maudra Leasid's daughter.
"Tell me what happened?," she meant to ask kindly, but it came out as harsh command.
The girl jumped and hugged herself, smearing blood onto her hands. "We heard the horns; horns are a warning. Mother told us to leave but we nearly didn't escape. There were these claws, they grabbed us... I could barely see, I just kept trying to run."
Maudra Yre knew it was the Garthim, there was no other explanation. The Skeksis had sent them out to destroy the Drenchens. Why the Drenchens? Was it some strategic? Are they trying to pick us off one by one? Maudra Yre could see the chaos was starting to settle, there weren't as many Drenchens as there should have been. The Garthim were mostly successful in their task, but not to the extent of the Spritons. Maudra Laesid had managed to save a good amount of her clan.
"Come Laesid, let's get you healed."
"Mother!," Gurjin slid to his knees before his mother. "Oh sweet Thra!," he gripped her tightly.
"My son," Laesid wept into her Gurjin's hair. Her blood stained his cheeks, but he wasn't bothered by it, he only cared that his mother was alive and safe.
"What happened? Who did this to you?," he looked at the cut on her face, then he saw his younger sister. "Oh Pemma!," he hugged her.
"Gurjin, it was awful," Pemma cried.
"Garthim," Maudra Yre explained.
"The Garthim!?," Gurjin's hands clenched with fury.
"My son! I am blessed by Thra! Thank Mother Aughra," she held him close once more. "You are safe and well, I am truly thankful."
"Mother, where is father?," Gurjin looked for a sign of his father. "Where is Eliona?"
Maudra Laesid closed her eyes and another tear fell down her cheek, then she fell into her son's chest and sobbed. He wrapped his arms around her, a tear falling from his own eye as he needed no words to know what she meant. His father was with Thra. Brea was stirred by the moment and her own eyes watered at the despair of the situation, the Skeksis had managed to nearly annihilate another clan. Many Drenchen's lives were lost, and Maudra Yre felt responsible for it all. She could never ask if Maudra Laesid had received her letter, if only she had sent it sooner to warn her of the Garthim. Would it have been enough time for her to prepare?
"Eliona is there," Pemma pointed to her older sister. She was working to help heal the wounded.
"Go to her," Gurjin urged. "Heal your wounds."
Pemma wiped her tears," No, I can't leave, mother."
"She is safe here," Brea told her.
"Go, my child, I am with your brother. Heal your wounds."
Pemma left reluctantly and Maudra Laesid waited for her to be gone before turning to her son. She now had a question to ask. "What of Naia? Is she here?"
Gurjin's head dropped, how could he possibly tell his mother of his sister's death? Especially now with the loss of his father? Hearing the new alone had nearly destroyed him, he was barely keeping it together and now this?
"No... No! No! No no no no!," Maudra Laesid fell again into her son and they mourned the loss of their loved ones together. She continued to say no, but it was muffled by Gurjin's tunic.
Brea knew all too well the loss they were feeling, she felt a pang in her heart as she thought of her own mother and sister who had perished due to the war. If the Skeksis were using their new Garthim to fight for them, it meant more Gelfling deaths and less risk for the Skeksis. Rian had told her that it was near impossible to hurt the Garthim with weapons, the only way Rian had bested them was to outsmart them. Brea needed to outsmart the Skeksis. She needed to decode the secrets hidden in the book, figure out what was going on with Deet, it was the only way she could help end this destruction.
"Come with me, Laesid," Maudra Yre gently helped Maudra Laesid stand. Maudra Laesid was still whimpering, but there were no real words, her tears mixing with her blood-stained cheeks. Maudra Yre guided her towards the healers that had been at camp to have her looked at and helaed if needed, she complied without saying anything. Maudra Laesid refused to let go of her son's hand, she gripped it tightly for fear of letting go and losing her only son.
Eliona healed her mother and sister, afterwards the shattered family was reunited. Maudra Yre left them to survey the damage of the Drenchens, it was the least she could do to help Maudra Laesid in her time of sorrow. Most of the Drenchens had minor scrapes and bruises, but there were some with more severe injuries but with the healers helping they would live. Maudra Yre was now thinking of her next move, she was sick of being one step behind the Skeksis. She must reach out ot the All-Maudra at once.
In the Crystal Castle:
Skektek had gathered all the Skeksis into the Crystal chamber, the Crystal bats had all returned and the Emperor was eager to see what they had found. The Emperor needed good news, any good news to combat the idiocy that surrounded him. The General had turned out to be utterly worthless to him, the Scientist was a weakling, The Mariner had too much attitude and no respect for his leadership while The Chamberlain was stuck to his side like a shadow. Even now as The Emperor stood there awaiting the news of the Crystal bats, Skeksil was standing beside him watching him carefully. The Emperor wanted nothing more than to smack him, but it was taking all of his energy to lean on his new cane.
Images illuminated the pink light of the crystal, the Emperor scanned them quickly looking for any encouraging. He grinned as he watched the Gelfling quiver at Stone-in-the-Wood, wounded in body and dignity; his grin widened into a smile when he saw the pile of dead Gelfling.
"It seems the Gelfling were severely damaged by the Garthim," Skekzok observed.
"If only we had gotten to them first," whined Skekect.
"So much wasted essence," agreed Skekli.
"How far did the crystal bats go?," Skeksa was watching the crystal curiously.
"I sent them to observe Gelfling," Skektek did not appreciate the questioning from The Mariner.
"What about that? What clan is that?," She pointed to the crystal that was showing a sandy terrain.
"Is that not the Dousan? Those disgusting desert dwellers," Skeksil hissed.
"No," Skekli disagreed. "My time with the Sifan we saw many Dousan, their skin was a blue with strange markings and they had dark hair. These Gelfling are green with white hair."
"He's right," Skeksa confirmed," These are not Dousan."
"All Gelfling are the same," spat Skekgra. "Parasites!"
"Look, sire! There, it's that Gelfling girl!," The Chamberlain exclaimed.
The Emperor's eyes narrowed as he caught glimpse of the disgusting Gelfling, The Chamberlain was right, it was the very same girl. The Emperor's memory was stained with her horrid face, to watch her smiling with her clan made his stomache churn.
"Where is she? Should she not be at Stone-in-the-Wood?," Skeksa questioned.
"And look there is the despicable Mother Aughra," seethed Skeksil. "She continues to defy us and bands with the Gelfling!"
"But wait? What is that?," Skekli was referring to the large stone behind the group of Gelfling.
"Enlarge!," The Emperor commanded.
Skektek hurriedly followed his order and the imagine moved passed the Gelfling group and the crystal was covered with the image of large stone with pictured etchings. The Emperor stepped closer to get a better look and nearly stumbled in front of his followers, he disguised the slip, but Skeksil noticed. This new cane, the Emperor cursed inside his head.
"I've never seen such a thing," Skekli looked at the image with curiosity but also extreme interest. It was written in a code he had never seen, or perhaps he had forgotten.
"What does it mean!?," Skekekt was starting to panic.
It didn't make sense to the Emperor, the strange markings and pictures, he also yearend to know what it meant.
"Those things? Are they not us?," Skeksa spoke her thoughts. "And those, are they not Uru?"
"That cursed form," Skekect shrieked.
"NEVER SAY THAT WORD," The Emperor bellowed and then caught sight of the Urskek form that was surrounding the crystal. What was this stone? How long had it been here? What did this mean? "You," he pointed to The Scientist. "Decipher this message. I want to know by tomorrow what it means!"
"Sire, that may not be possible. I'll need to visit the library and find a way to..."
"I don't need any more excuses! I want results!"
"Of course, sire" Skektek cowered away from the Emperor.
"And where is The General?! He must be too scared to face me after this embarrassment!"
"He is awaiting the return of the Garthim from the Great Sog," Skeksa gave an answer when The Emperor wasn't really asking for one.
Her insubordination grows by the day, he gritted his teeth.
"You will address me as 'Emperor'," he growled.
The Emperor and The Mariner shared an intense moment of eye contact, the room was still. Skektek was trying to create a bigger distance between him and Skekso so as not to receive the end of his scepter in his face. The Mariner observed the Emperor, his hunched stance, his labored breathing from yelling, and darting eyes. He was obviously weakened from something, and he put his entire weight on his cane. She had no idea what was causing this, but knew if she were to bring it up, it would result in punishment. Even if he is feeble, he is still The Emperor, she reminded herself. Skekzok watched with eager anticipations, he only hoped the Emperor would strike The Mariner down, he had been contemplating a new punishment and was dying to try it out.
"Forgive me, Emperor," she gave a slight bow.
The Emperor didn't give her another word, instead he turned to The Satirist who was still watching the clip of the stone wall. "And you," his cold words made Skekli turn to him. "You are both responsible for this! I want answers and I want them now!"
"Of course, sire," Skekli agreed. "These depictions of the Gelfling are strange, some appear to be from the past and these one..."
"Emperor! The Garthim return," The General entered the room, forcing the Satirist's sentence to fade out.
"Excellent. Bring me the essence of their Maudra at once."
"Of course, Emperor," Skektek took the excuse to leave the room. The Satirist was busy scribbling down what he saw on the crystal, working to copy it exactly for his own research.
"I appears the Drenchen clan is all but gone," the General grinned, hoping to take favor with the Emperor again.
"I care not about those Gelfling. What is your progress on Rian?"
The General cleared his throat, he knew that the Emperor would want a status update. In the time since the Emperor had made his demand for Rian's head, the General chose to indulge himself in essence to drown out the anguish inside of him. With the Garthim gone at the swamps, he had no one to send for Rian and he had no intention to travel to the Gelfling. He needed an ally, one who he could use to his advantage or place the blame on if things went wrong. He glanced to the Chamberlain who was behind the Emperor, The General knew that he was too sly and only out for himself.
"Now that the Garthim have returned, I will send them to Stone-in-the-W..."
"No!," The Emperor slammed his cane into the ground, producing a loud metallic clack. "It is you who will bring me Rian's head, not the Garthim. Besides, they are needed elsewhere. I want them sent to that place," he glared at the crystal and the image locked on the the green Gelfling girl.
"I-I... I will l-leave at once...," The General stumbled over his words.
"I will make sure the Garthim leave for the Gelfling," The Chamberlain cooed.
"I request to go with Skekung, sire," The Mariner stepped forward.
The Emperor eyed her suspiciously," This is not tasked to you, Mariner. The General is to bring Rian back alone."
"I will not interfere with his mission. I will merely be there to make sure he retrieves the Gelfling's head."
"Why would you assume such a role, hmmm?," Skeksil was also suspicious of Skeksa's sudden interest.
"I wish to prove my loyalty to the Emperor, not that I have explain my intentions to an underling," she didn't even turn to the Chamberlain when she replied. Skeksa looked to the Emperor.
"UNDERLING!?," Skeksil gawked. "I am the Chamberlain! You are just a wave wanderer; you are nothing in this court!"
"You wish to prove loyalty, hm?," The Emperor also ignored Skeksil. "Can you promise the head of the Gelfling?"
"I will serve you well, Emperor."
Skekso thought the proposal over for a moment, sending out two of his court could be danger. It gives the Gelfling a chance to pick them off just as he was doing to them, but if they proved successful, he would dampen the revolution by ridding them of their leader. It was a risk worth taking.
"I grant you your request. You may go with The General," he turned to Skekung once more. "I want his head. Tonight!"
"Yes, Emperor," Skekung bowed before he left the room. Skeksa followed him from the Crystal Chamber and he celebrated in his mind that this ally had fallen right into his lap. If they were able to kill Rian, he would take the glory and the Emperor's favor but if he failed, he would make sure The Mariner would be punished in his stead.
"Skeksa, we make a fine team," he turned to The Mariner. Skeksa walked past him without such as a sideways glance, leaving the General in the hallway. He followed after her flowing red cape, trying to start a conversation. "I mean to say that we will make a fine team. You are undoubtedly wise, you proved that when we arrived- attacking the Spritons proved successful."
Skeksa stopped walking and looked over to Skekung, he paused too and waited for her response. The Mariner was slightly taller than Skekung, and she held herself with authority and dignity, whereas to her The General resembled a rat running across the deck to avoid being swept into the ocean.
"Do not be a fool, General. I have my own reasons to venture out of the castle and none of them to help you with your poor standing in court."
"Poor standing? We are winning the war and have enough essence to supply us all. You must be upset the Emperor has yet to let you taste it?"
"Hardly," she countered.
"If not to gain the Emperor's favor, why are you coming with me?"
"My reasons are my own," she snapped. "Stop questioning me," she finished before leaving him alone in the hallway for the second time. Skekung did not chase after her as he did before, he watched her with a sinister grin. Perhaps framing a misfortune will be easier than he thought.