Part Two

"Daunte?" Priscilla held the bars of her cell between her hands and looked towards Daunte's cell worriedly. "Daunte, are you okay?"

Daunte held up the grate as best as he could and pressed himself flat into the floor. He began to wiggle through the opening. Though his time away from the Dark Chasm allowed for him to get a healthier appearance, he was still rather skinny. Still, he felt the walls around him tear at his clothes as he pushed himself through. He moved carefully and kept his breathing even, and he listened for the sounds of anyone approaching.

Thankfully, the guard still hadn't returned by the time Daunte managed to squeeze himself completely through.

"You're out!" Priscilla almost shouted, but then she slapped a hand over her mouth. "You're out!" she hissed as Daunte approached her cell. "You have to get me out of here, please!"

"Check the corner," Daunte said as he tugged on the door to her cell. Like his own door hers wasn't budging. "There might be a grate in the corner you can squeeze through."

Priscilla nodded and disappeared into the darkness of her cell. Daunte watched the stairs warily, very much aware of the seconds ticking by. He was called away for a reason. Maybe there's a meeting going on? Hopefully I can get out while everyone is distracted.

"Daunte!" he nearly jumped out of his skin as Priscilla came back to the door. Her violet eyes were wide with alarm. "Daunte, I don't have a grate or anything in my cell! I searched all the corners and didn't find anything!"

Daunte looked at her for a long moment, and then looked towards the stairs. "I…"

"Don't leave me here!" Priscilla reached through the bars with both hands and grabbed fistfuls of Daunte's vest. "You can't leave me here, you can't! Please promise me you won't leave me here!"

Daunte was alarmed by the fear in her voice and her expression. For someone who'd spent the last few days acting carefree and nonchalant, Priscilla now looked scared out of her mind and on the verge of tears. Daunte swallowed thickly, and nodded. "L-Let me see if I can try and break the lock, okay?"

"Thank you, thank you!" Priscilla let him go and stepped back. "Please hurry!"

Unfortunately, Daunte didn't have time to ponder over the lock. He started looking closely at it when the sound of voices at the top of the stairs startled them both. "Get back to your cell! Hurry!" Priscilla hissed at him.

Daunte didn't need to be told twice. He ran back to the grate and banged his head on the bars as he pushed himself through. He felt the walls dig into his sides even more this time, but didn't pay any attention to it. He managed to pull his feet inside when he heard footsteps descending the stairs. He shoved the crate back in front of the grate, and hastily reset his overturn bed. He flinched as two shadows crossed in front of one of the torches, and Daunte looked up. He breathed out a sigh of relief as he recognized their guard and a second soldier, neither of which gave him a second glance.

No, their focus was on Priscilla.

"I'm here with an important announcement for the harlot," the second soldier announced tartly.

"That's me," Priscilla said, returning to her nonchalant demeanor.

Daunte stilled. Harlot? And those scarlet robes…don't tell me…

"I'm here to deliver your sentence from Mlkwt Alsmwat," the soldier continued. He unrolled a length of parchment and held it up high. "Priscilla, you have been tried and found guilty of your sin."

"Tried?!" Priscilla said incredulously. For a moment she looked stunned. Then she snapped a sultry smile on and leaned suggestively against the bars. "My dear, I have not had a trial nor have I been allowed to face my accusers. So how could I have been found guilty?"

"As per our Holy Decree, your sentence has been determined that is fitting of your crime."

All of the color drained from Priscilla's beautiful face. She took one step back away from the bars, and then another. Her hands raised very slightly, defensively.

"Per your judgment your punishment will be carried out here, in a week's time." The soldier looked up and rolled the parchment back up. "It is customary that an accused that has been sentenced by Holy Decree may ask for clemency from the Cabinet of High Clerics."

Priscilla immediately perked up, but the soldier continued. "But as you are not a Nagarist believer, or even a citizen of Nagarea, you are not allowed to ask for clemency." Without another word, the soldier turned and marched back upstairs. The guard looked at Priscilla awkwardly for a long moment before hurrying upstairs.

Daunte watched Priscilla approach the bars in silence, looking back up the stairs from where the soldier came from. Finally she turned her body away and slammed her back against the bars. She ducked her head.

Daunte leaned his forehead against the bars of his cell. "A…Are you okay?"

"I should've never come to this country," Priscilla said flatly. "I should've never gone on that isolated fishing trip…"

"S-So you really aren't from Nagarea?" Daunte asked her.

Priscilla slowly looked upwards towards the ceiling. "…No. I'm from north of here. A lovely little island called Gaian, and a lovely city named Razril. My whole life was in that one city, and I just threw it all away. Everything. And for what, for this?" she gestured at her cell. "What on earth was I thinking?"

"What happened to you?" Daunte asked her. "What happened that caused you to end up here? I-I saw you in Baltas, you know. You seemed to have been living a very comfortable life, and yet now you're a criminal? What…" he hesitated before gathering up his nerve. "W-What did you do?"

Priscilla still didn't look at him, and she stood there in her cell in her silence for a long time. Daunte wondered if she was going to answer him at all when he finally received a response.

"I committed adultery, dear boy. And I've received the sentence adulterers and adulteresses get."

Daunte gasped in horror, and gripped the bars tighter. By law, adultery was a crime punishable by death as it was deemed that while Nagar thrived on war, adultery caused "unnecessary" battles and was a betrayal of trust. Infidelity of any kind was strictly prohibited.

And anyone sentenced for adultery was burned alive. Per the Holy Decree they had corrupted their bodies with their sin and needed to be cleansed. Nothing cleansed better than fire, it would seem. So Priscilla would…

They're going to ship me out of here within a week. And Priscilla is going to be executed within a week. Daunte looked in the direction of the grate. We need to get out of here before that happens.

"I've brought breakfast."

Daunte looked up. Priscilla was understandably less talkative this morning, and didn't approach the bars when the guard brought over her tray. "I'm not hungry," she called out from inside her cell. "Someone else can have my breakfast."

"You'll become sick if you don't eat," Lanny told her, but stiffened as though remembering he wasn't supposed to be conversing with her.

"That's the least of my worries," Priscilla responded, without a note of irony in her tone.

Daunte stood up as Lanny approached his cell. He was fully expecting Lanny to drop his tray once more, or for him to shout insults at him.

What he wasn't expecting was for Lanny to greet him with a friendly smile. "Good morning." He carefully set the tray down.

Daunte looked between the tray and Lanny. This was…strange. Why was Lanny being nice to him all of a sudden? Did he poison my breakfast?

"Aren't you going to take it?" Lanny asked him, gesturing to the tray.

"You can't blame the poor boy for being skeptical of your sudden formalities," Priscilla said from her cell.

Daunte accepted the tray and sat down on the floor. He pondered over the tray for a moment when Lanny spoke up. "Is it true?"

Daunte looked up. "Is what true?"

"There was a soldier who needed to get home and tend to his wife and baby, but he didn't know anyone who could cover his shifts," Lanny said. "But there's a rumor going around that you had told the soldier who he should ask to cover his shifts. His shifts got covered, and he was able to go home. Was it you?"

Daunte blinked slowly. Is this why Lanny had a sudden change of attitude? He didn't know if he should remain silent or tell the truth, but he ultimately decided to speak up. "It was nothing." He shrugged slightly. "I'd heard another soldier complain about not being able to get enough shifts, so when this soldier was worried about getting home I just told him who to talk to."

"But why would you do that?" Lanny asked him. "You're our prisoner, and yet you helped two of our soldiers? How come?"

"…I don't know," Daunte answered honestly. "It just seemed like the right thing to do."

Lanny pondered over his statement for a long before he nodded and smiled again. "I knew it."

"K-Knew what?" a hard lump suddenly formed in Daunte's throat. Does he mean—?!

"When you apologized yesterday for killing our soldiers, I didn't believe you," Lanny explained. "But, I also thought you were telling the truth. Then when I started hearing these rumors…" he shrugged. "Now I know you meant your apology. We all had this idea about what kind of person you are, but it looks like we were wrong. It's a shame we're on opposing sides."

"Oh." Daunte relaxed slightly. Lanny wasn't bringing up the fact that Daunte had slipped about being from the Dark Chasm. "Okay. Thank you."

"Now, now, that won't do," Priscilla suddenly spoke up, approaching her bars. "Young man, you owe Daunte an apology for the way you've been bullying him."

Lanny flushed and glared at Priscilla. "Mind your own business!"

"What? You've done nothing but make his time here miserable. And all because you misjudged him. Admitting that you're wrong isn't enough, you need to apologize."

"You're not my mother or the Sheikh so you have no right to order me around!"

Priscilla sighed in disappointment and looked away. "Children are so mean-spirited, aren't they?" the guard snorted with laughter, but quickly sobered up when Lanny glared at him.

"Attention!"

Both Lanny and the guard snapped to attention. Daunte scrambled to his feet as he recognized the Sheikh and Mihr coming down the stairs. "Leave us," the Sheikh commanded.

"Yes, Sir." Lanny and the guard saluted and hurried up the stairs. Keiran watched them leave before turning to address Daunte. "I'm here to report to you that I have still not received any ransom demands from the Liberation Army for you."

Daunte didn't expect any, considering the Army had been crushed by the Theocracy's Army. But Keiran continued. "It's really quite surprising, Daunte. After all, the Liberation Army has the resources to commit raids on Uaminifu and even Tenaga for weapons and supplies. And there's a persistent rumor floating around that Bearyl Lutis dipped his hands in the Army's savings to bribe a bunch of Sheikh Sloan Faakhir's soldiers into turning on the Theocracy." Keiran paused before continuing. "Though in all honesties, Lutis needn't have paid them after the Sheikh's disgraceful treatment of the men and women under his command during the battle. He's not had a shortage of deserters.

"What I'm saying, Daunte, is that the Army is capable of trying to save you. Either through a ransom offer or even a rescue attempt. Yet they have done nothing. It appears that they have abandoned you to your fate."

Daunte turned away from him. Keiran Umed was blatantly trying to manipulate him…wasn't he? Granted, he didn't consider himself useful enough to warrant a rescue but…

It…Bribing soldiers to join the Army does sound like something Bearyl Lutis would do. And I know the Army committed raids on cities even before I joined. I'm glad they weren't annihilated…but has nobody really sent for me?

It was truly an internal struggle. Daunte didn't want anyone to risk their lives to save him. At the same time, however, he didn't want to feel like he'd been abandoned to die. He imagined he had even a minimal amount of value because of the Rune of Restoration, but has nobody really tried to come for him? Not Gunther or Allise or even Varnaz?

The Sheikh may be lying, but I would've definitely noticed if somebody attempted a raid on this Garrison. The commotion would've been undeniable. Yet there's been…nothing?

"There is no shame in giving up people who have already given up on you," Keiran told him. "I don't relish the idea of sending you to your death, Daunte. If you give me what I need, then I will pull any strings to ensure you don't get executed. Does that sound fair?"

Daunte swallowed thickly, but shook his head. He turned to glare defiantly at the Sheikh. "I don't know where the Liberation Army is. And even I did, I would never tell you where they are. I would never do that to my friends."

The Sheikh closed his eyes and shook his head. "Your pride is going to be the death of you. What a waste." He turned to walk away from Daunte, but not to leave. Instead he walked deeper into the prison and stopped in front of Priscilla's cell. "Lady Priscilla."

Priscilla had retreated deeper into her cell with the arrival of the Sheikh, and did not answer him when he spoke to her. "I see you received the news of your sentence."

"Yes, it was delivered to me last night." Priscilla laughed, but it was a hollow sound. "How very kind of your government to condemn me without a trial."

"A trial would seem unnecessary when you are guilty of the crime, would it not?" Keiran asked her.

"That is hardly the point."

"Very true."

Priscilla hissed slightly, as though in shock. It was obvious she didn't expect the Sheikh to agree with her. Keiran continued. "I wanted to also inform you that your lover will not face the same sentence as you. I regret to inform you, however, that he escaped execution by taking a plea deal and testifying against you."

"…I see." Priscilla's voice became so soft and small that Daunte almost didn't hear her.

"I will speak freely," Keiran said suddenly. "I do not agree with the sentence against you, my Lady. And quite frankly I believe that man to be a coward not suited for his position of office. However it is my responsibility to carry out your execution, and I am compelled to follow this order. Were it up to me I would've simply deported you back to the Islands Nation Federation, but as it is my hands are tied. You have my sympathies."

Priscilla said nothing to him. "Your sentence will be carried out this coming Wednesday. And as for you." He turned to address Daunte. "An armed escort will be here the day after tomorrow to take you to the capital. You should've expected my offer when you still had the chance." He walked back up the stairs without another word, Mihr trailing behind him.

Daunte leaned against the bars and watched him go. Now alone, he heard Priscilla call out to him softly and he turned to look at her. She said nothing more, but he saw the fear and sorrow in her bloodshot eyes. Daunte said nothing either, but nodded his understanding.

We need to leave. Tonight.

Night fell, and Daunte and Priscilla were eating their supper in silence when there was a sudden shout.

"Get the gate! There's an envoy from Mlkwt Alsmwat!"

Daunte jumped, and quickly looked to the window. T-They came for me already?!

There were running footsteps in every direction. The guard watching them abandoned his post and ran upstairs. Once his shadow was out of sight, Priscilla pressed her face to the bars. "Daunte!"

Daunte was already crawling through the grate and was outside his cell. He watched the stairs carefully before racing to Priscilla's cell. Unfortunately, it was still tightly locked. "D-Don't you know how to pick locks?!" Priscilla pleaded with him.

"No," Daunte said, tugging on the door. "And even if I did, I don't have the tools on me!"

"L-Look in the drawer!" Priscilla gestured to the guard's desk. "There might be a spare!"

Daunte didn't waste time, and within seconds had pulled out all the drawers and frantically looked through them. Priscilla was hopping up and down in her cell, watching the stairs and watching Daunte look.

After looking the desk thoroughly, Daunte looked up. "I can't find a key."

"But there must be one in there!" Priscilla insisted. She wrung a hand through her hair. "Oh…what am I going to do?"

Daunte slammed the drawers shut and hurried over to her cell. "Listen to me. I-I'm going to leave and try and find an escape rou—"

"Don't leave me here!" Priscilla almost shouted. "If you leave me here I swear I'll haunt you for the rest of your life!"

Daunte certainly didn't want to abandon her to her fate of being burned alive, but he knew he was short on time and didn't even know his way around the Garrison. "Look," he said calmly. "I-I'm just going to look around for an escape route but I promise you I'll be back. When I come back I'll wait for the guard to come back and then I'll knock him out. Then I'll steal his keys and we'll get out of here together. Does that sound fair?"

Priscilla nodded jerkily. "Just please remember to come back for me!"

"Don't worry, I will." Daunte managed a smile. "I mean, if I leave you here then I'll have your ghost to contend with forever!"

Priscilla laughed slightly, and shoved at his arm through the bars. "Just hurry and come back before the guard does!"

Daunte nodded to this but still was careful as he crept up the stairs. He could hear voices from upstairs, but he stopped on the top step. There was a long, stony corridor directly in front of him. He heard loud conversations coming from behind closed doors on either side of him, but he saw no shadows dancing over the walls. He only hesitated for a moment longer before he took off running. He had precious few moments to find an escape route, and then beat the guard back to the prison cells in time to knock him out and then free Priscilla.

Then we'll both be out of here. I don't know where the Liberation Army is, but I'll find them!

Daunte saw two soldiers round the corner, and he quickly ducked into a room without thinking. To his relief the room was empty, and he held his breath as he listened for the guards to walk on by. They did so, without pausing in their conversation, and entered the room next to Daunte's.

Daunte let out the breath he was holding in and looked more thoroughly at the room he was in. It was empty except for shelves lining the walls, and two item boxes at the back of the room. He hurried over to one and found a medicinal herb. Since his pockets were empty he was glad for the healing item.

The item in the second chest, however, puzzled him.

"'The Three Little Pigs'?" he read the title aloud. This book was styled like 'Beauty and the Beast', and it was similarly secured with tightly wounded string. "This must be another play. Ah well…" He stuffed the play into his waistband and quickly left the room.

As he rounded the corner he saw a large group of soldiers gathered further down the hallway and he ducked into another door to his right, and the night air suddenly swept into his face.

He was outside.

Daunte quickly hid behind a barrel, but nobody seemed to notice. At least nobody would hopefully see him because of how dark it was. He slowly crept out from behind the barrel, and examined his surroundings. He saw a large gate twenty meters away, but the gate's double doors were closed and there were guards posted on either side of it. It was fairly obvious he wouldn't be able to leave through the front door, but since the gates were closed it also meant that the envoy from the capital was already on the premises.

Okay. So since that's the front gate I know I'm in the front courtyard.

Daunte kept to the shadows as he crept along. From his position he only saw roughly a dozen soldiers in the front courtyard, and all of them were in either groups of two or three. Daunte saw several doors leading into the main building of the Garrison, but his eyes caught sight of a flight of stone stairs along the Garrison walls.

That will hopefully lead me up onto the battlements. I should definitely be able to find an escape route up there!

Even though the soldiers around him weren't exactly patrolling at the moment, Daunte still kept low as he raced up the stairs. He rounded up another short flight of stairs and did indeed find himself on the battlements. Much like in the yard the soldiers up there weren't patrolling; instead he could blatantly see three soldiers bent over a crate playing a card game just ten meters away. They didn't see Daunte, but Daunte still pressed himself into the wall behind him. He looked skyward and didn't see the moon. Oh, good. Tonight must be the new moon. I'll be able to sneak around easier if I don't need to hide from the moonlight.

Daunte looked over the side of the battlements to the ground below. He estimated that the Garrison walls were at least fifteen meters high, and although he saw some skinny bushes below he knew if Priscilla and him jumped from the battlements it would still be a long way to the ground.

I'm sure Priscilla wouldn't care how far she would have to fall, so long as she got out of here. Daunte straightened, and nodded to himself. Okay, so I'll go and get Priscilla after I get the keys from the guard. Since they haven't sounded the alarm about my disappearance I know he hasn't returned yet. Then we'll come up here and jump. And…I guess we'll just have to aim for the bushes.

"—looks furious, doesn't he?"

"I don't know why, though."

Daunte stiffened, and looked towards the stairs he'd just come up. Two soldiers were coming up! He panicked, and ducked into the door beside him. He inadvertently slammed the door shut, and his heartrate accelerated. There was no way they didn't notice that!

"Oh, hey! There you guys are!"

Daunte slowly crept to the window and looked outside back onto the battlements. If the two soldiers had noticed his commotion, they didn't seem to care. They were rushing towards the soldiers playing cards, as though to join them.

Daunte let out his breath slowly and looked around the room. It was a simple room with a table and chairs, and he found an item chest in one corner. Unable to help himself, he checked the box and found another small box. The words 'Sound set 6' were stamped onto the lid.

Another sound set? Liron will be thrilled when I bring this back to her! …If I survive this, that is.

"What you are asking of me is impossible!"

This sudden shout startled Daunte. He looked towards the door on the opposite side of the room. He could see how luminescent the room was from the light coming from underneath the door. The light however flickered, as though shadows were crossing in front of it.

"I think you're misunderstanding us, Sheikh Umed," an unfamiliar male voice answered. "This isn't a suggestion. This is an order straight from the Cabinet of High Clerics, and you will follow this order."

"How dare you speak to me this way?!" Keiran barked at him. Daunte was unsettled by the anger and frustration in the Sheikh's voice. He'd never heard Keiran use any sort of tone other than cool and calm. "You—some glorified priest who's had everything handed to you through scheming and murder! You have no authority to give me any orders!"

"Oh? That's a lofty attitude coming from you, Umed—"

"You will address him by his proper title, Cleric!" Mihr's voice suddenly snapped.

"…As I was saying, I think this lecture coming from you is very hypocritical. After all, you've had everything handed to you, including your Sheikh title."

"I've worked hard for this position!" Keiran objected. "I've made my provinces very profitable, and there is a reason my provinces rank within the top three places to live in Nagarea! What exactly have you contributed to the betterment of this country, Lažov?!"

Daunte stiffened. Lažov?! That last name…wasn't Varnaz's brother-in-law named Lažov?

"I have made many great sacrifices for this country, Umed," Lažov replied. Daunte flinched as he heard Mihr snarl with outrage at the Cleric's continued disrespect of Keiran. "After all, it wasn't exactly easy for me bring adultery charges against my late first wife—"

"And yet you remarried rather quickly, didn't you?! Was Lady Bara's poor, burnt body even chilled before you tied the knot with your mistress?!"

"That is a libelous accusation that I hope you are prepared to support!"

"Gentlemen."

Daunte recognized this voice, and a cold stab of fear filled his body. Oh no. It's her…

"I have better things to do than watch the both of you try to emasculate each other. Sheikh Umed, while the Cabinet of High Clerics appreciates the sacrifices you've made for Nagarea, Cleric Lažov is delivering you an order and you will follow it."

"My Lady, I cannot do such a deplorable thing!" Keiran protested. "There is no honor in committing something so heinous!"

"Are you refusing my order, Sheikh Keiran Umed?"

"Absolutely! I will not do such a thing!"

"Then consider your Sheikh Title forfeit."

"…What?"

Daunte was also shocked by this proclamation. She's threatening to fire him?

"Y-You would really do such a thing?" Keiran asked softly. His tone had dipped to become much softer. "After everything I've given to Nagarea, you would dismiss me just like that?"

"Absolutely. Do you think we would allow you to simply defy our authority again?"

"Again?!"

"Princess Kaylani, Sir. The only reason she was taken from us so easily is because you refused to take custody of her."

"S-She was pregnant! She was blatantly close to her due date! I-I-I couldn't take a pregnant woman hostage!"

"Our operation against Falena failed due in part to your inaction, Keiran. The Cabinet gave you a pass because of what you've done for this country, but they will not give you a pass again. You will commence this operation, or you will be relieved of your command."

"And I will be promoted in your place," Lažov said smugly. "And I'll say right now that I'm not afraid of following orders!"

"It wouldn't surprise me," Keiran said harshly. "After all you're single-handedly responsible for the deaths of your first wife and her family! Cowardly scum like you is never afraid to get innocent blood on their hands!"

"Why you—"

"Enough." The Matron interrupted once more. "As I stated, Keiran, you will lead this operation or else Cleric Lažov has already been handpicked to be your replacement and all of your soldiers will have to follow him."

"I won't follow this spineless blowhard," Mihr objected harshly.

"Insubordination against a superior officer is an offense punishable by death, Mihr. Keiran Umed may receive special treatment from the Theocracy due to his title and lineage, but a foreigner like you is not guaranteed the same protections."

"My Lady, you can say whatever you want to me, but I will not stand by and allow you to threaten my soldiers!"

"They will not be your soldiers much longer if you do not comply with us, Keiran."

Daunte didn't want to hear any more. He knew whatever Lažov and the Matron were demanding of Keiran had to be bad if the Sheikh was objecting so strongly, but he knew that since the Matron was there that he definitely had to get out of there.

At least I know a way out. He peeked outside onto the battlements and saw that the group around the card players had grown larger. But he also saw that there were less people in the yard below and quickly ran down the stairs. I'll just grab Priscilla and get out of here. I definitely need to leave before that woman realizes that I'm here.

She felt a twitched in her right hand and quickly looked over her shoulder at the closed door to her left. That sensation…

"My Lady Matron, is there anything else we should address?" Cleric Ramiro Lažov asked her.

She turned to look at him. Ramiro Lažov was a man in his mid-forties and was a typical boot-licking suck-up that she deeply despised. But he was serving a purpose here and so she did not roll her eyes at him while she turned to address Keiran. "I wanted to ask you about your battle with the Liberation Army."

"I submitted my full report last week," Keiran answered her. He was still in uniform but had removed his hood, revealing an incredibly handsome face. His good looks however had no effect on her. "When I received the information about the Army's headquarters, I send requests to both Sheikh Faakhir and Sheikh Nuori for assistance. Both Sheikh's were critical in securing our victory, and I'm grateful to them for it."

"Did you encounter a teenage boy using a True Rune?" she asked him. "It is the Rune of Restoration, parent rune to the Resurrection Rune."

"Resurrection Rune?" Keiran looked at Mihr. "I'm only vaguely familiar with the Rune but it can restore life, correct?"

"In a way, yes," Mihr answered him.

"Then I saw no such thing," Keiran said, turning to look back at the Matron. "Whoever the True Rune user is, they didn't use it to revive their fallen comrades."

"But did you see its healing effects?"

"My Lady, there were dozens of healing spells being thrown around during the battle. All of them looked the same to me after a while. I hope you'll accept my apologies, but my priority during the battle was to defeat the Liberation Army, not look for the True Rune user."

"Then you have forgotten our first priority—to find and kill the boy with the True Rune so the High Clerics can possess it."

Keiran flushed slightly and looked away. "…My apologies, my Lady."

"Well, it can be certain that the boy will turn up once you commence this operation."

Keiran quickly stood up. "My Lady—"

"And as I said, you will do this or we promote someone who will."

"And I will do it," Lažov quipped.

"That will be all." She didn't bother waiting for Keiran's reply. She swept out of the room, leaving Keiran and Mihr gaping after her. She noticed that Lažov delayed in following her. He probably hung back to taunt the Sheikh and his second-in-command.

Well, at least Lažov is so predictable that he'll be easy to control.

Lažov caught up to her on the battlements. "My Lady, I hope you realize that he's not going to go through with it."

"That is not for your to decide," she said sharply to him. "We will see what he does. Keiran Umed is a smart man, and he will know to follow this order."

I know I sensed it. Is that boy somewhere around here? Keiran said that he didn't encounter him on the battlefield. Maybe he's using the Rune right at this moment? What a waste for such a child to yield such power…

Lažov did hang back to hurl more insults at Keiran, but Keiran wasn't paying attention. After the Cleric ran after the Matron, Keiran collapsed back into his seat. He rested his elbows on the table and pressed the heels of his hands hard over his eyes.

Silence remained in the room before Mihr slowly took a seat at the table beside Keiran. "What are you going to do?" he asked Keiran softly. "Are you going to follow this order?"

A hard lump formed in Keiran's throat. He didn't look up, and he swallowed thickly. But the lump was still there as he spoke softly in reply. "Do I have any other choice?"