The journal was fascinating. Raine felt rude at first, reading the journal of a dead person, but Barret is the one who suggested they read it, so she did. Eris's handwriting was shockingly smooth and clear, his words were well written, and his grammar was flawless. Yes, it felt strange, but it certainly gave her insights into what had been happening for years. Even Eris had been kept in the dark about the coup, and when it happened, he seemed to not care all too much. Many times, he would mention Barret, wishing he could ask his brother about something that had happened, but as the book went on, Barret was mentioned less and less. There were names she recognized, far too many she knew. Euchre, Richard Orlin Sr., even Trace Legacy. But there was one name she looked for, but could not find, no matter how hard she looked: Thandolin. Haelith had mentioned that Eris asked her about him, but she couldn't for the life of her find it in this journal. There were mentions of many other names and places, but of all of them, he was not among them. She sighed as she reached the last page, and flipped back to the front. It was her fourth time reading through, and every time she learned something new, noticed a different detail, connected a different thing. She had just begun to read when Barret walked over to her. "Hey, can we talk for a bit?"

"Sure, what's going on?" she asked as she set the book down. They had yet to move for the day, even though the sun was already risen.

"We're headed back to Edinmire, but to do so we have to cut through a very densely populated area of human territory. I've been looking over the maps, and we're actually very close to a city right now. Durlon."

She frowned at the name. "Right. And there's no other way through?"

"There's plenty of ways through, but none that let us go unseen. Besides, we need supplies. Badly. Not just food and water, but we really need tents, fabric, bandages, candles, lanterns, oil, so many things. Durlon is a major city, but it's also the only city in the area that would have everything we need. There are plenty of small towns and villages that could have some of that, but Durlon is the only one that we can guarantee will have everything we need."

"Okay, but we're a bunch of refugees and prisoners. They'll have bounties on all of our heads, and we can't exactly blend into a crowd, especially with so many Ishtaer."

"And that's where you come in." Barret said, sitting down next to her. "You can blend in more easily than anyone else, especially with your shapeshifting. And I trust that you can find everything we need. If you go into town with the other humans and Keidrans, you could trade for everything. We don't have much, but we have some pelts and furs that could be sold for coin, and if all else fails, we can move on and hope to find wandering merchants. We're going to have to brave roads anyways, might as well start now."

"Then let's just pass by. There's nothing that we really need that we-"

"Aloe and alcohol. We need them to care for the wounded. Most have healed, but there are some lingering infections that need to be dealt with as soon as possible. On top of that, we are in an area with very poor hunting. We'll run out of food within the week if we don't find or buy more. I don't know everyone here, but I'd rather not be building another pyre anytime soon." Raine was quiet. She hadn't realized that there were still people who needed medical attention that badly. "Please, I trust you more than anyone here besides Haelith."

Raine was quiet for a minute. "Fine. How far away is it?"

"A few days. We'll get closer to the city first, then send you in with some help while we keep moving past. Once we're there, we can make a more solid plan. I'll talk with some folks and have a list of items for you by noon."

"Alright. I don't like this, but if you really think this is the best choice we have, then I won't complain." Barret frowned, but said nothing until his eyes fell on the journal.

"Did… have you learned anything useful?"

"A lot actually. Turns out Eris has been very busy the last few years. He wrote about you a lot at first, but then it died down for a while. Seems like he was after Trace before he found you."

"That's strange. Why Trace?"

"A turncoat Grand Templar? Do you need more reason to hunt him down?"

"Fair. Anything about Thandolin?"

"No. Plenty about Kalnaroth, Orlin Sr., a Sirus, a few mentions about Brundt, a Captain Naelin and Commander Cael, and someone who seems to be called both 'the one who sleeps' and 'The Sleeper', but nothing about Thandolin. I don't understand, why would he ask about him specifically, when he seems to never have known about him before?"

"My brother's mind was twisted and warped beyond recognition for years. I would take a look, but… but he's still my brother. I want to remember him as my brother, not as a monster."

Raine smiled kindly, knowing how much it hurt him to talk about his family. "He wasn't a monster in the end. He's still your brother, and he will be as long as you let him. He gave his life for you. And I think he would do it again if he were still here."

"Without hesitation. But he can't. I hope to honor his sacrifice." He was quiet as he stared into nothing for a moment. "Hah, no need to dwell on the past. What's done is done. Right now, we should focus on getting back to Edinmire. I'll go get a short list of supplies and have Haelith write them down for you."

…

Looking back as she left the group, Raine sighed. She was with the three Keidran: Adira, the snow leopard, a desert lynx named Belsh, and Zavril, a coastal fox. There were also nine humans with them, but she didn't know their names yet. Barret was lead the Ishtaer, headed east behind some trees, just out of sight of the city of Durlon, which loomed in the distance. They had been talking for the past few days, going over their plan and making lists of items to find. She knew it would be dangerous, but the more she actually looked, the more she realized just how badly they needed supplies. As they approached the city though, her anxiety began to grow. The stone walls looked scarred and worn from many battles, with towers at regular intervals and patrols of soldiers going between them. There were many farms outside the walls that fed the city, and there were also several large manors and estates that reminded her of Trace's place, though none came close to being that fancy or large. She suspected that among them was Haelith's old home, but she didn't bother to ask.

The gates were raised up, and as they entered the city proper, they beheld the cobblestone streets lined with buildings. Houses of slate and wood, stone and brick, even metal sheets gave the city a strange feeling, as though it had once been a mixed up collections of houses that were pulled from every part of the world and gathered in one place. At the heart of the city, where the land rose up on a small hill, stood a Templar tower, where the academy rested, lording over the city like an ever watching pale, blue eye. Swallowing her fear, Raine led the twelve into the city, following her instincts to hopefully avoid drawing suspicion to them. After an hour of wandering, they found themselves in a large, open air market, where merchants hawked wares, and the smell of food tempted them dearly. Turning, she stopped them at the edge of the market, which was thankfully rather crowded. "Alright, we don't want to linger too long, so let's find what we need and get out. Here's your lists, take your pelts, and try to find someone who will buy them. Meet back here no later than one. And keep your eyes open for Templars, I don't want to have anyone raising alarms and trapping us in here."

Handing each group a short list of items, she watched as they split up into groups of four: one Keidran and three humans each. Holding one list for herself, she looked up at the giant clock that rested on a nearby tower. It was almost ten in the morning now, so they didn't have too long. Thankfully, Barret's instincts were right: they could find anything here. From silks and fabrics, pelts and hides, to meats, veggies, fruits, oils, axes, daggers, and so much more. She wandered for a while, knowing that she had some coins in her bag, and knowing that she needed to actually find the things they needed, but she couldn't help herself. She stopped often, marveling at the craftsmanship of some of the goods, when her ears picked up a faint, familiar voice. "…would need more than double that to even dare try. And with the death of their new commander, recruitment rates have dropped significantly, leaving the garrison here rather thin. Please send reinforcements quickly, as the unrest here may turn violent very suddenly."

She turned to see a human hunched over, with bright silver hair and white robes, leaning on a walking stick. "Right, anything else?" a young man asked, scribbling down words on parchment.

"No, just sign my name and send it to Sirus immediately." he said with a smile.

"Very well." With that, the young man ran through the crowd swiftly and easily. She knew the voice, but had never seen him like this, and certainly wasn't expecting him to be here. She had to know if it was really him. Walking over, she kept a short distance back.

"Euchre?" she asked, not sure whether to hope more that it was him, or more that it wasn't.

He stopped in place, and turned to her, his green eyes clear through his silver hair. "Raindrop? Is that really you?"

"Dad? What are you doing here?"

He walked over with a frown on his face. "I could ask you the same thing. I thought you were in Edinmire still, with Trace and Richard Jr."

She scowled. "I wish I could say the same, but you've never been anywhere close to me before, so why would I care where you are now? But what are you doing here? And what does Sirus need to know so urgently about the garrison here?"

Euchre suddenly hunched over as he looked around. "Not so loud!" He glanced around quickly, and sighed. "Please, walk with me? I'll tell you what I can, but there are too many ears that may listen here." She looked around. No one was paying attention to them in the slightest. But he had already started walking toward the edge of the market, where there was an alcove between some buildings. Sighing, she followed. "So, what brings you to Durlon?"

"I can't tell you." Her reply was short and curt.

"Can't? Or won't?"

"You're smart. Figure it out." She glanced up at the clock. It was almost eleven. She didn't even realize that it had been an hour, and she hadn't made a single purchase.

Euchre frowned, but said nothing more until he came to a stop. They were well secluded in the alcove, the sounds of the market dulled behind them. There were a couple stone benches beneath a tall oak, and Euchre sat down on one. "You really won't tell me why you're here?"

"No. All you need to know is that I don't plan to stick around for very long, so if you want to say things, start talking." It was not lost on either that Raine had not sat down.

"Very well. I have been working with several of my friends and acquaintances for the last few months to try and minimize casualties in this war. I have been successful, at least in part. There have been unforeseen developments, however, which now undermine my plans, and some troubling developments in other areas that have forced me to push forward faster than I'd hoped. Thankfully, Sirus is still the only one who knows my true nature. As for why I am here in Durlon? I was supposed to be meeting with a new commander three days ago, but apparently news travels very fast indeed, as the commander who was supposed to be coming was killed just over two weeks ago." Raine's heart skipped a beat. That lined up too perfectly. "Somehow, the general public seemed to learn about this before I did, despite coming directly from the fortress he was coming from. Since then, recruitment rates have plummeted, and civil unrest is growing. If we cannot protect our fortresses in the wilderness, what hope do we have protecting the city? I hope that a show of force will strengthen our standing with the people, but it may be a while before anyone comes."

"I thought you were trying to minimize casualties? Recruiting more people to fight for you seems to be the opposite of that."

"They are not being recruited to fight on the front lines. Richard Orlin Senior has grown tired of the fighting, something I never thought I would see. He has agreed that we are going to try and sabotage the ranks from within, having people who will turn and flee at the first sign of struggle, hopefully breaking the resolve of the rest of the Templar army. Eventually we hope to be able to stage a coup against Brahn, who wants this war to go on as long as possible. We have been partially successful, but we are still not able to break their ranks entirely, or move against Brahn outside of the shadows. I also have a contact within the wolves who is doing the same thing. This has already been a costly battle for both sides, especially since the battle of Edinmire."

Raine nearly fell over. "Battle of Edinmire?! What?! When? How? WHY?!"

Euchre seemed confused. "You… didn't know? How long have you been away? I thought that might be why you came out this far. It was almost a month ago. Edinmire has become an independent city-state, no longer associated with either side. I suspect Trace is involved somehow. Anyways, Brahn wanted to show the world who really owned Mekkan. So he gathered an assault force fourteen thousand strong, and assaulted the city. It was costly for both sides, as they have been bolstered by the might of the Basidian military, a factor not even I had accounted for. They have weapons we have never seen before, poles that burst with fire like magic, but they are of Basidian design, so I know that can't be the case. Since then, Brahn has been putting extreme efforts into mass producing new weapons of our own in Valinos, re-purposing our siege factories into weapon depots. The Basitins are not the only ones developing new weapons. I did not go with them to battle, for I feared that you would join in the fighting. I later heard from some of the survivors that Richard Junior fought against the Templars, alongside the wolf assassins, as well as Trace, the new duke, Keiren, and even King Adelaide herself. With that little nugget of information, it was easy to convince Richard Senior to help me weaken the ranks. He wants to protect his son, even if he will never see him again. I understand how he feels. I just want you to be safe, Raindrop."

"And so that's why you abandoned me again? After Rose passed on, you were just ready to show up, give me a way to forget about my wolf half, and then leave to never see me again?" Her voice trembled with her hand as it itched and began to shift. "I learned to control my powers without you. I am in control of my magic now, no thanks to you!" She held up her hand, and let it shift to wolf, flexing her fingers for a few seconds before shifting it back. "I don't need you to protect me. I have my friends to do that. I have Haelith. I have Barret. I have Lynn and Madelyn. I have Richard. I don't need you."

Her words stung him to the core, his entire body slouching. He made several attempts to speak, but no words came out as tears began to well up in his eyes. "You… you don't need me. You don't want me. I'm sorry. I… I should go." He slowly stood up, leaning heavily on his walking stick, and made to leave, but a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder.

"I'm angry at you. You abandoned me for years. You walked away from me for so long. You didn't even acknowledge that I existed for most of my life. You refused to talk to me, and you walked away when I really needed you the most. But I won't do that to you. I said I didn't need you, but I never said I don't want you. Leave everything behind and come with me. We can find refuge with Trace. You don't have to be alone anymore." Her voice shook, the anger still beneath the surface, but the words she spoke were soft and kind. "I've been so mad at you my entire life. I was told to never trust you for so long, told that everything was a scheme with you. I don't want that anymore. Just leave this all behind and walk away before you get hurt. Before you get killed."

Euchre listened with wide eyes, shocked that she was willing to give him a second chance. "I… I will. But not yet. I have work to do. One last scheme. Sirus promised to help me. He has promised to help me and Orlin overthrow Brahn, but we need more time. I trust him only out of necessity, but he is the only one who knows my secret, and he thankfully knows nothing of you."

Raine sighed, and reached for her bag. "Sirus betrayed you." She pulled out the journal, knowing that her words were going to carry power. "Sirus told Erisdar about you. He knew before he died. The last entry in this book talks about how Eris was told to come here to kill you. But before that, he had a change of heart. I watched him turn against the Templars. He turned, and they killed him for it. And if they find out what you're up to, they will kill you too. I watched Eris die with three crossbow bolts in his back. I don't want to bury you too."

She held out the book for her dad to take, who flipped through quickly. "You- you were there? Eris was going to kill me?"

"Sirus told him nine months ago, and the orders came through the day he got back to Wenmoor Fortress. He was going to come here, meet up with the garrison, and slaughter you. You don't have to listen to me, but don't stay here. You are not as safe as you think. I have things to do. I need supplies, and I have people waiting for me." She took the book back from him, his hands resisting, eyes scanning the words until he could see it no more. "You are welcome to come, but I won't wait for you. Barret and Haelith won't wait for me." She turned back to the market, where she could see Adira and Belsh standing a short distance away. "Good luck dad." She left him standing there, knowing that she had spent far too much time talking with him. Glancing up at the clocktower, she saw it was past noon, and she hadn't done anything. When they raised their eyebrows, she waved her hand, pushing their questions away for the time being. Euchre had sat back down when she glanced back, his eyes darting around, calculating, the shock still setting in.

"Find an old friend?" Adira asked, glancing back with her.

"You could say that. I didn't mean to talk so long with him, I haven't found anything yet. Here, let's divide and conquer."