For quite some time, William lay awake, staring at the ceiling above his bed. Many thoughts swirled through his mind, each more upsetting than the last. Occasionally, a memory would slip into the thread of ideas, and he would flinch to see it. Then he would shake his head, take a deep breath, and approach sleep once again.

After an hour or two of failure, he forfeited the fight and pushed himself up, sitting on the edge of the bed as he rubbed his sore forehead. He heaved a sigh and glanced around.

The room was pristine, not a speck of dust on any surface; he had wiped everything down just before bedtime. But as he looked at his nightstand, his eyes settled on a glass of water that he had left a few hours ago. A small ring of condensation had formed at the base of the glass, though the water was now room temperature. With a sigh, he stood, picked up the glass, and wiped the water off with the corner of his sheet. Then he left his room and headed downstairs.

Upon reaching the first landing, he realized that someone was awake and currently shuffling around some of the cabinets. As he placed a foot on the next step, he heard a loud crash as a glass shattered, followed by a whispered curse.

William paused. Did he really want to talk to anyone? He supposed he could simply wash the glass, put it away, and return to his room. Maybe he didn't have to make conversation.

With a mild huff, he made it to the main floor and glanced around the open room. Kayl was near the bar, having just snatched a broom, and was quietly sweeping up a mess of broken glass on the floor. William couldn't help but smirk.

"Perhaps it would be easier to clean up with a little help?" he offered softly as he crossed the room, deciding that this person just might have an answer to at least one of his questions. Kayl had worked for the Mireguard after all, and he had been of a higher rank than William.

At the spoken words, Kayl froze and slowly turned to face the newcomer.

"Oh, it's you, William!" he said hurriedly. "Sorry, I was just grabbing a nightcap before heading home. Sorry about the mess. You know, wings get in the way sometimes."

His wings billowed behind him to demonstrate his point, and they brushed up against another glass that teetered dangerously toward the edge of the counter. William deftly stuck out a hand, grabbed the glass, and set it down in a safer place.

"I do not have wings," said William as he grabbed another broom from a cupboard and began sweeping the farthest-reaching shards. "So, I cannot say that I truly understand. But I do understand… making a mess of things." He glanced at Kayl. "Do you have some time to indulge some questions?"

Holding the dustpan on the floor, Kayl waited as William swept the last of the shards into it.

"I suppose…" Kayl stood. "If you don't mind if I still grab that nightcap?"

"Of course, my friend," replied William before taking the dustpan and emptying it into a bin. As Kayl meandered around the bar, William asked, "How long have you been in the Mireguard?"

For several moments, Kayl dug around in the cabinets, clearly searching for something specific. Eventually, he grabbed a bottle that William supposed was quite expensive, uncorked it, and poured himself a glass. After pouring a second, he slid it toward William.

"Well," began Kayl after taking a swig. "This Sunbloom will make three years since I completed basic and was assigned to one of the outposts near the Mizzenmoor. Wasn't as cozy as the Wayfarer's Wake, like yourself. But I put in my year with good standing, and when the time came to ask for reassignment, I put in for a transfer to the Agneward recruiting post. Been here ever since." He poured and downed another shot before giving a slight shudder.

"You've done well," said William, taking his own drink. "You have shown your worth on multiple occasions. But, uh… have you ever known a Dekkar?"

"Master Dekkar? Sure, sure. He trains weapons for all the recruits as far as I know. Helped me tweak a few strokes on my blade, although… he was far less a taskmaster than my father when it came to training."

For several seconds, Kayl glanced between the cork on the counter and the open bottle, then shrugged and poured another glass.

"Then you must know that he never leaves his post. And yet, when traveling through, I found his post to be empty. Do you know anything about that?"

Kayl shook his head. "Nothing comes to mind. Doesn't seem to be the type to do that, like ya said. He seemed to love teaching weaponry to whoever could pick up something sharp. Perhaps he's just on leave?"

"Perhaps…" muttered William before swallowing the rest of the brown liquid. A warm feeling had begun to spread over his stomach, and he wondered how much of their story Kayl was privy to. Had he heard about the incident in the Sour Apple?

He watched Kayl for a moment and asked, "How much do you know about us? Has Aribis told you things, or… have the guards talked about us at all?"

Having consumed his third drink, Kayl corked the bottle at last and hid it behind several others underneath the bar. William smiled slightly to think that Kayl would have offered this prize to him, as much as he appeared to want it hidden from the others. Then Kayl plopped down in a barstool and leaned back, stretching his arms and wings before resting his hands behind his head and looking up at the ceiling. William was surprised he was able to balance so well.

"I don't know much at all what became of little Magpie once I left Aeris Peak," he said, his words notably slurred. "Hadn't seen him in almost a year until you lot showed up at my post. So no, don't know much, other than that whatever it is you lot get into pays a lot more than the Mireguard." He gestured widely to the splendor of the manor.

"Yes, of course," nodded William before taking a seat. "May I be blunt with you?"

"'Course," shrugged Kayl. "You pay my salary now, after all."

William chuckled. "This is true. And from what I understand, it seems a meager sum compared to your capabilities." Then he took a deep breath, resting his heart as much as he could. He rubbed his hands along his knees, making sure that they were still cool to the touch. Then at last, he spoke.

"I have a burden that I carry," he began. "A weight that the world itself cannot hold. Dekkar was the one who helped me find ways to cope, and at times it felt like it had been lifted completely, if only for a moment at a time. But now, it has become troublesome again, and I do not know how much longer I can keep it held up. This is why I must find Dekkar. This is why I came to you. It is… important." He paused, watching Kayl carefully, who blinked slowly in response. "I trust you, but I must know that you will keep this between us. Even your brother cannot know. The burden is not theirs to carry, and Aribis has some of his own burdens anyway. As such, they cannot be weighed down with this, too, as I am. Perhaps… I now regret telling even you. Though, with your… unique personality, and your current intoxication, I believe that you can make a good and reliable listening ear."

Kayl shifted uncomfortably.

"You sure you want to share this with me?" he asked awkwardly. "I'm not saying I'm not trustworthy or anything. If you want me to keep this between us, I will, but if this is as earth-breaking as you seem to be saying it is, wouldn't you rather share it with your friends?" He leaned forward and rested his elbows on the bar. "By the Stormlord, I know Aribis has his own things to deal with, but one of the things he's always been good at – quite annoying actually – is being able to look at your problems with a discerning perspective. That was never my gift. I'm more of a swing-a-sword-to-solve-problems kind of bloke. Or you know… offer a drink when necessary."

"I appreciate this drink." William tapped his empty glass. "And Aribis is wiser than his character would suggest, though it is his own withholdings that have kept me from speaking to him. It is as though some barrier or wall has come into existence and pushed us away from each other. But, Kayl, you have more of a discerning perspective than you think you do. This conversation has helped me, at least in a certain sense. The only thing I ask is that you keep what I said to yourself."

"Aye…" nodded Kayl. "That wall around Aribis is nothing new. Caused more problems back home than I care to mention."

"I do have one more question," added William. "Do you know of any other outposts or dwelling places of Dekkar?"

"I wasn't really much involved with the higher ranks of the Mireguard. I couldn't say where Dekkar would go on leave. I'm pretty sure that his abode is there in Bogindle near the training fields, but I'll bet Freya would know more. She's been promoted to captain, after all." A hint of a sour tone had crept into his voice at this last statement. "I could send word to her asking about him if you'd like. Don't know if my messages would be given much heed now, though, since as of last week, I'm no longer with the Mireguard."

"I would appreciate that, my friend," nodded William. "We did encounter Freya once, and I can see why she is where she is. Although, you can achieve much, too. After all, haven't you been promoted to captain as well?"

"True enough, though…" Kayl looked down to study his hands. "I doubt that Father will think it's much of a promotion." He sighed and straightened. "But not to worry! I'll have word sent straightaway."

Kayl rose and made his way carefully around the bar, easing himself along with a hand on the wooden surface. However, when he released it after a step, he wobbled slightly and paused.

"Maybe it's time for you to sleep," offered William. "Let me help you there. You can stay here tonight." He rushed up to him, and Kayl placed a hand on the monk's shoulder. "And you know, our choice to make you captain was not a light decision."

"I'm grateful to be helping out here…" replied Kayl. "Help keep the magpie in check."

"Just know that even if Aribis and I don't share our burdens with each other, I would fight for him as if he was my own brother. We are a family, after all. Including you."

As they reached the door of the servant's quarters, Kayl carefully released William's shoulder and fumbled around for a key.

"Not sure if my family is one that you'd like to be a part of, mate," he said. "Though, I'm glad to be included all the same."

"If people can come to accept me, then I think anyone can be considered family."

William gingerly took the key from Kayl and inserted it into the lock. Then he turned it, only to find that the door was unlocked after all. Still, William merely smiled and opened it before ushering Kayl inside.

Before he walked through, Kayl patted William on the shoulder.

"You're a good egg, William… Pun intended."

With a chuckle, William replied, "Humor is sometimes the only thing to help us through life's hardships. Good night, my friend."

He took a few steps back toward the bar before stopping and turning back to watch. Kayl stumbled through the door and pushed it behind him, though it failed to fully close. He flopped onto a mattress, and mere moments later, his snores were audible throughout the manor.

William shook his head slightly. "May you never have to know the yolk that burdens this egg," he whispered.

Then he grabbed the three empty glasses, washed them, put them away, and trudged upstairs to bed. Though his questions were not satisfied, at least he held some hope that an answer would drift his way soon.


"He just really liked the gift is all," Enna told herself for the sixth time this week as she lay on her bed and ruminated over Bash's kiss. He had been awfully avoidant ever since, and she had settled on the idea that the tiny peck had been an accident driven by Bash's impulsive nature. But it didn't stop that moment from cropping up in her trances ever since. Even now, she reached up and brushed her cheek, and unbidden, the memories came back of the three times he had kissed her. It was all so different from Sai… So different.

The first time, rain had been falling, mingling with her own blood on the street.

She winced, and her hand flew to her belly with the sudden remembrance of her death and the context of that first kiss. For a moment, she felt her heartbeat elevate, but she was thankfully distracted by a soft cooing emanating from her window. She pushed herself onto her elbows and looked over to see a snowy owl perched on her windowsill. She grinned before jumping up and rushing over to greet it.

As it opened its beak, a familiar elven voice issued out of it.

"Rinn," it said, and Enna smiled to hear her father. "I am truly saddened to hear about the passing of Rolen. Your mother has also sent word of the tidings, and my heart is broken for our loss. While I know that you and he had your differences, he was still family, and I grieve his loss as though he were my own son. If my guesses are correct, this owl should reach you the day before his funeral. Myself, Varis, Mirielle, and Nell will be arriving in the morning to attend.

"Unfortunately, we cannot stay long, as our duties at the Gilded Enclave require us to remain most vigilant. As per your other request regarding the Night Court of the Fae, Nelle has passed on word to the High Baron with the request to talk, and she assures me that she can open a small line of communication during our brief visit.

"Business aside, it will be nice to see you again, my little Rinn. May the light of Esmma watch over your path."

As soon as the owl was done speaking, it ruffled its feathers and took off, flying into the night air.

With a smile, Enna reached out to Luna, who had been crawling across her floor, and placed the snail on her shoulder.

"Well, Luna," she said softly. "It looks like you get to meet my family tomorrow."

She took a shaky breath. What would that be like? It had been so long since she'd seen them, and so much had happened since then. Would they notice a difference in her? Should she tell them about her troubles? Her eyes drifted back toward the ivy, and she considered what Bash had said last week.

Anyone who loves you wants to know as much about you as they can. Even the hard stuff.

She sighed and plopped into her bed.

"Let's just get some rest and see if we can meet them in the morning," she said aloud.

After several moments, she fell into a trance, and when she woke, it felt as if it had only been a few minutes. For just under four hours, she had gone over scenario after scenario of what the new day would hold, and now she had awoken early for… what?

She braided her hair quickly before pacing the room and occasionally glancing across the hall. Bash's door was still closed. Would he have awoken? Would he trance longer than she had? Had he gone to bed earlier or later?

At last, she huffed and marched across the hallway, unable to help herself, and knocked on his door quietly. Perhaps she wouldn't wake him if he was still trancing.

For several long moments, she waited. She was considering leaving and coming back later when she finally heard footsteps, and then he opened the door. His hair was down again and somewhat haphazard as he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and squinted at her.

"Enna," he said, voice gravelly. "It's uh…" He glanced at the window behind him. "Early. What's up?"

"Sorry to wake you," she said before hesitating. "I got a message last night from my dad. My family is coming today for… for the funeral." Bash perked up a this, eyes wide. "I'm going to go meet them, but I don't know exactly when they're arriving. Sometime this morning. And there's a good chance they'll visit us here. Will you tell the others for me?"

"Ha…" he said with an awkward smirk. "Your, uh… your family? That's… cool." He looked down. "How many people is that?"

His anxiety was palpable, but Enna started counting off on her fingers anyway.

"There's Dad, Varis, Mirielle, and Aunty Nell… And of course, Mom is already here. So, five. But… four visiting."

"Awesome," he replied. "So cool. Exciting, even." His transparent grin provided only the thinnest of veils over his apprehension. "Yeah, sure, I'll tell everyone. You do what you gotta do."

"Thank you." Enna shifted again. "Also, and more importantly, Nell is going to help us get a message to the High Baron of the Night Court." Bash's grin was quickly replaced by an understanding eye, and he pursed his lips. "She'll open a line of communication for us. This way, we can keep our promise to Sopheta."

"Good."

She nodded and took a couple steps backward before pausing and watching him carefully.

"I'd better get going… Will… will I see you there today? At the funeral, I mean."

He appeared indignant as he said, "Of course. I knew him longer than you, you know."

"That you did," she smiled. "See you soon, Bash."

Then she bounced twice, turned into a raven, and sped out her bedroom window. She shot across the Circle before coming to Marigold Manor, sparkling in the first rays of early morning. She alighted on her mother's balcony and peered in the glass door, where Althea was awake and bustling around her room.

Hopping down, Enna transformed and landed on her elven feet before taking a deep breath and knocking on the door. Her mother stopped even as she folded some clothes into a large bag and then turned toward her visitor. Surprise was evident on her face, but she smiled and opened the door.

"Enna," she said. "I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting company. Please come in!"

"Hey, Mom," replied Enna as she stepped inside and shut the door. As she took in the room, she noticed how bare it was, nearly devoid of her mother's possessions. "Packing already?"

"Yes, I… I think the time has come to put Agneward behind me."

Althea returned to her activity as Enna nodded.

"A lot has happened here," said Enna quietly. "Too much for such a short time." She shook her head. "How are you doing? How are you really doing?" She touched her mother's arm.

Althea did not look up as she said, "Yes… It has been a lot. I'm coping as best I can, dear. I don't know exactly what I should be doing what with… with the funeral. The guildmasters have done all the preparations, and I have just been trying to keep from falling apart." She wiped a tear from her cheek.

"I'm so sorry," said Enna as she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around her mother's shoulders. They cried together for several moments, and then Althea fought to speak through her tears.

"Oh, Enna! I… I made so many foolish mistakes here. With Rolen… You… His father. I have just left nothing but pain for those here."

"Please," whispered Enna. "Please, don't blame yourself. If you must blame someone, then blame me instead."

Althea sniffed and wiped her face as her sobs subsided, and she placed her hands on Enna's shoulders, holding her at arm's length, watching her with puffy eyes.

"You were the only one who saw Rolen for what he was. I wanted to blame you, but I can't. You were probably the only one who truly stood up to him. And I… I just convinced myself that he would find a way to be the person I so desperately wanted him to be."

Enna shook her head.

"I always wanted a better relationship with him," she said. "I really did. But I saw too much. I couldn't… I couldn't let my brother continue on that path." She wiped her eyes. "I always hoped he would learn and change his ways. I… I think he may have realized in the end, though."

With sudden gusto, she began digging around in her bag until she found the bent and folded letter that Rolen had hidden in her room. She drew it out, holding it for a moment, and handed it to her mother.

"I can't deny my responsibility in the release of the monster that killed him and hurt you so terribly," added Enna before closing her eyes for a moment. "But… this letter gave me hope that he had finally changed. If you want to read it, you can. I will warn you that it isn't a happy letter, and it talks about what happened to him when he disappeared. But, you have a right to read it if you wish."

Althea cautiously reached out and took the letter. She started to unfold its creases but then replaced them and tucked it into the bag on her bed.

"I'll read it when I've had a bit to calm down," she explained. She wiped her eyes and then walked over to her dresser, opened another drawer, and began to empty it. "Are you going to the funeral?" she asked. "I'd understand if you didn't want to. I'd just… like it if you were there."

"Of course, I would never miss it," replied Enna as she began helping her mother transfer the clothes. "You won't be alone. And besides, it won't be just me. Have you heard back from Dad yet?"

A faint glimmer of a smile flashed across Althea's features for a moment.

"Yes, I have. In fact, I'll be leaving with him when it's over. He has very graciously offered to let me stay at the Enclave for a while, while I sort out the mess I've made."

Enna couldn't help but grin at this news.

"Good," she said. "Maybe you can rest there. He can keep you safe." She paused. "I won't let anyone else in this city hurt you again. You don't have to be afraid of those who harmed you. They can't hurt you anymore. And if you do want to hear about everything that happened, I can tell you whenever you feel ready. It would… break your heart again. But today, we should probably just focus on getting through the funeral. I can go meet Dad and everyone. Do you know if they're coming through the front gate? Or has Dad been here to be able to come through a tree?"

Althea draped a black dress over a chair by the window before sitting on the bed.

"He didn't say," she answered. "Although I suppose he'd try to be as discreet as possible…" She shook her head and looked in her lap. "Have I ever told you what he said to me the night I told him I was leaving the Enclave?"

"No, you haven't."

"He said, 'Although the winds of fate are blowing you away from me, I have faith that, in time, you will fly back home.' I suppose he was right, in a way." She turned to Enna, who was now grinning. "You don't think it will be too weird being back there, do you? We didn't part happily…"

"Mom, he absolutely loves you. It'll only be weird if you make it weird."

Althea chuckled, and her face fell slightly. "I'm not sure I'm quite deserving of his ardor as of late. But perhaps in time… I think I'm more in a place now to remain somewhere peaceful and away from all the excitement that I craved in my youth."

"I understand feeling… unworthy," said Enna slowly. "Time will heal us both. That I can rest my hopes in."

"And what of you, Rinn? Where do you see yourself going? Illia has told me that she gifted you her old estate. Do you intend to grow roots in this city?"

"Hmm, I don't know about growing roots in the city as much as growing roots with the people I'm with. The Natural Misfits, we call ourselves. I've found a home with them. We're a family, as much as you and me. For now, we'll stay here a while, but who knows where the wind will take us? You, of course, are always welcome to visit me at Misfit Manor."

"Misfit Manor? How charming!" laughed Althea. "Perhaps I will come back and visit once I feel drawn to wander again."

Standing, she meandered toward the glass door, eyes gazing sadly down at the city.

"I inherited that wanderlust from you," smiled Enna as she joined her at the window. "One day, when I'm a bit stronger, maybe I can come get you and take you to some of the places I've seen. There's this magnificent willow tree with just the perfect place to rest right among its roots out in the marshes."

Althea smiled and hooked her arm around Enna's. "I just hope your wanderlust gives you more joy than mine has brought me. And I'd love to see your willow tree someday, Enna. I really would."

She looked over at Enna, and as Enna watched her features and observed her this closely, her heart was broken all over again to see the scars that would never heal. Enna's smile faltered.

"I am truly sorry for not listening to you, Rinn," said Althea. "I shall not make that mistake again. In time, I hope that you can forgive me, and that I can forgive myself. It is a terrible pain to lose a child… and one you had so much hope for. I hope that your journeys only bring you happiness and peace."

"I feel that it's me who should be asking for forgiveness, and not you," said Enna. "My actions had some part in this."

As her fingers brushed gently over one of the scars on Althea's cheek, Enna could not help but realize that she had led to the permanent scarring of two of her family members. She felt a familiar lump return to her throat, and she swallowed in vain.

"I'm sorry," she whispered. "For not protecting you from him."

Althea brought her close and embraced her.

"Forgiveness is always so easy to offer and yet so hard to accept," she whispered. "I feel that, perhaps, the time we spend apart will allow us both to work toward that goal." She pulled back again and sighed. "The hour grows late, my dear. And we have a difficult day ahead of us. Is there anything else you need?"

Enna shook her head. "I love you, Mom."

"And I you, my little Rinn," replied Althea as they embraced once more. "I'll see you later this morning." She moved toward her bedroom door before pausing, grinning, and turning to Enna. "Are you leaving this way?" She pointed toward the wooden door. "Or this way?" She pointed toward the balcony.

"I'm going to see if I can find Dad," replied Enna with a smile. "So, I'll go out the veranda. I'll see you in a few hours."

With that, she pushed onto the balcony, cast a spell, and transformed into an air elemental before pushing off into the sky.


For several minutes, Bash sat with his head in his hands, staring wide-eyed at the floor.

"Enna's family," he repeated for the thousandth time since Enna had left.

For some time, he had mulled over this idea. Such a mixture of feelings swirled around within him that he wasn't sure what would win out in the end. He ranged between worrying about winning their approval to hoping that they didn't know anything about him. What would they say if they knew what he was? Would they kill him on the spot?

He swore and rubbed his hands over his face. He couldn't decide whether he needed them to like him. On the one hand, they were important to Enna, and therefore important to him. But on the other hand, he knew what he had said to her that night and what had transpired since, and he knew that he could not be seen as a potential suitor; their disapproval would be swift and complete.

And yet, some part of him wanted to be considered. He'd imagined at least four scenarios of Enna's father telling her how amazing Bash was and how he wished she would find someone like him one day. Right afterward, he'd imagined the ease with which a powerful druid could remove his head should it be uncovered that Bash had played a hand in Enna's death.

With another sigh, he shook his head. Enna had held nothing against him, and he shouldn't either. He knew this. But would her family understand?

"There are four of them," he said to the chair by his bed.

It did not deign to respond.

He turned and peered out the window, where the sunlight had begun to shower the city with an orange glow. Then after another deep breath, he stood, fitted his new belt around his waist, and trudged down the stairs to the sitting room.

A faint scent of alcohol greeted him, and he peered around the room with a discerning eye. The glasses were all washed and put away, but the tiniest glint of something could be seen on the floor against the bar. He meandered over, knelt to investigate, and saw several tiny shards of glass that had escaped someone's attention. Carefully, he picked them up and emptied them into a trash bin, which he now saw was full of broken shards. Someone had broken a mug.

"Ingrates," he muttered. "We have to pay for that."

A small stain of dark liquid remained on the counter, and Bash peered around to see where it may have come from. Whoever had done this had stowed the bottle already. As if on a mission, Bash began to investigate the cabinets behind the bar, opening each door and poking around to see if any bottles were uncorked. Two had been, but he'd been there when Aribis had opened them; they were not the culprit. At last, he noticed a bottle cleverly hidden behind several others, and he drew it out to see that it was indeed missing some liquid.

He bent down and sniffed the stain on the bar, closing his eyes and processing as best he could, and then uncorked the bottle and took a whiff. It was the same substance.

Replacing the cork, he examined the label, finding that it was one of the most expensive bottles in their stores. Then pursing his lips, he considered who would have taken something so valuable from them.

Had Aribis or William decided that they needed a hit of something? No, they wouldn't have hidden the evidence.

If the servants were drinking on the job…

Just as he was about to replace the bottle, he heard a horrendously loud snore emanate from the servant's quarters on the right. He cocked his head, hid the bottle, and creeped over to the door that was not quite shut. Peeking through the gap, he saw a tuft of feathers on a bed, clearly the source of the sawing logs.

"Kayl," he realized, nearly laughing. "Typical."

With a sigh, he shut the door just loudly enough to disturb Kayl – but not wake him – and the overgrown chicken turned on his side, bringing an end to the snores. Satisfied, Bash made his way into the lounge.

He settled into the armchair and opened his book, but he found it very difficult to focus on the story. Every few seconds, his mind would drift elsewhere, and he would shake his head and start again at the top of the page. After several minutes, the front door opened, and he jumped up only to behold their housekeepers, Poppy and Daisy, coming in and carrying baskets of supplies.

"Good morning, sir," said Poppy, nodding politely.

"Ah, hello," replied Bash awkwardly before tapping the cover of his book and nodding back.

"Hello," added Daisy, though she did not meet his eyes, and he noticed that her cheeks had blushed something terrible upon seeing him.

"You, uh…" he began. Then he shook his head and started over. "Glad you came. I think someone had a messy nightcap last night." He gestured toward the bar.

"We'll get that cleaned up right away, sir," smiled Poppy after eyeing the scene.

"Good. Great! Thanks."

He shook his head as they meandered toward the bar, and he reclaimed his seat and reopened his book. A few minutes later, William came trudging down the stairs and took a seat on a couch.

"Hey, Enna's family's coming today," said Bash casually. "For the funeral."

William grunted a response before folding his arms and staring at the wall in front of him.

More steps came down the stairs, these much lighter, and Bash turned to see the feathery Aribis, beak buried in a book with a huge keg depicted on the front. He looked up as he reached the first floor, glanced around, and then turned his attention back to the book.

"My father's coming to visit sometime, apparently," he announced as if this were a normal way to greet his friends in the morning. "Just a heads up."

And then he trotted off toward the kitchen.

"Enna's family's coming, too!" called Bash after him.

Aribis stopped and turned. "Did you say Enna's family?"

"Yep."

"Are they like her? Or are they more like the other one?"

"I don't know," shrugged Bash.

"Oh. The more the merrier…? That's what they say, right?"

"That's what they say."

Aribis shrugged and began foraging through the cabinets, gathering several foodstuffs and brewing materials before shuffling back up to his room.

Bash returned to his book only to be disturbed once again when the door opened. Again, he jumped, ready for Enna to waltz in with a display of powerful druids, only to scorn himself as Rune and Decklinn came in to make ready for their security shifts. Therion and Ethan arrived shortly after.

"Where's Kayl?" asked Ethan, looking around. "He should be here by now."

"He stayed here last night," replied William, nodding toward the far side of the room.

Shaking his head, Ethan walked over to the servant's quarters and rapped quickly on the door. A light yelp followed by a hard thump echoed out, and the door opened a moment later to Kayl, who smiled and nodded to Ethan.

"Time to get started," said Ethan sourly before walking off.

Kayl returned to the room for several minutes before he finally traipsed out to join the others, and he stretched his arms and wings as if he'd just had the best sleep of his life.

"Another lovely day on the job, wouldn't you say, boys?" he said in an oddly chipper tone.

Ethan and Therion sighed and shook their heads. Bash smirked.

"Alright, so, Therion, you take the back," added Kayl. "And, uh, Ethan, you'll be in the front. And I will be, uh… in here."

The two guards locked eyes, rolled them, and then moseyed off to their positions. It was clear that they'd known exactly where to go without need for Kayl's direction.

"Ah, William!"

Kayl's attention had turned to the two Misfits, and Bash quickly pretended to be invested in his book.

"Up and about, I see."

William nodded.

"Why the long face?" Kayl laughed, then added, "My own personal joke. So, what's for breakfast?"

He began searching around for ingredients, extracting eggs and bacon from the icebox and flour from the canisters.

"Aren't we… paying you for something?" asked Bash, peering over his book.

"Got it covered, Bash! Got it covered!" replied Kayl. "Is the magpie up?"

He tossed some flour and eggs into a bowl before splashing in some water and snatching a spoon to stir.

"I don't know," shrugged Bash. "Go knock on his door and find out."

"Ah, wouldn't want to bother him. He's got a lot on his mind."

"Don't we all," muttered William.

"Indeed!" cawed Kayl.

As Kayl busied himself with breakfast, Bash took some comfort in the sounds of cooking as he tried to return to his book. He found that he had to turn back several pages before he found something he recognized, and he set out to reread and actually focus this time. At last, he managed to sink into the pages. Time passed by quickly as the room filled with the scent of biscuits, bacon, and eggs, and for just a moment, he was transported back to his days as a child. How many mornings had he spent like this? Transfixed in a story while his mother cooked for him.

As Bash was far away, buried within a tale of grandeur, the front door opened once more. Only this time, he was so engrossed that he didn't even notice. It was not until he heard a cacophony of foreign voices that he suddenly looked up and watched Enna walk in, followed by four unfamiliar elves.

He snapped his book shut and set it on the table next to him before leaping to his feet, then cursed as he realized that he'd forgotten to replace his bookmark.

A booming, joyous, unreasonable laugh echoed through the room as one of the two men looked around.

"You've been holding back, Enna!" he laughed.

"It didn't come without struggles," dismissed Enna. Then she added, "But welcome to the Misfit Manor." She threw her hand out to gesture, and a sprinkle of leaves appeared and fluttered to the floor.

"What was that?" asked Kayl, eyes darting toward the door. He meandered over to see the newcomers.

Bash marveled to see such joy in Enna's face as she ushered her family inside. The one with the raucous laugh stood tall beside her, shirtless, rippling with muscles. He was intimidating, to say the least. His hair was short and shaggy but almost platinum in color, and across his bare back sat a massive greatsword. A kilt girded his waist, and thick boots shod his feet.

Behind him was a woman that Bash would have thought very attractive under different circumstances. She was short and wearing black and blue, almost scale-like armor, with freckles splayed across her face that accentuated her dark elven skin. Tiny cuttings of hemlock dangled from her ears.

Next in line was a handsome man, clearly a druid with vines of blue morning glories decorating his red leather armor. His eyes pierced the room with an icy blue gaze, and his staff was laced with the same flowers as his armor, contrasting his dark red hair. Most impressive to Bash was that this elf had managed to grow a meager amount of scruff on his face, almost making him look half-elven if not for his dramatically pointed ears.

Last to enter was an aging woman, her hair white but cascading down to her original black, ivy woven throughout. She wore a huge cloak of bearskin, and Bash noticed a special gleam in her eye that reminded him of Enna.

Just as the group began taking in the room, a patter of footsteps heralded Sooka and Aribis, who must have heard all the noise, and suddenly Bash, William, Sooka, Aribis, and Kayl stood awkwardly in the sitting room, glancing between Enna and her family.

"Well, introduce us, Enna!" boomed the shirtless man, still grinning as if he were the happiest man alive.

"These are the Natural Misfits!" replied Enna quickly. "First of all, everyone, this is my brother Varis and my sister Mirielle—" she gestured to the first two "—and my father Theren and my Aunt Nell." She finished with the others.

Then she turned toward the Misfits and went down a line introducing them, and Bash noticed a special glimmer in her eye when she said his name. Choosing to ignore this, he smiled appropriately, nodding at them and hoping desperately that they hadn't noticed Enna's expression.

While Mirielle stood disinterested with her arms crossed, Varis grinned widely and rushed around the room to envelop each of them in a bone-crushing hug. Bash smiled politely, though he wasn't entirely welcoming of the aggressive affection, and Theren offered no reprieve in his piercing gaze that swept the room. As Varis made his rounds, Theren eyed each of them with such direct fierceness that Bash felt that he could see into their very souls. He shivered slightly when Theren's gaze finally left him, and he happily turned his attention to Nell. She walked around slowly, shaking each person's hand, her dark eyes kind but strong. Though she walked with age weighing her steps, her handshake was firm, and Bash got the sense that she felt that she held control of the entire room. He supposed it was true, at least to a point.

"I see we have a fellow shirtless man!" boomed Varis, gesturing happily to William. "It's the only way to attract the ladies!" He winked as Mirielle sighed audibly from the doorway.

Despite William's size and visible strength, he was nothing compared to Varis. Still, William did not appear intimidated but merely stood with his arms crossed as he always did.

"Shirts are simply a constraint," replied William.

"Agreed!" replied Varis. "Does nothing but hinder the pecs."

To demonstrate, Varis then bounced his pectoral muscles back and forth, and Bash raised an eyebrow and turned to Enna. She stood smiling in the corner, but she did not catch his eye.

The newcomers slowly pushed into the sitting room, taking places on the couches as Aribis disappeared up the stairs. Enna sat and began making conversation, clearly happy to be spending time with her family, and Bash wandered into the lounge to retrieve his book before shifting toward the far side of the room.

"What you got there?" asked Mirielle, who was still near the lobby door.

Bash nearly jumped, but spun and grinned awkwardly.

"A book," he replied, holding it aloft to demonstrate.

"Really?" replied Mirielle, eyebrows raised in amusement. "Here I thought it was a chicken."

Chuckling awkwardly, Bash eased his way toward the kitchen, hoping to find some level of solace in the continued cooking escapades of Kayl. Also, his stomach was rumbling.

"No, the chicken already left," he chuckled, but it became quickly clear that Mirielle had no idea to what he was referring. "Aribis," he added, pointing his thumb to the stairs. She quirked an eyebrow, and he shook his head. "Mirielle, right?" he asked, hoping to regain some of his honor.

"That's me."

"Bash." He stuck out his hand.

"How well do you know Enna, Bash?" she asked as she shook his hand.

"Um, you know… As well as any of the others, I suppose."

"That so?"

"Yeah, uh, but I should probably go help Kayl. He's helpless, you know."

She nodded with a smirk, and Bash quickly turned and rushed over to the kitchen.

As it turned out, Kayl did not need any help, but Bash had expected as much. He found a bottle of whisky, poured a shot, and downed it before stowing the bottle, snagging a biscuit and several pieces of bacon, and skirting off toward the stairs.

The others were occupied in conversation, and he practically tiptoed away, hoping to avoid their attention. Even Mirielle had moved over to the couches and was sitting close to Enna while studying the oak staff lying next to her. Carefully, he kept to the shadows, and he was just a few feet from safety when he glanced behind him.

Theren, Nell, and Mirielle all had their eyes pinned on him as Enna spoke with Varis, William, and Sooka. Mirielle nudged Nell next to her, whispered something, and then pointed subtly right at him.

He attempted a smile, waved awkwardly, and all but sprinted up the stairs.


"What do you wear to the funeral of your worst enemy?" asked Bash, flitting through the various outfits in his closet.

Although his favorite getup was his leather armor, he made sure to stock up on plenty of other clothes so that he could fit into any occasion. He considered several options, including a ridiculous party costume, but in the end, he settled on one of the only two appropriate ventures: a black suit, complete with a vest and decorative collar.

Several minutes later, he stood before the mirror, buckled his dagger to his belt, tied his tie, buttoned his vest and then his suit jacket, and tied up his hair.

"Not bad," he said to himself with a nod. "Now let's go mourn a guildmaster."

As he walked toward his door, he shook his head at the statement. He would not mourn. His presence was for Enna and no one else.

He opened the door to see Enna walking slowly down the steps, her black dress flowing behind her. She stopped when she heard him and turned back, offering a small smile, which he returned. Then they walked down together in silence, Bash offering his presence for comfort.

In the sitting room waited everyone else, including Althea. William and Varis were both shirtless, and the others were dressed as best they could. For one solemn moment, they all stood in silence.

"Do you need me to come with you, Magpie?" asked Kayl quietly from the corner.

"It's a funeral," replied Aribis. "I don't think we need you there."

"I'll look after the place while you're gone. It's in good hands… talons… wings."

"By the way, I've locked up the bar."

Kayl's smile disappeared, and he pouted as he retreated from the group.

"To Raven's Hall, then?" muttered Enna.

Bash nodded, the group filed out of the house, and Enna took the lead.

As much as he wanted to stay by her side, Bash couldn't help but retreat away from Enna's family that now surrounded her. They stood in united solemnity, and he would not intrude on such a familial affair. Instead, he walked with William, Sooka, and Aribis as they trudged down the streets of Agneward, which were surprisingly empty compared to the days of the bustling Colosso Exhibition.

"She should take comfort in knowing that Rolen did change before his death," said William suddenly, eyes focused on Enna ahead of them. "He did what was right, in the end."

Bash shook his head; he couldn't believe that Rolen had really become such a different person.

"You should tell her that," replied Aribis.

"Perhaps I will."

As they approached The Raven's Hall, they were greeted by Knights of the White Orchid who stood at attention on either side of the gates. Their eyes continually scanned the crowd as people filed in and funneled toward the mausoleum that stood tall next to the cathedral of the Raven Queen. As they approached the open doors, Enna hesitated for just a moment when Illia appeared and neared them with somber greetings, Finwe behind her as an ever-present shadow. She placed a gentle hand on Enna's shoulder and wrapped an arm around Althea, who was already shedding tears.

"This is not how I wanted this all to end," she said. "Let's get this over with, shall we?"

The three women led them into the mausoleum, which stood as a large gathering place whenever the city mourned the loss of a guildmaster or lawmaster. Seats stair-stepped down to the central platform, where now stood a half-open casket, no doubt holding the body of Rolen. The ornate craftsmanship, laid with gold, silver, and jewels, was visible even from this distance, and Bash sighed in disdain. The value of the casket alone could have fed half the children in the Dandelions for a month.

The group found seats together and waited quietly for the ceremony to start.

Mistress Shoed, the Duskkeeper of the Raven Queen, started the ceremony with a eulogy to Rolen's accomplishments and his noble standing as Guildmaster of Commerce. With excessive theater, she related the roles of the guildmasters to the long standing of Agneward, stating that the death of such a pillar had shaken the foundations of the city.

Bash did his best not to scoff or roll his eyes. These people hadn't seen Rolen when he was growing up in the shadows of his miserable father. They hadn't seen the joy with which he had framed innocents or the sheer happiness that Rolen had exacted from the suffering of others. They hadn't seen his wrath mix with sadistic pleasure as Rolen had come face to face with the Ghost… or what he had thought was the Ghost. Rolen would have killed Bash that night, and Enna right along with him, had he been granted the opportunity.

As the eulogy drew to a close, Bash peered over at Enna. Her head was bowed, and she held her aunt's hand tightly as she wiped her tear-streamed face. Then his eyes scanned the populous room, noting the pervasive gravity. A sick feeling settled over his stomach to see the people mourning such a disgusting person. He tried not to spite Enna; he understood that her emotions ran far deeper than mere grief at losing her estranged brother. And yet, he could not help but feel the smallest amount of disdain toward her sadness.

When the Duskkeeper had finished, she announced that everyone could come and say farewell to Rolen directly, and she invited Rolen's immediate family to be first in line.

Enna and her family stood and began sidling toward the aisle, but then Enna paused and gestured to Bash, Aribis, William, and Sooka that they should follow.

Bash looked at William, who shrugged, and then back at Enna, who nodded to encourage them. After a sigh, Bash stood with the others and followed Enna as they made their way up to the platform, a long stream of people falling in line behind them.

Mistress Shoed stood near the casket and nodded to them as they approached, Althea in the lead, followed by Theren, Enna, Nell, Mirielle, and Varis. When Althea arrived, she placed a hand on the casket and lowered her head, closed eyes streaming tears down her face as she whispered something.

As Enna approached, she swirled her hand in a circle, producing a beautiful lily that she placed atop Rolen's folded hands.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you," she whispered, though Bash had to strain to hear it over the shuffling of the crowd as they made their way up to the platform.

Bash waited as Nell, Mirielle, and Varis shuffled past the casket and paid their respects, and then it was his turn. He frowned as he neared Rolen's body. The corpse had been prepared as one might expect for a guildmaster, as showy and elegant as could have been managed.

As Bash looked down at Rolen's face, he took a deep breath, though not from any level of anxiety. Here before him lay one of the most detestable men he had ever known. How many times had Bash eyed that leering face and wished to end Rolen's life? And here he lay dead. Bash couldn't help but feel some level of satisfaction, but it was mixed with detest for the show that was Rolen's funeral. This man deserved no celebration of his life, but only a celebration of his death. His end had been the greatest service that he had ever provided for the city of Agneward.

Still, Bash kept this to himself. He nodded awkwardly to the body and moved forward, keeping one eye trained on the line behind him and the other on Enna, who had been casting glances at him for several minutes.

On his approach, William touched the casket and said, "I hope that I can change the way you did. In the end, you did the right thing in fighting to protect your mother."

Aribis touched Rolen's corpse while whispering, and perhaps it had been a trick of the light, but Bash could have sworn some sort of magic passed into the body. Most curious was that Mistress Shoed seemed to have noticed something, too, but she merely nodded at Aribis, and he moved on. Whatever it was must not have been too terrible.

Sooka walked past Rolen sheepishly, clearly uncomfortable to be in such a situation, though she seemed to be checking on Enna every now and then.

Several minutes later, the group had congregated in the lobby of the mausoleum and stood around talking. Bash stayed close to William, Sooka, and Aribis, but he kept a close eye on Enna.

Funerals were a strange affair for him. He had attended very few considering his long lifespan, and each of them had been similar in nature. Those who grieved gathered, mourned, and then laughed. They laughed as if laughter could patch up the broken nature of their emotions, torn asunder by remembrance. They laughed to escape, to avoid. To feel anything other than grief.

He himself had felt very little of this feeling. He had come to funerals to honor the dead, but grief was something he had managed to avoid, for the most part.

Now, as he stood and watched Enna and her family shift from bitter sadness to timid smiles, he recalled perhaps the only time when he had felt the same thing as they did now. That powerful desire to avoid his grief had resulted in leaving his life behind, and ever since then, he had merely watched as others shifted unsteadily through anguish while he had continued in his own avoidance.

With Nell on one side, Enna stood close to her mother, occasionally reaching out a hand to brush against Althea's arm. Theren held fast to Althea's other hand. And then Enna glanced up to Bash, a powerful sorrow in her eye begging for comfort. It was almost enough to make Bash rush over and wrap her in his arms, to whisper reassurances to her while she wept, and yet all he could offer was a timid smile.

Shortly after, Illia approached once again, Finwe in tow.

"Glad that this is over with," she said to the large circle. "I'm sorry, Althea," she quickly added.

Theren narrowed his eyes as Althea nodded, and Bash waited to see if he would do anything. In the end, he did not.

"I'll be in touch with you all soon," said Illia to the Misfits. "Enjoy your time off while you can."

Then she walked off, though Finwe paused for a moment. He looked at Enna, opened his mouth to say something, and then turned to follow his master.

"Thank you," mouthed Enna, and Finwe nodded before scampering off.

"Ah, funerals are such a downer," said Varis loudly as he stretched his arms.

"Yes, of course they are," derided Mirielle.

"We know that death is merely the end of life and the start of another great journey," said Nell as she squeezed Enna's arm.

"I prefer our funerals over these," returned Enna.

Nell chuckled. "Indeed. You should see your Uncle Wilfrid. He's blooming wonderfully."

Enna smiled.

"So," said Varis. "Where are we drinking?"

Enna looked at Bash, and the others seemed to catch her meaning. All at once, Enna's entire family was looking to him for direction.

"Uh," he said, trying to recall what was nearby. For a split second, his mental map of Agneward was completely blank, and he couldn't even decide which direction was north. Thankfully, after a quick head shake, the map took form once again, and he pinpointed somewhere nearby that he thought might impress this troupe of wood elves.

"Limping Colt?" he offered.

As they all shuffled into the bar, Bash glanced around. It was a far cry from the Sour Apple or the Foxhole, and he hoped it was good enough for Enna's family. A goliath woman that Bash recognized from a couple weeks ago stood behind the bar cleaning out a tankard, and she seemed to have caught Varis's eye.

"I like the way she looks!" he boomed, instantly drawing eyes.

"Don't even," said Mirielle, rolling her eyes.

They took seats across several tables that Varis insisted they scoot together, and within a few minutes, they had drinks ordered. While they waited, Mirielle turned to Bash.

"So, what's your story?" she asked him.

"I don't have a story," he said quickly, fidgeting with his fingers under the table. Suddenly, he wanted to melt into the chair and disappear.

What happened to the cool Bash? he asked himself. The one who could lie his way out of any situation?

Mirielle then turned her eye to Enna, and they must have silently communicated something, but Bash was too intrigued with the craftsmanship of the mug that had just been placed in front of him to be able to discern anything.

"We all have stories, you know," challenged Mirielle. "You don't just show up one day."

"Well, it was actually Enna that just showed up," he chuckled.

"And that's how you two met?"

"How did you all meet?" inserted Theren, and Bash breathed a quiet sigh of relief.

"We were all in the Mireguard together," answered Enna. "Except Sooka." She grinned down at the kenku. "We met her here in the city."

Theren nodded to Sooka.

"Sooka," she responded.

"We had another," added William. "She left us."

Bash looked down.

"Oh, yes, I remember," piped up Nell. "I figured we could handle that a little later. If that's okay."

"Fine with me," said Enna. "Mirielle, want to join me at the bar?"

She put her arm around her sister, who was mildly bewildered but intrigued, and led her off toward the bar, where they both took a seat.


"So," said Mirielle as she took a sip of her drink. "What's the real story with that guy?"

"I know what you're doing," responded Enna quietly. "He's off limits."

"You say he's off limits… Does that mean you're interested?"

Enna couldn't help but blush as she insisted, "He's off limits."

Mirielle eyed her closely before casting a glance over her shoulder to Bash.

"Oh," she said as if coming to a point of understanding. "Hmm. Well, I mean… They could be uglier."

"Yes, he's very handsome," replied Enna, looking down.

"That's not a question!"

"I've known him for a long time."

"You know, I was going to ask you about that… Why haven't you come to see us? It's been decades!"

Enna sighed. "It's a long story. But I've been here for most of that time, after my travels anyway."

Mirielle looked around the bar. "I never thought that you would be comfortable in a city."

"I wasn't."

"And yet you remained here?" Mirielle looked over at Bash again. "Ah."

"It's not just him, though. Things happened… Now probably isn't the time. I don't want to go into all the details. Rolen wasn't a good person."

"Oh, I've heard Father talk about him a couple times, but he tried to let Mother do her own thing. Which, she did."

"I felt responsible," said Enna quietly.

"For what?"

"To stop as much of it as I could. That's why I was here for so long."

For several moments, Mirielle watched Enna. It was clear she knew that Enna was leaving out details, but in the end, she took a swig of mead.

"This is fantastic," she said.

"Isn't it? It's my favorite," replied Enna. "It's from the Red Vale Meadery. They grow red poppies far out in the Endless Plains and have several established beehives to make honey from them. That's why the mead is reddish in color, and it just makes you feel a sense of joy when you drink it, don't you think?"

Mirielle smiled and took another drink.


That evening, Enna led her family and the Misfits behind the Misfit Manor, where stood one large, lonely oak tree.

"This is the tree I was talking about," announced Enna, and her father nodded while he moved closer to it.

"A strong tree, indeed," he mumbled as he placed a hand on the bark and paused for a moment. Then his eyes turned to Enna, and a smile played on his lips. "Little Rinn, you have grown quite a bit. I'm very proud of you being able to make it on your own. Obviously, I don't raise chicks. I raise hawks."

He turned to his other children, who were horsing around with each other.

"No, do it again," urged Varis as he flexed his abdomen.

With a giggle, Mirielle punched him in the belly as hard as she could, and Varis barely moved.

"You can do better than that!" he laughed.

Bash shuddered.

"We miss you back at the Enclave," continued Theren, returning his attention to Enna. "Do you think you can come visit sometime?"

"I would like to soon," nodded Enna.

"When the time comes, just let me know. We'll make sure that you are welcomed warmly. Now, before we head home… Nell, wasn't there something you wanted to do?"

"Ah, yes," replied the old elf. "Enna, you said you wanted to send a message to the Night Court, right?"

"Yes. We were friends and traveled with their heiress Sopheta."

"Wait, what?" said Theren, shock on his face.

"The heiress to the Night Court?" said the astounded Nell.

Enna nodded. "She joined the Mireguard with us, and we were all on our journey together."

They glanced at each other, and Bash looked over at William and Aribis. Both seemed somber, but neither seemed eager to catch his eye and commiserate.

"Where is she now?" asked Nell.

Enna paused, rubbing her arm awkwardly as she looked down. "I don't really know… But we made a promise to her that if something ever happened to her, that we would let her family know so that her brother could continue in her place. I think she's… happy… where she is. But some otherworldly power took her from us."

"And how are you wanting to communicate all this? Write it in a letter? Face to face?"

"I think face to face would be better," replied Enna slowly.

Nell nodded, and then she retrieved from her bag five black gemstones, which she laid out on the grassy lawn. As she began the ritual of casting a powerful spell, Bash wondered how this would go. How does a royal court of a different dimension react to being dropped in on? And what did Nell mean by "face to face"? Would they all be transported to the Night Court? Would the Night Court be transported here?

Enna appeared to have none of these reservations, and neither did any of Bash's other companions. In fact, Aribis and especially Sooka seemed quite intrigued to watch the spellcasting take place, and so Bash decided to wait stoically next to William, hoping that Enna's family had managed to overlook him on their stay. Surely with them all gathered on the back lawn, they would leave soon, and he would be free of their discerning eyes.

A minute or so into the spell, Nell gestured to Theren, who also whispered a spell and gestured toward the fountain. A moment later, a wisp of water lifted into the air and drifted over to Nell's circle. The globe flattened and shifted vertically, becoming like a mirror suspended in the air. The stones began to glow, and the transparent water turned dark.

"They're so cool," muttered Mirielle to Enna, who had settled from her games with Varis.

A moment later, the water appeared as a void dangling precariously within the grounds of Misfit Manor, oddly and eerily out of place. Nell gestured to Enna, who shuffled over to gaze into the void as a faint image began to appear. Instinctively, Bash eased over and placed himself within a few feet of Enna.

The image formed into a ghastly white face with pointed ears. The man wore a suit, and he turned and gazed directly at Enna with red eyes.

"Have you an appointment?" asked the man, revealing sharp fangs as he spoke.

"I don't, but I have news about Sopheta," replied Enna as she fidgeted with the hem of her tunic.

"Sopheta… She lives? I'll get the master."

The man glided off to the side, and there was a tense moment of silence as they waited. At last, two faces appeared in the mirror. A tiefling male with dark purple skin, hair tied in a tight bun, horns curling up into the air stood next to a tiefling woman with lavender skin and white hair. Their regal aura pushed through the boundaries of the planes of existence, reaching them there in the city of Agneward, and Bash almost shivered to see their icy gaze. And yet, he couldn't help being drawn to them; he could see Sopheta in their features, and a shadow fell on his heart.

"So, what news do you have of my daughter?" said the man as menacing wisps of shadow emanated from him. His accent matched that of his daughter.

Enna bowed formally. "We traveled with Sopheta for a time, and—"

"Who are you," demanded the tiefling, "that you would address the High Baron of the Night Court?"

"My name is Enna Liadon of the Enclave of the Gilded Watch."

"The Enclave… interesting. You say you know where my Sopheta is?"

"I don't know exactly where she is, but I know what has happened to her. At least mostly. A few weeks ago, a beam of light came down from the heavens, and a pale woman appeared within the beam. She invited Sopheta to join her beloved, and she agreed. Despite everything we tried, we could not stop her. She was… taken. There was nothing we could do."

The tieflings looked at each other and whispered for a few moments before turning back to Enna.

"So, I take it that she was entrusted to your care," said the high baron. "And you let this happen?"

"We tried really hard to stop it," replied Enna, her voice cracking as she spoke.

The baron's face twisted in a terrifying wrath.

"You mean that my little Sophie has run away, and now she has disappeared while in the care of the very friends she entrusted with her life?" he demanded as shadows began to grow around him. Perhaps it was a trick of the light, but Bash thought he saw some of the shadows begin to leak out of the mirror image and reach for Enna.

Bash rushed forward and planted himself in front of her, standing stalwartly between her and the danger, and said, "I swear that we did everything we could. We couldn't save her from what must have been divine power."

"We tried," choked Enna through tears. "I promise. I tried."

Bash heard his friends step forward and ease into line with Enna as the tendrils of the baron's anger reached toward them. For several seconds, Bash waited, wholly determined to take whatever punishment the baron might offer, so long as he did not target Enna.

And yet, at Bash's words, the tiefling seemed to soften slightly. The tendrils slowed and began to retreat, and the baron turned to Bash.

"I have searched for my daughter for so many years," he said quietly. "This is the first notification that she is even alive. You must understand… she bore – she bears – an incredible destiny. You must bear with me, as I am very fraught over this."

The woman standing with the baron put her hand on his shoulder and sighed lightly.

"Thank you for the information," she said. "I don't know what to do with it, but at least this time we have a lead. Perhaps we will be in touch."

"I tried to scry for her," offered Enna, her voice steadier now. "At the very least, I can tell you that she's not on this plane anymore."

"Your magic is so paltry compared to mine," said the baron. "But I do appreciate the intent. Goodbye."

The tieflings disappeared, the mirror splashed to the ground as clear water, and the gems abandoned their soft glow.

"That guy was mean!" boomed Varis as Bash closed his eyes in a moment of relief.

Enna's breaths were uneven behind him, and Bash spun to see her in tears, holding her hands over her face. Just as he was about to reach out to her, Mirielle stepped in and put an arm around her shoulder. With Enna well cared for, he stepped aside and rejoined his friends along the fringe.

"That was… I hope you didn't make an enemy of that guy," said Theren.

"I really tried to save her," choked Enna. "I wasn't strong enough."

As Nell began to pick up her crystals, she said, "Darling, sometimes all we can do is try, whether we succeed or not. No one else will know but us."

"It's been haunting my dreams for a while now, but I guess… we can only continue on," whispered Enna as she tried to collect herself. Her breathing steadied, and the elves began to move closer to the tree. Althea smiled at Theren, who appeared nervous but happy to be bringing her back with him, and Nell, Mirielle, and Varis all shuffled over, drawing the Misfits with them.

The sun was now dipping below the horizon, giving out a last call of light before its slumber, and only the top of the tree now saw any sunbeams. Stars had begun to peek out of the sky, and Enna took a deep breath as farewells seemed imminent. She approached her mother first.

"When you decide to read that letter," she said, "and you want the rest of the story, let me know."

Without looking at Enna, Althea took her hands and said, "I'm sorry that things turned out the way that they did. I will read your letter when I feel that I'm ready for it. In the meantime, I'll be in touch. One day, we can go see that tree."

"Maybe we'll both heal from our scars," whispered Enna, her hand grazing over that spot on her belly.

"Take care of yourself, little Rinn." Then she looked at the rest of the Misfits and said, "All of you, take care of her."

"She normally takes care of us, but we'll keep an eye on her," assured Aribis.

Varis waltzed up to William and punched his shoulder.

"Love to tussle sometime, wouldn't you say?" he laughed.

"Indeed, it would be a lively experience," replied William.

Then Varis approached Aribis, patted him on the head, and said, "We didn't talk much, but you're funny."

Aribis pecked him in the knee, and Bash stifled a laugh.

"Alright, fine," said Varis before laughing.

"I just wanted to see if you're made of stone," said Aribis.

"Only these!" The tall elf pointed to his abdomen, laughed again, and then approached Bash. "One last hug!" he said before wrapping him up and practically lifting him off the ground. Then only as a whisper, Varis added, "If you break her heart, I'll break your neck."

Bash's smile disappeared altogether as Varis released him, continued on with his booming laughter, and sauntered over to Sooka. Bash was fairly certain that his heart had stopped, and he was also confident that Varis would make good on his word if the situation arose. He looked down at his feet, vaguely aware of the goings on around him, and realized that despite his best efforts, he had failed to seem unimportant to Enna's family. They had seen right through him. He glanced over to Enna, only to find that Mirielle was whispering to her and nodding in Bash's direction.

Just great, he thought. He wanted to go hide in his bedroom.

"Take care of yourself," said Mirielle a little more loudly as she gave Enna a hug and a kiss on the cheek.

Lastly, Theren and Nell approached Enna.

"I look forward to seeing what you do in the future," said Nell. "You've grown so much, dear."

"If only our obligations didn't pull us apart so much…," said Theren. "Just let me know when you want to come visit, and perhaps I can expedite the process."

"Okay," smiled Enna.

He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. Then Nell held Enna's shoulders and looked up at her.

"Guard yourself, dear," she said quietly. "I want to see you again."

Enna began to shed tears once more as Nell embraced her.

As the elves of the enclave gathered near the tree, Enna stepped back and fell in line with Bash and the others. It took all he had not to reach out and take her hand as she wiped her face and watched her family prepare to leave.

Theren looked at the group, then plucked a morning glory from his staff and placed it on the tree. The flower began to bloom larger and grow vines, taking over the bark until light began to emanate from the tree trunk. Then after one last nod to Enna, they all piled in and disappeared. A moment later, silence and the darkness of evening had taken over the lawn.

Sooka shuffled over and tugged on Enna's sleeve.

"Why" "little Rinn?" she asked.

"Rinn is my child name," explained Enna.

"Child name," repeated Sooka, head cocked to one side.

"In elven culture, your parents give you a name that you grow up with. And then when you declare yourself an adult, you get to choose your own name. I chose Enna. But of course, those who were around you when you grew up might still call you by your child name. It's a term of endearment."

Sooka nodded and smiled.

Bash was grateful that nobody was curious enough to ask him his own child name and relieved that Enna's family was gone. For the first time today, he was able to relax, and he let out a heavy sigh and let his shoulders drop.

"I think it's time we all got some rest," said William as he patted Enna on the shoulder. "Today was a hard day."

Enna nodded as she looked down.

William, Aribis, and Sooka made their way toward the house, but Enna paused. Bash waited to see what she would do, but she merely glanced back at the tree, offered him a small smile, and walked into the house.

Bash sighed, Varis's words ringing in his mind. He marched up the stairs with the others before bidding them all good night and moving into his room, where he sat at his desk once again. Little did Varis know that the thing he feared was the very fear of Bash himself. Enna's heart deserved so much more. So much more than a ruined assassin. More than an experienced flight risk. More than him.

Would he ever become more? He couldn't be sure.