Ranni schooled her features. She'd had a terrible suspicion since her resurrection and it seemed she may have been correct. She drew a small spell-blade Owain had given her on their fiftieth anniversary from its sheath at her hip. Owain's hand caught her own before she could slash at her hand, "Ranni?" he questioned, brow furrowed.

"I must see my blood." she insisted. He released her warily but nodded.

She slashed at her palm, wincing at the pain. Crimson blood slipped from her tight fist. Owain gasped, "I do not… red?"

Ranni began to laugh, "What is it thou'rt always grumblin'? Nothin' is ever easy, aye?"

"Ranni, this-what does this mean?" He healed her, eyes unwavering from the crimson dripping from her fingers.

She pricked his palm carefully with the knife, unsurprised by the gold that dribbled forth, "That thou must not die, my dear."

"Then…the dung eater is vanquished by a tarnished's hand? Have you a tarnished's immortality as well?" She could already see the gears beginning to turn in his mind, the many logistics of properly guarding his wife now shifting to accommodate this revelation.

Ranni shook her head, brushing the bangs from his face with a delicate touch, "We mustn't test it, I would think not, however. We two art unique conjoinin' I suspect. Things art shifting ere the passin' of my fingers."

"It is always just when I think things are going our way that more nonsense arises." he sighed.

"Such is life, Sunbeam. Now let us away out of this dank place, mine nose has had quite enough." She took her consort's hand, patting his scarred knuckles.

He was right that it seemed some new obstacle seemed to appear whensoever they attempted to rest on their laurels. It was frustrating, certainly, but even this new knowledge could not weigh her down too much. Owain had been so light of late, she was dreading the coming day she would need to transfer the runes once more into his care. Ranni would be there to lend an ear, as she always was, and try to keep his spirits up. So too would she would study these new changes intensely.

He was already entirely swamped with preparations for their journey north. Ranni had hoped to whisk him away to Caria for a few weeks to spend time with Rykard, but it seemed she would need to go alone and cut her trip down to a few days. She worried he might grow too melancholic without her aside him to disrupt his brooding. As they translocated into their quarters, she made sure to kiss him with extra sweetness.

It worried him that Radahn was not at his side as he rode through Sellia. His brother had seemed so…disquiet as he'd requested Owain go and see this thing for himself. The Starscourge had been making regular visits to Caelid, slowly redeploying his troops at strategic locations to begin establishing research camps. He and Ranni had been exchanging research notes on forestalling the rot, so far they had had surprising progress with the integration of running water. Owain was sure more progress would be made now that mother Rennala was returned to Caria.

Radahn had personally come to the capitol, interrupting a high council to pull Owain away and tell him in no uncertain terms he must personally go to the church above Sellia. Owain was in the midst of his preparations to journey north, so he truly did not have time for this, but Radahn's unsettled earnestness was too compelling. He wished Ranni at least had come, but he was loath to disturb her time with Rykard.

Owain stood in Osgalath's stirrups as he approached the decrepit building. Even at this distance he could see a small mountain of pest corpses before the crumbling entrance. He frowned. Just what had they been guarding? He left his steed a ways away, wary. Osgalath hated those pests, he enjoyed trampling their corpses. Owain had no desire to come back to a horse covered in insect viscera, so he walked the rest of the way. His helm, and armaments stayed asadle, for some reason he felt he would not need them.

Memories struck him with fierce force as he passed under the church's threshold. The scent of the rot always brought with it moments of Malenia. He sighed, allowing his eyes a few moments to adjust to the dusky gloom. To his surprise he saw a small figure huddled to the far wall, clothes bloodstained and threadbare.

"Ahh- Nggh... Who's there?" The girl called out weakly.

Owain froze, narrowing his eyes in the low light. The shape of the girl's nose, the slant of her jaw…they made his heart ache uniquely.

"Well, it matters not." She continued, small voice strained, "If you are wise, you will leave immediately."

He tread forward cautiously, heedless of her request. Why did he feel so drawn to this girl?

She curled further in on herself, shying away from him even as he came to stand at her front, "M-My flesh writhes with scarlet rot. It is a curse. Not to be meddled with by man." She was missing an arm, he noted. She was far too frail, her bones jutted from neath too thin of skin. His jaw clenched.

Owain knelt slowly. He listened to the wheeze of her lungs, the whistling rattle. The stench of the scorpion was pungent, too pungent for a living mortal not of the cleanrots. His eyes were wide and his hands shook, surely he was wrong. He shucked off his gauntlets and hooked them to his belt. She flinched at his soft touch, battling him away weakly with her remaining arm.

"H-hush child, be not afeard. Let me look upon you plainly, raise your face." he asked, his voice low and murmuring. He gently nudged the girl's chin with a curled knuckle until she regarded him eye to feverish eye. Owain felt as if his heart had leapt to his throat. This girl, besides her short stature, she was the perfect image of princess Malenia in her youth.

She leaned forward with a grasping arm, "Owai-!" She halted mid word and mid action, seemingly startled by her own outburst. The girl's eyes were agleam, as bright of golden glow as his own.

"You know me, little one?" Even as he spoke, he watched her gaze grow dull.

"No I…Ser…please. I would not see you suffer…my fate." Her head lulled in exhaustion even as she warned him away.

He tried to soften his face, to hide the wavering in his tone, "What is your name, child?" Did she know she rested her cheek to his palm?

"I do not- I can not remember." Her voice was breathy and pained, the scent of the rot flared heavy.

Owain sighed, unclasping his cloak. With as much gentleness as he could muster, he wrapped the girl in the fabric. Its great size swallowed her whole, her pale face peeking from its edge. His palm instinctively moved to the child's brow and he frowned at the fever he found. "I shall return."

She said nothing, senses already stolen. Owain stood, unable to tear his gaze from the sleeping girl. Her voice was of a different hue, but her face…he looked upon the Malenia of eld. This could be no coincidence. He would not order his sentinels to guard this place, the rot was too concentrated, he would need hurry and find a way to stabilize this mystery.

Another small shape awaited him beyond the entrance to the church. The figure was beside Osgalath, hand to lowered snout. Owain's eyes widened in second surprise. Who was this girl? There were precious few that Osgalath would allow such free reign. His steed whinied at the sight of him and the girl turned. Apart from a bandaged eye and differed style of hair, she was a twin to the girl within the church, to Malenia. Great tree, his heart was whirling!

His voice was only found as he reached arm's length of the stranger. "What is your name, child?"

She clasped fist to chest, forcing the words out, "Polyanna! I am Polyanna." she called out, face downturned.

He cast curious eyes at their surroundings, where had these children come from? The Sellians were dark haired all. He tried to smile kindly at her, "I am Owain, of-"

Her head shot up and she stumbled forward, wrapping thin arms about his startled middle, "Wain- Owain!" The sense of deja vu he felt was suffocating.

For a breath his arms were frozen in astonishment before they settled around the girl, "You…know me, Pollyanna?" he asked softly.

She pulled away, face skewed in confusion, "What? No…I…."

Owain knelt to meet her singular eye, "Are you in need of aid?" This girl too leaned into his hands. His jaw twitched, that had been a habit of Malenia's.

She looked away, shy, "Father begs an audience with you."

"And where is your father?" Sellia was the only place one could truly survive in Caelid, even after he and his sentinels had culled all the rot-addled beings.

"I will-lead." She squared her shoulders, pulling from his grip. She spoke strangely, as if unused to it.

He would go with her, perhaps some clues might be found, "Shall we ride my horse?" Osgalath whinied excitedly.

Pollyanna nodded, "As…as you please, ser."

They came upon a dilapidated shack, the roof partially caved and two walls fully gone. His eyes narrowed, this was no habitable dwelling. A child had been raised here? As they neared, a chained hound, blighted and big-headed, strained at its tether. Owain dismounted, plucking the girl from Osgalath and warning his steed to mind his manners. Pollyanna ushered him to the entrance of the shack, where an old man sat in a crooked chair.

This place…it reeked of rot as well. Owain frowned, "You are this child's father?" he asked.

The old man did not rise from his seat. The fellow seemed about to blow away into dust, so shriveled was he. He clapped gnarled hands together in delight, "Oh, it is the burnished lord. A great honor to host you under this decaying eves. I am Gowry, a sage." Without the runes, it was much easier for Owain to keep a clear head. He watched the elder closely. If this man were but a sage, Owain was a stable boy. There was power here the sentinel could feel too keenly. Unease grew in within him.

He scowled, "For what purpose have you called for me, Gowry?" Few would be so brazen as to send their daughter to summon him in the midst of dangerous wilds. Such recklessness lowered Owain's already low opinion of the man.

The sage's eyes twinkled, but it was malice Owain saw, not joy, "I would beseech a boon, mighty lord. My lovely daughters and I, we worry. You have seen the state of our dear Millicent, she is afflicted with the rotting sickness." Daughters? More than these two he had met? This was…suspicious.

"Forgive my bluntness, there is no common cure for the rot when it has reached such an advanced stage as hers." Besides the ever-defiant Cleanrots, he had never seen a mortal survive such concentrated levels of the scorpian's presence within their own body, Millicent was a miracle. Pollyanna was stiff at his side, face tight. Her expression seemed almost…pained.

Gowry's laugh was thin and brittle, "You are right. No common cure. That is why I had hoped one of your nature would come, a strapping tarnished to aid us. Within the swamp of Aonia, there lies a needle of unalloyed-"

Owain held up a stalling hand, "I possess the needle already. It is broken in twain." He'd kept the thing in the same pouch as his armor polish, sure it would be of use eventually. It seemed he had been right to do so.

Gowry's eyes widened, for a moment his mouth slipped to a frown before a slimed smile grew in its place, "Ah! How serendipitous. Please, if you would give it to me, I would repair it and reward you in kind." This man, something was amiss. What reward could he possibly offer Owain? Why was he so flippant about the near-death state of his child? Such carelessness was infuriating. He'd half a mind to drag Gowry back to the church by the neck.

Owain considered apprehending the man for the crime of such criminal negligence. No, he doubted this was truly a normal man before him, he doubted these girls were truly Gowry's daughters. There was some mischief afoot, he was sure of it! He offered the needle halves with a frown. He would remain cautious.

"The needle is repaired. Now it will forestall the rotting sickness I'm sure. Will you give it to the girl, Millicent?" Gowry's words were kindly but his manner still unsettled Owain, "Be wary. Though The Starscourge slew many of their siblings, many more flock to her, those witless pests who worship her, or rather, her rotting sickness, as a god." The pests…worshiped the rot within her? Why Millicent? Why had she been abandoned in that church?

Owain took the needle back, inspecting the strange mending magic with careful eyes, though he knew he'd like be unable to see any more intricate spells, "If you have truly devised a way to forestall the rot, it is you who shall be rewarded. Remain here and await my return." If this needle proved a harm to the girl, he would capture Gowry and demand answers. It was times like this he missed Ranni most, she would not be so duped as he. Oh clever wife, she should know better than to leave him to fumble about! It irked him sometimes that sorcery was so far beyond his ken.

"Ah but of course, noble highlord. I am glad to be of aid to my dear daughter. A wretched fate indeed. The poor girl, she never wished for any of this." Owain stared hard at the man. He would see to this child, Millicent, then return and take she and her sister to the capitol with him. This was no place for a child, it was not safe for the youths.

The man was back, but she'd not the strength to warn him away anymore. She had not even the strength to flinch as his callused palm alighted upon her brow. "I come with supposed remedy, child. A man named Gowry suggests this needle shall quell the rot within you, should you pierce yourself with it. I shall heal you, should it prove harmful." The growling baritone was low, but still it vibrated the stone wall she leant against. Too…too much power trapped within one man.

She blearily forced her eyes open, her shock supplanting her exhaustion, "But...how?" she laughed weakly, "No, never mind. I've decided. I would rather trust you, than simply continue to spoil from within." She paused to catch her breath. It was odd, she would normally have asked the stranger to avert his eyes from something as personal as this, but…his presence, something in her yearned for his comfort instead.

Eyes of burnished gold watched her piteously, "Shall I place it?" he asked softly. She nodded tiredly. Her bloodied shirt was lifted carefully above her navel, baring the rotted flesh of her midriff. The man began a count of three and she braced herself only to gasp as he inserted it into the flesh of her side at two. "There, what a mighty warrior you are, little one. Hardly a wince." Her knuckles were white as she gripped his hand. His words, she should find them patronizing but instead a warmth stirred in her heart. A balming feeling of ease she'd long forgotten.

It…the pain had been brief, all that filled her now was a growing peace. Oh, this was wonderful! "Well. That was easier than expected. But...why do I feel so…" As her head lulled forward, she felt gentle hands capture her and she was, for once, unafraid of the dark. She prayed this needle that was supposed to quell the rot would also make the nightmares stop. Alas, even as she prayed, as she felt another one overtake her.

"You know why we must punish you, do you not, princess?" The voice of her head nursemaid, Rache, was so sweet, but Malenia knew it would bring only pain. This last week since she'd accepted her rightful punishment had brought only pain.

She curled in on herself, balling her hands to fist as she awaited the blow, "Be-because I am a ro-"

The switch was a lash of agony on her bottom and she cried out in pain, "Say the words." Rache snapped, impatient. Malenia had to say the words! It was her fault Gabri had died, her rot had killed the woman! She was ten now, she had to take responsibility. It was good that Rache had suggested this.

She shivered, wishing she had clothes to cover herself, but maybe that was a just punishment for a bad child like her, "I am a ro-rotten princess. I bring only r-ruin." The switch whistled as it cut the air, as it cut into the flesh of her back. Malenia tried to stifle her sobs. She'd sent Wolfram and his attending sergeant further down the hall from her door, claiming she needed privacy, but she was sure they would come if they heard her cry out too loudly.

Her nursemaid cooed, "Yes. You are a sickness." she struck her again, the other attendants, Levia and Shay, laughing as she raised the switch, "You are an evil." She was! She'd killed one of her precious servants!

Malenia couldn't help it, she began to sob quietly. She was just so cold, and it hurt so very badly! "I am…I am a s-sickness, I am a…" She'd taken too long! The switch lashed against her bottom again and she gasped.

Her nursemaid was yelling now, "Say it, rotling! You are a rotten princess, you bring only ru-"

Before Malenia could process the crash of the door being slammed to the wall, before she could say the words she knew she needed too, before she could even open her eyes; she felt air blast passed her wounded back. She could sense it, the sudden presence of overwhelming power behind her, the mountainous size of the man. Owain! He must have returned from his leave early! Had he been waiting outside to respect her privacy? He must have heard Rache's yells!

Malenia turned, heart twisting in relief and regret. Owain held Rache and Shay aloft by their throats as they kicked in the air, Levia standing in mute terror aside them. She'd never…she'd never seen him look so furious before. His lips were curled in a snarl, his glowing eyes blinding in their searing wrath. She curled into a small ball, hands around her knees, "Wain-"

His face softened as his eyes found her's, "Hush, sweet girl." he rumbled out before his expression slipped once more into a thunderous scowl at the sight of her bloodied back and bottom. "Oh. Malenia." He whispered brokenly.

"Highlo-" Rache gasped.

Owain spat in Rache's eyes, "Tiche!" Tiche was here as well? They wouldn't-they'd stop her punishment! Malenia was so frustrated, why couldn't she stop crying? She buried her head in Tiche's shoulder as the handmaiden scooped her up after wrapping a hastily snatched blanket around her. Tiche always made her feel so safe, but she knew she didn't deserve it right now.

Rache and Shay were clawing at Owain's bare arms desperately. Malenia knew she should speak out in her nursemaids' defense, but she couldn't find her voice and…she selfishly didn't want to. Shay rasped, "Pl-please Highlord. Pl-"

"Tiche, her eyes." Owain growled. Tiche's hand was supremely gentle as it covered Malenia's eyes. She tried to pry away the fingers but Tiche was so strong! Malenia heard a loud snap before Owain continued, "A spine you had, indeed, Shay of the rotten heart. I am gone but a fortnight and you dare wreak such hateful blasphemy?" Malenia heard a dull thump, like someone had fallen.

Malenia cringed at Rache's ragged gasps, "The-the princess! The princess all-owed it. Punish-ment for Gabri." At the mention of the lost servant, Tiche's arms tightened around Malenia, tucking her face to the handmaiden's neck. Pressing her stinging eyes to Tiche's soft darkness started to calm her despite the commotion beyond her sight. Tiche was one of the few who would still touch her without reserve.

Malenia startled at the squelching noise she heard, what was that? Rache's whispering panicked, wheezing, screams were so scary! Owain spoke again, the anger in his voice was terrifying, "A heart, Levia? How unexpected to find one beating in the chest of such an evil coward!" his voice was too booming! Owain was frightening her! She heard another thumping sound.

Wait, a heart? Malenia peeked her head up, wanting to see what was happening. She should be brave, she should speak out in- "You mustn't look, my lady!" Tiche begged in a rush as she once more covered Malenia's eyes. Malenia had seen so much red on the floor, Shay and Levia hadn't been moving…was that all blood?

Rache wouldn't stop crying, "Ple-"

Malenia cried out in fear at Owain deafening bellow, clasping her hands over her ears. The air smell so strongly of iron! Wain's tone, it was too dark! "Golden ichor stains your lowly hands, Rache. I name you betrayer. I name you enemy. It was your task to guide and encourage, never to harm. Gabri knew the risks and served faithfully regardless! To give one's life to the golden line, one should only ever wish to be so lucky."

Tiche leapt back, but why? "Princess -help. Help me!" Rache screamed hoarsely, had Owain finally stopped choking her?

A horrible ripping noise was followed by shrill shrieks of pain, "Was it this arm that held that foul tool?" another grotesque tearing sound and even more screaming, "Or was it this one? Which arm dared strike at Malenia, daughter of Marika? I did not give you leave to die, witless traitor!"

A golden glow bloomed beyond the dark of her closed eyes and all the aches and stings she'd been feeling vanished. Owain had healed her? Why didn't he listen to Rache? Malenia's curse had killed Gabri, she deserved this punishment. She flinched at Rache's panicked voice, why couldn't Malenia speak! "Princess! For-me Forgive me!" She opened her mouth but the words wouldn't come forth.

She heard a dull smack followed by a crash and the revolting sound of boots stepping through thick fluid. It had been blood, "Do not look unto her for salvation. Dare not befoul her with your voice, nor your spiteful gaze. For heresy such as this, you will suffer, craven. The eternal one shall decide."

Tiche allowed Malenia to see once more as they exited her chambers. Owain, out of his armor but no less imposing, was dragging a screaming, blood-soaked, Rache behind him by her long braid. "Friso!" Malenia yelped at his roar, "Every servant in service to Princess Malenia, bring them to the queen's chambers! Wolfram! Await me in training ground four. Such a terrible lapse in duty as yours will be harshly punished." Owain was walking too quickly for Tiche, even with her height to keep up, she slowed as Malenia reared back from her.

Malenia watched Tiche's worried face, she threw her arms around her friend's neck as she murmured, "Tiche?"

"Aye, my lady?" the handmaiden's voice was low and soothing. Her elder sister Melina was so lucky that she got to have Tiche as her personal handmaiden, it made Malenia jealous.

"I told them they could punish me…" she mumbled, ashamed, "it is my fault Gabri died after all."

Tiche's hand rubbed small circles into Malenia's back, "You are blameless and sacred-hearted, sweet princess. They acted in defiance of your mother's will that you be protected always. Such cruelty and hate towards you shall never be allowed. I am so sorry I did not see this subterfuge sooner, dear one." How would anyone have known? She'd been so careful, she thought she was being noble! Malenia's tears fell despite her best attempt at being mature, this all was so overwhelming.

"Is…is Wain mad at me?" she asked scratchily, afraid of the answer.

"No, sweeting. You are perfect and divine. A kind and wonderful child. How could anyone ever be angry at you? You know how he dotes on you." Malenia clung to Tiche tighter then, shaking from stress. If Tiche said so, then maybe she had been wrong about this? She would need to ask Miquella when he returned from his trip with father, he'd know the answer.

Millicent. Her name…it was Millicent, was it not? Argh, that nightmare…that had one of Princess Malenia's memories, she was sure of it. A warning? Or did it portend the safety she would find under this man, Owain's, care? The rot never spoke to her, but she felt she could sometimes perceive its wants. Her eyes cracked open to see golden gauntlets gripping golden reins. She was on a horse? "Be at ease, child. You are safe." She certainly felt safe, safer than whatever was left of her memories. The massive cloak wrapped about her stoked a comforting warmth.

"Where are you taking me?" she asked, goddess, what she would not do for some water. A waterskin was offered to her unprompted. Hah, had he read her thoughts?

"To Leyndell, through Sellia's portal stone. You will be kept safe and tended to properly. I planned to take you and your sisters, but…the man, Gowry, must have stolen away with them."

Sisters? Gowry? She shook her head, trying to clear her mind. Too much had been lost and not enough yet made sense, "I must thank you, ser."

He chuckled, the noise breathy, "To safeguard the innocent and protect the weak is my sacred duty."

Millicent smiled, "How do you know I am innocent?"

"That you tried to protect me from the rot shows your quality." She peeked up at him to find him smiling as well.

"Do you not fear the rot?" she questioned.

At this, he chuckled louder, "It has never been able to find any purchase within me."

Millicent frowned, perplexed. Was such a thing possible? Perhaps by Queen Marika's direct intervention? But then, why had she not cleansed Princess Malenia of the disease? Millicent settled on a nod, "How strange. Well, still, I would thank you, ser."

"Owain." he grinned.

Millicent scolded herself for her lapse in decorum, "Ah-forgive my lack of manners, I am…Millicent. Thank you, Owain." Surely he would not hold such rudeness against her, she was not in the best state, as yet.

"Millicent?" he frowned. Goddess, what a brutal face! The many small scars stretched and pulled at his expression. He eye'd her curiously, "Do you not protest my whisking you away?"

Did she? "Ah…no, I…" Millicent paused. She was sure had she been rescued by another, she would have wanted to set out on her own but… "To go with you seems to feel right." she admitted.

Owain smiled, it made him seem much younger, "I am glad. My wife will be able to aid you far more than I can."

"Your wife?" Millicent asked.

"Ranni of Caria." Owain spoke the words like the most carefully held of dreams, it made Millicent happy.

That name, however, it sparked some other feeling in her. Grief? Why? "Ranni…"

Owain patted her remaining arm lightly, "You shall meet her soon enough, young Millicent."

Surprising herself, Millicent settled against the large man's chest, the cloak and the safety and the gentle swaying of the massive steed were all conspiring to make her ever so drowsy. She dared to close her eyes, suddenly unable to even think of staying awake. Just as she drifted to the first dreamless sleep she could ever remember having, she heard Owain whisper something at the edge of her discernment.

"Rest well...Millicent."