LucianV

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

And just like that, Olvyn reverted back to every story Iymbryl had ever heard about him. This wasn't a man who had good sense, or an ounce of civility. He was a deranged soul who saw enemies everywhere and acted without the least bit of consideration for others. And to think Iymbryl had started to think that perhaps there was some good in him...

The Captain of the Guard sheathed his blade and held his hand up. "Would everyone just calm down! This doesn't need to end in violence!" His gaze shot back to Olvyn before looking back to the others in the room. He watched as Anne stepped into the room and next to him. Memories of their last encounter with this pair flooded his mind. Sagan had murdered the Half-orc guards. Only the Half-orc guards. And Larion hadn't really been willing to see reason past his own prejudices. Would her very presence tip the scale? He knew what had happened had shaken her, that facing these two again probably terrified her. It would have been so simple to unleash a spell, following her father's lead. But instead Anne had chosen the path of peace. He couldn't ever remember being so impressed by her.

Still, there was a very real chance this situation would explode, and if it did, he was going to make sure to protect her. He edged a bit closer to Anne, doing his best to interpose himself between her and Sagan. "Again, I apologize. If we take a second to calmly talk this out, I think cooler heads can prevail and no one has to get hurt. We're both still trying to fight the Ragesians, remember? What do you say?" He didn't really expect Larion to simply surrender, or even be willing to talk, not after they had just been attacked, but at the very least he needed to try. As far as he was concerned the Elves were still Gate Pass' best chance at removing Ragesia from the city.

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

Iymbryl wanted to say a lot of things about Olvyn's impersonation, but in the end what was done was done. Now they were about to get ambushed, and it was suddenly his responsibility to march head first into it. He didn't like the stupid grin Olvyn had on his face either, probably imagining how this might be his chance to be rid of his warden. With a sigh the guard captain checked the grip on his shield, and strode into the room. He couldn't really see any way to diplomatically recover from the bastard impersonating Shealis...

He made it as far as the table before he let his senses extend outward, detecting the presence of the Celestial. "Hopefully Olvyn's antics didn't startle you too badly. We've managed to restrict his magic. I don't think anything can restrict his mouth...You're a hard man to track down Larion. Especially since you weren't where you said you would be." He stood there for a moment, half expecting to be blasted in the back.

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

Iymbryl wanted to know a lot of things. But coming to the very top of that list was how Olyvn still had enough magic to fling around despite still bearing his brand. Iymbryl had checked it, personally, repeatedly, and was certain it was still in place. Olyvn's brand was special. Iymbryl didn't even have to say the word aloud in order to activate it and leave the bastard a crippled mess. They'd made it that way for fear he might somehow manage to mute his warden. The Elf toyed with the idea of thinking the word, just to make sure it was still fully in place. What frustrated him most was that Olyvn's magic had been, and continued to be, exceedingly useful. So it wasn't even like he could justify stopping him.

With mixed feelings, he followed along with the others and said nothing as the bastard changed his shape once again to fool their enemies. He wondered if the lantern archon could simply reach out and know that the person on the other side of the door wasn't actually Shealis. That did make a certain sort of sense, since it was her familiar. All they could do now was prepare for the worst. He drew his blade and checked his grip on his shield as he tried not to breathe too heavily. He gave the others a nod waiting to see if the door would open or if they'd have to have Bronn go persuade the lock.

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

The stress building in Iymbryl's furrowed brow dissipated as Bronn presented the pouch. One less thing to worry about, at least. Though they still had a lot of work to do. "Well done, Bronn." It felt odd to congratulate someone for STEALING, but in this particular instance, it was certainly preferable to everyone burning alive. He clapped the Dwarf on the shoulder and gave him a nod of approval. 

It was sort of amusing to hear Anne talk down to someone else about their magic, when she didn't even understand how her own powers worked half the time. But Iymbryl very wisely let that slide, especially since he didn't know the first damned thing about arcane magic. Instead he focused on Bronn's comment. "I wouldn't say out of sorts. But this whole mess has been a rather stressful endeavor. Though...there is no such thing as a victimless crime." He glowered at Bronn for a moment, but eventually broke back into an easy smile. "But I am glad you were able to handle it so masterfully. The less blood we have to spill the better. And this way, Diogenes will have an easier time getting one over on her. "

"I think you're right. We should make our way down as soon as we can." Iymbryl tossed the hood of his cloak up and took a deep breath. "We'll most likely still need to deal with Larion and the Lantern Archon. But with everyone here and the element of surprise, we can probably manage without too much trouble." He just hoped the case was in her room and not half way to his homeland by now...

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

Iymbryl had no concept of what Anne felt when she made her mind link, but he could understand the vague sort of feelings she described. He had never overly lied to her, but there had always been a hesitation, a fear that a stray thought would give him away. Like only ever letting her see one side of a coin. He was both the man who had become Anne's best friend, and the man who had come to Gate Pass with the intention of getting revenge against Olvyn. There was both relief in the fact that he had been successful, and guilt that he had never been able to be truly open with her. All of this, and she was sitting there telling him how much she trusted him.

He thought back to the feeling of the mental link. She had done it countless times, but Iymbryl had never really tried to focus on what she was conveying, only hiding parts of himself. "Magic might make you unique. But it has never been what made you special. And I can't say I've ever felt anything from from the mind link, but that might be my own fault. We can try to figure it out together, if you like. Also, I didn't follow you anywhere, I was personally invited by Torrent, if you'll recall."

The guard captain couldn't help but chuckle. Of course Anne had thrown in for something like this without even realizing the ramifications of what she was doing. No matter how things changed, he was grateful some things probably never would. No, he knew that look. She wasn't even paying attention to what he had said. Iymbryl let out a sigh.

No matter how much he tried, he couldn't ignore the mounting guilt. She had trusted him, and he had essentially used her. Iymbryl opened his mouth, trying to find the words to tell her everything. To explain what had happened to his father and what had truly brought him to the city. To beg for her forgiveness for the hatred and evil he harbored in his heart. He searched and search, but could find no gentle way to say such painful things. After a long moment, he realized there was no kind way to say what he needed to, and he simply steeled himself. She would probably hate him, probably never speak to him again. But at the very least, she would have the truth.

"Anne, there is something I need to tell yo-" Out of the corner of his eye, Bronn came around the corner and up the stairs. The guard captain immediately went rigid, realizing he had not only been lapse in paying attention to the situation, but distracted Anne from doing so as well. "Bronn. How did it go?"

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

Iymbryl stopped pretending to look at things he couldn't see to face Anne. Silence draped over them for a moment as he considered what to say to her. Mentsu was a complicated thing for Elves raised in Elven lands to adjust to, he really didn't expect Anne to understand it in moment. But he did find it strange she couldn't imagine such things could be taught. She did something similar, he knew, it was why he'd pulled her aside in the first place. It made him grateful that most of the time she was so candid with him. He recalled his own youth, struggling with what felt so inherently wrong. Why couldn't everyone just be honest? As he studied his current conversation alone, he understood exactly why, though that didn't give him much hope for the future.

He gave her a weak smile. "Truthfully, that moment was rather...uncomfortable. Imagine violating something that was ingrained in you for decades. But yes, I do trust you; more than anyone. Obviously I haven't told you everything about my life, but I certainly trust you with it." His outburst still bothered him deeply. He'd always felt like he had done so well to put forth a persona of someone who could be trusted with responsibility, and yet after just a few days he had crumpled into nothing like a piece of ancient parchment. Iymbryl didn't really understand why, but it also felt wrong to let Anne seem him in his moment of weakness, as though it might lower her opinion of him. And strangely at the same time, he didn't think there was anyone else in the world he could let his guard down in front of. He forced himself out of his own mind and returned his attention to her, hoping to change the topic.

Her powers were strange, and Anne wasn't the best at academic descriptions. Though her comment was starting to make him wonder about how her magic actually worked. "What makes your mind link easier with me? I remember you told me once you don't use it with everyone, is that some sort of limitation?"

When she started to digress about Shahalesti and Ragesia, Iymbryl immediately realized his error. As she continued, he couldn't help but feel guilty. If the last twenty-four hours had taught him anything, it was that his ethical beliefs had somehow shifted greatly since he had come to the city. He was grateful for that, and yet it felt like some connection to his homeland had withered away without his notice. Anne was right, he was certain Shaelis wasn't all bad, and yet his interactions with his own people had started to make him question if there was a right side in all of this.

"Upbringing is a very small part of who a person is in my opinion. If someone is good or bad is determined by their actions and choices. But I've always believed no matter how you were raised, everyone understands the difference between right and wrong. Some people turn a blind eye to it and hide behind their preconceptions, but that doesn't justify what they do. Being ignorant isn't a sin; but truly believe staying that way is."

But deep down, part of him feared Anne was right. What if there was no hope for the people of Gate Pass? That was, after all, the real reason he'd decided to align himself with the Resistance. It was the only road that might lead to an eventual peace. It was the only road to a better life for Anne, and everyone like her. And until that peace was achieved, Lyceum was the only place she would be safe. The only question that remained unanswered in Iymbryl's heart was: how how many lives would he have to take to ensure she had that future?

The guard captain let out another sigh and put a hand on her knee. He wasn't sure if she was simply scared, or felt overwhelmed, or something else entirely. But Iymbryl knew that no matter what he had to get Anne out of Gate Pass. "I know things seem bad. But taking this case to Lyceum is the best way to help everyone in the city. Torrent was right to pick you for this, you've done a lot of good for the city in the last twenty-four hours.  And there is no way I'll make it to Lyceum with this group if you don't come." A sly smile crept across his lips. "Plus, you kind of owe me for ditching me on New Year's Eve to fraternize with what I think technically could be considered a syndicate...which are illegal, in case you didn't know."

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

He was half tempted to enumerate the number of stories where the most evil of villains had been given similar upbringings. But in retrospect, that would only make Anne more self conscience of her unorthodox upbringing and cause her to worry. Despite it all, she was a good person. Perhaps a bit too cavalier when it came to the law at times, but no one was perfect.

"Ah yes, Reginald. I'd quite forgotten his name. Those were some of the most cringeworthy lyrics I'd ever heard. I'm certain Shahalesti poets everywhere were turning in their graves when he took the stage." Iymbryl visibly shuddered as he remembered some of the more...creative liberties he took with both description and pronunciation. "I had half a mind to bring him in for attempted murder of the Elven language." 

He leaned a bit further, but the majority of the room was still out of sight. He'd only caught the barest of glimpses of Shaelis as she entered. When Anne began to describe what she had seen, Iymbryl could feel the blood in his veins turn to ice. He had already suspected Shaelis was a spy, but the fact that even Anne had noticed any sort of consistency between him and Shaelis after one glace said a great deal. 

"I am originally from Shahalesti. I suspect she is too." He paused long enough to consider how to weave his comments to where he wanted her to go without actually saying anything untrue. As always, the most common tactic he liked to employ was simply stating a truth and letting people draw their own conclusions. "There is a concept among the Shahalesti. It is called mentsu. I'm not sure if you're familiar with the word, since it has no actual translation into common. Mentsu is sort of like...playing the part that is expected of you while in public. Everything is political to the Shahalesti, or can be. So there is a constant need to be aware of both your actions and how you are perceived." He turned to look back at Anne, with a bit of a smirk. "It is what makes my earlier outburst seem all the worse to me. Most Shahalesti only ever drop that act in private, or around those they have absolute trust in. If you notice it less in me, that is probably because over my years in Gate Pass, I've been trying to break myself of the habit. But it is engrained in us from a very young age. Like the expression: Old habits die hard." And there it was, valgari mot, the art of hiding the truth with another truth. He remembered his first few days of training it had seemed so...dishonest. And yet it was the skill his instructors had said would be his greatest weapon. And indeed it had.

He let out a short sigh. "Have you heard anything from the others yet?" It was frustrating to not be able to see what was going on, but the risk of her spotting him was simply too great. Iymbryl was certain Larion would have made a report to Shaelis. For now, he would simply need to trust the others would, and could make the plan a success.

"What do you think of all of this? The Resistance, Ragesia, and the Shahalesti? I'll be honest, I find myself very torn by the current state of things. Shahalesti isn't a bad place, nor are the people. Though I think it would be hard to convince you otherwise after the last few Elves you've met." His thoughts drifted to the murderous celestial. He understood the need for such beings to be the embodiment of absolutes. But even with Ragesia raining fire and death upon the city, he had to believe an entire people couldn't be evil...could they? "I still think Shahalesti could be an ally to Gate Pass. But this interaction worries me. Can the Resistance really save the city alone? The Gate Pass needs all the aid it can if we're to resist Ragesia. And why would they even do such a thing? Even if Coaltongue himself was imprisoned in the dungeon of the city, you'd think there would be some manner of negotiation instead of just outright attack." This was one of the main reasons Iymbryl appreciated his position in the guard. The rules were always clear and easy to follow.

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

The plan was in motion now. Iymbryl could feel every hair on his body standing on edge as he waited for Anne's reports. Every once in a while he had to remind himself to breathe. They made their way to the stairwell where they could be hidden but close enough to respond should it be called for. He'd been too nervous to eat, but the smells reminded him of...home.

Iymbryl nodded along with Anne as she complained about her father. This was more what he was used to. She shared a lot about her life with him over the years. Sometimes over a bottle of wine when he was trying to giver her a little more of a refined palate, other times when he had to carry her home from bars because she was too drunk to even stumble. It had been a bonding moment for them. He still remembered with perfect clarity when she'd asked him about his own father. He'd felt the heat and rage rise within him at the memory; the message of how his father had been murdered when a single mad man had tried to seize control of the council. He'd only told her half truths, but it was enough to lead Anne to what he wanted to know without giving away what had really happened.

Anne's commentary made his chuckle. "I believe they call that reading Anne. And for all the terrible things Olvyn has done, that was probably one of the few decent ones." It was the idea of Olvyn forcing a child to help with his necromancy that really made Iymbryl's blood boil. He could still remember the shock of meeting Anne's 'nannies' for the first time. He'd managed to keep his composure then, but he had been truly disturbed by how normal it seemed to Anne.

Even thinking about all of this was starting to stoke a renewed fire in the pit of Iymbryl's stomach. He was silent for a long moment. The words were all there, but as he considered them, he honestly couldn't figure out which to use. It would be easy enough to damn Olvyn for the monster he was, the guard captain was certainly vindicated in any complaints he had. But those words wouldn't help Anne. For the time being, Olvyn was back in her life, like a knife stabbed into a festering wound. He understood how she felt. The hate was so hard to let go of. But it was easy to see how it was eating her up inside. He wouldn't admit it, but it was probably doing even worse to him. "You were a child Anne. No one would have expected you to know or understand." He put an arm around her as they sat on the steps and whispered conspiratorially. "And now you are an adult..." His amber eyes trailed up from the ground to look at her. Suddenly he was perhaps aware of why she thought Bronn might want to kill him... He removed his arm and scooted a bit to the side, feigning as though he was trying to see what was going on. "...and you know how to look out for yourself."

It was all he could do to keep a modicum of poise as she so casually wished for something he'd secretly been thinking to himself everyday for years. It made him feel vindicated and yet at the same time, his heart ached for Anne. Even the idea of saying that he wished one of his own parents dead seemed...impossible. He'd almost forgotten about the cloth until he felt the warmth of her hand on the back of his neck. He put his hand on top of hers and smiled. "I am. And I'm sorry for worrying you." He paused for a moment and looked her square in the eye. "Despite whatever good and bad he has brought to your life...You still turned into such an amazing person, not everyone can do that by themselves. He might not have the right to be proud, but he'd have to be a fool not to be impressed." A wry smile crept over his face. "And I suppose if you want me to kill him when this is all over, I could do that for you." It was a thing he'd said to her dozens, probably hundreds of times in jest when the two of them got on the topic of Olvyn, though perhaps for the first time, the words felt a bit more hollow to Iymbryl.

"Honestly, I'm just excited to be there when he finds out about the tattoo. Or that awful lute player with the gross hair you hung out with for a while...what was their name?"
 

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

Anne's words did little to alleviate the doubt that had been festering inside of him, but at the very least it had helped calmed him down. He looked up at her. Anne was probably right, though she didn't know it. Iymbryl really didn't have any idea what happiness was anymore. He'd spent ages chasing nothing but his revenge. He had spent ten years in Gate Pass. He had come to love the city, but if he died today, Anne would probably be the only person who would mourn his passing. "Thanks Anne. I'm fine now, and I appreciate it." He paused as he considered her words in his mind. Anne knew that poem with Mary Hume didn't exactly end well, didn't she? But even that was a step forward in the right direction he supposed. "And you know I've been to more bars in the city than you have, right? I just prefer the places that sell drinks that don't taste like hippogriff piss."

When she mentioned Bronn wanting to kill him, the guard captain actually paused in the process of standing up to look at her. The Dwarf had known her for a long time. He wasn't what Iymbryl would call the best role model, but he looked out for her. His face scrunched up in confusion at the notion. Bronn might be over protective, but of all people, he should at least know any rumors between him and Anne were pure fantasy. 

He finished standing up and shook his head, as he gave her the best smile he could manage. "You don't give Bronn enough credit. I think he and I are on good enough terms he wouldn't try to kill me over a rumor..." Not that he wanted to test that theory, since the Dwarf tended to favor poison and acid so much it had put him on alchemy watchlist. "I'm pretty sure he wouldn't anyway."

"But we should get back to the others." He put a hand on her shoulder and gave a light squeeze. "Thank you. And I'm sorry about all of that. Let's go get this case, shall we?" He didn't have a clue what the others would have decided while they were gone, but he'd just have to do his best to protect who he could.

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

Iymbryl hadn't known Belfyr long enough to understand the man. He was starting to suspect he might not ever understand him. Trying to draw on his interactions with the portly half elf, Iymbryl realized Belfyr had now directed the same amount of uncomfortable stares as words toward the guard captain, one. Between the now awkward lack of space in the pantry and the abruptness of the intrusion, Iymbryl was too dumbfounded to even reply. And just like that Belfyr was gone, leaving more wind in his wake than he may have displaced with conversation during the entirety of the duration Iymbryl had known him.

The silence that remained became even more awkward, though Anne had suddenly done her damnedest to fill it. Of everything she had said, there was one single word that had made him almost fall over in shock. In all the time that Iymbryl had known Anne, she had never once called Olvyn, 'dad'. The sudden revelation of what her slip of the tongue meant started to drag him to a new low. Iymbryl Dacassan had spent the last decade working his way though the guard of Gate Pass. He had been an exemplar as role models went. He had turned down promotions twice, stretching his service into just the right shape to be given the duty he had secretly been aspiring toward all along: To be Olvyn's warden. He had it now, the enchanted mark and magic invocation to render the man completely powerless. All he had needed was the right circumstances. No one would have questioned someone with such a spotless record of service and such ardent dedication. And no one would have doubted one of the most notorious mass murderers in the history of Gate Pass would try and escape in the current situation. All of the stars had aligned for Iymbryl. He was so close to avenging his father's death. And then Anne, this woman who had somehow become his best friend; whose outward hatred had always burned with a fire that rivaled his own hidden loathing, had called the bastard 'dad'. Killing Olvyn before had seemed like such a simple thing. He would have been secretly doing Anne a favor. But how could anyone kill their best friend's 'dad'.

He was so preoccupied with his own thoughts that Iymbryl couldn't even tell if she was back pedaling for his sake, or because it was what she really wanted. He couldn't have managed to read her now if he wanted to. The guard captain felt as though he would be sick. As she touched his arm, he locked eyes with her. It was like a hole had appeared at the bottom of his stomach and everything inside of him had just dropped out into nothingness. He saw the stool used to reach the highest shelves and barely managed to sit without stumbling. Was this it? The point where he had to choose between friendship and revenge? If he told her the truth, there wouldn't be a friendship anyway. His only way through this was to keep silent. 

"I-I told you. The archon and Larion. You're right about them. And I was worried Shaelis would share their view. If Sagan is her familiar, I imagine they might hold very similar thoughts on such things. It is just hard to reconcile how something that is supposed to be good and just could seem so...twisted and wrong. But it was selfish of me to try and force my fears onto you.

And...it makes me worry. There is no guarantee staying out of sight with me would prevent something terrible from happening. Every decision I've made, especially since accepting this..." Mantle? No, it was much heavier than that. This feeling could only be described as a burden, an iron yoke that threatened to drown him as he attempted to swim to shore. "responsibility has been wrong. I know everyone was willing, but do you think I'd be willing to accept that if the worst befell anyone? You?" Iymbryl had subconsciously begun to spiral, his innate training substituting other concerns for the one that now had him in such distress. Not that anything he was saying wasn't the truth. "I was even useless with coming up with this plan! Honestly, I've been more of a detriment since I tried to pull you from something you'd accel at for selfish reasons." He could almost feel tears welling up in his eyes but he put his head in his hands and took a deep breath. Then a sudden laugh escaped his lips. "What was that poem you read me once?

Barnabus Browning
Was scared of drowning?

But it is like knowing I'm going to drown either way." He took another breath and tried to calm himself, his eyes locked on her boots. As if everything else wasn't bad enough, she probably thought he was wasn't even the one thing he'd always managed to be for her: reliable.

"I'm sorry. I lost it there for a moment." Iymbryl struggled to recover, to replace that veneer of the fearless captain who had memorized every city ordinance and could cite them all from memory. It was a fragile thing, but it would hold.

"You said we should get back. I don't want to cause you even more distress by adding rumors to what you're dealing with." Iymbryl stood and exhaled, a placid expression painted on his face.

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

Anne was acting strangely. At first he had thought it was the pressure of everything going on but as she pulled away, turned away from him, Iymbryl realized he was part of the problem. She'd been handling this fine on her own, and he'd just gone and made it worse. This wasn't him carrying her in a drunken state back from any number of seedy taverns over the years; Anne didn't need saving, and it wasn't like Iymbryl was some sort of white knight. He was a spy and a traitor who had only come to the city to enact his own revenge upon her father. He didn't have any right to know any of her feelings, let alone tell her to do anything.

There it was again, that crushing weight in his chest, like chains tightening around his heart and dragging it to the pit of his stomach. What in the hell had he been thinking? He couldn't lead this group. Every choice he had made from the start had been wrong. And now he was alienating what might be his only actual friend. He gave her a hurried nod, now visibly flustered by the whole situation. The more he considered it all, the smaller this pantry seemed to be. His face started growing flush with embarrassment. "You're right. I-I'm sorry, Anne. This was a stupid thing to pull you aside for. Forget everything I said. You're right about you being good with people. If you think you can do it, then I support you."

It was all he could do to continue nodding along with her report and assessment. "Y-You know your skills best. Just insert yourself where ever you think you'll be the most helpful." Every time he opened his mouth he felt like he was swallowing a little more of his boot. She obviously was anxious to get away from him, and he couldn't even meet her gaze anymore. Iymbryl gave a half hearted laugh, eyes still almost on the floor as he opened the door and offered to let her go first.

Iymbryl Darcassan - Shahalesti Paladin 

Iymbryl let his gaze settle on Anne for a long moment. He knew her, probably better than anyone here. He could tell by her posture, the tone of her voice, and the subtle way she looked around at everyone else assembled what was lurking just beneath the surface. The others seemed to have everything well in hand with Diogenes' suggestions, which meant he could focus on the next most important thing. "I'll be sure to remember that." He gave Anne a playful smirk, and ever so subtly nodded his head to insinuate he wanted to talk with her in private.

As the pair extracted themselves from the meeting, they rounded a corner and noticed a small walk in pantry. Iymbryl gestured for her to go first and then closed the door behind him. "This might be a lot easier if I had some sort of way to signal you to use your..." He tapped his forehead. "I'm not actually even sure what it is. Telepathy?" The Elven Captain shrugged. His amber eyes locked on Anne with an intensity she wasn't accustomed to. He put his hands on her shoulders and leaned in conspiratorially.

"I know you tend to catch many people's eye. And normally I think you would be the best to help Bronn with something like this, but...not this time." Iymbryl let out a deep breath, as though he'd been holding it for ages. "Anne, these Elves terrify me. That lantern archon is a celestial. A being that is supposed to be the epitome of good. And it murdered some of the guards in that tower because of their ancestry. I know you can handle yourself, but this is an unnecessary amount of danger. Let the old wind bag play distraction, he never seems to shut up about what he knows about this school."

Iymbryl's hands slid down her shoulders to the sides of her arms. "I want you with me. If anyone was mentioned to Shaelis, it would be the two of us. Your telepathy is going to be the key to holding a plan like this together. It isn't the most flashy role, but it is the most important. Once the fighting starts, we'll both be in the thick of it."

"I don't know how you've managed to keep it together with all of this going on. I barely am and I know this is harder for you than it is for me." He tried to rally into one of his reassuring smiles, but it was much weaker than he had intended. "I'm sure we've got a few minutes. Be straight with me. Are you okay?"