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Chapter Text

There was yelling. There was pain. There were whispers. There was darkness.

Someone he knew was murmuring nearby. "What happened to the healers?"

Someone he knew was cradling him. "Dragged into the street by the Garleans and killed for supporting the rebellion."

He heard several in-drawn breaths. He didn't have the strength to open his eyes, but he knew those voices. He had failed them, completely and utterly.

"You must take him with you. It's the only chance he has."

"Will he survive the journey?"

He did not hear the answer.

***

Gosetsu stood beside the roadside shrine, already illegal under the new occupation, and watched the boat disappear. He could do no more for his lord. He sat down to pray, and waited for his enemies to find him.

Chapter Text

Thancred stood over the corpses of the bandits and nodded grimly. "All Sea Wolves, and all with the same taste in facial tattoos. Blue, in case you were wondering."

Y'shtola and Namhla exchanged glances. "Aleport's ferry runs every other day, and that's not far from the Sahagin nesting grounds." Namhla was frowning in the direction of Vesper Bay.

"Indeed, it is not," Y'shtola agreed. "Thancred, if you would finish the matters in Horizon, I have inquiries to make in Limsa Lominsa. Namhla, if anyone can get the ferry captain to talk, it's you and Jennafer."

The tall Roegadyn grinned. "I'll let you know what we find."

She had left her chocobo with the porter in Horizon and was paying the Lalafell for his time when her linkpearl beeped. "Hello, love, where are you?"

"Jennay!" Vashoth croaked a greeting while Namhla grinned and rubbed his cheek. "Vashoth says hello! I'm in Horizon, about to head to Vesper Bay, do you need something?"

"One moment..." There was another beep, indicating someone else had joined the conversation. "Alphinaud wants us to join him in Ul'dah, something about a boat of refugees, but he's not willing to say more over a linkpearl."

"You'll understand once we meet in the capital," the young Elezen imperiously intoned.

Namhla rolled her eyes. "All right, I'll be there in a few moments." If he was being that bossy, she'd have to leave her chocobo behind for now and use the aetheryte. "Sorry, old bird, change of plans." He sighed and gave a very un-bird like grumble. She kissed his beak and led him back to the porter's stable.

The aetheryte plaza was busy but not overly crowded, and she picked out her lovely bard and her companion at the same time they saw her. Alphinaud pointedly ignored their affectionate greetings and cleared his throat. "Urianger called me a bell or so ago, telling me about a dilapidated boat that had pulled into Vesper Bay. They came from Doma."

The former pirate blinked. "That's a hell of a trip on a leaky boat," she said in astonishment.

"Indeed, I suspect they did not leave their homeland under the best circumstances. The kingdom has been ruled by the Garlean Empire for a generation, and I fear things have gone poorly for them." Alphinaud frowned. "They are trying to seek an audience with the sultana, and unless I am mistaken, they will not find much sympathy here."

Alphinaud was rarely mistaken. They found the Sultansworn all but threatening three ragged but proud figures outside the Chamber of Rule. Not even Namhla's looming presence could make Bartholomew change his mind. Alphinaud smoothly suggested a change of venue, and soon the group huddled around a table in a quiet corner of the Quicksand.

"I am Yugiri, and with me now are Kikyou -" The man bent at the waist "- and Kasasagi." The unmasked woman nodded, refusing to sit down. "We have traveled some thousands of malms across the sea, from the nation of Doma, in hopes that we might find sanctuary in these lands."

"Sanctuary, lady Yugiri?" Alphinaud looked grim.

The masked woman bowed her head. "Aye," she whispered. "When the war of succession broke out in Garlemald, we espied an opportunity to free ourselves from the yoke of imperial oppression, and took up arms." She took a deep breath. "We were crushed. My lord's final order was to gather what Domans I could find that had escaped the reckoning, and guide them hither to your shores."

"And this was all that was left?" Jennafer asked, horrified.

Yugiri nodded once. "Doma is gone."

"...gone?" Alphinaud looked as pale as the bard.

"Razed to the ground as an example to the other provinces. Our leaders were executed in public or imprisoned in the heart of the empire." Yugiri's monotone delivery spoke of the enormity of her pain. "There may be some few others that fled north or west, into the steppe or the jungles of Nagxia, but we are without a home."

Both Warriors of Light looked to Alphinaud, who was momentarily at a loss for words. "The lords of Ul'dah are not want to entertain foreign refugees without suitable... encouragement."

"Can we do nothing in the meantime?" Jennafer whispered.

The young Elezen nodded. "The sultana and the Syndicate will not be easily swayed, but I shall see that you are granted an opportunity to plead your case."

"This is within your power?" Yugiri asked, surprise coloring her voice.

Namhla gave a grin. "We have... friends, and connections, as the Scions of the Seventh Dawn." Her grin faded. "It may not be enough, but..."

"All we need is a chance," Kikyou insisted.

"Then you will have it." Alphinaud stood. "Give me a few moments to collect my contacts and meet me outside the Chamber of Rule. Twelve willing, we will be able to find a place for your people."

Chapter Text

Jennafer never regretted joining the Scions of the Seventh Dawn; there were times, however, when she wished she could go back to being the rebellious and anonymous bard who could call out any politician at any time, without having to worry about the ramifications (beyond, perhaps, fleeing into the night ahead of angry guards). Lord Lolorito's insulting remarks about refugees, made while in the presence of both the Domans and Raubahn Aldynn, were completely out of line, and only Namhla's strong grip on her hand under the table kept her from saying things that would, at the very least, get her uninvited to any future political talks. She just wasn't sure that Alphinaud's solution was much better. Nevertheless, she wanted to get back to Vesper Bay before the food vendors Momodi was sending decided to keep everything for themselves. "Is there a password or phrase that will convince the ones on the ship that I'm a friend?"

Yugiri was silent, turning to the two who accompanied her. They both nodded, and the masked woman turned back. "Tell the guards this: Yugiri says there is hope for Seiryu in this place. They will understand."

Jennafer repeated it back, making sure she was pronouncing the unfamiliar name correctly. Namhla handed her the token from the Horizon chocobo stable. "Take Vashoth, he can carry anyone or anything. When we get to the Toll I'll see if there's anyone free."

"Thanks, love," she said, giving her partner a quick kiss. "If one of the healers wants to ride Maril back, that will help, too." She bowed to Raubahn and jogged to the aetheryte. The old grey chocobo grumbled but gamely crouched on the ground so Jennafer could climb onto his back, and they made the trip to Vesper Bay in half a bell.

"By the Twelve," she murmured when she caught sight of the ship. Dilapidated was the kindest word one could use to describe it. She waved to Urianger, who was setting up the food under some awnings outside the Wakings Sands, and bowed to the Domans blocking the ramp into the ship. "I have been told to tell you, 'Yugiri says there is hope for Seiryu in this place'."

The two immediately relaxed. "Oh, thank the kami," one murmured fervently.

"I am Jennafer Panteer, bard and Scion. This is my friend Urianger, who is a healer." She pointed to the hooded Elezen, who bowed. "May we help you in any way?"

"Yes, please, some of the children may need a hand." The chatty guard introduced herself as Higiri and led her to the barred door.

The smell that rolled out made her blink. She looked into the darkness of the hold and saw far too many scared faces looking back. She put aside her horror and smiled. "Hello! My name is Jennafer, and I bring a message from the sun! She said she has missed your beautiful faces and sent me to find you. Would you like to come out now?"

She waited while there was a soft murmuring from the far corner of the hold. There was no reason to rush them, she thought, and soon enough the ones closest to the steep stairs slowly climbed up. They had been the fittest, ones that would fight if someone had tried to force their way onto the ship, but they still stumbled when they stepped onto dry land. All of them were filthy and wary, and far too many were injured. The youngest clung to their mother's back, watching with large, dark eyes. The oldest was reverently carried out in stages, everyone taking a turn, and Jennafer gently cleaned and salved the least infected of her many pressure sores.

There were so many people, she barely noticed when Arenvald appeared and led the dozen or so children to a shallow tide pool to bathe and play. A few of the worst injured were carefully led into the Waking Sands infirmary to rest out of the unfamiliar heat. As the sun turned towards the western horizon Jennafer climbed on board the boat again and peered into the hold. There seemed to be a couple of people left in the very back.

"He - He's insisting he'll walk out," Higiri stuttered as she ran over. She seemed nervous. "I'll watch him, you go take care of everyone else."

The bard gently smiled. Pride might be the only thing some of these warriors had left, and she could not fault them for that. "Be careful then, friend," she called, then headed back to where one of the children was definitely not crying after getting salt water in a cut.

She was counting how many bandages were left when the crowd murmured behind her. She turned to see the last passenger slowly walk off the ramp. He was thin for his frame, and pale, and but his green eyes were focused on her. He gave a small smile that she couldn't help returning. "You..." he said, pausing to breathe. She realized something was very wrong and stepped forward. "You brought us the sun..." With that said, he stumbled forward and started to collapse.

"My lord!" someone exclaimed, and was immediately hushed.

Jennafer had her arms full of dead weight. "Urianger!" The robe he was wearing was bloodied in several places, some old enough to have been partially washed out, others warm and wet and seeping. He was a head taller than her and heavier than he looked, despite his poor condition. She had no choice but to fall down onto her backside, cushioning as much of the blow as she could for him. She'd have a bruised tailbone, but that was better than him adding a cracked skull to his injuries.

Urianger had pushed his way through the crowd and immediately started peeling the filthy clothing away. The young man seemed mostly unconscious, but his pulse was racing in his neck and his breathing was still labored. The major wound seemed to be on his left side, and the healer was carefully unwrapping a sword belt when he groaned. Jennafer looked up and pointed at a pitcher of water. "Bring that here, please, and the bag of herbs in the basket," she asked whoever was hovering nearby.

Urianger pulled the sword towards himself when the young man suddenly, violently flailed, reaching out. "No, you can't have it," he said, panting, "It's all I have left of them!"

"OK," the bard soothed as Urianger handed her the sword. "It's OK, it's right here," she put it between his right side and her stomach and he immediately stopped fighting, turning to look at her. She smiled at him, wiping his face with the wet sachet and humming a lullaby. She put a touch of bardic magic behind it, gently and sparingly, and he fully relaxed.

"I thank thee," the healer murmured, his hands glowing.

Higiri was wringing her hands. "We tried to keep those clean," she wept.

"Thee and thine hast done an admirable job," Urianger said, removing the wet bandages from below his neck and nodding. "Thy companion suffers more from loss of blood than infection, and some days of good food and rest shall restore him completely."

"Lets get him into the infirmary," Jennafer said, wincing as her tailbone started to ache. "He'll be safer there."

Chapter Text

He awoke to a familiar voice quietly singing an unfamiliar song.

He stayed very still, listening. Underneath the melody was the sound of something being stirred.

He slowly opened his eyes, and in front of him was his scabbard and sword belt, it's precious treasures still attached. His sight blurred with tears.

A door quickly opened. He heard silence and heavy footsteps. This was the sound of safety. He closed his eyes.

***

Jennafer looked up as the door to the infirmary opened. "Come in," she whispered, whisking a pot of salve. Yugiri rushed in, saw the young man on the bed, and froze. "He's had a little to drink and eat, but mostly he's been sleeping."

"He will... he is..."

Jennafer smiled as Namhla leaned in the door. "According to Urianger, our healer, he will be fine, he's just suffering from blood loss and lack of food."

"Kami be praised." She could breathe again. "Did anyone else...?"

Jennafer pulled the pot away from the small fire and set it on a folded towel. "There is a very old woman, Hani, in the other room with her family and another healer. Her heart is weak, but she's in no danger of immediately dying." She started whisking again, waiting for the salve to reach the consistency she was looking for. "Everyone else is sleeping where they can. I told Urianger to get some rest since you were on the way."

"I cannot thank you enough," said the masked woman, sitting in the chair beside the bed.

"You're welcome." She frowned at the pot, stirring faster. "As soon as this sets up I'll give you some privacy." She started humming and kept her eyes on the concoction in front of her. A few moments later she stopped and sighed. "Finally. Yugiri, if you need anything, Urianger is in the room across the hall, and there's food out in the main area you passed by on the way in if you or he gets hungry." She placed the pot in a safe place and stole one last look at the sleeping man.

Namhla gave her a grin and a kiss when she walked out. The halls were crowded but peaceful, but it wasn't until they could close a door behind them that the Roegadyn asked the important questions. "Well? Who is he?"

The bard sighed and stretched. "He hasn't said yet."

"But..." The warrior flopped on the bed and patted the pillow beside her.

Her lover smiled and curled herself against her. "But. He was at the back of the hold, farthest away from the entrance. He waited until everyone else got out before getting up." She propped her head up on one elbow. "Higiri wasn't willing to call him an idiot for not getting help, and believe me, she called several of the other young men idiots." Namhla laughed. "Also, when he fell, someone said, 'My lord!' I thought at first it was a curse, like we say, 'By the Gods', but now I'm not sure." She frowned. "I don't know anything about their gods, though."

"Neither do I," Namhla admitted. "I don't think we ever saw anyone from Doma while I was on the sea. Does Urianger?"

"Urianger's been too busy to ask, I'm afraid." Jennafer thought. "Oh, his robes, while filthy, were made of pretty high quality stuff with some amazing embroidery around the hem. And when Urianger tried to move his sword away to get to his wounds, he said, 'It's all I have left of them.' He's got a bit of Garlean accent, but the few Doman words I've heard him say had the same accent as the rest of the group."

The warrior gently stroked Jennafer's hair. "So, probably some noble rebel leader someone?"

Jennafer nodded. "Most likely. Born after the occupation started, so educated by the Garleans, but not one of them." She yawned and laid her head on Namhla's chest. "Did Yugiri ever take her mask off?"

"Nuh-uh," Namhla was still stroking her hair. "They don't trust easy, not with the crowds and the Garlean castrums still all over the place."

"Not surprising..." The bard was nearly asleep. "Night, love."

"Sleep well, sweetheart." She listened to her lover breathe for a while, letting her thoughts run their course. While she had never seen a Doman ship, she had seen a few from Thavnair, and knew what an Au Ra looked like. They were still rare in Eorzea, though. If the Garleans had descriptions of the rebel leaders, Yugiri would probably find it safer to keep herself masked. And if the handsome young man needed to give a false name, better to wait until he was healed and could remember to answer to it.

Chapter Text

The children of Doma were as home in the water as they were on land. The adults took turns watching them play, glad to hear their carefree laughter ringing out once more. The Warriors of Light were enjoying the warm waters as well, trading stories of the Twelve for stories of the kami.

Koharu listened to her friend's whisper, then turned to the bard. "Did you really talk to Amaterasu?"

Jennafer tilted her head to the side. "I'm sorry, I don't know that name?"

The shy girl ducked her head behind her friend's, whispering again. "When you came to the ship," Yozan explained, "You said that the sun sent you."

"Oh!" She smiled at the group. "We call Her Azeyma, Warden of the Sacred Flame. She loves Her children and wants them to be safe and happy."

The children thought this over. "So each of the Twelve have names? A lot of the kami don't have names, they just... are."

"Aye, they have names, but they're not all worshiped in temples," Namhla said, stretching her legs out under the water. "Byregot is the God of Crafting and Building, so we sometimes invoke Him if we're doing hard work, but there's not priests or anything like that."

"That's kind of like the kami," Koharu admitted. "The Garleans didn't like us worshiping them, but you can't not do it, they're part of everything."

They were interrupted by the appearance of Hozan, Arenvald, and a chocobo pulling a cart of market goods. "Let's go help unload everything!" In a flash, the children were out of the water and trying to pull their shoes onto their wet feet.

Jennafer stood and stretched. "Guess I should go start that next batch of ointment."

Namhla grinned, enjoying the view. "I'm gonna soak for a little longer," she said, accepting the kiss from her lover. She watched the bard walk away, then turned towards the open water. After a few moments, she said, "Do you want me to close my eyes first?"

There was a splash off to her right.

***

Most of what had been purchased was bulk food stuff, and Arenvald had already carried the first large bag of rice to the roof of the Waking Sands, where a handful of large pots had been set up for cooking enough to feed the refugees. Urianger and Jennafer were going through the rest, separating out alchemical supplies and healing herbs to restock the infirmary, then putting aside several yalms of cloth for patching worn out clothing.

"Excuse me?"

Both Scions turned to see the still nameless young man standing behind them. Despite being in a borrowed robe that was nearly too long for him, he managed to look regal. Jennafer wished she could control the blush that colored her cheeks as she smiled at him. Urianger gave one of his bows. "How can we help thee?"

"I was looking for -- if someone had a spare..." He sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "This sounds silly now..."

"No, no, it's fine," the bard said. She ignored Urianger's small grin.

"A comb," he finally said.

"Oh, of course, let me -- "

"Why are you up?" Yugiri all but ran into the room, sounding both angry and afraid. She was still masked.

The young man raised his eyebrows imperiously. "I am capable of walking around, Yugiri." The change in his voice was subtle but profound.

Jennafer suddenly felt like she had stepped onto a battlefield. She looked up to Namhla, coming in several steps behind Yugiri, who shrugged. "I'll, ah, go grab a comb, I'll be right back."

***

An administrator from the Seventy-Seven Caravans came to the Waking Sands as the evening meal was being cleared away. "We've arranged for three trips between Vesper Bay and Revenant's Toll," he said, laying out an itinerary. "The first will arrive around the time the sun clears the horizon tomorrow, and the second should arrive sometime mid-morning, depending on the weather. They'll carry the majority of the passengers."

"And the third?" Namhla asked, scanning the map of the route.

"They'll be pulling into Highbridge tomorrow morning, and get a day of rest starting as soon as they finish unloading." The administrator tapped the shortest list. "I suspect they'll be here late morning two days from now, but it may be later depending on the weather, Amal'jaa sightings, and so on. We'll know more when they arrive at Black Bush Station."

"Good enough," the Roegadyn said, beckoning Arenvald and Jennafer as the administrator left. "Three of us, three caravans."

The Scions looked at the map. "Should be a fairly quiet trip, unless something gets stirred up in the swamps," Arenvald said.

"I'd like to take the last one, since I've got things brewing that I want to finish before I leave," Jennafer asked as Yugiri, Kikyou, and Hozan walked over with the refugees' plans. In the end it was decided that Namhla would accompany the first group with Yugiri, in case any fighting needed to be done, while Arenvald would go with the second group which had most of the children he had become friends with, and Jennafer would come with the final caravan which would contain the oldest and the most injured.

Chapter Text

The third and final caravan arrived in Vesper Bay in the late morning, led by a no-nonsense Lalafell who introduced herself as Ninifer Nifer. There were only ten passengers: elder Hani and her family group, a woman named Minato who had a puncture wound in her foot that was slow to heal and who refused to let any male healer near her, and the young man who still tired easily but at least was no longer panting for breath after every step. When the wagon was filled and only Jennafer remained she was frowned at, then Ninifer turned to the Hyuran slouched on the second wagon and rapidly signed something the bard didn't quite catch. "Can you ride?" she was asked verbally.

"I can," she answered, then watched the hand signals flash rapidly between the two drivers. Every group of people had their own cadence and slang, no matter how they communicated, but she recognized enough to generally follow their conversation. The Echo filled in the rest.

The young man led over a plain, placid chocobo, not meeting her eyes. "Butler," he said, handing her a krakka root.

"Hello, Butler," she grinned, offering the bird the treat while he was being saddled. "Such a good boy you are!" By the time the chocobo had finished eating he was quite happy to let her climb on his back. The young man nodded and quickly got back onto his wagon.

"He'll follow us to Black Bush, and we'll take a break there so I can get him handed off to another group," the Lalafell said, pulling herself up to her perch on the wagon. With a sharp whistle, the caravan of two wagons and a chocobo left Vesper Bay.

Ninifer was born and raised in Horizon, and once under way became quite gregarious and told hilarious stories of the fallen statues, the mines, and the fishing village that her mother's family came from. Hani's grandnephew Sako had lived in Isari, and that lead to competing fish stories that made the first bells of the trip fly by. Soon enough they were pulling into Black Bush Station.

"Stretch your legs, tall ones," Ninifer said with a grin. "This will take maybe half a bell at most." Most of the occupants of the wagon took her advice, while Jennafer stayed near to discourage any sellers of dubiously legal goods from attempting a sales pitch. Soon they were back on the road, and made good time to Camp Bluefog.

"Hail, Wolf's Bane!"

Jennafer quietly sighed, removing the hat that she had hoped would hide her features as well as it protected her from the sun. She gave a smile and a bow to the Immortal Flames who greeted her. "Well met, staunch protectors of Thanalan!" The cheer was raucous, leaving the Domans wide eyed and her borrowed chocobo stomping. When it calmed, she turned to the sergeant in charge, Cracked Fist, and asked, "How fares the road between here and Mor Dhona?"

"Well enough," he answered, hands on hips and tilting his head up to where she was still perched on poor flustered Butler. "The bandits your friends ran in to at the old mythril mines have been cleaned out, and the basilisks are in their nests. You'll want to check with Lieutenant Edelstein at the processing plant, but we haven't heard that the Garleans have done more than stick their heads above their walls since Operation Archon."

Jennafer looked to Ninifer and nodded, who nodded in return. "Thank you, Sergeant, and take care."

"You as well!" With a grin, he waved them through the gates and past the walls.

Jennafer kept her hat off and her bow across the saddle in front of her. It wasn't until the camp was a malm behind them that she heard, "Wolf's Bane?"

She sighed again, turning to find herself being watched by olive green eyes. "It's a name they gave me, and Namhla, too, though they're more likely to call her Wolf Killer." His eyebrows raised. "It's been about two months now, since Namhla and I stormed Castrum Meridianum, slew Gaius van Baelsar, and destroyed the Allagan monstrosity that he was planning to use against Eorzea."

Silence greeted her. Then Hani's great-granddaughter fearfully asked, "We're going to go right past them?"

"Within a few malms of the walls," Jennafer answered gently. "For the most part the Castrum is a mass of ruins, and most of the ones who did not surrender after Operation Archon have retreated to Castrum Centri."

"But not all," the young man said grimly.

"No, not all, which is why I'll speak with the Immortal Flames Lieutenant when we get to the ceruleum processing plant." Jennafer looked straight ahead. "They have been hiding behind their walls all this time, waiting for a rescue from the Empire that will never happen. Eventually they will have to decide if their pride is worth starving for."

The young man, who had nothing left but his pride, was silent.

Lieutenant Edelstein assured them that there was no danger from the Castrum. "They look out at us every few days, but otherwise it's been quiet. The other caravans went through here with no problems."

"Thank you, that's a relief to hear," the caravan master said. "How far north do you patrol, does the swamp seem quiet?"

He shrugged. "I'm sorry, ma'am, but we don't go very far from the Castrum."

Jennafer put her hand up to her ear. "Let me see if I can get Namhla or Minfilia over the linkpearl, they may know more, or could go ask someone." She tapped the code and waited.

"Fucking Garleans -- This is Namhla, what now?"

Jennafer briefly closed her eyes. "Is this a bad time, sweetheart?" She tried to keep her voice light. From Ninifer's bristling eyebrows, she did not do as well as she had hoped.

"Jennay! Hang on - Slafborn, have that healer meet us by the stables - It's a mess here, love, the Garleans dumped something in the swamp that's got the morbol's budding out of season. I was going to call you once we got sorted. Where are you?"

"We're at the processing plant."

"Shit." The bard could hear several other people talking in the background.

"Should we wait?" Ninifer looked horrified at that suggestion.

"Five, six..." Namhla was having two conversations at once, it seemed. "No, I think you'll be fine, there's seven of us now heading out there, we should be able to cull them before you show up."

"All right. Be safe, dearest." Ninifer rolled her eyes and walked back to the wagon. Jennafer sighed and made sure her arrows were within reach.

The wagon was tense as they passed within sight of the Castrum. Jennafer hummed a quiet tune to help keep everyone calm, but the time moved slowly until the ceruleum fog which gave the area it's name shrouded the walls once again. Then the caravan master relaxed a little, no longer encouraging the pulling chocobos to hurry, and Jennafer took a moment to give Minato a tincture to ease her pain. The young man, although he was grimacing when his chest muscles pulled on his injuries, refused it.

The road took them into the swamps west of Revenant's Toll. There was a lot of noise: rustling, water dripping, croaks and squeaks and the shimmery tones of elementals. The people in the wagon carefully shifted so that the most vulnerable were in the middle, and Jennafer had an arrow in one hand and her bow in the other, reins tucked under one thigh. Ninifer kept up a steady stream of encouragement to her birds, tossing bits of gyshal greens for them to catch and eat. For a bell, the only wildlife they saw were birds and one mudpuppy who ran away as soon as it was seen.

They were nearly out of the swamps when the sound of fighting cut through the other noise. As the road starting to bend to the northeast, the vegetation thinned and an enormous morbol blocked their passage. Ninifer pulled the birds to a stop as Jennafer got down from Butler, who was too nervous to stand still. She pulled back her bow and aimed up to the sun. She hummed a note, gathering the aether, then chanted a prayer: "Azeyma, Warden of Flames, Keeper of the Sacred Fires, bless your children with light and strength!"

The arrowhead burst into flame. She released it while giving the shrill whistle that every warrior recognized as the call to watch for incoming attacks. The territorial morbol turned one eye stalk away from the group in front of it to peer at the new star in the sky. A second one looked up as the fighters slowly backed off. Before the monster could turn away, the arrow slammed through it's top, lodging deep within and causing the noxious fumes stored inside to explode. There was cheering from both the wagon and the warriors as it collapsed into itself, and the bard gave an extravagant bow.

There was some good-natured grumbling as the cart slowly made it's way around the dead morbol, but the rest of the trip saw the Domans surrounded by laughter and enthusiastic greetings, and for a moment the pain of all that the young man had lost was a little less.

Chapter Text

He had been given the largest living area, and he could not think of anyone who deserved it less. "I will have to find suitable employment if we are going to be able to afford this," he said lightly.

His advisors winced in horror, as he expected. "My lord, you cannot -- "

"I will not do any less then the rest of my people!" He would gladly break rocks under the sun for the rest of his life if it gave the children a chance at a childhood.

They looked away. "You must rest, my lord, you've been on the road all day."

He drooped when they left, hand drifting to the healed wound that still hurt on his side. He looked out the window at constellations he had never seen before. He wondered if his father's spirit could find him here. He slept poorly.

Yugiri sparred with him the next day. He was slow and awkward, the damaged muscles stretching painfully around his chest. He watched the comings and goings from the Scions' headquarters from his window. He did far too much thinking alone. He slept poorly.

"I need to do something," he murmured to Yugiri. "I need to learn how to rally my people with more than just my name."

Yugiri nodded once, and followed his gaze to the Rising Stones. "Some will complain you are becoming a common sellsword," she murmured in return, somewhat wickedly.

He gave the first real grin she had seen on his face in far too long. "They will, won't they?" His old robe could not be salvaged, and he refused to let any of the refugees create a new one for him until they had settled into their new homes and seen to their own needs. He had a plain togi of dark red cloth that suited him fine.

***

"So, yes, he was taking bribes, but so were the rest of the ferry captains most days. Hard to say when, exactly, some of those bandits came over without getting the Brass Blades involved again." Jennafer frowned. "Considering how they leak like a sieve, I don't know that it would actually be any help."

"Ah, one has to love Ul'dah's worship of money and trade," Thancred said sarcastically, shaking his head.

Namhla shrugged as Minfilia sighed. "Y'shtola should be returning anon with a report from afield. We'll see what all this put together means when she arrives."

There was a knock at the door of the Solar. "My lady, do you have a moment to speak with Lady Yugiri?"

Minfilia looked around and the three others nodded. "Certainly, let her in, Tataru." Two people followed the diminutive Lalafell in, and she raised an eyebrow. "We are glad to see you, Lady Yugiri, and..."

The young man gave a bow in the Doman style. "My apologies for not saying my name earlier, but we had to be sure. The Garleans would give much to know who and where we are."

"And why is that?" Thancred asked, watching Jennafer all but vibrating in place.

He hunched for a heartbeat, as if he was accepting a heavy weight. Then he stood up straight and tall, face proud and stern, and Yugiri gave him a short bow. "Because I am Hien Rijin, only child and heir of Kaien Rijin, and the true ruler of Doma. I am here in Eorzea to find the strength and knowledge I need to lead my people to freedom."

"Well!" Minfilia needed a moment to gather her thoughts. Both Warriors of Light looked shocked. "We would be honored to help you in what small ways we can, my lord --"

Hien gave a small smile, glancing at the bard and warrior. "Please, just call me Hien."

There was an earnestness in his face that the Antecedent immediately trusted. "How can we help you, Hien?"

He bowed his head and looked towards Yugiri, who nodded. "If you would have me, I would join the Scions. I am too ignorant of goings on in the wider world, save what the Garleans would allow me to learn. If I am going to free my people I need to know who I can trust and who I cannot. In return, I can offer my blade, as well as the talents of the shinobi that Yugiri leads."

"If you are certain they would all agree to this --" Minfilia started, then looked over his shoulder as Y'shtola hurried in. "We may need your help sooner than you think."

Chapter Text

"Vylbrand?" Minfilia exclaimed, then paled. "Oh gods, they mean to summon Leviathan?"

"That is the way of it, I fear," Y'shtola said grimly. Namhla cursed and pushed herself away from the Antecedant's desk.

Hien frowned. "Summon, as in an eikon?"

"Ah, my apologies Y'shtola, this is Hien and Yugiri, Doman refugees who have offered to join the Scions," Minfilia said somewhat distractedly. So much was happening so fast!

"Let us hope that you do not drown in the waters of your baptism today," the Miqo'te said wryly. "Aye, we Scions of the Seventh Dawn are sworn to put an end to their kind, as difficult as that is. You will often hear them referred to as Primals." She turned back to the rest of the group. "But there is more. One of the Sahagin — an elder, by my judgment — spoke of attaining the 'gift and knowledge of eternity.' I witnessed --"

Suddenly Minfilia, Namhla, and Jennafer winced in pain, their eyes losing focus and their bodies stiffening.

Hien took a step forward. "What is happening?"

"This is the mark of the Echo," Thancred said, keeping his tone light but his eyes on the three women. "Those blessed by Hydaelyn have the ability to see past occurrences; unfortunately, it is not something than can be controlled." He gave the young man a quick grin. "They will be fine in a moment. It's not always pleasant, but it's harmless."

True to Thancred's reassurance they soon either groaned or muttered or cursed, their eyes returning to normal, their stances becoming more natural again. The fact that this was treated as something harmless was the most disturbing thing Hien had seen since coming to Eorzea.

***

A Sahagin died, and another took it's place. Thancred and Yugiri were nearby, but there seemed to be an endless number of enemies throwing themselves at the group, to prevent them from stopping the summoning. Hien's entire left side was spasming in pain, making him slow.

Below them, the Sahagin priest had cast a magical barrier blocking Namhla and Jennafer's path to him. They were too busy fighting off their own horde of enemies to break through and he cackled. "Long have you shhhhriveled shhhorewalkers tormented our kind! But no more! Your time is at an end!"

As he chanted a prayer, there was a pulsing in the air around them. Merlwyb's eyed widened. "Do you feel that?"

"I know this sensation..." Minfilia said, pale with shock. "It's the Echo."

Namhla, Jennafer, and Y'shtola were attacking the barrier, to no avail. The bard was frowning, trying to electrify her arrows to counter the water, but the Sahagin priest was too strong. "Sssuch power! It is.... transsscendent!"

The Admiral cocked her guns. "Seven hells," she snarled, aiming and firing. The Sahagin fell. Immediately a bright ball of aether lifted from the corpse and merged with another, and the flash of power drove the Echo-blessed to their knees.

The priest cackled again. "Ssstrike me down if you will! It is futile! I have massstered the gift! I am eternal!" He turned to the open grotto. "O mighty Leviathan, ruler of the sseas, born of waters primordial! I offer unto You this frail fleshhh, that You might grant Your faithful ssservantsss deliveranssse!"

Merwylb fired several more times. "Die, damn you!" There were no Sahagin left standing by the summoning aetheryte, but still the priest endured. The water thrashed in the grotto. Something huge lurked just under the surface. Namhla pushed Jennafer and Y'shtola away from the low lying pier as a terrible serpent's head rose and kept rising.

"Heavens forfend..." Yugiri whispered. She had lived in the water most of her life, and had never seen such a thing. Hien had read the stories of Seiryu, and they did not compare to the reality of Leviathan.

The aether orb that was the priest's soul wavered. "My being... ebbsss away?" It got weaker as it was drawn closer to Leviathan's aura. "Am I not... immortal? Curssse you, Emissssary! You... promisssed me... everylassssst..." The words ended as the orb vanished.

Jennafer felt the change in the aether and pulled back an arrow. "Mighty Rhalgr, Destroyer, Star Breaker, strike down our enemies before us!" The serpent moved faster than anyone would have thought possible, and the lightning bolt released from her bow flew through the space His head had been a heartbeat before. The grotto waters stilled.

Leviathan had escaped to the open sea. Who could catch Him there?

***

"Would that we had armed ourselves with more knowledge beforehand," Minfilia sighed, standing before the two Warriors of Light.

Jennafer shook her head. "If I was stronger, been able to break the barrier..."

The Antecedent took the bard's hand. "You did all you could. I take comfort in the fact that you both have faced worse odds in the past, and have ever prevailed." She hugged both women before stepping back.

Namhla put her shield arm around Jennafer's shoulders, and the two leaned into each other. "My beautiful songbird," she murmured.

"My lovely shield," came the response. Nothing else needed to be said, and they waited with Eynzahr Slafyrsyn for the craft that would take them to the Whorleater.

Later, when the Sahagin and Serpent Reavers had been thwarted in their attempts to stop the ship from leaving, Hien and Thancred accompanied Minfilia and Admiral Merwylb to Oschon's Torch, a local landmark that gave them an unimpeded view of the battle. He watched for a moment, then glanced at the blonde Hyuran beside him. "Is this all we can do for them?"

Minfilia gave him a sympathetic smile. "For now, I'm afraid so. They protect us and fight for us, facing the things we cannot." She remembered his horror at the fate of the tempered. "In return we pray for them, constantly, and some of us are brave enough to love them."

He blushed and turned away. "I have to be careful," he murmured, mostly to himself.

Pain splintered and the world wavered --

His mother, so beautiful, so sad. "You must be careful, my little Shun."
Too few years later, on her deathbed. "Be careful, my son, or they will use your heart against you."
His father, his teacher, his friend, as Garleans loomed and leered behind them: "Be careful. Be careful. Be careful."

Minfilia took a quiet breath. Thancred had a hand on her elbow, and she shook her head in response to his raised eyebrows. This was not something to share. They looked back over the waters.

Chapter Text

There was a peaceful quiet after the incident with Leviathan, and Hien had nothing to distract himself with in Eorzea. He had met the rest of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn while Yugiri integrated herself into the Rogue's Guild. He learned about the Sons of Saint Coinach and their mission at the Crystal Tower from an excitable and handsome red Miqo'te when the latter brought a tomestone with Allagan musical notation for Jennafer to see. He kept an eye on the ones in charge of his peoples' work groups. He spent a lot of time thinking, alone. He slept poorly.

When a group of ragged men came to Revenant's Toll loudly begging for the Antecedent of the Scions to help them, he shadowed F'lhaminn as she led them to the inn. By the time she returned with Minfilia and Namhla he was confused at what they thought the Domans had been given. When they were rejected, he felt compelled to speak up. "What, exactly, do you think happened to us?"

The refugee looked at him. "You... you got jobs, right? Honest work?"

"We asked for work. We went to the crew leaders ourselves. Even our children went to the shopkeepers to find what they could do." Hien tried to hold his temper in check. "The Scions helped us get here, yes, and for that I will forever be grateful. But we had to find work on our own, as best fit our abilities. What is preventing you from doing the same?"

One of the men looked shocked. "Children? They didn't say nothing about --"

"Who is they?" Minfilia asked.

The men got quiet. Namhla was debating with herself over whether or not she should start cracking her knuckles one at a time when Tataru ran in. "Ill tidings from Ul'dah, my lady! There was a riot, and Alphinaud has been wounded!"

The refugees cowered under the combined weight of Hien and Namhla's glares. "They must've been provoked! The demonstration was meant to be peaceful!"

"And yet, here you are when they weren't," Hien's tone was light, but his face was grim. "What fortuitous timing."

Minfilia pressed her lips into a thin line. "Namhla, go to Ul'dah and find Alphinaud. I fear he will need your help to get to the bottom of this."

"I will go with you," Hien said.

Namhla grinned. "This'll be the perfect way to introduce you to the politics of Ul'dah," she said wryly.

A few bells later they were stalking the merchant who had supplied some of the refugees with their weapons. He was cornered in the Dispatch Yard outside the city, frantically backing away from Hien until Namhla casually walked around the wooden support he was trying to put between them. He shrank back as she towered over him. Hien felt something flare in her, or maybe it was just the way she looked at him, her powerful presence palpable to senses he had long hidden. Be careful, my son he heard in his mind, but he was distracted by her.

He almost didn't see the archer. "Namhla, behind you!" He lunged forward to push her away, and the merchant died with an arrow in his throat. Namhla cursed the entire way back to the Hall of Flames. They were then directed to the Royal Promenade, and a meeting with both Raubahn and the Sultana herself.

Hien had been raised and educated to be the ruler of his people, even while under occupation. He knew, intellectually, that there were times when secrets must be kept from even the closest allies. But this talk of previously unknown Allagan ruins, with their own Weapon of mass destruction, did not sit well with him. And that his people's plight had been used as a means to advance one man's dreams of world domination made him angry at how helpless he was to prevent it. He had failed them all, utterly.

"I should be glad to know the truth," Alphinaud said afterwards, "And yet, the thought that all this chaos was the product of one man's lust for power sickens me." Then he frowned. "And how long do you think they intended to hide the existence of Omega from us?"

Before anyone could answer, their linkpearls beeped. "This is Minfilia. I know this is sudden, but Jennafer has returned early from the Twelveswood. Things have not gone well."

Alphinaud frowned. "If she was treating with the Sylphs, it must be Ramuh. I'll finish up here, Namhla, you know as well as I do that the appearance of a primal takes precedence over all else."

"It's always ten things at once," Namhla muttered. "We'll be back in a few moments."

Chapter Text

The rest of the Scions had already assembled in the Solar when Namhla and Hien walked in. Jennafer was standing near Minfilia with Papalymo and Yda, wearing drab greens and browns that would make her nearly invisible in a leafy gloom. "Thank you for responding to my call with such haste," Minfilia said. "We have been trying to confirm disturbing news from the Order of the Twin Adder. They have reason to believe that the sylphs may have called forth their revered guardian ─ the primal Ramuh."

Thancred blinked. "I'm sorry, 'may have'? Then it is not certain?"

Minfilia frowned and nodded. "The Elder Seedseer informs us that the elementals themselves murmur of the Lord of Levin's return to the forest."

"I spent a few days in the forests north of Little Solace," Jennafer said quietly, "and while I saw many of the tempered Sylphs, more than I remember seeing before, I did not see Ramuh Himself, and the forest was otherwise quiet."

"But the quiet forest need not contradict the elementals' testimony," Papalymo spoke up "Unlike more bellicose compeers ─ Garuda and so on ─ Ramuh is reputed to act only in the defense of His children. I imagine He would soon make His presence known if any were foolish enough to directly endanger the sylphs or their territory."

"The abruptness of this development concerns me," Y'shtola said. "Were we not keeping a close watch on the 'touched ones' and their movements? If preparations for a summoning ritual were indeed underway, 'twould surely not have escaped your notice."

"Their territory covers hundreds of square malms, and I only managed a portion of it." Jennafer shrugged, clearly upset with herself over what had happened.

"You know how the sylphs feel about people poking around in their territory!" Yda exclaimed at the same time.

"And I maintain that observation would have remained the best policy," Papalymo was trying to keep control of the conversation. "...had it not been for the sudden influx of strangers into the Black Shroud. That, alas, we did not foresee. By all accounts, the lead up to the recent violence in Ul'dah drove a number of refugees to seek safety under the concealing canopy of the trees."

"There's also been more movement in Ala Mhigo," the bard added. "I spoke to a group newly arrived on this side of the border; apparently a new tunnel or something like that has opened up a path through Baelsar's Wall, and there are desperate people trying to take advantage of it."

The Lalafell scholar nodded. "'Tis likely that the sylphs perceived these panicked migrations as yet another invasion, and quickened their efforts to summon their god."

Y'shtola sighed. "I am put in mind of Titan and the kobolds. Once again, it is the affairs of men which have paved the way for a primal's coming."

"We must needs consult with the nation most affected by Ramuh's presence." Minfilia looked apologetically at Jennafer, who nodded grimly and looked away. "The Elder Seedseer has requested your personal involvement, Namhla. While you, Papalymo, and Yda meet with Kan-E-Sanna tomorrow, the rest of us will go to Little Solace to help Jennafer search for the summoning aetheryte."

The meeting broke up, leaving Hien feeling like there were dynamics he was not aware of. Minfilia looked up from notes on her desk and gave him a smile. "Is there something you need, Hien?"

"I am... confused," he admitted slowly, trying to work out in his mind the best way to ask what was probably a deeply personal question. "Jennafer is from Gridania, correct?"

"Ah," she answered. She nodded once and waved him to one of the nearby chairs. "She was born in the Black Shroud, and lived her years prior to joining the Scions within its borders. The Echo came to her early in her life, and gave her insights into the inequalities that most Gridanians close their eyes to."

Hien could see where this was leading. "She is a person who would not stand idly by as others suffer."

"Indeed, as you and the Domans learned recently." He tried not to blush. "It made her unpopular to those who profit from the current balance of power. Kan-E-Sanna has heard her and tried to make some small improvements, but she is beholden to a system that is resistant to even the tiniest changes." Minfilia sighed. "Jennafer is a bard and a wanderer; she wears Oschon's Mantle with joy. She is also a champion for those who are outside the power structure and a loving friend to many who are considered lesser and unworthy. I knew this when Papalymo brought her to join the Scions, and have never regretted opening our doors and our hearts to her."

Hien knew he was blushing. Be careful, he reminded himself. "But sometimes you have to work around her, instead of with her."

"Indeed, and that is why Namhla is being asked for, instead of Jennafer. Of course, both will be there when we treat with Ramuh." She smiled at him. "If there's anything else you need to know about what we're doing, please don't hesitate to ask."

Hien stood up and bowed. "Thank you, Antecedent, for your time." He was beginning to realize that there would be no help for his people from the governments of Eorzea.

***

Maxio led Namhla, Yda, and Papalymo to the clearing where the rest of the Scions waited. "This one is most sorry, but this one can go no further. Draw too close to Lord Ramuh, and this one may turn mean and nasty like touched ones!"

"Thanks for your help, little one," Namhla said, eyeing her companions. Thancred looked bemused, Y'shtola looked annoyed, and Jennafer and Hien were pointedly not looking at each other. "Do I even want to know what happened here?" she asked.

"No!" they all said at once. Yda couldn't help giggling.

As the Scions approached the towering aetheryte the sharp smell of electricity was their only warning before multiple bolts hit the ground in front of them. Before they could see again a loud voice called out, "By what right doth man intrude in this sanctuary of the sylphs?" Ramuh hovered above the ground before them.

Namhla and Jennafer stepped forward. "We're here on behalf of the Gridanians, hoping to make peace --"

Thunder rumbled as His eyebrows drew together. "Their words are born of delusion - thine offer, an insult." He peered at them. "Thine aura betrays thee, servants of Hydaelyn." He pointed to Namhla. "Thou art the Bringer of Light, bane of Ifrit, Titan, Garuda, and Leviathan." He then pointed to Jennafer. "I have not seen thy kind in my forest in many years, Elessar." She paled, and He focused more intently on the bard. "Thy kin swore oaths to protect the children of the forest. Where are they now?"

"They are..." Jennafer swallowed and took a deep breath. "They are dead, my lord Ramuh. When the waters of the Sixth Calamity rose they fled to the mountains, but the voidsent of Mhach pursued them. Most of my ancestors were killed preventing terrors of shadow and flame from consuming the rest. What little I know... what little I have learned comes from pages so old they crumbled in my hands. I have sought their songs from bards and Moogles and books that my friends had shipped from distant lands."

"And what hath thou learned in thy seeking?"

She thought a moment. "My people lived here once, and promised to protect the little people of the forest." She looked up at the primal. "Perhaps they knew you?"

Ramuh nodded. "Men have short, brutal lives, dying ere their birth cries quieteth. They forget, ever and always, and the forest and my children suffer. Knowing that thy mere presence here portendeth tragedy, wilt thou persist in this pretense of peacemaking?"

"Yes." She squeezed Namhla's hand for courage, then presented the violet crystal Frixio had given her months before. "For the sake of the ones we can still save."

"Well said," Papalymo breathed behind her.

"That they should entrust so precious a gift to thee..." Ramuh studied the two Light-touched women for a moment. "Very well. Thou standest apart from thy kin and kind, Bringers of Light. I shall consider thy proposal, shouldst thou survive my trial." He pointed to the smaller Hyuran again. "If thou wouldst champion the cause of harmony, gentle bard, I must have proof that thou art fit to play the role." Lightning flashed, and the aetheryte pulsed, and the primal was gone.

"Well, that could've gone worse," Namhla said with a sigh. She put her arm around Jennafer. "Ready, love?"

"Beg pardon, my ladies," a voice asked, and they all turned to see Urianger standing there.

"It is rare indeed to find you so far from a tome," Y'shtola teased.

"I must ask thy aid on a point of research," he said, ignoring the teasing. "If thou art resolved to face Lord Ramuh, I would ask thy leave to observe the event. I believeth that the moment of His dissolution couldst aid us in our struggles with the Ascians."

"Are you sure?" Namhla asked, eyebrows raised. "We're going to be too busy to protect you."

"I will go with him, then," Hien said. He knew he shouldn't, that he should be careful, but he wanted to understand all this.

***

Later, he was hard pressed to describe the battle, and only partly because of the near constant lightning strikes leaving his vision swimming. Namhla was fast for a Roegadyn of her size, her sword flashing and her shield unwavering; Jennafer sang and prayed and shot enchanted arrows while dancing between bolts. Hien did what he could, slicing through a small summoned avatar of the primal near to where they were stranding, but otherwise heeded Urianger's warnings.

Ramuh raised his staff, lightning gathering. "'Ware this next strike!" Urianger called out, and Jennafer stood behind Namhla, who raised her shield. Hien couldn't understand her words, but she aimed an arrow at the ground. He could feel something being gathered beneath them, and when the arrow splintered on impact the ground raised up like hands, holding and concealing the two warriors while Ramuh's wrath thundered.

The earthen barrier fell away, and Jennafer's bow was already pulled back as far as she could manage. The primal smiled as her final arrow struck with the aether of a tidal wave, and His staff shimmered out of existence as it fell. "I judge thee a worthy champion, daughter of the Elessar. Shrink not from employing thy strength in service to the forest, and the wider realm beyond. Like hungering shadows do the enemies of harmony gather, and meekness will but feed them."

"I will, my lord," she said, bowing.

His form shivered. "Sing thou for me. I wouldst remember thy people in my slumber." He bent towards her.

She hummed a couple of notes. "I've only found a fragment of this song, but it's the oldest one I know." She looked into the fading Primal's face. "With a sigh you turn away. With a deepening heart, no more words to say. You will find that the world has changed forever."

Urianger took a deep breath, and Hien found himself weeping.

"And the trees are now turning from green to gold," she continued. "And the sun is now fading. I wish I could hold you closer..."

Ramuh smiled sadly and reached out a ghostly finger. When it brushed her head the bard gasped and the crystal she had presented earlier flared to life above her. Namhla caught her as she swooned, and the Primal was gone.

"Ever shall this scene remain etched in my mind's eye," the scholar murmured.

"Did it help?" Namhla asked, still holding her lover. She glanced at Hien. "She's all right, Hien, this happens sometimes after battles. The primals unlock something inside us, making us stronger." She stroked her face. "Same thing's happened to me a few times."

"Aye, my lady, a truth hath been revealed unto me." Urianger bowed. "If I mistake not, it may yet prove a chink in the eternal armor of the Ascians."

"Good." She easily lifted the bard in her arms. "Let's get back to the Rising Stones, then."

Chapter Text

Hien studied the Crystal Brave recruits pouring into the town very closely. He had been in Eorzea for a few weeks and was still waiting for the assassins to appear. It would be so easy for someone to slip in now, as chaotic as it was. He was reluctant to speak about this to Minfilia or Alphinaud, though; both were quite pleased with how many recruits they were getting. Yugiri was still traversing the continent, setting up the shinobi and attuning herself to as many aetherytes as she thought she could handle, so he sat with his thoughts, alone. He slept poorly.

He was watching the children play ishikeri, offering advice and encouragement, when Namhla's voice rang out across the square, calling for Slafborn of the Adventurer's Guild. He turned to see her all but carrying someone he vaguely recognized as a regular porter for the Guild through the northern gate, a few others limping behind them. He and several other people ran up at the same time and led them to a nearby table.

"Gods, woman, what befell!?" Slafborn moved aside as Jennafer and an unfamiliar Elezen woman started to check the injured.

The head porter coughed and winced. "We... we were bringing a shipment to Revenant's Toll. Provisions earmarked for the frontier effort. But just as we sought to cross over into Mor Dhona, we were set upon by brigands." She coughed again and the Elezen put her hand on the woman's chest, shaking her head and starting the healing.

Another porter spoke up, words slurred. "M-might've been heretics," he said, leaning precariously on a chair. Hien stood close by so he wouldn't fall to the ground. "So many. Too many... sorry, we had to... to leave it all there."

"There is naught to forgive," Slafborn said firmly. "Provisions can be replaced, but smart soldiers are hard to find." He thought for a moment. "If heretics are involved, then this is like to be more than a case of simple thievery. Ishgard will need to be informed. Whence did these supplies originate?"

The head porter took a breath, free of pain for the moment, and said, "House Fortemps. We collected the provisions from Camp Dragonhead proper."

"Understood. I shall see that they are apprised of this development. You are under orders to take your rest, do you hear?" Slafborn beckoned Namhla and Jennafer, and they moved away. Hien followed. "You two are on good terms with the knights of House Fortemps, yes?"

"Aye, and House Durendaire, since we helped with the Vigil last month," Namhla said.

"Good. I'll send a missive as soon as possible, of course, but I would also have you travel there and offer your assistance." Slafborn grinned a bit sheepishly at the bard. "I realize I contradict my earlier hopes to lighten your load, but I need people who can help bring this incident to a satisfactory conclusion ─ our favorable relations with Ishgard are far too important to risk half measures."

Jennafer grinned back and shrugged. "We do what we can."

"Thank you for your understanding. I am certain Lord Haurchefant will be glad of your assistance." With a wave, he jogged into the Adventurer's Guild headquarters.

The three looked at each other. "Well then," Namhla started.

"I want to help," Hien blurted. Both women turned to him and smiled. He blushed. "I realize I will have to travel on foot -"

"No, you will need to borrow a chocobo," Jennafer said. "You haven't experienced the weather there, you'll need supplies and warmer gear." Hien blinked. "And please don't say you'll be fine, Alphinaud tried that and nearly got pneumonia the first time."

Hien blinked again as Namhla nodded. "I've never - we don't have chococbos in Doma."

"Oh. I didn't think to ask, I'm sorry," she apologized. "Have you ridden anything like that?"

"Well, I've flown on a Doman falcon a few times, but you sit differently on..." He trailed off as both women looked absolutely delighted at the thought of flying. Oh, he had to be careful. He awkwardly rubbed the back of his neck.

They led him through the chocobo stables and out to the collection of enclosures that hugged the eastern wall. Jennafer had left to retrieve her bird, which was in one of the farther paddocks, so Hien stood with a few krakka roots in his hand, being stared at by the enormous dark grey chocobo that Namhla rode. He didn't think he was being approved of. "How did you find a chocobo big enough for you to ride, Namhla?" he asked, trying to break the tension.

She made clicking sounds with her tongue, but the bird ignored her. Rolling her eyes, she answered, "When I joined the Immortal Flames a few years ago, they sent me out to their Chocobo farm up near the border with the Black Shroud to find a bird. This grumpy old man - oh come on you ass, calm down - he'd been without a rider since the Calamity." Namhla grabbed one the roots from Hien and waved it under the bird's beak. "He wouldn't let anyone near him most of the time, but they wanted to keep him and breed him if they could." The bird gave a short croak. "Grumpy man... They'd try to give him to someone to use and he'd do this, or toss them when they tried to ride. I talked to the keepers about his former owner; apparently he'd been raised since he hatched by the guy, so I figured he was just lonely."

Vashoth lowered his head, and Hien wondered if he needed to move out of the way lest he get rammed. Namhla grabbed the bridle and yanked his head towards her. "Why are you being such an asshole, Vashoth? What's bothering you today?" The bird croaked again and pulled away, scratching the ground once and walking off. Namhla threw her hands up and let him go. "Well, he's old, and he's cranky, and he gets in moods, but he's loyal and strong. Hopefully he'll be willing to put up with us tomorrow morning."

"Did you name him after anything in particular?" He could see Jennafer returning with her honey colored bird trotting beside her.

"It's an old word of my people, basically means 'The Grey'." She pointed at herself. "Sea Wolves are usually either light grey or darker green; everyone from my village was like me, dark grey, and at some point they called themselves that. I thought it fit his coloring."

"Where's Vashoth?" Jennafer asked as she approached.

"Being a complete ass, over there," Namhla answered with a grumble.

The bard laughed. "We must have disturbed his nap. Hien, this is Maril, and I promise she's a much nicer chocobo."

"Usually," Namhla said quietly.

"Hush, you," she retorted affectionately.

Maril kwehed and nosed the roots Hien was holding. He held one out and she gently took it from him, tossing it into the air and catching it neatly. She happily cheeped afterwards and crouched on the ground so he could get into the saddle. The first few steps were awkward, but he was a trained warrior and his body knew how to adjust to the movements. By the time they reached the opposite fence several yalms away he felt comfortable encouraging the chocobo to trot back to the women, who applauded as he dismounted.

Slafborn caught up with them about a bell later at the Seventh Heaven, a map in his hands. "My courier's just teleported to Camp Dragonhead, so Lord Haurchefant should see the letter from the Guild soon. And here - " He partially unrolled the map to show the Boulder Downs north of Mor Dhona. "Here is where the caravan was attacked, just at the top of the Hall of the Seven Echoes."

Jennafer hummed. "Has anyone been to the site yet?"

Slafborn shook his head. "Other than whoever attacked them, not that we know of yet."

Namhla pointed towards the Observatorium. "Even if they left as soon as your letter arrived, it'd be dark before they got there. They won't leave before morning." Everyone nodded in agreement. "I'll go up to Dragonhead, see what Lord Haurchefant says about it. Jennay's a better tracker, she and Hien can go up the pass and see if there's anything left to find."

The next morning the three gathered in front of the chocobo stable as the sun rose. Hien handed the two women freshly made hot tea, which they gratefully sipped while waiting for their birds to be brought around. Hien sleepily had a thought, and quietly asked, "Can chocobos use the aetheryte?"

Namhla grinned. "Not on their own." Hien chuckled, a little embarrassed. "You'd need someone more educated than me to explain it better, but it depends on the bird and the rider."

"Namhla and Vashoth could, if he's in a cooperative mood," Jennafer said with a grin as she finished her tea. Namhla burst out laughing. "Maril and I can, although the further away it is the less she likes it. But random people matched with random chocobos is not something that I've ever heard of happening."

Hien told himself the warmth in his chest was from the tea, and not the laughter and smiles.

Three chocobos were led out at last, Vashoth giving a small croak and bumping Namhla's shoulder. "I know, old man, I know," she crooned, ruffling his cheek feathers. She swung her pack behind his saddle and climbed up. "Call me on the linkpearl when you get done at the attack site. By then I'll know what the Ishgardians think about what happened and we can compare notes." They walked over to the aetheryte and soon vanished.

"This is Forth," the stable manager said, leading a chocobo with pale blue feathers. "He's a good boy, perfect for new riders." Forth kwehed as Hien stroked his head. "We've got fodder in the saddlebags that should last a couple days."

Jennafer thanked them and they headed towards the north exit. Hien waved at the children as they left, promising to let them know all about the trip when he returned. It would take about a bell to get to the border with Coerthas, and he spent most of the time getting used to the rhythm of riding and enjoying the cool air. Halfway through the Hall of the Seven Echoes the border came in sight. He gaped, "By the kami, how is this possible?"

"Something happened during the Seventh Calamity," Jennafer said sadly, watching him take in the stark difference. "That day the snow started, and it never stopped."

They crossed the border, going from a misty morning that promised warmer temperatures to an icy cold that he could feel in his bones. "No, this is wrong," he said suddenly. He stopped and dismounted. Something was trying to tell him something in his soul. He put his hand on the ground and drew it back like he had been burned. Something was crying out to him, but he couldn't understand the words. "This is wrong," he whispered again.

Behind him, Jennafer grabbed the reins of his chocobo and felt a pain splinter her temples --

"This is the Swallow's Compass, built by your ancestor Ganen. He was a mighty geomancer."
Young Hien felt drawn to the place. He would find Qitian there and rescue his people!
He stood on the balcony and watched the Twelfth Legion approach. The land screamed in hate and terror.
"There is so much I needed to teach you," his father said, facing away from him. "Take our people and live, Hien."

She came back to herself and took a deep breath. Hien had not noticed, still staring at the piled snow. She took out her coat and put it on, thinking about what the Echo had shown her. She took out his coat and waited. Later, she would think of a way to ask him about geomancey.

Chapter Text

The group took a break before the huge doors that would open to Emperor Xande's throne. Unei and Alianne were attending to the wounded while the rest caught their breaths. Doga was frowning at the rapidly dissolving corpse of Amon. "Were they all so tall?" he heard the bard ask, and he turned with a grin that didn't quite reach his eyes.

"Royalty and select nobility were often augmented," he answered. "Not all were obviously physical, but even those who ran the various laboratories here in the Tower would have some changes to their aether or their self."

G'raha sighed. "It seems... obscene, somehow." He wrinkled his nose. "Is that why the bodies have been decaying so quickly?"

Doga paused, almost imperceptibly, then nodded. G'raha and Jennafer turned back to the group, walking over to Namhla and Hien. He turned back to where Amon had been and frowned. Could a clone of Amon have done all this? Perhaps. Then he mentally shrugged. Not that it mattered, the true Amon would have died in the Calamity, or soon after. Once the Tower was made safe, he and Unei would go to Azys Lla to be sure nothing of him remained.

***

Hien tried not to flinch as Nero walked around in his Tribunal armor. He and Cid snarled at each other but otherwise he was left alone, to Hien's consternation. He wished Yugiri had returned in time to come with them.

"The choice of method is yours to make," Unei was saying. "Before you proceed, however, Doga and I must needs attend to a task."

Hien only half listened to their explanations of the void gate, watching Nero pace around the Tower's top, looking at some kind of scope in his hand. When he started cackling, he drew his sword automatically, waiting for the threat to materialize. "Not even the Ultima Weapon compares to this!"

Namhla and Jennafer turned around. The throne shimmered behind them. A terrible voice intoned, "The covenant... is everlasting..."

And the gate yawned open.

A multitude of twisted clones began to materialize around them. Hien turned his attention away from Nero and towards G'raha and Jennafer, who were readying their bows. Namhla already had her sword and shield in hand.

And then the Warriors of Light stumbled to their knees, clutching their heads, their eyes losing focus.

"What-what is --" G'raha stuttered.

"It's the Echo!" Cid yelled, pulling out a short blade of his own.

Hien stood beside Namhla in the stance For multiple enemies of unknown ability. "Defend her, G'raha!"

That got through the Baldesian scholar's shock, and he pulled his bow around as the twisted clones started to attack. It was utterly chaotic, but thankfully the clones did not seem to be able to coordinate with each other. Hien and G'raha fell into a rhythm, blade and arrows, that kept the women safe.

But they couldn't guard everyone, and the Void took what it wanted.

***

Hien watched Jennafer comfort G'raha later that evening, and he had to be careful. He kept telling himself that.

Chapter Text

Hien told the children about the Crystal Tower. They wanted to hear everything about the Warriors of Light, their friends, and their adventures. They argued between themselves over who was stronger, Namhla or Hoary Boulder, and Hien had to diplomatically decline to intervene by taking a side (he thought Hoary was probably a little stronger, but Namhla was definitely faster).

"Do you think she could take on Gosetsu?"

Hien paused for a moment. He hadn't thought of his mentor in several days and had to stave off a rush of guilt. "I think Gosetsu would be proud to train her as a samurai," he finally said. The children cheered and immediately started to collaborate on what kind of sword she'd carry, the color of her togi, and other very important details to the life of a samurai. He chuckled and stood.

"My lord Hien, we must talk."

He had been avoiding these men, part of the burden that had been laid on him when his father died. Too often he thought of them as a single entity, and struggled to remember their individual names. "Of course, friends. How can I help?" He slowly strolled away from the children, around the perimeter of what was being called Little Doma.

The one who had apparently been appointed to speak fell into step beside him. Hien thought the man's family name was Hamato, the latest in generations of semi-nobles who had facilitated the trade with the Kojin. "You have been away much of the past week, my lord, as well as the week before that."

"I have," he agreed calmly.

There was a pause, as if he had been expected to argue, then the man continued. "We are... there are concerns over what the Scions will do with these Crystal Braves."

Hien nodded. "I share some of those concerns. I trust that the shinobi are keeping a close watch on certain members to ensure everyone's safety."

That struck a blow, and this time the man frowned. "My lord." Another spoke up now, a representative of what had been a group of farmers. "Forgive my bluntness, I am but a simple man. We are concerned that what you do does not help Doma."

Well, that didn't take long. They must be truly worried about something. "I would think that forging alliances with the leaders of the governments here would be quite helpful to Doma." He shrugged nonchalantly. "But I am young and not yet used to ruling, so I could be wrong." He wished Yugiri was here to watch their reactions with him.

The first man bristled, and Hien remembered his name. "Now we hear that you will be accompanying these women into the Void?"

"The Warriors of Light have not asked me to do so, and I have not decided yet if I will, Lord Yoshi," he answered, resisting the urge to snarl as he defended the intended slight to Namhla and Jennafer, or to his honor. "I would think preventing the invasion of voidsent who would devour us all would be quite helpful to Doma."

"Sophistry!" the second man snapped, and Hien could not remember his name.

"My lord, we simply worry for your health and well being," a third man spoke. He had provided some information and supplies to the uprising, but there had been rumors about his reluctance to do more. "You have no heirs, and we would be lost without you."

Hien stopped. "Would you?" he wondered aloud. "Would the children stop learning from their parents? Would the shinobi stop what they're doing?" There was a fraught silence from his advisors. "We came here to find a way to be free. Have we not done that? Minato has found a healer she can trust and can walk without pain again. Is that not more important?" They seemed surprised that he would know about that.

"Your father said --"

"My father ordered us to live. And that we have done." Hien was rapidly losing control of his emotions. He bowed to the group and walked away. He tried not to hear them murmuring behind him.

***

He was standing in the Solar of the Rising Stones. There was a woman in front of him who looked like Minfilia, but also like something else. Her hair was longer and brighter, and her eyes had no pupil but still were fixed on him. She had the glow of borrowed power around her.

"Who are you?" The voice was several voices, an Echo of a chorus.

"I am the Lord of Doma," he answered.

She sadly shook her head. "Who are you?" she asked again.

"You must show them who you are, my son," his father appeared next to him, facing the Minfilia. "You must do this like I taught you."

"But, father..."

"Who are you?"

"...you didn't teach me this."

Lord Kaien did not answer, but reached up to his head. There was a flexing of his fingers, then he was holding his face in his hands. Where his face had been was blank. "Show us who you are, my son," the face he was holding said.

"No," Hien said as his hands moved of their own volition.

"Who are you?"

His face was in his hands, looking back at himself. "No," said the face in his hands. He couldn't breathe.

"Who are you?"

"Well done, my son."

"No --"

He couldn't breathe. He flailed, trying not to scream. His face was pressed into the pillow. He threw himself out of his bed. He sat on the floor, gasping, trembling, weeping, until the sun crept over the horizon.

Chapter Text

Minfilia looked at the two Warriors of Light and nodded. "If Alphinaud believes your presence may help him to secure more favorable terms, I see no reason to deny him."

The young Elezen walked in at that moment, accompanied by Lord Hien. "I take it they have explained the situation?"

She nodded. "Yet welcome though these overtures are, I cannot help but wonder what prompted them. The Ishgardians have spurned all contact with the other city–states for over a decade. Why reach out now?"

"As they have only specifically asked for the Warriors of Light, I am loathe to claim any responsibility," Hien said with a frown. "But I suspect that the appearance of my people on their southern border has spurred discussions we are not privy to."

Alphinaud nodded. "I have tried to convince Ishgard to rejoin the Alliance at every opportunity. I have explained over and over again that unless Eorzea stands united, we cannot hope to preserve our freedom. One by one, our nations will fall, as once fell Ala Mhigo." He sighed. "And what have mine efforts yielded? Why, naught."

Minfilia have him a sympathetic look. "Surely this can be considered a step in the right direction?"

"I should hope so," he muttered. "I am not so naive as to think that they come to us out of the goodness of their hearts. We have something they desire, though I have yet to find out what. But such is the nature of diplomacy. They will bring their agendas to the negotiating table, and so will I ─ along with a handful of incontrovertible truths."

The Antecedent pressed her lips together grimly. "The Empire will soon be at our doorstep once more."

"Indeed, that is why I have asked Lord Hien to accompany us as well. He can be a living example of what we are trying to prevent." Alphinaud gave him a short bow, which Hien acknowledged with a nod.

The four teleported to Camp Dragonhead and hurried into the main hall, grateful for the warmth and warm greetings. It took Hien several moments to get his focus back; the land cried out to him in a language he still couldn't understand. Jennafer's pale grey eyes were compassionate and he turned away from them before he could no longer be careful. He knew who he had to be, as much as his heart wanted otherwise.

Haurchefant lead them to the intercessory, and there they met Ser Aymeric, the lord commander of the Temple Knights. His blue eyes gleamed when Namhla and Jennafer walked in, and narrowed slightly at Hien's presence. The tall woman beside him did not change her posture, but her eyes followed Hien's path to his chair. As soon as he looked towards her she looked away.

The debate was sharp and short, Alphinaud expounding and Aymeric demurring. Namhla and Jennafer looked a bit out of sorts, not sure why they were here when there was no enemy at hand. Hien listened to what was said, and noted what was not being said. It wasn't until Midgardsormr was mentioned that the reason for the meeting was made clear.

"Full many times have I gazed upon the dragon's corpse, still wound around the Agrius, and wondered how different our world might be if it yet lived to plague the skies." Aymeric mused, and Hien wasn't sure if he meant the dead dragon or the dead airship. Then he shook his head. "The mere presence of Dravanian forces is not sufficient grounds to send knights to Mor Dhona, whatever our astrologians say. As I told you before, we have not the forces to spare."

Alphinaud looked at Hien, who nodded. The shinobi would have no problems watching a corpse wound about wreckage. He had already seen mentions of the ship in some reports of those who were watching Castrum Centri. "I will see that you are kept abreast of any developments," Hien said.

The young Elezen stood. "I regret that we could not come to a similar agreement on other matters, but I understand that you are not at liberty to make such decisions. Nevertheless, I hope that what we have accomplished here today will serve to demonstrate to your countrymen that we can work together towards a common goal. Mayhap one day we shall look back on this moment as the first step towards a united Eorzea."

"And beyond," Jennafer murmured very quietly. Alphinaud flushed slightly. Hien caught her eye and nodded. She smiled softly, and he was very glad for the interruption, despite what it meant to their supply caravan.

"So another caravan has been waylaid by the followers of Iceheart ─ a name which has reached my ears many times of late," Aymeric frowned and looked to the woman beside him. She nodded silently and followed Haurchefant and the Scions to the main hall.

Haurchefant listened to the knight, then turned to the gathered people. "My sincerest apologies for the interruption, my friends, but the situation is such that we must act swiftly. Iceheart's heretics fell upon the caravan bound for Revenant's Toll as it was passing through Boulder Downs."

Jennafer's eyebrows raised. "The same area as before, then? Near the Hall of Seven Echoes?"

The knight nodded. "'Twas an ambush ─ swift and ruthless. In an instant, every knight was slain, every crate seized. Then, as quickly as they had appeared, they were gone. It is said only one squire survived."

The Scions looked at one another. "My lord, do you have a few chocobos we could borrow?" Namhla asked.

A little more than a bell later the group reconvened in Camp Dragonhead's hall. "Who is this 'Shiva' the heretics spoke of?" Alphinaud wondered.

There was a tense silence. "Shiva was a traitor to kith and kin - an apostate who lay down with dragons." The tall woman was bristling, and the other knights nearby had similarly hard looks on their faces.

"Now, now, we cannot expect all foreigners to know Ishgardian scripture so well," Haurchefant soothed, "particularly when it concerns the patron saints of heretics."

Alphinaud had gone pale. "Wait ─ you say she is their patron saint? Oh, no... It all makes sense now..."

"What was their cargo?" Hien urgently asked the confused knight.

"Ah..." Haurchefant thought a moment. "If I recall correctly, the Diamond Forge had requested a rather large quantity of crystals --"

Namhla suddenly cursed. "Do you not see?" the young Elezen cried. "Iceheart and her followers intend to summon Shiva, as a beast tribe would a primal! Why else would they go to such lengths to secure crystals?"

"We're going to need everyone here," Jennafer said. "It's a lot of ground to cover around the Boulder Downs; lots of hiding places and tunnels we don't know about."

Alphinaud nodded. "We'll have everyone meet at Whitebrim Front. With any luck, we'll be able to end this within a few days."

Chapter Text

Lord Drillemont sighed in frustration. "Alas, our scouts lost track of them at Snowcloak ─ that selfsame frozen wall which we speculated might conceal the heretics' hideaway. Suffice it to say, the disappearance of these 'pilgrims' and their provisions all but confirms our suspicions."

"I have heard enough," Ser Aymeric said, glancing at his silent companion. She nodded once. "My knights will join the hunt."

As Alphinaud and Ser Aymeric worked on coordinating with the knights already at Snowcloak, Lord Drillemont beckoned to the two Warriors of Light. "We conducted an exhaustive ─ and covert ─ evaluation of everyone in Whitebrim Front, and have identified one possible heretic. If this man has pledged himself to Iceheart's cause, he will take note of the movements of the Temple Knights and the Crystal Braves. And upon recognizing their intent, he may attempt to warn his fellows."

"Do you want him threatened or followed?" Namhla asked with a slight grin.

An answering grin fluttered across his face, quickly gone. "His watch ends at dawn, and then he is free, once he reports to Ser Jeantremont in the yard. I would have you keep an eye on him. If he ventures beyond the walls, follow him discreetly. If the suspect shows himself to be a heretic, we will deal with him accordingly. For now, we shall merely observe, and mayhap profit from his treachery."

Jennafer nodded. "I'll need a good cold weather coat with a hood and a scarf of some kind. If anyone sees me, I'm just a poor hunter trying to fill the cook-pot."

***

Jennafer got out before dawn, and followed the suspect without being spotted. It was the last time something would go right for several bells. Multiple tunnels converged around the spot the heretic met his contact, and while their speech echoed so did the running water nearby and the air whistling through a small crack in the ceiling. She caught only a few words from each sentence and had to leave in a hurry to avoid being caught.

She emerged from the tunnels to find the sky darker than it had been when she entered and snow falling wet and heavy. She cursed the lack of an aetheryte at Whitebrim Front as she trudged through the piling drifts. It took twice as long to return as it had to follow the heretic, and by the time she passed through the gates she was shivering and soaked through. Lord Drillemont listened to her report and blanched; the knights had not reported back in.

"Give me a moment and I'll help," Jennafer said, trying to pull on dry socks with her hands still shaking from the cold.

Namhla very gently took her face in her hand. "Hien and I can get this," she said, and Hien nodded. "You need to eat and get warmed up. They're letting us borrow a couple of their chocobos, so it won't take us nearly as long as walking."

Jennafer started to protest, but Namhla moved her thumb across the bard's lips and Hien had to turn away as she shivered from something other than the cold. The warrior's face was kind and loving, and Jennafer nodded. "Be careful," she said, accepting her gentle kiss.

They returned grim-faced a couple of bells later, and delivered the news of the knights deaths. Lord Drillemont's face broke for a moment, then hardened again. "Make haste, I beseech you! Fly to Snowcloak and tell Ser Aymeric everything we have discovered." The trio arrived just in time to help repel an attack by the heretics.

Yuyuhase pointed to the tunnel the dead men had been most keen to guard. Papalymo frowned. "The tunnel is barely wide enough for two. We cannot say with any certainty where it leads, much less what is waiting for us there."

"I'll lead, then," Namhla said, pulling her shield off her back. "Jennay next. Who else?"

"If we could borrow one of the Crystal Brave's healers, that would help," Jennafer said to Alphinaud. He nodded and introduced Alianne, who bowed.

"I'll bring up the rear," Hien said. He ignored the voice that told him to be careful. The grin he got from Namhla made him blush.

***

The being guarding the aetheryte howled and collapsed, turning into aether and vanishing.

"Not a primal," Alianne said thoughtfully, "It was some kind of summoned being, like a carbunkle writ large."

"And now for this ice wall," Namhla knocked on the clear ice that separated them from the aetheryte.

As if answering her knock, a tall pale Elezen walked from behind the aetheryte. "The tales do not do you justice, Warriors of Light." She gave a grim smile as the group pulled out their weapons again. "Yes, I know who you are. And you know who I am."

"We know what the Ishgardians call you," Namhla acknowledged. "We know what your followers call out as they attack."

"This endless cycle of hatred, of bloodshed, of sorrow ─ You would see it continue, noble Warriors of Light? I would not. I will not. I will bring an end to this war between dragon and man ─ no matter the cost." She stepped away from the ice wall and raised her hand to the aetheryte. "In time, you will come to understand that what we do, we do for the greater good. For Eorzea. For Hydaelyn." With that, she vanished.

"For Hydaelyn?" Namhla gasped.

Jennafer aimed an arrow at the ice wall and hummed. A moment later she frowned and lowered her bow. "Not enough sunlight to call on Azeyma," she murmured, looking around. She looked at her feet, or the space between them, then nodded. The warrior stepped away from the ice wall as the bard started to sweetly sing one of the hymns from a battered hymnal belonging to the church of Saint Adama that she had been gifted the year before. The fire on the end of her arrow was not bright and dancing, but dark and ominous.

The arrow struck the ice wall and the flame did not go out, but it did not spread, either.

Jennafer took a deep breath and sang a new song, focusing on the fire and not the aetheryte behind the ice wall that suddenly dimmed. She was pouring her aether into her voice and out into the fire, chanting and sweating. Hien could hear the land resisting the flame but didn't know how to help. The geomancers of Doma had either been killed or conscripted to legions in other lands; none of the refugees knew any more than he did. He could only pray.

She was utterly out of aether when the ice wall finally cracked. Namhla caught her and Alianne shared some of her mana with her. Hien walked up to the lifeless aetheryte and tried to connect to it. After a moment he shook his head. They would have to find another way to wherever this one had led.

Chapter Text

"It's us!" Namhla barked, hands raised, as they exited the tunnel into a crowd of knights and Crystal Braves. "It's just us."

Alphinaud looked relieved and worried, waving the crowd back to their posts. "That took longer than I expected. What news?" Namhla, Jennafer, and Hien took turns describing the tunnels, and Alianne gave her thoughts on the final enemy they had faced. "That she managed to escape is regrettable, but from your description of that beast, you did well to come as close as you did. In any case, now that you have cleared a path, the Temple Knights can begin to survey the tunnels in earnest."

Jennafer sighed. "I'm sorry I couldn't break that ice wall in time."

Namhla gave her a look. "That ice wall was at least six ilms thick, 10 fulms tall and gods only know how long." She enveloped the bard in a hug. "You did enough, sweetheart," she whispered.

Alphinaud shook his head. "Needless to say, our fellow Scions have not been idle. Minfilia and Urianger have been busy perusing the archives of House Fortemps, gathering what information they can on Shiva." He paused as he listened to his linkpearl. "The Antecedent should be here any minute."

Namhla kept her arms wrapped around Jennafer as they waited, and Hien felt something that was partly a jealousy that he wasn't proud of, and a need that he was beginning to realize he couldn't ignore. It clashed with the lifelong admonition to be careful. He didn't know how to reconcile it all, and he was very glad to see a familiar chocobo in the distance. "Maril!" came the cry, and Namhla laughed and waved. Minfilia had a soft smile on her face as the bird walked up to Jennafer with a cheerful cheep and nuzzled her coat's hood.

Alphinaud cleared his throat. "Antecedent, you come to us after viewing tomes from the archives of House Fortemps. I trust your time proved fruitful?"

Minfilia sighed and shook her head. "Would that it had. Urianger and I scoured countless texts, but what we found was of questionable veracity. Much knowledge has been lost over the centuries ─ though in this case, one wonders if it is by circumstance or design." She turned to the bard. "I have asked Lord Haurchefant to let us bring you back to Dragonstone, so you can look at the books with your Echo. Perhaps you'll find intention in the words used, or not used, that we have missed."

"Of course, anything I can do to help," she said emphatically, climbing onto Maril's back after Minfilia had descended. She colored at Namhla's sigh.

"Someday you'll believe that what you do is enough," Namhla murmured as the bard rode away. She ignored the conversation around her, watching until the honey gold chocobo could no longer be seen. She absently agreed to help track down some of the fleeing heretics through the Daniffen Pass. She and Hien had little trouble following the panicked footsteps, and rendezvoused with Illberd outside of the Observatorium.

The merchant tried to run, and was stopped by a solemn voice. "There are places like this in my homeland ─ sacred snowcapped peaks where blood must not be shed." Yugiri walked around the boulder and the merchant stumbled backwards. "Yet your lands ever thirst for the blood of the fallen ─ and by your deeds, it has drunk deep." Hien was relieved to see her again, and appreciated Alphinaud praising the shinobi for the help they had rendered.

The three teleported back to Revenant's Toll after the Crystal Braves and Temple Knights took the merchant and captured heretics away for questioning. "There's nothing you can do to help us here, and you might as well be in a place that is not a frozen wasteland," Alphinaud had muttered, shivering. Namhla found herself with some free time on her hands and found her favorite table at the Seventh Heaven.

"My lord, we must talk," Yugiri said, dashing Hien's hopes of a quiet evening. He sighed and nodded, leading her back to his rooms, both taking care to check for any ways someone could be listening in. After a moment Yugiri nodded to herself, sat down at his table, and removed her mask.

Hien noticed how tired she looked. "Are you sure you don't want to wait until morning?" he asked gently, pouring tea.

She gave him a small smile of thanks. "No, I don't think this will take long." They both enjoyed the silence and the tea. "Your advisors are worried."

He grimaced. "Did they write you?"

One corner of her mouth quirked upwards for a heartbeat. "They play politics, as ever. It's all they have left." She carefully set down her cup. "The Scions are playing politics as well. I fear this attempt to lighten the burden of the Warriors of Light has opened them up to dangers they haven't expected."

He nodded in agreement. "Anyone in particular we should watch?" He cast his mind back to the last sheaf of reports from the shinobi.

She looked down at her cup. "All of them." Hien felt his eyebrows raise. "I am trained to see enemies in every shadow, my lord." Her eyes met his. "These Warriors of Light cast long shadows." Something must have shown in his face, because she frowned. "They shine brightly, even beautifully, but you must be careful."

He abruptly stood and walked to the window, turning his face away. "And if my heart wishes otherwise?"

Yugiri wished, not for the first time, that Gosetsu was here. He should be having this conversation, not she, who did not feel the way Hien did, except rarely. "Then I will remind your heart that this is not your home." She wished she did not have to be so blunt with him about this. "Someday we will leave here, to reclaim your throne and lead your people into the future."

She watched his hands clench and relax. "I know, Yugiri." She took comfort in the fact that he was being careful. She just didn't know how much longer he could go on before he broke again.

Chapter Text

Jennafer took the mug of tea from Tataru, thanking her profusely and rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. She'd gotten back from Camp Dragonhead late the previous evening and was planning to return as soon as she could wake up and break her fast.

"Are you sure you need to hurry?" the little receptionist asked, pulling herself up into the next chair.

She smiled at her fondly. "I badgered the priest into bringing me an older copy of some of the texts we were looking at. I don't want them to show up, not find me, and immediately leave."

F'lhaminn set down a bowl of warm cereal. "We're not expecting the new scholar from Sharlayan for a few more days, so you have plenty of time," she said with motherly concern.

"I know, but if I'd..." Jennafer sighed and took a spoon to the bowl in front of her. "I want to do more to help." Any further admonishments were lost when the doors from the Seventh Heaven suddenly opened. The bard couldn't stop the blushing smile when she saw Hien stride in, but it faltered when she saw the tense look on his face. "What's happened?" she asked.

He looked at her, then to Yugiri as she stopped beside him. "There's news from Garlemald," he said heavily.

"The Alliance will be meeting in Gridania as soon as the leaders can get there," Minfilia added, emerging from the Solar. "Cid has offered us the use of the Enterprise, and I've just asked Namhla and Alphinaud to attend for us. Lord Hien, you are welcome to ride along with them."

"Thank you, Minfilia," he said with a short bow. "Yugiri, you have that aetheryte available to you already, please go ahead as soon as you're ready." She nodded, bowed, and left.

"Keep me informed," Jennafer asked, gulping down the last of her tea. "I'll be in Dragoncamp most of the day, chasing a thought down." She leaned over to accept Tataru's kiss on her cheek and grabbed her bag.

"Stay warm, my friend," Minfilia said fondly as the bard smiled and walked out to the aetheryte plaza.

Yugiri was waiting by the softly humming crystal. Jennafer gave her a small, sad smile. "Are you alright?" she asked.

The shinobi took a quiet breath. "The man who sent his son to destroy Doma has been made emperor as his reward." Jennafer flinched. "Lord Hien will need to focus very carefully on what he does, and with whom, from now on."

She did not miss the message. "We will always respect his choices, when they are freely made," she murmured, and that seemed to cause the other woman to pause. Jennafer bowed her head, raised her hand, and left.

Yugiri sighed. When her thoughts calmed, she too raised her hand and vanished.

***

"The spy we have been seeking all this time is none other than Flame Marshal Eline Roaille, Raubahn's second-in-command."

Namhla felt the blood drain from her face. "That's.... no, that's not -- " She took a deep breath. "She encouraged me to go join the Scions, even before she knew I had the Echo." How could they all have been duped for so many years?

Ilberd gave her a sympathetic look. "As you are aware, it is the duty of the Flame Marshal to command the Immortal Flames in the absence of the Flame General. While Raubahn attended the council of Alliance leaders, she should have remained in the Hall of Flames." She slowly nodded. "She cannot leave without our knowledge. All that remains is to shadow her until she betrays her true purpose. Can I rely upon your eyes, Namhla?"

"Yes, yes of course," she said absently, still staring at the ground in shock. Then she stood up to her full height. "Lead the way."

They lost her in the crowded confusion of the Carline Canopy. Thankfully the shinobi did not, and pointed them to the East Shroud. Namhla wished her pretty songbird was here; she knew the forests as well as the former pirate knew the sea currents. The Scion knew this was mostly Sylph territory, which would limit the places Roaille could meet an informant. They hurried to the Hawthorne Hut with Yugiri, and from there to a mostly open area called the Bramble Patch.

"Flame Marshal Eline Roaille! You are under arrest for treason and espionage!"

The Elezen looked with cold disdain at Ilberd, and glanced once at each shinobi who appeared beside her. She would not look at Namhla at all, and that was the most damning act in her eyes.

***

Jennafer returned to the Rising Stones to find Namhla at a table with her head in her hands, Minfilia grim faced beside her. They both looked up and smiled in relief to see her, and Namhla sat up and held out her hands, and what could the bard do but hurry into the welcoming embrace? As she settled into her lover's lap F'lhaminn brought a tray of cheese and fruit over and Tataru's kettle gave a happy whistle. After several moments of quiet enjoyment, Minfilia asked what she had found.

She sighed and frowned. "I'm not completely sure if I've found anything helpful yet," she admitted, setting her cup down. "As I was going through the Enchiridion yesterday, I asked how old the copy we were looking at was, just as a passing comment. The priest said that it wouldn't be any older than the beginning of the current Archbishop's reign, as they were always re-written when the new one was elected."

Minfilia's eyebrows raised. "Re-written?"

Jennafer gave a grin. "Aye. He quickly corrected himself, saying he meant they were re-copied." She tapped her temple. "But that didn't ring as true as the first statement did, so I begged and pleaded with him to bring me the oldest version he was comfortable taking out of the city." She reached into the backpack she had taken with her and pulled out a small notebook. "There were two passages I wanted to see especially; one about the last king, and one about what, exactly, Shiva did with the dragons."

"Looking for inspiration?" Namhla murmured wickedly into her ear, and she blushed.

"Hush, you," she said fondly. "A different priest came this morning, claiming the first one was too busy suddenly, but the book he brought was over 400 years old."

"Are you sure it wasn't another heretic priest, like the Inquisitor we dealt with?" Namhla asked worriedly.

The bard shrugged. "I can't say I didn't think about that, but as an outsider we wouldn't really know one way or another, would we?" She thought a moment. "Nothing about that old copy of the Enchiridion struck me as fake or wrong. While language has changed some, as it always does when new things are being invented and discovered, it wasn't that different from the current version."

Minfilia gave her an encouraging smile. "So we'll go on the assumption that this was a true priest, with a true older copy. What did you find?"

Jennafer tapped her notes. "The passage about Shiva was the most changed. The current version does state she 'lay with dragons as a lover' and that 'they were inseparable forevermore'. The older text used very different words." She cleared her throat. "Shiva hath mingleth her essence with them, an unholy matrimony, and never shall they be parted." She frowned. "Something about that is tickling my mind, but every time I try to catch the thought it runs off."

"And the other?"

Jennafer turned the page in her notebook. "Probably nothing, just a phrase I've only seen once before. It talked about Thordan I taking on the 'mantle of the king' just before his epic fight with Nidhogg, and then later how his son Haldrath refused it, becoming the first Azure Dragoon instead." She looked up. "I found that phrase once in some old writings of my people, and just found it curious it showed up here as well. I guess it was a way to refer to the armor of a king at one point."

Namhla rested her head on Jennafer's shoulder. Minfilia thought they both looked so worn. "Our Sharlayan scholar should be here in a day or two, so we'll have good news soon, I'm sure."

Chapter Text

Lord Hien pulled himself away from the Scions, trying to be the leader his people needed. But he quickly discovered there was little they needed him to do; there were no treaties that needed to be upheld, no harvests to celebrate, no deliberations to ponder. He found little reason to be awake, but the nightmares plaguing him still made sleep all but unendurable. He was irritable and short tempered, and even Yugiri found him difficult to deal with at times. Only when he watched the children playing ancient games that he had never learned did he find any relief.

Minfilia and Namhla approached the northern gate to Revenant’s Toll and he couldn’t help wandering close as a chocobo carriage pulled up a few moments later. A Roegadyn nearly as tall as Namhla stepped out and stretched, then noticed the two waiting women. “Minfilia, am I right?” She had an open face and a friendly smile for them. After Minfilia bowed, she said, “And you must be one of the Warriors of Light!”

Namhla grinned in return. “Moenbryda is an accomplished Sharlayan scholar and an authority on aetheryte technologies,” Minfilia said by way of introduction. “Let us return to the Rising Stones, we have much to discuss.” As they turned to leave, Hien fell in beside the Antecedent. “And this is Lord Hien of Doma, who has joined us recently,” she added smoothly.

"Charmed, I'm sure!" Moenbryda gave a jaunty wave. Hien immediately liked her. In fact, as they moved though the Rising Stones, gathering the Scions, he felt his mood improved by being there. He was torn, struggling with an internal battle he did not know how to win, and missed much of the ensuing conversation about recovering the aetheryte that had been destroyed.

"It will take several bells to get to that aetheryte from here," Jennafer was saying. "It's almost equally distant from Camp Dragonhead as it is from Mor Dhona. Even an airship can't get any closer than Whitebrim Front."

"Not to mention getting through Snowcloak itself," Namhla added. "I'm sure the Temple Knights have been doing their best to keep it safe, but the heretics know those tunnels better then we do, and could easily sneak back in a heartbeat."

"And the cold," Hien murmured, which got a bark of laughter and a startled grin from the two Warriors of Light.

Minfilia had an amused look on her face as she thought. "Let me make arrangements for us to leave by airship in the morning. That will shorten the travel time by a few bells, at least. I'll let Alphinaud coordinate with the Ishgardian leadership about our plans. Gods willing, by this time tomorrow we'll be able to stop the summoning."

***

Biggs piloted the Enterprise to the courtyard of Whitebrim Front, where the Scions were greeted by Alphinaud, Ser Aymeric and, to Namhla's delight, Lord Haurchefant, who had brought a stable's worth of chocobos for the group to use. "It is the least I can do, considering all you are doing for us," he said earnestly.

"I may swoon," Jennafer murmured, and Namhla grinned while Moenbryda laughed.

The trip to the ice wall went smoothly, but there was a heavy feel on the back of the neck that had everyone on alert. Hien tried to understand the land's message, but still could not grasp how to get past the laments for the missing seasons. Ser Aymeric's eyes swept the road before and beside, his face grim, but they arrived without mishap.

The knights informed them of a new tunnel that had opened up recently that cut nearly straight to the aetheryte in question. "The ice is constantly cracking and freezing," he said, "Some of the Crystal Braves' thaumaturgists have tried to force passages, or widen existing ones, but I swear this ice hates us..."

"If it keeps us from having to deal with the winds against the cliff edge, I'm all for it," Jennafer said with a shiver. Hien and Namhla agreed.

Before they descended into the new tunnel, Haurchefant stepped close to Namhla. "Please be careful, my lady," he said fervently.

She liked his intensity. She liked his profile. "Don't worry, my lord," she said with a saucy grin. "I'll come and show you that I'm fine when we're done."

His smile told her she'd read him right. "I look forward to that moment," he said with a bow.

The Scions made their way through the new tunnel without seeing any heretics; a welcome development after getting partway through and realizing they would have to walk single file for long periods of time. There were a few ominous creaks and cracks as they went, the ice settling and shifting, but they made it to the large area where the aetheryte was without being smashed by falling stalactites or crushed by grinding ice.

Moenbryda held out the white auracite, and they all filled it with their aether until it shone like a new star. The scholar then pointed it to the dimmed aetheryte and, murmuring a few words, poured their power into the current. As the auracite dimmed the aetheryte glowed. "Hah! It worked... I think."

Namhla and Jennafer both raised their hands to the crystal at the same time. "There's definitely something there," the bard said after a few heartbeats, and the warrior nodded in agreement. "It's faint, but I've teleported to weaker signals without a problem."

"It's no worse than the one Y'shtola helped with in O'Ghomoro," Namhla pointed out, and Jennafer agreed.

"We cannot ignore the possibility that our actions have alerted Iceheart to our plans," Alphinaud said grimly.

"We will pray for your success," Papalymo said.

Hien wished he could do more than watch them teleport away.

***

The two women materialized and gaped in wonder. They were in an ancient amphitheater, and every single seat held a stolen reserve of crystallized aether. The sky was clear but dark overhead, and it was impossible to tell where in Coerthas they were. The woman known as Iceheart stood in the middle of the open area, glaring. "You should never have come here, Warriors of Light!"

"Wait, please!" Jennafer begged as Namhla pulled her shield from her back.

"We whom gods and men have forsaken shall be the instruments of our own deliverance!" She raised her arms and they could see the aether rushing towards her. "Partake of my flesh — fill this vessel with your light! Walk amongst your brothers and sisters once more!"

The bard froze. Was is truly that simple? She could easily make out the words, the forms, and --

"O Saint Shiva, still the hatred within our hearts and bless us with eternal grace!"

"Get ready, Jennay!" Namhla shouted, darting in front of her. She held her bow and willed her hands to stop shaking. It couldn't be that easy.

***

"And so the vessel withdraws. A predictable outcome." They watched the two Warriors of Light teleport away. "But the seeds have been spread, and the knowledge, once known, cannot be unknown. Lahabrea will be pleased." Nabriales sighed in annoyance. "How unfortunate..."

***

The two women were quiet as they filed through the tunnel back to the surface, fingers entwined. Namhla wondered what Jennafer was mentally chewing on, but knew better by now than to push too hard for answers she wasn't ready to give. They were greeted by Moenbryda and several Temple Knights, who cheered at their report that the heretic's leader had been defeated. "You had best pay a visit to Whitebrim Front and speak with Alphinaud. He's probably worried sick about you."

"And Haurchefant," Jennafer murmured with a slight grin.

Namhla was glad to see the grin and wrapped the smaller woman in an enveloping hug. "Why don't you go back to the Rising Stones and tell everyone what happened. I'll handle the Ishgardians."

Her lover sighed appreciatively. "I'm all right, my lovely Shield," she murmured.

"Hmmm, I'll believe you tomorrow," she responded, giving her a kiss. She waited until Jennafer had cast Return before heading off to her promised rendezvous.

***

Minfilia's face lit up as Jennafer walked into the Solar. "Words cannot well express how glad I am to see you returned to us hale and whole." She came around her desk and embraced the other woman. "By the Twelve, you're still frozen!" She pulled back and saw the shadows in her eyes. "Your full report can wait until tomorrow, dear one."

"I --"

"You need to recuperate," she said firmly. "Come, let me draw you a hot bath and you can tell me what you can."

Jennafer relaxed into her embrace. "I'd like that. Thank you."

Later, the bard relaxed while Minfilia combed her hair. "About Iceheart's final words to you..." She sighed. "Hydaelyn speaks to her as well."

"Aye," Jennafer agreed, looking down at her wrinkled fingers. "Do we know if any of the other tribes have members touched by the Echo?"

"I - I don't know that I've ever asked." Minfilia's hands stilled.

"This was the first time Shiva was summoned," the bard said slowly, trying to piece together her thoughts. "She kept her own mind after the summoning." It had seemed so easily done. "Now that Shiva has had a form, could anyone call on Her?" She was silent a moment, then looked up. "Were all of the primals called like that the first time?"

"Called into someone's body?" Minfilia sighed. "I wish I could give you a definite answer, dear one." She started braiding the bard's hair. "Perhaps a revelation granted by the Echo first set her on this path, but it was the Ascians who taught her of summoning such a being."

"After Thancred's experience, I am in no rush to go ask them for anything." Jennafer said emphatically.

"Nay, neither I am." Minfilia tied off the end of her braid. "It's late. Would you stay?"

She smiled, and leaned close. "I would, please."

Chapter Text

It was quiet for a few days after Shiva's defeat. The replacement caravan rolled in without incident. Namhla returned from Camp Dragonhead with a satisfied smile. Jennafer scribbled in her notebooks and asked Papalymo about finding more ancient tomes concerning the beast tribes. Minfilia scoured the archives for any legends about Midgardsormr. Hien saw G'raha run to and fro as he collected reagents for the voidgate mechanism. The children played, his advisors fretted, the shinobi watched.

Roaille escaped.

Yugiri brought him word via their secret linkpearl channel at the same time Alphinaud was informing the Scions. Hien hurried inside the Rising Stones to help coordinate the search. "The turnkey was found slain along with two guards. 'Tis plain she received inside help. Citizens report seeing Roaille quitting the city via the Gate of Nald, with a bloodied spear in her hand."

"North, to Meridianum?" Namhla asked grimly, and Alphinaud nodded.

"With her fate in Eorzea as good as sealed, what recourse has she but to flee to her imperial masters?"

"My shinobi will surround Castrum Centri," Yugiri said over the linkpearl. "I will then take another group south along the railway, in case she decides to try to avoid us that way." Namhla and Jennafer agreed to meet Ilberd at Camp Bluefog, while Alphinaud and Hien would go ahead to the Ceruleum Processingly Plant, as they only had that aetheryte available to them.

As soon as the Warriors of Light materialized, Ilberd rushed to their side. "I have spoken with the soldiers here. They say that Roaille walked through the camp not a bell ago."

"WHAT?" Namhla blurted loudly, disbelief plain on her face.

Ilberd seemed equally frustrated. "We have Raubahn's decision to keep the matter secret to thank for that. Bad for morale, he said..." He sighed. "As a result, not a single Flame in the garrison made any attempt to detain her. And so here we are."

Their linkpearls beeped. "Come quickly, she just passed through here moments ago!" Hien's voice was quiet but urgent. The three nodded to each other, then raised their hands to the aetheryte. There was the sound of a struggle from the gate to the north, and they ran up in time to see Hien drop his opponent with the butt of his sword hilt. "Do not let this one get away," he said, his eyes watching for other attackers. "He stayed behind to try to stop us, and may know more about what happened in Ul'dah."

"Well done, my lord," Ilberd said, motioning to one of the Crystal Braves to handle the unconscious man. "With me, everyone ─ we almost have her."

Roaille saw Ilberd and sneered. "You will not take me so easily this time!" She was joined by a squadron of Garlean soldiers. "Show them no quarter!"

"They have healers!" Namhla yelled as she ran into the fray.

"I've got them!" Jennafer responded, bringing up her bow. She hummed the first notes to an Ishgardian hymn, then aimed above their heads. She wove the song into the aether and fired. The arrow streaked towards the group of healers then broke into several icy shards, piercing each one and draining their mana.

"Well done!" Hien said, fending off a Garlean who had tried to reach her, and she smiled. They both turned to the automatons that were clanking on the battlefield.

There was a flash and a grumble of thunder. One of the automated vanguard suddenly crumbled, revealing Yugiri and her group of shinobi running to join them. "Forgive us our lateness! There was a train that needed derailing!"

Roaille faltered, then redoubled her efforts to kill Ilberd. Namhla laughed, loud and wild, and the Garleans she had been facing panicked and tried to flee back to the castrum. They did not make it to the gates. The three largest of the automated magitek turned to face the grinning warrior, and Yugiri made a complicated motion with her hands, mirrored by two others. Three dark circles expanded around the three shinobi, and they lightly leapt away. "The circles fetter those who wander within! Lure the enemy to it!"

"Understood!" Namhla charged in between the magitek and they turned to follow her. They obligingly clanked forward and she was able to pivot away from the trap at the last second; the magitek were not. "I've got them lined up for you, sweetheart!"

"Thank you, love!" Jennafer responded, then pulled back her bow, singing. The Ala Mhigan members of the Crystal Braves heard a familiar song to Rhalgr and sang along. The power built, and grew, and still she held on. There was a flash in Namhla's eyes from the Echo of a towering figure behind the diminutive bard: golden haired, masked, holding an impossibly complicated bow. Jennafer's eyes flashed silver, and she called out in a voice that could be heard for a malm, "Mighty Rhalgr, Destroyer, Star Breaker, strike down our enemies before us!"

Rhalgr Himself could have done no better. Two of the vanguards were utterly annihilated, while the third was left a charred ruin.

Roaille surrendered.

"Bind her!" Ilberd barked, breathing heavily and not taking his eyes from her. "And do it tight!"

Alphinaud finished healing one of the Braves and walked up. "Good work, men." He looked down his nose at the defeated. "Behold... a respected officer of the Immortal Flames. People looked up to you as one of the order's founding members ─ one of its pillars. It saddens me to see you fallen so low."

"What would you know of low?" she spat. "You ─ a spoiled little lordling who has never known any want!" Alphinaud flinched, and Roaille continued mercilessly. "People such as you take wealth and birth for granted! You think it your gods-given right to rule over others!" Namhla, Jennafer, Hien and Yugiri closed in, but she went on. "You know naught of our plight ─ the injustice that we lowborn Ishgardians must endure! To the noble lords and ladies, we are not people, but resources to be consumed! I did what I had to do to survive ─ stealing, killing, even whoring myself!"

"Is that what you call joining the Empire?" Namhla said darkly. Roaille gasped and looked at her, then lowered her gaze to the ground.

"To hear you tell it, one would think you the only person ever to have suffered," Ilberd said tiredly. "Look at us - who among us has not suffered? Life is a battle, aye, but no matter what fate throws at us, we take it on the chin and come back for more." He motioned to the Braves standing nearby. "...But enough talk. You will return to Ul'dah to face justice ─ and the people whose trust you have dragged through the gutter."

***

Namhla was uncharacteristically quiet as they returned to Mor Dhona. Hien watched her shake her head in response to a quiet question from the bard, who then took her hand and kissed it. The soft look on their faces made him turn away, and he nearly ran into G'raha Tia.

"Oh, sorry, I'm sorry," the scholar said.

"No, no, it's my fault, I apologize," Hien said at the same time. They both smiled shyly and Yugiri sighed.

"G'raha, how are you?" Jennafer asked as she walked up.

He gave her a quick hug, overflowing with enthusiasm. "We've had a breakthrough! Y'mhitra and Cid were able to come up with a substitute for one of the parts we needed, and so far it works!"

"Oh, that's wonderful!" She smiled at him. "What's next, then?"

"They need to test it more, to make sure it can handle the full energies we'll be dealing with." G'raha paused. "I hope our friends are all right, it's been... too long." He took a breath. "No, no, they're fine, this will work."

She embraced him. "It will." She looked at him. "Do you need to get that back to Rammbros?"

He suddenly remembered the pouch in his hand. "Ah, yes, sorry," he said sheepishly, then leaned in and quickly kissed her. "Pray for us," he whispered.

"I do," she promised. "Now get going before they send someone after you."

He smiled and waved, heading to the chocobo stables. She watched him go. Hien watched her. Yugiri watched them all and sighed again.

Chapter Text

There were no persimmons in Eorzea.

Higiri set a tray of fruit on his table, and it took all he had not to burst into tears. It was such a silly thing to be upset about.

But it was the time of year when the persimmons should be out on their cooling racks.

There were no persimmons in Eorzea.

"Thank you, Higiri. That will be all for now."

She paused, almost imperceptibly, then bowed. "As you wish, my lord." She would stand outside his door, both listening and not listening, until he called for her again.

He glanced at the tray. The apples were perfect. There were no persimmons. He ignored the fruit.

He picked up the top report and glanced over it. "Minato has accepted Fyrebryda's invitation --" He smiled and set it down. It was good that she had found healing here.

The next report was in Yugiri's perfect handwriting. She had followed up on the odd occurrence of the murdered arms dealer. No-one had seen the Duskwight bandits Ilberd had blamed. The site was too trampled to determine whether or not anyone had come in from the other side at all. Riol was fuming at the slight to his work skills. Wilred was digging in to the story as well.

Hien thought a moment, going back through his mind to the young man mentioned. Ah, yes, a young Ala Mhigan, eager to prove himself, pining after the pretty bard who had gently turned down his advances. He had nearly fallen prey to an Ascian plot. He wanted to free his people from their Garlean overlords.

Would he have been as tempted, if someone had offered him a way to wipe out the Garleans?

He stood and looked out the window, towards the Rising Stones, the Agrius wreckage, and the Crystal Tower. What was worse - doing that, or doing nothing, as he was now?

***

A few days later he sat at his table, ignoring the fruit again. Yugiri was there, and she would not leave. He tried to read a report and ignore her. But instead of the words on the page, he saw sad red eyes. He heard wrenching sobs muffled by a strong embrace. The paper was shaking; why couldn't he focus on it?

He was going to ask her about the report. Instead, what came out of his mouth was, "Why do they always leave us behind?"

They both sat there, shocked. He closed his eyes. She moved beside him and held him. He leaned into her, the one who was still with him, the one who had not left him, and cried.

Chapter Text

Minfilia called in not only the Warriors of Light, but Lord Hien and Lady Yugiri. "As this pertains to matters the shinobi have been working on," she said over the linkpearl by way of explanation. They arrived at the Rising Stones to find the doors of the Solar open so that all could participate.

Namhla and Moenbryda were lingering at the entrance, near Urianger and Jennafer, watching Minfilia and Lucia. "So this is an Ishgardian knight, eh?" Moenbryda murmured appreciatively. "She looks the part, I'll give her that ─ but I reckon I could hold my own."

"In a fight, or..." Namhla drawled with a wicked grin. Urianger startled, then sighed and pulled his hood closer to his face to hide his blush, but not fast enough to hide his smile. Jennafer made a strangled noise and tried not to giggle. Moenbryda simply waggled her eyebrows and winked.

"The lord commander sent me hither to request your aid in a matter of grave import," Lucia announced, and Namhla couldn't tell if she was ignoring what had been said or truly didn't hear it. "The Observatorium's astrologians have sounded the alarum: last night, the dragon star burned with an intensity not seen in fifteen summers. Not since the Dravanians engaged the Empire in the Battle of Silvertear Skies."

"The northern sky doth burn full bright upon the wyrm lord's call. The red behemoth beckoneth, and flame consumeth all." Urianger's recitation gave no comfort to the assembled.

Lucia nodded. "The brightening of the dragon star is said to accompany the roar of a great wyrm. The astrologians believe that it was Midgardsormr himself who cried out on this occasion."

Minfilia frowned. "Whatever this alteration in the dragon star portends, the great wyrm has shown no sign of life." She looked at Yugiri. "The Domans have not reported aught out of the ordinary, and I trust their shinobi completely."

"Correct me if I'm wrong," Moenbryda injected, lips pursed in thought, "but if Midgardsormr had roared, wouldn't we have heard it here in Revenant's Toll?"

Lucia looked down for a heartbeat. "'Roar' is but a figure of speech," she admitted. "It is for this very reason that we are forced to look for signs in the heavens. We cannot say with any confidence that a great wyrm roared at all, much less that it was Midgardsormr."

"Then why -- " Namhla started, but stopped at a short frown from Minfilia.

"We have precious little time to prepare," the knight said. "When a great wyrm roars, his brethren cannot choose but answer. We prepare for battle, and cannot take the time to wait for the Holy See's approval to dispatch the Temple Knights."

"So you are asking us to go to the wreckage," Jennafer said slowly, "And somehow make our way through it, to check every ilm for any signs of life?"

"Ser Aymeric would entrust this task to you, yes."

The two Warriors of Light looked at each other. Namhla shrugged. Hien felt compelled to speak up. "As it has been my people's responsibility to watch over the Keeper of the Lake, and that watch is being called into question," he ignored Lucia's startled response, "Yugiri and I will do this."

"We do not question your people's work --" Lucia started with the first real emotion they had seen on her face.

"If any of the Scions wish to join us," he continued, "We would be glad of their presence."

"Well damn," Namhla murmured as the two Domans walked out.

"Let me go get my bow, then," Jennafer said. He was under too much pressure, she thought.

Minfilia sighed. "Be careful, my friends. We know not what dangers await you within.

***

"Lord Hien!" The Doman watchman bowed for several heartbeats. "Lady Yugiri, I am honored by your presence. How can I serve?"

"The Ishgardians have asked us to confirm that the dragon is dead," Hien said, peering into the gloom of Silvertear Lake. "What do you think is the best way to do that?"

The shinobi turned a shocked expression on Yugiri, who nodded once. Behind her, Namhla was holding out her hand to help Jennafer make her way down to the shore. "Easier said than done, my lord, given the creatures which inhabit the wreckage, as well as the Garleans who won't take kindly to your presence." He pointed towards the west. "Of late, I've seen small airships ─ likely from Castrum Centri ─ come and go from the Keeper of the Lake. Though I cannot say for certain at this distance, I believe they may be salvaging something from within the wreckage."

"They've been cut off for months, so most of their stuff is probably falling apart," Namhla said. "Can't imagine they'll find anything better in a 15 year old wreck, though."

He shrugged. "If you have to go over there, please feel free to use this boat and whatever supplies are in it. We've kept it here to help some of the Sharlayan scholars get to the crystalized islands they're studying."

"Thank you, friend," Hien said with a small smile. "If you see anyone approaching by air, please let us know."

They fit neatly into the boat; Namhla took off her chainmail overshirt and picked up the oars. Halfway across the remnant lake the odd gloom and the fog reduced their visibility considerably. "The Keeper doesn't want visitors," she muttered as they drifted to a halt.

Jennafer hummed, tilting her head as if listening to the echoes. She trailed her fingers into the water, then nodded. "I think there's enough here to work with," she murmured, mostly to herself. She brought her hands together and started quietly clapping a steady rhythm, one that Namhla matched with her pulls of the oars. It was a simple sea shanty, call and response, and a light breeze ruffled their hair and thinned the fog enough to see where they were going once again. Namhla adjusted their course slightly as Jennafer quietly sang them to the new shore.

The fog rolled in behind them as soon as they disembarked. "Someone definitely doesn't want visitors," Jennafer said, peering upwards where the shadows of skeletal wings hung silent.

"Kami forgive us our trespass," Hien said fervently, hefting a length of rope and wrapping it around his torso. "Bring rope, and let's do this quickly."

The kami did not believe in doing things quickly, it seemed. There were a few aether-twisted overgrown crabs on the new beach that clacked their claws and hissed menacingly. They fled when challenged, scuttling over the crystalized water crystals after taking a couple of hits. The ground the group was walking on creaked underfoot, and they spent far too much time searching for a way to a patch of the great wyrm's corpse only yalms away.

The inside of the ship was cavernous, and littered with wreckage that matched the downed magitek that could still be found all over Mor Dhona. Yugiri stifled a sigh of irritation; there was simply no good way to get where they needed to go. Namhla was pointing to a pile of wreckage that precariously led to a higher level. "That would probably hold for Yugiri and Jennay, and might hold for you, Hien, but definitely won't for me, even if I left most of my armor behind."

He looked at the path, not quite glaring, then shook his head. "No, this is not feasible," he finally said. "We'll take the boat around the outside until we find a place where we can climb up."

They lost more time slowly drifting around the bottom of the wreckage, as the area where Midgardsormr's body entered the water was not easily approachable. It took a combination of Yugiri's mudras of self teleportation and a few well placed arrows with rope attached to finally secure both the boat and a path towards the dragon's head. The first lap around the wreckage was made in silence. When they stopped for a short break partway through the second loop, Hien asked, "Did either of you see this ship in battle?"

Both Warriors of Light shook their heads. "I hadn't left home yet," Namhla said shortly.

Jennafer leaned into her and spoke up. "It was my tenth summer. This ship passed far to the west of us, much closer to Ishgard than Gridania." She ran her fingers over part of the exterior. "A group of Wood Wailers came and stayed in the town I grew up in, watching the border with Ala Mhigo in case the Garleans had a second prong of attack planned. The main thing I remember about that time was that I was confined to the house for most of it." She grinned slightly. "The only good part about that was when I discovered a bunch of old books in the cellar, forgotten for a few generations."

Hien thought as they started back up again. "That would have been about a year before I met Yugiri," he said. She tilted her head slightly, then nodded. The year his mother died. He kept his eyes on the dead dragon he was walking on and spent the next loop in silence.

***

Midgarsormr's head loomed above them. There were a pair of desiccated dragon corpses at the edges of the platform they had found. Hien wondered if they were standing on what had been the ceiling of the bridge of the ship. The whole area had the feel of a tomb, and none of them wanted to stay long.

Yugiri's linkpearl beeped. "My lady, another ship from Castrum Centri is on the horizon. It will arrive in approximately half a bell."

Before she could answer, a fell light bloomed. "Who treadeth now upon my bones and waketh me from slumber sweet?" A bright aether sphere, much like the ones the Scions had seen when dealing with Primals, detached itself from the dragon's skull and floated nearby. "Thou hast forgotten the face of thy lord, mortals." The sphere expanded in a flash to a recreation of the dragon king's face. He peered at the group, a deep rumble shaking the wreckage around them. "Thou art gifted; it is Hydaelyn's will that we converse. Speak, mortal, and I shall listen."

Jennafer took a deep breath, then bowed. "We have come to seek the meaning of the brightening dragon star."

The dragon chuckled. "The star burneth in response to the battle-cry of my kin. My people have heard the song. Ishgard shall burn."

"No!" Jennafer cried, as Namhla asked, "Why?"

"Sons must answer for their fathers' misdeeds!" he roared. "We do not forget. We do not forgive." Yugiri was all but pulling Hien away as the wreckage shook again. "Seven children did I sire. Bahamut and Tiamat, eternally bound. Nidhogg and Hraesvelgr, eternally at odds. Ratatoskr, who laughs. Azdaja, who protects. Vrtra, who hides." The ghostly head raised higher with each name. "Thou art powerless to silence us, mortals. Yet thou shalt not live to labor in vain. Thy reprieve is at an end."

Namhla got her shield out. Jennafer stood behind her, facing Hien and Yugiri and waving them away. The air shivered, and the dragon snarled. "Could it be... Hearken to me, Hydaelyn! I remember... and I consent!"

A red beam lanced out. Namhla felt it strike her, felt Jennafer caught behind her, heard Hien screaming their names --

She was in that in between place. It was dark. She couldn't feel Jennafer's presence. The crystals dimmed. The sigil shattered. She fell --

"What did you do to them?" Hien was demanding. Her ears were roaring. Or maybe it was the approaching engines. She tried to reach behind her to find Jennafer.

"The Dragonclaw has pierced you. By my power, the blessing of light hath been locked away. Thou didst profit much by Her grace, but no more."

"What..." Namhla was trying to stand. "Why?" She could hear someone weeping behind her. She took the bard's hand and held it.

The ghostly dragon was fading, collapsing into a small replica of Himself. "The covenant binds me to thee. Make thy destiny, special ones. Break free from my claw with thy own strength." The avatar circled them once. "I shall watch... listen... and wait."

"We have to leave, the Garleans will be here any moment," Yugiri urged.

"The boat," Jennafer said in a daze.

"We'll come back and get it later!" Yugiri pointed to the gunship that would have a clear shot at them as soon as it approached. "My lord!"

"Come, Namhla, Jennafer, can you teleport?" They seemed to be deep in shock. He should be careful. He would not leave them.

Namhla straightened, still gripping Jennafer's hand. "Come on, pretty bird," she murmured, and the other woman nodded once, wiping her face.

Midgardsormr watched them leave. "Thou art cruel, Hydaelyn." He vanished into the aether.

Chapter Text

The four of them reappeared in Revenant's Toll's aetheryte square. Hien was somehow not surprised to see Minfilia waiting there. "I felt something a few moments ago, what happened?" she asked as she took in the expressions on their faces.

"Is there a way to get inside without being seen?" Hien asked.

"Ah, yes, but --"

He stood up straight. "Please take them in that way. I will speak with Ser Lucia, as I owe her an apology for my earlier behavior."

Minfilia had taken Jennafer's free hand. "Very well, Hien. Thank you." He watched her gently lead the two women around the side of the building, away from the crowded bar. He took a deep breath and tried to remember how to be the Lord of Doma.

***

Namhla accepted the drink Minfilia had poured and poured it down her throat in one toss. Jennafer was sitting on the couch next to her, hands wrapped around her glass. Minfilia pulled up a chair in front of them and sat. "Take your time, but please, I need to know what happened." The bard sighed, took a sip of the strong liquor, and nodded. It took the two women nearly half a bell to speak of the trip, from the moment the boat was fog shrouded in the middle of Silvertear Lake until they teleported back to Revenant's Toll. By the end of it Namhla was angrily pacing while Jennafer had shrunk as far into the couch's cushions as she could.

"But... why?" Minfilia breathed when they were done. "How could She let this happen?"

Namhla angrily shrugged. Jennafer wiped her eyes with shaking hands. "I'm -- we're not going to be able to help with Primals anymore," she said softly. Minfilia gasped. "You'll have to find others, we can't... we would be..."

The air shimmered and Midgardsormr's small form appeared. "Dost thou know so little of thy Mistress's blessings?" He sounded genuinely surprised.

"I'm afraid we don't, my lord," Minfilia said, standing up and facing him. "We forget. We lose so much with every Calamity." She took a breath. "Those who have been studying Her gifts in this age were killed by the Ascians, their base utterly destroyed."

He flapped his wings, then settled on the back of the chair she had abandoned. "Thou hast not lost the gift of understanding. Nor hast thou lost the protection against base corruption." Jennafer looked up for the first time in several minutes. The dragonet shifted from foot to foot. "My Dragonclaw hath shattered the Crystal's power over you."

"Damnit, why?" Namhla snarled, fists clenched. Midgarsormr did not answer as he faded away. She took several ragged breaths. When she couldn't calm down, she stormed out the side door.

Minfilia sat next to the bard, who leaned into her. "Well, at least I won't be useless to you," Jennafer murmured.

"You --" Minfilia took her hand. "Will never be useless." She kissed her gently, and they sat there for several minutes. "I will not tell too many people about this," she said quietly. "I don't want to worry them overmuch."

"Moenbryda should know, if it changes her research into the Blade of Light," Jennafer said. Then she sighed.

Minfilia kissed her cheek. "Go get some rest, dear one. I'll check on Namhla in a moment." The bard nodded and brought her hand up to her lips.

Once Minfilia was alone she sagged. Gods have mercy on them, she thought.

Chapter Text

Namhla stood by the bar inside the Rising Stones in her armor, waiting for Jennafer to arrive so they could join the Crystal Braves and the other Scions at the Ceruleum Processing Plant.

"Namhla! Your duties take you to northern Thanalan, do they not?"

She grinned as Hoary Boulder, Coultenet, and F'lhaminn walked by. "They will, as soon as Jennay gets back with the new bow the Ironworks wants her to try out."

The Elezen mage nodded. "We, too, must say our farewells to the Rising Stones for a time. F'lhaminn travels to Ul'dah, and we shall serve as her escort."

"At my daughter's behest, I go to contact certain old acquaintances in the gilded city," the songstress said, pulling a cape over her shoulders. "Many of them hold positions of power, you see, and it is my hope that they can be convinced to aid the Scions' cause."

"Good luck," Namhla said, smiling as Jennafer walked in. Hoary and F'lhaminn went to greet her, but Coultenet lingered.

"I fear that Ul'dah has become a place of danger even for one so familiar with her streets," he murmured.

She frowned. "If she says run, tell Hoary to pick her up and run. No ridiculous heroics, alright?" He nodded and bowed.

***

"According to the reconnaissance report that just came in, the squads seen leaving the castrum are too few in number to effectively take and hold our position." Lieutenant Edelstein frowned. "The prevailing wisdom is that they want to mount a swift assault, and focus on the acquisition of resources."

Jennafer tilted her head. "I hear a 'but...' in your tone," she said.

He looked a little sheepish, glancing at the gathered Scions before looking ahead again. "We've had a few defections lately, low level conscripts who were forced to serve. Some of the Doman shinobi have been helping their kin escape, and we're told this raid may be part of that effort." The bard's head was still tilted, and now her eyebrows were raised. "Not everyone believes that, however," he finally said.

"Ah," she replied. She turned to the Scions. "Give them every chance to surrender, please," she said in a sing-song voice.

Namhla couldn't help laughing at Edelstein's grimace. She hugged her sweet, spoony bard before they headed to the northern gate to get their marching orders.

The first group of Garleans did not surrender.

The second group was led by a Garlean who spluttered in shock when they appeared. The soldier piloting a magitek reaper took one look at Namhla and powered down. "I surrender!"

The other soldiers raised their hands, one turning off the vanguard that had clanked beside them. Their leader was screaming threats. The reaper pilot shrugged. "We haven't eaten since yesterday, and haven't been paid in three months. Fight her yourself."

Namhla grinned ferally. Jennafer gave him a sad smile. After a few heartbeats, he snarled and surrendered.

It took a bell for the Immortal Flames and Crystal Braves to get the captured troops separated into those who were actually defecting and those who would have to be handled as enemy combatants. The Scions helped pass out food and water, and the way they tore into the simple dried rations spoke volumes. There was a tearful reunion as one of the shinobi recognized her younger sister; both had been told the other had died. As the Flames took charge of the enemy combatants and marched them towards an airship, Namhla and Jennafer went to check on the other Scions.

"The Scions have already turned their attention to other duties." Edelstein paused, then continued. "Ah, all but one, that is. The Roegadyn lady with the large axe? She was last seen inspecting an outcrop of corrupted crystals at Dalamud's Talons to the east."

The two women found Moenbryda fiddling with her aetheric siphon. "Hold on. I won't be a second."

"Take your time," Namhla said, leaning against a rock while Jennafer scouted the area.

The scholar gave a distracted grin. The bard wandered back and leaned against her lover. After a few moments, Moenbryda stood and held out the siphon. When one of the crystals glowed, she smiled triumphantly. "The siphon works, I'm happy to say. With a few refinements, it should satisfy our appetite for aether." Her smile faded. "Which just leaves the small matter of forging our blade. I'm not sure how to go about it just yet, but I swear to find a way. I'll put a blade in your hands if it's the last thing I do."

Namhla was going to tell her not to worry about it. Instead, both she and Jennafer turned around with their hands on their weapons.

"They sense me. A useful talent."

A portal opened, and a hooded figure appeared. Moenbryda pulled out her axe. "An Ascian!? Are they onto us!?"

They turned to her. "By your brand, I see you are an Archon of Sharlayan. Keeper of knowledge. Seeker of truth. Meddler."

"I don't know what the hells you're saying, but I don't much like your tone."

The Ascian laughed cruelly. "Your instincts serve you well. But come, be not unsettled on my account. That lovely brow was not made for frowns." The mirth faded. "Ah, but I waste my breath. Let me direct my words to those who understand them." They bowed. "We meet at last, Warriors of Light. I am Nabriales, and you have long been a thorn in my side. I suffered the overweening presence of Lahabrea that men might host the power of gods, only for you to undo my hard work."

Moenbryda snarled and charged, and was repelled by a blast of dark magic.

"Do settle down." Namhla had her sword and shield out as Jennafer ran to check on the scholar, who nodded painfully. "You must concede that I acted in self-defense."

"What do you want," Namhla said with a growl, moving to stand in front of the other two women.

Nabriales gave her a shocked look. "But what's this? I do not sense the blessing of Light..." Jennafer gasped. Nabriales had a terrible grin on his face. "Oh dear! Could it be that frail Hydaelyn has forgotten Her champions!? This I did not foresee! Shorn of Light as you are, you are no longer a threat." Namhla's eyes narrowed. "And better yet, the seal is broken! Now is the time to claim the staff!" With another terrible cackle, he vanished.

Moenbryda groaned and pushed herself to her feet. "What did that bastard want with us?"

"He knew our Blessing has been lost," Jennafer said softly, and Moenbryda frowned. "And something about a broken seal and a staff."

"Must be quite a staff, if he was grinning like a brat on his nameday --" The scholar suddenly gasped and paled. "Oh, gods... He means Tupsimati, Master Louisoix's staff! Minfilia's in danger!"

Namhla tapped her linkpearl. There was nothing but static. "We have to get back to the Rising Stones!"

Revenant's Toll was smothered in gloom. The Seventh Heaven was oddly quiet. The Rising Stones was silent. Jennafer stopped by Tataru's desk and found her panic button, installed after the Garlean attack on the Waking Sands. She pressed it, then followed the two other women into the Solar.

***

Hien was the first to arrive, hurrying through the bar. "Oh, hey, I heard quite a loud bang from inside the Stones not moments ago. Is everything all right?" Alys asked, wiping down her serving area. He simply shook his head and hurried through. The Rising Stones was empty, the door to the Solar was closed. He could see no reason for the alarm.

Minfilia screamed.

He ran to the doors of the Solar and pushed. They did not move. He tried again to open them, but they refused to budge. He heard the doors to the Seventh Heaven open and glanced over his shoulder. "Yugiri, help me here," he said.

The voices coming from the Solar were oddly muffled. The two Domans pushed and pulled on the doors to no avail. Yugiri tried a mudra of fire, which scorched the doors slightly. Hien felt they were running out of time. "Get back," he said, drawing his sword and concentrating. His father and Gosetsu had managed to teach him this technique in secret. He prayed to the kami of the land and felt something in response. The doors slammed opened behind him and he took a deep breath and released a flurry of sword strikes in a precise pattern.

There was a pile of splinters and twisted metal in front of him. Beyond that the Solar was empty save for a pulsing dark hole in reality and a motionless body. "Moenbryda!" he called out, stepping forward to help her.

The barrier snapped to life.

Screams, smoke, where was everyone? Hien gasped as terrible memories flooded his mind. His mother was dying and he could do nothing. His father was murdered and his body defiled and he could do nothing. He could do nothing. He could --

"Hien!" Thancred ran up, put a hand on his shoulder, and winced. Thankfully the psychic attack was much weaker, as the Doman was taking the brunt of it. He grabbed a handful of his togi and yanked, and the normally graceful samurai stumbled backwards into the wall and slid into an awkward crouch on the floor. His eyes were wide open, staring at nothing. Thancred said his name a few times, then shook his head and looked at the shinobi. "Call to him, Yugiri," he said gently. "He needs to hear you."

Yugiri nodded. "My lord," she whispered, kneeling beside him. "My friend." She laid her hand on top of one of his and removed her mask. "I am here, Hien."

He blinked once. His eyes, running over with tears, looked at her. "Yugiri...?" She nodded solemnly. "Don't touch the barrier," he whispered.

Thancred held his arm out as Y'shtola and Urianger ran forward. "Be careful," he warned. The devastation on the Elezen's face hurt his heart. "Can you bring this down?"

Inside the Solar the portal flared, and three people appeared. Namhla was all but carrying Minfilia. Jennafer saw the group at the door and stepped forward. "Don't!" Thancred and Hien called out, and she paused, then turned to Moenbryda. She was no healer.

The portal flared again. "You may have bested me this day, but what of the next?" The women flinched as Nabriales appeared over the corpse of himself. "Remember: Light no longer holds sway here. I may return whensoever I wish." The Scions gasped. Nabriales grinned. "Eventually, you will falter and the staff will be mine. Until next time, Scions..."

Hien staggered to his feet as Moenbryda slid the white auracite out of her pack. They could do nothing but watch as the Ascian was captured, and they all prayed as Namhla tried to conjure a blade of Light. "Why won't it work?" Minfilia cried out. "Is it because we lack the blessing of Light?"

"Damn it..." Moenbryda got to her feet with Jennafer's help, holding her wound and panting. She could barely be heard, but also somehow could be clearly heard. "If only we had... a bit more aether..."

He watched the bard's back bend, then straighten. "No..." he whispered frantically. Not again. Not another sacrifice he had to watch and could not prevent. Yugiri was preventing him from trying to force his way through the barrier.

Moenbryda looked over her shoulder and smiled. With a final surge of strength, she pushed Jennafer backwards to propel herself forward. The smaller woman, caught completely off guard, stumbled badly and her head bounced off the floor.

"Moenbryda! What are you doing!?" Minfilia sounded horrified.

"In death... there is life..." She took a step forward, hand outstretched. "Master Louisoix... I understand now..." She touched the beam. "Farewell, Urianger..."

The blade of Light struck down their enemy. The barrier fell as he died screaming.

No-one moved for a moment, then Namhla fell to her knees, and Jennafer curled into herself, and Minfilia swayed as if she would collapse. The Scions rushed forward. Hien found himself near the bard, who was still on the floor, crying and saying, "I'm useless... I'm useless..."

He could do nothing. He could do nothing.

He wanted to hold her. He needed to help. He had to be careful. He couldn't resolve the contradiction. When Papalymo snapped at him to make room so he could heal her, he turned and stumbled out into the main area. Yugiri was at his side.

Midgardsormr appeared on a table close to him. "Why did you do this to them?" Hien demanded.

The dragon looked at him with complete disdain. "If thou wanteth me to understand thy mewlings, thou must first come out from behind the walls thou hast erected around thy heart." He vanished before Yugiri's kunai slammed into the table where he had been.

Chapter Text

Two days after the death of Moenbryda, on a day with no gloom predicted, Papalymo came to Little Doma to invite Hien and Yugiri to a memorial service at a stone marked with the sign of Thaliak, the Eorzean god of scholarly knowledge. It was his way of apologizing for his harsh words that day, and Hien accepted with good grace. He had deserved those words, and Midgarsormr's disdain as well. He just didn't know, or refused to consider, how to remove the barriers around himself. He had to be the Lord of Doma, like his father had been.

It was a somber parade to the stone. Yda clutched the flower she'd bought and didn't speak a word. Jennafer was sitting side-saddle on her chocobo, wearing a simple green gown, her normally braided hair loose in the wind. Namhla and Vashoth ranged ahead, looking for something to fight. Urianger was absent.

Minfilia and Thancred were already at the stone, with a small brazier and a decorated jug filled with clear water from Silvertear Lake. Yda put her moon daisy in front of the jug, then stepped back. Papalymo invoked the Scholar, and told a story from their time as Master Louisoix's apprentices. They all prayed that she would make her way to the Mothercrystal. When no-one else came forward, Jennafer pulled her harp from Maril's bags and started to play. She looked once to Namhla, who shook her head, then lifted her head and started to sing.

"Cold as the northern winds / In the year-end mornings / Cold is the cry that rings / From this far distant shore.

"Winter has come today / Too close beside me / How can I chase away / All these fears deep inside?"

Yda sniffled and accepted the handkerchief Papalymo passed to her. Thancred had an arm around Minfilia.

"My light shall be the moons / And my path - the ocean / My guide - the morning star / As I sail home to you."

The Scions slowly walked away from the stone, but the two Warriors of Light stayed. Hien lingered at the base of the hill, listening. "It's an old Sea Wolf song," Papalymo said quietly. "Namhla must have taught it to her."

"I'll wait the signs to come / I'll find a way / I will wait the time to come / I'll find a way home."

Both Hien and Yugiri sighed. "May that time come soon for us," the shinobi murmured fervently. Hien was torn, as always, between agreeing and wanting more time here, with the Scions.

The harp suddenly changed keys, and a new voice wafted over the air. "Who, then, can warm my soul?" Namhla had a low voice, soft and unsure. "Who can quell my passion? Out of these dreams - a boat / I will sail home to you."

For a moment, all that could be heard was a slight breeze. Hien slowly turned to leave. Then from the hills just south of the Toll came a terrible roar. Midgarsormr appeared near the Warriors of Light and crowed, "The song riseth to a crescendo!"

The air was filled with the clatter of leathery wings, the shrieks of several dozen drakes. And every one of them was heading north, towards Ishgard. Namhla urged Vashoth to his feet, tapping her linkpearl. "Alphinaud! Listen, you need to warn the Ishgardians, a huge fucking swarm of dragons is coming up from Mor Dhona!" The two women looked at each other, and both nodded. "We'll get ready. Just let us know when and where." The tall warrior raced off towards the Toll. Jennafer bowed to the Scholar's mark, then escorted the walking Scions back to their home.

Chapter Text

It was late in the evening of that same day when Alphinaud and Lucia arrived to the Rising Stones. Minfilia gathered them in the Solar, seating them in front of a fire. The young Elezen was impeccably groomed, as always. The Ishgardian Knight looked like she had come straight from fighting dragons, which she had. "I thank you for receiving me at such short notice. Time is of the essence, so I would forgo the usual pleasantries, if I may."

Minfilia nodded. Tataru quietly left a plate of cheese and a pot of tea. Lucia gave her a tired smile, but ignored the offerings for the moment. "The dragons have begun their attack in earnest. The first waves reached the central highlands in the mid-afternoon, and battle was joined soon thereafter. Ser Aymeric himself sallied forth with a contingent of Temple Knights and several companies of the noble houses' finest. Our victory ─ if such it may be called ─ came at the cost of many of our own. Too many."

She took a sip of her tea. Jennafer squeezed Namhla's hand. Namhla wondered if Haurchefant was still alive. Alphinaud sat up straight, frowning. "You paint a grim picture, my lady. It is reinforcements you seek, then?"

Lucia sighed, setting down her cup. "We do. Though it pricks our pride, it is plain we cannot protect Ishgard with our ranks thus thinned by the unexpected two-pronged attack of the Horde." She glanced at the Warriors of Light. "Ser Aymeric would meet with you to discuss the possibility of enlisting your aid."

Namhla was nodding before she finished her sentence. Alphinaud hesitated. "I will depart for Coerthas first thing in the morning. I must warn you, however, that the involvement of the Crystal Braves is by no means assured ─ our commitment to quelling the unrest in Ul'dah must take precedence."

Lucia nodded once, then looked to Minfilia. "It is with such contingencies in mind that I must make another request. The Scions of the Seventh Dawn are known for sharing close ties with all three of the Grand Companies of Eorzea. Would you consent to plead our case to their leaders?"

The Antecedent frowned, but agreed. "I will gladly appeal to the Grand Companies on your behalf, but I dare not promise a favorable reply... In the event that your plea does receive a positive answer, know that any support is certain to be conditional. Demands will be made of Ishgard."

Lucia sighed. "That is only to be expected." She pulled out an impressive looking scroll from her pouch. "Rest assured that I speak with Ser Aymeric's authority in this matter, and that our actions are fully sanctioned by the Holy See." She looked again at Namhla and gave a small smile. "The Lord Commander will be glad of your involvement, Warriors of Light. You wear the mantle of hero well."

The next morning Lord Hien arrived with Yugiri and a dozen warriors. Lucia blinked once, then thanked him profusely. "I came to Eorzea to make connections with their leaders, so that when the time is right I can regain my home," he said proudly. "I know not when that day will come, but we are glad to lay the foundations of that future today." They quickly coordinated getting the ones who did not have aetheryte access onto a half-filled caravan that had already been arranged by the Adventurer's Guild, and the rest made ready to teleport to Camp Dragonhead.

The Ishgardian fort was even busier than normal, with an air of heightened alert and anger. Namhla couldn't help herself, but stepped into the main hall. Thankfully, the one she was looking for was standing beside his map table, and looked up with a wide grin. "My dear Namhla! Once more you arrive in our hour of need!"

She put her hand on his shoulder and pulled him close, touching their foreheads together. "I just had to make sure you were alive," she murmured, a bit unsettled by her feelings.

He chuckled and stayed for a few heartbeats, then reluctantly pulled away "Would that we could speak longer, but I'm afraid my duties demand my full attention..." He laid his hand over hers and squeezed. "We will see each other again soon, this I know."

Alphinaud had arrived earlier than the rest of the group, and got them caught up on the events of an already busy morning. "'Twould seem the heretics struck the first ─ and most telling ─ blow against Ishgard." He quickly described the magical wards that surrounded the city, and how the heretics' magics had dispelled the outermost one. "Lady Iceheart has grown bold indeed if she would risk direct action against the city." There was a buzz of activity as Ser Aymeric appeared, and Lucia beckoned the group to join them. Hien murmured instructions to Yugiri and the other shinobi and went to join Alphinaud and the Warriors of Light in the Intercessory.

"I thank you for coming with such haste, and apologize for my absence," Aymeric said as he settled into a chair. "Suffice it to say, Lady Iceheart and her heretics have much to answer for."

"Given the circumstances, we quite understand if you would prefer to postpone our appointed audience," Hien said diplomatically, knowing he would be refused.

Aymeric gave him a knowing smile. "On the contrary, Lord Hien, I think it more important than ever that this meeting take place." Both nodded once. "Before we move on to the subject of reinforcements, however, I would introduce you to a close friend and stalwart ally. Estinien!" Haurchefant opened the door and in strode a tall Elezen sheathed in black scale, a lance longer than he was affixed to his back. "May I present to you Ishgard's Azure Dragoon."

Alphinaud tried to be blasé. "An impressive title, though I confess, I know precious little of the order of dragoons." Jennafer tiled her head slightly, then shook it once. She knew of the lancers of the Wood Wailers, but this man radiated a power far beyond anything to come out of the Gridanian guild.

"They are formidable warriors all. Yet even among such masters of the lance, Estinien is without equal." Aymeric beamed at the dragoon. "He, out of all the warriors of Ishgard, was chosen to wield the power of dragons, and may thus contend with any Dravanian." Estinien gave an elegant bow. "I will share with you what we have learned of Iceheart's design, as confessed by the heretics taken captive after the assault on the gates. 'Twould seem that Lady Iceheart and the Dravanians share a common goal ─ the reclamation of Nidhogg's stolen eye."

"His name features prominently in your nation's history," Alphinaud said. "Though once defeated by the hero Haldrath, the beast is said to have terrorized Coerthas since Ishgard's founding."

"The trophy Haldrath plucked from the bested wyrm's skull ─ known simply as 'the Eye' ─ is a treasured relic of Ishgard, and one possessed of untold power." Aymeric sighed. "Should it ever be returned to Nidhogg, the dread creature would be restored to the height of his strength. And then no wall or ward we could erect would be stout enough to deny him."

"And you believe that Lady Iceheart is in league with him, then?" Hien asked.

"Of that, we cannot be certain. Though we know the heretics covet the Eye, we have been unable to determine their plans for it." Aymeric shook his head.

Jennafer and Namhla exchanged glances. They both knew that summoning required vast amounts of power, and this Eye could easily work in lieu of now-heavily guarded crystal shipments.

"Such questions aside, we must needs address the ragged hole their mistress has seen fit to rend in Ishgard's protections. 'Tis a weakness the Dravanians are not like to leave untested." He sat up straight. "I shall speak plain. Ishgard has need of allies, and I would have you bolster our front lines in readiness for the coming battle against the dragons." He, Alphinaud, and Hien quickly came to a consensus, Ishgard making promises of future help when the dragons were not hurling themselves at their front door.

Haurchefant hurried in. "Pardon the interruption, but another group of Dravanians has been sighted by the Observatorium!"

"Time to get to work, then," Namhla said, standing up and checking her armor. "Where do you need us?"

He gave her a bright smile. "Come, the Steps of Faith are waiting for you to walk them, my friends!"

It was a kind of organized chaos in Dragonhead's stables that spoke of long practice. Several chocobos were quickly made available for all, getting them to the Gates of Judgement just ahead of the approaching Horde. Jennafer pointed to the enormous dragon and asked, "Is that Nidhogg?"

The gathered dragoons shook their heads. "Nay, my lady," Estinien said with a kind of fatalistic glee. "Nidhogg is much bigger than that." The bard paled. "This one is..." the dragoon paused, listening to whispers only he could hear. "This is Vishap. He would crush us under his feet if given the chance."

Ser Marcelain waved them all through. "We will seal this behind you to and guard the Gates for as long as we can. May the Fury guide your blades!"

On a normal day the road would be filled with wagons going in both directions, chocobo messengers speeding alongside them, and the guard changes for the Gates. Now the bridge was crowded with Ishgardian knights and dragoons, shinobi and samurai, adventurers and Scions, waiting behind the sealed Gates. Jennafer took a shaky breath as Vishap and his entourage approached the bridge; Namhla put her shield arm around her. Hien and Yugiri stood together. Lucia waited in the middle.

The bridge shuddered as the dragons touched down. The dragoons leapt into the air. Lucia sounded the charge. The first moments were utter chaos, dealing with the smaller enemies and avoiding Vishap's thunderous feet. Jennafer's arrows could pluck the smaller wyvern out of the sky, but bounced harmlessly off of the monster's thick hide.

"Arrows will be of little help here," Lucia called. "Fall back to the canons, or the dragon-killers on the towers!"

Useless, useless Jennafer tried not to think as she backed away. The Doman shinobi were also gathering at the mechanical weaponry, their shorter blades not able to pierce thick scales.

Namhla was near the Ishgardian knight, trying to stop the dragon's relentless steps. She twisted awkwardly as another turtle-like dragon was dropped into the battle by it's peers, and misjudged her strike. The blade in her hand was caught under a dragon scale and snapped. "Ah, fuck!" she yelled in frustration. That had been her favorite sword! She looked around, backpedaling as quickly as she could, throwing the now useless hilt to the ground. She saw a barrel of weaponry near one of the towers and pointed. "AXE! Someone give me that axe!"

As one of the dragoons landed and hefted the weapon, she touched the leather straps around her left wrist. It had been a few years since she had used this soul stone, given to her by a dying man before her second decade had begun, but the aether in it remembered her. With a feral grin she caught the weapon tossed towards her and swung. It bit deep, smashing through the scales, and Vishap felt pain for the first time that day. She laughed, wild and free. "Bring that pretty face down to my axe!" she taunted, taking another swing.

Jennafer looked at Namhla and sighed; she hoped someone could keep her healed if her berserker rage grew too hot. The cannons were barking, and she had climbed the nearest tower with a large ballista. It was easy enough to figure out how to use; it was expertly made and swung with the lightest touch. She aimed for the area where Vishap's long neck joined his thick shoulders and prayed. But the beast was more agile than his size let on, and the missile slammed into his side instead. It must have hurt, because the scream he let out was the loudest thing she had ever experienced. She crouched and whimpered, covering her ears, and the first Ward was breached.

Another group of dragons fell in behind Vishap. The bridge was awash in blood. She scrambled down the stairs and ran to the second set of dragon killers. If he could see the missile, he would avoid it. How to make sure he didn't actually see it? She looked at the mechanism, then looked to the sky. There was only one God to pray to in this place, and she started a simple hymn to Halone as she jammed the ballista so that it aimed nearly straight up. "All hail the Fury / Mistress of the snow / Who guides our swords and lances / Shows us where to go."

Several of the nearby knights heard the hymn and sang along. "All hail the Fury! / Our lives we gladly give / Protecting the little ones / so that they may live."

The missile was now an icicle, razor sharp, and the bard turned the ballista slightly. "Please," she prayed, and fired.

While it did not kill him outright, it did enough, tearing a deep gouge down the length of Vishap's neck and piercing deep into his shoulder, preventing him from moving his right front leg. Estinien and the dragoons leapt as the blood sprayed in pulses, and the dragon could not move fast enough to avoid them all, and he roared one last time before falling down dead. The rest of the Horde fled as the Ishgardians let out a ragged cheer, singing a triumphant hymn. Namhla set her borrowed axe aside and picked up her bard when she ran to her, spinning around and laughing before kissing her in front of everyone.

"Are you all right?" Jennafer asked when she could breathe again. She was blushing and bright eyed, and Namhla thought she was beautiful.

"I. Am. Fine!" she said, punctuating every word with another kiss. Jennafer was laughing helplessly, holding her as tight as she could.

"My apologies for interrupting your celebrations," Estinien said with a grin as he walked up. "When our knights kill their first dragon, we give them a scale as a commendation." He had one in each hand, and Namhla set down her lover so they could accept them. It was longer than her hand, and she wondered if she could set it in a new shield.

Jennafer looked at it sadly, but bowed. "We were glad to help." He nodded and leapt away.

Ser Aymeric walked up, with Lucia, Haurchefant, and a blonde Elezen neither had met before. "True to your word, you arrived to aid us in our hour of need. On behalf of the Holy See and the people of Ishgard, I offer you my humble thanks." He bowed, and the rest followed suit. He looked exhausted. "Though I would stay and lavish you with well-deserved praise, I fear I must away to oversee the aftermath of the siege. Not all the dragons are fled, and there are yet wounded to be carried from the field."

"If there's anything else we can do..." Namhla started, but the Knight Commander shook his head as he left.

"My friends! What a valiant showing!" Haurchefant was all smiles. "This is Lord Stephanivien de Haillenarte, head of Skysteel Manufactory, and Francel's older brother." The blonde man bowed.

"Ah! How is Francel?" Namhla asked.

"He is doing well, and is alive to do well because of you," Stephanivien said earnestly. He turned to Jennafer. "My dear bard, how did you do that with the dragon-killer?" Jennafer and he were soon chatting happily about mixing spells with machinery.

Hien watched the proceedings. This was Alphinaud's dream, to have the peoples of the world unite against common foes. He felt hope for his own home for the first time in far too long.

Chapter Text

After the death of Vishap, the Horde no longer attacked Ishgard from the south, but focused more on the areas further west, out of range of the Scions and all but a few hardy shinobi. Lord Hien and Ser Aymeric exchanged correspondence, vaguely reassuring each other that their promises were not forgotten, and perhaps the upcoming festivities in Ul'dah would be a good time to see if any other negotiations could be worked upon?

Namhla took the dragon scale she had been gifted into the small but well stocked forge the Scions kept. Perhaps it could be split into pieces, some shared as lover's tokens, others set into a new sword hilt? She fiddled with her tools, smiling as she sketched out a few ideas.

There was another mass defection of Garlean conscripts, from Castrum Centri this time, leaving it all but abandoned. The merchant advisor was reunited with one of his sons, to much celebration. The young man was quiet and withdrawn; to be expected, of course, after everything he had endured.

Jennafer finished the song she had been writing for G'raha. She went to the gates of the Crystal Tower and played it, and said goodbye to the sweet young man for the final time. Perhaps in that future world he would hear something she had written and smile. "Time to move on," she murmured. Maril chirped, and she ruffled the chocobo's feathers.

She returned to the Rising Stones, much to Hoary Boulder's relief. "Just the woman I was looking for!" He told her of the scholars who needed guarding, and adventurers who had been injured, and they were heading to the South Shroud, could she possibly help?

She laughed. "Of course, I'm always glad to walk those old paths. Let me tell Minfilia and Namhla where we're going."

Minfilia thanked her profusely. "It seems only fair that I explain the import of the task in question," she said. "For some time, our order has employed a handful of scholars to travel around Eorzea taking aetheric readings that we might better understand the impact of primal summonings. Naturally, it behooves us to ensure our employees' safety, and so we ask the adventurers in our service to serve as escorts."

"He is waiting at Camp Tranquil as we speak." Hoary Boulder gave her a smile. "All you need do is follow the man ─ he will determine the most appropriate locations to take his readings."

"Ah, and as Namhla is with Tataru at the moment, I'll tell her where you've gone when they get back," Minfilia added distractedly. Jennafer looked at the Antecedant; she seemed more tired than usual. She hugged her, murmuring that she should get some rest and let someone take care of her more often. Minfilia simply smiled and shook her head.

The scholar was arrogant, as to be expected. He was also completely oblivious to the dangers of randomly stomping through the ruins of the South Shroud. By the time they arrived in Issom-Har the bard had noticed several signs that the Redbelly Wasps had claimed the territory as their own. When he turned to start his readings, Jennafer stepped away and waited. When no attack immediately came, she imitated the call of a bird. A moment later, it was repeated from the trees in front of her. She gave a short curtsy, then turned away.

"A satisfactory outcome," the scholar said, scribbling in his notes. Jennafer agreed. They proceeded to Snakemolt, near the old Amadapor Keep, where he took his readings once more. This time it was quiet, but not a watchful quiet - or not a good watchful quiet.

"These readings are not at all what I expected..." the scholar muttered, scribbling again. "...Though perhaps that should come as no surprise. I am not given to superstition, but there is a queer, almost blasphemous air hereabouts."

"This area has seen many terrible things," she said. The Lambs of Dalamud had merely been the latest symptom of that deep rooted darkness.

The scholar paled. "Let us quit this place and return to Rootslake. We have one more site to survey." Jennafer very nearly made a comment when his site was near the abandoned Amdapor capital. Whatever, exactly, did he think he would find here? She wondered if he even knew about the previous empires, lost in the floods of the Sixth Calamity. Ghostly lights lingered, but did not come too close, and soon he was done.

"It would appear that there has been a measurable decrease in Eorzea's ambient aether concentrations since the Calamity." The scholar was frowning at his papers. Then he shook his head. "We must take additional measurements to confirm my assessment. Let me return to Camp Tranquil and look at my map."

Jennafer listened to the Wood Wailers and pretended not to know Landenel. The scholar puttered and muttered, and finally came to a decision. "For our next survey, I would have you escort me to Urth's Fount." He was blissfully unaware of the dangers. She was torn between telling him to find a safer spot, or telling him to find a less intelligent bodyguard. She gritted her teeth and followed him.

It was quiet. The weather was cool, but there were storm clouds on the horizon. It was the time of year when the insects were in their hives and the rut of the boars had passed. Odin's broken prison gleamed, but thankfully the dark rider was not home. Jennafer was not a Hearer or a Padjal, but she had spent a few years in this part of the Black Shroud, and knew something felt a little off.

Behind her the scholar was muttering, as usual, while he made constant adjustments to his instruments. "...quite high, yet still markedly lower than the historical measurements taken near the end of the Sixth Astral Era..." He wandered around the large crystal formation, and Jennafer quietly took a few steps to keep him where she could at least hear him. She barely heard him mention something about the primal. There was a moment of silence.

"Scion!" The man's voice was a screech. "Scion, come here! I - I need you!"

Jennafer dashed over to find the man trembling and pointing at something in the water. She carefully walked over and gasped. "Oh, Wilred!" she cried out.

Someone was crashing through the springs behind them. "Fear not, my friends! Help has arrived!" Hoary Boulder and Coultenet ran up, and she was very glad to see them. The large paladin took one look at the corpse and sighed, then knelt down. After murmuring a brief prayer, he gently moved some of the leaves that had fallen. "Gutted like a hog... but not by one, no. These wounds were made with a blade."

The Elezen mage frowned. "I've heard nothing of any Crystal Brave operations in this area. What cause had Wilred to come here?"

"Oh gods," she whispered. He had been investigating the missing weaponry with Riol. She took a shaky breath. "Was he killed here, or dumped here?" Hoary gave her a dark look. The waters were running clear. The Elementals had not sounded an alarm. She nodded.

"Wh-What should we do!?" They had nearly forgotten about the scholar.

"We will see to the scholar's protection, Jennafer," Coultenet said quietly.

"Aye, and the boy's remains." Hoary stood up. "You should return to the Rising Stones. The Antecedent will want to know what happened here." He had a grim look that was out of place on his normally open, smiling face. "And so do I..."

She took a few steps away to compose herself before Returning. I promise you, Rhalgr, I will find the one who killed Your son and bring them Your justice. she thought.

In the distance, the thunder rolled.

Chapter Text

Jennafer was not paying attention to anything outside of the thoughts in her head as she approached the doors to the Rising Stones and all but bounced off someone in her haste. "My apologies," she said automatically, then stopped short with embarrassment when she realized it had been Hien's chest she had collided with. "I - I am so sorry, I'm --"

He seemed more amused than insulted. Then he caught the look in her eye and the smile faded from his face. "What's happened?" he asked quietly.

She opened her mouth, then sighed. "I don't know if you know any of the Crystal Braves..." She looked around quickly and leaned a little closer. "I have to go tell the Antecedent that Wilred has been killed."

Hien blinked, then frowned. "He was investigating something with Riol," he murmured. She seemed shocked, but nodded. "Not an accident?"

She shook her head. Namhla would have a joke, but the bard couldn't find it in her. "Excuse me, please," she finally said, then gave a shallow bow and hurried past him.

He watched her go. Then he tapped a code into his linkpearl and walked back to his rooms in Little Doma.

***

Minfilia sagged, and Jennafer hated that she had to deliver this news. "I will send word to Alphinaud at once."

"Perhaps we should wait..."

The Antecedent looked up. "He will want to conduct a full investigation," she insisted.

"He is the last one who should conduct the investigation," the bard retorted.

Minfilia's jaw dropped. "You - you're not implying that he --"

Jennafer sighed angrily. "I'm saying that the Braves were tainted from the start and he knew that and you went through with it anyway!" She took a deep breath. "They should be disbanded, immediately --"

"Absolutely not!"

Silence stretched out between them. "Do what you think is right, Minfilia," she finally said, turning to go.

"What will you do?" she asked quietly.

The bard paused, then looked up, and Minfilia thought her eyes looked very silver for an instant. "What I think is right." She bowed, and left.

***

Namhla nodded to Riol as he left Jennafer's suite of rooms. She found the bard sitting with a half empty mug of wine and a dark expression. "Can I come in?" she asked.

Jennafer tried to give her a smile. "Please do," she said quietly. "Did Minfilia talk to you?"

"Aye," the warrior said, closing the door and settling into the chair beside her. The orchestrion softly played. "It's not your fault," she said.

"I know," the other woman answered.

"So, what are you thinking?"

Jennafer looked at her lover. "I'm thinking that someone in Gridania knows what happened. His body was dumped in a rather sacred place, but the Elementals never raised a fuss."

"...that we know of." Namhla finished for her, leaning back.

Jennafer gave her a small smile. "That we know of. They're not omnipotent, but they are everywhere... except when the Hearer's are trying to reclaim another ruin." She frowned. "Perhaps it was just coincidence, or whoever planned it knew what was coming, but..." She sighed in frustration and took another drink of her wine. "There's a missing piece somewhere. I need to find it."

"Where he was killed?" Namhla asked.

"Yes. There are peoples all through the swamps of the Black Shroud who have actively rejected Gridania." She sat back in her chair. "If they don't want to be found, they could be within a fulm of you and you'd never realize it. If they saw something, they might warn each other to avoid those people, but they wouldn't report it to any kind of authority."

"And Riol's going to check on the Thanalan side?"

Jennader nodded. "He's got friends in Drybone that'll ask around." She sighed again, then got out of her chair and sat in Namhla's lap. "I'll go see Jehantel in the next few days, find out what he's heard, then work my way backwards from there."

"Awww, you're gonna miss the party?" Namhla cuddled her. "And here I was thinking I'd get to see you dressed up." She was glad to hear the bard's giggle. She was even more glad when the smaller woman pulled herself up and kissed her.

***

"Mail call!" Tataru's voice chirped through the Rising Stones.

The post moogle hovered nearby, handing out letters one at a time. It started to give her the last one, then quickly snatched it back. "Sorry, that one has to be specially delivered, kupo!" It flew over to where Jennafer was sitting and passed over the folded paper.

"Thank you, little one," she said, passing the Moogle a cookie. She opened the paper and took a deep breath. "This came from them?" she asked quietly. The Moogle nodded, stuffing the cookie into it's mouth in case she changed her mind. The bard smiled distractedly, then stood. "Thank you," she said again.

Two bells later she was ready to leave. Maril kweh'd at Namhla when she lifted her bard up for one more kiss. "Be careful," she murmured against her mouth.

"You, too," Jennafer said. Then she climbed into Maril's saddle, and the two teleported away.

***

The homemade paper only had three words on it: Old Maggoty knows.

Ilberd was frowning. Laurentius had explained the meaning of the note Jennafer had received that morning before suddenly leaving. "Send whoever can get there first," he muttered into the linkpearl. The bard had to be delayed. Whatever it took.

Chapter Text

Namhla led Vashoth set the speed, content to enjoy the ride back to the city. She had arrived to the Quicksand earlier than the rest of the Scions, expecting a delivery from Redolent Rose, only to find a note that he needed one more bell to make her party outfit absolutely perfect. She needed to work off some nervous energy, so she took Vashoth for a run.

As they passed through the Gate of Nald, a Brass Blade and a Crystal Brave walked up. "Hail, Warrior of Light!" The Crystal Brave was vaguely familiar, but she couldn't think of his name. "I'll take him to the stables the Sultana has had set up for her guests." He handed her a receipt.

"Thanks," she said, climbing down and handing him the reins. She gave Vashoth a gentle pat. "Be good, boy, OK? See you soon." He croaked and nuzzled her hair, then walked away with the two soliders.

Momodi waved her over as she walked in. "Would you believe that, while you were away, another message arrived for you?"

"Llymlaen's fishy -- " Namhla cut off the vulgarity. "I swear, if Redolent is any later with that outfit I'm going to have to strip and change in front of him." She gave the diminutive innkeeper a wink. "Although maybe that's what he wants..."

They both laughed. "No, no, this one was delivered by the sultana's handmaiden, no less. Seems Her Grace desires a private audience." She pulled up a package with the Weaver's Guild logo on it from behind her desk. "Get moving! She'll meet you on the Royal Promenade and escort you to the sultana's chambers."

***

Hien stood with the rest of the Scions, awaiting Namhla's arrival so they could enter the soiree together. Yugiri had reluctantly left him in their care, wanting to shadow F'lhaminn and Tataru before meeting with one of her own contacts. There were several Crystal Braves nearby, as well as the usual congregation of Sultansworn, and he had been given special dispensation to wear his sword to the gathering, albeit tied with a peace-knot so it couldn't be carelessly drawn; he had assured her he would be fine.

"Ah, there she is!" Thancred exclaimed. He gave a whistle. "Redolent Rose has outdone himself once again, my lovely lady!"

Namhla laugh floated by Hien's ears. He was aware he was blushing, but he couldn't stop looking. She was in yalms of bright blue silk that could technically be called a coat and pants, that seemed to be in constant movement as she walked. Her white hair was loose to her shoulders, with a wave he had never noticed before. And she wore gold in her ears, her nose, around her neck and wrists and belly, on her fingers with gemstones. She looked like a pirate goddess.

"He is worth the gil," she said with a grin. "But the best part?" She tucked her hands into the coat's sides. "It has pockets!"

The Scions all laughed. "Ah, you adventurers and your need to keep everything," Papalymo said.

"Well, shall we?" Minfilia asked, turning to lead them up the stairs.

"Ah, I'll have to come back later," Namhla said, pulling her invitation out of her pocket. "Apparently Her Grace wants to talk to me first."

"Making sure you behave?" Thancred asked with a wink, and she laughed as she walked away.

"Better hurry, or there won't be any good food left!" Yda threatened, earning her a rude hand gesture in return.

The sultana's lady-in-waiting bowed and led her down the main corridor towards the living quarters. It was very easy for her to slip a small bottle into the adventurer's large pockets.

***

Namhla fiddled with her wine glass, trying to think. "No offense, Your Grace, but why tell me this? Minfilia, or Alphinaud, would be more help, I think."

The sultana gave a sad smile. "Raubahn, despite all his strength and influence, will be hard-pressed to keep his footing on such treacherous ground. I ask you to lend him a steadying hand. For the love you bear for him, and the respect he bears for you, may be the only thing that prevents him from being utterly lost to the chaos that lies ahead."

She blushed. Nanamo Ul Namo was no foolish girl-child, no matter what her opponents thought. "I will do everything I can for him, Your Grace. He took a chance on me when I came here that I can never fully repay."

"I am truly grateful. More grateful than I can well express." Nanamo picked up her goblet and drank. "Much of my dread for the coming days has been quieted..."

Namhla smiled and picked up her glass.

Nanamo dropped hers.

"Your Grace!" Namhla set her glass down, not caring that it fell over, and stood. Teledji Adeledji burst in with a group of Brass Blades at that exact moment. The warrior stood stupidly for too long, her mind not comprehending the enormity of the betrayal, and they all grabbed her at the same time. She fought like the pirate she had been, leaving one man screaming after her fist bent his knee the wrong way, until someone slammed a sword pommel into her temple and the floor rushed up to her nose.

***

Hien watched Ser Aymeric's shock when the Ishgardian Knight walked in with Teledji Adeledji. When Lucia murmured they had heard nothing themselves, he felt his good mood vanish. Adeledji had made his move; where had Alphinaud gone, and why hadn't Namhla and the Sultana showed up yet? He took a slow step behind a pillar, raising his hand to his linkpearl, and tapped a code. His other hand rested on his sword hilt, next to the peace-knot. Slowly, carefully...

"We caught the vaunted champion of the Scions in Her Grace's private chambers not moments after the deed was done!" The room was silent for a heartbeat. Then Minfilia stuttered a denial. Adeledji sneered. He snapped, "Bring in the prisoner!"

Yugiri had not sent her code response. Hien was about to tap it again, as they had always practiced (Twice, no more, then destroy the linkpearl) when the final betrayal dragged a bloody and unsteady Namhla in through the door and dropped her on the ground. "This woman stands accused of poisoning Her Royal Majesty Nanamo Ul Namo." Ilberd called out. "And as suspected accessories to the crime, all members of the Scions of the Seventh Dawn will be detained for questioning!"

Hien quickly tapped the code into his linkpearl, knowing that he would not get a response. He was halfway through the peace-knot on his sword. He had to stay calm as the world burned down around him again. The charges were ridiculous, of course, but they didn't matter. Namhla had not raised her head; her nose was swollen and dripped blood onto her new outfit. When Ilberd mentioned the sultana's handmaiden, she flexed her bound hands once.

Raubahn snapped, as they wanted him to. Hien did not care that he bisected Teledji Adeledji; he did care that both Kan-E-Sanna and Admiral Merlwyb fled instead of standing by the Scions. His sword was free to be drawn in defense of the Scions; he took his linkpearl out of his ear and crushed it under his foot - Yugiri had not answered. Y'shtola had moved beside Namhla and was healing the cut on her scalp. Namhla did not respond to their questions, only watched the terrible fight in front of them.

She screamed when Raubahn was injured so horrifically. The shoulder guard was strapped tightly enough around his arm and would slow the bleeding, but only a little. Hien carefully broke the bonds tying her hands together, and she staggered to her feet. Ilberd held back, knowing she was a threat, and Raubahn shook his head. "I never doubted you, Namhla. Not for a moment. But there is more to this..." He looked at Hien. "Flee this place. Clear your names." He was rallying for one last blow. "Find out who is behind this plot! It is the only way! Now go!"

The rest of the Scions streamed past them as Raubahn tackled Ilberd. Hien took Namhla's hand and pulled her away. "You are not the man you once were, Raubahn," Ilberd spit, pushing him aside. "Your sultana took the mad bull and cut off his balls. And a bull that cannot rut is fit for naught but slaughter."

Raubahn chuckled weakly. "She turned you down, didn't she?" He laughed when his former friend's face twisted into a snarl. "Oh, she'll hate me for making her leave... but she'll kill you for what you've done..." He laughed again, until the world greyed into nothing.

***

Jennafer looked around the small living area and sighed in frustration. Old Maggoty should be here, but was not. She had followed the instructions that Jehantel had given, which had led her to this place deep in the swamp. She wondered if they had left recently. She'd have to spend more time finding one of the neighbors and asking them, she supposed.

Maril chirped a greeting outside. Jennafer stepped through the door and smiled at the Crystal Braves that were approaching.

Chapter Text

Hien was running through Doma Castle, leading what was left of the rebellion away from his father. Gosetsu's pounding feet could not hide the sound of his weeping beside him. Hien didn't recognize this hallway. An enemy appeared in front of him, and Gosetsu's blue togi --

Namhla's borrowed sword lashed out, and the enemy fell.

Hien blinked, and he was in Ul'dah. The shrieks fell quiet, because the crowd had fled several minutes before they had gotten out. The Roegadyn beside him was --

"Thancred! Where have you been?"

That was not Yugiri.

He took a breath (gasped? sobbed?) and tried to focus. He was in Ul'dah. Namhla was beside him. Y'shtola was in front of him. They were betrayed (again). They were running for their lives (again).

"We may safely assume that our foe has thought to have the Rising Stones watched."

His people were scattered. His people were dead. His people were --

"Yda! Papalymo!"

Behind him more enemies. In front of him the shinobi -- the Scions --

There was a large hand on his back. Gentle. The man who had raised him -- the woman who --

"Come on, Hien."

Namhla was not Gosetsu. She was here, she was alive, she was bloodied and angry. --- he loved --

"We cannot linger!"

The castle sighed with grief. The land had screamed --

The One River splashed under his feet. The walls of the tunnel --

Ul'dah, not Doma. Ul'dah, not Doma.

"Leave us!"

Separation, attrition, the Garleans -- the Brass Blades --

Breathing, weeping, distorted in the tunnel. Anger, despair, warped in the aether.

But then --

Bright lights sparkled and wrapped them in an embrace that he felt in his soul. A mother's fleeting caress. The land joyfully whispered Her name.

"I must remain behind..." Minfilia said slowly, "...but you cannot stay with me." Namhla fell to her knees, this final blow almost too much to bear. Minfilia gently touched her face. "As long as your flame continues to burn, the light of the dawn may ever be relit!" She looked at Hien, a knowing smile lifted her lips. "Show us who you are, my dear Lord of Doma. Do not be afraid." She thrust the lantern into his hands and ran.

Namhla watched her go. "Why... why not me?"

Hien stood nearby. "I don't know where Jennafer is. I'll need your help to find her. Please?"

The Roegadyn looked up with a gasp. "Jennafer... oh gods..." She looked around as if seeing the tunnel for the first time. "Which way?"

There was a rumble, and a shaking, and a powerful gust of wind, and Hien fell to the ground and dropped the lantern, and Namhla was crouched beside him, covering him, and he wrapped his arms around her waist. They held each other until the shaking stopped.

It was completely dark. The lantern was filled with water. "Hien, which way?" Namhla whispered.

"I -- " he murmured. He had a hand on the floor of the tunnel and Minfilia's words to him echoed in his mind. "Which way, my friend?" he asked the land.

The land stirred, remembering Hydaelyn's touch, and the tunnel knew what it had been built for. This way, it said, and Hien took Namhla's hand in his and followed the whispers.

It was impossible to know how much time had passed, but it was still full night when they stumbled into the open air. Namhla kept his hand in hers for a moment, looking around the narrow ravine they were in. "I know where we are," she said. She pointed to her left first. "Horizon's a few bells that way, and Black Bush should be somewhere in that direction," she said, pointing to a place in front and slightly to the right of them. Her hand started to shake. "Jennay's in that direction, somewhere, days and days even by cho -- "

"Namhla?" Hien said gently. She was standing wide eyed, a horror he was far too familiar with gathering on her face.

"Vashoth." She whispered her chocobo's name. "A Brave and a Brass Blade took him, said they were taking him to a stable the Sultana had set up." She tried to cover her mouth but the sobs couldn't be stopped. "Oh gods, I'm so sorry Vashoth, I'm so sorry..."

He stepped closer and let her lean on him. Gosetsu had done this for him once, before he had been injured. "I know it hurts," he murmured. "We need to keep moving. Let's get to the top of this hill and see what we find."

She coughed and nodded, trying to wipe the worst of the tears and dried blood off her face. Behind them the city of Ul'dah gleamed, and the land mourned, and the stars twinkled overhead.

***

Minfilia floated, existed, could feel Thancred and Y'shtola drifting, Hydaelyn singing them on their way, Hien and Namhla enduring, Hydaelyn singing them on their way, but she was looking, searching, there was one missing. She felt a pull, a tug, lives flowing, Hydaelyn singing them on their way...

She looked down and cried out. She could not touch her, but could feel how dim her life was. "Oh, please, someone help!" She should not be this pale, should not be this still. "Please, someone, please --"

A figure entered the clearing, tall, and Minfilia felt the spark of the Echo. "Please help her!" she called out again, and then she was pulled away, gently enfolded, Hydaelyn singing her on the way...

Chapter Text

Haurchefant took his finger from his linkpearl and nodded to himself. A pair of his retainers waited nearby, carrying warm clothing for their guests. The Enterprise was approaching from the Weeping Saint after meandering around the northern Coerthas Central Highlands for half a day in order to confuse any potential spies. That they had chosen his camp as refuge left a warm feeling in his heart.

The three Scions stumbled off the ship cold and exhausted. Cid had warned him they were in different kinds of pain: Alphinaud blamed himself, Namhla was angry at herself for being helpless, and Hien had endured several flashbacks that left him thinking he was in Doma instead of Eorzea. He wrapped a thick cloak around Namhla's shoulders and carefully draped it, watching her for any signs that his presence was unwelcome.

She gave him a fragile smile. "Thank you," she murmured, then shook her head. "I just... can't..."

He stepped back with a nod, then looked over her shoulder to see that Hien and Alphinaud had been similarly ensconced in fine Ishgardian wool. "You are more than welcome to shelter here for as long as you wish. You once fought to preserve the honor of my dear friend ─ 'tis a blessing that I may now repay that debt in kind." He led them through a side door and up towards a hallway that ran the entire length of the eastern wall, snug against the hills that eventually became the Xelphatol Mountains. In the first area, a cozy space where the walls were lined with hangings depicting the deeds of Thordan's Knights, sat two figures who looked up with joy as they approached.

"Namhla! Alphinaud!" Tataru jumped down from her chair and ran over.

"Hien," Yugiri said in relief, bowing.

"I tried contacting Minfilia and the others, but no one would respond..." Tataru said between sobs.

Namhla sat down on a rug in front of a fireplace. Hien sat across the table from Yugiri. Alphinaud just stood in the middle of the room, his head bowed. "'Tis all my doing..." the young man muttered. "I traded on my grandfather's name with impunity. He would be ashamed of me." Tataru tried to comfort him, but he would not be stopped. "I believed myself the only one who truly understood Eorzea's woes. I gave commands, influenced governments with my certainty..." He looked towards Hien and Yugiri. "I believed that I could rid the realm of every danger and difficulty, that I could defeat the Empire and the Ascians, and find homes for every refugee."

Hien gave him a crooked smile. "I was young once, and believed I could drive the Garleans from my home single-handedly. I still bear the scars of that misadventure."

Alphinaud stumbled over to a chair. "I thank you, Lord Hien, but I hardly deserve such friendship."

Hien huffed a chuckle. "None of us deserve such things, master Alphinaud. But we are blessed with them nonetheless." He smiled at Yugiri and looked over to Namhla.

"My people are searching for the other Scions even as we speak, but we have met with no success as yet." Yugiri shook her head. "I had hoped that you might be able to suggest further places to look."

"Jennay's in the South Shroud," Namhla said, standing up. "As soon as I can get some armor and a sword, I'll head there -- "

"You must not!" Tataru nearly shrieked. She took a shaky breath. "You know as well as I do that you don't know where she was going, and that wandering around the swamps will get you lost and hurt and we can't lose you now."

"I can't.... I have to do something -- "

"There are others better suited to the task of tracking down the missing, Namhla," Hien said quietly. He turned to Yugiri, who looked shocked.

"My lord, I should - you will need to be -- " The Shinobi stuttered in shocked at the suggestion she leave him behind again. "You need to be careful, your father said -- "

"My father was wrong, Yugiri!"

Utter silence greeted this outburst. Even Hien seemed shocked at what he had said. But he did not want to take it back. "I will miss my father for the rest of my life. I respect what he had to endure, what he was trying to protect me from. But I can't... I cannot live like that any longer." He looked at his first true friend, trying to make her understand. "I am not my father. Perhaps if I had stayed in Doma I would have become more like him."

Yugiri had to look away. "If you'd stayed you would have died," she muttered. She closed her eyes and tried to forget the near-corpse delivered into her care before they had escaped.

He very gently touched her hands, claspsed on the table in front of her. "I know. And denying how Eorzea has changed me is another kind of death." He took another breath. "Please, Yugiri. Go to the South Shroud for us, find Jennafer, and bring her back to the ones who love her."

Yugiri remembered what Midgardsormr had said to him after Moenbryda died. She wished Gosetsu was here to support him while she was away. She would not deny him. "As you wish," she said, standing and bowing.

Tataru followed her out, giving the shinobi what little information she had. "You'll need to find an old Elezen bard named Jehantel, that's who she was going to see first." She thought a moment. "I don't know exactly where he would be now, but she always started looking in Quarrymill. I think he had a camp nearby, but you could also talk to Buscarron at his tavern, I think he spends a lot of time there."

"Thank you," Yugiri murmured, memorizing the map one of Haurchefant's retainers had provided. She looked down at the little receptionist and smiled. "Take care of yourself, Tataru."

Tataru smiled and patted her knee. "Don't worry about me, I'll be fine."

Alphinaud had let himself be led to a room by Haurchefant, leaving Hien and Namhla alone in the room. Hien stood, a little unsteady still, but determined to tell Namhla all he needed to say. "Namhla, I -- "

She shook her head as her hand quickly and gently covered his mouth. "Hien, I can't right now. I just..." She took a shaky breath, and her hand was trembling. "This is not no. Do you understand? I just... I can't right now."

He nodded once. "I understand," he said as she took her hand away. "I will be here when you can."

Her eyes filled with tears. "Thank you," she managed to whisper before she hurried away.

Hien sat down heavily. Haurchefant found him sitting with his hands over his face, and he felt a deep understanding for the young man. He gently put a hand on his shoulder. "Come, my friend, there is a stew bubbling in the kitchen that will help against the cold."

Hien looked up with a smile and a hint of a blush on his handsome face. "Thank you," he said. Tomorrow would be a better day. He had to believe it.

Chapter Text

The time slowly passed.

Namhla worked herself to exhaustion in Dragonhead's forge, slept poorly, then came back the next day to do it again. Tataru and Haurchefant had to remind her to eat.

Alphinaud wrote letters, and then burned them.

Hien introduced Haurchefant and some of his knights to the samurai arts. He tried to meditate on what the land was telling him, and realized that the terrible history of Witchdrop was why it kept trying to draw him down into the depths.

On the third day Hien received a letter, and Namhla had a visitor. The letter was from Yugiri, written in old Yanxian. "This is an ancient way of writing that fell out of favor long before any Eorzean made their way to our shores," Hien explained with a grin. He and select shinobi had learned it in secret. "This first symbol means 'found' or 'met with'. The second one..." he pursed his lips as he unraveled the multiple meanings. "Ah! Yugiri has a used a symbol that has combined 'music' and 'old man' here."

"That must be Jehantel," Tataru chirped. "He's an older Elezen bard."

Hien agreed. "I don't think we had a separate symbol for Elezen, as there were none in the Far East until relatively recently." He looked at the second line and frowned. "This symbol means 'traveling' and there's an additional mark that makes me think she means with Jehantel, although she has not written that specifically." She must truly be worried about spies, he thought. "These last two symbols mean 'next writing' and 'unknown'."

Namhla tried to keep her voice steady. "So she's found Jehantel, and they're off to find Jennafer, where Moogles might not want to go." She prayed to Nophica that She kept Her hands around her.

"That's not..." Tataru started, then placed her small hand on Namhla's knee. "Moogles are mostly fretful things, there's a lot of places they never want to go."

Namhla gave her a weak smile. "Thanks, Tataru," she murmured, looking away and blinking rapidly.

Moments later Alphinaud walked in, accompanied by Pipin Tarupin. "I have come to speak with Lieutenant Adaar," he said formally.

She felt her heart break again. "You found him."

He nodded sadly. "I am so sorry, Namhla," he said. "I thought you deserved to hear this from me in person." He took a deep breath and stood up straight. "We investigated the receipt you were given, and found the Brass Blade involved." He shrugged. "The chirurgeons say he will never see out of that eye again." Namhla almost chuckled. Of course Vashoth would... "We found where -- " Pipin paused, then cleared his throat. "I have one of his feathers here, along with the few things from your saddlebags that hadn't been stolen or sold."

Namhla couldn't look at the offerings on the table. "Thank you," she managed to whisper. She fled to her room, where her sobs would be muffled by the thick walls and warm hangings.

***

On the seventh day Lord Stephanivien de Haillenarte came to visit, bringing news of the continued stalling of their asylum request. "I have asked my father to do what he can, but I'm afraid that the Dravanian incursion into the city has given our leaders an excuse to ignore everything else."

He stood with Haurchefant and Namhla in the main courtyard of Camp Dragonhead. There was going to be a tourney tomorrow involving the men and women he had armed and trained against a rather nasty knight who seemed to have a personal vendetta. Namhla had been leaning towards taking part, if only to have something to do. Haurchefant could not be involved, but had gladly allowed some of his knights to participate.

None of them paid any attention when a shinobi appeared next to the aetheryte above them and scanned the perimeter.

Hien was standing along the southern wall, looking out but not really seeing the landscape. He was thinking about Yugiri, and Jennafer, and the Crystal Braves, and his people, and his father. He was getting used to the kind of meditative state that gave him some access to the voice of the land he was standing on, even if he didn't know what else he could do with the power for now.

Cold, cold, lifeless, come down into the depths and warm me

He frowned at the last part, a sweetly seductive voice like from a pirate's tales of the Siren. The voidsent were looking for a way to break through to this world. He had learned enough from the time spent around the Crystal Tower to ignore that particular message. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

Mountains climb, the snow, the land, the frozen look behind you look beHIND YOU BEHIND YOU

Startled, he spun around, and the dagger flashed in front of his nose. He caught the wrist, his other hand trying to grab the other dagger; his fingers were slashed with pain. He looked into the eyes of his assassin and recognized him: it was the merchant advisor's newly returned son. Shock gave way to despair; he was tired of fighting, tired of death being his only companion.

"HIEN!!"

Namhla's anguished scream cut through everything, and he found the strength he needed. "Why?" he asked, still fighting to keep the blades away from his face and neck.

The young man bared his teeth. "Glory be to Garlemald!" he hissed. Then there was a loud explosion, and a red mist erupted from the back of the man's head, and he collapsed.

Namhla was running, taking the stairs up to the wall three at a time. She barely registered Stephanivien's perfect shot, only that Hien was the one still standing. She called his name again, and he looked up with a look of profound sadness on his handsome face. She did the only thing she could think of, what came naturally to her: she wrapped her arms around him and held him close.

She was warm and soft, his head fit perfectly on her chest. He held on and wept. "Don't leave me, Namhla," he whispered, not meaning to say it out loud.

She bent down. "I won't," she promised. Her fingers rubbed the back of his neck. She looked up and saw two shinobi at the far end of the wall and froze. She didn't have a weapon with her, nor did she have any armor on; her soul stones had been returned but she wasn't currently wearing them. She pulled Hien's sword out of it's sheath and pointed it at the two potential assassins, standing in front of him.

To their credit, the shinobi immediately put their hands above their heads, showing they were currently unarmed. One looked at the corpse at their feet and cursed in Doman. "We have failed you, my lord. I am so sorry." Namhla recognized Higiri's voice but did not alter her stance.

Hien quickly wiped his face and stepped beside Namhla, grimly taking in the scene. Haurchefant and Stephanivien were coming up the other side, and both had their weapons ready. "How did you know to come here?" he asked as calmly as he could. There were only a few answers he would accept.

"Yugiri sent a note in the old writing. He," Higiri indicated the corpse with her chin, "and his father intercepted it. We found it just now and immediately came here."

Hien sighed. Betrayal, all around. He gently put his hand on Namhla's elbow. When she looked at him, he nodded. She pointed the sword down, then lowered her hand until he could take it from her. "Thank you," he murmured. Louder, he said, "Come, I must hear this whole wretched story, but inside."

Doware and Higiri took turns telling the wretched tale. "So I have one dead advisor, one critically wounded advisor, and one who has made a run for the Ala Mhigan border to report to his masters?" Poor Lord Hamato, dead in a foreign land. Poor Lord Saito (he was glad she said his name), he would at best be blinded for life, if he survived the poison and any potential infection. Lord Mitsuda would have to be dealt with eventually. "How are my people?"

"They pray you stay away for now, my lord." Higiri was gentle but firm. "Things are... tense in Revenant's Toll right now. Some number of the Crystal Braves have barricaded themselves inside the Rising Stones and the Adventurer's Guild is reluctant to do much about it, with the Scions currently disgraced." Hien frowned sharply, and Higiri waved her hand. "We Domans do not believe it, we know how our enemies operate. But with Yugiri out of reach for now, we are somewhat limited in what we can do about it."

Hien looked up at Haurchefant, who frowned. "I will see if there are other ways to get you into the city, my lord, as the asylum request has been endlessly postponed due to the fighting." He closed his eyes for a moment, thinking. "Perhaps as personal guests, the Lord of Doma and some retainers..." He smiled at the young man. "Let me go to my father, this may be something that could be routinely approved in a few days."

"I thank you for all you have done," he answered. He turned back to his shinobi. "For now, stay in Revenant's Toll and watch over my people. Do not come here too often, unless you get another message from Yugiri." Both women nodded and bowed, then left. Haurchefant clapped a hand on his shoulder, letting it linger a heartbeat longer than strictly necessary, and enjoyed the young man's blush.

Hien walked to Namhla's door and knocked. She opened it and smiled, wearing the outfit she'd kept after the Ul'dahn banquet. He took a deep breath. "I love you. You are beautiful. May I come in?" She held out her hand and he took it, and she closed the door behind him.

***

Midgardsormr uncurled his awareness.

He touched the connection to Namhla, saw her and her lover resting on her bed, murmuring. Ah, so the lordling had taken his words to heart. They would need that strength in the city of death they sought protection in.

He touched the connection to Jennafer. She was alive, stubbornly so, and well protected. He saw Oschon covering her with a corner of his Mantle; Nophica breathed over her brow; even Rhalgr had a hand on her heart. They skirted the edge of Their Mandates, but he would allow it.

She allowed it. He could no more go against Her will than he could go back to his home to save it. He basked in Her presence, hearing Her fond laughter. Then he dozed again.