Liera shifted uncomfortably in the leather wear. Just a day ago she’d given Blake an earful about complaining because of the plate. Now, even with simple padded leather the heat of the Andren streets felt unbearable. She had no clue how all these ashfen could roam this sandblasted town for hours without heatstroke. It was more than their unnatural tolerance to heat that bothered her though. It was the stares. “Why are they looking at me like that?” she asked Asah, tilting her head. Even with an imposing circle of guards to stop them from coming closer, it only lessened the wide eyes scanning over her form.

“It’s their first time seeing a human, probably. Especially one with hair. Ashfen slaves can only serve for a maximum of ten years before being released. Human slaves though… They often spend their lives with their masters, which makes them much more expensive and rare. And one of the first things they do is shave them bald. They dislike any color other than white, I hear. Think it belongs to animals alone.”

Liera consciously pushed one strand behind her ear. “Savages,” she mumbled. At least in Silyra only criminals would be reduced to Oathbound slavery, with no distinction based on race.

“Hah,” Asah chuckled, stopping by a stall full of books. Their guards spread out around it, pushing everyone except its owner away. “To them, it’s an act of mercy. They think it frees the human from their baser, primal forms. I think it has a religious side to it too, but I never bothered to learn it.” She picked up a tome and skimmed over its contents. “How much is this?”

“Arlus! Y-Y-You want to buy from my stall, miss?” The shopkeeper gave his name and stammered like a frightened child. He ran a hand through his hair and Liera winced. With all that dust and grime on it, it was anything but white. So much for ashfen culture. “I can’t take any gold from you, miss. You can have it.”

Asah simply smiled and handed him a gold coin. Probably many dozen times the price he’d try to cheat out of anyone else.

“Thank you!” The ashfen took the coin with trembling hands and bowed deeply. Then the small procession moved along. Behind their back, the stall got swarmed by ashfen.

“They know who we are?” Liera asked, glancing over her shoulder.

“Of course. They might not know the details of our diplomatic mission, but the news of human ambassadors arriving has spread far. The Blades we are about to meet are well known throughout the empire and draw attention to everything they do. Just a mention of them was enough for people from across the continent to gather here.”

“Drayton once said they are the equivalent of Silyra’s archmages.” Liera subconsciously lowered her voice. “He also said they are stronger than every archmage but Veradin. I struggle to believe it.”

“The empire is many times the size of Silyra. With millions upon millions of births each year, it’s no wonder children of extraordinary talent and magic are found.” Asah smiled, placing a hand on Liera’s shoulder and pulling her aside, in the cool shadow of a small alley. “But comparing a Blade to us isn’t so simple. There’s many variables to consider.” She lowered her voice to a whisper as well. “Point in case… Of all the archmages, I’m the only one who has won against Veradin.”

Liera widened her eyes. She inched away from the ashfen a little.

“Strength is relative. I can’t beat any other.” Asah straightened her back. “And the chaos of combat can also shift the tides in unpredictable ways. Half the battles can be won before they begin. Do you remember how?”

“Information.” Liera nodded. Vince had taught them that, repeated it during training ever since they were little. She turned to glance at Asah. “You want us to observe them. Is that why you brought us here?”

The archmage simply smiled. “Your father is not a popular man, Liera. Not in the royal court, not in the lawforge, not even in the military circles. This is by no means an insult to your skills, but our pool of trusted allies for this mission was too limited.”

“You trust him though.” Liera stared right at Asah, scanning for lies. She was so used to guile that it was almost natural. “Enough to let him bring his own children along.”

“That’s right. I have confidence in Vince’s judgement. Especially when it comes to potential danger to Silyra and humanity as a whole. It’s one of the reasons he lacks the favour of the court. When you disagree with advisors, mages and seers and are still proven right, it tends to leave a sour taste in people’s mouths.”

“I’m sure he goes about voicing his concerns in a very courteous and proper manner too.” Liera chuckled. If there was one thing she liked about Vince, it’d be how straightforward he was. “So, about the Blades. What do you know?”

“I know that Andren people are superstitious and obsessed with myth. They make legends out of spectacles and gods out of men, so I wouldn’t trust the exalted deeds that spread from ear to ear,” Asah said, lowering her voice. “No, perhaps we can give credit to some. I once saw Andre’s first Blade up close. I hadn’t sparked into magic back then, so I couldn’t accurately gauge that woman’s power.” Asah’s eyes glazed over for a moment. “But I understand how myths could be born of it. Raizel champions her people, and they in turn abide by her request and spread her name to the far reaches of the world.”

“I thought ashfen didn’t give out their name that easily.”

“Raizel isn’t either,” Asah replied. “She’s issuing it like a challenge to anyone who’d dare offer their own name and think themselves her equal. It’s a proclamation that she alone stands at the top.”

Liera raised an eyebrow. “What about their emperor? Does he simply let that slide?”

“Imagine, for a moment, that Veradin wasn’t the sweet little thing that he is. Imagine that he is selfish, irritable and arrogant. Do you think anyone, his majesty included, would oppose him?”

Liera nodded in understanding. She gazed between the shoulders of the ashfen guards, at the open fields that signalled the ends of Trosa. Past this point there was only wilderness. And the Blades. “So they are powerful.”

“Don’t worry. My faith in your father extends to you as well,” Asah said, motioning to the crowd that had gathered to their right. Between them, Liera caught a glimpse of Blake’s tall form. “Besides, today is just a formality. A game of wits, if you will. ” Gyn spotted Asah and motioned her over with a smile. Asah made an obvious effort to fake one of her own and lowered her voice. “Take your time to observe the Blades and the power they may hide.”

“Ambassadors, welcome!” Gyn approached them and bowed as the two guard perimeters merged, pushing the peasants aside. His grin and mannerisms seemed downright slimy. Perhaps Liera just wasn’t used to ashfen being friendly; she’d met most on the other end of her blade after all.

“Thank you. It is a great honor for us all to experience Andren culture and customs through this trip.” Asah on the other hand couldn’t be read. Even if she was pretending, Liera couldn’t tell. “Especially for me. I may have grown up in Silyra, but learning of my roots is important.”

“Likewise, it is always a pleasure to share a part of one’s culture,” Gyn said, leading the way forward.

Liera cringed inwardly. She neither understood nor liked any part of the so-called culture she’d been exposed to so far. She spotted Vince and Blake discussing up ahead and widened her stride. The muscles of Blake’s arm bulged out as he lifted a greatsword vertically, admiring it. Liera often forgot the sheer strength he hid, and when she did remember she silently loathed him for it. They’d always trained the same, yet he always won their spars. Blake finally noticed her and turned, resting the monstrous piece of metal on his shoulder. “Took you long enough.”

“I needed to clear my head a little.” Liera drew closer, scanning him over. He was panting slightly and wet with perspiration. “Practice done already?”

“It’s a simple dance,” Vince said. “Bladesmiths often do it to compare the quality of their weapons.”

“I look forward to seeing it tomorrow,” Gyn said. “Have you chosen a weapon?”

“I think I’m gonna go with this one.” He lifted the sword up to the sunlight. “It’s very well made. Balance feels good too.”

“An excellent choice. I’ll have swords made by that blacksmith polished and prepared then, for you to choose from tomorrow.” Gyn took the sword from Blake’s hand carefully. He seemed to struggle to lift it even horizontally while a guard rushed over to handle it.

Liera used the opportunity to pull Blake to the side. “You seem… better.”

“Dad tried to help,” Blake said. “He says the emperor wouldn’t call us here unless he planned to renew the treaty. Nothing stopping him from just declaring the period of peace over. Also, I guess we did find a major clue that could lead us to Rane.”

“I guess that is true,” Liera shrugged. Leave it to Vince to convince people to do what suits him.

“Like you said, we have to try our best.” Blake rubbed the back of his neck and looked down. “Look, I– You must be stressed yourself. I’m sorry I snapped at you like that when you’ve got your own problems.”. “All I gotta do is fight. It’s simple. It’s what I’ve been trained for.”

“Don’t worry about it.” Liera sighed. “Looks like letting it all out helped you and that’s what matters.” She paused and pressed her lips together. “Are you scared about tomorrow’s spar?”

“I’m scared in general,” he replied, “Rane, the wars, the oaths, the magic, everything. But when the fear and dread get too strong, I remind myself that everyone’s in the same damn boiling pot, you know?”

“Just–” Liera struggled over the words. “I care for you and nothing will ever change that.” She saw Vince approach and gave him a sideways glance. “We’ll get through this how we’ve always had. Together. Okay?” She reached out and held his hand tight, like they used to do when they were little.

“Okay.” Blake smiled and nodded. “Together.” He quickly let go as Vince got close.

“How are you two?” Vince asked. “Everything okay?”

“Just wondering how much longer we have to go around in this town,” Liera sneered. For some reason she didn’t want her father to see her caring side at all. Like he didn’t deserve it. “Are all the gold jewels and precious metals going around the market meant to impress us? They’re plundered anyway.”

“I’m a bit confused, personally,” Blake replied. “Something feels off. They want us to visit some ruins instead of negotiating terms?”

“Would you prefer to do the talking?” Liera asked.

“By the laws, no.” Blake chuckled. “But with half the empire burning and people dying of disease, I expected a bit more urgency.”

“Sadly the ashfen are used to lavish displays and merriment, leaving business last,” Vince replied, glancing over his shoulder. “They haven’t stood in a conqueror’s shadow in centuries, so this… carefree attitude is almost ingrained in them. For now, we just have to trudge along and wait for the talks to begin.”

“Trudge along where?” Blake sighed. The training seemed to have tired him out a little.

Vince ran a hand through his beard. “I overheard they’re taking us through the desert to see an ancient Andren castle. Two of the Blades are waiting for us there.” He leaned against the wall, inching close. “Don’t speak unless spoken to,” Vince said with a lowered voice. “And most importantly, if one of them is a young girl, don’t let her touch you. Under any circumstances.”

“What sort of magic are we dealing with?” Liera asked.

“I don’t know. But the myths and stories that have reached me speak of the fingers of death.” Vince paused. “Now I don’t know about you, but I wouldn’t let her close to me, let alone shake her hand.”

“Okay, stay away from the girl, if she’s there.” Blake nodded in understanding. “What about our… friends? Have they shown yet?”

“Not yet. We’ve been hard to reach and under surveillance almost constantly, so it makes sense to some extent,” Vince replied, then paused. “Now that you mention it, I’ve got an idea. Do you think you can manage on your own today?”

“Oh please. We’ve been managing on our own for years.” Liera didn’t miss the chance to take a jab at him. “We’ll be fine. What’s your plan?”

“I’ll see what information I can uncover about our contact’s family without seeming too suspicious. They’re nobles after all. Gossip is one of the few sources of entertainment in these barren cities.” Vince straightened his back and glanced at the approaching Gyn.

“Ambassadors, we’re ready to begin.” Gyn gave them all a smile.

“Ah, already?” Vince took a laboured breath and exhaled slowly. “I’m getting too old for this… Just training Blake for tomorrow’s duel left me spent. I think I’d rather stay behind and wander the market a while, if that’s okay?”

“Of course, of course. I’ll assign some of my finest guards for your protection.” Gyn signalled a couple of ashfen over, missing Vince’s frown. “We shouldn’t be long anyway.”

“Thank you,” Vince gave him an awkward nod and turned to Blake and Liera. “I’ll see you both later. Be very respectful, understood?”

Liera nodded as Vince turned away, the two armored ashfen following behind him silently. Hopefully he’d find a way to at least converse unnoticed.

“Shall we?” Gyn motioned to some ashfen stationed on the city walls. The heavy, metal gate to the desert opened with the clank of chains. Ashfen from the crowd woke with that sound and started shouting behind their backs. “Mist dwellers! Champions of the flesh!”

The cheers came with a spray of cold water from every direction that made Liera shiver. She turned in a fury, but Asah touched her back softly. “The gift of water before a trip through the desert.”

Liera clucked her tongue irritably and turned her gaze ahead. The front of the guard perimeter reformed and went out first, with Blake, Liera and Asah following shortly after. With a heavy thud, the gate slammed shut. White clouds rolled low above the sand beyond the city’s walls, so thick that Liera expected cotton when she reached up to touch them. The cold mist split between her fingers, leaving them wet with condensation. If not for the guards that had followed them out into the desert, Liera would have gotten completely lost between the hills and deep canyons shrouded from this weird fog. It bent out of shape to always linger over their heads but never touched the sand under their feet. Walking in the desert was tiring despite the cooler temperature, but thankfully the trip took little longer than an hour.

Gyn felt the ground with a palm and smiled, adjusting the group’s direction. Looking down, Liera saw a tiny leaf bent under her boot. Her gaze followed the thickening plant life to an area with wet soil, bushes and trees. Then, as they walked forward, the impossible size of the structure that made plant life possible came into view through the fog. An ancient castle of sunwashed stone, tilted and sunken in the sand. Each of its towers was many times the size of Silyra’s tallest, their outer curve so wide Liera could mistake for streets. Most of the structure’s height lay hidden in the mist. Moisture from it clung to the time worn exterior, slowly trickling down to form a muddy oasis for plant life to flourish.

The ashfen guards drew closer to one another and some in the front drew their blades. “Please stay alert past this point, ambassadors,” Gyn warned. “The creatures native to the castle rarely come out of it, but one can never be too safe.”

Blake looked up at the castle in awe. “There’s things living in there?”

“Indeed. After the capital was moved to rain-touched regions with more mellow weather, this castle was abandoned. It quickly became a small oasis and home to all manners of creatures.”

Liera scanned the area. No other signs of civilization to be seen. “I don’t get it. Was it built in the middle of nowhere?”

“Ah, a good question.” Gyn stopped walking momentarily and pointed up to the sky. Liera followed with her gaze and saw a faint blue light shining through the fog. “Originally, the castle was built and maintained for war. Many layers of enchantments were put into place to ensure it would never fall, so even when the most solid of structures surrendered to decay and crumbled, it remained. No one had expected the desertification to be so extensive though, and so part of it now lies buried beneath the sand.”

“I see.” Liera kept staring at the faraway magic as she walked. The Andren history they’d been taught didn’t account for such feats of engineering or magic. Then again, most of it was tinted through eons of rebellion and war. They rounded part of the castle and found a gaping entrance to its insides. The stone might have been preserved by magic but the gate had been lost to time. Two silhouettes became visible through the fog as they approached.

Almost in unison, Gyn and the ashfen guards bowed deeply. “Gyn, a servant of his majesty the Emperor, greets the Blades. I have guided the respected ambassadors here as per his request.” He steered clear of the front without raising his head.

“Heh. They seem interesting this time ‘round.” The taller of the two figures put a hand on a guard’s back and hopped over him, straightening his back to look down at Liera, Blake and Asah. Even for an ashfen he was tall, though the outfit didn’t quite match his status. He wore plain clothes and his hair was a crumpled mess. Liera would mistake him for a commoner if not for the weapon strapped to his waist. The hilt was adorned with three golden gemstones, a symbol of his status as Andre’s third Blade. His gaze travelled down the length of the huge broadsword Blake had chosen. “Phew, strong too!”

Liera covered a chuckle with a smirk. Boisterous and loud was a welcome change from polite and reserved. She could tell the trip from mind to tongue was short in this one.

“They seem so…” A girl walked next to the third Blade, dressed in clothes of nobility. She couldn’t be taller or older than Liera, yet five gems adorned one of her white gloves. Liera took an involuntary step backwards as Vince’s words rang in her mind. The ashfen talked slow and trailed off, head lazily turning in random directions. Still they had to be vigilant.

“We are honoured to be in your presence.” Asah’s soft nudge interrupted her thoughts.

“Liera Tovale.” Liera gave a half bow. She tried to imagine she was paying respect to Silyra’s archmages and not some ashfen she hadn’t met before. Blake bowed and offered his name as well.

“Enough of that stuff.” The third Blade waved his hand. “Let’s get the show on the road! I’ve been waiting since morning.” He paced back and forth, stealing glances at the castle behind him and fiddling with the adorned hilt of his weapon. Was this man truly one of the pillars of the enemy empire?

“Of course,” Gyn obliged. “We can begin a tour of the castle thanks to your blessing and protection.”

“Woo!” The third Blade turned and rushed inside, vanishing in the fog. It took only moments for the screams of whatever beasts were hidden inside to begin. The sourness on Gyn’s face made Liera snicker. So much for looking courteous. She walked forward with the rest of the group and kept the fifth Blade in her sights. The desert vanished behind them as they passed through the ruined gate. Under the imposing monument of stone, Liera clung a little closer to Blake’s back.

“Have you ever heard of this place before?” Blake spoke with a lowered voice. “It’s massive.”

“Truly,” Liera whispered back. She gazed at the high vaulted ceiling and the ground etched with magic. “But built for war? Has war ever happened so deep within Andren lands?”

“Perhaps a civil war?” Blake asked. “That’d make sense.” They leaned on the right wall and scaled a tilted flight of stairs. The castle’s second level felt different… Cleaner, somehow. The sand only pooled in corners instead of covering the floors, allowing some moss to grow. A weird, elk-like creature with flat horns was scraping some of it off the walls.

“Civil wars are rapid and bloody. I doubt any side would have the time to build this.”

“It was a war against humanity and the Lanar coalition.” The fifth Blade’s voice came from up ahead, startling Liera. There’s no way she could have heard them from that distance. Blake stopped and with him, the whole group came to an awkward standstill.

“You’re speaking of the castle’s origins, lady Fifth?” Gyn seemed just as confused. Not even he’d heard their conversation and he was standing closer.

The fifth Blade tilted her head to the side a little, making her short white flocks brush against her shoulder. “I’m not talking to you.” The way she looked at him felt unnatural and frightening. There’s subtle hints that you can draw from an expression or the stance of someone’s body. She was plain empty, almost like a doll.

Gyn bowed. “Ah, I am deep–”

“All of you, get out,” she said. “I want to speak to the two humans alone.”

“Please, your grace,” Gyn almost pleaded. “It’s a matter of your own safety. We can’t leave you.”

The fifth Blade held unnaturally still, eyes still locked onto Gyn, as if in waiting. Liera felt a cold shiver as the magic circled in her irises. Just what did she want with them? Suddenly she felt the missing weight of her weapons all the more. She watched in awe as Gyn’s white skin somehow turned even more pale.

“I– I understand,” Gyn stammered. “When we can return, please call for us.”

The group, guards and all, turned around and went back down the stairs, with Asah mouthing a ‘Be careful’ before disappearing from view. They were now left alone with the fifth Blade, and only the sounds of weapons whizzing through the air and beasts being slain.

“Come,” she said without waiting. She turned and went up the next flight of stairs.

Liera and Blake exchanged glances. She didn’t risk speaking, despite the fifth Blade having gone ahead. Blake simply raised his shoulders and motioned to her with his head, suggesting that they follow. They scaled the castle in silence, floor after floor. The sounds of battle followed close to them, but they never saw the third Blade. Only the smears of blood and fleshy bits he left in his wake. The atmosphere cleared up as they climbed as the mist dispersed and the temperature rose a little. It wasn’t long before they reached the top, a terrace above the mist. Then, the fifth Blade finally stopped and turned.

“They said you’re ambassadors.” She scanned them over one more time. “What’s your routine like on a normal day?”

“Our… routine?” Liera tried to grasp the intent behind the question. Had the ashfen somehow discovered that they had been simple soldiers before this mission?

“Yes. Tell me what it’s like to be human. How’s your daily life in Silyra?”

Liera pondered for a while. The fifth Blade couldn’t be more than fifteen years of age, though it was hard to tell with ashfen at times. Perhaps she was just curious. “Shorter than yours, I’d imagine.” She debated adding an honorific. “We wake up early in the morning, most likely to exercise. Then–”

“Who oversees you while you sleep and when you exercise?”

“No one…” Blake raised an eyebrow. “We’ve learned how to train ourselves just fine.”

“I think I understand.” Her gaze alternated between the two of them. She seemed almost anxious. “Continue.”

“We usually prepare something for lunch and then eat it,” Liera said, confusion only growing. “I personally like to read in the mornings. Maybe the news or a book if it catches my interest.”

“And who dictates what you will read?”

“Me,” Liera said with a chuckle. She understood the implications of the question the next moment. “Why? Who decides what you can read?”

“My uncle and the magisters attending to me,” she murmured. “Sometimes the other Blades.” Liera and Blake stared at each other. This was shaping up to be a very weird conversation. The fifth Blade fidgeted with the gems on her glove. “So there’s no one that watches over you during the day?”

“No.” Liera was starting to grasp the reason behind the ashfen’s curiosity. “We can travel wherever we please and do whatever we want, within the confines of the law, of course.” Her eyes went a bid wide in response to that, and she held her hand to stop it from trembling.

“Here you are!”

Liera recognised the third Blade’s voice without even turning. The man vaulted through the terrace to where they stood. Blood dripping from his sword formed a trail behind him. He stumbled to an awkward stop, letting himself fall on his rear. The clothes he wore, already stained with blood, now had white dust on them as well.

“Whoa, what’s going on here?” He placed his elbows on his knees and smiled up at them. “Private gathering?”

“And your king?” The fifth continued as if he wasn’t even there. “How does he treat his subjects? How does the average person live?”

“From what I know, he is fair. Not without fault, but wise enough to listen to his advisors in manners that are beyond him,” Liera replied. It wasn’t completely true, but it was the highest praise she could come up with without sounding pretentious. “The citizens mostly leave quiet, peaceful lives. Even if they don’t have skills to speak of, the Elne… A prominent family in Silyra finds jobs they can do, and they get paid well enough to live comfortably.”

“Everyone?” She seemed outright shocked at that. “Even the sick and the elderly?”

“That’s right. Almost everyone can serve a function with the right tools and assistance.”

The fifth Blade gazed at the white stone of the castle they stood on. It was hard to gauge what she was thinking, but Liera had an idea. She was a young noble, whose guardians were overprotective to a fault. If they even censored what books she could read it was no wonder she wanted to know more about the world beyond her confines. So she fed the flames of her curiosity, without saying anything that wouldn’t hold up to scrutiny. Who knows what information they could gain out of this naive high-born?

“Okay.” The fifth Blade looked up at them solemnly. “Take me to Silyra with you upon your return.”

“Huh?” It was Liera’s turn to be shocked. She turned to Blake but his face held the same dazed expression. He shrugged and gave her the characteristic ‘you handle it’ notion.

“I’ll reward you handsomely,” the fifth Blade added, a hint of trepidation in her voice.

“There’s no need for a reward, but we’d have to discuss this with your guardians,” Liera replied. “It’d certainly have to wait until after the talks are over. We’d have to make arrangements for where you will stay, who’ll guard you and how you’ll return.”

“I don’t want to return,” she said with a lowered voice. “I want to leave this place.” Her shoulders trembled and she clenched her small fists. “Please take me with you.”

An internal battle waged in Liera’s mind. On one hand she saw a little girl bound in place with silk and gold, and on the other she saw ploys. Cunning plots of the Andren to make enemies out of them, or perhaps plant a spy in their midst. She wanted to believe the latter, but her instincts told of the opposite. Ever since she was a child, she could tell lies from the truth. The fifth Blade wasn’t lying. Which made refusing to help her all the more painful. She turned to the third Blade for… anything, really. Maybe a hint, maybe a nudge for him to express his disapproval of her hopeless dream. Even anger at her proposed betrayal would do.

“What are you looking at me for?” The man simply shrugged. “If I was in her shoes, I’d want to leave too.”

The wheels turned in Liera’s head. Perhaps there was a way she could do both. Gain information on Silyra’s behalf and help her. But for that to happen… “Do you really want to discuss this with the third Blade here? You’re speaking of defecting.”

“I don’t have the authority to make him leave,” the young ashfen replied. “And this is the best chance I’ll get.”

“Don’t worry about me. I already know her plans.” The third Blade laid back and placed his head in his palm. “Don’t really care what she does.”

“You’re still one of the Blades, right?” Liera asked, trying to ignore him. “Surely you have some say in your own life.”

The fifth Blade looked down at her feet. A rare cloud covered the sun above, letting the blue-ish light of the castle’s enchantments paint its white stone. Liera looked up at its source. A crystal many times the size of a man was embedded atop the tallest tower, perfectly cut and untouched by time or decay.

“You don’t understand the quiet resignation. That’s good.” The girl’s lips trembled as she spoke. “They will never allow me to leave. They say they will, but it’s a lie made of glass.” She fidgeted with one of her gloves, pulling off each individual finger, and Liera felt Blake pulling her back a little. “My magic lets me catch glimpses of death. The final moments hidden in people’s future. Ever since I can remember, I’ve been watching people… Their ends. For hours, months and years at a time without rest.” she chuckled, a tear streaking down her cheek. “ It can give us vital information, they say, and they’re right. I learn a lot about the future, about the economy, technology and the arts. But I see diseases, wars, old age and accidents. And so much sadness. I just don’t want it anymore.” She sniffled and her voice broke. “Please take me with you.”

Liera struggled for an answer. Even if it wasn’t a trap, there was no way for them to fulfil that request. She tried to remind herself that many people would suffer much worse than this single ashfen if she acted rashly.

“We cannot.” It was Blake who stepped up and answered. “The way it stands now, you’re bound here, to your duty, in the same way we are bound to our kingdom.” He glanced at the third Blade, still idling there. “But if you find respite or a chance, Silyra will welcome you. For however long you decide to be our guest.”

“I–” The fifth Blade stared at him, her trembling lips forming a smile. “I understand. Thank you.”

Liera gave Blake a satisfied nod. They couldn’t miss out on this change, but they also had to eliminate any danger to the current mission. For this, wordplay was a powerful tool. She wiped the sweat from her forehead, caused by both the sun and the tense situation.

“Alright, now that that’s done… I’m hungry, and this place is boring.” The third Blade jumped up, stretching a little. “Let’s head back and give you a tour of a tavern or something, why don’t we?”