“You’ve certainly planned everything well, Saorise,” said Nathan as Saorise entered his office that evening by candlelight.

“It is reassuring to have your approval Father,” Saorise replied as she gently closed the study door.

“My approval?” Nathan chuckled, “It has been an age since you have needed it”.

Saorise sat delicately on one of the chairs at the meeting table rather than before he father’s desk. She placed the candle she’d been holding on the table before her then turned to her father, “Yet it does make me smile to receive it all the same”.

Nathan stood, taking with him the papers he had found in his desk, “And these red leaves, how will you address them with the Prince lurking?”

“They come with the conscripts, they will be marked like them and measured. They will be trained with them until I see an opportunity, then I will remove them in small batches through various excuses to send them to their destinations,” said Saorise.

“I don’t want to know where that is, I just want to know what your back up plan is should Isiah work out you’re up to something. He might be young, but he’s a sharp one,” said Nathan.

Saorise sighed, “I hope so, because him being sharp will be what saves his life if he finds out what I am doing”.

Nathan frowned as he sat down opposite her, “Having treasonous thoughts barely a week into our new arrangement is not a good sign, Saorise”.

Saorise smiled, “They are not treasonous father, not unless Peter wishes them to be”.

Nathan sighed, “Very well, I know better than to question whether or not you know what you are doing”.

“I did question it,” Saorise admitted.

“Hmm?” asked Nathan with a raised eyebrow.

“I questioned it. I question a lot of the ideas I come up with, whether people tell me they’re brilliant or not,” said Saorise.

Nathan waited, sensing his daughter had more to say. Saorise didn’t disappoint.

“I…I questioned it all and this time learned these accords, this position, this whole world…we are in a very precarious position, and if we do not adapt to it, we could all perish to forces far more terrible than the Wendolan army, and not at all likely to consider our surrender should we lose,” Saorise finished.

“Forces far more terrible…? Saorise what are you talking about?” asked Nathan, “Is there another enemy threatening us?” asked Nathan, “A war we should be preparing for?”

“There isn’t really a way we can prepare for it that were not already doing,” Saorise admitted, “When they come, and they will, we will either be ready or we won’t, and if we’re not ready, it will only be a matter of time before we perish anyway”.

Nathan frowned, “Who?”

Saorise met her father’s gaze, then turned away, “You believe in Gods, don’t you, father?”

“Of course,” Nathan replied.

“If they exist, does it not make you wonder what other great and terrible things are possible?” asked Saorise.

Saorise knew how she sounded. Like a young woman stressed beyond belief that had thought too much on something that would never come true, but Nathan simply remained silent rather than dismiss her words. To be entirely honest, Saorise wasn’t sure if she could reveal to him her conversation with Leisha, but after some consideration she’d decided against it. Her father was a strong man, but he would feel inclined to help, and Saorise didn’t know at this stage if that help would become detrimental or not.

“Saorise?” asked Nathan.

“Yes?” asked Saorise.

“Don’t ever loose sight of who you are and what you believe,” Nathan spoke softly, “Promise me that”.

Saorise nodded, “I promise”.

Nathan smiled, “I want to hear all about the Festivals of Leisha taking place in the capital of Wendolan. Would that not be a great story to tell? Would that not inspire the unity you claim to be fostering?”

“Perhaps,” Saorise agreed, “But it would not doubt make quite a few riot as well”.

“No doubt,” replied Nathan, “But they would be aware of it then, would they not? And being aware of something is like taking half a step forward. Before you know it, you’ve taken so many half-steps forward that you’re ahead of all the others taking their time with full steps’.

Saorise nodded, “Thank you, father”.

“You are more than welcome, Saorise, as always,” said Nathan.

Saorise stood, picking up the candlestick.

“And Saorise?” Nathan called and Saorise passed him to walk out. She paused at her name and turned back, “You truly did do a good job of running the Keep. I thank you from the bottom of my heart”.

“Thank you, father, I could not have done it without you,” Saorise replied.

“You could have, you’re just too damn modest to admit it,” replied Nathan, “Now, off with you, get some rest, tomorrow we start that ‘politics’ thing you’re so fond of”.

“So fond of it I got myself a spot in the one room I can do it from the dawn to dusk without anyone interrupting me or calling me pet names,” Saorise frowned.

“Please,” said Nathan as he grinned back up at his daughter, “If anyone can stand to Represent all of the East’s interests, it is you, my daughter. You do a better just than I most of the time. It almost makes me feel envious”.

“Nathan Caramort, envious? Now that would be the day,” Saorise teased.

Nathan chuckled, “Go to bed, girl!”

Saorise leaned down and kissed her father’s temple, “Goodnight, father. Sleep well”.

“Perhaps I might, as the Prince said, a bed would be nice,” said Nathan.

Saorise left her father’s study, headed back to her own rooms at a leisurely pace. Had she spoken of too much or too little? Had she been right in what she prepared? Had she been too swift with them? Had she been too forceful in her plans for the Prince. The rapid questions swirling in her mind for one calmed after her talk with her father, and Saorise was able to pause at the end of the hall and look out over the dark forest. It gave her a serene feeling of calm, and she could not help the smile that appeared on her lips. Come what may, this was her path now. She had to remain loyal to it, and she had to ensure it was seen through.

She would plant the seed before the gate to the Lower Realm and she would do so with the help of the others like her. The path was long, but it would form, and she would see it through.

Saorise Caramort finally had an ambition, a purpose. Whether this was a weakness or a strength was yet to be seen.