“If he wakes, he will not be the same. This fever has been too high for too long, there will be damage,” the female healer delivers this news in a manner that gives Trinsi the impression that she’s done this many times before.

At least the hospital they are in has the proper equipment to provide General Usel comfort.

Lunetta shows the most emotion, although she excuses the healer before showing it. Distressed, she turns to Trinsi and throws her arms around her. Over Lunetta’s shoulder, Trinsi glances at Seis, who stares at them without expression. Without having to say it, Seis can read the emotion in her eyes: You promised he would be okay.

General Usel is tough, but not above nature. Being a good person doesn’t exempt you from misfortune. That’s just not how it works. Still, this hurts Trinsi a lot.

Cloakwood had been expecting them- well that’s not entirely true, they hadn’t expected the Syars to make it to Cloakwood alive, but had hoped that at least one made it. They don’t know about Seis, they don’t know who she is.

Their party hasn’t had a chance to meet with the political leaders in the city yet. Their arrival was late, and they went straight to the hospital to tend for those wounded. They never got a chance to properly count their losses either, so Olan was looking into that at the moment.

Lunetta composes herself, “Let everyone have the day off tomorrow while we coordinate ourselves with our hosts. Get a long rest, we won’t meet up again until the afternoon.”

While the First Knight isn’t fond of the idea of letting the Storms gain on them, she’s not going to argue. She’s overworked and upset. “I’ll escort you to your room.”

They weren’t looking to take room in the city, their plan was to reside in their wagons. With most of them damaged, the Cloaks insisted in putting them up in a villa.

Far after Lunetta’s excusal of Trinsi, she is unable to sleep. Not that she isn’t fatigued, she’s extraordinarily so, but her heart is broken. She remembers Usel so fondly, surely that part of him wouldn’t change, would it?

She rises, shedding on the light robe over her bare shoulders and stepping out into the open hall. The air is brisk, but not unbearable. The hallway opens to a large garden, where the moon watches over from the dark sky.

Trinsi begins to sob silently. She can’t stop the tears from rolling down her cheeks, but slows down her breath so she’s not as audible as she could be. Not that anyone was around or awake anyway.

Walking forward, she stops and leans against a pillar. In the distance, she watches a silver cat stroll through the garden. It’s in pursuit of a smaller animal. Trinsi becomes invested in what is going on below her and doesn’t hear the approaching steps.

Not until they're a couple feet behind her anyway. She spins around, kicking her foot in the air instinctively. If Seis’s reflexes were not as sharp as they were, Trinsi would have gotten her right in the jaw.

“S-sorry!” she yelps as she jumps back a foot. “It wasn’t my intention to scare you.”

Trinsi pretends to rub her eyes in exhaustion, in hopes of cleaning her face without Seis’s notice.

“Isn’t it a little late for you to be up?”

“I just returned from the hospital, I had to make some arrangements.”

“Oh, well don’t let me keep you.”

Seis watches Trinsi turn away with concerned eyes.

“Trin, are you alright?”

She doesn’t answer the question, instead hopes dearly that Seis will get the hint and leave her alone. After it becomes obvious that she isn’t leaving, Trinsi sighs.

“No one is alright, no one in their right mind would be. We’re walking in to be slaughtered. Why are we doing this Seis? Is it even worth it?” She turns back around, facing Seis again.

“I told you that this was what we were walking into.”

“You also told me that he would be okay.” Trinsi can feel the tears welling up.

“I know, I’m sorry.”

Red flushes over Trinsi’s cheeks, this time in anger. She shoves Seis back, “Don’t apologize!”

Seis says nothing, dropping her gaze to the floor. “I’ll leave you.”

“No wait-” Trinsi says, slapping herself mentally. “I apologize, it’s not your fault. None of this is your fault. I need to stop forgetting that.”

The Ester doesn’t leave, but she doesn’t say anything either.

“Do I bother you?” Trinsi asks unexpectedly. “I must sound like a child who throws a fit whenever things don’t go her way.”

When Seis hesitates to answer Trinsi adds, “You can be honest, I won’t cry again I promise.”

“You don’t bother me.”

Her hesitation must mean that she doesn’t want to get Trinsi’s hopes up by admitting that. Trinsi understands however, and nods.

“I think…” she starts walking back to her room, “I can get some sleep now, thank you.”