“You leave with Gallyia and Aeleon today,” Ellanor said as she paced in front of the windows in her handmaid’s bedroom. The sky outside had just begun fading from black with the first light of the day – no sign of the storm that had raged mere hours ago.

Tara frowned from where she sat at the edge of her bed, a steaming cup of tea in her hands. She watched Ellanor’s pacing with that clever, all-seeing gaze. “Why,” she asked.

Ellanor, who had not slept at all, had spent the night with her father in his private study cooking up a plan. Dalton had drawn up the official documents, signing over both Aeleon and Gallyia to the Skyward estate. He had then offered to pay in Ellanor’s stead, but she had refused, claiming it would only further complicate things with Yvet if she somehow found out. In reality Ellanor still did not trust the Duke enough to in any way be indebted to him – especially when it came to her family.

The rest of the night had been spent planning a scheme that would get both Aeleon and Gallyia, as well as Tara, away from Redstone without raising suspicion. Ellanor could cut her trip short, claim sickness or lingering distress over Lourelle’s passing. The latter would not be a complete lie – Ellanor had been so distracted by the visit that she had not had much time to grieve in private. But to leave so soon after arriving, and so suddenly… 

They might be able to send the three humans on their own, with Jane and Lukas guarding the carriage, but it would leave Ellanor completely exposed at Redstone.

Tara’s question still hung in the air. Why.

“Because,” Ellanor said, pausing her pacing, “I fear what will happen when Yvet finds us out. When she finds out why I am really here.”

“If she finds you out,” Tara corrected.

Ellanor shook her head and slumped onto the bed beside Tara. “We are past the point of no return,” she whispered. “Yvet knows something, I am sure of it, I just do not know how much.”

“Then leave with us. We go back to Skyward and we figure this out some other time.”

Ellanor huffs. “We have been here five days, barely. No, I cannot leave, that would be too big of a risk.” She turned to Tara. “And you are not going back to Skyward, that is just a cover. Dalton is getting you out of Avvyr.”

Tara’s eyes widened. “How?”

“The Duke apparently has a ‘business trip’ to Teirales,” Ellanor answered. “He has offered to bring you with him as he will pass by Skyward. That is what we will tell the Duchess.”

“But not what will happen?”

“No. You will go with him, but you will go to Station in northern Casanve and take the Continental Railroad from there.”

For the first time in all the years Ellanor had known her handmaid, Tara looked truly shocked. “To where? How is that a smaller risk than having us all go back to Skyward? And besides all that, how will we get to Station in the first place?”

“You will travel by airship through Teirales.”

Tara barked a laugh, and there was nothing kind or humorous in it. “Teirales? The one country in all of the Known World that has a permanent ban on humans? Of course.”

It was Ellanor’s time to look shocked – Tara had never spoken to her like that, had never shown an ounce of anger. “The border between Teirales and Avvyr is open – with Dalton you can cross in undetected – and getting into Casanve at the other end is much easier than the other way around–”

“And where exactly would we go, hm?” Fire burned in Taras eyes as she rose from the bed. “The railroad will take us straight through Artárlan, and last time I checked they eat humans there–”

“Of course I am not sending you to Artárlan!” Ellanor yelled as she too stood. “You are going to Neyanock, it is the only place that is safe for humans.”

Tara fell silent at this, taking a small step back. “No.”

Ellanor gaped. “‘No’?”

“No,” Tara repeated.

“Tara, I am trying to save you–”

“And what if I do not want to be saved?” When Ellanor did not answer Tara continued, “Ellanor, I am not leaving you here, no matter what you say.” She crossed the space between them and grabbed hold of Ellanor’s hands. “If I am going to Neyanock then you are coming with me. You cannot change my mind.”

Ellanor stared up at Tara, unable to think clearly. She had realized over the past few days that she would do anything for the human. She tried to swallow the lump in her throat. “I–I cannot risk losing you.”

This time Tara’s laugh was gentle and warm. She cradled Ellanor’s cheek with a hand and whispered, “You will never lose me.”

Ellanor’s eyes fluttered shut as Tara gently kissed her lips, and she savoured their warmth for the short moment it lasted. The handmaid was grinning when Ellanor reopened her eyes, enough for her to ask, “What?” with a blush.

“Nothing,” Tara said. “Just nice to finally do that.”

Ellanor scoffed. “Alright, stop smiling.” She added, “I will let you stay.”

Tara’s smile only widened, but she let go of Ellanor’s hand and walked over to where she had left her dress the night before. She glanced at Ellanor over a shoulder. “You want to stay and watch…?”

Ellanor’s cheeks burned red. “No– I mean, not like–” She shook her head and hurried for the door, followed by Tara’s laugh.