“She... She threw a knife at you? Well, I mean, that seems like something she would do. No wait… yeah. That’s totally something she would do.” Henrick nodded as they made their way through an open breezeway, Elsie recounting her interaction with his sister as the pair became doused in golden sunlight as the sun sank over the horizon.

“Well I can definitely see how you two think alike,” Elsie mumbled, bundling into her new clothes. “Your understanding of safety is definitely one and the same.” Henrick looked over to Elsie. While she had shared with him what had happened in her short meeting with Vira, she had seemed reluctant to share specifics.

“Elsie,” He asked, slowing his pace, “did... Vira say anything to you? Anything unsettling?” Elsie looked up, surprised to see Henrick looking so concerned. 

“No, not that I can think of,” Elsie said, quickly continuing forward, Henrick quickly catching up with her.

“Ok, well that makes me think she did say something!” Henrick said, becoming more agitated.

“No, she didn't,” Elsie groaned, tired of Henricks prying. “She just asked me… well, she asked me if I even wanted to be doing this.” Henrick put a hand on Elsie’s shoulder stopping their progress down the hallway. 

“And what did you tell her?” Henrick tried his best to maintain a straight face as he inquired about Vira’s line of questioning, but the frigid air outside was nothing to the frigid stare of the young prince.

“I told her that I don't know,” Elsie said, pulling her shoulder away from Henrick, fixing him with an equally icy stare. 

“What does that even mean Elsie?”

“It means exactly what it means Henrick, I have no idea what I want!”

“Elsie you made a promise!”

“Not to kill a man Henrick!!” The pair was silent as the weight of Elsie's words sunk in. After a moment Elsie gathered her strength, taking a deep breath before continuing. “Look, when you told me about your problem, you never said anything about killing someone.”

“I told you we were going to end Mordal’s rule,” Henrnric said, trying his best to contain his exasperation as they quickly continued towards the Infirmary.

“And what does that tell me?!” Elsie said her annoyance quickly returning. “I thought it was a defeat and imprisonment sort of deal!”

“For Mordal? Please!” Henrick laughed dryly at Elsie's notion as they neared a lair of large oak doors, the depiction of a cloaked figure healing an injured soldier engraved into the woodwork. “With what that monster has done, Imprisonment isn’t enough.” The second Henrick pushed open the door, dozens of voices hit Elsie’s ears; each one of them in anguish.

***

The past couple of hours had been confusing for Max, to say the least. He had woken up to find a young woman attending to the wound in his shoulder-giving him a stronger wrap than the one that Aron had been able to give him- however, she was quickly replaced by a tray of warm broth, the bowl of delicious liquid his only companion as the nurses and doctors of the ward bustled around him, quietly conferring as they drafted healing remedies for the moaning soldiers around the room. 

After his small meal, Max’s attention was drawn to the sound of clashing metal outside. It took some effort to position his body upright, but once he had, Max had a clear view of the grounds below, which were crowded with troops engaging in drills. It didn't take long for Max to spot Aron in the crowd, the young man, diligently observing his troops. His observations were soon cut short, however, as a familiar voice rang through the din of patients. 

“Max!” Elsie yelled hurtling towards her brother. 

“Hey, El!” He said, embarrassing Elsie in a strong hug. 

“I was so worried about you,” Elsie grimaced, checking her brother over. “Are you alright? Did they hurt you? What did they even give you? Do you feel weird?!”

“Whoa, whoa whoa! Calm down there!” Max said, gently pushing his sister away. “ I’m perfectly fine, see?” He lifted his arms, displaying the bandage that was now free of blood. Elsie sighed, relieved to see her brother recovering nicely. 

“So how have you been getting on?” Max asked, earning a grimace from Elsie. “Oh, that bad?”

“It’s just been confusing,” Elsie muttered gazing around the room. Patients covered in bloody rags and bandages occupied most of the beds, their faces contorted in agony as doctors worked to heal their battle scars. “I’m assuming this is supposed to make some sort of point to me?” Elsie asked, turning to Henrick. Henrick simply stared back at her, remorse and annoyance the only feature on his face.  

“Not everything I do is a point, Elsie, I brought you here to see your brother; I’m not going to hide brave men and women who were wounded protecting us, simply because you think I'm trying to prove a point.” The two stared each other down, the tenting building in the room until a loud horn blast broke the contest. The resonance of the sound echoed through the halls, causing Henrick to run to the window, Elsie and Max following his gaze down into the yard. Below the gates of the palace had opened, allowing a stream of soldiers to march in, a large group of wounded following them. 

“Someone get Queen Vira immediately!” Shouted Henrick, a nurse quickly running out to fulfill the order. In an instant, Henrick was rushing to the doors, remorse being replaced with determination. Elsie watched as he went, feeling bad for him. It seemed that whatever was happening in this world, it was worse than she expected. 

“El?” Aron nudged her from his bed, fixating her with his brotherly smile. “I think you should follow him.” 

“What? Why would I do that?” Elsie asked, confused as to why her brother would ever suggest that she act nice towards the boy that had more or less kidnapped them. 

“Elsie, regardless of where we are, those people down there are injured, and they need help. The least we can do is help in some way.” Elsie grimaced as she gazed around the already full room, thinking of the scores of incoming wounded that would so take up more space, all because of one man and his armies.

“Alright, I’ll go and help out.” She said, making her way to the door. 

“Alright! That's my sister!” Max called out, clapping his hands and mock cheering for his sister; his rowdy behavior turning heads and making Elsie smile. 

As she turned the corner, her smile disappeared as her mind shot back to the wounded. “I can help these people,” she thought as she followed a throng of nurses and doctors headed to the courtyard. “I just don’t know how.”