Aelwyn was pulled ungracefully from her sleep; shaken awake by Mother Helena. 

Judging from how the sky seemed to be just barely turning a faint purple, it was barely twilight. 

"What is it?" She asked, staring grogglily up at the older woman. 

"A messenger from the brothel has come looking for you." 

Aelwyn didn't miss the way the older woman's eyes narrowed with suspicion. 

"Did they say what they wanted?" Pushing herself to her feet, she moved past Mother Helena, pulling on a pair of thick trousers and an itchy tunic. 

"No." Mother Helena paused, the tension between them palpable. "Stay out of trouble."

"Always do." Aelwyn assured the older woman before she hurried her way downstairs. 

At the first floor landing, she noticed Nevyah's blonde head peeking under the heavy curtains. 

"You should be in bed." Aelwyn whispered, coming up behind her. 

The younger girl jumped, letting the curtain fall with a heavy thud, "I heard Mother Helena open the door. She never opens the door this late. The lady said that she was looking for you. Why's she looking for you?" 

Nothing good. She couldn't help thinking, instead she just said, "No idea, I'll have to go speak with then to find out." 

"Can I come with you?"

The question surprised Aelwyn, leaving a foul taste in her mouth and she forced out a smile, "Not this time," she reached out and ruffled the young girl's messy blonde hair. "You should get to bed, before Mother Helena tans your hide for being up this late." 

Nevyah's nose wrinkled in disbelief, "She wouldn't do that. Would she?" 

Aelwyn shrugged, "Stick around and find out if you don't believe me." 

Nevyah's eyes narrowed with suspicion, weighing whether or not the young woman was telling the truth or not. 

But half a second later, she spun on her heels and scurried down the dark hallway, not wanting to test her luck. Aelwyn smiled fondly, watching her disappear around the corner to the small stairwell that led to the children's bedrooms. 

Her smile faded when she cracked open the heavy wooden door and a rush of frigid air barreled its way inside, making her shiver. 

Standing, coverned from head to toe in a thick, fur-lined cloak was a young woman, maybe a handful of years older then Aelwyn, with olive toned skin and high cheekbones, dark impenetrable eyes and long silken hair the color of raven feathers. 

"IllÍa." Aelwyn greeted coldly, stepping outside the warm threshold of the door and closing it behind her. "What are you doing here?" 

Seemingly unbothered, Illía spoke, "My mother wishes to speak with you." 

"And she couldn't wait till sun-up?" Aelwyn replied sarcastically, arms crossing over her chest. 

Illía stared unblinking, "It's urgent." 

Aelwyn snorted, "What could possibly be so urgent that-" 

"Lettie's missing." 

Her body went ridged, "Missing? What do you mean missing?" her arms uncrossed with confusion. 

"I can't say more. You'll have to speak with my mother. But perhaps you'd like to wait until sun-up?" Illía taunted, her voice dripping with venom.

"Lead the way." Aelwyn bit out through clenched teeth.