the phoenix

     The cleric suppressed every urge to bite back at such a comment, her lips pursed together to form a nearly straight line in the process. Every single rebuttal remained perched beneath her chin as she inhaled slowly in an attempt to calm her nerves. Putting on a mask of understanding, the woman feigned a nod of agreement. “I don’t think in the midst of battle there are baths lying about for everyone to submerge themselves into once they acquire a bit of sweat or become wounded..”

Ashes rolled her eyes and didn’t even try to hide it. A grin pulling at the corners of her mouth. “Well of course not, that would be absurd.” She shrugged and crossed her arms. Even though that is exactly what she would do if given the chance. Already, she felt like she was sweating too much for her own liking. “I just think proper hygiene is important especially when wounded. Don’t you think so?”

Efrain’s brows rose more and more the longer Corvina, well, Ashes, spoke. He was almost grateful she’d stopped speaking or else his eyebrows would have left his forehead entirely. “Well,” he began, “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Ashes.” He bowed slightly to her, but didn’t offer his hand. “Though I’m sorry your rediscovery was a requirement rather than a choice.” He knew from experience that such drastic shifts weren’t easily adapted to. And, of course, even he had gotten to keep most of what he had. 

He tried to think back to the more recent dealings of her father, but drew a blank. He’d been busy with his own grieving as well as the war. He knew, however, that the ethics of her father were incredibly lacking and always had been. “There are plenty of nobles who regard your father as little more than rat,” he said carefully. He, and this was fairly well known, was one of those nobles, though he’d never done anything to impede his behavior before. Her father wasn’t the only horrible person who held a title after all. “If you ever wished to reclaim status, or even reappear as very much alive, there are those who would back you.” He shrugged, “You could even state your very poetic case about ashes for dramatic affect.”

Ashes snorted out a laugh at his small bow but a smile slowly curled on her face. The new name had taken some getting used to, sure, but she was liking it more and more each time she heard it leave someone’s lips. It was something she made and it was hers alone. “A pleasure to be reacquainted with you, Sir Efrain Crayhorn.” She made a small facsimile of a curtsy. Her face flashed quickly with hurt, then sadness, and for another second relief before moving quickly back to her mask of smugness and arrogance. “Yes, I also would have preferred a more gentle way. But I guess bygones are bygones. I can’t change it.”

Her arms crossed over her chest and her smirk grew. “There would have been a time when I would have taken a great offense to that, Efrain. Now I just find that amusing. Because they are quite right. Though everyone saw fit to leave him to his devices.” She had always rebuffed people who had said that about her father. After all, she was raised knowing that the things he did were means to an end. A necessary evil, but one that kept them afloat. Until it was turned on her however. Then she saw it for what it was when it was her skin on the line. At his words, a grin spread. “Are there? Would you count yourself as one of them?” She laughed and raised an eyebrow. “It is quite poetic, is it not? Though I think I might need to make it a bit more dramatic.”

Thalra could only blink for a few seconds as she took in all this new information. She almost didn’t believe it, as it was so freely given, but what reason would Corvina have to lie about any of this? Even if she was some imposter– and Thalra was starting to seriously doubt that was a possibility– what use would a fabricated story be to someone like Thalra. She had heard the rumors about the fire, about the attack from the rebels, not from Corvina’s father, but from others. Her father had tried to contact Thalra once or twice since then, and she’d rebuffed him, sending him back polite denials. It would not be smart to be so close to him with tragedy so fresh and something about the whole ordeal had seemed off to Tharla from the start. 

And here his daughter was, alive, so it seemed she’d been correct. To think her father had abandoned her just as she’d manifested real power. Well, Thalra had always suspected him a foolish incompetent man. “Seems you’ve had an eventful couple of weeks,” she said, eyebrow cocked, her tone light as if they were discussing the latest round of noble matchmaking and not the killing of her mother and end of life as she knew it. But Corvina didn’t seem bothered by it, so Thalra didn’t pretend to be either. Her arms were getting tired from where they held the potted plant though. 

“Darling, won’t you let me treat you to lunch? You probably haven’t had a proper meal in weeks and I would love to hear you explain everything in detail.” Thalra had been out of the loop since she’d left Myrefall, and the yearning for rumors had gone ignored until Corvina had appeared and offered her something this interesting on a silver platter. “We should discuss your plans. You do have a next move, don’t you?”

Ashes let out a laugh and shook her head. It was easy to fall back into her persona, the one she so readily used throughout most of her life. It was almost like a worn blanket that was just right, even if it was a bit rough on the edges. She knew she shouldn’t fall so easily back into a casual report with someone who as far as she knew was close to her father but the prospect of getting to feel even a bit like her old self was too good for her to pass up. So she decided to let the guard she had up fall away and shrug.

“Oh eventful doesn’t even begin to cover it! You can’t even imagine what I can do now. I’ve got a hold on most of it. Though I did accidentally turn someone into a toad because they pissed me off, but they were fine an hour later!” She shrugged again as if it was just something that could happen sometimes and not a show of magic. But to her that’s just what it was. Something she could do now. Plus it just made her feel like all of the time she had spent telling people how amazing she was, was now justified. Because who else could do this kind of magic? Not many people she knew.

A sigh of relief left her and her grin grew at the offer. “That would be amazing. You’ve though correctly. It’s been so rough. I honestly don’t think I’m cut out for this kind of life. It’s so hard to adjust to.” She pouted for a few minutes before she let her grin return to her face. Though it faltered a bit at her next question. “I mean... sort of?” She flipped her hair off of her shoulder. And in more of a hissing whisper towards her said “I do know I want my father to feel as useless as he is. That’s for sure.”

Getting electrocuted by a dead woman on the streets of Khaggon was not something Thalra had foreseen when she’d woken up that morning and so when she saw the electricity crackling between Corvina’s fingers, her reaction was slow. She considered for a moment throwing the potted plant at Corvina to distract her, but by the time the thought had formed the magic had already dissipated into the air and the woman was stepping back and relaxing. Thalra too relaxed, and shifted the plant until the base was resting on her hip. She wasn’t coy about looking Corvina over, trying to inspect her for any changes or any signs that she was some imposter in disguise. If she was, it was a very good fake, they’d even gotten the voice right.

“Your father…” She trailed off. Thalra wasn’t stupid, she knew what Corvina was implying. But why would her father try to have her killed? It was clear Corvina had been on her own for a while going by the subtle wear and tear of her clothes though she must have been trying to keep up appearances. Suddenly, Thalra switched tactics. “I suppose this wouldn’t have anything to do with that magic of yours? Maybe I’m wrong, but I don’t remember you having any particular interest in the arcane the last time we saw one another.” 

Really, Thalra wouldn’t have thought Corvina capable of magical study. She’d seemed focused on other, more material things. Of course, if she was speaking to an imposter wearing Corvina’s face, the magic was easy enough to understand. Thalra kept her voice and expression carefully neutral in their curiosity, just in case it spooked the woman.

As she noticed her looking her over, she slowly spun in a circle, as if she was modeling a gown in front of her. A smirk playing across her face. She wasn’t happy about the fact that she had lost everything, though she was beginning to enjoy the shock that people seemed to have when they recognized her. Who knew that coming back from the dead could be fun? Maybe she’d have to lean into it a bit more? But then again, that might also cause her father to do something about it, and she really didn’t want him trying to pay someone to keep her quiet. Since she knew there was no way he could do it himself, and he seemed to afraid of her to even try in the first place.

Her lips pursed as she was thinking about how to respond to what she was saying but it died on her lips and instead another question was asked, one that she more much more ready to answer. “No, no worrying about that memory of yours, it’s still good. It has everything to do with it. I’m well studied and I know a small bit of arcane but it never really kept my attention. This was a bit of a...” She trailed off and paused, trying to find a good way to describe what had happened.

“It’s more like something I’ve always had, but never had to use I guess?” She shrugged, her grin getting even bigger as if she was telling her a secret that no one was supposed to know or some kind of gossip. Ashes leaned in a bit closer and quieter. “After the awful attack by those terrible rebels that stole my mother’s life I had to protect myself somehow. So I felt the arcane fire inside of me light up and I reduced them all to ash. They deserved it after all. They murdered my mother.” She then moved back to how she was standing before with a shrug.”

“Congratulations on such personal growth,” monotoned Efrain as he eyed her fingertips. Spontaneously acquisitions of magic were not unheard of, though he had never assumed Corvina would be one where such power would erupt within. “I’m very sorry for the loss of your mother,” he said, entirely sincere, his own parental loss echoing in his chest as he spoke. 

In all honesty Efrain was still confused. He knew next to nothing of her father’s dealings, but her sudden power didn’t seem particularly threatening to his enterprise. At least, not more threatening than a non-magical Corvina. Perhaps her father had assumed that the fire within her would likewise ignite an ambition for politics and an ethical code. If so, no wonder he was terrified as he lacked all of said qualities. “Have you not tried?” he asked suddenly, frowning. While no one was paying attention to them right then, there was no guarantee that no one else would recognize either him or her. If word got back to her father, or anyone else, there would be quite the scandal. “Taking your life back I mean? Or are you simply building a new one from the ashes?” An inadvertent grin spread across his lips. “New name and all?”

Ashes crossed her arms and huffed, unsure if he really did care to congratulate her or it was sarcasm and she really didn’t have time for it. Her powers were a very touchy subject for her. While she was reveling in being able to do things and control fire, it also hurt knowing that she had to almost die to get them. What she wanted to do was be back in her home, reading in her library and ignoring the people she didn’t want to see. She wanted to be invited to parties again and dressing up in fancy clothes and then never wearing them again. All of these thoughts raced through her head and probably showed on her face. But she chose to just say, “What can I say, turns out I had it inside of myself all along.” A smirk played on her face and she shrugged as if it was something she knew she always had. Her face faltered slightly at the sincere mention of her mother. She didn’t have many soft spots but this was one. She bowed her head for a few seconds. “Thank you. I wish more people cared. She didn’t deserve it. She was the best of us.”

Her eyes narrowed and she rolled her eyes, the soft, genuine moment over. “Tried? Uh no. I was scared shit less at the prospect of having these powers and the only person I had left looked at me like I was actually a demon. So I just ran with my tail between my legs.” Now she could’ve been over exaggerating what happened, as she usually did, but it was hard to tell with her. “No, I’ve been starting over. Which is the worst and I don’t know how people do it. Its dreadful. Not having my name kills me. But I go by Ashes now. It’s what happens when people try to take me down. That’s all that’s left.”

Efrain refrained, barely, from grimacing as her hand came to rest on his shoulder, the warmth of her palm seeping through his shirt. He’d never appreciated the easy way so many nobles claimed his own space as theirs. It had always seemed like a strange display of entitlement when they so readily touched him, but he allowed Corvina to do so, the game more important than his personal comfort. He chuckled sardonically at her suggestion at charming. He didn’t doubt her capabilities, but the mere image of her trying her wiles on him was laughable. Very few men or women had succeeded and even then he had desired them to. 

Impressive, however, that she apparently helped someone. It almost made him worried for her wellbeing. He would have to check with the commanders in charge of the Llyn refugees for confirmation. Perhaps he shouldn’t, however, as that may alert the Lord Nicholai of the continued existence of his daughter. 

“I was merely wondering what a dead woman was doing walking around noticeably alive.” He didn’t bother to sugar coat it, nor did he shy away from the simple truth. His tone wasn’t accusatory, though, and remained light and conversational as if they were discussing the atrocious hats the nearest stall was selling. The only benefit to this interaction thus far was that he knew that she was not undead. Crazed and murderous remained to be seen, but she was very much alive. “As always, Corvina, you’re looking lovely, but I couldn’t help but notice the distinct lack of charring.” 

“Your father was never the most reliable of sources, nor the sharpest observationalist, but this is a rather noticeable contradiction to his adamant claims.” He narrowed his eyes slightly, a grin curving his lips. It would be quite hysterical if she had merely faked her own death and had been the only casualty, but he doubted that her mother had likewise shunted her responsibilities as a noblewoman. “He surely knows, doesn’t he?”

Ashes rolled her eyes at his laugh and huffed. Not that she didn’t think she couldn’t do it, she knew she had the magic to and had done it before, but his attitude almost made her want to do it on principle. But she wasn’t going to waste it like that. Instead, she just worked to keep her charming grin on her face. After all, she didn’t exactly want people stopping to listen in on their conversations. Not unless she wanted them to. And currently, she wasn’t very worried about the man in front of her. Not yet.

A laugh left her lips and she shook her head, her grin only growing. “Oh, so that’s your reasoning. I’ll admit, it is a good question. I wish I could truly answer it for you. But it’s a bit... complicated, you see.” She let a bit of flame roll between her fingers before extinguishing it, just as easily. Ashes had spent nights awake, wondering why fate had toyed with her so. While she enjoyed having magic and power at her fingertips, it had come at a cost she wasn’t sure she would have willingly paid. “Yes, I found myself quite lucky that I didn’t die in the blaze that the rebels caused. Though it did kill my mother. I found myself on the other side of the flame with enough power to save myself.”

She snorted and shook her head. “You don’t know the half of it, Efrain.” Crossing her arms, she sighed again though a smirk returned to her lips. “My father wants people to think I’m dead. He’s afraid of what I can do now. If I could take my life back, I’d do it in a heartbeat. But I’ve got nothing to prove I’m who I say I am. Before you said it, I hadn’t heard my name in a long time.”

Time: July 9th, Late Morning Location: Khaggon Status: @ashes-nicholai

With a chime of bells, Thalra exited the flower shop, her gaze preoccupied with reading over the receipt the florist had handed her. Flowers were considerably more expensive here than they were outside the mountain city as natural sunlight was harder to come by, but Thalra didn’t mind splurging a little if the end result was satisfying. In her other arm, she held a sizable potted plant whose leaves caressed the top of her head, the underside of the leaves a deep purple. She’d only taken a few steps out onto the street when she felt her shoulder collide with someone else’s, very nearly knocking the plant she was holding out of her grasp. 

With an annoyed grunt, Thalra glared at the person she’d run into. “You might want to try being a little more–” Then she stopped, her eyes widening in surprise. She knew this woman. Not well, by any means, in fact, she knew her father much better but still, she recognized her. The problem was, she shouldn’t be able to recognize her. Corvina Nicholai was supposed to be dead, not freely roaming the capital’s streets. 

“Corvina,” she said, trying to regain her composure. “I’d say it was a pleasure to see you, but I’ll be honest, mostly it’s just a shock.”

Though she was doing her best to manage her funds, Ashes could help herself as she wondered around the town. It was still hard for her to think about the things she was buying and if they were of value in both use and necessity. Flowers were definitely on the not necessary side, even she knew that much, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t look as she was walking by. However, that lead her to getting lost in her own thoughts. Of what her life was supposed to be, and how it was now. She was glad to do what she wanted but this wasn’t the way she wanted to do it. But there was no changing the facts of what happened.

So she turned to leave, not noticing someone leaving the shop until she had crashed into them. If it was up to her she would have just sent a nasty glare and continued her walk but she felt the hand hold her in place and so she turned to face them, palm crackling with electricity.

The anger that has at first been on her face, faded away into one of confusion as the energy she was holding onto faded away. The face was one she recognized. One she had seen around her home but she was slightly surprised to run into her. “Thalra?” She paused and took a step back, unsure. But when nothing came of it she moved back into a relaxed stance. “I’d say the feeling is mutual. But then again, I haven’t exactly been trying to hide.  I suppose you’ve heard my father’s side?” She sighed dramatically and brushed a stray hair from her face. “No matter how much my father would prefer it, I’m very much here and very much alive. I’m sure that’s quite a shock. My father’s always been lazy with his work. Plus I get the feeling he’s afraid of me.”

He didn’t let his gaze flicker down to her magic, magic he had not been aware that she had possessed, and instead maintained his smile as she spoke. At her joke he couldn’t quite keep the furrow from his brow. Had she been to blame for the fire the entire time? If so, why and why would she be so willing to be in public in the capital of all places? She had never struck him as unintelligent, just rude and spoiled, so he doubted that she would make herself so foolishly conspicuous. 

“Me? I just live here. Ancestral estate and all that.” He glanced out over the milling crowd. It wasn’t packed like some market days, but it wasn’t vacant either. If this turned ugly, which he doubted it would since she always despised ugliness, there could be quite a number of casualties. “Sadly, I’m still here on work. I get a break from the war, but the to-do list is endless.” His smile turned sad of its own accord and he shook himself, shoving the most recent memories of carnage aside. 

“The only purely pleasurable thing I know of these days is the continuous parties put on by the Rowanson twins.” The twins had been notorious partiers, and still were, but in the last year had become so enmeshed in politics that their parties weren’t the rowdy, drug-addled and drunken affairs they used to be. Nowadays they were times to form committees and payment plans for refugees and orphanages, not that she should know that. He’d attended many of their later events, but had never seen Corvina attend since the early days. “Somehow, despite everything, they still manage to throw a ball every other week.” He tucked his parcel more securely under his arm before speaking again. “What is your brand of pleasure these days, my lady? Surely you still have your indulgences alongside this new fire of yours.”

As much as she was being personable and kind, Ashes wasn’t stupid. She was taking in his movements and face movements, though it didn’t seem like he was giving anything away. Which she wasn’t surprised by. But how much did he really know? There was no way that he didn’t know about the fire at least. She knew her father would spread his truth to anyone who would listen. But with her still being alive, how would that support his narrative? Had he sent someone to take care of her? It wasn’t something that she had though of until this moment. Face to face with someone who truly knew who she was.

“Oh is that so. You’re such a lucky one.” She fought to keep a bitter tone out of her words. Ashes noted him glancing around, and her nerves started to light up. Was there someone waiting up ahead? Maybe he was looking for witnesses? She wasn’t sure, but she still tried to keep a friendly face. “Oh right, nasty business the war. I helped out at a refugee spot a bit a go. Tragic, really.” Her smile moved to mirror his sadder one, and she did feel bad for them. “Rebels came to our home. Terrible business.” She dropped a bit of information to see how he reacted to it before she moved a bit closer to him.

Ashes laughed and shook her head, a grin now across her face. “Ah, I remember those fondly. I’ve been a bit... under the weather. So I’ve chosen to forgo some of them. Though they are quite the lucky ones.” More like all of them, since the war but she’d rather not dwell on those thoughts. Instead she pushed past those thoughts. She reached out to place a hand on his shoulder gently as she leaned forward to speak quietly. To anyone on the outside it wouldn’t look too strange, just two people being close. But her words were a bit more clipped. “I’ve had to be a bit more quiet about what I do, but we both know that’s not my style. What I really want to know is what you know, darling. There’s a reason you stopped me. I’d like to know what it was. I can tell you a bit about myself, what I’m doing now, if I trust you.” She leaned back, a grin still on her face. “Or I could charm you? If you’re that kind of guy.”

Time: Mid-afternoon, 15th July

Location: Khaggon

Status: Closed; @ashes-nicholai

The last thing Efrain had expected to see under the burning lanterns of a Khaggon marketplace was a dead woman. The first time he saw her it had been through the milling crowd, the second had been out of the corner of his eye as he made his way closer, but the third time he was directly behind her and had caught the flash of her eyes as she turned away from him, He knew then, without a shadow of a doubt, that she should be unequivocally, indubitably deceased. 

“Madam Nicholai,” he said without preamble, voice neutral but confident and loud enough only for her to hear. “My, you’re looking quite well these days.” In order to conceal his suspicion and general contempt, Efrain plastered a cheerful, welcoming smile on. He’d never been close to Corvina while she’d been publicly alive. In fact, he’d found her too vapid and judgemental to enjoy her company at all, but her father he’d always despised. His own father had referred to hers as spineless and Efrain had not disagreed. 

Finding her here, now, as alive as could be, merely brought up more questions about the house fire that claimed the life of her mother. He would have to look more closely at the actions of her father since the accident, too, for if he was lying about the state of his daughter there was no telling what else he had falsified. And, of course, if Corvina was involved. 

“Are you here on business or for pleasure?” he asked, giving no indication that such an interaction was bizarre or should be impossible.

Ashes was just glad to be in a city. She had been dead tired of sleeping in tents and all of the bugs and other nasties that came with it. Though it wasn’t exactly what she wanted, it would do for now. She got a few looks here and there but she was used to them, after all she did stand out a bit. By her choice of course. Even after being exiled, she refused to change her personality. Which is why she didn’t notice the person who seemed to be trailing behind her. At least not until he had gotten pretty close to her.

His words caused her to jump slightly, no matter how casual he had sounded. It was less that he had said something and more that he had called her ‘Madam Nicholai’ so obviously he knew her, but she was having trouble putting a face to the voice. She let a bit of electricity crackle at her fingertips as she turned, in stark contrast to the bright smirk plastered across her face. Though it took her a second, a name popped into her head and she let the electric fall away. “ Sir Crayhorn. What a surprise seeing you.” She tilted her head, slightly confused. Had no one told him what had happened? He didn’t seem to be surprised. “I am. Thank you for noticing. I feel like I’ve really come into my own. Lit my own fire inside, so to speak.” She laughed a bit at her own joke. Maybe she could get some kind of information from him.

“Oh, pleasure. Of course. Such an enchanting city isn’t it?” She looked over to him with a raised eyebrow. They had never got a long but it didn’t seem too odd for him to say hello, maybe he was being polite? She did seem to remember that much. “What about you darling? What brings you to this lovely town?”

“At least I know I am likable, or at least as far as first impressions are concerned.” Tobias looked a little weary of being turned into a cat or dog. “ See, I am not a fan of fleas so perhaps transfiguration isn’t the best idea.” He chuckled uneasily. 

“I’ve never had anyone tell me they disliked me to my face. I think that counts for something. Well aside from the people who seem to just have a problem with tieflings in general.” Ashes laughed at his response. “It would be a bit of a waste. It tires me out a bit to do so. But I’m not only firey. Like I said, I’ve got a few tricks.”

As the song came to an end, Vukasin found their exhaustion return with a vengeance. They yawned, accidentally whining in the process, and stumbled back towards their helper. “I’ve finished my rounds, me’lady, thank you for your help. It is much appreciated,” they said, dipping down into another bow in an effort to hide another yawn. The floor was beginning to look rather appealing, surely no one would blame them if they just curled up on the ground. Hastily, they pinched themselves, trying to drive the unhelpful thought away. 

 They straightened up and added, “do you have a place to stay for the evening? I can escort you there, and if you find yourself to be peckish, I know where they keep the good food.” They grinned, and motioned her towards the exit with a fanciful hand gesture. 

Ashes watched the other move a bit slower than she had seen them before and raised an eyebrow but otherwise said nothing. She knew how much magic drained someone and from her view it seemed like a lot. “You are welcome, it is the least I could do. I mean, really. It was the least I could do.” She shrugged and moved to stand next to them. She hadn’t used too much magic so she wasn’t nearly as tired. Plus she had seen them coming back from something so she figured they must be tired from that as well.

She was a bit shocked out of her own thoughts at the sounds of their words. “I don’t. An escort would be lovely. I’ve honestly just got here.This wasn’t where I thought I would end up but it would be better than sleeping in a tree again.” Ashes nodded and followed him out the exit.

“Most generous of you,” Vukasin said happily. They bounced up and strode off towards the next cot, adding over their shoulder, “I’m just going to run down my list of patients. With you taking care of the clothing and bedding, they’ll be better in no time!”

They planted themselves firmly in the space between a cluster of cots, and spread out their arms, causing their cloak to flair dramatically. They inhaled once and began to sing; “Oh little bird now is the time to fly away~ Swiftly now, ere the painful hunter track you to your lair~ Your wings are healed, brave souls. You have no need to tarry here in this hole~” 

The song continued on, and all who heard it found their sole to be lifted and their wounds pained them less. As they sung, Vukasin motioned at the Tiefling, a silent gesture for her to continue her cleansing spell. 

Ashes quirked an eyebrow at their bouncy attitude as well as their words. “Sure. Generous. Let’s go with that.” No one had ever called her generous, for good reason, she wasn’t, but it also wasn’t the usual sneering she was used to getting from her own attitude. She moved to follow them, still trying to get a read on them. It was better than a lot of the other people she had run into, so she would take this any day currently. “Alright. That’s good. Every one here deserves to be well.”

At their motioning, she moved between each cot, cleaning the grime and blood from them with a soft smile. Ashes was never really a mothering kind and this didn’t really change anything. But she did her best to do the things her mother had always done for her. Soft sounding words and hummed lullabies she hadn’t even realized she remembered. “Healing magic is under appreciated.”

“Are you trying to impress me, or threaten me?” He chuckled more. Her playful manor set him at ease, making small talk easier than normal. “Perhaps a bit of both?” He shrugged and leaned against a nearby tree. “Well, what other tricks do you have?”

“Both? Yes. Both. I find people easier to talk to when they’re just a touch afraid of your power.” Ashes laughed and tucked some loose hair away before crossing her arms. “I could make you a dog? Or are you more of a cat person? Ooh, maybe a lizard. I could also ask you to kindly do what I want. But I usually save that for people I quite dislike.”

“I guess we’re both offense instead of any type of strategy then,” Jade noted, lightening up a little at the tieflings willingness to at least help when pushed in the right direction. The warrior glanced down at her heavy armour, even without the noise of the metal Jade was still useless when sneaking. She had never managed to get how people are able to be so light on their feet. It was why she hadn’t gone out on a rescue or scouting mission herself yet, mainly sticking to the front lines and cutting her way through the enemy. “Unless you have any sort of spell to make me quiet I doubt either of us would be any help for the hostages then.”

The warrior looked out across the camp as she thought for a moment, running a hand along her chin. For a moment she was worried she had smeared blood over herself before she realised she was probably the freshest she’d been in a while due to the spellcaster. “You ever been on a battlefield?” she asked as she looked back towards the women. She knew it was probably a dumb question considering what the women was wearing, nobody who had actually seen the gore of a battlefield would ever wear something like she was in a war camp. “Because I sure wouldn’t mind seeing some of Ivana’s scum burn.”

“I’ve read over strategies years ago, but I wasn’t exactly paying attention, though I’m certain some of it had to stick.” She shrugged. It was mostly true. Her father had her read and had hired her a tutor but she rarely payed all of her attention to it. It’s not like she ever thought she would need it. So it probably would be better to just go all out and try not to get herself killed. It was for the best of both of them. “Nope, fresh out of those. I could turn you into a moth?” Ashes laughed and shrugged again. “I agree we’d be more trouble than help.”

She followed the other woman’s gaze, looking out over the camp. If she let herself look out over the place, she could feel a bit of pity start to stir in the pit of her stomach. She was glad for the distraction the other’s voice brought. “Uh no? Unless an ambush on my home counts. I made them all ash piles.” Ashes crossed her arms with a huff. The way she said it, it would be hard to tell if she was being truthful or embellishing what she was saying. “Experience or not, I’m willing to burn people who deserve it. It’s really the worst kind of death.“