#psionicthunder

The slight ache in her chest wasn’t his fault. She shouldn’t have tried opening up to someone she barely knew. Least of all someone who was about to be Lorroakan’s apprentice. Getting close to him was stupid. It was practically asking Rolan to choose between a man he admired and someone who inadvertently caused some of the worst moments of his life.

Asking him to pick was unfair. Not that Rolan had any idea of her history with Lorroakan. With any luck, he never would. It wouldn’t do either of them any good to rehash the past.

The pouch signaled that their relationship was transactional. She provided him a service. Not that having him risk his life in a building full of deranged cultists was her idea of a service, but she did get his siblings back. He chose to compensate her accordingly.

However, she could hardly let him give her gold that he had far more need of. It wouldn’t have been right to force him into an uncomfortable position on his remaining journey.

So she went back to the inn. Sure enough, the three siblings were congregated near the bar, chatting away. It was the most relaxed she had ever seen Rolan.

Good, that meant he wouldn’t be expecting her.

“There’s the woman of the hour!” Lia exclaimed, raising a mug in Cressida’s direction, “Still can’t believe you let this idiot tag along with you.”

Cressida shrugged, standing between Lia and Rolan, “Strength in numbers, right?”

“I just didn’t think he would be a strong number,” Lia replied with a teasing grin, “Thanks for keeping him safe.”

Cal nodded in agreement, “We really can’t thank you enough, Cressida.”

Lia looked at Rolan and then to Cressida. As though trying to speak to him with her mind.

“Well? Don’t you have something to say?” she asked, still eyeing between them.

Cressida used this moment of everyone being focused on talking to slide the pouch back into the pockets of Rolan’s robes. Right in the nick of time as he looked from Lia to her and let out a slight laugh.

“I thanked you once already, don’t be greedy.”

Despite the impossible to place hurt, she felt her face burn at his words, “I… I wouldn’t dream of it.”

Cressida made her way back to her room on the second floor of the inn with little fanfare after that. It was a small room, but it was her own and it meant she could stay up as late as she wished without any of the others being bothered by whatever candlelight she needed.

She occupied herself with some plum fizz and a journal of Balthazar’s to prepare for what they would encounter at the mausoleum. With the hope that somewhere in all of this was the secret to killing an immortal man. For all the times she rolled her eyes and claimed anyone could be killed, she had her reservations and doubts.

The sounds of people celebrating in the common area dwindled and Cressida was unsure of how long she stayed up reading. A part of her knew she should get some rest, but she also kept insisting that she just needed to get through one more page. All the way until a knock snapped her out of her focus.

Who could have been knocking on her door at this hour was beyond her. If she had to guess, it was likely Shadowheart or Astarion wanting to gossip about something they learned at the party.

“It’s open,” she said, barely looking up from her reading.

A loud creak sounded as the door swung open and caused her to jump. Rolan all but stormed into the room, shutting the door behind him. A sight that she wouldn’t have minded were it not for the anger plain on his face.

“What in the hells is your problem?!” he exclaimed, already starting to pace her room with his tail flicking back and forth behind him.

She closed the book, “Excuse me? You’re the one who barged into my room.”

“I take the time to find out why you’re keeping to yourself, I apologize to you for being an ass, which I’ll still admit to. And then I attempt to repay you with everything I have and you don’t even bother to explain why you won’t take the money, you just slip it back into my pockets when I’m not looking!” he huffed, glaring at her, “Nothing I try to do is good enough for you, and I deserve to know why.”

Cressida blinked in surprise, standing up, “Hold on, you’re trying to say I’m in the wrong here?”

“Yes! Because you are!”

“Let me get this straight. You approach me, and when I open up to you about how I’m used to people expecting the worst from me or only wanting me for the things I can do for them, you proceed to pay me like a common fucking sellsword. Never mind the fact that you helped with the breakout! You foolishly give me apparently a good chunk of your money which I don’t even need. And you’re upset that I made sure you didn’t wind up broke on your way to the city?” she crossed her arms, stepping closer to him, “Look, if you want to give me some gold to make yourself feel better or feel like we’re even, that’s your prerogative. But I’m not under any obligation to take it.”

“Do you think I’m giving you money to help myself feel better?!” the tiefling rolled his eyes, “Give me a fucking break, you were talking about how everyone takes from you with nothing in return! How do you expect me to respond?!”

Cressida threw her hands in the air, “I don’t know! I thought maybe you would say or do something that would… it doesn’t matter. Clearly you want to keep our relationship transactional and that’s fine. It’s on me for misunderstanding.”

“I wasn’t keeping anything transactional, I was apologizing. I’ve never seen this as transactional,” he insisted.

She met his gaze which faltered to his lips for a moment, “How do you see it, then?”

When and how they got this close was beyond her. And it was impossible to think straight with his golden eyes practically burning into her. Never mind the tail that was now wrapped around her thigh. Cressida wasn’t quite sure who leaned in first, but she felt Rolan’s lips on hers in a heated kiss she thought she had to be imagining. It was so much like what she imagined. But there was no mistaking the warmth of his arms wrapping around her or the faint taste of wine on his lips. It took every ounce of self-control to not melt into him. Despite her own want, she pulled back, pushing against his chest.

“Rolan, I- I shouldn’t…” she stammered, attempting to catch her breath, “We… shouldn’t.”

He placed a hand on her hip, “Why not?”

“I- um… I could die. Soon, really soon,” she managed, her mouth dry as she tried to ignore her own desire, “Or become a mind flayer. And… and there’s your apprenticeship. You need to focus on that, right? It’s better if we don’t…”

“All the more reason, no? While there’s still time. After all, I clearly need to find a different way to make it up to you,” He pulled her in closer and used his other hand to tilt her chin up so she was looking at him, “Look me in the eyes and tell me you don’t want this.”

Her mind was clouded from the way he looked at her alone. No amount of the logical part of her brain screaming that this wouldn’t end well was a match for the burning between her legs.

“Of course I want you,” she admitted, her hands on his shoulders, “But you should go.”

“Why?”

“Because…” she trailed off, trying to find her words, “Oh, fuck it.”

Rolan let her pull him down by his collar far too easily. His lips melded against hers in a slower kiss that still held just as much passion as the first. Her hands found the back of his neck and went to his hair, aiming to mess up the carefully placed hairstyle he always kept it in.

Once she managed that, she started fumbling with the back of the mantle he always kept on. Their lips only parted to discard that and his robes in a swift blur which still left him in a shirt and trousers under that. He placed a hand to the small of her back and pulled her so she was flush against him. She couldn’t help the gasp that left her as his hands went down further to cup her ass.

He let out a breath that sounded close to a laugh against her lips, “I take it you want me to stay.”

“No shit,” she panted, “I, um… I should warn you, though, it’s um… been a while since I was with anyone.”

Rolan let out a breath of relief, “That’s all?”

“Well, yes, but… I mean, it’s been years, I-” he cut her off with a soft kiss.

“You’re cute when you worry,” he tucked a stray curl behind her ear, “If it’s any consolation, it’s been a while for me as well. And I highly doubt my studies with Lorroakan will-”

“Please don’t talk about your apprenticeship while I’m thinking about you fucking me.”

“Right, of course. Where were we again?”

With his lips on hers once again, she felt him lift her as though she were nothing, her legs straddling him. A surprised gasp left her against his mouth. Rolan smirked against her mouth in reply as he set her on the desk she had been working at.

She wrapped her legs around him and he started to leave her mouth, traveling to kiss down her neck. A high-pitched whimper left her and she tilted her neck, giving him better access as he licked and sucked at her skin. She shuddered and her hips bucked against him while his hands wandered over the curves of her body, one pausing to knead at her breast.

Rolan let out a low chuckle and hummed into her neck, “Who’d have thought you’d be so sensitive. Is this what you want?”

“Fuck, yes,” she moaned as he found a sensitive spot she had long since forgotten about.

He pulled back to get a better look at her and his golden eyes glowed in the dim candlelight of the room. A part of her expected him to come back to his senses and leave, but his hand cupped her face and stroked her cheek.

“As much as I like exploring your neck, I’d quite like to find out what sounds you make when I explore elsewhere,” he said, looking her up and down so slowly that he was all but undressing her with his eyes.

“Oh?” her face heated up as she put together what he was saying, “Oh!”

“You have had sex before, right?”

“Yes!” she glared at him, “I just… haven’t had anyone go down on me before.”

Rolan pulled back, “You’re fucking with me.”

“I’m not.”

“You’ve had some abysmal partners, then.”

She let out a slight laugh, “That’s one way to put it.”

“It seems I have my work cut out for me,” he replied with a gleam in his eyes.

Rolan pulled her into a lingering kiss before starting to undo the laces of her pants while she went to undo her shirt. Their hands fumbled over each other. Though, he paused at the sight of the dressings on her shoulder and her torso.

“Zurgan, don’t these still hurt?”

She shrugged, “Hardly, I’ve had a potion and Shadowheart knows what she’s doing.”

“But still, surely, the wounds are lingering or you wouldn’t have them covered,” he reached out a tentative hand on the shoulder wound, hovering over the dressings, “You should still be resting.”

“If I wanted you to use your mouth to chastise me, I would’ve said so,” she remarked, “Besides, if you do it right, it’s technically resting, no?”

“Very well, but I can’t possibly keep you in this position,” he picked her up once more and took the few steps over before laying her on the bed with such care Cressida was almost certain she was dreaming, “Promise you’ll let me know if it hurts?”

“I promise.”

He started kissing down her neck once more, going lower to her collarbone. The surprise of it got a gasp from her and she could feel Rolan smirking into her skin. He knew exactly what he was doing and as much as Cressida wanted to call him on it, she couldn’t bring herself to ask him to stop as he nipped at her skin, trailing down to her breasts. She slid the last of her shirt off, leaving her with only her heart-shaped necklace remaining. He then took one of her breasts in his hand before taking it in his mouth, their eyes meeting for a moment. His other hand teased her other breast, playing with the nipple until it was hardened before he switched to use his mouth on that one.

Once he was done, he continued to trail kisses down her stomach. She couldn’t help the sounds that left her as he got ever closer to where she needed him the most. Though, Rolan paused once more as he approached the bandage from where the sword hit her. This wasn’t the first time someone worried about her, but it was the first time someone showed it so plainly. To the point she knew she had to reassure him.

Cressida reached down, tilting Rolan’s head up to look at her, “It really doesn’t hurt, Rolan. I promise. It didn’t hurt too badly in the first place. This is just to make sure it doesn’t get infected.”

“You’re insane.”

“I’ve had far worse,” she replied.

He rolled his eyes, “What could that possibly be?”

“Headaches, mostly. Ones so awful I can barely see or get out of bed for days… I was also bitten by a whale.”

“How in the hells were you bitten by-” he shook his head, “You’re distracting me.”

“You asked.”

He scoffed, “It was rhetorical.”

“You were curious.”

“I can assure you I was not.”

“If you’re not curious, can you focus?”

Instead of more words, he nipped at her hipbone which elicited a squeal from her.

“Rolan, I-”

“I thought you wanted me to focus,” he looked up at her, his eyes glowing with mischief and lust in the dim light, “Now, hush, you. Before you derail this night further by telling me you rode a dragon once.”

“Well, I-” he pressed a kiss to her inner thigh which made her let out a whine.

He laughed, “That’s more like it.”

Rolan cupped her still clothed heat, dipping a finger under the flimsy fabric, “I haven’t even touched you properly and you’re soaking.”

She moved to shift out of her underwear, trying to grind her cunt into his face and he smirked, “Someone’s eager.”

“Someone’s teasing.”

“Oh, come off it, you’re clearly enjoying this,” he pressed another kiss to her hip before helping her out of her underwear, “I think you like having someone in charge. Not having to craft every second of everything you do.”

He let the fabric fall to the ground with the rest of her discarded clothes, “And it would be a travesty to not give you such a well-earned break.”

Before she could point out that he was taking his sweet time, he buried his head between her legs and lapped at her folds. His nose brushed against her clit and she bucked into his face, desperate for the friction she had been desperately needing. His ministrations left her whimpering and unable to think. She needed something to hold on to, but the sheets offered her little support in that regard. She gripped his horns, moaning as his tongue continued exploring her cunt.

“Fuck, yes,” she moaned, “Need more of you.”

He looked up at her, his eyes darkened with lust, “You really are greedy, you know. You’re lucky I like that.”

For a moment, she thought he was ignoring her. Before she noticed the spade-shaped tip of his tail reaching between her legs. Cressida’s eyes widened in surprise and anticipation as his tail approached her cunt. She shivered as his tail teased at her entrance before slowly going inside her.

A moan left her as the end of his tail went further inside of her. She gripped his horns tighter, reaching the base. He moaned against her cunt and started moving his tail in and out. As his movements continued, she felt the heat building up in her stomach start to reach a blissfully unbearable state.

“Rolan, I- fuck!”

“You can let go, I’ve got you,” he said, continuing his pace.

The tight coil within her snapped in her and her body shook through the waves of release, her back arching uncontrollably. She felt wind and sparks of her own magic course over her body as she came undone, giving away just how much she savored each moment. Her breathing was heavy as she came down from the release. How she had any amount of magic within her to do that was beyond her. Then her eyes widened.

“Shit, I didn’t hurt you, did I?” she asked, sitting up.

Rolan moved to face her, “No, it tickled at most. I thought you said you’d done this before.”

“I have.”

“And you expect me to believe you’ve never come before?”

Cressida let out a frustrated groan, “No, I have! It’s just…”

“You’ve never come so hard before?”

“You’re not letting me finish!”

“I believe I just did.”

Cressida rolled her eyes, “I meant that the storm magic is new for me.”

He raised a brow, “Really? You know what, no. I’m not letting you distract me.”

“Wouldn’t have been distracting if you weren’t interrupting me.”

Rolan shook his head, “Whatever you say. But I was thinking of laying you on this bed and fucking you until you make it rain.”

“I- okay, yeah,” she replied, “You don’t want me to, um, return the favor?”

“You’re supposed to be resting, so no.”

Cressida huffed, “Okay, fine. Whatever makes you happy.”

“You say that like being inside of you isn’t the best idea I’ve had all night.”

Cressida shook her head, smiling despite herself, “I think it’s up there.”

Rolan pulled her into another deep, slow kiss before letting his forehead rest against hers, “Then quit distracting me.”

“Bold words for someone who’s on top of me,” she replied, toying with the bottom of his shirt, “And is far too clothed. I think you’re the distraction.”

“Oh, if you wanted me naked, all you had to do was ask, darling.”

“I’m asking.”

Rolan smirked at that, rewarding her words by helping her pull his shirt off and tossing it to the floor in a whirlwind of the remains of his clothes. She took a moment to look at him properly. His face clearly flushed a deeper red from everything they had already done. She stared almost transfixed by the ridges on his chest and his torso. A pattern she couldn’t help noticing on the rest of his body.

“If you don’t close your jaw, you’ll catch flies,” he remarked, “I must be your first tiefling.”

Her face heated up at that, “It’s that obvious?”

“Yes, but it’s cute,” he cupped her face.

She rolled her eyes, “Hardly.”

“You’re allowed to be wrong,” he kissed her cheek before taking one of her hands with his free one, “Here, touch me. You’re obviously curious.”

There was a tone in his voice that indicated he was not going to argue it further. So she gently traced over the ridges of his chest with her fingers.

Rolan leaned into her touch, letting out a soft, contented hum. Cressida pulled him into a soft, tender kiss that was perhaps too gentle for what this was supposed to be. But she took that moment to turn him over so she was straddling him. She started tracing over his ridges with her fingers and kissing down his neck.

He groaned as her lips went lower to his collarbone and then to the ridges of his chest and her hand went to stroke his hardened length. Had she not shifted in a way that caused her to wince at her bindings being tugged, she was certain Rolan wouldn’t have stopped her. However, she did and he paused.

“You’re supposed to be resting, no?”

“I was, sort of. Not like you were complaining.”

“I wasn’t, considering you were seducing me,” he gently turned her so she was on her back once more, “Quite well, I might add. When you’re not recovering from saving my family, I might just let you have your way with me.”

Rolan gave his length a few pumps before lining himself with her entrance. Then Cressida felt him slowly stretch her as he took time for her to adjust to his ridged length and let out a low moan.

“Gods, you’re so tight,” he groaned as all of his cock entered her before starting a slow thrust.

She wrapped her legs around him, her hips bucking up to meet his thrusts as he fucked her. Both of them moaned into each other’s mouths and her hands ran down his back as she started to feel another burning coil building inside of her as his thrusts sped up the slightest bit.

“Fuck, Rolan, I- I’m close.”

He grinned against her mouth, “Good, let go with me.”

Her walls clenched around his cock as his thrusts stuttered as he released inside of her. A light mist and a cool breeze surrounded them both from her powers as Cressida came down from hers. Both of them panting in the wake of their releases.

Rolan pulled out of her and rolled over so he was laying next to her. He prestidigitated the mess and pulled her close to himself.

“Does that make up for our misunderstanding?” he asked, holding her hand and kissing her knuckles.

Cressida let out a slight laugh, her heart feeling oddly light for the first time in far too long, “And then some. You were…”

As she tried to find the right words, she noticed Rolan’s brow furrow as he looked at her arm. He pulled her arm closer.

“Is that… is that Infernal?” he asked and she tugged her arm back.

“Something like that…” she frowned, her eyes gazing at the scars for a moment, “It’s from a long time ago.”

He shook his head, “Of course, I shouldn’t have pried… I can take my leave, if you’d like.”

That was the easier option. Leave it there and keep things simple. And yet… after spending so much time alone….

“No,” she turned over to meet his gaze, “Stay.”

So he did.

Rolan was still fast asleep despite the sun continuing to brighten the room. She might have gotten up to close the heavy red and gold curtains if that didn’t mean leaving the warmth of the bed. Worse, Rolan might have noticed she got up and it would have likely shattered the peace of the morning. Him waking meant having to talk about everything. Which Cressida could only see ending with them putting a polite end to whatever this was. After everything, she couldn’t imagine Rolan would be cruel about it, but she couldn’t imagine him wanting this to continue either.

Their paths were separate, as far as she could tell. He was going to take over the tower and the shop and he would want to do so in his own way. While he promised to be there when the time for the final battle came, there was no reason for their paths to cross before then.

The damning cherry on top was that she was, most likely, on borrowed time. Even if every day left her hoping that she might survive dealing with the Absolute and all it entailed. Finally having some kind of life of her own once everything was over appealed to her.

However, Rolan deserved, and probably wanted, someone who was going to stick around. Someone without an outrageous number of things going on all at once. Someone who wasn’t her.

One of her fingers twisted one of her short curls as she thought of ways she could stall the impending end to this.

For now, Cressida was more than happy to lay next to him, savoring every last moment until he woke up. Rolan eventually began to stir, pulling her closer to him almost on an instinct. She let out a contented hum at the feeling of his arms wrapped around her. This was something she could have gotten used to.

Cressida tried to tell herself that she could find someone else who made her feel like this.

“Have you been staring at me all morning?” he asked, his voice low and gravelly.

“Only since the sun woke me up.”

“So yes.”

She flushed, “Yes.”

Rolan smiled, “Did you sleep well?”

“Hard not to, considering you tired me out,” she teased.

He smirked, “And yet, I don’t recall you complaining.”

Gods, how could she have? Cressida rolled her eyes instead of admitting just how much she enjoyed herself. He almost definitely pieced that together from the smile that twitched on her face.

Rolan pressed a soft kiss to her forehead, “Did you have any big plans for today?”

“Something like that, if you count going to the counting house as big plans,” she moved so she was laid on top of him.

“I’m sure there’s more to it than that,” he replied, shaking his head, “I still can’t believe you helped me before dealing with that tadpole of yours.”

“I didn’t realize you were going to be working the shop. And when I did see you, I couldn’t just leave you there,” she pointed out, “Not to mention the personal stake in it.”

His eyes softened to a yellow that reminded her of sunlight, “Right… I suppose this means you’ll finally no longer have to swoop in to save me.”

“I think you saved me this time around,” she replied, “Who knows what would’ve happened if you didn’t put everything together like you did.”

“We’ll never have to know,” he said, pressing his forehead against hers, “That is the last thing I want to think about.”

Cressida felt his tail winding around her leg. Perhaps she would be able to linger for just a little while longer.

What she wouldn’t give to never have to leave.

“You must have some big plans for today,” she pointed out.

He nodded, “I hope to get Cal and Lia moved in. I’m hoping to get the projection running too so I don’t have to worry about the shop too much. That way I can stay focused on reorganizing the tower and learning its defenses.”

It sounded like there was plenty on his plate as it was without factoring her into the equation. A part of her knew she should excuse herself so he could focus. But his arms were so warm and she would be damned if she was going to be the one to break this embrace.

“There is another thing that I’d like to work on. Perhaps not today, but over time,” he added, “I hoped to get your permission for it first, though.”

She raised a brow, “What could you possibly need my permission for?”

“The potion meant to ease your psionic powers. I hoped that I might work on it. I’d have to reverse engineer it from what Lorroakan was doing, but I think that I could figure it out,” he explained, starting to sit up, “I understand if that would no longer interest you, but if it does, then I’ll take the time for that as well.”

“I wouldn’t want you to waste your time. I mean, I don’t know if those powers would come back with the tadpole gone. And…” she paused in hesitation, “and that’s if I survive long enough for us to know.”

Rolan frowned, “It wouldn’t be a waste of time. Not to me. I’d rather have it mostly figured out before we know rather than starting from scratch when you do need it.”

“Rolan, you really don’t have to. You’ve saved my life several times over,” she insisted, shifting off of him so she could sit up with the sheet covering her, “There’s no need for you to do anything for me. You should focus on the tower, your family, your life. Not me.”

He let out a sigh tinged with frustration, “I wouldn’t be doing it because I feel like I need to do something for you. It would be because I want to do this for you. Cress, you’re part of my life. At least, I’d like you to be, if you’re willing.”

“You’re not thinking straight. I- I’m on borrowed time. You deserve more than that,” her voice cracked, “You just want it to be me because you’re coming down from everything last night.”

“You know, for someone who’s so meticulous at planning and thinking about everything, you really are a fool sometimes,” he said, “Do you think I don’t know what sort of danger you’re running into? Do you honestly think last night only happened because of some temporary fixation?”

Her eyes widened in surprise.

“I want you, Cressida. Not just to fuck you in every corner of the tower I can think of in the wake of a fight, I want to have a relationship with you. And I know you could die in all of this. You know what? So could I, from something completely unrelated. And you know what else? You could live. We could have a life once this is done,” Rolan paused, “And maybe it’s presumptuous of me, but I think you want the same things. You’re just holding yourself back because you’re scared. And I understand why, so if you want to back out or need time then that’s fine. But you can’t keep depriving yourself like this forever.”

The room fell silent as his words sank in. This didn’t have to be the last time she saw him. She let her shoulders relax, only then realizing how tense she was.

She felt tears well up in her eyes, “You mean that? You don’t mind if I don’t make it?”

“Hells, of course I care about whether or not you make it. Losing you would hurt, but that would be true regardless of what you decide. What I would regret more than anything would be not taking advantage of the time I knew that I could have with you. So, what do you say?”

“I want you too, Rolan,” she let out sound that was a mix between a sob and a laugh, “I… I didn’t think that you would feel that way.”

He shook his head, letting out a light chuckle and pulled her back into his arms, “Like I said, you’re a fool sometimes. I didn’t think I could have been more obvious, these last few days especially. I thought I was being so obvious that it was bordering on pathetic.”

“I can’t be good at everything,” she replied, meeting his gaze “Besides, you’re going to want someone around who had a hand in organizing the tower before.”

Rolan grinned, “You saw right through my plan. I want you to spend any bits of spare time when you’re not saving the city to sort the books, obviously.”

“It would be a clever plan.”

He pressed a kiss to her lips, “You will have to do no such thing if you don’t want. I’d be more than happy to do anything you’d like.”

“Here or at the Elfsong?”

“Either,” he paused, “Though, I might be partial to here as there are fewer people. Then again, Cal and Lia may never give us a moment of peace.”

“May not give you a moment of peace,” she countered.

Even with the crowd filtering throughout the tavern, he spotted Cressida right away. There was something about how she carried herself that made her stand out. Maybe it was the new hair. It was also possible that he simply couldn’t help staring at her. Especially when the violet shirt she wore was snug around her frame in a way that her robes hadn’t been. That made him feel better about choosing to not wear his robes in an attempt to avoid being immediately recognizable. She looked around the space, gray eyes latching onto him as he approached.

“I hope you like Tyche Pink, you’ll want a drink for this,” Cressida said, taking a carafe of wine and getting up before he could sit.

Rolan raised a brow, “Where are we going?”

“Somewhere with fewer people,” she replied, meeting his gaze, “Are you coming or not?”

There was an edge to her voice, but it didn’t quite have the bite that she had when telling off his master. It was almost like she was scared he would say no. Or like she was trying to use her words as a shield. She was certainly more apprehensive than she had been the last time they spoke.

He nodded, “Of course.”

She didn’t say anything else as she led him up the stairs to what he presumed was her room. While Rolan tried to not scrunch his face in disgust at the bloodstains on the carpet, Cressida gave him a knowing look.

“It’s technically a crime scene, but it also makes renting the floor dirt cheap,” she explained before stopping at a door, “I figured somewhere private would make it easy for us to speak freely.”

Rolan raised a brow, but chose to not say anything. Instead, he followed her into the room and let the door shut behind him. Were it not for his knowledge of the blood spilled right outside, he would have thought it was a nice room. Nicer than his own. A large, plush bed with a comfortable sitting area and large windows looking out on the bustling streets. He nearly missed the pink, hairless cat clad in a lavender sweater laying on the couch. The creature stirred as Cressida set the bottle and cups on the table.

“This must be your cat,” he said as he took a seat across from Cressida and her cat.

She nodded, a small smile on her face “Yeah, this is Nova. It turns out Gale’s familiar was looking out for her this whole time. Kind of a funny story, but that’s not what I wanted to talk about.”

Before he could ask what she was wanting to talk about, Cressida poured herself a sizable glass of wine. One that seemed a bit much for the circumstances. Which only served to make him wonder about what she wanted to talk about. Clearly it was something causing her a certain level of distress.

“You should have a drink,” she said before taking a sip of her wine, “It looks like you need it.”

Rolan let out a dry laugh despite himself, “Takes one to know one.”

It wasn’t worth arguing, he was tense. A bit of wine would hardly make the things he needed to say come out any easier, but he poured a glass anyway.

There was silence for a few moments as they sipped on their drinks. While Rolan had plenty that weighed on him, it seemed Cressida had just as much in her own right. He watched her give Nova a scratch behind the ear. Then he looked around the room once more.

“Did Lorroakan do this to you?” she asked, shattering the silence without warning.

Rolan paused and shook his head, “I don’t think that matters right now.”

“I didn’t ask what you thought. I asked if he’s hurting you,” she said, “You don’t have any reason to lie about it here.”

Aside from his own pride, of course. But it seemed she already figured it out for herself. Cressida was smart enough and this was a man she knew at one point. In some ways, it was sweet. It was like she was worried about him. Not that she had any reason to be. Particularly not when he knew that she was the one truly in danger.

“Yes, but, it’s on me,” Rolan replied, “It’s difficult to keep up with him. I fear it will only get more difficult with the Nightsong gone.”

She sighed, “So he told you about that?”

“He did… but I will admit I snuck into your meeting,” Rolan confessed.

Her face paled. How he was going to make it sound like anything less than violating her privacy was beyond him, but he had to try. Before she could demand he go away, at least.

The plan had been to tell her about the diary and then tell her that what he learned gave him cause to follow her. He refused to let her obliviously walk into a room with a man who wanted to hurt her.

“I wasn’t trying to get in your way. It’s only that I didn’t trust Lorroakan to meet with you alone… I wanted to protect you,” he added, feeling deflated as he spoke.

With those words, he was certain she would only be offended that he thought she needed protection. Especially when she was likely more powerful than him. Hells, what would he have even done to help her if something had gone wrong? He hadn’t thought the whole thing through beyond not wanting her to be alone. Nevertheless, even with the displeased expression on her face, he knew he would have done the same thing again.

She pursed her lips and gave a small nod, “Right… I guess it doesn’t matter now. What do you know about the Nightsong?”

“Not much, apparently,” he said, taking another sip of wine, “I thought it was some old magical artifact, but you made it sound like the Nightsong’s a person. One you killed, from how you tell it.”

She nodded again, “Right… and do you trust Lorroakan?”

“I don’t,” he answered, “That’s why I’m here, I need to tell you something about him.”

Cressida sighed, “There’s not much you could tell me that I don’t already know, Rolan. He’s a controlling, cruel piece of shit. And I thought you could help me kill him.”

He was about to continue into everything he found out but paused at her words, “Hang on. You’re going to kill him?”

“That’s the plan,” Cressida looked at him, “Rolan, I didn’t kill the Nightsong. I lied to buy time… and to see the look on Lorroakan’s face. Priceless, for the record.”

Rolan shook his head in disbelief, “Wait, so the Nightsong’s alive? And she’s a person?”

“She’s the daughter of Selûne. We released her from the Shadowfell, that’s why the shadow curse was lifting,” she explained, “And Lorroakan probably wants to use her life force for immortality like Ketheric Thorm did. The bastard never could make an idea of his own to save his life. Clearly he’s kept you in the dark.”

The Nightsong being a person was difficult enough to process on its own. Rolan could hardly believe the significance she carried. It was almost unbelievable, but Cressida had never deceived him before. Not to mention, it was in line with everything he pieced together in the Shadow Curse.

Rolan had known what sort of person Lorroakan was for a while now, and this was the icing on the cake. Of course his master would have had no qualms about using Cressida and then the Nightsong to get what he wanted. All of it was so terrible, he wanted to throw up.

“Shit,” was all he could manage at first, “I… I truly had no idea. I never would have sought out an apprenticeship from him if I’d known.”

“I know. That’s why I’m telling you,” she replied, “And I figured an apology was in order.”

“Whatever for?”

“Not warning you about Lorroakan. I’ve been vague about how we know each other,” she admitted, “It’s selfish, but I really didn’t want to talk or think about a past relationship with everything going on. And then we were… I thought bringing it up would ruin it. Not that I knew he’d hurt you, of course, but I should have warned you properly.”

Rolan shook his head, “You don’t have to tell me, Cressida. I know. I know about you and Lorroakan.”

“Really? Wait, how?” her eyes widened with a hint of amusement, “Is he still talking about me?”

“Sort of… you’re going to be upset with me for this, most likely. But I stumbled on an old journal of yours,” he started, pulling it out of his pocket and setting it on the table between them, “I didn’t realize it was yours right away, and I should’ve stopped once I realized but I couldn’t help myself. And in reading that, I picked up on some things.”

Cressida stiffened, but her face didn’t betray any anger she must have felt, “I assume you wouldn’t bring it up unless it was important.”

“Your entries over the year, the pain level on them increased. Those high pain days came up more often towards the end, usually with some kind of nightmare,” he explained, “And it’s more than pain, you’re exhausted to the point you can barely get up some days. You said so yourself.”

“Yeah, I was stressed. It’s natural for that level of stress to take a toll,” she crossed her arms, “I don’t like talking about it, but I’ve been through a lot. Nightmares are a given. Why bring it up?”

“Because I found out that Lorroakan’s been using a spell to exhaust you to coax you back to him,” he replied, “These nightmares, some of them anyway, aren’t natural in the slightest. They should have killed you by now with how long he’s been using the spell. He told me he’s tried it a few times a month in the hopes of you coming back to him.”

Any reaction she had was kept to herself, but Rolan could have sworn he felt any warmth in the air fade away. Whether it was directed at him or Lorroakan was beyond him. Maybe she was upset with both of them.

“You’re certain?” she asked, “About all of it?”

Rolan nodded, “Much as I can be. He told me a lot, and I found the material components for the spell that left little room for interpretation.”

“Material components?”

“A lock of your hair in his desk,” he clarified, “I swapped it for some glamoured horse hair, but I would get Shadowheart to cast protection spells on you to be safe.”

-

Cressida wasn’t sure how much longer she could keep herself together. Learning all of this after what Lorroakan told her made her want to fall apart. Something she refused to do in front of Rolan. He was going to expect her to have some kind of plan to deal with Lorroakan. To have answers and a foolproof strategy. To be the hero he had seen before. She couldn’t fall apart in front of him. Or anyone else. When she was alone, she could be allowed some release, but even then, the walls were thin.

Rolan looked at her expectantly. She had been quiet for just a hair too long. He was waiting for her reaction. She needed to say something. To act normal.

“Oh,” she forced herself to speak and clung to a neutral expression, “Alright then.”

His brow furrowed, “That’s it? Cressida, Lorroakan’s trying to kill you. He’s been slowly killing you for a decade. It’s a miracle you’re still alive. Doesn’t that mean something to you?”

It was like he was trying to push her into falling apart. She knew what it all meant without him reminding her. And considering he knew what Lorroakan said to her earlier that day, he should have known how deeply it all cut her.

“Why should it? I was going to kill him anyway,” her voice clipped and she shrugged, “Was that all?”

“I- well, yes, that’s what I wanted to share with you, but-”

She cut him off, “Then there’s nothing left to discuss. Are you going to help me kill him or not?”

“Of course, but Cress-”

“That’s all I need to know,” a firmness in her voice and she met his eyes for a moment, “Be ready to fight sometime tomorrow. Try not to get even more bloodied up before then.”

Cressida hoped he would realize she wanted him to drop it. To leave and let her sort everything out on her own. That was how she always operated. She didn’t need someone else to help her through it. And the last thing she needed was for Rolan to see her as weak. He already read plenty of that.

Besides, there wasn’t time to think about what Lorroakan did to her. It was already tricky enough to think about how she wanted to handle him and how she wanted everyone to be involved. All of this would be easier if she didn’t think about the personal aspects of it.

Maybe she was being too harsh, but she needed him to leave before he could continue pushing at her. If she pushed him away enough, he would leave. That was how things worked. And while she was trying to not do that anymore, she had to make an exception just this once. The emotions threatening to well up were too much.

For a moment, she thought he was going to do just that when he set his glass on the table.

“Cressida, you don’t have to do this,” he said.

“I’m not doing anything!” she snapped before averting her gaze to the floor, “Please, Rolan… just go.”

He made no move to leave.

“Give me one good, genuine reason to leave.”

Her eyes remained lowered, “I’m not playing this game with you. Fuck off.”

“It’s not a game and you know it. You can’t expect me to believe that it doesn’t bother you,” he continued before she could get a word in, “Lorroakan has been trying to break you to his will to the point that he doesn’t care what happens to you so long as there’s a chance he gets the result he’s looking for.”

“I’m not talking to you about this.”

Rolan sighed, “If not me, then who?”

“No one!” Cressida exclaimed, “I don’t want to talk about this with anyone! Least of all you. You’re going to make me talk and inevitably break down over all of this shit, realize how pathetic I am, and leave. So I’m begging you to skip to the part where you leave while I get to keep a shred of my dignity.”

It wasn’t a fair assessment of anything Rolan had done in the time she knew him. The opposite had proven to be true so far with him, but no one had ever stayed before. With everything else going on, she couldn’t have taken the pain of him walking out when she assumed he’d stick around. So she tried to get him to leave. To carry on with what she knew.

Cressida heard him stand up, but instead of footsteps going to the door, she felt the seat next to her shift as he sat next to her. He placed a tentative hand on her back. She couldn’t bring herself to pull away.

“Cress, I’ve thought of you as many things. Not all of them have been the kindest, but I’ve never thought you were pathetic,” he told her, “That’s not going to change now. I just want you to know that you don’t have to go through this alone.”

She tensed, unable to make herself look at him, “I can take care of myself.”

“I never said you couldn’t, but you shouldn’t have to,” he replied.

Cressida stared ahead, “We’re nowhere near close enough for you to offer that.”

“Aren’t we?”

“We slept together one time. That’s it. I didn’t think I’d see you again,” she replied, “We’re not close.”

“Do you honestly believe that?” he asked, the hurt in his voice making her chest ache, “You were there when I thought Cal and Lia were as good as dead. You saw me at what was easily my lowest point and helped me anyway. And while I’m not saying there should be something… deeper to that night we shared, I am saying that you can’t pretend like we aren’t at least friends.”

Cressida scoffed at that, “Some friend I am, letting you get hurt by someone I could have easily killed years ago. I didn’t even warn you, I let you figure it all out by yourself. Because I didn’t want to deal with the inevitability of you choosing to go to him over listening to me, or so I thought. I didn’t want to ruin an otherwise good night, so I kept all of it from you. You should be furious with me.”

“Except you did warn me. Back in the grove, you warned me in the only way you could have,” he argued, “And I refused to listen. I chose to stick it out with Lorroakan, that’s my choice.”

“Okay, sure, let’s say I warned you. What about every other apprentice he’s probably taken over the last decade?” her voice cracked, “I was more than powerful enough, I could have turned him to dust… but I didn’t. I- I didn’t want to hurt him.”

“Can I ask why?”

“It’s complicated… don’t get me wrong, I never had any intention of going back to him,” she clarified, “But he was my friend. There were times when he was my only friend and the only person I could talk to. I- I couldn’t bring myself to hurt someone I trusted so much. I thought that… that maybe he’d figure things out. And instead I’ve let him hurt who knows how many people.”

A gust of wind came from her as she broke into sobs and Rolan pulled her into his arms. She ignored the instinct to shove him away, instead melting into his embrace.

“You’re saying all this like he hasn’t been hurting you this whole time,” he pointed out as she leaned against him, crying into his shoulder.

She sniffed, “That’s the worst part. I thought we were leaving each other alone. I thought I’d given him enough. But… but he’s been playing me this whole time! Trying to make me into what’s best for him. And… and I never knew! I always get fucked over like this and I somehow never see it coming!”

He rubbed soothing circles on her back, not saying anything. It didn’t feel like he was judging her. The opposite, really. It was like he was giving her the space to say what was on her mind. Cressida slowly pulled away, wiping at her eyes.

“All my life, I’ve been a tool for people to use and discard when they no longer have need of me. Well, that or they were afraid of me. For what I was capable of, what my family did… it’s like no one saw me as a person. There were a few exceptions, very few. Lorroakan was one- I thought he was one,” lightning started to crackle at Cressida’s fingertips and flow up her arms as she spoke, her breath shaky, “I trusted him, I told him everything I could bring myself to speak about. He knew how much I hated being reduced to my powers, but he did it anyway. And I was so fucking desperate to be seen as a person that I let him use me in exchange for what little affection he was willing to give. That’s pathetic.”

Rolan took her hand in his despite the lighting and gave a gentle squeeze. As he did, she felt the crackling lightning magic dissipate. Any storm that threatened to form in tandem with her emotional outburst was quelled with ease. This time, she leaned into his arms. Her face buried against his chest like he was the only stable thing in the world. In some ways, he was.

“You’re wrong. You trusted someone who had been your friend for years. There’s nothing pathetic about that,” he told her, running his fingers through her hair, “Lorroakan’s pathetic for knowing everything he did and trying to use you anyway. And you are so unbelievably resilient and I wish there were something I could do so you never had to be.”

She looked up at Rolan. At times like these, she wished she could read minds again. Just so she could know what was going on in his head. How much he really believed what he was saying. Because she desperately wanted him to mean it. To believe that he learned about some of her most vulnerable moments and didn’t think of her as pathetic.

But she didn’t have the thoughts running through his head to sift through. All she had was her judgment. There wasn’t anything amiss in his eyes, and there was no reason for him to lie. If he wanted to hurt her, he could have let Lorroakan continue to slowly kill her. Instead, he was holding her.

Still, she couldn’t help but ask, “Do you mean it?”

“I’m not one to say things I don’t mean,” he gave her hand a squeeze, “You went through a lot, and that’s just from what I’ve found out. Of course you trusted one of your friends. That’s what you’re supposed to do. And if I’d known what he was doing to you, I… I want to believe I’d never have worked with him.”

Cressida felt her eyes brim with more tears, “Then who would’ve figured out what Lorroakan was doing?”

“You may have a point there,” he wiped a tear from her face, “Still, I’m sorry you found out this way.”

“I’m glad it was you,” she told him.

It had been a long time since she let someone see her this vulnerable. And while her instinct told her that it was all wrong, the warmth of Rolan felt too comforting to push away. His arms didn’t hold the key to sorting all the emotions coursing through her. However, it didn’t feel like everything rested on her shoulders for once.

“I didn’t have much of a plan for Lorroakan beyond killing him tomorrow, and everything you just told me gives me a lot more to consider,” she admitted, “I think it’s best that he doesn’t know we’re close. Other than that, would it be alright if we played it by ear a little?”

Rolan nodded, “That’s fine, just let me know if you need anything else from me. I’ll make sure to have a few tricks up my sleeve.”

“Perfect,” she took a moment to pause before adding, “I know you probably can’t stay long, but… would you hold me until you have to go?”

He pulled her back into his arms before she had a chance to take back her request. For the first time in far too long, she no longer felt like she had to be the hero with all the answers. She could simply exist. And that was enough.

She will end up old, withered and alone if she remains like that. Surely she will be desperate enough for company within an hour or so. the man’s thoughts echoed in her head with how close he was, standing out from the blur of other thoughts, Not to mention the fortune she is leaving to waste if she remains by herself.

“Surely you wish to engage in more of the festivities. I would be happy to partake with the likes of yourself,” he said.

Cressida’s expression soured to a glare, “I would be far happier if you saw yourself to the other side of the room.”

The man gasped, “Why, I never… you have some nerve speaking to me that way.”

“Not really, no. What would really take some nerve is approaching someone young enough to be your granddaughter and thinking she should fall at your feet to be within your presence,” she replied, her steely gaze meeting his, “Your boldness truly is admirable, saer.”

His face grew redder with each word. With nothing to say, he stalked away.

Gods, she did not miss this in the slightest. Particularly as he was the third old man hoping to win her affections. Most of the men near her age were fawning over the new beauties entering society for the first time. It was borderline sickening. And the men near her age who might have approached her were turned away by her reputation of being on the disagreeable side.

If she were concerned with finding a husband, she might have cared. Having no parents left did have its share of benefits. No male relative in near relation to her also did, but a part of her knew that Cadmus would have taken amusement in her angering old men to the point he would have let her be single for the rest of her life if it made her happy. Which, considering how everyone who approached her primarily cared about her wealth, she was fairly certain that this was the closest to happiness she would ever get. It was better now that she had her health, if nothing else.

While the headaches persisted when in public, they were not nearly as debilitating as they had been in recent memory. Cressida could get out of bed nearly every day. By the time she started to truly feel like herself, she learned of Lorroakan’s recent death. She learned of the mystery behind it just as quickly. Not to mention that the most eligible bachelor of the season was supposedly the new master of the tower.

Someone else being in charge of the tower made Cressida apprehensive. Not because she thought Lorroakan was a person to be missed, but because there was a chance this new master was worse. That she would need to do something about him. The only way to find out, of course, was through meeting him. Orchestrating a formal one on one meeting wouldn’t have worked. It would have given him a chance to cater to her. Cressida hoped to meet him and figure out what sort of person he was organically.

As she skirted the ballroom and tried to feel that her updo was staying in place, she already heard plenty about him. Not that it told her anything important or anything she didn’t already know. Most of the talk was over the fact the new master was a tiefling of presumed low birth. There was apprehension among the oldest families. Cressida was technically part of such a family, but she was an exception to the rule.

If only she could find him and be done with it.

Unfortunately, he was in high demand and always with someone. Be it dancing with a lady or speaking with some patriars. She had yet to properly see him beyond a few flashes here and there. And the tension in her head was slowly growing into a gnawing ache. If she stayed in such a crowded place for much longer, she wouldn’t be in a state to speak to anyone.

While leaving the ballroom for some air meant that she risked missing him entirely, it was a necessary risk. She had to pace herself. Else she would have to attempt attending another one of these. Something which would give everyone the incorrect impression that she was searching for a spouse.

Cressida made her way out to the garden, the dark purple silk of her dress swishing in her wake.

-

This was going, for better or for worse, about how Rolan suspected it would go. It was his first public appearance since taking over the tower. Everyone was curious for one reason or another. Namely, he was stuck speaking to a variety of nobility which included a fair number of young ladies mixed with older patriars. The ones who were willing to approach him, at any rate. There were plenty of people in attendance who just about refused to look in his direction. Between his lineage and the circumstances of his rise to power, there were many who were suspicious of him.

Those who chose to approach him were not much better. Even the ones who clearly were not intending to be rude.

“It truly is impressive that you have amassed such fortunes, saer,” said the young woman as they circled each other in their dance, “It is rare for one of your kind to gain such wealth.”

He forced a smile, “Luck, truly. Little more than that.”

If he could have afforded to, he would have walked out right then and there. However, he had a reputation to build. Rolan finished the dance with the lady and she rushed over to someone he assumed was her mother, beaming. As though there were a chance in the hells that he would willingly speak to her again. He busied himself by taking a glass of wine and sipping on it as a nearby group of men spoke.

“No way she truly said such a thing to you!” exclaimed one.

The other man nodded, “I’m telling you, she called me old enough to be her grandfather! The nerve of that petulant girl. She needs someone to wrangle her in, but she’s more likely to rot alone in that blasted manor of hers.”

“Considering the years Lady Lanthir spent alone, it’s quite possible she’s forgotten all sense of decorum. Or her mind has withered away,” the man pat the other one on the back, “You dodged a mistake with that one. Besides, there are plenty of other suitable women to be your next wife.”

It wasn’t the first time he heard of this mysterious Lady Lanthir. Arguably she was more spoken about than he was. Apparently it was her first social appearance in nearly a decade. The sole heiress to a massive fortune, she was able to act as she pleased. It was hard to tell if she was deliberately unpleasant or if the men were exaggerating her behavior. He admired her alleged bluntness, if nothing else. It was amusing to hear about throughout the night. Even if he doubted he wanted to run into her. Someone like that would likely rip him to shreds from the sound of it.

For the first time since his arrival, there wasn’t someone fighting to get his attention, so he took the moment to quietly exit the room for a bit of air. A few moments to himself. Then, he would brave the upper class of the city once more until this whole ordeal was over. He was sure Cal and Lia would find some amusement in his plight afterwards.

As he approached the garden, he saw a woman admiring some of the roses. Her head turned in his direction, likely having heard him coming.

“Apologies, I was hoping to get some air,” he said, giving her a small wave of acknowledgment, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

The woman gave a polite curtsy, “You didn’t.”

“Nevertheless, you likely didn’t come out here to speak with the likes of me, so apologies are in order regardless.”

She gave a small smile in return. At a closer look, Rolan couldn’t help taking in her appearance. While the deep purple of her dress suited her well, there was a clear discomfort in her posture. Her dark hair was fighting against the pinned updo she kept it in as well. There was a curiosity in her gray eyes that left him assuming she wanted to talk. However short-lived the conversation would be.

“You’re the new Master of Ramazith’s Tower, no?” she asked, tiling her head to the side.

Rolan smiled, “It’s that obvious?”

“Well, you are the only tiefling in attendance,” she pointed out before pausing, “I meant no offense. Only that, it is that obvious.”

“At least you admit it,” he sighed, “Most are keen to not state it so outright.”

“Most are fools,” she replied, returning her gaze to the flowers, “I can only hope you’re having a more pleasant night than myself.”

Rolan hesitated, “Seeing as this is my first night of these sorts of festivities, I don’t think it would be proper to compare our evenings. It has been a bit overwhelming, to say the least.”

“Oh, of course. Certainly everyone is lining up to meet the new archmage,” she paused, “You must be sick of talking about it by now.”

He chuckled, “Some are lining up. Lots of questions to answer, many connections to make either way.”

“Primarily related to politicking, I’d presume?” she inquired, “Not so much about the tower itself?”

“You’d be right. I hadn’t realized how little most would want to know about the tower,” he agreed, taking a sip of wine, “I realize the amount of power I have come into, of course. But my apprenticeship did little to prepare me for the societal aspect of everything.”

Her head perked up and turned back to him, “Were you an apprentice for long? I don’t mean to pry, but I figure you’d prefer to speak on the arcane or something to that affect?”

“I was Master Lorroakan’s apprentice for a few months. Though, I did plenty of independent study beforehand. Personally, I always favored the school of evocation, but I appreciate the other forms of magic as well,” he explained.

A different line of questioning, to be sure. Most wanted to know about what deals of Lorroakan’s he intended to maintain. Or there were the hushed rumors centered on how he came into being the new master. Rolan knew that he had to be careful about such a line of conversation. From what he saw of the city’s society, they wouldn’t have understood the issue with Lorroakan’s position. He garnered such support that Rolan was certain the man’s reputation would remain as spotless as it had in his lifetime. Not much Rolan could have done about that.

Lorroakan’s treatment of him… it was hardly appropriate for a conversation such as this. Not with someone he just met. Assuming she would even believe him. There was his master’s treatment of those he considered beneath him as well. His need to use the people around him… much contributed to what Rolan had done to the man. Things he hoped no one would learn of.

“And what do you intend to do with the tower now that you have its knowledge?” she asked, gray eyes staring at him intently.

Another unique question.

“I mean to study it, of course. Then, I wish to catalogue it and do what I can to share the tower’s knowledge with as many as I can,” he replied.

The woman nodded, “Right, I’m sure the patriars would take great enjoyment in such access.”

“I don’t doubt it, but I intend to share it with more than the city’s upper echelons,” he added, “I wish to share it with everyone. Regardless of social standing.”

He could have sworn a smile twitched at her face, “Most of the nobility would be displeased, you know. You could lose the support of many families through that. Old, important ones.”

“If they believe gatekeeping essential knowledge from the broad public is so important, then they aren’t particularly worthwhile allies,” he shrugged.

Perhaps that was a stupid thing to say to someone who was either a part of or connected to those old, important families. That wasn’t a principle he was willing to cave on, though. Not when he grew up knowing how difficult it was to learn about anything related to the arcane without formal training. Which had its benefits, but if Lorroakan was to be an example of what formal training looked like in a wizard, then it clearly did not end up amounting to much.

The woman smirked, “I couldn’t agree more, Master… I don’t believe I caught your name.”

“Rolan,” he nodded to her, “And you are?”

“Cressida,” she paused, “Lady Cressida Lanthir, if we’re being formal, but I’ve never cared much for titles or formalities.”

He froze at her words, his tail twitching nervously behind him. So this was the mysterious, disagreeable Lady Lanthir he heard those men speaking about. In some ways, Rolan was kicking himself for not putting it together before now. What other woman would be able to wander around a ball unaccompanied? Not to mention how she told him she was here for the first time after years out of the public eye. It was easy to piece together that what he considered unique, almost refreshing questions would have come across as a lack of social graces to others.

His pause was noticed as Cressida’s gaze went to the ground, “I suppose my reputation precedes me.”

“You’ve certainly garnered a great deal of attention tonight… I almost think it could rival my own,” he replied, “I was under the impression you would be more…”

“Of a bitch?”

Rolan nearly spat out his wine, “Well… I wouldn’t- that’s not…”

“If that isn’t what they’re saying, it’s certainly what they’re thinking,” she shrugged, “I don’t mind. Though, I am glad we met in this way. It would’ve probably been boring to talk to you if you thought I was going to bite your head off the whole time.”

There was no exaggerating her bluntness, that was certain. He had yet to see any of the blatant rudeness she supposedly had.

“Can I ask why you’re not? Biting my head off, that is.”

“You’ve been nothing but polite to me. The fact that you’re not acting like you’re entitled to me helps,” Cressida smiled, “Not to mention, I would never live down scaring off the new Master of the Tower from high society. Though, if you’d prefer I bit your head off, that could also be arranged.”

Rolan couldn’t help the laugh that left him at that, “I think I’d prefer to keep my head, if it’s all the same to you.”

“Of course, can’t have the city’s newest, most eligible bachelor wandering around headless,” she said with a sage nod, “I suppose I should leave you to it, then.”

He shrugged, “The reprieve has been nice, honestly.”

“Not terribly eager to peruse your romantic prospects?” she asked, a teasing lilt in her voice.

“I don’t mind, but I have plenty to worry about without finding a suitor. Even if plenty are lining up,” he nodded at her, “Aren’t you? Perusing, I mean?”

She scoffed, “If you count those old men as prospects, you’re more of a fool than I feared.”

“Can I ask what brings you here, then?”

-

Cressida paused at the question. The truth was she was there to meet him. But not in the same way that everyone else was. They wanted a chance to meet the new Master of the Tower for business dealings. She wanted to see if she had to prepare for a means to dispose of him. To see if the man who placed Lorroakan was somehow more vile and cruel.

Thus far, much to her relief, she found the opposite. While a few minutes was not nearly enough time to know someone and their intentions deeply, his thoughts and words indicated someone who was rather kind. Someone who was principled, at least. And, for better or worse, she found herself longing to know more. But she couldn’t afford to let her full motivations slip. Not so soon.

“I wanted to see what I was missing,” she answered, “After years of… well, poor health, I’ve finally felt more like myself as of late. I figured if there was ever a chance of me partaking in society again, this would be the time.”

Rolan nodded in understanding, “In that case, I’m glad you’ve been feeling better lately. I presume that means you’re not searching for a husband, then?”

“And have to answer to someone else after years of being able to manage myself?” Cressida shook her head, “I have no want for marriage. It would likely stifle me.”

No wonder those men couldn’t stand her… I can’t blame her for being short with them… Rolan’s thoughts circled her head. A relief, hearing that he wasn’t upset at her insistence against finding someone. Not that it would have been his place to have an opinion one way or the other.

“Well, while your position is quite clear, I do feel it would be improper to talk your ear off this long without at least offering you a dance,” he said.

She couldn’t stop the smile that crossed her face, “I haven’t minded in the slightest. And while I would love to accept your request, I fear I must warn you that I haven’t danced in years.”

How could she have if she were sick? It’s curious that she started feeling better recently… his thoughts begged a fair point. One that she herself wondered about too. Though, in a different way. Her frequent pain and nightmares seemed to disappear entirely. It left her worried about when such things would return to her. The pain was likely inevitable.

“Well, if it helps, I have been rushing to learn so as to not make a fool of myself tonight,” he replied, “I think I could do well enough for both of us.”

“Then perhaps it would be worthwhile to see what you can do. And I wouldn’t mind seeing some of those old patriars fuming once they realize I am willing to give someone the time of day.”

Rolan offered her his arm, which she took as he led her back into the bustle of the party. While the thoughts buzzing and swirling around the room were not ideal, the break was better than nothing. Not to mention, convenient for piecing together Rolan’s thoughts. Doing so in this space would have been difficult, and she was certain she would have given him the cold impression everyone else seemed to have of her. Not that she ever did much to prove everyone else wrong.

The ongoing song finished, allowing time for the pair to step out onto the dance floor. While it was difficult to make out exact thoughts, Cressida could feel the eyes on her. Likely on Rolan as well. She was certain it made for an interesting sight. The old men approaching her must have been wondering what sort of sweet nothings Rolan whispered to get a dance from her.

It was difficult to ignore it as they waited for the music to start. She found her eyes scanning the room, everyone’s thoughts feeling like they were louder. Like everyone was watching for her to make some kind of mistake. While she wanted to steel herself to it, she found herself unable to concentrate.

One of Rolan’s hands found hers, “Follow my lead, alright?”

“Right, you’re still sure about this?” she asked.

His other hand found her waist and his golden eyes found hers, “It’s a bit late to back out now, no? Just trust me.”

“I… I hope you know what you’re doing,” she murmured, her free hand reaching his shoulder.

Music began to fill the hall once again and Cressida followed in step with Rolan. Which, considering she didn’t have the same well-trained steps as most of the ladies present, was going smoothly. She hadn’t completely forgotten how to do this sort of thing.

“I thought you didn’t care what they all thought,” he said.

She scoffed, “I never said that. You’d be a fool not to care.”

“And why is that?”

“So many of the people here influence the city, its goings on…” she found herself unable to come up with anything to say but her genuine thoughts, “They’re all waiting to see me make some sort of mistake. After being gone so long… I’m positive everyone here would love to pick me apart.”

He spun her, “I think you’ll have to get in line. Need I remind you I’m the only tiefling in attendance?”

“You have a point,” she allowed herself to relax into his hold, “You would be wise to pay attention to what they say, though.”

He arched a brow, “Is that so?”

“Yes,” she looked at him, “Surely you’ve heard what they’ve started saying about you… your rise to power?”

His brow furrowed, “What exactly are you getting at?”

If his thoughts served to be correct, which she had no reason to think otherwise, the suspicions were right. Rolan killed Lorroakan. Likely due to poor treatment. Cressida could hardly blame him, of course. And she wasn’t about to accuse him of something. Even if it was true, this was hardly the time or place to confront him head-on.

“I mean to say that… if certain rumors are to be believed,” she thought over her next words carefully, “Some will try to get in your way. Particularly when they learn that you mean to share the tower’s knowledge. If you find yourself in need of a powerful ally, I may be inclined to be just that.”

A confused look crossed his face. Looking at him, she could hear swirls of thoughts wondering how powerful she could truly be. Considering she admitted herself that she had been ill for years and was the sole head of her house.

“I will… keep that in mind,” he replied.

The music came to an end once more, “I know I may not seem like much, but I do come from one of those old, powerful families we were talking about. And I have the occasional trick up my sleeve.”

“I never intended to doubt you, Lady Lanthir,” he said.

She shrugged, “I wouldn’t blame you. Just… keep me in mind, yes?”

“Don’t worry, I will, my lady.”

“Cressida is fine, really,” she said with a bashful smile.

He took the hand that was holding hers and kissed it, “Very well, Cressida. I hope to see you around.”

“Same to you, Master Rolan.”

“Just Rolan will suffice.”

-

Several months had passed since their first meeting, and Rolan found that he enjoyed Cressida’s company. They became fast acquaintances. Rolan was aware that he needed to take advantage of anyone he met within the city’s nobility who so willingly offered to be in his corner. But the political side of things was what he found himself caring about the least.

That was a line of thought he and Cressida shared. As being acquainted with each other caused some more desirable prospects to approach her. However, she had little interest in any of them while not being nearly as scathing as she had been at the ball they met at. While he knew it was because marriage was a considerable risk for her, he was selfishly glad no one caught her interest.

Cressida was blunt and occasionally said things that made him wonder if she had managed to swap places with the real noblewoman who was supposed to exist. But more than that, she was funny and thoughtful and Rolan found himself frequently inviting her to the tower. It helped that Cal and Lia liked her as well. Perhaps too much as they teased him about his supposed crush. Which he denied at first, but now…

He took a sip of the tea sat between them to steady himself. To prepare himself for what he needed to tell her.

“Is everything alright? You’ve barely looked at your book,” she pointed out, marking her own page.

Sometimes it felt like she knew he had something to say. Which he would ordinarily brush off as insightful, but it could be uncanny at times. Still, there was no time like the present.

“Cressida, I know we’ve both been very clear about not being interested in marriage or looking for partners, but there’s something I must tell you. Over these months, I’ve found myself wanting to call upon you far more often than what would be appropriate,” he started, setting the book to the side, “I enjoy your company more than any of the other nobles I’ve met by a long shot. And at first I thought I was just glad to have a friend, but I’ve started to realize my feelings may be more than that. And, if you would let me, I would like to court you.”

“Rolan, I-”

“Hold on, let me finish, please,” he told her, “I know that a decision like this holds more weight for you than it does for me. And while I can sit here and tell you that I like you and would like to court you because of your independence and your stubbornness and I would never do anything to impede that, I know that my words may not be enough. So, feel free to just say the word and I’ll drop the matter. I just… I only thought it was fair that you knew my feelings for you.”

“There is something that I need to tell you,” Cressida said, a grim look on her face.

Rolan frowned, “What is it? Is… is everything alright?”

“Well, yes… but also not at all,” she sighed, “I’ve been keeping a great deal from you. And at first it didn’t really matter because I didn’t intend to be all that involved with you… but now… now you’re saying all of these sweet things and… and I don’t deserve them in the slightest, Rolan.”

“If this is about your family or the things in your past, Cressida, I assure you that won’t sway me if that is your only hesitation,” he insisted, “We can also take this as slowly as you would like. It’s up to you.”

Cressida gave him a pained smile, “Oh, Rolan… what I have to tell you is going to destroy everything. You’ll want something stronger than tea.”

“Very well,” he waved an unseen servant to bring some wine.

Was it her strange illness? Had it started to return? Did she learn that she was dying or something of the like and think that would influence his opinion of her? Gods, he hoped not. It wouldn’t have changed his mind, but he hated to think of her having to suffer like that.

She grimaced, “I- I’m afraid I lied to you when we first met. I told you I was there to see what I was missing over the years, to determine if I wanted to take a more prominent role in society while I was starting to feel better, but that wasn’t true. Rolan, I was only there to meet you.”

Rolan let out a sigh of relief, “Is that all? Surely you didn’t think that would matter to me so much? Most people were there to meet me-”

“Not like I was,” she cut him off, her voice sounding more severe, “You see, I knew Lorroakan. Rather well.”

He nodded at her to continue.

“We, um… we were intimate at one point. Which is a scandal in and of itself, but isn’t the thing I’m referencing,” she took a deep breath, “When I learned that he was dead and that his apprentice was his successor, I was not optimistic about what sort of person took his place. I worried that the only sort of person who could have done so was worse than him. So I went to that ball, figuring I would need to plot the new master’s downfall before my inaction caused more harm.”

“Right… I assume you’ve decided on not killing me, yes?” he asked, “Otherwise, you’ve been doing an abysmal job.”

Cressida nodded.

“Alright, so clearly I’m doing something right in your eyes,” he turned to her, “How did you come to a decision?”

“That is the part that’s going to ruin this… Rolan, I hear what everyone thinks,” she started, “I’m a psionic, I can’t help hearing people’s thoughts, but I did in this instance read your mind to figure out your intentions on purpose. Meeting you in the garden was lucky for me, and I determined that while you did kill Lorroakan, you weren’t the threat I was afraid you would be.”

He was quiet.

“My psionic powers are a secret. I haven’t told anyone in a long time, and I beg that you keep it a secret if only for my peace of mind,” she started messing with her earring, “I didn’t count on liking you as much as I do. And I know I should have told you sooner, but… but things are always so much simpler when people don’t know. I was scared, which feels like a stupid thing to say now. I- I’m sorry. I understand if you want me to leave.”

All of the pieces finally clicked. Cressida’s health, her seeming awareness of the tower, the unique questions… it all made sense now.

“You wrote the diary.”

She blinked in confusion, “What?”

“When I was still an apprentice, I came across a diary from years ago. A psionic who had close ties to Lorroakan…” he let out a small laugh, “All this time, it was yours.”

Her face indicated understanding, “I… I’d forgotten about that. I suppose, yes, you found my diary… what of it?”

“You are the reason I killed Lorroakan,” he said, “In reading your entries, I noticed a pattern of your pain worsening after you fought with him. At one point, the bastard told me that he was using a spell of Ramazith’s to subdue you with nightmares. Well, he said a former flame he hoped to rekindle, I didn’t know who it was. I just knew there was someone out there in an unimaginable amount of pain who was probably dying considering how frequently he used the spell. It was enough for me to be willing to take matters into my own hands.”

She raised a brow, “Why? You didn’t know me.”

“Because I figured killing him was the only way to make sure it stopped. I had my own issues with Lorroakan, it’s true, but I felt like I could push through it. You, on the other hand, had no idea. It wasn’t right to allow that to continue.”

“That’s… so you’re saying this sudden recovery I had… it’s going to last? I don’t have to worry about suddenly slipping back into the worst of it?”

“I can’t say for certain, but I think it would be safe to say that you’re going to continue feeling better,” he shook his head, “I should’ve put it all together sooner.”

A relieved look crossed her face, “So… you’re not upset? About the lying and the mind reading and all of that?”

“You said it yourself, you don’t plan to hurt me. It might’ve been nice to know about the psionic side of things sooner, but considering what happened the last time you let someone in and they knew about everything… I can’t blame you for hiding it.”

Cressida smiled, turning towards him, “Then, if the offer’s still there, I’d like to see where this goes.”

“Of course it is,” he chuckled, “As long as I haven’t made too much of an ass of myself with all of my thoughts.”

She leaned over to kiss his cheek, “You haven’t. And considering you saved my life, I say you can think whatever you’d like.”

A point which had only been proven by her reaction to him berating her the way he did. When he finally got his vitriol out, she looked at him with a calm, almost bored expression on her face and asked if that was all. If he remembered right, she practically goaded him into saying the things he did.

Gods, he reamed into her so much that he was surprised she didn’t leave him for dead when she had the chance. It would have been less embarrassing. And that was going off of what he could remember. What she was thinking when it came to involving him in this breakout was beyond him.

Even now, he doubted his presence would be of much help. It felt like he shouldn’t be there, a stone’s throw away from Moonrise Towers. No one objected to his presence, though. Rolan wasn’t sure how much of that was due to his talents or how much was due to the others not wanting to argue with Cressida.

The sensation of ropes tightening around his wrists brought him back to reality. Cressida scrunched her face in concentration as she bound his hands together. He tried to focus his gaze elsewhere and ended up watching her fingers move with a gentle deftness that was almost entrancing.

To her credit, she had come up with a fully-baked plan soon after her companions returned to the inn. At least, as fully baked as they were going to get. Anything more prepared would take time they didn’t have.

Posing as a prisoner was a risk he had to take. It didn’t help that Cressida looked the part of a cultist between the dark makeup and her new getup which consisted of some kind of clothing that had blackened bones protruding from the front.

She pulled a knot snug before her gray eyes looked up to meet his, “You’re sure about this?”

“Yes, my answer still hasn’t changed since the last ten times you’ve asked me,” Rolan was about to scoff or roll his eyes but stopped himself.

One proper look at Cressida was enough for him to realize she was tired. The slight slump in her shoulders, the heaviness in her eyes, not to mention the dark circles that her even darker makeup didn’t completely obscure. She was asking for his sake. Even if it was unnecessary in his mind.

She gave a small nod, “Good. Now, the end of this rope that I’m tucking here will make the binds come completely undone if you tug on it. Only do it when no one’s watching.”

“Obviously,” he did roll his eyes at that, “I don’t have a death wish.”

“Could’ve fooled me.”

Cressida was clearly not about to let his attempted foray into the shadows go anytime soon.

“Are you two done yet?” Shadowheart asked, “The others will reach the back before we even get to the doors if you two keep bickering.”

Astarion laughed, “I think we should’ve left them back in Cress’s room and let them sort it all out for themselves.”

“Why in the hells would you leave us at…” Cressida trailed off as she took the vampire’s meaning and turned to him, glaring daggers as her face turned a bright shade of pink, “Excuse me?! Astarion, I’m the one in charge here!”

Rolan took a slight step back as she started to spark up with lightning magic. She stepped closer to Astarion.

The elf looked unconcerned, “Come on, darling, you’re terribly wound up and we all know it.”

“I’m not. And even if I were it would be none of your business!” she exclaimed, sparks jumping up and down her arms, “What I do and who I do it with is none of your concern and you will not bring it up in front of everyone.”

Astarion gave a shrug, “I’m just saying.”

“Well, don’t.”

Rolan couldn’t tell if Cressida was upset at Astarion’s words or at the suggestion of being with him. It was likely better to not think too much about the truth to that. He didn’t care about that, anyway. They needed to focus on his siblings, himself included.

The last stretch to Moonrise Towers was walked in silence with Cressida holding onto the end of the ropes that bound Rolan’s wrists.

“Sorry about Astarion, he’s just joking around,” Cressida said as they closed in on the bridge, “He doesn’t actually… he didn’t mean anything by it.”

Rolan raised a brow, “I didn’t think he did.”

“Oh, good… you were just a bit quiet so I wanted to make sure you knew,” she replied.

He nodded, “I’m concentrating.”

She gave a nod in return, “Right, of course.”

If he didn’t know any better, he would have thought Cressida was nervous. That felt preposterous all things considered. She faced things far more nerve-wracking than a conversation with him.

Rolan might have assumed she was nervous about infiltrating Moonrise Towers, but he noticed her demeanor change out of the corner of his eye as they crossed the bridge. She straightened up and clutched the rope he was tied to in such a way that he couldn’t help wondering if this was a trap. Then again, this would have been an unnecessarily elaborate way to get rid of him.

As they closed in on the entrance to the massive structure, Rolan started to have a better understanding of why Cressida insisted that his idea to free Cal and Lia alone was idiotic. The place was crawling with cultists. On the front part, at least, and he was unsure he would have been able to slip through the back.

A male half-elf stood at the entrance of the towers and looked over the group, “True Souls, I see you have brought someone with you.”

“Yes, I found one of those tieflings running around,” Cressida said with a bored tone, “The delusional sap thought he was going to free the others. Can you believe that?”

“You’re pulling my leg!” the man exclaimed before looking at Rolan’s less than amused expression, “No fucking way, you’re serious.”

Did she really have to give away what he was here to do? At the very least she could have made him sound less idiotic in the process. Maybe this was her way of rubbing it in.

Cressida let out a dry laugh, “Dead serious. I was hoping to imprison him myself. Maybe even make him a True Soul.”

“Now, you know we don’t just give that honor to anyone.”

She messed with the end of his rope as though coming up with an idea, “I’m aware. But I’m telling you, it will be for the good of the Absolute.”

“How so?”

“He doesn’t look like much, but he’s a decent wizard,” Cressida replied.

The man nodded, “I like where your head is at, but what’s different about him?”

“He’s going to have access to power and resources we’ll need in Baldur’s Gate. More magic and money and influence,” she explained.

“That sounds like quite the opportunity, True Soul,” he said and frowned, “Unfortunately, our warden is out on business. I couldn’t possibly admit a new prisoner, let alone make him one of us.”

Rolan held back a breath of relief at the realization there was no warden present. And he could have sworn he saw Cressida and Astarion exchange a glance.

“You’re certain?” Astarion asked, “Because this would be an opportunity that could fully turn the tide in the Absolute’s favor. And it could be all accredited to you.”

Cressida smirked, “The Absolute would be grateful to you for providing such a powerful asset.”

The man paused in thought for a few moments and for a moment Rolan thought that this man was seeing what was going on for what it actually was. That it was a ploy to get near the prisoners. This whole plan would be for nothing and they would have to fight their way through the impossible amount of cultists.

“You’re right, for the Absolute,” the man said, “Follow me.”

A tug on the binds from Cressida pulled him along so they just trailed behind Astarion who was chatting up the guard and Shadowheart was close behind them. Now that they were in Moonrise Towers, there was no turning back.

On a logistical level, Rolan knew that it would have looked strange if Cressida said anything to him on their walk towards the warden’s chamber. That didn’t make the silence from her any less disconcerting. There was no telling what was going through her head. If she was honest about the plan or if this was some type of trap for him and everyone in the cells.

He said he trusted her, but that was just so he could have a chance at saving Cal and Lia. Whether or not he meant it was another thing entirely. They didn’t know each other. Most of their time together was spent arguing. It was difficult for him to trust anyone in the first place. Surely she couldn’t have been shocked that he had his own hesitations.

“You were saying he’s a wizard?” asked the cultist as they entered the room, Shadowheart closing the door behind them.

Cressida nodded, “Yes. He’s to be an apprentice for a very powerful archmage in Baldur’s Gate. Lorroakan of Athkatla, the archmage of Ramazith’s Tower in Baldur’s Gate. Perhaps you’ve heard of him?”

Were it not for the several other elements at play, Rolan would have made Cressida pause to explain how she knew where Lorroakan was from. That was not the most widely-known fact. Especially since he got the feeling she didn’t spend her days poring over wizards to seek out for an apprenticeship. Though, with how emotionally charged her powers were, she could have used the discipline.

“I can’t say that I have,” said the cultist, “But a wizard’s tower is an impressive feat. We could use someone like him in our ranks.”

A calm smile crossed Cressida’s face. An expression Rolan had never seen before. He was unsure as to whether or not that was a good sign. It would be easy for her to betray him. Even if the binds worked the way she claimed, he couldn’t fight everyone in this room.

“That is precisely what I was thinking,” Cressida replied, approaching the cultist.

He nodded in agreement, “We must expedite his treatment. This is exactly what the Absolute needs!”

The man started to prattle on and Rolan nearly missed the slow, careful way Cressida pulled a blade of shadows from the belt on her waist. Had that always been there?

“You know She will thank-” the cultist was cut off by Cressida stabbing her dagger into the back of his neck where the brain met the spine.

He let out a cough, choking on blood as his eyes dulled and the body hit the floor with an unceremonious thud. A pool of blood began to form on the stone floor. The room was silent.

Rolan had a decent enough idea of Cressida’s magic, but knew nothing of this brutal side of her. Then again, a stomach for violence was a necessity in a place like this.

Perhaps she really didn’t hate him like he suspected. She would have been more than capable of disposing of him if he were an enemy. What he witnessed should have unnerved him, but he could only find himself seeing that this plan could work the way it was supposed to.

Astarion shook his head, “That was sloppy. You’re lucky the bastard was so focused on the sound of his own voice. Anyone else would’ve seen you coming.”

“Not even,” Cressida rolled her eyes, “That was a good stealth kill and you know it. You’re just mad you didn’t get to do it.”

“I did see you grab your blade,” Rolan interjected.

She turned to glare at him, “No one asked you. And, for the record, that’s a weird way of thanking someone for saving your sorry ass.”

“The scrying eye is coming,” Shadowheart interjected, nodding up the stairs.

Cressida spoke an incantation and hurled a ball of purple thunder at an orb floating down the stairs, turning it into a puff of smoke with a loud crack. Shadowheart and Astarion seemed more concerned with picking out valuables from the body and moving it out of sight than anything else.

“It’s so annoying when they don’t carry anything good,” Astarion huffed.

Cressida shrugged, “We could always invite more guards to join us. See if they have anything worth taking.”

The sarcasm in her tone was palpable. Rolan chose to ignore the continuing banter, gazing through the hooks on the wall for keys or something that would help them.

“Found the keys,” he said, nodding in the direction of them.

Cressida looked over and grabbed them, “Perfect. Now we lock you up and have you get the tieflings on board. I’ll try talking to the gnomes and then we find out how loose the walls behind the cells really are.”

“And when that happens, I destroy the gate for the rest of you to get through, ideally knocking down any cultists in the way,” Rolan replied.

She twirled the key ring around her finger, “Let’s do it.”

It almost didn’t feel real. His siblings were only a few yards away and getting closer as Cressida led him to a cell filled with the tieflings who had been taken. What he was going to say in any exact words was beyond him. How could he possibly explain what was going on when he couldn’t even think of how to express just how much he missed them?

Those thoughts were interrupted when they stopped at the gate of the cell and Lia rushed up to the bars.

All of this planning and Rolan hadn’t once thought of what anyone would say at the sight of him getting locked up. The fact that he was seeing Cal and Lia and that he was getting them out and that he knew why he was there caused him to overlook it. It was unlikely that Cressida thought about it.

“You caught Rolan? How could you?!” Lia exclaimed, fury written across her face, “We trusted you, but you’ve been with them all along!”

Lia’s shouting led to guards looking in their direction and he heard Cressida pull a dagger and felt it pressed against his back ever so slightly. Not the silent, shadowed blade she killed someone with in one blow. If she wanted to actually hurt him, she would have. Not that Lia seemed to put that part of things together.

“You won’t have a brother if you keep running your mouth!” Cressida spat, her voice projecting more than it needed to.

A show, something to signal to the guards that she had it handled. And while fury burned in Lia’s eyes, she had the sense to not continue making a scene. If only because she seemed to genuinely believe Cressida’s words. Which made sense as Lia couldn’t feel how the blade trembled against his back. As though Cressida was unprepared to follow through with her threat.

The silence that followed was enough for Cressida to remove her blade. She then shoved him into the cell and stalked away. While nothing more was said, he could have sworn he saw a flicker of hurt in her eyes. Rolan didn’t have a chance to wait for Cressida to be far before Lia spoke again.

“You damned idiot! How could you get caught too?!” Lia exclaimed.

Cal pulled Rolan into a tight embrace, “Lia means we missed you. Were… were you tricked?”

“What? No, gods, no, Cressida didn’t trick me,” Rolan let out an aggravated sigh, “We’re here to break you all out.”

“And that’s why you’re behind bars and tied up?” Lia asked, crossing her arms, “Looked to me like she was about ready to stab you in the back.”

Rolan glared at her, “Because you were making a scene. People were looking, she had to do something. She’s pretending to be one of them, you inane troglodyte!”

“Okay, okay, if she’s helping us, what’s the plan?” asked Cal.

“This wall here is unstable, the rest of her group is behind it and is going to take it out. I posed as a prisoner to be put in here and tell all of you, and Cressida is talking to the prisoners next to us. Both walls get taken out in tandem and I take out this gate and any nearby guards, giving the group on this side a quick getaway,” Rolan explained, turned towards them just so he could remove his binds away from the view of the guards, “Then, we all get into a boat and I get you to safety.”

His siblings nodded and Danis spoke up, “And you think we can trust Cressida and everyone else?”

“I know we can,” Rolan replied without a moment’s hesitation.

It was then that he heard an aggravated sigh just outside of the gate. Approaching the bars, he saw one of the guards in front of Cressida. The guard’s arms were crossed and her hair was frizzing up with what he could only assume was irritation.

“I am allowed to speak with the prisoners,” she insisted, “Balthazar’s orders.”

The guard scoffed, “Balthazar has been missing, and you expect me to believe instead of asking you to report to Z’rell, or anyone with any amount of authority, he asked you to interact with the prisoners?”

“I’m here to follow orders, not ask questions,” she replied.

The guard stood, unconvinced, “You will have to return with something more official than a few vague words. Do you even know where he is currently located?”

“In the shadow curse… locating the Nightsong,” she said right as the screeching of a scrying eye permeated the area, “Y’know what? Fuck this.”

Cressida never told him what the signal was in any exact terms. Only that he would know when the time was right. An infuriatingly vague instruction for an otherwise thought-out plan, he now understood what she meant. In the same moment that she reached out at the guard with a Shocking Grasp, there was a loud boom of the wall crumbling.

“Run, all of you,” Rolan ordered.

Danis and Lakrissa didn’t need much convincing. They knew a godsend when they saw it. Cal and Lia were not so easily convinced.

“You two need to get out!” he snapped.

Lia shook her head, “No way, not without knowing you’re safe too.”

Looking between her and Cal, it didn’t seem like there was anything he could say in the next few seconds that would convince them to leave him.

“Fine, don’t get in the way,” Rolan relented, “And don’t get into any fights.”

He heard the wave of guards filing through the hall he had just walked through. The sound was interrupted by the crack of thunder coming from one of Astarion’s arrows as it hit the scrying eye.

Rolan watched one of the guards, waiting for just the right moment before pushing out a Thunderwave that rendered the guard flat on his back and thrown across the room. When he looked over, he saw Cressida not quite manage to side step the blade of the guard in front of her. It stabbed into her shoulder and a trickle of blood fell down her arm.

When she explained the plan to him, she explicitly told him that if anyone in their group was cornered or in danger to not step in. Cressida claimed that she and the others would be fine. That there were contingencies in place should one of them get hurt. Rolan was certain she was full of it and only said such a thing so he wouldn’t feel guilty if one of them died. As though she got to decide what he felt about any of this. That damned, arrogant know-it-all.

Rolan knew he should listen to her, of course. Her plan had gone accordingly for the most part. Were it not for Lia drawing the guard’s attention, it might have been perfect. Surely she didn’t expect him to stand by and watch while she got ripped to shreds. Not for a lack of Astarion and Shadowheart’s involvement. However, they were occupied by the gaggle of guards that entered the prison.

If he was going to be of help, he needed to be just the slightest bit closer. He knew Cressida wouldn’t be thrilled that he deviated from the plan, but at least she would be alive to complain about it. That was what he told himself as he went towards her.

The guard uttered the beginnings of an incantation and Rolan countered it with a snap of his fingers. While she didn’t look at him, he could have sworn Cressida caught on. She went from stepping back in the hopes of avoiding whatever spell was nearly cast to lunging forward with the same shadowed blade he saw from before. It wasn’t quite enough to subdue the guard, but Rolan did hear a cry of pain. Rolan shot a Firebolt before the guard could even think of a next move. It was almost impossible to hear the thud of the body over the chaos as Karlach and Lae’zel joined in to take on the onslaught of guards.

Cressida turned to him and he saw her mouth open to scold him before her eyes widened and she hurled a dagger in his direction. It was too quick for him to duck away from, and he felt it whiz by his face. When he turned to see where it landed, Rolan was greeted to a guard attempting to cast a spell despite the flashy dagger in their chest. Only no sound came from out. As though the dagger itself silenced the guard, but that had to be impossible. Blades didn’t cast spells. Not like that, anyway. Unless….

“You better get that back for me! That blade’s worth more than your spellbook!” she called out.

Rolan rolled his eyes in response, but her words only affirmed the dagger’s capabilities. It did silence the guard. Which meant he had to make this next spell count. As he cast a Magic Missile on the guard, he heard Cressida run up next to him.

“I thought I told you to not get involved,” she said as his missiles found the guard, leaving a dazed look in the cultist’s eyes.

“And I thought you said you would’ve left me to my cups if you didn’t think I could take on a few cultists.”

“Only…” Cressida hit the guard with another Shocking Grasp before finishing them off with a stab of the shadow blade, “If things went sideways.”

Rolan scoffed, “Right, because ‘fuck this’ means everything is going smoothly.”

“I would’ve been fine without your help.”

“Odd way of thanking someone from saving your ass,” he said, pulling the dagger from the corpse and handing it to Cressida.

“Oi! If you two are done bickering like an old married couple, we better get out of here before more guards get down here!” Karlach shouted, already going through the busted cell gate.

More cultists could be heard further up the hall leading to the prison. Rolan needed no further convincing to run to the boat. However he didn’t look at where he was going and slid on ice that must have been cast while he wasn’t paying attention. As he landed on his back, he felt Cressida’s foot catch on his robes. She landed on top of him, knocking the wind out of his lungs.

“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Cressida muttered, her face flushed and her curls frizzed up.

Rolan let out a cough, “I broke your fall, thank you very much. You’ve all but broke me.”

“Oh, you should be so lucky,” she retorted, rolling off of him to get back up.

While she stuck out a hand to help him, he pushed himself off of the ice himself before realizing more cultists were at their heels. One cultist Misty Stepped through to where Cal and Lia waited in the cell and Rolan felt his heart drop as the cultist raised a greatsword poised to strike at Cal that flickered with some kind of magic. A blow from that would maim Cal if he was lucky and there was nothing Rolan could do to stop it.

As the scene played out, he realized Cressida was no longer standing next to him. She rushed to get between Cal and the cultist as the blade came down, only hissing as it collided with her chest. Were it not for the protruding rib cage of her shirt, Rolan was almost certain it would have killed her. The sound of the decorative bones cracking filled his ears. Red started pooling at her abdomen.

All Rolan could think to do was fire off a Magic Missile at the cultist with every he had left.

With the cultist dazed, Cressida all but jumped at the chance to lunge at them with her shadow blade that now looked like lightning was coursing through it. Another jab with her second dagger through the eye and Rolan watched the greatsword clatter to the stone floor.

“Still think she’s one of them?” Rolan looked at Lia.

“Will you shut up?! I’m trying to focus,” Cressida snapped, digging through her pack before pulling out a bomb, “Stand back.”

Cal’s eyes widened as Rolan pulled him through the broken wall with Lia next to him, “Have you lost your mind?”

Cressida gave no response as she hurled it through the broken gate at the cultists. A deafening boom sounded as the ceiling of the cell they all just came from caved into a pile of rubble.

“Shit, Sparky, are you alright?” Karlach asked, rushing towards them.

Cressida looked down at where the sword cut her before shrugging, “I’ve had worse.”

“You’re bleeding out, you idiot!” Rolan exclaimed, putting an arm around her before she could trip over a piece of fallen brick.

Karlach handed Cressida a potion, “That’ll have to do for now. We sent Shads with the first boat so she could focus on the prisoners who got caught in the rubble.”

“You didn’t think anyone in your own bloody group would need that healing more?!” Rolan exclaimed.

Cressida swigged the healing potion, “It’s fine, I’d rather she did that. This is nothing.”

“Yes, yes, we get it. You’re great at getting beaten half to death, congratulations,” Astarion said, looking at their small group, “Oh, hells, this is going to be a pain in the ass to mend. Not to mention that ghastly bloodstain. You know I’m not a miracle worker, right?”

She let out a cough that seemed like it was supposed to have been a laugh, “You’ll figure it out.”

It was far from nothing, but Rolan had a feeling that Cressida wouldn’t be convinced of that unless she was laying in a pool of her own blood. Certainly not while he and Karlach got her onto the boat. The self-sacrificing idiot. There was no way he would ever be able to repay her now. He entered the boat with Cal and Lia on either side of him and chose to not say anything else on the matter. Delete

The inn was roaring with cheers and laughter and singing. Despite the oppressive nature of the Shadow-Cursed Lands, there was a lot of joy to be had at the inn. Rolan saw the different pairs and small groups getting together. Everyone who got hurt during the escape had plenty of time to rest and heal between help from Shadowheart and Halsin and Isobel.

Cressida looking shockingly alright considering how she looked when they first got back. Not that he had a proper chance to speak with her. And it looked like he wouldn’t get the chance, considering she was nowhere to be seen in the various groups surrounding him.

“He’s doing it again,” Cal whispered to Lia.

Rolan furrowed his brow at the pair, “Doing what?”

“Looking for Cressida,” Lia replied, holding back laughter.

He crossed his arms, “Am not. She came over to us already. What more is there to say?”

“Oh, come on, Rolan! Face it, you like her,” there was a smug grin on Lia’s face.

“I tolerate her at most.”

Cal raised a brow, “Is that why you almost bit Lia’s head off when she tried to say Cress was a cultist?”

“That little scene threw off the whole plan!” Rolan exclaimed.

Lia nodded like she was pretending to consider his argument, “Okay, sure. Then why did it look like you were about to go toe-to-toe with Karlach when she said Shadowheart was on the other boat?”

“Because Cressida was hurt after saving your sorry asses. Forgive me for thinking she shouldn’t have to risk dying to get you out.”

Astarion cleared his throat, having likely overheard far too much of the argument for Rolan’s liking, “If you want my input, you’re both completely hopeless. She’s near the docks, if you were looking for her. If you have half a brain, wizard, you’ll split some wine and fuck already so the rest of us can stop putting up with this asinine back and forth you two have going on.”

“I wouldn’t have quite said it that way, but he’s got a point,” Lia said.

Rolan rolled his eyes, “You’re all perverse imbeciles.”

He hated how appealing the idea was. What he hated more was that he wanted some air anyway and made his way out of the inn.

When he stepped out, he saw Cressida’s unmistakable figure in the darkness near the docks. She stared out towards the river and took a swig from the bottle in her hand. He was about to say something when she started talking which made him pause.

“I did it, Cadmus,” she said, her eyes trained off in the distance, “Not on my own, obviously, but no one died. I thought that might bring you comfort… but I don’t blame you if it doesn’t.”

Rolan knew he shouldn’t be standing around, watching her talk to the sky in what was clearly meant to be a private moment. It was hard to know for sure, but he had a feeling she was talking to her cousin. Or maybe another loved one she lost and neglected to mention. As though she owed him any explanation of her personal life. He never should have listened to Astarion, of all people.

If he stepped away now, though, he was sure Cressida would hear him. And he didn’t want to find out how she felt about his presence.

“I fucked it up, anyway. If I’d been thinking, I would’ve had the refugees travel with us and none of them would be dead,” she took a slow, deep breath, “But it’s something, right? Anyway, I miss you like hell and I’m sorry.”

She sniffed and then tipped the bottle out, pouring a fair amount of its contents on the ground. It was then that Rolan saw the best opportunity to seem like he only just showed up.

“Um… what in the hells are you doing?” he asked, approaching her.

Cressida jumped, her hair poofing up in a way he couldn’t help but find endearing now, “I- I’m… it’s none of your business.”

“If you hated the wine that much, you could’ve given it to me,” Rolan said.

She rolled her eyes, “You don’t need it.”

“The ground needs it even less.”

She glared at him, “If you must know, it was for my cousin.”

“I see,” he gave a nod towards the ground, “My condolences. I only have a vague idea of how hard such a loss must be.”

“Thanks, I guess,” she stared at the ground, “If I had more control over my magic, he’d still be here.”

Rolan paused, unable to find any words to say to that. While his instinct was to tell her she should study or find some way to control herself, he knew she was aware of those options. It made him wonder what she had tried and why she still didn’t seem any better off so many years later.

Had he not been watching her so closely, he wouldn’t have noticed the way she tried to subtly wipe her eyes that no longer had the dark makeup that she usually clung to.

“What are you doing out here, anyway?” Cressida asked, “You should be with Cal and Lia, not out here with me.”

He shrugged, “I’m not one for a bunch of celebration. You know that.”

“So you decided to wander outside when there are plenty of places to hide inside?”

Rolan felt his face heat up, “Your absence has also gone noticed. By others.”

“Of course,” she nodded before eyeing him, “Only others?”

His breath hitched, “Yes.”

“Right,” she replied, “Well, I don’t feel like being surrounded by a bunch of people trying to thank me.”

He frowned, “If this is about Lia, I can-”

“No, she’s apologized plenty… it’s not a big deal,” she shrugged.

“What?! Of course it is.”

“It’s not. I grew up with almost everyone around me knowing what my parents did and expecting me to turn out just as cruel and deranged. So it was really nothing,” she sighed, “If you want the truth, I can’t stand the attention.”

“But why not? Don’t you want credit for everything you did?”

“No, it’s only a matter of time before they all realize I’m not the hero they think I am,” she said.

Rolan bit back the instinct to argue that she was more than the hero they thought. There was no way she would believe it coming from him after all of the things he said to her.

“Nobody’s perfect, they know that.”

“But they’ll still look to me and expect that I know what to do at all times. And one way or another, I’ll disappoint them,” she claimed, “Everyone loves what I can do for them. Not much else.”

That wasn’t true in the slightest, and Rolan couldn’t help thinking that she was a fool for believing that. However, it was yet another thing he knew that he couldn’t argue with her about. Not after everything he said while at his lowest.

“I can’t help feeling like I’m part of the problem,” he admitted, hardly able to look her in the eyes.

Cressida shook her head, “At least you’re honest. It’s better than having people pretend to tolerate me. That’s more frustrating than anything. Besides, you thought you lost your siblings. And it kind of was my fault.”

“What? For not being able to see the future?” Rolan looked at the ground, “No, I was a complete ass to you again. You deserve a proper apology. And I am genuinely sorry for how I treated you.”

“It’s fine, Rolan. Don’t worry about it.”

While everything about the way she said it made him think that she meant it, his own conscience wouldn’t let him leave it there. He dug into the pockets of his robes. There was no way he was going to be another person who just took everything Cressida could do without thanks.

“No, it’s not fine. I lashed out at you and took out every awful thought I have about myself onto you, and you helped regardless. More than that, you risked your life for Cal… I will never be able to apologize or thank you enough for that,” he pressed the pouch of gold into her hands, “I hope this can be a start.”

There was an unreadable expression on Cressida’s face as she held the bag, speechless. Not having anything else left to say, he turned back into the inn. Cal and Lia were going to relentlessly tease him, but he couldn’t bring himself to care.