~12~ One Hour

Hey, y'all! I just wanted to thank you all for the support, it has helped me get through my hard times. I am a bit better and starting to write again! Love you all bunches and I hope you enjoy this LONG awaited chapter!

<3

Ruy was barely able to stand at the meeting with the Governor. Both from nerves, his near encounter with Sophie and Maha, along with the holes he was staring into the back of the Governor's skull. He couldn't remember that last little bit of the memory the crystal gave him; he couldn't finish it off. But he knew the Governor was an ass that was a hair width's away from Ruy kicking in his teeth. At least that much Ruy knew.

"So the Queen wants her kingdom back, but she needs your help to do it?"

"She says a naval force is the best way to attack Egypitnat, but her naval forces were weak to begin with, so she is asking for mine."

Ruy stared at Nyoka's house in the distance, hidden by the walls of the fort. The blue and yellow banners seem almost muted compared to when he saw them as a boy. But maybe that was the fascination of a child looking at a thing he had never seen before, something that he thought he would never possibly achieve. Ironically, only a few days prior, he wore a crown atop his head.

Something happened that night, and only Nyoka, Sophie, Alexios, and Allesandro know. Yet none of them can quite wrap their head around it.

Ruy wanted to know what happened that night. He often wonders if that night had gone differently, if he somehow remained with Nyoka and Allesandro, how different his life would've been. He wouldn't have had to fight against his mother during his youth or learn to pickpocket to get some proper damn food. He would've grown with the very people he calls family now.

Ruy felt a hand on his shoulder, Dom coming up behind him.

"You look like you are about to keel over." She whispered.

Ruy opened his mouth, but no sound came out. He just turned his bloodshot eyes back to the Governor's conversation. But Dom squeezed his shoulder a bit more.

"You need to do something, don't you? You have that look in your eyes- under the tears you're trying to blink back, of course." She asked. Ruy froze, still not tearing his gaze from the conversation, even though he didn't hear a single word.

Dominique swallowed but turned back to the conversation as well.

Trix and other Neverseen officials went back and forth with each other, the Governor occasionally butting in.

But Trix smiled a bit as he said, "Do it."

They all looked at him in confusion.

"Give her your fleet. Make her think you are with her. But then right as their forces are attacking, you flip and instead fire on them. You trap them in their own little scheme. They think they will stand a chance with your forces and wouldn't even suspect it." The Neverseen congratulated the idea, nodding and murmuring, clapping Trix on the back.

"You can't be serious." Dominique gasped. All eyes turned to her, but she didn't back down.

"They are already beaten, especially the Egypitnat Queen. Don't you think this is going overboard? Not to mention it will likely turn them against each other and cause more war. There are a lot of innocent lives in those cities! Not just Vatarians but ogres, trolls, gnomes, Lith, and even some elves have taken refuge in the Vatarian cities! Their lives are going to be ruined if we push the Vatarian leaders too far." She barked at all of them.

Trix just stared at her then hissed, "I didn't give you permission to speak."

Dom's fists were so tight her fingernails cut into her palms, "Last time I checked, I'm a living being. No Neverseen wannabe can tell me what to do-"

"Dom," Ruy whispered. She didn't turn to him.

Trix turned to Hathem, "I want her out of here."

"Why you-"

"Dom, please. We're all going to get in trouble." Hathem whispered. Dom gazed over their small unit and growled, stomping away from the meeting back to the hotel reserved for them, Hathem close behind her. Ruy wanted to follow, wanted to thank her for saying what he was too weak to.

But the Governor seemed hesitant. Ruy felt his confidence crumbling more and more with the ideas passed around, but the one Trix proposed seemed cruel. Crueler than all the rest. Queen Arsinoe is kind and confident, but she wants her kingdom back. Trix is right; she won't even bat an eyelash if the Governor offers his armada.

"The Vatarians will know my standing if I do that, I will no longer be able to act as a spy."

"You won't need to. If this plan works, the Vatarian leaders will be incapacitated to the point of no return. It will help with our plans in Inalia as well if you get the damn Assassins out of the way."

"Speaking of Assassins," The Governor turned his attention to Ruy, who refused to meet his eyes, "Why the hell is one of the Inner Circle sitting with us?"

Trix groaned, explaining his reasoning for being there. But surprisingly, the Governor nodded, "I understand. Apparently, Maha Abara is quite the Mesmer. King Hamidi told me all about her at the Conference when he saw her."

Ruy clutched his chair as Trix said, "King Hamidi? Is he a Neverseen sympathizer?"

"No, but he isn't exactly on board with a lot of the other leaders. This Maha kid was apparently a really big deal in Avrima a few years ago. You can imagine his surprise when he saw her walking in with Amalia."

The other people of his squad looked at him sympathetically, as if this proves that he was under Maha's control, but Trix just scoffed.

"Whatever. Heinrich, this is what you are going to do." Trix gave a long explanation of what Heinrich was to say, what he was supposed to do, and who to contact. Heinrich, though begrudgingly, agreed to it all.

Ruy sprinted back to his room that he shared with Hathem and Dom, stopping just as he reached for the handle to listen to Dom's raging.

"I joined the Neverseen because, unlike the Council, I thought they gave a damn about the little guys. I thought they would make a change for the people who need it, but the selfish assholes-"

Ruy opened the door, staring at Dom halt her pacing to glare him down.

Ruy didn't say a thing, closing the door behind him and scribbling down the meeting notes, handing it to her.

"Since you missed the details."

Dom stared at it, but Hathem snatched from his hand and looked it over. He sighed, slumping a bit.

"This is really thought out." Was all he said. But Ruy was out of the room and down the hall again, quickly grabbing some food from the innkeeper and sitting down at one of the tables, stretching himself out.

Ruy stared to the coastal black market he was in earlier, the one where he sprinted away from Sophie, his mind drifting.

Oh shit, Sophie.

Where is she? Is she okay? Is the Governor still on her and Maha's trail?

Sophie and Maha are smart; they wouldn't be caught so easily. But the Governor knows they are in Cariana; he knows they are a danger to him. How long can they hide for?

Ruy sat down there for hours, in mind racking around it all. But he turned to Nyoka's fort atop the mountain.

He couldn't just sit around and wait anymore; he couldn't stall. He has plans and it's time to put them into action. But first, it was time to get some answers from a certain High Lady.

Sophie was a little shaky but feeling better the next morning; though she was slightly miffed, she finished off her candied orange peels in one sitting. She shook her red hair out a bit, trying to get used to it a bit more. Just until they got on the boat, then she can wash the color out of her hair. Maha walked in, her braids tight up in a knot on her head and wearing fairly simple clothing.

"Come on, the inn keep wants to meet us now."

Both women slid out of their room and towards the counter where a tired-looking Lith with blue scales for skin was washing dishes.

"We are here to talk to Jade?" Maha whispered. The Lith looked them up and down and scoffed, continuing to clean his glasses.

"She is busy right now, whatever you need you can get from me."

Maha shot Sophie a worried glance but continued, "She asked to see us though?"

"I don't think-"

"Connor, for the gods's sake, just let them come in." A voice snapped from behind the counter. The Lith, who seemed to be named Connor, grumbled as he stepped to the side, letting Maha and Sophie pass to the small room. Maha shot him a grateful smile, but Sophie just glared at him as they passed.

Jade was a surprisingly pale woman for Cariana, her dark brown hair shaggy around the top and saved along the sides. She didn't look up from her documents until Sophie cleared her throat a bit; only then did her jade-blue eyes look at them. Her office was fairly dark, even for mid morning.

"Hello Jade, it is a pleasure seeing you again." Maha smiled. Jade gave her a little hum of approval before turning to Sophie.

"You alright now, lass?"

Sophie straightened, "Yes, thank you again for the shelter for the night."

"It was the least I could do after you got rid of that tax collector Mendo earlier this year, he was biting me in my ass. Not to mention my family has always been Morretti sympathizers."

Sophie tensed, glancing at the slit underneath the door.

Jade just smiled a bit, tapping her fountain pen in some ink as she went back to her documents, "Ah, of course. You are both incognito. I will try to have a bit more secrecy."

"You asked to speak with us?" Maha started.

Jade held up a finger, making them both stand there awkwardly as she finished her document with a final flourish of her pen, setting it down in a small porcelain dish and looking up at them.

"Of course. I have a contract for you two."

Sophie and Maha stood there for a second or two, trying to make sure she was serious.

"Ma'am, with all due respect, we don't exactly have the time nor resources-"

"You need an army, don't you?" She scoffed curtly, stretching out in her chair.

Sophie tensed, her mind screaming DANGER DANGER GET OUT, but she just leaned on the heels of her feet, trying to keep her cool.

"And why would I need that?"

"I have a cousin who lives in Egypitnat. She has been able to smuggle letters out of the city that gives me details of what is happening. I have... friends, in all of the Vatarian cities, and it seems they are going to be little help for Egypitnat. But you need Egypitnat. Anyone with even the smallest of underground knowledge knows that Arsinoe is all buddy-buddy with your organization. You need Egypitnat back up and running, but since the Vatarian leaders are probably not going to help, you need to find a larger force than the one you already have."

Sophie got the sneaking suspicion Jade was wrapped up in more than just her hospitality business.

"I can get you a small fleet, maybe 15 or 20 small battleships, and about 300 elite foot soldiers that will work hand in hand with your trained Assassins," Jade said quietly.

Sophie and Maha weren't hiding their shock at this point.

"I'm sorry- how the hell can you do all of this?!" Sophie snapped.

Jade's eyes darkened, "You need to accept my contract before I can give anything to you."

Sophie was about to demand further information, but Maha dragged Sophie back a bit and looked her in the eyes. This could be the start of exactly what they need to win this war.

Sophie sighed a bit, "Alright, this contract, what is it? We accept."

Jade smiled and stood up, pulling up to a map of the Carianan Archipelago and Peninsula, along with some of the Inalian isles. She shoved aside compasses, books, and her deadly pistol to make room for the two of them.

Sophie's eyes drifted to the large island that was the fifth furthest from Inalia. Kephalonia, Iphigenia's birthplace. Maybe, if Jade holds up her end of the bargain, they could return the Ancient Vatarians to their cities faster than they thought.

"We are here on Hyda. My sister is running a fleet of pirates and various misfits all across Cariana. But she mentioned in the last couple of months she has been struggling to fight off these new types of Mirthless that have found their way into Cariana. My sister, Captain Okoye, has her base here." Jade circled a medium-sized island tucked so far away from everything else, Sophie never would've noticed it.

"She has allied herself with a general there who is fighting the Neverseen as well." Jade looked up at Sophie, "It is rumored that this general isn't commanding typical soldiers, but modern Vatarians trained as ancient Inalian Spartans."

Sophie stopped, her lungs seizing up as her eyes widened.

"The Spartan practice has been lost to the ages." Sophie stuttered.

Jade just shrugged but kept her smirk on her face as she circled a popular port city on the Cariana peninsula, "Maybe my info is wrong then."

Jade's face fell a bit as she pointed to the port, "They believe that the mutated Mirthless are coming from a lab or factory of sorts in this city, but they don't have the skills or jurisdiction to take it out."

"So they need people with skills of stealth and silent power to do the job," Maha turned to Sophie as she said, "They need Cyevan Assassins."

Jade nodded, "According to my cousin in Egypitnat as well, there are rumors going about that a certain group of Assassins dealt with a mutated Mirthless killer." Sophie's throat closed a bit at that. Even though her name will never be associated with it, she hated that Cynna's memory will be remembered in that way.

"This is your contract. You meet up with my sister, the General will play little part in this transaction as far as I'm concerned. Then, you two get into there and destroy these beasts. Once the deal is done, you can return to my sister for your payment. What that payment is, however, is questionable. You might be able to haggle some of her ships and some of the General's soldiers."

Sophie stared at the map, her eyes roaming over every little note Jade had made.

"Need I remind you, you already accepted the contract, so you have little say in this matter." Jade spat.

Sophie remembered Kassandra's words.

It might be time to be a little wicked, youngling

She clenched her jaw as she muttered, "Done."

Jade smiled, straightening up over the map, "The ship for you to meet my sister leaves tonight at 1 am. Don't be late. Get all of your affairs in order before then."

Sophie and Maha tried to say goodbye, but Jade was already striding out of her office and to the busy inn, pretending like she was your typical friendly innkeeper, leaving Sophie and Maha in her dark office.

"Alright then." Sophie sighed, crossing her arms, "Seems like we have a change of plans."

"How do you know we can trust her?"

"With what she is promising? I don't think we can exactly ignore her. This could change everything." Sophie peeked outside Jade's blinds, sighing at the busy going crowds.

"Come on, let's get something to eat and come up with some strategies."

Keefe tried to fix his hair in the small reflective puddle on the floor of his cell, trying to put the pieces back together to create his signature swooshy laid back style. He may have lost contact with his friends and family, but at least he still has his hunky hair.

Until it fell flat just as Keefe took away his hands.

"Aw, man!" Keefe flopped onto his back, staring at the prison ceiling. He hasn't heard anything from Ruy in a couple of days, and Keefe didn't know whether to be released or worried.

Keefe was honestly surprised the Neverseen haven't tried to torture him or ruin his life or something.

"Hey, guard guy-guard guy! You are just holding me here, the least you could do is get me some hair gel!"

A little down the hall from his door, the guard muttered something about "Pompous elves," but Keefe didn't cease.

"I also feel bad about calling you guard guy. I'm gonna give you a nickname-"

"Do that and I will only make this worse for you."

"Oh, I'm so scared! Whatever will I do- I'm just kidding, I couldn't care less." Keefe dramatically leaned against the cell door, "So, though I can't see your face, you sound like a... maybe a Gerald? Or maybe the ever-dreaded Bob!"

"You are the most annoying thing to ever exist, I swear-"

"You wound me! Why, I know exactly what to call you," Keefe cleared his throat as if he were about to declare some great accomplishment, "Sir Bob the Bully! I added the sir in front of it and everything just so your guard friends know how much of a jerk you are!"

"Why you-" Sir Bob the Bully weirdly didn't finish his sentence, leaving Keefe woefully craving for his banter and empty threats.

"Oh come on now Sir Bob, don't leave me hanging!" Keefe cried, slinking further up against the door. Sir Bob still didn't respond.

"Yo, Bob, if it really wounds you, I might be willing to drop the bully part of your title if you give me a big fat apology."

Still nothing.

"Uh, guard guy-" The sound of a body thumping against the pavement made Keefe freeze against the cell door. It was followed by the sound of footsteps, heavier and... armored?

Keefe's cell door swung open, Keefe flailing as he smacked against the pavement of the hall.

Keefe looked up at a Nour Dawound's steely dark face under his hood.

"Oh crap, you guys are alive!" Keefe gaped. Nour just humphed, dragging Sir Bob the Bully's unconscious body to the cells, propping him against the door. Keefe noticed that all of the Assassin's wore tight leather gloves, which he knew they didn't all do.

"What's with the gloves? Is this a shakedown?"

One of the Assassins raised their hands, "No, we can't leave any DNA evidence, the Neverseen are bound to find it. The only DNA here should be yours."

"Here, take these," Nour handed Keefe the guard's keys, "And now you need to grab his collar and smack his face against the cell door."

"Excuse me?"

"We need to make it seem like you broke out on your own, now shut up and do it."

Keefe awkwardly lugged Bob's body closer to the door before smacking it against the frame of it, Bob groaning even more.

"There. Now, when the Neverseen are investigating, it seems like you lured him to your cell door before knocking him out and stealing his keys."

Nour checked down the hall before waving for Keefe to follow, "Come on, we don't have a lot of time."

Keefe wordlessly followed Nour and the Assassins out of the base, watching as Nour masterfully knew the twists and turns.

"How do you know this place so well?"

Nour waited a few moments before answering, "A few years back, there was a Neverseen slave operation in this very castle. Mansi and I were captured from our respective homes, and put to work here harvesting rock from the mountainside. Amalia came soon after, but we all escaped. Mansi and I remained in Inalia, though we did have contact with our old homes."

"Why didn't you return to your parents?"

Nour was silent. Keefe caught on too late and felt like a jerk. The Vatarians weren't like the elves; they didn't live behind tall walls in a protective society. They were in constant wars and discrimination. Parents die, and children are left behind.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't know."

"There is no way you could have, nothing to feel bad about." Nour held out a hand. All of the Assassins immediately pressed their backs against the wall. One of the Assassins gently pushed Keefe back to follow them.

They all silently waited as a Neverseen patrol meandered past them, talking about some operation in Cariana. Nour focused his hearing on them, his dark brows scrunched together as he dissected their information.

"Alexios and I will look into that when we get back. Let's move."

They darted out of the hall again, into a large courtyard. The Assassins were strategically walking around Keefe, ready to protect him if they were discovered. Nour kept his eyes trained on the exit they were now approaching, a small walkway through the castle's crumbling stone and mortar. His eyes snagged on the broken old overturned cart and the ancient footprints of a crowd sprinting out the large drawbridge exit, almost like a riot. The rare instance where Keefe saw a smile tug at Nour's lips like it brought warm memories.

"Quick, make sure to duck," Nour whispered too late as Keefe smacked his head on the stone of the exit. Keefe turned his body as he rubbed his forehead, shuffling through the exit one little step at a time. But soon, he was out the other side.

He was breathing fresh air and could walk as far as the horizon went.

"You don't miss it until it's taken away, huh?" Nour muttered, coming up behind him.

"No kidding." Keefe laughed. Keefe's gaze locked on Renisanca, on the sprawling city that was Inalia and her glory. The various small and large villages branching off Renisanca seemed so bright. The smell of lemon verbena mixed with the gentle stinging of the Inalian sea, the Inalian islands' outline in the distance.

It only really hit Keefe now.

He could have a life here. And he would be happy—no judgemental parents or elven society, a family that found each other. And a family that would welcome him with open arms. Though the Vatarians were far from perfect, Keefe would fit in better here.

"Let's get you back. I'm pretty sure your crew is going mad without you there to tease them." One of the Assassin's chuckled.

"Yeah, yeah, let's head back." Keefe whispered with his eyes still trained on Inalia.

Sophie pulled her red hair back, glancing at Maha's sleeping figure as she slid open the shutters. Maha wanted to take a nap before they left for Jade's ship.

But Sophie knew what she saw. And she saw Ruy Ignis.

Sophie pulled herself out of her room and onto the roof, where Ricin was sleeping curled up in a ball. His eyes slid open as Sophie landed on the roof, his tail waggling a little bit in excitement.

"No good bud. Dragons are not welcome in Cariana. It's a miracle you managed to get here without being spotted." Sophie kissed his scaly nose, "I'm going to look for him on foot. Stay here and out of sight."

Ricin whimpered as Sophie dropped to the next rooftop, carefully maneuvering across the rooftops to where she last saw Ruy. There were only a few hours before they got on Jade's ship; Sophie wanted to make them last.

Hyda was a bit quieter at night; it was nice for Sophie. You could hear the gentle rocking of the ocean from anywhere on the island, the loud chatter now a joyous hum coming from homes and pubs. Sophie walked across the tiled roofs, almost wishing she could go into those pubs to get a pint and sing bawdy tunes as well. She always enjoyed the rowdy crowd. Possibly because she was raised in one.

Sophie arrived at the courtyard from the day before, taking a deep breath before dropping into it, silently landing and scanning her surroundings.

Both Maria and Allesandro taught their children how to track when they were young, whether for survival or assassination.

She scanned the courtyard, spotting the faint outline of large bootprints along the cream tile staircase.

It wasn't much, but Sophie carefully followed the faint muddy footprints, tracing them to an unlocked door. An old laundry room with a shaded window that looked straight into the courtyard. They were both emotional when the confrontation happened, so Sophie never caught on that Ruywas watching her or left footprints, and he was sloppy enough to leave the footprints.

Sophie followed the footprints out of the laundry room, but they were too faint to follow. At least with her mortal eyes.

Sophie took a deep breath through her nose. She felt Kynareth's chains around her powers, but she struck at them, loosening them even more. Sophie felt a distinct sting in her eyes, but when she opened them, it was like everything was highlighted. With her heightened senses, she could see the outline of Ruy's boots down the alleyway, she could smell the extremely faint smell of rain and pine. He probably hasn't been able to put on any cologne or anything for a while, but the scent always seemed to stick to him no matter how often he put it on. Sophie followed the trail for a while, keeping her head down and darting into alleyways or knocking out guards to remain hidden.

But soon, Ruy's trail stopped at a small inn. Sophie rounded it, scouting it out.

"Is this really why you joined Hathem? Is the Neverseen really living up to your expectations?" Sophie froze, instantly pressing herself against the wall of the conversing pair. The window was closed, but Sophie's Pancras hearing picked up just enough.

"Dominque, lower your voice, we're in enough trouble as it is with you and Ruy stirring up the pot."

It was like Sophie's world stopped. Ruy... with the Neverseen? He left it three years ago, though. Left it for the Inalia. Left it for her. He wouldn't; it couldn't be him. He wouldn't do that. Sophie scoffed, starting to walk away and follow Ruy's trail further.

"Oh don't even get started on Ruy. Disappearing like it's fucking nothing? He is up to something Hathem, and the worst part, I don't blame him. Anything has to be better than this Hathem, than the Neverseen."

"Would you rather return to the Lost Cities? To the stuck up snobs and the judgment? At least the Neverseen aren't dictating who we can be with, not like those damn matchmakers. We were unmatchable, Dom! If this is so miserable, maybe you should go back without me!" Sophie glued back to that wall faster than you could say nosy.

Dom went quiet, then the sound of quiet sniffling.

"Oh, Dom, I didn't mean it-"

"No, no, it's okay, I know you didn't mean it. I just really thought by joining this, ugh, cult, we might actually make a difference. That they would fight for the ones left behind." The sound of cloth, probably Hathem hugging Dom, followed by a few seconds of Hathem quietly apologizing over and over to her.

"I know I've been hard to deal with the last couple of weeks."

"You haven't been, it's your personality, the same one I fell in love with. It's not like the things you have been saying are wrong, it's just things are delicate right now."

Another few moments of silence, "Maybe you are right."

"I'm not asking you to change your opinion, just to take a gentler approach to it?"

"You know gentle isn't in my vocabulary."

Hathem's gentle laugh made Sophie smile a bit, "You're not wrong."

Sophie took a deep breath, tucking Dominque and Hathem's name into her mind, saving them for later.

Ruy's trail was starting to fade, but Sophie followed it only for a little bit longer before she figured out where he was.

What she couldn't understand was why Ruy was at High Lady Nyoka's mansion.

Sophie stood in front of Nyoka's front door, trying to figure out what she should say. Her hand was hovering right above Nyoka's silver knocker. Sophie could very distantly hear voices inside, so she knew Nyoka was awake.

But she grabbed the knocker and slammed it against the door, awkwardly standing in front of the door with her arms crossed behind her back. She shouldn't do that; it'll make her look like a soldier. But put them at her sides, and she'll look stupid, maybe cross her arms? It'll make her seem more menacing-

The door opened, one of Nyoka's stuffy servants opening the door and looking Sophie up and down. He scoffed, "My High Lady is not accepting visitors right now-"

"I'm an old friend. If I may just-"

"An old friend who is visiting. She will accept visitors in the morning at around 10 am. Come then."

"But-" A deep voice whispered along with Nyoka's in response to something she said. The scent was stronger here as well. Ruy was practically just around the corner.

Sophie pushed past the servant, running across the cherry wood floors.

"Hey! Why you- Stop her!" The servant's screeching caught the attention of the various bodyguards around the manor, who sprinted after her. It reminded Sophie of running away from Sandor in the Lost Cities just for a single moment of peace.

Nyoka and Ruy's talking went quiet, but Sophie knew where it came from. Nyoka's parlor on the second floor. She always loved the white paneled walls in there; they reflected the sun in just the right way to make it seem like the sun was always new in the sky.

Sophie jiggled the handle, cursing at the lock.

"You need to leave. Now!" Nyoka's voice barked from inside the parlor.

Sophie groaned at the sound of the bodyguards on her trial.

"I'll pay you back for this after this is all cleared up Nyoka!" Sophie yelled.

"What-"

Sophie backed up a step before Spartan kicking the handle, the door flying off its hinges. Nyoka screamed, dressed in her night robes of purple and pink, her curls tied up in a ribbon with a flabbergasted look as she pressed up against the wall. She barely looked older than when Sophie last saw her when she was a child. Gods, has it been that long? Nyoka grabbed a small cheese knife from her bar cart, threatening Sophie with it.

But Ruy wasn't present.

"Get out. Now." Nyoka hissed. Ruy's scent wasn't gone though, it lingered in the room. He was still here.

Ruy was a great hider; he had to be with his screwed up childhood. But Sophie was just as good a hider after all of her years playing hide n seek with her friends. Along with the Assassin bit, that helped too, of course.

She scanned the room, the world slowing as the information her heightened senses gave her came pouring in. The windows were closed and were freshly cleaned; Ruy wouldn't have been able to jump out of them without marking the glass. The rug was shifted, though, a corner slightly overturned that pointed to the closet.

Sophie stomped toward the closet, throwing out her script she had rehearsed in her head as she flung open the doors.

"No!" Nyoka yelled as Sophie secured her hand around the lapel of Ruy's jacket, yanking him out of the closet and onto the ground.

Ruy grunted as he landed, but scrambled to his feet, lifting his hands with blue shields, ready to encase her.

Sophie yanked down her hood as she roared, "You ran away from me! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

She heard Nyoka gasp, her hands flying to her face at the sight of Sophie's brown eyes shifting back from gold. Ruy panted as he stared at her, from her freshly dyed hair to her ratty cloak. The shields flickered away, shame filling his eyes as Sophie got into his face.

"Do you know how worried sick I've been? And I can't even imagine Sarai and Dorian! Or the Inner Circle! Holy shit Ruy, what about Alvar?!" Nyoka held up her hand as the bodyguards came rushing in, smartly letting Sophie rant.

"And the Neverseen?! Are you kidding me?! Who the hell is Dom and Hathem, and yo-you promised to me! You made an oath to the Assassins- to me! You were right there and I thought I dreamed you at first- and you ran away from me!" Sophie couldn't even speak in full sentences, her mind whipping from one thought to another as she tried to get them all out at once. The only sound in the parlor was Sophie's breath as she took a step back, trying to swallow down her rage. The man she loved was standing right in front of her, the man she let in to console and understand her.

She hated that her voice broke slightly when she muttered, "W-Why did you run away from me?"

Ruy's eyes widened as Sophie's blinked, trying to get rid of the tears watering at her lash line.

Sophie had never seen Nyoka haul ass as she did right then, "Everyone out."

"My lady-"

"Out, out, out!" Nyoka and the guards shuffled away from the conversation.

Ruy opened his mouth but hesitated to say anything.

"Are you going to leave just like everyone else?" Sophie asked, "We both promised we could upfront with each other, Ruy. When I said I love you that night? I meant it. I meant that I would give myself to this, to us. So why the hell did you run?"

Ruy swallowed, "I was ashamed."

"Of what? Gods above Ruy, I was worried you were dead and yet when I first see you alive, you say you were ashamed?!"

"The Neverseen took me and convinced themselves I was controlled by Maha. They have all these operations we don't know about, so I-"

"You what, Ruy? Decided to become a spy? We have plenty of spies already!"

"Assassins are being kidnapped, Soph." Ruy whispered.

Sophie's berating halted, the Morretti taking a step back.

"What?"

"Filomena knows where I am and what happened to me. She told me about them. Sun Wukong, Cleo, and a few others."

"But-"

"And the Governor and the memories- The Neverseen is the answer to them, to what happened that night. That is why I am here, I hoped Nyoka had the answers."

"That night? Ruy, what are on about?"

Ruy was silent for a few moments, running a hand through his hair, "Do you know who Tezcacoatl is?"

Sophie clenched her jaw, staring at Ruy in a silent answer. Nyoka clearly heard the yelling stop, awkwardly poking her head in.

Sophie looked to the clock then back to the two of them.

"We met before that altercation in Brackendale forest and before that stupid party Vespera hosted. When we were kids. That crystal I mentioned? It has been showing me memories."

Sophie turned to Nyoka, "I-It is true Amalia. I remember parts of the night as well." Nyoka didn't fully finish though. She raised a hand to her mouth, her eyes watering, "You are really alive then. I've heard rumors but-" Nyoka's eyes lit up.

"If you made it out of the Fall of Inalia, then maybe Allesandro did as well!" She claimed, hope filling her voice.

Sophie didn't break eye contact with Nyoka, her voice surprisingly even, "My father was slaughtered during the Fall. Right in front of me." Sophie swallowed, "He is dead, Nyoka."

"Gods, no, there is a chance. There has to be..." Nyoka stuttered.

She took a deep breath, "Ruy and I owe you an explanation." She turned to Ruy, who met her eyes as well, "Ruy, apparently, more than anyone."

Sophie tapped her foot, glancing at the clock again. Her and Maha's ship would be leaving in a couple of hours, and Sophie needed to get back before Maha woke up from her nap.

"Blondie-"

"Don't call me that." Sophie snapped.

Hurt flashed in Ruy's eyes, but he whispered, near silently, "Please."

Sophie thought for a moment before she straightened her back and nodded towards the couch that wasn't covered with door debris.

"You both have one hour. I want every detail."

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