Alone in the Dark

Likelihoods

Unable to sleep, Wyn had woken up before dawn and slowly pulled on clothing that was lined with leather and fur, knowing she had to protect herself from the cold and possibly fighting. It was a strange feeling, to be approaching home and preparing for battle, though she couldn't shake the certainty that she would face the enemy that day.

Once she was ready, she made her way above deck, where the sun was just then rising above the far horizon, and looming in the dark shadows of the morning, there was land directly in front of them. Wyn stood on the bow of the ship, nearly out over the railing as she leaned forward to watch Aupana come into view. Sighting shore only mean several more hours of sailing left until their fastest ship made landfall, but her heart leapt as she saw it, feeling the call and pull of home. And she was looking at home, even if this land was several days north of where her family's home provinces were.

The land they were sailing toward was Lansend, the northern province she had called home for several years while being raised by Lord Eli and Lady Elana, and she was riding toward it in a Sellexun war ship. The Kasnus was escorting the King's large and well manned Cascadus as they barrelled down towards the coastline. Not long ago, the sight of Sellexun flags on the horizon would have meant preparation of war to those villages who might be watching. It was an odd thought, Wyn knowing that some of the more remote villages would still tense at the approach.

She could only hope that as an Aupanan, and someone who had spent a large portion of her childhood in Lansend, she would prevent a catastrophe.

At mid-day, the light was dull and grey with clouds hanging heavy in the sky, threatening another winter storm as they sped along and Aupana was looking ever closer. She was itching to land, though she wasn't entirely sure it had anything to do with being home-sick. Nerini was there somewhere, and she wanted to help her friend out. She could feel her blood starting to race as she thought of the fight ahead of her.

Silently, she begged her friend to still be allowing her body to heal, allowing them to arrive before any battle took place.

"Eagle!" There was a call from above drawing Wyn to look up at the crow's nest, then back out to the horizon. Not seeing anything at first, she strained her eyes until she finally saw a shadowed speck flying above the waves, heading towards them.

Wyn let out a breath, watching it soar past the ship she was on and continuing to the Cascadus, where High Lord Shiar was. They had sent the eagle out the day before to find Nerini and tell her to wait where she was, that they would arrive within the day.

Wyn's heart hammered nervously, knowing that the bird either had a response from her friend, or had returned unable to find her. Shiar had told her the bird knew Nerini's scent, and should be able to find her easily, if Nerini was anywhere to be found. Wyn had to have faith that they weren't already too late and that Nerini would be waiting there for them to arrive, to assist her. She winced at the thought, knowing there were so many realities that worked against that, that in all possibilities they were riding in to a tragedy.

It wasn't long until the ships were signalled to pull up alongside one another and Shiar, along with a dozen of his men, boarded the warship Kasnus. Shiar barely hesitated before walking across the deck and took charge of the crew. Wyn frowned, seeing him in his armour as he strode across the deck, yelling commands to the Captain and his men. She stayed where she was, knowing she would be only getting in the way as the crew hurried to respond, and it wasn't until the ship had pulled away from the other's and started sprinting for land that Shiar found her.

Shiar strode up beside her and stood silently for a moment, watching the barely visible shoreline, radiating anger from his entire body. Wyn's heart sunk as she saw and felt his emotions, knowing that whatever the response was, she would be feeling the same way as soon as he told her. He was still a shadow of what he had been, pale with dark circles under his eyes and looking as if his armour was far too large, but he was better than he had been even a week ago. He could walk around well enough, but Wyn wasn't sure how well he could fight or for how long. If no one else tried to stop him from waging battle, however, she wasn't about to stand in his way. She could only hope that he could keep up to her as she tried to hunt down her friend.

"She wrote to you of the small port her ship was too big for, we're making for that. The Kasnus is shallower and faster than most ships." Shiar said finally, side glancing to Wyn. "Even so, I think we might be too late."

Wyn's heart sunk and she tore her eyes away from the horizon to look at him. "Your eagle couldn't find her?"

Shiar snorted, shaking his head as his expression darkened. "No, it found her. Of course, it found her."

"Ah." Wyn frowned as the implications set in, her expression beginning to match Shiar's. "And she's not waiting?"

"Apparently, they found the ruins of a castle which was manned by some of the creatures. The plan was to move out this morning at dawn, she's with four of her brother's men, and a company commanded by her Knight." Shiar said angrily, shaking his head as if they were arguing.

"She has a Knight?" Wyn blinked in surprise. "And a company?"

"That's what I was going to ask you about." Shiar drawled slowly, glancing at Wyn for a moment. "She said that they would break for the coast, may come in at a retreat and to trust the Black Cat."

"Ahh." Wyn nodded slowly, glancing back out towards the shoreline, wondering how messy this situation was about to become.

Even if Nerini and her... company made it to where they were, there would be Nerini arguing with them, and then the mysterious Rogue.

Was he the Knight, possibly? Rael had been thinking about expanding their information networks for a while now, though Nerini had been aloof on the subject last time they had spoken of it.

"You know this Cat?" Shiar followed her gaze, and she heard him breathe purposefully, assuming he was trying to calm himself down. They still had a fair distance to travel to reach land, and longer still until they possibly found Nerini.

Wyn shook her head, letting out a breath. "I know of him, he's the Rogue I told you about. Nerini worked for him for a bit, his company, his people, he's a night runner, a spy, I guess. One of those who makes their living stealing gold and secrets."

"We call them Assassins." Shiar said blandly, giving her a hard look. "I didn't think Aupana had a Regent run network like we do in Sellexu."

"Well, yeah. Those too, but Nerini said he stopped taking contract kills shortly after she met him." Wyn winced a bit and shook her head, knowing that her answers would probably seem deceptive in and of themselves. "We didn't have one, unless Nerini has decided to change that. Or perhaps their friendship is what's in play. Maybe she called in a favour." 

Shiar gave her a sideways look, his expression guarded. "Why is he her Knight, if only for a favour? And can we really trust this man?"

Wyn sighed and shook her head, throwing up her hands in frustration. "I don't know! I haven't had a lot of information from Nerini since she left. All I know is that she's told me he's a pretty good fighter and as trustworthy as one of his kind can be. If she's telling us to trust this Black Cat and he's her Knight, then trust her word on it."

"We're going ashore as quickly as we can, this ship will bring us into port several hours before the larger ships. Hopefully, we'll be there to do some good." Shiar said easily, shrugging. After Wyn did not immediately respond, he let out a huff of breath. "She should have waited."  

Wyn agreed, but she also knew her friend well enough that she was not surprised. So she sighed softly and offered Shiar a shrug. "She probably doesn't know if waiting would cost her brother's life."

Shiar gave Wyn a slow look, and for a moment he looked hesitant. "You know the likelihood that Kannein is alive is slim, and even if he's alive, after this long in captivity, he may even be a threat, himself. One day isn't likely to make a difference either way."

Wyn frowned softly at him and clenched her jaw. She turned back to glare toward Aupana, then finally nodded. "He was like an older brother to me as well. Stubborn as a mule, if anyone could survive, it's that jackass."

If Kanny was still alive, Nerini would find him, and would have no issue tying him up like a pig for market to bring him to safety. Kannein just had to have survived weeks of captivity with monsters that Wyn still couldn't make her mind believe in.