The wind rushed past Harriet's face, as she looked over the roofs of the Palace. It had been days, no, weeks, since she'd heard from the rebels. The last she'd heard of them was through a homeless man on the street, who'd pulled her over as she was on the way to meet with Laar.

Since they'd got back, there had been guards and servants dashing around them 24/7. She just wanted a bit of fucking peace. So, Harriet had taken to the roofs once everyone had fallen asleep. Her phone glowed dimly in the clear night, displaying the time. Two forty three.

They had been allowed to stay in the Palace to 'recover', but Harriet was sure it was just Darian's way of keeping them under his thumb. However, she didn't miss the General's five a.m. drills. And she could stay in the shower for as long as she wanted. It was bliss. It had been years since she'd given up the luxury of the Palace, but she had missed it. Even if the place was run by a sociopathic King with family issues.

Footsteps on the roof broke her from her thoughts, and in seconds she was on her feet with her knife out.

Kadriq jumped back, out of her reach. Jesus. Do you do that all the time?

Harriet gave him a condescending look, but grinned. Don't sneak up on me, Chosen One. And I'm rubbing off on you.

He rolled his eyes and walked closer as Harriet stowed her knife away. She sat back down, now Sure that he wasn't an assassin someone had hired to kill her. Kadriq sat down beside her, his legs hanging over the side of the 'wall', and they sat in silence for a bit, looking over at the river. It really was beautiful. The stars glinted off the water surface, making the scene seem almost ethereal. She really didn't know why she wasn't telling him to go away. Maybe it was because he was going through the same thing as her, but worse.

"So..." She trailed off, her gaze darting to the Chosen One, and then back at the river.

So...?

"Why are you here?" Harriet asked, getting straight to the point. Usually, that was Mina's style, but she could adopt it sometimes.

Oh, yeah. Kadriq pressed his lips together, looking down at the ground. They were quite high up, there were about four floors between them and the ground. Too many people.

"You too, huh?" She asked, nudging his shoulder. She shifted closer, ever so slightly closer.

It's not that I don't like them. It's just overwhelming.

"Well, you live here."

And you used to.

Now, Harriet looked down. She did used to live here, but it was weird. Alien. Lilith was new. Withers was gone. Everyone was gone. Everyone was new. Here... She was outdated. She was old news.

"Yeah."

Sorry.

"Don't be, Chosen One."

He grimaced at the use of his title, and Harriet wondered how she'd only noticed it now. Maybe she just hadn't cared, before. Agreeing on that, she moved on. Kadriq wasn't that bad to be around, if she was being honest. Sure, he was a bit of an ass, but that couldn't be helped.

Silence, again.

The wind nipped at her cheeks, and her hands were almost frozen to the rooftop. It wasn't the best place, but it was better than being stuck in the Palace. Which they were, but they weren't stuck inside.

Thanks.

Harriet grinned, "I was wondering when you were going to answer, Chosen One."

He gave her a look that said 'really', and she laughed. Giving him a shrug, she kicked the side of the roof, feeling the stone dig into her bare heels.

"Eh, couldn't help it."

Sure.

"C'mon, one word answers piss me off."

Vulgar.

"Have you met Mina?"

Good point.

She sighed, and looked over at him. His amber eyes caught in the moonlight, seeming to shine an uncanny silver. It wouldn't have been weird, but she always associated the mage with warm, desert colours.

Of course, it was probably because he was from a desert.

But that was besides the point.

"So... Tomorrow, huh?" She asked, referring to the party. Darian had insisted on throwing one due to the Chosen One's safe return, and if Harriet could have killed him now, she would.

Parties were not her thing.

Kadriq grimaced, and by the look of it, he wasn't one for parties, either.

Tomorrow will probably kill me inside.

Harriet nudged him, and grinned. "Star of the show, huh?"

Fuck off.

"Vulgaaaar..." She said in a sing-song voice and grinned at him, waiting for a reaction. Kadriq looked at her with a raised eyebrow, and sighed slightly.

"You're being disapproving."

No, I'm not.

"Darian."

Xavier.

"Katroina."

Abigail.

He sighed and looked over at her. And he was doing his disapproving thing again.

What are we doing?

"Something." Harriet replied, mimicking his one word answers. She just loved mocking people.

Hilarious.

"Glad you noticed." She replied, stretching her legs out and leaning back. From here, she could see the stars. Harriet didn't know what the constellations were called; Darian thought of them as useless, and there was never enough time with Laar.

So she'd just pushed them away, only coming back when she needed comfort.

He didn't speak again, and for that she was greatful. Conversation was nice, but sometimes silence was better. Silence was calming. Despite what people said, silence was not loud.

It was just... There.