For the second time in her life, Nora watched the carved doors of the Sheer's throne room swing open. Sucking in what felt like her last breath, she un-knotted her fingers and forced her hands to hang loose at her sides. Shoulders up, back, down. One foot forward, then the other.

Jade swept into the room a few steps ahead of her, the skirt of her gown swishing with each stride. Nora tried to observe what gave the older woman her air of confidence, but wasn't quite sure how to imitate it. She found herself focusing on Kynar instead, who half-walked half-skipped beside her; and she couldn't tell if it was out of nervousness, excitement, or a combination of both. Whatever the reason, the other woman's presence was comforting, and a nice change from the intimidating aura of the rest of the room.

However, as the trio reached the base of the stairs leading up to the throne, Nora had no choice but to look up at the Sheer. Piercing golden-brown eyes stared back at her. Miracca's dark mahogany hair flowed over one shoulder, spilling across her blue and gold gown. Her hands rested loosely on the arms of her throne so that she seemed to fill the space despite the chair's impressive size.

"Sh- Miracca," Nora said, giving the woman her best bow.

"Nora. There is no need for formalities while we're among friends." Even as she spoke gently, the Sheer's voice was full of practiced authority.

"Right." Nora straightened her spine and forced herself to roll her shoulders back again.

She noticed that Voryis was already standing up on the pedestal next to Miracca's throne, hands clasped before him and dark eyes observing Nora carefully. It looked like he'd been speaking with Miracca before the rest had come in.

The door gave a low creak behind them, shooting a jolt up Nora's spine. She twisted to see Dyasen and Hexis hurriedly crossing the room toward the rest. Hexis stationed themself on the other side of Jade, while Dyasen took up a position next to Nora, letting out an audible breath and shaking out his shoulders.

"Good afternoon, everyone." Miracca's voice rang clearly through the large hall.

Most of the group echoed her, so Nora did as well, voice coming out thick.

Again, the Sheer's golden-brown eyes settled on her, and a smile softened her face. "Nora. How do you feel your trial went?"

Nora's brown eyes flitted to Dyasen beside her for a second before she answered, "I think it went well. Er, decently. I did well, but I could certainly learn to do better." She gulped, realized her fists had clenched, and forced her posture to relax.

"That's good to hear," Miracca told her. "Dyasen, do you agree?"

Nora heard her mentor suck in a breath before he responded. "Yes, I do. Nora has repeatedly shown an ability to learn and adapt. Not only here, but when we and Hexis had to escape from Lord Leneha's keep, and even before that when she first made me tell her who I was, and then was willing to listen to my teaching."

Despite her nerves, Nora felt a smile creeping over her face. Until now, she hadn't realized just how long it had been since someone had genuinely spoken highly of her. It felt good.

"Does anyone else disagree?" Miracca asked, eyes scanning the rest of the group.

"I don't disagree that she's able and willing to learn," Jade's cool, even voice spoke up. "But I also don't think she's the right person for this team."

Nora's heart dropped. She glanced at the bodyguard, trying not to let her hurt show on her face. "Wh-"

"If I may explain," Jade continued, storm gray eyes flashing to Nora's for a second before going back to the Sheer. "There is one attribute that everyone on this team needs above anything else, and it's not work ethic, or willingness to learn, or even intelligence. It's willingness to work with and trust the rest of us. And I don't believe Nora has demonstrated that."

Nora's mouth dropped open. Of all the things she could have said... She turned to Dyasen, who was staring at Jade with a look of shock. When he saw Nora looking, he cleared his throat awkwardly.

Nora faced Jade again before Dyasen could say anything. "You asked me to lead the whole team without any experience. I did the best I could, given that you didn't tell me almost anything about what everyone is good at, or how you usually work together, or...anything!" A shallow breath jerked into her lungs. Tears stung the edges of her eyes despite her effort to hold them back.

Jade opened her mouth to respond, but another, quieter voice beat her to it. "She means me," Hexis said, copper eyes finding Nora's for a second before turning to Miracca. Holding the Sheer's gaze, they continued, "Jade is concerned because Nora is still wary of me after I killed the lord she grew up under. I would argue that that's an expected and understandable reaction. In fact, if she didn't at least slightly mistrust me, I'd think she lacked basic common sense. So I suggest that we move forward and give her time to get used to me."

Nora stared at the assassin, waiting for them to add a 'but', or laugh, or something, but they continued to watch Miracca, face completely serious.

"Hexis, I don't care why she doesn't trust you," Jade told them, sounding uncharacteristically snappish. "She has to trust you for our team to function."

"And you don't think I can prove myself to her?" they shot back.

Jade glared down at them, but the assassin just stared back, copper eyes burning. Nora almost thought she could see the air wavering between the two.

Finally, Jade hissed out a breath. "Fine. If you're sure you can take on the responsibility of keeping our team together..." She dragged out the words to emphasize their full meaning. "I will agree to move forward and trust Nora, as she should trust you."

The room was silent for a second as everyone turned back to Miracca.

The Sheer raised her eyebrows and glanced between each person. "Any further objections?"

Silence.

Miracca smiled. "Now that that's settled, I have a mission for some of you. That includes you, Nora."

Nora froze. Does that mean...? After a long second, she asked, "Does that mean I'm officially on the team?"

"It does, unless you don't want to be?"

She swallowed. After all of this, it felt silly to consider going back, but she let herself think about it for a moment. She pictured the sunlight filtering through the trees outside FelSar, the swaths of open land stretching out for miles to the East, the keep that had belonged to Lord Leneha perched on the hill to the South. She really did love all of that.

But she also loved feeling important and worth something. She loved being more than another replaceable farm hand. She loved having conversations with people who weren't scared of her. That was just it—she loved being trusted.

"I want to be." The words floated in the air for a long moment.

"Well, then, welcome to the team," Miracca told her.

Dyasen pumped his fist in the air. Nora turned to him with a grin spreading on her face, and when he raised the fist toward her, she knocked her own against it. Then Dyasen's eyes widened, and he quickly looked back to Miracca. "You were saying you have a mission for us?"

Miracca nodded, still smiling. "Voryis brought to my attention that Lord Avarrys—the one who hired bandits—is hosting a party at his estate tomorrow evening. I need some of you to attend and figure out what his motivation was for hiring the bandits. Voryis, as usual, you will talk to other guests and figure out what they know. Nora, I'd like you to talk with Lord Avarrys himself."

Nora felt a different kind of nervousness creeping up her throat as she nodded. Oh. my. world. The Sheer of CaSaryn is sending me to talk with an important lord, and I've barely interacted with a noble in my life.

"If you can get information without giving too many hints as to what your ERA is, that would be preferable," Miracca continued. "Finally, Dyasen, I need you to get into any rooms in Lord Avarrys' house that you think may contain relevant records."

Dyasen groaned. "Does that mean I have to dress up?"

"It does," the Sheer responded, eyes glinting in amusement.

Hexis snorted, and Dyasen shot them a glare.

"Excellent," Miracca said. "In the meantime..." She scanned the faces in the room. "Voryis, would you please show Nora around? She needs to know how to call servants, where the dining hall is, and which areas to avoid when there are guests. She also needs an outfit for tomorrow evening."

The nobleman nodded.

"And would you introduce her to Amber? She needs her earring." At that, Miracca winked in Nora's direction.

Voryis nodded again. "Yes, Sheer." He sounded surprisingly reluctant.

Does he not trust me either? Nora wondered apprehensively. It would make sense, since they'd hardly interacted, but it seemed unfair that she wasn't allowed to mistrust Hexis if Voryis was allowed to mistrust her.

"Alright, then I believe we're done here. Jade, if I could talk to you for a moment?"

As Jade climbed up next to the throne, the rest of the group turned for the door. Nora followed them uncertainly, glancing at Voryis again before she felt an elbow nudge her arm. She turned to see Dyasen grinning at her. "Welcome to the team," he said. "Officially."