"Prepare the rebels that can still fight to leave at dawn. Leave a squadron of capable rebels to tend to the others that can't fight and inform them to meet us at the city of Monganmier when they can." The Rebel Leader's voice rang out across the hollow field as our forms solidified again, just outside the ring of torches illuminating the now star-bright sky. As if the stars themselves had brightened tonight because of our victory over Renithyn's soldiers.

Xylin stiffened slightly as the Rebel Leader's gaze caught ours. Kanin and I both opened our mouths to explain our late arrival, but his attention went right away to--Clane.

"Clane!" He shouted, nodding at a medic and immediately running towards us. We all smiled slightly as Clane walked forward at a brisk pace and met his father halfway across the space separating them.

I squeezed Xylin's hand as Clane and his father embraced warmly, despite both of them hiding their feelings for each other again and again.

Family was everything. Even here in the middle of a war camp.

Senetric Brokivere pulled back and studied Clane's body, searching for signs of injury. His chestnut-coloured hair flashed like bright flames underneath the starry sky as Clane assured his father he was fine. The Rebel Leader's gaze dropped to Clane's slightly bloodied sword strapped to his back, then to his tired eyes from using up so much of his energy creating that inferno.

He scowled at his son and embraced him again. Both Brokiveres' finally turned to face us all and, with a jolt, I remembered my wings were still showing. Clane's father noticed immediately. He reacted, then forced himself to shove his reaction down and began to walk towards us, Clane close behind.

"Miss Felynis," he started, studying the silver feathers and clawed tips. They were still blood covered. And my clothes must have been covered in the soldiers' blood as well.

"Halythern," I corrected without thinking.

Clane swore softly. Yes, it was time for the rebels to know that one of their stories was true. The Rebel Leader raised a brow as if to say elaborate.

"My name is Raila Halythern, rightful heir to the throne of Ithyneia."

"And a queen of the arkryllians," he finished with a glance at my wings, "Did you know, Miss Halythern, that silver-feathered wings mean that that person is a royal?"

"Really?" A nod. "I didn't know."

"Quite alright." He said it so casually. He would have known if I were lying. But what happened next I would forever remember.

Perhaps a bit dazed himself at the return of the lost Ithyneian princess, Senetric Brokivere, the leader of the Ithyneian Rebellion, slowly got down on a knee and bowed to me.

"My Queen." It rang clear and true.

Other rebels turned at that, or just because they finally sensed our presence.

And the rebellion against Renithyn truly started then as rebels suddenly started pouring out of their tents as if a god were pushing them forward. Most of them were still dressed in armour. When they saw me and my wings, they froze. Perhaps a bit numbly, a vast majority of them suddenly smiled at me, their eyes filling with pure, non-dimmable hope.

Black wings that could swallow the sun whole flared out behind them. Arkryllians. I knew there had always been arkryllians at the rebel base, but this...I couldn't speak.

"My Queen," one whispered. A female warrior, black wings rustling, as she too got down on one knee and bowed to me.

Like a wave, the other arkryllians followed, becoming a mass of black feathers and silver armour as that line was recited again and again amongst them.

I stood their stunned as the other rebels, the ones that weren't arkryllian followed suit. I whirled around to look at my friends, only to find them smiling up at me, even Xylin.

They were bowing to me as well.
Everyone was.
Confidence suddenly surged through me, as if a god themself were laying a hand on me.

"Rise," I said steadily, confidently. I had never heard myself speak like that--like a queen.

They rose.

"How?" Someone dared ask after a long pause of stunned silence. All I needed was a crown to complete the look.

"How does not matter at the moment. My uncle, Renithyn Halythern, is the real enemy. I cannot express how much this means to me, I have come to know so many of you rebels. You have fought and bled for this cause. But after twenty years of war and death, I have come to you all as a warrior, as a rightful queen, and as a friend. I have come to you as who I truly am..." Time to deliver another secret. I hope they all know the stories of long ago fought wars.

"My name is Raila Astrin Halythern, rightful heir of Ithyneia, a queen of the arkryllians, and I have come to you as a warrior...and as a renderer."