Katerin wrapped the burn that covered her calf, with her teeth bared. If she had thought Halessia to be a hard teacher, than Kul Galysa was much worse. Her training sessions had shortened, and these last two months had given her more time to strengthen her other magics, and time to visit and watch Fykes, Brazen's, and Roahn's training at the Battlements, but whenever she trained with Kul Galysa, she had bruises or worse to tend to when she was done. Of course the healers would visit her if her injuries or serious, but Kul Galysa seemed to think bearing the injury for a few hours built character.

The good thing about training with Kul Galysa, was that she had gotten to know the woman quite well, and had learned more than she could imagine. The downside was that now that she had the mark of the Storm-bearer, Kul Galysa seemed to think she needed to be pushed harder. She had taken her final test and failed it. Tomorrow would be her last chance to succeed. Alkyrindaun did not believe in three attempts. But with every training session she learned more of how the giant fought, and cast her spells. The final test seemed to be nothing more than tradition, at this point.

But still, the idea of a failure on her last chance haunted her thoughts.

Halessia looked at the bruise with a shake of her head. "I would say you are frail, but I know how she swings."

Katerin laughed. "Even when she says she won't."

"Never believe your enemy. Always assume they can outwit your cunning."

"I know. And always harness my anger, before I push it away. I haven't forgotten your words."

"Your kind has short memories. I had to check." Halessia grinned. "I have to be off. A meeting of the Caste draws near."

Katerin nodded, as she reached for her staff and pulled herself upright. "Before you go, where are The Fists chambers? She asked me to come and speak with her."

Halessia thought for a moment, her nose scrunching as it always did. "In the Halls, top floor, last door. If you're not expected, Anulin will have your head."

"I'm expected. And he might, but he would have to speak to someone other than Kul Galysa, for that to happen."

"Oh, he speaks. Loudly and often to our Fist."

Katerin snorted out a laugh. "I've heard them, on more than one occasion. Sometimes I wonder if she is thinking of him to get so angry while I train."

Halessia smirked, and shrugged one shoulder. "You are most likely not far from the truth, but be wise who you speak it, too. Be sharp, and take care. I will await you here tomorrow, after your test."

"You sure you don't feel like sparring, tonight? I doubt I will sleep."

"You will, because you must. And you do not need me, tonight. I will be here to congratulate you, tomorrow."

Katerin sighed, and stood to her full height as Halessia departed, the large metal doors closing behind her. She pulled the small token from her pocket, and rubbed it between her fingers, anticipation rising. She spoke the directions Halessia had given, and appeared before a door like any other in the Halls of Vengeance.

Anulin's head turned as he regarded her from his armor.

"Hi," Katerin said, raising a hand in awkward greeting.

He said nothing, but wrapped four times on the door. After a moment it opened, and she could see Kul Galysa seated beyond.

As Katerin stepped in, she was surprised. Their chambers were large, but not gaudy. And nothing about them seemed all that different from where Katerin had been staying, this previous year. Save for a smattering of personal items, not even the bed sheets were overly lavish. Katerin let a small smile grace her features. Kul Galysa may have been the leader of this city, but this was just yet another aspect to their culture that the giants believed that none who were with them, were lower than them.

"You made it, and timely, as well."

Katerin bowed her head. "I was only late once. I will not make that mistake again."

"Good. I might have patience, but I do not like to wait." She gestured to a chair across from her, and to a pitcher of water upon the table between.

As Katerin sat in the chair that was much too big for her, she took a minute that gave her the best chance of looking dignified, settling for the edge, where her feet only just dangled from the floor. "May I ask why you asked me here?"

Kul Galysa smiled. "I enjoy that you do not mince words, nor waste my time. I asked you here for more than one reason. When you first entered here, you spoke of what you might do with the knowledge you gained. And I believed you, for it is very difficult to lie in my throne room, and you held no mischief in your heart that I could see. But I have seen your drive, and the drive of your companions. I have held my seat for a long time, Katerin. I am young for my kind, but it is rare for those who wander or search us out, to excel as you and your family have." She paused and took a sip of water. "Most quit the first time they are injured, some simply ask respite from their world, and do not ever train. Some, seek the knowledge of scholars and they balk at the idea of being tested to gain it. But you and yours came here dedicated, and that has not faded once within the year. I want to know what is is you fight against, and why those who follow you have joined your cause."

Katerin thought on her words for a moment, chewing on her lip. "I wanted to strengthen my abilities, and I am truly grateful for the opportunity, and the kindness you and the rest of the city have shown us, and taught us...."

"It is not why you came, though I admire your potential, and am glad to have a hand in shaping it."

Katerin nodded. "I wanted to search through your libraries. There is a goddess, by the name of Lodyne... I encountered a follower of hers. And even now that he is gone, my dreams tell me that what he started has not finished. This goddess, or maybe one of her followers, speaks to me in my dreams, showing me terrible futures, and bloody moments from the past. She whispers to me of pain, and tells me of things I could accomplish under her banner.

I do not seek to strengthen her, or aid her. In my year here, I learned more of the Reclaimer's, found a better idea of the plot her servant was working towards. There are four more Reclaimer's, and certainly, she has more followers who might follow in the footsteps of the first. That is why I throw myself so deeply into my training. Byron... could have killed me. The things he was responsible for are vile enough. I have not yet forgiven him, his accomplice, or his goddess. And I do not intend to sit still while that sorry excuse for a goddess tries to ruin the world so many have worked to create."

Kul Galysa's eyes widened. "She speaks to you? Marks you as her chosen, and you refuse?"

Katerin nodded. "Until I cannot refuse any longer."

Kul Galysa's eyes brightened. "A spirit so strong she defies the gods themselves. What will you do, to this goddess that means to intercede in the mortal world?"

Katerin shrugged. "Fight her, in every way I can."

Kul Galysa's gaze narrowed, became serious, and for a long moment she was silent. "Lodyne is a vile deity, and if she reaches so sharply into your world, then there is no wrong in restoring balance. It is a justified use of your gifts. But, are you sure you wish to take this path? If she has her eye on you, your resistance will only sharpen that gaze."

"I'm not sure I have another choice... fight against it, or give in, seem to be the only two. And I can't say I like the idea of the latter."

"Nor should you. The gods stretch too far, on occasion. Sometimes it is a miracle they offer with their reach, and sometimes it is only sadness." She paused, and sipped her water. "Your ambitions will surely stretch your ability... I will only say this once, so heed me true. In this battle of yours, you will have our support. Mine, and all of my city. Should you require aid, or should you require more knowledge, come to us. Or call upon us."

Katerin took a deep breath, and blinked at the queen who sat across from her. "May I ask why?"

"You are more powerful than you know. Others with similar ability and intelligence, similar sparks in their soul, gather towards you. And my kind may reap many benefits from having you among us. We are chroniclers of history, but it is rare that we are allowed to call those who shape it, our own. I will be watching you, and I will call upon you, when I should need a strong hand of aid."

Katerin swallowed past the lump in her throat.

"Do you know any of our history? Why we hold this city in it's own plane? Why I cannot allow you or any others to look outside to your world, without my blessing?"

"Not enough to make sense of it all, no."

"We are here, to wait for our time once again. Before the world broke, we ruled the mortal plane. We and our elemental kin held sway over every other creature. We were kind and just rulers. Fair. But when humankind began their rise, our father called us away. He set us each with tasks, and pulled us from the world. Saying our moment had passed, but promising it would come again.

There were those of us, who did not fit our category. And so this city was built to house those renegades, who, though they were not a fit to the plans of our father, still had much to offer in our existence. Those of us here simply wait for our time to hold dominion over the world, once again. We wait and we practice and we watch, with all the patience we can hold onto, for our father to welcome us back to a land that each of us aches to see again, even if the eyes we use to behold it, have never beheld it in this life. We document the history of the mortal plane so meticulously, so that we may fondly remember our time spent apart from it."

Katerin exhaled a shaky breath. "Is this, future of yours... near?"

Kul Galysa studied her expression. "I do not know. There are many signs that will tell us so. Are you worried that we will retake dominion?"

"Yes," Katerin said. "I can only assume this retaking won't be a peaceful thing."

"That all depends on the mortals. Those who bend their knee will find safety, shelter and knowledge with us. Those who do not..." Kul Galysa let the words hang.

Katerin stiffened, alarm ringing in her mind. Had she, by taking this oath, betrayed her own kind, in favor of the giants? Would they call on her to wage war against her own people, against the cities and towns she loved? Against her own people? Humans and Elves were very different creatures, and each society had its own myriad of issues, but she could not forsake them.

"I can see you are unsettled. But do not worry. I am not cruel, none who reside in my city, truly are."

"Mortal's are stubborn... they do not just stand aside. You know this."

"I do. And they will do what they must, if they wish to survive. Regardless. This may not come to pass for many more centuries. For our father is more patient than any other being, of any other realm. I do want you to remember what your oath includes, and I want to also, to remember the gifts we have bestowed."

"I will," Katerin said, and her voice was strong, despite the unease clawing its way up her throat.

"I will see you tomorrow, for your final test," Kul Galysa said, her face no longer a smile, but nor was it too serious to cause concern. "I expect you to pass, this time. Two chances is already too many. And allow me to apologize in advance. I will get a rise out of you, and you are likely to resent me for it, upon your departure."

Katerin cocked her head, but Kul Galysa spoke no more. "Thank you," she said. "Have a wonderful evening."

"You as well, marked one."

The door opened with a flick of Kul Galysa's wrist, as Katerin straightened herself, and no longer did worries of her test plague her. Instead, images of this future that the giants envisioned made her thoughts spin. Was it a myth, like she had thought this city to have been, so many months ago? No, surely the giants were too wise to believe in myths. Thought's of Kul Galysa's words plagued her, her entire trip back to her quarters and when she finally arrived, everyone was was fast asleep with only a solitary candle burning by the door. Tears found her cheeks before she knew they were there, and at first she misunderstood them.