“Why would you say that? In the middle of all those people?”

Aria flinched at the sound of her own voice, stepping back a little to allow the cluster of people to get by. The Peddler’s Inn was neither an inn or a trading house, but it had four walls and a secure door surrounded by her own Excelliars. Despite the drafts and the hideous smell, it was better and more stable than anything she had seen in hours. The only problem was the topic of conversation.

“Ari, I saw her. I saw Rider. I know you saw her too. I thought she was dead. You said she died.” Ixis insisted, trying to find her footing against the rickety floorboards.

“It wasn't her. Some…some imposter sent her here. But it doesn't matter. It's out there now. I’ve already dealt with it.” Aria said, sighing with more than just exhaustion.

She longed for a bath or at least a hot meal to settle her frazzled nerves but Ixis refused to let it go, pacing incessantly despite the stains in her hair. Their pristine white armour was now scraped beyond recognition, the gold inlay blotted out by rotten vegetables, trash and whatever else those ruffians had thrown at them. They had been dragged through the mud without warning, forced through the tiniest of gaps through ramshackle houses and alleyways so disgusting not even a demon would squat there. How they lived like this she’d never understand.

“What do you mean?” 

The sorrow in her Regent’s voice made her facade crack a little. The look of fury she had given Ixis in the moment still haunted her, but the look of shame in her eyes was enough for her to want to forget the entire argument. Her fingers itched for her source of power, her Trait, to help deal with this awkward situation but she took a deep steadying breath and continued on as a Throneholder should.

“I’m…I’m sending out an order to capture all those present on site the night of the Scholar's Keep disaster. Specifically, all those who are Shadow Traited.”

Aria didn’t expect the full minute of silence that followed.

Her Regent’s expression morphed from nervous to incredulous to angry to confused all at once in a collision of unreadable yet distinctive emotions that Aria could never give herself the freedom to express publicly. 

The smell of singed hair and musty ale became stronger as the scuttling attendants idly listening in rushed out of the room and swung the door closed. Aria pinched her nose in frustration, completely forgetting what idle gossip would do to her reputation that was already on a cliff edge. All she could do was try to get Ixis back on her side and away from her delusions from the incident in Scholar’s Keep.

“What? But surely, that'll cause mass panic. They'll blame every one of them in a five metre radius.” Ixis reminded her incredulously, surprising Aria with how quickly she had thought ahead.

The meagre oil lamps above her flickered while what little staff remained kept well out of their range. Aria barely acknowledged the change in atmosphere even as her fingertips glowed white. She needed to shut this petty argument down. Now.

“Which is exactly what you did! Calling them out specifically on a day like today is cause for war, Ixis! We were supposed to unite against the demons, not accuse other countries of colluding with a murderer!”

Aria couldn’t bear to see the fear in her Regent’s eyes.

Her smile grew harsh, both struggling to keep their own emotions in check despite the simmering frustrations they kept clenched in their fists. It was hard to tell the difference between a blazing gout of flame or a sunbeam that razed the ground asunder, but both had exactly the same effect. Devastation.

“I didn’t! I…why are you denying she was even there?”

Ixis’ voice made her wince, the octave high screech confirming how furious her Regent truly was. Aria’s arms shook with more than anger, every ounce of her patience was drawn into herself in desperation to keep calm. Only her Regent could ever make her this mad. They were the closest person to the Throneholder and although it was Aria who finalised the decisions, their council was vital in adding support or causing even more stress.

“I keep telling you she wasn’t…”

Her Light Trait made Aria’s eyes water, darkening the dwindling shadows that cast over them both. She suppressed the urge to stamp them out, knowing full well it wouldn’t do any good. Aria longed for Ethros’ advice, his words to trust in her Regent, feeling even bleaker at the reminder of what had happened that night. 

“Then what? What is it?”

Neither of them had heard any word from their dragons, banned from the protests because of their ability to detect lies even as they tried to relay the truth with nothing but their own words. Clearly, that had failed miserably. Much like her attempts to sway her own second in command. She couldn’t even bring herself to cry. But she could attempt to be honest.

“I don’t know! I don’t…remember. Rider believes I did something to her but…I can only remember from the day she left. I have nothing except you, Ethros and my Trait. But then, Scholar’s Keep happened and you could've died, Ixy. I can't…I can't go through that again. I can’t lose another Regent.”

Aria’s heart pounded in her chest, barely able to register how she was feeling, let alone her own Regent. But part of her knew that despite the demons, the threat of Shuriken, heck even Rider herself, all of it was worth the risk to protect Opalis. She understood the plight of the Shadow Traited first hand, already being shunned and blamed for the demons despite their Trait being out of their control. But in the grand scheme of things, a Shadow Traited had attacked her home and so many innocent people all because of her. 

“Then let me find them. Let me find Rider or these imposters and I'll make them pay for what they did in Scholar's Keep. Hold off on the mass order until then.”

Aria could see the fire in her Regent’s eyes despite how tired she was. She wanted to stay within her warmth, her kindness towards every living creature even as she couldn’t mend their hurt. Ixis had wanted to stop at every refugee camp, every healer’s hut that had held the innocents caught in her blast, but Aria knew what it would do to her mental state. Keeping her Regent on track was one of the hardest things she had to do. Rider was never this distracted.

“No. The decisions have been made. Besides, you need to rest. For now, maybe…you should go home on medical leave. I’ll leave your Regency position open until you return in the weeks to come, and hopefully, things will be clearer. For both of us.”

Aria tried to turn away, but a hand on her wrist made her turn back, Ixis’ desperation clear in her eyes. With a tired smile, she tried to break away, but her Regent stepped closer to narrow the gap even as she loosened her hold on her arm. Aria flinched, trying to hide her grimace, but Ixis’ frustration was clear to see and eerily reminded Aria of her predecessor.

"Please. You and I both know that's not what you want. If it is her…and I'm not saying it is, then I know where she'll go next." She pleaded with her Throneholder, but Aria caught the tinge of cynicism in her voice.

The Throneholder shivered despite the steadying warmth of a nearby hearth imbued with Ixis’ own Trait, the bright hue of amber only making the shadows hiding the crack in the walls even stronger. She knew who the threat was. Her orders would make sure any Shadow Traited attempting to support her enemy or the demons would feel the wrath of her Trait.

"Ixis. Let it go." Aria growled, her Light Traited no longer satisfied with being patient.

“Please Ari.”

Rider’s face drifted into her mind.

The Light Traited could smell the burning of her Regent's armour a second too late. The solid metal wrist plate falling like sand to her vengeful sunbeam. Aria wrenched herself backwards like she was caught in a forest fire, immediately trying to apologise but no coherent words would come out.

“Ixy-“

The Fire Traited suppressed a yelp, the unnatural feeling of being burnt making her eyes stream, but she hid her wrist behind her back just as a familiar face opened the door.

“My Throneholder, the representatives-“

Skyla stopped mid sentence, deathly pale, but a single finger pointing towards her in accusation. No. Beyond her. Aria felt the chill behind her back long before the gust of wind buffeted the door and a lithe, sea dragon burst through the back entrance and skidded onto the ground. Hydra caught Ixis just as she collapsed from exhaustion, the wound seeping more ash than Aria had ever seen in all her years on the battlefield.

“I…I didn’t mean to-“

The dragon growled, silencing her with just a sound, but it was enough of a reminder for everyone else to rush into the room at the expectation of danger. Aria was greeted with what felt like a hundred people shoving and jostling into her, the familiar sight of healers attempting to pump her Regent full of their Trait once more.

“Aria.”

A familiar voice called to her but she couldn’t remember the name. She hadn’t realised she had stepped outside. She didn’t notice her feet give out from under her. But it wasn’t until the familiar touch of her Oathed reminded her of what she had truly done. 

“Let go. It’s okay to let go.”

Ethros had returned to watch her mutilate her closest companion. Tears she didn’t know she could still cry had fallen from her cheeks, but her heart didn’t register them. There was only one thought that crossed her mind that night, still wrapped in her dragon’s embrace despite the chill of the night. Rider left for a reason, and whatever that reason was….had been worth forgetting.