She's there.  Auris is there.  Some faint part of Reddawn's mind knows this, knows the distress that kneels but inches away.  ...Should she do something?  It seems...it feels like she should do something.  Can she do something?  What would she do...too many questions.  It's taxing.  She knows Auris is near, but she cannot remember why that matters, what it means.

❂

Hands on her side.  A wheezing gasp as something scrapes inside her chest, her heart skipping a beat.  The moment blurs.

❂

Reddawn tries to open her eyes, and they obey only slowly.  There's a dull ache in her chest, but it's manageable.

"Amaana?"  Auris reaches forward, taking her mother's hand.

Reddawn furrows her brow, and even that's slow and takes effort.  "Ss...  St—"  Her voice wheezes and Auris leans in, resting her other hand along Reddawn's cheek, eyes shimmering.

"Shh, don't strain yourself, Amaa.  All will be well.  You're safe.  We're home.  All will be well."

"Wh...what..."  Breathe out.  Breathe in.  Focus.  "...happened?"

Auris' expression hardens.  "They lied.  They claimed peace only to bring you down."  She raises her chin.  "But the Honorborn would not allow such dishonor to stand."

"...What did you do?"  Concern colors Reddawn's voice, rough and whispered as it may be, and there's a pause as her daughter collects herself, and then Auris coolly meets her eyes.

"They're gone.  I killed them."

It takes Reddawn some time to process this.  Auris is a strong warrior, certainly, but strength alone cannot make up for numbers.  "How?" she asks at last.

"Miris answered my call.  I..."  Her gaze falls away.  "...do not know much more than that.  I—"  Auris' hands tense, and the one closes tighter around Reddawn's hand as she draws the other back to her own chest in a loose fist, her thumb at the gap between her collarbones, and she swallows.  "I saw you fall," she says, "and...and I turned on them, and Miris was with me, and...and then they were laid out before me, and it was over.  I can't remember how."  Her shoulders curl forward.  "I don't know if I want to."

Reddawn gives a weak squeeze to Auris' hand.  "I wanted to show you...a different side of things."  She wants to comfort her daughter.

"I know, Amaa."

"I'm sorry."

Auris shakes her head.  "No.  I've...I've caused a mess, I'm certain.  They'll be out for me as soon as they've learned I was responsible and out for us all in the meantime."

"...No."  No, my Stormchild.  Please don't blame yourself...  Whatever you did, however you did it...please don't let it claim you.  "They are...likely to grieve, and fight...for succession.  We will still have peace...for a time."

Auris nods, and squeezes Reddawn's hand.