Here we are again. Kusal crossed his arms. "I'm guessing you've already anticipated me doubting your plan."

"I have," Arek said. "We're leaving for the South Clan tomorrow morning. There's no reason to wait, and we have every reason to hurry. We need to explore all our options."

"And you're only bringing Vin and Inessa?" Kusal shook his head. "And none of the Conclave."

"No reason anymore. I know that by now, Dhruv is convinced of my aims and that I mean what I say. He's quite influential in the Conclave's eyes, so I doubt they'll try anything while I'm gone."

Dhruv. Kusal cringed at the sound. I guess I really don't know my own father, then. Not that his father wanted to know him. Dhruv made that fact clear when Kusal became a member of the Arm. No one else knew but Sian, Kusal's sister, that Kusal had turned down the Conclave's offer to join them. Kusal had joined the Arm instead. Ever since, both Dhruv and Sian treated Kusal as an outcast, as someone who decided to live a lowly life out of some misguided notion. Kusal felt a familiar anger stir inside of him. Even though Sian stayed loyal to their father's wishes and desires for the clan, Dhruv never gave her the time of day. Kusal knew Sian secretly craved recognition from their father, and was willing to go through hell to earn it.

Except he never gives her the chance.

Kusal sighed, forcing himself to focus on the present mission. "You, one of the Arm, and a girl who turned back from death."

"I doubt any spies will catch word of us leaving so soon. We'll be halfway there by the time any of them find out. If anything happens, Vin can take care of himself, and nothing..." Arek hesitated. Well, no use keeping it a secret now. "Nothing will happen to my sister."

"Oh, so you're also bringing some little-" Kusal shot to his feet. "What?"

"Yes, you heard me right." Arek stood up. "I don't have time to explain it now, but Inessa was lost to our clan the same time she supposedly lost her mother, who I'm sure was actually her nursemaid."

"And she...she believes you?"

Arek eyed him. "As otherworldly as it seems, it's something that's easier for her to accept than me. Her skill as tracker pales to her skill of being able to accept the impossible and the unacceptable in others."

I noticed. Kusal had known since his conversation with Inessa near the falls. Still, he wanted to know what Arek thought. "Why do you think that is?"

He didn't answer right away. "She believes in the best part of a person. So long as they have shown some part of themselves is worthy, Inessa will not fail to see it." He blinked. "Even if it means shoving it up their faces. She doesn't give up so easily."

"Huh." Kusal nudged a stick with his foot. "Don't you find it weird that her connection with her nursemaid was so deep she believed she was her mother for all these years?"

"Not everything clicks into place. But I know that once this is all over, I'm going to get to the bottom of it." Arek glanced at the sky. "I need to start some preparations for tomorrow. Tell Vin, eh?"

"Sure." Kusal sat down. Inessa, the rogue tracker, Daughter of the Wind. Inessa, sister of the Alpha. Kusal paused as another thought popped into his head. Wasn't Vin rummaging around the east mountains? It'll take all day to find him. He scowled. No wonder Arek sounded almost gleeful. Inessa, your brother is a smug-faced bulldog.

As he headed across camp, Kusal caught sight of Inessa balancing five logs and following a group of empty-handed children into one of the cabin homes. Kusal caught sight of her smile. She's in higher spirits than usual. Considering what she had just discovered about herself, that was a good sign. She's the sister of the Alpha. Kusal's thoughts wandered to what the clan would think, to what other clans might think, specifically of her. He frowned.

Inessa caught sight of his face and raised her eyebrow. "Yes?" He looks distracted again, but he wouldn't be waiting around here for nothing. A curly-haired girl tugged on Inessa's sleeve. "Momma wants the wood," she whispered.

After setting down the wood and ensuring the woman of the house that the children did their share of work, Inessa walked outside. "Mind walking with me? I need to start packing for tomorrow."

"Tomorrow...right." Kusal looked up at her. "Come this way, first."

"For what? Really, Kusal. Any lessons will have to wait until I come back."

"This is different. You'll need this during your trip." With that, he led her to the medicine storage.

Inessa didn't know why, but she was relieved to find it empty. "I didn't know you were a healer."

"I'm not." Kusal opened a cabinet near the floor and took out a jar and a brush. He gestured to two chairs.

"Oh." Inessa sat down facing him. "I wasn't aware I had to wear...makeup while going there. Why didn't Arek say anything?"

Kusal slid his chair over to her right side. "Not makeup." He rolled up her sleeve, exposing her upper arm. He opened the jar and dipped the brush into red liquid.

Under any circumstances, Inessa would have insisted on knowing what he was doing, but after talking with him by the waterfall, she couldn't deny she trusted him. To a certain degree, she reminded herself. Deception didn't seem a part of Kusal's character, but after the little trick he pulled getting her to jump off a cliff, Inessa swore she'd never underestimate him again.

"There. After it dries, keep it covered until you reach the South Clan. When you get there, make sure it is uncovered." Kusal screwed the lid back onto the jar. He returned it and the brush while Inessa inspected his work. It was a red band around the thickest part of her bicep. From the band, long, sloping points streaked down to a point near her elbow. "What is this for?"

Kusal brushed his hands against his shirt and walked past Inessa toward the door, which he left open when they came in.

For a moment, Inessa felt a spark of annoyance, thinking she'd have to go pull the answer out of someone else.

"It's a sign, Princess."

Kusal left before Inessa said anything. Arek must have told him. It's the only reason he would've called her that. Princess, it was such an old term. Werewolves hadn't used terms of royalty for hundreds of years. She blew out a slow stream of air. "Just when I was beginning to think you were the most reasonable one around here." Focusing on Kusal made her unaware of the footsteps approaching the cabin.

Honovi stood in the doorway like a statue. Inessa quickly sat up, knowing she deserved a rebuke for lingering in her work space. "I'm sorry. I didn't think-"

"No." Honovi waved her hand. "It's...it's alright." She noticed the band on Inessa's arm. "Did you do that?"

"Kusal did. He left."

"I see." Honovi looked at Inessa. Distrust. Worry. "So you know now." It sounded like a statement of defeat.

"I want to know more," Inessa said.

Honovi looked away. She's already bracing herself for an impact. "I think you've heard enough about me to know that anything I have to say will not be easy to hear, though I doubt much in your life has been easy." She walked passed Inessa, still seated, and lay her hand on the other chair.

"I think I understand. The only things then, are...No, I only have one thing I must know." Her heart constricted in her chest, but she was going to get the words out. Even if it killed her. "Did you ever love me?"

Honovi stood behind the empty chair, hands gripping the back of it. "When Arek was four, the Conclave called your father into the Arm."

Father. Inessa felt her jaw working hard. The word was almost foreign to her mind, but for some reason, she wished it wasn't. It felt wrong.

"He was a strong and an excellent tracker. Probably why the Conclave wanted him immediately when we were getting raids from the West. The raids ceased once the Conclave negotiated with them, though only they know the terms for the agreement." Honovi paused, sensing Inessa's confusion. "The North isn't the only clan to attack another. Even the East is guilty of such, though I don't know to what extent. No one will, and many suffered for it."

My father. "What happened to the Arm?"

"They were nothing but animals and weapons to the Conclave." Her voice never rose above speaking level, but the rage in it was unmistakable. "The Conclave heard of a pack of Northern spies and sent the Arm to track them down. They were gone for weeks, much longer than they were supposed to. Then Carion and Machar searched. They found the Arm half-frozen and slaughtered. There had been a blizzard - one that the Conclave did not account for when they sent the Arm away. The Arm didn't stand a chance against any wolves that were better prepared. The Conclave gave no apology, no explanation. They acted in secret, making us their puppets in the play for power, and take what they want from us."

"How?" Inessa covered her mouth. How can it hurt to lose someone I never knew? She could not ask it. "How can Arek stand them?"

"Arek does not know the Conclave is responsible for his father's death. He thinks it was an accident on the Arm's part, just like the rumors. Rumors that were probably started by the Conclave to cover their mistake."

"How did you know?"

"I had my sources." Honovi looked down. "I didn't tell Arek, because if he knew, he would never be able to forgive them. And he shouldn't. But he needs to be able to work with them for the time being. If he doesn't, he will lose the support of the villagers that still depend on the Conclave's rule, such as the spies and messengers that Arek isn't familiar with yet. Also, not all of the villagers were victims of the Conclave. Some offered their services and were rewarded handsomely for it."

Inessa looked at her hands. "So that's why you trained him. You did everything you could to make sure he would become Alpha, that he would change the way this clan was run."

"I wanted him to become a monster. I told him what I knew, that to defeat the demons that hunt you, you must become stronger than they are."

"Don't say that!" Inessa stood up, shaking. "How can you say something like that about your own son?"

"Tell me. Is it not monstrous to learn to take a life without sorrow? To spend your childhood learning to kill and not ever look back at what you did?" Once again, she met her eyes, and Inessa had the feeling that Honovi was looking for something in particular. "What is incredible, is that even though Arek does all of these things, he isn't a monster. He still has the compassion to think of the younglings first, to ensure the safety of the villagers, even the Arm, and to care for me, even after what I put him through." Honovi cast her gaze to the chair. "You deserve a life of joy, Inessa. Of peace. Of freedom. Not one with us. Not with someone like me."

Inessa grabbed Honovi's hands off the chair, holding them in her own. She tried to still her quivering voice. "I don't know who you are to me. I don't know everything Arek did, and I don't want to know. But I know you both have changed. And..." Honovi's hands turned in hers to return the hold. Inessa took a deep breath. "I can't ever hate the one who nursed me back to health. You may have never been a part of my life before, but you gave it back to me."

"I..." Honovi slid one of her hands out and wiped a tear from Inessa's cheek. "Let me be that to you. Someone who can help you make a life for yourself."

Inessa nodded. "I think I would like that. With everything that's happened...since I've joined the East Clan, I'm not sure of anything. I still don't know how much I can believe of what I've been told. I'm not sure if it's the world that's changing, or if it's me. And with everything that's happening to the clan, I'm not sure how much all of this is supposed to matter."

"You matter."

The words resonated deep within her, but Inessa wouldn't let them settle. It was too close in too little time. She stood up, thanked Honovi for her time, and scurried off to finish packing. This mission... will be a success. Too many people have died and put work into this. They will not fail because of me! Inessa swiped her eyes for the last time. She was glad her encounter with Honovi happened the way it did. Sure, it was unexpected, but she wasn't sure how she would have approached her real mother otherwise.

Still, Inessa admitted, I'm tired of crying.

__________

I don't care what anyone else says. The readers I've seen for the past several months (YOU!) are truly the best in the world. How are you? How is your writing going? Feel free to share your most recent work in the comments below for this chapter!

Any new vampire/cooking/unique fantasy recommends?

Your support, patience, and most of all you deciding to share your excitement and comments on my stories spurrs me to keep writing them. Hopefully this is the beginning of some consistent updates until the end (which I already have epically planned).

By show of hands, is anyone also dying to have a device that transmits all our story ideas and thoughts onto paper?? Once technology actually keeps up with our needs, maybe we'll finally get a few (*cough, thousand) of these magical machines.

Happy reading!

Reese