Tissaia woke during Azael's absence and after taking some time to make herself presentable, she set to work aiding in the remaining preparations for their departure. Every inch of the temple was combed over once more in search of any supplies they might have missed.

    Tissaia was pleasantly surprised to find that the temple had actually provided them with more supplies than they needed. They would not have to worry about stopping before they reached Lochren, and they would all have the strength they needed for the fight ahead.

    Kahari had placed herself in charge of gathering any medical supplies they might need and she assured Tissaia that she would be able to help any warriors who were injured. The warriors themselves had been busy sharpening and cleaning their weapons.

    There were no additional ones to be claimed from the temple, not that they had expected otherwise. A temple dedicated to the Mother of their world certainly wouldn't harbor weapons of its own, and the priestesses and acolytes who once lived there likely never had need for them.

    Out of respect for the goddess, Tissaia had ensured that the warriors were cleaning up after themselves and the temple would be no less worse for wear than when they had arrived. She'd double checked all the rooms where fighting had occurred to see that all signs of blood had been sufficiently scrubbed away.

    There were no remaining bodies to contend with thankfully as they had been dealt with by the Cahirim. From what she'd gathered, those who aided her father and had fallen were not given the same respect Kaius was. The Cahirim warriors had condemned them even in death for their roles in the Phoenix's demise, and they had let their actions reflect that.

    All Tissaia was able to pry from Vael was that most of their bodies had been dragged outside and covered with stones, save for the corpse of the Mindseeker. He now lay at the bottom of a cliff, his body even more mangled than before, and likely buried in snow if it hadn't been devoured by animals yet.

    That had then sparked a small question in the back of Tissaia's mind. She hadn't seen Kaius's strange shackles since his body was burned, though she knew the shackles had remained untouched by the flames. She had kept an eye out for them, guessing she shouldn't leave such a dark relic in the temple, but by evening she still hadn't found them and had begun to believe they'd been disposed of.

    The night passed swiftly as she turned her attention back to her other remaining tasks, and when Tissaia finally retired, she was asleep in minutes, though it was anything but restful.

•༻☽☾༺•

    Tissaia breezed down the hall and rubbed her eyes with another yawn, wishing she'd been allowed to sleep longer, but the time had come to depart. Azael and Gaelen were already gathering the Cahirim outside, and she was in search of her brother. She'd already checked the secluded room where he had been staying, but there had been no sign of him or his belongings.

    She had asked the few warriors she passed if they'd seen him, but none had, and she was beginning to feel worried. Perhaps he had grown impatient and left early. They might meet him on the road...but no, surely he wouldn't be so reckless. He knew how dangerous the path would be. He'd told her himself after returning from scouting yesterday.

    Tissaia turned into the temple's main corridor and paused briefly, looking back towards the sanctum. She had checked it earlier, but it couldn't hurt to check again before she informed Azael that her brother was missing. She started towards the chamber and just outside it, caught a fresh trace of his scent.

    Relief cascaded through her as she passed through the entrance and spied Talarion's lithe frame. He stood before the altar, his dark head bowed as though he were praying, but his lips didn't move. Tissaia let her footsteps fall louder and Talarion's gaze slid to hers. "I've been looking for you. Everyone else is gathering outside."

    "Sorry," he answered. She glanced at the whitened knuckles of his hand which clutched the edge of the altar.

    "What are you doing here anyway?"

    "Making promises." His eyes closed and his chin touched his chest. "I'm promising that I won't fail this time. That none of this will have been in vain." 

    Tissaia rested her hand on his shoulder, offering as encouraging a smile as she could muster. "I will help you keep those promises."

    "There is one I must keep alone," he murmured. Before she asked which promise that had been, he looked at her once more. "Father's blood is yours to spill, but his life is mine to take."

    Tissaia stared at him in surprise, not missing the sudden urgency in his voice and the strange gleam in his eyes. "All right," she answered. "I understand." She turned to go, but he caught her wrist.

    "And promise me you'll stay close to Azael when we reach Lochren," Talarion whispered. "I know I won't be thinking clearly, and I won't be able to watch out for you like I should. He will keep you safe."

    "I can keep myself safe too." Her brother only fed a pleading look into his eyes and Tissaia sighed. "Very well. For your sake, I won't leave his side."

    "Thank you."

    "Now let's go before they decide to leave without us." Talarion nodded and when Tissaia pulled her arm from his grasp, he fell in step behind her and followed her out of the sanctum.

•༻☽☾༺•

    Azael kept a careful eye on the Twins as they journeyed haphazardly through the mountains. Vael and Gaelen had taken the lead as they were better acquainted with snow travel than the rest of them. Kahari wasn't far from them and Tissaia rode at her side.

    He was glad to see the two females conversing quietly and spied a fleeting smile from Tissaia occasionally. He hoped the companionship of her friend was bringing her some semblance of comfort, and he was grateful for Kahari and Vael's sake that at least one of the Twins didn't believe they had betrayed them.

    Talarion hadn't acknowledged either of them yet, though he hadn't gone out of his way to take his wrath out on them either. In a way, it was like he wasn't even aware they existed anymore, and that behavior wasn't only displayed towards them. Talarion didn't seem aware of anyone aside from him and Tissaia today.

    Perhaps he should've felt flattered by being one of the two exceptions, but it worried him more than anything. Azael couldn't wipe the memory of their morbid conversation from his mind, and he was torn over what to do about it. He already knew there would be no dissuading Talarion, and if Tissaia was made aware of her brother's plans, she would try to do just that.

    He didn't want to be the one to drive that rift between the Twins when things were already so dismal. But would it be a mercy to try to prepare Tissaia for what was coming, or would it only delay the inevitable? And if he chose not to tell her, would that undo everything that had been mended between them?

    He massaged his brow with a smothered sigh before pushing loose hair back from his face. Gods, why do I always manage to find myself in the middle of these things? He couldn't help but wonder. Azael's gaze flicked skyward and something akin to a tender caress seemed to nudge against his heart with a prompting.

    He sighed once more. I don't know which of you is listening, or if any of you are. I've never been a dedicated believer, he began silently, but we've lost the only one of us who really was, and I don't know what to do from here. I know Roshan Lochren has to die, but I don't know what comes next. With my father, with Talarion...and I need someone, or something, to guide me. Help me know what to do. What will be best for my people, and for those I love. Please.

    If there was an answer, it was one he could not yet hear or see, but that feeling within his chest faded away, leaving some semblance of peace in its wake. Azael perked up when Talarion's mount drifted to his side. The male's gaze was fixed on Tissaia and the corners of his mouth were slightly raised. Not a true smile, but as close to one as he could likely manage.

    "Kahari's friendship means a lot to her," Azael said. "I don't recall ever seeing her so at ease with any of the ladies at court."

    "Neither of us had the time or safety to develop true friendships," Talarion answered. "I'm glad she has someone now."

    "Do you still think Kahari and Vael betrayed us?" Talarion's ghostly smile faded and he gave no response. "You must realize the truth by now. Kahari was the one who pushed for us to come after you. I was going to return to Arcan and Vael wanted to go back to their village."

    "Perhaps it was to ease her guilty conscience," Talarion muttered, and Azael frowned at him. The male's shoulders sagged as he exhaled a heavy breath. "No, I don't really believe they led Father to us. At least not intentionally. But I do believe that if we'd never gone to that village, Father might not have found us. He wouldn't have been able to capture Kaius and..." He choked on the words.

    "I don't disagree," Azael replied. "But it was Tissaia's idea that we should stay somewhere more populated, not theirs. They only suggested the village after Tissaia shared her thoughts, and remember, we let Kaius decide ultimately. He saw the Little Gods and they were pointing us there. You can't hold Vael and Kahari accountable without blaming Tissaia and Kaius too."

    Guilt and sorrow flooded Talarion's dark gaze, more emotion than Azael had seen him display in days. "Do you think this was always going to happen?" He asked quietly. "Was he always living on borrowed time, doomed to be a sacrifice for the gods?"

    "I don't know. I don't believe we're all fated to walk one predetermined path. I can't believe that, or Tissaia and I would end up right back where we started, but I know that the Phoenix has always been destined for greater things than the rest of us. Every Phoenix in the past had some purpose to fulfill in their lifetime, and maybe Kaius's was preserving the knowledge in that book. I don't think anyone else would've known how to protect it."

    "I just wish I knew what was in it, and why he had to fight so hard to protect it."

    "Maybe we'll find out before the end," Azael answered encouragingly. "And...I think you should speak with Vael and Kahari. Tell them you don't blame them. Clear the air and rid yourself of one more thing to be judged for by Durga before you no longer can." Talarion inclined his head, but gave no other indication as to whether or not he'd actually listen.