“You’ve done well.” Talice hadn’t realized how lost in thought she was until Dervila spoke and she turned in surprise to see the leader of her order, the Masters of the Yuirwood, approach with no more sound than the breeze. It was well past midnight as she stood on the balcony of the Master’s Hall and watched as most of Relkath’s Foot surrendered to sleep, but her mind was elsewhere… tangled in thoughts of betrayal and dark things that stalked her beloved forest. “Thank you, my lady,” she responded as she regained her composure and bowed her head in respect. “I’m sorry I couldn’t warn you about the slavers, the dragon… and the traitor!” “You know I’m not found of surprises,” Dervila admonished gently as she joined her at the railing and surveyed the scene below. “Especially such dramatic ones… but I’m far more concerned that one of us betrayed his oath than being caught off guard by that little circus this afternoon.” Talice knew that Saevel’s betrayal was more personal to Dervila than she let on. She had been stunned by the revelation herself, and they had never been very close, but she knew he had been more than a friend to her. “I had the same reaction you did when I first saw him,” she confessed, “but the others stayed my hand…. insisting that he face justice before the law… rather than by my sword.” “The others,” Dervila questioned with a coy smile, taking the opportunity to shift the subject to something less troubling, “or Courynn Telstaerr? I understand you left the celebration for a... more intimate one… together.” She got her answer in the blush of embarrassment that reddened Talice’s cheeks; she knew that little escaped Dervila’s attention, but she didn’t know her network of spies was that efficient. However, Dervila wasn’t about to let her slide with such a passive admission. “I seem to recall you teased the poor boy mercilessly before he went off to serve… worse than any of the others.” “Yes, my lady,” Talice admitted with a coy smile. “But I believe I made it up to him tonight.” “I’ll bet you did,” Dervila smirked capriciously, but then took a more serious tone. “I hadn’t expected him to come back… especially knowing the welcome that awaited him… but I understand he faced that too.” “His father confronted him,” Talice confirmed. “I think he felt that he had to face him… and he appears to have come to terms with it… at least he doesn’t seem to bare that burden anymore.” “What of you?” Dervila inquired, trying to escape another unpleasant subject. “You haven’t seen your parents in far too many days. They must be very proud, but I’m sure they’ve worried about you… and missed you.” “I didn’t want to darken their door at this hour,” she replied with a pang of guilt, “but I’ll pay my respects in the morning... father understands what is to serve and mother has lived with that burden all my life.” “Good,” Dervila accepted warmly, resting her hand on her shoulder affectionately, and moved on to a more pleasant subject as a wicked grin turned her lips; “Now about that intimate celebration of yours…”