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[center][sub]Mentions: Daphne [@PrinceAlexus], Amaya [@c3p-0h], Flynn [@The Muse][/sub][/center]
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[center][color=lightgray][h3]Two Weeks Ago...[/h3][/color][/center]

[color=lightgray]Katherine couldn’t help but let out a quiet laugh and smile as Daphne spoke. It was clear she’d hit her head pretty hard judging by how her words no longer flowed from her mouth, but drunkenly stumbled instead. The sound of the squire’s voice brought her more relief than she’d expected, and the priestess stood motionless for a moment listening to Daphne ramble on, a smile ever-present on her face.

[color=19CACA]“I assure you Daphne, I’m quite real.”[/color] Katherine replied, unhooking the clasp that held her thick fur cloak together before removing it and laying it at the foot of the bed, [color=19CACA]“And yes, I did receive your gift. It was delicious, thank you.”[/color]

Katherine took a seat near Daphne’s waist, the bed quietly protesting the extra weight. She reached over to the squire’s face and brushed a lock of hair out of the way, her gaze lingering on Daphne’s eyes for a moment before looking down. She found her cheeks warming as Daphne hid beneath the blankets. Sure what the squire had said was a bit forward, but after having lived a life of lies and hidden meanings, it was refreshing to hear a plain and simple truth. 

[color=19CACA]“There’s no need to apologize. And nothing happened at the jail that you need to worry about, your job right now is to rest.”[/color] Katherine almost couldn’t believe the doting words that left her mouth. She couldn’t remember the last time she’d cared for someone quite like this. 

The outburst of being Daphne’s girlfriend in front of what was presumably a lot of people had her momentarily worried, not of judgement, but of a certain level of privacy she wanted to keep. For now at least.

[color=19CACA][i]A skull mug would be pretty sweet though.[/i][/color]

[color=19CACA]“You might’ve had armor everywhere else, but your head needs a bit more care. Maybe we need to speak to the blacksmith… or the quartermaster--whoever, to get a helmet made for you.”[/color] As she spoke, she placed a gentle hand on Daphne’s outstretched hand with a look to her that said [color=19CACA][i]I’ve got it[/i][/color] before bringing the glass within easy reach. 

With a smirk, she leaned in and placed a gentle kiss on Daphne’s forehead.

[color=19CACA]“Seems to me like it’s my turn to take care of you.”[/color]

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[center][color=lightgray][h3]One Week Ago...[/h3][/color][/center]

In the days leading up to the expedition, Katherine had been relatively unbothered. She’d barely had time to unpack the things she’d brought with her to Dawnhaven by the time her invitation had arrived at the temple. It had only taken a matter of hours to pack everything back up, before she had a chance to really think about the piece of parchment held in her hand now.

An invitation to an expedition into blighted lands, from none other than the very leadership of Dawnhaven that she’d decided to piss off. Signed by the very Prince and Princess she’d disrespected.

[color=19CACA]“You just had to push the issue didn’t you…”[/color] Katherine muttered to herself, an inked quill in hand as she sat at her desk by candlelight, a different piece of parchment now laying before her. An apology letter in the making, intended to mend the damage she’d done in hopes that she could regain the trust of the royalty. It had been a reckless move and one she’d regretted almost immediately after.

[color=9e0b0f][i]Reckless, debatable. Entertaining? Undoubtedly.[/i][/color] Katherine’s blood chilled as the sickening voice that had thus far taken its leave, returned. [color=19CACA][i]Do you have any idea how much harder this makes my job? How skeptical they are of me now? Stop messing with my head. I have nothing to report, I will contact you when I do.[/i][/color]

[color=9e0b0f][i]Oh but you do have something, little shadow. You have revealed something exceedingly interesting.[/i][/color]

Katherine didn’t realize it was possible for her blood to run colder than it already felt. That was why it had been so quiet for the last week. They--it, it knew that Kira was still alive. After all these years, their perfect assassin that had been presumed dead was still drawing breath, living the quiet life in Dawnhaven.

[color=9e0b0f][i]Its like I can read your mind.[/i][/color]

[color=19CACA][i]Enough![/i][/color]

[color=9e0b0f][i]Tut tut, Sorrowind. You forget who you work for. Who owns you. Who can cut the very thread of your life with a single thought.[/i][/color] She felt the familiar gentle grasp of an invisible hand on her throat, squeezing just enough to force a gasp from her lungs before it let go. [color=9e0b0f][i]As much as I enjoy our chats, your next assignment awaits. Nightshade lives, and is a liability for the King’s Eye and the kingdom itself. Kill her and report back when it’s done. You know the consequence of failure.[/i][/color]

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[center][color=lightgray][h3]Present Day.[/h3][/color][/center]

The words had echoed in her head through the entire eleven days that the group had been on the road. Though the excitement and present company had made distracting herself a lot easier, Katherine still felt out of it. It had taken all of her effort not to break down and vent everything to Daphne along the way. 

The squire had been her saving grace. Just knowing that she’d be around at camp and during the expedition had helped ease her mind a bit. Even if Daphne still had a job to do and wouldn’t be around all of the time, it was enough. She’d survive in the interim.

With some help from the Lunaris guards that had joined them--the Aurelian ones would barely give her the time of day after what had transgressed at the temple--it didn’t take long for Katherine to get her large, fur lined tent set up. She’d made sure that it was sufficiently tied down to account for the winds before moving the few crates of belongings she’d brought out of the elements.

When she was done, she joined some of the guards by the newly constructed fire near the center of camp. It wasn’t that Katherine felt cold; the weather was actually quite tame by Lunarian standards. She just needed to feel something different than the cold, unforgiving air that had become the norm seemingly regardless of the season.[/color]

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[hider=Letter to Princess Amaya and Prince Flynn]
[color=lightgray][b][i]Dear Princess Amaya and Prince Flynn,

I would have much rather done this in person, but that will have to wait until we return from the expedition. 

I would like to extend my sincerest apologies for my behaviour last week. I don’t know what came over me at the time, but it was unacceptable. Of course, the temple is open to all, and I lost sight of that. It is not lost on me that you and your family in particular are the reason this community even exists.

Upon my return, I would like to arrange to meet with you both so I may express this properly and directly.

Katherine Sorrowind, High Priestess of Selune[/i][/b][/color]

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