Stryg rummaged under his bed and pulled out a couple of cloaks.

"Is that what I think those are?" Tauri said, eyes wide.

Stryg nodded. "I had Gale go back and retrieve them from the assassins we killed."

"What are you planning to do with them?" Tauri asked suspiciously.

"I'm not letting you go to Murkton alone."

Tauri frowned. "What? But you said—"

"I know what I said."

"Then why?"

"That's the same thing I asked him," Gale muttered from the corner of the room.

"Because I know you're going to go no matter what I say," Stryg admitted.

"Of course, I am. My brother's life is at risk. If I don't get him out of the city, he'll die," Tauri replied.

"And if you go, your life will be at risk. I don't see the Sylvan army differentiating from one orc or another. To them, you'll all be the enemy," Stryg said.

"Lucas is worth the risk," Tauri said.

"Which is why I'm going," he said.

"I mean, I appreciate it, I do," Tauri squeezed his hand, "But what about Lunae? What changed your mind?"

"Let me worry about Lunae." Stryg shrugged and held up one of the cloaks, "That's what these are for. I haven't been able to figure out how to activate their distortion effect—"

"We believe the cloaks are linked to their owners," Gale added.

"But their magical shrouding ability seems to be a passive trait. We tested the cloaks against a couple of wards Gale set up and they didn't set off a single ward," Stryg explained.

"Okay, but how does that help us against Lunae?" Tauri asked.

"That's what I said," Gale nodded.

"Lily said the cloaks offer concealment against magical wards and farsight," Stryg said.

"You really think they'll prevent Lunae from seeing us?" Tauri asked warily.

"Think about it. Whoever set up the pit that trapped Holo must have been at it for several days, if not weeks. Lunae would have noticed them building the pit, but she didn't. Which means the cloaks work," Stryg said.

"Okay, even if that is the case, and that is a big if, Lunae does casual, cursory glances all around the city. It's not as if she were focused on finding some assassins. If she had, we don't know if the cloaks would hold. And she'd definitely be looking for you, if you suddenly disappeared. For all we know, she is watching us right now. It's not as if my wards could stop her," Gale said.

"True, but I have no intention of hiding my plans from her. There is no way to know when she is watching me, so I have to assume she already knows what I'm going to do," Stryg said.

"So why even bother with the cloaks?" Gale asked.

Stryg smirked, as if he knew something they didn't. "Say I put on the cloak right now and I don't take it off until we reach Murkton. Lunae will notice I've disappeared and she will definitely be suspicious of whichever ship we take down the river."

"Because the harbor is still frozen and even if a ship was thawed out, no captain would be dumb enough to sail to Murkton right now after witnessing the goblin armada sailing down that way," Gale noted.

"Exactly," Stryg said.

"Your plan isn't sounding very convincing," Gale said dryly.

"In theory, not yet, no," Stryg said. "Luane will probably be waiting for us by the time we reach the Silent Marshes. But what if we slip into the marshes before the Sylvan warriors catch us? With the cloaks on, they won't be able to find us. It doesn't matter if she knows we're coming. Once we reach the marshes, she can't stop us. We could slip into Murkton unnoticed and sneak Lucas out."

"This is all counting on the fact that the cloaks will really hide us from Lunae's divine farsight," Gale pointed out. "And we still have to somehow navigate through the Silent Marshes. Some areas are flat grasslands, but others are almost entirely covered in water."

"I spent several summers down in Murkton. If we reach the Silent Marshes, I can get us to Murkton," Tauri said.

"We'd have to move through the night, it's the least likely chance we get spotted by goblins or orcs. Can you guide us in the dark?" Gale cocked an eyebrow.

"I'm not a vampire or goblin if that's what you're saying," Tauri crossed her arms.

"Exactly, you have no night vision. And you're not a black mage either, you can't cast a spell to help see in the dark," Gale said.

"She won't have to. It'll be a full moon by the time we arrive. There'll be enough light to guide us through the dark," Stryg said.

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Gale stiffened. "It'll be a full moon?"

"You ask that like it's a bad thing. What aren't you saying?" Tauri furrowed her brow.

"Lunae blessed me with a shard of her power," Gale held up her white lock of hair against the rest of the blonde strands. "Ever since, I've been doing my best to learn more about the gods. I've gone through every arcane history book in our library regarding the Ebon Pantheon. Lunae is the goddess of the moon. She grows more powerful the closer we are to the full moon."

"Okay, what's your point? It's not like she's our enemy," Stryg said.

"No, she's your step-mother, and you're disobeying her direct order. Back during the siege, you said Lunae fought a fox goddess. If Lunae could fight that goddess to a stand-still during a new moon, what do you think she could do during a full moon?" Gale whispered.

"I don't really know," Stryg admitted.

"And you still want to disobey her?" Gale asked, incredulous.

He met her scarlet gaze. "Yes."

"This is a dumb plan." Gale shook her head.

"Then why are you going along with it?" Tauri asked.

"Because I know that if I don't, then Stryg will go behind my back and sneak out anyway," Gale glared at the guilty goblin in question.

Stryg held his hands up, his face a perfect picture of innocence. "I haven't done anything. And how would I manage to sneak anything past you? I can't even take a piss in my own house without you having a guard posted outside the bathroom. Besides, you're my Shadow, I'd never leave the city without you."

"You're a shit liar, you know that?" Gale scoffed.

"No, I'm not." Stryg looked at Tauri for support.

Tauri winced. "It's not your strong point, sweetheart."

"I have two hearts and neither is sweet," Stryg thumped his chest.

Tauri smiled at the gesture. It was meant to appear fearsome, but she couldn't help but think he looked adorable, though she doubted he'd appreciate the observation.

"Okay, how about this? Did you ever sneak out of your village back when you were a kid?" Gale asked.

"Hmm, maybe once or twice?" Stryg waffled his hand back and forth.

Gale narrowed her eyes, marched up to him, and poked him in the chest. "You think I don't know?"

"Uh…" Stryg took a step back.

"I spoke with Lady Aurelia. She told me you used to sneak out of the village almost every single day, ever since you could walk! You were just a toddler and you were already creating problems for everyone!"

"Seriously?" Tauri frowned. "How could a toddler survive in Vulture Woods all alone?"

Stryg scratched his cheek and looked away. "I dunno, it was fine, I guess."

"Ignore him, Tauri. I had the same question, which is why I consulted Lady Holo about it. Turns out the Traveler has the uncanny ability to go unnoticed while roaming about, as if things simply fall into place for him. Uncle Gian experienced it firsthand when Stjerne snuck into the mansion to heal Lady Aurelia."

"Seriously?" Tauri stared at Stryg, amber eyes wide.

"I can't do that. Believe me, I would have definitely used something like that if I could," Stryg said.

"Then explain how a toddler managed to sneak out of a Sylvan village every day without fail?" Gale pressed.

"I got lucky?"

"Your mother put up wards, Stryg. They would have picked up anyone leaving the village, but you somehow made it past every time. You don't find that— strange?" Gale cocked an eyebrow.

Stryg stared at his hands. "I did that…?" How had he not noticed? More importantly, why had he never done so since? Such an ability would have been useful countless times. He closed his eyes and tried to focus on the memory, a feeling. Lunae had told him titan abilities were rooted in emotions. Perhaps if he felt like he wanted to disappear from notice, then it might work.

"Can you see me?" He cracked an eye open.

They both stared at him like an idiot.

"Let me check," Gale drew her blade and slapped his shin with the flat side of the sword.

"Ow."

"Yup, I can see you," Gale said.

"Great…" Stryg grumbled. Was he missing something? How had he done it when he was a child? He hadn't tried to disappear when he snuck out of the village. He simply walked out. But why did he sneak out in the first place? What was he looking for?

An image of Vulture Woods flashed through his mind. Ashen trees, scarlet leaves. A giant white wolf curled up in a grove. He was on top of the wolf, her thick fur providing a soft cushion for him to lie on. She was humming a song to him, no, a lullaby, as he drifted to sleep.

A sharp pain stabbed at his head and brought him back to the present. Stryg grimaced and fell to the floor, head held in his hands. "Agh…!"

"Stryg!" Tauri rushed to his side, but Gale reached him first. The vampire picked him up, ignoring his weight, and carefully placed him on the bed.

"What's wrong?" Gale asked.

"I saw something… A memory," Stryg muttered and slowly opened his eyes. Why was Luane there? He was a child. Why hadn't she mentioned their meeting before?

"Stryg, talk to me. What was the memory about?" Gale asked.

"Let him rest," Tauri said softly.

"I've seen him have a headache like this before, but never this bad," Gale said.

Tauri said nothing and held Stryg's hand instead.

Gale gave her a suspicious look. "You don't seem surprised. How often has this happened?"

Tauri nodded reluctantly. "The headaches have become more frequent over the last few weeks."

"It's fine… they're not that bad," Stryg whispered.

"You're both just telling me about this now!?" Gale threw her arms up. "Unbelievable."

"I didn't want you to worry," Stryg mumbled.

"We need to get you to a white mage. And a purple one, too," Gale said.

"Wouldn't make a difference," he said.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Gale asked.

"I heal faster than mortals. Physically, I'm fine. I've checked. And mind spells don't work on me, so a purple mage wouldn't find anything either."

Gale pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed dramatically. "You need to rest. We'll talk about plans to leave Murkton in the morning."

"You're not going to try and stop me?" Stryg asked.

"As I said, you'd sneak out if I did. Probably." Gale released her wards and opened the door to leave.

"Where are you going?" Stryg asked.

"To find us a ship that isn't stuck in all that ice. I hear a certain lady has already set free one of her best ships. Let's hope she's willing to part with it," Gale said. "Take care of him, Tauri."

"I will," Tauri nodded.

Satisfied, Gale nodded and closed the door behind her.

"I'm a grown goblin. I don't need to be taken care of," he grumbled to Tauri.

She smirked and slipped into bed with him. "Not at all?" She stroked his pale silver hair.

"...Maybe a little." He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the throbbing pain in his skull. Tauri's touch made it easier.

"Thank you for coming with me," she nestled close and whispered.

Stryg wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.

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