My exchange with Lae’zel was disheartening. Her lead is a tenuous chain of 'ifs.'

Halsin may prove utterly useless, and Moonrise may lead to more zealots and no answers.

There's too much up in the air right now. I need to consolidate.

The hollow is quiet. Only a few guards stir as the rising sun touches the cavern walls.

I unroll the note from Apikusis and read it again.

V,

Team gathered. K is a fraud.

A.

I stare into the middle distance.

...I'm trying to avoid it. The sensations...

Limbs cracking in my hands.

Warm blood swirling into the river water.

The scent of her. Iron and sulfur. Bitter and sweet.

A test, surely. The will of my Lord Father.

I hear his whispers now.

No.

Whispers come down from platform overhead. I'm sitting in the communal area near Zevlor's chamber. Bex and Danis have just woken up.

"What are you thinking?" Her voice is a gentle rasp.

"Do we have any eggs?"

"No, unfortunately, our rations are running thin."

"What do we have?"

She rises, rubbing a hand over her face, before opening a crate. "We still have some dried bread, but not much. We should eat it before it spoils." She picks it up and sees me sitting just below.

"Vash!" She breaks the bread and hands half to Danis, then holds the other half to me. "Do you want some?"

I laugh lightly. "Gods. No, thank you. You take it."

Danis peeks over the platform. His hair is a mess and he has dark bags under his eyes. The moment I meet his eye he pulls back.

"Good morning, Danis," I say.

He loudly whispers to Bex, though I can't make out what he says.

She shakes her head and holds the bread in her teeth, climbing down to my level. She pulls a nibble from the loaf and sits across from me. "What happened with Sazza?"

"Our plan worked." I tuck the note in my pocket. "We were able to get in."

She gives a single, excited clap. "Damn! That's great news! Is the camp finally clear?"

"No."

"Oh." She settles back in her seat, nibbling the bread.

"The goblins intended to continue their assault on the redoubt, but it has been delayed."

"For how long?"

"...until they are ready. They are preparing now, but I don't expect another assault for a few days still. They're far less organized than I anticipated."

"So... what do we do?"

"Rally the druids, but in order to do so, we'll need to negotiate. I'm working on that now."

She slumps in her chair with a breath.

A few children race by, laughing.

"With that being said..." I stand.

"Wait." She holds out a hand.

I stare down at her.

"How do you plan on negotiating? I thought Kagha refused to listen last time you spoke with her."

"Where did you hear that?"

She pulls her hand back. "I..." Her jaw draws tight.

My tail flicks behind me. "Walk with me."

She slowly stands and straightens her skirt, eating her last bite of bread.

As I step onto the path a few more children run past. A boy trips and crashes into the ground with a grunt.

I hold out my hand. "Are you alright?"

He takes it and I help lift him to his feet.

He wipes his hands on his pants, then looks at them. Covered in dust.

I pull a kerchief from my pocket. "Here."

He glances at it, keeping his head low.

I nod, holding it out.

He takes it, wiping his hands clean. He darts off but stops and walks back to me. He's staring at the ground, handing me the kerchief.

"Keep it. You might need it again."

He pulls it back and tucks it into his pocket. He gives a polite nod before darting off once more.

Bex watches him go. "Doni. He doesn't speak, but he's a decent kid."

"Gods... did children get pulled into Avernus during the descent?"

Bex's voice softens. "...yes."

Doni's tail disappears as he rounds a corner.

"If I'd been through what he has, I probably wouldn't have much to say either," I mutter.

I continue walking toward the parapets of the gate and Bex follows.

I lean on the wooden fencing, overlooking the valley. "You have an informant."

A gentle breeze blows as she leans back on the fence, folding her arms, shoulders raised.

My fingers twitch and the back of my throat feels sickened.

Pick her up. Throw her over. Watch her crumble.

I blink, and try to regain my focus. I grip the parapet tightly. "What else do you know?"

"Not much else."

"Who has been telling you about the grove?"

She hesitates with a quick glance to her feet. "Zevlor. I've been speaking with him, just so I can get some semblance of what's been going on. He knows how important this is to me."

"Bex. I need you to understand how delicate this operation is. Inserting yourself could cause a risk to what we've been doing."

Her eyes snap to mine. "I'm not the weak link here. I have experience carrying sensitive information."

"How so?"

She draws a breath, and presses her lips thin. "It's... a long story. One that I'm not inclined to relive. You're just going to have to take my word for it."

"Your word? I barely know you."

She lifts herself and holds out a hand.

I raise my brow and take it.

"My name is Bex Aldwick. I was a ranger on the Merchants Road working for my father's caravan, a Civic Secretary in High Hall under Thavius Kreeg, and the owner of a very popular bakery." She gives me a soft smile. "I made damn good cookies."

A grin crosses my face. "By the nine. You've lived quite the life."

"Yes." Her voice drops. "It has been."

I move to reach for her, then stop. She notices and looks up at me. I slowly place a hand on her arm. A smile dimples her cheeks.

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Bex Aldwick."

A soft laugh escapes her. "Likewise, Ser Neel. Now. What are your plans in regard to negotiations?"

I tuck my hand in my pocket, thumbing the note cautiously before slowly pulling it out. I hand it to her.

She takes it, maintaining eye contact, glances at it and hands it back.

"Are you meeting now?"

I nod.

"Please. Let me come with. I might be able to provide my services."

"Cookies? Gladly. I hear they're damned good."

Her mouth drops and she slaps my arm with a playful grin. "Bastard."

I flinch. "Ah! I should call the guards for such a heinous assault!"

She snorts. "You are a dramatic man."

"If you think that's dramatic, then you're far too sheltered."

"Are you calling me soft? Ser, I survived Avernus!"

"Survival is a necessity, not a personality trait."

She gasps, lightly shoving me. "Don't joke like that!"

I chuckle lightly. "Come. It's time to treat with the circle. Do you have a cloak? One that can hide your horns?"

"My horns?" She reaches for them, but quickly drops her hand. "Yes, of course."

"Get it."

Without another word, she darts off.

The chamber is starting to crowd with more druids. A few deep in conversation toward the back of the room. Three more sitting at the table.

Apikusis sits near Hembry, a pigeon perched on her shoulder. Everyone grows quiet as I enter.

Bex hesitates at the sudden stillness in the room, before taking a seat. A few watch her and exchange whispers.

I take my position in front of a map laid flat on the table.

"Halsin," I say, breaking the silence. I pull the tuft of bear fur from my pocket and place it on the table. "As you asked. I found him. Alive."

A few murmurs can be heard.

Apikusis takes the fur, cupping it in her palms. "It smells like him," she sighs.

A modestly dressed halfling man speaks, Arron, the local merchant. "Where is he? Why has he not returned?"

My face falls. "He has remained behind, to continue gathering intel on the cult."

Apikusis tips her chin down, looking at me. "Fuck us. Right?"

"The fuckery remains to be seen." I tap my claw on the map, pointing to the temple of Selûne. "I intend to help Halsin clear out the goblin camp, but I need time to prepare. Unfortunately, there are more imminent dangers."

There are a few shared glances.

"Apikusis. What do we know of Kagha?"

She stands and leans heavy on the table, glancing around the room. "We've known Kagha for several years now. Sent from the Emerald Enclave to train under Halsin. Her parents were Autumnreavers who died fighting the Cult of the Dragon." Her eyes are sharp, and she looks to me. "All of it is a lie. There is no record of an Ossian and Maeris Oakbow being a part of any Emerald Enclave militia."

Loud whispers cross the gathered druids.

"How can this be?" Arron says, shifting in his chair and clutching his knees.

"The best I can gather is that somebody wanted her here. She's a plant, but from where, I don't know."

"This is absurd." A pale-skinned woman clad in bark armor studies me. The sharp angles of her face give her an intensity unique among the druids here. "A plant? A fraud? She's just a frightened woman who needs to see the light. If we can just speak to her again..."

I round the table and crouch next to her, meeting her eye. "What is your name?"

She takes in a breath, leaning back. "Maylee."

"You're one of the wardens, are you not?"

"Yes."

"Then you know better than anyone that negotiations take time. Many people have already spoken to her, yet the Rite continues."

Aelar stands and steps behind her chair, gently placing his hands on her shoulders. She glances up at him before turning her attention back to me.

I lean forward. "We are out of time."

The room goes quiet.

Arron's voice drops. "Then... what options do we have left?"

"Consolidation." I stand and return to my position next to the table. "Continue your recruitment efforts, and begin gathering arms."

Aelar closes his eyes. "May Silvanus have mercy on us all."

I pull Astarion's note from my pocket. "I've recovered correspondence between Kagha and someone named Olodan. It seems they've met previously at some large, imposing tree. I would like to go there and scout the area, however, I am not familiar with the area. Can any of you wager where such a tree might be located."

"The great willow," Aelar says. "It used to be an old ritual site, but it went dormant years ago."

"One of us should come with you," Maylee says, almost rising from her seat.

Emila holds up a hand. "No, Maylee, we can't risk it. If someone leaves while under Kagha's watch, it could expose the entire operation." She glances at me. "I'm sorry, Vash."

I wave her off. "I'm confident we can manage, I just need to know which way to go."

Apikusis touches the map, pointing out a location to the west. "It's treacherous. Nothing but swamplands. No one goes out there anymore."

"I can help navigate the terrain." Bex rises from her seat, looking over the map. She drags her finger along the path. "If this map is accurate, it looks like the swamp lands begin here. We'll need to prepare for plenty of mud, but hopefully I'll be able to get Vash's team through."

Her gaze settles on me.

"If you're confident in your abilities, then I'd be happy to bring you along."

"I am."

Arron's mouth parts. The man looks baffled. "A refugee, willing to help the very people pushing you out?"

The spade of Bex's tail flicks. "Our cause is the same. Let's not dilute it with the fanatical rhetoric of the people we're trying to stop."

"We'll head out at once." I gather the map and tuck it into my coat. "How far is the Willow from here?"

"A day's journey." Apikusis gives Bex a nod. "We can't thank you enough for what you're doing here."

Bex stands, holding the edges of her cloak. "I pray to Tymora that we get what we need. How do we get word back to you if we find anything?"

"Take Cherami." Apikusis plucks the pigeon from her shoulder.

The thing flaps and coos. Though she's hobbled with only one leg, she still manages to hop into Bex's hands, feathers ruffling.

"Hello Cherami," Bex says running her finger under the bird's chin.

Cherami closes her eyes and gives another soft coo.

Apikusis smiles with a hint of pride in her voice. "She's survived every courier mission she's been given. Some against impossible odds. She's weathered but indomitable. I trust her to make it back with no issue."

"That's the pigeon you sent me this morning?" I say.

"She is!"

I give Cherami a pat with a soft chuckle. "Welcome to the operation, Private Cherami."

Hembry clutches his hands. "Go in good faith, Vash and Bex. May Silvanus guide you on your journey, and may peace prevail."

The druids drift out as the meeting adjourns. I touch Bex's shoulder. "Go ahead and pack. I'll meet you at your camp when I'm done here."

She gives me a cheeky grin. "Am I dismissed?"

We share a smile before she leaves with Cherami. My face goes slack as she exits with the rest.

I catch Hembry as he gets up from his seat. "Hembry, I'd like to have a word about your sermons."

He seems taken aback. "Oh? I didn't take you for a religious man."

"I have my moments of devotion. I mostly wanted to speak to you regarding your rhetoric on the Peace Bringer."

"How so?"

"Silvanus engenders hope, and I'm certain the congregation feels it, but what if they could see it?"

Hembry runs a hand over his beard. "That would definitely be an inspiration."

"A much-needed inspiration given what we are up against. We need people, Hembry, and we need them quickly."

"What do you suggest?"

"We need to focus on the hope Peace Bringer carries in the name of Silvanus and compare it to the devastation of the Rite."

Hembry laughs lightly. "Well, that speaks for itself!"

"Then shift into how that hope can be actionable."

"How so?"

I cock my head. Should be obvious, but I suppose not. "A call to arms. Make sure they understand the imminence of the Rite, and how hesitation could steal everything from them. Let them know the Peace Bringer fights by their side."

Hembry lifts his chin. "Ser. Your service to us... I don't know if we can express our gratitude."

"No need. Just get it done."

"I will."

I grip his shoulder. "May Silvanus guide you."

"As he guides you."

I can hear the shouting as I walk down the trail toward Bex and Danis's camp. There are muffled words bandied about before the echoes begin to hit me more cleanly.

"I'm sick and tired of having to make myself small just to protect your feelings! I'm not your porcelain doll, Danis!"

"Doll... I'm not trying to objectify you! I just want you to be safe! When did that become a problem?"

"When you stopped seeing the difference between protection and possession. You may not be trying to objectify me, but you're doing it regardless!"

I stop below the platform as a silence falls between them.

"I'm sorry." Bex's voice is quiet. "I'm not trying to hurt you, but I'm still leaving. Only for a few days. I'll be back, I promise."

I walk up the steps of the platform and sit at the table below their camp.

"I don't think you understand what you're agreeing to, Bex."

"Are you saying I'm too naïve to see the danger?"

"No, that's not it. Of course not. I know you're not. What I'm saying is he-" He hesitates and I glance up at him. He catches my eye, his brow tightening before he focuses back on Bex. "Let me at least come with you."

Bex's eyes shift from me to him. "No, Danis. It isn't safe for you."

He tries to speak, but words fail him.

Bex finishes packing and throws her bag over her shoulder. She gently takes his arms and wraps them around her. "Danis."

He looks down at her, folded into his grasp. "Please, don't." His words are barely a whisper.

She presses her lips against his, clutching him. "Please don't worry..."

He releases a breath and pulls her into a tight hug, resting his chin on her shoulder and closing his eyes. "Please don't die..."