A moment of clarity begged her to look around. She was alone, still in Deifir’s chambers. Things were missing from the room. Socair stood, unsteady, and got to her clothes. Her mind began to clear as the rush of panic spread through her. She remembered her fevered ride to Abhainnbaile and the weeks before. They came together to stretch out through her mind and the questions grew larger and louder in her thoughts. She pulled her smallclothes on. They sat uncomfortable against her tacky skin.
The door to Deifir’s room pushed open and Socair found Práta sitting across the hall on a bench wearing a loose, informal dress.
“You are awake.”
Práta managed the words in a half nervous voice before blushing and looking away. It was a face that tore at Socair’s heart and she had seen it nearly every time Deifir had called her to take part in the carnal duties that the Binse required. Práta had apologized for it, but it only stood to make Socair feel further from her. She did not want an apology, she wanted to be excused from that single requirement of her post and she suspected that Deifir knew as much. She had told Práta a dozen times. Socair shook the thoughts away, remembering that there was more that needed answering in the immediate. The hallways were empty and the Bastion was quiet.
“What has happened?”
Práta nodded. “The Treorai has left along with a small force, including her personal guard to travel south to the front.”
“Why was I not woken?” Socair balled her fists. “And why was I drugged?”
“Drugged?”
“It does not matter now. Why did you not wake me?”
“The Treorai came to me specifically and instructed me I was not to do so. All I could do was wait for you here.”
Socair looked down the hall and saw no shadows through the window.
“What is the time?”
“Past midday.”
It all made no sense. There was little reason for Deifir to travel to the front and even less to leave behind her Binse of War.
“Come, I must get ready myself to leave.”
Socair turned and started down the hall. Práta fell in beside her. The hall seemed to go on forever and to look down it made Socair’s mind spin. She struggled to keep her footing and it seemed to be made worse by the disorganized thoughts in her head.
“Práta,” she began. “Tell me everything that’s happened this morning. I… I need to make sense of it.”
“I woke and dressed. Nath did not stir so I left her and went to fetch breakfast. As I ate, a guard came to me and said my presence was requested. I thought nothing of it until I came to Deifir in the main hall. She was dressed in an ornate gown, the sort she uses for public addresses and the like. I asked why you were not with her and she said that you needed rest and insisted that I not wake you. I was told to attend her speech, where she told the townsfolk that she would go to the front. That she could not sit idly in the Bastion while the fate of our future was being fought for elsewhere. I do not understand why she would leave you…”
“Was there anything else? Was it just her personal guard?”
“No. No, there were some soldiers, recalled from the north a week prior.”
“And of course, I was told none of it.” Socair stopped in the hallway, her fists still clenched tight. “Am I being punished? Replaced? Truly, I failed but in a mission I was unsuited to from the moment I left. And to not even be able to fight…”
Práta ran her hand down Socair’s arm gently and came near to her. “I know no better than you what meaning lies behind all of this. Still, no one has said you cannot fight. Or that you must remain here. And would you listen if they had?”
Socair took Práta’s hand. She stood silent a moment, looking at the stained glass before her and thinking of what must be done. Práta had the right of it. In the moment, she almost felt ashamed at how often she forgot lately. She was no noble and the games of nobles held no interest for her. If everything else was to be stripped of her, they could not stop her fighting the hippocamps. Her mind was still shaky, but Socair had made a rough plan of things. She would send Práta after food for the both of them while she dressed. She relayed the plan and made for her quarters.
She came to her room and pulled the door open quickly. Nath had been sitting on a chair quietly, at least until the door came open. She stood and backed away, a look of terror on her face until she realized that it was Socair who had come. Her expression changed completely and she ran to Socair, nearly jumping into her arms.
“I was so worried. I thought someone had come to take me.”
“No one will take you, Nath. I know it is hard to break away from your life before, but you are safe now. No one will hurt you.”
Socair pulled Nath away and went to her closet to fetch a new brigandine and the other things she would need. Nath stayed near her, offering to carry whatever she could. The girl dutifully
