She'd ran out of words to describe how terrible she felt.

  However, she was also about to run out of time to feel terrible.

  Standing there with Hamond and Ronny, Nela knew the last thing they needed was her moping over what she'd said and done. Not when they were about to break into a city full of armed men who would gladly see her dead. Not when so many were depending on them to succeed.

  It was another of the early lessons Morgivel had taught her. A healer could not let how they felt, however foul, get in the way of saving someone's life. Of course, Nela couldn't help but wonder if her grandfather would've expected anything like the shit she was facing. No, the old man would probably just grumble at her for it.

  Fine, she'd be the good healer she'd proved she was yesterday. She'd be ready for their little visit to Kelshir, not some worry-filled burden. They'd have time later to talk it over, once they'd gotten through the knights and saved those Order people.

  First was the gate itself, which loomed over them. The massive doors, aged wood darkened by the shadow of the wall, seemed both bleak and imposing. Sure, Edeline could destroy it with just one spell, but that didn't stop Nela from being a little intimidated looking at it.

  Then again, they wouldn't be able to do shit if Edeline and Lady Kelshir didn't get here soon. What was taking them so long?

  Nela could tell she wasn't the only one annoyed. Pacing some distance away was Ugotlas, tail waving back and forth as he padded around on the dew-soaked grass. He hadn't said a word since getting here, but it was clear the sphinx wasn't happy about the extended wait.

  It wasn't exactly helping her mood either. The longer they lingered here, the harder it was to keep thoughts about what Ronny had said, or about the situation with Jelinia, at a distance. It had to be Lady Kelshir being the one to hold them up, too. Edeline was no fool, and had to know just how urgent the whole thing was.

  Suddenly, Ugotlas turned and moved towards them. "At last, they are coming."

  Nela started to wonder how he knew that when there was no sign, only for the sound of rustling brush to interrupt her thoughts. A moment later, Edeline and Lady Kelshir emerged out of the forest.

  "My apologies it took so long," Lady Kelshir said, sounding a bit out of breath. "It took a while for them to find...clothing for me."

  Nela blinked, surprised she'd missed something so obvious. Lady Kelshir was now wearing a thin and tattered gray dress. It was about as opposite from being Lady Lace as she could have gotten.

  "Her other dress would have drawn too much attention," Edeline stated.

  "And I suppose that my presence would not draw even more?" Ugotlas asked, drawing closer

  "You have a spell to stay unseen," Edeline pointed out.

  "Correct, but using it would make me unable to openly assist you while maintaining my invisibility. Is that really what you want?" Ugotlas made what almost sounded like a snort, but something about it seemed just a little off to Nela's ears. Ronny had explained their plans earlier, so Nela had to wonder why Ugotlas was questioning this now.

  "We'll be trying to move quickly after we break through the gate," Ronny spoke up, stepping forward to support his sister. "If this works, we shouldn't have any problems until we get to the headquarters of the knights. At that point, stealth will not matter, and you can join the fight as needed."

  "Then I shall trust in your ability to handle any complications along the way." Ugotlas looked them over. "Let us begin then."

  "One other matter first," Edeline said quickly.

  "The heavens forbid us completing our task before the sun sets," Ugotlas complained. "What is so dire that we must tarry further?"

  Edeline paid Ugotlas no attention, instead pointing at Ronny, Nela, and then Lady Kelshir in turn. "You three need to talk."

  "Shit..." Nela mouthed, realizing instantly what Edeline wanted here.

  "What exactly are we supposed to talk about?" Lady Kelshir asked with an air that screamed false politeness.

  "Remember what we talked about earlier?" Edeline said, "Tell them."

  "Can this not wait?" Ronny frowned. Nela nodded in agreement.

  "Can any of you cast the spell to knock down the gates? Because I am not until this is settled. We do not need to be risking our lives with this nonsense weighing down each of you."

  Ugotlas let out a low rumbling growl, before turning away haughtily. "If you must. But do endeavor to settle this swiftly."

  Nela glanced over at Hamond, who spread his hands and offered a sheepish look. He clearly didn't have anything to do with this, but wasn't about to help them out of it either. Curse Edeline and her forcing the matter here and now.

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  Uncomfortable didn't start to describe this, as Lady Kelshir approached the two of them. Nela was tempted to just wave the whole thing off, tell Edeline it was none of her business, and that if she refused they'd just go chance the tunnel. Her and Ronny shouldn't have to go through this for the sake of satisfying Edeline.

  The one thing that stopped Nela was what Edeline had said earlier. Lady Kelshir had clearly told Edeline something that led her to take a stand on this. Nela wanted to know just what that was.

  Lady Kelshir came to a halt, and stood there silently for a moment, looking at Ronny. "I am sorry," she finally said, "I did not intend to mislead you."

  "Mislead me?" Ronny asked.

  "I know that yesterday I called her my closest friend, but in truth, we...that is...I..." The noblewoman paused a second, clenching her fists. "I...I love her."

  Nela exchanged glances with Ronny. That had already been obvious. And it was unlikely Edeline was that much of a fool to not have figured that out either.

  "So if you were expecting to follow through with the marriage agreement...again, I am sorry," Lady Kelshir continued, "It will not be happening."

  Nela suddenly felt really stupid.

  Ronny's words had briefly made her briefly doubt, even though she knew him. For Lady Kelshir, who did not know Ronny, there was no other way to see it except as an oath of protection, a sign that there were romantic feelings there. While there were good reasons to keep a noblewoman who could not fight out of danger, to someone who was as tired and frightened as Lady Kelshir, it would make perfect sense.

  And she hadn't been the only tired one. All the while, Nela had been beating herself up on the inside, thinking this was some fault of her own. Stupid, stupid, stupid. Any normal person would look at this shit and reach the same conclusion both of them had.

  "What? Lady Kelshir, I-"

  "Again, call me Anthyla," the noblewoman said, cutting Ronny off.

  "Anthyla. As I told you, I was doing this to protect both you and the Elefae," Ronny protested. "I certainly didn't mean for you to think I was courting you."

  "In all respect, most men would not go that far for someone they had just met that very day." Lady Kelshir's words confirmed Nela's thoughts.

  "It wasn't just for you. For the Elefae here, I would go that far." Ronny said solemnly. "For the old men and women who are too worn down by age to fight. For the families who are just trying to live their lives day after day. For children who deserve a chance to run and play without having to face blades on the battlefield. For all of them, I would draw my sword and ready my shield."

  Nela found herself taking a half-step back in astonishment. Ronny had never said anything like that before. Sure, they had talked some about what he might do to help the Elefae in Hallowscroft, but this wasn't some evening conversation over a campfire as they slowly returned home.

  This was an oath.

  Ronny reached over, pulling Nela over to him. She didn't protest, instead wrapping one arm around him in turn.

  "And also...for her," he said, words both soft and yet hard.

  A heavy silence took over as Anthyla struggled with what Ronny had said. Nela didn't mind, since it meant she got to spend more time in Ronny's half-embrace. Shame they had to go deal with the knights soon. She'd rather be spending most of the day like this.

  "You...and her?" Anthyla's surprise was clear. "I...I see."

  Nela had the feeling whenever she said that, it meant the opposite. "You're not the only noble out there who's had an affair," she pointed out, briefly looking sideways at Edeline.

  "Does your father know?" Anthyla managed to regain some composure. "My father...he would be furious. His daughter and a priestess of the Order..."

  Ronny let out a heavy sigh. "It's complicated, but no, I don't think he's fully aware. Explaining it fully would require my sister's side of the story too. I'm not certain we have time for that." It was his turn to shoot a look Edeline's way. Nela held back a chuckle. Edeline did sort of deserve this.

  For her part, Edeline seemed equal parts annoyed and amused. "Fine then. I will take care of the doors now. Stay back."

  Nela rushed to ready her crossbow as Edeline walked forward. For a moment, Edeline studied the doors silently, taking in the sight. Nela was just about to tell her to hurry it up when Edeline drew her blade, lifting it over her head in one smooth motion.

  There it was - the pull of power as Edeline drew in energies for the spell. Anthyla gasped, likely astonished at her first time feeling it. Nela had gotten used to it by now. The next step was probably getting used to people getting surprised by just what Edeline was capable of.

  "Deus volt!"

  The faint white cracks appeared in the sky, followed by the bolt of raw energy jumping down to Edeline's sword. Nela could swear it looked brighter than the last time she had seen it. Of course, she hadn't seen Edeline destroying the bombard, so it could just be them being in the wall's shadow.

  With a swift chop, Edeline sent the spell flying against the gate. For a brief instant, Nela could see the glowing energy flowing through the cracks in the old wood, making the entire gate glow. It was almost beautiful, in a strange way.

  Then the doors exploded inward thunderously, the wood unable to hold together. A good half of both doors, reduced to shards and splinters, flew inwards into Kelshir, leaving a giant ragged hole in the doorway.

  Ronny gestured forward. "Alright, let's-"

  With a groaning creak, the hinges on the left door gave, and what was left of it fell inward with a resounding crash. Nela winced at the sound, feeling it in her bones. Sure, the spell's roar almost certainly had alerted the guards as they had planned, but she hadn't expected it to be quite that loud.

  "-go." Ronny finished weakly, staring. At least the right door's remnants still held, although the force had swung it inward, leaving the way into Kelshir wide open.

  "Not quite what I had in mind," Edeline admitted, "But this works, so we...wait. Where is Ugotlas?"

  The sphinx had vanished. Nela guessed he'd cast his hiding spell or such while they were distracted by the gate. That, or he'd run off. Nela wasn't sure she cared either way.

  "We don't have time to worry about him," she pointed out, "Let's get our arses moving!"

  "Right!" Edeline took off running, followed by Ronny. Nela broke into a sprint as well. Hopefuly Lady Kelshir could keep up, because they weren't about to slow down now.

  The street beyond was mostly deserted, with untamed grass and shrubs growing alongside it on the other side. A few people, who had been going about whatever business, now stood further down the path staring in various states of stunned surprise. There were no guards there, but that wouldn't last.

  "Which way?" Ronny called back.

  "Straight ahead and turn right!" Anthyla responded. Off they ran, deeper into the city.