Princess Hel had not spoken after whispering something in Lightslayer's ear. She took her seat and remained silent, the blood continuing to drip from her hands to the floor.
The war council continued for a while, since there were a lot of minor issues that had to be relayed, considered, and ironed out. Rain listened with rapt attention, knowing that what was being discussed in the command pavilion would directly impact, and maybe even decide, her fate.
And, in a way, it did.
It really seemed like the Sword Army was on a sure path to overwhelming the forces of Song — the aggressor that had initiated this vile conflict was far ahead, and widening the gap with each day. Which hardly seemed fair.
However, the queen's daughters were strangely calm about the entire situation. Instead of maintaining caution and employing a conservative strategy, like one would when dealing with a superior enemy, they chose to act with an unsettling boldness.
Eventually, the meeting was over, and everyone who had gathered in the command pavilion hurried outside. There was a lot for them to do.
Dar of the Maharana clan left with a dark smile on his lips. The Saint of Sorrow spared his daughter a glance, nodded curtly, and walked outside with the same bleak expression. The daughters of Ki Song soon followed.
However, Lady Seishan remained motionless. So did Beastmaster and Lightslayer.
Eventually, the three sisters were the only ones left in the command pavilion — not counting Rain, Tamar, and the wraiths hovering behind Beastmaster.
It seemed like they wanted to discuss something in private.
Tamar cleared her throat.
"Should we give you privacy, Lady Seishan?"
Their commander looked back and smiled.
"No need, young Tamar. Just make sure to stay quiet."
She didn't specify whether they were meant to stay quiet during the following discussion or about it. In any case, Rain wasn't going to talk.
She had already been forced to flee Ravenheart because of knowing too much.
Lightslayer looked at Tamar, then reached back and pulled up the hood of her dark mantle. A moment later, her eyes were hidden in deep shadow, and a small sigh escaped from her lips.
"Will you two be able to handle what needs to be done?"
The three sisters would soon be in command of the split army.
"Then he can disappear into thin air as well."
Rain was staring forward, pretending to be a dutiful guard.
There was a lot on her mind, though.
'Appeared out of thin air...'
Wasn't that how her teacher had appeared a few years ago?
She tried not to frown.
She did not know a lot about the Lord of Shadows, but he and her teacher were strangely alike. They both commanded shadows, for one... there were other similarities, too. She was half-convinced that they were the same person, even.
However, her teacher had been by her side every day for the last four years, while the Lord of Shadows had been in Godgrave all that time. Well, at least he had been there for two winter solstices in a row, rescuing stray Sleepers. Her teacher had never left her side, and they had been together on those solstices as well.
So... what?
Was the Lord of Shadows a similar existence to her teacher? A disembodied shadow that possessed great and strange powers, pursuing mysterious goals? Were they, perhaps, comrades? Or at least had come from the same source?
'I should ask Teacher.'
He would probably answer with some ridiculous nonsense, though.
At that moment, Beastmaster shifted, looked at Lady Seishan, and asked somberly:
"What about the other? Has the Prince of Nothing sent any news?"
Lady Seishan lingered for a while, then smiled elegantly.
"Oh, yes."
For some reason, her elegant smile suddenly looked rather sinister.
Her pleasant, velvet voice resounded softly in the empty command pavilion:
"...He is about to start."