They could see the house in the distance, larger than expected, but that would be no problem. It was tucked away right up to the base of a cliff, about 100 miles from Dusktide. Far out, for a safe house, but that only makes it easier. Raze gripped Flare on by the hilt, hand clenched around her, reassured by the warmth. The most comforting feeling. As the small team of Blade Lords approached the house, the windows were dark in the dead of night. Everyone was asleep.
"Stack up." Raze's word was law now. The team stacked up against the door, three on one side, four on the other. They all held their breath. Raids were always scary. There was no telling how powerful the rebels might be.
"Go"
On the word, two light born shot pulses through the windows, creating bright flashes and loud noises inside. Raze drew her sword with her right hand, extending her left to the door. The moment she made contact, the wood exploded inward in a burst of flames. The entire house was awake now. The next bit could have been minutes or hours, but it was a blur to Raze. Her and her team spread out, tactically eliminating everyone in the house. Raze always felt a little heartache when doing this, and she made herself kill the children quickly. She could never get over the flinching. Flare's laughter echoed through the halls. Soon, rooms were ablaze, and there was only one room left, at the end of the hall. Before her, a lone darkborn stood defiant. He blocked the door, glaring at Raze with hatred in his eyes. He couldn't have been much older than 17. At his feet lay a dead Blade Lord, his sword stained black. Raze took steps towards the boy, who never relented with his gaze. In his eyes burned the fury that no one should ever have to extinguish. He couldn't muster his strength for last words. All he could manage was a blood filled "UGH" as he collapsed.
Withdrawing her blade from the man's corpse, she reached and opened the door, eager to see what he was protecting. That's when the fire died inside.
In front of her, stood her sister, Ashe, all grown up. They both looked defeated now. Raze looked back to the burning building. She knew what she had to do. Flare materialized beside her, silent. Raze moved to Ashe, who put up no fight as Raze embraced her in one last hug. Blood smeared off of Raze as she let go, whispering. "I'm sorry sister." In a swift motion, Raze tied Ashe down, who hadn't spoken a single word and refused to put up a fight. She secured her bonds tightly, before crouching over her sister, letting her tears fall, wetting Ashe's face. Raze couldn't say any more. Gathering her team, she left the building. Just before mounting their horses, Raze turned back to the burning house, and angrily shot a ball of fire into the front door, causing an explosion and further igniting the building. She didn't look back again.
Raze wished she could have fictional dreams.
Ashe
"Never" Ashe muttered the word as she splattered the blood of the Blade Lords she'd killed on the wall. They were sent to kill her, the Red Ghost, killer of Blade Lords. Around her, eighteen men lay dead. Judging from their insignias, they were mostly Protectors. Ashe always had to go hunting for the Sacred Knights, they never came to her. She wiped the blood off of her halberd before it materialized as Ember beside her, with Kovac trailing from behind, apparently held up by something in Ashe's head.
"You know, the message in blood isn't necessary."
"I like what you've done with the place. Nice colours." Her guardians spoke in unison, contradicting each other.
Ashe didn't respond. She'd gotten the info she wanted earlier today. Raze was in Dusktide, so that's where she'd be going. She didn't care if she had to tear the city apart to get her, she would. She wondered if Raze was acting as a spy for the Blade Lords. She walked to the Blade Lords' horses, and freed all but one. The horse were trained to be compliant with anyone who mounted them, so Ashe had no problem getting it to obey. Kovac and Ember disappeared into Ashe's mind. Ashe figured she'd be at Dusktide in a day's ride. Ahead of her, she could see smoke rising. She'd find out what that was soon enough.