Aerithra N'vael's Story

Noon came in bright that day. The weather was one of rarities, for no clouds hung in the sky like bad news--none but the usual walls surrounding Icemoor in the sky, clouds that indicated snow fell rapidly during the night and so there was no escape, not that Aerithral minded by any means.
She was quite fond of the cold, in fact she found it rather suffocating when the cabins were too warm from roaring fires, but the sunlight was a welcome guest, especially since the recent events that had happened, events that had been shadowing the mood of Icemoor in a colder, more barren way than the area it was placed upon.

But there she sat, stuck indoors since the cursed injury that had since plagued her mind with remorse. In fact, sometimes she hardly felt the pain in her side at all, it was only the regret of carelessness on the battlefield that wounded her; pride, to be precise.
Chaeth had asked her what had happened a few days after Aerithra had been admitted to the emergency ward, but she could give no proper answer, for she had none. All that she could remember was that she was fighting a young, struggling Mayyssus who seemed to be far too inexperienced to be on the battlefield, and so she took her eyes off him for a moment, confident that he could not hit her by any means. She would've liked to have said she was distracted by seeing the king struggling greatly, but it was only when the Mayyssus boy had struck her in the side of her waist when she saw the king in his struggle. And that was it, she was out.
Of course, the kind cousin of Aerith's had consoled her: 'It was not your fault' and 'It was your first true battle'. But Aerithral know that she was far to cocky for her own good at times, especially with the ability to wield The Spear of Konan.

The injury had not seriously harmed her, but it did keep her in bed for quite some time and she was growing tired, the only saving grace being Chaeth's daily visits. She would of liked to have said her mothers, Esriline's, visits too, but they were filled with worry and coddling in which only made Aerithral grow more restless.

Chaeth told her not only moments ago that the defenses of Icemoor were planning a state of search and attack for the king, something in which the two girls saw as foolish. Spies had attempted to have been sent into Lorcliff, but the Mayyssus guards were on edge, so it made things incredibly difficult. Then, what was the only option? A plan of attack?
Honestly, she thought, there had to be a better and smarter way. Balt's were a strong, hearty race, but sometimes they made brash decisions. It only made sense, though, why Aerith was sometimes brash herself.

"Do you think," Chaeth began, shaking Aerithral out of her thoughts, "That maybe this was their plan all along? I mean, maybe they're ready to strike when our defenses are low."
Aerith considered, it was a possibility, "I don't think they want to cause that much grief. Aren't we supposed to be banding together against Quokim? Unless the foolishness of men has dramatically increased while Ive been stuck indoors."
The cousin laughed, and muttered out loud, "The foolishness of mankind has never changed."

The two smiled and sat in silence, surrounded by their thoughts while the bright sun crept in, until once again Chaeth spoke with another quizzical look about her.
"What if it's true what the Balt men are going on about? About there being followers of the Dragon within higher ranks, even leaders?" she spoke of this quietly, it was almost voodoo to speak of this, but Aerithral wondered it herself.
"Who knows," pausing, Aerithral wanted to escape the topic. It was too much to think about, "As long as I get better soon I don't really care."

They laughed, but curtly stopped when one of the medical staff approached them.
"You may just get that wish, Ms. N'vael. The doctor said you are allowed to go outside today, but only very quickly and to take it slow." the woman gave them a stern look and walked hurriedly to another patient.
"Quickly but slowly?" Chaeth giggled.

Aerith's spirits rose almost a mile. Turning to Chaeth and giving her the most positive look she had been able to muster since the incident, she stated happily:
"Today is going to be a good day, I can feel it."