Michelle
Cerei Davren
Border of Taemar


Cerei muttered something softly in her sleep, but immediately rolled over and went quiet again. Lucius pulled her cover farther up so it was covering her, and brushed her hair out of her eyes, and looked up at Scarlett. 

"You see, this is my first and only child. Everything I have and ever will do is and will be for her. My legacy will live on through her. I was never there for her before. I could never make that up to her, but I can try to be there for her, and show her that there is more to life than having to provide for everyone." Lucius said, the pain from a life watching from the outside more apparent with every word. "And if her life must involve you, I can live with that as well. I may not approve of your past, but I can at least provide the both of you with a life of luxury if you are comfortable with that thought." He said, crossing his legs. 

"And I will wait to tell her, so I can explain it fully with preparation for questions. But she's probably going to hate me afterwards, so it'll be up to you to take care of her until she's ready to talk to me again." He said, his eyebrow twitching softly.
Raul
Scarlett Prynne
Border of Taemar

She gazed at Cerei and her... Father... That was going to take some getting used to, truthfully. In all honesty, she was impressed that he had managed to hide his noble upbringing thus far and play the part of a servant so well. Few nobles she knew could swallow their pride and put aside their pampered lifestyle for so long, though the fact that he could do so for Cerei's sake gave her newfound respect for the man. It would be good for Cerei to have a family... Nobody should have to go through life alone. Scarlett knew all too well what that was like. 

Her thoughts had wandered some as he spoke, but his "If her life must involve you," Snapped her back to reality. She grimaced and looked away, looking as if she had been struck. It still stung a little. 

There was a long pause before she finally said quietly, "I think that's wise, to wait, certainly. And I'll... Well, I'll always take care of her, for as long as she needs me and wants me around. She needs someone in this world." She smiled sadly, adding, "And if anyone knows the harsh realities of life, it's me. I can show her how to take care of herself."
Edith
**Treasury Councilor Klaus Paberly
Paberly Keep (different day than the scene with Cornelia Batten)**

Klaus was sitting in a chair in the parlor near his home's main entrance. Before him sat several stacks of coin arranged on a coffee table. He was relaxing after some work with one of his family's servants picking at his hands with small tools. Approaching footsteps made Klaus open his eyes to see his older brother, Victor, darkening the parlor doorway. "Feeling cold, Vicky?" Klaus asked, remarking on his brother's layered attire.

"I'm leaving to visit some elders in Evenrud village. They have concerns about the actions we plan to take in response to the plague," Victor responded, ignoring the joke.

"Well, before you go, could you toss me my slippers? My feet are cold," Klaus requested as he took a glance at the servant's progress.

"How about I get your boots? You should come with me."

"Why?" Klaus made little effort to disguise his disgust at the idea.

"They are our people, Klaus. They need to know we are there for them in a crisis."

"I think you're forgetting that you are the future Lord of the Grove, 1st brother. I am just the humble treasury councilor of the Iron Plaines." With his free hand, Klaus made a grandiose gesture toward himself.

"You've got nothing better to do. You're just sitting here getting your nails prettied like a damn woman."

"I suffer no hangnails, Vic! Besides, I've had money to count." Klaus raised one of his feet and kicked over a stack of coins on the table in front of him. "Oh dear. I'll have to count it again. I'm afraid I must decline your tempting invitation."

"Perhaps I should ask father if he thinks you should join me." Victor threatened.

"DaddyyyYYYYYY!" Klaus yelled.

"*Leave him alone, Victor!*" Their father shouted back from the floor above. Klaus grinned smugly.

"When I run this damn castle, I'll charge you rent," Victor vowed, losing his temper.

"You wouldn't dare!" Klaus protested, but his brother had walked away. "Victor!"

"Finished." The servant said, having worked through the argument, one of many that hardly fazed her at this point. She left the room for a moment before bringing back Klaus's slippers and a piece of mail.

"Thank you, Gunnhild. I don't know what I'd do without you." Klaus opened the letter he was handed and read it. He had been invited for tea at the manor of Lady Catherine Royte. Klaus didn't know her, despite the woman not living all that far away, but she seemed interested in getting to know him.

. . .

Klaus departed for the Royte house a few days later. The area that the lady resided in was a desolate one. It was a good thing that they had clear directions because they had not seen anyone for miles that they could have asked. The manor, when the carriage finally reached it, was lifeless. As they pulled up in front of it, Klaus got out of the carriage and looked around. He wondered if anyone was even there. The treasury councilor braved the eerie vibe given off by this lone house on the frozen tundra and went to knock on the door, hoping he hadn't come all this way for nothing.
Angel
Lady Anna Barrmount
Barrmount Castle, Iron Plaines

The cold still stung her soft cheek, right across where his hand caressed her skin to put away the stray strand of hair. Anna couldn't bring herself to call those things hands, they were like the talons of a hawk; and the way he looked down to them made her feel like a rabbit wanting to scape the hunt. 

Nathaniel was getting so close to Sibyl, too close. The dismay and horror took over her as the young Barrmount looked at her sister and saw the Lord's hand gripping her. A man that could be the embodiment of death was in her late brother's wake, touching her sister with such familiarity. 

Anna was so close to start hyperventilating, watching as Nathaniel got further and further.

Sibyl's voice ringed in her head as her vision started to get cloudy. She kept her head from turning to her side as she paid close attention to the hushed instructions, her breath as shaky as the rest of her body. 
She nodded along.

*I can't do it. I can't do it. I can't do it! No!* Her mind raced faster than she could process it. Then it dawned on her: fleed. Sibyl wanted her to fleed, the Council was the perfect excuse. But what about Sibyl? Anna wasn't able to get herself to abandon Sibyl like that.

"I-I... I will. I will part inmediatly" She whispered back. 

She didn't like the idea one bit, but if she still had one thing clear it was her blind faith in her sister.

"Just promise me you'll stay safe. I love you" She cleared her throath and did a curtsy at her sister "Lady Sibyl" She spoke for everyone to hear "I must absent myself from the event, I'm feeling indisposed..."

Anna turned around, ready to exit the great hall. Her feet could barely drag her across the floor, and not letting the tears flow was requiring an herculean strength from her.

"Pippin dear, accompany me if you please" 

She walked as fast as she was able to, entering the corridor. Halfway through, the young Lady had to stop and put her hand on the wall to not fall to the floor. Her head was spinning. 

"Pippin, I-I need a favor. Go to the chambers and take our travel garments, then to the kitchen and tell the Head Cook to pack essential food for a trip. I'll meet you at the dungeons" She pleaded as she tried to keep her breath. 

Guards, she also needed a guard. But they were all busy, even more now that there was a whole Vivayn army walking among them. 

"Lady Anna!" 

She looked up, the familiar voice feeling like rain after a drought. 

"Yulius!" 

"My Lady why aren't you at the Great H-" 

Anna grabbed his hands as she interrupted him. 

"I need you to go in there and go straight for the head of the guardsmen, he must send one of his men to the dungeon"

"O-okay... Is everything al-" 

"No time to explain, you'll see it soon. Please be discreet" 

"Will do" 

Just as he took his first steps towards the door she stopped him again. 

"Please protect my sister" 

"With my life"

... 

After being approached by Yulius with the strange request of Lady Anna, the head of the guardsmen got an idea of what was happening. He nodded and instructed Yulius to go, before discreetly calling for one of his men that stood near. 

"Woodford, get your gear ready and head to the dungeon. Raise no suspicion" 

... 

Anna awaited in the dungeon, pacing from one wall to another. Behind the exit at her back, were three horses ready, including her personal horse.