Kezia felt exhausted. Yet the moment that they came across the other soldiers, she shifted closer to the ones she knew. Lingering closer to Grant, Alys, and Zevran whenever she could. Her two dyrs she kept close to her, keeping them both out of her bag but they remained wrapped around her shoulders or neck, never away from her besides to use the restroom as they traveled. Then there was when they entered Skia.

She had been there once before, a long time ago, but never long enough to see it. Her eyes were everywhere, taking in the city and people that they passed. She was almost a head shorter than most. And her clothes very much said she was Dresmondi and not from Nevermere. But as she moved, she noticed there were women dressed differently around the kingdom as well. Women who seemed to have the same tattoos on them.

As they entered the castle, she pulled her shoulders back, remembering all the lessons that she had gotten in Lorendale. How to act like a proper noblewoman to bled in, even if she was a bit eccentric compared to the others. She'd file in behind Alys, taking a spot beside Zevran and looking around the throne room with a sort of awe in her eye. She had not made it this deep into the castle when she had come all those years ago. But the castle itself was still impressive beyond belief.

Dresmond sucked, in Grant's humble opinion. The reasons why it sucked varied, but first of all it was all open and ruled by redheaded psychopaths and there was a lot of sun and he didn't like how much color had been added to his complexion, because it felt weird and made him uncomfortable. Much like Loren had, all those years ago. He was still getting used to the lack of perpetual darkness.

The good news was they got a treasure trove of fucking information for the King, so the mission was a resounding success by any measure Grant could think of.

Once they started meeting other pairs, Grant had the same idea Alys did--circle the wagons and keep anyone from bothering their new Dresmondi friends. Alys had given her word the Dresmondi would be safe, and, since Grant was functionally her partner right now, her word was his as well. It certainly wasn't the pairing he expected to be practicing but the idea was the same. They'd spent enough time out of Nevermere proper that he got over how weird it was having a new partner all of a sudden and focused more on the task at hand and also not dying horribly. Which, truth be told, overlapped some.

The trip was long and arduous. Even before Dresmond had been thrown into chaos, they had at least traveled in wagons. This whole walking up and down mountains stuff was awful, in his opinion. But the only one who suffered his complaints was Rune who happily trotted along next to him, enjoying the fresh air and chasing the occasional rabbit or squirrel. When they were joined by the other Nevermere soldiers, Zevran had lapsed into an almost total silence and tried his best to stay close to Kezia.

His anxiety did not get any better when they entered the big city. Skia, he was told it was called. They moved through paths called streets, paved with stone and lined with lanterns to light the way. Buildings loomed up on either side of them and people brushed past, chatting and laughing about the various goings on of their lives. It was all very... structured. And for some reason, it was quite dark here, clouds covering the entire sky. He missed the sun and the open plains already.

There would be no time for adjusting, it seemed, as they went straight for the largest building he had ever seen. His eyes widened as they passed through the gates and he felt a bit like a child discovering the world for the first time. He briefly met Alys's gaze and swallowed hard. They had come all this way for a reason and he needed to pull it together before he spoke with the King.

What they called the throne room was like nothing he could have ever imagined, but he did not let himself dwell on it too much. Rune sat at his feet, leaning slightly against his leg in a reassuring manner while they waited. She had the utmost faith in him and he only wished he felt the same.

Cassian had just come from Lorendale. He stepped into his study, Regan Lassiter on his heels, along with another royal guard. He had met with Simon to discuss a course concerning gifteds and the conversation was still fresh on his mind. Only two steps in after the door was closed and a knock came to it.

"A letter from Lady Caern." The runner's voice declared. Cassian nodded, and the other royal guard opened the door to receive it. He then handed it into the hands of the king. Cassian read the words on the little slip of parchment. His face remained statuesque in its neutrality, despite what he felt within.

The king slipped the paper into his pocket as he rerouted himself, leaving the study and heading for the throne room rather than returning to his desk. He entered only seconds after Kennet addressed the motely crew. A guard called,

"The king!" As he crossed the threshold, the two royal guards at his heels. Had he arrived first he might have gone to his throne, but as it was he simply moved towards the group instead, dark gaze fixed on Alys.

In fact, everyone was looking at Alys. There were curious glances cast towards the Dresmondi, to be sure, but Alys was the one their sad eyes returned to.

She would not be able to miss the light in his eyes and he looked upon her, safely returned to Nevermere. Zevran would not be able to miss the familiarity of that gaze. Cassian did allow his attention to wander, first to Grant, then to the Dresmondi, but ultimately it returned to Alys.

"Your task was a success." Yet his tone implied that he had never once doubted her. His gaze flickered again, wordlessly welcoming an explanation.

The King’s Huntsman (or woman, as it were) followed, as she always did, after her king. Regan’s bite had healed and her sunken eyes and clammy skin had been replaced by warmth not previously seen. The glowing copper veins in her eyes, though faint, were now a constant feature. She moved after Cassian with confidence, not scurrying and scraping as she normally did, but with long measured strides. Regan was different. Whole, without ever having known that this was missing. The Hellwolf, or whatever creature she was, burned brightly, never far and always wanting to spring forward. It was as wonderful as it was exhausting. Having not mastered the form, Regan was always beating the instinct back that bid the creature to emerge.

She didn’t know where they were off to, so when they entered the room, Regan’s face lit with realization. Her eyes immediately flew to Grant, a hesitant smile on her face as she looked him over. Whether Grant returned her look or not, her gaze would linger for only a moment before surveying the rest of the group. The same pleasant half-smile remained on her face until her eyes fell on Alys.

The wolf.

A low, mostly inaudible rumble started in her chest. Regan’s smile faded as her beast form started to squirm, pushing at her skin, wanting, needing to be released. Regan took deep breaths as the fiery lines in her eyes flashed before fading back down into something more subtle. Regan looked away, focusing instead on Cassian, who brought her comfort. Stability. Control.

Kennet’s voice entered the room, and Alys couldn’t help the smile. Her skin sunkissed from their trip, her curls a little less bouncy than normal from the long journey. But she was, overall, fine. It was good to be home, the familiar stones and faces, who were looking yes but she assumed more because she, the King’s Witch, had been gone almost a whole season. And she now returned with Dresmondi.

Her lips parted to answer, except fell silent as Cassian was announced. Half a step, she moved toward where he was, clear relief on her face at seeing him. Cassian might have noticed the hesitation as she looked him over, but she’d bow, her eyes still on him, to show respect. She hoped Kezia and Zevran remembered her suggestion that they follow suit when she bowed.

“It was.” She stood, but from over his shoulder, she could feel the burning gaze of one of his royal guards (not yet realizing who it was), and the hair on the back of her neck rose, as if her hackles were showing. And it was then that her eyes flicked around the room, catching several gazes while others darted quickly to look away from her. The smile that had been on her face slowly falling as she suddenly felt like the air was thick with tension. “Along our travels, we came across Zevran and Rune,” she turned halfway, looking to the man and his dyr to have them step forward, “Kezia, and Raiden and Geb,” her gaze caught another sad set of eyes in the throne room and she felt like sand suddenly shifted under her feet.

“We learned a lot, but thought perhaps, you might want to hear from them.” Her freckled face turned back to Kennet, and then rested on Cassian, but now there was a small v forming between her brows in confusion. Why was everyone this… sad looking? This was fantastic news and information that her and Grant were delivering… But it was the glowing behind Cassian that caught her attention, Regan… something… wasn’t right. The wolf inside her shifted and it caused a tension to build in her shoulders. “What’s… going on?”

Kezia saw the woman enter the room, she watched the way she looked them all over. Her eyes flickered up to Grant, as if to try and gauge who this was but then there seemed to be a bigger visitor they needed to greet. Kezia had only ever seen him from afar, and she was just another set of curls in the crowd… usually a head shorter than the rest.

She shuffled closer to Zevran, both her dyrs staring at the group who entered. It was only when Alys dipped did Kezia realize what they were supposed to do. Kezia had not been taught a bow, so her foot slipped back a bit in a short curtsy before she stood. She had been prepared for the eyes, even her two dyrs that were curled around her shoulders, but it wasn’t them that held the others attentions. And that was what made her look to Zevran, questions swarming. But ultimately she moved her attention back up to Grant. To judge his reaction to the room. At least Grant and Alys were the familiar ones in the room.

What a day! At least it was Kennet who arrived first, so maybe things wouldn't be so dreary--

Ah, nope, there was the King, right before Grant managed to say anything. Of course. Oh well. He bowed as well to Cassian, then stood tall, keeping near Kezia and Zevran while Auntie Alys did that weird half-step forward thing she seemed to be doing a lot lately--first Zevran, now the King. Weird.

He did see Regan, which was nice. She looked like she was doing well in her new horrible position of guarding the King. He was pissed at her, still, but he had time to be mad later, it was mostly a relief to see a familiar face again. He even skipped over being mildly miffed that this was all Alys' achievement. If he'd done anything besides keep watch at night and make friends with the nice Dresmondi he'd be more properly annoyed. No kidding the task was a success, the Captain Commander had sent the lone remaining Ranger and the King's own Witch. Either it would have been successful or they would have died gruesomely.

And, once again, Grant felt stupid for having thought anything would go right or enjoyably today. Regan was making that crazy face she made when she was going to go way off the beaten path.

At Alys.

Again.

Grant took a step forward with Alys and shifted so that he was closer to her. Same shit, different day.

"Kezia, Zevran, if anything untoward happens, step back," he muttered as he moved. He would have tried to interpose himself between Alys and Regan, but that almost got him turned into meaty chunks last time. He kept his eyes on his former partner, wary of (further) signs of hellfire or temporary breaks in sanity.

Zevran's gaze continued to dart around the room at the various new faces that popped up. If he had thought he would be meeting and speaking only with the King, he had been horribly wrong. The first woman entered and she seemed quite friendly, and Alys and Grant seemed pleased to see her as well. But before anyone could even speak, another pair entered the throne room, someone announcing that it was, in fact, the King.

He wouldn't notice the way the King looked at Alys or the way she returned his gaze. He was too busy wracking his brain for the instructions Alys had given him on their trip here. Bowing was first and as Alys tipped forward in her own small bow, he copied the way she had instructed him and dipped low at the waist. It was certainly not graceful, but it was a bow none the less.

Zevran waited quietly for any indication that it was his time to speak, but it seemed there were other matters at hand to deal with first. Rune growled softly and he glanced down at her with confusion. She was standing now, her ears pricked forward towards the guard that had come in with the King. 'She growled. I heard it. Something is wrong here.'

Kezia shifted closer to him and then Grant moved forward, whispering to them to step back if anything bad happened. Zevran felt the need to shake his head to attempt to clear it, but instead stood still, his muscles tense. Alys was still speaking but she seemed to falter more with every word. Maybe this had all been a very bad mistake. Maybe they should have stayed in Dresmond.

It had been Cassian who had sent his witch on this endeavor, having little faith in the Captain Commander's new Ranger program, knowing that Alys had it in her to single-handedly accomplish the task set before her. Seemed his assessment was true. The light behind his eyes, the one his witch misinterpreted, was eagerness. Cassian was pleased. They had returned, and from the looks of it things had gone better than they could have hoped. Whether she managed to kill an Eldouir or not during her journey hardly mattered. They had Dresmondi here, ones who had agreed to come to Nevermere, and that was an exciting development.

Though Regan's brewing at his back was subtle, the hairs on the back of Cassian's neck rose as well. They'd been at this for some weeks now, working on Regan's control of her shift. Without a hair out of place, and so subtle a movement that not even Alys should have noticed, Cassian's thumb touched the ring on his finger, and at once Regan would feel the suppression of her wolf. It wasn't cut off, but her itch to shift would diminish as surely as a candle is blown out.

Grant's murmur, which needed to be loud enough to justify being hear by the Dresmondi, was also loud enough for the king in front of the group to hear. His dark eyes moved to the young Delaney.

"Well done, soldier." He said, as stiffly as ever, the spark he'd shone on Alys gone from his eye, leaving a dark, indiscernible gaze. "There is food awaiting you in the military wing. Go and be replenished." It wasn't an invitation, but a command. A dismissal. Because Grant, while perhaps trying to be hospitable to the Dresmondi, had undermined the security of Nevermere with his murmur. It was lucky for him that only the king had heard it. Cassian would see to it that the insolent young nobleman did not have access to the Dresmondi from here on out.

He turned his head to look to Kennet, giving her a nod, inviting her to accompany her brother, should she wish it.

Waiting a moment before continuing, letting the soldier and perhaps his sister mostly exit, Cassian's eyes would roam the newcomers once more.

"Welcome to Nevermere." His eyes flickered between Zerune and...the fox...and Ke...he'd need her to say the names again. Five prattled off so casually weren't easily ingested. "I am eager to hear about your homeland." It was sincere, if delivered in Cassian's usual neutral demeanor that almost painted him apathetic towards his own words. His attention shifted to the six guards that had accompanied them from the mountain pass.

"Escort our guests to my personal dining hall. There is food and drink and rest to be taken. I will convene with my witch and we will join you." His gaze swept over the Dresmondi as he said it. One of the six would take the lead, beckoning for them to follow. At the king's personal dining hall they would find a lavish feast awaiting them.

His eyes moved back to Alys as he waited for them to disperse. Would she trust him?

No signs of Regan bursting into flames and trying to murder his Aunt, so that was good. Progress! Maybe trying to kill the king had calmed her down some. Probably.

Though he wasn't sure he felt comfortable with leaving the situation as-is, he was aware of a dismissal when he heard one. He bowed to the King.

"Thank you, your Highness," he said. He straightened his back and made to leave, grateful that he'd be able to eat something decent for once. Or, well, something military-decent, which was definitely better than foraging in Dresmond.

[exit Grant]

Kezia did not like the way that Grant spoke, nor the way he stepped towards Alys. Ultimately it brought her closer to Zevran. The one she could really trust in the room. The tiny woman staring at the back of Grant while the King seemed to be… well neutral but not upset. He moved his attention to the five of them before inviting them to his dining hall.

Whatever tension was in the air, she didn’t like and would gladly find the reprieve of some dining area. Her hand slipped into Zevran’s, should he not pull away, and she’d give a quick bow of her head before she’d thank him. Her voice steady and soft, before she’d tug at Zevran, hoping he’d follow her. Allowing the king time to meet with his witch as he said.