When he had initially suggested that Zevran sneak into the Eldouir Estate to contact Xanthe, Embric had overlooked a few key details, but that was why they made plans instead of rushing headlong into danger. In the time that had passed since that conversation and this night, the preparations had been made and the flaws corrected as much as possible. Although he could hardly claim the result was perfect, it was - at least - something.

For a multitude of reasons, Embric did not venture often into the cold and dark of Elderkeep after the sun had set. At best, those who did were often met with suspicion from any patrolling guards they might encounter; at worst, they never saw the sunrise. He had considered this when Zevran had told him of this excursion, which was why a black and brown dog quietly plodded along at his side. Echo, inexplicably returned to him by Elena, made a convenient excuse for wandering around after dark.

“I understand. Be safe, Zevran,” He said, anticipation racing through his veins even though his task remained little more than trying to remain as inconspicuous as possible while he waited. “And be smart. If you can’t find them tonight, there’s always tomorrow.” With Rune staying by his side, Aine had taken to circling above as she usually did. Her vision, keen even in low light, would aid them in staying out of trouble, and her distance would help the black fox by his side pass as his own dyr.

“We’ll stay in this area.” Within view of the darkened silhouette but not so close as to catch undue attention, Embric paused while Echo sniffed at a pile of scrap wood. “Good luck.”

Zevran peeled away from them and further into the shadows after they'd stopped, allowing Rune to melt him directly into the shadows before he was off to the estate, moving between shadows and remaining undetected.

As he had many nights prior to this, he kept to the very edge of the outside wall of the estate, creeping through the shadows that dwelled there until he reached the main gate. He slipped underneath quickly and then moved along the inside of the wall. From here it was all a game of patience, finding places under bushes or behind objects or even in small, dark buildings to hide while patrols passed him by. He slowly made his way to the main building of the estate, skirting around the outside of it to a side door.

With a metaphorical deep breath, he slipped under the door, and called upon his mental map of the building he'd made for himself. He was already feeling the distance stretched between himself and Rune, actual conversation between them impossible at this point. All he could do was keep his emotions in check so she would know he was okay.

This late at night the estate was quiet except for a few, very tired servants finishing up a days work, but it was even easier inside to find shadows to blend with than it was outside, and he slowly made his way through the estate towards the servants quarters. He still hadn't a clue how he was going to get their attention, especially if they were fast asleep, but he had to try something.

Once inside, he was delighted to find he had been correct about what this area of the estate was. He had to be careful though. Dresmondi and dyrs alike were scattered about in here, some fast asleep in their beds, others still awake and enjoying their free time. Sticking to the shadows cast by various pieces of furniture, he moved through the room, searching for the girl and dyr Embric had described for him.

He'd be unable to find Xanthe among the servants though, and worry would settle in him. If she wasn't among the other servants, was Hiram keeping her someplace else as he own personal servant, and what exactly would that mean for her? Attempting to keep the realization a bit more lowkey so as not to worry Embric, he merely shared disappointment down the bond to Rune. There was no way he could go anywhere else in this estate tonight. He'd have to try again another night, in a different part of the estate.

Making his way back through the room, he paused under a side table as the main door opened and a couple servants walked in. "It's not fair. She hasn't even been here that long and gets handpicked by Queen Adeline, and then she gets to just waltz around the estate doing whatever. I'm telling you, if she leaves a mess in that kitchen for us, I'm going to take matters into my own hands."

The other Dresmondi was saying something in a bit of an exasperated tone, something about them not having a violent bone in their body, but he was already slipping out under the shutting door and zipping back down the hallway as fast as he could propel the shadows. It wasn't much, but it was enough of a lead that he was willing to look into it before leaving for the night.

He followed the path he knew led to the kitchen, pausing only when he needed to avoid the light from a candle or lantern. Clearly the kitchen had been closed up for the night as it was completely vacant except for... the young girl sat against the wall with the wolf dyr. Joy sparked in him as he hovered in the shadows, watching her. It would still be a risk to show himself. She could already have been turned to their side, and though she wouldn't be able to hurt him, she could report the sighting of him to one of the Eldouir. But they had to take these risks to make progress.

Taking another metaphorical breath, he peeled himself away from the shadows and into the nearest pool of light, where he'd wait to hopefully be noticed.

--

Back outside of the estate, Rune stood still as a statue, her head cocked to the side slightly as she concentrated on the stretched bond between her and Zevran. She'd share each change in emotion with Aine and Embric. 'I don't think he can find her, but he's still looking,' she shared first, wishing more than anything that she could just tell him to come back and they'd try again another night. But she knew her Dresmondi, and she knew he'd keep searching far longer than he should.

A bit longer of time passed where the only thing Rune knew was he was still alive. He couldn't be harmed, after all, but there was no panic or anything of the sort. She'd have no information until the blast of joy which made her ears perk up. 'I think... I think he found her.'

He hovered in the light cast by Savi, thankful that the wolf couldn't rip into him if he wished to as he placed himself between Zevran and Xanthe. In a way, it was good to see Xanthe's dyr still protecting her, even within the estate full of powerful magical beings. Xanthe quickly subdued the wolf though, which only sombered Zevran. Clearly Xanthe had become someone of importance within these walls, but not even that could keep her completely safe.

Now would come the part that Zevran really hoped he didn't fuck up. He had practiced this with Rune over and over, but it was something he was still trying to perfect. Willing the shadows that were part of himself to move, as if he was moving his own body parts, the shadows would slowly gather together until they were of some resemblance to a shadowy Aine standing on the floor of the kitchen. After a moment, his shadows would shift again, growing taller and into the figure of a man about the size and shape of Embric.

Lifting an arm slowly, he motioned for them to remain quiet and then beckoned for them to follow, hoping what he had offered them would be enough to convince them.

For a moment he worried it wouldn't work, that Xanthe would be too suspicious of him, and rightfully so. Perhaps he'd have to return again, or even a few more nights. Perhaps if he was persistent enough, he could annoy her into following him.

But Savi seemed to have a different idea, stepping towards him but not in an aggressive way. Zevran remained where he was as silence stretched between them, waiting for their final verdict.

Relief flooded through him when Xanthe finally agreed to follow, and his shadowy form nodded at her before dissolving back into the whispy puddle on the ground and heading back the way he had come, slowly as to let Xanthe and Savi follow at a leisurely pace. He hoped they'd understand to not look suspicious while he led them back to the side entrance, every now and then dipping a bit into the light so they'd be able to see where he was going.

At the side door he'd pause, a small tendril of shadow reaching up to wave to continue following before he slipped under the door slowly, careful of any patrols that might be waiting on the other side, and then he'd wait for them to follow once more. If they did, he would lead them along the inner edge of the estate wall, just far enough away until Aine could speak with Savi. They had almost accomplished the mission.

--

Still sitting and concentrating solely on their bond, Rune's ears had pricked forward as she picked up on Zevran's emotions. 'I think he found her,' she declared. And when their bond began to feel less stretched, her tail thumped once on the ground, 'And he's on his way back, so be on the look out Aine.'

They were coming, Aine had said.

All at once, the steady trot of his heart turned into a sprint. Unable to stop himself, Embric peered into the shadows around every corner for a familiar silhouette as they followed the gyrfalcon’s directions toward the meeting point. Now more than ever, the darkness stretched the minutes into hours and the feet into miles. Picking up on the change in his human, Echo perked up and trotted lightly alongside Embric, whose stride had turned from an easy meander to one with restrained purpose. He hadn’t thought they’d wandered far in the interim since Zevran had disappeared, yet Aine kept guiding them back down streets and around corners until—

In the time that had passed since Zevran’s return and the prospect of a reunion with Xanthe had become a reality, Embric had thought about what he would say to Xan when he had the chance. But now that the time was upon him, everything he thought he’d say to her vanished all at once.

Perhaps at some point in the distant future Embric would be in a position to better appreciate the symbolism of the wall of the estate separating them even here, but tonight, he felt nothing but envy for Aine who could so easily overcome the last barrier between him and Xan. In the shadow of the wall, he allowed himself to close his eyes and lean against the solid stone for a moment before he took a deep breath and crouched down beside Echo, who had settled to the ground beside him. He absently ran a hand down the dog’s back while his focus turned inward, to the circling gyrfalcon who peered down at the courtyard from above.

“Xan,” She greeted them, the warmth in her tone unmistakable as her keen eyes settled upon their painfully familiar silhouettes. Rune would be able to hear her words, though she addressed only the pair who had been trapped in the estate. “Savi. How are you?”

Feeling the distance between him and Rune come to a close, he relished in the overwhelming joy and relief that flooded him from Rune. He hovered nearby Xanthe and Savi for a moment longer until he was certain the connection between dyrs had been made, and then he drifted away down the wall, not bothering with any sort of farewell that he could have offered them.

As he followed the shadows away and under the gate of the estate, Rune would see herself away from Embric momentarily. Just far enough away to find a building they could meet behind where she could return Zevran to his normal state. Zevran shook himself, as if he was a dog shaking off water, and blinked a few times. It was perhaps the longest he had spent in shadows and the change back to his normal state of human awareness was a bit jarring.

But they had work to do, and their plan had worked. Casting a quick grin down to Rune, he pulled his hood low over his face before they made their way back. Zevran slid down against the wall, propping one knee up. Rune settled next to him and he allowed one hand to rest on her. A destitute Dresmondi with nothing better to do than sit around in the shadows. It was up to Embric to do the rest of the talking.

They were okay. Embric had thought he’d prepared himself for speaking with Xanthe and Savi, but as Aine shared their answer, he closed his eyes once more and his hand stilled on Echo’s back. A shuddering breath escaped him, and a tension in his shoulders, so constant and familiar that he’d forgotten its existence, eased just a bit. Okay was a vague term, he knew – none of them, least of all someone trapped with the Eldouir would ever truly be okay – but she was alive, coherent, and Aine couldn’t see any obvious injuries from above. That was enough for now.

“We’re okay,” He whispered back, Aine carrying the words to Savi since his voice could not. Barely aware of Zevran settling down against the wall nearby, Embric rested his gaze on the other man for a moment, pleased that he had returned safely, before ostensibly returning his attention to the dog. “All of us – Kasni, Ermir’s children – we’re all okay.” They miss you, He managed to bite back, just in time. Not only was he not here to reminisce, but there was no reason to add to her heartache by piling upon her shoulders burdens that she could not alieviate.

Aine shared his next words with both the maned wolf and the fox. “The shadow is trustworthy,” He explained carefully, not quite answering her question while still providing what he considered the most pertinent information. “We needed to talk to you. Do you remember what we spoke of, the morning after Tribute?” For much of their conversation, they had discussed Tazmin and her particular breed of unavoidable deplorability, and Embric had presented Xanthe with a decision on how to handle it: to kill her before she attacked them or to avoid her while improving their own self-defense. “It struck me that while Tazmin might be gone, other threats remain.”