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Slowly but surely everyone was gathering in the meeting room. Cornelius called for tea (a most welcome thing for the Falcon Knight, as sitting down had not been a good idea; though her feet sighed in relief and she was glad to sit on something that was not a pegasus, her body demanded sleep after staying up all night long, and especially after the long flight) as well as a healer for Cyric. Rina watched as the healer did her job. She fought to hold her teacup with a steady hand, trying to hide her sudden panic at the knowledge that Cyric still had an arrowhead embedded in his shoulder and he'd ridden from the battlefield to the capital without having it treated.

Idiot! she thought. Idiot, idiot, idiot. You should have at least bandaged it once you were in a safe enough place to do so! She winced hearing the knight hissing as the healer ripped the offending object free. With a glow of a mend staff, the wound was healed, though not even the staff could take awake her worry for Cyric.

Cornelius provided a slight distraction in his speech. Hearing her failure repeated, Rina lowered her head, staring at the teacup before her. But the general did not dwell on this fact, fortunately. Instead, he launched into a tale of the Fire Emblem, how it came to be in Estarcia, and the Head Priestesses. The Falcon Knight listened with genuine interest, shifting her gaze to Cornelius.

Of course she knew about the Fire Emblem; that was one of the many legends shoved down her throat at the orphanage. Irony of ironies, she'd promised herself that she would never have anything to do with the Holy Order ever again once she ran away, and where had she ended up but as the guardian of the High Priestess, as well as one of the higher ranked Pegasus Knights in the Holy Order. But now to learn that the enemy was probably after it, and in her failure she'd practically handed them the key to using it? Rina hung her head in shame, her hands shaking. If she somehow survived this war, she would resign from her position, even if it meant returning her sword and becoming a foot soldier, or even leaving the king's service altogether, she would do it.

Cornelius and some of the Learanians began to speak, throwing out ideas, hashing out plans, but Rina remained silent. It was not her place to speak here unless asked to; outside of her rank as Priestess Guardian and Falcon Knight of the Holy Order of Estarcia, she held no rank, no prestige, a fact the other army recruits and would-be knights taunted her mercilessly for, which only led her to push herself harder to prove that any orphan child could be just as good as, or better even, than some noble’s brat. It was not her place to speak out of turn in front of these foreigners, or especially Sir Cyric and General Cornelius, who far outranked her.

Yet more proof she didn't deserve him.

No, she told herself firmly, I decided long ago that rank doesn't matter. Everyone is still a person and they have the right to do what they wish with their lives, so long as they do not break the king's law. And yet she knew that rank still mattered, still dictated what people could do and say, who they could and could not marry.

What am I thinking? I should've gotten that healer to fix this injury of mine. She reached a hand up to touch the back of her head. Sure enough, it was sore and painful to touch. To her surprise, when she withdrew her hand and looked at her fingers, she found bits of dried blood.

. . . Definitely a harder hit than I thought. Such a stupid, stupid mistake.

She tried to stop herself from thinking, but of course that only made the thoughts multiply. She looked around at each person as they spoke, trying to concentrate on what they were saying, trying to piece everything together to see where she would fit, if she would be needed. That was, if she could be of any more use to anyone, after her failure.

Stop it, Rina. Just--stop it. Berating yourself isn't going to do any good. It certainly won't get the priestess back. Do your duty to her and pay attention to these people so that you can be of help to them.

She clenched her hands tighter, trying to stop the shaking and concentrate. Cyric was saying something, something about not understanding? And the enemy attacking again, and--

Ah. Yes.

Rina supposed that she would never be able to forget this failure, even after she left.

She stopped herself from jumping out of her skin at a slight pressure on her hand, but it was only Cyric, placing his hand on hers. Had he seen her shaking? She smiled in thanks to him, and then took a deep breath to steady herself. How was it that he seemed to know exactly what to do to calm her down, to let her know that everything was okay?

Gods above, I don't deserve him. I'm really going to miss him once I'm gone. Ignoring the way her heart had suddenly clenched, she looked around the table and those seated around it.

Everyone seemed to be looking to one Learanian girl called Alihi as their leader. Rina focused her attention on the tactician as she spoke.

She's right, Rina realized, thinking as she listened, it would be safer to hold down the fort here. If our troops can ring the city and keep everyone safe inside it, we may have a chance. It would be suicide to ride out to meet them. Let them fight us on our terms. But what can I do to help? she wondered. Wait--what about my troops? Is it possible for them to get here before the enemy army does? If I send . . . Annalie and Cassie, was it? If I send them back to the temple to free everyone . . . But no, they would be tired and worn. I can't ask them to come so far only to fight to the death this time. Lives really would be lost then. But . . . they will be lost anyway if we don't do something.

Lost in thoughts she would never voice unless asked to, Rina almost missed Alihi's question. For an answer, she looked to Cornelius, who had remained in Archesis all this time.

This was the time she looked forward to, the time when talk ended and action was taken. General Cornelius was quick to take Alihi's suggestions and formulate a plan, immediately placing it into action with quick orders to a guard and to those into he conference room. Orders were placed to fortify the city, securing it. It was, after all, the last line of defense Estarcia had, and they would defend it to the last man.

"Caterina, I know you had troops at the Priestess' manor, but it is too risky to go after them. I need you to go to the Head Temple and take charge of the main pegasus army of the Holy Order."

Truth be told, Rina had nearly forgotten about the bulk of the Holy Order stationed at the Head Temple in Archesis; only a faction had gone with her to the manor with the Head Priestess. With the main army here, Rina was free to let the others rest, even if they were held captive; they would soon be free, as soon as this enemy was defeated. "And don't worry... we will get the Priestess back." Caterina nodded in acknowledgment of this order, and for Cornelius's assurances. it was an honor to be chosen to lead the entire Holy Order of Pegasus Knights, as young as she was, and as of low birth. Rightly so, she was honored and pleased, and determined to do her absolute best. As soon as they were dismissed, she would set off for he temple to muster the knights in defense of the Temple and the Fire Emblem.

Despite her lack of sleep, Rina was now determined not to fail again. She would get the Head Priestess back safely, Estarcia would be saved, and everything would be set to rights. Even though she was worried for Cyric, going into battle again so soon after such a severe injury, and leading the troops into battle at that, she trusted him not to get himself killed. After all, they'd kept their promises to see each other again, to return safely, had they not? She could trust him to be safe in this fight as well.

Trust . . . How long has it been since I've trusted someone? Have I . . . ever . . . trusted anyone? She looked over at Cyric, his hand still on hers. I trust him. If there's anyone worthy of my trust in this kingdom, it's him.

And yet, something seemed off. Why didn't Cornelius want to inform the king of their plans, plans that surely concerned him as the King of Estarcia? And why would a king just let some unknown enemy walk into the capital? It didn't make any sense. Surely the king wasn't that foolish. Or was he? But Rina didn't dare question Cornelius, the general and advisor to His Majesty. And it wasn't right to question the king either.

After all, he was the one who made me a Falcon Knight and let me be a part of the army in the first place. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized that that simply wasn't true; it was the recruiter that had allowed her, an orphan child, to enter; it was her teachers who had seen her aptitude and selected her for Pegasus Knight; it was Cyric who had sparred with her and helped her to better her skills with the lance and sword, to overcome her fear of bows and become a better Pegasus Knight; it was her skill and determination that had ultimately landed her the promotion to guardian of the Head Priestess, Lady Gwyneira, and the title of Priestess Guardian. The king had nothing to do with that, really.

Mentally, she shook her head, focusing her thoughts on what needed to be done now.

She couldn't help but think of the sword she was going to fetch from her quarters here at the palace, where she'd stored it for safe keeping while at the manor. After she stopped by the head Temple and passed on Cornelius's orders, and then the healer's to fix her injury, she would get it, wield it in the battle to come. She smiled internally as she thought of it, a smile both fond and slightly sinister, imagining what the sharp blade could, and would, do to her enemies.

A few of the Learanians had a few final questions. Rina had received her orders; she was ready to move and start putting her pieces of the plan into action.

If those Holy Order Knights have been even this tiniest bit lazy in my absence. . . . She pursed her lips, thinking of the dressing down she'd give them if that were the case.

But.

They were too late; the one possibly safe place outside for the capital had been taken. And the enemy had made them an offer. However . . .

Exchange the Fire Emblem for the Priestess? Was Cornelius mad? Yes, they needed to get the Priestess back, but at the cost of the Emblem? Then again, perhaps this meant that the enemy didn't know that they needed the Priestess; the Fire Emblem was just a symbol without her. However, if this was Cornelius's decision. . . .

"I will," she answered his question. "I will be there." Where the Priestess was, so would she be. If this exchange really was going to take place, she would be there.