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It had been years since Tryston had dared to step foot into Zena. For years he had been skirting the shadows between Tale and Sauti searching for answers to his 'death' and the betrayal of brothers. It was only now as more and more unfolded that he dared to even touch the borders of Zena. While the man was touched to be in his home area there was still something missing. He needed to scout around and find the best path to home, to getting back so that he could fight. Right now his best bet was to go pick up letters and see if Rhag'na had anymore news for him. After that he would head back towards Tale....to Constynce.

Which in its own way was his true reason for going so far out from Tale. Her wedding had shattered something inside of the male and instinctively he had wandered towards home, towards the comfort of the ice covered mountains and the snow covered lands of Zena. This was where he felt the most comfortable and it was here that he could remind himself of who he was and of what he wanted to one day return to. He just had to be patient and continue working on this mystery and himself. Getting stronger daily with training so that one day he could challenge whoever it was that was behind it all.

But for now letters. He unfortunately had to go into a town on the border to get his mail from Rhag'na, but surely being this far away from the northern mountains meant that there wouldn't be anyone to recognize him. Not that he should worry - most had marked him off as dead years ago. Who would be looking for a ghost now? Any worries of that had disappeared after the first year of his death. At least that was what Tryston believed until he found himself face to face with an image from the past, "Serana." The name escaped his lips instantly before the man reached up to tug the woman into his arms and pull her away from the busy crowd. He motioned for Iska to follow with hopes that the janarim wouldn't maul him as he carried his owner away from any potential watchers.

After a few minutes of walking Tryston finally let Serana out of his arms in the forest area outside of town. At first he just stared at her and then stared some more while processing the fact that she was actually here. Why...why wasn't she home? Tryston frowned before shaking his head, "There's a lot....to explain, isn't there?" He finally asked softly as he stood there beneath the shadows of the trees.

Tryston reached out as if to wipe away Serana's tears. After all these years the girl still cared so much. His gaze softened as he glanced towards the woman who was a sister to him. It was the worry that she was still in the village, the fear that getting her involved could have harmed her as well that had kept him from reaching out. It was simply too dangerous for either of them to have communicated during those years, but now...I suppose I can't really go back now. His hand moved to tuck a stray strand of her hair behind an ear, "It has, but I'm not the only one. You've matured a bit more, Serana."

The icy warrior took a step back and crossed his arms with a sigh, "Well I'm not dead, that's a start." He admitted faintly, "Though many believe I am for good reason. If not then they probably would have made certain to keep me dead so please forgive me for disappearing. It was simply too dangerous to come home and even being here is dangerous." He glanced towards her with a raised brow, "But you...why are you not at home?"

Tryston's gaze narrowed at the explanation. It seemed that the brotherhood wasn't the only group with issues. If even using the term 'issues' was accurate for the corruption going around. The iceling's lips pressed into a tight line at the thought. Had he been taking too long? No, if this was all connected then it meant they needed even more time to solve things. The swordsman scratched the back of his neck, "I'm sorry Serana. That must have been awful on you." Not judging, no condemnation that she was so bold on her own - something that Tryston was against since it obviously was dangerous for the girl - but instead he just offered his sincerity. The brotherhood was his family as well and they had tried to murder him too. That much he could relate to at the very least.

"Seems that we have some similarities." The warrior admitted, "I went on a mission to escort some villagers back to Tale. They had an arrangement for trading with our city, but on the way back we were ambushed. Everyone else believes it to have been bandits, but I saw the brother's mark as I fell in an avalanche. They think I'm dead, but in reality I'm trying to figure out what is happening within the brotherhood to make them kill their own."

"Rhag'na?" Tryston rose a brow in surprise, "He was sworn to secrecy so that is why." The swordsman rubbed his forehead, "Admittedly if I knew that you were out here then...I would have informed you somehow as well." If anything Serana had been one of his charges in the past and he still felt a dedication to protecting her. Just knowing that she had been on her own now for years made the man nervous. What if she hadn't been able to make it? It would have been another soul on his conscious for certain, "Serana..."

At her pleading the swordsman sighed, "Hold on." He reached out to touch her shoulder's as a comrade, "It is not that I think you are weak. The problem is that I can't even rejoin the brotherhood yet. We're biding time until we can change things, but at the moment we don't even know who the true enemy is." His brow furrowed in frustration, "Right now I'm tracking down information in Tale and someone innocent is in grave danger if my recent discoveries are accurate...I need to pull her from Tale and get her into Zena. But we need a safe place first so that we can plan our next action....I also came to find out word from Rhag'na but so far there is nothing."

"Yes and no." Tryston replied quietly, "We are working on it, but whoever it is has a good veil around themselves. My mentor and a select few, such as Rhag'na, are back with the brotherhood seeking answers while I'm out here trying to find out if my 'accident' is related." His gaze darkened, "For now all we can do is gather, but I have the feeling that there will be trouble in Tale soon. Hopefully that will help us to find out what is going on back home."

Home was a loose word. It had been years after all since Tryston had even thought about that place. Seeing Serana though was like opening a floodgate of memories. So much he had put to the side and ignored in order to focus on the present....so many memories, friendships, and other things that he had left behind in his village. Even if he was more of a loner it didn't stop the bonds of brothers such as Rhag'na or Lyrie. Tryston rubbed his forehead in frustration. There was no point in mourning the past now. He had to keep focusing on the mission and the future.

Though Serana's next comments made the iceling's cheeks darken, "N-no!" He shook his head, "I have no time for such things. She was just a charge who got involved in this mess unknowingly." He glanced towards Serana with a frown, "She's married actually...to someone who may be controlled by whoever it is upsetting the brotherhood." He had found new evidence after all and needed to get Constynce out of there before she was harmed. Tryston's gaze lowered to the ground, "I witnessed some brothers meeting with him at night and have been on the run after a battle with others. They don't realize who I am yet thankfully, but I'm certain things are about to get even more active soon enough."

Tryston's gaze narrowed thoughtfully, "Are you certain it is that safe?" The swordsman studied his childhood friend as he pondered over the possibilities, "I wouldn't want to risk innocents though..." His voice trailed off as he quickly caught himself, "That is if it's a place occupied by others. I wasn't certain of where you are staying, but you seem to be in good condition..." What was she a weapon that had stayed sharp? Tryston grimaced at his own choice of words. After all this time social interactions still were not his forte.

She was presenting some valid points though. Finally after what felt like forever Tryston nodded his head with a sigh, "Give me directions and worse case I will have to take you up on this offer, Serana." His gaze seemed distant as he thought about all the things necessary first, "I'll have to return to Tale and see if we can act there soon....afterwards if it becomes too dangerous I will head to this place. What should I expect there? Is it some tiny hut in the mountains, a cavern, or?"

"Ah, I see." Tryston tilted his head, "Sounds rather impressive." The swordsman had the faintest hint of a smile flicker across his face. Leave it to Serana to find a castle in the middle of the wilderness. It seemed fitting for the lady before him and Tryston was actually pleased to hear it. If bad things had happened to her these past few years, if she had become a rougher character without love then...he wouldn't know how to bare it. I would have never forgiven myself. Or those who had dared to hurt his childhood friend. After this mission he would have tracked them all down. Perhaps the garb of an assassin was beginning to fit him after all. The thought caused a shadow to cross his features before he moved to glance around once more. You could never be too safe after all and if anything Tryston was vigilant.

"As long as your second family can withstand some troubles then it sounds perfect. I don't believe we'll get that big of a group, but it never hurts to have space." Already the numbers were growing first Rhag'na and now Serana? If Constynce joined and then if Lyrie and others were to come...it truly would be a sight to see. He missed it in fact. He missed the brotherhood and being able to wield a blade next to a comrade. One day...one day things would return to how they should be. That much he was determined.

Frowning as he studied the map Tryston traced it, "Seems like a simple enough path though to be honest I would have not thought a mansion would be out so far away from the cities. I will memorize it and then burn the map unless...should I keep it safe?" He questioned as he glanced towards Serana, "I worry about the risk of another finding it should something happen to me."