"You don't do that," hissed Vaeron, his blade swinging out into the air.

One of the Lily warriors gasped as their general slumped to the ground, her eyes wide. She slipped off her horse, running forwards to Maverick's aid as the rest took a up a steady position around the fox-faced Veridian, the huge mage on his black steed, and what was peeking out now from behind the fox.

Celandine watched as one of the strange men detached himself from the side of the other two and ran to meet a short, funny looking woman. She saw papers being shown, and tipped her head as the adults in her life began to seethe. Personally all this was a show to her, of people demonstrating with weaponry and magic, calling one another names and being rude. They were the leaders of armies, the proud sons of kings, yet also sounded so silly. She smiled a little at the strange man talked to his new friends who had appeared and seemed happier amongst them. She hoped he, the man in the robes with the slightly curved blades and honour in his stride, would find a better day with those he was with now.

Much different from Vaeron. Her father.

He was turning on the man who had struck down Maverick.

"You," he hissed. "How dare you -"

"Shinsou vaan Osiris," Veridian interrupted him. His foxy mouth moved and he spoke true and direct words. Eyes of gold settled on the silver haired warrior, he who had been the creator of this generation of the Brotherhood, and dear lover to his beloved soul-sibling Philomel. Now a name she refused to speak.

He tasted the words around in his mouth, as did Celandine. To him they tasted bitter, to her they were like liquorice. Interesting. Not quite sweet, a little tangy.

The people around them seemed to go silent. Only the tera'k made a quiet huff. The Lily warrior who had run to her general worked to get Maverick back to her feet, desperately and swiftly as a stalemate seemed to settle. Ones holding bows had them lowered to the ground but Celandine, Veridian and Vaeron knew how swift they could be pulled and released. They had been holding them steady since first entering the sieged city.

Slowly, Shinsou looked over to Veridian seated on the bovine mount. Veridian stared right at him, intensely, holding onto the reins tight and baring himself strong.

"You have disappointed her greatly," he said quietly, "greatly. She will no longer speak your name and her memories of you are but scars that she aches to be rid of. You are dirt on our shoes, the scum of the earth that lines the road the Gilded Lily walks down, and the sworn enemy of Drys herself. You and your kin are given this single warning to leave."

The fox took a breath, before he learnt closer.

"You have broken Philomel's heart," he whispered, disgusted at him, "and I know because it beats in mine. You have spoilt and broken everything you had."

There was silence. Long and horrible.

Vaeron bade his horse come forwards. "We demand you leave this country."