Nodding once, Stare grunted and turned back to the faun, and the prone but clearly agitated body beneath her. She pressed the dagger closer in, nicking the skin enough for a pearl of red blood begin to bleed. Albion watched, in intense fascination, his mouth slowly opening at what he had been unable to do.

"I know what you went through," Stare hissed, now lowering her face right to the faun's hair. "I know exactly what happened to you down there. I know the hatred the pain you have for that man - but he should have realised, should have recognised. He-"

For a moment Stare thought she was seeing a mirage. The floorboards around her and the still faun shimmered with a hazy light. It seemed they turned to water, the surface of them bubbling and bruising before -

Woosh, the faun was gone. Sword, body all. And Stare herself was on the floor, kneeling still, and with the white dagger in her hand, the tiny droplet of blood now lonesome, without its host. Then there was the cold press of metal to her neck now and realisation settled in. A small smile came to her face as she recognised exactly how powerful this was, and why Vitruvion wanted her as an ally. Why he thought they could benefit each other, aside from the rude introduction ...

Slowly the feathered being went still, her beak opening wide and a short, amused chuckle roll out.

"Just as talented, I see," she laughed, knowing that now Philomel was right behind her, sword this time holding Stare hostage. Calmly she held up her clawed hands, dagger in her hold. "I am-"

"What did you mean by 'I know exactly what you went through'," the faun's voice spat, pride and strength emananting through it.

Stare wanted to shrug, but the blade at her neck told her it might be a bad idea. So she opted for staying still, on her knees and her quarry now behind her. She could only imagine Albion's expression beneath that mask as he probably stood there, confused and lost. Shock, horror, no idea what to do.

"Easy, I went through it, for far longer too. Four months in fact."

And that was all that was needed. The coldness of the blade fell away. There was silence and -

Click. The point of the sword was on the floor. Stare rolled back her shoulders and slowly stood, happy that they had a sort of resolution it seemed. She kept her hands up though, showing where her dagger was the entire time as she glanced to her right at Albion and told him with firm eyes to stay there, not get in the way. The assassin seemed uneasy - but he obeyed. She was his superior now, after all.

"Oh," was the response from the faun.

The kenku shrugged, "It is what it is," she said, and slowly began to turn.

And raise her eyes.

Grey met black, the world fell away ... faun met kenku.