[see @lordaeronslost for part 1]
The dagger gleamed on the coverlet, polished gunmetal with the smallest hints of blued steel showing through, like stars in the night sky. The moonstone in the pommel glowed dimly, like Elune set high on a winter night. The pieces that matched it were laid out to either side and she stood at the edge their bed, staring at the weapons laid out across the blankets.
She nearly flinched at the gentleness in her husbandâs voice, wondering how many times heâd said her name before sheâd heard. The distractionâno matter the sourceâthat had swallowed her whole was unforgivable.
Iâve gotten soft. Perhaps dangerously so.
Of course, that had been by design.
âWeâre sure theyâre safely settled?â She half-turned toward Keydyn, her brows knitting. âThat nothing willââ
âSiryn will be with them this time,â her husband said, setting aside his whetstone boot dagger. âAnd Lord Sam and Lady Mina will be there, too. Theyâll be fine while the rest of usââ
âThatâs what weâve said a dozen times,â the priestess said with a deep sigh. âMore than that, even. And sometimes it hasnât been that way. It hasnât been fine.â Her lips thinned slightly as Keydynâs hands settled on her arms. For a moment, she squeezed her eyes shut.
âWhatâs really bothering you?â he whispered. âItâs not as if youâre actually capable of staying retired. Youâve tried three times and it hasnât stuck.â
âThis could have been the time,â she said with the barest trace of wry humor. A lump built in her throat and she stepped closer, leaning into his chest and inhaling the scent of woodsmoke and leather. âI just thoughtâI thought it would be different. This wasnât in my plan.â
âWhat was?â Keydyn rested his cheek against her temple, wrapping both arms around her as her head settled against his shoulder. âWere you intending to go out hunting forââ
âYes,â she whispered. âNo. I donât knowâmaybe I was. Maybe I was going to make a request of someone toâto do it.â
âWe knew that something bad was going to happen,â he said softly. âThe minute Jude got that letter, we knew. I suspect you knew sooner than that. Did he...?â
She nodded slightly. âHe did, but the warning wasnât as stark. I donât know why. Maybe he expected me to be able to glean more information from what wasnât in the note than I did. Perhaps he thought Elune would grant me insight. Damned if I know.â
âDo you think heâll join us? Â Be called up like we are?â
Roiya took a slow, deep breath and shook her head. âI donât know. Based on everything I know, Iâd assume that he has duties that will keep him closer to home and considering that we donât know exactly what kind of situation weâre going to be walking into...no.  No, Keydyn, I donât think theyâll be calling him up soon. Not unless he comes as a volunteer.â
âWhile the rest of us are voluntold.â He shot her a grin and pressed a kiss to her jaw, then feather-light one to her lips. âAt least we get to go into this with family. Speaking of, are you ready to eat? I heard a rumor about one last big meal tonight before we have to finish making ready.â
âA last breath before the storm,â Roiya said softly, glancing back at the weapons laid out on the coverlet. âHopefully theyâll be able to see us off from Stormwind.â
âIâm sure that arrangements are already in the works,â Keydyn said, squeezing her one more time before he released her. âDoes she know?â
Her eyes fluttered shut and she sighed. She knew who he meant.
She shook her head. âNo. But by morning, she will. Would you like me to...?â
âIâll have something to send with yours just after dinner.â
Roiya nodded, letting one hand trail down his arm until their fingers wove together. âWeâll make time,â she said softly. âTo make up for it. The three of us.â
âAnd then the five of us,â he said softly, fingers tightening for a moment. âThis time, youâre stuck with me, Roiya Shadowpaw. Whether you like it or not.â
The ghost of a grin curved her lips as she stared back at him. âBold of you to assume that Iâm the one stuck, Keydyn Silverstag. I am far more of a handful than you are.â
The ranger laughed and dragged her close again, slinging his arm across her shoulders. âWeâll see about that.â
âCertainly. And so will any damn spider that tries to come between us.â
âHell. Any fate that tries to come between us.â She reached up to run her fingers along his cheek and jaw. âI love you. You know that.â
âI know,â he agreed. âAnd you know the same of me. I came back from the dead for you.â
âYou came back from the Dream for me.â
One corner of his mouth kicked up into a smirk. âA little bit of both. At least thatâs how Nikus explains it.â
âSpeaking ofâheâs coming with us, isnât he?â
Keydyn frowned, glancing toward the door. âThatâs the impression I got, but you know him.â
âI certainly do. We both do. But thisââ
âI know. Weâll have to see. Have to find out.â
âYes,â she said softly. âYes, we will.â
She didnât like the idea of the druid staying behind. Theyâd need both he and his daughter both in the field as healers at the very least, regardless of the magnitude of what theyâd end up facing. That was still an unknown beyond knowing that it would be nerubians.
To what end and what fresh war they were walking into, the priestess-assassin known as Shadowgrace wasnât certain. All she knew was that after three attempts at retirement, she was headed out again to war.