For weeks, Davien had been receiving mail from his homelands, telling him of troubles brewing between families, those of his deceased wife, and their neighbors. They had spoken about the matter before Rini had returned to the orphanage, but left it up in the air waiting for something more pressing than petty disputes, or for it all to fade away, so they could make plans for their wedding.

They had discussed it, and looked forward to it. They’d even discussed children, Davien had wanted three, two boys and a girl. Rini had agreed to that number, with an eager smile...children, she’d missed holding her own babes in her arms for so long now.  Then she’d returned to the orphanage in Ventara, to find all had been going well and safe there with Yumiko in charge of the children. Two were to be adopted, Seina was to make a home with Wren, and Iciris was to make his home with Talvari.

She’d gone on with daily life, training the dragonriders for flight, taking care of the children, and waiting for Davien to  finish his business in Midoria, so that he could join her in Ventara. But then, one day, it all changed....

Rini sat in the window of Davien’s room, where she had spent the last night holding the letter brought from Davien’s homeland. Just a few days before, he had come to her, anxious and concerned about leaving her, but at the same time concerned for his late wife’s family, who had been threatened by local authorities for unjust reasons, and Rini had nearly pushed him out the door, encouraging him to fight for what he believed was right.

She had watched as he’d flown out of sight, with a knot twisting in her stomach tightening it’s grasp and increasing the level of foreboding she felt about his parting.   Now, as she held the letter in her hand, she wished she’d asked him not to go, wished she’d told him she wouldn’t stand for it.  In her heart though, she knew that Davien would have gone anyway, and she’d have understood that it was for the cause of  justice that he would have gone to his family’s aid.  She choked back tears as she read over the words telling her she’d never see him again. The Letter read:

                        To Princess Rinia Vevilia,

                        It brings me great sorrow to have to send this letter to you, but it is my duty to inform you of the passing of Sir Davien Lance. Davien fell in battle against a number thrice greater  than our party. It was folly to raise our weapons in the first place, truly, but it seemed necessary to defend our family lands.

                                   I knew not whom else to write, knowing only your name, and the name of the realm in which Davien had made his new home. I hope this letter reaches you...

            With it, I send Davien’s possessions. Everything he carried with him is returned to you.  I send him back to you as well, though I fear he shall take some time longer to reach you  than this letter...I feel it only fitting that he receive a proper funeral, and be buried close to those he loved.

                                                                  May better fortune be yours.

                                                                                                                    Marcus Garin

She lowered the hand which held the letter to her lap, staring blankly out the window. She could only assume that Marcus Garin was a relative of Davien’s deceased wife, she wished he’d talked more about his past...knowing so little now was a thorn in her heart she could hardly stand. She could barely believe it all and she didn’t want to. Davien had meant so much to her, and to everyone else who’s heart he touched.

Rini stood and moved from the window, the letter held tight in her hand, showing spots where her tears had marred the ink. It was time she notified her sisters. She carried the note with her as she moved down the hall. How would Circe take it? How would those boys he’d been training for knighthood handle knowing their hero would no longer be there? She let out a heavy sigh as she reached the room where at least one of her sisters was likely to be, and knocked, holding her breath as she waited for a beckoning voice within.