The Griffin Knight’s search had not been a difficult one. She only had to follow the pull of the power so similar to the runes etched into her helmet and sword. And so she found herself deep within the vast forest of Central Esterlin, having tracked The Faceless and their captive, Princess Elyn, closing in on Aurora the Thief Witch’s hut and the powerful book, Midanyami.

The Faceless currently possessed the mind of the Thief Witch, who was trying to fight them off at every turn. The going had been slow, and The Faceless could not find where the witch’s hut lay within the woods.

Starling, the Griffin Knight, had to sit back and think about how to approach the scene. Though The Faceless was alone, no brigands to protect them this time, their magic would be enough to stop her in her tracks. Her thoughts turned to Sixellia’s princess, the one currently tied to a thin tree and seeming to enjoy herself.

The woman, with her short orange hair and soft red eyes, seemed to be enjoying herself. Elyn’s silky, low cur dress with its split up both sides of the skirt and heeled shoes, all red though the dress had black trim, contrasted against the soft white ropes that held her captive.

Though Elyn enjoyed her predicament, Starling could see a degree of fear behind her eyes in knowing that the love of her life was possessed by a dangerous wielder of magic.

The white rope encircled Elyn’s ankles and above and below her knees, fusing her legs together and keeping them tied to the small tree. Her wrists were tied behind the tree and further bound to it by a coil of rope wrapped around her waist, further securing her wrists and holding her tighter to the tree.

The final coils of rope framed her chest, pinned her arms to her sides, and even further held her to the tree. She was also without the use of her fire magic, having been gagged by a dark cloth covering her mouth, tied on behind her head and sealing in another two cloths stuffed between her cheeks and depressing her tongue.

Elyn struggled a bit but she knew the ropes were too tight. Even if she wasn’t enjoying herself, she was far too out of practice to find any way to untie herself. All she could do was watch her beloved girlfriend stumble around the woods, arguing with herself as Aurora battled The Faceless for control of her own mind.

Starling watched this scene as well, keeping ducked low and well out of sight before even thinking of moving in. Her mind remained troubled with all that had happened in Esterlin in recent times.

She received a message that Princess Mirelle had been arrested by her own council and put on trial, though that message was soon added on by another that she had been acquitted and the conspirators jailed, though she worried about exactly how both Mirelle and Luna pulled that off and wondered if they had received outside help. In her mind, she thought of Leila, The Shroud, and her usual all-too-subtle ways of doing things and wondered if she had anything to do with dispelling the conspiracy against Mirelle while simultaneously fuelling it...

Her oldest rival never ceased to both amaze and frustrate Starling with her cryptic ways. Though that was once why she admired the woman...

Her thoughts became distracted by the voices from the forest in front of her, first Aurora, then the echoing voice of The Faceless.

“I would never let you find it! What kind of fool would let a mad being like you have that kind of power!?”

“The book is mine! Midanyami is my creation, it is mine by all rights! I demand its return!”

“I cannot allow you to destroy this world,” Aurora said.

“You have no moral ground to stand upon, Thief Witch! Give me the book! Now!”

“You’ll never find it!”

Their argument raged on while Elyn struggled. She seemed to be tied to a tree in the middle of a clearing as though enticing her to attempt a rescue...

“Hmmm...” Starling said to herself. “It must be a trap. Does The Faceless know I am tracking them? They must.”

Despite her madness from the new runes, Starling remained the stalwart Griffin Knight at heart that she always was since she arrived in Esterlin. And rescuing Elyn, deliberately made to look like the perfectly distressed damsel? The Faceless must have known that was just a duty Starling would not refuse. Trap or not, Starling would have to try to rescue Elyn. But, for now, she remained tucked away and out of sight in some desperate hope that she might be able to catch The Faceless off guard.

With the argument raging inside Aurora’s mind, Starling drew her sword and tried to seize the opportunity, keeping to the bushes surrounding the clearing. She crept as close as she could to the tree Elyn was tied to, her gaze flitting between the captive and the captor. When Aurora’s back was turned, Starling leapt into action.

Emerging from the bushes, Starling charged to the tree and made to begin cutting the ropes off of Elyn’s body... when she found herself frozen, unable to move. The runes on the sword and helmet glowed brighter and Aurora turned around, eyes completely white, speaking in a distant, echoing voice. The Faceless had won out for the time being.

“You come to me again,” The Faceless said. “Did you fail to learn from the last time, Griffin Knight?”

Starling found herself dropping the sword again and forced to stand up straight, perfectly still.

“I had hoped it would be you they would send to recover their friend. I knew you could not resist the chance to save her.”

The Faceless stepped closer and seemed to stare straight through the helmet covering the Griffin Knight’s head. “And yet I see you knew. But your code, you honour, would not allow you to flee. So you hoped to find me with my guard down. Intriguing.”

With a wave of their hands, the black armour and chainmail fell from Starling’s body, gathered in a neat pile on the other side of the clearing. Clad now in nothing but a one piece garment of leather that clung tight to her body like a swimsuit, Starling was quickly surrounded by the same sort of white rope that bound Elyn. It coiled around her ankles, calves, and thighs, pinning her wrists behind her back and then binding her arms and torso, covering her chest and keeping her arms tied from elbows to shoulders. She was forced to the ground, on her stomach, where further rope pulled up her bound ankles, attaching them to her wrists before a dark cloth was shoved into her mouth, knotted and kept between her teeth in a cleave gag, tied off tight behind her head. The muscular knight then found her ankles secured to the strong cloth that gagged her, forcing her head up into the strict hogtie.

Now laying on the ground beside Elyn, tied up and gagged just as tightly, Starling began struggling in earnest but there wasn’t much use against the tight ropes without knots to pick at.

“Here we are again, then,” The Faceless said, looming above Starling. “Now, you two will stay out of the way. While I get this witch to tell me where she has hidden my book.”

Reaching up to her head, Aurora stumbled and turned away from the two captive women, her voice returning to her. “I already told you that you’d never get your hands on it!”

“And I have told you the book is mine!” The Faceless said, taking their voice back. “Tell me where it is!”

While this argument resumed, Starling and Elyn shared a glance and the Griffin Knight tried to speak.

“Mmll frmm ymm,” Starling said, muffled by her gag.

“Ymm cmmt rmmcphh,” Elyn said, shaking her head.

Starling shuffled on the ground, trying her best to reach out with her bound wrists and pick away at something, anything, that was holding Elyn to the tree but her hogtie prevented any significant movement and she could only just barely reach Elyn’s ankles. Though with no knots to find on her either, it was clear that Elyn was right.

“Fghhkkk...” Starling cursed into her gag. “Dghhmmn rghmmnnpph...”

Elyn closed her eyes and focussed her mind, keeping Starling in her thoughts.

No need for such language from such a pretty knight, my dear.

Starling took a moment to look up at Elyn, confused, who just nodded to her, confirming that she had, indeed, spoken within Starling’s mind.

Yes, that’s me. This is about all I’m good for right now, I’m afraid.

I must apologize for failing to rescue you Starling thought. I knew it was a trap and yet-

Don’t worry. That runs in our group. I hear Meryn is particularly keen on running into traps she knows about.

Starling grumbled into her gag and laid down on her side, trying to give any relief to her neck from the uncomfortable position she was in.

I’m sure my friends will be here Elyn’s voice said. This break has been kind of nice, actually. I don’t like what’s happening to poor Aurora but at least she hasn’t given up the book’s location.

A small victory then Starling thought back, responding to the voice in her head.

I must say, you seem very calm for everything that’s just happened to you. I doubt someone like you is used to being in these... situations.

Better to keep calm Starling thought. Panic and frustration just make things more difficult.

True words. Hang on... I hear someone.

The witch?

No Elyn’s voice said. Someone... treading softly. So softly I don’t think anyone could notice. Apart from me. Like they’re... actually a shadow.

Starling’s piercing green eyes hardened and she thrashed about wildly in the grass, growling into her gag. Leila...

You... know who that is?

Have your friends not told you about The Shroud? Starling asked with her thoughts, the anger in even them more than evident.

Oh well... they did catch me up on some things. Just what has been going on in Esterlin since I’ve been gone?

Starling didn’t get a chance to answer as the shadows themselves appeared to move in front of them, covering them both. The Faceless didn’t notice this new presence just yet. A voice spoke to them both.

“Starling... I see you’ve been having difficulties.”

“Mmmrrghh! Dmm nmmt stmmrt, shgghrrmmmdd!”

“Hush now. There is not much time. I trust you heard of the situation with the princesses and its resolution, yes?”

Elyn raised an eyebrow but the shadow seemed to ignore her.

“Mmt wmmph ymmm....”

“All of it. Yes. One half at Nara’s direction. The other at my own. I told you I do not work for the pirate, Starling.”

“Mmmff...”

“I would free you but.. I have no time for a fight. The Faceless must be stopped.”

Starling growled again, muffled by her gag, glaring up at the shadow that was Leila. “I see that look on your face. You believe I refused to help the Sixellian Princess? I may have led others to believe there was nothing I could do. However... I knew this would happen. You have your duty. And I have mine. With The Faceless neutralized, we can turn our full attention to Nara the Blade. Though defeat is impossible, perhaps driven out of the witch’s mind, The Faceless can be reasoned with. And you know there is no one who can make others see reason better than I, Starling...”

Starling just growled again, shuffling about in her tight bonds. Leila, still in shadow form, reached down and cut the rope binding Starling’s gag to her ankles, allowing her to rest her head. “Enemies we may be, but you cannot claim we were never allies... and that I never did anything kind for you.”

“Mmmnnpphh...”

“Now... to work.”

The shadow moved behind Elyn and the princess felt the ropes being gradually cut away, feeling herself get more and more mobility back to her body. Eventually, she pulled the gag from her face, spitting out the cloth in her mouth, and untying the one now hanging loosely around her neck.

“Thanks... shadow lady,” Elyn said, not certain who she was even talking to. “Though I was rather having a good time...”

Leila ignored what she said for the time being and Elyn felt someone take hold of her arm and the world suddenly faded around her and became incredibly pale. Looking to her right, she saw a tall, caramel-skinned woman with dark hair and pale eyes staring at her. She was dressed all in white.

“What did you-”

“You’re with me in the shadows now,” Leila said. “It will keep us undetected by The Faceless One for the time being.”

The two crept silently toward Aurora, still battling The Faceless within her mind and stopped just behind her. Leila whispered an incantation and let go of Elyn’s hand. She remained in the shadows with Leila.

“Now you no longer need my touch to remain here. I will send you back when we are finished.”

“What am I to do?” Elyn asked.

“Reach out to the witch’s mind. Your voice will give her strength. I will enter her mind and help push The Faceless out. Once that is done, prepare to run. They will not be distracted long.”

Elyn nodded. “Okay. What about the Griffin Knight?”

“I will get her away from here. You must focus on the witch. Let’s get to work.”

Elyn said nothing more and closed her eyes, reaching out to Aurora’s mind with stern concentration... but it was as though she hit a wall.

“That’s a lot of power keeping me out...” Elyn said to herself. “But I’ll find her. Nothing can block our link...”

Clenching her fists, Elyn had an image of Aurora before her mind’s eye and broke through into her mind and spoke to her. She felt a wave of relief. It had been days since they had spoken to each other.

Aurora... I’m here. It’s me.

“Elyn...” her voice answered her back. “Where are you? Let me see you...”

I’m not here... still outside. But I’m free now. I can finally reach out to you.

“Mi amor... it is heavenly to hear your voice again. Such things it does to me...”

Fight back, my dearest love. Push them out. You can do it.

“The Faceless is so strong, Elyn... I don’t know if I can...”

You have to. I am not the only one helping you...

“What?”

Their voices went silent when they heard the echoing shout of The Faceless, turning their wrath upon another.

“An intruder! From the shadows! Who dares to interfere!?”

The figure in white appeared before The Faceless, her pale eyes cold as ice. Leila snapped her fingers and her heavy staff appeared in her hand.

“By the power granted to me by the very shadows themselves... from both light and darkness and beyond the veil between... I shall cast thee out of this woman’s mind!” Leila said, raising her staff.

“You couldn’t possibly have the power to...” The Faceless trailed off as a great gust of wind knocked them back and they could barely keep themselves standing. “How!?”

Elyn saw Aurora then, raising her hands and holding them in front of her, fighting off the influence of The Faceless.

“My strength... it returns!” Aurora said. “Get out of my mind!”

“I... won’t! You can’t... I will...”

Though they were making progress, the sheer power possessed by The Faceless made it a struggle that seemed endless. To Elyn’s mind, it looked to be an impasse as neither The Faceless nor Aurora and Leila together could seem to gain the upper hand.

But while that battle of the minds raged on, a final presence arrived in secret in the clearing, looking down with a smug grin at the bound and gagged Griffin Knight.

“That look always did suit you....”

Starling snarled into her gag, thrashing about on the ground, pulling against her bonds with all her might but they were just as inescapable as before. Strong as she was, the ropes of The Faceless were just a bit stronger. But her mindless rage, the need for vengeance, it began to consume her when she looked upon the pale hair and cold, blue eyes of the pirate captain standing above her.

“Didn’t expect to see me, did you?” Nara asked. “Turns out some people aren’t as smart as they think they are. Hell of a ruse, though, setting up my own man to take the fall. And playing both sides? That Shroud is a woman after my own heart...”

“Mmmrrghhh!”

“Oh hush, you,” Nara said, tapped Starling lightly with one of her boots. “I’m not here for you. This time. Though, if things work out, I might just have to take you with me. I always have been fond of trophies...”

“MMMRRGGHHH! MMMMNNNGG! NNMMMPPHHH!!

Nara just chuckled at Starling’s fruitless struggles. “Now... where is that shadow-y scumbag? I’ll tell you, Knight, much as I didn’t like you storming my ship, people that betray me... oh dear. They get it so much worse.”

Nara’s eyes drifted into the woods for the moment and she smiled wide again. “But I’ll bet she could take me out as I am now. Which is why... I figured out where the book is. Sit tight, my darling. I’ll be back.”

Starling growled again into her gag, struggling wildly, drenched in sweat, and shuffling away after Nara, trying desperately to stop her... but there was nothing she could do.

“Hgghhmmmm!!” Starling called out, trying to get anyone’s attention. “Stghmmp hghmmrr! Shghmmph gghmnng tghmm shtghhlll thggmm bghhhmmkk!”

Even if anyone had been able to listen to her, Starling’s muffled, garbled voice was useless behind the gag so it was likely nobody would have understood her anyway. She laid her head down in the grass and growled into the gag again. Why didn’t that idiot just untie me!? I could have stopped this... she thought to herself.

...

The raging battle within Aurora’s mind remained at a perfect stalemate. Even Aurora, with all her strength, and the immense power of Leila was not enough to push The Faceless from Aurora’s mind. Elyn tried to help, reaching out to Aurora’s mind and encouraging her but neither side could find any advantage, pushing back and forth against each other. But something finally seemed to happen when The Faceless spoke up, their voice booming yet not shouting. They were oddly distant...

“The book...” the voice hissed. “Midanyami... it’s here!”

In an instant, The Faceless left Aurora’s mind, leaving everyone a little baffled.

“They mentioned the book...” Leila said. “Could they have found it?”

“I refused to tell them where I hid it so, unless someone brought it here...”

The two women looked to each other and Aurora realized then that Elyn was no longer speaking to her mind. Everything had fallen silent all at once.

“Time to wake up, I suppose,” Aurora said.

When she next opened her eyes, she was in the clearing of the forest again, only this time she was facing something she hadn’t been expecting. Around her, both Elyn and Leila returned from the shadows and in front of her stood Nara the Blade, holding the leather-bound book in her hands, reahing it out toward The Faceless.

“Come on. I’ve got it for you. I did tell you I’d find it for you, yes? And even after you went to all the trouble of taking over my mind.”

Aurora watched the devious smile curl Nara’s lips. “No! Don’t give it to them! You’ll destroy everything!”

Neither person was listening and now the gathered people could only watch as Nara handed the book over to its creator, who finally grasped it in their hands. The figure in the tattered cloak, covered in cloth like bandages, with a dark hole under their hood where a face should have been... flipped it open and the wind around them began to pick up. Dark clouds filled the sky above them and began swirling, with lightning bolts arcing and flashing all around them.

The Faceless stared at the open pages, feeling the great power returning to them... but became alarmed at the state of their own mind.

“What have I created?” The Faceless said. “What is this... madness?”

Nara just folded her arms, the smile remaining plastered to her face. “Having trouble?”

“I have not held it for so long... I had forgotten why I hid it away in the first place. It is too much power. It corrupts. It brings naught but madness. This book, Midanyami... it must be destroyed!”

The other four had not been expecting this reaction and looked to each other, baffled. But The Faceless closed the book and held it high above their head. But before they could do anything to the book, Nara shoved them and grabbed hold of the book, wrenching it from their hands. She quickly flipped through the pages. To Leila’s eye, Nara looked purposeful, like she knew what she was doing. She must have been researching this ancient book...

“Interesting...” Nara said. “I can’t feel its power yet. However...” her eyes turned to Leila and, with the book open in one hand, she held her free hand out to Leila. “Is betrayal thy watchword of this day? Then let this curse mete justice and have your way!”

In less than an instant, Leila felt herself caught up by tremendous power, unable to summon her staff or do much of anything, really. Her armour and clothing practically dissipated, leaving her in thick cloth that wrapped up her chest and tight underwear and nothing more. Tight ropes lashed her body around the ankles, calves, thighs, pinned her arms, held her wrists behind her back, framed her chest and held her immobile in place. A leather panel with a rubber ball forced its way into her mouth, strapped on tight behind her head. She tried to struggle against it but there was nothing she could do. Nara had rendered her helpless with the power of the book in seconds.

“Aurora, stop her!” Elyn said.

“I can’t... I don’t have that kind of strength.”

They could only watch as Nara continued to grin from ear to ear and The Faceless, torn from their powerful spell attempting to destroy the book, fall to the ground and immediately into a deep sleep. Somehow, Nara had known this would happen.

“Don’t look at me like that,” Nara said, as though being able to hear what they were thinking. “I haven’t planned this all along, you know. I just improvised, using knowledge I already have. Though I didn’t expect this one to turn on me.”

Nara pointed at the struggling and grunting Leila, now tied up and gagged just as tightly as her rival. The pirate nodded toward the Griffin Knight, still fighting her own bonds in the grass.

“You two probably won’t let me take her with me, right? Shame. But this one here, The Shroud, she’ll have to suffice. She and I are going to gets all kinds of familiar with the power in this here book, aren’t we?”

“Mmmph,” Leila grunted, glaring at her captor.

“One more little spell then,” Nara said, smiling wickedly. They could already see the book’s effects in her glassy eyes, her terrifying smile, her crazed tone of voice... “If what they covets is the comfort of home, take yourself there by command of this tome!”

Nara waved her free hand again and, with a bright flash, she and Leila disappeared, quickly finding themselves back on her ship. She kept up her smile, watching Leila stand there and struggle with her impossible bonds in the brig of The Blade.

“Well well... the mighty Shroud. How about we give this book a test run, hmmm?”

...

In the clearing, Elyn and Aurora were stunned by the sudden turn of events. The dark clouds disappeared, the lightning stopped, the wind died down... but The Faceless remained stuck in deep sleep. And the Griffin Knight was still hogtied and tightly gagged on the ground.

Elyn set about freeing Starling while Aurora checked on The Faceless, picking up their wrist and finding a pulse. “They’re still alive. But... I don’t know what happened. The magic they were summoning, it was interrupted. They were going to destroy the book but I suppose the interruption must have done something to them.”

“We should get them to Fivellin,” Elyn said, helping Starling to her feet. The knight started gathering up her armour and chainmail.

“I agree with the princess,” Starling said. “Fivellin is a secure place and they have much larger forces than Fort Quatran. The other two will be best suited to looking after them and perhaps keeping them contained, if need be.”

“All right. But what about The Shroud?”

Starling shrugged. “Got what she deserved, as far as I’m concerned...”

“Someone ought to rescue her,” Elyn said. “We wouldn’t be standing here without her.”

Starling sighed. “You cannot possibly be looking to me to-”

“Do what you will,” Aurora said, stopping her short. “Mirelle and Luna will help her. But you are honour bound to help them are you not?”

Starling growled under her breath as she finally pulled the chainmail up over her body, slipping her arms into the sleeves protected by thick cloth. “If I must...”

“Then we’ll get The Shroud out of Nara’s hands. Or they will, at least.”

“Are you not... joining them?” Starling asked.

“When we get The Faceless back to Fivellin... Elyn. You and I should hide away for a while.”

“What?”

“Just for a while. We can still help but this... this was too much. We both need rest. Everything that’s happened it was just... it was too close for comfort,” Aurora said.

“As long as we keep helping... okay,” Elyn said. “And we know Mirelle and Luna are both capable of doing what needs to be done. But as soon as we’re rested, we help them in any way we can.”

“Agreed,” Aurora said. “Now.... dearest Griffin Knight. Could you help us carry this person please?”

Starling had finally fitted herself into her armour again and growled under her breath once again. With her helmet on and her sword attached to her belt once more, she hunched low and picked up the unconscious form of The Faceless and slung them over her shoulder like they were nothing.

“Let’s go. There is much to be done,” Starling said.

With her mission more or less accomplished, Starling led the two women out of the forest and toward the north where Fivellin lay. She couldn’t help but shake her head. “One problem after another...” she muttered to herself. “I will end that damn pirate...”

Though she was reluctant to admit it, Leila’s interference had more or less saved them. And both Mirelle and Luna would want to rescue her. So that meant she would have to save her oldest rival. Part of her did want to anyway. After all, their endless duel would never continue or find its ultimate winner if Leila was to be the prisoner of a pirate. There was no way Starling would let that happen.

Story Theme Song: Darren Korb- Knights of the Sea