Condensation

Chorale lay down on her bed. She knew she wouldn't get much sleep tonight--she usually didn't when she wasn't at home or in the forest--but she could monitor what was happening around her better with her eyes closed. When the Amals attacked, she would know and could go fight back. Outside, she could hear the creak of the gates closing. Sunset, then, she thought. @xinoehp512

"Well, I don't know anything about these people, so I won't be much help. You know my skills." Cadenza spread her arms. "Is there anything I can do?"

Chorale looked up, her white eyes flashing. This woman had the audacity to call this her room? Chorale had paid for--wait. Chorale looked back into the hall. Her room was one door over. She stepped back in, her chin tilted carefully down again. "My apologies," she said. "It was an honest mistake." She stepped into the hall with a nod, closing the door. I haven't made that stupid of a mistake since I was just a youth! She shook her head.

"Well, we rescue you, obviously." Cadenza rolls her eyes, a half smile appearing on her face.

Herate jumps into the boat without getting her pants wet, riding the rocking motion until it died down.

Herate motions for everyone to get into the boat. "Come on, hurry!"

Herate helps to push the boat in the water.

Herate, who had been about to dig, dropped the shovel.

Herate ran over. "Can I help?"

I wish! TPBM has read 'tiger's curse' by Colleen Houck.

Daolan walked to the edge of the camp and looked at the beautiful sunrise. The woman he loved, Herate, had gone missing from Wyrn's castle after a mission he had come up with. One of their spies inside the castle had reported that he had heard the alarm go off, then a figure fall out of the window but disappear before she hit the ground. Daolan could only hope it had been Herate, because no matter where that person had gone, it had to be better than being captured or killed by Wyrn. He just hoped she wasn't in trouble or hurting somewhere, and he hoped she would come back. He had asked her why she wouldn't marry him after she turned him down the third time, and she had asked why he kept asking. Neither of them had answered, just turned away. The real reason he kept asking was because he knew that she was the only one for him. If he couldn't marry her, he would keep on asking until she said yes, because life wasn't worth living without her. That was why he stood here every sunrise, hoping she would come walking in. He knew it was probably impossible, but he did it anyway. Because he loved her. A soldier jogged up behind him, breathing heavily. "General? They're ready for you in the command tent." Daolan nodded. "Just a minute, soldier." "Yes?" "Do--Do--" Daolan's head sunk. He couldn't say it. "Missing the Lady General, sir?" "Yes." And he could say it. Could think about the possibility. "Do you think she'll ever come back?" "Begging your pardon, sir, but what us soldiers think is that there ain't nothing other than several deities and a very large problem that could keep her from us for long. She'll be back soon, in my opinion." Daolan stood, hands behind his back, for a long moment. "Thank you. I think that was exactly what I needed to hear just then, soldier. The command tent, then?" He walked away, ready to face another day without her.

Cadenza rushes over, frosting an edge of her cape. "Yeah, what were you thinking?" she asked. "Um, you can put this on your head. It'll help." she told Janice, holding out her cape.

Cadenza's eyes widen.

Cadenza cocks her head and tucks the ice statue into her sash that holds her hilts and blades. She looks confused.

"Um, maybe. How can I help?" Cadenza walks over, her hands behind her back. She creates and catches a little statue of herself making snowflakes, trying to hide it from the others.