Season Unending, The Children of Kyne, Vol. III Options

[Kane]

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Content warning: this story should be considered 18+. Sexual content is present, but never described, and I don't shy away from foul language (though it seems to be censored). There is also darker content further in regarding sexual assault.

Prologue
It could be said that Skyrim was a cold, harsh land, unforgiving to outsiders and barely tolerant of anyone but a true Nord. Fortunately, those times have passed, and the sun shines brightly upon a healing landscape. The scars of civil war and dragon crises fading to memory as a new High King and his court sought to pull the land up from the depths of a crumbling Empire. An Empire in name only, its once powerful alliance spanning the entirety of Tamriel, now relegated to Cyrodiil (or the Heartland, as the Nibenese and Colovian nobles preferred to call it), High Rock, and, of course, Skyrim.

But now Skyrim stood to rise above the rest, and usher in a new era for a floundering society that still scurried from the inevitable boot of the Aldmeri Dominion. Hope began to inflame the hearts of men, for the Dragonborn King was rumored to be setting his sights upon the Ruby Throne, and the weak Mede Dynasty that occupied it. From his palace in Solitude, forces were directed and diplomats dispatched as the pawns of war moved slowly but surely. The Dominion was forced out of Skyrim with an ultimatum, and the land was finally back under the full rule of the Nords, as it ought to be.

The year is Two Hundred Twenty-nine of the Fourth Era, and the gears of war have started to turn, as the land braces itself for the Second Great War that was always to come. It was also the year that a mid-level member of the Anvil chapter of the Fighter’s Guild was loaned to the storied Companions of Jorrvaskr, in the city of Whiterun. This talented young warrior of Redguard descent suddenly found himself sailing to a strange land and leaving behind the only home he ever knew. Little remained for him in Anvil after the passing of his mother, so he looked forward to a new chapter of his life, far from the painful memories of home.

The first mate, a stout Imperial named Janius, approached the young Redguard with a roll of parchment and a quill. “Name?”

“Cain. No surname.”

“No surname?” inquired the First Mate. “How can that be, young man? I have it here that you were born and raised in Anvil, and joined the Fighter’s Guild when you came of age. Your mother is listed as Ariessa Janeel, also of Anvil. Do you not share her name?”

“In the absence of my father, she did not bestow it upon me.”

“Bastard then, eh? Unfortunate, but I see it all the time. What is your business in Skyrim?”

“On loan to The Companions. For what reason I do not yet know, but I will follow my orders from the guild and my future employers.”

“An honorable attitude for a young warrior, mister Cain. It’s a long voyage to the port of Solitude, so all we ask is that you remain civil and pitch in a helping hand when required.”

Cain nodded and the first mate moved on to speak with a different passenger. It was indeed a long voyage, filled with many sleepless nights while the ship bobbed and rocked on the choppy waters of the sea. The occasional storm would blow in and everyone from the captain to the lowest deckhands were grim-faced and determined as they struggled to keep the passengers safe from the onslaught of high waves and powerful winds. Nearly a full month passed before they sailed beneath the great arch of Solitude and nestled the ship into the port. All hands helped to moor the ship before the passengers eagerly disembarked in a new land.

A tall Dunmer man of middle years stood in wait on the pier, clad in worn hide armors with a longsword slung across his back. Years of experience lined his weathered face, eyes deep set and wary as he scanned the faces off all those who set foot off of the ship. When Cain approached the man, he flagged the Redguard down and directed him off to the side.

“You must be Cain,” he said. “Fresh from Anvil, yes? My name is Athis and I’ve been sent by our Harbinger to retrieve you. The Companions welcome your aid, but we have a long journey to Whiterun yet. Ordinarily I would accompany you south on foot, but we are already short-handed and will be taking a carriage.”

“Nice to meet you, Athis. Lead the way �" this is a strange land for me and I defer to your judgement.”

They shook hands and departed the port at a quick trot. A carriage sat in wait along the road to the capital city, and soon after Athis handed the driver a bag of Septims, the were trundling along the road to Dragon Bridge, headed for the southern road to Whiterun Hold and Jorrvaskr �" the legendary mead hall of The Companions. Despite being in an unfamiliar land, Cain found himself excited at the prospect of these new horizons and the change of pace from the last few months of misery that followed the death of his mother. He bowed his in prayer for her before striking up a conversation with Athis.

“So, what’s it like being in The Companions?” he asked. “Are things much different from the Fighter’s Guild?”

“Oh yes, quite different. Every man or woman in The Companions is their own. We have no leaders, just a Harbinger who is wise in counsel and offers a guiding hand. There are no ranks to elevate to and no coveted positions to fight for. We take the jobs we must and your shield-siblings will be ready to stand with you. Honor is valued above all else.”

“Interesting. I must admit, the lack of politics seems hard to believe. Everything is so much about rank and station in the guild that often times our true purpose is forgotten when the infighting picks up. Jobs go unanswered in the chaos and brawls turn deadly over simple differences of opinion. I might end up staying here for a long time if life is to be more peaceful in that regard.”

Athis chuckled. “While we do strive to rise above such petty squabbles, you’ll soon find that Jorrvaskr is anything but peaceful. However, our brawls usually end with hearty pats on the back and consuming copious amounts of mead, rather than misery and death!”

“Sounds like a dream come true, Athis.”

“That’s a very Nordic attitude, young one. Are you sure you’re a Redguard?”

“The color of my skin betrays that,” laughed Cain. “But who knows, maybe my father was a Nord, whoever he may be.”

The Dunmer smiled and their conversation moved onto other topics. Athis went over the finer points of The Companions with him and eventually moved onto the current political climate and powers that be in Skyrim. Cain listened with rapt attention, absorbing all the he could to avoid any run-ins with local laws and to avoid misunderstandings, no matter how small they could be. Just as the sun began to set, the carriage pulled into a small village and ground to a halt. Orthar, the driver, dismounted and told them they would continue on in the morning. Cain and Athis hopped down from the wagon and followed him into the local tavern, the Frostfruit Inn.

“This is the village of Rorikstead,” said Athis. “A fine place to spend the night. Grab us some mead and I’ll see about getting a meal. No sense in sleeping on an empty stomach.”

He left the inn as Cain was ordering a few pints of mead and a loaf of bread to munch on. Experience had taught the young man never to consume spirits on an empty stomach, and so he found a table off to the side and chewed on the crusty loaf while he awaited Athis’ return. Ten minutes later, his fellow Companion reentered the tavern with a basket of fruit in one hand and a bundle of skewered meats in the other. They ate and drank their fill while continuing to discuss the ins and outs of Jorrvaskr well into the night.

Dawn brought forth cloudy skies and the smell of rain upon the air as the carriage rumbled off onto the road, resuming their journey to Whiterun. By late afternoon, the two men were approaching the gates of the tundra city, and making their way through the bustling marketplace. They passed the local tavern and ascended a flight of stairs whereupon Cain was greeted with a breathtaking sight �" the Gildegreen was in full bloom before his eyes and the immense beauty of the towering tree froze him in his tracks as the wind gently whistled through its branches.

“Aye, a sight to see, eh?” remarked Athis. “Little matches the serene beauty of our mighty tree, blessed by the Goddess Kyne herself. That’s her temple there and the priestess' maintain the tree and those who seek her guidance within.”

“It’s amazing,” sighed Cain. “There is nothing quite as lovely in all of Cyrodiil.”

“Yeah, well, the Imperials already think too highly of themselves. Divines know they don’t deserve such a wonderful symbol as our Gildegreen. Let’s move on now �" Jorrvaskr is just over there.”

Continuing on, Cain and Athis soon stepped through the solid wood doors of the legendary mead hall and were met with the raucous din of the main dining area where shield siblings dined heartily and drank merrily, roaring with laughter and swapping exaggerated stories of their noble deeds. Athis steered him through the hall and down a small flight of stairs to a much quieter living area, with bedrooms lining the underground corridor. The walls were adorned with centuries of decorations ranging from trophy kills to impressive weapons to woven tapestries and ancient, tattered flags. At the far end of the hall two men sat around a small table and were deep in conversation, only noticing their approach at the last minute.

The smaller of the two large men rose to greet them. “Athis, I see you’ve returned with our new shield-brother!” He turned to the Redguard and offered a hand for Cain to shake. “Cain, yes? Welcome to Jorrvaskr! I’m Vilkas, Harbinger of The Companions, and the silent one here is my brother Farkas. He may look intimidating but I promise he is more bark than bite!” Vilkas roared with laughter and sat back down as Farkas greeted Cain.

“Pleasure to meet you, brother,” rumbled the towering Nord. He sat back down and resumed his stony silence while Vilkas spoke again.

“No trouble, then, Athis?”

“None at all. The land seems quiet for a change.”

“Good, I’m glad to hear that. But it’s getting late now �" you two head upstairs and eat. We have a long day ahead of us tomorrow!”

Athis and Cain took their leave of the Harbinger, and his silent brother, and headed back to the dining hall for a good meal and plenty of mead. All in all, Cain was looking forward to being counted among the ranks of such proud, jovial warriors. Jorrvaskr was everything the Fighters Guild was not, and his mind was made up in short order �" tomorrow he would pen a letter to his chapter leader and tender his resignation. But the night was still relatively young, and after stowing what little gear he had under a vacant bed, Cain met Athis upstairs in the great hall.

They ate, drank, and sang well into the night as Cain made the rounds and was introduced to his shield-siblings. More than a few were young like him, and he could not help but eye up some of the female warriors among the ranks, especially Thea, a tall blonde Nord that shared the same birthyear as Cain. He lingered next to her the longest and was in awe at how much mead she could knock back with the rest of the burly men seated around Jorrvaskr. By midnight the two of them had slid out the back door and were getting to know each other better in the moonlit gardens.

The next day came earlier than Cain, still sleeping off the merriment and escapades from the night before, had expected it to. Farkas strode into his room just after sunrise and threw a dossier at him before barking out the Redguard’s first orders.

“Read that and then come find me in the mead hall. You’re heading to Falkreath today and we need to find you a shield-sibling to watch your back, and see what you can do. Don’t tarry, it’s a long walk to Falkreath and the sun is already up.”

Cain sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes before leaving his warm bed and heading for the bathroom. He checked himself in the mirror before leaving and sighed at the long scratches Thea had left on the side of his face. Farkas had likely noticed them, too, but it was probably nothing new to the seasoned Companion. He splashed some water on his faced, headed back to general quarters, got dressed, and went upstairs for his first assignment.

This post has been edited by Kane: May 6 2025, 01:14 PM

[Kane]

Chapter XXVII – Plumbing the Depths


Cain stood by the sealed doors to Dibella’s Chapel and waited apprehensively. At the foot of the altar sat Anska, her warm brown eyes staring confidently at Kyne. He felt nothing but pride and love for the way Anska was willing to expose herself entirely to the goddess just prove her innocence. The doubt needed to be erased, even if he had no plans on returning to Skyrim just yet. But it would be a necessary first step.

Kyne looked at the young woman curiously. Her volunteered willingness to undergo such a deep probe into her own psyche had caught Kyne off guard. She started to question the veracity of the girls’ investigation into the matter the moment the offer had tumbled from Anska’s mouth.

“Are you sure you want to do this, child? There is no going back from here. I will know who you are on a level more personal than even Cain could ever dream of. Every memory laid bare; every thought mixed with my own; every emotion rekindled. Your entire life will be read like the open pages of a book, right down to your most intimate and secluded moments.”

“It must be done,” spoke Anska, without a shred of hesitation.

“Then let’s begin. Please close your eyes and start by taking deep breaths. Focus on the inhale. Focus on the exhale. Empty your mind of everything else.”

Anska heeded her instructions. After nearly a minute of this, she felt Kyne’s warm hands on either side of her head.

At first, nothing seemed to happen.

Then she felt the keen light of the Divine illuminating her soul. Kyne’s presence mingled with her inner self on a level Anska didn’t think possible until, quite suddenly, the goddess spoke into her mind.

You’re doing wonderfully, dear. Keep focusing on your breathing - it may be difficult if painful memories being to surface, but it will help to keep the connection stable.

Everything shifted and suddenly Anska was four years old again, her father, Freca, chasing her in circles around their family home north of Stonehills. The little girl giggled and laughed joyfully while her dad made a show of stumbling around and bouncing into trees until finally he scooped her up and tossed her over his broad shoulders.

Day after day, month after month, and year after year filtered through Kyne and Anska both, the memories eliciting all manner of emotions.
The flow slowed down again and now a girl of nine or ten years old crashed through the thick undergrowth of a lofty pine forest. Blood stained the cold snow in small pools every few feet and soon she caught up her prey. The wounded deer had collapsed lamely in a small clearing, its breathing heavy and ragged. Her father came to a stop behind her just seconds later and laid a hand on her shoulders. “Finish the poor beast, Anska. It need not suffer for us to survive another winter.”

More time raced through their two minds, one Divine, one mortal.

It all blurred faster and faster until a new scene emerged: Anska sat at a small table with her mother, crying into a spotted kerchief. “There there, Anska,” consoled Astrid. “I know first kisses are supposed to be joyful, but there will be other boys. That fool doesn’t know you like we do. He doesn’t realize what a wonderful young girl he is missing out on. You are only thirteen years old and that is much too young to be so distraught over some lump from town. Put him from your mind and hold your head high. Then give him a swift kick in the ass for treating you so!”

Anska giggled through her tears, and everything went dark.

A choking black smoke permeated the world. An inferno raged through the night while a helpless fifteen-year-old girl could do nothing but watch; wracked with uncontrollable grief as her entire life burned to the ground before her eyes. The column of smoke eventually drew the attention of Stonehills, and it was all the men of the town could do to drag her away from the blaze, her hands grabbing anything within reach to fight against them. To do anything but leave. Her parents were in there and the only thing she wanted in that moment was to be with them.

Tears poured from the eyes of Anska and Kyne alike, streaking down their faces and pattering onto the pristine marble floor of the soaring chapel. Cain watched in dismay wishing he could do something, anything, to help them.

The fire was gone. More memories flitted passed as the young girl blossomed into adulthood. They froze again.

She kicked open the door to the small inn, a deer slung over her shoulders. Anska called for the barkeep, Ikor, and then her eyes rested on two new faces sitting at a table near the fire. An elf and a very handsome Redguard. The latter noticed her first and he could not tear his eyes away. She felt herself go weak in the knees, but played it off until they could be properly introduced.

They talked and laughed. They smiled and sang. They made love under a tall tree. And then they slew a dragon. Everything was changing.

All this, Kyne knew, and there were no surprises until they caught up to the present. Memories parsed, the goddess dove ever deeper. The soul of Anska was laid bare; her wants, her needs, her desires. All of her. Smiling to herself, Kyne found all that she had hoped for: Cain had been right to stand by Anska’s side, for there was nothing amiss. She gleaned over the entire life and spirit of a beautiful woman who loved her partner dearly, and who’s heart was stricken by the accusations from her newfound sisters and by the rift between them all.

And then she felt the glimmer of something new. Something precious. The goddess dove to untold depths that lay beyond the spiritual realm and into the physical. Down and down and down and down and down until she found it.

Life. The tiniest beat of an infinitesimal heart.

Anska gasped and her eyes flew open, the connection severed in an instant.

“Kyne! Was that –“

The goddess smiled through fresh tears that were no longer of sorrow, but of overwhelming joy. “It’s exactly what you think it is, dear.” She embraced Anska in a tight hug, her hand resting on her charge’s back. “I’m sorry I ever doubted you. And I’m so happy for you and Cain.”

Hearing his name, the Redguard left his post at the door and joined them near the altar. “It’s done, then?” he asked Kyne.

“Yes. You were right, Cain, and I will see to it at once that the error of your sisters is corrected. I must take my leave now, but Anska has something important to tell you.”

“Wait a sec, mum,” said Cain. “Do me a favor and don’t tell them.”

Confusion lined her face. “What? Why don’t you want me to end this charade? What could possibly be gained from any of this?”

“Anska and I talked about this before; we are going to the Imperial City. The Thalmor embassy there will have answers and we will find them. We’re not coming home empty-handed. I don’t care how long it takes or what dangers we will face but together we will get to the bottom of this.”

Kyne bit her lip in worry. They would be walking right into the hornet’s nest, but it made sense, as foolish an endeavor as it would be. Forces were indeed at play within Kirin’s ranks and Cain just might be able to weed them out from the source. And maybe the girls could help from the other side too, even if they were unaware.

“Okay,” she agreed. “I don’t like it, but it’s worth a shot. Now, I really do have to go before Anska here dances out of her skin in anticipation. I love you both so much.”

A flash of blinding light illuminated the chapel and Kyne was gone. Cain took the vacated seat next to Anska and grabbed her hands. He could tell the experience had taken a toll on her and part of him was sad that she had to do it alone. But the goddess’ Divine presence in her mind had blotted him out while she was connected with Anska, leaving him to watch helplessly.

He could also sense all her angst had evaporated, and been replaced with something new. “How are you holding up? What was Kyne talking about before she left?” he asked her.

“Hon, I’m fine. Listen – “

“Are you sure? I could tell it was difficult. I’ve never seen you or Kyne weep so heavily as you both did during the throes of that. Can I get you something? I think there is still some water in your canteen…”

“No, I don’t need – “

“How about some food? Maybe one of the vendor stalls – “

Anska rose to her feet and yelled down at him in frustration. “Cain Windborne, will you please SHUT UP and let me speak!” She waited impatiently for him to close his mouth and stand up with her. “Thank you.” But she suddenly found herself at a loss for words. Everything had just changed. Their lives would be irrevocably changed. She kissed him deeply, hoping it would help to unstick the words from her throat. “I… by the Nine, I – I can’t believe this is happening. Cain… I… I’m pregnant.”

Time seemed to slow to a standstill around them. Cain stared at the woman he loved in wonder, completely blindsided by the two words she had just uttered. They were the most incredible words he’d ever heard in his life. He was going to be a father. Nothing else mattered in that moment. Not the Thalmor, not his family, not the divines. He leaned in and kissed her more passionately than he ever had before.

The doors to the chapel were still sealed, so he picked Anska up and set her down on the altar itself, their lips never parting until she pulled back to collect herself. “Wait, not here. It would be disrespectful.”

“To Dibella?” he laughed. “I should think it would be the opposite!”

“She’s not just the goddess of sex, lunkhead. I love you, but we need to take a breather. A lot has happened tonight.”

“And it’s everything I could have ever wanted,” said Cain. “I can barely begin to believe it! Your name will be cleared and we are to be parents! Even with everything that’s going on right now, I couldn’t be happier. Which reminds me…” He took off the new backpack he’d purchased earlier and let it slide to the floor with a thud. Then he started undoing the top buttons of his tunic while Anska watched with a raised eyebrow.

“I said we shouldn’t do that here, Cain. Taking your shirt off won’t change my mind. Well… maybe it would change it just a little bit”

“It’s not that,” he grinned as the last button came free. Reaching down his shirt, Cain pulled up a small silver necklace that was tucked down against his chest. Hanging from the end of it was a well-polished gold ring inlaid with gleaming emeralds.

“What is – “

“I’ve been carrying this with me for a couple of weeks,” he explained. “I had it stowed away in my bag, but something told me I would need it eventually, and I didn’t want it to get lost.” He undid the clasp from the necklace and let the ring slide off onto his open palm.

Anska’s breath was caught in her chest, her heart racing at the sight of the ring resting in his hand. She couldn’t believe they were here right now. When they had gone their separate ways from High Gate Ruins all those weeks ago, Anska thought she would never lay eyes on Cain again. Yet here they stood, in a strange town within a strange land, running for their lives with their unborn child growing in her womb.

There was nowhere else she wanted to be.

Never one to not be forthcoming about what she desired, Anska picked up the ring and slid it onto her finger before Cain could even properly ask for her hand in marriage.

“You know what,” she said quietly, examining the ring in a beam of moonlight, “I have changed my mind. Finish taking off that shirt while I’ll get started on your pants.”

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It was mid-morning the very next day when Cain’s shovel broke through the buried mouth of the shallow cave. A scree of loose earth tumbled into a pile at his feet, revealing the small cache of gold and equipment he’d stowed away before his voyage to Skyrim. He passed the shovel to his fiancé, and started lugging out small chests of gold and sacks of clothing and armor.

There was nothing wrong with his sword or Anska’s war axe, so Cain ignored the weapons leaning on the back wall and focused instead on finding his spare armor. The Colovian design patterns would keep him from looking out of place and would compliment the steel plate set the Anvil smithy had set aside for Anska. Pulling free the armor from it’s wrappings, he handed it to her and set about re-burying what remained of his belongings.

While he toiled away, Anska took the gear to a nearby rivulet that ran down towards the sea and rinsed the dirt and dust from the cuirass. Cain joined her shortly after and they departed for the city once again. By noon, they were back on the road and heading due west for the Imperial City. The journey would take several days and they could not rush for fear of garnering any unwanted attention.

Night fell with the two of them siting around a campfire near the rebuilt city of Kvatch. “Are you sure you can't just, ya know, zap us away to the city?” said Anska. “It’d save us one hell of a walk. Not that the countryside here isn’t beautiful or anything.”

“Wish I could, love. But I was only ever there once before and nothing significant happened during that time. All I did was deliver a package for our chapter leader.”

“Aren’t there couriers for that sort of thing?”

“Sure,” said Cain. “I was a new recruit, though, so I guess they wanted to see if I’d survive the trip. These roads are far safer than those of Skyrim, but there are still highwaymen and goblins to be wary of. Or the occasional minotaur.”

“I see. Well, I guess we walk then. How long did you say it would take?”

“At least two to three more days. Anvil is at the westernmost edge of the Heartland.”

“Great. Well, I don’t know about you but it’s been a long day and I’m ready for bed. Join me?” Her eyes twinkled and a slight smile played at the edges of her soft lips. “Or would you rather sit out here alone, staring into the coals?”

“Hm,” said Cain, making a big show of thinking it over. “It is a pleasant evening out here under the stars. Then again, I think I’d much rather be under you.”

They disappeared into the tent while the fire burned lower and lower.


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Hundreds of miles away from that very same raucous campsite sat Elysium Estate, glowing gently under Nirn’s soaring moons, Masser and Secunda. The lanterns and candle sconces throughout dining area of the manor were flickering gently, casting a dim light on the lone figure seated at the large square table just inside the front door. She waited patiently for the tell-tale signs of magickal light in the garden that would announce the arrival of Linneá and Serana. Instead, the light suddenly appeared right inside the door, startling Kyne into a standing position.

The light faded and her champion smiled at the goddess. “Hey, mum. Sorry we’re late – Serana and I got caught up in some new books that were just delivered.”

“How did you recall to that spot?” asked Kyne. “I thought you had only marked my shrine outside?”

“Elle has been peeling apart the spell theory in her spare time,” answered Serana. “She figured out a way to exert some control over where to appear within proximity of the original marked object.”

“Linn, that’s… that’s very advanced spell alteration. That kind of manipulation is usually only accomplished by the more ancient Altmer or Dunmer wizards.”

“Why, thank you, mum! I’ve been working out the kinks for a while now and that was our first test over long distances. I was off a by a few inches, but otherwise I’d call it a resounding success!”

“You never cease to amaze me, dear.”

Linneá blushed deeply and shrugged it off. She headed over to the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of brandy and three glasses while Kyne and Serana chatted at the table. It had been an interesting day for all three of them, for very different reasons. Kyne battled internally over her promise to Cain and it seemed to show on her face.

“Everything alright?” Linneá asked her while she sat down next to Serana. “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

“I’m fine,” she said evasively. “Yesterday was just… I don’t think I’ll be over it for a while.”

“Yeah, well, about that…” began Serana.

Kyne gazed shrewdly at her. “About what, child?”

“Um. Elle and I were talking last night and… uh…”

“We made a mistake,” interjected Linneá. “After all that happened in that village… I don’t think it’s Anska.” She stopped talking and brushed away a tear from the edge of her eye. “The look on her face when I told her… it destroyed her. I hope to never see someone look at me like that again as long as I live."

Kyne’s head lowered into her hands and her shoulders began to rock up and down. Linneá and Serana were both about to slide around to her side of the table and console her until the goddess lifted her head and laughed exuberantly at what Linneá had just told her. The merry sound echoed down the halls while the girls stared at her in stunned silence. Linneá couldn’t think of a single time in her twenty-seven years of life that she had seen Kyne laugh like this.

“This is too much,” she finally said between deep breaths. “I pleaded with you all to just sit down and talk it out and none of you would listen to me. And now look where we are! You two just waltz on in here and tell me how wrong you were not even a full day after I find that out for myself. Pour me a heavy glass, Linn. I think I’ll tone down my divinity for an hour and enjoy this brandy the same way you two enjoy it.”

Linneá and Serana were flabbergasted at what just happened. “Wait, you found them already?!”

“Of course I did. They wandered into one of my sister’s temples without thinking she would tell me immediately. Not Cain’s brightest moment, I can assure you. Especially after the way he cleverly evaded you two.”

“What the [censored]!” exclaimed Linneá. “Were you just not going to tell us?”

“As a matter of fact, I wasn’t,” said Kyne. “But only because he asked me not to. And yes, Anska is innocent, by the way. She freely offered me her mind, and I delved it entirely. You two owe them a major apology; especially Anska. I’m afraid you did break her heart, Linn. The poor girl is devasted over losing her sisters.”

Linneá slumped back in her chair in miserable defeat. There were few times in life that she had felt so thoroughly depressed as she did right now, and she wanted nothing more than to find Cain and Anska and grovel at their feet. Serana’s armed wrapped around her shoulder and she kissed Linneá’s forehead.

“We’ll make it up to them somehow, Elle,” she promised. “Can we go see them, mum?”

“I don’t know if that’s a good idea, ladies. A lot has happened and some wounds are still very fresh. They also got some other important news while I was there, and they need some time to come to terms with it.”

“Please, mum,” begged Linneá. “Please. I can’t bear them not knowing how sorry we are. What if something happens and the last thing I said to them was a threat? I’d never be able to live with myself.”

“…Very well. But not until tomorrow morning, mind you. There is still some residual feedback from my link to Anska yesterday and from what I can tell they are a little… busy, right now.”