An Uneasy Truce

Standing in the middle of the shattered battlefield, Nyielle gently stroked Ashlynn's hair while cradling her lover close to her chest. Her heart ached at the wounds that had begun to bleed again after Ashlynn's second use of the Holy Flame Blade melted away the ice that froze them shut. 

"Why must you be like this, my darling?" Nyrielle whispered to her sleeping lover. "Why must you push yourself to your absolute limit every time?" She had been like this when she was training with Thane, pushing her body until she was too weak to stand or hold a sword at the end of her sessions. She was like this when she spied on Owain, killing one night after interrogating him and fighting a duel to the death with another one. And she was like this still, placing her own life in the greatest danger rather than risk the lives of others.