Kalys stood on the platform waiting for the train, his hand resting comfortably on the hilt of his sword belted to his hip; his other hand was hidden in his pocket playing with the ribbon he''d taken from her room all those nights ago. He had finally been given word of his sister yesterday, after nearly two weeks of nothing. And even then, what information he''d been given was vague and barely helpful. His grip on the hilt tightened in frustration.


    He at least knew what train she would be returning on and when it was due to arrive, and that injuries had been sustained. They didn''t say how grievous or who had sustained them. He would never admit it to anyone, but he was... worried. It had been so long since he''d worried over anyone like this. Truly worried. He''d been so young when his mother had passed, and his father''s death had been sudden and unforeseen. His grandfather, the only other member of his family he truly cared for, was in good health and had never given him any cause to worry.


    His sister, however—at first little more than a curiosity—had given him much cause to fret since she had managed to burrow under his skin.


    He had left work to await her arrival; it didn''t sit right, shirking his duties for this. But the thought of ignoring her arrival felt worse. Especially if she had been injured.


    Kalys stared down at the train tracks below him. The train was late. He looked down the line, pleased to see it in the distance, the billowing plumes of smoke a dead giveaway. He took a few steps back from the platform''s edge as he watched it come to a stop in front of him, blowing his hair and coat about.


    The doors slid open to the Revenant compartment, and he watched them file out. He recognised Belzar, his eyes narrowing on him. They sent her out with that boy? He appeared uninjured. To Kalys'' credit, he remained perfectly still despite the inclination to change that. The other boy with the bright white hair was hobbling on crutches, various cuts and bruises on his face. Kalys recognised him as well; he had been in that office when he''d picked up Sun after the fight. He had been brunette then. What had happened out there?


    Sun stepped out next, her big bi-coloured eyes widening further at the sight of him. Clearly she had not expected him to pick her up. Her skin was marred with bruises and grazes, and her arm was in a sling, a cast beneath, her delicate pale fingers peeking out.


    Behind her he glimpsed Commander Mercer and the lieutenant but spared them little more than a glance, taking in every injury he could see on her.


    "Kalys," Mercer greeted in his usual congenial tone.


    Kalys''s eyes flicked to him then, hoping his accusation was clear in his gaze. Mercer had watched him grow up and had been a close friend of his father''s. He was immune to Kalys''s looks, but that didn''t stop the younger man from trying.


    He had pulled strings to have a Commander he trusted on this mission with his sister to protect her. The man had failed.


    "Here we all are, alive and well," Mercer told him, almost as if he could read his mind.


    Kalys''s eyes narrowed on him before he beckoned Sun to join him. She looked to Mercer, unsure if she was even allowed to go.


    "Run along, Sun," the man smiled kindly.


    She quickly bowed and fell into step beside him as he led her to the waiting carriage. Once she was safely ensconced inside, he felt tension he hadn''t even realised he''d been holding drain from his shoulders.


    "Was it a clean break?" He asked her.


    She nodded.


    "How did it happen?"


    She looked around like she wanted to make sure they were alone, biting her lip nervously.


    "Do you think we could talk about it in your study?" She asked, her voice almost a whisper.


    That tension he''d just let go came screaming back. He gave her a nod.


    "Are you in any pain?"


    "No, I''m fine."


    The carriage was small enough he was able to lean forward and reach across, taking her bruised jaw in hand and quietly healing it, moving up to the split on her lip, then the graze on the side of her face. She released a shuddering breath as his healing took.


    Perhaps he needed to delve deeper into healing casts so he could start healing the more grievous injuries, like the broken arm.


    "Thank you," she whispered.


    He leaned back, resting his chin on his hand as he watched her. It would be good to have her home. The rest of the ride was silent, her gaze fixed outside the window, but she didn''t seem to be taking any of it in, biting at her lower lip, brow furrowed. She was clearly troubled by whatever had happened.


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    When they got home, he helped her out of the carriage, mildly surprised she took his hand without the look of irritation she usually did the few times they''d been in this situation. Something had disturbed her; he was pleased she was going to confide what that might be.


    They walked quickly inside, one of the maids taking Sun''s duffel, likely to go and wash the contents. Sun greeted the woman with a small smile and a quiet hello before they marched through the manor to his study. She preceded him inside, and he closed the door firmly behind them as she took a seat, waiting for him to do the same.


    "You said you never read the journal," she began hesitantly; it didn''t sound like an accusation, more like she just wanted to be sure.


    "I haven''t," he affirmed.


    "Is it forbidden?"


    He had to think on that. He had never expressly been told it was. "I think it''s more heavily advised."


    What did their family''s journal have to do with what had happened to her?


    "Has anyone else in the family read it? Besides people like me, I mean."


    "Not that I''m aware of."


    "What about... the mission I was sent on, do you know much about it? Commander Mercer sent reports ahead once we made it back to civilisation; did you read them?"


    "No," he replied simply. He had not been given access, and that still grated on him. "Where is this going, Sun?"


    She looked around again, as if she feared the walls themselves had ears. Finally, she leaned forward and spoke low. She spoke to him of her mission, the objective, and what they found when they got there. What she found behind the veil. The encampment and its strange machines, the cages meant to house creatures they shouldn''t even know exist. How she had only recently learnt of their existence. She unleashed a torrent of questions—how much did they know? How did they find out? Why were they so interested? Could it really have something to do with chasing longevity? Maybe even immortality?


    "Immortality?" He repeated.


    She stopped then, like she had just remembered something.


    "It''s in the journal," she said, her voice going low again. "When... we kill people, animals even, we... take it. For ourselves. It lengthens our own lifespan."


    Kalys sat very still, barely breathing as he processed the words and just what they meant for Sun. Given how many people she''d killed when Perdition discovered her, she must have hundreds of years stockpiled. How was that possible?


    "Are you sure?" He asked, managing to keep his voice from cracking on the words.


    She gave a little one-sided shrug. "That''s what the journal said. But I have noticed... when I do kill something, I feel... revitalised."


    She looked a little revolted as she said it.


    Their father had never mentioned anything like this, not even the hint of a whisper. And Kalys had no doubt he''d read the journal, possibly several times over since it had been given to him at a young age, to help him understand what he was and how he fit into the world. If his grandfather knew anything about it, he had not said anything either.


    Knowledge of the Traverse wasn''t bountiful; most people knew of its existence, though possibly by other names depending on where they came from. But monsters running about in there, the veil between the worlds, and the Illusen link to the other side—these things were not common knowledge; some of the things Sun had spoken of he was only learning for the first time himself.


    The fact that they had sent Sun specifically had to mean Perdition knew more than it was letting on. And given the events that had transpired out there, Mercer, Cage, and the two boys would at the very least have some inkling of things they shouldn''t even know about now.


    He was far more interested in reading Mercer''s report now. And somehow, he needed to know what they knew.


    The Academy had known about Sun for years and not said a word to him. While he hadn''t wanted to believe Perdition Command might have something to do with it, it was getting harder to ignore the possibility.


    "I want to read the journal," he told her.


    "Now?"


    "Not right this second; I will collect it when I want to get started. And you still haven''t told me how your arm was broken."


    "Cullen got dragged into the Traverse by one of the creatures," she explained. "I went in after him while Seph tried to figure out a way to keep the rift open. We had to fight it; it threw me. I think it was hitting the rocks that did it."


    He felt his breath leave him, his gloved fists squeezing tightly enough the leather creaked.


    "You entered the Traverse without being sure there would be a way back?" He seethed through clenched teeth.


    To her credit, she didn''t shrink, but he did catch a flash of fear, and that wasn''t the reaction he wanted. He had decided quite some time ago he didn''t want her to fear him. But contrition... Contrition and remorse he would have liked to see. The promise that she would never do it again would have been welcome.


    "It happened quickly," she replied. "What else was I supposed to do?"


    Not enter the Traverse. Not risk herself that way. How was he to tear down the veil and come after her if need be?


    "Where were Mercer and his Lieutenant?"


    "We got separated."


    Kalys forced the tension out of him with a breath. It was in the past; nothing to be done for it now. He would just have to wait out the sick feeling in his belly at the thought of her being so far beyond his reach.


    He needed to learn more of the Traverse and of the power her kind possessed. It was also clear he needed to ramp up her training with water and ice. It was obvious by now she would be no maiden groomed for wifery and motherhood. Time to dispense with the gentle arts and teach her how to survive the path she was taking.


    He found he didn''t mind she would never be the pinnacle of a refined young lady he would be proud to marry off. It was easier to accept he''d made a mistake in trying to make her one. Courtly manners and grace were all well and good; he expected those from her. Flower arrangement and the correct way to pour tea would not help her in the field. And he expected she would be spending far more time out there than entertaining suitors or prospective in-laws.


    "I will have a physician come and check your wounds," he said. "I assume you will want to see Nicholai now that you''re back."


    She nodded hopefully. "Zen, too."


    "He is away on his own evaluation."


    Her mouth dropped open a little at the news. Kalys had been keeping an eye on the two boys, considering how close they were with Sun. He didn''t like it, but they were important to her. And it was in both his and Sun''s best interests he knew everything that went on with those closest to her.


    "I will send for Nicholai, but you will see the physician first."