Shadowguard

After weeks of endless stress and attempts on her life, the end was finally in sight. Everna knew her mother only wanted to ensure her safety — any good mother would prioritize their child's life above all else. But so long as Shroud remained in Pendel, she'd never be safe. None of them, except Arden, seemed to grasp that concept.

Wil held his hands up. "Osain tried. She refused to listen."

She chanced a glance at her uncle; he shook his head, his lips pressed into a thin line. He was of no help. Fine then, she'd just have to deal with this as if she were dealing with the Courts: cold facts and nothing more.

"That's a great idea, until someone finds Landen in his cell and realizes something's wrong," Everna said, her arms crossed as she turned back to her mother. "Then what? I'm stuck somewhere alone while the whole plan falls apart and all of Shroud is looking for me?"

"This is not a courtroom. Don't argue with me."

Everna released a sharp breath through her nose, her fists curled at her sides. Leah's ring shifted against her finger. Fine, two could play at that game.

To Wil, she said, "Contact Leah and tell her where we are. Have Corden mobilize the Guard in case someone needs to come and save my ass."

"Evelina, I'd leave Ever with the armor," Mayor Ashburn added. "She's not entirely wrong; leaving her here completely undefended is just as bad of an idea as taking her to Godwin."

Beside her, Wil muttered, "This entire thing is a shit idea. This wasn't supposed to be a raid."

"Sounds more to me like none of you thought this through," Everna pointed out.

Her mother's half-hearted glare confirmed her suspicions.

With grumbled protest, Wil and Arden retreated into the room across the hall while she and her mother set to swapping outfits. It was an uncomfortable situation; her mother's armor cared little for modesty. The leathers sat flush against her frame, her chest as exposed as it was in her festival gown. The edge of the set stopped mere inches below the junction of her thighs, and dark boots rose to just below her knee. There were no sleeves, only a thick leather halter strap to hold the top in place and a pair of gloves accompanied by gauntlets that stretched to her elbows.

"I don't understand why people wear this stuff," Everna grumbled, buckling the narrow belt beneath her breasts. "What on Iridia is this supposed to accomplish? I look like a harlot playing at a rogue."

Her mother pulled her hair from the back of the robes she'd tossed her earlier and twisted it into a loose knot at the back of her head. "Trick of the trade, dear. For those of us who can't rely on brute strength and heavy metal plating for defense, we have to find other means."

"Meaning?"

"There's a common misconception that coverage means protection, and the heavier the material, the better," she said. She reached over to adjust the top a bit more. "The only thing it truly protects is modesty. Each type has its uses, but they're not without their flaws, either. I've seen men impaled by their own plate and burnt alive by heated metal because they believed their chain was enough to make them invincible. Mages and sorcerers, however, have survived battles in bathrobes without a scratch because of their protection spells."

Everna glanced down at herself and frowned. Her father always said that armor could be as much of a hindrance as not. Plate was heavy, as was chain. Leather only offered limited protection; a sharp or enchanted blade could tear through it with ease. Judging from the magic radiating from the leathers, it likely had some sort of protection added to it.

"Don't let the ignorant fool you," her mother continued. "Armor like this isn't for the appeal, though some take advantage of it. It serves to make your opponents predictable. By appearing exposed, you lure them into a false sense of security. Most don't think in combat; they rely on instinct, and instinct demands they find the weakness and exploit it."

"And by creating the ideal conditions for that instinct to take hold, you control their actions," Everna muttered.

The Inquisitors used a similar concept; though meant to conceal and protect their identities, their unnerving appearance made their jobs much easier. They looked like animated shadows rather than people in robes, and they took advantage of that. People were more likely to speak under duress, and their imposing figures aided in that endeavor.

"Exactly," her mother affirmed. "Don't think you can rip the sleeves off a set and all is well. The enchantments make it practical; without them, you really are just a harlot running around in costume."

"I still feel like one," Everna muttered. She tried to pull the bottoms down farther, but they wouldn't budge.

"It's not for everyone. Nothing wrong with that," her mother said. Then, after a few more final adjustments to her robes, she held out her hands.

With an almost careless wave of her hands, her mother cast an illusion onto herself.

It hit her then, how similar she looked to her mother. Her face hardly changed; only the slightest glimpses of aging vanished before her eyes. Her cheeks sat a touch higher on her face, and her eyes were a little wider, but no more. The bun atop her head disappeared, replaced with a mess of short copper waves.

"Right, then. I think we're ready," her mother said, her voice several pitches higher and lacking the low timber it normally contained.

"Do I really sound like that?" Everna asked, cringing. "Gods, no wonder people think I'm a child."

Her mother smiled, dimples pocketing her cheeks. "You can be squeaky sometimes, especially when you're annoyed."

Everna scowled. She was beyond annoyed at this point.

"Do not leave this room. Do not open that door for anyone but us," her mother said. "Gods so help me, if you try to do anything stupid, you will never leave the tavern unsupervised. This is not the time nor the place for defiance. Do I make myself clear?"

"As crystal," Everna said, forcing her voice to remain neutral.

Her mother studied her for a moment, then her shoulders sagged. "Look, dear, I know you don't like this, but it's well beyond you. Just stay here and let us handle it. Don't try to be a hero. It never ends well for anyone."