Larksong Grotto With apple blossom in her hair

A voice rang from the southern side of the territory that bordered the grotto, and the Cardinal felt his entire, meticulously built world come crashing down around him. It was as if time had stopped completely and he could only stand stunned with dismay. Hiram had not forgotten the voice of his ex-mate -- nor could he. It haunted him at night when he slept. Many a night he'd wake with her name on his tongue. "Saena," he'd whisper into the darkness to no one in particular. Other nights, he'd wake up screaming with fright. Not even Raas could protect him from the night-terrors of the Heartless One. Either way, Hiram always felt the heavy burden of guilt heavy upon his back when he woke.

His reckoning approached. The demons of his past had come to knock on his door.

The fear that gripped Hiram's heart was fleeting. The Lord had granted his daughters to him -- He would not strip them away from his care so easily. No. This was a test of faith. The Cardinal found his strength renewed in the power of the Daystar. He knew she came for them -- his daughters, whom he loved with all his being. With a deep breath and a quickly muttered prayer, Hiram set himself toward the border to protect the family he had.