Nova Peak lenore

Masquerade appears, fresh kill in tow. her eyes flicker briefly to the rabbit before returning to her daughter as she begins to speak.

the young woman fascinates Avicus. if she is hubris gone unchecked, then Masquerade is on the opposite side of the coin with boundless humility. "leadership doesn't come naturally to me"—but it does, it does, and Avicus hopes Masque can see that before it gets the better of her. before someone uses it against her, to their advantage.

hell, Ancelin had already tried.

yeh', she says, with a brusque nod. you de'herve ih'.

she mentions training under Augur, too, and at this, Avicus sighs deep enough that she feels the stirring in her toes. i dunno if Augur will come back, she muses. if no', you are Ulfhedinn.

perhaps even if so. paranoia, already lurking within her since the day she was born, has slowly started to snake its dark, cold tendrils 'round her heart.

she needs a deputy she can trust. can she trust Augur, after all that's transpired?

she notes Redd's arrival with another nod and dips her head toward the rabbit at Masque's paws. for you—or so she supposes.