Running at full speed now and flanked by two males, the female tumbles as her fur catches on the jutting timber. Quickly on her feet, she freezes, panting heavily as she assesses her position. The males slow….and begin circling, behavior more predatory than persuasive. She lets out a single yelp before sitting still, her suitors inching closer….

The High Priestess of Inanna wakes with a start. Sunshine peering in from the nearby window reveals a thick layer of floating dust; a sign, she thinks, nothing’s settled. She closes her eyes again as the pain hits her. She can hear the bustle of medics in the background, and gags as her intubation tube is removed before surrendering again to darkness.

Marnie Baar is in a different room when she wakes again, still haunted by dreams of running wolves, her eyes reveal an exhaustion that permeates far deeper than any resulting lack of sleep would. After assessing her surroundings, she looks to herself. Her limbs, heavy but movable; wounds tightly dressed; her hands are…she brings her hands slowly toward her. That ‘weighty charm’ of hers…missing.

“It’s safe, Mistress.” Marnie turns toward Rowan, who had been quietly sitting by her side. Rowan Rajal, her personal aide and confidante..ever dutiful, had removed the jewel as soon as Varahi landed their commandeered ship back on Sihnon. “Varahi,” Marnie mumbles. “She’s safe, Mistress, as are Li Mei … and the bot.” Marnie nods and allows her eyes to close again while remembering.

Somewhere, the charade of making an emergency landing on Hale’s Moon had went horribly awry. Once landed, her envoy from Sihnon was attacked by plotting, calculating Reavers - without warning. No doubt they were Alliance controlled, Marnie thought to herself, another underhanded accomplishment on their part to control the outer rim. As if remembering something else, she looked to Rowan, “How long? How long have I been out?”

“More than three weeks, Mistress.” The pit of Marnie’s stomach began to churn as she realizes how many fire irons have gone untended. The outer verse on the brink of collapse, and I let myself get distracted by a client, again. And what’s worse, the client could have been an Alliance plant, aimed at achieving a means to this very end… Marnie sighs, time to fish him out, after all my analysis, his identity comes down to only a few possibilities. “Rowan, I need you to scribe a hand written message.” Marnie looks at the two medical staff, prompting Rowan to ask for their leave. Once they’re alone, the High Priestess begins dictating…

“…after some analysis and discovery, I understand now, who you are and what you must be going through…” Marnie continues until Rowan hands her the stylus and seal. “There, it’s done. Now, we need to prepare…if it’s who I think it is…I’ll need to hit the sky. Please secure the guild and all traces and portals leading to my identity. We’ll most likely need to close the guild on Sihnon; but first, prepare Varahi to take over as High Priestess and move her to an unidentified location for further instructions. Li Mei will be fine on her own, but you…Rowan-” Marnie cuts herself off as she remembers yet another detail of the plan they’ve been working on for nearly a year, “your hearing…you were disbarred?”

“Yes, Mistress-“ Rowan begins before Marnie interrupts, “Rowe, from now on, you’ll address me as your equal.” Rowan smiles and continues, “all went as planned, as far as anyone knows, the rebel companion has been duly punished and ousted.”

“Good,” Marnie says as she nods slowly to herself. She seals the envelope and hands it to Rowan for delivery to Hales Moon, “we’ll see how the Alliance stacks up against my Guild-trained operative. Your first job…will be to hunt down my client - once his identity is confirmed - and see that he’s never seen or heard from again.”