Some change of clothes, she mused pulling the leather jerkin in to place.

Gone where the pooling skirts and green silk of the ball gown her father had all but forced upon her, in its place a soft tunic and breaches in the deepest black. Her dancing slippers had been whisked away to her rooms by a bemused member of the Green Foot, these had been replaced by new highly polished boots. Smiling softly to herself she buckled the sword that had come with the bundle of clothes round her waist, the blade was slightly larger than her own but she had a feeling that where she was going that would not matter.

In the dim light of her makeshift changing room she almost did not notice that the final piece of her outfit was not the black woollen cloak she had been expecting. She gently unfolded the deep green surcoat and laid it out fully on the mahogany topped desk, a black stallion with wings of night was embroidered where the golden broach of the riders normally sat. Tentatively she reached out and touched the embroidery, it was the highest quality, in fact the entire garment was well made and she was sure this time that she had not been merely put in a spare uniform. Sighing she added the surcoat to her ever growing list of questions about the secretive Black Shields.

Pulling the surcoat on she left the room and found not Fastion but Donal waiting for her.

"Rider Sir G'ladoheon." He saluted.

She smiled. "Donal, I thought you might be in on this as well."

The Weapon had the decency to look sheepish as he gestured for her to follow. She felt in to step with him as they moved towards a corridor that appeared to be brightly lit, a sidelong glance at her companion gave her enough to know that something was going on. She had not seen that gleam in her companion's eyes since she returned from Blackveil and requested to continue her training with the Bonewood staff – something that she regretted almost as much as demanding that Drent taught her formally dressed – apparently she had only been given a 'passable' level of knowledge before she left. Under the joint teachings of Donal and Drent she had passed the Swordsmaster Exams during the summer, some days working up to the Final Exam she could have sworn the Weapon and Arms Master in cahoots with each other. She was sure that should she un-sheath the sword that now rested against her leg that she would see the tell-tale black ribbon.

As they entered the brightly lit corridor she recognized where they were, this was the main corridor to the Royal family's chambers. Donal did not look concerned as they swept down the corridor growing closer and closer to the Kings rooms. She let out a small sight of relief as they turned in to a small corridor just to the left of the door where two Weapons, whose names had escaped her, stood to attention. This new corridor was much shorter and ended with a large iron door. Without hesitating Donal knocked on the door twice and waited for an answer.

"Everything will become clear soon." He whispered as they waited.

She fought the desire to roll her eyes, when had anything to do with these men ever been simple or clear. She blinked in surprise as the door opened to a bright circular room filled with small tables and large comfy chairs, it appeared she had been invited in to the Weapons common room. But why then the change of clothes… she mused.

"Welcome Karigan Galadoheon." Talman announced as she crossed the threshold.

Fastion smiled nervously from behind the Councilor as she locked her gaze on him trying to convey her dislike of being thrown headfirst in to yet another unusual situation with no word of advice or warning. Satisfied that she had gotten her point across to her friend she let her gaze fall on the rest of the Weapons gathered in the room, many of which she recognized if not knew by name, each of them inclined their head or offered a small smile as her gaze fell on them. Allowing her gaze to once again fall on the stern Talman she found him watching her bemusement clear in his eyes.

"Fastion came to me with an interesting request earlier this evening, he wished to formalize your sister-in-arms status. Of course we will have to see what your Captain says…"

Karigan stared at him, her mind reeling as she tried to understand this man's words. The atmosphere in the room appeared to shift as the Counselor straightened himself, the previously relaxed air took on a new weight and she unconsciously stood a little taller.

"I, who speaks for the Order of the Black Shields, welcome you Sister-in-Arms." Here he paused dramatically. "In blood life begins and in blood life ends"

Welcomes? Her hand raised to the black stallion on her surcoat. She had been dressed in the black of their order, the green of the riders and marked with the Birdman's stead. Had they known all along the secret that she had hidden from even herself, that she had ridden with Salvistar. After all, she noted, Amberhill still remembered her disappearance with the god.

Warily she watched as Talman stepped towards her and murmured the ritual words of the Black Shields.

"In blood we honor our way." He intoned.

"In blood we honor our way." Came the return from the assembled mass.

Welcome child. The words were spoken in to her head, touching her broach she felt the pull of worlds as she faced he who rode in amour of platinum between the stars and the heavens. He held her in his gaze his eyes speaking of many things, her hopes, her fears, threats long gone walking the earth. She shivered as she saw the shadow that inhabited the dark forest cross the wall with an army of corrupted sleepers. The visions kept coming. Black Arrows in Flight. Bodies littering the Battlefield. Towns engulfed in fire. Hummingbirds covered in blood. Dark Forrest covering Sacor City.

You have hidden your gift for too long Avatar. She felt the fabric fall away from her face. The pain and darkness she had come to associate with the removal of her cover assaulted her. Darkness swirled in her head digging in to her senses like knifes, she fell to her knees screaming as the pain intensified.

"Please," She begged. "Make it stop."

A soft touch on her head startled her, the pain ebbed away and she found herself kneeling at the god's feet. Karigan imagined she saw him smile softly. You forget that not all paths are dark. His voice reassured her as with an incline of his head he dismissed her from his presence, letting her fall back in to the empty night.

"Karigan?"

She turned towards the source of the voice opening her eyes as she did so. She smiled as she took in the concerned faces on Donal and Willis staring down at her. Shakily she took their proffered hands and allowed them to help her to her feet.

"The Birdman spoke to you." It was not a question.

Karigan nodded.

"You are an enigma Sister." Talman mused gesturing for Fastion to step forwards. "Fashion will be your guide and mentor in our world, he will make you acquainted with our domain and duties and in return you will join the team working on the Dragonfly Device. I have arranged for your passage in to the tombs tonight."
"But…"She started.

"The soon that blasted caretaker gets used to the idea that you are one of ours the quicker my headaches will go away."

"I bet Brienne will take great pleasure in letting him know." Fastion muttered.

His dark eyes searched her face before resting on her now uncovered eye, smiling encouragingly he offered her his arm like a gentleman. Smiling she slipped her arm through his and allowed him to guide her out of the common room, light footsteps followed them down the corridor, a somber entourage that would pass silently though the castle. As they approached the main corridor where the Royal chambers sat she felt herself getting more nervous, what would Zachary think if he saw her dressed like this flanked by his Weapons. She could not believe he still saw her as he once did, he had fallen for a young fresh faced woman, well-educated despite her common birth, passionate about everything she did. Was he in love with a ghost, a shadow of what she had become. She certainly was not the same person who had stood with him on the tower all those moons ago. Her adventures had made her wilder, more dangerous, a bitterness had crept in to her as she fought against darkness –and yet she had become calmer in the past year, no longer fighting against her fate. Who could love the warrior she had become.

She breathed a sigh of relief as they passed the Kings chambers uninterrupted with no surprises and allowed her attention to turn to her guide.

"Where are we going?"

"Heroes Portal." Fastion replied. "We have recently become aware of something that we had initially discounted as a charm, an ancient custom to drive away lost souls, but I think this may interest you."

She raised an eyebrow in reply knowing that she would not be able to pull anything less cryptic out of the Black Shield until they were below.