Jyissi and Rustyn walked side by side, silently. They seemed to have reached an understanding, as Kelly and Arlian noticed with pleasure.

"Have you ever wondered about what you'll do when all this is over?" Kelly asked, almost casually, as the United Faiths were making their way back to Crossroad Keep.
"All this what?" asked Rustyn "this merchant business will never end... unless we make it fail..."
"I suppose you will go back to your temple, right?" Arlian looked at lovely Kelly with a sad smile.
"And you? Will you return to your farm, to be with your father again? Perhaps marry a beautiful farmer's daughter?"
Jyissi just rolled her eyes, as in her mind these two should have just kissed instead of talking nonsense like this all day. She decided to interrupt before it got too awkward.
"I'll go wherever the wind takes me, as Shaundakul commands."
"Such devotion is admirable!" Kelly smiled at her "what about you, Rustyn?"
She just shrugged. Honestly, she had no idea.
"For now, I'll stay with you... you need my spells, I guess."
The other three nodded.

Rustyn's journey there was an odd one. She read Xavier's book while sitting before her shrine of Umberlee on the tiny island, and felt a sting in her heart upon learning what he had accomplished, and what were his last words.
She lives.
Xavier cared.
She cut her hair, sunk a ship and took the gold it carried, then called upon the sharks to carry her to Myratma. From there she walked to Darromar – it was a week's journey, but she bought rations and had no fear of wild animals or highwaymen. For most all it took was looking at them with her sunset eyes, for the rest, she would just use her magic. Everyone thought a lone, thin and short elven woman would be killed or robbed by the first night; she would prove them wrong.
Arriving in Darromar, she just stared at the mighty marble statue towering over the square near the Wizards' Academy.
"You heard of him?" asked an old woman, approaching her.
She looked back at her blankly, not used to have anyone talking to her.
"I... knew him..." she answered hesitantly after what seemed like an eternity.
She quickly turned heels, took Falma in hand and walked away before the woman could ask her any more questions.
The white flowers on Xavier's grave remained, as a memory of her having been there. She had planted them herself.
Rustyn ended up on the Sword Coast after a few months of aimless wandering, visiting some shrines of Umberlee or warning sailors to fear her. Samarach seemed like a destination she would like to see – and she thought maybe boarding a ship this time would mean no ill luck. Umberlee would never harm her anyway.
Not a faster journey than calling upon her sharks, or simply walking, but it was also a perfect opportunity to show Umberlee's power to anyone who might dare to defy her.

Much easier for the other three. Arlian just wanted to see more of the legendary forests, Kelly aimed to spread the faith of Ilmater in new places, and Jyissi looked for the place the wind originated from.

"Um... I think I'll just... stay..." Rustyn pulled at her fingers nervously as the other three prepared to enter the gates of Crossroad Keep.
"Why?" asked Kelly, worried "we can have some rest now, and outside here, alone... not that you can't protect yourself, but..."
"Come on, you have that wizard friend or whatever" Jyissi gently pulled Rustyn's arm.
She tore it away violently.
"What's wrong?" Kelly stopped to look at her.
It was as if a storm was brewing in Rustyn's sunset eyes. So many feelings were fighting inside her... anger, fear, longing, shame. Maybe even slight hints of friendship or something deeper.

Two personalities began arguing within her.

Sand will never talk to me again, after what I did last time.
But you were right, he didn't care about Xavier!
And you did?!
He doesn't deserve you. He still thinks you are a stupid little child who needs protection all the time.
I don't care, I want to see him.
And do what, apologize?!
Maybe...
Come on, he'd kill you on sight or push you away if he knew about it all...
He doesn't know about what I am!
You think he didn't figure it out yet?
Shut up! I'm going! He... if he doesn't know yet... than this... this dream...

Rustyn sighed and bowed her head, following inside after all. Maybe it was another illusion, one that would shatter as soon as Sand would throw her out. But until then, she wished to hold on to this odd feeling of safety, of being cared for again.

Oh, Xavier...

"Rustyn..."
"Sand."
They stood in front of the Merchant Headquarters just looking at each other.
"I..." they said in unison, then walked closer to each other.
Neither of them heard Khelgar frantically calling the other three into the building.

Does he know?, wondered Rustyn.
Does she really hate me?, wondered Sand.
He didn't get closer to any possible solution. But he knew he wanted to talk to her, to be with her. Like in the old days, back in Darromar.
But those happy times of innocence would never come back.

"Sand, I'm..." Rustyn couldn't just add the word sorry.
"It's all right" he said as they sat on a bench "I could never be angry at you."
"Why are you doing this?" she looked up at him, a slightly hostile and confused look in her sunset eyes.
"What's the matter, Rustyn? I care about you, that's all."
Rustyn's eyes widened. Did he really say that?!
Maybe it's time to tell him...
"Can we... go to the library?" she asked hesitantly.
She needed to see if he had any tome ready that he would know from.
"Of course" Sand just smiled and took her hand.
There was nothing in his behaviour that would allude to anything he had discovered.

In fact, Sand knew he couldn't ask Rustyn about the prioress' cryptic words. He was however sure he would find out one day, but not then and there. He didn't want to anger her again – he knew all too well he could never bear losing her again.

Once inside Crossroad Keep's library, Rustyn sat on the desk, and just looked at Sand, as if waiting for something.
Sand lit a candle, placed it on an end table, and looked back at her.
"I am the one who should ask for your forgiveness, Rustyn" he began "I really should have looked for you. But... everyone believed you were dead and..."
Rustyn silenced him with a motion of her hand.
"Not everyone. For him, I lived. As I do."
"Him?" Sand looked somewhat puzzled, though he suspected who she was talking about.
"Xavier" Rustyn looked out to the side, as if staring to a place where only she could see "amin mele ho."
Then slowly, very slowly, she smiled.
"Oh my. It's been a while I haven't spoken Elvish!"
"Rustyn, I..."
"It's so weird, I might have ended up married to a human!" her smile widened.
How beautiful she was...
Then suddenly the door burst open, and Jyissi ran inside.
"Come!"
"What is it?" Rustyn slipped off the desk.

The svirfneblin began a frenetic – and rather incongruent – talk about a murder, yuan-ti, Samarach, and the need to prepare to depart in the early hours of the next morning.
"Wait..."
"We can't!" Jyissi grabbed Rustyn's hand "we need to gear up, pack what we need, and rest before tomorrow!"
"Sand..." Rustyn looked at him.
He nodded with a sad smile.
Jyissi left with quick steps.
"Don't worry" suddenly something sinister flashed in Rustyn's eyes "we will annihilate our enemies!"
Then she quickly exited, too.

Sand stood there for a long time, white as a sheet, some terrible recognition creeping over him. He knew what he saw. As Rustyn began to talk about killing and ran out, her shadow in the trembling light of the candle suddenly grew.
A long, lean shape. A gaping mouth. A fin.
It was the shadow of a giant shark that appeared on the wall.

Rustyn, unaware of what Sand saw, readied her weapons and spellbook on her table, then stepped in the small tub of cold water.
Tomorrow...
She knew they were going on the most dangerous mission of their lives. She also knew she could leave those three to their devices, as there was nothing particular linking them. But after being with them for so long...
"So be it."
She would tell Sand when they came back.
If...
Rustyn had never really thought about dying, at least not killed by some monsters with those other three watching. The last time she almost died, it was her own decision, as she threw herself off the cliffs at Evermeet.
Umberlee...
The water began to boil around her hands as she released some energy.
Somehow, the warmth felt really pleasant. Reclined in the tub bathed by moonlight, Rustyn closed her eyes and wondered about this sudden nice sensation. Her skin tingled.
Maybe it would have felt even better if there was somebody holding her. But she was fairly sure this wasn't anything she was going to experience anytime soon.
She embraced herself and smiled.
Hold me. Just for tonight.
She did not add a name, and later fell asleep in her bed still without saying it.