Tigris dangled upside down off the edge of her bed, flipping a dagger in front of her face in boredom. Roche huffed at her loudly, throwing a fresh set of linens into a chest at the foot of the bed.

"You're going to stab yourself in the eye!" she said snappishly. Tigris rolled her eyes.

"Have you forgotten that I'm a trained warrior?"

"I bet I look like a trained warrior when I'm upside down as well!" Roche countered. Tigris flipped over with a wave of amusement bringing a smirk to her face.

"No, you still look like a twig upside down."

Roche scowled. From the doorway, a low chuckle sounded. Aodh leaned against the doorframe, watching the scene with a small smile.

"Roche looks like a twig from every perspective," he added, much to Tigris' amusement. She realised, with no small amount of relief, that Aodh looked a bit better than he had in the morning. He'd avoided her and Finn all day, opting to do patrols in the upper town instead like he couldn't bear to be around the castle.

The last wisps of smoke had finally dissipated from the halls. The moment that the fire had ended, the knights were instructed to open every window in the castle to help air away the smokey, charred scent that had clung to every surface. The castle's patrons had walked around coughing for a few hours, but now, only the library was still thick with fog.

Roche stuck her tongue out at Aodh. "At least I don't look like... like..."

Aodh's smirk widened. "Go on," he goaded. Roche's jaw clenched in frustration and Tigris couldn't help but laugh.

"Give her a second, she'll get there."

Roche's scowl deepened. She huffed in exasperation and stormed towards the doorway.

"I'm going to get a bedroll. When I get back, you both are getting the insult of a lifetime!" she shouted over her shoulder. Aodh jostled her as she passed.

"I'll be waiting," he teased. Roche growled as she stormed away, the frayed ends of her hair swaying behind her. The two royals watched her go, their mirth fading with the maid's departure.

Aodh cleared his throat, the silence suddenly stifling. "It's nice that you're allowing her into your chambers for the night," he admitted quietly.

"Well, I couldn't let her sleep in that smoke-filled closet. Even Verita isn't sleeping there." she mumbled rubbing her neck.

"Still," Aodh replied with a shrug, "It was nice. I was thinking we could have a sleepover with Finn again, like we used to. Just to help him out tonight."

Tigris frowned. "Have you seen him at all today? He seems like he wants to be alone."

Aodh crossed his arms. "He's been holed up in his room all day. Kai said that he's been resting."

"Then we probably shouldn't bother him."

"Too late."

Tigris and Aodh spun around to the doorway, finding Finn leaning against the doorframe. He still looked terrible, but not as bad as he had in the morning. The ring of raw skin around his wrists and neck had been neatly bandaged, and Kai must have forced him to sleep because the shadows under his eyes looked less heavy. His hair was still limp against his head, and the whites of his eyes were still blood red, but all things considered, Finn actually looked alright.

"What are you doing here? You should be resting!" Tigris snapped as Aodh leapt up to guide Finn to a chair. Finn waved him off, his lips twitching like they wanted to smile.

"Leinos said it's better if I walk around and get my blood flowing," he replied smoothly. It wasn't lost on Tigris that his hand gravitated to his bandaged wrists.

Aodh's eyes darkened at the sight. "We should have never used that foul creature's blood."

"What?" Finn sputtered, whirling on his brother, "Is that what you think is the problem? Not the man who put me in chains?"

"That man is our father. And the king," Aodh said softly, even though his eyes flashed. Tigris' heart plummeted as Finn scoffed, turning to her with an almost frustrated expression.

"So? He shackled me to a wall!"

"He shouldn't have done that," Tigris conceded, "But we also probably shouldn't have used inkblood. We're lucky it helped us this time, but next time-"

"Unbelievable!" Finn interrupted, his jaw clenching tightly. His gaze swung between Tigris and Aodh accusingly, "I suppose you both think it's my fault that I got locked in the dungeons, and that it's my fault that the library burned?"

"Of course not!" Tigris replied instantly, before she could even think through the words, "Father was absolutely wrong for that. But we can't say that we did everything right."

"By using inkblood?" Finn countered, "Isn't that a bit hypocritical? After all, Father used it-"

"Finn, you've seen how inkblood can be used maliciously," Aodh chided, gripping the pommel of his sword like he could fight the treasonous words in the air. Tigris fell silent as Aodh continued, "Remember the plague? The incident with Irulia? Not to mention a woman warped our father's free will for her own use. Inkblood is evil!"

"Yet it was used to conceive me," Finn replied evenly, his eyes flickering with shadows, "So what does that say about me?"

Aodh hesitated. "You're not evil," Aodh said. Finn raised a brow.

"There cannot be one standard for me and another for everyone else. Have you considered the fact that inkblood may not be the problem? Perhaps it is the hands that wield it?"

"What sane person would try to wield that power?" Aodh argued.

"Those that have none. Those that have been wronged. Anyone who feels that they must. Tell me, is that not why you first picked up a sword or gun? To gain a new kind of power?" Finn countered. Aodh sputtered, speechless. Tigris kept quiet. Since the incident with Orpheus, she'd long since re-evaluated her stance on inkblood. Though many of its users tended towards malice, the substance itself seemed neutral. Perhaps Finn was right.

Of course, admitting that aloud would be treason.

Her youngest brother lifted a brow when Aodh fell silent with a troubled expression on his face.

"Don't you see? Father has it all wrong! He's been slaughtering people for nothing! We can't let that continue!"

A shock of fear raced through Tigris at the fervent light in Finn's eyes.

"What do you propose?" she asked gently, afraid of the answer ready on Finn's lips.

"Easy," Finn straightened, "You need to assume power."

"WHAT?" Aodh and Tigris shouted together. Finn blinked at the both of them. Tigris' mind went blank at the utter nonchalance on his face.

"Finn, Father will never step down on his own, and I will not usurp the throne," she hissed, grabbing him by the shoulders roughly. Her heartbeat thundered in her ears. She prayed the guards outside the door hadn't heard anything.

Finn scowled at her. "What more evidence do you need that he is not a fit ruler? He has slaughtered his civilians! He has lied to a foreign nation for his own gain! He threw me in a dungeon for doing what he did!"

"Finn!" Aodh shouted, his voice sharp enough to cut, "Enough!"

Finn didn't even look at Aodh. His eyes were locked with Tigris. Tigris' chest tightened.

"You're right, he's done many things wrong over the past few weeks," she admitted, "But he deserves a chance to change."

Finn snorted. "He did change. He changed and burned his own people! Things could be different if you ruled."

"You realise how taking the throne sets a different precedent than inheriting it, don't you?" Tigris countered. It was a point she thought she'd never have to tell her scholarly brother. "Taking the throne shows impatience. Impudence. It shows a lack of respect to our father that I cannot abide, nor will our people."

Finn looked like he'd been punched in the chest. He stepped back, his eyes burning viciously.

"After everything he's done, you'll still let him rule? Even while your people are suffering?" he hissed, "Even as I suffer."

Aodh shook Finn by the shoulders. "All you have to do, for now, is shut up. Then you won't have to suffer. Just lay low. Things will change."

Tigris swallowed. This conversation was so wrong on so many levels, and she felt the wrongness in her core.

"Above all else, we have our morals. I am not a thief. I will not steal the throne. Perhaps things will be different when it comes my time to rule, but there is still a lot I have to learn," Tigris said quietly, waiting for Finn to meet her eyes before adding, "I know you're upset. But Father isn't perfect. I saw him break when Mother died, I know his weaknesses better than anyone else. But, inkblood aside, he's still a good ruler to most of the people. I will not take that away from him and stir unrest in this kingdom."

Finn shook his head. "You don't understand," he pleaded, "I've seen what he'll do. I've seen what you'll all do if you don't listen to me."

"Keep in mind," Tigris added, her discomfort fading into simmering ire, "I overheard your little conversation with Roche. I know you still believe in those visions, just as I know that you're driving yourself mad listening to them."

"How can I not? They've proven to be true over and over again!" Finn asked, his hands curling into trembling fists. His bandages began to spot red with blood.

"Finn-" Tigris tried to warn him, but her brother was already shaking his head vehemently.

"I can't believe you won't trust me on this."

"You're asking her to commit treason!" Aodh snapped, his eyes wild with fear and anger. He stepped in front of Tigris, crossing his arms fiercely, "You need to let this go. If Father heard this he'd do a lot worse than lock you in the dungeons."

"Right," Finn sneered, an ugly expression on his face, "And I suppose you'll stand by and watch him commit such an atrocity like you did today?"

The words hit Aodh like a slap. Tigris dragged him back a step, opening her mouth to yell at her idiotic youngest brother when the door swung open. Roche bustled in, carrying a heavy bedroll that obscured her vision. She sauntered in confidently, unaware of the tension in the air.

"Princess, you won't believe what I found next to this roll!" she exclaimed cheerfully before she slammed into Finn's back. Finn let out a small oof barely managing to keep his balance as Roche struggled to hold onto the thick roll. She peered over the bundle in her arms, her eyes widening. "Finn? What are you doing here?"

Finn's cheeks reddened. He looked away, storming past her. "Nothing," he growled, "Wasting my time, apparently."

The door slammed shut. Tigris squeezed Aodh's shoulder, dread settling heavily within her.

"Give him some space, but keep an eye on him. Don't let him do anything stupid." she warned. Aodh nodded solemnly, his eyes stormy. Wordlessly, he walked out the door. Tigris watched him go, worry flurrying in her gut.

Roche stared at her, brows furrowed. "What was that about?"

Tigris turned away. "Hopefully nothing."

-------

Tigris couldn't sleep. She tossed and turned, the sheets wrinkling beneath her body uncomfortably. Roche snored away on the ground comfortably, oblivious to her lady's struggles.

Tigris growled in frustration. In her mind, all she could see was Finn's sneer, ugly and hateful. She never wanted him to look at her that way again.

All of a sudden, Roche's snoring halted. The maid shot upright, her hair askew. She looked around wildly, her eyes glazed with sleep.

"Roche?" Tigris asked when the maid didn't go back to sleep immediately, "What is it?"

Roche blinked, her eyes owlish and gleaming in the moonlight. "I... I thought I heard something."

"There's no one in the halls but the guards," Tigris said, trying to coax the woman back to sleep.

Roche shook her head. "Not in the halls. On the beach."

The hairs on Tigris' arms rose at the eerie statement. She threw her pillow at Roche until the woman seemed more lucid.

"Stop being creepy, you were just dreaming. Now go to bed!"

Roche huffed, tucking the royal pillow beneath her with a satisfied hum. Before Tigris could protest or demand her pillow to be returned, Roche was snoring again.

Tigris laid back, her favourite pillow gone. She was far too lazy to get up and get it.

"Great," she muttered, staring up at her ceiling without a wink of sleep, "Just great."

A/N: And so this ends yet another arc! I know this chapter was a bit short and a filler chapter, but I wanted some normal banter between Tigris and Roche before everything goes crazy in the next arc. What do you think of the story so far? Any predictions?

Finn seems to be getting the brunt of the king's injustice and that hurt my soul to write :( Also, I know Tigris seems a little OOC for not doing anything with the information she has, but I promise that there's more to it :D Hopefully the next arc will give everyone some details that will clarify everyone's wacky behaviour.

As always, happy reading!