At first, Tigris thinks that Roche is playing a prank on her. Her head was clear when she woke up, and energy filled every cell of her body. She felt great, like she's slept a full night and been woken up gently. Which is why she thinks she's being fooled, because Roche has never woken her up gently.

Then her memories caught up to her. Tigris popped open her eyes, her hand darting for her sword. Warm, calloused hands grabbed the weapon and moved it to the side before she could wield it.

"Easy, princess," a familiar voice chided, "We're all friends here."

"Are we?" an unfamiliar male voice retorted. The first voice huffed.

Tigris cracked open her eyes, finding Roche hovering over her. The maid's eyes were shadowed deeply, but her smile was radiant, like Tigris completed a quest rather than just woken up. Sunlight streamed over her rich brown skin. Tigris sat up, her memories catching up to her. They were no longer in the forest but in a nicely lit cavern. She was seated next to a smoking firepit. The floor was strewn with various rudimentary personal belongings that Tigris didn't recognise as her own: a few ragged clothes, blunt hunting knives, piles of wood, birch wood bowls.

"Where the hell are we?" Tigris murmured, stretching, as she glanced at Roche, "Wasn't I..."

"Dying?" Roche asked dryly, elbowing Tigris hard, "You wouldn't have been if you'd just shown me the popped stitch before we left. You're lucky Ikaros knew how to fix you."

"Ikaros?" Tigris sat up taller, excitement filling her, "You found him?"

Strangely, Roche's face shuttered. She leaned closer, shifting so that Tigris could look across the cave. Silhouetted by sunlight, a tall man of Irulia descent stood, staring out into the peaceful forest. He had long, curly dark hair that looked a bit like Roche's and a scraggly goatee that had been very roughly trimmed. He wore tattered grey robes with multiple holes in them. He remained staunchly turned away.

"He's not a fan of you or the king and he refuses to come back to the city with us," Roche explained. Tigris bit her lip, her mirth fading.

"He doesn't like me?" she asked. Roche nodded solemnly and Tigris pressed, "Yet he healed me?"

Roche huffed slightly, glaring at the whisper's back. "Trust me, it doesn't make sense to me either."

It didn't. But if he was willing to heal her, that meant that he had a heart. And hearts were something that Tigris knew how to appeal to. She stood slowly, walking towards the man. Roche didn't stop her, neither did Ivie who waited patiently for directions in the shadows. She turned to both of them.

"Ready yourselves to leave. We shouldn't infringe on his hospitality much longer." she ordered.

Ivie's brows furrowed. "Are we leaving? Without him?"

"Have faith," Tigris murmured, "Perhaps he'll change his mind."

Oddly, Roche scoffed, "Don't hold your breath." Tigris attributed this pessimism to her maid's recent grumpiness and decided to let it go. Roche and Ivie obediently walked out of the cave, the latter casting a concerned glance over at the whisper as she exited.

Tigris walked up to the mouth of the cave. The whisper didn't move as she approached. He simply watched Roche and Ivie run around preparing their supplies. Tigris felt a sense of familiarity as she gazed at the man's face. There was something about his features that seemed recognisable, but Tigris couldn't figure out what it was.

"I'm not coming," the man said quietly. His voice was soft and ghostly with a musical quality, like a passing breeze rustling leaves.

Tigris nodded. "Roche told me you'd said that."

"Roche," Ikaros repeated the name slowly, like he was tasting the syllable, "She's interesting, isn't she?"

Tigris smiled fondly. "I wouldn't have employed her if she wasn't."

Ikaros tilted his head. "She reminds me of your mother's maid. She and I were close friends, once."

Something tugged painfully in Tigris' chest. "You knew my mother?"

Ikaros nodded, his eyes softening. "She was kind to my friend and cared deeply for all of her people. She made your father a better man. I was upset to hear of her passing, she was a lovely woman."

Tigris swallowed down a swell of emotion. "So she was," she murmured, "She wouldn't want her people to suffer."

Instantly, Ikaros' face turned guarded. He turned to her, his eyes dark with shadows. A sharp yet vaguely familiar scent, wild and inky, and Ikaros' obsidian veins pulsed. "I'm not coming with you, my lady." Somehow, he managed to twist the title into something sarcastic like Roche often did. Tigris found herself hiding a smile at the similarity between the two.

"Why not?"

Ikaros' jaw tightened. "Your father still rules, does he not?"

"He does," Tigris conceded with a nod, "Officially. But I have the power at the moment, and you'll find that I will welcome you into the city for the sake of my people."

Ikaros scowled. "Do you realise that your father chased me out of that city once? If he or his court sees me, I'd be dead."

"That won't happen," Tigris assured him, "I have the authority to overrule the court and my father is not involved in this."

"You?" Ikaros said dubiously, "You'd overrule your court's demands for an inkblood?" He emphasized the last word, glancing at her face hungrily for a reaction. Tigris kept her face passive.

"Yes," Tigris answered, holding the man's gaze, "I know inkblood does not equate to corruption. I've met the covens before, they are quite peaceful."

Ikaros' eyes narrowed with suspicion. "Somehow I don't think your father would agree. He hates inkblood and all who have it."

"Then it's a good thing that I am not my father," Tigris replied lightly. When Ikaros didn't look convinced, she lowered her voice. "My own brother has ink flowing through his veins, Ikaros. I do not condemn him for it. I have recently learned that what I have been taught about inkblood may not be what is true. And I seek to atone."

The whisper's face grew more and more wary. Tigris ploughed on.

"What my father did to you must have been a grave injustice," she said, "If inkblood is not as evil as I've been told."

Ikaros pressed his lips together, his eyes betraying nothing.

"I give you my word," Tigris told him, "You will not be exiled from the city. You will be welcome, and your service will not be punished but rewarded. For the sake of my people, will you please come with us to defeat the griffin?"

The words hung in the air. Ikaros, made of words himself, leaned towards them, wrapping the syllables and consonants around himself like a blanket. Tigris noted the gentle sway of his body as he did so. He opened his mouth, his face bright, and promptly said,

"No."

Tigris blinked in surprise, careful to keep her face placid. "And is there nothing I can say or do to convince you?" she asked.

The whisper shook his head. "I'm sorry. But while your father lives, I will not return to the city."

"Not even for the lives of innocents?" Tigris pressed, "Not even for your former friends?"

"Friends?" Ikaros scoffed, "Your father murdered all of my friends!"

Tigris bit back a wince. "What about Verita and Leinos? They must have been acquainted with you. They spoke very highly of you to my maid."

Ikaros' face softened, his contempt falling away. "They're still alive?"

"They are."

Ikaros paused, swallowing heavily. "They were good people."

"They are."

Ikaros fell silent. One moment stretched to two. Then three. A minute passed, and Ikaros seemed unwilling to agree to come, yet unwilling to say that he was abandoning his former friends.

"If you choose to come, we'll be ready soon," she told the whisper, turning around, "I hope you join us."

Tigris walked out of the cave. Roche rushed up to meet her, eyes wide and hopeful.

"What did he say?" the exuberant maid asked, sneaking an inconspicuous look at the contemplative whisper.

Tigris shrugged. "He's thinking."

"Great," Roche deadpanned, "Exactly what we need for a time-sensitive mission."

The words were callous and a bit insensitive. Tigris narrowed her eyes. "He deserves time to think."

"He's had a full night," Roche groused, "He does nothing but think."

There was a clatter somewhere in the corner. Ivie hopped back from a bush, frowning. "Um, there's a bunch of rocks in here." the knight sounded confused. Ikaros moved forward, reaching into the shrubs to rearrange the fallen stones.

"It's my rock collection."

Tigris barked with laughter. "Hey Roche, I think you've found your twin."

Roche glared back at her. "Can we go?"

Tigris paused, glancing back at the whisper. Ikaros had stiffened, but made no move to follow. He turned, apology gleaming in his eyes. Tigris' heart sank.

He wasn't coming.

"Yeah," she murmured in disappointment, "Let's go."

-------

The walk back to the horses was spent with one of the most sullen silences Tigris had ever experienced. Roche had gone quiet and sulky and Ivie was her usual steady but quiet self. The silence grated against Tigris' nerves.

Ivie, thankfully, sidled up to Tigris' side with a gentle rustle of noise. "My lady, forgive me if I'm being too forward but what are we going to do now?"

"I can't force a man to risk his life for us if he doesn't want to," Tigris murmured, feeling the makings of a headache pulse behind her eyes, "We'll have to stick to our usual fighting methods."

Ivie frowned ever so slightly. That was Ivie's equivalent of making a face of absolute horror and confusion. "But Verita said that only a whisper could tame the beast."

Tigris' lips twisted. "We don't have a whisper. We just have us. I'll be joining you all tonight in the fight."

Roche tripped over a root before Tigris could haul her upright. From her spread eagle position on the ground, Roche sputtered. "What?" Roche gasped, "You can't!"

Tigris sighed, a familiar battle steadiness settling her hands. "I'm not leaving the knights to fight alone," she told the clearly afraid maid gently, "Leaders must lead. What kind of ruler would I be if I cowered in the castle while my men and people were this creature's dinner."

"A sane one!" Roche exclaimed, leaping to her feet with mud streaking her face. Roche's eyes were wide and frantic. "Tigris, you can't. You'll die, there's no one to protect you this time!"

"No one has ever protected me, Roche. And I don't need anyone to protect me. I'm supposed to protect my people, and that's what I'll do." she said calmly, fighting the thrum of anxiety that pulsed in her stomach. She couldn't let Roche or Ivie sense her nerves or they'd talk her down. No matter how scared she was, she wasn't letting her knights fight while she cowered. She was a warrior princess, not just a princess.

Roche opened her mouth to argue, and Tigris held up her hand. "It's not like I'll be safer in the castle. The griffin knows about the tunnels. I refuse to be a sitting duck."

Roche's mouth snapped close. The maid ran a hand through her hair in distress. Tigris felt pitiful just looking at the harried woman. She clapped Roche on the shoulder.

"Stop worrying so much! I'll be fine and if I'm not, then you'll never have to do my laundry again!"

Roche ripped herself away, muttering something about spoiled brats under her breath as she stalked away. Tigris watched her go with a painful rush of relief. Roche was a coward, but a brave one. She was like a leech that refused to leave Tigris alone in dangerous situations. Her loyalty and candor were things that Tigris secretly admired, not that she'd ever admit it. Having Roche at her side always felt right, but she refused to put her maid in such a dangerous situation. Despite Roche's bravery, she was no fighter.

And Tigris wasn't going to risk her.

Ivie padded quietly beside Tigris languidly with a feline grace that mimicked Tigris' own movements.

"I will fight with you, my lady," the knight promised without a hint of doubt. Tigris' heart swelled at the pure loyalty in Ivie's warm eyes. "We will fight the griffin. We will keep the people safe, I swear this to you."

Tigris desperately wanted to believe the words, but she had a sinking feeling that without the whisper's aid, they would fail. Tigris turned back to the woods behind her once Ivie had moved ahead.

"Come on, Ikaros," Tigris whispered, sending a silent prayer up to the universe before she followed her knight, not noticing the way her tracks disappeared behind her.

-------

By the time they reached the horses, it was time for lunch. Roche hurriedly made a stew with some game that Tigris shot down while she and Ivie discussed strategy.

"The priority is keeping the city's inhabitants safe," Tigris pointed out, staring at the map Ivie had drawn of the castle and surrounding city.

"So perhaps stationing knights in the upper and lower towns while securing some of them in the castle's defended rooms?" Ivie suggested, marking off several points in the castle, "Do these rooms have tunnels nearby that the griffin might find?"

"They do," Tigris muttered, her mind whirring, "And we can't spread the knights too thinly. We'll need their help fighting this beast."

"Then maybe we can try luring the creature out," Ivie said, her eyes lighting up with the idea, "That worked at the gates."

Roche's sucked in a breath, her large stirring spoon clanking against the edge of her steaming pot. "And Tigris nearly got shredded to death."

"I know better now," Tigris waved off the maid's concern, "That's a good idea. We can try luring the beast out to a secure area."

"Then what, my lady?"

Tigris bit her lip. "If we can't defeat it... then we'll need to think about containing it."

Ivie pressed her lips together in thought. "And risk it escaping again one day?"

Tigris sighed. There wasn't a perfect solution. "It means that the people will survive another day. We need to find something capable of holding a creature of inkblood."

There wasn't much. Her father had pounded the knowledge into her mind that rubber could be used to tame inkbloods, but would that work for a creature? Tigris wasn't sure if she could stake her knights' safety on that. Then again, there weren't many other options left. Tigris opened her mouth to bounce the idea off her battle ready knight when a rustle sounded in the bushes.

"Honestly," Roche muttered bitterly, sprinkling an herb into her stew with obvious fervor while Ivie and Tigris leapt to their feet, "If we're luring it out, maybe we can find some treats for the griffin and make a trail leading out of the kingdom. If it were that easy-"

"Shut up, Roche!" Tigris hissed as the rustling grew louder.

Roche frowned. "I'm just saying. Maybe you don't need to go. Just send out some knights with a few good pastries and-"

"Roche!" Tigris snapped, hefting her sword. Ivie stood in front of her, guns drawn.

"Who goes there?" the knight announced, her usually soft voice surprisingly authoritative. "Declare yourself!"

Another rustle sounded, followed by the crunch of leaves. Then the shrubs parted and a figure rose, hands raised.

"I come in peace."

Tigris lowered her sword, stunned. "Ikaros?"

The whisper shifted shyly, a small sack looped over his shoulder. He glanced at her bashfully as joy filled Tigris' chest.

"I... I cannot abandon Verita and Leinos," he mumbled, "If you'll have me..."

"Yes!" Tigris shouted, too elated to care about propriety. Her people could be saved! No lives would have to be lost. She bounded forward, leading the man towards their small campsite. "Thank you. This kingdom owes you a great debt."

Ikaros grimaced, sweeping his dark hair away from his wide brown eyes. "All I ask is that I can live freely without persecution. No more and no less."

Tigris smiled, genuinely. "I meant every word I told you. You will be granted the right to peace, just like every other citizen in the Faultless kingdom."

The man still seemed shifty, but he let her lead him to the fire. Roche doled out portions of stew. Tigris expected her to be her usual enthusiastic self and demand a load of stories from the reclusive whisper, but Roche merely shoved a bowl towards the man with a thinly veiled glare.

Tigris frowned. It wasn't like Roche to hold a grudge. She grabbed the maid by the collar once she was done serving, tugging her over to the edge of the forest.

"What is your problem?" Tigris hissed, irritation sparking within her, "Be nice to him, we need his help."

Roche's contempt flickered. She lowered her gaze. "Sorry, my lady. I just didn't expect him to come."

"That's no excuse," Tigris accused, jabbing a finger towards the sullen and moody maid, "Do not mess this up, Roche. People's lives are riding on this."

Roche's eyes flashed slightly, but she nodded tightly. "As you wish. I just have a strange feeling about him."

What wasn't strange about this? Tigris was welcoming an inkblood into the city. If her father was coherent, he'd be fuming. But her father wasn't here, and she needed to do what was best for the kingdom.

Roche's eyes softened at her silence. "You're doing the right thing, you know."

"Am I?" Tigris muttered, "You don't seem to agree. And I know my father sure as hell wouldn't. Neither would half of the court."

"They're not in charge right now," Roche told her, placing her warm hands on Tigris' shoulders, "You're the one leading the knights. You're the one putting your life on the line. So if you say that this will keep the most people safe, then I know you're doing what's best. And I will support you, no matter what. Screw those stuffy nobles!"

Tigris' lips twitched at the treasonous statement. She clapped Roche on the shoulder, and they both were a bit less tense as they walked back towards their lunches.

A/N: Yay, Tigris is awake! Writing her character is getting harder and harder, LOL! I want her to see Roche in her entirety, but alas, Roche isn't ready for that yet 😭

And also, yay, Ikaros is riding back! I wonder if we're going to get a dad reveal scene soon (😉). How do you think Ikaros might react to the truth?

As always, happy reading!