A/N: D3ath, descriptions of injury, vi0lenc3

The wind howled in her ears like the guttural snarls of the uska as Roche barrelled out into the courtyard. Rain pelted her skin like icy darts, stinging as they sank into her clothes, the torn material suctioning to her skin.

"Run!" the knights shouted to be heard over the boom of thunder, escorting civilians to safety while others struggled to keep their torches lit. A piercing scream filled the air that devolved into garbled whimpers, someone's torch going out.

Roche sucked in a breath, turning away from the gory sight.

"Fyra," she recast the enchantment to the torches. She'd warned Tigris that it wouldn't last long, and the rain had only decreased the time that the enchanted flames could stay lit. She wished she could stay longer. She wished she could be at Tigris' side.

But her queen had given her a job.

Roche closed her eyes, focusing on the thrum of her inkblood beneath the skin, weakened but still beating strong, even after days of no rest and very little nutrition. She gritted her teeth as a headache burst to life behind her eyes, but she endured.

Tigris had given her a job.

She wouldn't fail her.

Roche waded through the pulses of life around her, the sea of beating hearts and rushing human thoughts from civilians and knights. She veered around the dark spaces of ice that the uska carved into the world. She clenched her jaw to bite back a shiver, focusing on the raw bulbs of power radiating from the castle.

The Council.

They were tucked into many lavish rooms. They were still weakened after Kai's food poisoning scheme. But Roche knew they would see the chaos breaking out through the castle and make their escape with their false king while they could.

Her breath rattled out of her as she sensed them crowded together at the far side of the castle, radiating so much power that it made Roche's bones ache. They were moving, approaching the throne room where Tigris and Finn had undoubtedly begun their battle.

It was Roche's job to hold them off until Tigris had done what was needed.

She took off, gathering her heavy skirts in her hands as she raced back into the castle, ignoring the sounds of battle echoing down the halls. She blindly followed the tug in her mind, spurring her into the heart of the castle. When her vision cleared, she found herself in an ancient part of the castle, a familiar place where she'd first seen Lord Luctus give the Irulian ambassador a datura flower.

It had been ages ago. A time when matters were much simpler. Her heart ached for those years as she planted her feet firmly, staring down the other end of the hall. The clouds roiled outside the stained glass. Roche stood firm, grounding herself with a breath that did nothing to soothe her racing heart as three figures appeared at the end of hall.

They were all that was left of the Council of Seven. Roche watched them approach, feeling an odd numbness creep over her. Their footsteps stuttered as they noticed her standing perfectly still at the end of the hall. They paused, glancing at each other in apparent confusion for a moment before continuing their approach.

Roche didn't recognise two of the faces facing her. Their pale skin gleamed ghoulishly in the grey pall of the storm, made paler by the forked tongues of lightning that lit the hall. They were both men with sharp jawlines and even sharper eyes. One of them had thin blonde hair that swept across his large forehead. His eyes were dark, matching the obsidian folds of his thick cloak that hung off his bony frame. Thick swirls of inkblood were carved into his arms, curling up his neck and swirling across his face in harsh, scratched patterns. Runes. He'd carved runes into his skin.

Roche's throat went dry. She glanced at his companion, another man with skin as pale as snow and ginger hair that flowed down his back in a curtain, pooling in the hood of the midnight blue cloak. Inkblood was carved into his worn hands and his midriff, exposed in the brief moment his shit shifted. Roche sensed the flowing ink curling across his chest in scripts, powerful, ancient words that chilled Roche to the bone. They felt like curses.

They felt like madness.

And walking between the two, frigid men was a familiar face that burned Roche's fear into nothing but smoke, leaving behind searing, bubbling fury in its wake. Eris' eyes glittered with amusement as she regarded Roche, coming to a halt a few paces away.

"Roche," the Councilwoman crooned, tilting her head to the side. Her luscious chestnut locks spilled over her shoulder as a sickening smile spread across her features. "I didn't think I'd ever see you again. I see you enjoyed my last gift."

Roche fought to keep her face neutral. She knew she looked like hell with dark shadows staining her face, her cheeks gaunt and hollow after days of stress. But she didn't care.

"You betrayed my queen," she growled, fists clenching.

The ginger Councilman rolled his eyes. "Leave her, Eris. Tell her to step aside. We must find the Fyra. We don't have time to dally." Roche recognised his voice as the man who had accompanied Finn to the griffin's mountain.

Eris smirked. "Don't underestimate her. She's a misguided little girl, but she's one of us. She's been quite a thorn in our side too."

Roche straightened, her vision temporarily going white as lightning flashed outside the windows. Something thumped against the walls. The Councillors gazed at her under a new, scrutinising light.

"Ah," said the blonde, "Is this the inkblooded maid? The one that Ismere and Lisa tried to recruit?"

Eris nodded, smiling. "The one that tried to kill the Fyra."

Their gazes turned searing. Roche hid her flinch as her heart jumped in her chest. She lifted her chin, her pulse pounding in her ears.

"Finnegan is not the Fyra," she informed them primly, "Queen Tigris is."

The Councilman scoffed. "Don't speak of what you don't understand."

Roche flashed them a dangerous smile as thunder crashed in the air. She stood strong, letting every hint of her power darken her gaze because she was tired.

She was tired of the hiding, of the lies, of the endless fighting.

Secrecy had served her well over the past five years, but it was time for this to end. It was time for the Council to face their threat.

It was time for them to listen to her for once.

"I understand perfectly, Councilman," Roche drawled. With a flick of her hands, inkblood came to her reach. The fresh scent of it clouded the air, like the charged scent of the air quivering before a lightning strike. "Just as Lady Ismere did in the end. As did Lady Lisa and the rest of your Council."

The Councilmen glanced at each other, apprehension dawning on their features. Eris didn't seem fazed by the words at all.

"Ah yes. The work of the 'Ala' who claims Tigris is the Fyra, doesn't she? Are you going to bring her here now to deal with us? Or is she already heading to Tigris' side?" Eris asked, a mocking lilt to her words that set Roche's blood on fire.

"She's already here," she informed the Council as the castle trembled ever so slightly. Dust and rocks showered the space between them.

For the first time, a hint of fear entered the Councillors' faces.

"We must get to the Fyra," one of them murmured gravely, "Before the Ala arrives."

Eris' jaw clenched, she lifted her hand and Roche felt an enchantment cloud the air, thick with malice.

"Hwonite," Eris hissed, keen on moving Roche out of the way.

Roche didn't even need to say a word. A blade of inkblood appeared midair with a jerk of her chin, slicing through Eris' enchantment without a word. When the Councillors gaped at her, stunned by the wordless enchantment, Roche flicked her wrist.

Inkblood jetted out of her. The Councillors hissed, screaming paltry counter incantations. Roche barely heeded them any notice, feeding her strength into her own enchantment. The air exploded, sending the Council flying back. They gasped and shouted as they were violently thrown to the ground, their enchantments uselessly splattering around them.

Roche stepped forward, grabbing her floating inkblood sword with an exhilarating rush. She twirled it as the walls cracked and fissured.

"Aukret!" the ginger cried out. Roche swatted away the incantation with a simple twitch of her fingers. The effort of such an enchantment seemed to have sapped the man's weak strength.

Roche steadily walked towards their strewn bodies on the floor, silently thanking Kai for his food poisoning stunt that had left the Council frail. Eris gaped up at her, realisation dawning across her features.

"It's you," she gasped, "You are the Ala."

Roche stared her down, standing over the three clustered Councillors that gazed up at her. She didn't have to confirm the words. What other inkblood could ward off the attacks of three Councillors, however weak?

Though it had taken a toll on her, Roche barely noticed. Her mind was buzzing, smoothing over the fatigue pressing down on her. She would run on the paltry fumes of her strength if she needed to. Her adrenaline fueled her as she loomed over the fallen Council.

Eris' chest heaved for a moment. Then a hysterical laugh rattled out of the woman.

"You betrayed her too!" Eris chortled, the horrible sound bouncing off of the walls, "Oh, you deceived your queen! She has no idea who you are, does she?"

The words chafed, but Roche swallowed them. She was well aware of her lies.

Eris' laughter rattled to a halt. She peered up at Roche with something like awe. "You have all the power in the world. You have the inkblood of every person Romulus has slain and more. You could serve a king who would actually value you."

Roche bit back a laugh. Did Eris think she was a fool? "I know who Finn is. I know who you made him become."

"Made him?" Eris repeated, a slow smile spreading across her features, "My dear girl, you made him into who he is. He told us that he came to you first for aid. He told us that you turned him away."

The words branded her soul. Suddenly, she was on the beach again, Finn shackled and peering up at her with hopelessly red eyes. Then he was shouting at her.

I trusted you.

She sucked in a breath, her eyes prickling.

Eris watched her face carefully, noting the tortured emotioned flashing openly across her features. The Councilwoman's eyes softened. She leaned closer, levering herself up with reverence in her eyes. "Oh Ala, you know he is powerful. You've already changed the course of his life. He is your Fyra. You are bound to guide him. He is your destiny. Join him. Join us."

Eris held out her hand, her green eyes sparkling.

Tigris' eyes.

Roche stared at that hand, at the promise of power it held. She moved forward.

And promptly darted past Eris and the blade tucked in her other hand, dodging a stab to the side. The Councilmen shouted, having used Eris' words as a distraction to creep behind her, hands poised to grab her. Roche easily swerved them, her abrupt movement serving her well against the frail, ill inkbloods.

She ducked behind Eris' raised body as she threw out her arms to the stumbling Councilmen who were struggling to correct the angle of their bodies to avoid being impaled by Eris' extended blade.

"Spanad stagnere," Roche whispered the words that pooled on her tongue, her strength beginning to flag too much for a nonverbal incantation. This had to end now.

Immediately, the Councilmen dropped their weapons, their hands flying to their throats, scrabbling desperately. Roche watched, going numb as their eyes bulged and they heaved for air that wouldn't reach their lungs.

Eris watched, horrified as they crumpled to the ground. Roche took the opportunity to grab her inkblood blade, slicing it across the woman's throat. Crimson blood leaked out flaps of skin, waving like a flag. Eris choked and spluttered, a wet sound. A hint of pity filtered through Roche at the sight of childlike fear entering the dying woman's eyes.

She kneeled, scarlet bleeding into the ragged edges of her gown.

"I am the Ala. I am Finn's destiny. I am his doom," she told the Councilwoman as the light died from her eyes. Because at the end of the day, they were both inkbloods.

They both worshipped words.

They both worshipped truth.

And Eris deserved nothing less than the truth.

Eris' eyes widened, the movement of her chest stilling as Roche reached out, tucking back the woman's hair. The Councilwoman's lips parted with a soundless gasp, a plea of sorts.

A mix of emotions coursed through Roche at the sight, so violent that it surprised her.

"You hurt my queen," she whispered icily as Eris went still, "May death show you the kindness you will not find from me."

Roche plunged the inkblood blade straight into Eris' chest, letting it disintegrate with the impact. The shock of it seemed to turn Eris still, her chest dragging in one last panicked lungful before going still and lifeless.

Roche shuddered at the sight, closing the woman's dull green eyes, the same shade as Tigris'. She stood slowly.

She had to leave before any of the knights found her.

Just then, light flashed from outside the stained windows. It wasn't the usual spark of lightning. It was a pale glow, prolonged and still. Roche gasped, pressing herself to the windows.

Tigris was on the parapets, her armour glowing like a beacon. She looked down, utterly stunned.

Roche's heart went still in her chest. She was running before she could realise what she was doing, running to meet her queen because the plan must have failed for the backup to be in motion. Roche raced through the halls, skidding to a stop when she found the stairs to the parapets as nothing more than a pile of various sized rocks. Up ahead, she could see the glow of Tigris' armour through the thin wooden door.

Last night, Tigris had asked her for a fair fight.

"To defeat Finn, he needs to be on our level," Tigris had told her, gripping her sword hilt tightly as she stared off into the trees, "I will not run from him any longer. But I cannot best him if we fight different fights. I cannot best inkblood with steel alone."

"I know," Roche had whispered, craning her face up to the queen's, "So let me fight with you."

Tigris' eyes gleamed with a mix of devastation and patience. "This is my fight with Finn," she'd said quietly, "Ruler to ruler. Kin to kin. I alone must fight him, it is my fate."

It wasn't her fate. It was Roche's. Roche tried to argue, but Tigris was insistent.

"You know I don't believe in that prophecy," Tigris had replied when Roche argued, "What I need is a way to bring Finn down to my level."

That's when the idea struck Roche. Just as Leinos had once used runes to bind her inkblood, she could use runes and enchantments to bind Finn's. It was a difficult process, and without Leinos or Verita to guide her, there was no guarantee that the enchantment would hold. But Tigris was determined that she try.

"If it doesn't work, then I will fight with what I have," Tigris replied gravely as Roche outlined the risks, "I can't hide behind you forever, Roche. If I am to be queen in truth, then I need to fight for my place on the throne."

So Roche had let her inkblood guide her as she carved runes into the stone of the parapets. Tigris would lure Finn from the throne room, where he would probably be staying to gloat. Roche had snuck in to pour flammable liquid across the floor in a tight ring as Tigris requested, enchanting it so that the queen and her allies could pass through the flames without harm.

Tigris would lure Finn from the throne room to the parapets for their final battle. If all was well, Finn wouldn't be able to use his inkblood within the bounds of the parapets.

Which now meant that something must have gone wrong if Tigris' armour was glowing. The armour that Roche had polished every day over the last five years, carefully layering protective enchantments every time she'd rubbed the glistening surface. Finn must still be able to use his inkblood somehow if he'd triggered one of the protective enchantments.

Roche burst through the door, finding Finn and Tigris at each other's necks, bearing down on each other with their blades.

The runes on the parapets glowed, confirming that they worked. Her breath flooded out of her in relief as Finn and Tigris broke apart, both of them focused on the other with murderous intensity.

"Who is she?" Finn was screaming, his voice ragged and furious. He slashed viciously for her neck, but Tigris danced out of the way, her eyes narrowed with focus. She twisted under his arm, popping up behind his back. Her sword came down at the same instant Finn dove out of the way, his feet skidding on the wet stone. He nearly slid right off the parapets, but somehow managed to stake his sword into the stone, using it to haul himself back up.

"You don't know?" Tigris panted through gritted teeth, taking another stab at his side. Finn parried, pressing down with all his might. Tigris grunted, forced to back away to the other end of the parapet. Roche watched in horror as her heel skated off the edge.

Finn growled, bearing down. "The Ala hid herself from me. Why would she show herself to you?"

Tigris' eyes turned pained. She managed to shove Finn off, staggering back to the center of the parapets. Her eyes roved wildly as she caught her balance on the slick stone, finally catching a glimpse of Roche's worried features.

Finn steadied himself, turning to follow Tigris' gaze. Lightning silhouetted him as his eyes met Roche's. His jaw slackened, fat raindrops curving down his slender jaw. He whirled back to Tigris with an enraged shout.

"You're such a hypocrite!" he howled, echoed by the crashing thunder. His chocolate curls were pressed back by a gale that somehow didn't affect him. Something that sounded suspiciously like a sob burst from his lips. "Why is it okay for her to have inkblood but not me?"

Tigris' face twisted with agony. "I don't care about the inkblood, Finn! Roche didn't try to take the throne! Roche didn't kill people."

A mad laugh rattled out of Finn, his green eyes sparkling with a crazed light. Tigris' blade managed to slice his cheek, but he darted away before the steel could dig deep. Crimson drizzled over his lips, staining his pale skin and mingling with the raindrops.

"Is that what she told you?" Finn asked mockingly, licking his lips. Red stained his teeth. "You have no idea how many she's killed."

Roche's chest tightened at the words. She knew precisely how many she'd killed. She recited their names every night before bed, washing away the guilt with the promise of Tigris' life.

Tigris remained silent as he backed away, sword still lofted. Roche watched as Finn cocked his head, his eyes widening at his sister.

"You know," he breathed in shock, his grip slackening on his sword. The clouds roiled over his head, "You know and you let her live?"

Tigris pressed her lips together. "She's been protecting me," she said stiffly.

Finn shook water out of his eyes. "No, that can't be it," he murmured, his words nearly drowned out in the storm, "You would never let a murderer with inkblood still live."

Roche's heart sank. But Tigris remained still.

Suddenly, Finn's eyes widened in realisation. His jaw dropped as he locked eyes with his sister.

"Oh," he gasped, "You... you actually..."

Thunder boomed, drowning over his next words. Whatever they were made Tigris' face harden, a confirmation of kind. Finn's face slackened, then contorted with fury. He charged her, his infuriated roar lost to the clash of his sword against Tigris'. All Roche could hear was the scream of, "-STILL TOOK KAI!"

Tigris lifted her chin, eyes flashing. Roche barely managed to catch her next words.

"Kai made his choice. So did I. Neither of us chose you."

Finn's deranged cackle cracked through the air. "You're all selfish idiots!"

Roche watched as he slammed his elbow into Tigris' gut as she made a stab for his side. She grunted, stumbling back. She barely managed to get her sword up in time to block a slice at her neck. Finn's ankle looped around hers, and she fell onto her back, still holding off his sword.

Roche raced forward, mustering up her inkblood as she prepared to intervene.

As if she sensed Roche, Tigris' head shot up. Her eyes locked with Roche's, widening ever so slightly.

"Don't get involved, Roche!" Tigris shouted.

"But-"

"DO AS I SAY!" Tigris snapped, sweat streaming down her temple. With a snarl, she flung herself up, slamming her head into Finn's face. With a crunch that made Roche cringe, Finn howled and stumbled backwards, his hands flying to his broken nose.

Tigris didn't waste a moment. She surged to her feet, disarming her brother with a quick flick of her hand. Finn stumbled back, and she placed the tip of her sword against his neck. Finn raised his arms instinctually, scrambling backwards.

His lower back was pressed against the short wall of the parapets. He leaned back as far over the edge as he could, pupils dilating as he gazed at the sword pointed at his neck. He froze, going as still as a statue.

Lightning forked overhead, highlighting the sudden fear on his features.

Tigris didn't waver. She held her sword there, looking devastated but firm. A benevolent queen forced to commit an atrocity.

She was going to do it, Roche realised. She was going to kill him.

Finn's chest heaved as he came to the same realisation. He lifted his gaze to his sister's eyes, a bleakness entering his expression.

"I won't beg," he said quietly.

Tigris' chest heaved, like she was fighting back a sob. "I know. I expected nothing less of you."

Roche couldn't watch this. She knew such an act would stain Tigris' soul. She stepped forward.

"Tigris-"

"No, Roche." Tigris said without looking at her, "This is my duty."

Finn sucked in a shallow breath, tilting his head back ever so slightly, exposing the softest part of his neck. "Will you turn her into the next monster to plague your kingdom?" he whispered, rain and blood clinging to the curve of his lips. His next words came out in a quick hiss, "The next threat to face you and your counsel?"

Tigris cocked her head in confusion. "What?"

Finn inhaled shakily. "Your reign was never meant to last, Tigris. You are not the one meant for the throne, even Father's court knew it. If it's not me fighting you, it will be another inkblood. If it's not another inkblood, it will be someone else our Father wronged. Or worse, someone that you wronged. Maybe it will be Roche. She certainly has ample reason to hate you."

Tigris remained quiet. Her sword didn't waver.

Finn's breaths came out in quick, desperate bursts. He looked almost pitying.

"All reigns fall, even if they were meant to last," he told her quietly. For a moment, Roche saw the old Finn, a scholar at heart advising his sister. His glasses gleamed brightly, precariously balanced on the tip of his nose. "Your kingdom will fall, Tigris, in your time or that of your successors. It is hopeless to try ruling. Wouldn't you rather it fall in my hands rather than another's?"

Tigris leaned closer. Her eyes gleamed with pity, not fear.

"I know that this kingdom will fall, Finn," Tigris told him softly. Her eyes darted to Roche's. "All kingdoms do."

"Then let it fall," Finn begged, swallowing. His throat bobbed as his eyes gleamed with a cunning light. "Give it to me, and it will fall."

Tigris sighed. Roche was struck by how much of a queen she looked like in that moment. She didn't even have a crown or a lavish gown. Her armour was falling off in certain places, and gashes were visible across her snowy skin. She looked exhausted and weary. But Roche saw the steel in her spine, the unwavering stillness of her hand. She saw the sage gleam of her queen's eyes as she stared her brother down unflinchingly.

"All kingdoms fall, Finn," Tigris repeated, "But we do not live for an end. We protect what exists between the birth of our nations and their doom."

"It's futile!" Finn argued desperately, "It's useless if it is all meant to fall. History remembers nothing but ends."

"Perhaps," Tigris agreed, sneaking a glance at Roche, "But it's about the way we fall. That is what is remembered by history. And this kingdom will fall pursuing peace and prosperity, not a violent, selfish end."

Roche's heart nearly burst with pride. The words were worthy of a scholar.

Even Finn seemed struck. His lips parted.

"The way we fall," he repeated softly. Something flickered in his eyes, something that instantly made Roche's hackles rise because it wasn't fear or resignation.

It was revelation.

Tigris seemed to come to the same realisation as Roche because she pressed forward with her blade.

Finn chose that moment to pitch himself backwards, over the edge of the parapets.

Roche screamed before she could stop herself, racing to Tigris' side. She and the queen leaned over the stone wall's edge, watching Finn's body flip head over heels and he careened towards the courtyard. Roche waited with sickening anticipation, waiting for him to splat against the ground.

But then she sensed inkblood clotting the air.

With a spurt of horror, Roche realised that Finn was now outside the range of runes she'd painted onto the parapets. Tigris cried out as Finn's lips curled with words, his hands whipping with inkblood around his falling body.

Roche felt the world slow and still, like time had turned as thick as honey. She felt the sky open up, inkblood tearing apart the fabric of the world. The malice of it hit her in a crushing wave, blocking off her senses, choking off her air. She clawed at her throat desperately, but there were hands holding her in place, holding her up by the wrists. She vaguely sensed Tigris clinging to her, frantically asking what was wrong as a rift ripped open the air below.

The last thing Roche saw as she collapsed was Finn slipping into the rift and the hundreds of uska hungrily waiting for a fresh meal in the land of the dead.

Finn's terrified scream chased her into oblivion.

A/N: Title reference!!! Roll the credits!

Hopefully this chapter was worth the wait. We got BAMF Roche, the fall of the Council, and a literal fall from Finn lol.

On another note, I reached the character limit on Google Docs again after this chapter 💀. I really should have split this up into ten books. I'm a bit too lazy to make ten different covers tho haha.

Also, we're hopefully back to daily updates now that exams are over! Woohoo! And we only have 23 chapters left! :O It's been a wild ride with this book. Thank you to everyone who is still reading at this point! I hope you're enjoying the story.

As always, happy reading!