The dark halls of House Elthrai rung with the hastened steps Varatas made as he strode down the stairs of the folyer quickly, knowing it was now or never. He stopped at the top of the stairs, looking back, an almost unconscious pull drawing him to awaken his twin sister. I am sorry Aletheia. I can’t risk taking you on this journey. It is too dangerous for you right now and I do not know if I am coming back.

Varatas ran down the stairs towards the front doors. His father had summoned retainers to “escort” the wayward heir back to Silverymoon the next morning. “Nothing will come of my studies with them, I would only trade one glided cage for another.” The slow sounds of fine heels against the marble floor pulled Varatas from his thoughts. In front of him stood his older sister, dressed as always in a conservative dress, her long brown hair braided up concealed by a hood. The moonlight from the crescent moon danced off her fair skin, her eyes showing the fire and focus Varatas’ sister carried in every action she took, from tutoring her younger siblings to negotiating new trade routes for the family.

Varatas already knew the purpose of this interruption, flicking his hand as several lights appeared between them, illuminating the dark foyer of their house. “Vesti…my dear sister, why are you awake at this ungodly hour?” Her stotic face did not change, her voice bearing the weight of a judge more than a loving sister, “Spare me Vari. Please go back to your room. You have a long journey back to Silverymoon tomorrow.” Varatas tensed back for a moment before chuckling, his natural fear of his older sister washed away by their decades separated, “I am not a small child anymore Vesti, you cannot drag me back against my will.”

Midway through his boast Vesti reached down as she drew an Elvish longsword, clearly meant for decoration more than application based on the various gold engravings upon it, “Perhaps not, but as the oldest daughter of House Elthrai, I have a duty to protect our family from threats outside and within.” She raised the sword, extended parallel to the ground towards Varatas, “And your foolish, headstrong actions will bring nothing but ruin to us all. You might not agree with Father but you have a duty to me and Aletheia to at least act like you care.”

By this point Varatas assumed an offensive stance of his own. It would not take much to remove her, a single firebolt…no, this is your own sister. Varatas kept his guard, his voice pleading now more than boasting, “Vesti, you cannot win this, don’t make me do this…Please, I have to find out what Father wont tell us.” “And you would strike your own sister, with magic no less, to find out?”

“That’s quite enough both of you.” The voice from the top of the stairs was barely above a whisper but cut into both children as sharp as daggers. At the top of the stairs stood Hisana Elthrai, the fair mother of both Varatas and Vesti, garbed in a white nightgown. She appeared to glide down the stairs, her unnatural grace making her movements appear more supernatural than mere walking. “I have so enjoyed the youthful raucous of having both of you back in the house but I did not allow you two to fight when you were younger and I will certainly not abide the two of you fighting as adults.” She walked towards Vesti, who by now had lowered her sword to her side, as if by divine command. Hisana placed her hand on Vesti’s left cheek, “My dear Vesti, you are as willful as you were the on the day of your birth, and I am so proud that you protect our family so.”

The graceful elf moved towards a drawer near the large double doors to the villa’s front garden. The lights floating in the air followed her, Varatas not even realizing by now he had directed them so. Hisana’s voice was still like the morning breeze as she walked toward Varatas holding a cloak and a small bag. “But I have always hoped that both of you and Aletheia would find a purpose and happiness separate from what your Father and I wish for you.” She handled the cloak and bag to Varatas before kissing him on the forehead, whispering to him afterwards, “There is a carriage outside to take you to the Ravencrest, I have arranged for it to take you to Phlan. Be safe.”

Varatas was confused and dumbfounded as his mother motioned him to the door. Coming to his senses he hurried out the door towards the carriage waiting at the gates for him. He looked back as his family home, his mother watching from the doors. A few minutes after Varatas was out of view Vesti joined her mother’s side, “Mother, why did you help him run away?”

Hisnana turned to her daughter, her gentle gaze finally softening Vesti’s icy façade, “Dear, not that he would ever admit it, but your Father was much like Varatas at his age. Just as wild and just as full of life. And your brother would never admit that he cares about the family as much as you do. Let him go and he will return likely stronger and wiser than we could ever hope. He is capable of so much, to limit him in a cage is to waste his life.”