It took some time navigating oneself out of the maze that is the Sasan Main House.
At the second hour of the morning, Isetzar was eventually spotted by the men in Valri's ship. He was walking with a weakened Nuriya in his arms. She was awake, but completely drained. Valri's ship was an imperial frigate called "Fortitude" with imperial green sails, a body made of lacquered darkwood, and cannons and that special mechanism that fires magic bolts at targets.
"Your Highness? Lord Sasan is here!" cried out of the deckhands.
Valri immediately sent out orders preparing the room for them to rest in and to prepare for the Sasan siblings to board the ship.
"What happened?" Valri asked. His green eyes now full of worry.
"Grandfather's Fourth Form," replied Isetzar as he gently handed Nuriya over to Valri. "Corded spell with the magic-draining thorns. Could have killed her in four or two minutes."
Nuriya's breathing was still ragged, and as Valri took her into his arms, she stretched an arm out to clasp at the hem of Isetzar's black mantle. She held on tightly. Her eyes watery and her lips cold and trembling.
"No.."
"Relax…I'm not going anywhere…"
Isetzar put a hand on Nuriya's face to soothe her and brushed the hair away from her eyes. "Not as weak as you are now."
"Were you two attacked?" asked Valri as he began to administer care.
"We were. But mostly just the senior mages, the rest of the house was ready for a battle, but probably didn't know how to jump in. Can't say I blame them. Overall? That was a confusing night for everyone involved….Oh, and everyone saw the axe."
Valri softly chuckled.
"Whose blood did you use?" asked Valri.
"Uncle Malatzar's and mine, mostly."
"Is he fine?"
"He should be. I think it was mostly mine?"
"Wait, I know you asked me to fire the spiritbane bolts. But how are you two not being chased right now?"
"I did that…" Nuriya's breath stabilized as Valri did what he could to help replenish Nuriya's magic pool. "I made every living thing in the manor blackout by using what little I had left. But only that. Not more than that–"
"Niya. Enough you don't have to–"
"Even after what they did and said…I never want to hurt my family."
"Niya?"
Nuriya paused. Took a deep breath and exhaled what she could of her frustration and grief.
"I'm just tired, Setzya, Valyun…" said Nuriya blankly. "Just tired…"
"As we feared…It happened all at once," replied Isetzar as he gently handed Nuriya to Valri. "I was hoping none of this would come to light at all. Or at least after the two of you were already wed…"
"So much for hope, huh?" said Valri, still smiling.
"What about you? Are you gonna be alright?" asked Isetzar as looked around the ship Valri brought.
"I left Master Tziram instructions. I'll tell you later where I want to take this ship to."
"I'll trust you on that, then," said Isetzar.
"You knew as well, Valri?" asked Nuriya as she saw the two young men talking to each other.
"Yeah, Niya. I did…"
"Now I feel like a total fool…" Nuriya closed her eyes. "How is it that so many other people seem to know more about me than I do, it turns out?"
Valri and Isetzar looked at her.
Nuriya turned to Valri and tried to hold his hand, which Valri caught. "Regardless…Thank you, Valyun. When I couldn't breathe I thought that I wouldn't be able to see you again. Try not to keep more secrets than you need to, alright?" She then looked at Isetzar directly in the eyes. "Setzya? You promised me. You'll tell me everything? Who I am and why all this happened? I don't care if you and all your past selves believe it was to protect me. I don't want to be left in the dark again!"
"...."
Isetzar nodded. "I swear? Once we get to safety? I'll take the time to explain everything."
Nuriya then pulled her hand away from and used both her weakened arms to try and pull Isetzar closer by the collar. "I'll…explain everything too."
Nuriya wore a sad, exhausted smile on her face before she fluttered them close to take a good long rest.
"....."
Isetzar and Valri asked for assistance and took Nuriya to the bed prepared for her on the ship.
Nuriya was out cold.
"She probably stayed awake because she was afraid her knockout spell might not have been powerful enough for our grandfather. Or in case the spell radius didn't cover everyone." Isetzar said.
"When I was giving her some aid earlier, I found out some of her senses for control are still sealed…" Valri added. "Gramps, really crafted that spell well,"
Isetzar sardonically chuckled as he took a seat on Nuriya's bedside. "It was designed for god-class beasts."
"Come now," Valri remarked. "We both know our Niya's a beast in her own right. Gramps wouldn't be as good as they say he is if he couldn't see that too."
"Yeah...a beast." Isetzar took a look at his sister in deep sleep. 'So where are you taking us?"
"To my island. Catzali."
Isetzar's eyes widened. "Wow. You're right. Not even House Sasan will be able to get in there without an invitation."
"Indeed. I am its sole authority. You two can stay there while the Imperial Household and the House of Sasan try to work out a deal over this…matter of the stars."
"Thank you, Valyun." Isetzar said with genuine warmth. "Thank you so much.."
"Don't mention it." replied the prince.
"Did you see this coming?" Isetzar asked. "When you befriended us?"
"Honestly, no. Who would have thought my two childhood friends would be the kind of monsters that would terrify the House of Sasan? Oh, woe is me and my tragic fate! What should my little self do?!"
OK. Now, you're just playing with us."
"Of course I am!" said Valri with a grin. "This is just like old times! You, I, and Niya! I would be lying if I said I didn't miss this."
"Your fiancee almost died yesterday night, you know?" Isetzar wrestled out a twisted grin. "Don't you want to give this moment some solemnity?"
"Nope."
Isetzar let out a booming laugh. "Hahah! Attaboy!"
Valri dramatically opened his arms as wide as he could. "Come now, we do enough pretending in our daily lives. I don't want to feign them with my closest friends too. Besides, how else am I to cope with all the madness that now surrounds me?"