Shepherds and Second Sight

The scene opens back up in Rosemont, where we see Aedrick (the father who lost his two sons in Rosemont) mourning over the loss of his children. He however tells them that he will be joining them soon. He is approached by a man by the name of Voresh The Shepherd, who offers to help him with his pain. He performs some sort of ability, pulling away the negative feelings and anguish, but making Aedrick forget his sons completely. Voresh asks Aedrick to join him, as the two travel to Cerwyn Keep, where Voresh heard three dragon eggs were recently found.

Meanwhile, Edwinn heads out late at night to head to the more shady parts of Skyhaven. He finds a shopkeeper and is able to purchase a potion that can compel someone to speak the truth for a minute, though does a poor job at hiding his noble lineage. On his way back, he is confronted by several men who demand the potion and money Edwinn has on him. The prince tries to talk his way out but violence becomes necessary. Edwinn goes to Inflict Wounds using his gauntlet, but blacks out and finds the man he targeted dead and drained of all moisture in his body. When Edwinn returns to Skyhaven, he is unable to remove the gauntlet.

The next day, Cailynn goes out to speak with Bjorn before the heirs head off to Faithspire. Cailynn speaks about the beings that hide in the shadows, with Bjorn opening up that there are many creatures in the veil, some are guardians while others are most predatory in nature. However, it is very hard for creatures to get through the veil, they usually need to be invited. The only problem was that when inviting a kind creature through, it opened the way for someone else to pass through with it. Byorn has Cailynn join her in the spirit world as they take their ancestral forms: Bjorn as a bear, and Cailynn as a young wolf. They see the same antlet ridded creature in the distance, with Bjorn believing it to be Cailynn's guardian. He offers to help her train more when she returns.

Edwinn however, decides to wake up early, make some breakfast, and head down to visit Kester, hoping to gain some information to be used against the spymaster. The conversation starts with them reviewing the answer that he already gave, but takes a dark turn when Edwinn insults Kester. The man became very angry at this point, lashing out at Edwinn and making it clear how little he thought of nobles and the heirs, opening up about Xanthe in particular. Edwinn leaves him, the prisoner still throwing curses at him.

On the ship to Faithspire, Xanthe calls for a meeting to open up about her past with Kester, saying that he was one of the soldiers under her command before he was discharged. She explains that Kester maimed a child from the undercity, resulting in the loss of a limb. However, she believes that he will still testify. Edwinn opens up about his conversation though, acknowledging that he doesn't think Kester will help anymore. It's agreed that Via will speak with him when they return from Faithspire, as she is to be frank the nicest Falkrest.

Edwinn goes to visit Via, to have her identify the gauntlet, though Via cannot see it. However, upon casting the spell she can see it and Edwinn is able to finally take it off. Via believes the gauntlet to be a powerful artifact connected to his faith, since it miraculously showed up when he turned 18 and has had it ever since. There seems to be more to the story, but Edwinn does not share and Via doesn't press him on it.

Back on deck, the crew notices a shipwreck in the distance, with Marik being able to see one survivor that was overboard and unconscious. They're able to save her, bringing back a young archan who is a member of the Order of the Edict. She explains that Nornathi Raiders attacked their ship and she was the only survivor. The heirs arrange for her to stay on the ship, with the intention of sending her people a message once they arrive in Faithspire.

Cailynn attempts to veilwalk once again, though this one is not quite as successful, as she is again confronted by that creature that wants to be allowed out. Cailynn is able to escape without any physical harm, but her room is covered in dying vines and branches that crumble at her touch.

Edwinn speaks to Xanthe, with Xanthe opening up about a letter from Rohani Varison, an old flame of Xanthe's from when they were younger. They were quite the power couple when they were younger, but Xanthe reveals that before Rohani left, he did propose to Xanthe, but she never gave an answer. In his letter, he again asked for an answer, though Xanthe doesn't seem set on an answer.

At this time, Via runs up from the bottom of the ship, calling out for her mom and dad as she seems to hear their voices. She searches as the heirs follow after her. However, she soon receives a vision, seeing her parents had been on a ship like this once before, and her mother received a vision as she did now. Via saw imagery of destruction and death, emerald fire, waves of cold, crawling shadows, and a holy army all clashing against one another. A child of storm and power stood against them all as this prophecy came from Via:

“Beneath the ashen skies of a breaking world,

A child of light and storm shall ascend the seat of power.

With hands of light, she shall hold the line...

Against the dragon’s breath, the crimson flood,

The endless frost, the serpent’s coil,

And the march of divine steel.

Her path will be written in the dreams of the faithful,

Seen by those who wander the veil of sleep.

To her, they will call:

The dreamer of salvation, the shield against ruin.

Her throne, not of inheritance,

But of chosen fate, unyielding in its truth.”

Via dropped to the ground, bleeding out of her mouth and ears. Edwinn and Marik heal her ,but she remains unconscious as the heirs approach the looming presence of Faithspire, uncertain of what to do.