They made camp two days out from the dungeon, on a ridge where the broken stone country gave way to clean grass and a stream ran cold and quick between the rocks.
The grey-gold sky was steady overhead. Nothing hunted them. For the first time since they had walked beneath that fallen stone, they were safe enough to open what they had carried out of the dark.
Erix set the coral-bound coffer on a flat rock and opened it, and the eleven of them gathered close in the honest light.
"Rule stands," Tenebria said. "Nothing goes to anyone until we all agree. Speak plainly if you want something. Speak plainly if you think someone else should have it."
The sword came out first, long and quiet, its grey-white blade catching the light like moonlight on still water. The weight of it pressed against them all, that Skyward-rank presence, patient and enormous.
They looked at one another. It was Rin who spoke first, and she did not hesitate.
"Kenshin," she said.
