Consequences

The ruins of Caerle'on's outskirts.

Réalta learns the true cost of war.  Doc narrowly avoids death.  The Dreamers hold their collective breaths on the night before Lord Bheatha’s Duel.

## Plot:

The episode opens deep in the enemy camp, with Réalta being brought before Urraca Amadeus, Dragon Lord of Aachen. He converses with her for a short while, each trying to probe the other for information.  Him trying to learn useful information about Lord Bheatha’s defenses and her trying to glean information about who and what she is.  Lord Amadeus lets slip that Réalta is a Homin Mechan, a type of person from the Dragon Isles.  And that no one from the Dragon Isles is supposed to leave them.  He offers to let Réalta go back to the keep, so long as one of his men can sift through her memories and ensure that no sensitive information about their war effort is delivered to Lord Bheatha.  A robed man with a strange tome comes in to attempt to read Realta’s mind, but Realta sprints out of the tent, causing the camp to go on high alert. She expects the forces to chase her, but as the dragons across the camp mobilize they instead begin to descend upon the surrounding farmland and forests, raining fire down on the helpless people outside the walls.

Doc attempts to lead the group of vagrants away from the danger, but a terrified shriek from one of the citizens alerts the dragons to their  location. With a single burst of flame, Doc is launched into the river, surrounded by the ashes of the people he was trying to save. One lone survivor survives, and drags Doc back into the keep for medical attention.

Back at the keep, Réalta hastily tells the Lady Elinor of her escape from the enemy camp and the troops on the walls ready themselves before seeing the true intent of the dragons.  Stunned, Réalta repeatedly asks Lucius why the dragons aren’t hurting her.  Without a good answer, Lucius tries to get her to go rest, but filled with a hot anger, Réalta states that she intends to sneak out of the fort again and kill as many Aachen soldiers as she can.  And that anyone who would condone such an overreaction to her flight deserves to die.  Reluctantly Lucius agrees to go with her, if only so that he can keep an eye on her.

However, not long after they leave the walls of the city, an idea strikes him and he manages to convince Réalta to return with him to the fort, saying that she can do more damage to the Atlanti forces by sharing her information of the interior of the camp and he begins to plan a strike mission to damage Atlanti supplies and war machines.  The two return to the city, and Lucius starts trying to gather the dreamers together to discuss his plan.

Doc awakens in the care of his Vathyd ally, and after a few terse words, they each go their separate ways.  He rejoins the Dreamers within Lord Bheatha’s keep and upon learning that he was in the path of the fires Réalta apologizes to him.  Doc, shocked to find that Réalta was the cause of the devastation, leaves the room and shuts himself away from the group.  Réalta attempts to distract herself by sitting with Mance and Warbler at the common room table, not wanting to be alone with her reflections on the horrors her actions set into motion.

Saoirse talks to Sir John, tries to convince him to leave Synjalo. John refuses, saying that he is a Knight and will not leave his King behind. Saoirse, in her rage, punches a wall. The Tooth Fairy’s voice pierces the night, dripping into her mind and telling her that if she isn’t careful, she’s going to break something. Saoirse snaps to, panicking, before realizing it was just Doc who spoke, on his way to his room.

The Dreamers discuss for a short while about the possible strike mission, and it is suggested that they use the duel tomorrow morning as cover for their espionage.

The episode starts to come to a close, but it is interrupted by an interactive memory appearing within Réalta’s programming.  She finds herself in a fine room, with a large hearth and a man reclining in a plush chair.  He asks her to fetch him a drink, and she finds herself doing so without even thinking about it.  Unsure of her surroundings, or the identity of the man, Réalta begins to ask probing questions.  Amused by her asking for answers that she should already know, the man informs her that he is her creator.  She tries to find out more about her identity, but he reveals to her that she hasn’t even picked a name yet.  He asks if she would like one and she tells him that her name is Réalta.  He states that he will add that to her programming.  He mentions that she and her siblings are a project of his, to help alleviate suffering, and he encourages her individuality.  Just before awakening from her daydream, Réalta asks the man his name and he tells her that it is Bresh… or Bres.

The Episode closes as Réalta comes back to her senses in the here and now.