"So you somehow succeeded then," Dusysel stated.

  Myron nodded wordlessly. From the look on the Elefae elder's face, Dusysel was not the least bit happy. All he could do was hope this wouldn't end up in another attempt to blame them for what had happened. At this point, Myron was tempted to just walk away if it came to that.

  He also had to admit he wanted to sneak away and spend some time trying to figure out how to handle Lady Kelshir. Maybe it was the dutiful knight he had once been, but Myron wanted to make absolutely sure she was kept safe. Not that he could tell her his reasoning. No, best that she not know just who he was, given the possibility their fathers had been writing each other.

  The woman in question stood quietly off to his left. A passerby might take it oddly, but Myron found himself frequently glancing back to make sure she was still there. Her attempt to sneak off and turn left him on edge, worried she might try something again in the name of being helpful. Her and Jelinia both - Myron wondered if he should be afraid of introducing the two.

  That aside, he would also have to find somewhere very private to tell Nela the truth about Lady Kelshir. He had mentioned before to her that his father had been in the planning stages of arranging a marriage for him, but he hadn't named the woman. And after everything that had happened, Myron had thought that detail unimportant, something trivially amusing he could joke about with her years down the line.

  "I suppose I have no choice but to say it." The elder's words brought Myron back to the present. "As much as I dislike your disregard for our carefully planned arrangement, many of us would have died had you not intervened."

  "Considering they would want us dead as well, it is not a problem," Edeline spoke up, "We all need to stand together to stand a chance."

  "What little chance there is," Dusysel grumbled, "And yet, the people here will see a few more days at the least. For that, I offer my thanks."

  As glad as Myron was that the elder was being more friendly, the main problem remained. Without knowing who the commander of the Aetheric Knights here was, he couldn't say how aggressive their response would be. The safest assumption would be that after a full day of no word back, they would organize another attack for the following day.

  So either tomorrow they took action to prevent it, or Faehaven would be threatened again. What sort of action that might be, Myron didn't know. They might be able to persuade a few of the knights to back down, but realistically most of them would follow their orders and keep fighting to destroy Faehaven. What else could be done but fight back?

  Considering the four of them were the only ones capable of doing so, the decision fell to them. Myron was not about to make any promises, not without Hamond or Nela here. Although, he thought to himself wryly, he knew what Nela's answer was going to be.

  "Now, if you don't mind, I have a few things to take care of this evening." The elder looked over at one of the nearby elves. "I suggest you rest while you can."

  "Excuse me." Lady Kelshir stepped towards Dusysel. "I will need a place to sleep tonight."

  Dusysel, who had started to walk away, came to a stop. "Right, so you do." He looked over at Myron. "Do you think she could share the same house you're sleeping in?"

  "No offense, but it is already a little too cramped," Edeline said before Myron could get his own thoughts in order. "With Jelinia, we already have five people there."

  "Very well." The elder sighed, then gestured at a pair of nearby elves. "You and you, go clear out space in one of the storage tents. I know it's cruder than what you're used to, but we are short on beds as it is."

  "I understand. One night should not trouble me greatly." Myron doubted that, based on Edeline's own reaction after their first night on the road, but he wasn't about to say anything.

  The elves dispersed, leaving the three of them standing there. It was as awkward a moment as anyone could have imagined. Aether, what exactly was he supposed to say to her?

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Myron didn't know.

  "Two years," Lady Kelshir spoke suddenly, softly. She didn't seem to be directly addressing either of them. "Two years we spent working to get these people the tools and supplies they needed. To think events would take this course..."

  "Were they taking the members of the Order prisoner?" Myron said, thinking quickly. Rescuing the Episkopiate and his fellows certainly would be a simple way to get access to their library. More straightforward than having to sneak their way in, in truth. "If so, they could still be saved."

  "You...would do that?" Lady Kelshir gaped. "That would...you would be fighting the rest of the Aetheric Knights. Why...why would you do that?"

  It should be safe to at least tell her that much. "To be honest, we were hoping to research something in the Order's library."

  "The library? I have spent some time there. Perhaps I could answer your question."

  "I doubt it," Edeline said.

  "It's a private matter." Myron added, wanting to steer the conversation elsewhere.

  Lady Kelshir, however, was determined to keep going. "Just who are you two?"

  "I'm Edeline. That's Myron." Edeline spoke quickly, looking every bit as nervous as Myron felt.

  "I see. Then tell me this." The noblewoman looked Myron straight in the eyes. "Are you originally from Hallowscroft?"

  Myron had not felt so cold in a long time. Aether's blood, how had she figured it out? While he hadn't been the most careful with hiding his upbringing and manners, as Galian had noticed, he didn't think it was nearly that obvious. Was it?

  Lady Kelshir seemed equally astonished by their hesistation. "That's not possible. You...are you really him? But I was told-"

  "Perhaps we should discuss this later, in somewhere more private," Edeline cut her off. Myron nodded his agreement. No one seemed to be close enough to have heard, a small miracle which he was grateful for.

  But now, with Edeline having conceded that Lady Kelshir might be right, he had to think of how to explain this to both her and Nela. Honestly, dealing with the knight attack now seemed simpler and easier than this. Myron started to ask what his father would do, only to stop himself. He knew what the answer to that.

  "Do you mind if I ask about something else?" The question seemed to be directed at Edeline.

  "Very well," Edeline said, sounding curt.

  "I am not aware of any ritual among the elves that involves only one ear. What was it that happened to you?"

  Myron knew Lady Kelshir meant no harm by the question, but with Edeline was worn down by the day's events, there was a chance this wouldn't end well. However, he didn't trust himself not to reveal any more secrets about who they were. Edeline would have to handle that question herself, for better or for worse.

  Edeline stiffened slightly, appearing even more exhausted than before. "The people here in Faehaven are all good folk, who want nothing more than to continue to live their lives. And yet, like with all people, there are those who harbor darker ambitions among the Elefae." She reached up, pulling on the point of her right ear. "This ear...it is the price I paid for my encounter with such a man."

  "How dreadful," Lady Kelshir answered, "I would hope to never encounter someone of that sort."

  "Rest assured you will never meet that one, at least. He is dead." Edeline closed her eyes, the memory still haunting her. Myron found himself wishing Hamond was here now, to give her comfort. Considering his early suspicions of the Remuati man...how much things had changed.

  "I...see." Lady Kelshir seemed put off by Edeline's directness. She fell silent, and Myron did not have anything else to add to that. Neither did Edeline, it seemed, as all three said nothing. More awkwardness, something that was sure to be common when talking to her.

  "Excuse me? Miss?" One of the Elefae who had been there with the elders had returned. "We have a tent ready for you now."

  "Thank you," Lady Kelshir said, before turning back to Myron briefly. "I shall see you tomorrow. Perhaps we can discuss matters further then." She then followed the man away, her posture showing no sign of the despair she'd shown earlier. A classic noble's walk, head held high and back straight. Myron could remember him and later Edeline having to practice to walk like that, long ago.

  Edeline waited until they had rounded the corner before finally speaking again. "She is no fool." She shook her head, expression softening. "So...does Nela know?"

  "About the arranged marriage? Yes, but...I never mentioned just who it was with."

  "Understandable, but still a problem," Edeline said with a heavy sigh. "I doubt Hamond will be any happier, given our need to track down the messenger the alderman sent."

  In honesty, Myron had all but given up on that other goal. It would have been very hard to catch that messenger as it was. With the delays caused by the events at Verdan and here, it became an impossibility. And given all that, Lord Kelshir would never grant them an audience to convince him not to send men to Hallowscroft.

  There was only one answer that presented itself, one that would solve all of their combined problems. Myron wasn't sure he liked it, but he didn't see any better options. Maybe Hamond or Nela would have a better idea. He could only hope.

  His stomach grumbled, reminding Myron that he had a more immediate need to deal with. "Let's go see if Hamond has the food ready," he told Edeline.

  "He had better. I'm starving." Edeline put on a sour look. Myron couldn't be sure how much of it was feigned and how much was Edeline just being genuinely hungry.

  Not that he was going to object. "Just leave some for the rest of us."

  "Two bites or three?" Edeline joked at they began to walk, drawing a chuckle from Myron. He might as well enjoy this moment, and relax a bit. Tomorrow, he knew, he was not going to get such a chance.