If Rowan could have been simultaneously red with embarrassment and white with horror, she would have. Whereas Lochlan had ‘keeled over’ for dramatic effect, Kelsi had genuinely fainted. She sat there, slumped up against Seres.
Rowan grabbed her towel and started rushing over to Kelsi. Lochlan and Liadra also sprang into action.
“Kelsi?” Seres was trying to rouse her, having first checked her pulse.
Kelsi's head rolled around limply for a second, her neck lacking the strength and direction to keep it stabilised. Then her eyes fluttered open.
“Huh?”
She was dazed, even as her strength and coordination returned.
Rowan leapt over the table and sat herself beside Kelsi. “Kelsi? What happened? Are you okay?”
Kelsi turned slowly to face Rowan. Her eyes then went wide with reflective understanding, and her cheeks turned a telltale pink. “I ahh, well I uhm, you know…”
The incoherent stream that trailed on from Kelsi's lips was one Rowan had the pleasure of being exceptionally fluent in. The words and order differed slightly, but the execution was identical. She was embarrassed. Not because of something she had done, but rather because of what had happened and a growing realisation. That's how it was for Rowan, at least. Embarrassment touched with unfamiliar desire.
“It's okay, Kelsi. I think I understand.”
Kelsi's blush deepened.
“You don't need to feel embarrassed. Whatever you're feeling and how you're responding to it is perfectly natural, especially at your age.”
“But…”
Rowan knew this was likely a first for her.
“Take your time, Kelsi. You've got plenty of time to explore your feelings and what they mean.”
Rowan spent the next thirty, perhaps forty, minutes talking with Kelsi about what happened with Seres offering some additional support. As for Lochlan and Liadra, they left to give them some privacy when it became apparent that Kelsi was fine.
*****
A few hours later, they got word that Duke Tamrik was awake and that breakfast was being prepared. It was a little strange hearing the servants talk about dinner that way, and Seres explaining it was probably a joke on her Uncle’s sleeping schedule didn’t help.
They were given a moment to get ready before the servants led them to a homely dining room that welcomed them in. A gentle warmth and the smell of burning silver birch washed over the four of them. Kelsi was already seated, having left the guest parlour an hour before they all received word of the Duke waking up. She still wore the same blush from earlier, though it had softened a fair bit.
There was no sign of Duke Tamrik, however. It wasn't until they had all sat down that he walked in. He was not at all what Rowan had expected. He was ancient, yes. His skin was weathered like parchment, and the few remaining wisps of his thin white hair were wiry at best. Even his ears were balding. At the same time, his muscles rippled with every step, and his eyes spoke of the strength of an age long since past.
No one helped him to the table. He didn't need any. Even at the venerable age of one-hundred-and-forty-three, he was likely one of the strongest people in the room.
He sat down at the head of the table with Kelsi to his right and Seres to his left. Rowan was next to Seres, and Kelsi was flanked by Liadra and then Lochlan.
The moment he was set, the servants arrived with ‘breakfast’, a veritable feast of smoked applewood bacon, wine-poached sausages made from aged venison, spiced drakiir egg soufflé, fried buffalo tomatoes, wild mushrooms, and freshly baked bread dripping with melted butter.
Rowan didn't even know where to start. Even with her portion being relatively small next to the Duke's, it was still a mountain of food, and the mouthwatering aroma didn't help.
Fortunately, she was given some respite from her predicament when the Duke looked around the table and started speaking.
“Thank you all for joining me. I apologise for not greeting you sooner. And Seres. It warms my heart to see you again.”
His voice was much like him; strong and ancient. Seres reached out to take his hand.
“I've missed you too, Uncle. It's been too long.”
He smiled at her fondly. “And you're still the same Seres I remember, albeit slightly grown up. Do you mind introducing your companions? I know you've already been introduced to Kelsi.”
Seres nodded. “Yes. First we have Lochlan and Liadra. They've been serving as an escort of sorts. And this is Rowan, my closest friend and saviour.”
“The Ardent Flame. You have my thanks and sincerest apologies, Miss Rowan.”
“I do? I understand the thanks, but the apology is a wee bit lost on me.”
“The reports from five years ago indicate that at least half of the raiders slipped through the Shattered Pass on their way to and from their attack on Næmyris. By failing to notice them, I failed Næmyris. I failed in my vigil.”
Rowan looked at his melancholy face with understanding. “You don't need to blame yourself. No vigil is perfect. No defence is without blindspots. The raiders had been hiding their tracks for years. Besides, if you had noticed them and been able to act in time, I'd never have met Seres, and she might never have escaped.”
“Rowan's right. You sound just like Mother with all this self-blame.”
Tamrik sighed. “We aren't the only ones. Your grandfather was the same. As was your great-grandmother, your great-great-grandmother, and so on. I have no doubt you are also prone to blaming yourself from time to time despite what other people think. It's a skill we Lanafae are born with.
The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
“Be that as it may, my life is my vigil, and my vigil is this fair nation and all those who dwell within. To deny my vigil would be to deny the Goddess and the Gift she has given me. That is why I blame myself.”
“Well, it is a pleasure and an honour to meet you regardless.”
“The honour is mine. Elarin was right to name you Ardent Flame. You might be young and inexperienced, but I see in you the potential to rise high above the legacy of your predecessors.”
“I don't know about that,” Rowan replied cautiously.
“Perhaps. Perhaps not. What matters is that you reach for the sky.”
“And if the sky isn't enough?”
“You reach for the stars. And if you find yourself falling, remember you’re not alone. Your friends and family will help you reach greater heights even as you do the same for them.”
“Don’t you think you're putting a bit too much pressure on Rowan, Uncle?”
“I would not tell her these things if I didn't think she could handle it.”
“It's okay, Seres. I think I understand what he's getting at.”
A half-truth. She understood the message but not the reason behind it.
Duke Tamrik smiled. “You've got a long road ahead of you, Rowan. You both do. I look forward to seeing where it leads. Perhaps then I'll be able to pass on the torch.”
This time Rowan understood the full message. He didn't need to say anything else. He was looking at his potential successors.
It was going to be an interesting few days.
*****
The day following their arrival in Feldran was quiet. Despite the storm having passed for the most part, the rain was still heavy enough to make going outside unpleasant. As such, Rowan and Seres spent the day playing games and helping Kelsi study.
It was fun enough, but both of them were restless by the end of the day. After a week and a half on the road, it felt wrong doing so little with their time. To make matters worse, they knew it would be at least one more day before they could think about leaving for Næmyris. With that in mind, they decided they would spend the next day making the most of what Feldran had to offer.
Fortunately, the rain was little more than a drizzle when they woke up, and it was unlikely that it would get any heavier. They were also informed that Tamrik's household staff had already requisitioned most of the supplies they would need for the next leg of their journey, which was handy. There were still things they would have to purchase themselves, but they were planning on doing some shopping either way, so they didn’t mind.
The air was crisp when they stepped outside for the first time just after breakfast, and they could see hints of blue peaking through the clouds. It was a welcome change to the bleak, stormy weather that had kept them inside for the past two days. At the same time, they were quickly reminded that it was the first day of Whitesong, the final month of the year. Frost glistened off of every surface, and a wintry chill caressed their cheeks.
“We really should have packed some warmer clothes,” Seres said as they made their way through the baileys.
“I was hoping we wouldn’t need them,” Rowan replied. “I forgot how cold winter could be.”
“Me too. I didn’t notice it when we were riding as much, but this is something else.”
“Well, I think you both look lovely dressed as you are in defiance of the seasons.”
Rowan rolled her eyes. “Fuck off, Lochlan.” The Twilight Agent was bundled up to the nines so he had no right commenting on the weather. Plus, it wasn’t as if they were dressed for midsummer. Their clothes were just more suited to late autumn and early winter. Fortunately, it didn’t take them too long to acclimatise to the cold. They still decided to address the clothing issue before doing anything else, however.
Finding a suitable tailor proved more difficult than they were expecting. Most were equipped to handle custom orders just fine, but those who had clothes that were ready to go tended to make such clothing with their average customer in mind. That wasn’t too much of an issue for Seres as she was close enough to the average Ferran in size, but Rowan stood in the awkward middleground of taller than most Ferrans and shorter than most humans. Still, with the wealth and size of Feldran, it was only a matter of time before they found somewhere that would work for both of them whilst also maintaining a high quality.
They eventually settled on a store called ‘The Silver Thread’. Someone had recommended it to them as they went around asking the cityfolk for suggestions. It still took them a while to find it as it was in a strangely out-of-the-way corner of the city’s Amethyst District. They actually walked past it several times in their attempt to find it, as the exterior was almost noteworthy in how nondescript it was. If someone hadn’t shown them the name and logo emblazoned on the door, they might have missed it completely.
The inside, however, was a completely different story. Rowan and Seres were treated to a mannequin menagerie of autumnal red and forest green framed in polished mahogany. The sight filled them with wonder and a desire to try on everything they could see. Lochlan’s running commentary on how they would look in some of the more fetching examples didn’t help either.
They were pulled out of their awe-filled stupor when an assistant greeted them with a smile. "Hello, how may I be of service today?" she asked.
Lochlan stepped in with the initiative and responded with, "My charges here are in need of some clothing more suitable for the wintry frost of today and the frozen promise of tomorrow. We were directed here because of the excellent quality and a fully realised line of clothing designed for individuals of mixed heritage. I'm sure my charges will be delighted if you could pick out some choice items for their perusal."
"Yes, of course." The woman maintained her composed customer service attitude almost perfectly in the face of Lochlan's flowery address. Her smile still deepened as she turned to find some clothes, however.
They spend almost an hour looking through all the clothes the assistant selected for them, and they eventually purchased several pairs of soft, fur-lined leggings, some woollen, kilt-like skirts, a few woollen tunics, a collection of linen and cotton shirts, thick woolly socks, and a winter coat each. With the exception of the coats, which they put on immediately, the clothes were scheduled to be delivered to the castle.
Their next port of call after clothes shopping had them spoilt for choice. Seres wanted to improve upon her collection of Resonance Crystals, and whilst Duke Tamrik had given her some recommendations, it only narrowed their list down from countless to just over ten. Still too many, but manageable. They narrowed it down to three by asking people for recommendations.
With her shortlist decided, Seres went through the three different stores to find the best, most efficient crystals available. She started by upgrading her existing toolkit of fire, light, ice, gravity, and growth. She then looked into expanding her options with some suggestions from Rowan. The first crystals to be added were lightning, wind, and water. Rowan had also suggested a thermoregulator of some kind as well, but Seres wasn't sure how useful it would be in combat, so she settled for a smaller one for utility.
The two of them also figured it would be worth getting some Shaping Crystals. They functioned similarly to Growth Crystals but for inorganic matter instead. Rock was the obvious choice with how abundant it was as a base, but Seres could also see the combat utility of shaping glass, so she got both.
Finally, she chose a nice round Magnetism Crystal. In a sense, it was one of the most valuable crystals she had chosen due to its utility and defensive potential. It was also by far the cheapest on account of most people finding actual magnets to be more practical. They were right, of course, but only because they needed a complex array to get comparable results.
With the exception of the Magnetism Crystal, the thermoregulator, and the Shaping Crystals, Seres made sure to get at least two copies of each crystal; one set in a piece of jewellery for self-defence and a larger one for raw power.
Once they were done with the Resonance Crystal shopping, they went to the Messenger’s Guild. Rowan wanted to send a letter to Alena thanking her for the present. It hadn’t been what she expected, but she had enjoyed it a great deal the night before. She was tempted to use the Guild’s Communication Array service to thank her directly, but it was expensive, and there was no guarantee that Alena would be available, so she decided against it. Instead, she went for priority delivery to ensure it would reach Særis before she did.
Then it was on to souvenir shopping.
*****
They returned to the castle after a full day of shopping and exploring. The rest of the evening was spent relaxing and playing games. Nothing too extreme. Just some nice, stress-free fun to celebrate their last night in Feldran as, come morning, they would be saying goodbye.