When the group walked inside Harlan began getting some things ready, getting out drinks and food alongside Isha and Sara.

Adina carried out a plate of cookies which she made without anyone else's help, and while they looked like they could've used slightly more time to brown, something she couldn’t really know without sight.

“Relly, would you like one?”

“Yes, thank you.”

They were oatmeal raisin with a little bit of vanilla.

“They are good.”

Adina didn’t reply, but she smiled widely as she walked around to hand out more of them.

Safira cast a subtle spell to check for poisons on everything Relly ate.

Reet got near Amber.

“Hey, I know I already said it, but sorry for earlier.”

“So, how many siblings do you have?”

“Huh? Oh, uh, 13, I am the 7th oldest. Why do you ask?”

“It is how Harlan explained your complete lack of social skills.”

“I’m not that bad, but yeah, we are two or three per room, so privacy isn’t really much of an option.”

“Me and Autumn shared a room for a long time, then she got married and a few years later I had the room to myself more or less. Did you know Ava and Harlan used to share a room?”

“Is that why he acts the way he does around girls?”

“Which way?”

“He doesn’t seem to get flustered that often. I know if I was him and I ran into some of his situations I’d go beet red. Growing up with only sisters might do that. That or he has just always been more mature than me.”

“That doesn’t seem very hard. I heard that you are a fan of ‘pranks.’ If I didn’t know better I’d think you made Harlan that way.”

Reet didn’t know if he was subtle, but steering away from his lie earlier wasn’t that hard for him.

“Harlan likes pranks?”

“There was one time, a friend of mine came back from the academy with me. Anyway, she was acting as a spy at the moment and Harlan got back at her by pretending that he had feelings for her which only made her more embarrassed since our dad went along with it. Then he just blurts out that she is a spy.”

“Is that a prank? That just sounds like he was humiliating her and then trying to get her arrested.”

“He thought it was funny. Oh, an she is Tytoan.”

“Like, a bird?”

“Owl, yeah.”

“We don’t really get many of them in the north, probably because of the snowstorms.”

“Their capital city is built along and inside of a mountain range, she handles the cold pretty well.”

“Huh, what about…”

Ky and Zella caught up for the first time in years.

“Harlan gave you an amulet, right?”

“Yeah, we should probably trade contacts then.”

They tapped their amulets and felt the strange sensation as a piece of their soul was transferred.

“I never get used to that. Anyway, how has life been?”

“Actually, pretty good. Amber and I are close, but I’ve also found friends outside of Harlan’s group, so I think I actually can make friends. So, what were you and her talking about earlier? I didn’t get the chance to hear. I mean, unless it was private.”

“It was nothing, just us getting the chance to talk.”

“You know, she had a crush on you, have you ever thought about-”

Ky leaned up against the wall, trying to be suave.

“Nope, I actually wanted to confess, I like you. Though I-”

“I heard what you said earlier, and I am not looking to be a backup for Amber rejecting you.”

Scorn was painted on her face. Though she was not conscious of it, some of that insecurity from Harlan getting gate before her was being projected onto Amber. To lose to him was one thing, but she felt like she was losing to Amber now.

“I didn’t mean it like that, you aren’t a backup. It has been years and if she gave me a try, I’d go for it, but we were never planning anything like that. You and I, we never planned anything, and it has been even longer since we last met one another.”

Amber found Reet was actually pretty easy to speak with.

“Yeah, the blacksmith shop is run by my oldest brother now. My oldest sister is an apprentice baker and she’ll probably take over the shop when the owner passes it on to her son, since he’s her husband.”

“Do you want to take over the smithy someday?”

“I’d like to, but outside of working there I run around town whenever someone needs fire. I kinda hated it at first, but with so many young people leaving the north for being an inhospitable hellscape, I think it is important that I stay for the older people that can barely keep their fires going. I probably spend more time splitting and drying wood than hammering metal.”

“So, no bigger plans for life?”

Reet wanted to say no, but the thought of what he was doing long term rarely passed his mind.

His life was already full enough helping out around the house and the town, he hadn’t stopped to think about what comes after that.

“I don’t have time for bigger plans, I’ve got 5 sisters and a brother younger than me. Work keeps me busy.”

“You should ask Harlan to get in contact with the mayor of your town, I’m sure that he could work to get heaters into the homes of people, free up some time for you.”

“I can’t do that, I never spent the coins he sent me almost two years ago. I don’t like asking people for stuff, and Harlan… he has a lot to give, and I’ve got nothing for him other than friendship.”

“If he was listening to you, this is where he would get a big goofy smile and tell you that friendship is all he wants. Did you really save those coins? How much did he send you?”

“A handful of silver coins, but I don’t remember the exact amount. I gave them to my mother and she put them in an emergency fund that we use when the budget is a bit tight and something breaks.

Though we haven’t had to get it out in a little while now.”

“Why not?”

“Well since- since my siblings are bringing in more money for the house.”

He knew that he was the reason that things were less stressed at home, but didn’t want to sound like he was bragging. If he could go back in time, he’d… well, he wouldn’t kick his own ass, he’d try to get himself to understand how to be responsible sooner.

Amber playfully punched him in the arm.

“Don’t tell me you’re modest. You smile like he does when he talks about our family. Just ask him for some help, he won’t mind.”

“Nah, it’s fine, I can just-”

“Dumbass. Don’t be a martyr like him, wouldn’t your mom and dad want you back home more often?”

He awkwardly scratched the back of his bald head.

“Yeah, mom might like that. I should ask.”

Amber noticed that he hadn’t mentioned his father yet, but knew better than to pry.

“You seem so… different from what Zella told me.”

“Yeah, I think was such a little hellion because I had no idea how to handle liking Zella and an early puberty, but after I got back my sisters straightened me out.”

“That was too much information.”

“Ah, sorry. I’ve not got much of a filter for stuff like that.”

Zella was talking about being in a relationship with Ky, setting down ground rules and the like, but it wasn’t working out.

“So, we can still be friends, right?”

“Yeah, it isn’t like we are breaking up. I just don’t think I can handle seeing you for two months of the year for the next 20 years before you can retire with all the benefits.”

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For a ranger, retiring at 40 was more often a dream than a reality, but if they did live long enough, they were set for comfortable life if they could live within their means at least a little bit, and they could always pick up local work as a guard or adventurer to pick up the slack for bigger purchases.

“You know, Reet likes you, mentioned it earlier like it was a competition to get you.”

“That prick.”

It was stupid, and petty, but Ky saw him talking with Amber and they looked to be getting along too well for his liking.

Relly watched it all play out on the couch next to Harlan and Adina.

Zella slapped Reet who then tried to deescalate, then Zella told him what Ky said, which upset Amber since she didn’t like Zella being treated like a prize, Reet tried to defend himself and let slip that Ky agreed to a playful competition, but that he didn’t really mean it as anything but a friend joking with another.

Then Amber defended Reet because as they talked she began to see him as what she wanted, so Zella then started arguing with Ky.

“Do you think we should do something?”

“No, I read his thoughts, Ky trying to ruin Reet’s chances with Amber was just rude.

Let him sit in the bed he made.”

“Really? I thought Ky was better than that.”

“You should’ve- Actually, I think I shouldn’t say that. Rosewell tells me that I should work on not tattling on passing thoughts.”

Harlan and Relly then both froze as a presence that was familiar to only one of them walked in the door, grabbed a few cookies, and sat on Harlan’s lap.

The dirty child looked like she had just crawled out of the ground, which was actually what happened.

“It’s not nighttime yet, but can I get my pie and milk?”

A single tear ran down Harlan’s cheek as he hugged her from behind.

“Yeah, sure thing, Peri.”

“Oh, yeah, that name does sound familiar. What is your name?”

Harlan knew that it was coming, that a Fae, no, a Pixie resurrection was more like a reincarnation.

Bits and pieces of the old her were there, she remembered the deal after all, but the Periwinkle that he knew was dead.

“Harlan.”

The young Periwinkle, looking barely 6 years old, put her index finger on her chin as she thought.

“I’m going to call you Har Har.”

“Please don’t.”

“Ok. Get me my milk and pie now. Oh, and I need a bath.”

“Yes, you really do. I’ll get Isha to help you.”

“That is a nice name. You should be Isha.”

“No, I like Harlan.”

Harlan put her on his shoulders and she began to pull on his hair like she was having trouble staying on.

Ava was with Isha and Sera in the kitchen.

“Harlan, did you pick a child from a garden?”

“Pretty close. Isha, she needs a bath. Sara, she needs a pie and a glass of honeyed milk when she gets out of the bath.”

“I’ll get right on that, but, who is that? Did one of the orphans wander in here somehow?”

“Do you remember Periwinkle?”

“Yes, the nice young woman who was here for a short time before… After the attack, we never found a body. Is that her daughter?”

“Close enough. Peri, this is Isha, and that is Sara, and that is Ava.”

“No, really, where did she come from?”

“I grew from my tree roots.”

“Of course, sweetie, but do you remember your mother?”

“There was a big tree, and I crawled out one day. Then Titania burned it and I had to make my own tree.”

Adina and Isha were taken aback by the story, Titania was one of the highest gods in Reino, The Mother of Life, wife of Oberon, The Father of War.

“Now, where did you hear that name?”

“I’m a Pixie.”

She sprouted 8 wings, thin and long like a dragonfly, colored like stained glass, but making no distinct artwork.

“Isha, if this is a problem, I understand, but she is disoriented right now because of her revival and I owe her a place to live for what she did.”

Safira stepped into the room.

“Sir Fomoria, have you entered a pact with a Fae?”

Periwinkle looked at her with angry eyes.

“I am not a Fae, I am a Pixie. I hate Fae.”

“Safira, I know there is no law forbidding what I’ve done. Periwinkle has once given her life to protect those close to me, she has no desire for tricks and curses, she simply wants a place to be.”

“I was making no judgment, I simply did not believe one like you would let one of them so near you.”

“I judge people for who, and not what they are.”

Isha came out of her daze.

“I should start running water for her. Peri, do you-”

“Harlan can call me Peri, everyone else can call me Periwinkle.”

“Alright then, Periwinkle, do you want me to carry you to the bath?”

She weightlessly flouted into Isha’s arms.

Safira stepped out of her way and sat at the kitchen table.

“Sir Fomoria, might we have a chat?”

Harlan sat at the table, and with just a single barely raised finger, Safira put up veils so powerful Harlan’s mental senses were even dulled.

“You’ve never wanted to speak with me before, what changed?”

“Sir Fomoria, do I have leave to speak without formality?”

“Of course.”

“I believed you to be a base man, one who reacts through instinct, covering up his actions with thought only in retrospect. Every single action you have ever taken, in my eyes, have been of necessity, a pawn to be moved around, and then eventually sacrificed.”

“You aren’t entirely wrong, I have made many choices with my emotions and instincts.”

“How does it weigh on your mind? To be around one of her kind.”

“When I first met her, I felt it strongly, I had to take active measures to avoid causing her harm, much like Fragile Peace.”

“Oh?”

“I have spoken with her about her Fae origins, and she simply believes I am being fed falsehoods by fallen gods.”

“And now, what do you feel?”

“There was a time when I would need to stop myself from snapping her spine, but when I hugged her as she sat in my lap, I felt nothing but joy, even if she doesn’t know what exactly she did to deserve it.

Peri gave her life, the body is the same, but her mind is gone, she is not who I knew, not truly.

To willingly give up your entire self, leaving behind nothing but a shell, that is the most terrible thing that can happen. It pains me to know that she is gone, but a girl who looks just like her is now in my guest bathroom, being cleaned after she had to dig herself out of the grave she put herself in.”

Safira laughed, loud and deep, reminiscent of a donkey. Were it someone else, there might be a mocking laugh returned.

But Harlan was not someone who would insult another for something like this.

“I’ve heard rumors that you become quite poetic at times. Did you think of these things for some time?

Or is this a stream from mind to mouth.”

“I am just speaking my mind.”

“I spoke out against Her Highness, Heir to the Throne, Lady Rosewell, hiring you as an advisor.

But perhaps I could be swayed by one of those armors you have.”

“If Rosewell asks me, I would be willing to give you, and her, a set. But simply put, I do not trust you, and I dislike your wording, that you would be swayed by a possession. Greed is something I dislike.”

“It is good that you did not fall for such a simple trick. My armor is far beyond whatever you’ve managed to scrape together in your time as a craftsman, though it does have its own uniqueness which would have merit if implemented in my own arms. Do you have any questions before I drop these veils?”

“Do you care for Relly or Rosewell?”

“I was ordered by His Majesty, King Yggdra the 15th, to guard them with my life if need be, to serve them with honesty and faithfulness. I would never betray his order.”

“And why are you so loyal to him?”

“Your father, you would do anything for him, would you not?”

“You don’t have his eyes?”

“Your father, is not the man whose seed spawned you. He is the one who has raised you up, giving you the tools by which you might reveal your best self. When he heard of me, a young girl fighting in terrible conditions, an arena of slaves hidden away from the sights of humanity.

He saved my life, letting me take the lives of those who had done such a thing to me and to the others.

He gave me the chance to point my mace at those who would break apart the world in which he has made. In the world which you would make, if you had his power, would you save me?”

Harlan had sadness plainly on his face as he hung his head low.

“Of course I would, with every fiber of my being, I would save you, and I would kill anyone involved in running such a-”

He looked up, finding Safira smirking.

“He wrote this story for me, one which you would fall for so very easily.

He asked that I tell you how weak you are to women, you hear these words of family and of slavery, of me being treated as an object, and you turn your mind off. Your empathy should’ve shown me as a liar, that I felt no sadness, that I felt amusement as I spoke. But no, instead your eyes slit like a beast, you lost yourself in your sense of righteous anger. Don’t let every girl with sad eyes and sad stories sway your heart.”

Her composure changed, returning to the serious woman who he knew he better as.

“I must return to Relly, ensuring that she remains safe.”

“You didn’t answer the question. Why are you loyal to him?”

“He has never once spoken to me as a woman, only ever as a soldier. He saw my worth when the army overlooked my flawless record and passed me over for promotions.”

The veil dropped just as Harlan saw a glow from his pocket, causing him to put up his own veil to give some privacy.

When Harlan came out of his veil, he was in his armor, though the skull embossing on his helmet no longer looked human.

The teeth were sharper, the canines jutting out like a ghouls.

The eye sockets were upturned, giving a furious look which matched his eyes that burned like lanterns on a moonless night.

A crown of horns, not unlike a dragon, grew from the broader forehead.

The armor was not truly living, but rather a tool, the one which Harlan needed, and which was simply following his mental state.

“Adina, tell Isha to prepare a change of clothes. Oh, and make sure Balor gets out of the lab, he should get the chance to meet everyone.”

“Of course, honey.”

She gave him a kiss on the cheek, the armor moving out of the way for her.

The rest of them stopped fighting when Harlan stepped out of the kitchen and they saw his appearance.

“Do you want some back up?”

Harlan replied to Ky with an even tone, betraying the intentions which were clear just by his eyes.

“No, I would not want to involve a member of the army in what will be happening.”

“Hey, we are friends, shouldn’t we have eachothers back?”

“I should be back within the hour.”

Ava stood in front of the door.

“I’m not going to let you-”

Harlan used skip to get close enough to command her armor, which walked her to a chair and sat down.

“I will entertain your moral grandstanding, but there are lives at stake, if you continue to act like a child I’ll have you sit in the corner.”

Harlan had only a few things he needed to bring with, then he could cast his gates to reach the sisters.