“What were you thinking!?”
Amete winced as his wife shrieked at them in the carriage, but he shouted right back, “I didn’t do this! I didn’t go up to the Queen saying “Your Highness I’d love to give my niece and nephew, whom I didn’t know existed until now, all my property!””
“You said your brother and his wife were gone!”
“They were! How was I supposed to know they’d made some connection to the Crown before they died!? They were in! A! Mine!”
His wife leaned back in her seat, clutching at her head. “What are we going to do? You said-”
“There’s nothing we can do! Even if it’s not in writing everyone heard the Queen! I... I have to talk with them. Maybe, maybe I can-”
“Your brother wasn’t that naive! There was no way he didn’t tell the kids what happened, and there’s no way they’re as dumb as he is!”
“Watch your tone!” The shout was loud, even for him, and an awkward, pained silence overtook the couple. When his wife quietly sobbed Amete reached over, pulling her close as he mulled over the new curve life tossed him down. Was this some cosmic justice over what he did to his brother?
...A week. Maybe, in a week, he could send the two children a message and start bringing a gap to their hearts and keep them open to forming a relationship where they don’t take everything he owns.
Surely, the good mood of the Rite must’ve carried over, right?
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Dallia had once heard the phrase “tension so thick, you could cut it with a knife” from Haz- Chevalluna, but she had never really understood it until this moment. The difference was you could probably have a hundred foresters cutting at this tension and not make a dent for a hundred years. Cheval, Ro, and Lord Jeveraux had been invited into the royal dining hall to take their meals from now, but it was a mess. Ro was always sitting at the furthest end of the table, Cheval and Jeveraux were sitting closer but still further away, and Dallia was at her grandmother’s side. This had been going on for days now, and this morning meal felt almost more awkward somehow. Just about everyone but Lord Jeveraux looked miserable in the silence, eventually splitting off to do their own things.
Haz- Cheval came with her and he tried to have fun with her, but she could tell he wasn’t into it despite his smile. When Lord Jeveraux came for their lessons, she had Cheval work on brushing her stuffies and she started to whispering to the old man. “Is he okay?”
“Who?” Dallia glanced at Hazard, and Jeveraux nodded in understanding. “Ah... no.”
“What happened? I don’t... e-ever since the Rite...”
“Oh... well, I’m not sure he’d want me telling you that.” This was new, the Headmaster was always ready to part with information.
“Please? I want to know how I can make this better.”
Jeddard sucked in his lips, rolling his jaw for a moment, “...Honestly, I think this is one of those things that miiiiight be better to let lie.”
“Please?”
Jeveraux said nothing for a moment before sighing, “Their uncle was a very bad person, and that's all I can say.”
“But-”
“I know.” Jeveraux smiled sadly, “But there’s nothing you can do for them right now. It’s best to let this all blow over.”
Dallia didn’t believe this would “blow over,” not in the least, but... what could she do? Ro could be really scary, Cheval wouldn’t tell her anything, no one would tell her anything!
...Wait...
Would Ro tell her? She was angry, sure, but she hadn’t actually asked Ro yet. If she didn’t want to tell her, then... then maybe Dallia could make Ro tell her? The thought made Dallia feel icky but she was the Princess, right? They had to tell her if she asked? The thought would plague Dallia for the rest of the day until it formed into a plan. Not a good plan, mind you, but it was the best she had.
Sometime in the afternoon it came to fruition: sweets and tea were brought to her room along with Ro, clad in the plain brown outfit of the knights in training. The three of them sat around a small table, teacups in front of all. It... wasn’t great; Hazard tried to ask Ro questions about her day but her answers were curt, and she didn’t even look in his direction. After a few minutes of trying Dallia cleared her throat, building up her resolve, “Are you upset because of what happened at the Rite?”
Cheval seemed surprised, albeit more so than Ro, but the old girl recovered quickly and snorted, “No, really? Why would I be mad about the worst human being alive being there?”
“Ro...” Hazard tried to warn off his sister but Dallia pushed on the chance.
“What did he do?” Ro’s face curled in anger and she shouted before Hazard could stop her.
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“He’s the reason we’re in this mess in the first place!” Ro slammed her fist on the table, silence reigning for a moment before Hazard tried to speak up.
“Ro-”
“No.” Dallia interrupted, “I... I want to know.”
Ro stared intently at Dallia before Hazard said, “Ro, she didn’t know anything.”
“Because no one would tell me!” Dallia’s frustrations finally leaked through as she threw up her hands, “You want tell me, Grandma won’t tell me, just tell me!”
The siblings looked at each other for a few seconds, then both started to speak. They stopped, trying to speak again and interrupting each other again, and Dallia finally pointed at Ro. The message was clear enough and Ro took a breath, crossing her arms, “Our uncle, Lord Volbaine, caused us to end up in the mines. As far as I’m concerned, he’s responsible for our parents’ death.”
The answer made Dallia’s whole body go cold, “What?”
“...Our uncle...” Hazard sighed, “The High Queen believes our uncle worked with another house to take over our parents’ lands, which got our parents sent to the mines.”
“Your... Y-Your uncle did that? Why? Why?” Family was supposed to protect each other.
“Money? Power? Maybe he just didn’t like my face.” The bitterness in Ro’s tone was stronger than any sour fruit. “I wanted to see him get locked up, but the damn-”
“Ro.” Ro glared at her brother. “I know, but you knew it was possible the Queen-”
“Why?” Dallia asked. “Why would grandmama do this? Why leave him in charge?”
Hazard made a face, glancing at Ro, but she gestured at him. “The High Queen thought it better to have him in charge of our land until we were old enough to do it ourselves, run Blackspire. He couldn’t say no if she asked, but calling him out in front of everyone made it doubly true.”
“But he... your parents... it’s not right.”
Ro threw up her hands, “And finally someone gets it!”
“Okay, first of fucking all: fuck. You.” Hazard’s Resonance flared, both girls taken back by his sudden anger and his change to a strange accent. “I “got it” but you wouldn’t listen when I said anything. Kind of fucking hard to have a conversation about it when all you give me is one word answers in the rare chance I get to fucking talk to you. Second of all: you’re not doing shit!”
“What-”
“Oh I’m sorry; who the fuck is gonna run the fucking place? You? No, it’s gonna be me and maybe Jeddard if he’s not fucking busy. It’s probably gonna be me, by my damn self, doing everything.”
“So we should let the guy who killed our parents get away it!”
“He’s not getting away with it-”
The conversation became a shouting match and Dallia felt her world spinning. By the Light this was her fault, wasn’t it? She shouldn’t have asked, she should’ve just let them deal with it. Dallia’s eyes started to blur, her face getting hot as she whined, starting to sniffle. The argument died down as the two slowly looked to her. Dallia felt nervous, afraid they’d turn their anger on her now but Hazard very slowly reached out a hand and gently touched her arm, “No, Dallia, it’s... it’s not your fault.”
“It is, I shouldn’t have asked, I shouldn’t have asked, I’m sorry...”
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Guilt was a lead brick that sat on Hazard’s chest as Dallia sobbed Try as he might, he couldn’t even hope to push any sort of calm towards Dallia, least of all because he was tearing up himself. He got up and moved to Dallia’s side, standing next to her chair as he pulled her into a hug, just quietly whispering to her, “It’s alright, it’s okay.”
Small miracles it only took her a few minutes to calm down, the sniffles slowly trailing off, and when he was sure she had fully stopped he let go to find one of her handkerchiefs, passing it to her as he took his seat. Dallia cleaned her face with it, the only sound in the room the rustling of the cloth. Ro looked... he couldn’t tell. Ashamed? Angry? Maybe she felt how Hazard did, like...
...how did Hazard even feel right now? Cold, perhaps. His chest hurt too. He focused on taking breaths, staring at the table. After a time he felt something brush his arm and he flinched away, looking up to see Ro looking pained as she pulled her hand away. He stared at her for a moment before taking a breath, “Hate me if you want, but I’m not going to try and keep apologizing for the Queen’s choice.”
“...I...” Ro looked pained. “I don’t hate you Haz.”
“...You hesitated there.”
“...I’m sorry.” She whispered, looking down. He didn’t like that some part of him got satisfaction at her feeling bad.
“...I’m sorry.” Dallia said. “I’m sorry grandmother brought your uncle here, I’m sorry he did what he did. I know... I know what it’s like. Bad people took my parents away too.”
Ro said nothing but she stood, and next thing Hazard knew he was suddenly under her arm, Ro grabbing Dallia next and walking the two to the bed, sitting them both on her knees as she pulled them in for a tight hug. Her warmth slowly replaced his coldness, and he fought to keep his emotions in check as she had her Resonance reach out to both of them.
“...I’m sorry. I... I’m angry, I know that, but I should’ve talked about it. I didn’t mean to get mad at you, Dallia. I know it was wrong but I just... I-I just-”
“I know.” Hazard sighed, burying his face into her neck. “Still hurt though. I’ll... I’ll get over it, I know, but-”
“I know.” Ro hugged the two closer, settling into a comfortable silence.
Perhaps a bit too comfortable, as the three slowly fell back onto Dallia’s bed, falling into sleep...
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Vitala raised a brow as she approached Dallia’s room and saw Lord Jeveraux peeking through her granddaughter’s door, making cooing noise. There was a brief concern of him doing something untoward but without looking he raised a hand and beckoned Vitala over. She raised a brow but approached, “Lord Jeveraux, the servants claimed there was shouting-”
Jeveraux shushed her, and she bristled at the audacity as he beckoned her faster. When she approached he stepped aside, and she peered through the door to see Dallia curled up on her bed, held close to Roanna along with Chevalluna. The three were fast asleep which, while admittedly somewhat adorable, didn’t explain Jeveraux’s excitement. “While that is rather adorable, I don’t see-”
“You need to look. Really look.” Jeveraux tapped his temples and she understood. She expanded her senses, and she saw the Resonances of the three children. She didn’t see what was so exciting, they were all together so it was just one large “blob” of power... wait. She peered closer and she realized their Resonances were flowing in and out of each other in a perfect cycle. Evidently she couldn’t keep the shock off her face as Jeveraux got more excited. “Cyclical Resonance! Harmony, at such young ages and with no assistance!”
“...I... suppose I made the correct choice in bringing you three out of the mines.” Vitala couldn’t describe what she felt, as felt so many emotions. Pride in Dallia for doing something only masters could do at her age, a tiny bitterness at Dallia pulling away from her, and... something else. It wasn’t a bad feeling, she just couldn't place it.
“They’re good kids, all. I think that shouting you heard was them finally getting out what they needed to. Like a rough-hewn crystal being carved out and polished with heat and force. I say we leave them be for now.”
Vitala glanced at the pocket of her outfit where a letter sat before nodding to Jeveraux. “Let us retire to my study. I wanted your opinion on a few projects of mine.”