It was perhaps not the most advisable thing to do; but, given the circumstances, Sir Perry preferred it done all the same. After all, on the eve of such good news, it seemed only right to celebrate.

And celebrate they did.

In full and elated fashion, the great hall was filled once again with merriment and food offerings of all kinds. Though, the ale stores had admittedly begun to shrink. If they were to have any left over for the deep winter months, they would need to reduce their consumption. It was a sensible proposition. And a valiant effort was given…for all of roughly thirty minutes.

“To the Starspawn!”

Ellis and the others lifted their cups and thrust them together, spilling froth and foam over the plates below.

“To Telhari!” Mary shouted as she wiped a dribble of ale from her cheek.

The group toasted once again, then slammed their cups against the table in unison and proceeded to eat.

“Ah, ah, ah,” Albert teased as he slid the cup away from Ingrid. “Too much alcohol will hurt your recovery.”

Albert lifted the cup toward his mouth, but Ingrid reached over and snatched it out his hands before he could.

“I beg to differ,” she quipped as she downed the remaining ale. “In fact, I feel better already.”

“You may still feel it in the morning,” Hugo added as he pressed his spoon into a warm dish of roasted meat and vegetables.

“She’ll have plenty of time to recover,” Lyusya said. “Spring is still a while away.”

The winter had only just begun to settle over Viemen. So long as they could manage through the harsher months, they would be able to depart for the celebration on time and without issue.

“Do you think the path north will be cleared in time?” Albert wondered between bites.

“It shouldn’t be a problem so long as we have the Dragon Slayers with us,” Ellis said with a cheeky smile.

At Ellis’ comment, Albert nudged Telhari with his elbow, managing to coax out the tiniest of grins from his otherwise composed face. Telhari then finished his bite of food and washed it down with a sip of ale.

“I am sure we will manage.”

Ingrid felt her face grow warm from the rush of alcohol. Her normally reserved sensibility was beginning to dissolve.

“It is a rather momentous occasion,” she said suddenly. “To knight an elfkin? It is something I never thought I would see.”

Ellis thrust his fork into the air with pride.

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“That’s what makes it amazing, no?”

“I would say it is more suspicious than amazing.”

Ingrid put a spoonful of food into her mouth and began to chew. She was blissfully unaware as all eyes fell on her; and it was only after she had finished chewing and took the time to look over the table again that she realized why.

“I-I am sorry, Master Telhari!” she stammered. “I didn’t mean it like that!”

“No harm done,” he said calmly. “I cannot say that I disagree with you.”

Lyusya lowered her cup.

“Is it really so suspicious?”

“It is still a tremendous honor,” Albert said as he leaned in. “The Advisory Council contains some of the most powerful people in the entire nation. The Archduchess Kendrich, the heads of the Royal Treasury and the Office of Foreign Affairs. Even the head of the Magistrate is on the council.”

At this comment, Mary picked her head up from her plate and shared a look with Ellis.

“Head of the Magistrate?” she asked, “Is that the Zorren guy?”

Ingrid seemed shocked.

“You know of him?”

The two nodded.

“Zorren tried to hire Telhari for a mystery job,” Ellis said as he took a sip from his cup.

“When was this!?” Ingrid blurted out.

“I was contacted by the head of the Omnirian Magistrate several months ago,” Telhari said. “I was offered a job, to which I declined. After that, I never heard from him again.”

Lyusya and Ingrid were astonished.

Albert blinked several times as he processed this. Then, he leaned in closer to Telhari.

“What was the job!?”

Telhari shook his head.

“I never found out the details.”

“Why not?” Lyusya asked.

“I refused him before he would tell me.” Telhari then looked from person to person with a confusion of his own. “Were none of you aware?”

They looked at each other confusedly.

“No,” Ingrid said flatly. “How would we have known?”

“My apologies,” Telhari added, “I was under the assumption that Sir Perry had informed you.”

Albert snorted and then shook his head as he spoke.

“Well, he didn’t.”

“I am sure he had his reasons,” Ingrid said in defense.

“A lot has happened,” Lyusya added, “And Sir Perry has had many things to worry about. I am sure he simply forgot.”

Ingrid scraped the end of her fork along the plate, letting her thoughts consume her.

Why had Perry said nothing to her? Or anyone else, for that matter? She had come to his defense in front of the others, but she herself knew this was nothing but a farce. Perhaps more than anyone, she was frustrated and angry with him for keeping such a secret. But, beyond the secret itself, it was his lack of trust which hurt her the most: something which was becoming a habit of his. Ingrid pressed the end of her fork into a piece of meat and watched the juice flow out. Finally, she perked her head up and looked around.

“Where is Sir Perry?”

Everyone stopped their feasting to look around as well.

“Dunno,” Ellis said.

“Maybe he’s not hungry?” Lyusya offered.

Ellis and Albert laughed.

“No way,” Albert said as he waved his fork around. “Have you met him?”

Ingrid pressed her arms against the table and lifted herself from the bench.

“I shall go find him, then. He should not be missing his own celebration.”