“Has it been tampered with?” Leon asked as he got up from his seat.
Jahora watched him approach Ren, feeling herself grow numb at the Cleric’s words.
Ren looked back at Aria, eyes still golden as he peered at her, “I can’t say. There is a ‘crack’ that is fraying the seal’s structure, which can be a result of outside interference, but it is also possible that the seal cannot contain her magic and is breaking from the pressure…”
Jahora turned to Aria. The girl was silent as Ren looked her over, but confusion was clear in her eyes.
Confusion that was steadily turning to fear.
“I’m not sure which possibility is worse,” Ren said, “one that suggests that Shades have been able to reach her without us knowing, or one where her magic is so great a Chosen’s seal can’t contain it.
Jahora could not see Leon’s face, but there was a growing tension to the Black Cloak’s posture the more that his companion spoke. She could, however, see Aria start to shy away from the two men, clutching the blanket wrapped around her closer.
“Stop it,” Jahora snapped at the two men. She pushed between Ren and Aria and pulled the girl close to her. As she did, she could feel a chill brush across her skin, send a wave of gooseflesh prickling across her skin.
She promptly ignored it.
“If you must discuss this, do it away from here,” she tried, and failed, to control the bite in her voice.
Ren’s brows raised at her words, but he stepped back and placed a hand on Leon’s shoulder, “She’s right.”
The Cleric tilted his head towards the door, and with a nod his fellow Black Cloak followed him out of the building. That did not stop Leon from looking over everyone in the room, leaving a lingering gaze towards the kitchen before stepping out.
“Did I do something wrong?” Aria’s voice was trembling.
“No,” Jahora said firmly, “no you did not.”
She guided the girl towards the table. As they approached, Jahora locked eyes with her companions. Helbram gave her a knowing nod and pulled the seat next to him out while Leaf and Elly shared the task of making a plate of food for the girl. Jahora gave them a thankful look as she helped Aria get seated.
“Then why did they look so worried?” Aria asked.
Helbram reached for the girl, pausing for a brief moment as he no doubt felt the same chill that Jahora did. His expression remained unchanged from his usual smile as he ruffled her hair.
“There are just a few things they need to discuss with one another,” he said in a softer tone, “For now, you need to eat,” he flashed her a smirk, “especially after sleeping for so long.”
Aria frowned, “It wasn’t that long.”
“Oh I am afraid it was,” Helbram said, “Any longer and you’d have slept through Winter. Isn’t that right, Leaf?”
“Oh sure,” Leaf said. His tone was casual but he did not look at Aria, instead choosing to occupy himself with the empty plates on the table, “Not to mention the snoring, you were goin’ so loud I thought a bear had snuck into the girl’s room.”
“I was not!” Aria exclaimed with a pout.
He snickered and wiggled his ears, “These ears don’t lie.”
“That can’t be true, right?” the girl turned to Elly, a pleading look in her eyes.
Elly snorted, “Of course it’s not. He must have woken himself up with his own snoring,” she walked up to Leaf and took the pile of plates from him, a playful look in her eye, “It wouldn’t be the first time.”
Leaf’s jaw dropped, “Well that’s a load if I’ve ever heard one.”
Elly wiggled her own pointed ears, “These ears don’t lie.”
Aria giggled and smiled to herself, “I knew it.”
Helbram chuckled, “Regardless, you need to eat,” he pushed a plate of food towards her.
She nodded and picked up a fork before she started to eat. While the girl was focused on her food, the masks that everyone wore dropped for a moment. Leaf and Elly shared a solemn nod before the Weaver helped him take the plates over to the kitchen, the both of them no doubt intending to tell Erik and Cora of the situation. Helbram was still focused on Aria, but worry was clear on his face.
Worry and… conflict?
When Aria looked back up, the masks returned, but that did not ease the confusion that was on her face.
“This tastes funny.”
“How so?” Helbram asked.
The girl reached out and started to grab at the air, like she couldn’t grasp the words she wanted to say, “Just… not as much flavor,” she said.
“I see… perhaps your taste is just taking a moment to wake up,” he said.
A clear lie, one that had just been made up on the spot, but still his smile remained.
Aria rubbed her chin, then nodded before she resumed eating. Helbram’s jaw clenched when he knew she could not see him, and Jahora could see his fist tremble out of the girl’s sight as well.
Leon and Ren walked back into the tavern while Aria continued to eat. The Black Cloaks met both Helbram and Jahora’s gazes, and, after sharing a brief look with Jahora, Helbram stood up from his chair to meet with them. Jahora kept her eyes on Aria, but tilted her head towards their conversation.
“What do you plan on doing?” Helbram asked the two men.
“Further investigation,” Ren said, “Given what we know… which is next to nothing, everyone who has been around her is under suspicion.”
Silence followed the Cleric’s statement.
“I understand,” Helbram said, “do what you have to do.”
“Thank you,” Ren said, “but it is not just you that has been near her.”
Jahora could feel Ren looking over to the kitchen.
“And I am sure they will be cooperative as well,” Helbram said.
“Her family,” Leon said, “have they approached her directly?”
“Not to my knowledge, no,” Helbram said.
At the mention of her family, Aria’s posture straightened and she started to turn towards the men.
Jahora ran a hand through the girl’s hair, “It’s alright, they’re just discussing a few things,” she could feel the chill creeping into her fingers, but continued to run her hand through Aria’s hair.
The girl looked at her, a hint of concern in her eyes. Concern that faded to comfort, to trust.
Jahora tried to ignore the guilt stabbing her heart.
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“What happens if we are found without suspicion?” Helbram asked.
Ren sighed, “Then we will have to risk it and take her with us. We don’t know how long we have until the seal breaks entirely, but the quicker we get her to a more controlled environment the better.”
“How soon?”
“Tomorrow,” Leon said.
___
Helbram could see the growing anxiety in Jahora’s face as the day went on. For the sake of both cooperation and efficiency, the party, Erik and Cora remained within the tavern while Leon and Ren searched the building. The Black Cloaks had just finished their search of the rooms upstairs before moving onto the tavernkeep’s room. Erik, Cora, and Jahora remained huddled around Aria the entire time, keeping near the fireplace so the crackling flames would serve to both warm them and distract the girl from what was happening around her. The Mage was putting on a strong face, but every time Aria looked away from her, her mask would drop faster, and take longer to put on.
“What’re we goin’ to do?” Leaf asked, keeping his voice just above a whisper.
“I do not know,” Helbram said with a sigh, “Needless to say, I did not expect things to move so quickly… Are you sure you did not see anything when keeping watch?”
“Positive,” Leaf said, “Not a trace of any Puppets or anythin’ else. Gods know what that even means,”
“Indeed,” Helbram rested a hand on his chin, “This Shade that hides their traces… perhaps they also possess the ability to fully conceal themselves?”
“How the hells do we even account for that,” Leaf hissed.
“I have no idea,” Helbram said,” and from the frustration on their faces I have a feeling that Ren and Leon do not know either.”
“Great,” Leaf said, “It’s growing dimmer than a drunkard’s eyes by the second.”
Helbram couldn’t say anything to counter his friend's words, merely nodding along with the sentiment. He looked over to Elly, who was conducting her own investigation of the tavern, her eyes alight with a soft purple glow as she scanned every corner of the room.
“No signs of magic?” Helbram asked when she got near.
She shook her head, “None beyond the traces left behind by ourselves,” she peered outside the window and looked around, “I’ve checked the perimeter multiple times as well, but still there is nothing…” she tapped her forehead against the window frame and grumbled to herself.
The Black Cloaks emerged from Cora and Erik’s room. Leon held his usual stoic expression, but Ren rubbed his chin with a mix of contemplation and frustration.
Erik appeared to notice this and stood up from the fireplace, “Is everything alright?”
“Yes, in regards to everyone here at least,” the Cleric said, “but I feel like I’m going mad.”
Helbram understood the man. Knowing that someone was there, but finding no trace of them beyond the initial crumb was a recipe for distress and paranoia.
“Well if there is anything we can do to help just say the word,” Cora said.
“Thank you,” Ren pulled out the gray stone he’d found days ago and rolled it between his fingers. At a glance, it appeared that the Cleric was just fidgeting with it absentmindedly, but, though slight, Helbram could see that the man was scanning the room for any reaction to its presence. The resulting sigh told him that Ren did not get the result he was hoping for. He held it in front of him and examined it closely.
“It is odd…”
Elly turned from the window and gave him a quizzical look.
“With such potent and thorough concealment magic, you have to wonder how they could have left behind such a clue,” Ren explained.
He passed Elly the stone. As the Weaver held it her fingers started to glow with yellow light. The light bled into the stone, suffusing it with the same light. As it did, a thread of yellow Aether spooled out of it, swaying back and forth as if it was caught in the wind.
“Perhaps they are aware, but know that this could not be traced back to them.
“But it does let us know that they are here,” Leon said, “Regardless of intent I don’t know how that is ideal.”
“A misdirect, perhaps,” Ren suggested, “If that was the intent then it’s certainly working…” he muttered.
“Enough to elude even the Watcher’s gifts,” Elly observed.
Ren sighed, “Yes, much to my shame,” He shook his head, “regardless, we will perform another sweep around the village.”
“Understood,” Helbram said, “We shall keep watch here in the meantime.”
The Black Cloaks tilted their heads in acknowledgement and made their way out of the tavern. As they did, Elly turned to Helbram and directed his attention to Jahora. He let out a breath, but nodded as he walked over to the fireplace. His friend did not turn to him as he approached, her attention wholly focused on Aria as she held the girl close. She jumped slightly as Helbram placed a hand on her shoulder, but as she met his eyes she knew his intent.
The Mage turned to Erik and Cora, “I’ll leave her in your hands.”
Aria looked at her, “Where are you going?”
“To have a small talk,” Jahora said with a smile, “Don’t you worry I’ll be back soon.”
The girl pouted, but let her go as Cora took Jahora’s place.
“We’ll keep an eye on her,” the tavernkeep said in a reassuring tone.
Jahora flashed her a thankful smile and followed Helbram and the others up to his room. They were quiet as they walked, but Helbram could feel the weight behind each of Jahora’s steps. To say that she was troubled would be a drastic understatement, but he pressed on.
This talk was needed, now.
Helbram took a seat on his bed as they entered the room while Leaf leaned on the wall near the doorway. Elly took the desk seat, but slid it more towards the door, leaving the bed across from Helbram for Jahora to take. No words were exchanged as they settled down, and even as Jahora took her spot she kept silent, her eyes directed towards the floor. Helbram remained quiet as well, letting his companion take a moment to gather herself.
“I know what you’re going to say,” she eventually said, shifting her gaze to the window.
Helbram did not answer her.
“They’re going to take her tomorrow, and we need to let her go.”
He crossed his fingers, “Yes, that is what I was going to say.”
Jahora’s fists trembled as she clenched them, “I know it’s the right thing to do… that they can better assist her than we can,” tears started to build in her eyes, “I know, yet why can I not do it?”
Helbram stood up from his seat and knelt down in front of her. He placed his hands on her shoulders and gave them a gentle squeeze, “Because it is your nature, and there is nothing wrong with that,” he smiled when she looked at him, “but, letting her go is not the only option that we have.”
She tilted her head for a moment, but her eyes widened, “You mean to go with them.”
Helbram nodded, “Yes, and you are more than welcome to join. If we are to see her to safety, it would be better for us to confirm it with our own eyes.”
He looked at Elly and Leaf, who also held surprise in their raised brows, “It is a sudden decision, I know, and I should have brought it up sooner,” he scratched his head, “but I cannot spend anymore time dwelling on it, especially now.”
Leaf pushed himself from the wall and walked up to Helbram, an irritated look in his eye, “You’re godsdamned right you should have brought it up sooner,” Helbram grimaced as the man clicked his teeth, “I would have had more time to gather supplies.”
Though he knew Leaf would say such a thing, that did not stop him from letting go of a sigh he did not know he was holding. The tension in his chest had not fully unwound, however, as he looked over to Elly.
The scholar’s eyes were closed as she tapped her arm.
“I know it is quite the detour from our original destination, and one that does not promise the ruins that Whitebridge has to offer,” Helbram admitted.
“It does not,” Elly said in a neutral tone, “but though my field of study focuses on Ruhian and Saputan civilization, that does not mean I am above other pursuits,” she gave them a kind smile, “I would say helping a child would fall under such circumstances,” she produced a notebook from her waist pocket, “Besides, I’ve many more notes to take, on Shades and Black Cloaks alike.”
Helbram snorted, “I suppose you do.”
Jahora sniffled, and as they all faced her they saw the tears that streaked down her face.
“Thank you, all of you,” she rubbed her eyes.
Elly pushed herself from the wall and wrapped an arm around Jahora, “Someone has to keep an eye on you,” she smirked, “Who knows what magical artifacts you’ll end up breaking without my supervision.”
Jahora laughed, “It was the one time, and you weren’t even there.”
Elly’s smile grew to a grin, “My point precisely.”
Leaf drew in close as well, and before he could object, Helbram pulled him and the others into a hug. His friend made a startled sound, but wrapped the party in his arms as they brought their heads together.
“Do you think they will let us follow along?” Leaf asked.
“We’ll make them,” Jahora said, her voice resolute.
“That we will,” Elly agreed.
Helbram nodded, “Together.”
They all looked at him, “Together.”
When they released themselves from their embrace, he could see a newfound fire in his companions eyes. It fueled his own, the flame that was steadily burning in his chest. He focused on it, trying to ignore the doubts that still remained at the corners of his mind.
Doubts that told him that he would not be able to protect the girl.
Doubts that told him that he would just get in the way.
He thought back to Aria just the night before, of the wonder in her eyes as she looked at the moon, and pushed those doubts away. It didn’t matter if he didn’t believe he was strong enough.
He would have to be.