Bracing both hands against it, Nela pushed the wooden door closed. Aether, did they have to make these things so heavy? Stupid nobles and their stupid fancy houses.

Turning, she walked back through the dimly lit room to the bed where Ronny sat. He did seem to have calmed down, which was also a relief to her. To be honest, she was more at ease, relaxed, now that she was with him again

Nela reached up and untied her horsetail, letting her hair fall down freely. It was a habit she'd developed, letting it show when she was feeling more...womanly. She didn't know how else to describe it, but it let her feel better at times. It was little things like that, which wouldn't seem important to anyone else, but it made such a difference for her.

Ronny knew what it meant, of course. The night she had told him, she had half expected him to dismiss it as unneeded. He'd listened, he'd accepted it, and told her flatly that it didn't change who Nela was.

It was no wonder she had fallen in love with him.

And now, once more, he needed her.

"Ronny," she said softly, taking a seat beside him.

"Nela," he answered, "I'm so sorry. I didn't...I couldn't come back. I wanted to, but...it just made me think doing this here, doing whatever he told me to, was more important."

"I know," Nela said. She still didn't know the details of whatever this spell was, but it sounded like torture. "I got filled in on what's going on, at least some of it."

"Part of me still wants to go work on it," he continued, "I know better, but it's hard. Hard to think, to focus."

"You'll get better," Nela said quickly, hoping she was right. Even after the slaughter they'd seen and survived, Ronny had been quiet and sullen, not...whatever this was.

"I'm sorry, it's just..." He rested his head in his hands for a moment, then looked up at Nela. "You need to stay away from him."

"Who?" Nela asked without thinking, then cursed herself. She wasn't here to question Myron, at least not until he had recovered.

"It was...another elf."

Another elf? That was strange, and more than a little worrying too. Nela thought back, going through all the people she knew, considering if any one of them might be the one responsible. There wasn't any sign of this that she could remember.

"I'll keep my eyes open," she reassured him. She wasn't about to promise anything though.

"Good." He reached around Nela's shoulder, pulling her close to him. "I missed you so much."

"Same." She leaned her head on Ronny's shoulder, just enjoying the quiet moment together.

"So you finally met my sister," he finally said, breaking the peaceful silence. "What do you think of her?"

Nela shrugged, not entirely sure what to say. Edeline seemed nice enough, but they'd only met a day ago. Not really a lot to go on in terms of impressions. "She's your sister, not mine."

"I'm just worried about her," he admitted.

"Worry about yourself." Nela glared at him in annoyance. Typical Ronny, always trying to put everyone else first. It was great to be kindhearted, but not if you hurt yourself acting on it.

"I know, I know. Still, I can't rest for too long. Not with that elf out there."

"Don't make me tie you to the bed," Nela warned. Ronny bit his lip, holding himself back. "What?" She knew that look.

"I might like that," he whispered.

"You arse." Nela felt her face flush. "You can't be feeling all that bad if you're saying things like that."

"I am feeling a little better. Still, I won't deny I need the rest. I...didn't really sleep much last night." He yawned, as if he was trying to instantly prove it.

"Ronny..."

"Yes?" he asked innocently.

"Sleep. Now."

"I will, after I take care of one more thing." He leaned closer.

The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

"And that would be?" Nela asked, suspecting what Ronny was about to do.

He said nothing, instead bringing his lips to meet hers. Closing her eyes, she wrapped one arm around him, returning the kiss. The time for trading words was over. What she needed now, what they both needed, was each other's touch.

The door to the room creaked open. "We finished searching-" Edeline started to say.

Shit.

She and Ronny immediately pulled apart. Scrambling to her feet, Nela tried to look as if nothing had been going on, knowing it was doomed. They had discussed if and when they were going to reveal the truth about them and their plans together to his family a few times, arguing a bit, and reaching no real answer. The one thing they agreed on was hiding it until the right time.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

The look on Edeline's face was confusion, her mouth hanging open. She shut it, shaking her head. "I see." Her voice was soft, calm. This only made Nela's heart pound harder. "I suppose I should have foreseen something like this."

"Listen. I can explain. I wasn't planning on keeping it a secret forever. I just wanted to wait until I could meet up with all of you...and then all of this happened. I swear that..." Ronny's voice trailed off, words failing him. At least he still had some words, because Nela could not think of anything to say.

"I have one question," Edeline asked, still surprisingly calm despite what she'd caught them doing.

"Uh...yes?" Ronny looked like he was about to fall over. Aether's blood, Nela was about to fall over herself.

"Why did you two not think to lock the door?"

Ronny looked at Nela.

Nela looked at Ronny.

Edeline began to laugh. Low at first, but the laughs grew harder and harder until she was nearly doubled over, shaking. She stumbled a step to the side, bracing herself against the wall with one hand, and laughed even louder.

"What's going on?" Hamond strode through the door. He stopped, looking at all three of them in turn. "I see I've missed something," he commented.

"You're not the only one," Nela said, having to raise her voice to be heard over Edeline's wild laughter. Wonderful, they'd made the Lady Hallowscroft go crazy. This definitely was not on the list of things Nela had expected to achieve in her lifetime.

After a moment, the laughter gave way to coughing, as Edeline fought to catch her breath. "That was...too funny."

Nela let out a sigh, relieved. She'd honestly braced for the worst, but Edeline was taking it well..sort of, at least. She turned to Ronny. "This is your fault, you know."

"What did I do?" he asked.

"You could've told me the door could be locked shut!" Nela put on an obviously fake scowl. To her left, Edeline started laughing again.

"I take it you're feeling better," Hamond said, pointedly ignoring Edeline's latest laughing fit.

"I am," Ronny said, "But I don't think we've been introduced."

"Hamond. A pleasure to meet you, my lord."

"The lord is my father." Ronny slowly stood up with a grunt. "I don't want a title I haven't earned."

"Well, it was never going to be me," Edeline stated, having finally calmed down. "And father is definitely not going to surprise us on this matter, so it falls to you."

Ronny let out a long sigh. "I can't."

"Why? Because of her?" Edeline gestured in Nela's direction.

"I led so many men to their death." Ronny's voice shook, his face stricken. "I saw so many fall, and all I could do is run."

"And our father failed in his duty to guard Princess Splendora. That didn't stop him from taking up the title of lord." Edeline took a step towards her brother. "Regardless, I am even less suited to this than you."

Nela silently reminded herself to ask Ronny about this princess later. He'd never mentioned it, and it sounded like there was quite the story behind it. A small part of her wanted to bring it up immediately, but here and now was clearly not a good time.

"You ran the town in his name," Ronny pointed out, "Admit it. Hallowscroft would be better off if it was left to you."

Edeline fell silent, obviously trying to come up with a response. While Ronny's reasons were obvious, Edeline's attempts to pass responsibility off were making Nela suspicious. She was hiding something, but what was it?

"No getting out of this, is there?" Edeline smiled sadly. "I suppose it would not startle you to learn I have a secret of my own."

She might as well have told them rain fell from the sky, Nela thought to herself.

"What is it?" Ronny asked.

Edeline glanced over at Hamond briefly. "Do you remember when you first visited, you mentioned the tree struck by lightning in the garden?"

"Yes, why?"

"You were right," Edeline said, "That was the work of a thaumaturge, and I knew exactly who was responsible."

"If it was you who did it, just say it," Nela blurted out. All three turned and stared at her. "Look, it had to be someone who could get into the garden in the first place," she said defensively.

"Nela, please," Ronny said with a shake of his head, then turned to his sister. "I'm sorry."

Edeline seemed annoyed. "She's right. I'm the thaumaturge."

"A good joke, but seriously, tell me who..." Ronny trailed off as Edeline raised one hand a single finger extended to point in his direction.

"Phosphaira," she spoke, and a flickering green light flared into being at her fingertip. Nela recognized the spell, a very simple one for children and apprentices. It had been the very first spell Nela had learned, when she had started studying under the old man.

Suddenly, the light detached from Edeline's finger. It began to spin around the finger rapidly, looking more and more like a glowing ring. Nela had to admit, she didn't know that spell could do something like that.

"But...why? How?" Ronny looked lost again. "Does father know? Did mother?"

"Only the people in this room." So Hamond had known the whole time. "I think you see now why I cannot inherit Hallowscroft."

"But...then...what am I supposed to do?" Well, this was definitely a blow to what they had planned. Nela honestly wasn't sure what came next either.

"If I may make a suggestion," Hamond spoke up, "Perhaps the two of you should settle this after we deal with the more immediate threat."

That made far too much sense. Nela wished she'd thought to point that out.

"Right, the project." Ronny wiped his eyes with the back of one hand. "You searched the place, so I assume you saw the cellar."

"There's a cellar?" Hamond asked.

"Yes, the entrance is behind the house, in the garden." Edeline looked down at the floor. "And no, I did not consider checking there either. But there is just casks and shelves of wine, so what could possibly be down there?"

"I...I'd better show you," Ronny said, face grim. He stood up, and headed for the door.