Looking over the letter, Edeline could not help but sigh. A few years prior, her father would have gladly agreed to an invitation to hunt with the likes of Lord Norbrook, but no more. She'd have to, yet again, compose a response in his name, declining the offer. This one was...the fifth in the past year? She could not recall the exact number.

She would probably show Myron the letter tomorrow. Thinking back, she suspected he had not fully grasped what signing papers in their father's name amounted to. That was fine, she told herself. He had spent the past few years on the battlefield, so it would take some time for him to remember those duties and their details.

Once he had adjusted to being back home, perhaps she could...no. There was no way he would trust her ever again, if she revealed that to him. Although he was already suspicious, since he had somehow heard about what happened in the garden out back. She could be honest, put it out in the open before he realized the truth, but...what could she do?

How could she possibly tell her own brother that she was now a thaumaturge?

Edeline knew that, deep down, it was a betrayal of the oaths her father had sworn to both the royal houses of Hyarch, former and current. All wielders of magic, save for healers, had been declared as criminals, on pain of death. The moment she had started studying from that book, she had brought that danger on herself.

And yet...that feeling of casting the first basic spell. That feeling of shaping magic into spells that were uniquely hers, one of her own design. It felt glorious, liberating, channeling the energies through her body and shaping the world around her. There were barely words to describe it, and Edeline was unsure if anyone who had never used it would comprehend the sensation.

No, she could not go back. And that was the center of what she ultimately planned, to renounce her birthright. There was just no road at all for her to be both Lady Edeline Hallowscroft and Edeline the thaumaturge, and trying to maintain both would bring grief to herself and her family. For everyone's sake, she needed to leave.

But first, she had to get Myron to take up his position as the heir. Since she couldn't expect him to do that if he was preparing to muster more men and return to the war front, they would have to petition the king on the matter. Edeline sighed again, even less certain now if this would work.

“Excuse me.” Edeline looked up, slightly startled, to see Lendra standing in the doorway to the study. The room had grown dim, she realized. She must have spent far more time going over those papers than she had thought. A glance out the window confirmed it, showing that the sun was well past setting.

“What is it?” Edeline bluntly asked. Lendra was one of the very few people she felt comfortable dropping all formality around.

“A couple of town watch members have asked for you,” Lendra explained, “They said it was urgent, and are waiting downstairs.”

That was quite unusual. Normally, they would have reported any issues to one of the watch captains. The captains must have been occupied with other business, for these men to seek her out.

“Right,” Edeline said, standing up, “Let's not keep them waiting.” She headed out of the study and down the hallway, Lendra tailing behind.

The two men were waiting near the front doors, shifting idly as they stood there. They both drew up as Edeline approached, looking very tense. Whatever this matter was, she thought, it had to be quite serious.

“My lady,” one of them spoke, “It's an honor to meet you. I'm Alexios.” He was the thinner of the two, with a hint of stubble on his face.

“Morris,” the other stated quietly from behind a full dark beard.

“It's my pleasure,” Edeline said politely, “What did you wish to speak with me about?”

“We've come directly from your father's other house “Alexios said, with a brief glance back to his fellow, “There's a meeting about to take place there, and we were sent to summon you to attend.”

Edeline frowned, considering this. Even if she took a carriage, it would be another hour to make it to the summer house, and that was not taking into account getting the carriage ready. There was no way she could reasonably make that trip at this time of evening, and her father ought to have known it. Only a dire emergency could have led to this request.

“What is so urgent that I need to attend this meeting tonight?” she asked cautiously.

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“He didn't say,” Morris answered, while Alexios glanced again at him.

“If it is not immediately pressing, then I will visit with my father tomorrow morning,” Edeline said, trying to hold the sudden unease she felt from showing.

“But he insisted!” Alexios blurted out, “You need to come with us now.”

Edeline took a step back, her unease starting to shift into fear. This wasn't right. The watch may not directly answer to her, but they should respect her position enough. This couldn't be right.

“You heard my lady.” Lendra stepped forward, her tone more imperious than Edeline had ever heard her maidservant use. “Leave now.”

“We don't take orders from you,” Morris said, putting one hand on the hilt of his weapon. The other watchman did the same, making the threat blatant.

For a moment, all four of them stood there, staring each other down, completely frozen in the moment. Edeline's thoughts went in circles as she tried to figure a way out of this situation. She couldn't afford to risk exposing her magical abilities, but she was unarmed. Her sword was hidden away in her bedroom.

And then the moment unfroze.

“Run!” Lendra screamed, shoving Edeline away. Stumbling, she recovered her footing with a half turn, enough to see her maidservant run through with a sword. Struck with shock, driven by pure instinct, Edeline burst into a sprint. Down the hall, up the stairs, towards her room's door, footsteps behind her.

The door gave way before her, and she raced to the cabinet on the far side of the room. There it was, her sword. She spun just as one of the men entered the room, his own weapon drawn and dripping blood. Her maid's blood.

No more caution. “Corpus volt!” she called out. Her body surged with energy, and she sprang forward at the man. He was slow, far too slow, and she cut him down before he could react to her assault. Without hesitation, she ran back out of the room, the crackling sound of her spell echoing in her ears.

The other man was further down the hall, advancing with his own weapon ready. She charged, blade extended and pulsing with the same energy that flowed through her. In a single fluid motion, she stabbed straight through his body, her speed bowling the man over as wavering bolts flickered around her. Shaking some of the blood off her blade, she let the spell fade.

Taking a couple of deep breaths, trying to regain her composure, Edeline felt it. A burning sensation in her side, pulling at her, painful in a way she'd never experienced. It took her a moment to realize what had happened: the second man had somehow managed a single sword swing as she ran him down, slicing along her ribs.

Wincing, Edeline recalled one of her early lessons with the blade. “Don't just rush into a fight,” her instructor had said, “First take a measure of their weapon, and its reach. Then you can move in.” In the fury of the moment, she'd forgotten that lesson, and the wound she had was the result.

But her wound was not the worst. Lendra's was, and she had to get her to a healer. Carefully making her way back down the stairs again, Edeline found herself shaking slightly. She didn't know why, but it didn't matter right now. Lendra mattered right now.

Finally, she got back to where Lendra laid, bleeding and sprawled on the floor. Shivering with a sudden chill, Edeline let her sword fall with a clatter to the floor as she inspected her maidservant. She was still breathing, but had clearly passed out. And the wound looked horrid, so there was no time to waste. Calling for a servant to help would take too long too. It had to be her.

Bending gingerly over, Edeline grunted with pain and effort in equal measure as she slowly lifted up Lendra in her arms. The older woman was heavy, but now was not the time to complain about this. She tried to think, recall the street address of Hallowscroft's healers. She could not remember, as she'd never needed to know that information herself.

Step by step, she made it to the front doors...wait. They had come in this way, and there could be more of the men outside. Stumbling over to the nearby window with her burden, it was quickly confirmed. There was a man standing outside on the street. The lamps were not lit, so Edeline could not make out who it was. She could not rule out it being another man in on the plan to...abduct her? Is that what they had wanted to do?

Edeline put those thoughts aside. She'd have to make for the servants' door instead. It was slow going, walking while carrying Lendra. She had to go faster if she hoped to save her maidservant's life. No, there was no if. She would save Lendra's life.

As she made her way to the side door, Edeline noticed a lack of any other servants there. She could only assume they had fled on hearing Lendra calling out to run. So even if she had tried to call for aid, it would have never come. But that was fine, as she could and would save Lendra herself.

The door had been left partially open, likely by one of the servants. Slowly pushing it fully open with her hip, Edeline made her way out into the darkened street. The lamps nearby were also unlit, but the ones further down the way were glowing faintly, revealing the wide empty path. It was...they had doused all the lamps near the house. There was no other answer.

She kept moving, feeling the weight of Lendra slowly increase with each step forward. But she wasn't about to give up. Lendra would be saved. Her vision blurred, her side still stung, and the chill of the night air was surprisingly biting for this time of year.

Despite that, Lendra would be saved.

She kept walking, wondering why the streets were so empty before her. Even at this hour, she figured, there ought to be one or two people about who could direct her to a healer, or go bring one to her. But nobody came, nobody appeared, the empty street stretching on endlessly before her.

Despite that...Lendra would be saved.

She stumbled on, one foot in front of the other. Her breath was suddenly shallow, making her gasp with every additional step. She felt very cold, her body starting to desperately shiver, hungry for a scrap of warmth. Perhaps she needed to stop...take a moment to recover...before pressing on with her desperate mission...

...no...Lendra...would...be...saved...