Wincing slightly as Kalvarel finished tying her hands behind her back, Nela shifted in the chair, testing it. Sure enough, the knot didn't feel particularly tight, so she could get free with enough time. Of course, that didn't mean shit when someone with a spell that would make her happily tie herself up was in arm's reach.

Edeline sat emotionlessly in a chair across the table. Perfectly obedient, she needed no ropes to hold her in place. Again, if Nela could get to her, getting out of this would be no real issue...except for Kalvarel standing right there.

"It's been a while," Kalvarel said, "Neredyla, wasn't it?"

"Nela," she answered, looking over Morgivel. Her grandfather stood against the wall, just as unnaturally calm as Edeline. In hindsight, they really should have seen this coming. She herself had told them that Kalvarel had been trying to get the old healer to like him. Of course, he'd feel safe coming here.

"Whatever your name is, then." Kalvarel bent down, looking her in the eye. "I knew where the Hallowscroft siblings would be. I knew where Hamond would be. You though...you coming back to Hallowscroft is one thing, but somehow...it had to be you who undid my spells, ruined my plan. You're the rogue card in all of this. So do you feel like telling me why and how you did it?"

It took everything Nela had to hold in a startled laugh, and she was sure it showed on her face anyway. Kalvarel thought she was the reason his plan had failed? She'd barely done anything, outside telling Hamond and Edeline where Ronny was. "Maybe you don't know as much as you think you do."

"Oh, I know more than enough, unlike you." Kalvarel made a grand gesture with one arm. "Look around you. Your family, your friends, all the Elefae here."

"Seems there's only a few elves in this room, and I'd say you're not one of them," Nela retorted.

"Taunt me all you want," Kalvarel said with a cold smile, "Thanks to you, I now have the one thing I really needed. So, I think I'll make you an offer."

Nela wasn't sure what to say. Wasn't he after both Ronny and his sister?

"In Kelshir, did you know that the lord there actually banned the First Ascension?" Kalvarel asked, seemingly changing topics. "I saw it myself. A couple of Elefae healers tried to carry on in secret, keep the tradition alive. They were hanged within a month."

If this was true, it was horrible, but Nela was still suspicious. This man had shown himself to be willing to deceive anyone, no matter how well they thought they knew him.

"Then I came to Hallowscroft. While initially it seemed better here, a few meetings with the elders told me the truth. All of them, except Morgivel here, were cowards, too afraid of what was happening in Kelshir and elsewhere coming here. Too afraid to actually stand firm for the sake of our people."

That was what this was all about? All the sneaking around, the taking control of the watch, trying to get his hands on Ronny and Edeline...all of it for...what?

"You've seen it. You know it, don't you. The Elefae are dying, slowly. Throwing away piece after piece of who we are, all to satisfy some distant master in a distant castle who cares only for keeping his own arse on the throne. As long as the House of Roderick reigns, we are doomed."

"So, you turned to the Spellking? To save us?" Nela asked, beside herself. "What kind of fool's idea is that?"

"I doubt you have any better ideas," Kalvarel continued, "I did originally seek the Spellking's aid, by way of one of his agents in Kelshir. But he's proven too slow, so I decided to take matters into my own hands. Clearly a king who rules from some other land will never truly put our cause first." His smile widened, teeth now showing. "This is the simple truth. We need our own king. An Elfking."

Nela's mouth hung open for a long moment. "You're crazy," she finally said, "You'd get the elves crushed before the year's end."

"Maybe. But better to be crazy than a coward. If we're doomed to fail, then better to go out in a ferocious final blaze, leave our mark on the tales and histories. The other option is a cold slow decline, sacrificing everything that marks us as Elefae until there's nothing left. So here's my offer: will you fight for the Elefae, or not?"

Nela already knew her answer. "You mean, fight for you? Not happening, not after what you did."

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"I knew that would be your answer." Kalvarel shook his head at her. "You're a coward, just like the rest of them."

Nela chuckled. "I didn't see you on the battlefield, facing down the gigants and men."

"And where was that bravery before?" Kalvarel jabbed a finger right into her face. "Disarm Lady Hallowscroft, try to get to me, yell for help, any number of things you could have done outside. But you just stood there and surrendered. Admit it. You're definitely a coward. If you weren't, your arse wouldn't be sitting there."

That wasn't...no, what else could she have done? If she'd tried to fight, then...but if she'd tried to run for it...empty excuses, Nela realized. Kalvarel was right. She should have done something, anything, just to try and stop him. Shit, if she had brought that crossbow, that alone would have stopped this.

"Not that it matters. I finally have what I need." His eyes fell on Edeline. "After all, any good king needs a queen."

Wait...hold on a moment, that made no sense. "Why her?"

"Oh, she didn't tell you?" he said, "Or did you not know the poor, tragic tale of Princess Splendora?"

That Princess Splendora again. How she could possibly be relevant to whatever Kalvarel was doing? Not a chance, but it was clear Kalvarel thought she was.

"You really don't. I guess I shouldn't be surprised. It's not like you need to know anyway, especially since you already decided where your loyalties fall."

An obvious jab, but Nela was not about to fall for it.

"Matters of royal bloodlines aside, we might as well get this part over with," he said. "Morgivel, go get the knife."

Trying to think through what Kalvarel even meant by that last bit, Nela watched as Morgivel produced a small knife and offered it to Kalvarel.

"Oh no, you'll be the one using it." Kalvarel turned and faced the seated Edeline. "So, Lady Hallowscroft. Are you ready for your very own First Ascension?"

"Of course," Edeline answered, her voice equal parts pleasant and dull.

Nela felt her heart was about to rip itself out of her body. Shit, no. He was going to have her grandfather perform that rite, turn Edeline into an Elefae, here and now. This was wrong. It went against everything she'd been taught, everything Morgivel had tried to pass down to her.

"Go ahead," Kalvarel told her grandfather, "Make her one of us."

Nela began to work on the rope, reaching her fingers up to barely touch the knot. Her hands were a little numb, but she didn't have time to worry about that. She needed to get free. She needed to save Edeline.

"If it makes you feel better, I can go with you while my brother accompanies Hamond."

Edeline's words from yesterday pounded in her ears. This was her fault. Her stupidity. Her cowardice. Not wanting to face her family, not wanting to risk her or Edeline being hurt, not thinking this through...her fault.

Morgivel slowly, silently, lowered the knife down to Edeline's right ear.

Nela struggled harder. She knew she ought to be silent, be subtle, not make any sign that might draw Kalvarel's attention, but there was no room for anything but haste. It was happening too fast. Hurry. Shit. Hurry!

Morgivel lifted the knife away, then put one hand over Edeline's ear.

"Panakeia logos."

Nela pulled harder, trying to thread the coarse rope through the loops. It was so close...no, she messed up and pulled that tighter. Shit. She immediately started trying to push it the other way with one of her fingers. No time for more mistakes.

Morgivel pulled his hand away from Edeline's right ear, revealing the newly shaped point.

One more loop. One more push. Nela could feel the rope rubbing her wrists raw. She ignored it, continued to work. Inside, she was screaming, fury and fear and guilt all tearing at her.

Morgivel lifted the knife up to Edeline's other ear.

Nela pulled her hands free.

With no hesitation, she was across the room in an instant, one hand knocking her grandfather's arm aside, away from Edeline. Turning with the motion, her other hand, clenched tightly into a fist with the rope hanging loosely off the arm, went right into Kalvarel's jaw.

Completely thrown off guard, Kalvarel stumbled backward into the door. Keeping her eyes on him, she reached over and found Morgivel's hand. "Doroneiroi," she said, grunting as his weight fell on her. She lowered him to the ground - a little less than gently, but she didn't have the luxury of doing otherwise.

"No!" Kalvarel shouted, taking a step forward.

"Yes." Leaping up slightly, Nela punched Kalvarel straight on, right in the nose. Her fist stung from it, but the popping feeling beneath her punch told her he'd gotten the worse of it.

Eyes wide, Kalvarel stared down at her for a moment. Then his hand found the door handle, and he practically tumbled backward out into the street.

Nela was sorely tempted to taunt him for running away, but it was pointless for her to say it. Even she were to go chase him down, give him what he really deserved, it wouldn't clear her of responsibility for this whole mess. Besides, she needed to see to Edeline first.

Turning to look, Nela felt another wave of regret on seeing Edeline's ears. One ear, now shaped into the traditional point of the Elefae. The other, round as any normal ear should be. Permanently mismatched, with the only possible solution being to finish what Kalvarel started. And that was not an option.

Shoulders slumping, Nela knelt down and reached out a shaking hand to touch the still seated Edeline. That spell of Hamond's...it went like that, right? "Katharsis logos."

Edeline sat still a little longer, then suddenly she flung up her hand, feeling at her now-pointed ear. "I'm sorry," Nela said, voice low, "I should have..." She trailed off, not sure what she could say. It was her fault. That couldn't be changed.

"It's...it's fine." Edeline spoke again, barely above a whisper. The last time Nela had seen a face that pale, it had been on someone who was on the verge of death. So in other words, it was not fine.

And given what had just happened to Edeline, Nela thought, it might never be fine again.