While he had pictured more than a few scenarios where he would end up a fugitive, Hamond had to admit he had expected it to be because of his past. Someone would figure out he had studied under the Spellking, someone who would be suspicious of this healer who showed up suddenly one day.

But Hallowscroft's people were relaxed despite the war that divided Hyarch, and so Hamond had let himself relax too. It had seemed so far away, and there were even days when he let himself forget about his own past. To everyone, he was just another healer, settling into a new life in Hallowscroft - what more did he ever need to be?

And then he had found Edeline bleeding out on the side of the street. Without his help, she never would have made it through that night.

Once again, she needed help, as it was clear Edeline was unprepared for a long journey outside Hallowscroft. Without being about to reliably bet on what Myron would do, it had left Hamond as the only one who could offer aid. And his battle with Kalvarel - if one could even call it that - had made it clear he was more than a simple healer.

Even now, as he stood just down the street from Morgivel's house, Hamond could tell he was being watched. While it was mostly passerby stopping for a brief moment to stare at him, there were a few Elefae men standing around and keeping an eye on him. It was fair enough for them to be suspicious. From their view, he had murdered one of their own on this very street for no obvious reason.

They didn't have to worry though, as he'd be gone soon enough.

"There you are," Edeline's voice came from his right. Hamond turned to see her approaching, Myron and Nela following behind. She'd changed clothes, he noted with slight surprise. Instead of the tunic and leggings she'd been wearing, she'd opted for a simple green dress. It was definitely not noble fashion, so he had to assume she had taken it from the belongings of one of the maids.

While he wasn't sure it was the most ideal outfit for travel, it at least didn't show any signs of particular wealth. Questions about that would expose her identity fairly quickly. Plus, Hamond had to admit, it suited her quite nicely.

"So you're all ready then?" he asked.

"I believe so," Myron answered, "You have the food, I assume."

Hamond gestured at one of the pair of heavy satchels he was carrying. "Three hex days worth of dried meat and fruits, plus a few other things. We'll have to get more food along the way at some point, but that should be enough for now." He offered one satchel to Myron to carry, who took it.

"Did you see anyone visiting the old man?" Nela sounded worried.

"No, but I have not been here long." Also, he hadn't really been paying much attention. Hamond had to admit he was more concerned about their upcoming journey.

"Good," Nela said. It then occurred to Hamond that she was hoping to avoid the rest of her family. To be fair, he didn't exactly want to run into them either.

"Well, if we stand around and talk, they'll find us soon enough," Myron noted.

They moved quickly down the street, right up to Morgivel's door. Nela stepped out in front. She glanced around for a moment, then quickly knocked on the door.

"Come in, come in," Morgivel called out from the other side.

Nela opened the door, took a step inside, then immediately stopped. Peering around her, Hamond could see the elderly Elefae healer was not alone. His wife was there, leaning forward on the table. Seated across from them was an Elefae woman who seemed familiar, though Hamond could not place where he had seen her. She wasn't one of the ones they had rescued yesterday from the bathhouse, that much he knew.

"So you really did come back," the young woman said, rising to her feet. Her dark hair, astonishingly long, fell forward over her face as she did so. She quickly swept it back with one hand.

"Druasyla," Nela replied with a heavy sigh, "Of course."

"Someone you know?" Myron asked from behind her.

"Cousin," Nela said shortly, finally moving out of the doorway to let them enter. "One of too many."

"That we can agree on." Druasyla said, sitting back down. She fixed Nela with a stare "But given what they've been saying, you probably don't want to talk about the rest of the family right now."

"Not going to throw it in my face?"

"Aether, you still haven't let that go?" Nela's cousin snapped, then slumped back. "Look, I know we argued a lot when we were children, but I'd still rather your company right now than the stupidity the rest of the family is putting me through."

"Wait...what?" Nela asked confusedly.

Hamond, however, thought he had put it together. "You're the one who was set to marry Kalvarel?" That was probably where he'd seen her before. He'd briefly met a number of Morgivel's family, although he wasn't able to recall their names.

"Was it him who told you about that, or our grandfather?" Druasyla shot Morgivel a scathing look. "But yes, that was the plan."

Nela's eyes went wide. "You? Why would you-"

"I arranged it," Morgivel spoke up, "Along with two of the other elders. At the time, we thought Kalvarel...well..."

"He charmed all the thought out of you, that's what." Druasyla leaned forward. "Out of me too."

"So you didn't suspect him?" Hamond could see the resemblance now between her and Nela. They both had a stubborn air with a similar guarded posture. Definitely family, even if they were reluctant to admit it.

"Oh, I did, for a while. He kept disappearing at odd times, and there was this one time I saw him with another woman. But he told me it all for discussing business, and I believed him." The Elefae lowered her head. "I wanted to believe him."

A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

Probably one of the women enspelled for the bathhouse, which meant that for once Kalvarel had not been lying, not entirely. But since it would take a lifetime's work to sort out what his former friend had lied about and what he had not, Hamond was just going to let the matter rest.

"For what it is worth, I am sorry." Edeline reached out a hand to comfort Druasyla.

Druasyla looked up at her, taking in the sight of the single pointed ear. "Wait...you're Lady Hallowscroft? No, I should be the one saying sorry. I could have stopped him."

"We all could have," Hamond said, thinking back to how he chose not to pry. "But it doesn't matter now. He's dead."

"No, it does. The fault is mine, all mine," Morgivel said sadly, "It's why I stepped down as elder yesterday. And I'm likely going to finally retire from being a healer as well."

"Why?" Nela asked, astonished.

"I spoke in favor of Kalvarel too many times. You told me once he seemed...how did you put it?"

"Shady," Nela said.

"That was it. Whatever it is, the truth is that I've made too many mistakes, made clear by what's happened recently. The Elefae need better leaders and better healers than I am." Morgivel snorted. "It's a lesson I wish the other elders learned, but I doubt they will do the same."

"Then...then who will be the Elefae healer?" Nela asked, "You know they what they think of me. I don't even want to deal with their shit now either, so...what are they going to do?"

"The only thing that I can do. It may be foolish to stick with this, especially since I've been proven so wrong recently, but I don't see any other options."

Hamond could tell he was talking about more than the Kalvarel matter. With Druasyla here, it was probably as close an apology as Edeline was going to get for him hiding the truth about Splendora.

"Hamond."

"Yes?" Hamond had a suspicion he knew what was about to be asked of him.

"How would you feel about undergoing the First Ascension?"

Hamond sighed. "You said earlier about not being a good enough healer for the Elefae. To be honest, I'm even less of a healer than you. So my answer is no."

"I know, I know you weren't the healer you claimed to be." Hamond stepped back, startled. "I am enough of a healer to tell when someone is trying to fake it. I had hoped...I could take you under my wing, teach you what I could, and if need be, leave the rest to Neredyla."

"First, I told you it's Nela. Second, what? You didn't even know if I was coming back here. And even though I did, the only way I'd be able to..." She trailed off, mouth opening wide as her face reddened. "You...you actually thought...you wanted me to marry him?"

"He was trying to look out for you," Beryla spoke up, her voice hoarse.

"But you're right, I shouldn't have expected that of either of you. I'm no better than the other elders, thinking I could do that. Even if it was the only chance the Elefae had, with the way other healers have treated our traditions...I won't try to force your future."

"A lot of good that does me now," Druasyla said bitterly, "Where was this supposed wisdom when I needed it?"

"Druasyla, please," Morgivel started to say, reaching out with a hand. "I can explain-"

"No wonder you liked Kalvarel. You're both a pair of arses!" Druasyla's eyes narrowed. "You better hope you have the good grace of the Fae, because you're not getting any from me." Turning, she pushed past Hamond, and strode out the door.

Morgivel covered his face in his hands, bowing down. "I should've known. I should've known."

Nela sighed, glancing briefly in the direction her cousin had went. "It was never going to work. Do you want to know why?"

Morgivel looked up at them, voice drained. "Tell me."

"There's two reasons. First, that little secret you've been keeping has been out for a while. And people are likely to start asking questions we can't deal with. So we're leaving Hallowscroft, and we won't be back. At least, not any time soon."

Morgivel nodded, looking at Edeline regretfully. A little late for that, though, Hamond thought.

"The second, well..." Nela trailed off as she turned to face Myron. After a moment's pause, he nodded, and Nela reached up. Myron didn't resist as she pulled him down into a long kiss, the two embracing each other.

The look on the face of Morgivel was unforgettable. He went incredibly pale, his eyes wider and darker than Hamond had ever seen on his face. There was somewhat of a satisfaction to it - the old healer had hidden so much from them, so it was only fair that they had a surprise of their own.

Nela had handled it perfectly, but something about it still bothered Hamond. He couldn't quite figure out what it was.

The two separated, and Nela turned back to her grandfather. "You wanted to help me? I don't think I needed it."

"But...how?" Morgivel stammered.

"She saved my life," Myron said with a slight smile. "That's worth a kiss, right?"

"Wait, you kissed Lord Hallowscroft's son?" Beryla asked. Right, being blind, she hadn't seen Nela's response.

Going by Nela's face, she'd forgotten this as well. "Uh...well...yes. And I'd do it again."

Morgivel let out a nervous laugh. "I guess you would." He then grew more serious, looking straight at Nela. "So I assume this is farewell then."

"There is a couple more things, first." Hamond was not going to let the chance pass this time. "What can you tell us about the Stormsage?"

"The Stormsage? That old story?" Morgivel looked puzzled. "I can, but why?"

"Kalvarel had discovered an old ruin under the town," Nela explained, "He was searching it for...something. And you did say the Stormsage was buried here in Hallowscroft, didn't you?"

"I think I told you she was probably buried here. Her grave is likely lost to time, assuming she was even real." Morgivel shook his head. "It's a very old story of our people, and I always thought some of the details were exaggerated. Still, if you found an old ruin, it could be something we built long ago. Or possibly not."

"What can you tell us then?"

"From the stories...it's been a while. Brontyla, called the Stormsage, was a very powerful thaumaturge, and could supposedly blow away entire armies with her magic. They say she aided in founding Hyarch, and was an ally to its first king. In return for her aid, as the tale goes, the king promised to protect and safeguard the Elefae."

"I can see why you would not believe in that story," Edeline noted.

"I'm not saying she didn't exist, but the stories are likely not all true. The same tales claim Hallowscroft was once a city, far larger than it is today. And it was full of Elefae. If it was...where are they now?"

This was not the first time Hamond had heard about this ancient city. Edeline or Myron, having likely seen the records of the town, would be able to confirm those details later. Still, they had a name to go on, and that at least could lead them somewhere. And besides, the idea of magic that could fell armies did sound a bit like the spell Edeline had used against the gigant.

"No other details?" Nela stretched, hopping a bit back and forth. From how Edeline and Myron were shifting themselves, she was not the only impatient one. And they did need to go, and soon.

"None I can recall. Dear, do you remember anything else?"

"Only that the Stormsage called her magic from the skies themselves." Beryla rubbed at her face with one hand.

"I would assume that would be how she received the title," Edeline pointed out.

"Could be. Thanks for telling us. I..." Nela trailed off, looking uncomfortable.

"It's fine," Beryla said with a sad smile, "We're glad to help."

"Wait a moment. You said there was something else?" Morgivel's look told Hamond that he did not want there to be any more trouble. Hamond wished he could promise that, but the remaining matter was not his to decide on.

"I know you just said you wanted to retire as a healer," Myron said hesitantly, "But there is one final person who could use your assistance, if...if he survives."

"We would like for you to aid our father, if at all possible," Edeline added.

Morgivel sat there a moment, thinking. "I will try to offer my services to Lord Hallowscroft. Remember, though, they may not let me near him. Not after all this."

"That is all we can ask," Edeline answered, resigned.

Nela audibly swallowed, then spoke again. "May...may the grace and glory of the Fae accompany you." From where he stood, Hamond could see the glimmer of tears on her face.

"May they accompany you as well," Morgivel said. Nela turned to leave, squeezing past Myron. Edeline followed.

Hamond, however, lingered a moment. "It was a pleasure working with you. Even if...matters did not work out."

"They may yet," Morgivel stated, "They may yet. Farewell."

"Farewell." Hamond turned, and for the last time, left Morgivel's house.