Orrin worried that Daniel’s ploy might have backfired. Lady Tonsa and Lord Wellan dragged Finley a distance from everyone and began to have an animated chat. The Tonsa guard nodded to a quick command from his boss and motioned for the rest of them to move back.

“Professor Wren, this is Daniel. Daniel, this is one of the teachers at the school I’ve been at. She helped arrange this,” Orrin introduced the remnants of the meeting, ignoring the large man hovering menacingly a few dozen feet away. “That’s Iona, we fought together in a dungeon. She’s level-headed and keeps Rhys in check.”

“Hey, what is that supposed to mean?” Rhys said petulantly, turning away from his attempts to eavesdrop. He turned up his lip at the guard, getting a snide smirk back in response.

“That’s Rhys. He’s usually quicker with the banter but he did just survive an assassination attempt.” Orrin chuckled as Iona covered her mouth. “His mom is Lady Tonsa.”

Orrin grabbed Maeve’s arm and pulled her around front. “This is Maeve. She’s smart and helped set this up with Iona over there. Wren helped too, I guess.”

The oldest person in the current group frowned at that. “I helped orchestrate the entire meeting. I created excuses for the guards to be—”

“Super helpful and not at all responsible for us almost dying to assassins.”

Wren wisely stopped talking.

“Everyone, this is my friend, Daniel… the [Hero].”

Orrin stepped back and smiled as the group of more politically minded individuals swarmed Daniel.

“He’s anxious,” Maeve said from his side, watching as Rhys, Iona, and Wren asked rapid-fire questions.

“He’s been dealing with a lot,” Orrin whispered back. “Now, he’s in the middle of a different type of battle but he’ll be fine. He’s stronger than he looks.”

Maeve shook her head. “He’s worried about you. He keeps his body turned to keep you in sight whenever you move. You being away must have scared him. You’re important to him.”

Orrin didn’t say anything. He was learning that Maeve’s perception of the world was different than his own. He shifted to the side a bit and felt a knot form in his stomach as Daniel sidestepped as well.

“He’s always trying to protect me,” Orrin muttered. Turning to Maeve, he asked, “Do you want to ask him questions too?”

“No. He’s your friend, not mine. After Lord Sanerris is taken down, you, Daniel, and Madeleine should come visit us in Ceraun. My dad might want to ask him questions. We have some books about [Heroes] of the past, not that they are any help to us.”

The mention of books reminded Orrin that Maeve wanted access to the Sanerris School library to read up on a project. He’d blown her chance at getting a mentor for a thesis project. A small attempt to help during a class assignment that failed spectacularly.

“I’m sorry that I screwed up your chance to get access to the books you wanted. I can talk with Professor Graem if we all survive. He might let you break the rules a bit,” Orrin said. Lady Tonsa was pointing at their group and gesturing at Finley. “What books did you want to read at school? Do you have a specific project in mind?”

“I want to create a self-sustained crop field that self-harvests and reseeds itself. There are some berries and small fruit trees that have similar abilities but only in singular circumstances. If I could get even a small field of wheat to self-propagate and spin itself into sheaves, it would reduce labor needs enough that our farmers could focus more time on increasing their own classes and spells,” Maeve’s voice carried more passion than Orrin had ever heard her use before. “We could diversify more into other industries. More [Healers] and [Teachers]. If the price of food was reduced throughout Odrana, everyone would prosper. That kind of self-replicating magic is kept restricted for good reason but I’d hoped that I could prove myself to the professors.”

Orrin hadn’t thought about the way magic could impact something as mundane as farming, even with his [Tilth] spell. He only had the earth magic spell for the corresponding ward it gave him. I should spend some time looking up earth magic spells related to farming for her later.

“That’s amazing, Maeve. I’m sure we can wrangle some concessions out of whoever takes over Mistlight. You’ll be feeding the world in a few years.”

Maeve beamed.

“If the [Hero] could join us for a moment,” Lady Tonsa’s voice rang through the stone room, stopping all other conversations. “We have logistics to discuss.”

Orrin made to move when Rhys’s mom held up her hand. “Just the [Hero], please.”

“He goes where I go,” Daniel answered for Orrin, waiting for him to move. “We’re a package deal.”

Orrin heard a light snort as Maeve suppressed a laugh behind him.

“Very well,” Lady Tonsa didn’t push the issue, although Orrin could see she wasn’t pleased. “The rest of you may return to your homes. Rhys and Iona, please make sure Goldenhall is locked down. The next few days may be trying.”

“Maeve, please see to it that our people pull back to the central regions. Build up fortification walls in the fields to the north and west. Leo will help with the logistics,” Lord Wellan directed his daughter. Orrin noticed the man was no longer wearing regular clothing but heavy plate armor. He had no idea when he’d put it on.

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Likely a spell of some sort. Orrin thought, glancing to see how Maeve took her dismissal.

“If that’s what you think is best,” Maeve nodded at her father. “Good luck, dad. Be safe.”

“What do you require of me?” Professor Wren asked, stepping forward and moving past Iona and Rhys who were arguing amongst themselves. “I can be of great—”

“You’ve done enough, professor,” Lady Tonsa said with disdain. “Your services will not be needed tonight.”

Wren flitted between a half dozen emotions that Orrin could see. Fear, anger, relief. She settled on the last and bowed once before leaving with Maeve.

Lady Tonsa narrowed her eyes. “Rhys? Why are you still here.”

The guard nearby clenched his fists, audible popping echoing through the room.

Rhys shook his head and forcefully moved Iona’s hand off his arm before turning to face his mother. “Iona can initiate safety protocols on her own, mother. I strongly urge you to reconsider and let me join you. I know Orrin from our time in the dungeon and can lend my voice as an additional witness to the council.”

“That won’t be needed,” Lady Tonsa spoke with such disinterest that Orrin felt bad for Rhys. For a second. “You are dismissed.”

“Your boy makes a fair point, Oyinlola,” Lord Wellan said, resting his hands on axes resting on his hips. “These two aren’t from Odrana. His standing as your son also gives greater credence to his testimony. It might help us convince—”

“I will not have my son put in danger again. He will return home and await my instruction.”

Orrin raised a hand. “I can [Teleport] him away if there is any danger.”

“You are here at the [Hero]’s request but will not accompany us either.” Lady Tonsa’s eyes sparkled with rage at all those around her. “This is a meeting of the Odranan leadership, not a—”

“Shut up,” Finley groaned, cutting her off.

The room darkened to Orrin’s eyes as everyone held their breath. From the little interaction that Orrin had witnessed with the woman, Finley’s interruption seemed a dangerous choice.

Rhys’s mother turned slowly to Finley who leaned against the wall, one knee bent with his foot planted against the stone.

Effortlessly cool. Orrin thought as he rolled his eyes. I wonder how long he practiced standing like that in a mirror.

Finley winked at Orrin.

“You may have your father’s ring, young Madvarr,” Lady Tonsa said with a whisper, her fingers tapping against her thighs, “but don’t think for a moment that you have the right to speak to me that way.”

“Orrin and the [Hero] are not obligated to listen to your demands, the same as me and Lord Wellan.” Finley kicked off the wall and moved toward Lady Tonsa. “Your son can listen to the plan at least.”

He stopped within striking distance of Lady Tonsa and leaned closer. “Unless you believe he would betray Odrana.”

Orrin’s eyes stayed on her hands. The atmosphere in the room had changed drastically in the last minute and he was ready to cast a few spells and flee. A single step brought him closer to Daniel and his foot nudged his friend’s shoe, ready to [Teleport] away.

Daniel cleared his throat. “If you all fight each other, I’m not sure my Quest gets completed.”

Lady Tonsa stepped away from Finley. “Would you be willing to share the [Demon Lord] Quest? I would pay you well.”

Orrin breathed a sigh of relief. Daniel hadn’t shared the Quest, only throwing the blue box screen to the others. He’d known Daniel wasn’t that much of an idiot… Maybe.

“We can deal with this later,” Finley groaned. “If you won’t cast the third vote, this entire meeting was a waste of time.”

Daniel moved quickly, stepping between Finley and Lady Tonsa. “We can figure things out now. I’ve learned rushing in without a plan isn’t the best idea.”

Looking back and forth between the two, Daniel sighed and put his hands down. “If you can’t work together and take constructive criticism, we can leave. Now that Orrin is here, I can just kill the idiot family that is behind this mess.”

Orrin winced at Daniel’s comment.

“Orrin’s strong but a [Wind Mage] isn’t going to stand a chance in a direct fight with either Sanerris,” Finley said from behind Daniel’s arm. “Lord Wellan, can you convince this control freak to calm down?”

Maeve’s father chuckled. “Let the boy stay. It’ll be a good learning experience for him.”

“Fine,” Lady Tonsa growled. “Rhys, you may stay but you will leave the moment I say so. Am I understood?”

“Yes, mother.” Finley smiled at having gotten his way.

“Iona, see to the defenses.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Orrin noticed the guard was still standing off to the side. “What about him?”

“Mind your tongue, child. You may be a member of the [Hero]’s entourage, but you have no voice in these proceedings,” Lady Tonsa unleashed her pent-up aggression at Orrin.

After being jerked around the last few weeks, Orrin’s temper was already frayed. Watching Rhys’s bully of a mom be rude to everyone around him, he felt himself calling his power. Just a few casts of [Decrease Dexterity] and she’d be on the ground begging for his forgiveness. He’d need to hit Rhys and the guard as well. Maybe Lord Wellan…

Orrin grit his teeth and called [Mind Bastion] up. He cast [Calm Mind] for good measure, letting the coolness flow through his head. She isn’t the enemy. There is no threat here.

Daniel punched Orrin in the shoulder. “I’m proud of you.”

Finley and Rhys gave confused looks at Daniel.

“You almost dropped everyone, didn’t you?” his friend whispered. “I’m making plans and you’re not overreacting. Are we maturing or what?”

“Dropped everyone?” Rhys mumbled to himself just loud enough for Orrin to overhear.

Orrin nudged Daniel to turn back around. Lady Tonsa wasn’t pleased at having the [Hero] turn his back on her.

“We’re all here,” Daniel stated. “Orrin has a point. Is the big guy here part of the plan?”

Lord Wellan struggled to hold back a smile and Lady Tonsa ground her teeth. “I don’t travel without Niels. This is known.”

“Well, if this is known,” Daniel repeated her words, dripping with sarcasm. “I know you heard our plan but you obviously know your laws better than we do. Any major changes we should be aware of?”

Lord Wellan put his hand on Lady Tonsa’s shoulder and moved in front. “The plan remains similar to the one you brought us. The three of us can vote to remove Arvin. I’ll have a message sent to Anabella immediately to meet us in the Sanerris castle. She’ll know what that means.”

Finley nodded, “The problem is that if she sees you, she’ll leave. She’s smart enough to know that if you are in Odrana, her plans failed.”

“There is also a concern that Lord Palmer won’t care about the invading [Demon Lord]. He will be easy to convince to remove Arvin but he’s always been loyal to Lady Sanerris. We need to time your arrival well in order to convince him that removing her as well will be best for his own well-being,” Lady Tonsa added.

“Who will you put in charge in his place?” Orrin asked, ignoring Lady Tonsa’s glare. “That’s a fair question. I’d like to start coordinating troops to help reinforce Dey right away.”

“If we successfully remove the Sanerris family from power, the four remaining chancellors will have to discuss at length the replacement. We will need to secure both Lord and Lady Sanerris after we take over. It is likely they will resist,” Lord Wellan answered.

Daniel cracked his knuckles. “Good. I hope they do.”