As a child, Dilen dreamed of becoming a Knight. Almost everyone he knows either is or plans to be knighted, to be given the right to carry a runed sword and defend their home from the Mist. What he dreamed was bigger. He dreamed of earning the rank of Knight, the respect and power that came with it. Maybe even study to be a Queen's Knight and learn to craft the runes that protect them. His childhood was flooded with Piers’ stories of adventure and glory, played out with Cyrus as dramatically as they were told. Things changed as he got older. A few months ago, he wasn't sure he'd even get the basic knighting. Staying home on the farm was enough for him, and it’s not like he needed a runed sword.
He doesn’t remember why he talked himself into it anymore. Something about not wanting everyone to worry, maybe. Whatever the reason, he wishes he hadn’t. He wishes he’d never picked up a damn sword. He was happy on the farm, he should have stayed on the farm. Secret princes don’t get found out on farms.
“We’ve made good time.” Raj tries – again – to break the heavy silence they’re riding through. “We should be at Mist’s Edge within the hour.” Dilen grunts in response, no more talkative than he’s been since the letter came. His grip on Dust’s reigns tightens just at the memory of that stupid piece of paper using words he barely knew. He should have burned the thing.
The tense silence returns and Raj shifts in his saddle. It’s not out of physical discomfort. Raj’s armour is acceptably fancy for his rank as a training Queen’s Knight, but it’s also old and worn enough to be well-fitting and as comfortable as armour gets. He runs his hair through what used to be neat, shoulder-length black hair and tries again, “do you think they’ll have saved us any tostees?”
“I doubt they’ve anything prepared.” Dilen isn’t the one to reply. No. Damned Knight Gabriel is. Sat a top his fancy brown horse – a jennet, he’d proudly called it, although Dilen isn’t sure what that means – in his expensive, not-so-well-worn gear with his black curls messed up from the endless travel he’s clearly not used to doing. The Mist Damned noble makes him want to scream any time he opens his mouth, usually to say something implying – not so subtly – that Dilen’s family are criminals.
“Mama Rosa is always prepared, just in case.” Raj responds with patience Dilen has never had. How he manages to sound so oblivious to Knight Annoying’s suspicions, Dilen doesn’t know or understand. “The Moories should only be a few days ahead of us, they always stop at the Hafen’s first, and Cyrus always makes sure to get tostees. Rosa usually does her best to save some for me when she knows I’m getting home soon.” He explains, always giving as much detail as possible. Not that it ever helps.
“Odd to give farmer the first pick of supplies.” Knight Gabriel comments in that way of his. A question – a demand – that isn’t really a question. Mists. Dilen wishes he met the jerk as a child. It would have ended any dreams Dilen had for Knighthood, knowing this is what city Knights are like. Then he wouldn’t be having this problem.
“The families are close. The youngest of the Moorie girls helps out on the farm and Cyrus takes care of the Moories’ horses. I suppose it’s in part repayment for that.” Raj explains in that careful tone that just increases Dilen’s frustration. This is unfair and stupid and he hates it.
“Hm.” The Annoying Knight huffs in a noise that really means ‘I have no more questions but I’m still not convinced’. If Dilen weren’t so Mists bent on ignoring the man, he’d yell at him. Dilen being some prince doesn’t justify his adopted family being treated like criminals. Especially when he doesn’t even want to be a prince.
And if he is a prince – which he’d rather not acknowledge being – shouldn’t that make his family royal by association? Shouldn’t they be getting way more respect than this?
It’s not fair.
Dilen schools his expression before it can hint at anything but anger. He refuses to have a break down around these people, especially when he can feel Knight Ester’s gaze bearing into him. He likes her better than Knight Annoying but that’s not saying much. At least she looks like she’s travelled before, her armour well fitted and her red hair cropped short. She’s quieter than Knight Annoying too, although her green eyes seem to catch every little detail. If Dilen loses his anger – even for a moment – she’ll notice and he doesn’t want that.
“If we’re getting close, we should probably talk plans.” The last of their company – a servant named Ali – speaks up. Dilen isn’t sure how he feels about Ali. He doesn’t know many servants. Few people this far out have need or means to hire them. Dilen has met a few people that used to be city servants, that they moved to the edge of the world is comment enough on their careers. If Ali’s work is anything like theirs, Dilen pities them to be working for Knight Annoying of all people. Especially since Ali seems as unused to travel as the Knight he’s travelling with – his blond hair a mess and his clothes too new to have been comfortable when they started. Still, Ali and Knight Annoying seem close. Which is a positive for Ali’s job and a negative for Dilen’s opinion of the person.
“We need to be discrete.” Knight Annoying says. “This is a sensitive situation, we don’t want the whole town hearing about it.” Dilen scoffs at that. Discrete? Sure, they’ll be discrete. A town of barely four tens surely won’t notice three strangers wandering in.
“That might be difficult.” Raj elaborates on Dilen’s noise. “There’s very few people in Mist’s Edge. Short of being invisible, I doubt we’ll get through town unnoticed.” Especially not after coming home so late. Especially not when Knight Annoying seems so intent on treating his family like criminals.
“I’m sure it’s not that small.” Knight Annoying argues. “We have enough supplies for the stay. We’ll remain at the Hafen farm a handful of nights and not go into town. You said it’s on the edge of town, correct? We should be unbothered.”
“It’s on the edge of town, but the stables are in town. The farm doesn’t have space for five horses.” Raj explains. “Even if it did, people stop by the Hafen’s all the time. They’re popular in the community.” That’s one way of putting it. There’s no titled leader of Mist’s Edge, but if there were it’d be the Hafen’s.
“We’ll be discrete.” Knight Annoying repeats, as if saying it enough times will make it any more possible.
Dilen gives it a day before the whole town knows what’s going on, and he’s not sure how to feel about it. How will everyone react? Part of him fears they’ll jump on Gabriel’s distrust and hatred. He knows his town better than that, knows that his family is innocent and the town would laugh at accusations to the opposite.
But… but, well, what if they don’t?
It’s been a long time since Knights rode into Mist’s Edge making accusations but everyone knows what happened last time. Back when the Mist first rolled in and the late Queen was desperate to hunt down the Emperor’s Witch and rid the kingdom of magic completely. They say there was a hundred people in Mist’s Edge before the Knights came. They say the Knight’s killed anyone and everyone they even suspected of hiding a witch. They say there were towns further out than Mist’s Edge back then, towns that were destroyed when the witches protecting them were murdered.
Mist’s Edge is a cautious town. What will they do to keep city Knights like these from staying too long? Dilen’s parents are an important part of the town, but they don’t protect it. Will the town throw his parents to the wolves to keep the Mist at bay?
Dilen wants to see his family again. He dreads leaving, dreads being marched to the capital and a mother he doesn’t know. And yet, he’d rather turn around now than risk the safety of the parents that raised him.
Ester is still staring. Dilen desperately buries his fears into the back of his mind where they won’t bother him. Or at least he tries to.
“We’ll call for the stationed knight when we arrive.” Knight Annoying continues and Dilen’s worries deepen. Technically, every town has a stationed knight. Someone with the training and the right to use and maintain the runes that hold back the Mist. Without a stationed knight – especially in Mist’s Edge – there’s no legal reason a town wouldn’t be overtaken.
Knight Piers died four years ago. Mist’s Edge hasn’t had a stationed knight since.
Mist take him, getting his knighthood hasn’t just destroyed his life. It’s about to destroy his entire town. How are they going to explain the lack of a knight? Half the town is knighted and if he’d had a chance to warn them, surely someone could pretend to be the placed knight but he doesn’t. Is the protection rune even charged? Does anyone in town even know how to do that?
He should have stayed on the farm. Why the fading hadn’t he just stayed on the farm?
“We will review the stationed knight’s records once we have questioned the Hafens about the Prince’s disappearance.” Knight Annoying keeps talking and Dilen’s worries are once more outpaced by his anger. Question the Hafens. With a tone like that he should just say accuse, he certainly doesn’t mean anything else.
“I’m not sure there’ll be records to review.” Raj picks up on something Dilen doesn’t. “The last stationed Knight faded four years ago, and if he kept records we don’t know where he kept them.” That’s not entirely true, but even Raj isn’t going to give details like those. Knight Piers’ papers were destroyed before he died, pulled apart by the Knight’s own magic as he desperately held back a Mist too strong for him to handle.
“Surely he kept some records.” Knight Annoying argues as though – again – just saying it will make it true. Mist, Dilen hates this guy. “Or at least a verbal record he past down.”
“He faded.” Raj repeats, stressing the word. That’s not entirely true either. Knight Piers died of magical exhaustion. He didn’t just fade into the Mist, though Dilen supposes its the same. They watched him wither away in his sleep until – days later – he finally stopped breathing. Much like a person fading into the mist, slowly unravelling until not even their shadow remains. Slow and cruel and visible but utterly unstoppable.
Dilen always thought his mother faded like that. At least, he always assumed that the woman who faded was his mother. They all had. Why else would she have been leading him through the Mist all those years ago? He’d escaped from the Mist but she hadn’t and the town had watched her fade, already too far gone to even say his name, a name he didn’t remember. The Hafen’s had taken him in soon after.
Who was she, he wonders, if not his mother? Was she the one that kidnapped him? Maybe. If she was, he doubts Knight Annoying would believe it.
“What’s that?” Knight Annoying asks, tone suddenly panicked as he grabs the hilt of his sword. Dilen zones back into his surroundings and hears the horse Knight Annoying must be reacting to. Strange. This road only links Rison and Mist’s Edge, and outside the Moories no one regularly travels it. But the Moories’ don’t travel alone, and they should have already done their monthly trade. The sound draws close enough to spot the horse in question, a pure white creature.
“An Empty Creature!” Knight Annoying declares.
“Wait!” Raj quickly shouts before the Knights can draw their swords. “It’s a normal horse. Empty Creatures don’t have riders.” Sure enough, the horse gets closer and they can all see the tall rider atop her.
“Swift.” Dilen recongizes, the first word he’s used in a month.
“Gone for two months and you greet a horse before your brother?” The rider teases as they pull Dilen’s horse to a halt in front of the group. Normally, Dilen would be just as teasing but not today. Not now.
“Hi Cyrus.” He greets, some of the tension dropping from his shoulders. The time away from his family – his brother – has stressed him out more than he’d like to admit. Even before the whole origin reveal. It’s good to see Cyrus smiling. To pretend, just for this moment, that things are normal and fine.
“Welcome home.” Cyrus says. “What’s with the long face? Come on Dil, you can’t fool me. I know you’ve got good news.” The carefree words immediately ruin Dilen’s fantasy and the tension comes rushing back to me. “Dilen?” Cyrus notices, frowning slightly.
“Let’s swap horses.” Dilen says without answering anything, already dismounting Dust. “I’ve missed Swift.”
“’Course.” Cyrus doesn’t push. He casts a quick glance to their company, looking for answers. Dilen doubts he sees them. “I don’t think Swift will let me ride her if you’re back anyway.” Cyrus jokes as they trade reigns and the shorter boy manages a smile.
“Hey girl.” Dilen quietly greets his horse before mounting her.
“And who are you, exactly?” Knight Annoying demands, having held his tongue longer than Dilen really expected. Cyrus picks up on the hostility – it’s hard to miss – but like Raj he manages to look like he doesn’t.
“I’m Cyrus.” He introduces.
“He’s my brother.” Dilen spits before Cyrus – or anyone else – can say something different. Knight Annoying’s frown deepens at that, as does Cyrus’ confusion, but Dilen doesn’t stick around for more questions. “I’ll meet you at the stables.” He declares.
“You shouldn’t go o-” Knight Annoying starts but Dilen is already racing towards town.
The wind whips through his hair, the trees turn into blurs, and for the first time in weeks, Dilen feels like he can actually breath. Dust is a good horse, but he and Swift have a connection born of a lifetime together. Dilen hardly needs to think as they ride, Swift reacting to his movements so fast she might as well be reacting to his thoughts.
And, of course, Dilen has yet to meet a horse that can keep up with Swift when she’s running. If Knight Annoying tries to follow, he won’t get far.
Dilen and Swift make it to town in no time but Dilen doesn’t turn towards the stable. A wild idea has formed in his head, a way out of this mess. They keep going, straight through town and onto the mountain. Dilen doesn’t stop, directing Swift through the trees and over foliage until they reach the very edge of the Mist.
There, Swift stops of her own accord.
“Come on Swift, we can make it.” Dilen encourages, trying to push her onwards. Swift doesn’t budge. “Please?” He tries. No luck. Dilen sighs. He’s not going to win this. If he’s honest, he knows he shouldn’t. Even Swift isn’t faster than the Mist. He dismounts and steps a little closer to the carved stones marking the edge of the Mist. Countless names stare back at him, all the people who weren’t quick enough to escape the Mist. What was he thinking? Running into it won’t help. But…
“There’s no where I can hide in the kingdom, even if I try to run.” Dilen mumbles. “Out there’s the only place I can go.” Swift huffs as if she knows how ridiculous that plan is. She’s right. Stepping through the wall is a death sentence. He’d never make it to the Beyond.
“There’s no getting out of this.” Dilen admits, siting on the forest floor and desperately trying to hold back the tears he hasn’t let himself cry. “It’s not fair. I don’t want to be some long lost Prince. I don’t even want to be a Knight anymore. I just want to stay here. I was meant to be the one that stayed.” A few drops of water slip from his eyes and Dilen hastily wipes them away. Swift’s muzzle bumps his side, the only comfort she can offer.
There’s no getting out of this. No convincing anyone this was a mistake. Mist, he’ll have a hard enough time convincing Knight Annoying the Hafen’s didn’t kidnap him. The Knight will interrogate his family and then Dilen will be marched off to the capital to meet a mother he doesn’t know. A mother that didn’t even come get him herself. And he can’t run, because the kingdom is literally surrounded by a wall of Mist that will consume him if he tries.
It’s not fair. He doesn’t want this.
“I was meant to be the one that stayed.” Dilen repeats, turning his head to mumble the words against Swift’s neck.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
♕♕♕
When the sun starts to set, Dilen finally forces himself to his feet once more. No one came looking for Dilen and maybe that shouldn’t make him feel better but it does. It wouldn’t take much for Raj or Cyrus to find him, but they don’t. More importantly, they don’t tell Knight Annoying where he went. Which Dilen expected of his brother, but Raj…
Things have been strange with Raj since the letter came. They haven’t really talked about it. They could of, they had plenty of time before the Knights met them in Glimore but… things have just been strange.
Will things be strange with anyone else, once they find out? Will Dilen even be around to know?
“Argh.” He groans, pulling himself into Swift’s saddle and pressing his head against her mane. He just had a breakdown, he cannot have another one so soon. Besides, if he hangs out here any longer he’s going to have to walk back.
Actually…
No, no he’s not walking back.
Still, Dilen doesn’t ride Swift with any sort of speed. He takes the less used path back to the stable, hoping he doesn’t run into anyone. Fading sounds favourable to small talk right now. Fortunately, he arrives unbothered.
Unfortunately, the Knights and this whole situation hasn’t miraculously poofed out of existence while he was gone. He can’t even make a quiet entrance. Knight Annoying pacing out the front.
“Do you think the Annoying Knight will yell at a Prince?” Dilen asks Swift as he forces himself to continue onwards. He might not. The guy seems more obsessed with rank than anyone else Dilen’s ever met. “Bet this’ll ruin that whole ‘discreet’ plan.” A thought Dilen takes some petty joy in, even if he’s not sure the whole town hearing this is a good thing.
“There you are.” Knight Annoying says when he spots Dilen, almost seeming to relax. Which is insulting. Mist’s Edge is Dilen’s home, what is there to be concerned about? Probably everything, according to Knight Annoying. With a huff, Dilen dismounts and does exactly what he’s been doing – ignores the Knight. He leaves Swift outside, trusting his horse won’t go far.
“You can’t just run off without an escort.” Knight annoying continues to talk, following Dilen into the stable. Everyone save Ester seems to be there, who knows who the Knight’s gone to interrogate. Dilen spots Cyrus – whose brushing down Dust – and immediately walks to him.
“I’ll let Ester know you’re back.” He vaguely hears Ali say before they disappear back outside.
“Where are we putting the extra horse?” Dilen asks, still ignoring the Knight following him. They’ve brought five horses home and the stable only has four extra spots. Three extra spots, Dilen realizes with a frown as he spots another unfamiliar horse. “Why is there an extra horse in here?”
“Technically, there’s several extra horses in here.” Cyrus says with a smirk, also ignoring Knight Annoying. Dilen doesn’t deem that worthy of a response so just waits. “Wren rode a horse home from Woolston.”
“Wren rode a horse?” Dilen repeats, confused. Their older brother hates horses, he always has. Cyrus offers a shrug, most of his focus still on Dust.
“We didn’t realize it would take you two so long to get back and that letter had him worried enough to ride a horse.” Cyrus explains then barrels on before Dilen can be distracted by his guilt at worrying his family. “You can let Jam and Spot out in the paddock. I don’t think the Mist’ll roll in tonight, we can move them to Piers’ old stables in the morning.”
“You can let the horses out.” Knight Annoying cuts in, glaring at Cyrus. His tone makes Dilen’s eye twitch. “And you can look after his horse. You’re the stableboy.” Never mind twitching and – in fact – never mind his silence at all.
“Cyrus isn’t a stable boy!” Dilen finally snaps, filling the words with all his pent up rage as he turns to glare at the Knight that’s made his life so stupidly difficult lately. It startles the Knight enough that he steps back, and startles everyone else besides. “He’s my brother. The Hafen’s are my family and I don’t care how desperate you are for a misting scapecoat, you don’t get to treat them like criminals for raising me.” Dilen’s heavy breaths are loud in the suddenly silent stable and he almost winces. Someone definitely overheard that.
“Dilen, it’s alright.” Cyrus is the first to recover from the outburst, his hand settling on Dilen’s shoulder. Begrudgingly, Dilen turns from the wide-eyed Knight to his brother. Cyrus’ expression is soft, a gentle sort of smile on his face. There’s an undertone of concern to it, especially when his gaze darts to Knight Annoying.
“Sorry about him, he doesn’t take to travelling well.” Cyrus claims, talking to the Knight in that tone he always uses to calm a fight. His ‘noble voice’, Pa calls it. But there’s no noble to soothe, Knight Annoying isn’t going to-
But Cyrus doesn’t know that. The Knights are set on explaining the situation once, when all the Hafens are together, and he doubts Raj spilled the beans early. As far as Cyrus knows, Dilen just blew up at a particularly jerky noble. Of course he’s trying to soothe ruffled feathers.
Maybe that’s what he thinks this is about. Maybe he thinks Dilen pissed off the wrong noble in Glimore and he’s been escorted home home so the noble’s Knight can ensure he’s punished properly.
“Mists, I wish it was that simple.” Dilen sighs, exhaustion settling on his shoulders as the anger leaves. “You’re coming with me.” He decides as if it’s just that simple.
“Coming… where?” Cyrus asks, confused and still at least a little concerned. His eyes dart between Dilen and Knight Annoying again but Dilen keeps his eyes glued to his brother. He doesn’t want to do this but maybe with Cyrus at his side he can manage.
“I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Knight Annoying protests. Something about his tone has changed from a moment ago but Dilen doesn’t care enough to notice what.
“He’s coming.” He declares in a firmer tone, trying to match what he thinks a prince would sound like.
“Dilen, coming where?” Cyrus repeats the question. “What’s going on?” Behind him, Dilen hears Knight Annoying draw breath to answer. To avoid answering, more accurately. Dilen doesn’t give him the chance.
“Everyone’s convinced I’m the long lost Prince.” He states. Cyrus stares at him a moment then laughs, a disbelieving sort of laugh.
“Very funny Dil.” He says. “Have fun explaining to our parents that you were a month late for a joke.”
“I’m not joking.”
“This is much too public a place for this.” Knight Annoying cuts in with a hiss. “What if someone overhears you?”
“What does it matter?” Dilen snaps, turning to glare at the Knight who takes another step back, still startled by having Dilen pay attention to him. “We’re leaving in a week and I’m never going to see my home again, who cares if everyone knows?” The Knight doesn’t have an answer for that, and Cyrus isn’t over his shock, and silence returns to the stable. Dilen hates it. He hates this. He hates this.
“We should let Jam and Spot out.” Raj breaks the silence this time, pointedly not looking at any of them as he does.
“Right.” Cyrus says, forcing himself to move. “Sure, let’s just go on like normal as if that wasn’t earth shattering new.” Despite the sarcasm in his tone, he does just that; moving passed Dilen and the Knight towards Jam’s stall.
“How do you think I feel?” Dilen huffs, following him and ignoring the way Knight Annoying struggles to keep up with the conversation.
“I thought you’d be excited.” Cyrus answers, mumbling quiet enough that only Dilen hears him. Dilen doesn’t reply. Partly because that’s not a conversation he wants to have in front of Knight Annoying. And partly because it’s not a conversation he wants to have in with Cyrus at all.
A few years ago, Dilen would have been excited. He used to spend hours puzzling over his past. What kid like him wouldn’t? Even the capital wouldn’t’ve felt like the death sentence it does now. But that was a few years ago. Before he swore to be the Hafen that stayed.
Those aren’t memories he wants to relive. Especially not with Cyrus.
“You cannot mention this.” Knight Annoying states when he recovers. Opening Spot’s stall, Dilen keeps an ear out for another reason to snap at the Knight. Although he’d rather just go back to ignoring him.
“I gathered that part.” Cyrus mutters then seems to realize his rudeness and clears his throat. “I won’t tell anyone. It’s Dilen’s secret.” He rephrases in his noble voice.
“His name is Prince Tailam.” Knight Annoying states. “If you know you should use it.”
“Do not call me that.” Dilen rejects immediately.
“It would be difficult to keep this secret if we switch between names.” Raj points out much more politely.
“I suppose.” Knight Annoying relents, although he doesn’t sound happy about it.
“It’s my name.” Dilen mutters angrily under his breath. Why does Knight Annoying get to dictate his name? At least the Knight doesn’t say anything else as Dilen walks Spot from his stall into the field. Although – Dilen notices with a scoff – he does walk into the stall with his own horse to care for it. Oh, so he’s not above horse care but Dilen’s supposed to be?
“I hate that guy.” Dilen complains to Cyrus once they’re outside, startling a laugh from his brother.
“I noticed.” He says. “Can’t say I blame you. He seems like a jerk.”
“I’ve been calling him Knight Annoying.” Dilen says. If the Knight isn’t going to use Dilen’s name, Dilen isn’t going to use his. That gets another laugh from Cyrus.
“I can’t decide between Knight Annoying and Knight Entitled.” He smiles. They stop when they spot Ester and Ali walking over, both being accosted by a group of kids. Is it rude of Dilen to wish they’d gotten lost?
“Stop annoying the guests.” Cyrus calls out as they near, cutting Rae off mid-question.
“But she’s a proper Knight!” Rae calls back and then gasps at she spots Dilen next to Cyrus. Dilen winces, bracing himself. It does not help. “You’re back!” Rae screeches. If everyone didn’t know before, they certainly know now.
“Hi Rae.” Dilen greets, then nods at the boys that are with her. “Finn, Korbin. Glad you lot are doing good.” And still sticking together, the way they have since Finn and Rae lost their triplet and Korbin his older brother.
“Hi Dilen.” Finn greets, not nearly as high energy as the other two who rush up to him.
“You have to tell us everything!” Korbin declares, as though taking the knight trial isn’t some small event that more than half the town hasn’t taken.
“Did you get a runed sword? Mama says she’ll let me have hers after I do my trial!” Rae exclaims and suddenly they’re talking over each other. Cyrus – because he’s bastard – looks amused and does nothing to help.
“I’m glad to see you’re alright.” Knight Ester says the moment that they’re a lull in the conversation which doesn’t help. “You shouldn’t go off alone.”
“Why not?” Korbin asks then gasps. “Are you becoming a Queens Knight? Oswald says that’s way you’re so late, because you’re the best fighter in the towns so you got rushed into the Queen’s Knight.”
“Mav says Cyrus is the best fighter in town.” Rae claims. “And she says she’s better than Dilen.”
“Mav is not a better fighter than I am.” Dilen finally gets a word in to defend himself. “She beat me in a duel once.” And she’s refused a rematch ever since.
“Do Queen’s Knights have duels?” Rae asks, looking between Ester and Dilen excitedly. “Would you be a better fighter than Dilen?” She asks the female Knight.
“She never said she was a Queen’s Knight.” Finn points out but Rae seems unbothered by the lack of confirmation.
“Of course she’s a Queen’s Knight, she’s here to train Dilen and he’s a Queen’s Knight.” Rae declares and Dilen wonders when – exactly – he said he was a Queen’s Knight.
“Yeah, a not Queen’s Knight can’t train a Queen’s Knight.” Korbin backs Rae up and Dilen sighs. There’s no fixing this rumour. Come morning, everyone in town is going to be calling him a Queen’s Knight whether or not they believe the teenagers.
“Shouldn’t you guys be getting home for the sunset meal?” Cyrus finally asks, still looking way too amused for Dilen’s liking.
“But Dilen hasn’t answered our questions!” All three make some variation of the same protest.
“He’ll still be here tomorrow.” Cyrus assures.
“You promise?” Rae pleads. Dilen wants to say no. He’d much rather spend tomorrow in bed or with his family and ignoring everyone else entirely. Unfortunately, Rae has very convincing puppy dog eyes.
“Tomorrow.” He gives in with a sigh, making the two louder kids cheer.
“Do you think Oswald will be done with the swords by tomorrow?” Korbin asks as the three run off, throwing half-hearted farewells when Cyrus reminds them too.
“So much for discreet.” Ali comments when the kids are mostly out of earshot and Dilen’s mood immediately drops once more. “Everyone’ll know we’re here by morning.” Raj told you, Dilen doesn’t say as he turns to give Spot attention.
“You thought you could be discreet?” Cyrus asks with a laugh.
“We didn’t realize the town would be quite this small.” Ester explains and Cyrus laughs again.
“There’s not even five tens people living in Mist’s Edge.” He says.
“Seriously?” Ali asks with a startled expression. “But… how do you even have a town with so few people?” Cyrus can only shrug. How are you meant to answer a question like that? They clearly have a town.
“We’ve emptied a couple of stables so there’s enough space for everyone.” Cyrus shifts the conversation, nodding to the stable.
“Thank you.” Ester says. “I’ll head in to get My Lady settled in. Please, do not head off alone again. You had us worried.” Dilen doesn’t look away from Spot’s mane.
“We’ll be in right after you.” Cyrus assures. Once he’s heard them walk inside, Dilen finally leaves Spot alone. “You really aren’t happy about this.” Cyrus notes with a worried frown.
“I don’t want to leave.” Dilen admits. “I doubt I’ll get to come back.”
“There’s always letters.” Cyrus assures, continuing when Dilen only huffs. “We’ll come visit.”
“No you won’t. You can’t.” Dilen argues. The whole family can’t just up and leave the farm for the several months a visit would take. “And even if you could, it’s not the same.” He adds and then immediately regrets it as an awkwardness settles between them. This isn’t the conversation to have with Cyrus, Dilen reminds himself.
“I’ll send a letter to Aylin.” His brother says after a moment, trying to ignore the tension. “She can take over for me so I can travel with you.”
“Are you sure she’ll come?” Dilen checks, scared to get his hopes up, but Cyrus immediately nods.
“With Amroth it’ll only take her a day or two.” He assures and Dilen relaxes for only a moment, eyeing the stable to make sure they’re still alone before he asks,
“Can she play placed knight?”
“The placed knight?” Cyrus repeats. “She might actually be the worst option for that.”
“She might be the only one.” Dilen says. “We need to have one, and she’s the only one we can ask without the Knights noticing.” Cyrus opens his mouth the relents.
“I’ll ask.” He says. “Give her a bit of the run down.”
“Ask her to charge the rune on the edge of town. They’ll definitely check that.” Dilen instructs and Cyrus winces.
“Right, I forgot about that.” He mumbles, running a hand through his hair. “I’ll sort it out tonight. We should head inside and get the horses settled.”
“Do we have to?” Dilen whines. “Couldn’t we just, I don’t know, run away?”
“Mama would hunt us down faster than then the Knights.” Cyrus says, patting his shoulder briefly and leading Dilen towards where Swift still waits, snacking on the grass. The thought of seeing their parents is the only thing that keeps Dilen from stalling as he brings Swift into the stables.
Things are quiet inside. The Knights and Ali are having a quiet conversation as they care for their horses while Raj is doing his best to look busy. Dilen hates it.
“I think Wren’s made you like three new outfits by the way.” Cyrus tells Raj, quickly chasing away the quiet with comments about Raj and Wren’s long-distance relationship and Wren’s stress sewing. Dilen doesn’t join in much, quietly tending to Swift, and the Knights are definitely listening but they’re quiet too. It’s the most relaxed Dilen’s felt since Glimore. He almost forgets to dread his family reunion as much as he’s looking forward to it.
Almost.