Matteo didn’t expect for Tara to be the one to suggest it being just the kids. Granted, Adelinde and Rene shared his reaction.

She gave a few reasons over breakfast—things that he assumed Itzun pointed out like Matteo having more traveling knowledge, and things she probably realized herself like how Rene probably couldn’t not work while they were there just by how she liked to keep herself busy.

“I’ll go with you if everyone agrees its best,” Matteo said, giving his sister a wary glance. “But you have to acknowledge that if you get anxious or scared—like you used to be during rainstorms—I can’t really help you.”

“…I can’t say that Adelinde and Rene can always help, so it won’t be much different,” Tara murmured. As per usual, instead of looking at any of them—or the people around them—she drew. He didn’t recognize the drawing’s subject, though.

Adelinde still gave both kids a worried look.

“I would allow it if there was anyone we knew in Sólstaður,” she admitted. “But as it stands now, I don’t entirely trust that you two will be safe there.”

“We don’t have the luxury of spending a week mulling it over, either,” Rene pointed out. “And it would be better to take the quickest route there.”

They took a second to think it over, then Matteo spoke up again.

“We both know how to stab someone back by now,” he noted. “Heck, I can stab someone first if I need to.”

“There are worse things in Sólstaður by now than knives,” Rene replied, frowning in his direction. “Granted, as long as you don’t openly announce yourselves you should be fine, but…”

She trialed off, sighing after a second and shaking her head.

“…Damn risks again. You know how it is with me.”

“I mean…I know it doesn’t help any, but if they’re attacking random people from Dakari it’s a problem anyway?” Matteo tried. “Sólstaður has to keep relations with Dakari mostly friendly to keep trade running—they might treat us nicer than they would someone from Sólstaður.”

Silence again, then Adelinde and Rene just shared a glance and both sighed.

“I don’t see much alternatives,” Adelinde murmured.

Rene looked specifically at Matteo.

“Promise not to do anything stupid.”

The narrative has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the infringement.

“I’ll stay smart.” He managed a kind of joking smile. “Don’t want to confirm with Tara?”

“…I’m scared enough just looking at the sea,” Tara murmured, albeit she didn’t sound completely annoyed. “You shouldn’t even expect me to wander out of sight.”

“Fair enough.” Matteo looked back at his parents. “So we’re decided?”

“As much as we will be,” Rene said. She stood up, pushing her chair back under the table. “We’ve already paid for breakfast, so we can go straight to find Hannah.”

The others nodded, standing up as well and following her.

…

Like promised, they found Hannah around the dock—albeit after a few minutes of Rene trying to remember where ships like Hannah’s were most likely to be, based on description alone—talking to some members of her crew in alternating languages. Sounded like she was sharing a story of some sort.

When she noticed them, she waved the others away and gave them her attention.

“That was quicker than I expected,” she noted. “What did you decide?”

“Matteo and Tara will go,” Rene said.

Hannah looked over at the kids and frowned a bit.

“Hate to break it to you, Ren, but the girl looks terrified.”

Tara didn’t quite acknowledge her, but Matteo noticed her scribbling stop.

“…I’ll be fine,” Tara said quietly.

“Tough kid,” Hannah muttered. Looking back at the other three, she spoke with the intention to actually be heard. “Anyway, I can take ‘em over if that’s what you want—like I said last night, free of charge. Do you have everything you need?”

“Just enough for the trip from home to here,” Matteo replied, shaking his head. “So like…about a week’s worth?”

Hannah looked at Rene. “Where do you guys live? Very far?”

“San Asari,” Adelinde answered.

“That makes sense.” She gave her attention to Matteo and Tara again, although the latter shrugged away from it slightly. “If you guys are in a hurry, it would probably be better if you just bought stuff while you’re there. Dakari-winter clothes barely even make the cut for Sólstaðuric-summer. If you don’t have enough money on you I can always pay; stuffs’ more expensive in Sólstaður.”

“…You’re nice for a stranger,” Tara murmured.

Hannah let out a kind of laugh.

“I mean, consider my position here kid,” she said, oddly kind. “I run into my teenaged sweetheart and her family—turns out they’re freakin royalty. I would do a lot for Ren without a reason already; the bragging rights once everything’s said and done is worth it.”

Rene brought the conversation back to the initial topic.

“We have enough to give them some for travel expenses; you shouldn’t have to pay that much, and if you do I can pay you back,” she said. She frowned a bit, more concerned than anything. “Just…keep them safe on the way there, at least?”

“I’ll do everything in my power to make sure nothing happens to them,” Hannah promised. “I don’t really want to ultimately be accused of treason or murder or something. I’m not really in a mood to test my luck against someone who could probably get away with forging evidence.”

“Wise,” Adelinde murmured. “But in that case, when can you head out?”

Hannah glanced back at the dozen people around the ship. “About an hour at the earliest, around noon at the latest.”

Rene nodded and looked at the kids.

“We can take that time to get ready. Let’s go ahead and get your stuff from the inn.”

Matteo and Tara nodded, the former bidding temporary farewell to Hannah.