{-Rennyn-}

That story… there was something familiar about it, something strange, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on what. After Vaeri finished telling them about it, they stayed in silence for the rest of dinner—perhaps they all had the same thoughts he did—and he never brought it up.

Once they’d all finished eating, Vaeri pulled Rennyn aside. “Would you like to go on a walk with me?”

“Given the fact it’s probably to get the Goddess’s Ring? Yeah.” He gave a quick look at the others, to make sure he wouldn’t be missed. He was almost certain he wouldn’t be—Seldir, Lyrei, and Noa seemed caught up in a lively conversation, and Kaylin was watching.

So Rennyn nodded and followed Vaeri down the hall.

“Do you know where you’re going next?” she prompted after a moment. “I’m guessing you’re not going to be staying in Kositeia much longer—you’ll soon get what you’ve come here for, after all.”

He shrugged. “I guess it’s a coin toss between Taururii and Astiri. Taururii’s technically closer but Lyrei and Noa have never really traveled since we met—and mountain terrain definitely isn’t something for beginners. In Astiri we’d run into the problem of how to get King Merith to pay attention to us, when we’ve probably done next to nothing to gain his attention…”

“So you do look out for your allies…”

“What was that?”

“Nothing.” And Vaeri proved as much by going back to the original topic. “I think you’re right about Taururii—besides, Empress Shaerra would have her hands full handling everything Dhymos is doing. Being local heroes isn’t going to get you any higher in her long list of meetings. But I should be able to work something out for Astiri. King Merith might not respect me as much as some of the others, but he does understand the importance of listening to me. I can use the deeds you’ve done here to get him to let you have an audience with him.”

He sighed. “I wish we wouldn’t have to rely on these kinds of favors. They’re not going to mean much the moment Dhymos starts trying to turn the nations against each other…”

“Who ever said that he was planning something like that?” she prompted. She sounded more curious than anything suggesting she thought what he was saying might actually come to pass.

“I’ve seen the kinds of things Dhymos will do, and chaos like this is bound to create tensions. Besides, if it becomes harder to travel between nations, then he’s able to slow us down. Then all he has to do is pull a few more strings and the whole thing ends with him on top.”

“I don’t believe the nations are as uneasy as you might think they are. Yes, we’ve all been shaken by what Dhymos had done and what he’s still doing. But we have not turned away from each other. It’s been many centuries since we last pointed fingers at one another—since there was such unrest that diplomacy and patience could not solve. We might have started as untrusting wanderers but, now, we know to rely on one another. We will not fall so easily, I can assure you of that.”

This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it

He mumbled something that proved he wasn’t so sure. He knew that, really, she would have just as much experience as he did. But he told himself that, somehow, he still knew Dhymos better. That he was right to think it was only a matter of time before things fell apart from the inside.

Vaeri continued with the previous line of conversation after a moment. “It might take a couple of weeks, but I can certainly get word to King Merith. I don’t know what it would take to get him to give you the Goddess’s Shield, but I’m sure you’ll convince him somehow. I know that the five of you are full of surprises.”

She came to a door that was guarded by several guards. She mumbled something to them, thanked them, then entered and gestured for Rennyn to continue following her.

It didn’t seem like anything special; just another office or a personal study. But Vaeri went over to the desk and pulled out a small box.

“You know, I’d been wearing the ring before I heard of Dhymos’s return,” she said. “Being close to it… I felt I still possessed the blessing of the goddesses. But I knew Dhymos would want it, so I hid it away.” She took the ring out of the box. “This blessing… it’s not one just any person can hold. Can I trust you with this power?”

Rennyn gave a solemn nod. “I’m not going to stop until Dhymos is defeated. One way or another, I’m not going to let him succeed. You have my word on that.”

She presented him with the ring. “Then the Goddess’s Ring is yours. No one can be sure of what Dhymos has planned. Be careful—watch your allies’ backs, and allow them to do the same for you. Only then will you be able to triumph over him.”

“I will.” He slipped the ring on his finger—he was almost surprised to see it fit perfectly, but it had been a gift from goddesses—and stepped towards the door. “Could I ask one more favor, now that we’re both together?”

Vaeri opened the door and mumbled something to the guards again. Then she started leading Rennyn back to the others. “Of course. What is it, child?”

“I’d like you to keep an eye out for someone—my sister, Allyna. I’d asked her to look around in some of the other villages, but I haven’t heard from her the whole time we were here. I… don’t really know what to assume is going on with her. Honestly, she probably just got distracted…”

“You don’t think Dhymos sees a worth in toying with her?”

“I doubt Dhymos thinks she’s worth bothering with at all. There’s… her connection to me, yeah, but not much else. Lyrei—she remembers a lot from the beginning of this whole thing, before we got separated—was even surprised to know I had a sister. I really don’t think Dhymos has done something to her. She’s probably just… running off to fulfill her dreams of adventure.”

“Should I get someone to look for her?”

“No, she should be able to handle herself. I’d rather you just make sure she’s not getting into any trouble—and to tell her where we went.”

“Alright. I’ll trust your judgment about all of this. What does she look like?”

“She looks practically identical to me—same hair, same eyes. Can’t say much for what she’d be wearing. I know what she had on when she left, but… I don’t know if she’s switched it for ‘stealth’ or whatever else she uses to justify it.”

Vaeri nodded. “I’ll make sure to alert the guards soon. You won’t have to worry about her.”

“Thanks.”

They walked in silence for a little longer, until they got to where the others were. Rennyn almost didn’t want to interrupt them—they still seemed to be having a bright conversation, or perhaps a friendly argument—but he soon realized only he was standing there. Vaeri had left without a word, meaning it was only more obvious if he only stood from a distance.

As he walked up to them, Kaylin was the one to notice him first. “Did you get the ring?”

He nodded, giving a brief gesture that would’ve allowed her to see it. “I know where we’re going next, too. Queen Vaeri said she’d be able to help us get an audience with King Merith. Our next stop is Astiri—the Land of the Fox, and where we’ll get the Goddess’s Shield. Let’s hope that’s the only thing we come across there…”